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This report describes the Key Comparison of the Consultative Committee for Photometry and Radiometry CCPR-K1.a.2017 for Spectral Irradiance in the wavelength range of 250 nm to 2500 nm. Tungsten quartz halogen lamps of the FEL type (1000 W) were used as artefacts. Each participant used its own set of lamps. The star scheme of measurements was applied with the sequence participant - pilot - participant. Twelve National Metrology Institutes participated in the comparison. Each participant's measurement data were based on a totally independent spectral irradiance scale realisation. VNIIOFI (the Russian Federation) served as a pilot. The measurements were carried out from 2017 - 2020. The analysis of the comparison was performed following the step-by-step approach described in Appendix B of the Guidelines for CCPR Key Comparison Report Preparation (CCPR-G2 Rev.4). The key comparison reference values (KCRV) were calculated independently at each wavelength as the weighted means with cut-off. The measurement data of all participants were used for the KCRV excluding just a few outliers in the wavelength range of 1700 nm to 2500 nm. The relative uncertainties of the KCRV were minimal, 0.08 %, at the wavelengths of 900 nm to 1500 nm and increasing towards the limits of the spectral range up to 0.28 % at 250 nm and 0.20 % at 2500 nm. Consistency checks were satisfied at 17 of the 28 measured wavelengths, but failed at 11 wavelengths, mostly in the infrared range. For the latter wavelengths the Mandel-Paule method was applied resulting in an additional uncertainty that varied depending on wavelength from 0.11 % to 0.89 %. In general, the measurement uncertainties submitted by the participants in this comparison were less than those submitted in the previous CCPR-K1.a comparison. This is evidenced by the values of the cut-off, which had decreased at all wavelengths by a factor of 1.2 to 3.0 depending on wavelength. However, only for seven participants the degrees of equivalence

BACKGROUND: Testosterone is the standard treatment for male hypogonadism, but there is uncertainty about its cardiovascular safety due to inconsistent findings. We aimed to provide the most extensive individual participant dataset (IPD) of testosterone trials available, to analyse subtypes of all cardiovascular events observed during treatment, and to investigate the effect of incorporating data from trials that did not provide IPD. METHODS: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials including IPD. We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print, Embase, Science Citation Index, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects for literature from 1992 onwards (date of search, Aug 27, 2018). The following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) men aged 18 years and older with a screening testosterone concentration of 12 nmol/L (350 ng/dL) or less; (2) the intervention of interest was treatment with any testosterone formulation, dose frequency, and route of administration, for a minimum duration of 3 months; (3) a comparator of placebo treatment; and (4) studies assessing the pre-specified primary or secondary outcomes of interest. Details of study design, interventions, participants, and outcome measures were extracted from published articles and anonymised IPD was requested from investigators of all identified trials. Primary outcomes were mortality, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular events at any time during follow-up. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. We did a one-stage meta-analysis using IPD, and a two-stage meta-analysis integrating IPD with data from studies not providing IPD. The study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42018111005. FINDINGS: 9871 citations were identified through database searches and after exclusion of duplicates and of irrelevant citations, 225 stu

Background: Two randomised trials assessing the effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy (DC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) were published in recent years: DECRA in 2011 and RESCUEicp in 2016. As the results have generated debate amongst clinicians and researchers working in the field of TBI worldwide, it was felt necessary to provide general guidance on the use of DC following TBI and identify areas of ongoing uncertainty via a consensus-based approach. Methods: The International Consensus Meeting on the Role of Decompressive Craniectomy in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury took place in Cambridge, UK, on the 28th and 29th September 2017. The meeting was jointly organised by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), AO/Global Neuro and the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma. Discussions and voting were organised around six pre-specified themes: (1) primary DC for mass lesions, (2) secondary DC for intracranial hypertension, (3) peri-operative care, (4) surgical technique, (5) cranial reconstruction and (6) DC in low- and middle-income countries. Results: The invited participants discussed existing published evidence and proposed consensus statements. Statements required an agreement threshold of more than 70% by blinded voting for approval. Conclusions: In this manuscript, we present the final consensus-based recommendations. We have also identified areas of uncertainty, where further research is required, including the role of primary DC, the role of hinge craniotomy and the optimal timing and material for skull reconstruction.

Although accountants have used computers for tax planning and tax return preparation for many years, tax education has been slow to reflect the increasing role of computers in tax accounting. The following are only some of the tasks that a business education department offering undergraduate tax courses for accounting majors should perform when developing a program to train accounting majors in the use of microcomputers: evaluate available tax software for educational purposes; identify the material in undergraduate tax courses that is suitable for presentation in electronic data processing format; develop instructional procedures for computer assignments; prepare sample cases and assignments that can be used for computer instruction in taxation, and develop testing strategies to evaluate student progress in computer use. The scope of these tasks might cover both tax planning and reporting functions for individual, corporate, S-corporation, partnership, trust, and estate income taxes and for transfer (estate and gift) taxes. Microcomputers can also make it possible to shift the emphasis of tax accounting courses away from tax compliance rules to tax planning (so as to minimize the amount of taxes due). Toward this end, instructors can place more emphasis on tax algorithms and tax planning problems. Computer problems might involve both discovery learning exercises (in which students write programs and/or spreadsheets) and tax computations for comprehensive tax return and planning problems. Failure to use microcomputers in undergraduate courses is a genuine disservice to students inasmuch as many of them will soon be expected to work in an environment in which computer skills are indispensable. (MN)

The curriculum guide was developed to serve hearing impaired children at the Kendall Demonstration School elementary/middle school in Washington, D.C. An introductory section explains the philosophy/rationale of the language arts curriculum which emphasizes the development of spoken, signed, or written language. The next section offers suggestions for using the guide in program planning. Essential classroom practices for reading, writing, and through-the-air (signed/spoken) language. A section on scope and sequence lists instructional objectives for the entire program keyed to instructional level. The major portion of the document lists, for each objective, student target behaviors, suggested teaching strategies and activities, suggested materials, and evaluation methods. The reading program stresses reading awareness, understanding the reading process, literary content, and reading/study strategies. The writing portion covers objectives concerned with the writing process, writing objectives, and evaluation procedures. The section on through-the-air language describes the Kendall Communicative Proficiency Scale as well as criteria questions (to determine student placement). Also included are a glossary, references, and appendixes (e.g. theoretical rationale for the reading and writing program; a discussion of tuning in through-the-air language, suggestions for lesson planning, an overview of the retelling modified miscue analysis form, and reading of stories and a checklists). (DB)

Presents a lesson on human rights for middle and secondary school students in which they identify human rights, cite examples of human-rights abuses and affirmations, and relate actions to the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Explains that students identify human-rights issues globally and at home. (CMK)

Marine forces encounter complex problems daily ranging from car bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and suicide bombers who kill as many personnel as possible with no remorse for the loss of innocent life. The Marine rifle squad locates, closes with, and destroys the enemy through the use of new technology, better training, and increased speed and operational tempo on the battlefield. Combat service support (CSS) units have had to adapt quickly on the battlefield to support the needs of these combat forces. CSS units are more likely to face the enemy on the battlefield while providing combat service support than ever before. CSS units are often seen as a critical vulnerability of a force and as easy targets. Current operations have proven this theory, yet CSS units fail to train for this reality. Marines within CSS units are inadequately trained for combat operations because of current CSS force structure, CSS missions, and a lack of realistic training and evaluations during peacetime.

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