Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Training Study

In the near future, the FAA will need to make decisions regarding small and large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) training standards. This includes appropriate training, licensure, and security requirements for pilots to safely operate UAS of all sizes in the National Airspace System (NAS). Current regulation requires small UAS operators to gain knowledge equivalent to traditional manned aircraft (NP 8900.227) but fall short of addressing the skills required to safely operate a small UAS. This study addresses the skillset required for small UAS training by examining link between participants’ previous training and experiences and how it affects UAS training. This study consists of one main research objective; determine whether there is a direct correlation between traditional pilot training, remote control aircraft training or video gaming experience and a significant ability to safely handle and fly a small UAS? The study will use three participant groups: participants with manned pilot hours, participants with RC hours or significant previous gaming experience, and participants with a background in none of these categories. The participants will complete a training regime which will culminate with a final, graded flight. By establishing a correlation between a particular regime of training and small UAS performance this study aims to make recommendations for future small UAS skill based training requiremen

Alternative Spring Break – Costa Rica

Currently, Embry-Riddle students not in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field do not have the opportunity to use the scientific method and see real world applications. Therefore, we are purpose to send a group of seven students to Costa Rica on an alternative spring break trip to help with sea turtle research. The trip will be broken into three major learning objectives: expose students to the scientific method, environmentalism/conservation, and volunteerism. Students will be expected to attend pre-trip workshops on the learning objectives and apply them to their trip through journaling. This opportunity will give students exposure to the research methodology and a chance to see how individual’s acts can have a positive impact on the world in which they live

SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and immune pathogenesis among school-aged learners in four diverse schools.

BackgroundUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is necessary to reopen schools safely.MethodsWe measured SARS-CoV-2 infection in 320 learners [10.5 ± 2.1 (sd); 7-17 y.o.] at four diverse schools with either remote or on-site learning. Schools A and B served low-income Hispanic learners; school C served many special-needs learners, and all provided predominantly remote instruction. School D served middle- and upper-income learners, with predominantly on-site instruction. Testing occurred in the fall (2020), and 6-8 weeks later during the fall-winter surge (notable for a tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases). Immune responses and mitigation fidelity were also measured.ResultsWe found SARS-CoV-2 infections in 17 learners only during the surge. School A (97% remote learners) had the highest infection (10/70, 14.3%, p < 0.01) and IgG positivity rates (13/66, 19.7%). School D (93% on-site learners) had the lowest infection and IgG positivity rates (1/63, 1.6%). Mitigation compliance [physical distancing (mean 87.4%) and face-covering (91.3%)] was remarkably high at all schools. Documented SARS-CoV-2-infected learners had neutralizing antibodies (94.7%), robust IFN-γ + T cell responses, and reduced monocytes.ConclusionsSchools can implement successful mitigation strategies across a wide range of student diversity. Despite asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, children generate robust humoral and cellular immune responses.ImpactSuccessful COVID-19 mitigation was implemented across a diverse range of schools. School-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections reflect regional rates rather than remote or on-site learning. Seropositive school-aged children with asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infections generate robust humoral and cellular immunity

SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and immune pathogenesis among school-aged learners in four diverse schools.

BackgroundUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is necessary to reopen schools safely.MethodsWe measured SARS-CoV-2 infection in 320 learners [10.5 ± 2.1 (sd); 7-17 y.o.] at four diverse schools with either remote or on-site learning. Schools A and B served low-income Hispanic learners; school C served many special-needs learners, and all provided predominantly remote instruction. School D served middle- and upper-income learners, with predominantly on-site instruction. Testing occurred in the fall (2020), and 6-8 weeks later during the fall-winter surge (notable for a tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases). Immune responses and mitigation fidelity were also measured.ResultsWe found SARS-CoV-2 infections in 17 learners only during the surge. School A (97% remote learners) had the highest infection (10/70, 14.3%, p < 0.01) and IgG positivity rates (13/66, 19.7%). School D (93% on-site learners) had the lowest infection and IgG positivity rates (1/63, 1.6%). Mitigation compliance [physical distancing (mean 87.4%) and face-covering (91.3%)] was remarkably high at all schools. Documented SARS-CoV-2-infected learners had neutralizing antibodies (94.7%), robust IFN-γ + T cell responses, and reduced monocytes.ConclusionsSchools can implement successful mitigation strategies across a wide range of student diversity. Despite asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, children generate robust humoral and cellular immune responses.ImpactSuccessful COVID-19 mitigation was implemented across a diverse range of schools. School-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections reflect regional rates rather than remote or on-site learning. Seropositive school-aged children with asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infections generate robust humoral and cellular immunity

SARS-CoV-2 Acquisition and Immune Pathogenesis Among School-Aged Learners in Four K-12 Schools.

Objectives: To directly measure SARS-CoV-2 infection in diverse schools with either remote or onsite learning. Methods: 4 schools participated. Schools A and B served low-income Hispanic learners, school C special needs, and all three provided predominantly remote instruction. School D served middle and upper-middle income, White learners, with predominantly onsite instruction. 320 learners [10.5±2.1(SD); 7-17 y.o.]; 86% had phlebotomy. Testing occurred early in the fall (2020), at lower levels of COVID-19, and 6-8 weeks later during the fall-winter surge (tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases). Results: Nasal RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 21 respiratory pathogens was performed. Phlebotomy was obtained for circulating immunity. Face covering and physical distancing fidelity was measured by direct observation. 17 learners were SARS-CoV-2 positive during the surge. School A (97% remote) had the highest infection rate (9/70, 12.9%, p<0.01) and IgG positivity rate (13/70, 18.6%). School D had the lowest infection and IgG positive rate (1/86, 1.2%). Mitigation compliance [physical distancing (mean 87.4%) and face covering (91.3%)] was high at all schools. Learners with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection had neutralizing antibodies (94.7%), broad and robust IFN-γ+ T cell responses, reduced frequencies of monocytes, and lower levels of circulating inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: Infection in the schools reflected regional rates rather than remote or onsite learning modalities. Schools can implement successful mitigation strategies across a wide range of income, school-type, and student diversity. Reduced monocyte and immune mediator concentrations coupled with robust humoral and cellular immunity may explain the generally milder symptoms in school-aged children. Table of Contents Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunobiology was measured in children at 4 diverse schools with varying degrees of onsite and remote learning. What’s Known on This Subject: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were reflexively closed as there were fears that agreggation of school-aged children would lead to increased infection. Infectivity and immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2 in children attending schools not understood. What This Study Adds: School-associated infections reflected regional rates rather than remote or onsite learning. Successful mitigation was implemented across a diverse range of schools. Reduced immune mediator concentrations coupled with robust humoral and cellular immunity may explain the milder symptoms in school-aged children

Ultra-rare sarcomas: A consensus paper from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society community of experts on the incidence threshold and the list of entities

BACKGROUND: Among sarcomas, which are rare cancers, many types are exceedingly rare; however, a definition of ultra-rare cancers has not been established. The problem of ultra-rare sarcomas is particularly relevant because they represent unique diseases, and their rarity poses major challenges for diagnosis, understanding disease biology, generating clinical evidence to support new drug development, and achieving formal authorization for novel therapies.METHODS: The Connective Tissue Oncology Society promoted a consensus effort in November 2019 to establish how to define ultra-rare sarcomas through expert consensus and epidemiologic data and to work out a comprehensive list of these diseases. The list of ultra-rare sarcomas was based on the 2020 World Health Organization classification, The incidence rates were estimated using the Information Network on Rare Cancers (RARECARENet) database and NETSARC (the French Sarcoma Network's clinical-pathologic registry). Incidence rates were further validated in collaboration with the Asian cancer registries of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.RESULTS: It was agreed that the best criterion for a definition of ultra-rare sarcomas would be incidence. Ultra-rare sarcomas were defined as those with an incidence of approximately 641 per 1,000,000, to include those entities whose rarity renders them extremely difficult to conduct well powered, prospective clinical studies. On the basis of this threshold, a list of ultra-rare sarcomas was defined, which comprised 56 soft tissue sarcoma types and 21 bone sarcoma types.CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the incidence of ultra-rare sarcomas accounts for roughly 20% of all soft tissue and bone sarcomas. This confirms that the challenges inherent in ultra-rare sarcomas affect large numbers of patients

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours: ESMO-EURACAN-GENTURIS Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are malignant mesenchymal tumours with a variable clinical behaviour, marked by differentiation towards the interstitial cells of Cajal.1 GISTs belong to the family of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) but are treated separately due to their peculiar histogenesis, clinical behaviour and specific therapy. This European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)–European Reference Network for Rare Adult Solid Cancers (EURACAN)–European Reference Network for Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes (GENTURIS) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) will cover GISTs while other STSs are covered in the ESMO–EURACAN–European Reference Network for Paediatric Oncology (ERN PaedCan)–GENTURIS STS CPG.Peer reviewe