University Of Chicago Research Articles

Analyzing the Impact of Online Learning on Higher Education: A Text Analytics Approach

Amidst the relentless upheaval caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the higher education landscape finds itself compelled to pivot towards internet-mediated learning modalities. This shift, while necessary for continuity, has engendered profound repercussions for students, educators, and administrative staff alike. Foremost among the concerns is the discernible impact on student learning outcomes and academic performance. Studies, such as those conducted by Brookings and The University of Chicago, underscore the alarming projections of learning loss and escalating failure rates within this context. Bloom, a prominent higher education institution grappling with the tumult of the pandemic, has witnessed a palpable decline in average grades since its onset. Recognizing the imperative to stem this tide and foster informed decision-making, Bloom endeavors to harness the power of text analytics. Through the systematic analysis of unstructured textual data sourced from diverse channels—ranging from social media platforms to educational websites—Bloom endeavors to unveil underlying patterns, discern actionable insights, and drive strategic interventions. This article presents a comprehensive framework delineating Bloom's foray into text analytics, elucidating the attendant challenges, proposed solutions, and anticipated implementation strategies. By delving into the nuances of managing unstructured textual data and navigating the complexities thereof, this endeavor seeks to empower Bloom with the tools and insights requisite for optimizing academic performance and mitigating the deleterious effects of the pandemic.

School Performance, Score Inflation, and Neighborhood Development

Next article No AccessSchool Performance, Score Inflation and Neighborhood DevelopmentErich Battistin and Lorenzo NeriErich Battistin Search for more articles by this author and Lorenzo Neri Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Journal of Labor Economics Just Accepted Published for the Society of Labor Economists, Economics Research Center/ NORC Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/725001 HistoryAccepted March 08, 2023 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All Rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

OPTIMAL LEADERSHIP AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

AbstractDaniel Goleman is best known as the psychologist/author who brought the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) to a wider audience in the mid‐1990s. His coauthor Cary Cherniss was a founding member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations (CREIO), where he served as its director and co‐chair for 25 years. They note that when they co‐founded CREIO “more than 25 years ago, there was sparse evidence for the role of EI in optimal leading. Now there is substantial data from studies of hundreds of organizations that reveal a wide range of benefits when leaders, teams, and employees embody EI.” The authors further state that “the impact of a leader’s emotional intelligence goes beyond business performance to include optimal well‐being. For example, information‐technology employees working at a large medical facility who had more empathic managers reported fewer complaints like headaches and upset stomachs.” They provide numerous workplace examples to back up their research, and acknowledge the research of others such as Richard Boyatzis and his team at Case Western Reserve University and Jean Decety at the University of Chicago on the importance of empathy and the three types Decety has found: cognitive, emotional; and empathic concern.

Central Europe in the Fifteenth Century: Patterns of Conflict and Negotiation

Abstract The nine articles in this collection are the product of two workshops hosted at the University of Chicago in 2022 and 2023 in affiliation with the University of Vienna. They build on recent work that has called attention to the extraordinary political and religious diversity in the fifteenth-century Holy Roman Empire, and Central Europe more broadly. Pushing back against older historiography, in which this period was frequently overlooked or framed by uncritical use of such broad categories as the “state,” the “territory,” the “estates,” and the “feud,” this collection recognizes the polycentric nature of the fifteenth century's structures and institutions. Specifically, these articles return to the sources, especially documents of practice rather than normative texts, to open the door to a new understanding of conflicts and negotiations. They illuminate the patterns of conflict and negotiation evident in specific historical contexts by examining actors, networks, and practices of community building—as well as the processes through which conflicts emerged, evolved, and were negotiated and settled. Rather than relying on time-honored categories and meta-narratives, the contributors embrace the messiness of social and political relations and of the extant source material to shine new light on key themes in the fifteenth century's history.

Abstract PO1-19-08: Phase I trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy in combination with CD40 agonist and Flt3 ligand in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: Only a subset of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) demonstrate response to FDA approved PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and few have durable responses. Data suggests that breast cancers have defects in antigen presentation and that antigen presenting cells especially the cDC1 subtype of dendritic cells (DCs) are required for response to ICB. CD40 agonists activate antigen presenting cells including DCs and B cells and repolarize macrophages to an anti-tumor phenotype. Flt3 ligand is a growth factor that increases differentiation and expansion of DCs. We recently demonstrated in pre-clinical TNBC models that the combination of liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy, a CD40 agonist, and a Flt3 ligand improves outcomes compared to alternate combinations. Methods: This is a single arm phase I pilot study of liposomal doxorubicin, CDX-1140 (CD40 agonist monoclonal antibody), and CDX-301 (recombinant Flt3 ligand) combination therapy in patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced metastatic TNBC. Patients will be randomized to 3 lead-in arms (triplet therapy, doublet immunotherapy only, or liposomal doxorubicin only) for one cycle prior to receiving triplet therapy with tissue biopsies done before and after the lead-in treatment. CDX-301 will be given for only two cycles; liposomal-doxorubicin and CDX-1140 will be continued until disease progression or clinically limiting toxicities. Primary endpoint is determination of a recommended phase II dose based on treatment-related adverse events and dose-limiting toxicities. Secondary endpoints include anti-tumor immune response after triplet therapy, after immunotherapy alone, and after liposomal doxorubicin alone; median progression-free survival, overall response rate, duration of response, and clinical benefit rate. Key eligibility criteria are unresectable stage III or stage IV TNBC (ER ≤10%, PR ≤10%, HER2/neu negative), 1st to 3rd line treatment for metastatic disease (1st line patients need to be PD-L1 negative by 22C3 assay), measurable disease by RECIST 1.1 criteria, consent for pre-treatment and on-treatment biopsies of amenable soft tissue tumor lesions, no prior treatment with an anti-CD40 antibody or a Flt3 ligand, no anthracycline treatment in the metastatic setting, no prior progression while on anthracycline-based therapy or within 6 months of completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and no history of non-infectious pneumonitis or current pneumonitis. This trial will enroll up to 45 patients across multiple sites (NCT05029999) and is currently open at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas Oncology, University of Chicago, University of Texas San Antonio, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and Johns Hopkins. Citation Format: Sangeetha Reddy, Joyce O'Shaughnessy, Navid Sadeghi, Samira Syed, Cesar Santa-Maria, Virginia Kaklamani, Nan Chen, Denise Yardley, Yisheng Fang, Isaac Chan, Nisha Unni, Sarah Kashanian, Namrata Peswani, Shahbano Shakeel, Meredith Carter, Kelly Kyle, Farjana Fattah, Chul Ahn, Ina Patel, Joshua Gruber, Dawn Klemow, Glenda Delgado, Nicole Sinclair, Michael Yellin, Heather McArthur, Rita Nanda, Suzanne Conzen, Carlos Arteaga. Phase I trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy in combination with CD40 agonist and Flt3 ligand in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-19-08.

A substance use disorder training curriculum for internal medicine residents using resident-empaneled patients.

Internal Medicine (IM) residents frequently encounter, but feel unprepared to diagnose and treat, patients with substance use disorders (SUD). This is compounded by negative regard for patients with SUD. Optimal education strategies are needed to empower IM residents to care for patients with SUD. The objective of this study was to evaluate a brief SUD curriculum for IM residents, using resident-empaneled patients as an engaging educational strategy. Following a needs assessment, a 2-part SUD curriculum was developed for IM residents at the University of Chicago during the 2018-2019 academic year as part of the ambulatory curriculum. During sessions on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a facilitator covered concepts about screening, diagnosis, and treatment. In session, residents completed structured worksheets applying concepts to one of their primary care patients. A post-session assessment included questions on knowledge, preparedness & attitudes. Resident needs assessment (n = 44/105, 42% response rate) showed 86% characterized instruction received during residency in SUD as none or too little, and residents did not feel prepared to treat SUD. Following the AUD session, all residents (n = 22) felt prepared to diagnose and treat AUD. After the OUD session, all residents (n = 19) felt prepared to diagnose, and 79% (n = 15) felt prepared to treat OUD. Residents planned to screen for SUD more or differently, initiate harm reduction strategies and increase consideration of pharmacotherapy. A brief curricular intervention for AUD and OUD using resident-empaneled patients can empower residents to integrate SUD diagnosis and management into practice.

Early Nuclear Fusion Cross-Section Advances 1934–1952 and Comparison to Today’s ENDF Data

We describe the advancing knowledge of fusion cross sections from 1934 through the development of the first thermonuclear tests fielded by Los Alamos (the singular entity denoted Los Alamos Laboratory/Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory/Los Alamos National Laboratory at different times is designated “Los Alamos” in this paper) in the Pacific in 1951–1952; this technical history has not been previously documented. We compare these nuclear reaction cross sections to the current state of their knowledge as codified in the Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) databases, focusing on the Big Five reactions: 3H ( d , n ) 4 He, 3He ( d , p ) 4 He, 2H ( d , n ) 3 He, 2H ( d , p ) 3 H, and 3H ( t , 2 n ) 4 He. At Oppenheimer’s July 1942 University of California, Berkeley, “galaxy of luminaries” conference, Konopinski suggested that the cross section for 3H ( d , n ) 4 He “DT” could be large, and although Teller described this as an “inspired guess,” we provide evidence instead suggesting that Konopinski knew of a 1938 measurement by Ruhlig that secondary DT reactions were “exceedingly probable.” Bethe’s direction that the DT cross section should be measured at Purdue University (Purdue) in 1943 led to the remarkable and unexpected finding that the DT cross section exceeds deuteron-deuteron (DD) by a factor of 100. This was a game-changing result, making Teller’s dream, i.e., the terrestrial production of fusion energy, feasible. Eyewitness accounts are transcribed from the earliest discoveries of the large magnitude of the resonant DT cross section. A description is given of the Manhattan Project’s early 1942–1944 DD measurements at the University of Chicago, the 1943 DT measurements at Purdue, and the subsequent 1945–1946 DD and DT measurements at Los Alamos. The Los Alamos experiments, led by Bretscher, were the first to extend to very low incident ion center-of-mass energies in the 6- to 50-keV range needed in applications and the first to identify, characterize, and document the 3/2+ “Bretscher state” responsible for the resonance-enhanced DT cross section. The early measurements were based on thick-target experiments that required a knowledge of hydrogen-isotope stopping powers, much of which was informed by 1930s German studies. We end with the high-accuracy APSST (named for Arnold, Phillips, Sawyer, Stovall, and Tuck) measurements at Los Alamos, 1951–1952. The very first 1942–1946 measurements were accurate to about 50% or somewhat better, but by the early 1950s, the cross sections were determined much more accurately, to within a few percent of our best values today, which come from R-matrix Energy Dependent Analysis (EDA) code analyses of the data, most notably the very accurate 1980s–1990 Los Alamos DT and DD fusion data from Jarmie and Brown. We show that Fermi, in his 1945 Los Alamos lectures, anticipated the S-factor (for the DT cross section), which is a concept widely used later in nuclear astrophysics. To this long abstract, we add a final tidbit: Marshall Holloway, a coauthor on the first-ever 1943 DT cross-section measurement at Purdue, went on to lead the engineering and fabrication of the first H-bomb test, Ivy Mike.

Social Determinants of Health Factors and Loss-To-Follow-Up in the Field of Vascular Surgery

It is estimated that 22-57% of vascular patients are lost to follow-up (LTF) which is of concern as the Society of Vascular Surgery recommends annual patient follow-up. The purpose of this report was to identify social determinants of health factors (SDoH) and their relationship to LTF in vascular patients. The methods employed were a systematic literature review of 29 empirical articles and a retrospective quality improvement report with 27 endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) patients at the University of Chicago. The systematic literature review resulted in 2,931 articles which were reduced to 29 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Demographic variables were more frequently cited than SDoH factors, but the most common were smoking, transportation, and socioeconomic status/insurance. Additionally, 176 EVAR and TEVAR patients were called resulting in 27 patients who completed a SDoH questionnaire. Twenty-six percent indicated they had missed at least 1 appointment with the top reasons being work or family responsibilities. Due to limited patient size no statistical analyses were performed, but frequencies of responses to SDoH questions were reported to augment the existing limited literature and guide future research into variables such as one's ability to pay for basics like food or mortgage. SDoH factors are important yet understudied aspects of endovascular repairs that require more research to understand their impact on vascular surgery follow-up rates and outcomes. Additional research is needed as lack of consideration of such factors may impact the generalizability of existing research and such knowledge may help in informing clinician treatment plans.

Supramolecular Synthesis of Star Polymers.

Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Prof. Dr Takeharu Haino at Hiroshima University (Japan) and Dr Natsumi Nitta at the University of Chicago (USA). The cover picture shows cartoons of miktoarm A8Bn star and graft copolymers formed by molecular recognition of a self-assembled capsule possessing eight polymer chains and guest-terminated and guest-centered polymers. Read the full text of the review at 10.1002/cplu.20240014.

The VEGF-Hypoxia Signature is Upregulated in Basal like Breast Tumors from Women of African Ancestry and Associated with Poor Outcomes in Breast Cancer.

Black women experience the highest breast cancer mortality rate compared to women of other racial/ethnic groups. To gain a deeper understanding of breast cancer heterogeneity across diverse populations, we examined a VEGF-hypoxia gene expression signature in breast tumors from women of diverse ancestry. We developed a NanoString nCounter gene expression panel and applied it to breast tumors from Nigeria (n=182) and the University of Chicago (n=161). We also analyzed RNA sequencing data from Nigeria (n=84) and TCGA datasets (n=863). Patient prognosis was analyzed using multiple datasets. The VEGF-hypoxia signature was highest in the basal-like subtype compared to other subtypes, with greater expression in Black women compared to White women. In the TCGA dataset, necrotic breast tumors had higher scores for the VEGF-hypoxia signature compared to non-necrosis tumors (p<0.001), with the highest proportion in the basal-like subtype. Furthermore, necrotic breast tumors have higher scores for the proliferation signature, suggesting an interaction between the VEGF-hypoxia signature, proliferation and necrosis. T cell gene expression signatures also correlated with the VEGF-hypoxia signature when testing all tumors in the TCGA dataset. Lastly, we found a significant association of the VEGF-hypoxia profile with poor outcomes when using all patients in the METABRIC (p<0.0001) and SCAN-B datasets (p=0.002). These data provide further evidence for breast cancer heterogeneity across diverse populations and molecular subtypes. Interventions selectively targeting VEGF-hypoxia and the immune microenvironment have the potential to improve overall survival in aggressive breast cancers that disproportionately impact Black women in the African Diaspora.

Extensive Disease and Exposure to Multiple Biologics Precolectomy Is Associated with Endoscopic Cuffitis Post-Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

To better inform the risk of cuffitis in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), we aimed to identify its occurrence and associated precolectomy factors in a large multicenter cohort of patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of individuals diagnosed with UC or indeterminate colitis who underwent RPC with IPAA for refractory disease or dysplasia at Mount Sinai Hospital or the University of Chicago followed by at least 1 pouchoscopy with report of the pouch-anal anastomosis. The primary outcome was cuffitis defined as ulceration of the cuff as reported in each pouchoscopy report. The pouch-anal anastomosis was mentioned in the pouchoscopy reports of 674 patients, of whom 525 (77.9%) had a stapled anastomosis. Among these, cuffitis occurred in 313 (59.6%) patients a median of 1.51 (interquartile range 0.59-4.17) years after final surgical stage. On multivariable analysis, older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.02), extensive disease (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01-1.78), exposure to biologics before colectomy (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.93-3.27), and exposure to at least 2 or more biologics before colectomy (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.40-3.39) were significantly associated with subsequent cuffitis. In this multicenter study of patients who underwent RPC with stapled IPAA and at least 1 follow-up pouchoscopy, cuffitis occurred in approximately 60% and was significantly associated with extensive disease and exposure to multiple biologics precolectomy.

Abstract 3558: An integrated data platform to support the international alliance for cancer early detection

Abstract Cancer early detection is one of the most critical areas of cancer research, as it offers the greatest potential for improving patient outcomes. The International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) is a global partnership of world-leading cancer research institutions in the UK and US, established in 2019 to accelerate and revolutionize research in this field. ACED brings together the expertise of the Canary Center at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Sciences University, University College London, and the University of Manchester, together with Cancer Research UK, with the goal of catalyzing new collaborations and research in the field of early detection. One of the major challenges to enabling international collaborations across different institutions is the ability to collect, share and discover datasets between researchers and institutions. To enable collaboration on innovative data science, fundamental functions include, 1) controlled data sharing mechanisms; 2) structured metadata to enable data exploration and data discovery; and 3) enabling easy computational access to that data. To advance researchers' collaboration, ACED began development of an Integrated Data Platform (IDP). The ACED-IDP is based on the Gen3 software platform developed by the University of Chicago's Center for Translational Data Science. Based on software systems originally developed for the NCI's Genomic Data Commons, Gen3 has been used in several other data projects including The Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC), Australian BioCommons and numerous other research data platforms. The unique nature of ACED required unique innovations to be made for the development of the IDP. Each of the member institutions within the alliance has different existing computer infrastructures, separate authentication platforms and heterogeneous data types forming the basis of their research. The IDP sought a cloud-ready strategy, while still being cognizant of the extreme costs associated with cloud egress fees that hamper researchers' ability to download data. Additions were made to the Gen3 platform to allow for hybrid cloud support, allowing on-premises as well as cloud object storage systems to be linked to the platform. This innovation permits each institution to share files using the mechanisms that they see fit. To unify the various datasets, the standard Gen3 schema was replaced with one derived from the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard. To support import from clinical data sets, tooling to enable import and export Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) data has been integrated. With this platform in place, we hope to advance international collaborations and accelerate early cancer detection research. Citation Format: Brian Walsh, Liam Beckman, JD Burchett, Matthew Peterkort, Jordan Lee, Michael Fitzsimons, Peter Vassilatos, Binam Bajracharya, Craig Barnes, Jawad Qureshi, Robert Grossman, Carrie Yakura, Yaozhi Lu, Sarah Burge, Daniel Kelberman, Erin Watson, Kyle Ellrott. An integrated data platform to support the international alliance for cancer early detection [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3558.

The Role of Mothers-in-Law in Determining Women’s Work: Evidence from India

Previous articleNext article No AccessThe Role of Mothers-in-Law in Determining Women's Work: Evidence from IndiaDivya Pandey and Madhulika KhannaDivya Pandey Search for more articles by this author and Madhulika Khanna Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Economic Development and Cultural Change Just Accepted Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/724307 Views: 18Total views on this site HistoryAccepted January 19, 2023 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All Rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

The Effect of Future Pension Benefits on Labor Supply in a Developing Economy

Next article No AccessThe Effect of Future Pension Benefits on Labor Supply in a Developing EconomyOscar BecerraOscar Becerra Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Economic Development and Cultural Change Just Accepted Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/725338 Views: 23Total views on this site HistoryAccepted March 31, 2023 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All Rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Robert Alan LeVine (1932-2023).

Article memorializes Robert Alan LeVine (1932-2023). Robert Alan LeVine was a leading psychological anthropologist, who was instrumental in the rise of cultural psychology. LeVine taught at Northwestern University (1958-1960), the University of Chicago (1960-1976), and Harvard University (1976-1998), where he was Emeritus Professor of Education and Human Development. He wrote 15 books and published over 125 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sodium oligomannate alters gut microbiota, reduces cerebral amyloidosis and reactive microglia in a sex-specific manner

It has recently become well-established that there is a connection between Alzheimer’s disease pathology and gut microbiome dysbiosis. We have previously demonstrated that antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota perturbations lead to attenuation of Aβ deposition, phosphorylated tau accumulation, and disease-associated glial cell phenotypes in a sex-dependent manner. In this regard, we were intrigued by the finding that a marine-derived oligosaccharide, GV-971, was reported to alter gut microbiota and reduce Aβ amyloidosis in the 5XFAD mouse model that were treated at a point when Aβ burden was near plateau levels. Utilizing comparable methodologies, but with distinct technical and temporal features, we now report on the impact of GV-971 on gut microbiota, Aβ amyloidosis and microglial phenotypes in the APPPS1-21 model, studies performed at the University of Chicago, and independently in the 5X FAD model, studies performed at Washington University, St. Louis.Methods To comprehensively characterize the effects of GV-971 on the microbiota-microglia-amyloid axis, we conducted two separate investigations at independent institutions. There was no coordination of the experimental design or execution between the two laboratories. Indeed, the two laboratories were not aware of each other’s experiments until the studies were completed. Male and female APPPS1-21 mice were treated daily with 40, 80, or 160 mg/kg of GV-971 from 8, when Aβ burden was detectable upto 12 weeks of age when Aβ burden was near maximal levels. In parallel, and to corroborate existing published studies and further investigate sex-related differences, male and female 5XFAD mice were treated daily with 100 mg/kg of GV-971 from 7 to 9 months of age when Aβ burden was near peak levels. Subsequently, the two laboratories independently assessed amyloid-β deposition, metagenomic, and neuroinflammatory profiles. Finally, studies were initiated at the University of Chicago to evaluate the metabolites in cecal tissue from vehicle and GV-971-treated 5XFAD mice.Results These studies showed that independent of the procedural differences (dosage, timing and duration of treatment) between the two laboratories, cerebral amyloidosis was reduced primarily in male mice, independent of strain. We also observed sex-specific microbiota differences following GV-971 treatment. Interestingly, GV-971 significantly altered multiple overlapping bacterial species at both institutions. Moreover, we discovered that GV-971 significantly impacted microbiome metabolism, particularly by elevating amino acid production and influencing the tryptophan pathway. The metagenomics and metabolomics changes correspond with notable reductions in peripheral pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profiles. Furthermore, GV-971 treatment dampened astrocyte and microglia activation, significantly decreasing plaque-associated reactive microglia while concurrently increasing homeostatic microglia only in male mice. Bulk RNAseq analysis unveiled sex-specific changes in cerebral cortex transcriptome profiles, but most importantly, the transcriptome changes in the GV-971-treated male group revealed the involvement of microglia and inflammatory responses.Conclusions In conclusion, these studies demonstrate the connection between the gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease pathology while highlighting the potential therapeutic effect of GV-971. GV-971 targets the microbiota-microglia-amyloid axis, leading to the lowering of plaque pathology and neuroinflammatory signatures in a sex-dependent manner when given at the onset of Aβ deposition or when given after Aβ deposition is already at higher levels.

The Design and Early Results of a Structured Longitudinal Training Program for Undergraduate Students to Increase Diversity in Aging-Research.

Background: The Cultivating Health and Aging Researchers by Integrating Science, Medicine, and Aging (CHARISMA) program at the University of Chicago (UC), is an NIA-funded longitudinal clinical research training program for undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in the sciences and medicine. CHARISMA students participate in an aging-focused: 1) realistic research career experience, 2) didactic curriculum, and 3) multi-tiered mentorship program. This manuscript describes CHARISMA and early quantitative data demonstrating its success. Methods: Students apply for and are accepted into CHARISMA in year-long intervals, with programming lasting from June to May. Short-term outcomes are measured using student surveys, including an adapted 23-question version of the critical research appraisal inventory (CRAI), the Geriatrics Attitude Scale for Primary Care Residents, and questions rating the overall program, mentor, importance of aging research, and career interests. Results: Twenty-two students have completed CHARISMA. After completing CHARISMA, student aggregate CRAI scores increased (6.8 to 7.5, p = 0.04). Additionally, the substantial majority of students completing CHARISMA were definitely, very or somewhat Additionally, 87% (19/22), 73% (16/22), and 82% (18/22) of students were definitely, very, or somewhat interested in pursuing a career in medicine that serves older adults, pursuing a career in clinical research, or pursuing a career focused on aging-related research. Conclusion: Early data demonstrates that CHARISMA increases undergraduate student knowledge of and interest in aging-related clinical research.

Ex-vivo microscopic oncotesticular sperm extraction: step-by-step surgical technique at time of radical orchiectomy

To demonstrate the intraoperative surgical techniques required for simultaneous radical orchiectomy and microscopic oncotesticular sperm extraction (m-OncoTESE) in a step-by-step fashion. Video presentation. University Hospital (University of Chicago). A 37-year-old man (status after right orchiectomy at another institution for stage II-C testicular seminoma with positive preoperative tumor markers) was referred for contralateral orchiectomy of multifocal left testis mass and fertility preservation. Semen analysis before, microscopic testicular sperm extraction during, and semen or testicular specimen analysis after the first orchiectomy were unable to identify any sperm. A postoperative analysis of the m-OncoTESE performed on the left testis resulted in the cryopreservation of 200,000 motile sperm for future assisted reproductive technology (i.e., invitro fertilization or invitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection). Left radical orchiectomy and left m-OncoTESE. A comprehensive visual documentation of m-OncoTESE surgical techniques with concurrent commentary detailing the reasons behind each surgical step. A brief discussion on the background of m-OncoTESE and alternative fertility preservation methods accompanies the procedure. This video provides a step-by-step guide to performing an m-OncoTESE (proceeding a radical orchiectomy in a patient with testicular cancer) as a means of fertility preservation in an azoospermic patient. Successful extraction and cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa were achieved after targeted ex-vivo testicular microdissection. Sperm extraction via m-OncoTESE is a viable option for azoospermic patients with testicular cancer undergoing radical orchiectomies. The use of preoperative imaging and microsurgical techniques facilitates and optimizes surgical dissection and sperm recovery.

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients with mCRPC who received lutetium Lu177 vipivotide tetraxetan.

89 Background: Lu177-vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) (Lu177-Plu) is the first FDA approved theragnostic for mCRPC. Since FDA approval in March 2022, there have been no published multicenter evaluations of real-world experiences with Lu177-Plu in the United States (US). We therefore present data from 2 academic centers on patient (pt) characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes for mCRPC pts receiving SOC Lu177-Plu. Methods: Retrospective data was aggregated from University of Chicago &amp; Vanderbilt University on pt demographics, disease course and treatment for mCRPC pts who received SOC Lu177-Plu between 6/1/2022 and 9/1/2023. Research was conducted under IRBs VU211334 and IRB23-0718. 146 pts were identified who completed Lu177-Plu treatment by data cutoff 9/1/2023; their data is reported here. Results: Median age at cycle 1 (C1) was 72 years (range 49-93). Self-reported race was Black (23%), White (65%), Other/Unknown (UNK) (12%). Mean distance from home to treatment center was 79 mi. (range 1-1,317); 37% travelled &gt; 50 mi. At diagnosis, Gleason score was &gt;8 in 57%; 55% had locoregional disease, 44% had metastases, 1% were UNK. Median lines of prior systemic therapy were 4 (range 1-6), 95% received prior taxane(s) and 100% received prior androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI); 67% received 2 prior ARSI classes. PSMA-PET scan reported disease in bone in 93% of pts, lymph node 63%, liver 14%, lung 6%, other 25% (mostly prostate &amp; soft tissue). While undergoing 177Lu-Plu, 10% received concurrent ARSI (n=9 abiraterone, n=6 enzalutamide). Median cycles received was 3.5. 27 pts (18%) discontinued after C1, 46 (32%) after C2/3, 24 (16%) after C4/5 and 49 (34%) completed 6 cycles. 38% had a PSA &gt; 50% decline on treatment. 71 pts (49%) got scans between C1 and C6. Reasons cited for discontinuation prior to 6 cycles (n=97) included: progressive disease (including radiographic and/or PSA progression) (31%), progressive disease and toxicity (13%), toxicity (30%), clinical decline (including ECOG PS, transition to hospice or death) (23%), other (3%). 36 pts (25%) required supportive care with blood products (n=35 RBC, n=2 platelets). At data cutoff, 73 of 146 pts were alive (confirmed (n=66), unconfirmed (n=7)). Of deceased patients, median survival from C1 to death was 4.8 months (range 0.4-11.7). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of a racially diverse cohort of mCRPC pts receiving SOC Lu177-Plu following FDA approval in the US. PSA decline, median number of cycles received, fraction not requiring blood products in this cohort were all lower than in the VISION trial, likely due to baseline pt characteristics and potentially more liberal pt selection. Our data highlights numerous areas of need: expanded geographic access, optimized pt selection, standardization of scan type and interval on therapy and further data on concurrent therapy.

A Conversation with Stephen M. Stigler

Stephen M. Stigler received his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of California, Berkeley, with a dissertation on the asymptotic distribution of linear functions of order statistics. Starting in 1967, he taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, then in 1979 moved to the University of Chicago where he taught from 1979 to 2021. Stigler has worked on a variety of topics in mathematical statistics, ranging from asymptotic theory to the theory of experimental design, and on applications of statistics including in anthropology, forensic science, paleontology, psychology, information transfer and sports. In recent years, he has concentrated on the history of statistics, with inquiries ranging from the development of statistical methods in astronomy and geodesy and their spread to biological and social sciences, to lotteries, to the modern development of statistical theory. He has published four books, The History of Statistics (1986), Statistics on the Table (1999), The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom (2016) and Casanova’s Lottery (2022). A recent research focus has been upon the way the work of Francis Galton on the statistics of inheritance led to the creation of modern multivariate analysis and made a true Bayesian inference possible, and on how R. A. Fisher’s transformation of Karl Pearson’s path breaking research led to a modern period of statistical enlightenment. Stigler is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Philosophical Society; he has served as President of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and of the International Statistical Institute. In 2005, he received the Humboldt Foundation Research Award; in 2010, he was elected Membre Associé of the Académie royale de Belgique, Classe des Sciences. Stigler served as Theory and Methods Editor for the Journal of the American Statistical Association 1979–1982. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1977, and received awards for undergraduate teaching at the University of Wisconsin (1971) and University of Chicago (1998). This interview with Stigler was conducted remotely in July 2021.