Successful Matching Research Articles

The prevalence and practices of caffeine use as an ergogenic aid in English professional soccer.

The ergogenic properties of caffeine are well established, with evidence supporting beneficial effects for physical and technical elements of performance required for successful soccer match play. Despite this, recommended caffeine practices for professional soccer have not been established. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the use and behaviours surrounding caffeine use in elite English soccer clubs. Representatives of 36 clubs from the top four tiers of English professional football (40%) completed an online survey that sought to determine if, when, how and why caffeine was prescribed to players as a means of improving sports performance. Of the clubs sampled, 97% indicated that caffeine is provided to players as a means of improving performance. Caffeine is most commonly administered prior to (> 94%) and during a game (> 48%), with frequency uninfluenced by time of matches. There was a broad range and lack of consistency in the timing, dose and mode of caffeine administration, but doses were typically low. Evidence from the present study indicate a translational gap between science and practice, highlighting a need for future work to better understand how caffeine consumption can be optimised with respect to the specific demands and constraints in professional soccer.

Incentives in Matching Markets: Counting and Comparing Manipulating Agents

Vulnerability to manipulation is a threat to successful matching market design. However, some manipulation is often inevitable and the mechanism designer wants to compare manipulable mechanisms and pick the best. Real-life examples include reforms in the entry-level medical labor market in the US (1998), school admissions systems in New York (2004), Chicago (2009-2010), Denver (2012), some cities in Ghana (2007-2008), and England (2005-2010). We provide a useful criterion for these design decisions: we count the number of agents with an incentive to manipulate each mechanism under consideration during these reforms, and show that this number decreased as a result of the reforms. Our conclusion is robust to further additional strategic assumptions.

Trends in the Academic Credentials of Matched Dermatology Residency Applicants.

IntroductionResearch can be used to enhance the competitiveness of an application and is associated with a successful match. However, current reports regarding the publication record among prospective dermatology residents may be inaccurate. We sought to accurately assess the research credentials of matched dermatology residency candidates at the time of application.MethodsWe performed a bibliometric analysis to identify published articles of 1152 matched dermatology candidates and calculated the h-index of each applicant at the time of application. Details on article type, first authorship, and dermatology-relatedness of articles were collected.ResultsThe median number of publications was two and the median h-index was 0. At the time of residency application, one-quarter of matched dermatology candidates (24%, n=278) possessed no publications. Over time, the median number of publications (R 0.10, p<0.001) and h-index (R 0.07, p=0.014) of matched applicants increased. The proportion of first-authored articles, dermatology-related papers, and each article type remained constant across application cycles (p>0.0500). An additional graduate degree, completion of a research fellowship, and graduation from a non-US medical school were independently associated with greater research credentials (p<0.0500).ConclusionsEach year, applicants are publishing more articles and have a greater scholarly impact than in previous application cycles. However, the verified publication volume of matched dermatology applicants is strikingly lower than the values reported in national statistics.

Early experimental COVID-19 therapies: associations with length of hospital stay, mortality and related costs.

Hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir have been used as experimental therapies to treat COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. Randomised controlled trials have recently shown that there are no meaningful benefits of these two therapies in hospitalised patients. Uncertainty remains regarding the potential harmful impact of these therapies as very early treatments and their burden to the health care system. The present study investigated the length of hospital stay (LOS), mortality, and costs of hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir or their combination in comparison with standard of care among patients hospitalised for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This retrospective observational cohort study took place in the Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland (n = 840) between 26 February and 31 May 2020. Demographics, treatment regimens, comorbidities, the modified National Early Warning Score (mNEWS) on admission, and contraindications to COVID-19 treatment options were assessed. Outcomes included LOS, in-hospital mortality, and drug and LOS costs. After successful propensity score matching, patients treated with (1) hydroxychloroquine, (2) lopinavir/ritonavir or (3) their combination had on average 3.75 additional hospitalisation days (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37&ndash;6.12, p = 0.002), 1.23 additional hospitalisation days (95% CI &minus;1.24 &ndash; 3.51, p = 0.319), and 4.19 additional hospitalisation days (95% CI 1.52&ndash;5.31, p &lt;0.001), respectively, compared with patients treated with the standard of care. Neither experimental therapy was significantly associated with mortality. These additional hospital days amounted to 1010.77 additional days for hydroxychloroquine and hydroxychloroquine combined with lopinavir/ritonavir, resulting in an additional cost of US$ 2,492,214 (95%CI US$ 916,839&ndash;3,450,619). Prescribing experimental therapies for COVID-19 was not associated with a reduced LOS and might have increased the pressure put on healthcare systems.

What Impact will the Changes Announced in USMLE have on Successful Matching of International Medical Graduates in Residency Programs in the United States?

All international medical graduates intending to join an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited clinical residency programs must obtain certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. A pre-requisite for obtaining this certification is the need to graduate from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and to pass all three steps of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). While the outcome of all three steps is important and considered during the evaluation of an applicant for residency training in the United States, the numerical score of Step 1 has generally been considered as one of the most important metrics during this process. However, as of 2022, USMLE Step 1 will be scored on a Pass/Fail basis eliminating the advantage afforded to the international medical graduates who traditionally scored relatively high on this step of the exam. It is therefore imperative that to succeed in obtaining a competitive residency program in the United States, international medical graduates must consider acquire additional experience and expertise in the areas of research, publications, clinical electives in United States, networking with program participants, etc.

Variability of professional soccer players’ perceived match load after successive matches

ABSTRACT This study analyses the differential perceived match load accumulated by professional soccer players depending on their: (a) participation in several consecutive official matches within the same week (Pre_Cup, Cup, and Post_Cup), and (b) total match participation time (i.e. 90 min, 70–90 min and < 70 min). Participants were 21 Spanish Second Division professional soccer players (M age = 27.1, SD = 3.3 years; M body height = 182.1, SD = 3.9 cm; M body mass = 75.8, SD = 5.14 kg). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in dRPE-ML among Pre_Cup, Cup and Post_Cup matches or in dRPE-ML between teams that took part in two or three official matches within the same week or three official matches in 2–4 consecutive weeks. The results suggest that participating in several matches in the same week does not increase accumulated perceived exertion for professional soccer players.

What Impact will the Changes Announced in USMLE have on Successful Matching of International Medical Graduates in Residency Programs in the United States

All international medical graduates intending to join an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educationaccredited clinical residency programs must obtain certification from the Educational Commission for ForeignMedical Graduates. A pre-requisite for obtaining this certification is the need to graduate from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and to pass all three steps of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). While the outcome of all three steps is important and considered during the evaluation of an applicant for residency training in the United States, the numerical score of Step 1 has generally been considered as one of the most important metrics during this process. However, as of 2022, USMLE Step 1 will be scored on a Pass/Fail basis eliminating the advantage afforded to the international medical graduates who traditionally scored relatively high on this step of the exam. It is therefore imperative that to succeed in obtaining a competitive residency program in the United States, international medical graduates must consider acquiring additional experience and expertise in the areas of research, publications, clinical electives in the United States, networking with program participants, etc.

Sensory capability and information integration independently explain the cognitive status of healthy older adults

While there is evidence that sensory processing and multisensory integration change with age, links between these alterations and their relation to cognitive status remain unclear. In this study, we assessed sensory thresholds and performance of healthy younger and older adults in a visuotactile delayed match-to-sample task. Using Bayesian structural equation modelling (BSEM), we explored the factors explaining cognitive status in the group of older adults. Additionally, we applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to a parieto-central network found to underlie visuotactile interactions and working memory matching in our previous work. Response times and signal detection measures indicated enhanced multisensory integration and enhanced benefit from successful working memory matching in older adults. Further, tACS caused a frequency-specific speeding (20 Hz) and delaying (70 Hz) of responses. Data exploration suggested distinct underlying factors for sensory acuity and sensitivity d’ on the one side, and multisensory and working memory enhancement on the other side. Finally, BSEM showed that these two factors labelled ‘sensory capability’ and ‘information integration’ independently explained cognitive status. We conclude that sensory decline and enhanced information integration might relate to distinct processes of ageing and discuss a potential role of the parietal cortex in mediating augmented integration in older adults.

Trends in Representation of Female Applicants and Matriculants in Canadian Residency Programs Across Specialties, 1995 to 2019

Disparities in representation between sexes have been shown at multiple career stages in medicine despite increasing representation in the overall physician workforce. To assess sex representation of applicants to the Canadian R-1 entry match for postgraduate training programs from 1995 to 2019, comparing distribution between different specialties as well as applied vs matched applicants. This cross-sectional analysis of aggregate data provided by the Canadian Resident Matching Service between 1995 and 2019 analyzed aggregate data for the Canadian R-1 residency match from 1995 through 2019. Applicant sex as reported in the Canadian Resident Matching Service database. The sex representation of applicants was compared and the longitudinal trends in sex representation were analyzed by specialty between 1995 and 2019. The sex representation of overall applicants to the Canadian R-1 entry match were compared with matched applicants, and both were stratified by specialty. A total of 48 424 applicants were identified (26 407 [54.5%] female applicants), of which 41 037 were matched applicants. Using specialty groupings, female applicants were most highly represented in obstetrics and gynecology (1776 of 2090 [85.0%]) and least represented in radiology (658 of 2055 [32.0%]). Within individual subspecialties, female applicants had the lowest representation in neurosurgery (90 of 394 [22.8%]). While female applicants represented an increasing proportion of the overall applicant population between 1995 and 2019 (z = 2.71; P = .007), significant increases were seen in some, but not all, individual specialties. Differences by sex were found among Canadian medical graduate match rates to their top-ranked specialty: female applicants had a lower likelihood of being rejected for family medicine (rejection of male applicants: OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.39-0.54; P < .001) and psychiatry (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46-0.76; P < .001) and were more likely to be rejected for all-encompassing surgery (acceptance of male applicants: OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.10-1.28; P < .001). Increasing representation of female residency applicants over time was seen in some, but not all, medical specialties in Canada, and sex-based differences in successful match rates were observed in some specialties. The reasons for these disparities require further investigation for corrective strategies to be identified.

Titania Inverse-Opal Photonic Crystals Incorporating Gold Nanoparticles in Void Spaces for Photoabsorption Enhancement

Designing of three-dimensional (3D) materials such as inverse-opal (IO) photonic crystals (PCs) has been identified as an effective pathway to enhance light harvesting to longer electromagnetic absorption regions such as visible and infrared [1]. IO PCs exhibit photonic band gap (PBG) and this band structure predicts the translation of photons with reduced velocity, namely as slow photons at certain crystallographic directions. The photonic effect from titania (TiO2)-IO structure was reported to enhance light-material interactions thus allowing better absorption of light at the wavelength at which the materials absorb poorly [2]. On the other hand, utilization of gold-nanoparticles (Au-NPs) on TiO2 could aid in charge separation and play its role as an amplifier for visible-light absorption due to its effects originating from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) [3]. In this study, TiO2-IO PC with incorporated gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) per void space was developed by implementing five important steps to achieve a good quality of TiO2-IO structure. Both photonic effects due to the slow photons in TiO2-IO structure and LSPR effects contributed by Au-NPs were expected to give visible-light absorption by the photocatalyst material.The experimental procedure consists of five steps as shown in Scheme 1 starting from (i) synthesis of Au-NPs, (ii) silica (SiO2) coating on Au-NP to form Au/SiO2 core-shells, (iii) self-assembly of Au/SiO2 to form high-quality opal structure, (iv) infiltration of TiO2 precursor via forced impregnation method and (v) selective etching of SiO2 to obtain the final TiO2-IO structure. Photodegradation of acetic acid was carried out in the presence of the photocatalyst material by using blue LED light (450 nm) with optical power of 0.3 W. SiO2 containing Au-NP (Au/SiO2) was used as the opal template for the 3D macroporous TiO2-IO containing Au-NP per void space (TiO2(Au)-IO). Figures 1a and 1b are images observed for Au/SiO2 opal structure exhibiting face-centered cubic (FCC) arrangement. As is observed, the closely packed opal structure could be obtained as the minimum variation among each particle was less than 5 %. However, extra precautions should be taken to avoid cracking on the opal structure to sustain the quality of the final desired material. Figures 1c and 1d are images of TiO2(Au)-IO which was successfully obtained after TiO2 infiltration via forced impregnation method followed by the removal of SiO2 to form the nanovoids. The strategy that has been implemented to enhance the light harvesting process was by designing the TiO2-IO structure with different diameter of nanovoids, which can be controlled by altering the SiO2 shell thickness in the second step of the synthesis process.Photocatalytic activities of those samples were evaluated by measuring the amount of carbon-dioxide (CO2) generated from acetic acid by TiO2(Au)-IO with different diameter of nanovoid diameters (Au-NP size: 44 nm) under LED light irradiation (4 h). Enhanced CO2 evolution was detected with TiO2(Au)-IO with nanovoid diameter of 215 nm suggesting the successful matching of photonic and LSPR effects in TiO2(Au)-IO.[1] X. Zheng, D. Li, X. Li, L. Yu, P. Wang, X. Zhang, J. Fang, Yu. Shao and Y. Zheng. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16 (2014) 15299–15306.[2] V. Jovic, H. Idriss and G.I.N. Waterhouse. Chem. Phys. 479 (2016) 109–121.[3] S.M. Yoo, S.B. Rawal, J.E. Lee, J. Kim, H. Ryu, D. Park and W.E. Lee. Appl. Catal. A Gen. 499 (2015) 47–54. Figure 1

An update on the search for symmetry in nonhumans.

Sidman et al.'s (1982) failure to find evidence for symmetry (bidirectional associations between stimuli) in monkeys and baboons set the stage for decades of work on emergent relations in nonhumans. They attributed the failure to the use of procedures that did not (1) promote stimulus control based on the relation between the sample and correct comparison and (2) reduce control by irrelevant stimulus features. Previous reviews of symmetry in nonhumans indicated that multiple exemplar training and successive matching might encourage appropriate stimulus control. This review examined 16 studies that investigated symmetry in 94 subjects, including pigeons, rats, capuchin monkeys, and baboons. Several studies used alternative training procedures to minimize sources of irrelevant stimulus control, and many combined multiple exemplar training with other procedural modifications. Symmetry was observed in approximately 30% of subjects. Studies that reported the strongest evidence for symmetry used successive matching-to-sample procedures that included training on both symbolic and identity relations, and studies finding mixed evidence employed alternative methods. These studies highlight the challenge in creating training procedures that promote symmetry and the need to assess the underlying sources of control on positive demonstrations.

The Orthopaedic Match: Defining the Academic Profile of Successful Candidates.

Research productivity forms a vital part of the resident selection process and can markedly affect the chance of a successful match. Current reports regarding the publication record among prospective orthopaedic surgery residents are likely inaccurate. Potential applicants have a poor understanding of the strength of their research credentials in comparison to other candidates. We identified matched applicants from the 2013 to 2017 orthopaedic surgery residency application cycles. We performed a bibliometric analysis of these residents using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar to identify published articles and calculate the h-index of each applicant at the time of application. Details were collected on medical school, advanced degrees, publication type, first authorship, and article relatedness to orthopaedic surgery. We included 3,199 matched orthopaedic surgery applicants. At the time of application, the median h-index was 0, the median number of publications was 1, and 40% of successful candidates did not hold any publications. The h-index (R 0.08, P < 0.0001) and median number of publications of matched orthopaedic surgery residency candidates significantly increased (R 0.09, P < 0.0001) across application cycles. Furthermore, the proportion of matched applicants without publications at the time of application significantly decreased (R -0.90, P = 0.0350). Conversely, the percentage of articles first-authored by applicants decreased (R -0.96, P = 0.0093), but article relatedness to orthopaedic surgery remained constant (R 0.82, P = 0.0905). Strikingly, notable changes were observed in the type of articles published by successful applicants: the proportion of preclinical studies decreased (R -0.07, P = 0.0041), whereas clinical research articles increased (R 0.07, P = 0.0024). The publication count held by successful orthopaedic surgery applicants is substantially lower than the nationally reported average. Matched orthopaedic surgery candidates demonstrate increasingly impressive research achievements each application cycle. However, increased academic productivity comes at the cost of reduced project responsibility and a shift toward faster-to-publish articles.

Generalized Reflexive Responding and Cross-Modal Tactile Transfer of Stimulus Function in Children with Autism.

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of successive matching training for establishing generalized reflexive matching across 4 children with autism. In Experiment 1, differential reinforcement with delay fading was efficacious in establishing "yes" and "no" matching and nonmatching responses in 2 participants when 2 identical or nonidentical picture stimuli were presented. In addition, emergent visual-visual reflexive relational responses were observed using novel picture stimuli in a transfer test phase. In Experiment 2, differential reinforcement alone was efficacious in establishing matching and nonmatching responses in the other 2 participants when 2 identical or nonidentical objects were presented. Transfer to identical objects presented through touch (i.e., tactile discrimination) was additionally observed for both participants. Procedures in the study were adapted from the PEAK Relational Training System to aid in clinical replication, and the translational results have implications for language training with individuals with autism.

The effect of ERAS management in gastric cancer: assessment from the IMIGASTRIC study

Background: Establish protocols to enhance the surgical management (ERAS) can improve outcomes, shortening hospital stay and save resources. Several studies have carried out for colorectal surgery, while a lack of evidence for gastrectomy remains.This study aims to evaluate the impact of ERAS strategies in a large series of patients underwent gastric cancer surgery. Methods: This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing an ERAS group with a control group. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet. Results: Patients in the ERAS and control groups were 1:1 matched by the closest propensity score on the logit scale and with a Caliber = 0.2. The successful matching resulted in a total sample of 440 patients. The two groups showed no differences in all baseline patients characteristics, type of surgery (P=0.31) and stage of the disease (P=0.61). A benefit in favor of the ERAS management was found in the length of hospital stay (P=0.0004) and complications rate (P=0.001). Conclusion: An ERAS program can safely be established in referral centers for gastric cancer, enabling to significantly improve the main clinical outcomes.

Dermatology Residency Program Influences Chance of Successful Surgery Fellowship Match.

Dermatology Residency Program Influences Chance of Successful Surgery Fellowship Match.

Supporting users in finding successful matches in reciprocal recommender systems

Online platforms which assist users in finding a suitable match, such as online-dating and job recruiting environments, have become increasingly popular in the last decade. Many of these environments include recommender systems which, for instance in online dating, aim at helping users to discover a suitable partner who will likely be interested in them. Generating successful recommendations in such systems is challenging as the system must balance two objectives: (1) recommending users with whom the recommendation receiver is likely to initiate an interaction and (2) recommending users who are likely to reply positively to the recommendation receiver initiated interaction. Unfortunately, these objectives are partially conflicting since very often the recommendation receiver is likely to contact users who are not likely to respond positively, and vice versa. Furthermore, users in these environments vary in the extent to which they contemplate the other side’s preferences before initiating an interaction. Therefore, an effective recommender system must effectively model each user and balance these objectives. In our work, we tackle this challenge through two novel components: (1) an explanation module, which leverages an estimate of why the recommended user is likely to respond positively to the recommendation receiver; and (2) a novel reciprocal recommendation algorithm, which finds an optimal balance, individually tailored to each user, between the partially conflicting objectives mentioned above. In an extensive empirical evaluation, in both simulated and real-world dating Web platforms with 1204 human participants, we find that both components contribute to attaining these objectives and that the combinations thereof are more effective than each one on its own.

Applicants' Interview Experience of Family Medicine Residency Match: Reflections from a Quality Improvement Initiative at a Community Hospital.

Background and objectiveBoth family medicine applicants and programs dedicate significant resources to the interview process, a time for both parties to make an impression on the other in an attempt to find their best match. Despite the importance of this process, little research has been completed to ensure the process efficiently addresses applicant preferences on interview day and the surrounding process. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the family medicine applicant preferences regarding the pre-interview, interview, and post-interview ranking process. MethodsThe study method was a cross-sectional electronic survey utilizing anonymous questionnaires that assessed demographics, pre-interview, interview, post-interview ranking preference, and applicants' experiences applying to a community-based family medicine residency program after their interview for the 2020 application cycle.ResultsOut of the 106 family medicine applicants, 48 responded; 52.08% were males, 52.5% were married, 58.33% applicants were from the osteopathic medical school, 33.33% were from the allopathic Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) non accredited medical school/international medical graduates (IMG's), and 8.33% were from the allopathic LCME accredited medical schools. Free hotel accommodation was not offered from half of the programs to 27.8% of the applicants in the 2020 match cycle (pre-pandemic). Respondents favored electronic means of scheduling interviews with a positive experience with the online self-scheduling Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) calendar. A significantly higher proportion of IMGs applied to a higher number of family medicine programs followed by the osteopathic applicants. There was no statistical difference found between osteopathic and allopathic applicants for the number of programs they got invited to; however, the difference was significant for osteopathic and allopathic LCME accredited applicants who interviewed and ranked programs in the range of 11-20 (62.96%, p=0.0013 and 66.67%, p=0.0018, respectively). The respondents' most important experiences were interviewing the program director, faculty members, and tour the hospital facility. When ranking programs, these family medicine applicants considered the strength of program training, the quality of current residents, and the program's geographic location as the top three most significant factors, with mean importance ratings of 5.08, 5.02, and 4.35, respectively. Applicants also considered how the current residents perceive the program director, prior teaching experience, and program diversity with mean importance ratings of 3.42, 2.89, and 2.09, respectively.ConclusionAlthough applicants' preferences for family medicine residency programs are similar to generally reported by The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) surveys, some key differences do exist. The program leadership should consider these preferences from the candidates’ perspective for a successful match in family medicine residency on both sides.

Effects of successive judo matches on interlimb asymmetry and bilateral deficit

ObjectiveTo verify the effects of successive judo matches on interlimb asymmetry and bilateral deficit in judo athletes. DesignRepeated measures; SettingUniversity Judo center. ParticipantsFourteen male judo athletes. Outcome measuresFour simulated matches consisting of 4-min. Before the first match and after each match athletes were submitted to single leg tests – Countermovement Jump (SLCMJ) and Standing Long Jump (SLSLJ), and handgrip strength (HGS) in the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Interlimb asymmetry was calculated in both jumps and handgrip strength tests. ResultsMost jump-derived variables did not change the magnitude of asymmetry throughout the matches (p > 0.05), with the exception of jump height asymmetry in SLCMJ, that increased after the second match (p = 0.001). The HGS decreased in both hands from the first match (p < 0.001), without asymmetry. The highest bilateral strength deficit was observed in post-match 1 and post-match 2 (close to 10%). ConclusionFour-successive judo matches did not change the magnitude of interlimb asymmetry, with exception of SLCMJ height, which increased after the second match. The handgrip strength decreased throughout the matches, but similarly in both hands. Finally, the direction of asymmetry showed consistency throughout the matches only for SLCMJ height.

Surveying the selection landscape: A systematic review of processes for selecting postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residents and key implications

AbstractIntroductionThe growth in applicants to postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs outpaces the number of available positions, requiring that residency program directors (RPDs) evaluate an increasing number of qualified candidates. Discrepancies exist in the characteristics thought to distinguish exemplary candidates and the methods for selecting them.ObjectivesTo characterize the burdens of the selection process, summarize methods for selecting PGY1 residents based on a systematic review, and list best practices for improving the process.MethodsBurdens were characterized by collecting applicant costs via survey and program costs and workload estimates via interviews of RPDs at small, medium, and large programs. For the systematic review, a medical librarian searched for articles pertaining to resident selection. Articles underwent a title/abstract screen and full text screen by two authors and a third served as tiebreaker. Data were summarized in descriptive form, and consisted of study methodology, selection method(s) of interest, and principal findings.ResultsThe median cost to applicants was $1756 (interquartile range [IQR] $1271‐$2423). The median cost to residency programs was $5068 (IQR $3943‐$12 310). Program directors spent a median of 56.5 hours on selection; a median of 22.0 and 21.3 hours were spent by each preceptor and current resident, respectively. A total of 51 articles (22 surveys and 29 other designs) were included in the systematic review. Biographical data, interviews, and references were among the most commonly explored evaluation methods. Articles consisted primarily of descriptions of selection methods, summaries of RPD attitudes regarding these methods or characteristics desired in a resident, or factors that predicted a successful match. Few articles investigated the validity and reliability of selection methods.ConclusionSelection is a cumbersome process for both applicants and programs alike. Fortunately, numerous opportunities exist to improve the process, and these should serve as the basis of future research.

SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class II: Investigation in silico of Binding Affinities for COVID-19 Protection and Vaccine Development

SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, urgently requiring the development of effective vaccine(s). Much of current efforts focus on the SARS-CoV-2 spike-glycoprotein by identifying highly antigenic epitopes as good vaccine candidates. However, high antigenicity is not sufficient, since the activation of relevant T cells depends on the presence of the complex of the antigen with a suitably matching Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class II molecule, not the antigen alone: in the absence of such a match, even a highly antigenic epitope in vitro will not elicit antibody formation in vivo. Here we assessed systematically in silico the binding affinity of epitopes of the spike-glycoprotein to 66 common HLA-Class-II alleles (frequency ≥ 0.01). We used a sliding epitope window of 22-amino-acid-width to scan the entire protein and determined the binding affinity of each subsequence to each HLA allele. DPB1 had highest binding affinities, followed by DRB1 and DQB1. Higher binding affinities were concentrated in the initial part of the glycoprotein (S1-S460), with a peak at S223-S238. This region would be well suited for effective vaccine development by ensuring high probability for successful matching of the vaccine antigen from that region to a HLA Class II molecule for CD4+ T cell activation by the antigen-HLA molecule complex.