An XML format for benchmarks in High School Timetabling

The High School Timetabling Problem is amongst the most widely used timetabling problems. This problem has varying structures in different high schools even within the same country or educational system. Due to lack of standard benchmarks and data formats this problem has been studied less than other timetabling problems in the literature. In this paper we describe the High School Timetabling Problem in several countries in order to find a common set of constraints and objectives. Our main goal is to provide exchangeable benchmarks for this problem. To achieve this we propose a standard data format suitable for different countries and educational systems, defined by an XML schema. The schema and datasets are available online

Primary hepatitis C virus infection in prisons

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes significant morbidity and mortality. An understanding of the factors associated with both acquisition and clearance of HCV infection is critical to prevention strategies including vaccine development. Although research in the prison environment is logistically challenging, inmates are a premier risk group. Accordingly, a prospective cohort study of prisoners with monthly sampling for HCV viraemia was undertaken to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, infection; and to assess the natural history of infection when detected by viraemia. The incidence of infection was 8 per 100 person years, with the incidence of "high risk" and "possible" HCV transmission risk events being 61 and 210 per 100 person years respectively. The first case of HCV infection in prison with tattooing as the probable route of acquisition was reported. A novel phenotype of HCV infection with HCV viraemia and subsequent clearance without the development of symptoms, biochemical hepatitis or seroconversion on HCV specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA), despite more than one year of follow-up, was reported. HCV-specific cell mediated immune responses were detected in the subjects analysed. These subjects also had indeterminate HCV serological responses directed against non-structural proteins detected on a recombinant immunob10t assay (RIBA) that were stable over time and typically predated HCV viraemia. The prevalence of such responses ranged from 29-79% in other relevant cohorts, including injecting drug users (IDUs) and multiply-transfused patients with thalassaemia. The antibody response against the non-structural protein, NS5 was the most reproducible. This reactivity was blocked in 57% of subjects when sera were pre-incubated with recombinant HCV proteins, suggesting HCV-specificity. A case-control study was undertaken to examine whether such responses predicted protection from "classical" HCV infection with EIA seroconversion. Cases that developed HCV viraemia and EIA seroconversion were more likely to have these responses at baseline (when aviraemic) than controls, demonstrating that they do not protect against acute infection. However, the rate of viral clearance in subjects with indeterminate RIBA responses that subsequently developed acute infection and were followed for viral clearance was high (88%), suggesting that such subjects have immune responses that are associated with viral clearance

Self-Reported Responses to Player Profile Questions Show Consistency with the Use of Complex Attentional Strategies by Expert Horseshoe Pitchers

The advantages on an external focus of attention have been demonstrated for a variety of sport tasks. The constrained action hypothesis (Wulf et al., 2001) argues that focusing externally on the movement effect results in the use of automated processes for movement control. In contrast, focusing internally in an attempt to control the movements of the body disrupts normally automated processes and degrades performance. Research on experts, however, suggests that they may adopt more complex attentional strategies. The present study provided a unique opportunity to examine expert horseshoe players’ attentional strategies as indicated by their self-reported responses to questions included in a National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) player profile questionnaire. Responses submitted by 83 top NHPA players were examined to determine the frequency of references to the use of internal and external focus points and identify categories related to attentional strategies. Results indicated that the large majority of players reported using focus points that are consistent with an external focus of attention and that their thoughts corresponded to one or more categories related to technique, mental focus or concentration, general success, use of external focus cues, and emotional control. The findings are consistent with the view that experts may adopt complex attentional strategies that encompass both an external focus and thoughts about a variety of other performance related factors

Testing numerical relativity with the shifted gauge wave

Computational methods are essential to provide waveforms from coalescing black holes, which are expected to produce strong signals for the gravitational wave observatories being developed. Although partial simulations of the coalescence have been reported, scientifically useful waveforms have so far not been delivered. The goal of the AppleswithApples (AwA) Alliance is to design, coordinate and document standardized code tests for comparing numerical relativity codes. The first round of AwA tests have now being completed and the results are being analyzed. These initial tests are based upon periodic boundary conditions designed to isolate performance of the main evolution code. Here we describe and carry out an additional test with periodic boundary conditions which deals with an essential feature of the black hole excision problem, namely a non-vanishing shift. The test is a shifted version of the existing AwA gauge wave test. We show how a shift introduces an exponentially growing instability which violates the constraints of a standard harmonic formulation of Einstein's equations. We analyze the Cauchy problem in a harmonic gauge and discuss particular options for suppressing instabilities in the gauge wave tests. We implement these techniques in a finite difference evolution algorithm and present test results. Although our application here is limited to a model problem, the techniques should benefit the simulation of black holes using harmonic evolution codes.Comment: Submitted to special numerical relativity issue of Classical and Quantum Gravit

Multidisciplinary team meetings in prosthetic joint infection management: A qualitative study

Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) cause substantial morbidity to patients and are extremely challenging for clinicians. Their management can include multiple operations, antibiotics, and prolonged hospital admissions. Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTM) are increasingly used for collaborative decision-making around the management of PJIs, but thus far there has been no examination of the role of MDTM in decisions and management. This study aimed to examine interactions in a PJI MDTM to identify the dynamics in decision-making, and inter-specialty relationships more broadly

Production of IgG2 Antibodies to Pneumococcal Polysaccharides After Vaccination of Treated HIV Patients May Be Augmented by IL-7Rα Signaling in ICOS+ Circulating T Follicular-Helper Cells

Greater understanding of factors influencing the maturation of antibody responses against pneumococcal polysaccharides (PcPs) may improve pneumococcal vaccination strategies. Although PcPs are type 2 T cell-independent antigens thought not to induce follicular immune responses, we have previously shown that IgG2 antibody responses against antigens in the 23-valent unconjugated PcP vaccine (PPV23) are associated with expansion of ICOS+ circulating T follicular helper (cTFH) cells in HIV seronegative subjects but not HIV patients. As IL-7Rα signaling in CD4+ T cells may affect TFH cell function and is adversely affected by HIV-1 infection, we have examined the relationship of IL-7Rα expression on ICOS+ cTFH cells with PcP-specific IgG2 antibody responses. PPV23 vaccination was undertaken in HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (n = 25) and HIV seronegative subjects (n = 20). IL-7Rα expression on ICOS+ and ICOS− cTFH cells was assessed at day(D) 0, 7, and 28. Fold increase between D0 and D28 in serum IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies to PcP serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, and 14 and the frequency of IgG1+ and IgG2+ antibody secreting cells (ASCs) at D7 were also assessed. Decline in IL-7Rα expression on ICOS+ cTFH cells between D0 and D7 occurred in 75% of HIV seronegative subjects and 60% of HIV patients (Group A), with changes in IL-7Rα expression being more pronounced in HIV patients. Group A patients exhibited abnormally high IL-7Rα expression pre-vaccination, an association of serum IgG2, but not IgG1, antibody responses with a decline of IL-7Rα expression on ICOS+ cTFH cells between D0 and D7, and an association of higher IgG2+ ASCs with lower IL-7Rα expression on ICOS+ cTFH cells at D7. As decline of IL-7Rα expression on CD4+ T cells is an indicator of IL-7Rα signaling, our findings suggest that utilization of IL-7 by cTFH cells affects production of IgG2 antibodies to PPV23 antigens in some HIV patients

Diagnostic Informatics—The Role of Digital Health in Diagnostic Stewardship and the Achievement of Excellence, Safety, and Value

Diagnostic investigations (pathology laboratory and medical imaging) aim to: increase certainty of the presence or absence of disease by supporting the process of differential diagnosis; support clinical management; and monitor a patient's trajectory (e. g., disease progression or response to treatment). Digital health can be defined as the collection, storage, retrieval, transmission, and utilization of data, information, and knowledge to support healthcare. Digital health has become an essential component of the diagnostic process, helping to facilitate the accuracy and timeliness of information transfer and enhance the effectiveness of decision-making processes. Digital health is also important to diagnostic stewardship, which involves coordinated guidance and interventions to ensure the appropriate utilization of diagnostic tests for therapeutic decision-making. Diagnostic stewardship and informatics are thus important in efforts to establish shared decision-making. This is because they contribute to the establishment of shared information platforms (enabling patients to read, comment on, and share in decisions about their care) based on timely and meaningful communication. This paper will outline key diagnostic informatics and stewardship initiatives across three interrelated fields: (1) diagnostic error and the establishment of outcomes-based diagnostic research; (2) the safety and effectiveness of test result management and follow-up; and (3) digitally enhanced decision support systems