Racism on Every Side: Good Unionism Will Lead to Good Race Relations . . . Someday

[Excerpt] This is not a black union, white union, red, brown, or green. This is a union of workers who, over the past 50 years or so, have struggled to make life a little easier for future members of this great union. These workers have had to put up with the likes of the Chicago Board of Education, the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, and the Cook County Commissioners. And, we must be prepared to continue this struggle. As a black man, as a former union organizer in both the North and South, and now as a local President, I know about white racism. I know what to expect and I\u27m ready for it. But racism from every side — sometimes subtle, sometimes explicit — is more difficult to deal with. Sometimes you confront it directly, sometimes you have to ignore it. Sometimes you make a point and move on. Always, you agitate and organize

A Case Study Exploration of Strategies to Improve First-Line Supervisor Problem-Solving Abilities in the Retail Supermarket Industry

First-line supervisors in U.S. retail organizations are unable to resolve nearly 34% of typical daily customer problems for their organizations. The purpose of this single-case study was to explore the strategies retail supermarket managers have used to improve first-line supervisor problem solving abilities within a retail supermarket company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with four retail store manager participants with a successful record of improving first-line supervisor problem solving abilities. Based on inductive data analysis and methodological triangulation of the data collected, four themes emerged after the data analysis: (a) the importance of communicating expectations with first-line supervisors, (b) coaching first-line supervisors on performance, (c) first-line supervisor learning and development, and (d) measuring first-line supervisor performance. Findings from this study warrant additional empirical exploration of strategies for improving first-line supervisor problem solving abilities

Adjunctive interferon-γ immunotherapy for the treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) is of key importance in the immune response to Cryptococcus neoformans. Mortality related to cryptococcal meningitis remains high, and novel treatment strategies are needed. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether addition of IFNγ to standard therapy increased the rate of clearance of cryptococcal infection in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. METHODS: Patients were randomized to amphotericin B 1 mg/kg per day and 5FC 100 mg/kg per day for 2 weeks (standard therapy), standard therapy and IFNγ1b 100 μg days 1 and 3 (IFNγ two doses), or standard therapy and IFNγ1b 100 μg days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 (IFNγ six doses). Primary outcome was rate of clearance of cryptococcus from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (early fungicidal activity, EFA) calculated from serial quantitative cultures, previously shown to be independently associated with survival. RESULTS: Rate of fungal clearance was significantly faster in IFNγ containing groups than with standard treatment. Mean EFA [log colony forming unit (CFU)/ml per day] was -0.49 with standard treatment, -0.64 with IFNγ two doses, and -0.64 with IFNγ six doses. Difference in EFA was -0.15 [confidence interval (95% CI) -0.02 to -0.27, P=0.02] between standard treatment and IFNγ two doses, and -0.15 (95% CI -0.05 to -0.26, P=0.006) between standard treatment and IFNγ six doses. Mortality was 16% (14/88) at 2 weeks and 31% (27/87) at 10 weeks, with no significant difference between groups. All treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Addition of short-course IFNγ to standard treatment significantly increased the rate of clearance of cryptococcal infection from the CSF, and was not associated with any increase in adverse events. Two doses of IFNγ are as effective as six doses

Education for Innovation (E4I): Exploring the Developmental Process of a Canadian Curriculum Resource

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) in Ottawa, Canada selected the Schulich School of Education (SSoE) at Nipissing University to create educational resources to correspond with the release of two 2017 publications (Innovation Nation written for emergent readers; and Ingenious written for older readers. Both books were co-authored by The Right Honourable David Johnston (former Governor General of Canada) and Tom Jenkins as part of the Canada 150 sesquicentennial celebrations. The SSoE organized school teacher writing teams in summer 2017 and produced three cross-curricular Education for Innovation (E4I) resources (Early Learning; Grades 1-8; Grades 7-12) each of which included an Innovation Cycle model, sample key innovation learning experiences, and suggestions for culminating Innovation Celebrations. Teacher candidates from participating SSoE faculty classes also created curriculum-specific Innovation units which were subsequently revised by teacher teams and then implemented and reviewed by teachers from different educational contexts (e.g., public schools, private schools, homeschools). The E4I project collaboration involved university faculty, teachers, teacher candidates, and community partners. Based on participant survey data, researchers identified reported benefits and challenges relating to the overall developmental process. Findings indicate that the experiences of inquiring, ideating, incubating, and implementing the E4I resources closely reflected the phases found within the Innovation Cycle model. Feedback from teachers confirmed the usefulness of E4I for promoting innovation skills and mindsets in their students. Further themes emerging from the process survey data analysis include the evidence of, and need for: solid leadership, flexible support, iterative mindsets, and organic organizational structures. Key words: Innovation, Education, Curriculum, Interdisciplinary La Fondation Rideau Hall (FRH) à Ottawa, Canada, a sélectionné la Schulich School of Education (SSoE) de l’Université Nipissing pour élaborer des ressources didactiques dans le cadre de la publication de deux livres en 2017, Innovation Nation pour lecteurs débutants et Ingenious pour lecteurs plus âgés. Les deux livres ont été rédigés par le très honorable David Johnston, ancien Gouverneur général du Canada, en collaboration avec Tom Jenkins dans le cadre des célébrations du cent-cinquantenaire du Canada. La SSoE a organisé des équipes de rédaction pour enseignants à l’été 2017 et a produit trois ressources multidisciplinaires portant sur l’éducation pour l’innovation (E41), chacune comportant un modèle du cycle d’innovation, un échantillon des expériences d’apprentissage axées sur l’innovation et des suggestions axées sur les célébrations de l’innovation comme activité culminante. Des stagiaires suivant des cours avec l’équipe professorale de SSoE ont également créé des unités portant sur l’innovation alignées avec les programmes d’études. Par la suite, des équipes d’enseignants ont révisé les unités et des enseignants de divers contextes éducationnels (par exemple, écoles publiques, écoles privées, enseignement à domicile) les ont mises en œuvre et les ont commentées. Le projet E41 a impliqué la collaboration du personnel enseignant de l’université, d’enseignants, de stagiaires et de partenaires communautaires. À partir des données de sondages, les chercheurs ont identifié les avantages et les défis de l’ensemble du processus de développement. Les résultats indiquent que les expériences consistant à poser des questions, à imaginer, à réfléchir et à mettre sur pied les ressources E41 correspondent étroitement aux phases du modèle du cycle de l’innovation. La rétroaction des enseignants a confirmé l’utilité de E41 pour les compétences et les mentalités en innovation chez les étudiants. L’analyse des données du sondage a également fait ressortir la présence, et le besoin, d’un leadership solide, d’un appui souple, de mentalités itératives et de structures organisationnelles organiques.   Mots clés : innovation, éducation, curriculum, interdisciplinaire &nbsp

Organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst records from a prospective Turonian - Coniacian (upper Cretaceous) GSSP, Slupia Nadbrzezna, Poland

AbstractA river section at Słupia Nadbrzeżna, central Poland, has been proposed as a candidate Turonian – Coniacian (Cretaceous) GSSP, in combination with the Salzgitter-Salder quarry section of Lower Saxony, Germany. Results of a high-resolution (25 cm) palynological study of the boundary interval in the Słupia Nadbrzeżna section are presented. Terrestrial palynomorphs are rare; marine organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts dominate the palynological assemblage. The dinoflagellate cyst assemblage has a low species richness (5–11 per sample; total of 18 species recorded) and diversity (Shannon index H = 0.8–1.4), dominated by four taxa: Circulodinium distinctum subsp. distinctum; Oligosphaeridium complex; Spiniferites ramosus subsp. ramosus; Surculosphaeridium longifurcatum. Declining proportions of O. complex and S. ramosus subsp. ramosus characterise the uppermost Turonian, with an increased dominance of S. longifurcatum in the lower Coniacian. The Turonian – Coniacian boundary interval includes an acme of C. distinctum subsp. distinctum in the upper Mytiloides scupini Zone, a dinoflagellate cyst abundance maximum in the Cremnoceramus walterdorfensis walterdorfensis Zone, and the highest occurrence of Senoniasphaera turonica in the basal Coniacian lower Cremnoceramus deformis erectus Zone. Most previously reported Turonian – Coniacian boundary dinoflagellate cyst marker species are absent; a shallow-water oligotrophic epicontinental depositional setting, remote from terrestrial influence, likely limited species diversity and excluded many taxa of biostratigraphic value

Simulation Evaluation of Equivalent Vision Technologies for Aerospace Operations

A fixed-based simulation experiment was conducted in NASA Langley Research Center s Integration Flight Deck simulator to investigate enabling technologies for equivalent visual operations (EVO) in the emerging Next Generation Air Transportation System operating environment. EVO implies the capability to achieve or even improve on the safety of current-day Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations, maintain the operational tempos of VFR, and perhaps even retain VFR procedures - all independent of the actual weather and visibility conditions. Twenty-four air transport-rated pilots evaluated the use of Synthetic/Enhanced Vision Systems (S/EVS) and eXternal Vision Systems (XVS) technologies as enabling technologies for future all-weather operations. The experimental objectives were to determine the feasibility of XVS/SVS/EVS to provide for all weather (visibility) landing capability without the need (or ability) for a visual approach segment and to determine the interaction of XVS/EVS and peripheral vision cues for terminal area and surface operations. Another key element of the testing investigated the pilot's awareness and reaction to non-normal events (i.e., failure conditions) that were unexpectedly introduced into the experiment. These non-normal runs served as critical determinants in the underlying safety of all-weather operations. Experimental data from this test are cast into performance-based approach and landing standards which might establish a basis for future all-weather landing operations. Glideslope tracking performance appears to have improved with the elimination of the approach visual segment. This improvement can most likely be attributed to the fact that the pilots didn't have to simultaneously perform glideslope corrections and find required visual landing references in order to continue a landing. Lateral tracking performance was excellent regardless of the display concept being evaluated or whether or not there were peripheral cues in the side window. Although workload ratings were significantly less when peripheral cues were present compared to when there were none, these differences appear to be operationally inconsequential. Larger display concepts tested in this experiment showed significant situation awareness (SA) improvements and workload reductions compared to smaller display concepts. With a fixed display size, a color display was more influential in SA and workload ratings than a collimated display

Symptomatic relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in South Africa: the role of inadequate secondary prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: Cryptococcal meningitis is the commonest cause of adult meningitis in Southern Africa. A sizeable proportion of this disease burden is thought to be due to symptomatic relapse of previously treated infection. We carried out a study to examine the contribution of inadequate secondary fluconazole prophylaxis to symptomatic relapses of cryptococcal meningitis. DESIGN: A prospective observational study of patients presenting with laboratory-confirmed symptomatic relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis between January 2007 and December 2008 at GF Jooste Hospital, a public sector adult referral hospital in Cape Town. OUTCOME MEASURES: Relapse episodes were categorized into 1) patients not taking fluconazole prophylaxis, 2) immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and 3) relapses occurring prior to ART in patients taking fluconazole. In-hospital mortality was recorded. RESULTS: There were 69 relapse episodes, accounting for 23% of all cases of cryptococcal meningitis. 43%(n=30) of relapse episodes were in patients not taking fluconazole prophylaxis, 45%(31) were due to IRIS and 12%(8) were in patients pre-ART taking fluconazole. Patients developing relapse due to inadequate secondary prophylaxis had severe disease and high in-hospital mortality (33%). Of the 30 patients not taking fluconazole, 47% (14) had not been prescribed secondary prophylaxis by their healthcare providers. Importantly, we documented no relapses due to fluconazole resistance in this cohort of patients who has received amphotericin B as initial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Large numbers of relapses of cryptococcal meningitis are due to failed prescription, dispensing, referral for or adherence to secondary fluconazole prophylaxis. Interventions to improve the use of secondary fluconazole prophylaxis are essential

Symptomatic relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in South Africa: The role of inadequate secondary prophylaxis

Objectives. Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common cause of adult meningitis in southern Africa. Much of this disease burden is thought to be due to symptomatic relapse of previously treated infection. We studied the contribution of inadequate secondary fluconazole prophylaxis to symptomatic relapses of cryptococcal meningitis. Design. A prospective observational study of patients presenting with laboratory-confirmed symptomatic relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis between January 2007 and December 2008 at GF Jooste Hospital, a public sector adult referral hospital in Cape Town. Outcome measures. Relapse episodes were categorised into: (i) patients not taking fluconazole prophylaxis; (ii) immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS); and (iii) relapses occurring prior to ART in patients taking fluconazole. In-hospital mortality was recorded. Results. There were 69 relapse episodes, accounting for 23% of all cases of cryptococcal meningitis; 43% (N=30) of relapse episodes were in patients not receiving fluconazole prophylaxis, 45% (N=31) were due to IRIS, and 12% (N=8) were in patients pre-ART taking fluconazole. Patients developing relapse due to inadequate secondary prophylaxis had severe disease and high in-hospital mortality (33%). Of the 30 patients not taking fluconazole, 47% (N=14) had not been prescribed secondary prophylaxis by their health care providers. We documented no relapses due to fluconazole resistance in these patients who received amphotericin B as initial therapy. Conclusions. A large number of relapses of cryptococcal meningitis are due to failed prescription, dispensing and referral for or adherence to secondary fluconazole prophylaxis. Interventions to improve the use of secondary fluconazole prophylaxis are essential