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Context: The increasing use of software and information technology in modern society requires that the deployment of IT solutions should be more efficient and controlled. In this sense, agile methodologies are essential to achieve this goal, but a relevant question arises: Which is the right methodology for reaching that goal? Objective: The purpose of the research was to study the prioritization of agile practices and improvement objectives in the context of software development, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. For this purpose, 42 agile practices, 16 improvement objectives, 4 organizations dedicated to software development in Colombia and 40 professionals in the area of information and communication technologies in the same country were considered. Method: ology: The methodological approach used was mixed. On the one hand, we applied a quantitative approach for the treatment of data with the AHP method and, on the other hand, a qualitative analysis by consulting experts through a digital survey to validate the prioritization of the improvement objectives. Questionpro was used as a support tool for multicriteria comparison. Results: The main results show that applying AHP allowed us to prioritize 6 improvement objectives and 5 agile practices, where it is highlighted that the prioritization does not discard the other objects of comparison but allows us to put into practice the prioritized elements to favor their progressive implementation. The non-prioritized elements could be part of future iterations of multicriteria comparison that go hand in hand with capacity development and organizational maturity models in the context of global software development. Conclusion: It is highlighted that, although there is evidence of the application of multi-criteria comparison methods in the software development industry, this work applies such methods in the context of four different agile methodologies, which translates into a precedent for the conformation of hybrid methodological approaches.
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Research conducted to date has highlighted barriers to initial adoption of universal behavior screening in schools. However, little is known regarding the experiences of those implementing these procedures and there have been no studies conducted examining the experiences of educators in different stages of implementing various tiered systems of supports. Universal screening is foundational to a successful Comprehensive, Integrated Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention-an integrated tiered system addressing academics, behavior, and social and emotional well-being. Therefore, the perspectives of Ci3T Leadership Team members at different stages of Ci3T implementation were solicited through an online survey that sought to understand (1) current school-based screening practices and (2) individual beliefs regarding those practices. A total of 165 Ci3T Leadership Team members representing five school districts from three geographic regions across the United States, all of whom were participating in an Institute of Education Sciences Network grant examining integrated tiered systems, reported the screening procedures were generally well-understood and feasible to implement. At the same time, results highlighted continuing professional learning may be beneficial in the areas of: (1) integrating multiple sources of data (e.g., screening data with other data collected as regular school practices) and (2) using those multiple data sources to determine next steps for intervention. We discuss educational implications, limitations, and directions for future inquiry.
ABSTRACT
We report findings from a multistate survey of 720 faculty and staff from 25 elementary schools in five districts across three states and geographic regions participating in an IES Network grant examining integrated tiered systems. In this preregistered study, we replicated and extended previous inquiry examining educators' views of (1) implementation of core components of their school's Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention; and (2) preference for professional learning (content and avenue). Results indicated more than half of respondents indicated high levels of implementation of core features of Ci3T across Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Educators reported high levels of implementation for 10 out of 19 research-based educational practices used within tiered systems with a statistically significant relation between ratings of implemented practices and the desire for support with most practices. Respondents identified their top three areas for professional development needed in the coming year as behavior deescalation techniques, small-group social skills instruction, and strategies for supporting students with internalizing behavior patterns. For potential professional learning avenues, respondents' top ratings were in-district, during-school workshops, course for college credit on-line, teacher collaboratives/networks, and one-to-one coaching or mentoring. There were many similarities among educators' ratings across implementation year and state. Low levels of implementation across many core Ci3T and common educational practices were reported by educators working within the most experienced schools. We conclude with a discussion of implications, limitations, and future directions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43494-021-00049-z.
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In chickens, a divergent selection on the Pectoralis major pHu allowed the creation of the pHu+ and pHu- lines, which represent a unique model for studying the biological control of carbohydrate storage in muscle. The present study aimed to describe the early mechanisms involved in the establishment of pHu+ and pHu- phenotypes. At hatching, pHu+ chicks were slightly heavier but exhibited lower plasma glucose and triglyceride and higher uric acid. After 5 days, pHu+ chicks exhibited higher breast meat yield compared to pHu- while their body weight was no different. At both ages, in vivo muscle glycogen content was lower in pHu+ than in pHu- muscles. The lower ability of pHu+ chicks to store carbohydrate in their muscle was associated with the increased expression of SLC2A1 and SLC2A3 genes coding glucose transporters 1 and 3, and of CS and LDHα coding key enzymes of oxidative and glycolytic pathways, respectively. Reduced muscle glycogen content at hatching of the pHu+ was concomitant with higher activation by phosphorylation of S6 kinase 1/ribosomal protein S6 pathway, known to activate protein synthesis in chicken muscle. In conclusion, differences observed in muscle at slaughter age in the pHu+ and pHu- lines are already present at hatching. They are associated with several changes related to both carbohydrate and protein metabolism, which are likely to affect their ability to use eggs or exogenous nutrients for muscle growth or energy storage.
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OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of total household decolonization with intranasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine gluconate body wash on recurrent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection among subjects with MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection. DESIGN Three-arm nonmasked randomized controlled trial. SETTING Five academic medical centers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS Adults and children presenting to ambulatory care settings with community-onset MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection (ie, index cases) and their household members. INTERVENTION Enrolled households were randomized to 1 of 3 intervention groups: (1) education on routine hygiene measures, (2) education plus decolonization without reminders (intranasal mupirocin ointment twice daily for 7 days and chlorhexidine gluconate on the first and last day), or (3) education plus decolonization with reminders, where subjects received daily telephone call or text message reminders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Owing to small numbers of recurrent infections, this analysis focused on time to clearance of colonization in the index case. RESULTS Of 223 households, 73 were randomized to education-only, 76 to decolonization without reminders, 74 to decolonization with reminders. There was no significant difference in time to clearance of colonization between the education-only and decolonization groups (log-rank P=.768). In secondary analyses, compliance with decolonization was associated with decreased time to clearance (P=.018). CONCLUSIONS Total household decolonization did not result in decreased time to clearance of MRSA colonization among adults and children with MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection. However, subjects who were compliant with the protocol had more rapid clearance Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00966446 Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-8.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Chlorhexidine/analogs & derivatives , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Mupirocin/administration & dosage , Soft Tissue Infections/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Academic Medical Centers , Administration, Intranasal , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Chlorhexidine/therapeutic use , Community-Acquired Infections , Family Characteristics , Family Health , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance , Patient Education as Topic , Pennsylvania , Recurrence , Soft Tissue Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcal Skin Infections , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for recurrent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization. DESIGN Prospective cohort study conducted from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012. SETTING Five adult and pediatric academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS Subjects (ie, index cases) who presented with acute community-onset MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection. METHODS Index cases and all household members performed self-sampling for MRSA colonization every 2 weeks for 6 months. Clearance of colonization was defined as 2 consecutive sampling periods with negative surveillance cultures. Recurrent colonization was defined as any positive MRSA surveillance culture after clearance. Index cases with recurrent MRSA colonization were compared with those without recurrence on the basis of antibiotic exposure, household demographic characteristics, and presence of MRSA colonization in household members. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 195 index cases; recurrent MRSA colonization occurred in 85 (43.6%). Median time to recurrence was 53 days (interquartile range, 36-84 days). Treatment with clindamycin was associated with lower risk of recurrence (odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29-0.93). Higher percentage of household members younger than 18 was associated with increased risk of recurrence (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02). The association between MRSA colonization in household members and recurrent colonization in index cases did not reach statistical significance in primary analyses. CONCLUSION A large proportion of patients initially presenting with MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection will have recurrent colonization after clearance. The reduced rate of recurrent colonization associated with clindamycin may indicate a unique role for this antibiotic in the treatment of such infection.
Subject(s)
Carrier State/epidemiology , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/microbiology , Soft Tissue Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Carrier State/microbiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Clindamycin/therapeutic use , Family Characteristics , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The duration of colonization and factors associated with clearance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after community-onset MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI) remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with acute MRSA SSTI presenting to 5 adult and pediatric academic hospitals from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2012. Index patients and household members performed self-sampling for MRSA colonization every 2 weeks for 6 months. Clearance of colonization was defined as negative MRSA surveillance cultures during 2 consecutive sampling periods. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was developed to identify determinants of clearance of colonization. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three index patients were included. The median duration of MRSA colonization after SSTI diagnosis was 21 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 19-24), and 19.8% never cleared colonization. Treatment of the SSTI with clindamycin was associated with earlier clearance (hazard ratio [HR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.28-2.30; P < .001). Older age (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, .98-1.00; P = .01) was associated with longer duration of colonization. There was a borderline significant association between increased number of household members colonized with MRSA and later clearance of colonization in the index patient (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, .71-1.01; P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: With a systematic, regular sampling protocol, duration of MRSA colonization was noted to be shorter than previously reported, although 19.8% of patients remained colonized at 6 months. The association between clindamycin and shorter duration of colonization after MRSA SSTI suggests a possible role for the antibiotic selected for treatment of MRSA infection.