Recovering from COVID-19 Building Closures: Guidance Document

While the country comes to terms with the inevitable impact that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will have on our lives and communities, public health authorities remain focused on breaking the chain of transmission. Managing the risk has resulted in widespread closures of businesses, schools, universities, resorts, and other facilities deemed “non-essential.” Practically speaking, this means closing buildings and ceasing operations. For building owners and operators, this poses a significant challenge to protect their assets and to ensure they are ready to reoccupy once the pandemic subsides

Understanding a Pacific Islander Young Adult Perspective on Access to Higher Education

The Pacific Islander (PI) community suffers disproportionately from illnesses and diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. While there are tremendous health needs within the PI community, there are few health care providers from the community that exist to help address these particular needs. Many efforts have focused on health care workforce diversity to reduce and eliminate health disparities, but few have examined the issues faced in the health care work force pipeline. Understanding educational attainment among PI young adults is pivotal in speaking to a diverse health care workforce where health disparities among Pacific Islanders (PIs) may be addressed. This paper provides an in-depth, qualitative assessment of the various environmental, structural, socio-economic, and social challenges that prevent PIs from attaining higher education; it also discusses the various needs of PI young adults as they relate to psychosocial support, retention and recruitment, and health career knowledge and access. This paper represents a local, Southern California, assessment of PI young adults regarding educational access barriers. We examine how these barriers impact efforts to address health disparities and look at opportunities for health and health-related professionals to reduce and care for the high burden of illnesses and diseases in PI communities

Lymph Node Characterization in Vivo Using Endoscopic Ultrasound Spectrum Analysis With Electronic Array Echo Endoscopes

Our purpose was to demonstrate the use of radiofrequency spectral analysis to distinguish between benign and malignant lymph nodes with data obtained using electronic array echo endoscopes, as we have done previously using mechanical echo endoscopes. In a prospective study, images were obtained from eight patients with benign-appearing lymph nodes and 11 with malignant lymph nodes, as verified by fine-needle aspiration. Midband fit, slope, intercept, correlation coefficient, and root-mean-square (RMS) deviation from a linear regression of the calibrated power spectra were determined and compared between the groups. Significant differences were observable for mean midband fit, intercept, and RMS deviation (t test P \u3c 0.05). For benign (n = 16) vs. malignant (n = 12) lymph nodes, midband fit and RMS deviation provided classification with 89 % accuracy and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.95 based on linear discriminant analysis. We concluded that the mean spectral parameters of the backscattered signals from electronic array echo endoscopy can provide a noninvasive method to quantitatively discriminate between benign and malignant lymph nodes

Concert recording 2018-04-16

[Track 1]. Music for a while / Henry Purcell -- [Track 2]. Lachen und Weinen / Franz Schubert -- [Track 3]. Sebben crudele / Antonio Caldara -- [Track 4]. Money, o! / Michael Head -- [Track 5]. Les Berceaux / Gabriel Fauré -- [Track 6]. Music I heard with you / Richard Hageman -- [Track 7]. Die Forelle / Schubert -- [Track 8]. Take, o take those lips away / Roger Quilter -- [Track 9]. La pastorella delle Alpi / Gioachino Rossini -- [Track 10]. Pastorale / Georges Bizet -- [Track 11]. Laudamus te from Mass in C minor, K. 427 / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- [Track 12]. Winter / Dominick Argento -- [Track 13]. From Canciones clásicos españos. I. La mi sola, Laureola II. Al amor III. ¿Corazón porqué pasáis IV. Chiquitita la novia / Fenando Obradors -- [Track 14]. From Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister, op. 98a. Kennst du das Land Nur Wer die Sehnsucht kennt Heiss mich nicht reden, heiss mich schweigen / Robert Schumann -- [Track 15]. Non t\u27accostar all\u27urna / Schubert Non t\u27accostar all\u27urna / Giuseppe Verdi -- Плач об умершем младенце / Dmitri Shostakovich -- [Track 16]. Airs Chantés. I. Air Romantique II. Air Champêtre III. Air Grave IV. Air Vif / Francis Poulenc

Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among US Healthcare Personnel, May-December 2020

To determine risk factors for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among US healthcare personnel (HCP), we conducted a case-control analysis. We collected data about activities outside the workplace and COVID-19 patient care activities from HCP with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test results (cases) and from HCP with negative test results (controls) in healthcare facilities in 5 US states. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate adjusted matched odds ratios and 95% CIs for exposures. Among 345 cases and 622 controls, factors associated with risk were having close contact with persons with COVID-19 outside the workplace, having close contact with COVID-19 patients in the workplace, and assisting COVID-19 patients with activities of daily living. Protecting HCP from COVID-19 may require interventions that reduce their exposures outside the workplace and improve their ability to more safely assist COVID-19 patients with activities of daily living

Significant benefits of AIP testing and clinical screening in familial isolated and young-onset pituitary tumors

Context Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are responsible for a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) cases and sporadic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). Objective To compare prospectively diagnosed AIP mutation-positive (AIPmut) PitNET patients with clinically presenting patients and to compare the clinical characteristics of AIPmut and AIPneg PitNET patients. Design 12-year prospective, observational study. Participants & Setting We studied probands and family members of FIPA kindreds and sporadic patients with disease onset ≤18 years or macroadenomas with onset ≤30 years (n = 1477). This was a collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases. Interventions & Outcome AIP testing and clinical screening for pituitary disease. Comparison of characteristics of prospectively diagnosed (n = 22) vs clinically presenting AIPmut PitNET patients (n = 145), and AIPmut (n = 167) vs AIPneg PitNET patients (n = 1310). Results Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut PitNET patients had smaller lesions with less suprasellar extension or cavernous sinus invasion and required fewer treatments with fewer operations and no radiotherapy compared with clinically presenting cases; there were fewer cases with active disease and hypopituitarism at last follow-up. When comparing AIPmut and AIPneg cases, AIPmut patients were more often males, younger, more often had GH excess, pituitary apoplexy, suprasellar extension, and more patients required multimodal therapy, including radiotherapy. AIPmut patients (n = 136) with GH excess were taller than AIPneg counterparts (n = 650). Conclusions Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut patients show better outcomes than clinically presenting cases, demonstrating the benefits of genetic and clinical screening. AIP-related pituitary disease has a wide spectrum ranging from aggressively growing lesions to stable or indolent disease course

Theorizing a Sustainable, Holistic, Interconnected Partnership (SHIP) Development Model with Feminist, Activist Lenses: Best Practices from a Community-University Service Learning Partnership in Asian American Studies

Mindfully engaging with one another on collaborative projects and relationship building is critical for sustaining partnerships of trust and reciprocity between community-based organizations (CBOs) and institutions of higher education. This resource paper presents the Sustainable-Holistic-Interconnected-Partnership (SHIP) Development Model based on a study theorizing the organizational evolution of the ten- year community-university service-learning partnership between the Youth Education Program of the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance and the Asian American Studies Program at California State University, Fullerton. The authors conducted a self- study intersecting their lenses as feminist activists of color and their use of qualitative methods. They found that they sustained their partnership by intentionally grounding their norms and practice in the values of democracy, equity, social justice, and liberation. The SHIP model has diverse implications for community-university partnerships and the fields of Asian American studies (AAS) and service learning

Recovering from COVID-19 Building Closures: Guidance Document

While the country comes to terms with the inevitable impact that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will have on our lives and communities, public health authorities remain focused on breaking the chain of transmission. Managing the risk has resulted in widespread closures of businesses, schools, universities, resorts, and other facilities deemed “non-essential.” Practically speaking, this means closing buildings and ceasing operations. For building owners and operators, this poses a significant challenge to protect their assets and to ensure they are ready to reoccupy once the pandemic subsides

Motivating Public School Districts to Adopt Sun Protection Policies

Background In 2002, CDC recommended that the nation\u27s schools establish policies that reduce sun exposure to decrease students\u27 risk of skin cancer. Purpose A program to convince public school districts to adopt such a policy was evaluated. Design RCT. Setting/participants Public school districts in Colorado (n=56) and Southern California (n=56). Intervention Policy information, tools, and technical assistance were provided through printed materials, a website, meetings with administrators, and presentations to school boards. An RCT enrolled public school districts from 2005 to 2010. Policy adoption was promoted over 2 years at districts randomized to the intervention. Main outcome measures School board–approved policies were obtained from 106 districts and coded at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Analyses were conducted in 2010. Results There was no difference in the percentage of districts adopting a policy (24% in intervention; 12% in control; p=0.142); however, intervention districts (adjusted M=3.10 of 21 total score) adopted stronger sun safety policies than control districts (adjusted M=1.79; p=0.035). Policy categories improved on sun safety education for students (intervention adjusted M=0.76; control adjusted M=0.43, p=0.048); provision of outdoor shade (intervention adjusted M=0.79; control adjusted M=0.28, p=0.029); and outreach to parents (intervention adjusted M=0.59; control adjusted M=0.20, p=0.027). Conclusions Multifaceted promotion can increase adoption of stronger policies for reducing sun exposure of students by public school districts. Future research should explore how policies are implemented by schools

Characterization of the Pancreas in Vivo Using EUS Spectrum Analysis with Electronic Array Echoendoscopes

Background Spectral analysis of the radiofrequency (RF) signals that underlie grayscale EUS images has been used to provide quantitative, objective information about tissue histology. Objective Our purpose was to validate RF spectral analysis as a method to distinguish between chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic cancer (PC). Design and Setting A prospective study of eligible patients was conducted to analyze the RF data obtained by using electronic array echoendoscopes. Patients Pancreatic images were obtained by using electronic array echoendoscopes from 41 patients in a prospective study, including 15 patients with PC, 15 with CP, and 11 with a normal pancreas. Main Outcome Measurements Midband fit, slope, intercept, correlation coefficient, and root mean square deviation from a linear regression of the calibrated power spectra were determined and compared among the groups. Results Statistical analysis showed that significant differences were observable between groups for mean midband fit, intercept, and root mean square deviation (t test, P \u3c .05). Discriminant analysis of these parameters was then performed to classify the data. For CP (n = 15) versus PC (n = 15), the same parameters provided 83% accuracy and an area under the curve of 0.83. Limitations Moderate sample size and spatial averaging inherent in the technique. Conclusions This study shows that mean spectral parameters of the backscattered signals obtained by using electronic array echoendoscopes can provide a noninvasive method to quantitatively discriminate between CP and PC