Transgender Teachers: The Personal, Pedagogical, and Political

This empirical research study examines the experiences of three male-to-female transgender teachers who transitioned genders, in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s) while actively teaching within Canadian K-12 public schools. I utilize poststructural storylines to explore how these transgender teachers navigated the personal, pedagogical, and political and the survival and transition strategies they developed to become intelligible within their schools. Their storylines illustrate how they developed counternarratives to challenge traditional discourses of trans invisibility, silence, shame, and fear.

Pretreatment Acoustic Predictors of Gender, Femininity, and Naturalness Ratings in Individuals With Male-to-Female Gender Identity

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the pretreatment acoustic characteristics of individuals with male-to-female gender identity (IMtFGI) and investigate the ability of the acoustic measures to predict ratings of gender, femininity, and vocal naturalness.

METHOD

This retrospective descriptive study included 2 groups of participants. Speakers were IMtFGI who had not previously received communication feminization treatment (N = 25). Listeners were members of the lay community (N = 30). Acoustic data were retrospectively obtained from pretreatment recordings, and pretreatment recordings also served as stimuli for 3 perceptual rating tasks (completed by listeners).

RESULTS

Acoustic data generally were within normal limits for male speakers. All but 2 speakers were perceived to be male, limiting information about the relationship between acoustic measures and gender perception. Fundamental frequency (reading) significantly predicted femininity ratings (p = .000). A total of 3 stepwise regression models indicated that minimum frequency (range task), second vowel formant (sustained vowel), and shimmer percentage (sustained vowel) together significantly predicted naturalness ratings (p = .005, p = .003, and p = .002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Study aims were achieved with the exception of acoustic predictors of gender perception, which could be described for only 2 speakers. Future research should investigate measures of prosody, voice quality, and other aspects of communication as predictors of gender, femininity, and naturalness.

Estimation of scattered radiation in digital breast tomosynthesis

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a promising technique to overcome the tissue superposition limitations found in planar 2D x-ray mammography. However, as most DBT systems do not employ an anti-scatter grid, the levels of scattered radiation recorded within the image receptor are significantly higher than that observed in planar 2D x-ray mammography. Knowledge of this field is necessary as part of any correction scheme and for computer modelling and optimisation of this examination. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are often used for this purpose, however they are computationally expensive and a more rapid method of calculation is desirable. This issue is addressed in this work by the development of a fast kernel-based methodology for scatter field estimation using a detailed realistic DBT geometry. Thickness-dependent scatter kernels, which were validated against the literature with a maximum discrepancy of 4% for an idealised geometry, have been calculated and a new physical parameter (air gap distance) was used to estimate more accurately the distribution of scattered radiation for a series of anthropomorphic breast phantom models. The proposed methodology considers, for the first time, the effects of scattered radiation from the compression paddle and breast support plate, which can represent more than 30% of the total scattered radiation recorded within the image receptor. The results show that the scatter field estimator can calculate scattered radiation images in an average of 80 min for projection angles up to 25° with equal to or less than a 10% error across most of the breast area when compared with direct MC simulations.

Performance of a novel wafer scale CMOS active pixel sensor for bio-medical imaging

Recently CMOS active pixels sensors (APSs) have become a valuable alternative to amorphous silicon and selenium flat panel imagers (FPIs) in bio-medical imaging applications. CMOS APSs can now be scaled up to the standard 20 cm diameter wafer size by means of a reticle stitching block process. However, despite wafer scale CMOS APS being monolithic, sources of non-uniformity of response and regional variations can persist representing a significant challenge for wafer scale sensor response. Non-uniformity of stitched sensors can arise from a number of factors related to the manufacturing process, including variation of amplification, variation between readout components, wafer defects and process variations across the wafer due to manufacturing processes. This paper reports on an investigation into the spatial non-uniformity and regional variations of a wafer scale stitched CMOS APS. For the first time a per-pixel analysis of the electro-optical performance of a wafer CMOS APS is presented, to address inhomogeneity issues arising from the stitching techniques used to manufacture wafer scale sensors. A complete model of the signal generation in the pixel array has been provided and proved capable of accounting for noise and gain variations across the pixel array. This novel analysis leads to readout noise and conversion gain being evaluated at pixel level, stitching block level and in regions of interest, resulting in a coefficient of variation ⩽1.9%. The uniformity of the image quality performance has been further investigated in a typical x-ray application, i.e. mammography, showing a uniformity in terms of CNR among the highest when compared with mammography detectors commonly used in clinical practice. Finally, in order to compare the detection capability of this novel APS with the technology currently used (i.e. FPIs), theoretical evaluation of the detection quantum efficiency (DQE) at zero-frequency has been performed, resulting in a higher DQE for this detector compared to FPIs. Optical characterization, x-ray contrast measurements and theoretical DQE evaluation suggest that a trade off can be found between the need of a large imaging area and the requirement of a uniform imaging performance, making the DynAMITe large area CMOS APS suitable for a range of bio-medical applications.

Ecstasy, legal highs and designer drug use: A Canadian perspective

Recreational drug use in Canada is not uncommon, but as with most societies, illegal drug use carries harsh penalties resulting in a criminal record when an individual is successfully prosecuted. Popular drugs of use in Canada include ecstasy, cannabis (including some synthetic cannabinoids sold as ‘Spice’ and ‘Incense’) and several emerging psychoactive ‘legal highs’. Surprisingly, Canada is a major manufacturer and exporter of the popular club drug ecstasy, with criminal gangs organising the synthesis and distribution of this club drug worldwide. Over the last 18 months, there has been much interest in and use of alternatives to ecstasy due to contamination of ecstasy during synthesis. One particular contaminant, paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), has resulted in several deaths. Other alternatives include piperazines and mephedrone analogues. With regard to cannabis, some is home grown within people’s properties, but there is also large-scale cultivation in British Columbia where the climate is more temperate. With the introduction of corporate drug screening, there is increasing use of synthetic cannabinoids to avoid detection of marijuana use. This article discusses the problems and trends of synthetic drug use in Canada and reflects on the limited education available to youth in this regard.

224 CONSTRUCTION OF GENE TARGETING VECTORS FOR RAG-1 AND RAG-2

Gene targeting in mammalian cells has become a routine technique and is currently used to study gene function, create biomedical models, and generate potential tissue sources for xenotransplantation. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a condition characterised by the absence of T cells and a lack of B cell function. Severe combined immunodeficiency affects ~1 out of every 100 000 infants. Autosomal recessive SCID can occur due to a mutation within the recombination activating genes (RAG-1/RAG-2) that play a role in recombination of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors. Gene targeting has been used to create mouse models to study the effects of a RAG-1 or RAG-2 deficiency on the immune system. In 1992, Mombaerts et al. generated a homozygous mouse model of RAG-1 deficiency, whereas Shinkai et al. generated a homozygous mouse model of RAG-2. Both models resulted in the absence of mature T or B lymphocytes; which was concluded to be due to the lack of the ability to initiate the V(D)J recombination process. Because of the anatomical and physiological similarities between humans and pigs, a swine model of both RAG-1 and RAG-2 deficiency would have utility. We hypothesise that disruption of RAG-1, RAG-2, or both in swine will result in a SCID phenotype. A first step in the creation of a swine SCID model is to assemble targeting vectors. The objective of this work was to construct targeting vectors. To accomplish this goal, genomic DNA from porcine fetal fibroblasts was used to amplify a 6840-bp PCR product including the porcine RAG-1 gene. This fragment was cloned into TOPO pCR-XL (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). So that a mammalian G418 resistance cassette could be used for selection of targeting events, this plasmid was modified to remove the endogenous AphII gene (provides G418 resistance). The pKW4 contains LoxP (locus of X-ing over) sites that flank a G418 resistance cassette (based on mammalian codon usage), which is driven by a phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) promoter (Lorson et al. 2011). This cassette was inserted into the RAG-1 gene to create the targeting construct pAB6. For RAG2, a 9466-bp PCR product i ncluding the RAG-2 gene was amplified and cloned into TOPO pCR-Blunt II (Invitrogen). The LoxP flanked G418 resistance cassette from pKW4 was inserted into the second exon of the RAG-2 gene sequence, creating the targeting construct pAB13. Further, diagnostic screening strategies were developed and validated to discriminate gene-targeting events from random integration. We report here 2 targeting vectors and validated screening methods for gene targeting in porcine fetal fibroblasts that have been validated for cloning. These vectors will be applied toward an effort to create a porcine SCID model. The implications of such a model include evaluation of basic immune function, evaluation of the innate immune system in vaccine efficacy, and organ transplantation.

Abstract P1-09-15: Perception of breast cancer risk in an underinsured safety net population

Background: Patient perception of breast cancer risk can affect compliance with screening mammography. In an underinsured population, we have previously found that being insured and adequate health literacy were strong predictors of use of screening mammography. Previous studies in other populations have found that patients with heighted perceived risk also have increased use of screening. Previous studies have found an average perceived risk of 30%. “Risk” and risk assessment are difficult concepts for many people and this may be problematic in undereducated populations. The current study was performed to evaluate women's perception of their lifetime risk of breast cancer in a safety net population.

Methods: From May 2012 to May 2013, all patients seen at a safety net Breast Clinic were asked to estimate their lifetime risk of breast cancer. “If 0 = no chance and 100% = for sure, what are your chances of getting breast cancer in your life?” Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment variables were collected. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables which were associated with picture choice. All of the variables with a p-value <0.10 were included in the multivariate analysis.

Results: 1,089 consecutive patients were seen. After exclusion of men and patients known to have breast cancer, 838 patients were included. The mean age was 43 years. 93% of the patients were uninsured or insured with Medicaid. Average education 10 years and 17% were non-Hispanic White (NHW). Overall the average perceived lifetime risk for the population was 29.7%. For all patients age 35 years+, the average Gail model Risk Assessment scores were 1.1% (5 year) and 9% (LT). Only 17% of patients would be considered at increased risk according to Gail model 5 year risk (> 1.6%).

In univariate analysis, continuous variables associated with higher perceived risk were higher BMI (p = 0.003), more years of education (p = 0.0009), and higher 5 year Gail model score (p = 0.0005). Categorical variables associated with higher perceived lifetime risk were being insured (34% vs 27%; p = 0.004) and NonHispanic patients (34% vs 27%; p = 0.003). Adequate health literacy (38% vs 27%; p = 0.0001) and family history of breast cancer in a first degree relative (FDR; 43% vs 27%; p = 0.0001) were the variables with the strongest association with perceived risk. In multivariate analysis after adjustment for the above factors, only family history in FDR remained significant (p = 0.003).

Over a similar time period, being insured (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.18 – 1.95; p = 0.001) and adequate health literacy (OR 3.75; 95% CI 2.71 – 5.19; p < 0.0001) were the only variables significantly associated with the use of screening mammography.

Conclusions: Underinsured, minority women overestimate their lifetime risk of breast cancer (30%) at a magnitude similar to other populations. Family history has a strong influence on an underinsured populations’ perception of breast cancer risk. Patients who were insured or had adequate health literacy perceived a higher lifetime risk of breast cancer and were significantly more likely to use screening mammography.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-09-15.

Lipid infusion in the management of poisoning: a report of 6 canine cases

Intravenous administration of lipid is a relatively new treatment in the management of toxicity from lipophilic compounds. It is used in human medicine in the treatment of toxicity from lipophilic local anaesthetics and cardiotoxic drugs and can result in dramatic improvement in clinical status. We present six cases of poisoning in dogs successfully treated with lipid infusion after ingestion of ivermectin (3), moxidectin (2) and baclofen (1). The dogs ranged in age from eight weeks to 14 years, and weighed 4-30 kg. Intravenous lipid therapy was started between six and eight hours and 22 hours after ingestion, and all the dogs responded well. In four dogs, there was clinical improvement within one hour; one had improved within two hours and the other within 4.5 hours of lipid administration. The only adverse effect of lipid infusion reported was mild swelling and pain after extravasation in one case which resolved with conservative management. All the dogs were discharged within 24-52 hours after exposure (7-46 hours after the start of lipid administration), and none developed any apparent sequelae.

Consensus guidelines for the conduct and reporting of clinical trials in systemic light-chain amyloidosis

This manuscript summarizes the recommendations that emerged from the first Roundtable on Clinical Research in Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis (AL), a meeting sponsored by the Amyloidosis Foundation (Clarkston, MI, USA) to develop a consensus of experts on a modern framework for clinical trial design and drug development in AL. Recent diagnostic and technical advances in AL, and updated consensus guidelines for assessing hematologic and organ responses, enable us to define study populations, appropriate end points, and other criteria for all phases of clinical research. This manuscript provides a framework for the design and conduct of systematic collaborative clinical research in AL to encourage more rapid testing of therapies and to expedite new drug development and approval.