Beyond Sharing the Pen: Dialogue in the Context of Interactive Writing

The purpose of this design study was to examine how two teachers revise their instructional methods in response to student outcomes and how students learn strategies of writing through classroom discourse in the context of interactive writing. The study was designed to explore the role of teacher and student in socially situated writing environments and reveal how conversation affects student learning and instructional decision-making. Throughout the study I was an active participant observer continually modifying the intervention with the input of the classroom teachers. This study was based on the theoret ical model of reading as a meaning-construction process described by Ruddell and Unrau (2004). According to this model, the reader, or in this case the writer, the text, and the teacher negotiate meaning within the social setting of the classroom. Two first grade classrooms served as the bounded units of analysis for this case study with an emphasis on formative experiment. Data collected included classroom observations and transcripts, transcripts of afterschool planning and reflecting meetings, transcripts of teacher and student interviews, teacher reflection logs, written artifacts, and student assessments. Data analysis was based on Wells‟ (1999) progressive discourse analysis. Progressive discourse refers to the process of building knowledge through conversation. Dialogue is a tool used to gain new knowledge and modify existing knowledge. The two participating teachers in this study were able to revise their instructional methods based on the individual needs of their students to varying degrees. The students in the more successful teacher‟s classroom had more significant academic gains in reading and writing by the end of the intervention. The findings from this study suggest that it is important to understand the prior beliefs of teachers, their knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, and their preferred avenues of reflection when attempting to implement an interactive writing intervention. For student learning outcomes it may be important to consider the need for explicit literacy instruction, interactive dialogic moves, student engagement, and the opportunity for students to take on the role of teacher to their peer

Molecular detection of culture-confirmed bacterial bloodstream infections with limited enrichment time

Conventional blood culturing using automated instrumentation with phenotypic identification requires a significant amount of time to generate results. This study investigated the speed and accuracy of results generated using PCR and pyrosequencing compared to the time required to obtain Gram stain results and final culture identification for cases of culture-confirmed bloodstream infections. Research and physician-ordered blood cultures were drawn concurrently. Aliquots of the incubating research blood culture fluid were removed hourly between 5 and 8 h, at 24 h, and again at 5 days. DNA was extracted from these 6 time point aliquots and analyzed by PCR and pyrosequencing for bacterial rRNA gene targets. These results were then compared to those of the physician-ordered blood culture. PCR and pyrosequencing accurately identified 92% of all culture-confirmed cases after a mean enrichment time of 5.8 ± 2.9 h. When the time needed to complete sample processing was included for PCR and pyrosequencing protocols, the molecular approach yielded results in 11.8 ± 2.9 h compared to means of 27.9 ± 13.6 h to obtain the Gram stain results and 81.6 ± 24.0 h to generate the final culture-based identification. The molecular approach enabled accurate detection of most bacteria present in incubating blood culture bottles on average about 16 h sooner than Gram stain results became available and approximately 3 days sooner than the phenotypic identification was entered in the Laboratory Information System. If implemented, this more rapid molecular approach could minimize the number of doses of unnecessary or ineffective antibiotics administered to patients

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of HPV in Cytology Specimens Containing Atypical Glandular Cells: A Case Control Study

Introduction: Although the incidence of squamous cell cervical cancers in the U.S. has markedly declined over time with the introduction of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, the incidence of glandular cell cancers has increased. The sensitivity of detecting lesions containing abnormal glandular cells is much lower than that for lesions containing abnormal squamous cells. While AGC-grade cytology results represent \u3c1% of all Pap test results reported annually in the U.S., up to 40% of them represent a corresponding high-grade lesion on the followup biopsy. Guidelines for managing AGC-grade cytology released in 2006 by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology include HPV testing. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV in AGC-grade liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens compared to control specimens negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM). Methods: Quest Diagnostics provided de-identified case and control LBC specimens. Cases were women with AGC-grade LBC specimens collected between 2007- 2012. Controls were a sample of women with NILM-grade LBC specimens collected between 2011-2012. DNA was extracted from LBC specimens using the QIAamp MinElute Media Kit (Qiagen Inc.) and amplified by PCR using the Linear Array HPV Genotyping Kit (Roche Molecular Inc.). To compare HPV prevalence and genotype distribution between AGC-grade cases and NILM controls, we used multivariate logistic regression to generate age-adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Fifty-three AGC-grade LBC specimens (mean age; 57 yrs, age range; 18-95 yrs) and 338 NILM LBC specimens (mean age; 45 yrs, age range; 20-91 yrs) were screened for 37 types of HPV DNA: 13 high-risk (HR) HPV types and 24 low-risk (LR) HPV types. Any HR-HPV was present in 34% of AGC-grade specimens and 7.4% of NILM specimens (ORadj=9.11; 95% CI: 4.08-20.33, p-value\u3c0.001). When limited to HPV 16/18, at least one was present in 20.1% of AGC-grade specimens and 1.2% of NILM specimens (ORadj=40.10, 95% CI: 10.73- 149.88, p-value\u3c0.001). In contrast, prevalence of low-risk (LR) HPV was similar between the two groups: 15% of AGC-grade specimens and 17.2% of NILM specimens (ORadj=0.91; 95% CI: 0.35-2.31, p-value=0.834). Conclusion: AGC-grade specimens were found to contain a significantly higher rate of HR-HPV, especially HPV types 16 or 18 when compared to NILM specimens. These findings support the earlier recommendation that HPV testing should be performed on LBC specimens with AGC-grade diagnosis and suggests that genotyping may be a useful addition to the follow up testing being performed

A modified delphi involving laboratory faculty to define essential skills for pharmacy graduates

Objective. To define essential skills for Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) graduates that are needed in the four most common sectors of pharmacy practice as determined by expert faculty who instruct within pharmacy skills laboratories. Methods. A three-round Delphi method was used to establish consensus. In the first round, participants were asked what skills were needed by students at entry to practice in community, health-system, ambulatory care, and managed care pharmacy settings. In rounds two and three, participants were asked to rate each skill with a level of importance using a 10-point Likert scale (1=not important to 10=very important). Results. In round one, participants produced a collective list of 289 essential skills. These skill state-ments were sent to participants in rounds two and three to assign a level of importance. After the third round, participants reached consensus using a mean level of importance for a final list of 69 community pharmacy skills, 47 health-system, 60 ambulatory care, and 15 managed care skills. These skills were then mapped to entrustable professional activities domains for schools and colleges pharmacy to use as a resource when assessing core competency development in the curriculum. Conclusion. The Delphi technique was used successfully with expert pharmacy skills laboratory faculty to identify laboratory-focused essential skills that recent PharmD graduates should have prior to entering community, health-system, ambulatory care, or managed care pharmacy practice. These essential skills can be used to guide curriculum development, develop milestone markers, and help ensure students are practice ready

Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Beefpacking Workers in a Midwestern United States Slaughterhouse

Occupational contact with livestock is an established risk factor for exposure to livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), particularly among industrial swine workers. While S. aureus is known to infect cattle, livestock-associated S. aureuscarriage among workers in the beef production chain has received limited attention. Beefpacking workers, who slaughter, butcher and process cattle, have intensified exposure to potentially infectious animal materials and may be at risk of livestock-associated S. aureusexposure. We conducted a cross-sectional study of beefpacking workers (n = 137) at an industrial slaughterhouse in the Midwestern United States to evaluate prevalence and characteristics of S. aureus nasal colonization, specifically the absence of the scn gene to identify putative association with livestock, antibiotic susceptibility, presence of Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) genes lukS-PV and lukF-PV, and spa type. Overall prevalence of S.aureus nasal carriage was 27.0%. No workers carried livestock-associated MRSA. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolates (MSSA) recovered from five workers (3.6%) lacked the scn gene and were considered putative livestock-associated S. aureus (pLA-SA). Among pLA-SA isolates, spa types t338, t748, t1476 and t2379 were identified. To our knowledge, these spatypes have not previously been identified as associated with livestock. Prevalence of human-adapted MRSA carriage in workers was 3.6%. MRSA isolates were identified as spa types t002, t008 and t024, and four of five MRSA isolates were PVL-positive. To date, this is the first study to indicate that industrial beefpacking workers in the United States may be exposed to livestock-associated S. aureus, notably MSSA, and to spa types not previously identified in livestock and livestock workers. Occupational exposure to livestock-associated S. aureus in the beef production chain requires further epidemiologic investigation

Policies, Practices, and Pedagogies: A Qualitative Study of LGBTQ+ Representation in the Physical Therapy Profession

Introduction APTA collects demographic data regarding racial diversity, but ignores gender and sexual diversity In the US, 4.5 percent of adults identified as LGBTQ+ In Minnesota, 4.1 percent of adults identified as LGBTQ+ Objective Gain an improved understanding of the shared experiences and the potential underlying barriers that practicing and student PTs and PTAs from gender/sexual minorities in Minnesota encounter Results of the study will be used to assist MNPTA task force to improve diversity in PT/PTA education and practice in Minnesota Methods The seven participants were practicing PT/PTAs or student from Minnesota Recruitment through flyer via email and distributed at MNPTA educational events, or personally invited by PI 90 minute online focus groups moderated by a PI Discussed choice of career path, perceived barriers, shared life experiences, and thoughts of improving LGBTQ+ acceptances and equality Groups were audio recorded, de-identified, transcribed, cleaned and then imported into NVIVO 12 software and coded Conclusion Participants shared similar experiences across multiple aspects of their lives and encountered similar barriers and challenges as student and practicing PT/PTAs in Minnesota Future research should be conducted to explore the solutions proposed by participants and determine if there are other common major themes that exist Clinical Relevance Important to understand barriers that LBGTQ+ PT/PTAs face in order to address the health disparities that exist in the Physical Therapy Profession in Minnesota Create an environment that is more inclusive and more representative of the growing diversity that exists in physical therapy by putting potential solutions into action Important to have PTs who are educated on the health disparities that exist in LBGTQ+ and uniquely understand their patients\u27 need

The Ursinus Weekly, March 5, 1951

Helfferich retains MAC title; Voted outstanding • Music Club lists HMS Pinafore as Spring production • Community Chest receives support • MSGA holds discussion on guests\u27 meal prices • Brownback receives material for May 4, 5 grad record exam • Dr. McClure to view Ursinus problems at YM-YWCA meeting • Group presentation of Condemned scores hit • DuPont lecturer shows new super light plastic • Larry Livingston, DuPont manager, to speak here • Dr. Yost to read poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay • Administration receives additional data on draft • Seniors\u27 original Speak Easy ready for production • Lantern staff prepares issue; Meeting called • Notecrackers lose coin-tossing finals • Charles Lachman donates rug for Library faculty room • Red Cross drive begins • Rushing starts Monday • Editorial: Participation makes spirit; Support Red Cross; Lenten thoughts • L-shaped office is language office, where all is congeniality, cooperation, cordiality • Star gazers view sky, map moon through telescope atop Pfahler Hall • Staff grinds out The Weekly midst daily confusion • Swarthmore knocks Ursinus quintet from league contention in 78-56 win • Jerry Seeders awaits word on call to Army; Was captain in last war • Quintet winds up season in 95-62 loss to Blue Hens • Bear matmen rally, tie Drexel 14-14 • Belles defeat Penn to stay unbeaten • Mermaids capture fourth place in district intercollegiate meet • Club holds supperhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1561/thumbnail.jp

Beyond a catalogue of differences: A theoretical frame and good practice guidelines for researching sex/gender in human health

Extensive medical, public health, and social science research have focused on cataloguing male–female differences in human health. Unfortunately, much of this research unscientifically and unquestionably attributes these differences to biological causes – as exemplified in the Institute of Medicine’s conclusion that “every cell has a sex.” In this manuscript we theorize the entanglement of sex and gender in human health research and articulate good practice guidelines for assessing the role of biological processes – along with social and biosocial processes – in the production of non-reproductive health differences between and among men and women. There are two basic tenets underlying this project. The first is that sex itself is not a biological mechanism and the second is that “sex” and “gender” are entangled, and analyses should proceed by assuming that measures of sex are not pristine, but include effects of gender. Building from these tenets – and using cardiovascular disease as a consistent example – we articulate a process that scientists and researchers can use to seriously and systematically assess the role of biology and social environment in the production of health among men and women. We hope that this intervention will be one further step toward understanding the complexity and nuance of health outcomes, and that this increased knowledge can be used to improve human health