NASA’s all-sky survey mission, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is specifically engineered to detect exoplanets that transit bright stars. Thus far, TESS has successfully identified approximately 400 transiting exoplanets, in addition to roughly 6 000 candidate exoplanets pending confirmation. In this study, we present the results of our ongoing project, the Validation of Transiting Exoplanets using Statistical Tools (VaTEST). Our dedicated effort is focused on the confirmation and characterisation of new exoplanets through the application of statistical validation tools. Through a combination of ground-based telescope data, high-resolution imaging, and the utilisation of the statistical validation tool known as TRICERATOPS, we have successfully discovered eight potential super-Earths. These planets bear the designations: TOI-238b (1.61$^{+0.09} _{-0.10}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-771b (1.42$^{+0.11} _{-0.09}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-871b (1.66$^{+0.11} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1467b (1.83$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1739b (1.69$^{+0.10} _{-0.08}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-2068b (1.82$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-4559b (1.42$^{+0.13} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), and TOI-5799b (1.62$^{+0.19} _{-0.13}$ R$_\oplus$). Among all these planets, six of them fall within the region known as ‘keystone planets’, which makes them particularly interesting for study. Based on the location of TOI-771b and TOI-4559b below the radius valley we characterised them as likely super-Earths, though radial velocity mass measurements for these planets will provide more details about their characterisation. It is noteworthy that planets within the size range investigated herein are absent from our own solar system, making their study crucial for gaining insights into the evolutionary stages between Earth and Neptune.

We present initial results from our JWST NIRSpec program to study the α-abundances in the M31 disk. The Milky Way has two chemically-defined disks, the low-α and high-α disks, which are closely related to the thin and thick disks, respectively. The origin of the two populations and the α-bimodality between them is not entirely clear, although there are now several models that can reproduce the observed features. To help constrain the models and discern the origin, we have undertaken a study of the chemical abundances of the M31 disk using JWST NIRSpec, in order to determine whether stars in M31’s disk also show an α-abundance bimodality. Approximately 100 stars were observed in our single NIRSpec field at a projected distance of 18 kpc from the M31 center. The 1-D extracted spectra have an average signal-to-noise ratio of 85 leading to statistical metallicity precision of 0.016 dex, α-abundance precision of 0.012 dex, and a radial velocity precision 8 km s-1 (mostly from systematics). The initial results indicate that, in contrast to the Milky Way, there is no α-bimodality in the M31 disk, and no low-α sequence. The entire stellar population falls along a single chemical sequence very similar to the MW’s high-α component which had a high star formation rate. While this is somewhat unexpected, the result is not that surprising based on other studies that found the M31 disk has a larger velocity dispersion than the MW and is dominated by a thick component. M31 has had a more active accretion and merger history than the MW which might explain the chemical differences.

Background: Carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CP-CRAB) are a public health threat due to potential for widespread dissemination and limited treatment options. We describe CDC consultations for CP-CRAB to better understand transmission and identify prevention opportunities. Methods: We defined CP-CRAB as CRAB isolates with a molecular test detecting KPC, NDM, VIM, or IMP carbapenemases or a plasmid-mediated oxacillinase (OXA-23, OXA-24/40, OXA-48, OXA-58, OXA-235/237). We reviewed the CDC database of CP-CRAB consultations with health departments from January 1, 2017, through June 1, 2019. Consultations were grouped into 3 categories: multifacility clusters, single-facility clusters, and single cases. We reviewed the size, setting, environmental culturing results, and identified infection control gaps for each consultation. Results: We identified 29 consultations involving 294 patients across 19 states. Among 9 multifacility clusters, the median number of patients was 12 (range, 2–87) and the median number of facilities was 2 (range, 2–6). Among 9 single-facility clusters, the median number of patients was 5 (range, 2–50). The most common carbapenemase was OXA-23 (Table 1). Moreover, 16 consultations involved short-stay acute-care hospitals, and 6 clusters involved ICUs and/or burn units. Also, 8 consultations involved skilled nursing facilities. Environmental sampling was performed in 3 consultations; CP-CRAB was recovered from surfaces of portable, shared equipment (3 consultations), inside patient rooms (3 consultations) and nursing stations (2 consultations). Lapses in environmental cleaning and interfacility communication were common across consultations. Among 11 consultations for single CP-CRAB cases, contact screening was performed in 7 consultations and no additional CP-CRAB was identified. All 4 patients with NDM-producing CRAB reported recent international travel. Conclusions: Consultations for clusters of oxacillinase-producing CP-CRAB were most often requested in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Healthcare facilities and public health authorities should be vigilant for possible spread of CP-CRAB via shared equipment and the potential for CP-CRAB spread to connected healthcare facilities.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: The capacity to monitor the emergence of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) is critical in limiting transmission. CPO-colonized patients can be identified by screening rectal specimens for carbapenemase genes and the Cepheid GeneXpert Carba-R (XCR), the only FDA-approved test, is limited to 5 carbapenemase genes and cannot identify the bacterial species. Objective: We describe the development and validation of culture-based methods for the detection of CPO in rectal cultures (RCs) and nonrectal cultures (NRCs) of tracheal aspirate and axilla-groin swabs. Methods: Colonization screening was performed at 3 US healthcare facilities; specimens of RC swabs and NRC ESwabs were collected. Each specimen was inoculated to a MacConkey broth enrichment tube for overnight incubation then were subcultured to MacConkey agar with meropenem and ertapenem 10 µg disks (BEMA) and CHROMagar KPC (KCHR) or CHROMagar Acinetobacter (ACHR). All media were evaluated for the presence of carbapenem-resistant organisms; suspect colonies were screened by real-time PCR for the most common carbapenemase genes. MALDI-TOF was performed for species identification. BEMA, a previously validated method, was the comparator for 52 RCs; clinical culture (CC) served as the comparator method for 66 NRCs. Select CPO-positive and -negative specimens underwent reproducibility testing. Results: Among 56 patients undergoing colonization screening, 12 (21%) carried a CPO. Only 1 patient had CPO solely from RC. Also, 6 patients had both CPO-positive RC and NRC, and 5 patients only had a CPO-positive NRC. Of the latter, 4 had a CPO-positive tracheal specimen, and 1 had a positive culture from both tracheal and axilla-groin specimens. Sensitivity of BEMA (70%) for NRC was lower than for KCHR (96%) and ACHR (88 %) for all specimens. All methods showed a specificity of 100% and reproducibility of 92%. The detected CPO included OXA-23–positive Acinetobacter baumannii, NDM-positive Escherichia coli, KPC-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 4 genera of KPC-positive Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusions:The addition of nonrectal specimens and use of selective media contributed to increased sensitivity and enhanced identification of CPO-colonized patients. Positive cultures were equally distributed among the 3 specimen types. The addition of the nonrectal specimens resulted in the identification of more colonized patients. The culture-based method was successful in detecting an array of different CPOs and target genes, including genes not detected by the Carba-R assay (eg, blaOXA-23-like). Enhanced isolation and characterization of CPOs will be key in aiding epidemiologic investigations and strengthening targeted guidance for containment strategies.

Funding: None

Disclosures: We discuss the drug combination aztreonam-avibactam and acknowledge that this drug combination is not currently FDA approved.

Objectives: Research has shown that analyzing intrusion errors generated on verbal learning and memory measures is helpful for distinguishing between the memory disorders associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurological disorders, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that certain clinical populations may be prone to exhibit different types of intrusion errors. Methods: We examined the prevalence of two new California Verbal Learning Test-3 (CVLT-3) intrusion subtypes – across-trial novel intrusions and across/within trial repeated intrusions – in individuals with AD or HD. We hypothesized that the encoding/storage impairment associated with medial-temporal involvement in AD would result in a greater number of novel intrusions on the delayed recall trials of the CVLT-3, whereas the executive dysfunction associated with subcortical-frontal involvement in HD would result in a greater number of repeated intrusions across trials. Results: The AD group generated significantly more across-trial novel intrusions than across/within trial repeated intrusions on the delayed cued-recall trials, whereas the HD group showed the opposite pattern on the delayed free-recall trials. Conclusions: These new intrusion subtypes, combined with traditional memory analyses (e.g., recall versus recognition performance), promise to enhance our ability to distinguish between the memory disorders associated with primarily medial-temporal versus subcortical-frontal involvement.

People affected by health conditions bring insights and wisdom to transform healthcare – ‘jewels from the caves of suffering'. Yet traditional patient and public engagement relies on (child–parent) feedback or (adolescent–parent) ‘representative' approaches that fail to value this expertise and buffers patients' influence. This editorial outlines the emergence of ‘patient leadership' and work in the Sussex Musculoskeletal Partnership, its patient director (the first such role in the National Health Service) and a group of patient/carer partners, who are becoming equal partners in decision-making helping to reframe problems, generate insight, shift dynamics and change practice within improvement and governance work.

Objectives: The third edition of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-3) includes a new index termed List A versus Novel/Unrelated recognition discriminability (RD) on the Yes/No Recognition trial. Whereas the Total RD index incorporates false positive (FP) errors associated with all distractors (including List B and semantically related items), the new List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index incorporates only FP errors associated with novel, semantically unrelated distractors. Thus, in minimizing levels of source and semantic interference, the List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index may yield purer assessments of yes/no recognition memory independent of vulnerability to source memory difficulties or semantic confusion, both of which are often seen in individuals with primarily frontal-system dysfunction (e.g., early Huntington’s disease [HD]). Methods: We compared the performance of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and HD in mild and moderate stages of dementia on CVLT-3 indices of Total RD and List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD. Results: Although AD and HD subgroups exhibited deficits on both RD indices relative to healthy comparison groups, those with HD generally outperformed those with AD, and group differences were more robust on List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD than on Total RD. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the clinical utility of the new CVLT-3 List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index, which (a) maximally assesses yes/no recognition memory independent of source and semantic interference; and (b) provides a greater differentiation between individuals whose memory disorder is primarily at the encoding/storage level (e.g., as in AD) versus at the retrieval level (e.g., as in early HD). (JINS, 2018, 24, 833–841)

Good education requires student experiences that deliver lessons about practice as well as theory and that encourage students to work for the public good—especially in the operation of democratic institutions (Dewey 1923; Dewy 1938). We report on an evaluation of the pedagogical value of a research project involving 23 colleges and universities across the country. Faculty trained and supervised students who observed polling places in the 2016 General Election. Our findings indicate that this was a valuable learning experience in both the short and long terms. Students found their experiences to be valuable and reported learning generally and specifically related to course material. Postelection, they also felt more knowledgeable about election science topics, voting behavior, and research methods. Students reported interest in participating in similar research in the future, would recommend other students to do so, and expressed interest in more learning and research about the topics central to their experience. Our results suggest that participants appreciated the importance of elections and their study. Collectively, the participating students are engaged and efficacious—essential qualities of citizens in a democracy.

This article reviews recent advances utilizing field-ion microscopy (FIM) to extract atomic-scale three-dimensional images of materials. This capability is not new, as the first atomic-scale reconstructions of features utilizing FIM were demonstrated decades ago. The rise of atom probe tomography, and the application of this latter technique in place of FIM has unfortunately severely limited further FIM development. Currently, the ubiquitous availability of extensive computing power makes it possible to treat and reconstruct FIM data digitally and this development allows the image sequences obtained utilizing FIM to be extremely valuable for many material science and engineering applications. This article demonstrates different applications of these capabilities, focusing on its use in physical metallurgy and semiconductor science and technology.

This article reports on a case study of a decade-long organizing forms response to the need for groundbreaking innovation while maintaining existing operational performance – the explore–exploit conundrum. Employing ‘grounded research,’ data were collected on the experiences of the Asia-Pacific arm of a multinational professional service firm’s key decision-makers, innovators and entrepreneurs. The findings reveal a three-tiered organizing forms response to the explore–exploit paradox, characterized by a novel combination of heavy exploitation-driven actions alongside deep exploration projects. This case suggests that one successful approach to delivering on both explore and exploit focuses on a productive tension that emerges by enacting innovative organizing forms with contextual awareness. This productive tension was sufficiently powerful to impel individuals to innovate, but also sufficiently contained to avoid interfering with commercial outcomes. An explore–exploit framework conceptualizes organizational changes incorporating complexity and contradiction, without the implicit emphasis on removing or denying the existing tension.