American Thoracic Society 2019 Pediatric Core Curriculum

The American Thoracic Society Pediatric Core Curriculum updates clinicians annually in pediatric pulmonary disease in a 3 to 4 year recurring cycle of topics. The 2019 course was presented in May during the Annual International Conference. An American Board of Pediatrics Maintenance of Certification module and a continuing medical education exercise covering the contents of the Core Curriculum can be accessed online at www.thoracic.org.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152541/1/ppul24482_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152541/2/ppul24482.pd

Common Genetic Variants near the Brittle Cornea Syndrome Locus ZNF469 Influence the Blinding Disease Risk Factor Central Corneal Thickness

Central corneal thickness (CCT), one of the most highly heritable human traits (h2 typically>0.9), is important for the diagnosis of glaucoma and a potential risk factor for glaucoma susceptibility. We conducted genome-wide association studies in five cohorts from Australia and the United Kingdom (total N = 5058). Three cohorts were based on individually genotyped twin collections, with the remaining two cohorts genotyped on pooled samples from singletons with extreme trait values. The pooled sample findings were validated by individual genotyping the pooled samples together with additional samples also within extreme quantiles. We describe methods for efficient combined analysis of the results from these different study designs. We have identified and replicated quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 13 and 16 for association with CCT. The locus on chromosome 13 (nearest gene FOXO1) had an overall meta-analysis p-value for all the individually genotyped samples of 4.6×10−10. The locus on chromosome 16 was associated with CCT with p = 8.95×10−11. The nearest gene to the associated chromosome 16 SNPs was ZNF469, a locus recently implicated in Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS), a very rare disorder characterized by abnormal thin corneas. Our findings suggest that in addition to rare variants in ZNF469 underlying CCT variation in BCS patients, more common variants near this gene may contribute to CCT variation in the general population

Integrated Development Environment and Testing System for JAVA

Most Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) do not offer faculty for automated testing. Those that do provide only unit testing (i.e. IntelliJ IDEA) which is not enough to assure quality of program. Currently, majority of IDEs provide only customizable shortcuts to standalone testing utilities. As a result, testing tools are still loaded separately, thus wasting time and resources. Software testing tools may or may not support IDEs. Those that are not integrated with IDEs must run separately. Those that are integrated, however, are mostly limited to unit testing. Moreover, different kinds of testing are provided by different kinds of software. This means that in order to test a software being developed, different testing software must be loaded again this would cost time and resources. To cater to these problems, the group proposes to research on Integrated Development Environments and testing components. The final output of the program would be to design and develop an Integrated Development Environment with programming and testing tools specially designed for Object-Oriented Java programs. Keywords: IDE, Automated testing, testing tools, Java, Object Oriented programs, and Unit testing

Utilizing Cucurbita moschata Duch. (Winter Squash) Fruit Peels as a Viable Component of Paper

Cucurbita moschata Duch., more commonly known as winter squash, is economically and globally important. However, given that one-third of the food made for human consumption is wasted and never consumed, this fruit is not being utilized to its full potential. As the main component of fruit-based papers such as bananas, coconuts, and corn, winter squash is rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. To resolve the 12th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Responsible Consumption and Production, the effectiveness, durability, tensile strength, and biodegradability of winter squash peels as the main component of homemade paper production were investigated. The produced paper underwent 20 trials of tensile strength test, scratch test, and soil burial test using an experimental research design. It was only able to pass the tensile strength test. In contrast, it failed in terms of durability and biodegradability, possibly due to the limited testing procedures and allotted time for testing. Therefore, the utilization of winter squash in paper production was ineffective in terms of the criteria mentioned above and needs further research to be classified as a practical alternative paper component

Breaking Barriers Amid the Pandemic: The Status of Telehealth in Southeast Asia and its Potential as a Mode of Healthcare Delivery in the Philippines

Southeast Asia (SEA) is a geographical bloc that is sociologically, politically, and economically diverse. This diversity has led to heterogeneity in levels of development of healthcare systems in its member states (Chongsuvivatwong et al., 2011). Nevertheless, countries in SEA share joint commitments, particularly in achieving Universal Health Coverage. Their efforts toward this goal has progressed significantly, as evidenced by the increasing availability of preventive and curative care services across SEA (Van Minh et al., 2014). As it is, the healthcare system of SEA struggles to meet the ever-changing demands of its aging population that has become more prosperous and aware of its human rights (Chongsuvivatwong et al., 2011). The problem is the insufficient healthcare workforce of SEA, with only 1.93 doctors per 10,000 population in Cambodia as the lowest, and 22.94 doctors per 10,000 population in Singapore as the highest, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (Geneva: World Health Organizations, 2021). In the report, eight out of 11 SEA countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam) have doctor-population ratios lower than the WHO recommendation of 10 doctors per 10,000 population. This translates to immense amounts of work for doctors serving patients in the region