Pronunciation of Vowel Digraphs in Nonwords: A Replication and Extension.

In English, the pronunciation of a vowel digraph can vary; for example, ea is pronounced /ɛ/ in bread but /i/ in beach and /eɪ/ in break. We investigated participant-level effects on the pronunciation of ambiguous vowel digraphs in nonwords (e.g., yeath) using standardized test measures of six reading-related skills in 80 young adults. We employed both an established written task and set of nonword stimuli and a spoken version of the task with the same stimuli. We largely replicated the previously reported pattern of preferred nonword pronunciations in both the written and spoken versions of the task. Generalized linear mixed-effects model analyses revealed that individual differences in phonological memory, spelling knowledge, and word reading efficiency contributed to pronunciation choice beyond item-level effects. Overall, taken together with the results of item-level analyses, our findings are consistent with models and theories in which specific reading-related skills, intralexical context, and interlexical pronunciation knowledge influence ambiguous vowel digraph pronunciation in nonword reading in fluently reading young adults.

Evaluation of a Pilot Wellness Elective for Master of Public Health Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Graduate student wellbeing is a public health issue in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated the mental health burden on graduate students worldwide. Culture of Wellness (PH 104) is a 2-week wellbeing elective course that teaches evidence-based wellbeing strategies for graduate students at a university in the United States. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of this pilot wellbeing elective on Master of Public Health students' mental health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants included 22 Master of Public Health students from the class of 2021 at a university in the United States. We provided a pre-course survey to students that assessed their perception of their own personal wellbeing, their knowledge about various wellbeing strategies, and their confidence in applying 13 wellbeing strategies before taking the course. Post-course students completed the same survey following course completion, as well as a matching evaluation and a five-month follow up survey. RESULTS: Of the 13 strategies taught, students reported significant improvements in their ability to apply 10 strategies. There was a significant increase in self-reported emotional and physical wellbeing, as well as a significant decrease in burnout. Five months post-course, more than three quarters of respondents used strategies taught in the course on a weekly basis or more. LIMITATIONS: This pilot study is limited by its small sample size, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: The PH 104 Culture of Wellness course was effective in improving graduate students' wellbeing and confidence in applying wellbeing strategies.

Chordoma of petrosal mastoid region: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Chordoma is a rare low-grade malignant tumor originating from embryonic notochordal tissue mainly occurring in the axial bone, mostly in the spheno-occipital junction and sacrococcyx, which accounts for approximately 1% of all malignant bone tumors and 0.1%-0.2% of intracranial tumors. Chordoma in the petrous mastoid region is rare. CASE SUMMARY: We describe a 36-year-old male patient with chordoma in the left petrous mastoid region. The main clinical manifestations were pain and discomfort, which lasted for 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lobulated mass in the left petrous mastoid with an unclear boundary and obvious enhancement. The tumor was completely removed after surgical treatment, and a histological examination confirmed that the tumor was a chordoma. During 5 years of follow-up, no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence or metastasis was found. CONCLUSION: Chordoma in the petrosal mastoid region is rare but should be included in differential diagnosis of petrosal mastoid tumors.

A Curriculum to Promote a Culture of Wellness Among Medical Students and Faculty.

INTRODUCTION: Self-care has not been traditionally taught in medical education, but the epidemic of burnout among health professionals necessitates a change in culture, and consequently a change in curriculum. Burnout begins early in training and negatively impacts health professionals, patients, and institutions. Interventions that prevent and avert burnout are necessary at all stages of a doctor's career to assure well-being over a lifetime. Evidence-based strategies supporting both personal and system wellness have begun to emerge, but more research is needed. METHODS: We present a collaborative and comprehensive wellness program: "A Culture of Wellness." We offered this pilot jointly for first-year medical students and faculty volunteers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. We gave participants the following: (1) time-60 minutes per week for 8 weeks; (2) tools-weekly cases highlighting evidence-based wellness strategies; and (3) permission-opportunities to discuss and apply the strategies personally and within their community. RESULTS: Pre- and postsurvey results show that dedicated time combined with student-faculty collaboration and application of strategies was associated with significantly lower levels of burnout and perceived stress and higher levels of mindfulness and quality of life in participants. Components of the curriculum were reported by all to add value to personal well-being. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot presents a feasible and promising model that can be reproduced at other medical schools and disseminated to enhance personal health and promote a culture of well-being among medical students and faculty.

Prognostic value of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a devastating occurrence affecting millions worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in assessing carotid atherosclerotic plaque in IS patients. METHODS: Between January 2013 and March 2015, 338 IS patients were recruited for the investigative purposes of the study. All participants of the study underwent an HRMRI inspection procedure after being admitted into the hospital. During this study, we systematically analyzed and measured various types of fibrous caps, lipid compositions, and plaque lipid ratios. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed for predicting prognosis of IS patients. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to determine the accuracy of the IS prognosis. RESULTS: The percentage of type I fibrous caps exhibited significant decrease, while the percentage of type III fibrous caps, lipid compositions, and lipid ratios all displayed increase. The results of the univariate analysis indicated that age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, treatment regimens, fibrous cap type, plaque type, lipid composition, and lipid ratio shared a correlation in regards to the poor prognosis of IS patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the prognosis of IS patients was not necessarily dependent on fibrous cap type, plaque type, or age. ROC curves revealed that the HRMRI possessed a strong predicative ability in relation to the identification of the prognosis of IS patients through factors such as type of plaque and fibrous caps determination. CONCLUSION: Our study conclusively intimated the promise of HRMRI as an evaluative tool for the determination of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with IS.