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The article discusses the hands project which aims to find at least three different types of functions that model lines or curves of their hands. It presents detailed discussion on how to introduce the activity as well as tips for teacher's notes and hints in implementing the activity. Moreover, the questionnaire concerning the activity is also mentioned.

Presents a two-person nine-card game which illustrates and reinforces mathematical principles. Instructions in playing the game; Similarity between the nine-card game and ticktacktoe.

This article discusses various issues related to the law of sine and Benjamin Banneker, a self-taught mathematician, surveyor, and astronomer from Guinea. Banneker was taught how to read and write by his grandmother. Banneker learned learnt mathematics as far as double-position as well as surveying and astronomy from books he had been lent by his teacher and neighbors. He began publishing annual almanacs containing his astronomical observations and predictions. He kept his notes in journals, but only one of the journals is preserved. This journal served as his notebook for astronomical observations his diary, and his mathematics notebook. The article further elaborates the features of mathematical thinking of Banneker, and its significance for students.

The article presents a mathematical-model based technique to estimate the number of votes that a presidential candidate requires to be elected as the president of the United States. The difference in the electoral votes and popular votes influencing the election of the candidate has been highlighted through the election of U.S. president George W. Bush over Al Gore in the 2000 U.S. presidential elections because Bush received more electoral votes than Gore although he got lesser popular votes than Gore. The Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications features such problems in its High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

Provides a sensitivity analysis of home run production in major league baseball. Trends of home run production as of 2001; Details of the theoretical analyses and mathematical inferences of home run production; Factors that may affect the distance that a ball must fly in order to qualify as a home run.

Presents several puzzles taken from Silvio Bedini's biography of mathematician Benjamin Banneker. Personal background of Banneker; Calculator used to solve the puzzles; Details of the puzzles.

Presents axioms and examples about the use of computer algebra systems (CAS) in schools. Improvement of students' understanding of mathematics; Functions of graphing calculators; Benefit of CAS for teachers of algebra; geometry and precalculus.

Discusses an in situ vacuum surface-cleaning process that uses microcluster beams to clean wafer surfaces contaminated by solid particulates and organic films. Background on the microcluster beam technology; Mechanisms for contaminant removal; Investigations into particle removal feasibility; Information on semiconductor wafer-cleaning applications. INSET: Wafer probe card cleaning.

A letter to the editor related to errors in the sample problems published in the resource book "The Common Core Mathematics Standards: Transforming Practice Through Team Leadership" is presented.

Abstract: Integrating public health into medical curricula poses a substantial challenge to educators. However, the needs of trainees and the population requirements of accrediting bodies provide a compelling call to action to improve how tomorrow''s medical practitioners are prepared to incorporate public health into their practices. This article provides insights about the nature of the challenges, and it identifies opportunities and practical approaches to integrating public health content into medical school curricula. The paper incorporates authors'' opinions with a synthesis of the discussions from a workshop at the 2010 “Patients and Populations: Public Health in Medical Education” conference. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the method of grading on multiple-choice tests.

Reviews the puzzle `Amazing Math Puzzles,' by Adam Hart-Davis.

BACKGROUND Bevacizumab is associated with an increased risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE); however, its effect on venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains controversial. Scant data exist on the factors that increase the risk of ATE/VTE in patients with prostate cancer. The authors investigated the association of bevacizumab treatment and clinical factors with ATE/VTE risk in patients who were treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trial 90401. METHODS Patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer were randomized to receive docetaxel and prednisone with or without bevacizumab once every 21 days. Cycle-to-event Cox regression models were used to investigate the association of bevacizumab with the incidence of grade 3 or greater (≥3) ATE and VTE. Age, prior ATE/VTE, baseline antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, and VTE risk score (based on leukocyte count, hemoglobin, platelet count, body mass index, and tumor location) were evaluated in univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS Of 1008 randomized patients, the odds of experiencing grade ≥3 ATE were significantly greater in those who received bevacizumab compared with those who received placebo (odds ratio, 2.79; P = .02), whereas an opposite trend was noted for grade ≥3 VTE (odds ratio, 0.60; P = .08). In the multivariable analysis, bevacizumab treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 3.00; P = .01) and age (HR, 1.06; P = .02) were significantly associated with the risk of ATE; whereas age (HR, 1.05; P = .01) and VTE risk score (HR, 1.83; P = .03) were significantly associated with the risk of VTE. CONCLUSIONS Bevacizumab was significantly associated with a greater risk of ATE in patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, but it was not significantly associated with the risk of VTE. Understanding clinical factors that increase the risk for experiencing ATE/VTE is essential to mitigate the risks and reduce the burden of these prevalent complications in cancer care. Cancer 2015;121:1025-1031. © 2014 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preliminary data suggest a potential decreased benefit of docetaxel in patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who previously received abiraterone acetate, a novel androgen synthesis inhibitor (ASI). Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trial 90401 (Alliance), a phase 3 trial in patients with mCRPC who received docetaxel-based chemotherapy, offered the opportunity to evaluate effect of prior ketoconazole, an earlier generation ASI, on clinical outcomes after docetaxel.Methods: In CALGB trial 90401, 1050 men with chemotherapy-naive mCRPC were randomized to receive treatment with docetaxel and prednisone that included either bevacizumab or placebo. In total, 1005 men (96%) had data available regarding prior ketoconazole therapy. The observed effects of prior ketoconazole on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline, and the objective response rate (ORR) were assessed using proportional hazards and Poisson regression methods adjusted for validated prognostic factors and treatment arm.Results: Baseline characteristics between patients who did (N=277) and did not (N=728) receive prior ketoconazole therapy were similar. There were no statistically significant differences between patients who did and those who did not receive prior ketoconazole therapy with respect to OS (median OS, 21.1 months vs 22.3 months, respectively; stratified log-rank P=.635), PFS (median PFS, 8.1 months vs 8.6 months, respectively; stratified log-rank P=.342), the proportion achieving a decline ≥ 50% in PSA (61% vs 66%, respectively; relative risk, 1.09; adjusted P=.129), or ORR (39% vs 43%, respectively; relative risk, 1.11; adjusted P=.366).Conclusions: As measured by OS, PFS, PSA, and the ORR, there was no evidence that prior treatment with ketoconazole had an impact on the clinical outcomes of patients with mCRPC who received subsequent docetaxel-based therapy. The current results highlight the need for prospective studies to assess for potential cross-resistance with novel ASIs and to define the optimal sequence of therapy in mCRPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Preliminary data suggest a potential decreased benefit of docetaxel in patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who previously received abiraterone acetate, a novel androgen synthesis inhibitor (ASI). Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trial 90401 (Alliance), a phase 3 trial in patients with mCRPC who received docetaxel-based chemotherapy, offered the opportunity to evaluate effect of prior ketoconazole, an earlier generation ASI, on clinical outcomes after docetaxel. METHODS: In CALGB trial 90401, 1050 men with chemotherapy-naive mCRPC were randomized to receive treatment with docetaxel and predni-sone that included either bevacizumab or placebo. In total, 1005 men (96%) had data available regarding prior ketoconazole therapy. The observed effects of prior ketoconazole on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline, and the objective response rate (ORR) were assessed using proportional hazards and Poisson regression methods adjusted for validated prognostic factors and treatment arm. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics between patients who did (N = 277) and did not (N = 728) receive prior ketoconazole therapy were similar. There were no statistically significant differences between patients who did and those who did not receive prior ketoconazole therapy with respect to OS (median OS, 21.1 months vs 22.3 months, respec-tively; stratified log-rank P = .635), PFS (median PFS, 8.1 months vs 8.6 months, respectively; stratified log-rank P = .342), the propor-tion achieving a decline >50% in PSA (61% vs 66%, respectively; relative risk, 1.09; adjusted P = .129), or ORR (39% vs 43%, respectively; relative risk, 1.11; adjusted P = .366). CONCLUSIONS: As measured by OS, PFS, PSA, and the ORR, there was no evidence that prior treatment with ketoconazole had an impact on the clinical outcomes of patients with mCRPC who received subsequent docetaxel-based therapy. The current results highlight the need for prospective studies to assess for potential cross-resistance with novel ASIs and to define the optimal sequence of therapy in mCRPC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Calls for more public health education for medical students date back at least 150 years. In recent years, medical schools have increased their required coursework in core public health topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and behavioral determinants of health. Some schools have created more in-depth alternatives, including combined or concurrent master''s degrees; MD/PhD programs with a public health track; certificates in public health; or complete re-envisioning of the school into an integrated medical and public health institution. In 2009 the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine began a Public Health Area of Concentration (AOC) that provides an optional, integrated curriculum that includes key elements of research, practice, and leadership. The AOC is a partnership between two schools at the University of Pittsburgh—Medicine and Public Health—and the local county health department. The result is a program that provides mentorship and training over 4 years of education designed to mend the long historical divide between the skills and constituencies of individual and population health. In addition, the AOC is relatively easy and inexpensive to implement and is modular in nature. The Public Health AOC is a simple model for incorporating many key aspects of public health into medical education and can be duplicated by any university that is willing to create partnerships and work across boundaries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]