A Bayesian hierarchal model together with a bootstrap method for exposure estimation were applied to quantify uncertainty from various sources, including the within-study, between-study, and exposure uncertainties. Dose-response assessment results obtained from a number of alternative model structures and methods consistently demonstrate a threshold type dose-response curve with a threshold in the range between 40-60 μg/L of iAs concentration in drinking water. The BMD for iAs in drinking water associated with 0.1 % increase in relative risk of bladder cancer is 42.2 μg/L (BMDL 39.2 μg/L); for 0.05 % increase, the BMD is 41.6 μg/L (BMDL 38.6 μg/L). For lung cancer, the two counterpart BMD estimates are 57.0 μg/L (BMDL 43.6 μg/L) and 55.7 μg/L (BMDL 42.5 μg/L) for 0.1 % and 0.05 % increase, respectively. These analyses provide additional statistical support for a non-linear dose response for cancer risk from inorganic arsenic which may have important policy implications. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus GBS) is a leading cause of early- and late-onset diseases in neonates. Reliable results of GBS carriage investigation among pregnant women may decrease the incidence of neonatal infection and mortality. To compare the results of conventional culture investigation with those of the US Food and Drug Administration-approved nucleic acid amplification test (BD Max GBS (Becton Dickinson)), and to establish our own protocols of standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 250 vaginal-rectal swabs from three different hospitals in Bydgoszcz, Poland, were used to evaluate GBS carriage. Standard laboratory technique (overnight culture in broth enrichment media) results were compared with those of BD Max GBS assay (Becton Dickinson) and two standard PCR protocols, established to detect the cfb and 16S rRNA S.agalactiae genes, from the overnight cultures of the samples in the liquid enrichment media. The overall GBS carriage was estimated as 16.4-23.2%, depending on the applied detection method. The highest percentage of positive results, from each lab-oratory was obtained with the application of BD Max GBS assay. The differences in the number of positive results obtained with this particular method were statistically significant. Overall, 27 discrepancies were noted for the results obtained with the application of the methods compared. The methods applied for GBS detection differ in sensitivity. A culture technique, though very specific, appears to be less sensitive at detecting S.agalactiae compared with the commercially available BD Max GBS assay or in-house PCR protocols established for this purpose.The methods applied for GBS detection differ in sensitivity. A culture technique, though very specific, appears to be less sensitive at detecting S. Linderalactone clinical trial agalactiae compared with the commercially available BD Max GBS assay or in-house PCR protocols established for this purpose. Interpersonal communication skills and professionalism competencies are difficult to assess among nephrology trainees. We developed a formative "Breaking Bad News" simulation and implemented a study in which nephrology fellows were assessed with regard to their skills in providing counseling to simulated patients confronting the need for kidney replacement therapy (KRT) or kidney biopsy. Observational study of communication competency in the setting of preparing for KRT for kidney failure, for KRT for acute kidney injury (AKI), or for kidney biopsy. 58 first- and second-year nephrology fellows assessed during 71 clinical evaluation sessions at 8 training programs who participated in an objective structured clinical examination of simulated patients in 2017 and2018. Fellowship training year and clinical scenario. Primary outcome was the composite score for the "overall rating" item on the Essential Elements of Communication-Global Rating Scale 2005 (EEC-GRS), as assessed by simulated patients. Secondtions; limited familiarity with and training of simulated patients in use of EEC-GRS. The fellows scored highly on the EEC-GRS regardless of their training year, suggesting interpersonal communication competency is achieved early in training. The fellows did better with the kidney failure scenario than with the AKI and kidney biopsy scenarios. Structured simulated clinical examinations may be useful to inform curricular choices and may be a valuable assessment tool for communication and professionalism.The fellows scored highly on the EEC-GRS regardless of their training year, suggesting interpersonal communication competency is achieved early in training. The fellows did better with the kidney failure scenario than with the AKI and kidney biopsy scenarios. Structured simulated clinical examinations may be useful to inform curricular choices and may be a valuable assessment tool for communication and professionalism. Differentiation between relapse and reinfection in cases with tuberculosis (TB) recurrence has important implications for public health, especially in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. We compared Mycobacterial Interspersed Repeat Unit (MIRU) typing and spoligotyping with whole genome sequencing (WGS) to differentiate between relapse and reinfection in patients (HIV-positive and HIV-negative) with TB recurrence. We also assessed the value of WGS to track acquired drug resistance in those with relapse after successful treatment. Forty-one paired M. tuberculosis isolates collected from 20 HIV-positive and 21 HIV-negative patients were subjected to WGS in addition to spoligotyping and MIRU typing. Phylogenetic and Single Nucleotide Substitution (SNP) clustering analyses were performed to determine whether recurrences were due to relapse or re-infection. Comparison of M. tuberculosis genomes indicated that 95% of TB recurrences in the HIV-negative cohort were due to relapse, while the majority of TB recurrences (75%) in the HIV-positive cohort was due to reinfection (P = 0.0001). New drug resistance mutations were acquired in 5/24 cases (20.8%) that experienced relapse. WGS provided increased resolution, but differentiation between relapse and reinfection was broadly consistent with MIRU and spoligotyping. The high contribution of reinfection among HIV infected patients experiencing TB recurrence warrants further study to explore risk factors for TB exposure.WGS provided increased resolution, but differentiation between relapse and reinfection was broadly consistent with MIRU and spoligotyping. The high contribution of reinfection among HIV infected patients experiencing TB recurrence warrants further study to explore risk factors for TB exposure.