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Purpose: To perform a scoping review to determine what is known about emotional intelligence (EI) in undergraduate medical education (UME). Two main questions were asked: (1) What medical student characteristics are associated with EI? Are there correlations with demographic or other factors?; and (2) What research studies have been done on EI in UME? For example, is there evidence EI changes over time as a result of personal experiences? Should EI be used as an admission criterion? Can EI improve as a result of experiences or deliberate interventions? Method: The authors searched four databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Education Resources Information Center, and Web of Science) for all papers published up to and including December 2020. Two reviewers independently screened articles to determine if they met inclusion criteria. All authors extracted and analyzed data. Results: A set of 1520 papers on the topic of emotional intelligence was identified, with 119 papers meeting inclusion criteria. Most studies were done at international locations with only 17 done at US medical schools. Seventy-five were cohort or cross-sectional studies. Study populations were mixed among the studies, with year of medical study, inclusion of other healthcare students, and participation rates among the inter-study differences noted. Conclusions: Numerous gaps in the literature on EI exist with several points being clear: (1) there is disagreement on the definition of EI; (2) it is undetermined whether EI is a trait or an ability; and (3) there is marked variability among the instruments used to measure EI. It is also becoming apparent that using EI determination may be helpful as a component of the admission process, higher EI is likely related to improved clinical reasoning, and higher EI contributes to more effective stress management.

Photochemical grid models are being used in technical analyses by the Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the Southeast (VISTAS), a regional air quality planning organization in the southeastern United States, to support state implementation plans for regional haze and related air quality issues. VISTAS has embarked on a multi-phase process of testing and evaluating regional meteorological, emissions and air quality models that will be used to project visibility improvements as required by the regional haze rule. VISTAS has generated 2002 annual emissions and meteorological inputs for two photochemical grid models, the community multi-scale air quality (CMAQ) and the comprehensive air-quality model with extensions (CAMx), at a 36 km resolution for the continental US and at 12 km resolution for the eastern US. The two models were evaluated using speciated PM measurements from various monitoring networks and detailed analysis was performed for organic carbon (OC) mass using the IMPROVE, STN, and SEARCH networks. The differences in model performance between CMAQ and CAMx were used as a diagnostic tool to investigate performance issues for several compounds. CAMx performed substantially better than CMAQ for OC (defined as 1.4×measured organic carbon) which led to investigations into methods for improving the CMAQ OC model performance. The treatment of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was identified as an area needing improvements in both models. The impact of replacing the CMAQ SOA parameters with those from CAMx was investigated. Further analysis identified several processes that are potentially important for SOA formation that are not treated in either model including, polymerization of the SOA into non-volatile particles and SOA formation from sesquiterpene, isoprene and other biogenic VOCs. A prototype mechanism for several of these missing processes was developed and the CMAQ SOA module was enhanced to include these SOA formation processes. SOA yields, specifically from biogenic emissions, were increased by the modified SOA module and CMAQ model performance for particulate OC at the IMPROVE, SEARCH, and STN sites in the VISTAS region was improved. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ABSTRACT The 1999 Regional Haze Rule requires states to complete comprehensive technical analyses of air pollutants that impair visibility and to define long-term strategies to improve visibility in the nation's [...]

ABSTRACT The Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the Southeast (VISTAS) is one of five Regional Planning Organizations that is charged with the management of haze, visibility, and other [...]

ABSTRACT The goal of the regional haze mitigation program in the United States is to attain 'natural conditions' in national parks and wilderness areas by 2064. Results of research investigations [...]

ABSTRACT Trends in fine particulate matter INTRODUCTION Visibility is a term that refers to the color, contrast, and outline of objects viewed in a landscape. Particulate matter (PM) and gases [...]

Purpose To examine the ability of 3 pervasive microorganisms associated with health care--associated infections to attach to and survive on 4 brands of head-only thermoplastic immobilization devices. Selected microorganisms included the bacterium Bacillus cereus along with 2 fungi, Candida albicans yeast and Aspergillus fumigatus mold. Methods Head-only thermoplastic devices from 4 manufacturers were inoculated with each microorganism in designated sample areas. For each mask brand, suspensions of each microorganism were applied separately to test squares, and salineonly solutions were applied to control squares. The test and control squares were sampled after 1 hour and then at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Direct plate counts of microbial colonies were performed to determine the number of microorganisms recovered from each mask brand at each sampling interval. Results B cereus did not attach to any tested mask surface. C albicans demonstrated a limited capability to attach to 2 of 4 mask types but was not recovered at the 1-week sampling interval. A fumigatus spores attached to the 4 mask brands after 1 hour and were recovered from all 4 mask brands at weeks 1 and 2, from 3 mask brands at week 3, and from 1 mask brand at week 4. Discussion The ability of C albicans and A fumigatus to attach to thermoplastic masks indicates that these medical devices serve as a potential vehicle for microorganism transfer to radiation therapy patients. Moreover, the recovery of A fumigatus from a single mask containing an incorporated antimicrobial agent after 4 weeks of storage is notable. Conclusion These findings suggest that head-only immobilization devices exposed to C albicans or A fumigatus might pose an infection threat to radiation therapy patients during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To perform a time study involving the recovery of 2 health care--associated bacterial pathogens known to attach to thermoplastic mask surfaces. Methods Four mask types were heat treated and inoculated with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Enterococcus faecalis bacteria in designated sample areas. Each mask was sampled at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. Direct plate counts of resulting bacterial colonies were obtained to determine initial inoculum size introduced on sample squares and recovered bacterial numbers at each sampling time. Results MSSA and E faecalis were recovered from all 4 mask types at each time interval but not in equal numbers. E faecalis consistently was recovered at greater numbers from all 4 mask surfaces, with peak recovery occurring at the 2-hour sampling interval. Both microorganisms decreased in number during the 24-hour period, with fewer than 10 colony-forming units/mL (CFU/mL-1) of MSSA bacteria remaining, but with more than 200 CFU/mL-1 of E faecalis remaining. Discussion The recovery of MSSA and E faecalis from mask surfaces at the 24-hour interval suggests that both bacteria might pose a threat to radiation therapy patients. Increased antibiotic resistance patterns displayed by both microbes elevate that threat. However, the low number of recovered bacteria indicates that the threat is relatively small. Study results also indicate that E faecalis, poses a larger threat than does MSSA. Conclusion The persistence of MSSA and E faecalis on patient immobilization masks for at least 24 hours is important because patients returning for treatment the next day might be exposed to these bacterial agents. The virulent nature of these health care--associated bacteria requires that additional attention be paid to cleaning and handling the form before its reapplication to a patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INFECTION TRANSMISSION RISK POSED BY HEATING APPLIANCES USED TO FABRICATE THERMOPLASTIC IMMOBILIZATION DEVICES. PATRICIA A. BREWER, DEPT. OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCES, TERRENCE J. RAVINE AND SARAH BRU, DEPT. OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, [...]

Clearing the air in protected parks and wilderness areas in the southeastern United States will require cooperation among all stakeholders, large and small, public and private. The Southern Appalachian Mountains [...]

Purpose To determine the attachment and growth potential of 4 bacterial pathogens linked to hospital-acquired infections to various thermoplastic immobilization forms. Methods Four brands of heat-treated masks were inoculated with a known number of single bacterial species. Masks were sampled at 1-hour and 1-week time intervals. Bacterial colony counts were performed on these samples to determine initial attachment and survival capability. Ten radiation therapy clinics also were surveyed to determine current mask storage and usage conditions. Results Only gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis demonstrated an attachment capability at 1 hour, albeit greatly reduced (>99%) from the initial inoculum. Neither gram-negative Escherichia coli nor Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated any attachment capability to the same mask surfaces. No bacteria were recovered from any mask at the 1-week sampling interval. Discussion The considerable hydrophobic nature of the polycaprolactone material used in the construction of thermoplastic masks most likely prevents attachment of these bacteria when suspended in an aqueous (saline) solution. The addition of an antibacterial coating or incorporation of silver nanoparticles further reduces survival potential of these same bacteria. Preliminary results also indicate a substantial difference in gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial attachment capability. Conclusion The tested bacteria do not readily attach to or survive long on the forms used in this study. The composition of the mask material, when combined with low humidity and room temperature storage, suggest a reduced risk to radiation therapy patients for acquiring an infection with these particular bacteria during intermediate to long-term therapy. However, it does not suggest a complete elimination of microbe transmission from improper handling of stored forms. Health care personnel must exercise care when applying these masks to prevent low-level patient contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid deposition has impacted sensitive streams, reducing the amount of habitat available for fish survival in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and portions of the surrounding Southern Appalachian Mountains by decreasing pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and mobilizing aluminum dissolved from soil. Land managers need to understand whether streams can recover from the elevated acid deposition and sustain the healthy aquatic biota, and if so, how long it would take to achieve this condition. We used a dynamic biogeochemical model, PnET- BGC, to evaluate past, current, and potential future changes in soil and water chemistry of watersheds of the GRSM in response to the projected changes in acid deposition. The model was parameterized with soil, vegetation, and stream observations for 30 stream watersheds in the GRSM. Using model results, the level of atmospheric deposition (known as a "critical load") above which harmful ecosystem effects (defined here as modeled stream ANC below a defined target) occur was determined for the 30 study watersheds. In spite of the recent marked decreases in atmospheric sulfur and nitrate deposition, our results suggest that stream recovery has been limited and delayed due to the high sulfate adsorption capacity of soils in the park resulting in a long lag time for recovery of soil chemistry to occur. Model simulations suggest that over the long term, increases in modeled stream ANC per unit decrease in NH4 + deposition are greater than unit decreases in SO4 2- or NO3 - deposition, due to high SO4 2- adsorption capacity and the limited N retention of the watersheds. Watershed simulations were used to extrapolate the critical load results to 387 monitored stream sites throughout the park and depict the spatial pattern of atmospheric deposition exceedances. These types of model simulations inform park managers on the amount of air quality improvement needed to meet the stream restoration goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the need to develop a healthcare associated infection (HAI) for patients but especially for those who are immunosuppressed because of chemotherapy, radiation therapy treatments, or both. Topics discussed include investigation of microbial attachment and survival potential on thermoplastic masks, risk of outside contamination is low under typical storage and usage conditions and nature of HAI microorganisms and their capability to attach.

Purpose. To determine whether heating appliances used to fabricate customized thermoplastic immobilization devices carry a disease transmission risk. Background. Current literature provides ample evidence that water baths used in health care settings are potential reservoirs for microorganisms associated with patient infections. Such results suggest a similar potential for heating appliances used to fabricate thermoplastic forms. Methods. The authors conducted on-site surveys of both equipment and procedures used to produce immobilization forms in several medical facilities. Each heating appliance was sampled for its microbial content and the data analyzed for growth trends. Results. Twelve heating appliances were sampled. Five (42%) demonstrated bacterial growth on the lid, base surfaces, or both. The recovered bacteria included coagulase-negative Staphylococcus alone (25%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species (~8%), and Bacillus species (~8%). Study findings indicated that 4 of the 12 heating appliances were not specifically designed for immobilization form preparation. Discussion. Lids contaminated with common skin microbial flora suggest lack of gloved or cleaned hands. Warm-up times and water temperatures varied over the range of devices and water appearance did not always correlate with culture results. Nevertheless, the absence of written protocols for the use and maintenance of heating appliances at all sites suggests opportunities for quality improvement because a contaminated heating appliance is a potential disease transmission source. Conclusion. The use of heating appliances carries an inherent risk for infectious agent transmission; however, this risk can be substantially reduced by applying basic infection control procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews "Trends and Practices in Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma," an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Human Health Series publication 2010.