Achieving Equity: An Evaluation of a Multi-Component, Lower Division Student Success Program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an academic support program that aims to improve persistence and graduation for lower-division students who are low income, first generation, and/or underrepresented. Students were organized in 10 academies that serve as a “school within a school” and have three main elements: a pathway of two linked general education courses that students follow, cohort-style, over four semesters; wraparound student services integrated into the classroom; and a 45-hour faculty development process. Program participants (n = 2,281) were compared to a matched comparison group (n = 2,276). Multimodal logistic regression analyses showed that program participants statistically significantly outperformed the comparison group on every outcome measure: GPA, completion of developmental coursework, persistence toward graduation, and graduation rates

Clinical outcomes after MRI connectivity-guided radiofrequency thalamotomy for tremor

OBJECTIVE: Radiofrequency thalamotomy (RF-T) is an established treatment for refractory tremor. It is unclear whether connectivity-guided targeting strategies could further augment outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MRI connectivity-guided RF-T in severe tremor. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with severe tremor (14 with essential tremor [ET], 7 with Parkinson's disease [PD]) underwent unilateral RF-T at a single institution between 2017 and 2020. Connectivity-derived thalamic segmentation was used to guide targeting. Changes in the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Rating Scale (FTMRS) were recorded in treated and nontreated hands as well as procedure-related side effects. RESULTS: Twenty-three thalamotomies were performed (with 2 patients receiving a repeated intervention). The mean postoperative assessment time point was 14.1 months. Treated-hand tremor scores improved by 63.8%, whereas nontreated-hand scores deteriorated by 10.1% (p < 0.01). Total FTMRS scores were significantly better at follow-up compared with baseline (mean 34.7 vs 51.7, p = 0.016). Baseline treated-hand tremor severity (rho = 0.786, p < 0.01) and total FTMRS score (rho = 0.64, p < 0.01) best correlated with tremor improvement. The most reported side effect was mild gait ataxia (n = 11 patients). CONCLUSIONS: RF-T guided by connectivity-derived segmentation is a safe and effective option for severe tremor in both PD and ET

Fabrication and Characterization of 3D Micro- and Nanoelectrodes for Neuron Recordings

In this paper we discuss the fabrication and characterization of three dimensional (3D) micro- and nanoelectrodes with the goal of using them for extra- and intracellular studies. Two different types of electrodes will be described: high aspect ratio microelectrodes for studying the communication between cells and ultimately for brain slice recordings and small nanoelectrodes for highly localized measurements and ultimately for intracellular studies. Electrical and electrochemical characterization of these electrodes as well as the results of PC12 cell differentiation on chip will be presented and discussed

Physical play - How do we inspire and motivate young children to be physically active through play? An international analysis of twelve countries’ national early years curriculum policies and practices for physical activity and physical play

Lifelong movement and physical activity (PA) patterns develop during early childhood. Therefore, educators (teachers and practitioners) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) should provide opportunities to support children’s play, PA, and movement development. The World Health Organization (2019) offers new recommendations for PA, for children under five years. The guidelines do not specify the ways ECEC staff can support PA through play. Therefore, this paper investigates, how physical play (PP) is enacted globally. An international policy and practice analysis of twelve countries, (Australia [Victoria], Belgium [Flanders], Canada [Alberta], China, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK [England] and USA) was completed by analyzing the ECEC curricula and their implementation in different cultural contexts. A content analysis was undertaken by AIESEP Early Years SIG experts revealing that PP was not clearly defined. When defined, it was described as PA, and important for children’s holistic development. The majority of curricula did not state the length/time for PP. Three main strategies for implementing PP were found: a) pedagogical framework; b) active learning methods; and c) motor development. This international analysis highlights the global need for better ECEC staff support in acknowledging and implementing PP to aid children’s overall development, PA and wellbeing

Food Reservoir for Escherichia coli Causing Urinary Tract Infections

Closely related strains of Escherichia coli have been shown to cause extraintestinal infections in unrelated persons. This study tests whether a food reservoir may exist for these E. coli. Isolates from 3 sources over the same time period (2005–2007) and geographic area were compared. The sources comprised prospectively collected E. coli isolates from women with urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 353); retail meat (n = 417); and restaurant/ready-to-eat foods (n = 74). E. coli were evaluated for antimicrobial drug susceptibility and O:H serotype and compared by using 4 different genotyping methods. We identified 17 clonal groups that contained E. coli isolates (n = 72) from >1 source. E. coli from retail chicken (O25:H4-ST131 and O114:H4-ST117) and honeydew melon (O2:H7-ST95) were indistinguishable from or closely related to E. coli from human UTIs. This study provides strong support for the role of food reservoirs or foodborne transmission in the dissemination of E. coli causing common community-acquired UTIs

LIBRETTO-531: A Phase III Study of Selpercatinib in Multikinase Inhibitor-Naïve

Selpercatinib is a first-in-class, highly selective and potent, central nervous system-active RET kinase inhibitor. In the phase I/II trial, selpercatinib demonstrated clinically meaningful antitumor activity with manageable toxicity in heavily pre-treated and treatment-naive patients with RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). LIBRETTO-531 (NCT04211337) is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase III trial comparing selpercatinib to cabozantinib or vandetanib in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant MTC. The primary objective is to compare progression-free survival (per RECIST 1.1) by blinded independent central review of patients with progressive, advanced, multikinase inhibitor-naive, RET-mutant MTC treated with selpercatinib versus cabozantinib or vandetanib. Key secondary objectives are to compare other efficacy outcomes (per RECIST 1.1) and tolerability of selpercatinib versus cabozantinib or vandetanib

Long-term success of low-frequency subthalamic nucleus stimulation for Parkinson's disease depends on tremor severity and symptom duration

Patients with Parkinson's disease can develop axial symptoms, including speech, gait and balance difficulties. Chronic high-frequency (>100 Hz) deep brain stimulation can contribute to these impairments while low-frequency stimulation (<100 Hz) may improve symptoms but only in some individuals. Factors predicting which patients benefit from low-frequency stimulation in the long term remain unclear. This study aims to confirm that low-frequency stimulation improves axial symptoms, and to go further to also explore which factors predict the durability of its effects. We recruited patients who developed axial motor symptoms while using high-frequency stimulation and objectively assessed the short-term impact of low-frequency stimulation on axial symptoms, other aspects of motor function and quality of life. A retrospective chart review was then conducted on a larger cohort to identify which patient characteristics were associated with not only the need to trial low-frequency stimulation, but also those which predicted its sustained use. Among 20 prospective patients, low-frequency stimulation objectively improved mean motor and axial symptom severity and quality of life in the short term. Among a retrospective cohort of 168 patients, those with less severe tremor and those in whom axial symptoms had emerged sooner after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation were more likely to be switched to and remain on long-term low-frequency stimulation. These data suggest that low-frequency stimulation results in objective mean improvements in overall motor function and axial symptoms among a group of patients, while individual patient characteristics can predict sustained long-term benefits. Longer follow-up in the context of a larger, controlled, double-blinded study would be required to provide definitive evidence of the role of low-frequency deep brain stimulation

Origin and Evolution of European Community-Acquired Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was recognized in Europe and worldwide in the late 1990s. Within a decade, several genetically and geographically distinct CA-MRSA lineages carrying the small SCCmec type IV and V genetic elements and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) emerged around the world. In Europe, the predominant CA-MRSA strain belongs to clonal complex 80 (CC80) and is resistant to kanamycin/amikacin and fusidic acid. CC80 was first reported in 1993 but was relatively rare until the late 1990s. It has since been identified throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with recent sporadic reports in sub-Saharan Africa. While strongly associated with skin and soft tissue infections, it is rarely found among asymptomatic carriers. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) CC80 strains are extremely rare except in sub-Saharan Africa. In the current study, we applied whole-genome sequencing to a global collection of both MSSA and MRSA CC80 isolates. Phylogenetic analyses strongly suggest that the European epidemic CA-MRSA lineage is derived from a PVL-positive MSSA ancestor from sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, the tree topology suggests a single acquisition of both the SCCmec element and a plasmid encoding the fusidic acid resistance determinant. Four canonical SNPs distinguish the derived CA-MRSA lineage and include a nonsynonymous mutation in accessory gene regulator C (agrC). These changes were associated with a star-like expansion into Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa in the early 1990s, including multiple cases of cross-continent imports likely driven by human migrations. IMPORTANCE With increasing levels of CA-MRSA reported from most parts of the Western world, there is a great interest in understanding the origin and factors associated with the emergence of these epidemic lineages. To trace the origin, evolution, and dissemination pattern of the European CA-MRSA clone (CC80), we sequenced a global collection of strains of the S. aureus CC80 lineage. Our study determined that a single descendant of a PVL-positive methicillin-sensitive ancestor circulating in sub-Saharan Africa rose to become the dominant CA-MRSA clone in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. In the transition from a methicillin-susceptible lineage to a successful CA-MRSA clone, it simultaneously became resistant to fusidic acid, a widely used antibiotic for skin and soft tissue infections, thus demonstrating the importance of antibiotic selection in the success of this clone. This finding furthermore highlights the significance of horizontal gene acquisitions and underscores the combined importance of these factors for the success of CA-MRSA

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29