Learning to navigate: the centrality of instructions and assessments for developing students\u27 professional competencies in simulator-based training

Despite the promises of simulations to contribute to learning in safe-critical domains, research suggests that simulators are poorly implemented in maritime education and training systems. From the current state of research, it is far from evident how instruction in simulator-based should be designed and how skills trained in bridge simulators should be assessed and connected to professional practice. On this background, this article aims to investigate the role of instructions and assessments for developing students\u27 professional competencies in simulation-based learning environments. The research draws on ethnographic fieldwork and detailed analyses of video-recorded data to examine how maritime instructors make use of simulator technologies in a navigation course. Our results reveal an instructional practice in which the need to account for general principles of good seamanship and anti-collision regulations is at the core of basic navigation training. The meanings of good seamanship and the rules of the sea are hard to teach in abstraction because their application relies on an infinite number of contingencies that have to be accounted for in every specific case. Based on this premise, we stress the importance of instructional support throughout training (from briefing thorough scenario to debriefing) in order for the instructor to bridge theory and practice in ways that develop students\u27 competencies. Our results highlight, in detail, how simulator technologies enable displaying and assessing such competencies by supporting instructors to continuously monitor, assess, and provide feedback to the students during training sessions. Moreover, our results show how simulator-based training is related to the work conditions on board a seagoing vessel through the instructor\u27s systematic accomplishments. Finally, our results highlight the close relationship between technical and non-technical skills in navigation, and how these are intertwined in training for everyday maritime operations

Performance of a 70-mer oligonucleotide microarray for genotyping of Campylobacter jejuni

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Campylobacter jejuni </it>is widespread in the environment and is the major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. In the present study we use microarray-based comparative genomic hybridizations (CGH), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to analyze closely related <it>C. jejuni </it>isolates from chicken and human infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With the exception of one isolate, the microarray data clusters the isolates according to the five groups determined by PFGE. In contrast, MLST defines only three genotypes among the isolates, indicating a lower resolution. All methods show that there is no inherit difference between isolates infecting humans and chicken, suggesting a common underlying population of <it>C. jejuni</it>. We further identify regions that frequently differ between isolates, including both previously described and novel regions. Finally, we show that genes that belong to certain functional groups differ between isolates more often than expected by chance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study we demonstrated the utility of 70-mer oligonucleotide microarrays for genotyping of <it>Campylobacter jejuni </it>isolates, with resolution outperforming MLST.</p

An Inhaled Galectin-3 Inhibitor in COVID-19 Pneumonitis (DEFINE):A Phase Ib/IIa Randomised Controlled Trial

RATIONALE: High circulating galectin-3 is associated with poor outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We hypothesized that GB0139, a potent inhaled thiodigalactoside galectin-3 inhibitor with antiinflammatory and antifibrotic actions, would be safely and effectively delivered in COVID-19 pneumonitis. OBJECTIVES: Primary outcomes were safety and tolerability of inhaled GB0139 as an add-on therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonitis. METHODS: We present the findings of two arms of a phase Ib/IIa randomized controlled platform trial in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonitis. Patients received standard of care (SoC) or SoC plus 10 mg inhaled GB0139 twice daily for 48 hours, then once daily for up to 14 days or discharge. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data are reported from 41 patients, 20 of which were assigned randomly to receive GB0139. Primary outcomes: the GB0139 group experienced no treatment-related serious adverse events. Incidences of adverse events were similar between treatment arms (40 with GB0139 + SoC vs. 35 with SoC). Secondary outcomes: plasma GB0139 was measurable in all patients after inhaled exposure and demonstrated target engagement with decreased circulating galectin (overall treatment effect post-hoc analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] over days 2–7; P = 0.0099 vs. SoC). Plasma biomarkers associated with inflammation, fibrosis, coagulopathy, and major organ function were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: In COVID-19 pneumonitis, inhaled GB0139 was well-tolerated and achieved clinically relevant plasma concentrations with target engagement. The data support larger clinical trials to determine clinical efficacy. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04473053) and EudraCT (2020–002230–32)

Inventering av väddnätfjäril (Euphydryas aurinia) i Västmanlands län 2007

Väddnätfjärilen var förr ganska vanlig i vårt län men har på senare år minskat. Orsaken är att miljön som den lever i blir allt ovanligare. Den behöver öppna solbelysta ytor i skogsmark, men dessa områden växer igen i snabb takt. Den vanligaste typen av lokal är idag kraftledningsgator eller vägkanter. På flera av dessa lokaler för väddnätfjärilen en tynande tillvaro där bara ett fåtal exemplar hittades vid inventeringen. Denna rapport är ett första steg för att bevara väddnätfjärilen i länet. I och med den omfattande inventeringen har fjärilens utbredning på gamla och nya lokaler kunnat fastställas. Förutom inventeringsresultatet finns det även skötselråd för varje lokal för att förbättra livsmiljön för väddnätfjärilarna. Med den som grund följer nästa fas, att restaurera dessa lokaler så att fjärilen överlever. Målet är att fjärilen ska ha en stabil utbredning i länet och att populationerna ska öka och inte minska.Regionala inventeringsrapporter import från MDP 2015-05</p

Inventering av väddnätfjäril (Euphydryas aurinia) i Västmanlands län 2007

Väddnätfjärilen var förr ganska vanlig i vårt län men har på senare år minskat. Orsaken är att miljön som den lever i blir allt ovanligare. Den behöver öppna solbelysta ytor i skogsmark, men dessa områden växer igen i snabb takt. Den vanligaste typen av lokal är idag kraftledningsgator eller vägkanter. På flera av dessa lokaler för väddnätfjärilen en tynande tillvaro där bara ett fåtal exemplar hittades vid inventeringen. Denna rapport är ett första steg för att bevara väddnätfjärilen i länet. I och med den omfattande inventeringen har fjärilens utbredning på gamla och nya lokaler kunnat fastställas. Förutom inventeringsresultatet finns det även skötselråd för varje lokal för att förbättra livsmiljön för väddnätfjärilarna. Med den som grund följer nästa fas, att restaurera dessa lokaler så att fjärilen överlever. Målet är att fjärilen ska ha en stabil utbredning i länet och att populationerna ska öka och inte minska.Regionala inventeringsrapporter import från MDP 2015-05</p

ATK : Kassako eller livräddare?

Syftet med denna rapport är att pröva tesen om att ATK (Automatisk Trafiksäkerhetskontroll) är ekonomiskt lönsam, men att antalet olyckor däremot inte minskar på vägsträckor utrustade med ATK. Dvs. är ATK en kassako eller livräddare? Svaret är att ATK är både kassako och livräddare. 880 trafiksäkerhetskameror sparar cirka 20 liv och 60 svårt skadade i vägtrafikolyckor per år i Sverige. Den ekonomiska vinsten ligger i att ATK reducerar antalet dödade och skadade. Detta resulterar i en lönsamhet på cirka 537 Mkr för ATK i Sverige exklusive omsättningen ordnings-böterna genererar. För att erhålla nödvändig kunskap och statistik kring ämnet har jag hämtat information från hemsidor på internet (främst vägverkets), rapporter och litteratur. Erhållet material har jag kritiskt granskat och har därefter försökt följa upp informationen via andra källor i syfte att finna fler perspektiv och infallsvinklar. Fordonsförarnas vetskap om riskerna med höga hastigheter till trots så är hastighetsöverträdelser ett kriminellt beteende som pågår varje dag. För att söka förklaring till detta används i denna rapport teorin om Neutralisationstekniker. Dvs. individen söker acceptans för ett kriminellt beteende hos sig själv och sin omgivning och försöker på så sätt att skapa egna normer och värderingar i det etablerade samhället. ATK är ekonomiskt lönsamt och räddar liv. Dock har ATK svårt att möta upp mot den enskilda polismannens möjligheter att påverka attityd och beteende hos fordonsförare

Fetal, developmental, and parental influences on childhood systolic blood pressure in 600 sib pairs: the Uppsala Family study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the contribution of maternal and paternal factors to the inverse association between birth weight and later blood pressure in human offspring. A study of within- and between-family associations of birth weight with blood pressure, which collected data on both parents, would address this gap in our knowledge. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study examined families composed of mother, father, and 2 full sibs delivered between 38 and 41 weeks' gestation within 36 months of each other. A total of 1967 families meeting our inclusion criteria were contacted and 602 were examined (children 5 to 14 years old, 1998 to 2000). Birth weight and gestational age were available from obstetric records. Systolic blood pressure in childhood was inversely associated with birth weight within families (-2.3 mm Hg/kg, 95% CI -4.4 to -0.3) after adjustment for gestational age, sex, height, and weight at examination. The between-family effect (-1.5 mm Hg/kg, -3.1 to 0.0) was strengthened on adjustment for maternal and paternal height and weight, whereas adjustment for paternal and maternal systolic blood pressure at examination independently attenuated the effect. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of an inverse association of birth weight with systolic blood pressure within families (adjusted for height and weight at examination) demonstrates that factors that vary between pregnancies in the same woman (including fetal genotype) can influence the later blood pressure of offspring. We conclude that this apparent fetal programming effect on blood pressure will not be eliminated solely by interventions aimed at modifying growth and cumulative nutritional status from conception through childhood or other fixed characteristics of future mothers

Familial α1‐Antichymotrypsin Deficiency

ABSTRACT We studied patients and their relatives with partial deficiency, approximately 50% of normal plasma levels, of α1‐antichymotrypsin (ACT), an acute phase reactant with anti‐cathepsin G activity. Six of eight ACT deficient individuals, over 25 years of age, had liver and three of eight lung manifestations, varying from severe disease to subtle laboratory abnormalities. The ACT of deficient individuals (who are heterozygotes for a rare gene, q=0.003) had normal crossed immunoelectrophoretic properties. The abnormal gene is inherited in an autosomal, dominant way. The results suggest that deficiency of this antiprotease, which also has immune response modulating properties, may predispose to liver and lung disease. 1986 Association for the Publication of the Journal of Internal Medicin