Thin Bonded Concrete Overlay and Bonding Agents

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-06-01

This report presents the construction procedures and initial performance evaluation of a four-inch Bonded Concrete Overlay placed on Interstate 80 near Moline, Illinois. Preconstruction testing consisted of Falling Weight Deflectometer, permeability ...

Trajectories of Social Withdrawal from Grades 1 to 6: Prediction from Early Parenting, Attachment, and Temperament

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Booth-LaForce, Cathryn; Oxford, Monica L.

2008-01-01

From 1,092 children in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, the authors identified 3 trajectory patterns of social withdrawal from teacher reports in Grades 1-6: a normative consistently low group (86%), a decreasing group (5%) with initially high withdrawal that decreased, and an increasing group (9%) with initially low…

Early sex work initiation and condom use among alcohol-using female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: a cross-sectional analysis

PubMed Central

Parcesepe, Angela M; L’Engle, Kelly L; Martin, Sandra L; Green, Sherri; Suchindran, Chirayath; Mwarogo, Peter

2016-01-01

Objectives Early initiation of sex work is prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs) worldwide. The objectives of this study were to investigate if early initiation of sex work was associated with: (1) consistent condom use, (2) condom negotiation self-efficacy or (3) condom use norms among alcohol-using FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. Methods In-person interviews were conducted with 816 FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. Sample participants were: recruited from HIV prevention drop-in centres, 18 years or older and moderate risk drinkers. Early initiation was defined as first engaging in sex work at 17 years or younger. Logistic regression modelled outcomes as a function of early initiation, adjusting for drop-in centre, years in sex work, supporting others and HIV status. Results FSWs who initiated sex work early were significantly less likely to report consistent condom use with paying sex partners compared with those who initiated sex work in adulthood. There was no significant difference between groups in consistent condom use with non-paying sex partners. FSWs who initiated sex work early endorsed less condom negotiation self-efficacy with paying sex partners compared with FSWs who did not initiate sex work early. Conclusions Findings highlight a need for early intervention for at-risk youth and adolescent FSWs, particularly in relation to HIV sexual risk behaviours. Evidence-based interventions for adolescent FSWs or adult FSWs who began sex work in adolescence should be developed, implemented and evaluated. PMID:27217378

Eruptive Condyloma Accuminata after Initiation of Infliximab Treatment for Folliculitis Decalvans

PubMed Central

Wu, Douglas C.; Salopek, Thomas G.

2013-01-01

We report a patient with recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans who was placed on infliximab due to failure to respond to numerous immunosuppressive drugs and antibiotics. After the second infusion of infliximab the patient reported a cutaneous eruption to the bilateral groin, penis, scrotum, perineum, and perianal region consistent with genital warts. The case highlights the need to inquire about a past or current history of genital or anal warts prior to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy, particularly with infliximab. If present, consideration should be given to concurrent antiwart therapy. PMID:24368947

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: treat with caution.

PubMed

Boussemart, Thierry; Nsota, Jacqueline; Martin-Coignard, Dominique; Champion, Gérard

2009-09-01

Current therapy for congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus consists of appropriate water intake coupled with decreased urine output obtained by means of a low-sodium diet and a combination of thiazide diuretics with renal prostaglandins inhibitors or amiloride. We report a case of congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus that was complicated by paradoxical water intoxication secondary to liberal water intake and the initiation of hydrochlorothiazide and indomethacin combination therapy. This report emphasizes the importance of evaluating the water balance and of a quick response with strict protocols following the initiation of indomethacin and thiazide diuretics in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

Effects of Text Content and Beliefs on Informal Argument Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfe, Michael B.; Williams, Todd J.

2017-01-01

We examined the influence of reading a one-sided text on informal argument evaluation. After reporting initial beliefs in a separate online prescreening, subjects with polarized beliefs read a belief-consistent or -inconsistent text about the benefits of spanking children as a means of discipline. After reading, subjects reported their beliefs and…

Initial Evidence for the Reliability and Validity of the Student Risk Screening Scale with Elementary Age English Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lane, Kathleen Lynne; Richards-Tutor, Catherine; Oakes, Wendy Peia; Connor, Kristin

2014-01-01

We report findings of a validation study exploring the Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS; Drummond, 1994) for use with English learners (ELs) attending a large suburban elementary school. First, we explored the reliability of the SRSS by examining internal consistency, with results indicating adequate internal consistency (0.83). Second, we…

Different types of pausing modes during transcription initiation.

PubMed

Lerner, Eitan; Ingargiola, Antonino; Lee, Jookyung J; Borukhov, Sergei; Michalet, Xavier; Weiss, Shimon

2017-08-08

In many cases, initiation is rate limiting to transcription. This due in part to the multiple cycles of abortive transcription that delay promoter escape and the transition from initiation to elongation. Pausing of transcription in initiation can further delay promoter escape. The previously hypothesized pausing in initiation was confirmed by two recent studies from Duchi et al. 1 and from Lerner, Chung et al. 2 In both studies, pausing is attributed to a lack of forward translocation of the nascent transcript during initiation. However, the two works report on different pausing mechanisms. Duchi et al. report on pausing that occurs during initiation predominantly on-pathway of transcript synthesis. Lerner, Chung et al. report on pausing during initiation as a result of RNAP backtracking, which is off-pathway to transcript synthesis. Here, we discuss these studies, together with additional experimental results from single-molecule FRET focusing on a specific distance within the transcription bubble. We show that the results of these studies are complementary to each other and are consistent with a model involving two types of pauses in initiation: a short-lived pause that occurs in the translocation of a 6-mer nascent transcript and a long-lived pause that occurs as a result of 1-2 nucleotide backtracking of a 7-mer transcript.

Implementation of pesticide applicator certification schools and continuing education workshops : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-11

The Oklahoma Department of Transportations (ODOT) herbicide applicator training program consists of initial pesticide applicator training schools followed by independent Certification testing and then on-going yearly continuing education workshops...

Implementation of pesticide applicator certification schools and continuing education workshops : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-03-31

The Oklahoma Department of Transportations (ODOT) herbicide applicator training program consists of initial pesticide applicator training schools followed by independent Certification testing and then on-going yearly continuing education workshops...

The Association between Sequences of Sexual Initiation and the Likelihood of Teenage Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Reese, Bianka M.; Haydon, Abigail A.; Herring, Amy H.; Halpern, Carolyn T.

2012-01-01

Purpose Few studies have examined the health and developmental consequences, including unintended pregnancy, of different sexual behavior initiation sequences. Some work suggests that engaging in oral-genital sex first may slow the transition to coital activity and lead to more consistent contraception among adolescents. Methods Using logistic regression analysis, we investigated the association between sequences of sexual initiation (i.e., initiating oral-genital or vaginal sex first based on reported ages of first experience) and the likelihood of subsequent teenage pregnancy among 6,069 females who reported vaginal sex before age 20 and participated in Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results Among females initiating vaginal sex first, 31.4% reported a teen pregnancy. Among females initiating two behaviors at the same age, 20.5% reported a teen pregnancy. Among females initiating oral-genital sex first, 7.9% reported a teen pregnancy. In multivariate models, initiating oral-genital sex first, with a delay of at least one year to vaginal sex, and initiating two behaviors within the same year were each associated with a lower likelihood of adolescent pregnancy, relative to teens who initiated vaginal sex first (OR=0.23, 95% CI (0.15, 0.37) and OR=0.78, 95% CI (0.60, 0.92), respectively). Conclusions How adolescents begin their sexual lives may be differentially related to positive and negative health outcomes. To develop effective pregnancy prevention efforts for teens and ensure programs are relevant to youths’ needs, it is important to consider multiple facets of sexual initiation and their implications for adolescent sexual health and fertility. PMID:23332489

Investigating the Impact of the Cisco 21st Century Schools Initiative on Forrest County School District. Summative Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ba, Harouna; Meade, Terri; Pierson, Elizabeth; Ferguson, Camille; Roy, Amanda; Williams, Hakim

2009-01-01

Located in southern Mississippi, the Forrest County School District (FCSD) consists of six schools: three K-6 elementary schools, two K-8 elementary-middle schools, and one high school (grades 9-12), all of which have been involved in the Cisco Initiative since its inception. The district employed 16 administrators, 7 technology staff members, and…

Washington's Community and Technical Colleges' Student Achievement Initiative: Lessons Learned since the 2012 Revision and Considerations for New Allocation Model. Research Report 16-1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, 2016

2016-01-01

In January 2012, a system-wide task force came together for a nearly year-long process of revising the community and technical college system's performance-based funding (PBF) system, the Student Achievement Initiative. This review was consistent with national experts' recommendations for continuous evaluation of PBF systems to ensure overall…

Progressions of Qualitative Models as a Foundation for Intelligent Learning Environments. Report No. 6277.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Barbara Y.; Frederiksen, John R.

This report discusses the importance of presenting qualitative, causally consistent models in the initial stages of learning so that students can gain an understanding of basic electrical circuit concepts and principles that builds on their preexisting ways of reasoning about physical phenomena, and it argues that tutoring environments must help…

Keratoconus presenting with bilateral simultaneous acute corneal hydrops.

PubMed

Bilgin, Burak; Unal, Betül; Unal, Mustafa; Doğan, Erkan; Cetinkaya, Aslı; Akyol, Mahmut; Yücel, Iclal; Akar, Yusuf; Apaydın, Cemil; Ilhan, Deniz

2013-04-01

To report a case of unknown keratoconus presenting with bilateral simultaneous acute corneal hydrops. Case report. A case of a 12-year-old male patient with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) presented with sudden whitening and lacrimation for 2 days in both eyes simultaneously. At the initial examination, there were bilateral acute corneal hydrops, enophthalmic eyes and roving nystagmus. Ultrasonography revealed clear crystalline lenses and attached retina. Initial management consisted of topical hypertonic solutions, steroids and artificial tears. Bilateral simultaneous acute corneal hydrops has not been reported before in the literature. It may be the presenting sign of keratoconus. Copyright © 2012 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Accelerating Energy Efficiency in Indian Data Centers. Final Report for Phase I Activities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganguly, Suprotim; Raje, Sanyukta; Kumar, Satish

This report documents Phase 1 of the “Accelerating Energy Efficiency in Indian Data Centers” initiative to support the development of an energy efficiency policy framework for Indian data centers. The initiative is being led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)-U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and under the guidance of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It is also part of the larger Power and Energy Efficiency Working Group of the US-India Bilateral Energy Dialogue. The initiative consists of two phases: Phase 1 (November 2014 – Septembermore » 2015) and Phase 2 (October 2015 – September 2016).« less

Beyond the average marital communication: Latent profiles of the observed interactions among Chinese newlywed couples.

PubMed

Cao, Hongjian; Fang, Xiaoyi; Fine, Mark A; Ju, Xiaoyan; Lan, Jing; Liu, Xuanwen

2015-12-01

Employing a multicontext observational design, using a person-centered approach, and treating the marital dyad as the unit of analysis, this study examined the within-couple communication patterning of 144 Chinese newlywed couples and its association with relationship satisfaction. Latent profile analysis consistently revealed 3 profiles of spouses' interactive behaviors across contexts differing in both topic nature (i.e., problem-solving vs. social support) and initiator (i.e., husbands vs. wives): (a) traditionally undemonstrative profile, (b) emotionally quarrelling profile, and (c) warmly supportive profile. The prevalence of communication profiles changed markedly with the nature of the discussion topic and the topic initiator. Further, using latent class analysis, we classified couples into subgroups based on their identified profile memberships across contexts (i.e., consistency of interaction mode across contexts). Three classes were identified: (a) consistently quarrelling class, (b) consistently supportive class, and (c) modestly traditional class. Both the consistently supportive class and the modestly traditional class reported significantly higher levels of marital satisfaction than did the consistently quarrelling class. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Vulnerability to Allergic Disorder in Families of Children of Behavioral Inhibition

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-10-07

third years of life. The temperamentally inhibited child consistently displays an initial timidity, shyness, and emotional restraint when exposed to...with the uninhibited, children, reported a higher prevalence of atopic allergies, especially hayfever and eczema . Although the exact mechanisms...As Table 1 reveals, more relatives of inhibited, compared with uninhibited, children reported having hayfever, eczema , and frequent stomach cramps

PACFISH/INFISH Biological Opinion (PIBO): Effectiveness Monitoring Program seven-year status report 1998 through 2004

Treesearch

Richard C. Henderson; Eric K. Archer; Boyd A Bouwes; Marc S. Coles-Ritchie; Jeffrey L. Kershner

2005-01-01

The PACFISH/INFISH Biological Opinion (PIBO) Effectiveness Monitoring Program was initiated in 1998 to provide a consistent framework for monitoring aquatic and riparian resources on most Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands within the Upper Columbia River Basin. This 7-year status report gives our funding sources, partners, and the public an overview of...

Australia's Vocational Education & Training System. Annual National Report. Volume 1: National Overview [and] Volume 2: Commonwealth, State & Territory Achievements.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Australian National Training Authority, Brisbane.

This document consists of the first two volumes of the 1997 annual report on Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system. Examined in volume 1 are the following topics: strategic directions for 1997; overview of the VET system's operation and the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) agreement; key initiatives in 1997 (the…

Following through: The consistency of survivorship care plan use in United States cancer programs

PubMed Central

Deal, Allison M.; Mayer, Deborah K.; Weiner, Bryan J.

2014-01-01

Background The Institute of Medicine suggests that consistent survivorship care plan (SCP) use involves developing and delivering SCPs to all cancer survivors and their primary care providers (PCPs). We describe the consistency of SCP use in US cancer programs and assess its relationship with cancer program-level determinants. Methods We surveyed employees knowledgeable about survivorship practices in cancer programs reporting current SCP use (n=36; 81% response rate). We operationalized consistent SCP use as whether SCPs were (1) developed for ≥75% survivors; (2) delivered to ≥75% survivors; (3) delivered to ≥75% PCPs; and (4) all of the above. We use descriptive statistics to report SCP use consistency and evaluate associations using Fisher’s Exact and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Results SCPs were developed for ≥75% survivors in five programs (15%); eight (25%) delivered ≥75% SCPs to survivors; seven (23%) delivered ≥75% SCPs to PCPs; only one program (4%) met all three criteria. We found relationships between SCP use consistency and geographic region (p = .05); initiating SCP use in response to survivors’ requests (p = .03); and membership in the National Cancer Institute’s National Community Cancer Centers Program (p = .01). Conclusion SCP use is highly inconsistent. Survivors and cancer care quality improvement organizations may play a key role in improving the consistency of SCP use in US cancer programs. Survivors can initiate SCP use. Cancer care quality improvement organizations can specify how cancer programs’ compliance with SCP guidelines will be assessed. Future research should identify mechanisms underlying the relationships that we found. PMID:24577781

A novel approach to increase residents' involvement in reporting adverse events.

PubMed

Scott, David R; Weimer, Melissa; English, Clea; Shaker, Lynn; Ward, William; Choi, Dongseok; Cedfeldt, Andrea; Girard, Donald

2011-06-01

In the wake of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, national attention has increasingly focused on adverse-event reporting as a means of identifying systems changes to improve patient safety. However, physicians and residents have demonstrated meager involvement in this effort. In 2008-2009, the authors measured participation in adverse-event reporting by 680 residents at Oregon Health & Science University before and after implementing a quality improvement initiative, which consisted of a financial incentive and multifaceted educational campaign. The primary measure of success was an increase in the average monthly adverse-event reports submitted by residents to greater than 5% of the institution's overall report submissions. The average number of adverse events reported by residents increased from 1.6% to 9.0% of the institution's overall event reports, representing a 5.6-fold increase during the initiative (P < .001). The relative percentage of resident-submitted reports defined as "near-misses" increased from 6% to 27% during the initiative (P < .001). The novel approach of integrating a retirement benefit and educational campaign to increase residents' involvement in adverse-event reporting was successful. In addition to increasing residents' contributions to adverse-event reporting to levels higher than any documented in the current literature, there was also a remarkable increase in the relative frequency of near-miss reporting by residents.

Early sex work initiation and condom use among alcohol-using female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: a cross-sectional analysis.

PubMed

Parcesepe, Angela M; L'Engle, Kelly L; Martin, Sandra L; Green, Sherri; Suchindran, Chirayath; Mwarogo, Peter

2016-12-01

Early initiation of sex work is prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs) worldwide. The objectives of this study were to investigate if early initiation of sex work was associated with: (1) consistent condom use, (2) condom negotiation self-efficacy or (3) condom use norms among alcohol-using FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. In-person interviews were conducted with 816 FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. Sample participants were: recruited from HIV prevention drop-in centres, 18 years or older and moderate risk drinkers. Early initiation was defined as first engaging in sex work at 17 years or younger. Logistic regression modelled outcomes as a function of early initiation, adjusting for drop-in centre, years in sex work, supporting others and HIV status. FSWs who initiated sex work early were significantly less likely to report consistent condom use with paying sex partners compared with those who initiated sex work in adulthood. There was no significant difference between groups in consistent condom use with non-paying sex partners. FSWs who initiated sex work early endorsed less condom negotiation self-efficacy with paying sex partners compared with FSWs who did not initiate sex work early. Findings highlight a need for early intervention for at-risk youth and adolescent FSWs, particularly in relation to HIV sexual risk behaviours. Evidence-based interventions for adolescent FSWs or adult FSWs who began sex work in adolescence should be developed, implemented and evaluated. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Numerical simulation of the compressible Orszag-Tang vortex. Interim report, June 1988-February 1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dahlburg, R.B.; Picone, J.M.

Results of fully compressible, Fourier collocation, numerical simulations of the Orszag-Tang vortex system are presented. Initial conditions consist of a nonrandom, periodic field in which the magnetic and velocity fields contain X-points but differ in modal structure along one spatial direction. The velocity field is initially solenoidal, with the total initial pressure-field consisting of the superposition of the appropriate incompressible pressure distribution upon a flat pressure field corresponding to the initial, average flow Mach number of the flow. In the numerical simulations, this initial Mach number is varied from 0.2 to 0.6. These values correspond to average plasma beta valuesmore » ranging from 30.0 to 3.3, respectively. Compressible effects develop within one or two Alfven transit times, as manifested in the spectra of compressible quantities such as mass density and nonsolenoidal flow field. These effects include (1) retardation of growth of correlation between the magnetic field and the velocity field, (2) emergence of compressible small-scale structure such as massive jets, and (3) bifurcation of eddies in the compressible-flow field. Differences between the incompressible and compressible results tend to increase with increasing initial average Mach number.« less

The Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Scale (DSPS): Initial Evaluation in a National Sample of Trauma-Exposed Veterans

PubMed Central

Wolf, Erika J.; Mitchell, Karen S.; Sadeh, Naomi; Hein, Christina; Fuhrman, Isaac; Pietrzak, Robert H.; Miller, Mark W.

2015-01-01

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) includes a dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but no existing measures specifically assess it. This paper describes the initial evaluation of a 15-item self-report measure of the subtype called the Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Scale (DSPS) in an on-line survey of 697 trauma-exposed military veterans representative of the US veteran population. Exploratory factor analyses of the lifetime DSPS items supported the intended structure of the measure consisting of three factors reflecting derealization/depersonalization, loss of awareness, and psychogenic amnesia. Consistent with prior research, latent profile analyses assigned 8.3% of the sample to a highly dissociative class distinguished by pronounced symptoms of derealization and depersonalization. Overall, results provide initial psychometric support for the lifetime DSPS scales; additional research in clinical and community samples is needed to further validate the measure. PMID:26603115

The Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Scale: Initial Evaluation in a National Sample of Trauma-Exposed Veterans.

PubMed

Wolf, Erika J; Mitchell, Karen S; Sadeh, Naomi; Hein, Christina; Fuhrman, Isaac; Pietrzak, Robert H; Miller, Mark W

2017-06-01

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual includes a dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder, but no existing measures specifically assess it. This article describes the initial evaluation of a 15-item self-report measure of the subtype called the Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (DSPS) in an online survey of 697 trauma-exposed military veterans representative of the U.S. veteran population. Exploratory factor analyses of the lifetime DSPS items supported the intended structure of the measure consisting of three factors reflecting derealization/depersonalization, loss of awareness, and psychogenic amnesia. Consistent with prior research, latent profile analyses assigned 8.3% of the sample to a highly dissociative class distinguished by pronounced symptoms of derealization and depersonalization. Overall, results provide initial psychometric support for the lifetime DSPS scales; additional research in clinical and community samples is needed to further validate the measure.

The Early School Leavers: Initial Survey. Report and Summary Report. Youth Transition into the Labour Market.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spain, William H.; Sharpe, Dennis B.

The study of Youth Transition into the Labour Market (YTLM) began several years ago in the spring of 1987. The project consists of two parallel yet interrelated studies, one focusing on the full cohort of approximately 9000 Level III high school students in Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of the 1988-89 school year, and a second, which…

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma with myoepithelial anaplasia: report of a case with cytologic findings of a rare variant.

PubMed

Suzuki, Takashi; Murata, Shin-ichi; Yamaguchi, Hiroshi; Shimizu, Yoshihiko; Shimizu, Michio

2010-01-01

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is usually a low grade malignancy with rare mortality. Rare aggressive variants of EMC, dedifferentiated EMC and EMC with myoepithelial anaplasia have been reported. An 81-year-old man presented with EMC of the parotid gland showing the classical type at the time of initial presentation and a high grade type with myoepithelial anaplasia at recurrence after 10 years. We compared the histologic and cytologic findings of the initial and recurrent tumors. Aspiration cytology of the initial tumor was typical of classical EMC, represented by a biphasic pattern composed of sheetlike and tubular clusters. In contrast, cytologic specimens of the recurrent tumor, which had a focally biphasic pattern similar to that of the initial tumor, also had many isolated or discohesive piled-up clusters of spindle and polygonal cells with nuclear atypia. The cytologic findings of the recurrent tumor were consistent with a rare variant of EMC with myoepithelial anaplasia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the cytologic finding of an EMC with myoepithelial anaplasia.

SciCADE 95: International conference on scientific computation and differential equations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1995-12-31

This report consists of abstracts from the conference. Topics include algorithms, computer codes, and numerical solutions for differential equations. Linear and nonlinear as well as boundary-value and initial-value problems are covered. Various applications of these problems are also included.

The Efficacy of the Initial Teaching Alphabet and the Peabody Language Development Kit with Grade One Disadvantaged Children: After One Year. IMRID Papers and Reports, Volume III, No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Lloyd M.; Mueller, Max W.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, with underprivileged first-grade children, the efficacy of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.) in teaching beginning reading and of the Peabody Language Development Kit (PLDK) in stimulating oral language and verbal intelligence. From 17 classes in nine schools, four groups, consisting of 100, 104,…

Lunar PMAD technology assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Metcalf, Kenneth J.

1992-01-01

This report documents an initial set of power conditioning models created to generate 'ballpark' power management and distribution (PMAD) component mass and size estimates. It contains converter, rectifier, inverter, transformer, remote bus isolator (RBI), and remote power controller (RPC) models. These models allow certain studies to be performed; however, additional models are required to assess a full range of PMAD alternatives. The intent is to eventually form a library of PMAD models that will allow system designers to evaluate various power system architectures and distribution techniques quickly and consistently. The models in this report are designed primarily for space exploration initiative (SEI) missions requiring continuous power and supporting manned operations. The mass estimates were developed by identifying the stages in a component and obtaining mass breakdowns for these stages from near term electronic hardware elements. Technology advances were then incorporated to generate hardware masses consistent with the 2000 to 2010 time period. The mass of a complete component is computed by algorithms that calculate the masses of the component stages, control and monitoring, enclosure, and thermal management subsystem.

History of San Marco

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caporale, A. J.

1968-01-01

A brief history is reported of the first San Marco project, a joint program of the United States and Italy. The Project was a three phase effort to investigate upper air density and associated ionosphere phenomena. The initial phase included the design and development of the spacecraft, the experiments, the launch complex, and a series of suborbital flights, from Wallops Island. The second phase, consisting of designing, fabricating, and testing a spacecraft for the first orbital mission, culminated in an orbital launch also from Wallops Island. The third phase consisted of further refining the experiments and spacecraft instrumentation and of establishing a full-bore scout complex in Kenya. The launch of San Marco B, in April 1967, from this complex into an equatorial orbit, concluded the initial San Marco effort.

Community College Pathways: 2013-2014 Descriptive Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sowers, Nicole; Yamada, Hiroyuki

2015-01-01

The Community College Pathways initiative consists of two pathways, Statway® and Quantway®, that accelerate post-secondary students' progress through their developmental mathematics sequence and a college-level course for credit. Launched in 2011, the Pathways have been remarkably successful, helping thousands of students achieve success in…

Design and application of the emergency response mobile phone-based information system for infectious disease reporting in the Wenchuan earthquake zone.

PubMed

Ma, Jiaqi; Zhou, Maigeng; Li, Yanfei; Guo, Yan; Su, Xuemei; Qi, Xiaopeng; Ge, Hui

2009-05-01

To describe the design and application of an emergency response mobile phone-based information system for infectious disease reporting. Software engineering and business modeling were used to design and develop the emergency response mobile phone-based information system for infectious disease reporting. Seven days after the initiation of the reporting system, the reporting rate in the earthquake zone reached the level of the same period in 2007, using the mobile phone-based information system. Surveillance of the weekly report on morbidity in the earthquake zone after the initiation of the mobile phone reporting system showed the same trend as the previous three years. The emergency response mobile phone-based information system for infectious disease reporting was an effective solution to transmit urgently needed reports and manage communicable disease surveillance information. This assured the consistency of disease surveillance and facilitated sensitive, accurate, and timely disease surveillance. It is an important backup for the internet-based direct reporting system for communicable disease. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd and Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

17 CFR 242.301 - Requirements for alternative trading systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... determining that such an order is consistent with the public interest, the protection of investors, and the... alternative trading system. (iii) If any information contained in the initial operation report filed under... on Form ATS correcting such information within 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar...

Developmental Reading at Livingston College, 1974-1976. A Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kussat, Reinhart; Farrow, Earl V.

A developmental reading program with a unified approach to the teaching of developmental reading to nontraditional freshmen was designed and initiated at Livingston College, Rutgers University. The two-level program, consisting of curriculum modules based on behavioral objectives and performance criteria, was required for all freshmen who ranked…

Hydrogen suppression of 'ductile' processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sisson, R. D., Jr.; Wilson, J. H.; Adler, T. A.; Mcnitt, R. P.; Louthan, M. R., Jr.

1980-01-01

Experimental results are reported for torsional fatigue specimens of high-strength steel 4370 and tensile bars of mild steel A-106 which present evidence of a hydrogen-induced strain-aided hardening effect. These results are consistent with the postulate that hydrogen suppresses ductile processes required for crack initiation at large plastic strains.

Implementer-Initiated Adaptation of Evidence-Based Interventions: Kids Remember the Blue Wig

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbs, D. A.; Krieger, K. E.; Cutbush, S. L.; Clinton-Sherrod, A. M.; Miller, S.

2016-01-01

Adaptation of evidence-based interventions by implementers is widespread. Although frequently viewed as departures from fidelity, adaptations may be positive in impact and consistent with fidelity. Research typically catalogs adaptations but rarely includes the implementers' perspectives on adaptation. We report data on individuals implementing an…

Development and Initial Psychometrics of the Counselor Burnout Inventory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Sang Min; Baker, Crystal R.; Cho, Seong Ho; Heckathorn, Danette E.; Holland, Michael W.; Newgent, Rebecca A.; Ogle, Nick T.; Powell, Michael L.; Quinn, James J.; Wallace, Sam L.; Yu, Kumlan

2007-01-01

This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Counselor Burnout Inventory (CBI), which is designed to meet the needs of the counseling profession by assessing burnout in counselors. Factor structure, concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the CBI scores are reported. Implications for…

The Influence of Race and Comorbidity on the Timely Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Among Older Persons Living With HIV/AIDS

PubMed Central

Smith, Lerissa; Zhang, Shun; Fairchild, Amanda J.; Heiman, Harry J.; Rust, George

2014-01-01

Objectives. We examined whether the timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) differed by race and comorbidity among older (≥ 50 years) people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods. We conducted frequency and descriptive statistics analysis to characterize our sample, which we drew from 2005–2007 Medicaid claims data from 14 states. We employed univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between race, comorbidity, and timely ART initiation (≤ 90 days post-HIV/AIDS diagnosis). Results. Approximately half of the participants did not commence ART promptly. After we adjusted for covariates, we found that older PLWHA who reported a comorbidity were 40% (95% confidence interval = 0.26, 0.61) as likely to commence ART promptly. We found no racial differences in the timely initiation of ART among older PLWHA. Conclusions. Comorbidities affect timely ART initiation in older PLWHA. Older PLWHA may benefit from integrating and coordinating HIV care with care for other comorbidities and the development of ART treatment guidelines specific to older PLWHA. Consistent Medicaid coverage helps ensure consistent access to HIV treatment and care and may eliminate racial disparities in timely ART initiation among older PLWHA. PMID:25211735

EVIDENCE FOR NEWLY INITIATED RECONNECTION IN THE SOLAR WIND AT 1 AU

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Xiaojun; Ma, Yonghui; Wong, Hon-Cheng

2015-08-10

We report the first evidence for a large-scale reconnection exhaust newly initiated in the solar wind using observations from three spacecraft: ACE, Wind, and ARTEMIS P2. We identified a well-structured X-line exhaust using measurements from ARTEMIS P2 in the downstream solar wind. However, in the upstream solar wind, ACE detected the same current sheet that corresponds to the exhaust identified by ARTEMIS P2 data without showing any reconnection signals. We cannot find any reconnection signals from Wind located between ACE and ARTEMIS P2. Within the exhaust, a magnetic island is identified, which is not consistent with the quasi-steady feature asmore » previously reported and provides further evidence that the reconnection is newly initiated. Our observations show that the entering of energetic particles, probably from Earth's bow shock, makes the crucial difference between the non-reconnecting current sheet and the exhaust. Since no obvious driving factors are responsible for the reconnection initiation, we infer that these energetic particles probably play an important role in the reconnection initiation. Theoretical analysis also shows support for this potential mechanism.« less

Recommendations of the VAC2VAC workshop on the design of multi-centre validation studies.

PubMed

Halder, Marlies; Depraetere, Hilde; Delannois, Frédérique; Akkermans, Arnoud; Behr-Gross, Marie-Emmanuelle; Bruysters, Martijn; Dierick, Jean-François; Jungbäck, Carmen; Kross, Imke; Metz, Bernard; Pennings, Jeroen; Rigsby, Peter; Riou, Patrice; Balks, Elisabeth; Dobly, Alexandre; Leroy, Odile; Stirling, Catrina

2018-03-01

Within the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI 2) project VAC2VAC (Vaccine batch to vaccine batch comparison by consistency testing), a workshop has been organised to discuss ways of improving the design of multi-centre validation studies and use the data generated for product-specific validation purposes. Moreover, aspects of validation within the consistency approach context were addressed. This report summarises the discussions and outlines the conclusions and recommendations agreed on by the workshop participants. Copyright © 2018.

A fragmented code: The moral and structural context for providing assistance with injection drug use initiation in San Diego, USA.

PubMed

Guise, Andy; Melo, Jason; Mittal, Maria Luisa; Rafful, Claudia; Cuevas-Mota, Jazmine; Davidson, Peter; Garfein, Richard S; Werb, Dan

2018-05-01

Injection drug use initiation is shaped by social networks and structural contexts, with people who inject drugs often assisting in this process. We sought to explore the norms and contexts linked to assisting others to initiate injection drug use in San Diego, USA, to inform the development of structural interventions to prevent this phenomenon. We undertook qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of people who inject drugs and had reported assisting others to initiate injection (n = 17) and a sub-sample of people who inject drugs (n = 4) who had not reported initiating others to triangulate accounts. We analyzed data thematically and abductively. Respondents' accounts of providing initiation assistance were consistent with themes and motives reported in other contexts: of seeking to reduce harm to the 'initiate', responding to requests for help, fostering pleasure, accessing resources, and claims that initiation assistance was unintentional. We developed analysis of these themes to explore initiation assistance as governed by a 'moral code'. We delineate a fragmented moral code which includes a range of meanings and social contexts that shape initiation assistance. We also show how assistance is happening within a structural context that limits discussion of injection drug use, reflecting a prevailing silence on drug use linked to stigma and criminalization. In San Diego, the assistance of others to initiate injection drug use is governed by a fragmented moral code situated within particular social norms and contexts. Interventions that address the social and structural conditions shaped by and shaping this code may be beneficial, in tandem with efforts to support safe injection and the reduction of injection-related harms. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NASA Processes and Requirements for Conducting Human-in-the-Loop Closed Chamber Tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barta, Daniel J.; Montz, Michael E.

2004-01-01

NASA has specific processes and requirements that must be followed for tests involving human subjects to be conducted in a safe and effective manner. There are five distinct phases of test operations. Phase one, the test request phase, consists of those activities related to initiating, processing, reviewing, and evaluating the test request. Phase two, the test preparation phase consists of those activities related to planning, coordinating, documenting, and building up the test. Phase three, the test readiness phase consists of those activities related to verifying and reviewing the planned test operations. Phase four, the test activity phase, consists of all pretest operations, functional checkouts, emergency drills, and test operations. Phase five, the post test activity phase, consists of those activities performed once the test is completed, including briefings, documentation of anomalies, data reduction and archiving, and reporting. Project management processes must be followed for facility modifications and major test buildup, which include six phases: initiation and assessment, requirements evaluation, preliminary design, detailed design, use readiness review (URR) and acceptance. Compliance with requirements for safety and quality assurance are documented throughout the test buildup and test operation processes. Tests involving human subjects must be reviewed by the applicable Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Cerebral fat embolism after bilateral total knee replacement arthroplasty -A case report-

PubMed Central

Chang, Ri-Na; Lee, Heeseung; Baik, Hee-Jung; Chung, Rack Kyung; Kim, Chi Hyo; Hwang, Tae-Hu

2010-01-01

Fat embolism syndrome is a rare and potentially lethal complication most commonly seen in long bone fractures and intramedullary manipulation. The clinical triad of fat embolism syndrome consists of mental confusion, respiratory distress, and petechiae. This study reports a case of cerebral fat embolism syndrome following elective bilateral total knee replacement. After an uneventful anesthesia and initial recovery, the patient developed neurologic symptoms nine hours postoperatively. PMID:21286442

Chronic granulomatous otitis externa as an initial presentation of cutaneous Crohn disease.

PubMed

Raynor, Eileen M

2014-08-01

In the limited number of Crohn disease cases involving the head and neck, there is a predilection for mucosal surfaces and rare reports of involvement in the postauricular region. To our knowledge, in all previously reported cases involving the head and neck, the patients had a known diagnosis of Crohn disease. This case describes a 10-year-old boy with a history of psoriasis and psoriasiform dermatitis who presented with bilateral chronic granulomatous otitis externa, obliteration of the external auditory canal, and fissuring, resulting in separation of the lobule from the preauricular skin. Pathologic examination results were consistent with granulomatous dermatitis concerning for cutaneous Crohn disease, and a subsequent gastroenterologic workup confirmed the diagnosis of Crohn disease. This is a report of chronic granulomatous otitis as the initial presentation of cutaneous Crohn disease in a child.

Do 12-step meeting attendance trajectories over 9 years predict abstinence?

PubMed Central

Witbrodt, Jane; Mertens, Jennifer; Kaskutas, Lee Ann; Bond, Jason; Chi, Felicia; Weisner, Constance

2011-01-01

This study grouped treatment-seeking individuals (n=1825) by common patterns of 12-step attendance using 5 waves of data (75% interviewed year-9) to isolate unique characteristics and use-related outcomes distinguishing each class profile. The high class reported the highest attendance and abstention. The descending class reported high baseline alcohol severity, long treatment episodes, and high initial attendance and abstinence; but by year-5 their attendance and abstinence dropped. The early-drop class, which started with high attendance and abstinence but with low problem severity, reported no attendance after year 1. The rising class, with fairly high alcohol and psychiatric severity throughout, reported initially low attendance, followed by increasing attendance paralleling their abstention. Last, the low and no classes, which reported low problem-severity and very low/no attendance, had the lowest abstention. Female gender and high alcohol severity predicted attendance all years. Consistent with a sustained benefit for 12-step exposure, abstinence patterns aligned much like attendance profiles. PMID:22206631

Using Quality Enhancement Processes to Achieve Sustainable Development and Support for Sessional Staff

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lekkas, D.; Winning, T. A.

2017-01-01

Consistent with quality enhancement, we report on how we used a continuous improvement cycle to formalise and embed an academic development and support programme for our School's sessional staff. Key factors in establishing and maintaining the programme included: local change agents supported initially by institutional project funding; School…

Final Report on the 21st-Century Initiative Listening Tour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Community Colleges (NJ1), 2012

2012-01-01

In times of economic uncertainty, community colleges have consistently turned to the experience of past generations as an avenue toward innovation and the modernization of their programs and services. Community colleges have been able to continuously reinvent themselves to serve the ever-changing needs of society. With President Obama's increased…

Council of Europe News-Letter 5/76.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Council of Europe, Strasbourg (France). Documentation Center for Education in Europe.

This newsletter consists of two parts; the first includes two briefs related to many European countries, and the second with reports from 12 individual countries. The first part includes a resolution on the preparation of young people for working life and brief comments on initiatives taken by the Education Ministers. Among the articles from the…

Relationships between Telecommuting Workers and Their Managers: An Exploratory Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinsch, N. Lamar, Jr.

1997-01-01

Finds that telecommuters, in interviews, consistently reported that telecommuting had been a success with few disadvantages, whereas questionnaire results suggest that the relationship between the telecommuter and his or her manager may deteriorate after an initial "honeymoon" phase has passed. Suggests that age and sex may affect a telecommuter's…

Teacher Control over Interagency Collaboration: A Roadblock for Effective Transitioning of Youth with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meadows, Denis; Davies, Michael; Beamish, Wendi

2014-01-01

Poor post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities have consistently been reported internationally. Interagency collaboration between school systems and post-school services is critical and key to improving post-school life for these youth. An initial Queensland study that benchmarked the teacher practice of 104 transition teachers and…

Leading for Sustainability in Western Australian Regional Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pepper, Coral

2014-01-01

In this paper I report on leadership for sustainability in regional schools in Western Australia (WA) in the context of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI-WA). Case studies are developed to examine leading cultural change in eight WA regional schools with data presented in three representative narrative accounts. Consistency is…

Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-USA Form: Psychometric Properties and Relation to Vocational Identity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porfeli, Erik J.; Savickas, Mark L.

2012-01-01

This article reports construction and initial validation of the United States form of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS). The CAAS consists of four scales, each with six items, which measure concern, control, curiosity, and confidence as psychosocial resources for managing occupational transitions, developmental tasks, and work traumas.…

Enhancing rail safety now and into the 21st century : the Federal Railroad Administration's safety programs and initiatives : a report to Congress

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-10-01

By law, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has responsibility for ensuring railroad safety throughout the nation. The United States railroad system consists of over 600 railroads with more than 250,000 employees, 200,000 miles of track, 1.2 mi...

Gastric ulceration in an equine neonate

PubMed Central

Lewis, Susan

2003-01-01

A 24-hour-old colt presented with clinical signs consistent with gastric ulceration. Treatment was initiated with a histamine type-2 receptor antagonist and clinical signs resolved. Gastroscopy at 16 d confirmed the presence of a gastric ulcer. Although gastric ulceration is common in foals, it is rarely reported in foals this young. PMID:12757136

Evaluation of Project Symbiosis: An Interdisciplinary Science Education Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altschuld, James W.

1993-01-01

The goal of this report is to provide a summary of the evaluation of Project Symbiosis which focused on enhancing the teaching of science principles in high school agriculture courses. The project initially involved 15 teams of science and agriculture teachers and was characterized by an extensive evaluation component consisting of six formal…

Kvichak River RISEC Project Resource Reconnaissance and Physical Characterization

DOE Data Explorer

Jarlath McEntee

2015-10-01

During the summer and fall of 2011 TerraSond Ltd. (TerraSond) completed a bathymetric survey and hydrokinetic energy assessment of the Kvichak River at Igiugig, Alaska. The purpose of this work was to characterize the initial site conditions for the design and installation of a hydrokinetic turbine to provide electric power for the village. There were six distinct phases of work for this project. The first was a literature review and investigation of prior surveys and hydrologic studies done in the area. The second, third, fourth, and fifth phases consisted of four field expeditions conducted over the summer and fall of 2011. These expeditions consisted of an initial reconnaissance, multi beam bathymetric surveys, flow velocity and discharge measurements, a survey of water levels, and detailed flow velocity studies. The final phase of the project was complete data reduction, and preparation of the final report with its accompanying map sheets and data packages. This submission contains the final report for the Kvichak River RiISEC Project in addition to weather data for Igiugig, AK, Summer 2015.

Observations of narrow bipolar events reveal how lightning is initiated in thunderstorms

PubMed Central

Rison, William; Krehbiel, Paul R.; Stock, Michael G.; Edens, Harald E.; Shao, Xuan-Min; Thomas, Ronald J.; Stanley, Mark A.; Zhang, Yang

2016-01-01

A long-standing but fundamental question in lightning studies concerns how lightning is initiated inside storms, given the absence of physical conductors. The issue has revolved around the question of whether the discharges are initiated solely by conventional dielectric breakdown or involve relativistic runaway electron processes. Here we report observations of a relatively unknown type of discharge, called fast positive breakdown, that is the cause of high-power discharges known as narrow bipolar events. The breakdown is found to have a wide range of strengths and is the initiating event of numerous lightning discharges. It appears to be purely dielectric in nature and to consist of a system of positive streamers in a locally intense electric field region. It initiates negative breakdown at the starting location of the streamers, which leads to the ensuing flash. The observations show that many or possibly all lightning flashes are initiated by fast positive breakdown. PMID:26876654

Observations of narrow bipolar events reveal how lightning is initiated in thunderstorms.

PubMed

Rison, William; Krehbiel, Paul R; Stock, Michael G; Edens, Harald E; Shao, Xuan-Min; Thomas, Ronald J; Stanley, Mark A; Zhang, Yang

2016-02-15

A long-standing but fundamental question in lightning studies concerns how lightning is initiated inside storms, given the absence of physical conductors. The issue has revolved around the question of whether the discharges are initiated solely by conventional dielectric breakdown or involve relativistic runaway electron processes. Here we report observations of a relatively unknown type of discharge, called fast positive breakdown, that is the cause of high-power discharges known as narrow bipolar events. The breakdown is found to have a wide range of strengths and is the initiating event of numerous lightning discharges. It appears to be purely dielectric in nature and to consist of a system of positive streamers in a locally intense electric field region. It initiates negative breakdown at the starting location of the streamers, which leads to the ensuing flash. The observations show that many or possibly all lightning flashes are initiated by fast positive breakdown.

Multilobular tumor of bone in an African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

PubMed

McAloose, Denise; Raske, Matthew; Moore, Robert; Rodriguez, Carlos E

2012-12-01

A 13-mo-old, captive-born, female African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) was presented with a progressively enlarging, firm mass on the dorsum of the head. Due to rapid tumor growth and the development of neurologic signs, elective euthanasia and a complete postmortem were performed 2 months after initial presentation. Histologic findings were similar in both antemortem biopsy and postmortem samples from the tumor and consisted of nodules of cartilage and/or bone separated by thin interconnected trabeculae that contained spindle-shaped cells, consistent with multilobular tumor of bone. Very few reports of tumors in the endangered African wild dog have been published to date. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an osseous tumor in an African wild dog and the first report of a multilobular tumor of bone in a nondomestic canid.

Social Networking Site Use Predicts Changes in Young Adults’ Psychological Adjustment

PubMed Central

Szwedo, David E.; Mikami, Amori Yee; Allen, Joseph P.

2012-01-01

This study examined youths’ friendships and posted pictures on social networking sites as predictors of changes in their adjustment over time. Observational, self-report, and peer report data were obtained from a community sample of 89 young adults interviewed at age 21 and again at age 22. Findings were consistent with a leveling effect for online friendships, predicting decreases in internalizing symptoms for youth with lower initial levels of social acceptance, but increases in symptoms for youth with higher initial levels over the following year. Across the entire sample, deviant behavior in posted photos predicted increases in young adults’ problematic alcohol use over time. The importance of considering the interplay between online and offline social factors for predicting adjustment is discussed. PMID:23109797

NHRC (Naval Health Research Center) Report for 1979

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-01-01

of cross- validation analyses on an independent sample (n = 336) were also reported and were generally consistent with the foregoing analyses. 79-3...antigens in sputum. Initial sputum samples from patients with pneumococcal p,; Lmonia (᝼ hr antibiotic therapy) were positive for antigen in 37 of 44...the decline was gree’ar for CIE (only 29% of samples positive at three days of therapy) than with coagglutination (61% positive at three days) (pɘ.05

Supplement to the Study on the Structures of the Education and Initial Training Systems in the European Union. The Situation in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commission of the European Communities, Brussels (Belgium). Directorate-General for Education, Training, and Youth.

This document consists of six reports that each provide essential basic information on the organization of the education system of one of the following countries as of 1995-1996: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Each report includes information on some or all of the following aspects of the given country's initial…

Initiation of sexual intercourse among middle school adolescents: the influence of psychosocial factors.

PubMed

Santelli, John S; Kaiser, Javaid; Hirsch, Lesley; Radosh, Alice; Simkin, Linda; Middlestadt, Susan

2004-03-01

To explore potential psychosocial predictors for initiation of sexual intercourse among middle-school, inner-city youth, using longitudinal data from the Healthy and Alive! project. We conducted hierarchical, logistic regression with adjustment for intraclass correlation over two sequential periods, including seventh and eighth grades (N = 3163), to assess the independent influence of psychosocial and demographic factors. Internally reliable scales to assess psychosocial influences were created, based on major theories of behavior. The sample was 52% female, 51% black, 30% Hispanic, 9% white, and 3% Asian. At baseline, 13% of girls and 39% of boys reported already having initiated sexual intercourse. Personal and perceived peer norms about refraining from sex were a strong and consistent protective factor. Alcohol and other drug use, poor academic performance, male gender, and black race were consistent risk factors. Self-efficacy showed a mixed effect: protective in the seventh grade but increasing risk in the eighth grade. Speaking a language other than English was a protective factor in seventh grade. Both psychosocial and demographic factors provided independent explanatory power. Psychosocial factors, particularly norms about having sex, influence initiation of sexual intercourse. These data suggest that programs to delay initiation of sexual intercourse should reinforce norms about refraining from sex.

Fluorescence Excitation Spectroscopy for Phytoplankton Species Classification Using an All-Pairs Method: Characterization of a System with Unexpectedly Low Rank.

PubMed

Rekully, Cameron M; Faulkner, Stefan T; Lachenmyer, Eric M; Cunningham, Brady R; Shaw, Timothy J; Richardson, Tammi L; Myrick, Michael L

2018-03-01

An all-pairs method is used to analyze phytoplankton fluorescence excitation spectra. An initial set of nine phytoplankton species is analyzed in pairwise fashion to select two optical filter sets, and then the two filter sets are used to explore variations among a total of 31 species in a single-cell fluorescence imaging photometer. Results are presented in terms of pair analyses; we report that 411 of the 465 possible pairings of the larger group of 31 species can be distinguished using the initial nine-species-based selection of optical filters. A bootstrap analysis based on the larger data set shows that the distribution of possible pair separation results based on a randomly selected nine-species initial calibration set is strongly peaked in the 410-415 pair separation range, consistent with our experimental result. Further, the result for filter selection using all 31 species is also 411 pair separations; The set of phytoplankton fluorescence excitation spectra is intuitively high in rank due to the number and variety of pigments that contribute to the spectrum. However, the results in this report are consistent with an effective rank as determined by a variety of heuristic and statistical methods in the range of 2-3. These results are reviewed in consideration of how consistent the filter selections are from model to model for the data presented here. We discuss the common observation that rank is generally found to be relatively low even in many seemingly complex circumstances, so that it may be productive to assume a low rank from the beginning. If a low-rank hypothesis is valid, then relatively few samples are needed to explore an experimental space. Under very restricted circumstances for uniformly distributed samples, the minimum number for an initial analysis might be as low as 8-11 random samples for 1-3 factors.

MEASURING COERCION TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH WITHIN A DOUBLY VULNERABLE POPULATION: INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COERCION ASSESSMENT SCALE

PubMed Central

Dugosh, Karen Leggett; Festinger, David S.; Croft, Jason R.; Marlowe, Douglas B.

2011-01-01

Despite many efforts aimed to ensure that research participation is autonomous and not coerced, there exists no reliable and valid measure of perceived coercion for the doubly vulnerable population of substance-abusing offenders. The current study describes the development and initial validation of an instrument measuring perceived coercion to participate in research among substance-abusing offenders. The results indicated that a substantial number of individuals report feeling coerced to participate in the study. In addition, the instrument has adequate levels of internal consistency, a one-dimensional factor structure, and evidence of discriminative validity. This study provides initial support for the instrument’s validity and clinical utility. PMID:20235867

Irreproducibility in Preclinical Biomedical Research: Perceptions, Uncertainties, and Knowledge Gaps.

PubMed

Jarvis, Michael F; Williams, Michael

2016-04-01

Concerns regarding the reliability of biomedical research outcomes were precipitated by two independent reports from the pharmaceutical industry that documented a lack of reproducibility in preclinical research in the areas of oncology, endocrinology, and hematology. Given their potential impact on public health, these concerns have been extensively covered in the media. Assessing the magnitude and scope of irreproducibility is limited by the anecdotal nature of the initial reports and a lack of quantitative data on specific failures to reproduce published research. Nevertheless, remediation activities have focused on needed enhancements in transparency and consistency in the reporting of experimental methodologies and results. While such initiatives can effectively bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate best practices across established and emerging research disciplines and therapeutic areas, concerns remain on how these improve on the historical process of independent replication in validating research findings and their potential to inhibit scientific innovation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Let's Talk About Breastfeeding: The Importance of Delivering a Message in a Home Visiting Program.

PubMed

McGinnis, Sandra; Lee, Eunju; Kirkland, Kristen; Miranda-Julian, Claudia; Greene, Rose

2018-05-01

To examine the potential impact of paraprofessional home visitors in promoting breastfeeding initiation and continuation among a high-risk population. A secondary analysis of program data from a statewide home visitation program. Thirty-six Healthy Families New York sites across New York State. A total of 3521 pregnant mothers at risk of poor child health and developmental outcomes. Home visitors deliver a multifaceted intervention that includes educating high-risk mothers on benefits of breastfeeding, encouraging them to breastfeed and supporting their efforts during prenatal and postnatal periods. Home visitor-reported content and frequency of home visits, participant-reported breastfeeding initiation and duration, and covariates (Kempe Family Stress Index, race and ethnicity, region, nativity, marital status, age, and education). Logistic regression. Breastfeeding initiation increased by 1.5% for each 1-point increase in the percentage of prenatal home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Breastfeeding continuation during the first 6 months also increased with the percentage of earlier home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Additionally, if a participant receives 1 more home visit during the third month, her likelihood of breastfeeding at 6 months increases by 11%. Effect sizes varied by months postpartum. Delivering a breastfeeding message consistently during regular home visits is important for increasing breastfeeding rates. Given that home visiting programs target new mothers least likely to breastfeed, a more consistent focus on breastfeeding in this supportive context may reduce breastfeeding disparities.

The Feasibility of Generalized Acoustic Sensor Operator Training. Final Report for Period February 1974-February 1975.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daniels, Richard W.; Alden, David G.

The feasibility of generalized approaches to training military personnel in the use of different types of sonar/acoustic warfare systems was explored. The initial phase of the project consisted of the analysis of representative sonar and acoustic equipment to identify training areas and operator performance requirements that could be subjected to…

Amiodarone-Induced Liver Injury and Cirrhosis

PubMed Central

Kappus, Matthew; Lagoo, Anand S.; Brady, Carla W.

2015-01-01

We present a case report of an 80-year-old woman with volume overload thought initially to be secondary to heart failure, but determined to be amiodarone-induced acute and chronic liver injury leading to submassive necrosis and bridging fibrosis consistent with early cirrhosis. Her histopathology was uniquely absent of steatosis and phospholipidosis, which are commonly seen in AIC. PMID:26157932

Amiodarone-Induced Liver Injury and Cirrhosis.

PubMed

Buggey, Jonathan; Kappus, Matthew; Lagoo, Anand S; Brady, Carla W

2015-01-01

We present a case report of an 80-year-old woman with volume overload thought initially to be secondary to heart failure, but determined to be amiodarone-induced acute and chronic liver injury leading to submassive necrosis and bridging fibrosis consistent with early cirrhosis. Her histopathology was uniquely absent of steatosis and phospholipidosis, which are commonly seen in AIC.

Competent Children at Risk: Their Parents and Families. 2. Markers of Competent Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kokes, Ronald F.; And Others

Hypotheses presented in an initial report of this study were tested and, in general, all were supported. Maternal diagnosis, chronicity, and age of onset with regard to the child and to parent/child interaction were significantly associated with child competence. However, effects of these factors were not consistent across age of child or child…

Self-Instructional Methods of Teaching Diagnostic Problem Solving to Automotive Students. Vocational-Industrial Education Research Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finch, Curtis R.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three methods of teaching diagnostic problem-solving (troubleshooting) to automotive students. The sample consisted of 45 community college students enrolled in automotive courses. Initially, all students received a presentation on ignition principles, and the Otis Mental Ability Test…

National facilities study. Volume 3: Mission and requirements model report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

The National Facility Study (NFS) was initiated in 1992 by Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator of NASA as an initiative to develop a comprehensive and integrated long-term plan for future facilities. The resulting, multi-agency NFS consisted of three Task Groups: Aeronautics, Space Operations, and Space Research and Development (R&D) Task Groups. A fourth group, the Engineering and Cost Analysis Task Group, was subsequently added to provide cross-cutting functions, such as assuring consistency in developing an inventory of space facilities. Space facilities decisions require an assessment of current and future needs. Therefore, the two task groups dealing with space developed a consistent model of future space mission programs, operations and R&D. The model is a middle ground baseline constructed for NFS analytical purposes with excursions to cover potential space program strategies. The model includes three major sectors: DOD, civilian government, and commercial space. The model spans the next 30 years because of the long lead times associated with facilities development and usage. This document, Volume 3 of the final NFS report, is organized along the following lines: Executive Summary -- provides a summary view of the 30-year mission forecast and requirements baseline, an overview of excursions from that baseline that were studied, and organization of the report; Introduction -- provides discussions of the methodology used in this analysis; Baseline Model -- provides the mission and requirements model baseline developed for Space Operations and Space R&D analyses; Excursions from the baseline -- reviews the details of variations or 'excursions' that were developed to test the future program projections captured in the baseline; and a Glossary of Acronyms.

Optical pumping by CO/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/O lasers: new CW FIR emissions in 1,1-difluoroethane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fourrier, M.; Belland, P.; Gastaud, C.

1985-01-01

Abstract-53 new CW FIR laser lines are reported in 1,1-difluoroethane optically pumped near 10 ..mu..m by CO/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/O lasers. The emission spectrum initially reported in the literature consisted of four lines between 770 and 458 ..mu..m and has now been extended to the 2.39 mm319 ..mu..m region. The reason for this extension, especially to the long wavelengths, is analyzed.

Optical pumping by CO2 and n2O lasers - new CW FIR emissions in 1,1-difluoroethane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fourrier, M.; Belland, P.; Redon, M.

1985-01-01

Fifty-three new CW FIR laser lines are reported in 1,1-difluoroethane optically pumped near 10 microns by CO2 and N2O lasers. The emission spectrum initially reported in the literature consisted of four lines between 770 and 458 microns and has now been extended to the 2.39 mm-319 micron region. The reason for this extension, especially to the long wavelengths, is analyzed. 12 references.

Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault, or Something Else? A Complicated Case With an Unexpected Outcome.

PubMed

Scott-Tilley, Donna; Crites, Heather

This case report presents a patient who presented multiple times with vaginal injuries and bleeding, reporting sexual assault with a foreign object. Findings from her history and physical examination were consistent with sexual assault and human trafficking. The outcome of this case was not what we initially expected when the patient first presented for care. However, the patient ultimately received the care she needed. This case illuminates the need for excellent continuing education, interdisciplinary communication, and continuity of care.

Overview of the Spinal Cord Injury--Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system.

PubMed

Tulsky, David S; Kisala, Pamela A; Victorson, David; Tate, Denise G; Heinemann, Allen W; Charlifue, Susan; Kirshblum, Steve C; Fyffe, Denise; Gershon, Richard; Spungen, Ann M; Bombardier, Charles H; Dyson-Hudson, Trevor A; Amtmann, Dagmar; Kalpakjian, Claire Z; Choi, Seung W; Jette, Alan M; Forchheimer, Martin; Cella, David

2015-05-01

The Spinal Cord Injury--Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system was developed to address the shortage of relevant and psychometrically sound patient reported outcome (PRO) measures available for clinical care and research in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Using a computer adaptive testing (CAT) approach, the SCI-QOL builds on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QOL) initiative. This initial manuscript introduces the background and development of the SCI-QOL measurement system. Greater detail is presented in the additional manuscripts of this special issue. Classical and contemporary test development methodologies were employed. Qualitative input was obtained from individuals with SCI and clinicians through interviews, focus groups, and cognitive debriefing. Item pools were field tested in a multi-site sample (n=877) and calibrated using item response theory methods. Initial reliability and validity testing was performed in a new sample of individuals with traumatic SCI (n=245). Five Model SCI System centers and one Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center across the United States. Adults with traumatic SCI. n/a n/a The SCI-QOL consists of 19 item banks, including the SCI-Functional Index banks, and 3 fixed-length scales measuring physical, emotional, and social aspects of health-related QOL (HRQOL). The SCI-QOL measurement system consists of psychometrically sound measures for individuals with SCI. The manuscripts in this special issue provide evidence of the reliability and initial validity of this measurement system. The SCI-QOL also links to other measures designed for a general medical population.

[Measurement properties of self-report questionnaires published in Korean nursing journals].

PubMed

Lee, Eun-Hyun; Kim, Chun-Ja; Kim, Eun Jung; Chae, Hyun-Ju; Cho, Soo-Yeon

2013-02-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate measurement properties of self-report questionnaires for studies published in Korean nursing journals. Of 424 Korean nursing articles initially identified, 168 articles met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the measurements used in the studies and interpretability were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. It consists of items on internal consistency, reliability, measurement error, content validity, construct validity including structural validity, hypothesis testing, cross-cultural validity, and criterion validity, and responsiveness. For each item of the COSMIN checklist, measurement properties are rated on a four-point scale: excellent, good, fair, and poor. Each measurement property is scored with worst score counts. All articles used the classical test theory for measurement properties. Internal consistency (72.6%), construct validity (56.5%), and content validity (38.2%) were most frequently reported properties being rated as 'excellent' by COSMIN checklist, whereas other measurement properties were rarely reported. A systematic review of measurement properties including interpretability of most instruments warrants further research and nursing-focused checklists assessing measurement properties should be developed to facilitate intervention outcomes across Korean studies.

Transition to Glass: Pilot Training for High-Technology Transport Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiener, Earl L.; Chute, Rebecca D.; Moses, John H.

1999-01-01

This report examines the activities of a major commercial air carrier between 1993 and late 1996 as it acquired an advanced fleet of high-technology aircraft (Boeing 757). Previously, the airline's fleet consisted of traditional (non-glass) aircraft, and this report examines the transition from a traditional fleet to a glass one. A total of 150 pilots who were entering the B-757 transition training volunteered for the study, which consisted of three query phases: (1) first day of transition training, (2) 3 to 4 months after transition training, and (3) 12 to 14 months after initial operating experience. Of these initial 150 pilots, 99 completed all three phases of the study, with each phase consisting of probes on attitudes and experiences associated with their training and eventual transition to flying the line. In addition to the three questionnaires, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. Although the primary focus of this study was on the flight training program, additional factors such as technical support, documentation, and training aids were investigated as well. The findings generally indicate that the pilot volunteers were highly motivated and very enthusiastic about their training program. In addition, the group had low levels of apprehension toward automation and expressed a high degree of satisfaction toward their training. However, there were some concerns expressed regarding the deficiencies in some of the training aids and lack of a free-play flight management system training device.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rison, William; Krehbiel, Paul R.; Stock, Michael G.

A long-standing but fundamental question in lightning studies concerns how lightning is initiated inside storms, given the absence of physical conductors. The issue has revolved around the question of whether the discharges are initiated solely by conventional dielectric breakdown or involve relativistic runaway electron processes. Here we report observations of a relatively unknown type of discharge, called fast positive breakdown, that is the cause of high-power discharges known as narrow bipolar events. We find that the breakdown has a wide range of strengths and is the initiating event of numerous lightning discharges. It appears to be purely dielectric in naturemore » and to consist of a system of positive streamers in a locally intense electric field region. It initiates negative breakdown at the starting location of the streamers, which leads to the ensuing flash. The observations show that many or possibly all lightning flashes are initiated by fast positive breakdown.« less

TV or not TV? Does the immediacy of viewing images of a momentous news event affect the quality and stability of flashbulb memories?

PubMed

Schaefer, Evelyn G; Halldorson, Michael K; Dizon-Reynante, Cheryl

2011-04-01

The flashbulb accounts of 38 participants concerning the September 11th 2001 terrorist attack reported at both 28 hours and 6 months following the event were examined for quantity, quality, and consistency as a function of the time lapse between first learning of the event and initial viewing of media images. The flashbulb accounts of those who reported seeing images at least an hour after learning of the event differed qualitatively, but not quantitatively, from accounts of participants who reported seeing images at the same time as or within minutes of learning of the event. Delayed viewing of images resulted in less elaborate and generally less consistent accounts across the 6-month interval. The results are discussed in terms of factors affecting flashbulb memory formation and individual differences in connectedness to the event.

Test-retest of self-reported exposure to artificial tanning devices, self-tanning creams, and sun sensitivity showed consistency.

PubMed

Beane Freeman, Laura E; Dennis, Leslie K; Lynch, Charles F; Lowe, John B; Clarke, William R

2005-04-01

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation has consistently been linked to an increased risk of melanoma. Epidemiologic studies are susceptible to measurement error, which can distort the magnitude of observed effects. Although the reliability of self-report of many sun exposure factors has been previously described in several studies, self-report of use of artificial tanning devices and self-tanning creams has been less well characterized. A mailed survey was re-administered 2-4 weeks after completion of the initial survey to 76 randomly selected participants in a case-control study of melanoma. Cases and controls were individuals diagnosed in 1999 and 2000 who were ascertained from the Iowa Cancer Registry in 2002. We assessed the consistency of self-reported use of sunlamps and self-tanning creams, sun sensitivity, and history of sunburns. There was substantial reliability in reporting the use of sunlamps or self-tanning creams (cases: Kappa (kappa)=1.0 for both exposures; controls: kappa=0.71 and 0.87, respectively). kappa estimates of 0.62-0.78 were found for overall reliability of several sun sensitivity factors. Overall, the survey instrument demonstrated substantial reproducibility for factors related to the use of sunlamps or tanning beds, self-tanning creams, and sun sensitivity factors.

Consistency of Self-Reported Concussion History in Adolescent Athletes

PubMed Central

Iverson, Grant L.; Silverberg, Noah D.; Mannix, Rebekah; Zafonte, Ross; Maxwell, Bruce; Berkner, Paul D.

2017-01-01

Abstract Relying on self-reported concussion injury history is common in both clinical care and research. However, young athletes may not provide consistent medical information. To date, little is known about the reliability of self-reported concussion history in high school students. This study examined whether student athletes reported their lifetime history of concussions consistently over time. Self-reported concussion history was examined in 4792 student athletes (ages 13–18) from Maine who completed a preseason health survey on two occasions (median re-test interval = 23.7 months; standard deviation = 7.3; interquartile range = 12.4–24.5). Consistency of self-reported concussion history was determined by differences in the number of concussions reported during the second survey. Inconsistent concussion history was defined primarily by a decrease in the number of lifetime concussions reported at the second testing, compared with at the first testing. The majority of the sample (80.3%) reported no change in the number of concussions between the two baseline assessments. A minority (15.9%; n = 763) reported more concussions during the second assessment. Only 3.8% (n = 181) of student athletes provided inconsistent concussion histories, defined as fewer concussions at the second assessment. Boys provided inconsistent concussion histories a little more frequently, compared with girls (5.3% and 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). Similarly, athletes with self-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) provided inconsistent concussion histories somewhat more frequently, compared with those without ADHD (7.8% and 3.5%, respectively; p < 0.001). Of the athletes with inconsistent concussion histories, greater degree of inconsistency was associated with a greater number of concussions initially reported at baseline (rs = 0.54; p < 0.001). Only a small proportion of student athletes provided inconsistent concussion histories. Male gender, ADHD, and greater number of baseline concussions were significantly associated with inconsistency in reporting. Overall, these findings suggest that student athletes are quite consistent when reporting their concussion history when surveyed twice during high school. PMID:27349296

Consistency of Self-Reported Concussion History in Adolescent Athletes.

PubMed

Wojtowicz, Magdalena; Iverson, Grant L; Silverberg, Noah D; Mannix, Rebekah; Zafonte, Ross; Maxwell, Bruce; Berkner, Paul D

2017-01-15

Relying on self-reported concussion injury history is common in both clinical care and research. However, young athletes may not provide consistent medical information. To date, little is known about the reliability of self-reported concussion history in high school students. This study examined whether student athletes reported their lifetime history of concussions consistently over time. Self-reported concussion history was examined in 4792 student athletes (ages 13-18) from Maine who completed a preseason health survey on two occasions (median re-test interval = 23.7 months; standard deviation = 7.3; interquartile range = 12.4-24.5). Consistency of self-reported concussion history was determined by differences in the number of concussions reported during the second survey. Inconsistent concussion history was defined primarily by a decrease in the number of lifetime concussions reported at the second testing, compared with at the first testing. The majority of the sample (80.3%) reported no change in the number of concussions between the two baseline assessments. A minority (15.9%; n = 763) reported more concussions during the second assessment. Only 3.8% (n = 181) of student athletes provided inconsistent concussion histories, defined as fewer concussions at the second assessment. Boys provided inconsistent concussion histories a little more frequently, compared with girls (5.3% and 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). Similarly, athletes with self-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) provided inconsistent concussion histories somewhat more frequently, compared with those without ADHD (7.8% and 3.5%, respectively; p < 0.001). Of the athletes with inconsistent concussion histories, greater degree of inconsistency was associated with a greater number of concussions initially reported at baseline (r s  = 0.54; p < 0.001). Only a small proportion of student athletes provided inconsistent concussion histories. Male gender, ADHD, and greater number of baseline concussions were significantly associated with inconsistency in reporting. Overall, these findings suggest that student athletes are quite consistent when reporting their concussion history when surveyed twice during high school.

Why Most Biomedical Findings Echoed by Newspapers Turn Out to be False: The Case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

PubMed Central

Gonon, François; Konsman, Jan-Pieter; Cohen, David; Boraud, Thomas

2012-01-01

Context Because positive biomedical observations are more often published than those reporting no effect, initial observations are often refuted or attenuated by subsequent studies. Objective To determine whether newspapers preferentially report on initial findings and whether they also report on subsequent studies. Methods We focused on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using Factiva and PubMed databases, we identified 47 scientific publications on ADHD published in the 1990s and soon echoed by 347 newspapers articles. We selected the ten most echoed publications and collected all their relevant subsequent studies until 2011. We checked whether findings reported in each “top 10” publication were consistent with previous and subsequent observations. We also compared the newspaper coverage of the “top 10” publications to that of their related scientific studies. Results Seven of the “top 10” publications were initial studies and the conclusions in six of them were either refuted or strongly attenuated subsequently. The seventh was not confirmed or refuted, but its main conclusion appears unlikely. Among the three “top 10” that were not initial studies, two were confirmed subsequently and the third was attenuated. The newspaper coverage of the “top 10” publications (223 articles) was much larger than that of the 67 related studies (57 articles). Moreover, only one of the latter newspaper articles reported that the corresponding “top 10” finding had been attenuated. The average impact factor of the scientific journals publishing studies echoed by newspapers (17.1 n = 56) was higher (p<0.0001) than that corresponding to related publications that were not echoed (6.4 n = 56). Conclusion Because newspapers preferentially echo initial ADHD findings appearing in prominent journals, they report on uncertain findings that are often refuted or attenuated by subsequent studies. If this media reporting bias generalizes to health sciences, it represents a major cause of distortion in health science communication. PMID:22984483

Accuracy and consistency of weights provided by home bathroom scales.

PubMed

Yorkin, Meredith; Spaccarotella, Kim; Martin-Biggers, Jennifer; Quick, Virginia; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol

2013-12-17

Self-reported body weight is often used for calculation of Body Mass Index because it is easy to collect. Little is known about sources of error introduced by using bathroom scales to measure weight at home. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of digital versus dial-type bathroom scales commonly used for self-reported weight. Participants brought functioning bathroom scales (n=18 dial-type, n=43 digital-type) to a central location. Trained researchers assessed accuracy and consistency using certified calibration weights at 10 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg, 75 kg, 100 kg, and 110 kg. Data also were collected on frequency of calibration, age and floor surface beneath the scale. All participants reported using their scale on hard surface flooring. Before calibration, all digital scales displayed 0, but dial scales displayed a mean absolute initial weight of 0.95 (1.9 SD) kg. Digital scales accurately weighed test loads whereas dial-type scale weights differed significantly (p<0.05). Imprecision of dial scales was significantly greater than that of digital scales at all weights (p<0.05). Accuracy and precision did not vary by scale age. Digital home bathroom scales provide sufficiently accurate and consistent weights for public health research. Reminders to zero scales before each use may further improve accuracy of self-reported weight.

MagLifter Site Investigation and Implementation Strategies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burke, Pamela; Slaughter, Maynard; Beer, C. Neil

1995-01-01

MagLifter, as defined here, is an advanced, earth-bound catapult system to provide the initial lift for earth orbiting vehicles to reduce or eliminate the need for multistage propulsion, thus reducing the cost of orbital space flight. It is presumed that magnetic levitation will catapult the vehicle to a desired initial velocity sufficient for reaching orbit with the vehicles own engines. Of necessity, the system must be located on and around a mountain with sufficient relief to allow the catapult to accelerate the launch vehicle to a sufficient speed in the desired direction to allow it to reach orbit. Such a mountain site must meet criteria consistent with current and future space launch needs and conditions. It is the purpose of this report to set forth preliminary criteria for choosing a suitable maglifter site. The report is divided into four major sections: (1) Assumed Launch System and Flight Vehicle Characteristics; (2) Task 1.A - Initial Site Selection Criteria; (3) Conclusions; and (4) Appendix - Phases of the Site Selection Process.

Some Aspects of Advanced Tokamak Modeling in DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

St John, H. E.; Petty, C. C.; Murakami, M.; Kinsey, J. E.

2000-10-01

We extend previous work(M. Murakami, et al., General Atomics Report GA-A23310 (1999).) done on time dependent DIII-D advanced tokamak simulations by introducing theoretical confinement models rather than relying on power balance derived transport coefficients. We explore using NBCD and off axis ECCD together with a self-consistent aligned bootstrap current, driven by the internal transport barrier dynamics generated with the GLF23 confinement model, to shape the hollow current profile and to maintain MHD stable conditions. Our theoretical modeling approach uses measured DIII-D initial conditions to start off the simulations in a smooth consistent manner. This mitigates the troublesome long lived perturbations in the ohmic current profile that is normally caused by inconsistent initial data. To achieve this goal our simulation uses a sequence of time dependent eqdsks generated autonomously by the EFIT MHD equilibrium code in analyzing experimental data to supply the history for the simulation.

Modeling of RF/MHD coupling using NIMROD and GENRAY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Schnack, D. D.; Sovinec, C. R.; Hegna, C. C.; Callen, J. D.; Ebrahimi, F.; Kruger, S. E.; Carlsson, J.; Held, E. D.; Ji, J.-Y.; Harvey, R. W.; Smirnov, A. P.

2008-11-01

We summarize ongoing theoretical/numerical work relevant to the development of a self--consistent framework for the inclusion of RF effects in fluid simulations, specifically considering the stabilization of resistive tearing modes in tokamak (DIII--D--like) geometry by electron cyclotron current drive. Previous investigations [T. G. Jenkins et al., Bull. APS 52, 131 (2007)] have demonstrated that relatively simple (though non--self--consistent) models for the RF--induced currents can be incorporated into the fluid equations, and that these currents can markedly reduce the width of the nonlinearly saturated magnetic islands generated by tearing modes. We report our progress toward the self--consistent modeling of these RF--induced currents. The initial interfacing of the NIMROD* code with the GENRAY/CQL3D** codes (which calculate RF propagation and energy/momentum deposition) is explained, equilibration of RF--induced currents over the plasma flux surfaces is investigated, and initial studies exploring the efficient reduction of saturated island widths through time modulation of the ECCD are presented. Conducted as part of the SWIM*** project; funded by U. S. DoE. *www.nimrodteam.org **www.compxco.com ***www.cswim.org

Sex Differences in Intellectual Abilities: A Reassessment and A Look At Some New Explanations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacklin, Carol Nagy; Maccoby, Eleanor E.

The authors are emmersed in a comprehensive review of the literature on intellectual sex differences. This paper consists of the first progress report and the tentative hypotheses of the work completed so far. Discussion is initially concerned with verbal and spatial abilities. It is concluded that girls learn language earlier, and may continue to…

The United States and International Energy Issues. Report to the Congress by the Comptroller General of the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Comptroller General of the U.S., Washington, DC.

Presented are the major international energy policy issues facing all nations, and a basis for analyzing current and proposed United States' energy policies and initiatives. Eleven issues are examined, all of which relate to one central theme: Are U.S. international energy and related policies consistent with domestic energy goals, national…

KC-46A Tanker Modernization (KC-46A)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

LRIP - Low Rate Initial Production $M - Millions of Dollars MILCON - Military Construction N /A - Not Applicable O&S - Operating and Support Oth - Other...Related Qty - Quantity RDT&E - Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation SAR - Selected Acquisition Report Sch - Schedule Spt - Support TBD - To Be...attributes, data correctness , data availability, and consistent data processing specified in the applicable joint and system integrated

Cellular Analogs of Operant Behavior.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-31

confirmed at the behavioral level in parallel studies of hippocampal and intravenous self-administration. The results are consistent with the hypothesis...research is to elucidate the cellular reinforcement mechanisms underlying goal-directed or operant behavior. The specific aim here was to study the... studies and behavioral operant conditioning studies . Most of the research reported was initiated and completed in the present project period. Also

Using Yes-No Recognition Tests to Assess Student Memory for Course Content

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Dale L.; Barker, Lewis

2008-01-01

We report 3 experiments using yes-no recognition tests of student memory for course content. Each test consisted of items encountered in the course and an equal number of foils. Experiment 1 involved an initial test of the methodology and addressed test reliability. Experiments 2 and 3 examined performance before and after completion of courses in…

45 CFR 1356.71 - Federal review of the eligibility of children in foster care and the eligibility of foster care...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... by ACF statistical staff from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data which are transmitted by the State agency to ACF. The sampling frame will consist of cases of... State's most recent AFCARS data submission. For the initial primary review, if these data are not...

40 CFR 63.11225 - What are my notification, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... combusted in any affected unit.” (5) If you are using data from a previously conducted emission test to... consistent with § 63.7(e)(2)(iv), you must submit the test data in lieu of the initial performance test... requirements of the petition process. (3) For sources that demonstrate compliance through fuel analysis, a copy...

The Initial Response of Secondary Mathematics Teachers to a One-to-One Laptop Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zuber, Edward Nordin; Anderson, Judy

2013-01-01

Studies of one-to-one programs consistently report lower use of laptops in mathematics classrooms compared to other subjects but do not elaborate reasons for these observations. This mixed-method study investigated the experiences and beliefs of 28 mathematics teachers at five secondary schools during the second year of the New South Wales Digital…

Assessing personal initiative among vocational training students: development and validation of a new measure.

PubMed

Balluerka, Nekane; Gorostiaga, Arantxa; Ulacia, Imanol

2014-11-14

Personal initiative characterizes people who are proactive, persistent and self-starting when facing the difficulties that arise in achieving goals. Despite its importance in the educational field there is a scarcity of measures to assess students' personal initiative. Thus, the aim of the present study was to develop a questionnaire to assess this variable in the academic environment and to validate it for adolescents and young adults. The sample comprised 244 vocational training students. The questionnaire showed a factor structure including three factors (Proactivity-Prosocial behavior, Persistence and Self-Starting) with acceptable indices of internal consistency (ranging between α = .57 and α =.73) and good convergent validity with respect to the Self-Reported Initiative scale. Evidence of external validity was also obtained based on the relationships between personal initiative and variables such as self-efficacy, enterprising attitude, responsibility and control aspirations, conscientiousness, and academic achievement. The results indicate that this new measure is very useful for assessing personal initiative among vocational training students.

Observations of narrow bipolar events reveal how lightning is initiated in thunderstorms

DOE PAGES

Rison, William; Krehbiel, Paul R.; Stock, Michael G.; ...

2016-02-15

A long-standing but fundamental question in lightning studies concerns how lightning is initiated inside storms, given the absence of physical conductors. The issue has revolved around the question of whether the discharges are initiated solely by conventional dielectric breakdown or involve relativistic runaway electron processes. Here we report observations of a relatively unknown type of discharge, called fast positive breakdown, that is the cause of high-power discharges known as narrow bipolar events. We find that the breakdown has a wide range of strengths and is the initiating event of numerous lightning discharges. It appears to be purely dielectric in naturemore » and to consist of a system of positive streamers in a locally intense electric field region. It initiates negative breakdown at the starting location of the streamers, which leads to the ensuing flash. The observations show that many or possibly all lightning flashes are initiated by fast positive breakdown.« less

Creep fatigue life prediction for engine hot section materials (isotropic)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, R. S.; Levan, G. W.; Harvey, P. R.

1992-01-01

This Final Report covers the activities completed under the optional program of the NASA HOST Contract, NAS3-23288. The initial effort of the optional program was report-in NASA CR189221, which consisted of high temperature strain controlled fatigue tests to study the effects of thermomechanical fatigue, multiaxial loading, reactive environments, and imposed stresses. The baseline alloy used in the tests included B1900+Hf (with or without coating) and wrought INCO 718. Tests conducted on B1900+Hf included environmental tests using various atmospheres (75 psig oxygen, purified argon, or block exposures) and specimen tests of wrought INCO 718 included tensile, creep, stress rupture, TMF, multiaxial, and mean stress tests. Results of these testings were used to calibrate a CDA model for INCO 718 alloy and to develop modifications or corrections to the CDA model to handle additional failure mechanisms. The Socie parameter was found to provide the best correlation for INCO multiaxial loading. Microstructural evaluations consisting of optical, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques, and surface replication techniques to determine crack initiation lives provided data which were used to develop life prediction models.

Understanding Chronically Reported Families

PubMed Central

Jonson-Reid, Melissa; Emery, Clifton R.; Drake, Brett; Stahlschmidt, Mary Jo

2013-01-01

Although a strong literature on child maltreatment re-reporting exists, much of that literature stops at the first re-report. The literature on chronic re-reporting, meaning reports beyond the second report, is scant. The authors follow Loman’s lead in focusing on reports beyond the first two to determine what factors predict these “downstream” report stages. Cross-sector, longitudinal administrative data are used. The authors analyze predictors at each of the first four recurrences (first to second report, second to third report, third to fourth report, and fourth to fifth report). Findings demonstrate that some factors (e.g., tract poverty) which predict initial recurrence lose their predictive value at later stages, whereas others (e.g., aid to families with dependent children history) remain predictive across stages. In-home child welfare services and mental health treatment emerged as consistent predictors of reduced recurrence. PMID:20941889

The importance of male partner involvement for women's acceptability and adherence to female-initiated HIV prevention methods in Zimbabwe.

PubMed

Montgomery, Elizabeth T; van der Straten, Ariane; Chidanyika, Agnes; Chipato, Tsungai; Jaffar, Shabbar; Padian, Nancy

2011-07-01

Enlisting male partner involvement is perceived as an important component of women's successful uptake of female-initiated HIV prevention methods. We conducted a longitudinal study among a cohort of 955 Zimbabwean women participating in a clinical trial of the effectiveness of a female-initiated HIV prevention method (the diaphragm and lubricant gel) to: (a) describe the extent to which women involved their male partners in the decision to use the study products, and (b) measure the effect perceived male partner support had on their acceptability and consistent use of these methods. Reported levels of male partner involvement in discussions and decisions regarding: joining the study, study activities, the outcome of HIV/STI test results, and product use were very high. In multivariate analyses, regular disclosure of study product use and partner approval for the diaphragm and gel were significantly associated with women's acceptability and consistent use of the products; an essential component for determining efficacy of investigational prevention methods. These results support the need for more sophisticated measurement of how couples interact to make decisions that impact study participation and investigational product use as well as more rigorous adaptations and evaluations of existing strategies to involve male partners in female-initiated HIV prevention trials.

Overview of the Spinal Cord Injury – Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system

PubMed Central

Tulsky, David S.; Kisala, Pamela A.; Victorson, David; Tate, Denise G.; Heinemann, Allen W.; Charlifue, Susan; Kirshblum, Steve C.; Fyffe, Denise; Gershon, Richard; Spungen, Ann M.; Bombardier, Charles H.; Dyson-Hudson, Trevor A.; Amtmann, Dagmar; Z. Kalpakjian, Claire; W. Choi, Seung; Jette, Alan M.; Forchheimer, Martin; Cella, David

2015-01-01

Context/Objective The Spinal Cord Injury – Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system was developed to address the shortage of relevant and psychometrically sound patient reported outcome (PRO) measures available for clinical care and research in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Using a computer adaptive testing (CAT) approach, the SCI-QOL builds on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QOL) initiative. This initial manuscript introduces the background and development of the SCI-QOL measurement system. Greater detail is presented in the additional manuscripts of this special issue. Design Classical and contemporary test development methodologies were employed. Qualitative input was obtained from individuals with SCI and clinicians through interviews, focus groups, and cognitive debriefing. Item pools were field tested in a multi-site sample (n = 877) and calibrated using item response theory methods. Initial reliability and validity testing was performed in a new sample of individuals with traumatic SCI (n = 245). Setting Five Model SCI System centers and one Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center across the United States. Participants Adults with traumatic SCI. Interventions n/a Outcome Measures n/a Results The SCI-QOL consists of 19 item banks, including the SCI-Functional Index banks, and 3 fixed-length scales measuring physical, emotional, and social aspects of health-related QOL (HRQOL). Conclusion The SCI-QOL measurement system consists of psychometrically sound measures for individuals with SCI. The manuscripts in this special issue provide evidence of the reliability and initial validity of this measurement system. The SCI-QOL also links to other measures designed for a general medical population. PMID:26010962

Diagnosis and Management of Polycythemia Vera in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

PubMed

Le, Kim; Beaufrère, Hugues; Bassel, Laura L; Wills, Sarah; Laniesse, Delphine; Blois, Shauna L; Smith, Dale A

2016-12-01

A 5-y-old female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy for 1 wk. Only mild dehydration was detected on physical examination. CBC analysis revealed marked erythrocytosis with an unremarkable plasma biochemistry panel; follow-up CBC analyses revealed a consistent primary erythrocytosis. Whole-body radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable except for a small nephrolith in the right kidney and a small cyst in the left kidney. The plasma erythropoietin level was 17.0 mIU/mL and considered normal. In light of the diagnostic work-up and consistent erythrocytosis, a diagnosis of polycythemia vera (primary erythrocytosis) was made. The initial presentation of diarrhea resolved after treatment with oral metronidazole (20 mg/kg PO BID for 7 d). Treatment for the polycythemia consisted of a phlebotomy initially followed by chemotherapy with hydroxyurea (10 mg/kg PO BID). During the subsequent 12 mo, the hydroxyurea dose adjusted according to follow-up CBC results, and finding an optimal dosage regimen proved to be challenging. One year after the initial diagnosis, the ferret presented to an emergency clinic for acute and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea and died shortly thereafter. The postmortem diagnosis was acute venous infarction of the small and large intestine. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the diagnosis and long-term management of polycythemia vera in a ferret and the use of hydroxyurea for this purpose.

Transient cardio-respiratory responses to visually induced tilt illusions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, S. J.; Ramsdell, C. D.; Mullen, T. J.; Oman, C. M.; Harm, D. L.; Paloski, W. H.

2000-01-01

Although the orthostatic cardio-respiratory response is primarily mediated by the baroreflex, studies have shown that vestibular cues also contribute in both humans and animals. We have demonstrated a visually mediated response to illusory tilt in some human subjects. Blood pressure, heart and respiration rate, and lung volume were monitored in 16 supine human subjects during two types of visual stimulation, and compared with responses to real passive whole body tilt from supine to head 80 degrees upright. Visual tilt stimuli consisted of either a static scene from an overhead mirror or constant velocity scene motion along different body axes generated by an ultra-wide dome projection system. Visual vertical cues were initially aligned with the longitudinal body axis. Subjective tilt and self-motion were reported verbally. Although significant changes in cardio-respiratory parameters to illusory tilts could not be demonstrated for the entire group, several subjects showed significant transient decreases in mean blood pressure resembling their initial response to passive head-up tilt. Changes in pulse pressure and a slight elevation in heart rate were noted. These transient responses are consistent with the hypothesis that visual-vestibular input contributes to the initial cardiovascular adjustment to a change in posture in humans. On average the static scene elicited perceived tilt without rotation. Dome scene pitch and yaw elicited perceived tilt and rotation, and dome roll motion elicited perceived rotation without tilt. A significant correlation between the magnitude of physiological and subjective reports could not be demonstrated.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gorham, P. W.; Allison, P.; Hebert, C. L.

We report initial results of the first flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA-1) 2006-2007 Long Duration Balloon flight, which searched for evidence of a diffuse flux of cosmic neutrinos above energies of E{sub {nu}}{approx_equal}3x10{sup 18} eV. ANITA-1 flew for 35 days looking for radio impulses due to the Askaryan effect in neutrino-induced electromagnetic showers within the Antarctic ice sheets. We report here on our initial analysis, which was performed as a blind search of the data. No neutrino candidates are seen, with no detected physics background. We set model-independent limits based on this result. Upper limits derived frommore » our analysis rule out the highest cosmogenic neutrino models. In a background horizontal-polarization channel, we also detect six events consistent with radio impulses from ultrahigh energy extensive air showers.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gorham, P.W.; Allison, P.; /Hawaii U.

We report initial results of the first flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA-1) 2006-2007 Long Duration Balloon flight, which searched for evidence of a diffuse flux of cosmic neutrinos above energies of E{sub v} = 3 x 10{sup 18} eV. ANITA-1 flew for 35 days looking for radio impulses due to the Askaryan effect in neutrino-induced electromagnetic showers within the Antarctic ice sheets. We report here on our initial analysis, which was performed as a blind search of the data. No neutrino candidates are seen, with no detected physics background. We set model-independent limits based on this result.more » Upper limits derived from our analysis rule out the highest cosmogenic neutrino models. In a background horizontal-polarization channel, we also detect six events consistent with radio impulses from ultrahigh energy extensive air showers.« less

Single-molecule conductance studies of photo-active and photochromic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tam, E. S.; Parks, J. J.; Santiago-Berrios, M. B.; Zhong, Y.-W.; Abruna, H. D.; Ralph, D. C.

2010-03-01

We perform statistical measurements of single molecule conductance in repeatedly-formed metal-molecule-metal junctions at room temperature. Our results on diaminoalkanes are consistent with those reported by the Venkataraman group. We focus on photo-active and photochromic molecules, including a series of transition-metal complexes with different metal centers and endgroups. We compare the trend in conductance across the family of complexes with that expected from electrochemical measurements. We will also report initial results on the voltage dependence of single-molecule conductances and the effects of optical excitations.

Wound botulism.

PubMed

Burningham, M D; Walter, F G; Mechem, C; Haber, J; Ekins, B R

1994-12-01

Wound botulism is a rare infectious and toxicologic complication of trauma and i.v. drug abuse. Only 39 cases have been reported in detail in the English literature. This case report describes a patient with wound botulism who presented to four medical facilities before receiving definitive diagnosis and treatment. Although his history and physical examination were consistent with wound botulism, diagnosis and therapy were delayed because this rare disease was not considered initially in the differential diagnosis. Wound botulism should be considered in trauma patients and i.v. drug abusers who present with cranial nerve palsies and descending paresis.

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd Isotope Systematics of Shergottite NWA 856: Crystallization Age and Implications for Alteration of Hot Desert SNC Meteorites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brandon, A. D.; Nyquist, L. E.; Shih, C.-Y.; Wiesmann, H.

2004-01-01

Nakhlite NWA 998 was discovered in Algeria in 2001, and is unique among the six known members of this group of Martian meteorites in containing significant modal orthopyroxene. Initial petrologic and isotopic data were reported by Irving et al. This 456 gram stone consists mainly of sub-calcic augite with subordinate olivine and minor orthopyroxene, titanomagnetite, pyrrhotite, chlorapatite, and intercumulus An(sub 35) plagioclase. We report here preliminary results of radiogenic isotopic analyses conducted on fragmental material from the main mass.

Exascale Workshop Panel Report Meeting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khaleel, Mohammad A.

2010-07-01

The Exascale Review Panel consists of 12 scientists and engineers with experience in various aspects of high-performance computing and its application, development, and management. The Panel hear presentations by several representatives of the workshops and town meetings convened over the past few years to examine the need for exascale computation capability and the justification for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program to develop such capability. This report summarizes information provided by the presenters and substantial written reports to the Panel in advance of the meeting in Washington D.C. on January 19-20, 2010. The report also summarizes the Panel's conclusionsmore » with regard to the justification of a DOE-led exascale initiative.« less

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor located retroperitoneally with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: report of a case.

PubMed

Pata, Giacomo; Tironi, Andrea; Solaini, Leonardo; Tiziano, Travaglia; Ragni, Fulvio

2014-03-01

Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms, also known as "PEComas", are unusual mesenchymal tumors, exhibiting perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation and characterized by a mixed myogenic and melanocytic phenotype. "PEComas not otherwise specified" (PEComas-NOS) are especially rare; consequently, there are no published large series, but only case reports. These tumors are rarely located retroperitoneally, with only about 15 such cases reported. We report a case of pulmonary diffuse lymphangioleiomyomatosis with large retroperitoneal PEComa-NOS in a 66-year-old woman. Treatment consisted only of tumor resection, without additional adjuvant therapy. We emphasize the importance of correct immunohistochemistry diagnosis, initiation of recommended treatment, and surveillance of this unique family of tumors.

Investigation of random walks knee cartilage segmentation model using inter-observer reproducibility: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

PubMed

Hong-Seng, Gan; Sayuti, Khairil Amir; Karim, Ahmad Helmy Abdul

2017-01-01

Existing knee cartilage segmentation methods have reported several technical drawbacks. In essence, graph cuts remains highly susceptible to image noise despite extended research interest; active shape model is often constraint by the selection of training data while shortest path have demonstrated shortcut problem in the presence of weak boundary, which is a common problem in medical images. The aims of this study is to investigate the capability of random walks as knee cartilage segmentation method. Experts would scribble on knee cartilage image to initialize random walks segmentation. Then, reproducibility of the method is assessed against manual segmentation by using Dice Similarity Index. The evaluation consists of normal cartilage and diseased cartilage sections which is divided into whole and single cartilage categories. A total of 15 normal images and 10 osteoarthritic images were included. The results showed that random walks method has demonstrated high reproducibility in both normal cartilage (observer 1: 0.83±0.028 and observer 2: 0.82±0.026) and osteoarthritic cartilage (observer 1: 0.80±0.069 and observer 2: 0.83±0.029). Besides, results from both experts were found to be consistent with each other, suggesting the inter-observer variation is insignificant (Normal: P=0.21; Diseased: P=0.15). The proposed segmentation model has overcame technical problems reported by existing semi-automated techniques and demonstrated highly reproducible and consistent results against manual segmentation method.

Reliability of self-reported smoking history and age at initial tobacco use.

PubMed

Huerta, Michael; Chodick, Gabriel; Balicer, Ran D; Davidovitch, Nadav; Grotto, Itamar

2005-08-01

Many studies use questionnaires to determine smoking status and age of smoking onset. This study aimed to determine the reliability of self-reported smoking history and age of smoking initiation. The proportion of inconsistent answers and correlation coefficients of reported age of initial smoking were measured by an answer-reanswer analysis of questionnaires in an ongoing, two-step, population-based survey of health behavior. Interviews were conducted on the day of recruitment to and the day of discharge from mandatory military service in Israel among a sample of 25,437 young men and women recruited between 1986 and 2000. Of 7276 participants reporting current or past smoking upon recruitment, 559 (7.7%) reported never having smoked upon discharge, thus demonstrating prima facie inconsistency. Variables significantly associated with reliable reporting in a multivariate logistic regression model were female gender (P = 0.04) and more than 4 years of military service (P < 0.01). 6010 subjects who reported a positive smoking history at both recruitment and discharge were available for analysis of reliability of reported age at smoking onset. Intraclass correlation coefficients for recruitment/discharge consistency in reported age at first cigarette were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.71-0.74) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.74-0.78) for men and women, respectively. Eastern origin, lower subject education level, and lower paternal education level were also associated with lower reliability. Our results showed a relatively high level of answer-reanswer reliability, with some variance attributable to personal characteristics. These results suggest that self-reported age at onset of tobacco use is practical and reliable in normative, young adult populations. However, time elapsed between questionnaires and demographic and lifestyle characteristics may affect reliability rates, and thus should be carefully regarded in future studies.

Fire behavior, fuel treatments, and fire suppression on the Hayman Fire

Treesearch

Mark A. Finney; Roberta Bartlette; Larry Bradshaw; Kelly Close; Brandon M. Collins; Paul Gleason; Wei Min Hao; Paul Langowski; John McGinely; Charles W. McHugh; Erik Martinson; Phillip N. Omi; Wayne Shepperd; Karl Zeller

2003-01-01

The Hayman Fire started on June 8, 2002, about 1.5 miles southwest of Tappan Mountain on the south side of County Highway 77, in Park County, Colorado (fig. 1). It was first reported at about 1 acre in size at approximately 1655 hours (appendix C). An aggressive initial attack response consisted of air tankers, helicopters, engines, and ground crews, but they were...

Evaluating a Training Intervention to Prepare Geriatric Case Managers to Assess for Suicide and Firearm Safety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pope, Natalie D.; Slovak, Karen L.; Giger, Jarod T.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to report on the implementation and initial evaluation of a 1-day training intervention targeting direct care providers in the Ohio aging services network. A primary objective is to describe the training intervention that consisted of two parts: (a) a gatekeeper training for assessing suicide risk among older adults,…

The Male Initiative on Leadership and Excellence (MILE) and Its Impact on Retention and Persistence of Black Men at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palmer, Robert T.; Maramba, Dina C.; Dancy, T. Elon

2013-01-01

A strong body of research has documented the supportive environments of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their impact on facilitating student success. Notwithstanding the consistency of these findings, recent reports and empirical research have highlighted the problems that HBCUs are experiencing with Black male enrollment,…

New CPT codes: hospital, consultation, emergency and nursing facility services.

PubMed

Zuber, T J; Henley, D E

1992-03-01

New evaluation and management codes were created by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel to ensure more accurate and consistent reporting of physician services. The new hospital inpatient codes describe three levels of service for both initial and subsequent care. Critical care services are reported according to the total time spent by a physician providing constant attention to a critically ill patient. Consultation codes are divided into four categories: office/outpatient, initial inpatient, follow-up inpatient and confirmatory. Emergency department services for both new and established patients are limited to five codes. In 1992, nursing facility services are described with either comprehensive-assessment codes or subsequent-care codes. Hospital discharge services may be reported in addition to the comprehensive nursing facility assessment. Since the 1992 CPT book will list only the new codes, and since all insurance carriers will not be using these codes in 1992, physicians are encouraged to keep their 1991 code books and contact their local insurance carriers to determine which codes will be used.

Measuring adolescent friendly health services in India: A scoping review of evaluations.

PubMed

Hoopes, Andrea J; Agarwal, Paras; Bull, Sheana; Chandra-Mouli, Venkatraman

2016-11-15

Initiatives to promote adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) have been taking place in India and many low- and middle-income countries for nearly two decades. Evaluations of these initiatives have been placed in the public arena from time to time, but little is known about what they say about the overall situation on AFHS in India. This study aimed to describe how efforts to provide AFHS in India have been evaluated, how well they have been evaluated, and what their findings and implications are. We conducted a scoping review of evaluations of AFHS initiatives in India from 2000 to 2014. An electronic search was carried out in Medline and EMBASE. A manual search of grey literature was also performed, and experts were contacted in order to obtain additional manuscripts and reports. Thirty evaluation reports were identified representing a broad geographic distribution. Evaluations have focused on government-sponsored AFHS programmes or independent non-governmental organization (NGO) initiatives to strengthen government services. The evaluations primarily measured programme outputs (e.g. quality and service utilization) and health behavioural outcomes (e.g. condom use). Study designs were commonly descriptive or quasi-experimental. Most evaluations found improvement in quality and utilization of services, and some demonstrated an increase in adolescent knowledge or health behaviours. Few measured positive project/programme results such as older age at first pregnancy. Strengths of evaluations were clear objectives, frequent use of multiple data sources, and assessment of programmatic outputs as well as health outcomes. Weaknesses were lack of consistency and quality. Our findings confirm that a number of evaluations of AFHS initiatives in India have been carried out. They point to service quality and in behavioural improvements in adolescents. However, their lack of consistency hinders comparison across sites, and their uneven quality means that their findings need to be interpreted with caution.

Accuracy and consistency of weights provided by home bathroom scales

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Self-reported body weight is often used for calculation of Body Mass Index because it is easy to collect. Little is known about sources of error introduced by using bathroom scales to measure weight at home. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of digital versus dial-type bathroom scales commonly used for self-reported weight. Methods Participants brought functioning bathroom scales (n = 18 dial-type, n = 43 digital-type) to a central location. Trained researchers assessed accuracy and consistency using certified calibration weights at 10 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg, 75 kg, 100 kg, and 110 kg. Data also were collected on frequency of calibration, age and floor surface beneath the scale. Results All participants reported using their scale on hard surface flooring. Before calibration, all digital scales displayed 0, but dial scales displayed a mean absolute initial weight of 0.95 (1.9 SD) kg. Digital scales accurately weighed test loads whereas dial-type scale weights differed significantly (p < 0.05). Imprecision of dial scales was significantly greater than that of digital scales at all weights (p < 0.05). Accuracy and precision did not vary by scale age. Conclusions Digital home bathroom scales provide sufficiently accurate and consistent weights for public health research. Reminders to zero scales before each use may further improve accuracy of self-reported weight. PMID:24341761

Space Biology Initiative. Trade Studies, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

The six studies which are the subjects of this report are entitled: Design Modularity and Commonality; Modification of Existing Hardware (COTS) vs. New Hardware Build Cost Analysis; Automation Cost vs. Crew Utilization; Hardware Miniaturization versus Cost; Space Station Freedom/Spacelab Modules Compatibility vs. Cost; and Prototype Utilization in the Development of Space Hardware. The product of these six studies was intended to provide a knowledge base and methodology that enables equipment produced for the Space Biology Initiative program to meet specific design and functional requirements in the most efficient and cost effective form consistent with overall mission integration parameters. Each study promulgates rules of thumb, formulas, and matrices that serves as a handbook for the use and guidance of designers and engineers in design, development, and procurement of Space Biology Initiative (SBI) hardware and software.

Style preference survey: a report on the psychometric properties and a cross-validation experiment.

PubMed

Smith, Sherri L; Ricketts, Todd; McArdle, Rachel A; Chisolm, Theresa H; Alexander, Genevieve; Bratt, Gene

2013-02-01

Several self-report measures exist that target different aspects of outcomes for hearing aid use. Currently, no comprehensive questionnaire specifically assesses factors that may be important for differentiating outcomes pertaining to hearing aid style. The goal of this work was to develop the Style Preference Survey (SPS), a questionnaire aimed at outcomes associated with hearing aid style differences. Two experiments were conducted. After initial item development, Experiment 1 was conducted to refine the items and to determine its psychometric properties. Experiment 2 was designed to cross-validate the findings from the initial experiment. An observational design was used in both experiments. Participants who wore traditional, custom-fitted (TC) or open-canal (OC) style hearing aids from 3 mo to 3 yr completed the initial experiment. One-hundred and eighty-four binaural hearing aid users (120 of whom wore TC hearing aids and 64 of whom wore OC hearing aids) participated. A new sample of TC and OC users (n = 185) participated in the cross-validation experiment. Currently available self-report measures were reviewed to identify items that might differentiate between hearing aid styles, particularly preference for OC versus TC hearing aid styles. A total of 15 items were selected and modified from available self-report measures. An additional 55 items were developed through consensus of six audiologists for the initial version of the SPS. In the first experiment, the initial SPS version was mailed to 550 veterans who met the inclusion criteria. A total of 184 completed the SPS. Approximately three weeks later, a subset of participants (n = 83) completed the SPS a second time. Basic analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SPS including subscale structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness. Based on the results of Experiment 1, the SPS was revised. A cross-validation experiment was then conducted using the revised version of the SPS to confirm the subscale structure, internal consistency, and responsiveness of the questionnaire in a new sample of participants. The final factor analysis led to the ultimate version of the SPS, which had a total of 35 items encompassing five subscales: (1) Feedback, (2) Occlusion/Own Voice Effects, (3) Localization, (4) Fit, Comfort, and Cosmetics, and (5) Ease of Use. The internal consistency of the total SPS (Cronbach's α = .92) and of the subscales (each Cronbach's α > .75) was high. Intraclass correlations (ICCs) showed that the test-retest reliability of the total SPS (ICC = .93) and of the subscales (each ICC > .80) also was high. TC hearing aid users had significantly poorer outcomes than OC hearing aid users on 4 of the 5 subscales, suggesting that the SPS largely is responsive to factors related to style-specific differences. The results suggest that the SPS has good psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable measure of outcomes related to style-specific, hearing aid preference. American Academy of Audiology.

Development and Initial Validation of the Five-Factor Model Adolescent Personality Questionnaire (FFM-APQ).

PubMed

Rogers, Mary E; Glendon, A Ian

2018-01-01

This research reports on the 4-phase development of the 25-item Five-Factor Model Adolescent Personality Questionnaire (FFM-APQ). The purpose was to develop and determine initial evidence for validity of a brief adolescent personality inventory using a vocabulary that could be understood by adolescents up to 18 years old. Phase 1 (N = 48) consisted of item generation and expert (N = 5) review of items; Phase 2 (N = 179) involved item analyses; in Phase 3 (N = 496) exploratory factor analysis assessed the underlying structure; in Phase 4 (N = 405) confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a 25-item inventory with 5 subscales.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gorham, P.W.; /Hawaii U.; Allison, P.

We report initial results of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) 2006-2007 Long Duration Balloon flight, which searched for evidence of the flux of cosmogenic neutrinos. ANITA flew for 35 days looking for radio impulses that might be due to the Askaryan effect in neutrino-induced electromagnetic showers within the Antarctic ice sheets. In our initial high-threshold robust analysis, no neutrino candidates are seen, with no physics background. In a non-signal horizontal-polarization channel, we do detect 6 events consistent with radio impulses from extensive air showers, which helps to validate the effectiveness of our method. Upper limits derived from our analysismore » now begin to eliminate the highest cosmogenic neutrino models.« less

Traumatic Buccal Fat Pad Herniation in Young Children: A Systematic Review and Case Report.

PubMed

Kim, Seon-Yeong; Alfafara, Angenine; Kim, Jin-Woo; Kim, Sun-Jong

2017-09-01

Traumatic herniation of a buccal fat pad, predominantly seen in young children, is a rare condition. Because of its rarity and clinical features that resemble tumors, clinicians are faced with challenges at the initial diagnosis. This report describes a case of buccal fat pad herniation with excellent long-term prognosis after surgical relocation and conservative treatment and presents a systematic review of the literature on its management. Through a PubMed search, 811 articles were initially identified. Case series, case reports, technical notes, case and review reports, and retrospective case series were included. After screening and manual review, the sample was narrowed to 35 reports (41 patients) based on eligibility criteria. Articles were included if the standard criteria for traumatic intraoral herniation of buccal fat pad were met. Patients' ages ranged from 4 months to 12 years, with no specific gender predilection. Management consisted of excision (82.9%), relocation (14.6%), and observation (2.4%). Follow-up ranged from 1 week to 4 months. No reports presented a follow-up longer than 4 months; hence, data on long-term prognosis were not reported. For the present case report, a 19-month-old boy diagnosed with traumatic buccal fat pad herniation was successfully treated with surgical relocation and antibiotic support. Twelve-month follow-up showed no esthetic or functional disturbance or recurrence. Traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad requires special attention at the initial diagnosis. Considering its clinical importance in young children and few studies have reported long-term postresection follow-up, surgical relocation can be regarded as an excellent and more conservative treatment option. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Report of the eRHIC Ring-Ring Working Group

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aschenauer, E. C.; Berg, S.; Blaskiewicz, M.

2015-10-13

This report evaluates the ring-ring option for eRHIC as a lower risk alternative to the linac-ring option. The reduced risk goes along with a reduced initial luminosity performance. However, a luminosity upgrade path is kept open. This upgrade path consists of two branches, with the ultimate upgrade being either a ring-ring or a linac-ring scheme. The linac-ring upgrade could be almost identical to the proposed linac-ring scheme, which is based on an ERL in the RHIC tunnel. This linac-ring version has been studied in great detail over the past ten years, and its significant risks are known. On the othermore » hand, no detailed work on an ultimate performance ring-ring scenario has been performed yet, other than the development of a consistent parameter set. Pursuing the ring-ring upgrade path introduces high risks and requires significant design work that is beyond the scope of this report.« less

A review of temporal effects and outcome predictors in substance abuse treatment studies with long-term follow-ups. Preliminary results and methodological issues.

PubMed

McKay, J R; Weiss, R V

2001-04-01

This article is an initial report from a review of alcohol and drug treatment studies with follow-ups of 2 years or more. The goals of the review are to examine the stability of substance use outcomes and the factors that moderate or mediate these outcomes. Results from 12 studies that generated multiple research reports are presented, and methodological problems encountered in the review are discussed. Substance use outcomes at the group level were generally stable, although moderate within-subject variation in substance use status over time was observed. Of factors assessed at baseline, psychiatric severity was a significant predictor of outcome in the highest percentage of reports, although the nature of the relationship varied. Stronger motivation and coping at baseline also consistently predicted better drinking outcomes. Better progress while in treatment, and the performance of pro-recovery behaviors and low problem severity in associated areas following treatment, consistently predicted better substance use outcomes.

Serum-deprivation stimulates cap-binding by PARN at the expense of eIF4E, consistent with the observed decrease in mRNA stability

PubMed Central

Seal, Ruth; Temperley, Richard; Wilusz, Jeffrey; Lightowlers, Robert N.; Chrzanowska-Lightowlers, Zofia M. A.

2005-01-01

PARN, a poly(A)-specific ribonuclease, binds the 5′ cap-structure of mRNA and initiates deadenylation-dependent decay. Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) also binds to the cap structure, an interaction that is critical for initiating cap-dependent translation. The stability of various mRNA transcripts in human cell lines is reduced under conditions of serum starvation as determined by both functional and chemical half-lives. Serum starvation also leads to enhanced cap association by PARN. In contrast, the 5′ cap occupancy by eIF4E decreases under serum-deprivation, as does the translation of reporter transcripts. Further, we show that PARN is a phosphoprotein and that this modification can be modulated by serum status. Taken together, these data are consistent with a natural competition existing at the 5′ cap structure between PARN and eIF4E that may be regulated by changes in post-translational modifications. These phosphorylation-induced changes in the interplay of PARN and eIF4E may determine whether the mRNA is translated or decayed. PMID:15653638

Medical Licensure Questions and Physician Reluctance to Seek Care for Mental Health Conditions.

PubMed

Dyrbye, Liselotte N; West, Colin P; Sinsky, Christine A; Goeders, Lindsey E; Satele, Daniel V; Shanafelt, Tait D

2017-10-01

To determine whether state medical licensure application questions (MLAQs) about mental health are related to physicians' reluctance to seek help for a mental health condition because of concerns about repercussions to their medical licensure. In 2016, we collected initial and renewal medical licensure application forms from 50 states and the District of Columbia. We coded MLAQs related to physicians' mental health as "consistent" if they inquired only about current impairment from a mental health condition or did not ask about mental health conditions. We obtained data on care-seeking attitudes for a mental health problem from a nationally representative convenience sample of 5829 physicians who completed a survey between August 28, 2014, and October 6, 2014. Analyses explored relationships between state of employment, MLAQs, and physicians' reluctance to seek formal medical care for treatment of a mental health condition because of concerns about repercussions to their medical licensure. We obtained initial licensure applications from 51 of 51 (100%) and renewal applications from 48 of 51 (94.1%) medical licensing boards. Only one-third of states currently have MLAQs about mental health on their initial and renewal application forms that are considered consistent. Nearly 40% of physicians (2325 of 5829) reported that they would be reluctant to seek formal medical care for treatment of a mental health condition because of concerns about repercussions to their medical licensure. Physicians working in a state in which neither the initial nor the renewal application was consistent were more likely to be reluctant to seek help (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.07-1.37; P=.002 vs both applications consistent). Our findings support that MLAQs regarding mental health conditions present a barrier to physicians seeking help. Copyright © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How do Indonesian youth perceive cigarette advertising? A cross-sectional study among Indonesian high school students

PubMed Central

Prabandari, Yayi Suryo; Dewi, Arika

2016-01-01

Background Previous studies have reported an association between cigarette advertising and smoking behavior. Although this has been reported extensively in the West, it has been reported less in Southeast Asian countries that have not completely banned tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship (TAPS). Indonesia is the only ASEAN country that has not ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, so TAPS regulation is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between youths’ perceptions of cigarette ads and smoking initiation. Design We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 2,115 high school students aged 13–18 years in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to gauge the perception of cigarette ads and initiation to smoking. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) between the perception of cigarette ads and smoking initiation, adjusting for sociodemographic and psychosocial variables. The sociodemographic variables included in the final model were age and sex. Results The final multivariate model showed an association between perception of tobacco ads encouraging youths to smoke and smoking initiation (OR 2.70) and current smoking (OR 7.63). Attitude toward TAPS was associated with smoking initiation (OR 1.51) and current smoking (OR 3.32). Exposure to cigarette ads had an association with smoking initiation only (OR 1.27) and did not have an association with current smoking. Having friends and family who smoked was associated with smoking initiation and current smoking in the final multivariate model. Smoking initiation and current smoking were also related to the susceptibility to smoke. Conclusions This study revealed that cigarette ads were perceived as encouraging youths to smoke and that smoking status was consistently associated with perception of cigarette ads targeted at youths, attitude toward TAPS, and susceptibility as well as smoking friends and family. Regulations to ban TAPS, particularly cigarette ads for preventing youths from smoking, should be adopted rapidly in Indonesia, where tobacco control remains limited. PMID:27578600

How can we improve the recognition, reporting and resolution of medical device-related incidents in hospitals? A qualitative study of physicians and registered nurses.

PubMed

Polisena, Julie; Gagliardi, Anna; Clifford, Tammy

2015-06-06

To explore factors that influence and to identify initiatives to improve the recognition, reporting and resolution of device-related incidents. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 health professionals in two tertiary care hospitals were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to identify appropriate study participants. Transcribed interviews were read independently by one individual to identify, define and organize themes and verified by another reviewer. Themes related to incident recognition were the hospital staff's knowledge and professional experience, medical device performance and clinical manifestations of patients, while incident reporting was influenced by error severity, personal attitudes of clinicians, feedback received on the error reported. Physicians often discontinued using medical devices if they malfunctioned. Education and training and the implementation of registries were discussed as important initiatives to improve medical device surveillance in clinical practice. Results from the telephone interviews suggest that multiple factors that influence participation in medical device surveillance activities are consistent with results for medical errors as reported in previous studies. The study results helped to propose a conceptual framework for a medical device surveillance system in a hospital context that would enhance patient safety and health care delivery.

Consistency and Change in Club Drug Use by Sexual Minority Men in New York City, 2002 to 2007

PubMed Central

Pantalone, David W.; Bimbi, David S.; Holder, Catherine A.; Golub, Sarit A.

2010-01-01

We used repeated cross-sectional data from intercept surveys conducted annually at lesbian, gay, and bisexual community events to investigate trends in club drug use in sexual minority men (N = 6489) in New York City from 2002 to 2007. Recent use of ecstasy, ketamine, and γ-hydroxybutyrate decreased significantly. Crystal methamphetamine use initially increased but then decreased. Use of cocaine and amyl nitrates remained consistent. A greater number of HIV-positive (vs HIV-negative) men reported recent drug use across years. Downward trends in drug use in this population mirror trends in other groups. PMID:20724693

Validation of the Adolescent Concerns Measure (ACM): evidence from exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

PubMed

Ang, Rebecca P; Chong, Wan Har; Huan, Vivien S; Yeo, Lay See

2007-01-01

This article reports the development and initial validation of scores obtained from the Adolescent Concerns Measure (ACM), a scale which assesses concerns of Asian adolescent students. In Study 1, findings from exploratory factor analysis using 619 adolescents suggested a 24-item scale with four correlated factors--Family Concerns (9 items), Peer Concerns (5 items), Personal Concerns (6 items), and School Concerns (4 items). Initial estimates of convergent validity for ACM scores were also reported. The four-factor structure of ACM scores derived from Study 1 was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis in Study 2 using a two-fold cross-validation procedure with a separate sample of 811 adolescents. Support was found for both the multidimensional and hierarchical models of adolescent concerns using the ACM. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability estimates were adequate for research purposes. ACM scores show promise as a reliable and potentially valid measure of Asian adolescents' concerns.

A multidisciplinary approach to an unusual cause of hyperamylasaemia

PubMed Central

Logie, James John; Cox, Mary; Sharkey, Joanne; Williams, Alistair

2015-01-01

Clinical features together with elevation of pancreatic enzymes are the key diagnostic indicators of acute pancreatitis. We report a case of a woman in her 50s who presented with abdominal distension and serum amylase raised to more than 30 times the upper limit of normal. She was initially treated for acute pancreatitis, however, she was not symptomatic of this and the pancreas appeared to be normal on CT scan. Further investigations revealed the patient had a high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with nodal metastatic spread. An amylase-secreting ovarian tumour was suspected, which was supported by elevated salivary-amylase isoenzymes, consistent with previous reports in the literature. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and surgery, during which her serum amylase and CA-125 initially fell significantly, but eventually both increased, reflecting disease progression. This case serves as an important reminder to consider non-pancreatic causes of raised serum amylase, to avoid misdiagnosis. PMID:26150631

The Discovery of an Evolving Dust Scattered X-ray Halo Around GRB 031203

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughan, S.; Willingale, R.; OBrien, P. T.; Osborne, J. P.; Reeves, J. N.; Levan, A. J.; Watson, M. G.; Tedds, J. A.; Watson, D.; Santos-Lleo, M.

2003-01-01

We report the first detection of a time-dependent, dust-scattered X-ray halo around a gamma-ray burst. GRB3 031203 was observed by XMM-Newton starting six hours after the burst. The halo appeared as concentric ring-like structures centered on the GRB location. The radii of these structures increased with time as t(sup 1/2), consistent with small-angle X-ray scattering caused by a large column of dust along the line of sight to a cosmologically distant GRB. The rings are due to dust concentrated in two distinct slabs in the Galaxy located at distances of 880 and 1390 pc, consistent with known Galactic features. The halo brightness implies an initial soft X-ray pulse consistent with the observed GRB.

Rules or consequences? The role of ethical mind-sets in moral dynamics.

PubMed

Cornelissen, Gert; Bashshur, Michael R; Rode, Julian; Le Menestrel, Marc

2013-04-01

Recent research on the dynamics of moral behavior has documented two contrasting phenomena-moral consistency and moral balancing. Moral balancing refers to the phenomenon whereby behaving ethically or unethically decreases the likelihood of engaging in the same type of behavior again later. Moral consistency describes the opposite pattern-engaging in ethical or unethical behavior increases the likelihood of engaging in the same type of behavior later on. The three studies reported here supported the hypothesis that individuals' ethical mind-set (i.e., outcome-based vs. rule-based) moderates the impact of an initial ethical or unethical act on the likelihood of behaving ethically on a subsequent occasion. More specifically, an outcome-based mind-set facilitated moral balancing, and a rule-based mind-set facilitated moral consistency.

Operation SUN BEAM. Shot Small Boy, Project Officers’ Report. Project 2. 1. Initial Radiation Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-05-01

production 01 these gamma-rays and an experimental verification of their magnitude essential: 11) Tha transient radiation on electronics (TREE) work...Figure 2.6. It con- sisted of a scintillator, light pipe, photo sensitive device, and auxiliary electronic assembly. Arrangement of these elements in...types of mechanically interchangeable packages, consisting of a photosensitive device and auxiliary electronics , were available for each detector. (M

The Kubler-Ross model, physician distress, and performance reporting.

PubMed

Smaldone, Marc C; Uzzo, Robert G

2013-07-01

Physician performance reporting has been proposed as an essential component of health-care reform, with the aim of improving quality by providing transparency and accountability. Despite strong evidence demonstrating regional variation in practice patterns and lack of evidence-based care, public outcomes reporting has been met with resistance from medical professionals. Application of the Kubler-Ross 'five stages of grief' model--a conceptual framework consisting of a series of emotional stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) inspired by work with terminally ill patients--could provide some insight into why physicians are reluctant to accept emerging quality-reporting mechanisms. Physician-led quality-improvement initiatives are vital to contemporary health-care reform efforts and applications in urology, as well as other medical disciplines, are currently being explored.

Right Heart Failure in an African Penguin ( Spheniscus demersus ).

PubMed

Cusack, Lara; Field, Cara; McDermott, Alexa; Pogue, Brandon; Clauss, Tonya; Bossart, Gregory; Camus, Alvin

2016-09-01

A 19-year-old male African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus ) was presented with coelomic distention after a 6-week history of lethargy and decreased appetite. Results of radiographs showed loss of coelomic detail, and ultrasound and computed tomography results revealed coelomic fluid and dilated hepatic veins. Echocardiography revealed moderate right atrial enlargement. Findings were consistent with right-sided cardiac disease. Treatment with furosemide initially reduced ascites, but the clinical condition worsened weeks later and enalapril, pimobendan, and sildenafil were added to the medical therapy. At 12 weeks after presentation, results of an echocardiogram revealed persistent right atrioventricular valve regurgitation, moderate ascites, and dilation of hepatic veins. Clinical signs of right heart failure were managed through adjustments in medical therapy and coelomic fluid aspiration, but the bird died 18 weeks after initial presentation. Gross and microscopic findings were consistent with valvular insufficiency and right-sided heart failure. To our knowledge, this case is the first documented report of cardiac disease in an African penguin.

Improvements in the Formation of Boron-Doped Diamond Coatings on Platinum Wires Using the Novel Nucleation Process (NNP)

PubMed Central

Fhaner, Mathew; Zhao, Hong; Bian, Xiaochun; Galligan, James J.; Swain, Greg M.

2010-01-01

In order to increase the initial nucleation density for the growth of boron-doped diamond on platinum wires, we employed the novel nucleation process (NNP) originally developed by Rotter et al. and discussed by others [1–3]. This pretreatment method involves (i) the initial formation of a thin carbon layer over the substrate followed by (ii) ultrasonic seeding of this “soft” carbon layer with nanoscale particles of diamond. This two-step pretreatment is followed by the deposition of boron-doped diamond by microwave plasma-assisted CVD. Both the diamond seed particles and sites on the carbon layer itself function as the initial nucleation zones for diamond growth from an H2-rich source gas mixture. We report herein on the characterization of the pre-growth carbon layer formed on Pt as well as boron-doped films grown for 2, 4 and 6 h post NNP pretreatment. Results from scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical studies are reported. The NNP method increases the initial nucleation density on Pt and leads to the formation of a continuous diamond film in a shorter deposition time than is typical for wires pretreated by conventional ultrasonic seeding. The results indicate that the pregrowth layer itself consists of nanoscopic domains of diamond and functions well to enhance the initial nucleation of diamond without any diamond powder seeding. PMID:21617759

Cervical lung herniation complicating a case of acute asphyxial asthma in a child.

PubMed

Martchek, Melissa A; Padilla, Benjamin E; Zonfrillo, Mark R; Friedlaender, Eron Y

2015-04-01

The abrupt onset of respiratory failure secondary to asthma, known as acute asphyxial asthma (AAA) in adults, is uncommonly reported in children. Here, we report a case of a child with the acute onset of respiratory failure consistent with AAA complicated by the finding of a neck mass during resuscitation. This 11-year-old boy with a history of asthma initially presented in respiratory failure with altered mental status after the complaint of difficulty in breathing minutes before collapsing at home. Initially, his respiratory failure was thought to be secondary to status asthmaticus, and treatment was initiated accordingly. However, a neck mass noted during the resuscitation was cause for concern, and other etiologies for his respiratory failure were considered, including an airway obstructing neck mass. After pediatric surgery and anesthesia consultation for intubation and possible tracheostomy placement, general anesthesia was induced in the operating room with an inhaled anesthetic, with prompt resolution of the bronchspasm and decompression of the neck mass. Review of the imaging and clinical course ultimately yielded a diagnosis of cervical lung herniation as the etiology of his neck mass. We report this case of AAA and cervical lung herniation and a review of the literature of these 2 uncommon phenomena in children.

Biomass Scenario Model Documentation: Data and References

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Y.; Newes, E.; Bush, B.

2013-05-01

The Biomass Scenario Model (BSM) is a system dynamics model that represents the entire biomass-to-biofuels supply chain, from feedstock to fuel use. The BSM is a complex model that has been used for extensive analyses; the model and its results can be better understood if input data used for initialization and calibration are well-characterized. It has been carefully validated and calibrated against the available data, with data gaps filled in using expert opinion and internally consistent assumed values. Most of the main data sources that feed into the model are recognized as baseline values by the industry. This report documentsmore » data sources and references in Version 2 of the BSM (BSM2), which only contains the ethanol pathway, although subsequent versions of the BSM contain multiple conversion pathways. The BSM2 contains over 12,000 total input values, with 506 distinct variables. Many of the variables are opportunities for the user to define scenarios, while others are simply used to initialize a stock, such as the initial number of biorefineries. However, around 35% of the distinct variables are defined by external sources, such as models or reports. The focus of this report is to provide insight into which sources are most influential in each area of the supply chain.« less

The Initial W-182/W-183 and Hf-182/Hf-180 of the Solar System and a Consistent Chronology with Pb-Pb Ages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yin, Qingzhu; Jacobsen, Stein B.

2003-01-01

The utility of the Hf-182 (bar-tau ==13 x 10(exp 6) yr) -W-182 chronometer for early solar system processes is now well established. At the 2002 LPSC meeting we first reported new Hf-W data for chondritic meteorites showing that some crucial data as well as interpretations of Lee and Halliday for chondrites were incorrect. Our results were confirmed by reports of two other groups. This new data imply a much-shorter timescale for the early Solar System evolution and the formation of the Earth s core more consistent with the original conclusions of Harper and Jacobsen. Thus, the chondritic Hf-W evolution is now well established as beginning with epsilon(sub W)(0) = -3.45 +/- 0.25 at the time of origin of the solar system and evolving to -2.2 by 20 Myr and -1.9 +/- 0.20 at present. However, there are a number of iron meteorite data that suggest the existence of initial W lower than those measured for chondrites. If the low epsilon(sub W)(0) of -4 to -5 are correct then we face an embarrassing dilemma of differentiated iron meteorites being older than the primitive chondrites, or we would have to conclude that there is an additional pre-history of 5-10 Myr in primitive chondritic meteorites prior to the closure of the Hf-182 - W-182 system. Such a prolonged early time does not seem reasonable to us. We have therefore initiated a study to resolve this issue.

Castleman's Disease: An Interesting Cause of Hematuria.

PubMed

Tolofari, Sotonye Karl; Chow, Wai-Man; Hussain, Basharat

2015-03-01

Castleman's disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized by benign growths of the lymph node tissue. It is associated with a number of malignancies, including Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkins lymphoma, and POEMS syndrome. This report describes the case of a 38 year old gentleman, presenting with painless hematuria. Initial investigations, including flexible cystoscopy were unremarkable. However, subsequent imaging including CT Urogram and MR pelvis revealed multiple prevesical lesions. Histology obtained from excision biopsy revealed histological features consistent with Castleman's disease. In this report we discuss the nature, presentation and treatment modalities of this rare condition.

Final report on cermet high-level waste forms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kobisk, E.H.; Quinby, T.C.; Aaron, W.S.

1981-08-01

Cermets are being developed as an alternate method for the fixation of defense and commercial high level radioactive waste in a terminal disposal form. Following initial feasibility assessments of this waste form, consisting of ceramic particles dispersed in an iron-nickel base alloy, significantly improved processing methods were developed. The characterization of cermets has continued through property determinations on samples prepared by various methods from a variety of simulated and actual high-level wastes. This report describes the status of development of the cermet waste form as it has evolved since 1977. 6 tables, 18 figures.

Neuralgia associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy in a patient initially diagnosed with temporomandibular disorder.

PubMed

Omolehinwa, Temitope T; Musbah, Thamer; Desai, Bhavik; O'Malley, Bert W; Stoopler, Eric T

2015-03-01

Head and neck neoplasms may be difficult to detect because of wide-ranging symptoms and the presence of overlapping anatomic structures in the region. This case report describes a patient with chronic otalgia and temporomandibular disorder, who developed sudden-onset neuralgia while receiving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy. Further diagnostic evaluation revealed a skull base tumor consistent with adenoid cystic carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TENS-associated neuralgia leading to a diagnosis of primary intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of rational-emotive therapy on psychophysiological and reported measures of test anxiety arousal.

PubMed

Barabasz, A F; Barabasz, M

1981-07-01

Developed audio taped lectures, taped therapy session models, and homework assignments designed to reduce irrational beliefs associated with test anxiety within Ellis' rational-emotive therapy (RET) approach. The initial sample consisted of 148 university students. Comparisons with an attention placebo counseling program, which was established to be equally credible by a post-experiment inquiry and a no-treatment group found the RET Ss to show significantly lower skin conductance responses to a test anxiety visualization and lower reported anxiety on a questionnaire. However, skin conductance responses to an alternative test anxiety visualization did not show treatment effects.

Surface deformation and elasticity studies in the Virgin Islands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bilham, R.; Scholz, C. H.

1979-01-01

The report consists of four sections. The first section describes tilt and leveling measurements on Anegada, the most northerly of the British Virgin Islands; the second section contains a discussion of sea-level measurements that were initiated in the region and which played a significant role in the development of a network of sea-level monitors now telemetered via satellite from the Alaskan Shumagin Islands. The third part of the report is a brief description of surface deformation measurements in Iceland using equipment and techniques developed by the subject grant. The final part of the report describes the predicted effects of block surface fragmentation in tectonic areas on the measurement of tilt and strain.

What do we know about pulmonary blastoma?: review of literature and clinical case report

PubMed Central

Brodowska-Kania, Dorota; Kotwica, Ewa; Paturej, Aleksandra; Sośnicki, Witold; Patera, Janusz; Giżewska, Agnieszka; Niemczyk, Stanisław

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Pulmonary blastoma (PB) is a rare form of lung tumour and is accountable for 0.25–0.5% of primary pulmonary malignancies. Initially pulmonary blastoma was divided into three subtypes: biphasic pulmonary blastoma (BPB) consisting of an epithelial and mesenchymal component, well differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma (WDFA) built of well differentiated epithelium and a mesenchymal component and malignant pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB). Prognosis in this type of cancer is really poor. We present a current review of literature and a clinical case report. Treatment of PB is very difficult. Data and recommendations about the treatment of pulmonary blastoma are still available therefore we should use only observations and clinical case reports. PMID:28008207

An 18-year-old patient with Prader-Willi syndrome: a case report on dental management under sedation and general anesthesia.

PubMed

Song, Ki Un; Nam, Ok Hyung; Kim, Mi Sun; Choi, Sung Chul; Lee, Hyo-Seol

2015-12-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder reported rarely in dentistry. Dental practitioners should know the features of PWS because affected patients have a variety of dental symptoms. The current report describes a case of PWS. An 18-year-old male patient presented with traumatic injuries. Initial emergency treatments were performed under sedation, and further treatments were conducted under general anesthesia. After adequate healing, periodic follow-up and dietary management according to the patient's age and nutritional phase were recommended. Dental management of PWS patients consists of active preventive measures in addition to dietary consultation according to age and nutritional phase.

A mixed methods approach to adapting and evaluating the functional assessment of HIV infection (FAHI), Swahili version, for use with low literacy populations.

PubMed

Nyongesa, Moses K; Sigilai, Antipa; Hassan, Amin S; Thoya, Janet; Odhiambo, Rachael; Van de Vijver, Fons J R; Newton, Charles R J C; Abubakar, Amina

2017-01-01

Despite bearing the largest HIV-related burden, little is known of the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the factors contributing to this gap in knowledge is the lack of culturally adapted and validated measures of HRQoL that are relevant for this setting. We set out to adapt the Functional Assessment of HIV Infection (FAHI) Questionnaire, an HIV-specific measure of HRQoL, and evaluate its internal consistency and validity. The three phase mixed-methods study took place in a rural setting at the Kenyan Coast. Phase one involved a scoping review to describe the evidence base of the reliability and validity of FAHI as well as the geographical contexts in which it has been administered. Phase two involved in-depth interviews (n = 38) to explore the content validity, and initial piloting for face validation of the adapted FAHI. Phase three was quantitative (n = 103) and evaluated the internal consistency, convergent and construct validities of the adapted interviewer-administered questionnaire. In the first phase of the study, we identified 16 studies that have used the FAHI. Most (82%) were conducted in North America. Only seven (44%) of the reviewed studies reported on the psychometric properties of the FAHI. In the second phase, most of the participants (37 out of 38) reported satisfaction with word clarity and content coverage whereas 34 (89%) reported satisfaction with relevance of the items, confirming the face validity of the adapted questionnaire during initial piloting. Our participants indicated that HIV impacted on their physical, functional, emotional, and social wellbeing. Their responses overlapped with items in four of the five subscales of the FAHI Questionnaire establishing its content validity. In the third phase, the internal consistency of the scale was found to be satisfactory with subscale Cronbach's α ranging from 0.55 to 0.78. The construct and convergent validity of the tool were supported by acceptable factor loadings for most of the items on the respective sub-scales and confirmation of expected significant correlations of the FAHI subscale scores with scores of a measure of common mental disorders. The adapted interviewer-administered Swahili version of FAHI questionnaire showed initial strong evidence of good psychometric properties with satisfactory internal consistency and acceptable validity (content, face, and convergent validity). It gives impetus for further validation work, especially construct validity, in similar settings before it can be used for research and clinical purposes in the entire East African region.

CRADA No. BNL-C-97-10 between BNL and Cotton, Inc. Final abstract and final report [Final Report of Research carried out under DOE CRADA No. BNL-C-97-10 - "Prediction of Yield in Cotton"

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None, None

The objectives of this work were to determine if the numbér of fiber cell initials varied genetically and to compare the number of initials with that of mature fibers obtained at harvest time. The method used to count the number of fiber cell initials is direct, simple, quick and done while the plant is growing. In contrast, the currently used commercial process is indirect and needs large amount mature fibers gathered at harvest time. However, all current work on cotton yield is based on fiber numbers obtained by the indirect commercial process. Consequently, it was necessary to compare results obtainedmore » from the two methods using the same plants as the source of material. The results show that the number of fiber initials per ovule differed significantly (P>0.05) for seven cultivars in 1995 and 1996. AIso, a 1997 study shows the number of fiber initials varied by 15% over boll positions and environments, with rankings among cultivars generally consistent across boll positions and sampling times. Finally, although there were differences among cultivars for initial fiber cell number, all cultivars had nearly the same number of mature lint fibers per seed. This last finding is significant. It indicates that the rate of fiber cell initiation varies among cultivars; the lower the rate, the greater the difference between the number of initials and the number of mature fiber cells. If the rate of fiber initiation is relatively high, the number of initials and mature fibers differs by about 11%; if it is low, the difference is as high as 31%. Cotton breeders may be able to use genetic differences for the number of fiber initials and/or the rate of fiber cell initiation in crop improvement programs.« less

The development and initial psychometric evaluation of a measure assessing adherence to prescribed exercise: the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS).

PubMed

Newman-Beinart, Naomi A; Norton, Sam; Dowling, Dominic; Gavriloff, Dimitri; Vari, Chiara; Weinman, John A; Godfrey, Emma L

2017-06-01

There is no gold standard for measuring adherence to prescribed home exercise. Self-report diaries are commonly used however lack of standardisation, inaccurate recall and self-presentation bias limit their validity. A valid and reliable tool to assess exercise adherence behaviour is required. Consequently, this article reports the development and psychometric evaluation of the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS). Development of a questionnaire. Secondary care in physiotherapy departments of three hospitals. A focus group consisting of 8 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and 2 physiotherapists was conducted to generate qualitative data. Following on from this, a convenience sample of 224 people with CLBP completed the initial 16-item EARS for purposes of subsequent validity and reliability analyses. Construct validity was explored using exploratory factor analysis and item response theory. Test-retest reliability was assessed 3 weeks later in a sub-sample of patients. An item pool consisting of 6 items was found suitable for factor analysis. Examination of the scale structure of these 6 items revealed a one factor solution explaining a total of 71% of the variance in adherence to exercise. The six items formed a unidimensional scale that showed good measurement properties, including acceptable internal consistency and high test-retest reliability. The EARS enables the measurement of adherence to prescribed home exercise. This may facilitate the evaluation of interventions promoting self-management for both the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions. Copyright © 2017 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation of Cotton-Wool-Like Poly(lactic acid)-Based Composites Consisting of Core-Shell-Type Fibers

PubMed Central

Wang, Jian; Zhou, Pin; Obata, Akiko; Jones, Julian R.; Kasuga, Toshihiro

2015-01-01

In previous works, we reported the fabrication of cotton-wool-like composites consisting of siloxane-doped vaterite and poly(l-lactic acid) (SiVPCs). Various irregularly shaped bone voids can be filled with the composite, which effectively supplies calcium and silicate ions, enhancing the bone formation by stimulating the cells. The composites, however, were brittle and showed an initial burst release of ions. In the present work, to improve the mechanical flexibility and ion release, the composite fiber was coated with a soft, thin layer consisting of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). A coaxial electrospinning technique was used to prepare a cotton-wool-like material comprising “core-shell”-type fibers with a diameter of ~12 µm. The fibers, which consisted of SiVPC coated with a ~2-µm-thick PLGA layer, were mechanically flexible; even under a uniaxial compressive load of 1.5 kPa, the cotton-wool-like material did not exhibit fracture of the fibers and, after removing the load, showed a ~60% recovery. In Tris buffer solution, the initial burst release of calcium and silicate ions from the “core-shell”-type fibers was effectively controlled, and the ions were slowly released after one day. Thus, the mechanical flexibility and ion-release behavior of the composites were drastically improved by the thin PLGA coating. PMID:28793691

Churg-Strauss syndrome presenting with eosinophilic myocarditis: a diagnostic challenge.

PubMed

Correia, Ana Sofia; Gonçalves, Alexandra; Araújo, Vítor; Almeida e Silva, João; Pereira, José Manuel; Rodrigues Pereira, Pedro; Pizarro, Manuel; Silva, João Carlos; Maciel, Maria Júlia

2013-09-01

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is an unusual disease that presents as systemic vasculitis and peripheral eosinophilia in patients with an atopic constitution. Cardiac involvement is unusual and often not prominent on initial presentation, but is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CSS. We report the case of a young woman with severe acute myocarditis. Coronary arteriography demonstrated extensive focal vasculopathy, consistent with coronary vasculitis, and myocardial biopsy showed eosinophilic myocarditis. This presentation led to an initial diagnosis of CSS in this patient and appropriate therapy resulted in a spectacular remission of disease activity. Copyright © 2012 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) Initiative: Recent Progress on Light-Duty Boosted Spark-Ignition Fuels/Engines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farrell, John

This presentation reports recent progress on light-duty boosted spark-ignition fuels/engines being developed under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines initiative (Co-Optima). Co-Optima is focused on identifying fuel properties that optimize engine performance, independent of composition, allowing the market to define the best means to blend and provide these fuels. However, in support of this, we are pursuing a systematic study of blendstocks to identify a broad range of feasible options, with the objective of identifying blendstocks that can provide target ranges of key fuel properties, identifying trade-offs on consistent and comprehensive basis, and sharing information with stakeholders.

[Congenital mydriasis as an initial sign of septo-optic dysplasia].

PubMed

Carrascosa-Romero, M C; Ruiz-Cano, R; Martínez-López, F; Alfaro-Ponce, B; Pérez-Pardo, A

2013-10-01

Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD)[MIM182230] consisting of a heterogeneous and uncommon condition characterised by the classictriad: optic nerve hypoplasia, abnormalities of pituitary hormone, and defects of thebrain midline (including agenesis of the septum pellucidum and/or the corpus callosum; ithas also been described associated cortical malformations, it was referred to as SOD plus syndrome).We report the first known case in which the initial diagnostic sign of SOD was a bilateralmydriasis as a manifestation ofhypoplasia of both optic nerves, pituitary hypoplasia andcerebral dysgenesis with neuronal migration disorder.We discuss thedifferential diagnosis of congenital mydriasis. Copyright © 2010 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Consistent condom use and its correlates among female sex workers at hair salons: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang province, China.

PubMed

Ma, Qiaoqin; Jiang, Jianmin; Pan, Xiaohong; Cai, Gaofen; Wang, Hui; Zhou, Xin; Jiang, Tingting; Chen, Lin

2017-11-28

This study investigated condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) at hair salons during commercial sexual interactions over 1 month. We explored the associations of such use with various sexual behaviours, HIV/STI risk perception and related knowledge, self-efficacy regarding condom use, exposure to behavioural interventions, and other factors. This type of information has not been reported in China and is critical for designing and modifying programs aimed at preventing HIV/STI transmission in this group of FSWs and their clients. Our data were derived from a large cross-sectional study conducted among low-tier FSWs in 21 counties within Zhejiang province, China. Data were collected from September to November 2013.Bivariable and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with self-reported consistent condom use among FSWs working at hair salons. Of 1682 FSWs working at hair salons, 50.5% consistently used condom with clients during the previous month. Multivariable analysis revealed that condom use for commercial sex, consistent vaginal douching after commercial sex, adopting contraceptive measures, high scores on perceived self-efficacy regarding condom use, and exposure to interventions were associated with self-reported consistent condom use; early initiation of commercial sex, experiences with oral sex, rarely/sometimes/often using oral contraceptives, and having seen a doctor were associated with not using condoms. Commercial sex is not effectively protected, and behavioural interventions targeting FSWs should take into account the various factors that are correlated to condom use.

PNNI Performance Validation Test Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dimond, Robert P.

1999-01-01

Two Private Network-Network Interface (PNNI) neighboring peers were monitored with a protocol analyzer to understand and document how PNNI works with regards to initialization and recovery processes. With the processes documented, pertinent events were found and measured to determine the protocols behavior in several environments, which consisted of congestion and/or delay. Subsequent testing of the protocol in these environments was conducted to determine the protocol's suitability for use in satellite-terrestrial network architectures.

Live from Space Station Learning Technologies Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

This is the Final Report for the Live From Space Station (LFSS) project under the Learning Technologies Project FY 2001 of the MSFC Education Programs Department. AZ Technology, Inc. (AZTek) has developed and implemented science education software tools to support tasks under the LTP program. Initial audience consisted of 26 TreK in the Classroom schools and thousands of museum visitors to the International Space Station: The Earth Tour exhibit sponsored by Discovery Place museum.

Ideal gas behavior of a strongly coupled complex (dusty) plasma.

PubMed

Oxtoby, Neil P; Griffith, Elias J; Durniak, Céline; Ralph, Jason F; Samsonov, Dmitry

2013-07-05

In a laboratory, a two-dimensional complex (dusty) plasma consists of a low-density ionized gas containing a confined suspension of Yukawa-coupled plastic microspheres. For an initial crystal-like form, we report ideal gas behavior in this strongly coupled system during shock-wave experiments. This evidence supports the use of the ideal gas law as the equation of state for soft crystals such as those formed by dusty plasmas.

Evidence of a metacognitive benefit to memory?

PubMed

Hollins, Timothy J; Weber, Nathan

2017-03-01

Studies of the memory-control framework have contrasted free-report and forced-report recall, with little regard to the order of these two tests. The present experiment sought to demonstrate that test order is crucial, and that this suggests a potential role for metacognitive monitoring on memory retrieval. Participants undertook tests of episodic and semantic memory in both free- and forced-report format, in one of the two potential response orders. This showed that free-report performance was more accurate if conducted prior to forced-report, rather than after it, with no cost to memory quantity. Additionally, there was a trend towards higher forced-report performance if it was preceded by an initial free-report test, a pattern revealed by a meta-analysis to be consistent with previous studies in the literature. These findings suggest a reciprocal relationship between metacognitive monitoring and early retrieval processes in memory that results in higher memory performance when monitoring is encouraged.

The Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire: an otology-specific patient-recorded outcome measure. A paper describing the instrument design and a report of preliminary reliability and validity.

PubMed

Martin, T P C; Moualed, D; Paul, A; Ronan, N; Tysome, J R; Donnelly, N P; Cook, R; Axon, P R

2015-04-01

The Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire (COQOL) is a patient-recorded outcome measurement (PROM) designed to quantify the quality of life of patients attending otology clinics. Item-reduction model. A systematically designed long-form version (74 items) was tested with patient focus groups before being presented to adult otology patients (n. 137). Preliminary item analysis tested reliability, reducing the COQOL to 24 questions. This was then presented in conjunction with the SF-36 (V1) questionnaire to a total of 203 patients. Subsequently, these were re-presented at T + 3 months, and patients recorded whether they felt their condition had improved, deteriorated or remained the same. Non-responders were contacted by post. A correlation between COQOL scores and patient perception of change was examined to analyse content validity. Teaching hospital and university psychology department. Adult patients attending otology clinics with a wide range of otological conditions. Item reliability measured by item–total correlation, internal consistency and test– retest reliability. Validity measured by correlation between COQOL scores and patient-reported symptom change. Reliability: the COQOL showed excellent internal consistency at both initial presentation (a = 0.90) and 3 months later (a = 0.93). Validity: One-way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between groups reporting change and those reporting no change in quality of life (F(2, 80) = 5.866, P < 0.01). The COQOL is the first otology-specific PROM. Initial studies demonstrate excellent reliability and encouraging preliminary criterion validity: further studies will allow a deeper validation of the instrument.

Computer Enabled Neuroplasticity Treatment: A Clinical Trial of a Novel Design for Neurofeedback Therapy in Adult ADHD

PubMed Central

Cowley, Benjamin; Holmström, Édua; Juurmaa, Kristiina; Kovarskis, Levas; Krause, Christina M.

2016-01-01

Background: We report a randomized controlled clinical trial of neurofeedback therapy intervention for ADHD/ADD in adults. We focus on internal mechanics of neurofeedback learning, to elucidate the primary role of cortical self-regulation in neurofeedback. We report initial results; more extensive analysis will follow. Methods: Trial has two phases: intervention and follow-up. The intervention consisted of neurofeedback treatment, including intake and outtake measurements, using a waiting-list control group. Treatment involved ~40 h-long sessions 2–5 times per week. Training involved either theta/beta or sensorimotor-rhythm regimes, adapted by adding a novel “inverse-training” condition to promote self-regulation. Follow-up (ongoing) will consist of self-report and executive function tests. Setting: Intake and outtake measurements were conducted at University of Helsinki. Treatment was administered at partner clinic Mental Capital Care, Helsinki. Randomization: We randomly allocated half the sample then adaptively allocated the remainder to minimize baseline differences in prognostic variables. Blinding: Waiting-list control design meant trial was not blinded. Participants: Fifty-four adult Finnish participants (mean age 36 years; 29 females) were recruited after screening by psychiatric review. Forty-four had ADHD diagnoses, 10 had ADD. Measurements: Symptoms were assessed by computerized attention test (T.O.V.A.) and self-report scales, at intake and outtake. Performance during neurofeedback trials was recorded. Results: Participants were recruited and completed intake measurements during summer 2012, before assignment to treatment and control, September 2012. Outtake measurements ran April-August 2013. After dropouts, 23 treatment and 21 waiting-list participants remained for analysis. Initial analysis showed that, compared to waiting-list control, neurofeedback promoted improvement of self-reported ADHD symptoms, but did not show transfer of learning to T.O.V.A. Comprehensive analysis will be reported elsewhere. Trial Registration: “Computer Enabled Neuroplasticity Treatment (CENT),” ISRCTN13915109. PMID:27242472

Carl Rogers during Initial Interviews: A Moderate and Consistent Therapist.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, H. P.; And Others

1982-01-01

Analyzed two initial interviews by Carl Rogers in their entirety using the Carkhuff scales, Hill's category system, and a brief grammatical analysis to establish the level and consistency with which Rogers provides facilitative conditions. Results indicated his behavior as counselor was stable and consistent within and across interviews. (Author)

Minimally invasive flap surgery and enamel matrix derivative in the treatment of localized aggressive periodontitis: case report.

PubMed

Kaner, Doğan; Bernimoulin, Jean-Pierre; Kleber, Bernd-Michael; Friedmann, Anton

2009-02-01

Localized aggressive periodontitis is a distinct entity of periodontal disease and is characterized by deep vertical bony defects that typically affect the first molars and incisors of young patients. Therapy is usually aimed at reducing the pathogenic microflora through scaling and root planing and the administration of systemic antibiotics. However, conservative periodontal therapy may result in reparative wound healing with limited regeneration of the lost tissues. Periodontal surgery combined with enamel matrix derivative has been introduced as a method to promote regeneration of the lost periodontium and has been studied extensively in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. This case report describes the treatment of a 27-year-old patient displaying severe localized aggressive periodontitis with documented disease progression. After initial therapy consisting of scaling and root planing and systemic administration of amoxicillin and metronidazole, the vertical defects were treated by minimally invasive access flaps combined with application of enamel matrix derivative. Clinical, microbiologic, and radiographic findings are reported for up to 1.5 years after initial therapy, indicating good efficacy of the therapeutic strategy and stability of the treatment outcome.

Medical students as health coaches: Implementation of a student-initiated Lifestyle Medicine curriculum.

PubMed

Polak, Rani; Finkelstein, Adi; Axelrod, Tom; Dacey, Marie; Cohen, Matan; Muscato, Dennis; Shariv, Avi; Constantini, Naama W; Brezis, Mayer

2017-11-10

By 2020, the World Health Organization predicts that two-thirds of all diseases worldwide will be the result of lifestyle choices. Physicians often do not counsel patients about healthy behaviors, and lack of training has been identified as one of the barriers. Between 2010 and 2014, Hebrew University developed and implemented a 58-h Lifestyle Medicine curriculum spanning five of the 6 years of medical school. Content includes nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, and behavior change, as well as health coaching practice with friends/relatives (preclinical years) and patients (clinical years). This report describes this development and diffusion process, and it also presents findings related to the level of acceptance of this student-initiated Lifestyle Medicine (LM) curriculum. Students completed an online semi-structured questionnaire after the first coaching session (coaching questionnaire) and the last coaching session (follow-up questionnaire). Nine hundred and twenty-three students completed the coaching questionnaire (296 practices were with patients, 627 with friends /relatives); and 784 students completed the follow-up questionnaire (208 practices were with patients, 576 with friends /relatives). They reported overall that health coaching domains included smoking cessation (263 students), nutrition (79), and exercise (117); 464 students reported on combined topics. Students consistently described a high acceptance of the curriculum and their active role in coaching. Further, most students reported that they were eager to address their own health behaviors. We described the development and acceptance of a student-initiated comprehensive LM curriculum. Students perceived LM as an important component of physicians' professional role and were ready to explore it both as coaches and in their personal lives. Thus, medical school deans might consider developing similar initiatives in order to position medical schools as key players within a preventive strategy in healthcare policy.

Becoming the Denigrated Other: Group Relations Perspectives on Initial Reactions to a Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

PubMed Central

Goldberg, Susan G.

2012-01-01

The initial reactions to a bipolar disorder diagnosis of research participants in a small, qualitative study consisted of astonishment, dread of being “mad,” and extremely negative associations. All had prior mental health diagnoses, including episodes of severe depression (all but one) and alcoholism (one). All participants reported mental health histories prediagnosis and most had spent years contending with mental health labels, medications, symptoms, and hospitalizations. In addition, most participants were highly educated health professionals, quite familiar with the behaviors that the medical system considered to comprise bipolar disorder. Their negative associations to the initial bipolar disorder diagnosis, therefore, appeared inconsistent with their mental health histories and professional knowledge. This article contextualizes these initial reactions of shock and distress and proposes interpretations of these findings from societal and psychodynamic group relations perspectives. The participants’ initial negative reactions are conceptualized as involving the terror of being transported from the group of “normal” people into the group of “mad” or “crazy” people, i.e., people with mental illnesses, who may constitute a societal “denigrated other.” PMID:23049521

Two distinct cytokinesis pathways drive trypanosome cell division initiation from opposite cell ends

PubMed Central

Zhou, Qing; Gu, Jianhua; Lun, Zhao-Rong; Ayala, Francisco J.; Li, Ziyin

2016-01-01

Cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei, an early branching protozoan, occurs along its longitudinal axis uni-directionally from the anterior tip of the new flagellum attachment zone filament toward the cell’s posterior end. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we report that cytokinesis in T. brucei is regulated by a concerted action of Polo-like kinase, Aurora B kinase, and a trypanosome-specific protein CIF1. Phosphorylation of CIF1 by Polo-like kinase targets it to the anterior tip of the new flagellum attachment zone filament, where it subsequently recruits Aurora B kinase to initiate cytokinesis. Consistent with its role, CIF1 depletion inhibits cytokinesis initiation from the anterior end of the cell, but, surprisingly, triggers cytokinesis initiation from the posterior end of the cell, suggesting the activation of an alternative cytokinesis from the opposite cell end. Our results reveal the mechanistic roles of CIF1 and Polo-like kinase in cytokinesis initiation and elucidate the mechanism underlying the recruitment of Aurora B kinase to the cytokinesis initiation site at late anaphase. These findings also delineate a signaling cascade controlling cytokinesis initiation from the anterior end of the cell and uncover a backup cytokinesis that is initiated from the posterior end of the cell when the typical anterior-to-posterior cytokinesis is compromised. PMID:26929336

Attentional processing of other's facial display of pain: an eye tracking study.

PubMed

Vervoort, Tine; Trost, Zina; Prkachin, Kenneth M; Mueller, Sven C

2013-06-01

The present study investigated the role of observer pain catastrophizing and personal pain experience as possible moderators of attention to varying levels of facial pain expression in others. Eye movements were recorded as a direct and continuous index of attention allocation in a sample of 35 undergraduate students while viewing slides presenting picture pairs consisting of a neutral face combined with either a low, moderate, or high expressive pain face. Initial orienting of attention was measured as latency and duration of first fixation to 1 of 2 target images (i.e., neutral face vs pain face). Attentional maintenance was measured by gaze duration. With respect to initial orienting to pain, findings indicated that participants reporting low catastrophizing directed their attention more quickly to pain faces than to neutral faces, with fixation becoming increasingly faster with increasing levels of facial pain expression. In comparison, participants reporting high levels of catastrophizing showed decreased tendency to initially orient to pain faces, fixating equally quickly on neutral and pain faces. Duration of the first fixation revealed no significant effects. With respect to attentional maintenance, participants reporting high catastrophizing and pain intensity demonstrated significantly longer gaze duration for all face types (neutral and pain expression), relative to low catastrophizing counterparts. Finally, independent of catastrophizing, higher reported pain intensity contributed to decreased attentional maintenance to pain faces vs neutral faces. Theoretical implications and further research directions are discussed. Copyright © 2013 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Healthy start program participation: the consumers' perspective.

PubMed

Ley, Christine E; Copeland, Valire Carr; Flint, Cheryl Squire

2011-01-01

In 1991, the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau developed the Healthy Start Initiative as a comprehensive community-based program to eliminate the high rates of poor pregnancy outcomes among women of color. To date, few studies of the programmatic outcomes of this Initiative have examined the views of Healthy Start consumers. To understand the benefits of Healthy Start from their consumers' perspective, the Pittsburgh Allegheny County Healthy Start project conducted a survey of 202 of their Healthy Start participants in 2003. The participants completing the survey reported benefits of participating in the program including stress reduction, receiving resources and referrals, and consistent social support of program staff. According to the project's annual statistics, Healthy Start has improved pregnancy outcomes among African American women participants in the Pittsburgh community. However, and according to these participants, the quality of staff and consumer connectedness, availability and consistency of material resources, and social support are as critical as more traditional health interventions to their satisfaction, motivation to participate, and willingness to refer others to the program. Women of color will often forego health services perceived as intimidating and/or culturally insensitive, but programs such as the Healthy Start Initiative offer a critical link that encourages participation and, as a result, improves maternal and child health status.

Results From the Republic of Slovenia's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

PubMed

Sember, Vedrana; Starc, Gregor; Jurak, Gregor; Golobič, Mojca; Kovač, Marjeta; Samardžija, Poljanka Pavletič; Morrison, Shawnda A

2016-11-01

This is the first assessment of the Republic of Slovenia's efforts to synthesize and report physical activity (PA) standards for children and youth following the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance grading system model. The Republic of Slovenia Report Card relies on research findings published in peer-reviewed journals, data compiled from national databases, and government initiatives which have been monitoring physical fitness standards in schools for the past 34 years (SLOfit and ACDSi). The Report Card initiative has been jointly coordinated by the University of Primorska and the University of Ljubljana. A Research Work Group consisting of 12 representatives from various aspects of Slovenia's public, private, and government sectors convened to evaluate evidence and assign grades for each PA indicator. Grades (A, highest, to F, lowest; INC, incomplete) for Slovenia are as follows: Overall Physical Activity (A-), Organized Sport Participation (B-), Active Play (D), Active Transportation (C), Sedentary Behaviors (B+), Family and Peers (INC), Schools (A), Community and the Built Environment (INC), and Government (B+). This inclusive PA report indicates that overall physical activity minutes remain high in Slovenian children and youth; however, more research is needed to determine the effects of family life, peer influences, and the built environment on active play behaviors.

Serotonin toxicity involving MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide.

PubMed

Pilgrim, J L; Gerostamoulos, D; Woodford, N; Drummer, Olaf H

2012-02-10

The use of MDMA (ecstasy) in Australia is a widespread and growing problem, promoting acute toxicity and disease which can lead to premature death in users. We report four cases of fatal serotonin toxicity caused by the combination of MDMA and moclobemide, a reversible MAO-A inhibitor with potent serotonergic activity. Despite the highly reported toxicity of this drug combination, there are very few reports of fatalities attributed to a MDMA and moclobemide interaction. Pathology and toxicology reports, initial police reports and coroners' findings were examined to determine the circumstances of the deaths. Symptoms of some of the four cases as reported by paramedics and medical staff included hyperthermia, hyperkalemia, profuse sweating, twitching and shaking. Two cases involved moclobemide concentrations consistent with common prescribed doses, while the other two cases involved much higher concentrations often associated with toxicity. Three of these cases presented with some form of heart disease. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using Clinical Data Standards to Measure Quality: A New Approach.

PubMed

D'Amore, John D; Li, Chun; McCrary, Laura; Niloff, Jonathan M; Sittig, Dean F; McCoy, Allison B; Wright, Adam

2018-04-01

 Value-based payment for care requires the consistent, objective calculation of care quality. Previous initiatives to calculate ambulatory quality measures have relied on billing data or individual electronic health records (EHRs) to calculate and report performance. New methods for quality measure calculation promoted by federal regulations allow qualified clinical data registries to report quality outcomes based on data aggregated across facilities and EHRs using interoperability standards.  This research evaluates the use of clinical document interchange standards as the basis for quality measurement.  Using data on 1,100 patients from 11 ambulatory care facilities and 5 different EHRs, challenges to quality measurement are identified and addressed for 17 certified quality measures.  Iterative solutions were identified for 14 measures that improved patient inclusion and measure calculation accuracy. Findings validate this approach to improving measure accuracy while maintaining measure certification.  Organizations that report care quality should be aware of how identified issues affect quality measure selection and calculation. Quality measure authors should consider increasing real-world validation and the consistency of measure logic in respect to issues identified in this research. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

Memory conformity affects inaccurate memories more than accurate memories.

PubMed

Wright, Daniel B; Villalba, Daniella K

2012-01-01

After controlling for initial confidence, inaccurate memories were shown to be more easily distorted than accurate memories. In two experiments groups of participants viewed 50 stimuli and were then presented with these stimuli plus 50 fillers. During this test phase participants reported their confidence that each stimulus was originally shown. This was followed by computer-generated responses from a bogus participant. After being exposed to this response participants again rated the confidence of their memory. The computer-generated responses systematically distorted participants' responses. Memory distortion depended on initial memory confidence, with uncertain memories being more malleable than confident memories. This effect was moderated by whether the participant's memory was initially accurate or inaccurate. Inaccurate memories were more malleable than accurate memories. The data were consistent with a model describing two types of memory (i.e., recollective and non-recollective memories), which differ in how susceptible these memories are to memory distortion.

Initiative for standardization of reporting genetics of male infertility.

PubMed

Traven, Eva; Ogrinc, Ana; Kunej, Tanja

2017-02-01

The number of publications on research of male infertility is increasing. Technologies used in research of male infertility generate complex results and various types of data that need to be appropriately managed, arranged, and made available to other researchers for further use. In our previous study, we collected over 800 candidate loci for male fertility in seven mammalian species. However, the continuation of the work towards a comprehensive database of candidate genes associated with different types of idiopathic human male infertility is challenging due to fragmented information, obtained from a variety of technologies and various omics approaches. Results are published in different forms and usually need to be excavated from the text, which hinders the gathering of information. Standardized reporting of genetic anomalies as well as causative and risk factors of male infertility therefore presents an important issue. The aim of the study was to collect examples of diverse genomic loci published in association with human male infertility and to propose a standardized format for reporting genetic causes of male infertility. From the currently available data we have selected 75 studies reporting 186 representative genomic loci which have been proposed as genetic risk factors for male infertility. Based on collected and formatted data, we suggested a first step towards unification of reporting the genetics of male infertility in original and review studies. The proposed initiative consists of five relevant data types: 1) genetic locus, 2) race/ethnicity, number of participants (infertile/controls), 3) methodology, 4) phenotype (clinical data, disease ontology, and disease comorbidity), and 5) reference. The proposed form for standardized reporting presents a baseline for further optimization with additional genetic and clinical information. This data standardization initiative will enable faster multi-omics data integration, database development and sharing, establishing more targeted hypotheses, and facilitating biomarker discovery.

Skin depigmentation associated with toceranib phosphate in a dog.

PubMed

Cavalcanti, Jacqueline V J; Hasbach, Andrea; Barnes, Katie; Dange, Rahul B; Patterson, Jon; Saavedra, Paulo Vilar

2017-08-01

Drug-induced depigmentation is frequently observed in humans undergoing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, whereas it is not reported in dogs. The skin depigmentation can occur after the first week of treatment and it is reversible within a few weeks after drug discontinuation. To report the clinical and histopathological features of an episode of cutaneous adverse drug reaction associated with short term administration of toceranib phosphate. An 11-year-old intact male Bernese mountain dog was presented for investigation of a subcutaneous mast cell tumour (MCT) including treatment options. The major abnormality on physical examination was a 7.5 × 10 cm subcutaneous mass located cranial to the left shoulder joint consistent with a MCT. Toceranib phosphate therapy was initiated. Fourteen days after initiating treatment, the dog presented with skin erosions near the lateral canthus of the left eye. Three weeks later there were multiple skin lesions characterized by alopecia and depigmentation involving left and right eyelids; leukotrichia of the periorbital areas and depigmentation of the nasal planum and all paw pads. Histopathological findings were nonspecific; they were supportive of vitiligo. Resolution of skin lesions was observed after stopping the toceranib phosphate therapy. Based on the gross lesions, histopathological features before and after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, and Naranjo score, this case was considered to be consistent with cutaneous adverse drug effects. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing the clinical and histopathological features of presumed drug-induced skin depigmentation in a dog receiving toceranib phosphate. © 2017 ESVD and ACVD.

A European survey on donor deferral for allergy: Rationale and initial results of a survey in 35 countries.

PubMed

Garraud, O; Martin, C; Haddad, A; Bagge Hansen, M; Rautmann, G; MacLennan, S; Norda, R

2017-02-01

Allergy accounts to near 0.5% of all reported transfusion adverse events. The responsibility of blood components themselves and - therefore - of blood donors is still questioned. The European Community undertook a large international survey to address the consistency and homogeneity of medical selection of blood donors with regard to the risk of allergy, and especially of transferring allergy to recipients. This short report presents the salient points of the survey, stressing that there is inconsistency in addressing the allergy question within countries or systems, with paths of improvement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Carcinoids of the common bile duct: a case report and literature review

PubMed Central

Ross, Alison C.; Hurley, James B.; Hay, W. Bruce; Rusnak, Conrad H.; Petrunia, Denis M.

1999-01-01

Carcinoids of the extrahepatic bile ducts and particularly the common bile duct are extremely rare. A 65-year-old woman presented with obstructive jaundice. Laboratory and imaging studies gave results that were consistent with an obstructing lesion in the common bile duct. In this case, a stent was inserted initially to decompress the bile ducts. Subsequently a laparotomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy were performed and a tissue diagnosis of carcinoid of the common bile duct was made. The patient was well with no evidence of recurrence 17 months postoperatively. The authors believe this is the 19th reported case of an extrahepatic bile duct carcinoid. PMID:10071590

Human Health Effects of Ozone Depletion From Stratospheric Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wey, Chowen (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This report presents EPA's initial response to NASA's request to advise on potential environmental policy issues associated with the future development of supersonic flight technologies. Consistent with the scope of the study to which NASA and EPA agreed, EPA has evaluated only the environmental concerns related to the stratospheric ozone impacts of a hypothetical HSCT fleet, although recent research indicates that a fleet of HSCT is predicted to contribute to climate warming as well. This report also briefly describes the international and domestic institutional frameworks established to address stratospheric ozone depletion, as well as those established to control pollution from aircraft engine exhaust emissions.

Dysplastic intestinal-type metaplasia of appendiceal endometriosis: a mimic of low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We report an example of dysplastic intestinal-type metaplasia involving endometriosis of the appendix in a 45 year old woman. One other example of this phenomenon has been reported. As it occurs within the muscular wall of the appendix, confusion with low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) may occur. Evidence supporting the metaplastic nature of the intestinal epithelium is offered. As the initial pathological diagnosis was of invasive cancer with perforation of the appendix treatment consisted of peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Virtual slides The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1068246472111756. PMID:24559059

Automated Static Culture System Cell Module Mixing Protocol and Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kleis, Stanley J.; Truong, Tuan; Goodwin, Thomas J,

2004-01-01

This report is a documentation of a fluid dynamic analysis of the proposed Automated Static Culture System (ASCS) cell module mixing protocol. The report consists of a review of some basic fluid dynamics principles appropriate for the mixing of a patch of high oxygen content media into the surrounding media which is initially depleted of oxygen, followed by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of this process for the proposed protocol over a range of the governing parameters. The time histories of oxygen concentration distributions and mechanical shear levels generated are used to characterize the mixing process for different parameter values.

Fuzzy set methods for object recognition in space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keller, James M.

1992-01-01

Progress on the following tasks is reported: feature calculation; membership calculation; clustering methods (including initial experiments on pose estimation); and acquisition of images (including camera calibration information for digitization of model). The report consists of 'stand alone' sections, describing the activities in each task. We would like to highlight the fact that during this quarter, we believe that we have made a major breakthrough in the area of fuzzy clustering. We have discovered a method to remove the probabilistic constraints that the sum of the memberships across all classes must add up to 1 (as in the fuzzy c-means). A paper, describing this approach, is included.

Solar cell power for field instrumentation at White Sands Missile range. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bond, J.W. Jr..; Reckart, D.H. Jr; Milway, W.B.

1978-01-01

The initial phase of an Instrumentation Development Project to explore and document what solar power can do for remote field instrumentation systems is described. The work scope consisted of selection, design, construction, test, and delivery of a solar cell power system for White Sands Missile Range. A Drone Formation Control System Interrogator was selected; a power supply was built and installed in the San Andres Mountain Range at WSMR in late August 1977.

A leader-return-stroke consistent macroscopic model for calculations of return stroke current and its optical and electromagnetic emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Shuyao; Chen, Mingli; Du, Yaping; Qin, Zilong

2017-08-01

A downward lightning flash usually starts with a downward leader and an upward connecting leader followed by an upward return stroke. It is the preceding leader that governs the following return stroke property. Besides, the return stroke property evolves with height and time. These two aspects, however, are not well addressed in most existing return stroke models. In this paper, we present a leader-return stroke consistent model based on the time domain electric field integral equation, which is a growth and modification of Kumar's macroscopic model. The model is further extended to simulate the optical and electromagnetic emissions of a return stroke by introducing a set of equations relating the return stroke current and conductance to the optical and electromagnetic emissions. With a presumed leader initiation potential, the model can then simulate the temporal and spatial evolution of the current, charge transfer, channel size, and conductance of the return stroke, furthermore the optical and electromagnetic emissions. The model is tested with different leader initiation potentials ranging from -10 to -140 MV, resulting in different return stroke current peaks ranging from 2.6 to 209 kA with different return stroke speed peaks ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 speed of light and different optical power peaks ranging from 4.76 to 248 MW/m. The larger of the leader initiation potential, the larger of the return stroke current and speed. Both the return stroke current and speed attenuate exponentially as it propagates upward. All these results are qualitatively consistent with those reported in the literature.

Administration technique and storage of disposable insulin pens reported by patients with diabetes.

PubMed

Mitchell, Virginia D; Porter, Kyle; Beatty, Stuart J

2012-01-01

The purpose of the study was to evaluate insulin injection technique and storage of insulin pens as reported by patients with diabetes and to compare correct pen use to initial education on injection technique, hemoglobin A1C, duration of insulin therapy, and duration of insulin pen. Cross-sectional questionnaire orally administered to patients at a university-affiliated primary care practice. Subjects were patients with diabetes who were 18 years or older and prescribed a disposable insulin pen for at least 4 weeks. A correct usage score was calculated for each patient based on manufacturer recommendations for disposable insulin pen use. Associations were made between the correct usage score and certainty in technique, initial education, years of insulin therapy, duration of pen use, and hemoglobin A1C. Sixty-seven patients completed the questionnaire, reporting total use of 94 insulin pens. The 3 components most often neglected by patients were priming pen needle, holding for specific count time before withdrawal of pen needle from skin, and storing an in-use pen. For three-fourths of the insulin pens being used, users did not follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper administration and storage of insulin pens. Correct usage scores were significantly higher if initial education on insulin pens was performed by a pharmacist or nurse. The majority of patients may be ignoring or unaware of key components for consistent insulin dosing using disposable insulin pens; therefore, initial education and reeducation on correct use of disposable insulin pens by health care professionals are needed.

Aortic Angiosarcoma: A Rare Cause for Leaking Thoracic Aneurysm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hales, S. L., E-mail: sarah.hales@imperial.nhs.uk; Locke, R.; Sandison, A.

Primary malignant tumours of the aorta are rare. They present with aneurysm formation, arterial occlusion, and embolic phenomenon. We report the case of a 56-year-old man whose initial presentation and investigations lead to emergency endovascular stenting of a descending thoracic aneurysm with a contained leak. Initial response was favourable, yet the patient presented again with worsening symptoms. The circum-aortic haematoma expanded by 50% on subsequent imaging, but no endoleak was identified. When altered bone marrow signal was identified on magnetic resonance imaging, the possibility of malignancy was considered. A metastatic skin lesion was then biopsied, which demonstrated morphological and immunohistochemicalmore » features consistent with metastases from a pleomorphic sarcoma of the aorta.« less

ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guidelines (EMERGE): a reactive-Delphi study protocol

PubMed Central

Helmy, R; Zullig, L L; Dunbar-Jacob, J; Hughes, D A; Vrijens, B; Wilson, I B; De Geest, S

2017-01-01

Introduction Medication adherence is fundamental to achieving optimal patient outcomes. Reporting research on medication adherence suffers from some issues—including conceptualisation, measurement and data analysis—that thwart its advancement. Using the ABC taxonomy for medication adherence as the conceptual basis, a steering committee of members of the European Society for Patient Adherence, COMpliance, and Persistence (ESPACOMP) launched an initiative to develop ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guidelines (EMERGE). This paper is a protocol for a Delphi study that aims to build consensus among a group of topic experts regarding an item list that will support developing EMERGE. Methods and analysis This study uses a reactive-Delphi design where a group of topic experts will be asked to rate the relevance and clarity of an initial list of items, in addition to suggesting further items and/or modifications of the initial items. The initial item list, generated by the EMERGE steering committee through a structured process, consists of 26 items distributed in 2 sections: 4 items representing the taxonomy-based minimum reporting criteria, and 22 items organised according to the common reporting sections. A purposive sample of experts will be selected from relevant disciplines and diverse geographical locations. Consensus will be achieved through predefined decision rules to keep, delete or modify the items. An iterative process of online survey rounds will be carried out until consensus is reached. Ethics and dissemination An ethics approval was not required for the study according to the Swiss federal act on research involving human beings. The participating experts will be asked to give an informed consent. The results of this Delphi study will feed into EMERGE, which will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Additionally, the steering committee will encourage their endorsement by registering the guidelines at the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) network and other relevant organisations. PMID:28188154

Structure and function of the small terminase component of the DNA packaging machine in T4-like bacteriophages

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, Siyang; Gao, Song; Kondabagil, Kiran

2012-04-04

Tailed DNA bacteriophages assemble empty procapsids that are subsequently filled with the viral genome by means of a DNA packaging machine situated at a special fivefold vertex. The packaging machine consists of a 'small terminase' and a 'large terminase' component. One of the functions of the small terminase is to initiate packaging of the viral genome, whereas the large terminase is responsible for the ATP-powered translocation of DNA. The small terminase subunit has three domains, an N-terminal DNA-binding domain, a central oligomerization domain, and a C-terminal domain for interacting with the large terminase. Here we report structures of the centralmore » domain in two different oligomerization states for a small terminase from the T4 family of phages. In addition, we report biochemical studies that establish the function for each of the small terminase domains. On the basis of the structural and biochemical information, we propose a model for DNA packaging initiation.« less

[Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy during Brain Abscess Treatment:Two Case Reports].

PubMed

Yokoyama, Yuka; Asaoka, Katsuyuki; Sugiyama, Taku; Uchida, Kazuki; Shimbo, Daisuke; Kobayashi, Satoshi; Itamoto, Koji

2015-10-01

Metronidazole is a widely used antibiotic against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. We report two cases of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy(MIE)during treatment of a brain abscess with metronidazole. The patients developed mental disturbance, and brain MRI showed reversible signals on DWI, FLAIR, and T2. Case 1: A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a cerebellar abscess. We initiated treatment with oral metronidazole. After taking the medication, she developed mental disturbance, and her brain MRI showed a hyperintensity within the corpus callosum. We suspected metronidazole toxicity and discontinued metronidazole treatment. The symptoms resolved rapidly within a week, and the hyperintensity on the MRI disappeared. Case 2: A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a brain abscess. We initiated treatment with oral metronidazole. On day 38, he developed mental disturbance, and his MRI showed hyperintensities within the bilateral dentate nuclei and corpus callosum. These symptoms were consistent with MIE. After cessation of metronidazole, his symptoms and abnormal MRI signals completely disappeared.

Cardiac presentation of ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

PubMed

Lim, Z Y; Grace, R; Salisbury, J R; Creamer, D; Jayaprakasam, A; Ho, A Y L; Devereux, S; Mufti, G J; Pagliuca, A

2005-12-01

Cardiac involvement as an initial presentation of malignant lymphoma is a rare occurrence. We report the case of an immunocompetent 29-year-old male who presented with syncope and arrythmias secondary to a ventricular cardiac mass. Transcutaneous cardiac biopsy was non-diagnostic, therefore an open cardiac biopsy was performed from which a provisional diagnosis of a cardiac inflammatory pseudotumour was made. Six months after presentation, he developed several subcutaneous lesions with systemic symptoms. Histological and immunophenotypic review of the initial cardiac biopsy revealed features consistent with a diagnosis of CD30, ALK1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Despite intensive treatment with combination chemotherapy, there was significant progression of disease, and he died 11 months after diagnosis. The overall prognosis of cardiac lymphoma remains poor, which may be due to the often late presentation of the tumour. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a cardiac ALK positive ALCL. Although rare, cardiac presentation of ALCL should be added to the list of differential diagnoses of cardiac lymphomas.

Assessment of clinical co-morbidities

PubMed Central

Basu, Debasish; Basu, Aniruddha; Ghosh, Abhishek

2018-01-01

A large proportion of patients with substance use disorders have clinical comorbidities, either medical or psychiatric. An initial assessment is necessary initially for prompt identification and management of any psychiatric or medical emergency, and thereafter a more detailed assessment for the comprehensive understanding of the individual. This should be done keeping in mind the goals of both immediate and long term assessment so that a comprehensive but individualized, context and culture sensitive, reality based, recovery-oriented management plan can be formulated. Assessment should consist of not only history-taking, physical and mental status examination but also laboratory and instrument based assessment as needed. During assessment, collateral reports and past medical records are valuable additions along with self-report. Since substance use disorders influence various aspects of daily life, hence medical, social, occupational, religious, spiritual, financial and legal aspects should be evaluated. Overall, the assessment needs to be diagnosis and management focused, covering the various bio-psycho-social domains relevant to the individual. PMID:29540914

Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis responsive to intravitreal corticosteroids.

PubMed

Ansari, Waseem H; Browne, Andrew W; Singh, Rishi P

2017-04-01

To report the case of an adult male with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) who presented with cystoid macular edema (CME) that responded consistently to treatment with intravitreal steroids. A 39 year old male with unilateral presentation of CME after repair of a retinal detachment secondary to XLRS responded initially to an injection of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). Central subfield thickness on OCT was reduced. Three months later, the CME recurred and he was unresponsive to topical treatment so repeat IVTA was given, and the CME once again was reduced dramatically. After the next recurrence, intravitreal dexamethasone implant treatment was initiated and successful at treating recurrences in 3 month intervals for 5 additional injections. Finally, an intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant was surgically placed with control of CME. Corticosteroids have never been reported to be effective in CME related to XLRS. Here, we document a case of a man who successfully had decrease of intraretinal fluid and schisis with treatment of intravitreal corticosteroids as demonstrated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

A cross-sectional study of hormone treatment and hippocampal volume in postmenopausal women: Evidence for a limited window of opportunity

PubMed Central

Erickson, Kirk I.; Voss, Michelle W.; Prakash, Ruchika S.; Chaddock, Laura; Kramer, Arthur F.

2010-01-01

The influence of hormone treatment on brain and cognition in postmenopausal women has been a controversial topic. Contradictory patterns of results have prompted speculation that a critical period, or a limited window of opportunity, exists for hormone treatment to protect against cognitive and neural decline in older women. Consistent with this hypothesis, studies in both humans and rodents indicate that the latency between the time of menopause and the initiation of hormone treatment is an important factor in determining whether hormone treatment will prevent or exacerbate cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional study of 102 postmenopausal women, we examined whether hippocampal, amygdala, or caudate nucleus volumes and spatial memory performance were related to the interval between menopause and the initiation of hormone treatment. Consistent with a critical period hypothesis, we found that shorter intervals between menopause and the initiation of hormone treatment, as determined by self-report, were associated with larger hippocampal volumes compared with longer intervals between menopause and treatment initiation. Initiation of hormone treatment at the time of menopause was also associated with larger hippocampal volumes when compared to peers who had never used hormone treatment. Furthermore, these effects were independent from potentially confounding factors such as age, years of education, the duration of hormone treatment, current or past use of hormone therapy, the type of therapy, and the age at menopause. Larger hippocampal volumes in women who initiated hormone treatment at the time of menopause failed to translate to improved spatial memory performance. There was no relationship between the timing of hormone initiation, spatial memory performance, and amygdala or caudate nucleus volume. Our results provide support for the idea that there is a limited window of opportunity at the time of menopause for hormone treatment to influence hippocampal volume, yet the degree to which these effects translate to improved memory performance is uncertain. PMID:20063947

Availability and needs of herbal medicinal information resources at community pharmacy, Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Al-Arifi, Mohamed N

2013-10-01

A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia was conducted over a period of 6 months from July through December 2011. Data collection was carried out using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The survey questionnaire consisted of a brief introduction to the study and eleven questions. The questions consisted of close ended, multiple-choice, and fill-in short answers. A stratified random sample of one thousand and seven hundred registered pharmacy practitioners all over Saudi Arabia were randomly chosen to respond to the survey. The data from each of the returned questionnaire were coded and entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) which was used for statistical analysis. Only one thousand four hundred one pharmacists responded to the survey (response rate is 82.4%) with a completely answered questionnaire. The study results show that 59.7% of the participants sometimes discuss herbal medicine use with their patients, while only 4.25% never discuss it. The study shows 48.5% of participated pharmacists record herbal medicine use sometimes where only 9.4% of them never did so. However, with regard to initiation of the discussion, the study shows that 44.3% of the respondents reported that patients initiate herbal issue discussion while 20.8% reported that pharmacists initiate the discussion. This discussion was reported to be a one time discussion or an ongoing discussion by 14.3% or 9.9% of the respondents respectively. According to the study results, respondents reported that the most common barriers that limit discussing herbal medicines' use with their patients were lack of time due to other obligations assigned to the community pharmacist (46%), lack of reliable resources (30.3%), lack of scientific evidence that support herbal medicine use (15.2%), or lack of knowledge of herbal medicines (13.4%). Yet, a small number of respondents was concerned about interest in herbal medicines (9.1%) and other reasons (2.4%). So it is urgent to ensure that pharmacists are appropriately educated and trained. Extra efforts are needed to increase the awareness of pharmacists to adverse drug reactions reporting system at Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Finally, more consideration to herbal issues should be addressed in both pharmacy colleges' curricula and continuous education program..

Concordant Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd Ages for NWA 1460: A 340 Ma Old Basaltic Shergottite Related to Lherzolitic Shergottites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nyquist, L. E.; Shih, C-Y; Reese, Y. D.; Irving, A. J.

2006-01-01

Preliminary Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd ages reported by [1] for the NWA 1460 basaltic shergottite are refined to 336+/-14 Ma and 345+/-21 Ma, respectively. These concordant ages are interpreted as dating a lava flow on the Martian surface. The initial Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of NWA 1460 suggest it is an earlier melting product of a Martian mantle source region similar to those of the lherzolitic shergottites and basaltic shergottite EETA79001, lithology B. We also examine the suggestion that generally "young" ages for other Martian meteorites should be reinterpreted in light of Pb-207/Pb-206 - Pb-204/Pb-206 isotopic systematics [2]. Published U-Pb isotopic data for nakhlites are consistent with ages of approx.1.36 Ga. The UPb isotopic systematics of some Martian shergottites and lherzolites that have been suggested to be approx.4 Ga old [2] are complex. We nevertheless suggest the data are consistent with crystallization ages of approx.173 Ma when variations in the composition of in situ initial Pb as well as extraneous Pb components are considered.

Protocol for a national prevalence study of advance care planning documentation and self-reported uptake in Australia

PubMed Central

Ruseckaite, Rasa; Detering, Karen M; Perera, Veronica; Walker, Lynne; Sinclair, Craig; Clayton, Josephine M; Nolte, Linda

2017-01-01

Introduction Advance care planning (ACP) is a process between a person, their family/carer(s) and healthcare providers that supports adults at any age or stage of health in understanding and sharing their personal values, life goals and preferences regarding future medical care. The Australian government funds a number of national initiatives aimed at increasing ACP uptake; however, there is currently no standardised Australian data on formal ACP documentation or self-reported uptake. This makes it difficult to evaluate the impact of ACP initiatives. This study aims to determine the Australian national prevalence of ACP and completion of Advance Care Directives (ACDs) in hospitals, aged care facilities and general practices. It will also explore people’s self-reported use of ACP and views about the process. Methods and analysis Researchers will conduct a national multicentre cross-sectional prevalence study, consisting of a record audit and surveys of people aged 65 years or more in three sectors. From 49 participating Australian organisations, 50 records will be audited (total of 2450 records). People whose records were audited, who speak English and have a decision-making capacity will also be invited to complete a survey. The primary outcome measure will be the number of people who have formal or informal ACP documentation that can be located in records within 15 min. Other outcomes will include demographics, measure of illness and functional capacity, details of ACP documentation (including type of document), location of documentation in the person’s records and whether current clinical care plans are consistent with ACP documentation. People will be surveyed, to measure self-reported interest, uptake and use of ACP/ACDs, and self-reported quality of life. Ethics and dissemination This protocol has been approved by the Austin Health Human Research Ethics Committee (reference HREC/17/Austin/83). Results will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Trial registration number ACTRN12617000743369 PMID:29101142

Ion imaging study of dissociative charge transfer in the N{sub 2}{sup +}+ CH{sub 4} system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pei Linsen; Farrar, James M.

The velocity map ion imaging method is applied to the dissociative charge transfer reactions of N{sub 2}{sup +} with CH{sub 4} studied in crossed beams. The velocity space images are collected at four collision energies between 0.5 and 1.5 eV, providing both product kinetic energy and angular distributions for the reaction products CH{sub 3}{sup +} and CH{sub 2}{sup +}. The general shapes of the images are consistent with long range electron transfer from CH{sub 4} to N{sub 2}{sup +} preceding dissociation, and product kinetic energy distributions are consistent with energy resonance in the initial electron transfer step. The branching ratiomore » for CH{sub 3}{sup +}:CH{sub 2}{sup +} is 85:15 over the full collision energy range, consistent with literature reports.« less

Early age at start of antiretroviral therapy associated with better virologic control after initial suppression in HIV-infected infants.

PubMed

Shiau, Stephanie; Strehlau, Renate; Technau, Karl-Günter; Patel, Faeezah; Arpadi, Stephen M; Coovadia, Ashraf; Abrams, Elaine J; Kuhn, Louise

2017-01-28

The report of the 'Mississippi baby' who was initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 30 h of birth and maintained viral suppression off ART for 27 months has increased interest in the timing of ART initiation early in life. We examined associations between age at ART initiation and virologic outcomes in five cohorts of HIV-infected infants and young children who initiated ART before 2 years of age in Johannesburg, South Africa. We compared those who initiated ART early (<6 months of age) and those who started ART late (6-24 months of age). Two primary outcomes were examined: initial response to ART in three cohorts and later sustained virologic control after achieving suppression on ART in two cohorts. We did not observe consistent differences in initial viral suppression rates by age at ART initiation. Overall, initial viral suppression rates were low. Only 31, 40.1, and 26.5% of early-treated infants (<6 months of age) in the three cohorts, respectively, were suppressed less than 50 copies/ml of HIV RNA 6 months after starting ART. We did observe better sustained virologic control after achieving suppression on ART among infants starting ART early compared with late. Children who started ART early were less likely to experience viral rebound (>50 copies/ml or >1000 copies/ml) than children who started late in both cohorts. These findings provide additional support for early initiation of ART in HIV-infected infants.

10 CFR 75.32 - Initial inventory report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Initial inventory report. 75.32 Section 75.32 Energy... AGREEMENT Reports § 75.32 Initial inventory report. (a) The initial inventory reporting date shall be the... inventory report is required. (b) The initial inventory report, to be submitted to the Commission as...

Low-G fluid behavior technology summaries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stark, J. A.; Bradshaw, R. D.; Blatt, M. H.

1974-01-01

This report presents a summarization and categorization of the pertinent literature associated with low-g fluid behavior technology. Initially a literature search was conducted to obtain pertinent documents for review. Reports determined to be of primary significance are summarized in detail. Each summary, where applicable, consists of; (1) report identification, (2) objective(s) of the work, (3) description of pertinent work performed, (4) major results, and (5) comments of the reviewer (GD/C). Pertinent figures are presented on a single facing page separate from the text. Specific areas covered are; interface configuration, interface stability, natural frequency and damping, liquid reorientation, bubbles and droplets, fluid inflow, fluid outflow, convection, boiling and condensation heat transfer, venting effects, and fluid properties. Reports which were reviewed and not summarized, along with reasons for not summarizing, are also listed. Cryogenic thermal control and fluid management systems technology are presented.

Development and psychometric properties of the Student Worry Questionnaire-30.

PubMed

Osman, A; Gutierrez, P M; Downs, W R; Kopper, B A; Barrios, F X; Haraburda, C M

2001-02-01

Described are the development and initial psychometric properties (Ns = 50 and 188) of a self-report measure, the Student Worry Questionnaire-30, for use with college undergraduates. Exploratory principal components analyses (Ns = 388, 350, and 396) with oblimin rotation indicated six domains of worrisome thinking, financial-related concerns, significant others' well-being, social adequacy concerns, academic concerns, and general anxiety symptoms. The total score and scale scores showed internal consistency of .80 to .94. Also, test-retest reliability analyses (.75 to .80) support consistency of responses over 4 wk. Strong evidence for convergent validity) was indicated. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the fit of the 6-factor oblique model. Limitations of the present studies, and directions for research are discussed.

Guideline for Reporting Interventions on Spinal Manipulative Therapy: Consensus on Interventions Reporting Criteria List for Spinal Manipulative Therapy (CIRCLe SMT).

PubMed

Groeneweg, Ruud; Rubinstein, Sidney M; Oostendorp, Rob A B; Ostelo, Raymond W J G; van Tulder, Maurits W

2017-02-01

The aim of the Consensus on Interventions Reporting Criteria List for Spinal Manipulative Therapy (CIRCLe SMT) study was to develop a criteria list for reporting spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). A Delphi procedure was conducted from September 2011 to April 2013 and consisted of international experts in the field of SMT. The authors formed a steering committee and invited participants, selected initial items, structured the comments of the participants after each Delphi round, and formulated the feedback. To ensure content validity, a large number of international experts from different SMT-related disciplines were invited to participate. A workshop was organized following the consensus phase, and it was used to discuss and refine the wording of the items. In total, 123 experts from 18 countries participated. These experts included clinicians (70%), researchers (93%), and academics working in the area of SMT (27%), as well as journal editors (14%). (Note: The total is more than 100% because most participants reported 2 jobs.) Three Delphi rounds were necessary to reach a consensus. The criteria list comprised 24 items under 5 domains, including (1) rationale of the therapy, (2) description of the intervention, (3) SMT techniques, (4) additional intervention/techniques, and (5) quantitative data. A valid criteria list was constructed with the aim of promoting consistency in reporting SMT intervention in scientific publications. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical analysis of DC745 Materials: DEV Lot 1 reinvestigation; barcodes P053387, P053388, and P053389

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dirmyer, Matthew R.

This report serves as a follow up to our initial development lot 1 chemical analysis report (LA-UR-16-21970). The purpose of that report was to determine whether or not certain combinations of resin lots and curing agent lots resulted in chemical differences in the final material. One finding of that report suggested that pad P053389 was different from the three other pads analyzed. This report consists of chemical analysis of P053387, P053388, and a reinvestigation of P053389 all of which came from the potentially suspect combination of resin and curing agents lot. The goal of this report is to determine whethermore » the observations relating to P053389 were isolated to that particular pad or systemic to that combination of resin and curing agent lot. The following suite of analyses were performed on the pads: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The overall conclusions of the study are that pads P053387 and P053388 behave more consistently with the pads of other resin lot and curing agent lot combinations and that the chemical observations made regarding pad P053389 are isolated to that pad and not representative of an issue with that resin lot and curing agent lot combination.« less

A mixed methods approach to adapting and evaluating the functional assessment of HIV infection (FAHI), Swahili version, for use with low literacy populations

PubMed Central

Sigilai, Antipa; Hassan, Amin S.; Thoya, Janet; Odhiambo, Rachael; Van de Vijver, Fons J. R.; Newton, Charles R. J. C.; Abubakar, Amina

2017-01-01

Background Despite bearing the largest HIV-related burden, little is known of the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the factors contributing to this gap in knowledge is the lack of culturally adapted and validated measures of HRQoL that are relevant for this setting. Aims We set out to adapt the Functional Assessment of HIV Infection (FAHI) Questionnaire, an HIV-specific measure of HRQoL, and evaluate its internal consistency and validity. Methods The three phase mixed-methods study took place in a rural setting at the Kenyan Coast. Phase one involved a scoping review to describe the evidence base of the reliability and validity of FAHI as well as the geographical contexts in which it has been administered. Phase two involved in-depth interviews (n = 38) to explore the content validity, and initial piloting for face validation of the adapted FAHI. Phase three was quantitative (n = 103) and evaluated the internal consistency, convergent and construct validities of the adapted interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results In the first phase of the study, we identified 16 studies that have used the FAHI. Most (82%) were conducted in North America. Only seven (44%) of the reviewed studies reported on the psychometric properties of the FAHI. In the second phase, most of the participants (37 out of 38) reported satisfaction with word clarity and content coverage whereas 34 (89%) reported satisfaction with relevance of the items, confirming the face validity of the adapted questionnaire during initial piloting. Our participants indicated that HIV impacted on their physical, functional, emotional, and social wellbeing. Their responses overlapped with items in four of the five subscales of the FAHI Questionnaire establishing its content validity. In the third phase, the internal consistency of the scale was found to be satisfactory with subscale Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.55 to 0.78. The construct and convergent validity of the tool were supported by acceptable factor loadings for most of the items on the respective sub-scales and confirmation of expected significant correlations of the FAHI subscale scores with scores of a measure of common mental disorders. Conclusion The adapted interviewer-administered Swahili version of FAHI questionnaire showed initial strong evidence of good psychometric properties with satisfactory internal consistency and acceptable validity (content, face, and convergent validity). It gives impetus for further validation work, especially construct validity, in similar settings before it can be used for research and clinical purposes in the entire East African region. PMID:28380073

Water-level data for the Albuquerque Basin and adjacent areas, central New Mexico, period of record through September 30, 2014

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beman, Joseph E.

2015-10-21

An initial network of wells was established by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque from April 1982 through September 1983 to monitor changes in groundwater levels throughout the basin. This network consisted of 6 wells with analog-to-digital recorders and 27 wells where water levels were measured monthly in 1983. The network currently (2014) consists of 125 wells and piezometers. (A piezometer is a specialized well open to a specific depth in the aquifer, often of small diameter and nested with other piezometers open to different depths.) The USGS, in cooperation with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, currently (2014) measures and reports water levels from the 125 wells and piezometers in the network; this report presents water-level data collected by USGS personnel at those 125 sites through water year 2014 (October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014).

Rate-Dependent Homogenization Based Continuum Plasticity Damage Model for Dendritic Cast Aluminum Alloys

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

0.25 s−1 to 0.75 s−1 The return mapping algorithm consists of an initial elastic predictor step, where the elastic response is assumed and the stresses...18 different loadings are used. The parameters F, G, H are solved by an iterative algorithm with C = 3. The step is repeated for different values of...a. REPORT unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c . THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 c⃝

Cutaneous protothecosis on the bilateral wrists of a food handler.

PubMed

Tan, M; Pan, J Y; Chia, H Y; Oon, H H

2017-01-01

Cutaneous protothecosis is caused by the achlorophyllic algae Prototheca, typically presenting as a localized plaque in immunocompetent individuals. We report a patient with bilateral erythematous plaques and pustules on her forearms, which had initially been treated with steroids for presumed eczema. Histology showed spherical spore-like bodies with internal morula-like septation, which were positive for periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, consistent with cutaneous protothecosis. Definitive treatment with oral itraconazole resulted in resolution of the lesions. © 2016 British Association of Dermatologists.

Discovery: Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veverka, Joseph

1992-01-01

The work carried out under this grant consisted of two parallel studies aimed at defining candidate missions for the initiation of the Discovery Program being considered by NASA's Solar System Exploration Division. The main study considered a Discover-class mission to a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA); the companion study considered a small telescope in Earth-orbit dedicated to ultra violet studies of solar system bodies. The results of these studies are summarized in two reports which are attached (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2).

Low energy electron transport in furfural

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lozano, Ana I.; Krupa, Kateryna; Ferreira da Silva, Filipe; Limão-Vieira, Paulo; Blanco, Francisco; Muñoz, Antonio; Jones, Darryl B.; Brunger, Michael J.; García, Gustavo

2017-09-01

We report on an initial investigation into the transport of electrons through a gas cell containing 1 mTorr of gaseous furfural. Results from our Monte Carlo simulation are implicitly checked against those from a corresponding electron transmission measurement. To enable this simulation a self-consistent cross section data base was constructed. This data base is benchmarked through new total cross section measurements which are also described here. In addition, again to facilitate the simulation, our preferred energy loss distribution function is presented and discussed.

Combined Annual Report to Congress on Standardization of Equipment with NATO Members and Cooperative Research and Development Projects with Allied Countries

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-01

Contamination Marking Set This set is designed for marking areas contaminated with nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) agents. It consists of a metal ...program, formerly the Heavy Forces Modernization (HFM) program. In March 1990, the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council (ASARC) reviewed the ASM...AUTOKO) prior to initial fielding of MSE in Europe this year, interoperability training was conducted at Grafenwoehr , Germany, from 30 January to 1

Recurrent PET FDG Uptake after Sequential Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for DLBCL of the Tibia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

extremity demonstrated scattered small lucencies along the midtibial diaphysis with associated cortical thickening and periosteal reaction but no soft...biopsy of the left tibial bone was consistent with chronic inflammation only, with no evidence of malignancy or infection. After consultation with... tibial lesion, and he was staged as IAE DLBCL [6]. Activity in the patellar region of the initial PET/CT scan was thought to be related to the

KAPSE (Kernel ADA Programming Support Environment) Interface Team Public Report. Volume 5.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-01

Computer Nons , April 1964. e The K Ma policy statent mde the Language Control Fcility Newsletter for the Ada Jovial Wmkng Group. e There will be a CRIS...cre-ed, the initial access control inA-mIion my be splied by the ACCSS parmeter. If non -nll, this parumter speci fi the initia access tolicontr olti...assigned, or controlled by the operating system to &,.sure consistent and non -conflicting usage by programs under execution. Examples of resources

Comparison of Kt/V and urea reduction ratio in measuring dialysis adequacy in paediatric haemodialysis in England.

PubMed

Dunne, Nina; Campbell, Malcolm; Fitzpatrick, Maggie; Callery, Peter

2014-06-01

The National Kidney Foundation-Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines and the Renal Association recommend the use of either Kt/V or urea reduction ratio (URR) to measure haemodialysis adequacy. To determine the methods used to measure paediatric haemodialysis adequacy and to assess consistency between calculations of single pool Kt/V (spKt/V) and URR. A service evaluation was conducted to establish current practices in measuring dialysis adequacy. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted to compare spKt/V and URR. Thirty-two children were recruited consisting of 13 males and 19 females in five paediatric dialysis centres. Inconsistencies were reported of the method of post-urea sampling with 4 of the 10 centres using the KDOQI recommended sampling method. Five dialysis centres reported using URR and five reported using spKt/V. There were substantial differences between the two measures. Using URR suggested that up to 44% of children did not receive adequate dialysis, whereas measurement by spKt/V suggested no more than 6% of the same dialysis sessions were not adequate. One standard measure should be used to assess dialysis adequacy in paediatric centres in England. KDOQI guidelines were not consistently followed in obtaining a post-urea blood sample and this procedure should be standardised. © 2014 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association.

Assessment of the quality of reporting in abstracts of systematic reviews with meta-analyses in periodontology and implant dentistry.

PubMed

Faggion, C M; Liu, J; Huda, F; Atieh, M

2014-04-01

Proper scientific reporting is necessary to ensure the correct interpretation of study results by readers. The main objective of this study was to assess the quality of reporting in abstracts of systematic reviews (SRs) with meta-analyses in periodontology and implant dentistry. Differences in reporting of abstracts in Cochrane and paper-based reviews were also assessed. The PubMed electronic database and the Cochrane database for SRs were searched on November 11, 2012, independently and in duplicate, for SRs with meta-analyses related to interventions in periodontology and implant dentistry. Assessment of the quality of reporting was performed independently and in duplicate, taking into account items related to the effect direction, numerical estimates of effect size, measures of precision, probability and consistency. We initially screened 433 papers and included 146 (127 paper-based and 19 Cochrane reviews, respectively). The direction of evidence was reported in two-thirds of the abstracts while strength of evidence and measure of precision (i.e., confidence interval) were reported in less than half the selected abstracts. Measures of consistency such as I(2) statistics were reported in only 5% of the selected sample of abstracts. Cochrane abstracts reported the limitations of evidence and precision better than paper-based ones. Two items ("meta-analysis" in title and abstract, respectively), were nevertheless better reported in paper-based abstracts. Abstracts of SRs with meta-analyses in periodontology and implant dentistry currently have no uniform standard of reporting, which may hinder readers' understanding of study outcomes. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Acute Generalized Erythrodermic Pustular Psoriasis Associated with Bupropion/Naltrexone (Contrave®).

PubMed

Singh, Priyanka A; Cassel, Kerry P; Moscati, Ronald M; Eckersley, David

2017-04-01

We report a case of erythrodermic pustular psoriasis associated with initiation of bupropion/naltrexone (Contrave®; Orexigen Therapeutics, La Jolla, CA) in a patient with no history of psoriasis. A 55-year-old woman was transferred to our tertiary medical center from a community hospital for possible Stevens-Johnson syndrome 3 weeks after initiation of bupropion/naltrexone. The patient was admitted to the burn unit for wound treatment and hydration. She received intravenous cyclosporine during the admission that resulted in acute kidney injury and the therapy was discontinued. The skin biopsy ruled out Stevens-Johnson syndrome and was more consistent with generalized pustular psoriasis. After discharge, the patient followed up with her dermatologist. She was diagnosed with acute generalized and erythrodermic psoriasis and the patient was restarted on cyclosporine 100 mg twice a day. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Few case reports of bupropion-induced generalized pustular psoriasis and erythrodermic psoriasis in patients with a history of psoriasis have been reported. To our knowledge, acute generalized erythrodermic pustular psoriasis associated with bupropion/naltrexone has not been reported in a patient without history of psoriasis. Due to increases in obesity and increases in prescribing of bupropion/naltrexone SR, health care providers should be aware of this possible severe adverse reaction. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Childhood Cigarette and Alcohol Use: Negative Links with Adjustment

PubMed Central

Staff, Jeremy; Maggs, Jennifer; Cundiff, Kelsey; Evans-Polce, Rebecca J.

2016-01-01

Children who initiate cigarette or alcohol use early—during childhood or early adolescence—experience a heightened risk of nicotine and alcohol dependence in later life as well as school failure, crime, injury, and mortality. Using prospective intergenerational data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), we investigate the association between early substance use initiation (cigarettes or alcohol) and age 11 school engagement, academic achievement, and wellbeing. The ongoing MCS tracks the development of a nationally representative sample of children in the United Kingdom (born 2000–2002) from infancy through adolescence. At age 11, MCS children (n=13,221) indicated whether they had ever used cigarettes or alcohol; at age 7 and 11 they reported on school engagement and wellbeing and completed investigator-assessed tests of academic achievement. Using propensity score methods, children who had initiated cigarette or alcohol use by age 11 were matched to abstaining children with similar risks (or propensities) of early substance use, based on numerous early life risk and protective factors assessed from infancy to age 7. We then examined whether early initiators differed from non-initiators in age 11 adjustment and achievement. Results show that substance use by age 11 was uncommon (3% cigarettes; 13% alcohol). After matching for propensity for early initiation, school engagement and wellbeing were significantly lower among initiators compared to non-initiators. Academic achievement was not consistently related to early initiation. We conclude that initiation of smoking and drinking in childhood is associated with poorer adjustment. PMID:27347653

Standardization of administered activities in pediatric nuclear medicine: a report of the first nuclear medicine global initiative project, part 1-statement of the issue and a review of available resources.

PubMed

Fahey, Frederic H; Bom, Henry Hee-Seong; Chiti, Arturo; Choi, Yun Young; Huang, Gang; Lassmann, Michael; Laurin, Norman; Mut, Fernando; Nuñez-Miller, Rodolfo; O'Keeffe, Darin; Pradhan, Prasanta; Scott, Andrew M; Song, Shaoli; Soni, Nischal; Uchiyama, Mayuki; Vargas, Luis

2015-04-01

The Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative (NMGI) was formed in 2012 and consists of 13 international organizations with direct involvement in nuclear medicine. The underlying objectives of the NMGI were to promote human health by advancing the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, encourage global collaboration in education, and harmonize procedure guidelines and other policies that ultimately lead to improvements in quality and safety in the field throughout the world. For its first project, the NMGI decided to consider the issues involved in the standardization of administered activities in pediatric nuclear medicine. This article presents part 1 of the final report of this initial project of the NMGI. It provides a review of the value of pediatric nuclear medicine, the current understanding of the carcinogenic risk of radiation as it pertains to the administration of radiopharmaceuticals in children, and the application of dosimetric models in children. A listing of pertinent educational and reference resources available in print and online is also provided. The forthcoming part 2 report will discuss current standards for administered activities in children and adolescents that have been developed by various organizations and an evaluation of the current practice of pediatric nuclear medicine specifically with regard to administered activities as determined by an international survey of nuclear medicine clinics and centers. Lastly, the part 2 report will recommend a path forward toward global standardization of the administration of radiopharmaceuticals in children. © 2015 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

The titin A-band rod domain is dispensable for initial thick filament assembly in zebrafish.

PubMed

Myhre, J Layne; Hills, Jordan A; Prill, Kendal; Wohlgemuth, Serene L; Pilgrim, David B

2014-03-01

The sarcomeres of skeletal and cardiac muscle are highly structured protein arrays, consisting of thick and thin filaments aligned precisely to one another and to their surrounding matrix. The contractile mechanisms of sarcomeres are generally well understood, but how the patterning of sarcomeres is initiated during early skeletal muscle and cardiac development remains uncertain. Two of the most widely accepted hypotheses for this process include the "molecular ruler" model, in which the massive protein titin defines the length of the sarcomere and provides a scaffold along which the myosin thick filament is assembled, and the "premyofibril" model, which proposes that thick filament formation does not require titin, but that a "premyofibril" consisting of non-muscle myosin, α-actinin and cytoskeletal actin is used as a template. Each model posits a different order of necessity of the various components, but these have been difficult to test in vivo. Zebrafish motility mutants with developmental defects in sarcomere patterning are useful for the elucidation of such mechanisms, and here we report the analysis of the herzschlag mutant, which shows deficits in both cardiac and skeletal muscle. The herzschlag mutant produces a truncated titin protein, lacking the C-terminal rod domain that is proposed to act as a thick filament scaffold, yet muscle patterning is still initiated, with grossly normal thick and thin filament assembly. Only after embryonic muscle contraction begins is breakdown of sarcomeric myosin patterning observed, consistent with the previously noted role of titin in maintaining the contractile integrity of mature sarcomeres. This conflicts with the "molecular ruler" model of early sarcomere patterning and supports a titin-independent model of thick filament organization during sarcomerogenesis. These findings are also consistent with the symptoms of human titin myopathies that exhibit a late onset, such as tibial muscular dystrophy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Research and Technology: 2003 Annual Report of the John F Kennedy Space Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is America's Spaceport Technology Center. The KSC technology development program encompasses the efforts of the entire KSC team, consisting of Government and contractor personnel, working in partnership with academic institutions and commercial industry. KSC's assigned mission areas are space launch operations and spaceport and range technologies. KSC's technology development customers include current space transportation programs, future space transportation programs / initiatives, and enabling technical programs. The KSC Research and Technology 2003 Annual Report encompasses the efforts of contributors to the KSC advanced technology development program and KSC technology transfer activities. Dr. Dave Bartine, KSC Chief Technologist, (321) 867-7069, is responsible for publication of this report and should be contacted for any desired information regarding KSC's research and technology development activities.

Final safety analysis report for the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA), Phase 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1994-10-01

This document is the third volume of a 3 volume safety analysis report on the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA). The GTA program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the major element of the national Neutral Particle Beam (NPB) program, which is supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative Office (SDIO). A principal goal of the national NPB program is to assess the feasibility of using hydrogen and deuterium neutral particle beams outside the Earth`s atmosphere. The main effort of the NPB program at Los Alamos concentrates on developing the GTA. The GTA is classified as a low-hazard facility, exceptmore » for the cryogenic-cooling system, which is classified as a moderate-hazard facility. This volume consists of appendices C through U of the report« less

Interventions to increase initial appointment attendance in mental health services: a systematic review.

PubMed

Schauman, Oliver; Aschan, Lisa Ellinor; Arias, Nicole; Beards, Stephanie; Clement, Sarah

2013-12-01

OBJECTIVE Although nonattendance at initial appointments in mental health services is a substantial problem, the phenomenon is poorly understood. This review synthesized findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to increase initial appointment attendance and determined whether theories or models contributed to intervention design. METHODS Six electronic databases were systematically searched, and reference lists of identified studies were also examined. Studies included were RCTs (including "quasi-randomized" controlled trials) that compared standard practice with an intervention to increase attendance at initial appointments in a sample of adults who had a scheduled initial appointment in a mental health or substance abuse service setting. RESULTS Of 144 potentially relevant studies, 21 met inclusion criteria. These studies were reported in 20 different research papers. Of these, 16 studies (N=3,673 participants) were included in the analyses (five were excluded because they reported only nonattendance at the initial appointment). Separate analyses were conducted for each intervention type (opt-in systems, telephone reminders and prompts, orientation and reminder letters, accelerated intake, preappointment completion of psychodynamic questionnaires, and "other"). Narrative synthesis was used for analysis because the high level of heterogeneity between studies precluded a meta-analysis. The results were mixed for all types of intervention. Some isolated high-quality studies of opt-in systems, orientation and reminder letters, and more novel interventions demonstrated a beneficial effect. CONCLUSIONS The synthesized findings indicated that orientation and reminder letters may have a small beneficial effect. Consistent evidence for the efficacy of other types of common interventions is lacking. More novel interventions, such as asking clients to formulate plans to deal with obstacles to attendance and giving clients a choice of therapist style, showed some promise, but studies require replication.

A brief mindfulness intervention for college student binge drinkers: A pilot study.

PubMed

Mermelstein, Liza C; Garske, John P

2015-06-01

The current study sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention aimed to reduce rates and consequences of binge drinking among college students. Participants were 76 undergraduate students assigned to a mindfulness/cue exposure group (MG) or a control/cue exposure only group (CG). Assessments were administered at the beginning of the initial session (i.e., baseline), the end of the initial session (i.e., posttreatment) and weekly for the subsequent 4 weeks. During the initial session, participants engaged in a cue exposure protocol that differed by group. The MG participated in a 60-min individual mindfulness intervention composed of didactic and experiential activities during the initial session. They participated in a mindfulness practice during the Week 2 follow-up assessment and were asked to engage in 1 hr of out-of-session mindfulness meditation each week during the 4-week assessment period. Treatment outcome examined changes in frequency of binge episodes, consequences of alcohol use, readiness to change alcohol use, alcohol refusal self-efficacy, and dispositional mindfulness between groups over time. Group differences in readiness to change, self-efficacy, and dispositional mindfulness were not found from baseline to posttreatment. Four weeks after the initial intervention, the MG reported significantly less binge episodes, fewer consequences of alcohol use, higherself-efficacy and higher dispositional mindfulness than the CG. Feasibility and participant acceptability of the intervention was demonstrated by consistent attendance, low attrition and high satisfaction ratings by the MG. Results provide initial support for the efficacy of a brief, mindfulness-based intervention among college students who report binge drinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Spatial and reversal learning in the Morris water maze are largely resistant to six hours of REM sleep deprivation following training

PubMed Central

Walsh, Christine M.; Booth, Victoria; Poe, Gina R.

2011-01-01

This first test of the role of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in reversal spatial learning is also the first attempt to replicate a much cited pair of papers reporting that REM sleep deprivation impairs the consolidation of initial spatial learning in the Morris water maze. We hypothesized that REM sleep deprivation following training would impair both hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and learning a new target location within a familiar environment: reversal learning. A 6-d protocol was divided into the initial spatial learning phase (3.5 d) immediately followed by the reversal phase (2.5 d). During the 6 h following four or 12 training trials/day of initial or reversal learning phases, REM sleep was eliminated and non-REM sleep left intact using the multiple inverted flowerpot method. Contrary to our hypotheses, REM sleep deprivation during four or 12 trials/day of initial spatial or reversal learning did not affect training performance. However, some probe trial measures indicated REM sleep-deprivation–associated impairment in initial spatial learning with four trials/day and enhancement of subsequent reversal learning. In naive animals, REM sleep deprivation during normal initial spatial learning was followed by a lack of preference for the subsequent reversal platform location during the probe. Our findings contradict reports that REM sleep is essential for spatial learning in the Morris water maze and newly reveal that short periods of REM sleep deprivation do not impair concurrent reversal learning. Effects on subsequent reversal learning are consistent with the idea that REM sleep serves the consolidation of incompletely learned items. PMID:21677190

Initial development of 5D COGENT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, R. H.; Lee, W.; Dorf, M.; Dorr, M.

2015-11-01

COGENT is a continuum gyrokinetic edge code being developed by the by the Edge Simulation Laboratory (ESL) collaboration. Work to date has been primarily focussed on a 4D (axisymmetric) version that models transport properties of edge plasmas. We have begun development of an initial 5D version to study edge turbulence, with initial focus on kinetic effects on blob dynamics and drift-wave instability in a shearless magnetic field. We are employing compiler directives and preprocessor macros to create a single source code that can be compiled in 4D or 5D, which helps to ensure consistency of physics representation between the two versions. A key aspect of COGENT is the employment of mapped multi-block grid capability to handle the complexity of diverter geometry. It is planned to eventually exploit this capability to handle magnetic shear, through a series of successively skewed unsheared grid blocks. The initial version has an unsheared grid and will be used to explore the degree to which a radial domain must be block decomposed. We report on the status of code development and initial tests. Work performed for USDOE, at LLNL under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

The influence of age on perceptions of anticipated financial inadequacy by palliative radiation outpatients.

PubMed

Francoeur, Richard B

2007-12-01

A consistent body of knowledge suggests that with advancing age, adults tend to report lower financial strain from their current economic condition. But are more negative perceptions shifted onto their expectations about their future economic condition? This study of seriously ill outpatients investigates whether advancing age is related to more negative expectations of future health-related financial strain, in which illness progression would necessitate greater health care consumption. Ordinal probit multivariate regression was conducted on survey findings from 268 outpatients initiating palliative radiation for recurrent cancer. Half were retirees age>/=65. Age comparisons are reported when there was no recent work transition. As age advances (from 40 to 84), outpatients incurring low objective financial stress were more likely to reveal that their health insurance and finances would be less adequate to meet future health needs. Previously, these outpatients were reported to minimize perceptions of current financial strain as age advances. Therefore, older outpatients may cope with current circumstances by displacing perceptions of financial inadequacy onto plausible future situations of cancer progression demanding greater healthcare consumption. Financial strain may be hidden in older outpatients initiating palliative radiation. These outpatients appear at risk of foregoing appropriate healthcare. Targeted screening and advocacy are warranted.

Consistent initial conditions for the Saint-Venant equations in river network modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Cheng-Wei; Liu, Frank; Hodges, Ben R.

2017-09-01

Initial conditions for flows and depths (cross-sectional areas) throughout a river network are required for any time-marching (unsteady) solution of the one-dimensional (1-D) hydrodynamic Saint-Venant equations. For a river network modeled with several Strahler orders of tributaries, comprehensive and consistent synoptic data are typically lacking and synthetic starting conditions are needed. Because of underlying nonlinearity, poorly defined or inconsistent initial conditions can lead to convergence problems and long spin-up times in an unsteady solver. Two new approaches are defined and demonstrated herein for computing flows and cross-sectional areas (or depths). These methods can produce an initial condition data set that is consistent with modeled landscape runoff and river geometry boundary conditions at the initial time. These new methods are (1) the pseudo time-marching method (PTM) that iterates toward a steady-state initial condition using an unsteady Saint-Venant solver and (2) the steady-solution method (SSM) that makes use of graph theory for initial flow rates and solution of a steady-state 1-D momentum equation for the channel cross-sectional areas. The PTM is shown to be adequate for short river reaches but is significantly slower and has occasional non-convergent behavior for large river networks. The SSM approach is shown to provide a rapid solution of consistent initial conditions for both small and large networks, albeit with the requirement that additional code must be written rather than applying an existing unsteady Saint-Venant solver.

Production of sugarcane and tropical grasses as a renewable energy source. First quarterly report, June 1--August 31, 1977

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexander, A.G.

Research was initiated on the intensive production of sugarcane and other tropical grasses as solar-dried forages. Greenhouse experiments designed to screen candidate clones and to evaluate growth curves were the first to get underway. Chemical growth control tests were also initiated. Plant materials at this stage consist of commercial sugarcane hybrids, progeny from the AES-UPR cane breeding program, Saccharum clones from the species officinarum, spontaneum, sinense, and robustum, Erianthus clones, a commercial tropical forage grass, napier grass, and forms of S. spontaneum plus Arundo donax growing wild in Puerto Rico. Initial stages of cane breeding and progeny selection for themore » high tonnage attribute were begun during August. Foliar tissue analyses for N, P, K, S, and Si were started together-with assays for acid invertase and other components of expanding stem tissue. The first field experiment was initiated during July at the semi-arid Lajas Substation. Four clones (three sugarcane hybrids plus napier grass var. Merker) are being evaluated incident to row spacing and harvest frequency in field-plots.« less

Quantum Dynamics Study of the Isotopic Effect on Capture Reactions: HD, D2 + CH3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Dunyou; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Time-dependent wave-packet-propagation calculations are reported for the isotopic reactions, HD + CH3 and D2 + CH3, in six degrees of freedom and for zero total angular momentum. Initial state selected reaction probabilities for different initial rotational-vibrational states are presented in this study. This study shows that excitations of the HD(D2) enhances the reactivities; whereas the excitations of the CH3 umbrella mode have the opposite effects. This is consistent with the reaction of H2 + CH3. The comparison of these three isotopic reactions also shows the isotopic effects in the initial-state-selected reaction probabilities. The cumulative reaction probabilities (CRP) are obtained by summing over initial-state-selected reaction probabilities. The energy-shift approximation to account for the contribution of degrees of freedom missing in the six dimensionality calculation is employed to obtain approximate full-dimensional CRPs. The rate constant comparison shows H2 + CH3 reaction has the biggest reactivity, then HD + CH3, and D2 + CH3 has the smallest.

A quantitative assessment of patient and nurse outcomes of bedside nursing report implementation.

PubMed

Sand-Jecklin, Kari; Sherman, Jay

2014-10-01

To quantify quantitative outcomes of a practice change to a blended form of bedside nursing report. The literature identifies several benefits of bedside nursing shift report. However, published studies have not adequately quantified outcomes related to this process change, having either small or unreported sample sizes or not testing for statistical significance. Quasi-experimental pre- and postimplementation design. Seven medical-surgical units in a large university hospital implemented a blend of recorded and bedside nursing report. Outcomes monitored included patient and nursing satisfaction, patient falls, nursing overtime and medication errors. We found statistically significant improvements postimplementation in four patient survey items specifically impacted by the change to bedside report. Nursing perceptions of report were significantly improved in the areas of patient safety and involvement in care and nurse accountability postimplementation. However, there was a decline in nurse perception that report took a reasonable amount of time after bedside report implementation; contrary to these perceptions, there was no significant increase in nurse overtime. Patient falls at shift change decreased substantially after the implementation of bedside report. An intervening variable during the study period invalidated the comparison of medication errors pre- and postintervention. There was some indication from both patients and nurses that bedside report was not always consistently implemented. Several positive outcomes were documented in relation to the implementation of a blended bedside shift report, with few drawbacks. Nurse attitudes about report at the final data collection were more positive than at the initial postimplementation data collection. If properly implemented, nursing bedside report can result in improved patient and nursing satisfaction and patient safety outcomes. However, managers should involve staff nurses in the implementation process and continue to monitor consistency in report format as well as satisfaction with the process. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Self-reported substance use and sexual behaviors among adolescents in a rural state.

PubMed

Dunn, Michael S; Ilapogu, Varaprasad; Taylor, LaShan; Naney, C; Blackwell, Roger; Wilder, Regina; Givens, C

2008-11-01

Research finds a strong association between substance use and risky sexual behavior but more needs to be known about this relationship. Few studies have examined this relationship among rural sixth- to eighth-grade students. As such, the purposes of this study were to provide a descriptive profile of rural sixth- to eighth-grade students' substance use behavior and sexual activity and to examine the relationship between substance use behaviors and sexual activity. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 10,273 middle school students (sixth to eighth grade) attending 10 public schools in rural Tennessee. The middle school Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to these students during April and May 2004. Analysis found that a large percentage of students had tried cigarettes, alcohol, and inhalants. Additionally, it was found that sexual intercourse had been initiated by 18.8% of females and 25.4% of males. Of those students who reported ever having had sexual intercourse, 75% had reported the use of cigarettes and alcohol. In addition, approximately 50% of those students reported marijuana and inhalant use. The results suggest that substance use behavior has a relationship with the likelihood of initiating sexual activity. Additional longitudinal research with this population will be needed for explaining whether these select substance use behaviors are probable risk factors predisposing young rural adolescents to report engaging in sexual behaviors or a result of other factors.

Occurrence of a 'bad' split and success of initial mandibular healing: a review of 524 sagittal ramus osteotomies in 262 patients.

PubMed

Posnick, J C; Choi, E; Liu, S

2016-10-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of a 'bad' split after sagittal ramus osteotomies (SRO) and report the results of initial mandibular healing. A retrospective cohort study derived from patients treated by a single surgeon at one institution between 2004 and 2013 was performed. An index group consisting of a series of subjects with a spectrum of bimaxillary dentofacial deformities also involving the chin and symptomatic chronic obstructive nasal breathing was identified. The SRO design, bicortical screw fixation technique, and perioperative management were consistent. Outcome variables included the occurrence of a 'bad' split and the success of initial SRO healing. Two hundred sixty-two subjects undergoing 524 SROs met the inclusion criteria. Their average age was 25 years (range 13-63 years) and 134 were female (51%). Simultaneous removal of a third molar was performed during 209 of the SROs (40%). There were no 'bad' splits. All subjects achieved successful bone union, the planned occlusion, and return to a chewing diet and physical activities by 5 weeks after surgery. The presence of a third molar removed during SRO was not associated with an increased frequency of a 'bad' split or delayed mandibular healing. Copyright © 2016 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Initial results utilizing combination therapy for patients with a suboptimal response to either alprostadil or sildenafil monotherapy.

PubMed

Mydlo, J H; Volpe, M A; Macchia, R J

2000-07-01

Intraurethral alprostadil and oral sildenafil are useful in selected patients. However, there continues to be a significant treatment failure rate. Since their mechanisms of action are different, we wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of combination therapy. Of 214 patients treated for erectile dysfunction (ED), 65 were not fully satisfied with the firmness of their erections via monotherapy. Responses were evaluated using the International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire before and after treatment. Group I consisted of 33 patients who tried maximal dose intraurethral alprostadil monotherapy initially, followed by the maximal dose of sildenafil monotherapy, and were still unsatisfied. Group II consisted of 32 patients who tried the maximal dose sildenafil monotherapy initially, followed by the maximal dose of alprostadil monotherapy, and were also unsatisfied. There 65 patients then underwent combination therapy. 60 out of the 65 patients stated they were satisfied with combination therapy. Questionnaire scores for erectile function were 23.1+/-2.0 (114%) for combination therapy vs. 19.2+/-1.8 (77%) and 15.2+/-1.6 (41%) for sildenafil and alprostadil monotherapies (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in responses between the two groups. The men also reported improvement in intercourse and overall satisfaction. Combination therapy may be an option for motivated patients who have a suboptimal response from monotherapy.

Logistical considerations for establishing reliable surgical telementoring programs: a report of the SAGES Project 6 Logistics Working Group.

PubMed

Camacho, Diego R; Schlachta, Christopher M; Serrano, Oscar K; Nguyen, Ninh T

2018-03-30

Surgical telementoring programs (STMPs) as educational tools have consistently demonstrated success in the training of surgeons in a variety of surgical disciplines. The goal of an STMP is to train and educate practicing surgeons by improving or remediating surgical skills or assisting in the safe adoption of new procedures. STMPs may even have a role in assisting with recertification. In 2015, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) launched the SAGES Telementoring Initiative at the Project 6 Summit. Herein, we provide a report on the SAGES Project 6 Logistics working group and lay out a plan for the recommended logistical framework to carry out an STMP.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Adherence with Short-Term HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in Female Sexual Partners of Migrant Miners in Mozambique.

PubMed

Lahuerta, Maria; Zerbe, Allison; Baggaley, Rachel; Falcao, Joana; Ahoua, Laurence; DiMattei, Pietro; Morales, Fernando; Ramiro, Isaias; El-Sadr, Wafaa M

2017-12-01

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) offers protection from HIV acquisition if taken as prescribed. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence with short-term PrEP among female sexual partners of migrant miners in Mozambique. HIV-negative female sexual partners of migrant miners were offered daily tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for 6 weeks concurrent with miners' return home. Study visits occurred at baseline, week 4, 6, and 8. Dried blood spots (DBSs) were collected at week 4 and 6. Seventy-four women (median age: 42 years) were enrolled, 95% reported having 1 sexual partner and 80% reported never or rarely using condoms. At baseline, 41% had never tested for HIV; 65% were unaware of partners' HIV status. Of all women, 72 (97%) initiated PrEP, 7 (9%) discontinued PrEP before week 6; only 1 due to adverse events. Missed doses in the last week were self-reported by 8% and 3% of women at week 4 and 6, respectively. Of 66 (89%) women with DBS at week 4, 79% had detectable tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) and 44% had levels consistent with ≥4 pills/wk (≥700 fmol/punch). Of 63 (88%) women with DBS at week 6, 76% had detectable TFV-DP and 42% had levels consistent with ≥4 pills/wk. In this first study assessing the use of short-term PrEP, a high percent of female partners of migrant workers initiated PrEP and had detectable DP levels during follow-up. Further efforts are needed to enhance adherence to ensure protection from HIV acquisition. Short-term PrEP offers promise for populations who are at high risk of HIV during specific periods of time.

Redetermination of the Sm-Nd Age and Initial (Epsilon)Nd of Lunar Troctolite 76535: Implications for Lunar Crustal Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nyquist, Laurence E.; Shih, C.-Y.; Reese, Y. D.

2012-01-01

Lunar troctolite 76535 is an old lunar rock predating the era of the lunar cataclysmic bombardment, but its radiometrially determined ages have been discordant [1-3]. The most recent multi-chronometer study [4] gave preferred ages of 4226+/-35 Ma and 4236+/-15 Ma from a Pb-207/Pb-206 isochron and an U-Pb upper concordia intercept, resp. We derive an age of 4323+/-64 Ma from Sm-Nd data reported by [4] for the bulk rock and three mineral separates. They derived an age of approx.4.38 Ga from combined Rb-Sr data [3,4] by omitting data for olivine separates. Ar-39-Ar-40 ages of approx.4.2 Ga are summarized by [5]. New Sm-147-Nd-143 data presented here give an age of 4335+/-71 Ma in agreement with the Sm-Nd age from [4], whereas Sm-146-Nd-142 data give a model age T(sub LEW) = 4439+/-22 Ma. Further, initial (Epsilon)Nd-143 for 76535 conforms to the Nd-143 evolution expected in an urKREEP [6] reservoir, consistent with inheritance of urKREEP Sm-Nd systematics via assimilation. We show that urKREEP Sm-Nd systematics require the lunar initial (Epsilon)Nd-143 to exceed the Chondritic Uniform Reservoir (CHUR) value [7], but are consistent with evolution from initial (Epsilon)Nd-143 like that of the HED meteorite parent body as defined by a 4557+/-20 Ma internal isochron for the cumulate eucrites Y-980433 and Y- 980318 [8].

Truth or consequences: the intertemporal consistency of adolescent self-report on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

PubMed

Rosenbaum, Janet E

2009-06-01

Surveys are the primary information source about adolescents' health risk behaviors, but adolescents may not report their behaviors accurately. Survey data are used for formulating adolescent health policy, and inaccurate data can cause mistakes in policy creation and evaluation. The author used test-retest data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (United States, 2000) to compare adolescents' responses to 72 questions about their risk behaviors at a 2-week interval. Each question was evaluated for prevalence change and 3 measures of unreliability: inconsistency (retraction and apparent initiation), agreement measured as tetrachoric correlation, and estimated error due to inconsistency assessed with a Bayesian method. Results showed that adolescents report their sex, drug, alcohol, and tobacco histories more consistently than other risk behaviors in a 2-week period, opposite their tendency over longer intervals. Compared with other Youth Risk Behavior Survey topics, most sex, drug, alcohol, and tobacco items had stable prevalence estimates, higher average agreement, and lower estimated measurement error. Adolescents reported their weight control behaviors more unreliably than other behaviors, particularly problematic because of the increased investment in adolescent obesity research and reliance on annual surveys for surveillance and policy evaluation. Most weight control items had unstable prevalence estimates, lower average agreement, and greater estimated measurement error than other topics.

Tools for Nonlinear Control Systems Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sastry, S. S.

1997-01-01

This is a brief statement of the research progress made on Grant NAG2-243 titled "Tools for Nonlinear Control Systems Design", which ran from 1983 till December 1996. The initial set of PIs on the grant were C. A. Desoer, E. L. Polak and myself (for 1983). From 1984 till 1991 Desoer and I were the Pls and finally I was the sole PI from 1991 till the end of 1996. The project has been an unusually longstanding and extremely fruitful partnership, with many technical exchanges, visits, workshops and new avenues of investigation begun on this grant. There were student visits, long term.visitors on the grant and many interesting joint projects. In this final report I will only give a cursory description of the technical work done on the grant, since there was a tradition of annual progress reports and a proposal for the succeeding year. These progress reports cum proposals are attached as Appendix A to this report. Appendix B consists of papers by me and my students as co-authors sorted chronologically. When there are multiple related versions of a paper, such as a conference version and journal version they are listed together. Appendix C consists of papers by Desoer and his students as well as 'solo' publications by other researchers supported on this grant similarly chronologically sorted.

Late post-treatment radiographic changes 3 years following chemoradiation for glioma: the importance of histopathology.

PubMed

Galante, Joao R; Rodriguez, Fausto; Grossman, Stuart A; Strowd, Roy E

2017-07-18

Treatment-related changes can mimic brain tumor progression both clinically and radiographically. Distinguishing these two entities represents a major challenge in neuro-oncology. No single imaging modality is capable of reliably achieving such distinction. While histopathology remains the gold standard, definitive pathological criteria are also lacking which can further complicate such cases. We report a patient with high-grade glioma who, after initially presenting with histopathologically confirmed pseudoprogression 10 months following treatment, re-presented 3 years following concurrent chemoradiation with clinical and radiographic changes that were most consistent with progressive disease but for which histopathology revealed treatment effects without active glioma. This case highlights the potential late onset of treatment-related changes and underscores the importance of histopathologic assessment even years following initial therapy.

[Life styles in adolescence: sexual behavior of Portuguese adolescents].

PubMed

Ferreira, Maria Margarida da Silva Reis Dos Santos; Torgal, Maria Constança Leite de Freitas Paúl Reis

2011-06-01

Recent studies have shown that adolescents have initiated their sex lives earlier and earlier, without, however, receiving consistent sex education. The objectives of this study were to analyze the sexual behavior of adolescent high school students and identify the habits of sexual health in sexually active adolescent high school students. An exploratory study was conducted with 680 adolescents, whose age ranged between 15 and 19 years. Results showed that most participants had not initiated their sex life; boys are those who most report having had sexual relations; not all the interviewed adolescents used condoms during sex; most adolescents do not practice sexual health surveillance. It is important for sexually active adolescents to receive health care and counseling. Health institutions and their workers must be proactive in trying to approach adolescents.

NASA/Drexel program. [research effort in large-scale technical programs management for application to urban problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

The results are reported of the NASA/Drexel research effort which was conducted in two separate phases. The initial phase stressed exploration of the problem from the point of view of three primary research areas and the building of a multidisciplinary team. The final phase consisted of a clinical demonstration program in which the research associates consulted with the County Executive of New Castle County, Delaware, to aid in solving actual problems confronting the County Government. The three primary research areas of the initial phase are identified as technology, management science, and behavioral science. Five specific projects which made up the research effort are treated separately. A final section contains the conclusions drawn from total research effort as well as from the specific projects.

Perceptions of job stress.

PubMed

Dearmun, A K

1998-01-01

The experiences of the first graduate children's nurses to qualify on Part 15 of the UKCC Register were drawn on for this study. The literature shows that stress is more prevalent in newly qualified staff nurses. In order to provide optimum support, awareness of the particular factors that create stress at this time is vital. There was a chronological dimension to the stress experience of the children's nurses', which began with an initial feeling of survival and ended with a sense of equilibrium. Situations which would have initially evoked stress were no longer perceived as stressful as their confidence grew. Towards the end of the year, any specific stressful events were associated with increased managerial responsibilities or beginning a new job. The nurses consistently reported increased stress when dealing with a number of specific situations.

Trajectories of Social Withdrawal from Grades 1 to 6: Prediction from Early Parenting, Attachment, and Temperament

PubMed Central

Booth-LaForce, Cathryn; Oxford, Monica L.

2015-01-01

From 1092 children in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we identified three trajectory patterns of social withdrawal from teacher reports in Grades 1-6: A Normative consistently low group (86%); a Decreasing group (5%) with initially high withdrawal that decreased; and an Increasing group (9%) with initially low withdrawal that increased. Prediction models supported the role of early dysregulated temperament, insensitive parenting, and attachment. Preschool shy temperament was a specific pathway to decreasing withdrawal, and poor inhibitory control, to increasing withdrawal. Children on the increasing pathway were more lonely, solitary, and excluded by peers. Results suggest differentiated pathways to varying trajectories of social withdrawal and highlight the importance of identification of longitudinal patterns in relation to risk. PMID:18793064

Correlates of willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis and anticipation of practicing safer drug- and sex-related behaviors among high-risk drug users on methadone treatment.

PubMed

Shrestha, Roman; Karki, Pramila; Altice, Frederick L; Huedo-Medina, Tania B; Meyer, Jaimie P; Madden, Lynn; Copenhaver, Michael

2017-04-01

Although people who use drugs (PWUD) are key populations recommended to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV, few data are available to guide PrEP delivery in this underserved group. We therefore examined the willingness to initiate PrEP and the anticipation of HIV risk reduction while on PrEP among high-risk PWUD. In a cross-sectional study of 400 HIV-negative, opioid dependent persons enrolled in a methadone program and reporting recent risk behaviors, we examined independent correlates of being willing to initiate PrEP. While only 72 (18%) were aware of PrEP, after being given a description of it, 251 (62.7%) were willing to initiate PrEP. This outcome was associated with having neurocognitive impairment (aOR=3.184, p=0.004) and higher perceived HIV risk (aOR=8.044, p<0.001). Among those willing to initiate PrEP, only 12.5% and 28.2%, respectively, indicated that they would always use condoms and not share injection equipment while on PrEP. Consistent condom use was associated with higher income (aOR=8.315, p=0.016), always using condoms with casual partners (aOR=6.597, p=0.001), and inversely associated with ongoing drug injection (aOR=0.323, p=0.027). Consistent safe injection, however, was inversely associated with age (aOR=0.948, p=0.035), ongoing drug injection (aOR=0.342, p<0.001), and perceived HIV risk (aOR=0.191, p=0.019). While willingness to initiate PrEP was high and correlated with being at elevated risk for HIV, anticipated higher risk behaviors in this group even while on PrEP suggests that the next generation of HIV prevention approaches may need to combine biomedical and behavioral components to sustain HIV risk reduction over time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Standards to support information systems integration in anatomic pathology.

PubMed

Daniel, Christel; García Rojo, Marcial; Bourquard, Karima; Henin, Dominique; Schrader, Thomas; Della Mea, Vincenzo; Gilbertson, John; Beckwith, Bruce A

2009-11-01

Integrating anatomic pathology information- text and images-into electronic health care records is a key challenge for enhancing clinical information exchange between anatomic pathologists and clinicians. The aim of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) international initiative is precisely to ensure interoperability of clinical information systems by using existing widespread industry standards such as Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) and Health Level Seven (HL7). To define standard-based informatics transactions to integrate anatomic pathology information to the Healthcare Enterprise. We used the methodology of the IHE initiative. Working groups from IHE, HL7, and DICOM, with special interest in anatomic pathology, defined consensual technical solutions to provide end-users with improved access to consistent information across multiple information systems. The IHE anatomic pathology technical framework describes a first integration profile, "Anatomic Pathology Workflow," dedicated to the diagnostic process including basic image acquisition and reporting solutions. This integration profile relies on 10 transactions based on HL7 or DICOM standards. A common specimen model was defined to consistently identify and describe specimens in both HL7 and DICOM transactions. The IHE anatomic pathology working group has defined standard-based informatics transactions to support the basic diagnostic workflow in anatomic pathology laboratories. In further stages, the technical framework will be completed to manage whole-slide images and semantically rich structured reports in the diagnostic workflow and to integrate systems used for patient care and those used for research activities (such as tissue bank databases or tissue microarrayers).

Improving the availability of clinical history accompanying radiographic examinations in a large pediatric radiology department.

PubMed

Hawkins, C Matthew; Anton, Christopher G; Bankes, Wendy M; Leach, Alan D; Zeno, Michael J; Pryor, Rebecca M; Larson, David B

2014-04-01

The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to improve the consistency with which radiologists are provided a complete clinical history when interpreting radiography examinations performed in the outpatient and emergency department settings. The clinical history was considered complete if it contained three elements: nature of the symptoms, description of injury, or cause for clinical concern; duration of symptoms or time of injury; and focal site of pain or abnormality, if applicable. This was reduced to three elements: "what-when-where." A goal was established that 95% of the clinical histories should contain all three elements. To achieve this goal, technologists supplemented referring clinicians' history. The project was divided into four phases: launch, support, transition to sustainability, and maintenance. During the support phase, results of automated weekly audits automatically populated group-level performance reports. During the transition to the sustainability phase, audit results populated individual-level performance reports. During the maintenance phase, quarterly audit results were incorporated into technologists' employee performance goals. Before initiation of the project, 38% (76/200) of radiography examinations were accompanied by a complete clinical history. This increased to 92% (928/1006) by the end of the 15-week improvement phase. Performance was sustained at 96% (1168/1213) 7 months later [corrected]. By clearly defining expectations for an appropriate clinical history and establishing system and organizational mechanisms to facilitate verifiable compliance, we were able to successfully and sustainably improve the consistency with which radiography examinations were accompanied by a complete clinical history.

Registered report: the androgen receptor induces a distinct transcriptional program in castration-resistant prostate cancer in man

PubMed Central

Chronscinski, Denise; Cherukeri, Srujana; Tan, Fraser; Lomax, Joelle; Iorns, Elizabeth

2015-01-01

The Prostate Cancer Foundation-Movember Foundation Reproducibility Initiative (PCFMFRI) seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of recent papers in the field of prostate cancer. This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from “The Androgen Receptor Induces a Distinct Transcriptional Program in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in Man” by Sharma and colleagues (2013), published in Cancer Cell in 2013. Of thousands of targets for the androgen receptor (AR), the authors elucidated a subset of 16 core genes that were consistently downregulated with castration and re-emerged with castration resistance. These 16 AR binding sites were distinct from those observed in cells in culture. The authors suggested that cellular context can have dramatic effects on downstream transcriptional regulation of AR binding sites. The present study will attempt to replicate Fig. 7C by comparing gene expression of the 16 core genes identified by Sharma and colleagues in xenograft tumor tissue compared to androgen treated LNCaP cells in vitro. The Prostate Cancer Foundation-Movember Foundation Reproducibility Initiative is a collaboration between the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Movember Initiative, and Science Exchange, and the results of the replications will be published by PeerJ. PMID:26401447

Cell death pathways associated with PDT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kessel, David; Reiners, John J., Jr.

2006-02-01

Photodynamic therapy leads to both direct and indirect tumor cell death. The latter also involves the consequences of vascular shut-down and immunologic effects. While these factors are a major factor in tumor eradication, there is usually an element of direct cell killing that can reduce the cell population by as much as 2-3 logs. Necrosis was initially believed to represent the predominant PDT death mechanism. An apoptotic response to PDT was first reported by Oleinick in 1991, using a sensitizer that targets the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Apoptosis leads to fragmentation of DNA and of cells into apoptotic bodies that are removed by phagocytosis. Inflammatory effects are minimized, and the auto- catalytic elements of the process can amplify the death signal. In this study, we examined consequences of Bcl-2 photodamage by a porphycene sensitizer that targets the ER and causes photodamage to the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Death patterns after Bcl-2 inactivation by a small-molecular antagonist were also assessed. In addition to apoptosis, we also characterized a hitherto undescribed PDT effect, the initiation of autophagy. Autophagy was initially identified as a cell survival pathway, allowing the recycling of components as nutrients become scarce. We propose that autophagy can also represent both a potential survival pathway after PDT damage to cellular organelles, as well as a cell-death pathway. Recent literature reports indicate that autophagy, as well as apoptosis, can be evoked after down-regulation of Bcl-2, a result consistent with results reported here.

Model-driven approach to data collection and reporting for quality improvement

PubMed Central

Curcin, Vasa; Woodcock, Thomas; Poots, Alan J.; Majeed, Azeem; Bell, Derek

2014-01-01

Continuous data collection and analysis have been shown essential to achieving improvement in healthcare. However, the data required for local improvement initiatives are often not readily available from hospital Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems or not routinely collected. Furthermore, improvement teams are often restricted in time and funding thus requiring inexpensive and rapid tools to support their work. Hence, the informatics challenge in healthcare local improvement initiatives consists of providing a mechanism for rapid modelling of the local domain by non-informatics experts, including performance metric definitions, and grounded in established improvement techniques. We investigate the feasibility of a model-driven software approach to address this challenge, whereby an improvement model designed by a team is used to automatically generate required electronic data collection instruments and reporting tools. To that goal, we have designed a generic Improvement Data Model (IDM) to capture the data items and quality measures relevant to the project, and constructed Web Improvement Support in Healthcare (WISH), a prototype tool that takes user-generated IDM models and creates a data schema, data collection web interfaces, and a set of live reports, based on Statistical Process Control (SPC) for use by improvement teams. The software has been successfully used in over 50 improvement projects, with more than 700 users. We present in detail the experiences of one of those initiatives, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease project in Northwest London hospitals. The specific challenges of improvement in healthcare are analysed and the benefits and limitations of the approach are discussed. PMID:24874182

Sexual harassment in the Chinese workplace. Attitudes toward and experiences of sexual harassment among workers in Taiwan.

PubMed

Luo, T Y

1996-09-01

This study, with the use of a questionnaire survey method, examined the characteristics of sexual harassment experiences and the dynamics of the attitudes toward sexual harassment among male and female workers in Taipei. An occupationally representative sample of male and female workers was recruited to participate in the survey. The findings showed that 1 in 4 workers in Taipei experienced some sort of sexual harassment in the workplace, 36% (n = 493) of the surveyed women and 13% (n = 415) of the surveyed men reported experiencing workplace sexual harassment. The most frequently reported type of sexual harassment was unwanted sexual jokes/comments, followed by unwanted deliberate body contact, and unwanted requests/pressure for a date. The major source of sexual harassment came from coworkers of the opposite sex. Majority of the alleged victims attributed their sexual harassment incident to insensitivity of the initiator. In being consistent with previous research, the study established three attitudinal models toward sexual harassment among Chinese workers: the victim-blame/trivialization model, the natural/biological explanation, and the power/manipulation model. The study found no consistent relationship between the self-rated attitudes toward sexual harassment and the self-reported sexual harassment experiences.

Earth observing system. Output data products and input requirements, version 2.0. Volume 1: Instrument data product characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, Yun-Chi; Chang, Hyo Duck; Krupp, Brian; Kumar, Ravindra; Swaroop, Anand

1992-01-01

Information on Earth Observing System (EOS) output data products and input data requirements that has been compiled by the Science Processing Support Office (SPSO) at GSFC is presented. Since Version 1.0 of the SPSO Report was released in August 1991, there have been significant changes in the EOS program. In anticipation of a likely budget cut for the EOS Project, NASA HQ restructured the EOS program. An initial program consisting of two large platforms was replaced by plans for multiple, smaller platforms, and some EOS instruments were either deselected or descoped. Updated payload information reflecting the restructured EOS program superseding the August 1991 version of the SPSO report is included. This report has been expanded to cover information on non-EOS data products, and consists of three volumes (Volumes 1, 2, and 3). Volume 1 provides information on instrument outputs and input requirements. Volume 2 is devoted to Interdisciplinary Science (IDS) outputs and input requirements, including the 'best' and 'alternative' match analysis. Volume 3 provides information about retrieval algorithms, non-EOS input requirements of instrument teams and IDS investigators, and availability of non-EOS data products at seven primary Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC's).

Crystallization and initial crystallographic characterization of the Corynebacterium glutamicum nitrilotriacetate monooxygenase component A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Kyung-Jin, E-mail: kkj@postech.ac.kr; Kim, Sujin; Lee, Sujin

2006-11-01

The Corynebacterium glutamicum NTA monooxygenase component A protein, which plays the central role in NTA biodegradation, was crystallized. The initial X-ray crystallographic characterization is reported. Safety and environmental concerns have recently dictated the proper disposal of nitrilotriacetate (NTA). Biodegradation of NTA is initiated by NTA monooxygenase, which is composed of two proteins: component A and component B. The NTA monooxygenase component A protein from Corynebacterium glutamicum was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 2.5 Å on a synchrotron beamline. The crystalmore » belongs to the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 111.04, b = 98.51, c = 171.61 Å, β = 101.94°. The asymmetric unit consists of four molecules, corresponding to a packing density of 2.3 Å{sup 3} Da{sup −1}. The structure was solved by molecular replacement. Structure refinement is in progress.« less

Posttraumatic cognitions and posttraumatic stress symptoms among war-affected children: a cross-lagged analysis.

PubMed

Palosaari, Esa; Punamäki, Raija-Leena; Diab, Marwan; Qouta, Samir

2013-08-01

In a longitudinal study of war-affected children, we tested, first, whether posttraumatic cognitions (PTCs) mediated the relationship between initial and later posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). Second, we analyzed the relative strength of influences that PTCs and PTSSs have on each other in cross-lagged models of levels and latent change scores. The participants were 240 Palestinian children 10-12 years of age, reporting PTSSs and PTCs measures at 3, 5, and 11 months after a major war. Results show that PTCs did not mediate between initial and later PTSSs. The levels and changes in PTCs statistically significantly predicted later levels and changes in PTSSs, but PTSSs did not statistically significantly predict later PTCs. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that PTCs have a central role in the development and maintenance of PTSSs over time, but they do not support the hypothesis that initial PTSSs develop to chronic PTSSs through negative PTCs. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Fertility Preservation for Transgender Adolescents.

PubMed

Chen, Diane; Simons, Lisa; Johnson, Emilie K; Lockart, Barbara A; Finlayson, Courtney

2017-07-01

To describe fertility preservation (FP) utilization by transgender adolescents within a pediatric gender clinic between July 2013 and July 2016. A retrospective chart review was conducted to abstract demographic and clinical information among adolescents initiating gender-affirming hormones, including patient age at initial FP consultation, birth-assigned sex, race/ethnicity, and outcome of FP consultation. In our sample of 105 transgender adolescents, a total of 13 (seven transgender men and six transgender women) between the age of 14.2 and 20.6 years were seen in formal consultation for FP before initiating hormones. Of these adolescents, four completed sperm cryopreservation and one completed oocyte cryopreservation. Rates of FP utilization among transgender youth were low, which is consistent with a recently published report of FP utilization among transgender youth at another pediatric institution. Identified barriers to FP in our sample included cost, invasiveness of procedures, and desire not to delay medical transition. Copyright © 2017 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The clinician rating of adult communication (CRAC): a clinician's guide to the assessment of interpersonal communication skill.

PubMed

Basco, M R; Birchler, G R; Kalal, B; Talbott, R; Slater, M A

1991-05-01

This paper reports the results of an initial investigation of the psychometric properties of a new clinical marital communication assessment instrument, the Clinician Rating of Adult Communication (CRAC). The sample consisted of 36 marital communication samples from both maritally satisfied and distressed couples. Reliability results indicated that the CRAC demonstrated high levels of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and interrater agreement. Support for the validity of the CRAC was found in its correspondence with a marital interaction coding system, its relationship to ratings of marital satisfaction, and its concordance with couples' perceptions of their conflict management behavior. Overall, these findings support the conclusion that the CRAC may provide a useful addition to the measurement armamentarium of the marital clinician and researcher.

Observations of ejecta clouds produced by impacts onto Saturn's rings.

PubMed

Tiscareno, Matthew S; Mitchell, Colin J; Murray, Carl D; Di Nino, Daiana; Hedman, Matthew M; Schmidt, Jürgen; Burns, Joseph A; Cuzzi, Jeffrey N; Porco, Carolyn C; Beurle, Kevin; Evans, Michael W

2013-04-26

We report observations of dusty clouds in Saturn's rings, which we interpret as resulting from impacts onto the rings that occurred between 1 and 50 hours before the clouds were observed. The largest of these clouds was observed twice; its brightness and cant angle evolved in a manner consistent with this hypothesis. Several arguments suggest that these clouds cannot be due to the primary impact of one solid meteoroid onto the rings, but rather are due to the impact of a compact stream of Saturn-orbiting material derived from previous breakup of a meteoroid. The responsible interplanetary meteoroids were initially between 1 centimeter and several meters in size, and their influx rate is consistent with the sparse prior knowledge of smaller meteoroids in the outer solar system.

Cryogenic thermal control technology summaries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stark, J. A.; Leonhard, K. E.; Bennett, F. O., Jr.

1974-01-01

A summarization and categorization is presented of the pertinent literature associated with cryogenic thermal control technology having potential application to in-orbit fluid transfer systems and/or associated space storage. Initially, a literature search was conducted to obtain pertinent documents for review. Reports determined to be of primary significance were summarized in detail. Each summary, where applicable, consists of; (1) report identification, (2) objective(s) of the work, (3) description of pertinent work performed, (4)major results, and (5) comments of the reviewer (GD/C). Specific areas covered are; (1) multilayer insulation of storage tanks with and without vacuum jacketing, (2) other insulation such as foams, shadow shields, microspheres, honeycomb, vent cooling and composites, (3) vacuum jacketed and composite fluid lines, and (4) low conductive tank supports and insulation penetrations. Reports which were reviewed and not summarized, along with reasons for not summarizing, are also listed.

Report of the First National Lidar Initiative Meeting, February 14-16, Reston, Va.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stoker, Jason M.; Parrish, Jay; Gisclair, David; Harding, David; Haugerud, Ralph; Flood, Martin; Andersen, Hans-Erik; Schuckman, Karen; Maune, David; Rooney, Paul; Waters, Kirk; Habib, Ayman; Wiggins, Eddie; Ellingson, Bryon; Jones, Benjamin M.; Nechero, Steve; Nayegandhi, Amar; Saultz, Tim; Lee, George

2007-01-01

The first National Lidar Initiative meeting was held on February 14-16, 2007 at the USGS National Center in Reston, Virginia. This meeting was a successor to a meeting held September 12, 2006 of several agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). During the 2006 discussion, the USGS presented a plan to organize a meeting to discuss the feasibility and strategy of a National Lidar Initiative. Originally scheduled as a workshop to be held in June, 2007, the meeting was moved up to February to accommodate the desire of AASG to have talking points available at their Annual Meeting in March, 2007. The original workshop was recast as a meeting of representatives from Federal, State, and local government, and from private industry, to formulate a national initiative with the goal of collecting high resolution, high accuracy light detection and ranging (lidar) data for all 50 states. The goals of the National Lidar Initiative meeting were to: 1) Identify government staff with all scales of applications who are willing to help devise a potential national strategy and communicate the initiative throughout the lidar community. 2) Identify points of contact for future meetings, information exchanges, and design teams. 3) Compose a document explaining the need of a consistent national lidar dataset. 4) Identify champions of this idea who would be willing to work toward funding this effort. This report is intended to summarize the views expressed by the invited speakers and the participant's discussions on a National Lidar Initiative. It is not intended to be a comprehensive document on the technical aspects of lidar, what lidar can be used for, or the state of the art in lidar technology, although many of these aspects do come through in the views of the presenters.

Comparative effectiveness of antihypertensive therapeutic classes and treatment strategies in the initiation of therapy in primary care patients: a Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet) study.

PubMed

Bronsert, Michael R; Henderson, William G; Valuck, Robert; Hosokawa, Patrick; Hammermeister, Karl

2013-01-01

Few comparative effectiveness studies of treatment strategies using antihypertensive therapeutic classes in hypertension control have been assessed in a primary care environment. The objectives are to compare the effectiveness of common antihypertensive therapeutic classes initiated as monotherapy and of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), free-equivalent combinations (FECs), and monotherapy on hypertension control. This article reports observational comparative effectiveness analyses of data electronically extracted from electronic health records. The study population consisted of 8,676 patients with an incident prescription for an antihypertensive agent of a total of 79,176 patients receiving antihypertensive therapy in 33 geographically diverse primary care clinics. The main measures were reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and rates of attaining goals per the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7). There were small, clinically insignificant differences in blood pressure reductions between the monotherapy classes. Higher rates of blood pressure control were obtained when patients were initiated on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor than a thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic (47.8% vs 39.9%) or a β-blocker versus a thiazide (45.9% vs 39.9%). Patients initiated on FDCs had significantly larger reductions in blood pressure than patients initiated on FECs (-17.3 vs -12.0 mm Hg SBP; -10.1 vs -6.0 mm Hg DBP) or monotherapy (-17.3 vs -13.6 mm Hg SBP; -10.1 vs -7.9 mm Hg DBP). Rates of attaining JNC7 goals also were better for FDCs than FECs (57.2% vs 42.5%) and for FDCs versus monotherapy (57.2% vs 44.9%). Patients initiated on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and β-blockers had slightly higher rates of blood pressure control. The use of FDCs as initial therapy is more effective in the control of hypertension than monotherapy or FECs.

Changes in Patient Sorting to Nursing Homes under Public Reporting: Improved Patient Matching or Provider Gaming?

PubMed Central

Werner, Rachel M; Konetzka, R Tamara; Stuart, Elizabeth A; Polsky, Daniel

2011-01-01

Objective To test whether public reporting in the setting of postacute care in nursing homes results in changes in patient sorting. Data Sources/Study Setting All postacute care admissions from 2001 to 2003 in the nursing home Minimum Data Set. Study Design We test changes in patient sorting (or the changes in the illness severity of patients going to high- versus low-scoring facilities) when public reporting was initiated in nursing homes in 2002. We test for changes in sorting with respect to pain, delirium, and walking and then examine the potential roles of cream skimming and downcoding in changes in patient sorting. We use a difference-in-differences framework, taking advantage of the variation in the launch of public reporting in pilot and nonpilot states, to control for underlying trends in patient sorting. Principal Findings There was a significant change in patient sorting with respect to pain after public reporting was initiated, with high-risk patients being more likely to go to high-scoring facilities and low-risk patients more likely to go to low-scoring facilities. There was also an overall decrease in patient risk of pain with the launch of public reporting, which may be consistent with changes in documentation of pain levels (or downcoding). There was no significant change in sorting for delirium or walking. Conclusions Public reporting of nursing home quality improves matching of high-risk patients to high-quality facilities. However, efforts should be made to reduce the incentives for downcoding by nursing facilities. PMID:21105869

Quality of care in patients with psoriasis: an initial clinical study of an international disease management programme.

PubMed

de Korte, J; Van Onselen, J; Kownacki, S; Sprangers, M A G; Bos, J D

2005-01-01

Patients with psoriasis have to cope with their disease for many years or even throughout their entire life. To provide optimal care, a disease management programme was developed. This programme consisted of disease education, disease management training, and psychological support, together with topical treatment. To test a disease management programme in dermatological practice, to assess patients' satisfaction with this programme, and adherence to topical treatment. Additionally, disease severity and quality of life were assessed. An initial clinical investigation was conducted in 10 European treatment centres. A total of 330 patients were included. Patient satisfaction, adherence, disease severity and quality of life were measured with study-specific and standardized self-report questionnaires. Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the programme, and a high degree of adherence to topical treatment. Disease severity and quality of life significantly improved. The programme was well received by the participating professionals. The disease management programme was found to be a useful tool in the management of psoriasis, providing patients with relief from the burden of psoriasis in everyday life. A full-scale evaluation is recommended.

The Public Health Information Network (PHIN) Preparedness Initiative

PubMed Central

Loonsk, John W.; McGarvey, Sunanda R.; Conn, Laura A.; Johnson, Jennifer

2006-01-01

The Public Health Information Network (PHIN) Preparedness initiative strives to implement, on an accelerated pace, a consistent national network of information systems that will support public health in being prepared for public health emergencies. Using the principles and practices of the broader PHIN initiative, PHIN Preparedness concentrates in the short term on ensuring that all public health jurisdictions have, or have access to, systems to accomplish known preparedness functions. The PHIN Preparedness initiative defines functional requirements, technical standards and specifications, and a process to achieve consistency and interconnectedness of preparedness systems across public health. PMID:16221945

Initial Northwest Power Act Power Sales Contracts : Final Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 2, Appendices A--L.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

United States. Bonneville Power Administration.

1992-01-01

This report consists of appendices A-L of the final environmental impact statement for the Bonneville Power Administration. The appendices provide information on the following: Ninth circuit Court opinion in Forelaws on Board v. Johnson; guide to Northwest Power act contracts; guide to hydro operations; glossary; affected environment supporting documentation; environmental impacts of generic resource types; information on models used; technical information on analysis; public involvement activities; bibliography; Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act; and biological assessment. (CBS)

Simulation of wave propagation inside a human eye: acoustic eye model (AEM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Požar, T.; Halilovič, M.; Horvat, D.; Petkovšek, R.

2018-02-01

The design and development of the acoustic eye model (AEM) is reported. The model consists of a computer-based simulation that describes the propagation of mechanical disturbance inside a simplified model of a human eye. The capabilities of the model are illustrated with examples, using different laser-induced initial loading conditions in different geometrical configurations typically occurring in ophthalmic medical procedures. The potential of the AEM is to predict the mechanical response of the treated eye tissue in advance, thus complementing other preliminary procedures preceding medical treatments.

Recording Rapidly Changing Cylinder-wall Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meier, Adolph

1942-01-01

The present report deals with the design and testing of a measuring plug suggested by H. Pfriem for recording quasi-stationary cylinder wall temperatures. The new device is a resistance thermometer, the temperature-susceptible part of which consists of a gold coating applied by evaporation under high vacuum and electrolytically strengthened. After overcoming initial difficulties, calibration of plugs up to and beyond 400 degrees C was possible. The measurements were made on high-speed internal combustion engines. The increasing effect of carbon deposit at the wall surface with increasing operating period is indicated by means of charts.

The effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia in opercular syndrome: a case study

PubMed Central

Speyer, Renée; Roodenburg, Nel; Manni, Johannes J.

2008-01-01

A 76-year-old man with opercular syndrome characterized by complete bilateral loss of voluntary control of facial, lingual, pharyngeal and masticatory muscles is presented with focus on the severe dysphagia. Three years earlier the patient had experienced two strokes resulting in opercular syndrome with severe dysphagia. Despite initial logopedic dysphagia treatment, swallowing did not improve. A new treatment for dysphagia, consisting of neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied on the patient. He returned to oral feeding. Clinical and treatment observations are reported. PMID:18180938

A Study of Flexitime Effects in a Government Research Organization.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

report on new individually-worded initiating structure and consideration subscales. College of Administrative Science, The Ohio State University...the relatively new concept called "FLEXITIME." In its simplest form, this consists of two parts. The first part is a "core time," which is a band of...etc.) ’ 1,. 6:0 a m. -Winter p =m. 01pring am. Summer p]m7Responsibilities for children (In school, babysitter , etc.) El2i 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. i2 6

Development towards a fast ion loss detector for the reversed field pinch.

PubMed

Bonofiglo, P J; Anderson, J K; Almagri, A F; Kim, J; Clark, J; Capecchi, W; Sears, S H; Egedal, J

2016-11-01

A fast ion loss detector has been constructed and implemented on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) to investigate energetic ion losses and transport due to energetic particle and MHD instabilities. The detector discriminates particle orbits solely on pitch and consists of two thin-foil, particle collecting plates that are symmetric with respect to the device aperture. One plate collects fast ion signal, while the second aids in the minimization of background and noise effects. Initial measurements are reported along with suggestions for the next design phase of the detector.

10 CFR 75.32 - Initial inventory report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Initial inventory report. 75.32 Section 75.32 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFEGUARDS ON NUCLEAR MATERIAL-IMPLEMENTATION OF US/IAEA AGREEMENT Reports § 75.32 Initial inventory report. (a) The initial inventory reporting date shall be the...

Self-Consistent Model of Magnetospheric Electric Field, Ring Current, Plasmasphere, and Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves: Initial Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gamayunov, K. V.; Khazanov, G. V.; Liemohn, M. W.; Fok, M.-C.; Ridley, A. J.

2009-01-01

Further development of our self-consistent model of interacting ring current (RC) ions and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves is presented. This model incorporates large scale magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and treats self-consistently not only EMIC waves and RC ions, but also the magnetospheric electric field, RC, and plasmasphere. Initial simulations indicate that the region beyond geostationary orbit should be included in the simulation of the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Additionally, a self-consistent description, based on first principles, of the ionospheric conductance is required. These initial simulations further show that in order to model the EMIC wave distribution and wave spectral properties accurately, the plasmasphere should also be simulated self-consistently, since its fine structure requires as much care as that of the RC. Finally, an effect of the finite time needed to reestablish a new potential pattern throughout the ionosphere and to communicate between the ionosphere and the equatorial magnetosphere cannot be ignored.

ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guidelines (EMERGE): a reactive-Delphi study protocol.

PubMed

Helmy, R; Zullig, L L; Dunbar-Jacob, J; Hughes, D A; Vrijens, B; Wilson, I B; De Geest, S

2017-02-10

Medication adherence is fundamental to achieving optimal patient outcomes. Reporting research on medication adherence suffers from some issues-including conceptualisation, measurement and data analysis-that thwart its advancement. Using the ABC taxonomy for medication adherence as the conceptual basis, a steering committee of members of the European Society for Patient Adherence, COMpliance, and Persistence (ESPACOMP) launched an initiative to develop ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guidelines (EMERGE). This paper is a protocol for a Delphi study that aims to build consensus among a group of topic experts regarding an item list that will support developing EMERGE. This study uses a reactive-Delphi design where a group of topic experts will be asked to rate the relevance and clarity of an initial list of items, in addition to suggesting further items and/or modifications of the initial items. The initial item list, generated by the EMERGE steering committee through a structured process, consists of 26 items distributed in 2 sections: 4 items representing the taxonomy-based minimum reporting criteria, and 22 items organised according to the common reporting sections. A purposive sample of experts will be selected from relevant disciplines and diverse geographical locations. Consensus will be achieved through predefined decision rules to keep, delete or modify the items. An iterative process of online survey rounds will be carried out until consensus is reached. An ethics approval was not required for the study according to the Swiss federal act on research involving human beings. The participating experts will be asked to give an informed consent. The results of this Delphi study will feed into EMERGE, which will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Additionally, the steering committee will encourage their endorsement by registering the guidelines at the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) network and other relevant organisations. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Maintenance of weight loss: a needs assessment.

PubMed

DePue, J D; Clark, M M; Ruggiero, L; Medeiros, M L; Pera, V

1995-05-01

This study identified facilitators and obstacles to maintenance of weight loss following a very-low-calorie-diet and behavior modification program. A survey was mailed to a random sample of 178 program completers and received a 61% response rate; the most frequent follow-up period was more than 2 years. Twenty-nine percent reported weighing the same (within 10 lbs) or less than the end of their participation in the treatment program (maintainers), while 71% reported their present weight was a mean of 65% higher than their initial weight loss (regainers). Maintainers were significantly more likely to report engaging in regular aerobic exercise, attending a maintenance support group, and confidence in their ability to manage their weight in the future, while regainers were more likely to report stress and motivation as frequent weight management obstacles. Respondents consistently identified the need for low/no cost ongoing support. Maintainers and relapsers reported similar challenges in managing their weight, yet with different results, suggesting the need to identify subgroups for which different post-treatment support options could be applied.

Munchausen by proxy syndrome mimicking systemic autoinflammatory disease: case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Wittkowski, Helmut; Hinze, Claas; Häfner-Harms, Sigrid; Oji, Vinzenz; Masjosthusmann, Katja; Monninger, Martina; Grenzebach, Ulrike; Foell, Dirk

2017-04-05

Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs) represent a growing number of monogenic, polygenic or multifactorial disorders that are often difficult to diagnose. Here we report a patient who was initially erroneously diagnosed and treated for SAID. Symptoms consisted of recurrent fever, erythematous and/or blistering skin lesions, angioedema, susceptibility to bleeding, external ear infections and reversible anisocoria in the absence of laboratory evidence of systemic inflammation. After two and a half years of extensive diagnostic work-up and multiple empirical therapies, a final diagnosis of Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS) was established. The diagnosis of SAID needs to be carefully reassessed if measurable systemic inflammation is missing, and MBPS should be included in the differential diagnosis.

12 years' preservation of maxillary permanent incisors with cervical root fractures adjacent to aggressive periodontitis: Report of a case.

PubMed

Tobiska, Sandra; Krastl, Gabriel

2018-05-17

This case report presents long-term results following horizontal root fracture of both maxillary central incisors in a 19-year-old woman with aggressive periodontitis. Due to extensive marginal bone loss and the close proximity of the fracture lines to the bottoms of the periodontal pockets, the prognosis of both teeth was uncertain at the time of the accident. Nevertheless, a conservative treatment strategy consisting of splinting and nonsurgical periodontal therapy was initiated. Follow-up at 12 years after the start of treatment revealed a stable situation from clinical and radiologic perspectives. Permanent fixation to the adjacent teeth and regular supportive periodontal care were the basis for a favorable long-term prognosis.

Nevus trichilemmocysticus: report of a new case of a recently recognized entity.

PubMed

Larralde, Margarita; Boggio, Paula; Abad, María Eugenia; Corbella, Cristina; Happle, Rudolf

2011-01-01

A new type of organoid epidermal nevus, characterized by the presence of multiple trichilemmal cysts disposed in a linear arrangement, was recently recognized and named nevus trichilemmocysticus. We report a 10-year-old girl with a congenital linear dermatosis affecting the head, neck, trunk, limbs, palms, and soles. Initially, the lesions that followed the lines of Blaschko consisted of yellowish plaques covered by verrucous papules and filiform hyperkeratoses. Additionally, since the age of 6 years, numerous cyst-like structures developed on the linear lesions involving the limbs. On histopathological examination, all of the excised cystic lesions were found to be trichilemmal cysts. Hence, we herein describe a new case of nevus trichilemmocysticus. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fiber-optic sensors for aerospace electrical measurements - An update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Richard L.; Rose, A. H.; Tang, D.; Day, G. W.

1991-01-01

The authors report the progress made on the development of aerospace current and voltage sensors which use fiber-optic and optical sensing heads. These sensors are presently designed to cover ac frequencies from 60 Hz to 20 kHz. The current sensor, based on the Faraday effect in optical fiber, is in advanced development after some initial testing. The emphasis is on packaging methods and ways to maintain consistent sensitivity with changes in temperature. The voltage sensor, utilizing the Pockels effect in a crystal, has excelled in temperature tests. The authors report on the development of these sensors. The authors also relate the technology used in the sensors, the results of evaluation, improvements being made, and the future direction of the work.

Do deterrence and social-control theories predict driving after drinking 15 years after a DWI conviction?

PubMed

Lapham, Sandra C; Todd, Michael

2012-03-01

This study investigates the utility of deterrence and social-control theories for prospective prediction of driving-while-impaired (DWI) outcomes of first-time DWI offenders. The sample consisted of a subset of 544 convicted first-time DWI offenders (N=337 females) who were interviewed 5 and 15 years after referral to a Screening Program in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Variables collected at the 5-year (initial) interview were used in structural equation models to predict past 3-months, self-reported DWI at the 15-year follow-up (follow-up) interview. These variables represented domains defined by deterrence and social-control theories of DWI behavior, with one model corresponding to deterrence theory and one to social-control theory. Both models fit the data. DWI jail time was positively related to perceived enforcement, which was negatively but not significantly related to self-reported DWI. Neither jail time for DWI nor perceived likelihood of arrest was linearly related to self-reported DWI at follow-up. Interactions between jail time and prior DWI behavior indicated relatively weaker associations between initial and 15-year DWI for those reporting more jail time. Our prospective study demonstrated that for this convicted DWI offender cohort, classic formulations of deterrence and social-control theories did not account for DWI. However, results suggest that punishment may decrease the likelihood of DWI recidivism. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How Are Health Research Priorities Set in Low and Middle Income Countries? A Systematic Review of Published Reports

PubMed Central

McGregor, Skye; Henderson, Klara J.; Kaldor, John M.

2014-01-01

Background Priority setting is increasingly recognised as essential for directing finite resources to support research that maximizes public health benefits and drives health equity. Priority setting processes have been undertaken in a number of low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, using a variety of methods. We undertook a critical review of reports of these processes. Methods and Findings We searched electronic databases and online for peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed literature. We found 91 initiatives that met inclusion criteria. The majority took place at the global level (46%). For regional or national initiatives, most focused on Sub Saharan Africa (49%), followed by East Asia and Pacific (20%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (18%). A quarter of initiatives aimed to cover all areas of health research, with a further 20% covering communicable diseases. The most frequently used process was a conference or workshop to determine priorities (24%), followed by the Child Health and Nutrition Initiative (CHNRI) method (18%). The majority were initiated by an international organization or collaboration (46%). Researchers and government were the most frequently represented stakeholders. There was limited evidence of any implementation or follow-up strategies. Challenges in priority setting included engagement with stakeholders, data availability, and capacity constraints. Conclusions Health research priority setting (HRPS) has been undertaken in a variety of LMIC settings. While not consistently used, the application of established methods provides a means of identifying health research priorities in a repeatable and transparent manner. In the absence of published information on implementation or evaluation, it is not possible to assess what the impact and effectiveness of health research priority setting may have been. PMID:25275315

MANAGEMENT OF A REEVE'S MUNTJAC ( MUNTIACUS REEVESI) WITH SEIZURES USING LEVETIRACETAM.

PubMed

Blatt, Emily R; Seeley, Kathryn E; Lovett, Mathew C; Junge, Randall E

2017-12-01

This report describes the diagnosis and management of idiopathic epilepsy in a 4-yr-old intact female Reeve's muntjac ( Muntiacus reevesi). The patient was initially witnessed to have isolated paroxysmal events consistent with epileptic seizures (altered consciousness, lateral recumbency, tonic/clonic movement of limbs) lasting less than 3 min with an immediate return to normal consciousness. The seizure frequency increased to >3 seizures within 24 hr and phenobarbital 3 mg/kg orally every 12 hr was started. Because of continued epileptic seizures and low serum phenobarbital levels, the dose was increased until significant elevations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected. Levetiracetam 40 mg/kg orally every 12 hr was initiated and the phenobarbital was weaned and discontinued. One breakthrough seizure has been witnessed in the 10 mo since starting levetiracetam.

Role of auxin and protons in plant shoot gravitropism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rayle, D. L.; Migliaccio, F.; Watson, E.

1982-01-01

Experiments designed to probe the relationship between asymmetric acid efflux and auxin redistribution during gravitropism are reported. Gravistimulation of sunflower hypocotyls results in the retardation of growth on the upper surface and the acceleration of growth on the lower surface relative to a vertically oriented control. Auxin and H(+) both elicit growth over a similarly broad region of the hypocotyl. The correspondence between auxin, H(+), and gravisensitive tissues is consistent with the notion that auxin redistribution may initiate asymmetric acid efflux during gravistimulation. Data are presented showing a redistribution of C-14-IAA and H-3-IAA occurs within 20-30 minutes of gravistimulation. Data on the effects of selected inhibitors of shoot gravitropism are also presented. Taken together, the data suggest that lateral transport of auxin initiates asymmetric acid efflux in gravitropically stimulated shoots.

Integration and initial operation of the multi-component large ring laser structure ROMY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreiber, Karl Ulrich; Igel, Heiner; Wassermann, Joachim; Gebauer, André; Simonelli, Andrea; Bernauer, Felix; Donner, Stefanie; Hadziioannou, Celine; Egdorf, Sven; Wells, Jon-Paul

2017-04-01

Rotation sensing for the geosciences requires a high sensor resolution of the order of 10 pico- radians per second or even less. An optical Sagnac interferometer offers this sensitivity, provided that the scale factor can be made very large. We have designed and built a multi- component ring laser system, consisting of 4 individual large ring lasers, each covering an area of more than 62 square m. The rings are orientated in the shape of a tetrahedron, so that all 3 spatial directions are covered, allowing also for some redundancy. We report on the initial operation of the free running gyroscopes in their underground facility in order to establish a performance estimate for the ROMY ring laser structure. Preliminary results suggest that the quantum noise limit is lower than that of the G ring laser.

Annual Reporting of Monitoring at Morrill, Kansas in 2015

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

LaFreniere, Lorraine M.

In September 2005, the CCC/USDA initiated periodic sampling of groundwater, in accord with a program (Argonne 2005b) approved by the KDHE (2005), to monitor carbon tetrachloride concentrations in the groundwater. Under the KDHE-approved monitoring plan (Argonne 2005b), groundwater was sampled twice yearly for VOCs analyses through 2011. During the initial two years of monitoring, analysis for selected geochemical parameters was also conducted to aid in the evaluation of possible natural contaminant degradation (reductive dechlorination) processes in the subsurface environment. Consistently low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) at monitoring well MW1D (in the deepest portion of themore » contaminated aquifer) and the presence of chloroform (the primary degradation product of carbon tetrachloride) suggested that some degree of reductive dechlorination was occurring.« less

Primary closure of lawn mower injuries to the foot: a case series.

PubMed

Goldsmith, Jon R; Massa, Eric G

2007-01-01

The standard initial treatment of lawn mower injuries to the foot consists of prompt administration of parenteral antibiotics, debridement of devitalized tissue, irrigation, repair of traumatized vascular structures, and stabilization of osseous fractures. The primary closure of these wounds at the initial operation is a controversial concept. The authors performed a retrospective study of 9 lawn mower injuries in which primary closure was performed. Medical records were evaluated, and 7 patients were reached for follow-up interviews. The hospital courses for this patient population were remarkably lower than those previously reported in the literature. No patient required further admission to the hospital or surgical intervention. The postinjury functional evaluation mean score was 97.6%. The results demonstrate that this treatment method can be an effective means for treating this mutilating injury in the foot.

Assessing teachers' positive psychological functioning at work: Development and validation of the Teacher Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire.

PubMed

Renshaw, Tyler L; Long, Anna C J; Cook, Clayton R

2015-06-01

This study reports on the initial development and validation of the Teacher Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire (TSWQ) with 2 samples of educators-a general sample of 185 elementary and middle school teachers, and a target sample of 21 elementary school teachers experiencing classroom management challenges. The TSWQ is an 8-item self-report instrument for assessing teachers' subjective wellbeing, which is operationalized via subscales measuring school connectedness and teaching efficacy. The conceptualization and development processes underlying the TSWQ are described, and results from a series of preliminary psychometric and exploratory analyses are reported to establish initial construct validity. Findings indicated that the TSWQ was characterized by 2 conceptually sound latent factors, that both subscales and the composite scale demonstrated strong internal consistency, and that all scales demonstrated convergent validity with self-reported school supports and divergent validity with self-reported stress and emotional burnout. Furthermore, results indicated that TSWQ scores did not differ according to teachers' school level (i.e., elementary vs. middle), but that they did differ according to unique school environment (e.g., 1 middle school vs. another middle school) and teacher stressors (i.e., general teachers vs. teachers experiencing classroom management challenges). Results also indicated that, for teachers experiencing classroom challenges, the TSWQ had strong short-term predictive validity for psychological distress, accounting for approximately half of the variance in teacher stress and emotional burnout. Implications for theory, research, and the practice of school psychology are discussed. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Expansion of the Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 10 (SCA10) Repeat in a Patient with Sioux Native American Ancestry

PubMed Central

Liu, Jilin; McFarland, Karen N.; Landrian, Ivette; Hutter, Diane; Teive, Hélio A. G.; Rasmussen, Astrid; Mulligan, Connie J.; Ashizawa, Tetsuo

2013-01-01

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10), an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia, is caused by the expansion of the non-coding ATTCT pentanucleotide repeat in the ATAXIN 10 gene. To date, all cases of SCA10 are restricted to patients with ancestral ties to Latin American countries. Here, we report on a SCA10 patient with Sioux Native American ancestry and no reported Hispanic or Latino heritage. Neurological exam findings revealed impaired gait with mild, age-consistent cerebellar atrophy and no evidence of epileptic seizures. The age at onset for this patient, at 83 years of age, is the latest documented for SCA10 patients and is suggestive of a reduced penetrance allele in his family. Southern blot analysis showed an SCA10 expanded allele of 1400 repeats. Established SNPs surrounding the SCA10 locus showed a disease haplotype consistent with the previously described “SCA10 haplotype”. This case suggests that the SCA10 expansion represents an early mutation event that possibly occurred during the initial peopling of the Americas. PMID:24278426

``High energy Electron exPeriment (HEP)'' onboard the ERG satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitani, T.; Takashima, T.; Kasahara, S.; Miyake, W.; Hirahara, M.

2017-12-01

The Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) satellite was successfully launched on December 20, 2016, and now explores how relativistic electrons in the radiation belts are generated during space storms. "High energy Electron exPeriment (HEP)" onboard the ERG satellite observes 70 keV - 2 MeV electrons and provides three-dimensional velocity distribution of electrons every spacecraft spin period. Electrons are observed by two types of camera designs, HEP-L and HEP-H, with regard to geometrical factor and energy range. HEP-L observes 0.1 - 1 MeV electrons and its geometrical factor (G-factor) is 10-3 cm2 str, and HEP-H observes 0.7 - 2 MeV and G-factor is 10-2 cm2 str. HEP-L and HEP-H each consist of three pin-hole type cameras, and each camera consist of mechanical collimator, stacked silicon semiconductor detectors and readout ASICs. HEP-H has larger opening angle of the collimator and more silicon detectors to observe higher energy electrons than HEP-L. The initial checkout in orbit was carried out in February 2017 and it was confirmed that there was no performance degradation by comparing the results of the initial checkout in orbit and the prelaunch function tests. Since late March, HEP has carried out normal observation. HEP observed losses and recovery of the outer radiation belt electrons several times up to now. In this presentation we introduce the HEP instrument design, prelaunch tests results and report the initial results in orbit.

Protocol for a national prevalence study of advance care planning documentation and self-reported uptake in Australia.

PubMed

Ruseckaite, Rasa; Detering, Karen M; Evans, Sue M; Perera, Veronica; Walker, Lynne; Sinclair, Craig; Clayton, Josephine M; Nolte, Linda

2017-11-03

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process between a person, their family/carer(s) and healthcare providers that supports adults at any age or stage of health in understanding and sharing their personal values, life goals and preferences regarding future medical care. The Australian government funds a number of national initiatives aimed at increasing ACP uptake; however, there is currently no standardised Australian data on formal ACP documentation or self-reported uptake. This makes it difficult to evaluate the impact of ACP initiatives. This study aims to determine the Australian national prevalence of ACP and completion of Advance Care Directives (ACDs) in hospitals, aged care facilities and general practices. It will also explore people's self-reported use of ACP and views about the process. Researchers will conduct a national multicentre cross-sectional prevalence study, consisting of a record audit and surveys of people aged 65 years or more in three sectors. From 49 participating Australian organisations, 50 records will be audited (total of 2450 records). People whose records were audited, who speak English and have a decision-making capacity will also be invited to complete a survey. The primary outcome measure will be the number of people who have formal or informal ACP documentation that can be located in records within 15 min. Other outcomes will include demographics, measure of illness and functional capacity, details of ACP documentation (including type of document), location of documentation in the person's records and whether current clinical care plans are consistent with ACP documentation. People will be surveyed, to measure self-reported interest, uptake and use of ACP/ACDs, and self-reported quality of life. This protocol has been approved by the Austin Health Human Research Ethics Committee (reference HREC/17/Austin/83). Results will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. ACTRN12617000743369. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Development of a quality instrument for assessing the spontaneous reports of ADR/ADE using Delphi method in China.

PubMed

Chen, Lixun; Jiang, Ling; Shen, Aizong; Wei, Wei

2016-09-01

The frequently low quality of submitted spontaneous reports is of an increasing concern; to our knowledge, no validated instrument exists for assessing case reports' quality comprehensively enough. This work was conducted to develop such a quality instrument for assessing the spontaneous reports of adverse drug reaction (ADR)/adverse drug event (ADE) in China. Initial evaluation indicators were generated using systematic and literature data analysis. Final indicators and their weights were identified using Delphi method. The final quality instrument was developed by adopting the synthetic scoring method. A consensus was reached after four rounds of Delphi survey. The developed quality instrument consisted of 6 first-rank indicators, 18 second-rank indicators, and 115 third-rank indicators, and each rank indicator has been weighted. It evaluates the quality of spontaneous reports of ADR/ADE comprehensively and quantitatively on six parameters: authenticity, duplication, regulatory, completeness, vigilance level, and reporting time frame. The developed instrument was tested with good reliability and validity, which can be used to comprehensively and quantitatively assess the submitted spontaneous reports of ADR/ADE in China.

The APOSTEL recommendations for reporting quantitative optical coherence tomography studies.

PubMed

Cruz-Herranz, Andrés; Balk, Lisanne J; Oberwahrenbrock, Timm; Saidha, Shiv; Martinez-Lapiscina, Elena H; Lagreze, Wolf A; Schuman, Joel S; Villoslada, Pablo; Calabresi, Peter; Balcer, Laura; Petzold, Axel; Green, Ari J; Paul, Friedemann; Brandt, Alexander U; Albrecht, Philipp

2016-06-14

To develop consensus recommendations for reporting of quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) study results. A panel of experienced OCT researchers (including 11 neurologists, 2 ophthalmologists, and 2 neuroscientists) discussed requirements for performing and reporting quantitative analyses of retinal morphology and developed a list of initial recommendations based on experience and previous studies. The list of recommendations was subsequently revised during several meetings of the coordinating group. We provide a 9-point checklist encompassing aspects deemed relevant when reporting quantitative OCT studies. The areas covered are study protocol, acquisition device, acquisition settings, scanning protocol, funduscopic imaging, postacquisition data selection, postacquisition data analysis, recommended nomenclature, and statistical analysis. The Advised Protocol for OCT Study Terminology and Elements recommendations include core items to standardize and improve quality of reporting in quantitative OCT studies. The recommendations will make reporting of quantitative OCT studies more consistent and in line with existing standards for reporting research in other biomedical areas. The recommendations originated from expert consensus and thus represent Class IV evidence. They will need to be regularly adjusted according to new insights and practices. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure and early initiation of multiple substance use.

PubMed

Goldschmidt, Lidush; Cornelius, Marie D; Day, Nancy L

2012-06-01

Earlier studies have shown a relation between prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (PCSE) and offspring initiation of tobacco use. No prior study has examined the association between PCSE and early initiation of multiple substances (EIMS) including marijuana and alcohol in addition to tobacco. We investigated the association between PCSE and multiple substance use during adolescence. Pregnant women attending an urban prenatal clinic were selected to participate in the prospective longitudinal study based on their substance use. This study is based on the 16-year follow-up phase and consists of 579 mother-offspring dyads. The women were of lower socioeconomic status, 54% were Black, and 53% reported smoking cigarettes. 52% of the offspring were female. EIMS is a measure of the number of substances initiated prior to age 16 by the adolescents; it ranged from 0 (no initiation, N = 166) to 3 (all, N = 162). Adolescents exposed to tobacco during first trimester of gestation were 1.4 times more likely to initiate multiple substances by age 16 than the nonexposed group. PCSE was a significant predictor of EIMS after controlling for other prenatal exposures, home environment, and demographic characteristics, using ordinal polytomous logistic regression. Other risk factors of EIMS were maternal and adolescent depression, less strict and less involved parenting, offspring attention problems, and lack of participation in a youth club. There is a significant relation between PCSE and adolescent's EIMS.

Primary cardiac sarcoma complicated with cerebral infarction and brain metastasis: A case report and literature review.

PubMed

Sun, Yun-Peng; Wang, Xuan; Gao, Yong-Sheng; Zhao, Song; Bai, Yang

2017-12-12

In large autopsy series, the estimated frequency of primary tumors of the heart ranges from 0.0017% to 0.33%. Approximately 25% of primary cardiac tumors are malignant, and nearly 20% of these are sarcomas. To date, a completely feasible surgical resection remains the major treatment measure of cardiac sarcoma, especially for recurrent focal cardiac sarcoma and the recurrence of a restrictive metastasis. Although characteristically medical treatments are recommended, there is no consistent opinion for adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy following an operation. Since these tumors usually undergo extensive spread by the time that the diagnosis is established, the prognosis of cardiac sarcoma remains poor. In this report, we described a case who underwent initial cardiac tumor resection, and was confirmed to be a pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma based on pathological findings. However, the patient complicated with cerebral infarction and subsequent brain metastasis sarcoma after the initial surgery, which was confirmed by brain tissue pathology. During the course of therapy, the patient underwent three surgical operations and refused to accept any chemotherapy and radiotherapy intervention. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing a primary cardiac sarcoma complicated with cerebral infarction and brain metastasis. The management of primary cardiac sarcoma is also discussed.

Cross-validated detection of crack initiation in aerospace materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanniamparambil, Prashanth A.; Cuadra, Jefferson; Guclu, Utku; Bartoli, Ivan; Kontsos, Antonios

2014-03-01

A cross-validated nondestructive evaluation approach was employed to in situ detect the onset of damage in an Aluminum alloy compact tension specimen. The approach consisted of the coordinated use primarily the acoustic emission, combined with the infrared thermography and digital image correlation methods. Both tensile loads were applied and the specimen was continuously monitored using the nondestructive approach. Crack initiation was witnessed visually and was confirmed by the characteristic load drop accompanying the ductile fracture process. The full field deformation map provided by the nondestructive approach validated the formation of a pronounced plasticity zone near the crack tip. At the time of crack initiation, a burst in the temperature field ahead of the crack tip as well as a sudden increase of the acoustic recordings were observed. Although such experiments have been attempted and reported before in the literature, the presented approach provides for the first time a cross-validated nondestructive dataset that can be used for quantitative analyses of the crack initiation information content. It further allows future development of automated procedures for real-time identification of damage precursors including the rarely explored crack incubation stage in fatigue conditions.

Forgotten but not gone: an examination of fit between leader consideration and initiating structure needed and received.

PubMed

Lambert, Lisa Schurer; Tepper, Bennett J; Carr, Jon C; Holt, Daniel T; Barelka, Alex J

2012-09-01

We examined the effects of fit between leader consideration and initiating structure needed and received on employees' work-related attitudes (i.e., trust in the supervisor, job satisfaction, and affective commitment to the organization). Consistent with predictions that derive from the person-environment fit research tradition, results from Study 1 suggested that deficient amounts of both leadership behaviors were associated with unfavorable attitudinal outcomes. However, while excess levels of consideration were associated with favorable attitudinal outcomes, excess levels of initiating structure were associated with unfavorable attitudes, and for both forms of leadership, higher levels of absolute fit were associated with more favorable outcomes. Results from Study 2 suggested that attitudes generated by the fit between leadership needed and received influence employees' organizational citizenship behavior as reported by their supervisors. The relationship between consideration needed and received and subordinates' organizational citizenship behavior relating to individuals (OCBI) and organizational citizenship behavior relating to the organization itself (OCBO) was partially mediated by employees' trust in the supervisor, while the relationship between initiating structure needed and received and OCBI was fully mediated by trust in the supervisor, and for OCBO was partially mediated.

Research in the design of high-performance reconfigurable systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slotnick, D. L.; Mcewan, S. D.; Spry, A. J.

1984-01-01

An initial design for the Bit Processor (BP) referred to in prior reports as the Processing Element or PE has been completed. Eight BP's, together with their supporting random-access memory, a 64 k x 9 ROM to perform addition, routing logic, and some additional logic, constitute the components of a single stage. An initial stage design is given. Stages may be combined to perform high-speed fixed or floating point arithmetic. Stages can be configured into a range of arithmetic modules that includes bit-serial one or two-dimensional arrays; one or two dimensional arrays fixed or floating point processors; and specialized uniprocessors, such as long-word arithmetic units. One to eight BP's represent a likely initial chip level. The Stage would then correspond to a first-level pluggable module. As both this project and VLSI CAD/CAM progress, however, it is expected that the chip level would migrate upward to the stage and, perhaps, ultimately the box level. The BP RAM, consisting of two banks, holds only operands and indices. Programs are at the box (high-level function) and system level. At the system level initial effort has been concentrated on specifying the tools needed to evaluate design alternatives.

Metabolic and respiratory status of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii).

PubMed

Innis, Charles J; Tlusty, Michael; Merigo, Constance; Weber, E Scott

2007-08-01

"Cold-stunning" of sea turtles has been reported as a naturally occurring stressor for many years; however, the physiologic status of cold-stunned turtles has only been partially described. This study investigated initial and convalescent venous blood gas, acid-base, and critical plasma biochemical data for 26 naturally cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) from Cape Cod, MA, USA. Samples were analyzed for pH, pCO(2), pO(2), bicarbonate, plasma osmolality, sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, ionized magnesium, glucose, lactate, and blood urea nitrogen using a clinical point-of-care analyzer. Data were corrected for the patient's body temperature using both species-specific and more general correction methods. In general, venous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical data obtained for surviving cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles were consistent with previously documented data for sea turtles exposed to a wide range of temperatures and physiologic stressors. Data indicated that turtles were initially affected by metabolic and respiratory acidosis. Initial pH-corrected ionized calcium concentrations were lower than convalescent concentrations, and initial pH-corrected ionized magnesium concentrations were higher than convalescent concentrations.

Using the time and motion method to study clinical work processes and workflow: methodological inconsistencies and a call for standardized research.

PubMed

Zheng, Kai; Guo, Michael H; Hanauer, David A

2011-01-01

To identify ways for improving the consistency of design, conduct, and results reporting of time and motion (T&M) research in health informatics. We analyzed the commonalities and divergences of empirical studies published 1990-2010 that have applied the T&M approach to examine the impact of health IT implementation on clinical work processes and workflow. The analysis led to the development of a suggested 'checklist' intended to help future T&M research produce compatible and comparable results. We call this checklist STAMP (Suggested Time And Motion Procedures). STAMP outlines a minimum set of 29 data/ information elements organized into eight key areas, plus three supplemental elements contained in an 'Ancillary Data' area, that researchers may consider collecting and reporting in their future T&M endeavors. T&M is generally regarded as the most reliable approach for assessing the impact of health IT implementation on clinical work. However, there exist considerable inconsistencies in how previous T&M studies were conducted and/or how their results were reported, many of which do not seem necessary yet can have a significant impact on quality of research and generalisability of results. Therefore, we deem it is time to call for standards that can help improve the consistency of T&M research in health informatics. This study represents an initial attempt. We developed a suggested checklist to improve the methodological and results reporting consistency of T&M research, so that meaningful insights can be derived from across-study synthesis and health informatics, as a field, will be able to accumulate knowledge from these studies.

GD3- and O-acetylated GD3-gangliosides in the GM2 synthase-deficient mouse brain and their immunohistochemical localization

PubMed Central

Matsuda, Junko; Vanier, Marie T.; Popa, Iuliana; Portoukalian, Jacques; Suzuki, Kunihiko

2006-01-01

Gangliosides in the brain of the knockout mouse deficient in the activity of β1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase (β1,4 GalNAc-T)(GM2 synthase) consisted of nearly exclusively of GM3- and GD3-gangliosides as expected from the known substrate specificity of the enzyme and in confirmation of the initial reports from two laboratories that generated the mutant mouse experimentally. The total molar amount of gangliosides was approximately 30% higher in the mutant mouse brain than that in the wild-type brain. However, contrary to the initial reports, one-fourth of total GD3-ganglioside was O-acetylated. It reacted positively with an anti-O-acetylated GD3 monoclonal antibody and disappeared with a corresponding increase in GD3-ganglioside after mild alkaline treatment. The absence of O-acetylated GD3 in the initial reports can be explained by the saponification step included in their analytical procedures. Although quantitatively much less and identification tentative, we also detected GT3 and O-acetylated GT3. Anti-GD3 and anti-O-acetylated GD3 monoclonal antibodies gave positive reactions in the brain of mutant mouse as expected from the analytical results. Either antibody barely stained wild-type brain except for immunoreactivity of GD3 in the cerebellar Purkinje cells. The distributions of GD3 and O-acetylated GD3 in the brain of mutant mouse were similar but differential localization was noted in the cerebellar Purkinje cells and cerebral cortex. PMID:25792782

The one-year impact of an emotion regulation intervention on early adolescent health risk behaviors

PubMed Central

Houck, Christopher D.; Barker, David; Hadley, Wendy; Brown, Larry K.; Lansing, Amy; Almy, Brandon; Hancock, Evan

2016-01-01

Objective Sexual activity often begins in early adolescence, and adolescents with mental health symptoms are at greater risk for sexual activity and other health risks. This study aimed to evaluate a developmentally targeted intervention designed to enhance early adolescents’ emotion regulation competencies as a strategy for reducing health risk behaviors, including sexual initiation. Method Adolescents 12 to 14 years old (N = 420; 53% male) with mental health symptoms participated in either an Emotion Regulation (ER) or Health Promotion (HP) intervention consisting of twelve after-school sessions. Participants completed questionnaires on laptop computers at baseline, 2-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Results Time to event analyses were used to compare intervention conditions on rate of initiation to vaginal sex. Results showed that participants in the Emotion Regulation (ER) condition were less likely to transition into vaginal sexual activity by one-year follow-up than those in the Health Promotion (HP) condition (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.94, p = .01). However, those who were sexually active did not report differences in sexual risk behaviors (e.g., condomless sex). Participants in the ER condition were significantly less likely to report violence behaviors and showed improvement on a behavioral measure of emotion identification, however they did not differ from HP participants on self-reports of emotional competence. Conclusions Emotion regulation strategies can be used to delay sexual initiation among early adolescents with mental health symptoms and may have an important role in health education. PMID:27175579

Model-driven approach to data collection and reporting for quality improvement.

PubMed

Curcin, Vasa; Woodcock, Thomas; Poots, Alan J; Majeed, Azeem; Bell, Derek

2014-12-01

Continuous data collection and analysis have been shown essential to achieving improvement in healthcare. However, the data required for local improvement initiatives are often not readily available from hospital Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems or not routinely collected. Furthermore, improvement teams are often restricted in time and funding thus requiring inexpensive and rapid tools to support their work. Hence, the informatics challenge in healthcare local improvement initiatives consists of providing a mechanism for rapid modelling of the local domain by non-informatics experts, including performance metric definitions, and grounded in established improvement techniques. We investigate the feasibility of a model-driven software approach to address this challenge, whereby an improvement model designed by a team is used to automatically generate required electronic data collection instruments and reporting tools. To that goal, we have designed a generic Improvement Data Model (IDM) to capture the data items and quality measures relevant to the project, and constructed Web Improvement Support in Healthcare (WISH), a prototype tool that takes user-generated IDM models and creates a data schema, data collection web interfaces, and a set of live reports, based on Statistical Process Control (SPC) for use by improvement teams. The software has been successfully used in over 50 improvement projects, with more than 700 users. We present in detail the experiences of one of those initiatives, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease project in Northwest London hospitals. The specific challenges of improvement in healthcare are analysed and the benefits and limitations of the approach are discussed. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Translation and Initial Validation of the Chinese (Cantonese) Version of Community Integration Measure for Use in Patients with Chronic Stroke

PubMed Central

Ng, Shamay S. M.; Ng, Gabriel Y. F.

2014-01-01

Objectives. To (1) translate and culturally adapt the English version Community Integration Measure into Chinese (Cantonese), (2) report the results of initial validation of the Chinese (Cantonese) version of CIM (CIM-C) including the content validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor structure of CIM-C for use in stroke survivors in a Chinese community setting, and (3) investigate the level of community integration of stroke survivors living in Hong Kong. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. University-based rehabilitation centre. Participants. 62 (n = 62) subjects with chronic stroke. Methods. The CIM-C was produced after forward-backward translation, expert panel review, and pretesting. 25 (n = 25) of the same subjects were reassessed after a 1-week interval. Results. The items of the CIM-C demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach's α of 0.84. The CIM-C showed good test-retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.93). A 3-factor structure of the CIM-C including “relationship and engagement,” “sense of knowing,” and “independent living,” was consistent with the original theoretical model. Hong Kong stroke survivors revealed a high level of community integration as measured by the CIM-C (mean (SD): 43.48 (5.79)). Conclusions. The CIM-C is a valid and reliable measure for clinical use. PMID:24995317

Impaired acquisition of novel grapheme-color correspondences in synesthesia

PubMed Central

Brang, David; Ghiam, Michael; Ramachandran, Vilayanur S.

2013-01-01

Grapheme-color synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which letters and numbers (graphemes) consistently evoke particular colors (e.g., A may be experienced as red). These sensations are thought to arise through the cross-activation of grapheme processing regions in the fusiform gyrus and color area V4, supported by anatomical and functional imaging. However, the developmental onset of grapheme-color synesthesia remains elusive as research in this area has largely relied on self-report of these experiences in children. One possible account suggests that synesthesia is present at or near birth and initially binds basic shapes and forms to colors, which are later refined to grapheme-color associations through experience. Consistent with this view, studies show that similarly shaped letters and numbers tend to elicit similar colors in synesthesia and that some synesthetes consciously associate basic shapes with colors; research additionally suggests that synesthetic colors can emerge for newly learned characters with repeated presentation. This model further predicts that the initial shape-color correspondences in synesthesia may persist as implicit associations, driving the acquisition of colors for novel characters. To examine the presence of latent color associations for novel characters, synesthetes and controls were trained on pre-defined associations between colors and complex shapes, on the assumption that the prescribed shape-color correspondences would on average differ from implicit synesthetic associations. Results revealed synesthetes were less accurate than controls to learn novel shape-color associations, consistent with our suggestion that implicit form-color associations conflicted with the learned pairings. PMID:24198775

Impaired acquisition of novel grapheme-color correspondences in synesthesia.

PubMed

Brang, David; Ghiam, Michael; Ramachandran, Vilayanur S

2013-01-01

Grapheme-color synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which letters and numbers (graphemes) consistently evoke particular colors (e.g., A may be experienced as red). These sensations are thought to arise through the cross-activation of grapheme processing regions in the fusiform gyrus and color area V4, supported by anatomical and functional imaging. However, the developmental onset of grapheme-color synesthesia remains elusive as research in this area has largely relied on self-report of these experiences in children. One possible account suggests that synesthesia is present at or near birth and initially binds basic shapes and forms to colors, which are later refined to grapheme-color associations through experience. Consistent with this view, studies show that similarly shaped letters and numbers tend to elicit similar colors in synesthesia and that some synesthetes consciously associate basic shapes with colors; research additionally suggests that synesthetic colors can emerge for newly learned characters with repeated presentation. This model further predicts that the initial shape-color correspondences in synesthesia may persist as implicit associations, driving the acquisition of colors for novel characters. To examine the presence of latent color associations for novel characters, synesthetes and controls were trained on pre-defined associations between colors and complex shapes, on the assumption that the prescribed shape-color correspondences would on average differ from implicit synesthetic associations. Results revealed synesthetes were less accurate than controls to learn novel shape-color associations, consistent with our suggestion that implicit form-color associations conflicted with the learned pairings.

Consistent Initial Conditions for the DNS of Compressible Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ristorcelli, J. R.; Blaisdell, G. A.

1996-01-01

Relationships between diverse thermodynamic quantities appropriate to weakly compressible turbulence are derived. It is shown that for turbulence of a finite turbulent Mach number there is a finite element of compressibility. A methodology for generating initial conditions for the fluctuating pressure, density and dilatational velocity is given which is consistent with finite Mach number effects. Use of these initial conditions gives rise to a smooth development of the flow, in contrast to cases in which these fields are specified arbitrarily or set to zero. Comparisons of the effect of different types of initial conditions are made using direct numerical simulation of decaying isotropic turbulence.

Severe dysphagia as the presenting symptom of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in a non-alcoholic man.

PubMed

Karaiskos, Ilias; Katsarolis, Ioannis; Stefanis, Leonidas

2008-02-01

We present the case of a non-alcoholic man, who, following severe malnutrition, presented with dysphagia that necessitated gastrostomy tube placement. The patient subsequently developed encephalopathy, at which point thiamine deficiency was suspected and thiamine supplementation initiated. The encephalopathy and the dysphagia resolved, but the patient was left with a dense amnestic deficit consistent with Korsakoff syndrome. MRI at the time of the encephalopathy revealed lesions consistent with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This case represents a remarkable example of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome that for a prolonged time period had as its sole manifestation severe dysphagia. To our knowledge, there is only one similar case reported in the literature. This case serves to alert neurologists that isolated dysphagia may be the presenting symptom of this classic neurological syndrome even in the absence of alcoholism.

Estándares Consolidados de Reporte de Evaluaciones Económicas Sanitarias: Versión en Español de la Lista de Comprobación CHEERS.

PubMed

Augustovski, Federico; García Martí, Sebastián; Pichon-Riviere, Andrés

2013-12-01

It is important to have adequate and updated guides for reporting health economic evaluations (HEE). Due to their nature and methodological complexity, HEE have particular challenges for adequate reporting, which can be greater than more traditional study designs such as randomized controlled trials. CHEERS (Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards) have recently been published in English. Our objectives were to adapt the CHEERS list to Spanish. We followed the recommended methods of the Equator (Enhancing the Quality and Transparency Of health Research) network. We made an initial translation to Spanish, a back translation to English, and an initial Spanish version that was circulated through ISPOR and REDETSA. Finally, a final Spanish version was consolidated. The list contains 24 items grouped in Title and Abstract; Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion; and Other (which included conflict of interest reporting). The scope of use is independent of methodological vehicle (either single-study or evidence synthesis-based HEE); type of strategies to evaluate (clinical or public health; preventive, diagnostic, curative, palliative). Most of the items are generic and apply to any study design; while some of them are particularly oriented to single-study or evidence-synthesis/modeling studies. Diffusion and use of the CHEERS checklist in Spanish will contribute to a more consistent and transparent reporting of health economic evaluations in Spanish speaking contexts. © 2013 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Published by International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) All rights reserved.

Increased electron temperature turbulence during suppression of edge localized mode by resonant magnetic perturbations in the DIII-D tokamak [Increased electron temperature turbulence during edge localized mode (ELM) suppression by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in the DIII-D tokamak

DOE PAGES

Sung, Choongki; Wang, G.; Rhodes, Terry L.; ...

2017-11-16

We report the first observation of increased edge electron temperature turbulence correlated with changes in gradients and the ELM suppression time which occurs after the application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP) on DIII-D H-mode plasmas. This increase (T ~ e/T e approximately doubles) occurs in the region extending from the top of the pedestal outward to the upper part of the edge steep gradient region. This is significant as it is consistent with increased turbulence driven transport potentially replacing some part of the edge localized mode (ELM) driven transport. However, temperature turbulence does not change with the initial RMP applicationmore » while ELMs are still present, indicating the turbulence changes are not causative in the development of ELM suppression or initial profile evolution with RMP – but rather a response to these effects. This temperature turbulence is broadband and long wavelength, k θρ s < 0.5, where k θ = poloidal wavenumber, ρ s = ion sound gyroradius. As has been reported previously, long wavelength density turbulence (k θρ s < 1.0) in the same location also increases after ELMs were suppressed by the RMP. Since the decrease of the density starts nearly immediately with RMP application, these results suggest that the so-called RMP “density pump-out” is not linked to these long wavelength turbulent transport changes. Comparison with linear stability analysis finds both consistencies and inconsistencies in this important region.« less

Increased electron temperature turbulence during suppression of edge localized mode by resonant magnetic perturbations in the DIII-D tokamak [Increased electron temperature turbulence during edge localized mode (ELM) suppression by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in the DIII-D tokamak

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sung, Choongki; Wang, G.; Rhodes, Terry L.

We report the first observation of increased edge electron temperature turbulence correlated with changes in gradients and the ELM suppression time which occurs after the application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP) on DIII-D H-mode plasmas. This increase (T ~ e/T e approximately doubles) occurs in the region extending from the top of the pedestal outward to the upper part of the edge steep gradient region. This is significant as it is consistent with increased turbulence driven transport potentially replacing some part of the edge localized mode (ELM) driven transport. However, temperature turbulence does not change with the initial RMP applicationmore » while ELMs are still present, indicating the turbulence changes are not causative in the development of ELM suppression or initial profile evolution with RMP – but rather a response to these effects. This temperature turbulence is broadband and long wavelength, k θρ s < 0.5, where k θ = poloidal wavenumber, ρ s = ion sound gyroradius. As has been reported previously, long wavelength density turbulence (k θρ s < 1.0) in the same location also increases after ELMs were suppressed by the RMP. Since the decrease of the density starts nearly immediately with RMP application, these results suggest that the so-called RMP “density pump-out” is not linked to these long wavelength turbulent transport changes. Comparison with linear stability analysis finds both consistencies and inconsistencies in this important region.« less

Brainstem angiocentric glioma: report of 2 cases.

PubMed

Weaver, Kristin J; Crawford, Lexi M; Bennett, Jeffrey A; Rivera-Zengotita, Marie L; Pincus, David W

2017-10-01

Angiocentric glioma is a rare tumor that was recognized by the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System as a distinct clinicopathological entity in 2007. Since this initial description, the vast majority of cases of angiocentric glioma reported in the literature have involved tumors of the cerebral hemispheres. To date, only 1 case of angiocentric glioma arising from the posterior midbrain has been reported. The authors present the cases of 2 pediatric patients who were found to have brainstem angiocentric gliomas. The clinical course, radiological and pathological features, treatment, and follow-up are described. The first case is one of a 5-year-old girl who presented with double vision, headache, and nausea and was found to have a midbrain lesion with pathological features consistent with angiocentric glioma. She was treated with resection and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), followed by close observation and serial neuroimaging. The second case is one of a 6-year-old boy who presented with progressive mouth drooping and problems with balance. He was found to have a pontine lesion with pathological features consistent with angiocentric glioma. This patient was treated with ETV, followed by close observation and serial neuroimaging. This report includes 6 and 1.5 years of follow-up of the patients, respectively. While there are limited data regarding the prognosis or long-term management of patients with brainstem angiocentric gliomas, the cases described in this report suggest an indolent course for this tumor, similar to the course of angiocentric gliomas located in the cerebral hemispheres.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor in a 65-year-old man presenting with disseminated leptomeningeal disease: A case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Babi, Marc-Alain; Fecci, Peter; Luedke, Matthew; Pineda, Olinda; O'Keefe, Yasmin Ali

2018-01-01

Central nervous system atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors are very rare aggressive tumor of childhood, primarily occurring at age of less than 3 years old. The prognosis of these tumors is very poor, with a reported median survival of 6-12 months in most cases. Treatment typically consists of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We present the case of a 65-year-old man who presented with progressive encephalopathy and change in personality over 3 months period. The patient had further accelerated decline over 3 weeks. The diagnosis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor initially remained elusive despite very extensive workup, but was eventually confirmed via open brain biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest reported case of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor in the literature. We further extend the spectrum of this rare disease.

Developing and testing a web-based survey to assess educational needs of palliative and end-of-life health care professionals in Connecticut.

PubMed

Schulman-Green, Dena; Ercolano, Elizabeth; Lacoursiere, Sheryl; Ma, Tony; Lazenby, Mark; McCorkle, Ruth

2011-06-01

Institute of Medicine reports have identified gaps in health care professionals' knowledge of palliative and end-of-life care, recommending improved education. Our purpose was to develop and administer a Web-based survey to identify the educational needs of multidisciplinary health care professionals who provide this care in Connecticut to inform educational initiatives. We developed an 80-item survey and recruited participants through the Internet and in person. Descriptive and correlational statistics were calculated on 602 surveys. Disciplines reported greater agreement on items related to their routine tasks. Reported needs included dealing with cultural and spiritual matters and having supportive resources at work. Focus groups confirmed results that are consistent with National Consensus Project guidelines for quality palliative care and indicate the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium modules for education.

The Asthma Mobile Health Study, a large-scale clinical observational study using ResearchKit.

PubMed

Chan, Yu-Feng Yvonne; Wang, Pei; Rogers, Linda; Tignor, Nicole; Zweig, Micol; Hershman, Steven G; Genes, Nicholas; Scott, Erick R; Krock, Eric; Badgeley, Marcus; Edgar, Ron; Violante, Samantha; Wright, Rosalind; Powell, Charles A; Dudley, Joel T; Schadt, Eric E

2017-04-01

The feasibility of using mobile health applications to conduct observational clinical studies requires rigorous validation. Here, we report initial findings from the Asthma Mobile Health Study, a research study, including recruitment, consent, and enrollment, conducted entirely remotely by smartphone. We achieved secure bidirectional data flow between investigators and 7,593 participants from across the United States, including many with severe asthma. Our platform enabled prospective collection of longitudinal, multidimensional data (e.g., surveys, devices, geolocation, and air quality) in a subset of users over the 6-month study period. Consistent trending and correlation of interrelated variables support the quality of data obtained via this method. We detected increased reporting of asthma symptoms in regions affected by heat, pollen, and wildfires. Potential challenges with this technology include selection bias, low retention rates, reporting bias, and data security. These issues require attention to realize the full potential of mobile platforms in research and patient care.

The automatic human

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billings, Charles

1991-01-01

An overview is presented of the growth and role of automation in civil aircraft operations for both cockpit management and ground control. NASA has initiated a research program centered on furthering automation and developing a consistent and rational philosophy of human centered aircraft and air traffic control automation. Introduction of the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) has proved successful in bringing together pilots and ground controllers to report incidents of operational anomalies that can then be analyzed, leading to corrective action to prevent similar reoccurrences. Attention is given to the growing trend of extensive automation in the cockpit that appears to be leading to a diminution of management control of the aircraft by the decreasing number of flight crew members. A majority of reports indicate that there is a serious mismatch between new aircraft capabilities and ATC procedures, which were designed for older aircraft. ASRS has also kept research oriented toward real problems and community needs.

A Case Report Describing a Rare Presentation of Simultaneous Occurrence of MPO-ANCA-Associated Vasculitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

PubMed

Foray, Nathalie; Hudali, Tamer; Papireddy, Muralidhar; Gao, John

2016-01-01

Background . Renal-limited myeloperoxidase vasculitis with simultaneous rheumatoid arthritis is reported as a rare occurrence. Review of literature suggests that most patients had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for several years prior to presenting with renal failure from myeloperoxidase vasculitis. Case Presentation . A 58-year-old Caucasian male presented to the hospital experiencing malaise, fevers, decreased oral intake, nausea, and vomiting for one week duration. His past medical history consisted of newly diagnosed but untreated rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. He was found to have acute renal failure, proteinuria, and hypoglycemia. Standard therapy, including intravenous fluids, did not improve his acute renal failure. A vasculitis workup resulted in a positive myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) pauci-immune type, suggestive of MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). Treatment consisted of prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and seven cycles of plasmapheresis, in addition to hemodialysis for uremia. Upon discharge, he received hemodialysis for another week and continued treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone. Conclusion . Patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis may develop renal failure due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication use and AA type amyloidosis; however, necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation has been rarely reported. This stresses the importance of early recognition and swift initiation of treatment.

Occipital Condyle Syndrome: A Red Flag for Malignancy. Comprehensive Literature Review and New Case Report.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Pardo, Jorge; Lara-Lara, Manuel; Sanz-Cuesta, Borja E; Fuentes, Blanca; Díez-Tejedor, Exuperio

2017-05-01

To perform a literature review of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and clinical course of occipital condyle syndrome, including a new case report. Occipital condyle syndrome (OCS) is a rare clinical syndrome, consisting of unilateral occipital headache accompanied by ipsilateral hypoglossal palsy. This headache typically radiates to the temporal region, and is triggered by contralateral head rotation. It is usually associated with skull base metastasis, often unrevealed in basic neuroimaging studies. OCS might be the first manifestation of malignancy, and its unfamiliarity can lead to a delay in the diagnosis. We performed a systematic literature review using PubMed and Embase for OCS, along with a new case report. A total of 35 cases (mean age 59 years, range 25-77), 24 (70%) men, presented typical unilateral headache followed by ipsilateral hypoglossal palsy from 0 to 150 days after headache presentation. In 16 patients (46%), initial neuroimaging studies were normal. OCS was due to skull base metastasis in 32 cases (91%). In 18 patients (51%), OCS was the first symptom of disease. OCS represents a warning sign and requires an exhaustive search for underlying neoplasm. An appropriate clinical evaluation can lead to an earlier diagnosis in patients with consistent headache. © 2016 American Headache Society.

Rabbit hunter uveitis: case report of tularemia uveitis.

PubMed

Terrada, Céline; Azza, Said; Bodaghi, Bahram; Le Hoang, Phuc; Drancourt, Michel

2016-09-01

Literature reports on ophthalmological manifestations related to tularemia, a zoonose caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, largely refer to Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome, which consists of the association of conjunctivitis with preauricular lymphadenitis. In this paper, we report a case of intraocular inflammation during tularemia infection. A 52-year-old Caucasian man was diagnosed with unilateral uveitis. The uveitis was posterior, with a 2+ vitritis and a large yellowish lesion involving the macula with an overlying sub-retinal detachment, extending inferiorly, and subretinal hemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography showed a late hyperfluorescence with focal vascular leakage. Ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed the presence of a 3.8 mm parietal granuloma with a few calcifications in the left eye. While extensive work-up eliminated any other infectious and non-infectious etiology, tularemia was diagnosed by advanced serology consisting of two-dimensional Western-immunoblotting. The patient, a hunter, recalled having killed rabbits in the days before the symptoms appeared. Uveitis was rapidly controlled following treatment with doxycycline, yet three years after initiation of the treatment, the patient still complained of loss of vision in the left eye with a central scotoma. Posterior uveitis may be an infrequent manifestation of tularemia infection, and therefore this infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraocular inflammation in areas where F. tularensis is endemic.

Predictors and consequences of prescription drug misuse during middle school.

PubMed

Tucker, Joan S; Ewing, Brett A; Miles, Jeremy N V; Shih, Regina A; Pedersen, Eric R; D'Amico, Elizabeth J

2015-11-01

Non-medical prescription drug use (NMPDU) is a growing public health problem among adolescents. This is the first study to examine the correlates of early NMPDU initiation during middle school, and how early initiation is associated with four domains of functioning in high school (mental health, social, academic, and delinquency). Students initially in 6th-8th grades from 16 middle schools completed in-school surveys between 2008 and 2011 (Waves 1-5), and a web-based survey in 2013-2014 (Wave 6). We used discrete time survival analysis to assess predictors of initiation from Waves 1 to 5 based on students who provided NMPDU information at any of these waves (n=12,904), and regression analysis to examine high school outcomes associated with initiation based on a sample that was followed into high school, Wave 6 (n=2539). Low resistance self-efficacy, family substance use, low parental respect, and offers of other substances from peers were consistently associated with NMPDU initiation throughout middle school. Further, perceiving that more of one's peers engaged in other substance use was associated with initiation at Wave 1 only. By high school, those students who initiated NMPDU during middle school reported lower social functioning, and more suspensions and fighting, compared to students who did not initiate NMPDU during middle school. NMPDU initiation during middle school is associated with poorer social functioning and greater delinquency in high school. It is important for middle school prevention programs to address NMPDU. Such programs should focus on both family and peer influences, as well as strengthening resistance self-efficacy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory FY 2016 Laboratory Directed Research and Development Annual Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Al-Ayat, R.; Gard, E.; Sketchley, J.

The LDRD annual report for FY2016 consists of two parts: The Overview. This section contains a broad description of the LDRD Program, highlights of recent accomplishments and awards, Program statistics, and the LDRD portfolio-management processes. Project Reports. Project reports are submitted by all principal investigators at the end of the fiscal year. The length and depth of the report depends on the project’s lifecycle. For projects that will be continuing the following year, the principal investigator submits a continuing project report, which is a brief update containing descriptions of the goals, scope, motivation, relevance (to DOE/NNSA and Livermore mission areas),more » and technical progress achieved in FY16, as well as a list of selected publications and presentations that resulted from the research. For projects that concluded in FY16, a more detailed final report is provided that is technical in nature and includes the background, objectives, scientific approach, accomplishments, and impacts on the Laboratory missions, as well as a list of publications and presentations that resulted from the research. Project reports are listed under their research topics and organized by year and type, such as exploratory research (ER), feasibility study (FS), laboratory-wide competition (LW), and strategic initiative (SI). Each project is assigned a unique tracking code, an identifier that consists of three elements. The first is the fiscal year in which the project began, the second represents the project type, and the third identifies the serial number of the project for that fiscal year. For example, 16-ERD-100 means the project is an exploratory research project that began in FY16. The three-digit number (100) represents the serial number for the project.« less

Core Outcome Set–STAndards for Reporting: The COS-STAR Statement

PubMed Central

Kirkham, Jamie J.; Gorst, Sarah; Altman, Douglas G.; Blazeby, Jane M.; Clarke, Mike; Devane, Declan; Moher, David; Schmitt, Jochen; Tugwell, Peter; Tunis, Sean; Williamson, Paula R.

2016-01-01

Background Core outcome sets (COS) can enhance the relevance of research by ensuring that outcomes of importance to health service users and other people making choices about health care in a particular topic area are measured routinely. Over 200 COS to date have been developed, but the clarity of these reports is suboptimal. COS studies will not achieve their goal if reports of COS are not complete and transparent. Methods and Findings In recognition of these issues, an international group that included experienced COS developers, methodologists, journal editors, potential users of COS (clinical trialists, systematic reviewers, and clinical guideline developers), and patient representatives developed the Core Outcome Set–STAndards for Reporting (COS-STAR) Statement as a reporting guideline for COS studies. The developmental process consisted of an initial reporting item generation stage and a two-round Delphi survey involving nearly 200 participants representing key stakeholder groups, followed by a consensus meeting. The COS-STAR Statement consists of a checklist of 18 items considered essential for transparent and complete reporting in all COS studies. The checklist items focus on the introduction, methods, results, and discussion section of a manuscript describing the development of a particular COS. A limitation of the COS-STAR Statement is that it was developed without representative views of low- and middle-income countries. COS have equal relevance to studies conducted in these areas, and, subsequently, this guideline may need to evolve over time to encompass any additional challenges from developing COS in these areas. Conclusions With many ongoing COS studies underway, the COS-STAR Statement should be a helpful resource to improve the reporting of COS studies for the benefit of all COS users. PMID:27755541

Vital signs monitoring plan for the Klamath Network: Phase I report

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sarr, Daniel; Odion, Dennis; Truitt, Robert E.; Beever, Erik A.; Shafer, Sarah; Duff, Andrew; Smith, Sean B.; Bunn, Windy; Rocchio, Judy; Sarnat, Eli; Alexander, John; Jessup, Steve

2004-01-01

This report chronicles the Phase 1 stage of the vital signs monitoring program for the Klamath Network. It consists of two chapters and eleven appendixes. The purposes of Chapter One are to 1) describe the network administrative structure and approach to planning; 2) introduce the Klamath Network parks, their resources, and environmental settings; 3) explain the need for monitoring changes in resources and supporting environments; 4) identify key information gaps that limit understanding of how to best achieve these monitoring goals. The purpose of Chapter Two is to develop the descriptive information provided in Chapter One into a conceptual basis for vital signs monitoring and to present the Network’s initial suite of conceptual models. The Report Appendices provide in-depth information on a variety of topics researched in preparation of the report, including: detailed natural resource profiles for each park, supporting policies and guidelines, regional fire regimes, vegetation types of the parks, exotic species threats, interagency monitoring programs, air issues, water quality (Phase 1 Report), Network vital signs (Scoping Summary Report), rare species, and rare habitats of the parks.

Can research participants comment authoritatively on the validity of their self-reports of mind wandering and task engagement?

PubMed

Seli, Paul; Jonker, Tanya R; Cheyne, James Allan; Cortes, Kassandra; Smilek, Daniel

2015-06-01

The study of mind wandering rests upon the assumption that people are able to consistently and accurately introspect and report on these sorts of mental experiences. Although there is some initial evidence that people can indeed accurately report on the subjective experience of mind wandering, to date, no work has directly examined people's degree of confidence in their self-reports of mind wandering and the effects that confidence has on the accuracy of such reports. In the present study, participants completed a sustained-attention task during which they intermittently provided assessments of task engagement (i.e., whether they were focused on the task or mind wandering), as well as reports of confidence in the accuracy of their assessments. This study yielded 3 key findings: We found substantial between- and within-subject variability in both (a) reported mind wandering and (b) confidence in mind-wandering reports, and, most critically, (c) we found that the relation of reported mind wandering and task performance varied as a function of confidence. We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of the literature on mind wandering. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing abuse risk beyond self-report: analog task of acceptability of parent-child aggression.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Christina M; Russa, Mary Bower; Harmon, Nancy

2011-03-01

The present investigation reports on the development and initial validation of a new analog task, the Parent-Child Aggression Acceptability Movie Task (P-CAAM), intended to assess respondents' acceptance of parent-child aggression, including both physical discipline and physical abuse. Two independent samples were utilized to develop and evaluate the P-CAAM: an undergraduate sample to initially pilot the task and a separate sample of normative parents for additional assessment of validity. Scores from the P-CAAM were compared to related measures, including measures of self-reported disciplinary attitudes, child abuse potential, harsh parenting style, and use and escalation of physical discipline practices on another analog parenting task. Across the studies, the P-CAAM demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and construct validity, evidencing mild to moderate associations with both self-report and analog measures. Participants demonstrating increased acceptance of physical discipline and physical abuse on the P-CAAM analog task also reported greater approval of physical discipline, greater use of and escalation of physical discipline, harsher parenting styles, and higher child abuse potential on two separate measures. The P-CAAM analog appears to offer a promising alternative and/or supplement to conventional self-report measures, assessing attitudes regarding the acceptability of parent-child aggression in a way that is less likely to be influenced by social desirability. Suggestions for future evaluations with alternative samples, as well as possible implications of the data for disciplinary reactions are discussed. The development of alternatives to self-report measurement may lead to clarification of theoretical models of abuse in ways that lead to improvements in intervention programming; analogs may also provide a useful means to assess intervention programming outcomes. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors associated with self-reported need for treatment of sleeping difficulties: a survey of the general Swedish population.

PubMed

Sandlund, Christina; Westman, Jeanette; Hetta, Jerker

2016-06-01

This study aims to investigate factors associated with the self-reported need for treatment of sleeping difficulties in the general population. This study consisted of a cross-sectional telephone survey of 1550 people randomly selected from the total population of Sweden. The survey, conducted by the Swedish national statistics agency, Statistics Sweden, was completed by 1115 people aged 18-85 years. Participants were asked about sleep patterns, daytime symptoms, physical and mental health disorders, use of prescribed hypnotics, help-seeking behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics. They were also asked whether they thought they needed treatment for sleeping difficulties. A total of 12.5% of the participants reported a need for treatment because of sleeping difficulties. Significantly more women than men reported such a need (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.10). Additionally, in univariate analyses, older age (age 60-69), sick leave, retirement, and unemployment were associated with a self-reported need for treatment, as were several sleep complaints, daytime symptoms, and physical and mental health disorders. A logistic regression model showed that difficulty initiating sleep (OR 6.29, 95% CI 3.67-10.78) was the factor most strongly associated with a self-reported need for treatment for sleeping difficulties. Other important factors were nonrestorative sleep (OR 3.70, 95% CI 2.05-6.69), mental health disorders (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.59-5.67), and fatigue (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.53-5.68). There was considerable self-reported need for treatment for sleeping difficulties in the population. Difficulty initiating sleep was the factor most strongly associated with this need, followed by nonrestorative sleep, mental health disorders, and fatigue. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of a single dose of propofol and lack of dextrose administration in a child with mitochondrial disease: a case report.

PubMed

Mtaweh, Haifa; Bayır, Hülya; Kochanek, Patrick M; Bell, Michael J

2014-08-01

Propofol infusion syndrome is a recognized complication of prolonged propofol use in the pediatric population, but little is reported on other metabolic effects of propofol, especially in children with mitochondrial disorders. We report on a child with metabolic encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like syndrome who received a single dose of propofol for procedural sedation. The patient's initial presentation was consistent with a mild exacerbation of her underlying disease. She received a single dose of propofol and non-dextrose-containing fluids during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study to rule out stroke and progressed to develop severe acidosis, neurologic deterioration, and cardiorespiratory compromise. This is the first case report of severe metabolic disturbances after a single dose of propofol administered for procedural sedation in a patient with metabolic encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like syndrome and it questions the safety of propofol and absence of dextrose infusions during an acute illness in patients with mitochondrial disorders. © The Author(s) 2013.

Epidemiologic surveillance. [1994] amended annual report for Brookhaven National Laboratory. Revision 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1994-12-31

Epidemiologic surveillance at DOE facilities consists of regular and systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on absences due to illness and injury in the work force. Its purpose is to provide an early warning system for health problems occurring among employees at participating sites. Data are collected by coordinators at each site and submitted to the Epidemiologic Surveillance Data Center, located at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, where quality control procedures and analyses are carried out. Rates of absences and rates of diagnoses associated with absences are analyzed by occupation and other relevant variables. They maymore » be compared with the disease experience of different groups within the DOE work force and with populations that do not work for DOE to identify disease patterns or clusters that may be associated with work activities. This amended annual report corrects errors in the initial release of the BNL report for 1994. In this annual report, the 1994 morbidity data for BNL are summarized.« less

Aminoxyl (nitroxyl) radicals in the early decomposition of the nitramine RDX.

PubMed

Irikura, Karl K

2013-03-14

The explosive nitramine RDX (1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine) is thought to decompose largely by homolytic N-N bond cleavage, among other possible initiation reactions. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the resulting secondary aminyl (R2N·) radical can abstract an oxygen atom from NO2 or from a neighboring nitramine molecule, producing an aminoxyl (R2NO·) radical. Persistent aminoxyl radicals have been detected in electron-spin resonance (ESR) experiments and are consistent with autocatalytic "red oils" reported in the experimental literature. When the O-atom donor is a nitramine, a nitrosamine is formed along with the aminoxyl radical. Reactions of aminoxyl radicals can lead readily to the "oxy-s-triazine" product (as the s-triazine N-oxide) observed mass-spectrometrically by Behrens and co-workers. In addition to forming aminoxyl radicals, the initial aminyl radical can catalyze loss of HONO from RDX.

Gap Test Calibrations and Their Scaling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandusky, Harold

2011-06-01

Common tests for measuring the threshold for shock initiation are the NOL large scale gap test (LSGT) with a 50.8-mm diameter donor/gap and the expanded large scale gap test (ELSGT) with a 95.3-mm diameter donor/gap. Despite the same specifications for the explosive donor and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) gap in both tests, calibration of shock pressure in the gap versus distance from the donor scales by a factor of 1.75, not the 1.875 difference in their sizes. Recently reported model calculations suggest that the scaling discrepancy results from the viscoelastic properties of PMMA in combination with different methods for obtaining shock pressure. This is supported by the consistent scaling of these donors when calibrated in water-filled aquariums. Calibrations with water gaps will be provided and compared with PMMA gaps. Scaling for other donor systems will also be provided. Shock initiation data with water gaps will be reviewed.

Romantic Partner Selection and Socialization during Early Adolescence

PubMed Central

Simon, Valerie A.; Aikins, Julie Wargo; Prinstein, Mitchell J.

2012-01-01

This prospective study examined romantic partner selection and socialization among a sample of 78 young adolescents (6th–8th graders). Independent assessments of adolescent and romantic partner adjustment were collected before and after relationships initiated via peer nomination and self-report. Prior to their relationship, adolescents and partners were significantly alike on popularity, physical attraction, and depressive symptoms. Controlling for initial similarity, partners' popularity, depressive symptoms, relational aggression and relational victimization significantly predicted changes in adolescents' functioning in these areas over time. However, the magnitude and direction of change varied according to adolescents' and partners' pre-relationship functioning. In general, adolescents who dated high-functioning partners changed more than those who dated low-functioning partners, and partner characteristics predicted greater change among low versus high-functioning adolescents. Results were consistent even when controlling for best friend characteristics. The current findings are among the first to demonstrate unique contributions of romantic partner characteristics to adolescents' psychosocial functioning. PMID:19037942

Health behavior in persons with spinal cord injury: development and initial validation of an outcome measure.

PubMed

Pruitt, S D; Wahlgren, D R; Epping-Jordan, J E; Rossi, A L

1998-10-01

To describe the development and initial psychometric properties of a new outcome measure for health behaviors that delay or prevent secondary impairments associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). Persons with SCI were surveyed during routine annual physical evaluations. Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit, which specializes in primary care for persons with SCI. Forty-nine persons with SCI, aged 19-73 years, 1-50 years post-SCI. The newly developed Spinal Cord Injury Lifestyle Scale (SCILS). Internal consistency is high (alpha = 0.81). Correlations between clinicians' ratings of participants' health behavior and the new SCILS provide preliminary support for construct validity. The SCILS is a brief, self-report measure of health-related behavior in persons with SCI. It is a promising new outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical and educational efforts for health maintenance and prevention of secondary impairments associated with SCI.

Cell of Origin and Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Suppressor Mouse Models of Glioblastoma.

PubMed

Alcantara Llaguno, Sheila R; Xie, Xuanhua; Parada, Luis F

2016-01-01

The cellular origins and the mechanisms of progression, maintenance of tumorigenicity, and therapeutic resistance are central questions in the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) field. Using tumor suppressor mouse models, our group recently reported two independent populations of adult GBM-initiating central nervous system progenitors. We found different functional and molecular subtypes depending on the tumor-initiating cell lineage, indicating that the cell of origin is a driver of GBM subtype diversity. Using an in vivo model, we also showed that GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs) or glioma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and that genetic ablation of GSCs leads to a delay in tumor progression. These studies are consistent with the cell of origin and CSCs as critical regulators of the pathogenesis of GBM. © 2016 Alcantara Llaguno et al; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopentanes bearing Four Stereocenters by a Rhodium Carbene–Initiated Domino Sequence

PubMed Central

Parr, Brendan T.; Davies, Huw M. L.

2014-01-01

Stereoselective synthesis of a cyclopentane nucleus by convergent annulations constitutes a significant challenge for synthetic chemists. Though a number of biologically relevant cyclopentane natural products are known, more often than not, the cyclopentane core is assembled in a stepwise fashion due to lack of efficient annulation strategies. Herein, we report the rhodium-catalyzed reactions of vinyldiazoacetates with (E)-1,3-disubstituted 2-butenols generate cyclopentanes, containing four new stereogenic centers with very high levels of stereoselectivity (99% ee, >97 : 3 dr). The reaction proceeds by a carbene–initiated domino sequence consisting of five distinct steps: rhodium–bound oxonium ylide formation, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, oxy-Cope rearrangement, enol–keto tautomerization, and finally an intramolecular carbonyl ene reaction. A systematic study is presented detailing how to control chirality transfer in each of the four stereo-defining steps of the cascade, consummating in the development of a highly stereoselective process. PMID:25082301

The Goal of the IAU/IAG Joint Working Group on the Theory of Earth Rotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferrandiz, J. M.; Gross, R. S.

2013-01-01

In 2012 the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) initiated a process to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) on theory of Earth rotation with the purpose of promoting the development of improved theories of the Earth rotation which reach the accuracy required to meet the needs of the near future as recommended by, e.g. GGOS, the Global Geodetic Observing System of the IAG. The JWG was approved by both organizations in April 2013 with the chairs being the two authors of this paper. Its structure comprises three Sub Working Groups (SWGs) addressing Precession/Nutation, Polar Motion and UT1, the Numerical Solutions and Validation, respectively. The SWGs should work in parallel for the sake of efficiency, but should keep consistency as an overall goal. This paper offers a view of the objectives and scope of the JWG and reports about its initial activities and plans.

A Native to Amyloidogenic Transition Regulated by a Backbone Trigger

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eakin,C.; Berman, A.; Miranker, A.

2006-01-01

Many polypeptides can self-associate into linear, aggregated assemblies termed amyloid fibers. High-resolution structural insights into the mechanism of fibrillogenesis are elusive owing to the transient and mixed oligomeric nature of assembly intermediates. Here, we report the conformational changes that initiate fiber formation by beta-2-microglobulin (beta2m) in dialysis-related amyloidosis. Access of beta2m to amyloidogenic conformations is catalyzed by selective binding of divalent cations. The chemical basis of this process was determined to be backbone isomerization of a conserved proline. On the basis of this finding, we designed a beta2m variant that closely adopts this intermediate state. The variant has kinetic, thermodynamicmore » and catalytic properties consistent with its being a fibrillogenic intermediate of wild-type beta2m. Furthermore, it is stable and folded, enabling us to unambiguously determine the initiating conformational changes for amyloid assembly at atomic resolution.« less

Application of microdynamics and lattice mechanics to problems in plastic flow and fracture. Final report, 1 April 1973--31 March 1978

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bilello, J C; Liu, J M

Progress in an investigation of the application of microdynamics and lattice mechanics to the problems in plastic flow and fracture is described. The research program consisted of both theoretical formulations and experimental measurements of a number of intrinsic material parameters in bcc metals and alloys including surface energy, phonon-dispersion curves for dislocated solids, dislocation-point defect interaction energy, slip initiation and microplastic flow behavior. The study has resulted in an improved understanding in the relationship among the experimentally determined fracture surface energy, the intrinsic cohesive energy between atomic planes, and the plastic deformation associated with the initial stages of crack propagation.more » The values of intrinsic surface energy of tungsten, molybdenum, niobium and niobium-molybdenum alloys, deduced from the measurements, serve as a starting point from which fracture toughness of these materials in engineering service may be intelligently discussed.« less

Measuring the expectations of kidney donors: initial psychometric properties of the Living Donation Expectancies Questionnaire.

PubMed

Rodrigue, James R; Guenther, Robert; Kaplan, Bruce; Mandelbrot, Didier A; Pavlakis, Martha; Howard, Richard J

2008-05-15

We report on the initial development and validation of the Living Donation Expectancies Questionnaire (LDEQ), designed to measure the expectations of living kidney donor candidates. Potential living donors (n=443) at two transplant centers were administered the LDEQ and other questionnaires, and their medical records were reviewed. Factor analysis provides support for six LDEQ scales: Interpersonal Benefit, Personal Growth, Spiritual Growth, Quid Pro Quo, Health Consequences, and Miscellaneous Consequences. All but one scale showed good internal consistency. Expected benefits of donation were associated with higher optimism and lower mental health; expected consequences of donation were associated with lower optimism and lower physical and mental health. More potential donors with relative or absolute contraindications had high Interpersonal Benefit (P<0.0001), Personal Growth (P<0.01), Quid Pro Quo (P<0.0001), and Health Consequences (P<0.0001) expectations. The LDEQ has promise in evaluating donor candidates' expectations.

Printable sensors for explosive detonation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffith, Matthew J.; Cooling, Nathan A.; Elkington, Daniel C.; Muller, Elmar; Belcher, Warwick J.; Dastoor, Paul C.

2014-10-01

Here, we report the development of an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) based on printable solution processed polymers and employing a quantum tunnelling composite material as a sensor to convert the pressure wave output from detonation transmission tubing (shock tube) into an inherently amplified electronic signal for explosives initiation. The organic electronic detector allows detection of the signal in a low voltage operating range, an essential feature for sites employing live ordinances that is not provided by conventional electronic devices. We show that a 30-fold change in detector response is possible using the presented detector assembly. Degradation of the OTFT response with both time and repeated voltage scans was characterised, and device lifetime is shown to be consistent with the requirements for on-site printing and usage. The integration of a low cost organic electronic detector with inexpensive shock tube transmission fuse presents attractive avenues for the development of cheap and simple assemblies for precisely timed initiation of explosive chains.

A unique evolution of the kidney phenotype in a patient with autosomal recessive Alport syndrome.

PubMed

Vischini, Gisella; Kapp, Meghan E; Wheeler, Ferrin C; Hopp, Laszlo; Fogo, Agnes B

2018-03-09

Alport syndrome is due to mutations in one of the genes encoding (α3,4,5) type IV collagen resulting in defective type IV collagen, a key component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The GBM is initially thin, and with ongoing remodeling, develops a thickened basket-woven appearance. We report a unique case of a 9-year-old boy who was biopsied for hematuria and proteinuria, diagnosed as IgA nephropathy, with normal GBM appearance and thickness. Due to a family history of hematuria and chronic kidney disease, he subsequently underwent genetic evaluation and a mutation of α3 type IV collagen (COL4A3) was detected. Additional studies of the initial biopsy demonstrated abnormal type IV collagen immunostaining. A repeat biopsy 4years later showed characteristic glomerular basement membrane morphology of Alport syndrome, and scarring consistent with sequelae of IgA nephropathy. This is the first description of this unusual transition from an initial normal appearance of the glomerular basement membrane to the classic Alport phenotype. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Community initiative: elementary and middle school students--a creative approach.

PubMed

Sell, Sandra; Palmer, Laura

2004-04-01

Initiatives to increase the visibility and public awareness of nurse anesthetists have been an ongoing effort of the profession for years. In 2001, the Nurse Anesthesia Program at the University of Pittsburgh designed and implemented a large-scale initiative to target school-aged children. The purpose of the program was to educate the school-aged child about nurse anesthesia and the operating room. It was presented at elementary and middle schools and consisted of a classroom presentation, a mock operating room simulation, and hands-on activities. The program was viewed as a success by all those involved. Teachers were impressed with the school-aged students' interest and level of focus during the events. Many teachers reported that prior to the program they did not know that the nurse anesthesia profession existed. More than 1,000 children and teachers participated in the programs in a 2.5-year period. The ability to have an impact on the school-aged children during their formative years, in addition to educating the teachers about the nurse anesthesia profession, proved to be a dual reward in presenting the program.

Structures of transcription pre-initiation complex with TFIIH and Mediator.

PubMed

Schilbach, S; Hantsche, M; Tegunov, D; Dienemann, C; Wigge, C; Urlaub, H; Cramer, P

2017-11-09

For the initiation of transcription, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) assembles with general transcription factors on promoter DNA to form the pre-initiation complex (PIC). Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PIC and PIC-core Mediator complex at nominal resolutions of 4.7 Å and 5.8 Å, respectively. The structures reveal transcription factor IIH (TFIIH), and suggest how the core and kinase TFIIH modules function in the opening of promoter DNA and the phosphorylation of Pol II, respectively. The TFIIH core subunit Ssl2 (a homologue of human XPB) is positioned on downstream DNA by the 'E-bridge' helix in TFIIE, consistent with TFIIE-stimulated DNA opening. The TFIIH kinase module subunit Tfb3 (MAT1 in human) anchors the kinase Kin28 (CDK7), which is mobile in the PIC but preferentially located between the Mediator hook and shoulder in the PIC-core Mediator complex. Open spaces between the Mediator head and middle modules may allow access of the kinase to its substrate, the C-terminal domain of Pol II.

Treatment of clozapine- and molindone-induced agranulocytosis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

PubMed

Geibig, C B; Marks, L W

1993-10-01

To report a case of clozapine- and molindone-induced agranulocytosis and to discuss treatment using filgrastim, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. A 64-year-old woman who had been on long-term clozapine therapy for schizophrenia was hospitalized with presumed drug-induced agranulocytosis. She had also been on short-term molindone therapy. A bone marrow biopsy and the initial white blood cell (WBC) count were consistent with drug-induced agranulocytosis. Following seven days of treatment with subcutaneous filgrastim 300 micrograms/d, her absolute neutrophil count was above 500 x 10(6)/L. Reports in the literature discussing antipsychotic drug-induced agranulocytosis are reviewed. A relationship between treatment with filgrastim and WBC response is postulated. Filgrastim may be useful in ameliorating the effects of clozapine- and molindone-induced agranulocytosis.

Purulent pericarditis and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

PubMed

Held, Jürgen; Schmitz, Roland; van der Linden, Mark; Nührenberg, Thomas; Häcker, Georg; Neumann, Franz-Josef

2014-02-01

Purulent pericarditis is a life-threatening disease that usually manifests following bacteraemia or through spreading from an intrathoracic focus. Only a few cases of this disease have been reported with Lancefield group C streptococci as aetiological agents, and the primary focus in these infections remains unknown. We report a case of purulent pericarditis with septic and cardiogenic shock, caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (group C) in a 51-year-old patient. The pathogen was possibly contracted through contact with horses. Most probably, it caused initially pneumonia before spreading to the pericardium, either directly or via the bloodstream. A combined therapeutic approach, consisting of antibiotic therapy and repeated pericardial drainage, was necessary to ensure a clinical cure. After discharge, long-term follow-up for development of constrictive pericarditis is considered mandatory.

FY16 Progress Report on Test Results In Support Of Integrated EPP and SMT Design Methods Development

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Yanli; Jetter, Robert I.; Sham, T. -L.

2016-08-08

The proposed integrated Elastic Perfectly-Plastic (EPP) and Simplified Model Test (SMT) methodology consists of incorporating an SMT data-based approach for creep-fatigue damage evaluation into the EPP methodology to avoid using the creep-fatigue interaction diagram (the D diagram) and to minimize over-conservatism while properly accounting for localized defects and stress risers. To support the implementation of the proposed code rules and to verify their applicability, a series of thermomechanical tests have been initiated. This report presents the recent test results for Type 2 SMT specimens on Alloy 617, Pressurization SMT on Alloy 617, Type 1 SMT on Gr. 91, and two-barmore » thermal ratcheting test results on Alloy 617 with a new thermal loading profile.« less

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the pineal gland.

PubMed

Lau, Steven K M; Cykowski, Matthew D; Desai, Shiv; Cao, Ying; Fuller, Gregory N; Bruner, Janet; Okazaki, Ian

2015-05-01

To report a case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the pineal gland in an adult, as well as review the literature on this rare entity. The case is compared with previous reports of similar entities, with emphasis on this patient's characteristics and clinical presentation, investigations, and management. Diagnosis of primary RMS of the pineal gland was based on the presence of strap cells and multinucleated myotube-like structures, as well as tumor cell expression of skeletal muscle markers consistent with myogenic differentiation. Multimodality treatment was initiated based on pediatric protocols. Unfortunately, the disease progressed on treatment, and the patient survived only 5 months from diagnosis. Pineal RMS is a rare disease with poor prognosis. Optimal management is unknown but likely to involve aggressive multimodality therapy. Copyright© by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Oral Rehabilitation of a Severe Periodontally Involved Patient with Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: A 15-Year Follow-Up Case Report.

PubMed

Megarbane, Jean-Marie; Freiha, Cécile; Mokbel, Nadim

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) refers to a group of chronic autoimmune subepithelial diseases distinguished by erosive lesions of the mucous membranes and skin. Its treatment consists of inhibition of the inflammatory reaction by means of corticosteroids and symptomatic medication. This is a report of a patient suffering from a combination of MMP and severe generalized chronic periodontitis. The patient has been treated with oral corticosteroids, initial phase therapy, extraction with immediate implant placement, and periodontal surgery where the prognosis was questionable. The case has been followed up for 15 years. Periodontal therapy with immediate implant placement was determined to be a viable modality to achieve a total rehabilitation of a case suffering from MMP combined with severe generalized chronic periodontitis.

Development and validation of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire: Preliminary findings.

PubMed

Potocka, Adrianna; Najder, Anna

2016-10-01

This article describes the development of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire, a self-reported measurement of eating maturity that initiates and gives direction to human eating behaviors. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire was designed to study individuals' biological and psychosocial motives for eating. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire is a 21-item tool with satisfactory psychometric values (Cronbach's α coefficients between 0.83 and 0.88) consisting of two subscales: Rational Eating and Psychosocial Maturity Eating Maturity Questionnaire results may be used to design programs that target eating behaviors and body mass modification. © The Author(s) 2015.

Improved pathologic teeth migration following gingivectomy in a case of idiopathic gingival fibromatosis.

PubMed

Seki, Keisuke; Sato, Shuichi; Asano, Yukhiro; Akutagawa, Hideyasu; Ito, Koichi

2010-01-01

A case is reported of a 20-year-old woman with generalized severe gingival overgrowth covering almost all of the teeth with diastemata, diagnosed as idiopathic gingival fibromatosis. After initial therapy, the patient underwent surgery consisting of a full-mouth internal beveled gingivectomy. Postoperatively, the maxillary anterior teeth spontaneously moved to almost optimal positions. Removing the cause by gingivectomy can lead to spontaneous correction of the pathologic tooth migration. With supportive periodontal treatment, the patient showed no recurrence of gingival enlargement or repositioning of the teeth at the 5-year follow-up.

A Multi-Scale Method for Dynamics Simulation in Continuum Solvent Models I: Finite-Difference Algorithm for Navier-Stokes Equation.

PubMed

Xiao, Li; Cai, Qin; Li, Zhilin; Zhao, Hongkai; Luo, Ray

2014-11-25

A multi-scale framework is proposed for more realistic molecular dynamics simulations in continuum solvent models by coupling a molecular mechanics treatment of solute with a fluid mechanics treatment of solvent. This article reports our initial efforts to formulate the physical concepts necessary for coupling the two mechanics and develop a 3D numerical algorithm to simulate the solvent fluid via the Navier-Stokes equation. The numerical algorithm was validated with multiple test cases. The validation shows that the algorithm is effective and stable, with observed accuracy consistent with our design.

Struma Ovarii With Hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Ang, Lynn P; Avram, Anca M; Lieberman, Richard W; Esfandiari, Nazanene H

2017-06-01

We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with persistent thyrotoxicosis for 7 years despite low thyroidal radioiodine uptake and methimazole treatment. Her initial I whole-body scan (WBS) was read as negative. Upon evaluation in our institution, she remained hyperthyroid after discontinuation of methimazole. Repeat WBS with SPECT/CT revealed low 24-hour thyroidal uptake (RAIU = 2%) and intensely focal radioiodine uptake in a large heterogeneous left pelvic mass, consistent with left adnexal struma ovarii. Resection of this mass confirmed benign struma ovarii. This case illustrates the advantage of fusion SPECT/CT imaging with planar I-WBS for diagnosis of extrathyroidal thyrotoxicosis.

Potassium toxicity at low serum potassium levels with refeeding syndrome.

PubMed

Vemula, Praveen; Abela, Oliver G; Narisetty, Keerthy; Rhine, David; Abela, George S

2015-01-01

Refeeding syndrome is a life-threatening condition occurring in severely malnourished patients after initiating feeding. Severe hypophosphatemia with reduced adenosine triphosphate production has been implicated, but little data are available regarding electrolyte abnormalities. In this case, we report electrocardiographic changes consistent with hyperkalemia during potassium replacement after a serum level increase from 1.9 to 2.9 mEq/L. This was reversed by lowering serum potassium back to 2.0 mEq/L. In conclusion, the patient with prolonged malnutrition became adapted to low potassium levels and developed potassium toxicity with replacement. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cauda Equina Compression in the Absence of Neurologic Signs.

PubMed

Buzzell, Bethany; Sheets, Charles; Bagley, Carlos A

2016-04-01

The patient was a 45-year-old man with a 4-year history of chronic low back pain, intensifying insidiously over the previous 8 months. On physical examination, generalized, severe low back pain was increased with all motions, with no abnormal neurologic signs. The initial physical therapy diagnosis was nonspecific low back pain; however, when the patient reported worsening symptoms at 2-week follow-up, he was advised to complete his previously scheduled magnetic resonance imaging and physician follow-up before further physical therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass at L5 consistent with benign nerve sheath tumor.

Pacific Northwest Laboratory Institutional Plan FY 1995-2000

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1994-12-01

This report serves as a document to describe the role PNL is positioned to take in the Department of Energy`s plans for its national centers in the period 1995-2000. It highlights the strengths of the facilities and personnel present at the laboratory, touches on the accomplishments and projects they have contributed to, and the direction being taken to prepare for the demands to be placed on DOE facilities in the near and far term. It consists of sections titled: director`s statement; laboratory mission and core competencies; laboratory strategic plan; laboratory initiatives; core business areas; critical success factors.

The Floating Potential Probe (FPP) for ISS: Operations and Initial Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, Dale C.; Hillard, G. Barry; Morton, Thomas L.

2001-01-01

In this paper we report early results from the Floating Potential Probe (FPP) recently installed on the International Space Station (ISS). The data show that FPP properly measures the electrical potential of ISS structure with respect to the plasma it is flying through. FPP Langmuir probe data seem to give accurate measurements of the ambient plasma density, and are generally consistent with the IRI-90 model. FPP data are used to judge the performance of the ISS Plasma Contacting Units (PCUs), and to evaluate the extent of ISS charging in the absence of the PCUs.

Validation of the Neuro-QoL measurement system in children with epilepsy.

PubMed

Lai, Jin-Shei; Nowinski, Cindy J; Zelko, Frank; Wortman, Katy; Burns, James; Nordli, Douglas R; Cella, David

2015-05-01

Children with epilepsy often face complex psychosocial consequences that are not fully captured by existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. The Neurology Quality of Life Measurement System "Neuro-QoL" was developed to provide a set of common PRO measures that address issues important to people with neurologic disorders. This paper reports Neuro-QoL (anxiety, depression, interaction with peers, fatigue, pain, cognitive function, stigma, and upper and lower extremity functions) validation in children with epilepsy. Patients (aged 10-18years) diagnosed with epilepsy completed Neuro-QoL and legacy measures at time 1 (initial study visit) and 6-month follow-up. Internal consistency reliability was also evaluated. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing Neuro-QoL measures with more established "legacy" measures of the same concepts. Clinical validity was evaluated by comparing mean Neuro-QoL scores of patients grouped by clinical anchors such as disease severity. Responsiveness of the Neuro-QoL from time 1 (initial study visit) to 6months was evaluated using self-reported change as the primary anchor. Sixty-one patients (mean age=13.4years; 62.3% male, 75.9% white) participated. Most patients (64.2%) had been seizure-free in the 3months prior to participation, and seizure frequency was otherwise described as follows: 17.8% daily, 13.3% weekly, 35.6% monthly, and 33.3% yearly. All patients were taking antiepileptic drugs. Patients reported better function/less symptoms compared to the reference groups. Internal consistency (alpha) coefficients ranged from 0.76 to 0.87. Patients with different seizure frequencies differed on anxiety (p<.01) and cognitive function (p<.05). Compared to patients on polytherapy, those on monotherapy had better upper extremity scores (p<.05). Compared to those with localized seizures, those experiencing generalized seizures reported worse stigma (p<.05). Depression, anxiety, lower extremity, fatigue, pain, interaction with peers, and stigma also significantly discriminated patients with different levels of quality of life (p≤.05). All Neuro-QoL measures were significantly correlated with other measures assessing similar domains. Stigma was related to self-reported change in several areas of functioning but in sometimes unexpected directions. The Neurology Quality of Life Measurement System is a valid and reliable assessment tool for children with epilepsy and can be used in research and clinical settings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strategies for ensuring global consistency/comparability of water-quality data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klein, J.M.

1999-01-01

In the past 20 years the water quality of the United States has improved remarkably-the waters are safer for drinking, swimming, and fishing. However, despite many accomplishments, it is still difficult to answer such basic questions as: 'How clean is the water?' and 'How is it changing over time?' These same questions exist on a global scale as well. In order to focus water-data issues in the United States, a national Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality (ITFM) was initiated for public and private organizations, whereby key elements involved in data collection, analysis, storage, and management could be made consistent and comparable. The ITFM recommended and its members are implementing a nationwide strategy to improve water-quality monitoring, assessment, and reporting activities. The intent of this paper is to suggest that a voluntary effort be initiated to ensure the comparability and utility of hydrological data on a global basis. Consistent, long-term data sets that are comparable are necessary in order to formulate ideas regarding regional and global trends in water quantity and quality. The author recommends that a voluntary effort similar to the ITFM effort be utilized. The strategy proposed would involve voluntary representation from countries and international organizations (e.g. World Health Organization) involved in drinking-water assessments and/or ambient water-quality monitoring. Voluntary partnerships such as this will improve curability to reduce health risks and achieve a better return on public and private investments in monitoring, environmental protection, and natural resource management, and result in a collaborative process that will save millions of dollars.In this work it is suggested that a voluntary effort be initiated to ensure the comparability and utility of hydrological data on a global basis. The strategy proposed would involve voluntary representation from countries and international organizations involved in drinking-water assessments and/or ambient water-quality monitoring.

The role of chief executive officers in a quality improvement initiative: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

Parand, Anam; Dopson, Sue; Vincent, Charles

2013-01-01

Objectives To identify the critical dimensions of hospital Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs) involvement in a quality and safety initiative and to offer practical guidance to assist CEOs to fulfil their leadership role in quality improvement (QI). Design Qualitative interview study. Setting 20 organisations participating in the main phase of the Safer Patients Initiative (SPI) programme across the UK. Participants 17 CEOs overseeing 19 organisations participating in the main phase of the SPI programme and 36 staff (20 workstream leads, 10 coordinators and 6 managers) involved in SPI across all 20 participating organisations. Main outcome measure Self-reported perceptions of CEOs on their contribution and involvement within the SPI programme, supplemented by staff peer-reports. Results The CEOs recognised the importance of their part in the SPI programme and gave detailed accounts of the perceived value that their involvement had brought at all stages of the process. In exploring the parts played by the CEOs, five dimensions were identified: (1) resource provision; (2) staff motivation and engagement; (3) commitment and support; (4) monitoring progress and (5) embedding programme elements. Staff reports confirmed these dimensions; however, the weighting of the dimensions differed. The findings stress the importance of particular actions of support and monitoring such as constant communication through leadership walk rounds and reviewing programme progress and its related clinical outcomes at Board meetings. Conclusions This study addressed the call for more research-informed practical guidance on the role of senior management in QI initiatives. The findings show that the CEOs provided key participation considered to significantly contribute towards the SPI programme. CEOs and staff identified a number of clear and consistent themes essential to organisation safety improvement. Queries raised include the tangible benefits of executive involvement in changing structures and embedding for sustainability and the practical steps to creating the ‘right’ environment for QI. PMID:23293245

Recent warming by latitude associated with increased length of ragweed pollen season in central North America

PubMed Central

Ziska, Lewis; Knowlton, Kim; Rogers, Christine; Dalan, Dan; Tierney, Nicole; Elder, Mary Ann; Filley, Warren; Shropshire, Jeanne; Ford, Linda B.; Hedberg, Curtis; Fleetwood, Pamela; Hovanky, Kim T.; Kavanaugh, Tony; Fulford, George; Vrtis, Rose F.; Patz, Jonathan A.; Portnoy, Jay; Coates, Frances; Bielory, Leonard; Frenz, David

2011-01-01

A fundamental aspect of climate change is the potential shifts in flowering phenology and pollen initiation associated with milder winters and warmer seasonal air temperature. Earlier floral anthesis has been suggested, in turn, to have a role in human disease by increasing time of exposure to pollen that causes allergic rhinitis and related asthma. However, earlier floral initiation does not necessarily alter the temporal duration of the pollen season, and, to date, no consistent continental trend in pollen season length has been demonstrated. Here we report that duration of the ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) pollen season has been increasing in recent decades as a function of latitude in North America. Latitudinal effects on increasing season length were associated primarily with a delay in first frost of the fall season and lengthening of the frost free period. Overall, these data indicate a significant increase in the length of the ragweed pollen season by as much as 13–27 d at latitudes above ~44°N since 1995. This is consistent with recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections regarding enhanced warming as a function of latitude. If similar warming trends accompany long-term climate change, greater exposure times to seasonal allergens may occur with subsequent effects on public health. PMID:21368130

Altered microRNA expression patterns during the initiation and promotion stages of neonatal diethylstilbestrol-induced dysplasia/neoplasia in the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) uterus.

PubMed

Padmanabhan, Ramesh; Hendry, Isabel R; Knapp, Jennifer R; Shuai, Bin; Hendry, William J

2017-10-01

Treatment of Syrian hamsters on the day of birth with the prototypical endocrine disruptor and synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), leads to 100% occurrence of uterine hyperplasia/dysplasia in adulthood, a large proportion of which progress to neoplasia (endometrial adenocarcinoma). Consistent with our prior gene expression analyses at the mRNA and protein levels, we now report (based on microarray, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization analyses) that progression of the neonatal DES-induced dysplasia/neoplasia phenomenon in the hamster uterus also includes a spectrum of microRNA expression alterations (at both the whole-organ and cell-specific level) that differ during the initiation (upregulated miR-21, 200a, 200b, 200c, 29a, 29b, 429, 141; downregulated miR-181a) and promotion (downregulated miR-133a) stages of the phenomenon. The biological processes targeted by those differentially expressed miRNAs include pathways in cancer and adherens junction, plus regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and miRNA functions, all of which are consistent with our model system phenotype. These findings underscore the need for continued efforts to identify and assess both the classical genetic and the more recently recognized epigenetic mechanisms that truly drive this and other endocrine disruption phenomena.

Communicative performance of adolescents with severe speech impairment: influence of context.

PubMed

Dalton, B M; Bedrosian, J L

1989-08-01

The communicative performance of 4 preoperational-level adolescents, using limited speech, gestures, and communication board techniques, was examined in a two-part investigation. In Part 1, each subject participated in an academic interaction with a teacher in a therapy room. Data were transcribed and coded for communication mode, function, and role. Two subjects were found to predominantly use the speech mode, while the remaining 2 predominantly used board and one other mode. The majority of productions consisted of responses to requests, and the initiator role was infrequently occupied. These findings were similar to those reported in previous investigations conducted in classroom settings. In Part 2, another examination of the communicative performance of these subjects was conducted in spontaneous interactions involving speaking and nonspeaking peers in a therapy room. Using the same data analysis procedures, gesture and speech modes predominated for 3 of the subjects in the nonspeaking peer interactions. The remaining subject exhibited minimal interaction. No consistent pattern of mode usage was exhibited across the speaking peer interactions. In the nonspeaking peer interactions, request predominated. In contrast, a variety of communication functions was exhibited in the speaking peer interactions. Both the initiator and the maintainer roles were occupied in the majority of interactions. Pertinent variables and clinical implications are discussed.

29 CFR 402.2 - Labor organization initial information report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 29 Labor 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Labor organization initial information report. 402.2... LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION REPORTS § 402.2 Labor organization initial information report. Every labor organization shall file a report signed by its president and...

29 CFR 402.2 - Labor organization initial information report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 29 Labor 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Labor organization initial information report. 402.2... LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION REPORTS § 402.2 Labor organization initial information report. Every labor organization shall file a report signed by its president and...

29 CFR 402.2 - Labor organization initial information report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 29 Labor 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Labor organization initial information report. 402.2... LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION REPORTS § 402.2 Labor organization initial information report. Every labor organization shall file a report signed by its president and...

29 CFR 402.2 - Labor organization initial information report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 29 Labor 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Labor organization initial information report. 402.2... LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION REPORTS § 402.2 Labor organization initial information report. Every labor organization shall file a report signed by its president and...

29 CFR 402.2 - Labor organization initial information report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 29 Labor 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Labor organization initial information report. 402.2... LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION INFORMATION REPORTS § 402.2 Labor organization initial information report. Every labor organization shall file a report signed by its president and...

Cauchy problem in spacetimes with closed timelike curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, John; Morris, Michael S.; Novikov, Igor D.; Echeverria, Fernando; Klinkhammer, Gunnar; Thorne, Kip S.; Yurtsever, Ulvi

1990-09-01

The laws of physics might permit the existence, in the real Universe, of closed timelike curves (CTC's). Macroscopic CTC's might be a semiclassical consequence of Planck-scale, quantum gravitational, Lorentzian foam, if such foam exists. If CTC's are permitted, then the semiclassical laws of physics (the laws with gravity classical and other fields quantized or classical) should be augmented by a principle of self-consistency, which states that a local solution to the equations of physics can occur in the real Universe only if it can be extended to be part of a global solution, one which is well defined throughout the (nonsingular regions of) classical spacetime. The consequences of this principle are explored for the Cauchy problem of the evolution of a classical, massless scalar field Φ (satisfying □Φ=0) in several model spacetimes with CTC's. In general, self-consistency constrains the initial data for the field Φ. For a family of spacetimes with traversible wormholes, which initially possess no CTC's and then evolve them to the future of a stable Cauchy horizon scrH, self-consistency seems to place no constraints on initial data for Φ that are posed on past null infinity, and none on data posed on spacelike slices which precede scrH. By contrast, initial data posed in the future of scrH, where the CTC's reside, are constrained; but the constraints appear to be mild in the sense that in some neighborhood of every event one is free to specify initial data arbitrarily, with the initial data elsewhere being adjusted to guarantee self-consistent evolution. A spacetime whose self-consistency constraints have this property is defined to be ``benign with respect to the scalar field Φ.'' The question is posed as to whether benign spacetimes in some sense form a generic subset of all spacetimes with CTC's. It is shown that in the set of flat, spatially and temporally closed, 2-dimensional spacetimes the benign ones are not generic. However, it seems likely that every 4-dimensional, asymptotically flat space-time that is stable and has a topology of the form R×(S-one point), where S is a closed 3-manifold, is benign. Wormhole spacetimes are of this type, with S=S1×S2. We suspect that these types of self-consistency behavior of the scalar field Φ are typical for noninteracting (linearly superposing), classical fields. However, interacting classical systems can behave quite differently, as is demonstrated by a study of the motion of a hard-sphere billiard ball in a wormhole spacetime with closed timelike curves: If the ball is classical, then some choices of initial data (some values of the ball's initial position and velocity) give rise to unique, self-consistent motions of the ball; other choices produce two different self-consistent motions; and others might (but we are not yet sure) produce no self-consistent motions whatsoever. By contrast, in a path-integral formulation of the nonrelativistic quantum mechanics of such a billiard ball, there appears to be a unique, self-consistent set of probabilities for the outcomes of all measurements. This paper's conclusion, that CTC's may not be as nasty as people have assumed, is reinforced by the fact that they do not affect Gauss's theorem and thus do not affect the derivation of global conservation laws from differential ones. The standard conservation laws remain valid globally, and in asymptotically flat, wormhole spacetimes they retain a natural, quasilocal interpretation.

A Review of Empirical Analyses of Disinvestment Initiatives.

PubMed

Chambers, James D; Salem, Mark N; D'Cruz, Brittany N; Subedi, Prasun; Kamal-Bahl, Sachin J; Neumann, Peter J

Disinvesting in low-value health care services provides opportunities for investment in higher value care and thus an increase in health care efficiency. To identify international experience with disinvestment initiatives and to review empirical analyses of disinvestment initiatives. We performed a literature search using the PubMed database to identify international experience with disinvestment initiatives. We also reviewed empirical analyses of disinvestment initiatives. We identified 26 unique disinvestment initiatives implemented across 11 countries. Nineteen addressed multiple intervention types, six addressed only drugs, and one addressed only devices. We reviewed 18 empirical analyses of disinvestment initiatives: 7 reported that the initiative was successful, 8 reported that the initiative was unsuccessful, and 3 reported that findings were mixed; that is, the study considered multiple services and reported a decrease in the use of some but not others. Thirty-seven low-value services were evaluated across the 18 empirical analyses, for 14 (38%) of which the disinvestment initiative led to a decline in use. Six of the seven studies that reported the disinvestment initiative to be successful included an attempt to promote the disinvestment initiative among participating clinicians. The success of disinvestment initiatives has been mixed, with fewer than half the identified empirical studies reporting that use of the low-value service was reduced. Our findings suggest that promotion of the disinvestment initiative among clinicians is a key component to the success of the disinvestment initiative. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Official crime data versus collaborative crime mapping at a Brazilian city

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brito, P. L.; Jesus, E. G. V.; Sant'Ana, R. M. S.; Martins, C.; Delgado, J. P. M.; Fernandes, V. O.

2014-11-01

In July of 2013 a group of undergraduate students from the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, published a collaborative web map called "Where I Was Robbed". Their initial efforts in publicizing their web map were restricted to announce it at a local radio as a tool of social interest. In two months the map had almost 10.000 reports, 155 reports per day and people from more the 350 cities had already reported a crime. The present study consists in an investigation about this collaborative web map spatial correlation to official robbery data registered at the Secretary of Public Safety database, for the city of Salvador, Bahia. Kernel density estimator combined with map algebra was used to the investigation. Spatial correlations with official robbery data for the city of Salvador were not found initially, but after standardizing collaborative data and mining official registers, both data pointed at very similar areas as the main hot spots for pedestrian robbery. Both areas are located at two of the most economical active areas of the city, although web map crimes reports were more concentrated in an area with higher income population. This results and discussions indicates that this collaborative application is been used mainly by mid class and upper class parcel of the city population, but can still provide significant information on public safety priority areas. Therefore, extended divulgation, on local papers, radio and TV, of the collaborative crime map application and partnership with official agencies are strongly recommended.

Women's expectations of breast reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer: a systematic review.

PubMed

Flitcroft, Kathy; Brennan, Meagan; Spillane, Andrew

2017-08-01

Breast reconstruction (BR) makes an important positive contribution to the quality of life of many women who have undergone mastectomy for breast cancer. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the evidence for possible relationships between women's expectations of BR and their satisfaction with outcomes to inform and facilitate improved communication about BR options prior to initial surgery. A systematic review of the literature reporting expectations of BR published between 1 January 1994 and 6 March 2017 identified 2107 initial search results. Twenty-one publications, reporting 20 studies (2288 participants), satisfied the selection criteria. Information on study aim and time frame, participation rate, design/methods, limitations/bias, results and conclusions, as well as participant clinical and demographic information, was reported. An overall quality score was generated for each study. Four of five studies that quantified expectations and satisfaction found a positive relationship between the two. This may indicate a possible trend, but as 16 of the 21 included publications did not provide quantifiable data, no firm conclusions are possible. Our findings have important implications for policy and practice which are applicable to medical decision-making more broadly. There is a clear need to utilise accurate and consistent measures of patient-reported expectations and to educate both patients and health practitioners about the importance of informed discussion about treatment options. This is particularly salient for women facing a choice about BR, a major breast cancer survivorship decision. Routine use of an expectations checklist in pre-operative consultations may be useful.

Toward advocacy in cancer care for older adults: survivors have cautious personal actions but bold advice for others.

PubMed

Kahana, Eva; Kahana, Boaz; Kelley-Moore, Jessica; Adams, Scott A; Hammel, Rachel; Kulle, Diana; Brown, Jane A; King, Cathie

2009-11-01

To examine narratives of personal coping with the cancer experience and compare them with narratives of advice offered to other cancer patients by community-dwelling elderly cancer survivors. Qualitative and quantitative mixed methods. Community. Interviews were conducted with 100 elderly adults who had reported cancer diagnosis from among participants of a panel study of 1,107 community-dwelling elderly adults. Mean age of the sample was 78.7+/-6.8; 62% were female, and 62% were married. Three raters identified consistent themes through content analyses of interviews using a staged content analysis process. Themes reporting personal coping were coded separately from advice respondents would offer to others. Respondents reported themes of personal coping that corresponded well to previously established modes of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. Themes for personal coping primarily reflected reframing, normalizing, and obtaining social support. Assertive healthcare consumerism and self-care were seldom reported as personal coping strategies but emerged as important coping approaches, along with positive attitude maintenance, in advice offered to others. Length of survivorship was unrelated to coping strategies. Elderly cancer survivors use passive modes of coping and rely on physicians, family, or cognitive acceptance in coping with cancer, but they offer far more proactive advice to other cancer patients. These findings underscore the importance of physician encouragement of older cancer patient initiative and proactivity in expressing views and preferences. Physicians should offer reassurance that elderly patients' questions and initiatives are welcomed.

Novel treatment using topical malachite green for nasal phaeohyphomycosis caused by a new Cladophialophora species in a cat.

PubMed

Brooks, Ian J; Walton, Stuart A; Shmalberg, Justin; Harris, Autumn

2018-01-01

A 1.5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2 month history of progressive nasal swelling and hyporexia. Minimal improvement prior to referral was achieved with a course of antibiotics and glucocorticoids. Cytology of an ulcerative lesion on the dorsal aspect of the nose was consistent with a diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis. The cat achieved static disease for 6 weeks following initiation of itraconazole but developed epistaxis at 9 weeks. CT of the head demonstrated nasal and frontal sinus involvement. Nasal biopsy and culture identified infection with a Cladophialophora species not previously reported to cause disease. Initial response to a combination of itraconazole and terbinafine was noted, but owing to severe thrombocytopenia this combination was discontinued. Voriconazole was used but discontinued because of adverse side effects. Posaconazole treatment was offered throughout the clinical course but rejected owing to financial constraints and an uncertain response to medical therapy. Rhinotomy with debulking of diseased tissue and topical malachite green treatment was performed. Following the procedure itraconazole was continued and the cat has had no recurrence for over 1 year. Infections by Cladophialophora species have been reported in veterinary species, including cats. The specific fungal organism isolated from this cat has not been previously reported to cause disease in humans or animals and has only been described in the mangroves of Brazil. Furthermore, this is the first report to describe the use of topical malachite green as a treatment for refractory phaeohyphomycosis.

Citation measures in stereotactic radiosurgery: publication across a discipline.

PubMed

Kondziolka, Douglas

2011-01-01

It is possible to judge the impact of scientific research by the number of citations a publication has received. We identified the most cited works in the field of stereotactic radiosurgery to study the evolution of this field from the perspective of publication. A Web of Science search was performed for articles that included the word 'radiosurgery' in the title. We studied the reports with >100 citations. A total of 5,532 published works were available for study between 1951 and 2010. Eighty-five articles had ≥ 100 citations, and these were published in 19 separate journals. The majority were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, the Journal of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery. The most common topics included brain metastasis management (n = 20), arteriovenous malformations (n = 17), vestibular schwannomas (n = 9), technologies (n = 9), meningiomas (n = 8) and dose response/radiobiology (n = 6). Fifty-seven percent of the articles were published in the last 10 years. The first radiosurgery report by Leksell (1951) initiated the field. The 1980s were a period of new technology development followed in the 1990s by introductory articles on specific indications that consisted mainly of retrospective case series. More sophisticated higher level evidence reports were published in the last decade. The most significant works in radiosurgery include initial technology descriptions, multicenter studies with large numbers of patients, randomized clinical trials and reports that provide dose prescription guidelines. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

7 CFR 1945.19 - Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 13 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Reporting potential natural disasters and initial... Assistance-General § 1945.19 Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions. (a) Purpose. The purpose of reporting potential natural disasters is to provide a systematic procedure for rapid reporting...

7 CFR 1945.19 - Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 13 2011-01-01 2009-01-01 true Reporting potential natural disasters and initial... Assistance-General § 1945.19 Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions. (a) Purpose. The purpose of reporting potential natural disasters is to provide a systematic procedure for rapid reporting...

7 CFR 1945.19 - Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 13 2010-01-01 2009-01-01 true Reporting potential natural disasters and initial... Assistance-General § 1945.19 Reporting potential natural disasters and initial actions. (a) Purpose. The purpose of reporting potential natural disasters is to provide a systematic procedure for rapid reporting...

Vision training methods for sports concussion mitigation and management.

PubMed

Clark, Joseph F; Colosimo, Angelo; Ellis, James K; Mangine, Robert; Bixenmann, Benjamin; Hasselfeld, Kimberly; Graman, Patricia; Elgendy, Hagar; Myer, Gregory; Divine, Jon

2015-05-05

There is emerging evidence supporting the use vision training, including light board training tools, as a concussion baseline and neuro-diagnostic tool and potentially as a supportive component to concussion prevention strategies. This paper is focused on providing detailed methods for select vision training tools and reporting normative data for comparison when vision training is a part of a sports management program. The overall program includes standard vision training methods including tachistoscope, Brock's string, and strobe glasses, as well as specialized light board training algorithms. Stereopsis is measured as a means to monitor vision training affects. In addition, quantitative results for vision training methods as well as baseline and post-testing *A and Reaction Test measures with progressive scores are reported. Collegiate athletes consistently improve after six weeks of training in their stereopsis, *A and Reaction Test scores. When vision training is initiated as a team wide exercise, the incidence of concussion decreases in players who participate in training compared to players who do not receive the vision training. Vision training produces functional and performance changes that, when monitored, can be used to assess the success of the vision training and can be initiated as part of a sports medical intervention for concussion prevention.

Moyamoya disease associated with asymptomatic mosaic Turner syndrome: a rare cause of hemorrhagic stroke.

PubMed

Manjila, Sunil; Miller, Benjamin R; Rao-Frisch, Anitha; Otvos, Balint; Mitchell, Anna; Bambakidis, Nicholas C; De Georgia, Michael A

2014-01-01

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular anomaly involving the intracranial carotid arteries that can present clinically with either ischemic or hemorrhagic disease. Moyamoya syndrome, indistinguishable from moyamoya disease at presentation, is associated with multiple clinical conditions including neurofibromatosis type 1, autoimmune disease, prior radiation therapy, Down syndrome, and Turner syndrome. We present the first reported case of an adult patient with previously unrecognized mosaic Turner syndrome with acute subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage as the initial manifestation of moyamoya syndrome. A 52-year-old woman was admitted with a subarachnoid hemorrhage with associated flame-shaped intracerebral hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe. Physical examination revealed short stature, pectus excavatum, small fingers, micrognathia, and mild facial dysmorphism. Cerebral angiography showed features consistent with bilateral moyamoya disease, aberrant intrathoracic vessels, and an unruptured 4-mm right superior hypophyseal aneurysm. Genetic analysis confirmed a diagnosis of mosaic Turner syndrome. Our case report is the first documented presentation of adult moyamoya syndrome with subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage as the initial presentation of mosaic Turner syndrome. It illustrates the utility of genetic evaluation in patients with cerebrovascular disease and dysmorphism. Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An Online Survey of New Zealand Vapers

PubMed Central

Glover, Marewa; Fraser, Trish

2018-01-01

Using electronic cigarettes (vaping) is controversial, but is increasingly widespread. This paper reports the results of an electronic survey of vapers in New Zealand, a country where the sale and supply of e-liquids containing nicotine is illegal, although vapers can legally access e-liquids from overseas. An on-line survey was conducted, using vaper and smoking cessation networks for recruitment, with follow up surveys conducted 1 and 2 months after the initial survey. 218 participants were recruited. Almost all had been smokers, but three quarters no longer smoked, with the remainder having significantly reduced their tobacco use. Three participants were non-smokers before starting to vape, but none had gone on to become smokers. The overriding motivation to begin and continue vaping was to stop or to reduce smoking. The results were consistent with a progression from initially both vaping and smoking using less effective electronic cigarette types, then moving to more powerful devices, experimentation with flavors and nicotine strengths—all resulting in reducing or stopping tobacco use. Lack of access to nicotine and lack of support for their chosen cessation method were the main problems reported. Vaping had resulted in effective smoking cessation for the majority of participants. PMID:29382129

On periodic solutions of an Atwood's pendulum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mittleman, Donald

1987-05-01

An Atwood's pendulum is defined as an Atwood's machine in which one of two masses is allowed to swing as a pendulum while the other remains constrained to move only in the vertical direction. The pendulum motion of the one mass induces a varying tension in the connecting wire; this, in turn, produces motion in the second mass. It is shown that this motion can be made periodic if the ratio of the two masses and the dependency of this ratio on the initial conditions are chosen as prescribed in this report. If this condition is not met, the motion consists of the superposition of two motions. The first is motion in a constant gravitational field where the effective gravity is kg; the factor k is determined explicitly. The second is the periodic motion that is the central theme of this report. During the course of the analysis, the fundamental frequency of the periodic motion is determined. It is shown to be slightly higher than the frequency of a pendulum of comparable length swinging in the Earth's gravitational field; the factor is given explicitly. This work is restricted to the extent that small approximations are introduced initially for trigonometric functions.

Pretty as a Princess: Longitudinal Effects of Engagement With Disney Princesses on Gender Stereotypes, Body Esteem, and Prosocial Behavior in Children.

PubMed

Coyne, Sarah M; Linder, Jennifer Ruh; Rasmussen, Eric E; Nelson, David A; Birkbeck, Victoria

2016-11-01

This study examined level of engagement with Disney Princess media/products as it relates to gender-stereotypical behavior, body esteem (i.e. body image), and prosocial behavior during early childhood. Participants consisted of 198 children (M age  = 58 months), who were tested at two time points (approximately 1 year apart). Data consisted of parent and teacher reports, and child observations in a toy preference task. Longitudinal results revealed that Disney Princess engagement was associated with more female gender-stereotypical behavior 1 year later, even after controlling for initial levels of gender-stereotypical behavior. Parental mediation strengthened associations between princess engagement and adherence to female gender-stereotypical behavior for both girls and boys, and for body esteem and prosocial behavior for boys only. © 2016 The Authors. Child Development © 2016 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

Development of the Systems Thinking Scale for Adolescent Behavior Change.

PubMed

Moore, Shirley M; Komton, Vilailert; Adegbite-Adeniyi, Clara; Dolansky, Mary A; Hardin, Heather K; Borawski, Elaine A

2018-03-01

This report describes the development and psychometric testing of the Systems Thinking Scale for Adolescent Behavior Change (STS-AB). Following item development, initial assessments of understandability and stability of the STS-AB were conducted in a sample of nine adolescents enrolled in a weight management program. Exploratory factor analysis of the 16-item STS-AB and internal consistency assessments were then done with 359 adolescents enrolled in a weight management program. Test-retest reliability of the STS-AB was .71, p = .03; internal consistency reliability was .87. Factor analysis of the 16-item STS-AB indicated a one-factor solution with good factor loadings, ranging from .40 to .67. Evidence of construct validity was supported by significant correlations with established measures of variables associated with health behavior change. We provide beginning evidence of the reliability and validity of the STS-AB to measure systems thinking for health behavior change in young adolescents.

Development of the Systems Thinking Scale for Adolescent Behavior Change

PubMed Central

Moore, Shirley M.; Komton, Vilailert; Adegbite-Adeniyi, Clara; Dolansky, Mary A.; Hardin, Heather K.; Borawski, Elaine A.

2017-01-01

This report describes the development and psychometric testing of the Systems Thinking Scale for Adolescent Behavior Change (STS-AB). Following item development, initial assessments of understandability and stability of the STS-AB were conducted in a sample of nine adolescents enrolled in a weight management program. Exploratory factor analysis of the 16-item STS-AB and internal consistency assessments were then done with 359 adolescents enrolled in a weight management program. Test–retest reliability of the STS-AB was .71, p = .03; internal consistency reliability was .87. Factor analysis of the 16-item STS-AB indicated a one-factor solution with good factor loadings, ranging from .40 to .67. Evidence of construct validity was supported by significant correlations with established measures of variables associated with health behavior change. We provide beginning evidence of the reliability and validity of the STS-AB to measure systems thinking for health behavior change in young adolescents. PMID:28303755

Successful amblyopia therapy initiated after age 7 years: compliance cures.

PubMed

Mintz-Hittner, H A; Fernandez, K M

2000-11-01

To report successful therapy for anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia initiated after age 7 years. A consecutive series of 36 compliant children older than 7 years (range, 7.0 to 10.3 years; mean, 8.2 years) at initiation of amblyopia therapy for anisometropic (19 patients; mean age, 8.3 years), strabismic (9 patients; mean age, 8.0 years), or anisometropic and strabismic (8 patients; mean age, 8.0 years) amblyopia was studied. Initial (worst) visual acuities were between 20/50 and 20/400 (log geometric mean, -0.83 [antilog, 20/134] for all patients; -0.88 [antilog, 20/151] for anisometropic patients; -0.70 [antilog, 20/100] for strabismic patients; and -0.88 [antilog, 20/151] for anisometropic and strabismic patients). Initial (worst) binocularity was absent or reduced in all cases. Therapy consisted of (1) full-time standard occlusion (21 patients; mean age, 8.0 years), (2) total penalization (7 patients; mean age, 7.8 years), or (3) full-time occlusive contact lenses (8 patients; mean age, 8.8 years). Final (best) visual acuities were between 20/20 and 20/30 for all 36 patients. Final (best) binocularity was maintained or improved for 22 (61%) of 36 patients, including 16 anisometropic patients (84%), 2 strabismic patients (22%), and 4 anisometropic and strabismic patients (50%). Given compliance, therapy for anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia can be successful even if initiated after age 7 years. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1535-1541

International confederation for cleft lip and palate and related craniofacial anomalies task force report: beyond eurocleft.

PubMed

Semb, Gunvor

2014-11-01

The assigned objective for the Task Force Beyond Eurocleft was "to make recommendations for initiations of local and/or participation in multi-national cleft outcome studies and consist of individuals from the European experience with cleft outcome studies (Scandcleft, Eurocleft) and those who have initiated, or intend to initiate, similar studies in other geographical areas." By May 2013 the Task Force (TF) consisted of 183 members from 59 countries. It was agreed that this initiative should be truly global and include all cleft specialties as well as representatives from cleft support groups in recognition of the huge commitment for improving cleft care worldwide. The vision for this group is to build a dynamic, well-functioning TF that will work globally and be multidisciplinary with inclusive and respectful behavior to improve care for all individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate. As there is a large diversity in needs and interest in the group a range of parallel approaches would be required depending on the experience, resources, and challenges of regions, teams, and individuals. Important ideas for future work were: (1) Work on a global survey of access, existing outcome studies, current collaborations, and lessons learned. (2) Work towards the creation of a lasting, living resource for newcomers to intercenter collaboration that is kept fresh with new reports, copies of relevant publications, model grant applications, and a list of volunteers with the right experience to provide support and guidance for new initiatives. (3) Develop simple online training modules to provide information about the benefits and principles of multidisciplinary care, collaborative data collection and auditing short and longer-term outcomes. (4) Establish subgroups that will work within all regions of the world with regional and national leaders identified. An evaluation of current standards of care should be undertaken and country/region specific remedies to optimize treatment outcome suggested. (5) Reach agreement on minimum standards of care, minimum record collection, and reach consensus on simple outcome measures in all disciplines. This should include all cleft types and all ages. These standards could be used to encourage governments to fund multidisciplinary care. (6) Teams will be encouraged to start and continue recordkeeping using simple and agreed protocols, according to agreed standards of minimum records and later share their data with other teams and then, embark on outcome studies. (7) Teams already active in research should: Create a register for cleft professionals and teams to reach agreement of contemporary and comprehensive multidisciplinary outcome measures, explore the possibilities using modern technology and plan large multi-national studies. A patient/parent centered data collection should always be included. These studies need funding. One task could also be exploring whether health care at a distance could be initiated using new technology.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Southworth, G.R.; Loar, J.M.; Ryon, M.G.

Ecological studies of the Bear Creek watershed, which drains the area surrounding several Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant waste disposal facilities, were initiated in May 1984 and are continuing at present. These studies consisted of an initial, detailed characterization of the benthic invertebrate and fish communities in Bear Creek, and they were followed by a presently ongoing monitoring phase that involves reduced sampling intensities. The characterization phase utilized two approaches: (1) instream sampling of benthic invertebrate and fish communities in Bear Creek to identify spatial and temporal patterns in distribution and abundance and (2) laboratory bioassays on water samples from Bearmore » Creek and selected tributaries to identify potential sources of toxicity to biota. The monitoring phase of the ecological program relates to the long-term goals of identifying and prioritizing contaminant sources and assessing the effectiveness of remedial actions. It continues activities of the characterization phase at less frequent intervals. The Bear Greek Valley is a watershed that drains the area surrounding several closed Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant waste disposal facilities. Past waste disposal practices in Bear Creek Valley resulted in contamination of Bear Creek and consequent ecological damage. Extensive remedial actions have been proposed at waste sites, and some of the have been implemented or are now underway. The proposed study plan consists of an initial, detailed characterization of the benthic invertebrate and fish communities in Bear Creek in the first year followed by a reduction in sampling intensity during the monitoring phase of the plan. The results of sampling conducted from May 1984 through early 1989 are presented in this report.« less

Financial planning for major initiatives: a framework for success.

PubMed

Harris, John M

2007-11-01

A solid framework for assessing a major strategic initiative consists of four broad steps: Initial considerations, including level of analysis required and resources that will be brought to bear. Preliminary financial estimates for board approval to further assess the initiative. Assessment of potential partners' interest in the project. Feasibility analysis for board green light.

Parent-Child Discrepancies in Reports of Parental Monitoring and Their Relationship to Adolescent Alcohol-Related Behaviors.

PubMed

Abar, Caitlin C; Jackson, Kristina M; Colby, Suzanne M; Barnett, Nancy P

2015-09-01

Discrepancies between parents and adolescents regarding parenting behaviors have been hypothesized to represent a deficit in the parent-child relationship and may represent unique risk factors for poor developmental outcomes. The current study examined the predictive utility of multiple methods for characterizing discrepancies in parents' and adolescents' reports of parental monitoring on youth alcohol use behaviors in order to inform future study design and predictive modeling. Data for the current study came from a prospective investigation of alcohol initiation and progression. The analyzed sample consisted of 606 adolescents (6th-8th grade; 54 % female) and their parents were surveyed at baseline, with youth followed up 12 months later. A series of hierarchical logistic regressions were performed for each monitoring-related construct examined (parental knowledge, parental control, parental solicitation, and child disclosure). The results showed that adolescents' reports were more closely related to outcomes than parents' reports, while greater discrepancies were frequently found to be uniquely associated with greater likelihood of alcohol use behaviors. Implications for future work incorporating parents' and adolescents' reports are discussed.

Mindless Eating Challenge: Retention, Weight Outcomes, and Barriers for Changes in a Public Web-Based Healthy Eating and Weight Loss Program

PubMed Central

Payne, Collin R; Wansink, Brian

2012-01-01

Background Most dietary programs fail to produce lasting outcomes because participants soon return to their old habits. Small behavioral and environmental changes based on simple heuristics may have the best chance to lead to sustainable habit changes over time. Objective To evaluate participant retention, weight outcomes, and barriers for changes in a publicly available web-based healthy eating and weight loss program. Methods The National Mindless Eating Challenge (NMEC) was a publicly available, online healthy eating and weight loss program with ongoing recruitment of participants. This volunteer sample consisted of 2053 participants (mean age 39.8 years, 89% female, 90% white/Caucasian, BMI mean 28.14). Participants completed an initial profiling survey and were assigned three targeted habit change suggestions (tips). After each month, participants were asked to complete a follow-up survey and then receive new suggestions for the subsequent month. Results In terms of overall attrition, 75% (1549/2053) of participants who completed the intake survey never returned to follow up. Overall mean weight loss among returning participants was 0.4% of initial weight (P=.019). Participants who stayed in the program at least three calendar months and completed at least two follow-up surveys (38%, 189/504) lost on average 1.8 lbs (1.0%) of their initial weight over the course of the program (P=.009). Furthermore, participants who reported consistent adherence (25+ days/month) to the suggested changes reported an average monthly weight loss of 2.0 lbs (P<.001). Weight loss was less for those who discontinued after 1-2 months or who did not adhere to the suggested changes. Participants who reported having lost weight reported higher monthly adherence to suggestions (mean 14.9 days, SD 7.92) than participants who maintained (mean 12.4 days, SD 7.63) or gained weight (mean 12.0 days, SD 7.50; F=14.17, P<.001). Common reported barriers for changes included personally unsuitable or inapplicable suggestions, forgetting or being too busy to implement changes, unusual circumstances, and emotional eating. Conclusions Because the bulk of the free and commercially available online diet and nutritional tools conduct no evaluation research, it is difficult to determine which aspects of a program are successful and what are reasonable expectations of results. The results of this study suggest that online interventions based on small changes have the potential to gradually lead to clinically significant weight loss, but high attrition from publically available or “free” programs still remains a challenge. Adherence to and effectiveness of small habit changes may be improved through further tailoring to individual circumstances and psychological needs. PMID:23246736

Mindless eating challenge: retention, weight outcomes, and barriers for changes in a public web-based healthy eating and weight loss program.

PubMed

Kaipainen, Kirsikka; Payne, Collin R; Wansink, Brian

2012-12-17

Most dietary programs fail to produce lasting outcomes because participants soon return to their old habits. Small behavioral and environmental changes based on simple heuristics may have the best chance to lead to sustainable habit changes over time. To evaluate participant retention, weight outcomes, and barriers for changes in a publicly available web-based healthy eating and weight loss program. The National Mindless Eating Challenge (NMEC) was a publicly available, online healthy eating and weight loss program with ongoing recruitment of participants. This volunteer sample consisted of 2053 participants (mean age 39.8 years, 89% female, 90% white/Caucasian, BMI mean 28.14). Participants completed an initial profiling survey and were assigned three targeted habit change suggestions (tips). After each month, participants were asked to complete a follow-up survey and then receive new suggestions for the subsequent month. In terms of overall attrition, 75% (1549/2053) of participants who completed the intake survey never returned to follow up. Overall mean weight loss among returning participants was 0.4% of initial weight (P=.019). Participants who stayed in the program at least three calendar months and completed at least two follow-up surveys (38%, 189/504) lost on average 1.8 lbs (1.0%) of their initial weight over the course of the program (P=.009). Furthermore, participants who reported consistent adherence (25+ days/month) to the suggested changes reported an average monthly weight loss of 2.0 lbs (P<.001). Weight loss was less for those who discontinued after 1-2 months or who did not adhere to the suggested changes. Participants who reported having lost weight reported higher monthly adherence to suggestions (mean 14.9 days, SD 7.92) than participants who maintained (mean 12.4 days, SD 7.63) or gained weight (mean 12.0 days, SD 7.50; F=14.17, P<.001). Common reported barriers for changes included personally unsuitable or inapplicable suggestions, forgetting or being too busy to implement changes, unusual circumstances, and emotional eating. Because the bulk of the free and commercially available online diet and nutritional tools conduct no evaluation research, it is difficult to determine which aspects of a program are successful and what are reasonable expectations of results. The results of this study suggest that online interventions based on small changes have the potential to gradually lead to clinically significant weight loss, but high attrition from publically available or "free" programs still remains a challenge. Adherence to and effectiveness of small habit changes may be improved through further tailoring to individual circumstances and psychological needs.

Delayed diagnosis in a house of correction: Smith-Magenis syndrome due to a de novo nonsense RAI1 variant.

PubMed

Yeetong, Patra; Vilboux, Thierry; Ciccone, Carla; Boulier, Kristin; Schnur, Rhonda E; Gahl, William A; Huizing, Marjan; Laje, Gonzalo; Smith, Ann C M

2016-09-01

We report a 25-year-old female confirmed to have Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) due to a de novo RAI1 variant. Her past history is significant for developmental and intellectual delay, early and escalating maladaptive behaviors, and features consistent with significant sleep disturbance, the etiology of which was not confirmed for over two decades. The diagnosis of SMS was initially suspected in 1998 (at age 12 years), but that was 5 years before the initial report of RAI1 variants as causative of the SMS phenotype; cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization studies failed to confirm an interstitial deletion of 17p11.2. Re-evaluation for suspected SMS was pursued with RAI1 sequencing analysis in response to urgent parental concerns of escalating behaviors and aggression with subsequent incarceration of the subject for assault of a health professional. Genetic analysis revealed a de novo RAI1 (NM_030665.3) nonsense variant, c.5536C>T; p.Q1846X. This case illustrates the importance of confirming the SMS diagnosis, which is associated with cognitive and functional impairment, as well as significant psychiatric co-morbidities and behavioral problems. The diagnosis was particularly relevant to the legal discussion and determination of her competence to stand trial. As other similar cases may exist, this report will help to increase awareness of the possibility of a very late diagnosis of SMS, with the need for re-evaluation of individuals suspected to have SMS who were initially evaluated prior to the identification of the RAI1 gene. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

C-Band Airport Surface Communications System Standards Development. Phase II Final Report. Volume 1: Concepts of Use, Initial System Requirements, Architecture, and AeroMACS Design Considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, Edward; Isaacs, James; Henriksen, Steve; Zelkin, Natalie

2011-01-01

This report is provided as part of ITT s NASA Glenn Research Center Aerospace Communication Systems Technical Support (ACSTS) contract NNC05CA85C, Task 7: New ATM Requirements-Future Communications, C-Band and L-Band Communications Standard Development and was based on direction provided by FAA project-level agreements for New ATM Requirements-Future Communications. Task 7 included two subtasks. Subtask 7-1 addressed C-band (5091- to 5150-MHz) airport surface data communications standards development, systems engineering, test bed and prototype development, and tests and demonstrations to establish operational capability for the Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS). Subtask 7-2 focused on systems engineering and development support of the L-band digital aeronautical communications system (L-DACS). Subtask 7-1 consisted of two phases. Phase I included development of AeroMACS concepts of use, requirements, architecture, and initial high-level safety risk assessment. Phase II builds on Phase I results and is presented in two volumes. Volume I (this document) is devoted to concepts of use, system requirements, and architecture, including AeroMACS design considerations. Volume II describes an AeroMACS prototype evaluation and presents final AeroMACS recommendations. This report also describes airport categorization and channelization methodologies. The purposes of the airport categorization task were (1) to facilitate initial AeroMACS architecture designs and enable budgetary projections by creating a set of airport categories based on common airport characteristics and design objectives, and (2) to offer high-level guidance to potential AeroMACS technology and policy development sponsors and service providers. A channelization plan methodology was developed because a common global methodology is needed to assure seamless interoperability among diverse AeroMACS services potentially supplied by multiple service providers.

Assessing Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction in Adolescent Relationships Formed Online and Offline.

PubMed

Blunt-Vinti, Heather D; Wheldon, Christopher; McFarlane, Mary; Brogan, Natalie; Walsh-Buhi, Eric R

2016-01-01

Using the Internet to meet new people is becoming more common; however, such behavior is often considered risky, particularly for adolescents. Nevertheless, adolescents are meeting people through online venues and some are forming romantic/sexual relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship and sexual satisfaction reported by teens in online- and offline-initiated relationships. Data were collected from 273 13-19 year olds visiting a publicly funded clinic through 2010 and 2011. Questions included where respondents met the partner (online vs. offline), time between meeting and first sex, how well they knew the partner, and relationship and sexual (R&S) satisfaction. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, t tests, and path analysis, exploring R&S satisfaction in online- and offline-initiated relationships. R&S satisfaction scores were moderate for adolescents who reported meeting partners online and in person but were statistically higher in offline-initiated relationships. There was an inverse relationship between having an online partner and both relationship and sexual satisfaction. Additionally, knowing partners for a longer period of time and feeling more knowledgeable about partners before having sex were statistically significantly related to higher R&S satisfaction. Teens in this study reported more satisfying relationships with partners met offline compared with online. Results suggest that encouraging teens to wait longer and to get to know their partner(s) better before engaging in sex may improve satisfaction with, and quality of, those relationships. These findings provide an important contribution to sexual health promotion among young people, with whom technology use is ubiquitous. Copyright © 2016 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.

Implementing a continuum of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for people with severe mental illness: part 1-review of major initiatives and implementation strategies.

PubMed

Menear, Matthew; Briand, Catherine

2014-04-01

Providing comprehensive care to people with severe mental illness (SMI) involves moving beyond pharmacological treatment and ensuring access to a wide range of evidence-based psychosocial services. Numerous initiatives carried out in North America and internationally have promoted the widespread adoption of such services. Objectives of this rapid review were 3-fold: to identify these implementation initiatives, to describe the implementation strategies used to promote the uptake of psychosocial services, and to identify key issues related to the implementation of a broad range of services. Part 1 presents findings for objectives 1 and 2 of the review. Searches were carried out in MEDLINE and PsycINFO for reports published between 1990 and 2012 using key words related to SMI, psychosocial practices, and implementation. Contacts with experts and reference list and reverse citation searches were also conducted. Fifty-five articles were retained that identified more than a dozen major North American and international implementation initiatives. Initiative leaders employed diverse strategies at the planning, execution, and evaluation stages of the implementation process. Stakeholder meetings, training, ongoing consultation, and quality or fidelity monitoring were strategies consistently adopted across most initiatives, whereas theory-based approaches and organizational- and system-level strategies were less frequently described. Insights from the initiatives identified in this review can help guide future efforts to implement a broad range of psychosocial services for people with SMI. However, such efforts will also need to be informed by more rigorous, theory-based studies of implementation processes and outcomes.

Sport and scholastic factors in relation to smoking and smoking initiation in older adolescents: a prospective cohort study in Bosnia and Herzegovina

PubMed Central

Sekulic, Damir; Sisic, Nedim; Terzic, Admir; Jasarevic, Indira; Ostojic, Ljerka; Pojskic, Haris; Zenic, Natasa

2017-01-01

Objective Sport and scholastic factors are known to be associated with cigarette smoking in adolescence, but little is known about the causality of this association. The aim of this study was to prospectively explore the relationships of different sport and scholastic factors with smoking prevalence initiation in older adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods In this 2-year prospective cohort study, there were 872 adolescent participants (16 years at baseline; 46% females). The study consisted of baseline tests at the beginning of the third year (September 2013) and follow-up at the end of the fourth year of high school (late May to early June 2015). The independent variables were scholastic and sport-related factors. The dependent variables were (1) smoking at baseline, (2) smoking at follow-up and (3) smoking initiation over the course of the study. Logistic regressions controlling for age, gender and socioeconomic status were applied to define the relationships between independent and dependent variables. Results School absence at the baseline study was a significant predictor of smoking initiation during the course of the study (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.8). Those who reported quitting sports at baseline showed an increased risk of smoking at the end of the study (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.0) and of smoking initiation (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.0). Adolescents who reported lower competitive achievements in sport were at a higher risk of (1) smoking at baseline (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.1), (2) smoking at follow-up (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.1) and (3) smoking initiation (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6). Conclusions In developing accurate antismoking public health policies for older adolescents, the most vulnerable groups should be targeted. The results showed that most participants initiated smoking before 16 years of age. Therefore, further investigations should evaluate the predictors of smoking in younger ages. PMID:28336745

The influence of total solids content and initial pH on batch biohydrogen production by solid substrate fermentation of agroindustrial wastes.

PubMed

Robledo-Narváez, Paula N; Muñoz-Páez, Karla M; Poggi-Varaldo, Hector M; Ríos-Leal, Elvira; Calva-Calva, Graciano; Ortega-Clemente, L Alfredo; Rinderknecht-Seijas, Noemí; Estrada-Vázquez, Carlos; Ponce-Noyola, M Teresa; Salazar-Montoya, J Alfredo

2013-10-15

Hydrogen is a valuable clean energy source, and its production by biological processes is attractive and environmentally sound and friendly. In México 5 million tons/yr of agroindustrial wastes are generated; these residues are rich in fermentable organic matter that can be used for hydrogen production. On the other hand, batch, intermittently vented, solid substrate fermentation of organic waste has attracted interest in the last 10 years. Thus the objective of our work was to determine the effect of initial total solids content and initial pH on H2 production in batch fermentation of a substrate that consisted of a mixture of sugarcane bagasse, pineapple peelings, and waste activated sludge. The experiment was a response surface based on 2(2) factorial with central and axial points with initial TS (15-35%) and initial pH (6.5-7.5) as factors. Fermentation was carried out at 35 °C, with intermittent venting of minireactors and periodic flushing with inert N2 gas. Up to 5 cycles of H2 production were observed; the best treatment in our work showed cumulative H2 productions (ca. 3 mmol H2/gds) with 18% and 6.65 initial TS and pH, respectively. There was a significant effect of TS on production of hydrogen, the latter decreased with initial TS increase from 18% onwards. Cumulative H2 productions achieved in this work were higher than those reported for organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and mixtures of OFMSW and fruit peels waste from fruit juice industry, using the same process. Specific energetic potential due to H2 in our work was attractive and fell in the high side of the range of reported results in the open literature. Batch dark fermentation of agrowastes as practiced in our work could be useful for future biorefineries that generate biohydrogen as a first step and could influence the management of this type of agricultural wastes in México and other countries and regions as well. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trauma morning report is the ideal environment to teach and evaluate resident communication and sign-outs in the 80 hour work week.

PubMed

Ottinger, Mary E; Monaghan, Sean F; Gregg, Shea C; Stephen, Andrew H; Connolly, Michael D; Harrington, David T; Adams, Charles A; Cioffi, William G; Heffernan, Daithi S

2017-09-01

The 80h work week has raised concerns that complications may increase due to multiple sign-outs or poor communication. Trauma Surgery manages complex trauma and acute care surgical patients with rapidly changing physiology, clinical demands and a large volume of data that must be communicated to render safe, effective patient care. Trauma Morning Report format may offer the ideal situation to study and teach sign-outs and resident communication. Surgery Residents were assessed on a 1-5 scale for their ability to communicate to their fellow residents. This consisted of 10 critical points of the presentation, treatment and workup from the previous night's trauma admissions. Scores were grouped into three areas. Each area was scored out of 15. Area 1 consisted of Initial patient presentation. Area 2 consisted of events in the trauma bay. Area 3 assessed clarity of language and ability to communicate to their fellow residents. The residents were assessed for inclusion of pertinent positive and negative findings, as well as overall clarity of communication. In phase 1, residents were unaware of the evaluation process. Phase 2 followed a series of resident education session about effective communication, sign-out techniques and delineation of evaluation criteria. Phase 3 was a resident-blinded phase which evaluated the sustainability of the improvements in resident communication. 50 patient presentations in phase 1, 200 in phase 2, and 50 presentations in phase 3 were evaluated. Comparisons were made between the Phase 1 and Phase 2 evaluations. Area 1 (initial events) improved from 6.18 to 12.4 out of 15 (p<0.0001). Area 2 (events in the trauma bay) improved from 9.78 to 16.53 (p<0.0077). Area 3 (communication and language) improved from 8.36 to 12.22 out of 15 (P<0.001). Phase 2 to Phase 3 evaluations were similar, showing no deterioration of skills. Trauma Surgery manages complex surgical patients, with rapidly changing physiologic and clinical demands. Trauma Morning Report, with diverse attendance including surgical attendings and residents in various training years, is the ideal venue for real-time teaching and evaluation of sign-outs and reinforcing good communication skills in residents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biologically active LIL proteins built with minimal chemical diversity

PubMed Central

Heim, Erin N.; Marston, Jez L.; Federman, Ross S.; Edwards, Anne P. B.; Karabadzhak, Alexander G.; Petti, Lisa M.; Engelman, Donald M.; DiMaio, Daniel

2015-01-01

We have constructed 26-amino acid transmembrane proteins that specifically transform cells but consist of only two different amino acids. Most proteins are long polymers of amino acids with 20 or more chemically distinct side-chains. The artificial transmembrane proteins reported here are the simplest known proteins with specific biological activity, consisting solely of an initiating methionine followed by specific sequences of leucines and isoleucines, two hydrophobic amino acids that differ only by the position of a methyl group. We designate these proteins containing leucine (L) and isoleucine (I) as LIL proteins. These proteins functionally interact with the transmembrane domain of the platelet-derived growth factor β-receptor and specifically activate the receptor to transform cells. Complete mutagenesis of these proteins identified individual amino acids required for activity, and a protein consisting solely of leucines, except for a single isoleucine at a particular position, transformed cells. These surprisingly simple proteins define the minimal chemical diversity sufficient to construct proteins with specific biological activity and change our view of what can constitute an active protein in a cellular context. PMID:26261320

Nuclear imaging of the fuel assembly in ignition experimentsa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grim, G. P.; Guler, N.; Merrill, F. E.; Morgan, G. L.; Danly, C. R.; Volegov, P. L.; Wilde, C. H.; Wilson, D. C.; Clark, D. S.; Hinkel, D. E.; Jones, O. S.; Raman, K. S.; Izumi, N.; Fittinghoff, D. N.; Drury, O. B.; Alger, E. T.; Arnold, P. A.; Ashabranner, R. C.; Atherton, L. J.; Barrios, M. A.; Batha, S.; Bell, P. M.; Benedetti, L. R.; Berger, R. L.; Bernstein, L. A.; Berzins, L. V.; Betti, R.; Bhandarkar, S. D.; Bionta, R. M.; Bleuel, D. L.; Boehly, T. R.; Bond, E. J.; Bowers, M. W.; Bradley, D. K.; Brunton, G. K.; Buckles, R. A.; Burkhart, S. C.; Burr, R. F.; Caggiano, J. A.; Callahan, D. A.; Casey, D. T.; Castro, C.; Celliers, P. M.; Cerjan, C. J.; Chandler, G. A.; Choate, C.; Cohen, S. J.; Collins, G. W.; Cooper, G. W.; Cox, J. R.; Cradick, J. R.; Datte, P. S.; Dewald, E. L.; Di Nicola, P.; Di Nicola, J. M.; Divol, L.; Dixit, S. N.; Dylla-Spears, R.; Dzenitis, E. G.; Eckart, M. J.; Eder, D. C.; Edgell, D. H.; Edwards, M. J.; Eggert, J. H.; Ehrlich, R. B.; Erbert, G. V.; Fair, J.; Farley, D. R.; Felker, B.; Fortner, R. J.; Frenje, J. A.; Frieders, G.; Friedrich, S.; Gatu-Johnson, M.; Gibson, C. R.; Giraldez, E.; Glebov, V. Y.; Glenn, S. M.; Glenzer, S. H.; Gururangan, G.; Haan, S. W.; Hahn, K. D.; Hammel, B. A.; Hamza, A. V.; Hartouni, E. P.; Hatarik, R.; Hatchett, S. P.; Haynam, C.; Hermann, M. R.; Herrmann, H. W.; Hicks, D. G.; Holder, J. P.; Holunga, D. M.; Horner, J. B.; Hsing, W. W.; Huang, H.; Jackson, M. C.; Jancaitis, K. S.; Kalantar, D. H.; Kauffman, R. L.; Kauffman, M. I.; Khan, S. F.; Kilkenny, J. D.; Kimbrough, J. R.; Kirkwood, R.; Kline, J. L.; Knauer, J. P.; Knittel, K. M.; Koch, J. A.; Kohut, T. R.; Kozioziemski, B. J.; Krauter, K.; Krauter, G. W.; Kritcher, A. L.; Kroll, J.; Kyrala, G. A.; Fortune, K. N. La; LaCaille, G.; Lagin, L. J.; Land, T. A.; Landen, O. L.; Larson, D. W.; Latray, D. A.; Leeper, R. J.; Lewis, T. L.; LePape, S.; Lindl, J. D.; Lowe-Webb, R. R.; Ma, T.; MacGowan, B. J.; MacKinnon, A. J.; MacPhee, A. G.; Malone, R. M.; Malsbury, T. N.; Mapoles, E.; Marshall, C. D.; Mathisen, D. G.; McKenty, P.; McNaney, J. M.; Meezan, N. B.; Michel, P.; Milovich, J. L.; Moody, J. D.; Moore, A. S.; Moran, M. J.; Moreno, K.; Moses, E. I.; Munro, D. H.; Nathan, B. R.; Nelson, A. J.; Nikroo, A.; Olson, R. E.; Orth, C.; Pak, A. E.; Palma, E. S.; Parham, T. G.; Patel, P. K.; Patterson, R. W.; Petrasso, R. D.; Prasad, R.; Ralph, J. E.; Regan, S. P.; Rinderknecht, H.; Robey, H. F.; Ross, G. F.; Ruiz, C. L.; Séguin, F. H.; Salmonson, J. D.; Sangster, T. C.; Sater, J. D.; Saunders, R. L.; Schneider, M. B.; Schneider, D. H.; Shaw, M. J.; Simanovskaia, N.; Spears, B. K.; Springer, P. T.; Stoeckl, C.; Stoeffl, W.; Suter, L. J.; Thomas, C. A.; Tommasini, R.; Town, R. P.; Traille, A. J.; Wonterghem, B. Van; Wallace, R. J.; Weaver, S.; Weber, S. V.; Wegner, P. J.; Whitman, P. K.; Widmann, K.; Widmayer, C. C.; Wood, R. D.; Young, B. K.; Zacharias, R. A.; Zylstra, A.

2013-05-01

First results from the analysis of neutron image data collected on implosions of cryogenically layered deuterium-tritium capsules during the 2011-2012 National Ignition Campaign are reported. The data span a variety of experimental designs aimed at increasing the stagnation pressure of the central hotspot and areal density of the surrounding fuel assembly. Images of neutrons produced by deuterium-tritium fusion reactions in the hotspot are presented, as well as images of neutrons that scatter in the surrounding dense fuel assembly. The image data are compared with 1D and 2D model predictions, and consistency checked using other diagnostic data. The results indicate that the size of the fusing hotspot is consistent with the model predictions, as well as other imaging data, while the overall size of the fuel assembly, inferred from the scattered neutron images, is systematically smaller than models' prediction. Preliminary studies indicate these differences are consistent with a significant fraction (20%-25%) of the initial deuterium-tritium fuel mass outside the compact fuel assembly, due either to low mode mass asymmetry or high mode 3D mix effects at the ablator-ice interface.

Modeling of RF/MHD coupling using NIMROD, GENRAY, and the Integrated Plasma Simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas; Schnack, D. D.; Sovinec, C. R.; Hegna, C. C.; Callen, J. D.; Ebrahimi, F.; Kruger, S. E.; Carlsson, J.; Held, E. D.; Ji, J.-Y.; Harvey, R. W.; Smirnov, A. P.

2009-05-01

We summarize ongoing theoretical/numerical work relevant to the development of a self--consistent framework for the inclusion of RF effects in fluid simulations; specifically considering resistive tearing mode stabilization in tokamak (DIII--D--like) geometry via ECCD. Relatively simple (though non--self--consistent) models for the RF--induced currents are incorporated into the fluid equations, markedly reducing the width of the nonlinearly saturated magnetic islands generated by tearing modes. We report our progress toward the self--consistent modeling of these RF--induced currents. The initial interfacing of the NIMROD* code with the GENRAY/CQL3D** codes (calculating RF propagation and energy/momentum deposition) via the Integrated Plasma Simulator (IPS) framework*** is explained, equilibration of RF--induced currents over the plasma flux surfaces is investigated, and studies exploring the efficient reduction of saturated island widths through time modulation and spatial localization of the ECCD are presented. *[Sovinec et al., JCP 195, 355 (2004)] **[www.compxco.com] ***[This research and the IPS development are both part of the SWIM project. Funded by U.S. DoE.

Augmenting Amyloid PET Interpretations With Quantitative Information Improves Consistency of Early Amyloid Detection.

PubMed

Harn, Nicholas R; Hunt, Suzanne L; Hill, Jacqueline; Vidoni, Eric; Perry, Mark; Burns, Jeffrey M

2017-08-01

Establishing reliable methods for interpreting elevated cerebral amyloid-β plaque on PET scans is increasingly important for radiologists, as availability of PET imaging in clinical practice increases. We examined a 3-step method to detect plaque in cognitively normal older adults, focusing on the additive value of quantitative information during the PET scan interpretation process. Fifty-five F-florbetapir PET scans were evaluated by 3 experienced raters. Scans were first visually interpreted as having "elevated" or "nonelevated" plaque burden ("Visual Read"). Images were then processed using a standardized quantitative analysis software (MIMneuro) to generate whole brain and region of interest SUV ratios. This "Quantitative Read" was considered elevated if at least 2 of 6 regions of interest had an SUV ratio of more than 1.1. The final interpretation combined both visual and quantitative data together ("VisQ Read"). Cohen kappa values were assessed as a measure of interpretation agreement. Plaque was elevated in 25.5% to 29.1% of the 165 total Visual Reads. Interrater agreement was strong (kappa = 0.73-0.82) and consistent with reported values. Quantitative Reads were elevated in 45.5% of participants. Final VisQ Reads changed from initial Visual Reads in 16 interpretations (9.7%), with most changing from "nonelevated" Visual Reads to "elevated." These changed interpretations demonstrated lower plaque quantification than those initially read as "elevated" that remained unchanged. Interrater variability improved for VisQ Reads with the addition of quantitative information (kappa = 0.88-0.96). Inclusion of quantitative information increases consistency of PET scan interpretations for early detection of cerebral amyloid-β plaque accumulation.

The influence of patient's motivation on reported pain during orthodontic treatment.

PubMed

Campos, Marcio José da Silva; Vitral, Robert Willer Farinazzo

2013-01-01

Patients usually experience pain during orthodontic treatment. This fact can affect cooperation and the development of treatment. Reporting pain during treatment seems to be influenced by emotional aspects such as the patient's motivation. To assess the relationship between patient's motivation and the intensity of reported pain during two stages of treatment. Twenty males (11-37 years old) answered a questionnaire divided into five categories regarding their motivation towards treatment. The subjects were studied for 14 days (7 days with bonded brackets and 7 days with the initial arch inserted) and the intensity of pain was evaluated on a daily basis. All the issues, including the intensity of pain, were measured through the visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS-associated questionnaire proved to have good temporal reliability and reasonable internal consistency, being that the "perceived severity" domain had the greatest, although not significant (p = 0.196) correlation with pain intensity. Only the question asking the patients if they thought that their teeth were too uneven showed a positive correlation with pain intensity (p = 0.048). The results seem to indicate that the five categories related to treatment motivation cannot be used to predict discomfort during treatment. In addition, patients who think their teeth are too uneven may experience more severe pain due to greater force application after insertion of the initial arch.

Effects of a proposed quality improvement process in the proportion of the reported ultrasound findings unsupported by stored images.

PubMed

Schenone, Mauro; Ziebarth, Sarah; Duncan, Jose; Stokes, Lea; Hernandez, Angela

2018-02-05

To investigate the proportion of documented ultrasound findings that were unsupported by stored ultrasound images in the obstetric ultrasound unit, before and after the implementation of a quality improvement process consisting of a checklist and feedback. A quality improvement process was created involving utilization of a checklist and feedback from physician to sonographer. The feedback was based on findings of the physician's review of the report and images using a check list. To assess the impact of this process, two groups were compared. Group 1 consisted of 58 ultrasound reports created prior to initiation of the process. Group 2 included 65 ultrasound reports created after process implementation. Each chart was reviewed by a physician and a sonographer. Findings considered unsupported by stored images by both reviewers were used for analysis, and the proportion of unsupported findings was compared between the two groups. Results are expressed as mean ± standard error. A p value of < .05 was used to determine statistical significance. Univariate analysis of baseline characteristics and potential confounders showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. The mean proportion of unsupported findings in Group 1 was 5.1 ± 0.87, with Group 2 having a significantly lower proportion (2.6 ± 0.62) (p value = .018). Results suggest a significant decrease in the proportion of unsupported findings in ultrasound reports after quality improvement process implementation. Thus, we present a simple yet effective quality improvement process to reduce unsupported ultrasound findings.

'Lost to follow up': rethinking delayed and interrupted HIV treatment among married Swazi women.

PubMed

Dlamini-Simelane, Thandeka T T; Moyer, Eileen

2017-03-01

Through various campaigns and strategies, more women are being tested for HIV in countries with a high prevalence of the virus. Despite the ready availability of treatment at government clinics in sub-Saharan African countries like Swaziland, women consistently report difficulty in maintaining access to treatment. Drawing on two individual case studies selected from a larger study of the so-called leaky cascade in Swaziland, we illustrate the protracted journeys married women undertake to initiate treatment. We demonstrate how women manoeuvre tactically after diagnosis, highlight factors that influence their decisions related to initiating treatment, and detail the actors involved in the decision-making process. Our research shows the persistence of structural factors that inhibit access, including economic constraints, gender inequality and patriarchal social norms. Patients referred as ‘lost to follow up’ are in many cases actively pursuing treatment within a context that includes the biomedical health system, but also extends well beyond it. We argue that the phrase ‘lost to follow up’ conceals the complex social navigation required by women to initiate and maintain access to treatment. Further, we suggest that many of the logistical challenges of monitoring and tracking people with HIV can be better addressed by taking into account the structural and social aspects of delayed treatment initiative.

Modeling Enclosure Design in Above-Grade Walls

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lstiburek, J.; Ueno, K.; Musunuru, S.

2016-03-01

This report describes the modeling of typical wall assemblies that have performed well historically in various climate zones. The WUFI (Warme und Feuchte instationar) software (Version 5.3) model was used. A library of input data and results are provided. The provided information can be generalized for application to a broad population of houses, within the limits of existing experience. The WUFI software model was calibrated or tuned using wall assemblies with historically successful performance. The primary performance criteria or failure criteria establishing historic performance was moisture content of the exterior sheathing. The primary tuning parameters (simulation inputs) were airflow andmore » specifying appropriate material properties. Rational hygric loads were established based on experience - specifically rain wetting and interior moisture (RH levels). The tuning parameters were limited or bounded by published data or experience. The WUFI templates provided with this report supply useful information resources to new or less-experienced users. The files present various custom settings that will help avoid results that will require overly conservative enclosure assemblies. Overall, better material data, consistent initial assumptions, and consistent inputs among practitioners will improve the quality of WUFI modeling, and improve the level of sophistication in the field.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deshmukh, Ranjit; Bharvirkar, Ranjit; Gambhir, Ashwin

Although solar costs are dropping rapidly, solar power is still more expensive than conventional and other renewable energy options. The solar sector still needs continuing government policy support. These policies are driven by objectives that go beyond the goal of achieving grid parity. The need to achieve multiple objectives and ensure sufficient political support for solar power makes it diffi cult for policy makers to design the optimal solar power policy. The dynamic and uncertain nature of the solar industry, combined with the constraints offered by broader economic, political and social conditions further complicates the task of policy making. Thismore » report presents an analysis of solar promotion policies in seven countries - Germany, Spain, the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, and India - in terms of their outlook, objectives, policy mechanisms and outcomes. The report presents key insights, primarily in qualitative terms, and recommendations for two distinct audiences. The first audience consists of global policy makers who are exploring various mechanisms to increase the penetration of solar power in markets to mitigate climate change. The second audience consists of key Indian policy makers who are developing a long-term implementation plan under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission and various state initiatives.« less

Achievements in the development of the Water Cooled Solid Breeder Test Blanket Module of Japan to the milestones for installation in ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuru, Daigo; Tanigawa, Hisashi; Hirose, Takanori; Mohri, Kensuke; Seki, Yohji; Enoeda, Mikio; Ezato, Koichiro; Suzuki, Satoshi; Nishi, Hiroshi; Akiba, Masato

2009-06-01

As the primary candidate of ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM) to be tested under the leadership of Japan, a water cooled solid breeder (WCSB) TBM is being developed. This paper shows the recent achievements towards the milestones of ITER TBMs prior to the installation, which consist of design integration in ITER, module qualification and safety assessment. With respect to the design integration, targeting the detailed design final report in 2012, structure designs of the WCSB TBM and the interfacing components (common frame and backside shielding) that are placed in a test port of ITER and the layout of the cooling system are presented. As for the module qualification, a real-scale first wall mock-up fabricated by using the hot isostatic pressing method by structural material of reduced activation martensitic ferritic steel, F82H, and flow and irradiation test of the mock-up are presented. As for safety milestones, the contents of the preliminary safety report in 2008 consisting of source term identification, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and identification of postulated initiating events (PIEs) and safety analyses are presented.

The Initial Physical Conditions of Kepler-36 b and c

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owen, James E.; Morton, Timothy. D.

2016-03-01

The Kepler-36 planetary system consists of two exoplanets at similar separations (0.115 and 0.128 au), which have dramatically different densities. The inner planet has a density consistent with an Earth-like composition, while the outer planet is extremely low density, such that it must contain a voluminous H/He envelope. Such a density difference would pose a problem for any formation mechanism if their current densities were representative of their composition at formation. However, both planets are at close enough separations to have undergone significant evaporation in the past. We constrain the core mass, core composition, initial envelope mass, and initial cooling time of each planet using evaporation models conditioned on their present-day masses and radii, as inferred from Kepler photometry and transit timing analysis. The inner planet is consistent with being an evaporatively stripped core, while the outer planet has retained some of its initial envelope due to its higher core mass. Therefore, both planets could have had a similar formation pathway, with the inner planet having an initial envelope-mass fraction of ≲10% and core mass of ˜4.4 M⊕, while the outer had an initial envelope-mass fraction of the order of 15%-30% and core mass ˜7.3 M⊕. Finally, our results indicate that the outer planet had a long (≳30 Myr) initial cooling time, much longer than would naively be predicted from simple timescale arguments. The long initial cooling time could be evidence for a dramatic early cooling episode such as the recently proposed “boil-off” process.

Barriers and Facilitators to Digital Rectal Examination Screening among African-American and Afro-Caribbean Men

PubMed Central

Lee, Daniel J; Consedine, Nathan S; Spencer, Benjamin A

2011-01-01

Objective To examine the effect of race/ethnicity and fear characteristics on the initiation and maintenance of DRE screening. Methods 533 men from Brooklyn, NY, aged 45–70, were classified into four race/ethnic groups: US-born whites, US-born African-American, Jamaican, and Trinidadian/Tobagonian. Participants recorded the number of DRE’s in the past 10 years. Demographics and structural variables, as well as prostate cancer worry and screening fear were measured with validated tools. Results Overall, 30% of subjects reported never having a DRE and 24% reported annual DRE’s. African-American, Jamaican, and Trinidadian/Tobagonian men have higher prostate cancer worry and screening fear scores than white men (all p<0.05). African-American, Jamaican, and Trinidadian/Tobagonian men were less likely to maintain annual DRE’s than white males (ORs = 0.17, 0.26, and 0.16, respectively, all p<0.05). Men with low screening fear were more likely to have an initial DRE (OR=2.3, p<0.05 vs. high screening fear), but no more or less likely to have annual DRE’s. Having a regular physician, comprehensive physician discussion, and annual visits were also associated with undergoing DRE. Conclusion We identified several ethnically-varying barriers and facilitators to DRE screening. African-American and Afro-Caribbean men undergo DRE less often and have higher prostate cancer worry and screening fear scores than white men. Screening fear predicts the likelihood of undergoing an initial, but not annual, DRE screen. Access to a physician and annual visits facilitate DRE screening. Interventions that include both culturally-sensitive education and patient navigation, and consider whether patients should be initiating or maintaining screening, may facilitate guideline-consistent screening. PMID:21477716

Brief Report: Prevalence of Posttreatment Controller Phenotype Is Rare in HIV-Infected Persons After Stopping Antiretroviral Therapy.

PubMed

Perkins, Matthew J; Bradley, William P; Lalani, Tahaniyat; Agan, Brian K; Whitman, Timothy J; Ferguson, Tomas M; Okulicz, Jason F; Ganesan, Anuradha

2017-07-01

Posttreatment control of HIV infection is a rare phenomenon primarily described among those initiating treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) during early/acute HIV infection. We examined a large, well-characterized cohort of HIV-infected Department of Defense beneficiaries for the presence of posttreatment controllers (PTCs) whom we defined as individuals with sustained viral suppression for ≥6 months after discontinuation of ART. We defined those who became viremic within 6 months of discontinuing ART as rapid viremics (RVs) and compared demographic and clinical characteristics, CD4 counts, and viral loads prior, during, and after ART discontinuation between the 2 groups. From a cohort of 6070 patients, we identified 95 who had been treated with ART for 2 years or more who subsequently discontinued ART and had viral load assessments available after discontinuation. Four (4.2%) of these 95 met our definition of PTC. The duration of viral suppression off of ART ranged from 267 to 1058 days with 1 of the 4 restarting ART without having redeveloped a significant viremia. All 4 patients initiated ART during chronic HIV infection. Demographic and clinical characteristics of PTCs were similar to RVs. While posttreatment control has predominantly been described among individuals who initiated ART in early/acute HIV infection, we identified 4 PTCs who started ART during chronic infection suggesting that posttreatment control also occurs among such patients. The rarity of PTCs identified in our cohort is consistent with reports from previous studies.

CD20-positive primary gastric T-cell lymphoma poorly responding to initial treatment with rituximab plus CHOP, and a literature review.

PubMed

Kakinoki, Yasutaka; Hashiguchi, Junichi; Ishio, Takashi; Chiba, Koji; Niino, Daisuke; Ohshima, Koichi

2015-12-01

There have been rare reported cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) that co-expressed CD20. A 44-year-old Japanese male was initially misdiagnosed as CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a background of reactive CD3-positive T-cells in the stomach. After four cycles of R-CHOP [rituximab plus cyclophosphamide (CY), doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (PSL)], total gastrectomy with regional lymph node dissection was performed due to the poor response to R-CHOP. A final diagnosis of CD20-positive primary gastric PTCL-NOS was made based on the immunohistochemical, flow cytometric, and molecular genetic findings. In the present case, CD20 immunostaining for T-cell lymphoma cells in tumor tissue varied; in a large part, these were strong to weak-positive, and in some parts, absent. We additionally reviewed the literature focusing on CD20-positive PTCL-NOS treated with rituximab. The administration of rituximab has been performed as an initial treatment in 11 cases, including the case reported here. The response was good in cases with high expression of CD20, while it was poor in cases with variable intensity in CD20 staining, which is consistent with our experience in the present case. The efficacy of rituximab may be associated with intensity of CD20 expression in T cells and its homogeneity in the tumor tissue.

Effect of tylosin on dogs with suspected tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical trial

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The macrolid antibiotic tylosin has been widely used to treat canine chronic diarrhea, although its efficacy is based on anecdotal reports and experimental studies in dogs and not on strong scientific evidence. The term tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) refers to diarrheal disorders responding to tylosin therapy within a few days. In TRD, the stool remains normal as long as tylosin treatment continues, but diarrhea reappears in many dogs within weeks after discontinuation. The aim of our trial was to assess the effect of tylosin on fecal consistency compared with a placebo treatment in dogs with suspected TRD and additionally to establish whether tylosin in dogs with recurrent diarrhea is as effective as empirical studies and anecdotal reports suggest. Methods Subjects comprised 71 client-owned dogs that, according to the owners, had previously been treated successfully with tylosin due to recurrent diarrhea of unknown etiology. At the initial examination, where there were no signs of diarrhea, the dogs were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a tylosin or placebo group. During a two-month follow-up the owners evaluated the fecal consistency according to previously published guidelines. When diarrhea recurred, either tylosin (25 mg/kg q 24 h, 7 days) or placebo treatment was initiated orally. Treatment outcome was evaluated as the mean of fecal consistency scores assigned during the last three days of the treatment period. To test for differences between the tylosin and placebo group in the proportion of responders, Pearson's Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were applied. Results Sixty-one dogs met the selection criteria and were followed for two months. During the follow-up 27 dogs developed diarrhea and either tylosin or placebo treatment was started. The proportion of dogs with normal fecal consistency at the end of treatment was 85% (17/20) in the tylosin group and 29% (2/7) in the placebo group (Pearson's Chi-squared test p = 0.0049 and Fisher's exact test two-sided, p = 0.0114). Conclusions Our findings indicate that tylosin is effective in treating recurrent diarrhea in dogs. The dose of 25 mg/kg once daily appears sufficient. No changes specific to TRD were detected in the examinations. PMID:21489311

Effect of tylosin on dogs with suspected tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical trial.

PubMed

Kilpinen, Susanne; Spillmann, Thomas; Syrjä, Pernilla; Skrzypczak, Teresa; Louhelainen, Maria; Westermarck, Elias

2011-04-14

The macrolid antibiotic tylosin has been widely used to treat canine chronic diarrhea, although its efficacy is based on anecdotal reports and experimental studies in dogs and not on strong scientific evidence. The term tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) refers to diarrheal disorders responding to tylosin therapy within a few days. In TRD, the stool remains normal as long as tylosin treatment continues, but diarrhea reappears in many dogs within weeks after discontinuation. The aim of our trial was to assess the effect of tylosin on fecal consistency compared with a placebo treatment in dogs with suspected TRD and additionally to establish whether tylosin in dogs with recurrent diarrhea is as effective as empirical studies and anecdotal reports suggest. Subjects comprised 71 client-owned dogs that, according to the owners, had previously been treated successfully with tylosin due to recurrent diarrhea of unknown etiology. At the initial examination, where there were no signs of diarrhea, the dogs were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a tylosin or placebo group. During a two-month follow-up the owners evaluated the fecal consistency according to previously published guidelines. When diarrhea recurred, either tylosin (25 mg/kg q 24 h, 7 days) or placebo treatment was initiated orally. Treatment outcome was evaluated as the mean of fecal consistency scores assigned during the last three days of the treatment period. To test for differences between the tylosin and placebo group in the proportion of responders, Pearson's Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were applied. Sixty-one dogs met the selection criteria and were followed for two months. During the follow-up 27 dogs developed diarrhea and either tylosin or placebo treatment was started. The proportion of dogs with normal fecal consistency at the end of treatment was 85% (17/20) in the tylosin group and 29% (2/7) in the placebo group (Pearson's Chi-squared test p = 0.0049 and Fisher's exact test two-sided, p = 0.0114). Our findings indicate that tylosin is effective in treating recurrent diarrhea in dogs. The dose of 25 mg/kg once daily appears sufficient. No changes specific to TRD were detected in the examinations.

Validity and reliability of the Iranian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™) Generic Core Scales in children

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Iranian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) Generic Core Scales in children. Methods A standard forward and backward translation procedure was used to translate the US English version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales for children into the Iranian language (Persian). The Iranian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales was completed by 503 healthy and 22 chronically ill children aged 8-12 years and their parents. The reliability was evaluated using internal consistency. Known-groups discriminant comparisons were made, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. Results The internal consistency, as measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficients, exceeded the minimum reliability standard of 0.70. All monotrait-multimethod correlations were higher than multitrait-multimethod correlations. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between the children self-report and parent proxy-reports showed moderate to high agreement. Exploratory factor analysis extracted six factors from the PedsQL™ 4.0 for both self and proxy reports, accounting for 47.9% and 54.8% of total variance, respectively. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis for 6-factor models for both self-report and proxy-report indicated acceptable fit for the proposed models. Regarding health status, as hypothesized from previous studies, healthy children reported significantly higher health-related quality of life than those with chronic illnesses. Conclusions The findings support the initial reliability and validity of the Iranian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 as a generic instrument to measure health-related quality of life of children in Iran. PMID:22221765

Validity and reliability of the Iranian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™) Generic Core Scales in children.

PubMed

Amiri, Parisa; Eslamian, Ghazaleh; Mirmiran, Parvin; Shiva, Niloofar; Jafarabadi, Mohammad Asghari; Azizi, Fereidoun

2012-01-05

This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Iranian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) Generic Core Scales in children. A standard forward and backward translation procedure was used to translate the US English version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales for children into the Iranian language (Persian). The Iranian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales was completed by 503 healthy and 22 chronically ill children aged 8-12 years and their parents. The reliability was evaluated using internal consistency. Known-groups discriminant comparisons were made, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. The internal consistency, as measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficients, exceeded the minimum reliability standard of 0.70. All monotrait-multimethod correlations were higher than multitrait-multimethod correlations. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between the children self-report and parent proxy-reports showed moderate to high agreement. Exploratory factor analysis extracted six factors from the PedsQL™ 4.0 for both self and proxy reports, accounting for 47.9% and 54.8% of total variance, respectively. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis for 6-factor models for both self-report and proxy-report indicated acceptable fit for the proposed models. Regarding health status, as hypothesized from previous studies, healthy children reported significantly higher health-related quality of life than those with chronic illnesses. The findings support the initial reliability and validity of the Iranian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 as a generic instrument to measure health-related quality of life of children in Iran.

Lattice Boltzmann Methods to Address Fundamental Boiling and Two-Phase Problems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Uddin, Rizwan

2012-01-01

This report presents the progress made during the fourth (no cost extension) year of this three-year grant aimed at the development of a consistent Lattice Boltzmann formulation for boiling and two-phase flows. During the first year, a consistent LBM formulation for the simulation of a two-phase water-steam system was developed. Results of initial model validation in a range of thermo-dynamic conditions typical for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) were shown. Progress was made on several fronts during the second year. Most important of these included the simulation of the coalescence of two bubbles including the surface tension effects. Work during themore » third year focused on the development of a new lattice Boltzmann model, called the artificial interface lattice Boltzmann model (AILB model) for the 3 simulation of two-phase dynamics. The model is based on the principle of free energy minimization and invokes the Gibbs-Duhem equation in the formulation of non-ideal forcing function. This was reported in detail in the last progress report. Part of the efforts during the last (no-cost extension) year were focused on developing a parallel capability for the 2D as well as for the 3D codes developed in this project. This will be reported in the final report. Here we report the work carried out on testing the AILB model for conditions including the thermal effects. A simplified thermal LB model, based on the thermal energy distribution approach, was developed. The simplifications are made after neglecting the viscous heat dissipation and the work done by pressure in the original thermal energy distribution model. Details of the model are presented here, followed by a discussion of the boundary conditions, and then results for some two-phase thermal problems.« less

29 CFR 408.3 - Form of initial report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Regulations Relating to Labor OFFICE OF LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION TRUSTEESHIP REPORTS § 408.3 Form of initial report. On and after the effective date of this section, every labor organization required to file an initial report under § 408.2 shall...

29 CFR 408.3 - Form of initial report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Regulations Relating to Labor OFFICE OF LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS LABOR ORGANIZATION TRUSTEESHIP REPORTS § 408.3 Form of initial report. On and after the effective date of this section, every labor organization required to file an initial report under § 408.2 shall...

On Consistency Test Method of Expert Opinion in Ecological Security Assessment

PubMed Central

Wang, Lihong

2017-01-01

To reflect the initiative design and initiative of human security management and safety warning, ecological safety assessment is of great value. In the comprehensive evaluation of regional ecological security with the participation of experts, the expert’s individual judgment level, ability and the consistency of the expert’s overall opinion will have a very important influence on the evaluation result. This paper studies the consistency measure and consensus measure based on the multiplicative and additive consistency property of fuzzy preference relation (FPR). We firstly propose the optimization methods to obtain the optimal multiplicative consistent and additively consistent FPRs of individual and group judgments, respectively. Then, we put forward a consistency measure by computing the distance between the original individual judgment and the optimal individual estimation, along with a consensus measure by computing the distance between the original collective judgment and the optimal collective estimation. In the end, we make a case study on ecological security for five cities. Result shows that the optimal FPRs are helpful in measuring the consistency degree of individual judgment and the consensus degree of collective judgment. PMID:28869570

On Consistency Test Method of Expert Opinion in Ecological Security Assessment.

PubMed

Gong, Zaiwu; Wang, Lihong

2017-09-04

To reflect the initiative design and initiative of human security management and safety warning, ecological safety assessment is of great value. In the comprehensive evaluation of regional ecological security with the participation of experts, the expert's individual judgment level, ability and the consistency of the expert's overall opinion will have a very important influence on the evaluation result. This paper studies the consistency measure and consensus measure based on the multiplicative and additive consistency property of fuzzy preference relation (FPR). We firstly propose the optimization methods to obtain the optimal multiplicative consistent and additively consistent FPRs of individual and group judgments, respectively. Then, we put forward a consistency measure by computing the distance between the original individual judgment and the optimal individual estimation, along with a consensus measure by computing the distance between the original collective judgment and the optimal collective estimation. In the end, we make a case study on ecological security for five cities. Result shows that the optimal FPRs are helpful in measuring the consistency degree of individual judgment and the consensus degree of collective judgment.

Photon beam asymmetry Σ for η and η‧ photoproduction from the proton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, P.; Ritchie, B. G.; Dugger, M.; Anisovich, A. V.; Döring, M.; Klempt, E.; Nikonov, V. A.; Rönchen, D.; Sadasivan, D.; Sarantsev, A.; Adhikari, K. P.; Akbar, Z.; Amaryan, M. J.; Anefalos Pereira, S.; Avakian, H.; Ball, J.; Balossino, I.; Bashkanov, M.; Battaglieri, M.; Bedlinskiy, I.; Biselli, A. S.; Briscoe, W. J.; Brooks, W. K.; Burkert, V. D.; Cao, Frank Thanh; Carman, D. S.; Celentano, A.; Chandavar, S.; Charles, G.; Chetry, T.; Ciullo, G.; Clark, L.; Colaneri, L.; Cole, P. L.; Compton, N.; Contalbrigo, M.; Cortes, O.; Crede, V.; D'Angelo, A.; Dashyan, N.; De Vita, R.; De Sanctis, E.; Deur, A.; Djalali, C.; Dupre, R.; Egiyan, H.; El Alaoui, A.; El Fassi, L.; Elouadrhiri, L.; Eugenio, P.; Fanchini, E.; Fedotov, G.; Filippi, A.; Fleming, J. A.; Ghandilyan, Y.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girod, F. X.; Glazier, D. I.; Gleason, C.; Golovatch, E.; Gothe, R. W.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guo, L.; Hafidi, K.; Hakobyan, H.; Hanretty, C.; Harrison, N.; Heddle, D.; Hicks, K.; Holtrop, M.; Hughes, S. M.; Ilieva, Y.; Ireland, D. G.; Ishkhanov, B. S.; Isupov, E. L.; Jenkins, D.; Jo, H. S.; Joosten, S.; Keller, D.; Khachatryan, G.; Khachatryan, M.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, A.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Klein, F. J.; Kubarovsky, V.; Lanza, L.; Lenisa, P.; Livingston, K.; MacGregor, I. J. D.; Markov, N.; McKinnon, B.; Meyer, C. A.; Mirazita, M.; Mokeev, V.; Montgomery, R. A.; Movsisyan, A.; Munoz Camacho, C.; Murdoch, G.; Nadel-Turonski, P.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Niculescu, I.; Osipenko, M.; Ostrovidov, A. I.; Paolone, M.; Paremuzyan, R.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Phelps, W.; Pisano, S.; Pogorelko, O.; Price, J. W.; Prok, Y.; Protopopescu, D.; Raue, B. A.; Ripani, M.; Rizzo, A.; Rosner, G.; Roy, P.; Sabatié, F.; Salgado, C.; Schumacher, R. A.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Skorodumina, Iu.; Smith, G. D.; Sokhan, D.; Sparveris, N.; Stepanyan, S.; Strakovsky, I. I.; Strauch, S.; Taiuti, M.; Tian, Ye; Torayev, B.; Ungaro, M.; Voskanyan, H.; Voutier, E.; Walford, N. K.; Wei, X.; Zachariou, N.; Zhang, J.

2017-08-01

Measurements of the linearly-polarized photon beam asymmetry Σ for photoproduction from the proton of η and η‧ mesons are reported. A linearly-polarized tagged photon beam produced by coherent bremsstrahlung was incident on a cryogenic hydrogen target within the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Results are presented for the γp → ηp reaction for incident photon energies from 1.070 to 1.876 GeV, and from 1.516 to 1.836 GeV for the γp →η‧ p reaction. For γp → ηp, the data reported here considerably extend the range of measurements to higher energies, and are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold. For γp →η‧ p, the results obtained are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold, but also greatly expand the incident photon energy coverage for that reaction. Initial analysis of the data reported here with the Bonn-Gatchina model strengthens the evidence for four nucleon resonances - the N (1895) 1 /2-, N (1900) 3 /2+, N (2100) 1 /2+ and N (2120) 3 /2- resonances - which presently lack the ;four-star; status in the current Particle Data Group compilation, providing examples of how these new measurements help refine models of the photoproduction process.

A Longitudinal Study: Casino Gambling Attitudes, Motivations, and Gambling Patterns Among Urban Elders

PubMed Central

Lichtenberg, Peter A.; Templin, Thomas N.

2013-01-01

Guided by self-determination theory, the main purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics, attitudes toward casinos, and self-reported intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for casino gambling by urban elders. The study hypothesized that individuals would more frequently report intrinsic motivations for casino gambling (e.g., entertainment, enjoyment) rather than extrinsic motivation (e.g., financial gain). This longitudinal sample included 247 urban elders older who were 60 years and older and who had participated in surveys in 2002 and 2004. The initial survey consisted of (a) demographic items, (b) five items to measure attitudes toward casino gambling, (c) questions inquiring about motivations for casino gambling, and (d) questions about gambling frequency. The follow-up survey was an expanded questionnaire which still included these items. The sample consisted of the 247 participants, over 200 of whom were African-Americans, 188 were female, and 98 of the participants had a post graduate education. About half were widowed, and the sample generally reported a low income. The results supported the theoretical perspective underlying the project. The hypothesis that more participants would endorse intrinsic motivations for casino gambling rather than extrinsic motivations was supported. The implications of these findings represent for social workers, gambling counselors and health care services providers an important step toward understanding the attitudes, behaviors, and motivational factors involved in casino gambling among older adults. PMID:20549548

Positive Cervical Artery Testing in a Patient with Chronic Whiplash Syndrome: Clinical Decision-Making in the Presence of Diagnostic Uncertainty

PubMed Central

Graziano, David L.; Nitsch, Wanda; Huijbregts, Peter A.

2007-01-01

This case report describes the diagnosis and management of a 43-year-old female patient who had sustained an injury to her neck in a motor-vehicle accident two years earlier. The major symptoms described by the patient included headache and neck pain, but history and examination also revealed signs and symptoms potentially indicative of cervical artery compromise. Physical therapy management initially consisted of soft tissue and non-thrust joint manipulation of the lower cervical and thoracic spine, specific exercise prescription, and superficial heat. Cervical vascular compromise was re-evaluated by way of the sustained extension-rotation test. When at the fifth visit this test no longer produced symptoms potentially indicative of vascular compromise, upper cervical diagnosis and management consisting of soft tissue and non-thrust joint manipulation was added. A positive outcome was achieved both at the impairment level and with regard to limitations in activities, the latter including increased performance at work, a return to previous reading activities, improved length and quality of sleep, and greater comfort while driving. At discharge, the patient reported only occasional pain and mild limitations in activities. This report describes the positive outcomes in a patient with chronic whiplash syndrome; however, its main emphasis lies in the discussion and critical evaluation of clinical reasoning in the presence of diagnostic uncertainty with regard to cervical artery compromise. PMID:19066653

A validated pediatric transport survey: how is your team performing?

PubMed

McPherson, Mona L; Jefferson, Larry S; Graf, Jeanine M

2008-01-01

Understanding referring practitioners' satisfaction with pediatric transport services is useful for quality improvement. Formal survey methodology was applied to develop a pediatric transport satisfaction survey. Large metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States. A four-stage process was used to create a 20-item pediatric transport satisfaction survey. The final survey was analyzed for test-retest and internal consistency reliability, and surveys were mailed to a large practitioner base. The survey encompassed three domains: patient care, accessing the transport system, and communication. Test-retest and internal consistency reliability were good (final Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.88.) Of the 229 providers responding, 69% were local (<60 miles), and 31% were served by our long distance transport team (>60 miles). Respondents reported that physicians selected the transport team in 82% of cases, whereas 9% reported that the charge nurse decided. Transport team selection was based on: (1) ease of initiation, (2) fastest arrival, (3) presence of a physician on the team, (4) stabilization time at the referring facility, and (5) team providing best follow-up. Satisfaction with our transport service was high, with a median survey score of 83 (interquartile [IQ] range, 74-92). Physicians and nurses reported equal satisfaction. Survey design methodology was successfully applied to assess satisfaction with pediatric transport. This transport survey offers a reliable measurement of providers' satisfaction with transport services.

Photon beam asymmetry Σ for η and η' photoproduction from the proton

DOE PAGES

Collins, P.; Ritchie, B. G.; Dugger, M.; ...

2017-05-18

Measurements of the linearly-polarized photon beam asymmetrymore » $$\\Sigma$$ for photoproduction from the proton of $$\\eta$$ and $$\\eta^\\prime$$ mesons are reported. A linearly-polarized tagged photon beam produced by coherent bremsstrahlung was incident on a cryogenic hydrogen target within the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Results are presented for the $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta p$$ reaction for incident photon energies from 1.070 to 1.876 GeV, and from 1.516 to 1.836 GeV for the $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta^\\prime p$$ reaction. For $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta p$$, the data reported here considerably extend the range of measurements to higher energies, and are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold. For $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta^\\prime p$$, the results obtained are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold, but also greatly expand the incident photon energy coverage for that reaction. In conclusion, initial analysis of the data reported here with the Bonn-Gatchina model strengthens the evidence for four nucleon resonances -- the $N(1895)1/2^-$, $N(1900)3/2^+$, $N(2100)1/2^+$ and $N(2120)3/2^-$ resonances -- which presently lack the "four-star" status in the current Particle Data Group compilation, providing examples of how these new measurements help refine models of the photoproduction process.« less

Photon beam asymmetry Σ for η and η' photoproduction from the proton

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collins, P.; Ritchie, B. G.; Dugger, M.

Measurements of the linearly-polarized photon beam asymmetrymore » $$\\Sigma$$ for photoproduction from the proton of $$\\eta$$ and $$\\eta^\\prime$$ mesons are reported. A linearly-polarized tagged photon beam produced by coherent bremsstrahlung was incident on a cryogenic hydrogen target within the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Results are presented for the $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta p$$ reaction for incident photon energies from 1.070 to 1.876 GeV, and from 1.516 to 1.836 GeV for the $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta^\\prime p$$ reaction. For $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta p$$, the data reported here considerably extend the range of measurements to higher energies, and are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold. For $$\\gamma p \\to \\eta^\\prime p$$, the results obtained are consistent with the few previously published measurements for this observable near threshold, but also greatly expand the incident photon energy coverage for that reaction. In conclusion, initial analysis of the data reported here with the Bonn-Gatchina model strengthens the evidence for four nucleon resonances -- the $N(1895)1/2^-$, $N(1900)3/2^+$, $N(2100)1/2^+$ and $N(2120)3/2^-$ resonances -- which presently lack the "four-star" status in the current Particle Data Group compilation, providing examples of how these new measurements help refine models of the photoproduction process.« less

A longitudinal study: casino gambling attitudes, motivations, and gambling patterns among urban elders.

PubMed

Martin, Fayetta; Lichtenberg, Peter A; Templin, Thomas N

2011-06-01

Guided by self-determination theory, the main purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics, attitudes toward casinos, and self-reported intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for casino gambling by urban elders. The study hypothesized that individuals would more frequently report intrinsic motivations for casino gambling (e.g., entertainment, enjoyment) rather than extrinsic motivation (e.g., financial gain). This longitudinal sample included 247 urban elders older who were 60 years and older and who had participated in surveys in 2002 and 2004. The initial survey consisted of (a) demographic items, (b) five items to measure attitudes toward casino gambling, (c) questions inquiring about motivations for casino gambling, and (d) questions about gambling frequency. The follow-up survey was an expanded questionnaire which still included these items. The sample consisted of the 247 participants, over 200 of whom were African-Americans, 188 were female, and 98 of the participants had a post graduate education. About half were widowed, and the sample generally reported a low income. The results supported the theoretical perspective underlying the project. The hypothesis that more participants would endorse intrinsic motivations for casino gambling rather than extrinsic motivations was supported. The implications of these findings represent for social workers, gambling counselors and health care services providers an important step toward understanding the attitudes, behaviors, and motivational factors involved in casino gambling among older adults.

Direct restorative treatment of dental erosion caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease associated with bruxism: a case report.

PubMed

Vidal, Cristina de Mattos Pimenta; Catelan, Anderson; Briso, André Luiz Fraga; dos Santos, Paulo Henrique

2011-09-01

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach acids are chronically regurgitated into the esophagus and oral cavity. Continual exposure of the teeth to these acids can cause severe tooth wear. Dentists are often the first healthcare professionals to diagnose dental erosion in patients with GERD. This article presents a case report of a 27-year-old male smoker with tooth wear and dentin sensitivity caused by GERD associated with bruxism. After diagnosis, a multidisciplinary treatment plan was established. The initial treatment approach consisted of medical follow-up with counseling on dietary and smoking habits, as well as management of the gastric disorders with medication. GERD management and the dental treatment performed for the eroded dentition are described, including diagnosis, treatment planning, and restorative therapy.

Hypokalemic Paralysis Complicated by Concurrent Hyperthyroidism and Chronic Alcoholism: A Case Report.

PubMed

Tsai, Ming-Hsien; Lin, Shih-Hua; Leu, Jyh-Gang; Fang, Yu-Wei

2015-09-01

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is characterized by the presence of muscle paralysis, hypokalemia, and hyperthyroidism. We report the case of a young man with paralysis of the lower extremities, severe hypokalemia, and concurrent hyperthyroidism. TPP was suspected; therefore, treatment consisting of judicious potassium (K+) repletion and β-blocker administration was initiated. However, urinary K+ excretion rate, as well as refractoriness to treatment, was inconsistent with TPP. Chronic alcoholism was considered as an alternative cause of hypokalemia, and serum K+ was restored through vigorous K repletion and the addition of K+ -sparing diuretics. The presence of thyrotoxicosis and hypokalemia does not always indicate a diagnosis of TPP. Exclusion of TPP can be accomplished by immediate evaluation of urinary K+ excretion, acid-base status, and the amount of potassium chloride required to correct hypokalemia at presentation.

Fanconi anemia in brothers initially diagnosed with VACTERL association with hydrocephalus, and subsequently with Baller-Gerold syndrome

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rossbach, H.C.; Granan, N.H.; Rossi, A.R.

1996-01-02

Two brothers with presumed Baller-Gerold syndrome, one of whom was previously diagnosed with the association of vertebral, cardiac, renal, limb anomalies, anal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula (VACTERL) association with hydrocephalus, were evaluated for chromosome breakage because of severe thrombo cytopenia in one of them. Spontaneous and clastogen-induced breakage was markedly increased in both patients as compared to control individuals. Clinical manifestations and chromosome breakage, consistent with Fanconi anemia, in patients with a prior diagnosis of either Baller-Gerold syndrome, reported earlier in one other patient, or with VACTERL association with hydrocephalus, recently reported in 3 patients, underline the clinical heterogeneity of Fanconimore » anemia and raise the question of whether these syndromes are distinct disorders or phenotypic variations of the same disease. 12 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less

Very high potassium (VHK) basalt - Complications in mare basalt petrogenesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shervais, J. W.; Taylor, L. A.; Laul, J. C.; Shih, C.-Y.; Nyquist, L. E.

1985-01-01

The first comprehensive report on the petrology and geochemistry of Apollo 14 VHK (Very High Potassium) basalts and their implications for lunar evolution is presented. The reported data are most consistent with the hypothesis that VHK basalts formed through the partial assimilation of granite by a normal low-Ti, high-Al mare basalt magma. Assimilation was preceded by the diffusion-controlled exchange of alkalis and Ba between basalt magma and the low-temperature melt fraction of the granite. Hypotheses involving volatile/nonvolatile fractionations or long-term enrichment of the source regions in K are inconsistent with the suprachondritic Ba/La ratios and low initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios of VHK basalt. An important implication of this conclusion is that granite should be a significant component of the lunar crust at the Apollo 14 site.

The Distribution of Interplanetary Dust Near 1-AU: An MMS Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adrian, M. L.; St Cyr, O. C.; Wilson, L. B., III; Schiff, C.; Sacks, L. W.; Chai, D. J.; Queen, S. Z.; Sedlak, J. E.

2017-12-01

The distribution of dust in the ecliptic plane in the vicinity of 1-AU has been inferred from impacts on the four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission spacecraft as detected by the Acceleration Measurement System (AMS) during periods when no other spacecraft activities are in progress. Consisting of four identically instrumented spacecraft, with an inter-spacecraft separation ranging from 10-km to 400-km, the MMS constellation forms a dust "detector" with approximately four-times the collection area of any previous dust monitoring framework. Here we introduce the MMS-AMS and the inferred dust impact observations, provide a preliminary comparison of the MMS distribution of dust impacts to previously reported interplanetary dust distributions — namely those of the STEREO mission — and report on our initial comparison of the MMS distribution of dust impacts with known meteor showers.

Final safety analysis report for the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA), Phase 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1994-10-01

This document is the first volume of a 3 volume safety analysis report on the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA). The GTA program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the major element of the national Neutral Particle Beam (NPB) program, which is supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative Office (SDIO). A principal goal of the national NPB program is to assess the feasibility of using hydrogen and deuterium neutral particle beams outside the Earth`s atmosphere. The main effort of the NPB program at Los Alamos concentrates on developing the GTA. The GTA is classified as a low-hazard facility, exceptmore » for the cryogenic-cooling system, which is classified as a moderate-hazard facility. This volume consists of an introduction, summary/conclusion, site description and assessment, description of facility, and description of operation.« less

Should tsunami simulations include a nonzero initial horizontal velocity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotto, Gabriel C.; Nava, Gabriel; Dunham, Eric M.

2017-08-01

Tsunami propagation in the open ocean is most commonly modeled by solving the shallow water wave equations. These equations require initial conditions on sea surface height and depth-averaged horizontal particle velocity or, equivalently, horizontal momentum. While most modelers assume that initial velocity is zero, Y.T. Song and collaborators have argued for nonzero initial velocity, claiming that horizontal displacement of a sloping seafloor imparts significant horizontal momentum to the ocean. They show examples in which this effect increases the resulting tsunami height by a factor of two or more relative to models in which initial velocity is zero. We test this claim with a "full-physics" integrated dynamic rupture and tsunami model that couples the elastic response of the Earth to the linearized acoustic-gravitational response of a compressible ocean with gravity; the model self-consistently accounts for seismic waves in the solid Earth, acoustic waves in the ocean, and tsunamis (with dispersion at short wavelengths). Full-physics simulations of subduction zone megathrust ruptures and tsunamis in geometries with a sloping seafloor confirm that substantial horizontal momentum is imparted to the ocean. However, almost all of that initial momentum is carried away by ocean acoustic waves, with negligible momentum imparted to the tsunami. We also compare tsunami propagation in each simulation to that predicted by an equivalent shallow water wave simulation with varying assumptions regarding initial velocity. We find that the initial horizontal velocity conditions proposed by Song and collaborators consistently overestimate the tsunami amplitude and predict an inconsistent wave profile. Finally, we determine tsunami initial conditions that are rigorously consistent with our full-physics simulations by isolating the tsunami waves from ocean acoustic and seismic waves at some final time, and backpropagating the tsunami waves to their initial state by solving the adjoint problem. The resulting initial conditions have negligible horizontal velocity.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

10 CFR 26.139 - Reporting initial validity and drug test results.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Reporting initial validity and drug test results. 26.139... § 26.139 Reporting initial validity and drug test results. (a) The licensee testing facility shall... permitted under § 26.75(h), positive test results from initial drug tests at the licensee testing facility...

10 CFR 26.139 - Reporting initial validity and drug test results.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Reporting initial validity and drug test results. 26.139... § 26.139 Reporting initial validity and drug test results. (a) The licensee testing facility shall... permitted under § 26.75(h), positive test results from initial drug tests at the licensee testing facility...

Initial investigation of organisational factors associated with the implementation of active support.

PubMed

Fyffe, Chris; McCubbery, Jeffrey; Reid, Katharine J

2008-09-01

Active support (AS) has been shown to increase the amount of time that residents in shared residential settings are involved in purposeful activities. The organisational processes required to implement AS have been less well researched. Staff in community houses answered questions about the occurrence of organisational activities and processes thought to assist AS implementation (e.g., training and teamwork), their understanding of engagement, and their experience of changes in staff practice consistent with AS (including implementation problems). Non-house-based managers were also interviewed about their role in AS implementation. Reported occurrence of organisational activities and processes (e.g., training and teamwork) and understanding of engagement were associated with more reports of changes in staff practice and fewer staff reports of implementation problems. Staff reports on the role of non-house-based managers were not associated with reports of changes in staff practice or with reports of fewer AS implementation problems. Non-house-based managers' reports overestimated their role in AS implementation when compared with reports from house-based staff groups. While there are limitations in the research design (including the reliance on staff reports), the findings support the importance of wider organisational factors (beyond training programs for direct support staff) as integral to the implementation of AS. There is a need for further research on AS implementation.

The immunization data quality audit: verifying the quality and consistency of immunization monitoring systems.

PubMed Central

Ronveaux, O.; Rickert, D.; Hadler, S.; Groom, H.; Lloyd, J.; Bchir, A.; Birmingham, M.

2005-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the consistency and quality of immunization monitoring systems in 27 countries during 2002-03 using standardized data quality audits (DQAs) that had been launched within the framework of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. METHODS: The consistency of reporting systems was estimated by determining the proportion of third doses of diphtheria-tetanuspertussis (DTP-3) vaccine reported as being administered that could be verified by written documentation at health facilities and districts. The quality of monitoring systems was measured using quality indices for different components of the monitoring systems. These indices were applied to each level of the health service (health unit, district and national). FINDINGS: The proportion of verified DTP-3 doses was lower than 85% in 16 countries. Difficulties in verifying the doses administered often arose at the peripheral level of the health service, usually as the result of discrepancies in information between health units and their corresponding districts or because completed recording forms were not available from health units. All countries had weaknesses in their monitoring systems; these included the inconsistent use of monitoring charts; inadequate monitoring of vaccine stocks, injection supplies and adverse events; unsafe computer practices; and poor monitoring of completeness and timeliness of reporting. CONCLUSION: Inconsistencies in immunization data occur in many countries, hampering their ability to manage their immunization programmes. Countries should use these findings to strengthen monitoring systems so that data can reliably guide programme activities. The DQA is an innovative tool that provides a way to independently assess the quality of immunization monitoring systems at all levels of a health service and serves as a point of entry to make improvements. It provides a useful example for other global health initiatives. PMID:16175824

Data for improvement and clinical excellence: protocol for an audit with feedback intervention in long-term care.

PubMed

Sales, Anne E; Schalm, Corinne

2010-10-13

There is considerable evidence about the effectiveness of audit coupled with feedback, although few audit with feedback interventions have been conducted in long-term care (LTC) settings to date. In general, the effects have been found to be modest at best, although in settings where there has been little history of audit and feedback, the effects may be greater, at least initially. The primary purpose of the Data for Improvement and Clinical Excellence (DICE) Long-Term Care project is to assess the effects of an audit with feedback intervention delivered monthly over 13 months in four LTC facilities. The research questions we addressed are:1. What effects do feedback reports have on processes and outcomes over time?2. How do different provider groups in LTC and home care respond to feedback reports based on data targeted at improving quality of care? The research team conducting this study comprises researchers and decision makers in continuing care in the province of Alberta, Canada. The intervention consists of monthly feedback reports in nine LTC units in four facilities in Edmonton, Alberta. Data for the feedback reports comes from the Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set (RAI) version 2.0, a standardized instrument mandated for use in LTC facilities throughout Alberta. Feedback reports consist of one page, front and back, presenting both graphic and textual information. Reports are delivered to all staff working in the four LTC facilities. The primary evaluation uses a controlled interrupted time series design both adjusted and unadjusted for covariates. The concurrent process evaluation uses observation and self-report to assess uptake of the feedback reports. Following the project phase described in this protocol, a similar intervention will be conducted in home care settings in Alberta. Depending on project findings, if they are judged useful by decision makers participating in this research team, we plan dissemination and spread of the feedback report approach throughout Alberta.

Secretin receptor involvement in prion-infected cells and animals.

PubMed

Kimura, Tomohiro; Nishizawa, Keiko; Oguma, Ayumi; Nishimura, Yuki; Sakasegawa, Yuji; Teruya, Kenta; Nishijima, Ichiko; Doh-ura, Katsumi

2015-07-08

The cellular mechanisms behind prion biosynthesis and metabolism remain unclear. Here we show that secretin signaling via the secretin receptor regulates abnormal prion protein formation in prion-infected cells. Animal studies demonstrate that secretin receptor deficiency slightly, but significantly, prolongs incubation time in female but not male mice. This gender-specificity is consistent with our finding that prion-infected cells are derived from females. Therefore, our results provide initial insights into the reasons why age of disease onset in certain prion diseases is reported to occur slightly earlier in females than males. Copyright © 2015 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Multi-Scale Method for Dynamics Simulation in Continuum Solvent Models I: Finite-Difference Algorithm for Navier-Stokes Equation

PubMed Central

Xiao, Li; Cai, Qin; Li, Zhilin; Zhao, Hongkai; Luo, Ray

2014-01-01

A multi-scale framework is proposed for more realistic molecular dynamics simulations in continuum solvent models by coupling a molecular mechanics treatment of solute with a fluid mechanics treatment of solvent. This article reports our initial efforts to formulate the physical concepts necessary for coupling the two mechanics and develop a 3D numerical algorithm to simulate the solvent fluid via the Navier-Stokes equation. The numerical algorithm was validated with multiple test cases. The validation shows that the algorithm is effective and stable, with observed accuracy consistent with our design. PMID:25404761

Health beliefs and practices related to cancer screening among Arab Muslim women in an urban community.

PubMed

Salman, Khlood Faik

2012-01-01

In this exploratory study I investigated the participation status in breast and cervical cancer screening of a group of American immigrant Arab Muslim women (AMW). Perceived knowledge of and barriers to screening participation, relationships among demographic variables, health practice and beliefs, and self-reports of traditionalism and acculturation also are studied. Factors including religious and cultural beliefs, economic concerns, and modesty and embarrassment were considered. To reach the goals of Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010), an effective and meaningful educational initiative to raise awareness about breast and cervical cancer of AMW will require specific interventions consistent with their cultural and religious traditions.

Numerical calculation of flow fields about rectangular wings of finite thickness in supersonic flow. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vogel, J. M.

1973-01-01

The calculation of the outer inviscid flow about a rectangular wing moving at supersonic speeds is reported. The inviscid equations of motion governing the flow generated by the wing form a set of hyperbolic differential equations. The flow field about the rectangular wing is separated into three regions consisting of the forebody, the afterbody, and the wing wake. Solutions for the forebody are obtained using conical flow techniques while the afterbody and the wing wake regions are treated as initial value problems. The numerical solutions are compared in the two dimensional regions with known exact solutions.

Fiber-optic sensors for aerospace electrical measurements: An update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Richard L.; Rose, A. H.; Tang, D.; Day, G. W.

1991-01-01

Fiber-optic sensors are being developed for electrical current, voltage, and power measurements in aerospace applications. These sensors are presently designed to cover ac frequencies from 60 Hz to 20 kHz. The current sensor, based on the Faraday effect in optical fiber, is in advanced development after some initial testing. Concentration is on packaging methods and ways to maintain consistent sensitivity with changes in temperature. The voltage sensor, utilizing the Pockels effect in a crystal, has excelled in temperature tests. This paper reports on the development of these sensors, the results of evaluation, improvements now in progress, and the future direction of the work.

Rhetoric to action: a study of stakeholder perceptions of aging well in two local communities.

PubMed

Everingham, Jo-Anne; Lui, Chi-Wai; Bartlett, Helen; Warburton, Jeni; Cuthill, Michael

2010-11-01

This qualitative study of local perceptions of policy goals and action in relation to aging reports 31 stakeholder interviews within 2 Australian communities exploring (a) the meaning of aging well; and (b) preferred policy actions to achieve positive aging outcomes. Findings suggest that community perceptions of aging well are broadly consistent with the goals of national and international policy frameworks in focusing on 3 dimensions--health, social engagement, and security. Further, participants believe that achievement of positive aging outcomes requires a mix of self-help, community action, and government intervention--particularly government support and encouragement for aging well initiatives.

Parent-rated externalizing behavior in preschoolers: the predictive utility of structured interviews, teacher reports, and classroom observations.

PubMed

Doctoroff, Greta L; Arnold, David H

2004-12-01

This study investigated multiple forms of home and school assessment as predictors of parent-rated behavior problems across a preschool year. Participants were a community sample of 79 preschool children, their parents, and their teachers. Parent ratings of behavior problems were obtained toward the beginning of the school year and approximately 6 months later. Behavior problems were also assessed early in the school year using parent structured interviews, teacher-rating scales, and classroom observations of problem and prosocial behavior. Consistent with hypotheses, each assessment method significantly predicted year-end parent ratings of behavior problems, even above initial ratings.

Advancement of Bi-Level Integrated System Synthesis (BLISS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, Jaroslaw; Emiley, Mark S.; Agte, Jeremy S.; Sandusky, Robert R., Jr.

2000-01-01

Bi-Level Integrated System Synthesis (BLISS) is a method for optimization of an engineering system, e.g., an aerospace vehicle. BLISS consists of optimizations at the subsystem (module) and system levels to divide the overall large optimization task into sets of smaller ones that can be executed concurrently. In the initial version of BLISS that was introduced and documented in previous publications, analysis in the modules was kept at the early conceptual design level. This paper reports on the next step in the BLISS development in which the fidelity of the aerodynamic drag and structural stress and displacement analyses were upgraded while the method's satisfactory convergence rate was retained.

Hemoptysis due to pulmonary pseudosequestration secondary to gastro-pulmonary fistula after a revisional bariatric operation.

PubMed

Santacruz, Carlos Cerdán; Rodríguez, María Conde; Sánchez-Pernaute, Andrés; García, Antonio José Torres

2014-10-01

We report the case of a patient with a history of a complicated revisional bariatric operation who developed a lung pseudosequestration secondary to a gastro-pulmonary fistula. As the patient presented with recurrent hemoptysis, she was initially submitted to embolization of the aberrant vessels and later to a definite operation, which consisted on a diversion of the gastric fistula into a Roux-en-Y intestinal loop. It is an exceptional case about late complications of bariatric surgery, and it underlines the importance of discarding these complications even when the clinical manifestations affect another anatomic region different from the operated abdomen.

Hemoptysis due to pulmonary pseudosequestration secondary to gastro-pulmonary fistula after a revisional bariatric operation

PubMed Central

Santacruz, Carlos Cerdán; Rodríguez, María Conde; Sánchez-Pernaute, Andrés; García, Antonio José Torres

2014-01-01

We report the case of a patient with a history of a complicated revisional bariatric operation who developed a lung pseudosequestration secondary to a gastro-pulmonary fistula. As the patient presented with recurrent hemoptysis, she was initially submitted to embolization of the aberrant vessels and later to a definite operation, which consisted on a diversion of the gastric fistula into a Roux-en-Y intestinal loop. It is an exceptional case about late complications of bariatric surgery, and it underlines the importance of discarding these complications even when the clinical manifestations affect another anatomic region different from the operated abdomen. PMID:25276245

Technology demonstration of dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Interim report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alvarez, R.A.; Yost, D.M.

1995-11-01

A technology demonstration program of dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles was conducted at FL Bliss, Texas to demonstrate the use of CNG as an alternative fuel. The demonstration program at FL Bliss was the first Army initiative with CNG-fueled vehicles under the legislated Alternative Motor Fuels Act. This Department of Energy (DOE)-supported fleet demonstration consisted of 48 General Services Administration (GSA)-owned, Army-leased 1992 dedicated CNG General Motors (GM) 3/4-ton pickup trucks and four 1993 gasoline-powered Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup trucks.

Emerging roles of gut microbiota and the immune system in the development of the enteric nervous system

PubMed Central

Kabouridis, Panagiotis S.; Pachnis, Vassilis

2015-01-01

The enteric nervous system (ENS) consists of neurons and glial cells that differentiate from neural crest progenitors. During embryogenesis, development of the ENS is controlled by the interplay of neural crest cell–intrinsic factors and instructive cues from the surrounding gut mesenchyme. However, postnatal ENS development occurs in a different context, which is characterized by the presence of microbiota and an extensive immune system, suggesting an important role of these factors on enteric neural circuit formation and function. Initial reports confirm this idea while further studies in this area promise new insights into ENS physiology and pathophysiology. PMID:25729852

Models Extracted from Text for System-Software Safety Analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malin, Jane T.

2010-01-01

This presentation describes extraction and integration of requirements information and safety information in visualizations to support early review of completeness, correctness, and consistency of lengthy and diverse system safety analyses. Software tools have been developed and extended to perform the following tasks: 1) extract model parts and safety information from text in interface requirements documents, failure modes and effects analyses and hazard reports; 2) map and integrate the information to develop system architecture models and visualizations for safety analysts; and 3) provide model output to support virtual system integration testing. This presentation illustrates the methods and products with a rocket motor initiation case.

Development and performance of electronic acute kidney injury triggers to identify pediatric patients at risk for nephrotoxic medication-associated harm.

PubMed

Kirkendall, E S; Spires, W L; Mottes, T A; Schaffzin, J K; Barclay, C; Goldstein, S L

2014-01-01

Nephrotoxic medication-associated acute kidney injury (NTMx-AKI) is a costly clinical phenomenon and more common than previously recognized. Prior efforts to use technology to identify AKI have focused on detection after renal injury has occurred. Describe an approach and provide a technical framework for the creation of risk-stratifying AKI triggers and the development of an application to manage the AKI trigger data. Report the performance characteristics of those triggers and the refinement process and on the challenges of implementation. Initial manual trigger screening guided design of an automated electronic trigger report. A web-based application was designed to alleviate inefficiency and serve as a user interface and central workspace for the project. Performance of the NTMx exposure trigger reports from September 2011 to September 2013 were evaluated using sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV). Automated reports were created to replace manual screening for NTMx-AKI. The initial performance of the NTMx exposure triggers for SN, SP, PPV, and NPV all were ≥0.78, and increased over the study, with all four measures reaching ≥0.95 consistently. A web-based application was implemented that simplifies data entry and couriering from the reports, expedites results viewing, and interfaces with an automated data visualization tool. Sociotechnical challenges were logged and reported. We have built a risk-stratifying system based on electronic triggers that detects patients at-risk for NTMx-AKI before injury occurs. The performance of the NTMx-exposed reports has neared 100% through iterative optimization. The complexity of the trigger logic and clinical workflows surrounding NTMx-AKI led to a challenging implementation, but one that has been successful from technical, clinical, and quality improvement standpoints. This report summarizes the construction of a trigger-based application, the performance of the triggers, and the challenges uncovered during the design, build, and implementation of the system.

High-Speed Rolling of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Having Different Initial Textures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onuki, Yusuke; Hara, Kenichiro; Utsunomiya, Hiroshi; Szpunar, Jerzy A.

2015-02-01

It is known that magnesium alloys can be rolled up to a large thickness reduction and develop a unique texture when the rolling speed is high (>1000 m/min). In order to understand the texture formation mechanism during high-strain-rate deformation, high-speed rolling of AZ31 magnesium alloy samples having different initial textures was conducted. The main components of the textures after the rolling were the RD-split basal, which consisted of 10°-20° inclining basal poles from the normal direction toward the rolling direction of the sheet, regardless of the different initial textures. With preheating at 473 K, all the samples were rolled without cracking while all were cracked when preheating was not applied. The optical micrographs and EBSD measurements showed a significant amount of twins and the cracks that developed along the shear bands consisted with laminated twins. Based on the texture simulation using the visco-plastic self-consistent model, it is concluded that the rapid development of the RD-split basal component from the initial basal alignment along the transverse direction was attributable to the tension twinning, The effect of the initial texture on the crack formation can be explained by the activation of the twinning system.

Baseline assessment of campus-wide general health status and mental health: Opportunity for tailored suicide prevention and mental health awareness programming.

PubMed

Hawley, Lisa D; MacDonald, Michael G; Wallace, Erica H; Smith, Julia; Wummel, Brian; Wren, Patricia A

2016-01-01

A campus-wide assessment examined the physical and mental health status of a midsize midwestern public university. Two thousand and forty-nine students, faculty, and staff on a single college campus were assessed in March-April 2013. Participants completed an online survey with sections devoted to demographics, physical and mental health status, and suicide knowledge and experiences. This study captured broad physical and mental health indicators. Students, faculty, and staff in certain demographic groups were more likely to report significant problems associated with mental and physical health. Specifically, women, faculty and staff of color, and nonheterosexual persons reported worse health outcomes. Across 8 mental health indicators, students reported consistently worse mental health than their faculty/staff counterparts. This paper presents findings from a significant campus-wide physical and mental health surveillance initiative. Results indicate the need for targeted physical and mental health support and intervention among these demographic groups.

Unpleasant Situations Elicit Different Emotional Responses in Younger and Older Adults

PubMed Central

Charles, Susan Turk; Carstensen, Laura L.

2008-01-01

Older adults report less distress in response to interpersonal conflicts than do younger adults, yet few researchers have examined factors that may contribute to these age differences. Emotion regulation is partially determined by the initial cognitive and emotional reactions that events elicit. We examined reported thoughts and emotions of younger and older adults (N = 195) while they listened to three different audio-taped conversations in which people were ostensibly making disparaging remarks about them. At four points during each scenario, the tape paused and participants engaged in a talk-aloud procedure and rated their level of anger and sadness. Findings revealed that older adults reported less anger but equal levels of sadness compared to younger adults, and their comments were judged by coders as less negative. Older adults made fewer appraisals about the people speaking on the tape and expressed less interest in learning more about their motives. Together, findings are consistent with age-related increases in processes that promote disengagement from offending situations. PMID:18808240

The generalizability of the Youth Self-Report syndrome structure in 23 societies.

PubMed

Ivanova, Masha Y; Achenbach, Thomas M; Rescorla, Leslie A; Dumenci, Levent; Almqvist, Fredrik; Bilenberg, Niels; Bird, Hector; Broberg, Anders G; Dobrean, Anca; Döpfner, Manfred; Erol, Nese; Forns, Maria; Hannesdottir, Helga; Kanbayashi, Yasuko; Lambert, Michael C; Leung, Patrick; Minaei, Asghar; Mulatu, Mesfin S; Novik, Torunn; Oh, Kyung Ja; Roussos, Alexandra; Sawyer, Michael; Simsek, Zeynep; Steinhausen, Hans-Christoph; Weintraub, Sheila; Winkler Metzke, Christa; Wolanczyk, Tomasz; Zilber, Nelly; Zukauskiene, Rita; Verhulst, Frank C

2007-10-01

As a basis for theories of psychopathology, clinical psychology and related disciplines need sound taxonomies that are generalizable across diverse populations. To test the generalizability of a statistically derived 8-syndrome taxonomic model for youth psychopathology, confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed on the Youth Self-Report (T. M. Achenbach & L. A. Rescorla, 2001) completed by 30,243 youths 11-18 years old from 23 societies. The 8-syndrome taxonomic model met criteria for good fit to the data from each society. This was consistent with findings for the parent-completed Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) and the teacher-completed Teacher's Report Form (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) from many societies. Separate CFAs by gender and age group supported the 8-syndrome model for boys and girls and for younger and older youths within individual societies. The findings provide initial support for the taxonomic generalizability of the 8-syndrome model across very diverse societies, both genders, and 2 age groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).

Item Banks for Measuring Emotional Distress From the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®): Depression, Anxiety, and Anger

PubMed Central

Pilkonis, Paul A.; Choi, Seung W.; Reise, Steven P.; Stover, Angela M.; Riley, William T.; Cella, David

2011-01-01

The authors report on the development and calibration of item banks for depression, anxiety, and anger as part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). Comprehensive literature searches yielded an initial bank of 1,404 items from 305 instruments. After qualitative item analysis (including focus groups and cognitive interviewing), 168 items (56 for each construct) were written in a first person, past tense format with a 7-day time frame and five response options reflecting frequency. The calibration sample included nearly 15,000 respondents. Final banks of 28, 29, and 29 items were calibrated for depression, anxiety, and anger, respectively, using item response theory. Test information curves showed that the PROMIS item banks provided more information than conventional measures in a range of severity from approximately −1 to +3 standard deviations (with higher scores indicating greater distress). Short forms consisting of seven to eight items provided information comparable to legacy measures containing more items. PMID:21697139

Item banks for measuring emotional distress from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®): depression, anxiety, and anger.

PubMed

Pilkonis, Paul A; Choi, Seung W; Reise, Steven P; Stover, Angela M; Riley, William T; Cella, David

2011-09-01

The authors report on the development and calibration of item banks for depression, anxiety, and anger as part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). Comprehensive literature searches yielded an initial bank of 1,404 items from 305 instruments. After qualitative item analysis (including focus groups and cognitive interviewing), 168 items (56 for each construct) were written in a first person, past tense format with a 7-day time frame and five response options reflecting frequency. The calibration sample included nearly 15,000 respondents. Final banks of 28, 29, and 29 items were calibrated for depression, anxiety, and anger, respectively, using item response theory. Test information curves showed that the PROMIS item banks provided more information than conventional measures in a range of severity from approximately -1 to +3 standard deviations (with higher scores indicating greater distress). Short forms consisting of seven to eight items provided information comparable to legacy measures containing more items.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McLaughlin, J. A.; Verth, G.; Fedun, V.

We investigate the long-term evolution of an initially buoyant magnetic flux tube emerging into a gravitationally stratified coronal hole environment and report on the resulting oscillations and outflows. We perform 2.5-dimensional nonlinear numerical simulations, generalizing the models of McLaughlin et al. and Murray et al. We find that the physical mechanism of oscillatory reconnection naturally generates quasi-periodic vertical outflows, with a transverse/swaying aspect. The vertical outflows consist of both a periodic aspect and evidence of a positively directed flow. The speed of the vertical outflow (20-60 km s{sup -1}) is comparable to those reported in the observational literature. We alsomore » perform a parametric study varying the magnetic strength of the buoyant flux tube and find a range of associated periodicities: 1.75-3.5 minutes. Thus, the mechanism of oscillatory reconnection may provide a physical explanation to some of the high-speed, quasi-periodic, transverse outflows/jets recently reported by a multitude of authors and instruments.« less

Partner accommodation in posttraumatic stress disorder: initial testing of the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS).

PubMed

Fredman, Steffany J; Vorstenbosch, Valerie; Wagner, Anne C; Macdonald, Alexandra; Monson, Candice M

2014-05-01

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with myriad relationship problems and psychological distress in partners of individuals with PTSD. This study sought to develop a self-report measure of partner accommodation to PTSD (i.e., ways in which partners alter their behavior in response to patient PTSD symptoms), the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), and to investigate its reliability and construct validity in 46 treatment-seeking couples. The SORTS demonstrated strong internal consistency and associations with individual and relationship distress. Accommodation was positively correlated with partners' ratings of patients' PTSD symptoms, patient self-reported depressive and trait anger severity, and partner self-reported depressive and state anger severity. Accommodation was negatively correlated with patient and partner relationship satisfaction and partners' perceived social support received from patients. Findings suggest that accommodation may be an attempt to adapt to living with a partner with PTSD but may have negative implications for patient and partner well-being. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partner Accommodation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Initial Testing of the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS)

PubMed Central

Fredman, Steffany J.; Vorstenbosch, Valerie; Wagner, Anne C.; Macdonald, Alexandra; Monson, Candice M.

2014-01-01

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with myriad relationship problems and psychological distress in partners of individuals with PTSD. This study sought to develop a self-report measure of partner accommodation to PTSD (i.e., ways in which partners alter their behavior in response to patient PTSD symptoms), the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), and to investigate its reliability and construct validity in 46 treatment-seeking couples. The SORTS demonstrated strong internal consistency and associations with individual and relationship distress. Accommodation was positively correlated with partners' ratings of patients' PTSD symptoms, patient self-reported depressive and trait anger severity, and partner self-reported depressive and state anger severity. Accommodation was negatively correlated with patient and partner relationship satisfaction and partners' perceived social support received from patients. Findings suggest that accommodation may be an attempt to adapt to living with a partner with PTSD but may have negative implications for patient and partner well-being. PMID:24816277

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma with unusual clinical presentation of rhabdomyolysis.

PubMed

Liu, Zhiyu; Medeiros, L Jeffrey; Young, Ken H

2017-03-01

Primary extranodal lymphoma is known to occur in nose, gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone, and central nervous system. However, it is extremely rare for primary lymphoma to arise in skeletal muscle. We report a case of a 32-year-old man who presented initially with fever and fatigue. He had a history of alcohol abuse. Laboratory studies and computerized tomography scan showed results consistent with rhabdomyolysis, but the cause of the rhabdomyolysis was undetermined. After biopsy of abdominal skeletal muscle with histologic examination and T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement analysis, the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma was established. After two cycles of the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and etoposide regimen, the patient's symptoms greatly improved. This is the third reported case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma arising in skeletal muscle reported in the literature and which presented clinically with rhabdomyolysis. The alcohol abuse during the clinical course likely worsens the pathologic process of the rhabdomyolysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[The Charles Bonnet syndrome: a case report and a brief review].

PubMed

Saiz Gonzáles, D; Diaz Marsá, M

2003-01-01

The Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a rare disease that also seems to be generally misdiagnosed. Initially described in the XVIII century by the philosopher with the same name, it consist in complex visual hallucinations in elderly people who suffer sensory deprivation with no other psychopathology. The hypothesis on the neurophysiology of hallucinations suggests, as in other diseases that present hallucinations, some implication of thalamus-cortex pathway release. Some authors have proposed CBS as an early marker of dementia and Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, the results in functional neuroimaging are not conclusive. Regarding treatment, typical and atypical neuroleptics do not seem to be useful and recent studies suggest that the new anticonvulsants could be effcient. The patient should be informed about CBS as a . In the case reported, the patient presented complex hallucinations with normal SPECT and neuropsychological examinations. The patient did not respond to treatment with risperidone, presenting a favorable evolucion with valpromide. Although further research is needed, this case report supports the efficacy of valpromide in CBS.

Cutaneous and systematic metastasis of testicular choriocarcinoma: Case report and literature review.

PubMed

Weijin, Fu; Jinjin, Zeng; Jiwen, Cheng

2018-06-01

Cutaneous metastasis of testicular choriocarcinoma is exceptionally uncommon. To our knowledge, only 14 cases have been reported in the past 10 years in the pubmed. We have an uncommon case of testicular choriocarcinoma who has metastasized to the adjacent skin and organ systems. An 18-year-old male was diagnosed with initial presentation of cutaneous mass at the left back. Followly,biopsy was performed under local anesthesia.Histopathological examination was consistent with the diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma. The histopathological assessment of the biopsied tissue, in combination with elevated serum β-HCG levels and presentation of testicular mass, indicated primary testicular choriocarcinoma with cutaneous and systemic metastasis. Subsequently radical orchiectomy was performed. Despite the case completed one cycle of cisplatin-based regimen chemotherapy, he died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome 2 months after surgery. In this report, cutaneous metastasis with testicular choriocarcinoma is extremely rare. It is important to recognize that this unusual variant of testicular choriocarcinoma has the potential to behave aggressively and to metastasize.

The Asthma Mobile Health Study, a large-scale clinical observational study using ResearchKit

PubMed Central

Chan, Yu-Feng Yvonne; Wang, Pei; Rogers, Linda; Tignor, Nicole; Zweig, Micol; Hershman, Steven G; Genes, Nicholas; Scott, Erick R; Krock, Eric; Badgeley, Marcus; Edgar, Ron; Violante, Samantha; Wright, Rosalind; Powell, Charles A; Dudley, Joel T; Schadt, Eric E

2017-01-01

The feasibility of using mobile health applications to conduct observational clinical studies requires rigorous validation. Here, we report initial findings from the Asthma Mobile Health Study, a research study, including recruitment, consent, and enrollment, conducted entirely remotely by smartphone. We achieved secure bidirectional data flow between investigators and 7,593 participants from across the United States, including many with severe asthma. Our platform enabled prospective collection of longitudinal, multidimensional data (e.g., surveys, devices, geolocation, and air quality) in a subset of users over the 6-month study period. Consistent trending and correlation of interrelated variables support the quality of data obtained via this method. We detected increased reporting of asthma symptoms in regions affected by heat, pollen, and wildfires. Potential challenges with this technology include selection bias, low retention rates, reporting bias, and data security. These issues require attention to realize the full potential of mobile platforms in research and patient care. PMID:28288104

Accident sequence precursor events with age-related contributors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Murphy, G.A.; Kohn, W.E.

1995-12-31

The Accident Sequence Precursor (ASP) Program at ORNL analyzed about 14.000 Licensee Event Reports (LERs) filed by US nuclear power plants 1987--1993. There were 193 events identified as precursors to potential severe core accident sequences. These are reported in G/CR-4674. Volumes 7 through 20. Under the NRC Nuclear Plant Aging Research program, the authors evaluated these events to determine the extent to which component aging played a role. Events were selected that involved age-related equipment degradation that initiated an event or contributed to an event sequence. For the 7-year period, ORNL identified 36 events that involved aging degradation as amore » contributor to an ASP event. Except for 1992, the percentage of age-related events within the total number of ASP events over the 7-year period ({approximately}19%) appears fairly consistent up to 1991. No correlation between plant ape and number of precursor events was found. A summary list of the age-related events is presented in the report.« less

Information Management System Supporting a Multiple Property Survey Program with Legacy Radioactive Contamination.

PubMed

Stager, Ron; Chambers, Douglas; Wiatzka, Gerd; Dupre, Monica; Callough, Micah; Benson, John; Santiago, Erwin; van Veen, Walter

2017-04-01

The Port Hope Area Initiative is a project mandated and funded by the Government of Canada to remediate properties with legacy low-level radioactive waste contamination in the Town of Port Hope, Ontario. The management and use of large amounts of data from surveys of some 4800 properties is a significant task critical to the success of the project. A large amount of information is generated through the surveys, including scheduling individual field visits to the properties, capture of field data laboratory sample tracking, QA/QC, property report generation and project management reporting. Web-mapping tools were used to track and display temporal progress of various tasks and facilitated consideration of spatial associations of contamination levels. The IM system facilitated the management and integrity of the large amounts of information collected, evaluation of spatial associations, automated report reproduction and consistent application and traceable execution for this project.x. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Setting and changing feature priorities in visual short-term memory.

PubMed

Kalogeropoulou, Zampeta; Jagadeesh, Akshay V; Ohl, Sven; Rolfs, Martin

2017-04-01

Many everyday tasks require prioritizing some visual features over competing ones, both during the selection from the rich sensory input and while maintaining information in visual short-term memory (VSTM). Here, we show that observers can change priorities in VSTM when, initially, they attended to a different feature. Observers reported from memory the orientation of one of two spatially interspersed groups of black and white gratings. Using colored pre-cues (presented before stimulus onset) and retro-cues (presented after stimulus offset) predicting the to-be-reported group, we manipulated observers' feature priorities independently during stimulus encoding and maintenance, respectively. Valid pre-cues reliably increased observers' performance (reduced guessing, increased report precision) as compared to neutral ones; invalid pre-cues had the opposite effect. Valid retro-cues also consistently improved performance (by reducing random guesses), even if the unexpected group suddenly became relevant (invalid-valid condition). Thus, feature-based attention can reshape priorities in VSTM protecting information that would otherwise be forgotten.

Mental health care treatment initiation when mental health services are incorporated into primary care practice.

PubMed

Kessler, Rodger

2012-01-01

Most primary care patients with mental health issues are identified or treated in primary care rather than the specialty mental health system. Primary care physicians report that their patients do not have access to needed mental health care. When referrals are made to the specialty behavioral or mental health care system, rates of patients who initiate treatment are low. Collaborative care models, with mental health clinicians as part of the primary care medical staff, have been suggested as an alternative. The aim of this study is to examine rates of treatment startup in 2 collaborative care settings: a rural family medicine office and a suburban internal medicine office. In both practices referrals for mental health services are made within the practice. Referral data were drawn from 2 convenience samples of patients referred by primary care physicians for collaborative mental health treatment at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Vermont. The first sample consisted of 93 consecutively scheduled referrals in a family medicine office (sample A) between January 2006 and December 2007. The second sample consisted of 215 consecutive scheduled referrals at an internal medicine office (sample B) between January 2009 and December 2009. Referral data identified age, sex, and presenting mental health/medical problem. In sample A, 95.5% of those patients scheduling appointments began behavioral health treatment; in sample B this percentage was 82%. In sample B, 69% of all patients initially referred for mental health care both scheduled and initiated treatment. When referred to a mental health clinician who provides on-site access as part of a primary care mental health collaborative care model, a high percentage of patients referred scheduled care. Furthermore, of those who scheduled care, a high percentage of patients attend the scheduled appointment. Findings persist despite differences in practice type, populations, locations, and time frames of data collection. That the findings persist across the different offices suggests that this model of care may contain elements that improve the longstanding problem of poor treatment initiation rates when primary care physicians refer patients for outpatient behavioral health services.

Canadian Consensus-based and Evidence-based Guidelines for Benign Endometrial Pathology Reporting in Biopsy Material.

PubMed

Parra-Herran, Carlos; Cesari, Matthew; Djordjevic, Bojana; Grondin, Katherine; Kinloch, Mary; Köbel, Martin; Pirzada, Amrah; Plotkin, Anna; Gilks, C Blake

2018-04-19

Standardized terminology has proven benefits in cancer reporting; in contrast, reporting of benign diagnoses in endometrial biopsy currently lacks such standardization. Unification and update on the lexicon can provide the structure and consistency needed for optimal patient care and quality assurance purposes. The Special Interest Group in Gynecologic Pathology of the Canadian Association of Pathologists-Association Canadienne des Pathologistes (CAP-ACP) embarked in an initiative to address the current need for consensus terminology in benign endometrial biopsy pathology reporting. Nine members of the Special Interest Group developed a guideline for structured diagnosis of benign endometrial pathology through critical appraisal of the available peer-reviewed literature and joint discussions. The first version of the document was circulated for feedback to a group of professionals in akin fields, the CAP-ACP Executive Committee and the CAP-ACP general membership. The final 1-page document included 17 diagnostic terms comprising the most common benign endometrial entities, as well as explanatory notes for pathologists. The proposed terminology was implemented in the practice of 5 pathologists from the group, who applied the guideline to all benign endometrial biopsies over a 2-wk period. A total of 212 benign endometrial biopsies were evaluated in this implementation step; the recommended terminology adequately covered the diagnosis in 203 cases (95.8%). A list of terminology for benign endometrial biopsy reporting, based on expert consensus and critical appraisal of the available literature, is presented. On the basis of our results of implementation at multiple centers, the proposed guideline can successfully cover the large majority of diagnostic scenarios. The document has the potential to positively impact patient care, promote quality assurance, and facilitate research initiatives aimed at improving histopathologic assessment of benign endometrium.

An educational approach to improve outcomes in acute kidney injury (AKI): report of a quality improvement project.

PubMed

Xu, Gang; Baines, Richard; Westacott, Rachel; Selby, Nick; Carr, Susan

2014-03-20

To assess the impact of a quality improvement project that used a multifaceted educational intervention on how to improve clinician's knowledge, confidence and awareness of acute kidney injury (AKI). 2 large acute teaching hospitals in England, serving a combined population of over 1.5 million people. All secondary care clinicians working in the clinical areas were targeted, with a specific focus on clinicians working in acute admission areas. A multifaceted educational intervention consisting of traditional didactic lectures, case-based teaching in small groups and an interactive web-based learning resource. We assessed clinicians' knowledge of AKI and their self-reported clinical behaviour using an interactive questionnaire before and after the educational intervention. Secondary outcome measures included clinical audit of patient notes before and after the intervention. 26% of clinicians reported that they were aware of local AKI guidelines in the preintervention questionnaire compared to 64% in the follow-up questionnaire (χ²=60.2, p<0.001). There was an improvement in the number of clinicians reporting satisfactory practice when diagnosing AKI, 50% vs 68% (χ²=12.1, p<0.001) and investigating patients with AKI, 48% vs 64% (χ²=9.5, p=0.002). Clinical audit makers showed a trend towards better clinical practice. This quality improvement project utilising a multifaceted educational intervention improved awareness of AKI as demonstrated by changes in the clinician's self-reported management of patients with AKI. Elements of the project have been sustained beyond the project period, and demonstrate the power of quality improvement projects to help initiate changes in practice. Our findings are limited by confounding factors and highlight the need to carry out formal randomised studies to determine the impact of educational initiatives in the clinical setting.

Novel treatment using topical malachite green for nasal phaeohyphomycosis caused by a new Cladophialophora species in a cat

PubMed Central

Brooks, Ian J; Walton, Stuart A; Shmalberg, Justin; Harris, Autumn

2018-01-01

Case summary A 1.5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2 month history of progressive nasal swelling and hyporexia. Minimal improvement prior to referral was achieved with a course of antibiotics and glucocorticoids. Cytology of an ulcerative lesion on the dorsal aspect of the nose was consistent with a diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis. The cat achieved static disease for 6 weeks following initiation of itraconazole but developed epistaxis at 9 weeks. CT of the head demonstrated nasal and frontal sinus involvement. Nasal biopsy and culture identified infection with a Cladophialophora species not previously reported to cause disease. Initial response to a combination of itraconazole and terbinafine was noted, but owing to severe thrombocytopenia this combination was discontinued. Voriconazole was used but discontinued because of adverse side effects. Posaconazole treatment was offered throughout the clinical course but rejected owing to financial constraints and an uncertain response to medical therapy. Rhinotomy with debulking of diseased tissue and topical malachite green treatment was performed. Following the procedure itraconazole was continued and the cat has had no recurrence for over 1 year. Relevance and novel information Infections by Cladophialophora species have been reported in veterinary species, including cats. The specific fungal organism isolated from this cat has not been previously reported to cause disease in humans or animals and has only been described in the mangroves of Brazil. Furthermore, this is the first report to describe the use of topical malachite green as a treatment for refractory phaeohyphomycosis. PMID:29854413

Should tsunami models use a nonzero initial condition for horizontal velocity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nava, G.; Lotto, G. C.; Dunham, E. M.

2017-12-01

Tsunami propagation in the open ocean is most commonly modeled by solving the shallow water wave equations. These equations require two initial conditions: one on sea surface height and another on depth-averaged horizontal particle velocity or, equivalently, horizontal momentum. While most modelers assume that initial velocity is zero, Y.T. Song and collaborators have argued for nonzero initial velocity, claiming that horizontal displacement of a sloping seafloor imparts significant horizontal momentum to the ocean. They show examples in which this effect increases the resulting tsunami height by a factor of two or more relative to models in which initial velocity is zero. We test this claim with a "full-physics" integrated dynamic rupture and tsunami model that couples the elastic response of the Earth to the linearized acoustic-gravitational response of a compressible ocean with gravity; the model self-consistently accounts for seismic waves in the solid Earth, acoustic waves in the ocean, and tsunamis (with dispersion at short wavelengths). We run several full-physics simulations of subduction zone megathrust ruptures and tsunamis in geometries with a sloping seafloor, using both idealized structures and a more realistic Tohoku structure. Substantial horizontal momentum is imparted to the ocean, but almost all momentum is carried away in the form of ocean acoustic waves. We compare tsunami propagation in each full-physics simulation to that predicted by an equivalent shallow water wave simulation with varying assumptions regarding initial conditions. We find that the initial horizontal velocity conditions proposed by Song and collaborators consistently overestimate the tsunami amplitude and predict an inconsistent wave profile. Finally, we determine tsunami initial conditions that are rigorously consistent with our full-physics simulations by isolating the tsunami waves (from ocean acoustic and seismic waves) at some final time, and backpropagating the tsunami waves to their initial state by solving the adjoint problem. The resulting initial conditions have negligible horizontal velocity.

Osteoclast fusion is initiated by a small subset of RANKL-stimulated monocyte progenitors, which can fuse to RANKL-unstimulated progenitors.

PubMed

Levaot, Noam; Ottolenghi, Aner; Mann, Mati; Guterman-Ram, Gali; Kam, Zvi; Geiger, Benjamin

2015-10-01

Osteoclasts are multinucleated, bone-resorbing cells formed via fusion of monocyte progenitors, a process triggered by prolonged stimulation with RANKL, the osteoclast master regulator cytokine. Monocyte fusion into osteoclasts has been shown to play a key role in bone remodeling and homeostasis; therefore, aberrant fusion may be involved in a variety of bone diseases. Indeed, research in the last decade has led to the discovery of genes regulating osteoclast fusion; yet the basic cellular regulatory mechanism underlying the fusion process is poorly understood. Here, we applied a novel approach for tracking the fusion processes, using live-cell imaging of RANKL-stimulated and non-stimulated progenitor monocytes differentially expressing dsRED or GFP, respectively. We show that osteoclast fusion is initiated by a small (~2.4%) subset of precursors, termed "fusion founders", capable of fusing either with other founders or with non-stimulated progenitors (fusion followers), which alone, are unable to initiate fusion. Careful examination indicates that the fusion between a founder and a follower cell consists of two distinct phases: an initial pairing of the two cells, typically lasting 5-35 min, during which the cells nevertheless maintain their initial morphology; and the fusion event itself. Interestingly, during the initial pre-fusion phase, a transfer of the fluorescent reporter proteins from nucleus to nucleus was noticed, suggesting crosstalk between the founder and follower progenitors via the cytoplasm that might directly affect the fusion process, as well as overall transcriptional regulation in the developing heterokaryon. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of utility generic functional requirements for electronic work packages and computer-based procedures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oxstrand, Johanna

The Nuclear Electronic Work Packages - Enterprise Requirements (NEWPER) initiative is a step toward a vision of implementing an eWP framework that includes many types of eWPs. This will enable immediate paper-related cost savings in work management and provide a path to future labor efficiency gains through enhanced integration and process improvement in support of the Nuclear Promise (Nuclear Energy Institute 2016). The NEWPER initiative was organized by the Nuclear Information Technology Strategic Leadership (NITSL) group, which is an organization that brings together leaders from the nuclear utility industry and regulatory agencies to address issues involved with information technology usedmore » in nuclear-power utilities. NITSL strives to maintain awareness of industry information technology-related initiatives and events and communicates those events to its membership. NITSL and LWRS Program researchers have been coordinating activities, including joint organization of NEWPER-related meetings and report development. The main goal of the NEWPER initiative was to develop a set of utility generic functional requirements for eWP systems. This set of requirements will support each utility in their process of identifying plant-specific functional and non-functional requirements. The NEWPER initiative has 140 members where the largest group of members consists of 19 commercial U.S. nuclear utilities and eleven of the most prominent vendors of eWP solutions. Through the NEWPER initiative two sets of functional requirements were developed; functional requirements for electronic work packages and functional requirements for computer-based procedures. This paper will describe the development process as well as a summary of the requirements.« less

Collecting outcome data of a text messaging smoking cessation intervention with in-program text assessments: How reliable are the results?

PubMed

Thrul, Johannes; Mendel, Judith A; Simmens, Samuel J; Abroms, Lorien C

2018-05-18

Text messaging interventions have shown promise in helping people quit smoking. Texting programs periodically survey participants about their smoking status. This study examined the consistency of participant self-reported smoking between external surveys and internal program text message assessments. Participants in Text2Quit program were surveyed about their past 7-day smoking at one, three, and six months post-enrollment using different survey modes (external surveys and internal program text message assessments) and responses were compared for consistency. The first set of analyses was conducted for participants responding on both modes (n = 45 at one month; n = 50 at three months; n = 42 at six months). Additional analyses, assuming missing = smoking, were conducted with the full sample of 262 smokers (68.7% female, mean age = 35.8 years) and compared to saliva-confirmed abstinence rates. Participants responding to both modes consistently reported smoking status at one (88.9%), three (88.0%) and six (88.1%) months post-enrollment, with fair to substantial levels of agreement (one month: κ = 0.24; three months: κ = 0.63; six months: κ = 0.66). Participants responding to both modes reported high rates of abstinence. In missing = smoking analyses, significant differences in abstinence rates reported across modes were detected at each timepoint (one month: external = 30.5%, internal = 16.4%; three months: external = 33.2%, internal = 16.0%; six months: external = 31.7%, internal = 12.2%; all p < .001). Moderate levels of agreement were found between the two modes. At 6 months, abstinence rates obtained via internal data were closer to those biochemically verified (15.7%) compared to external surveys. Results provide initial support for the use of internal program assessments in text messaging programs with missing = smoking assumptions in order to gather outcome data on smoking behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Initial development and preliminary validation of a new negative symptom measure: the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS).

PubMed

Forbes, Courtney; Blanchard, Jack J; Bennett, Melanie; Horan, William P; Kring, Ann; Gur, Raquel

2010-12-01

As part of an ongoing scale development process, this study provides an initial examination of the psychometric properties and validity of a new interview-based negative symptom instrument, the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 37). The scale was designed to address limitations of existing measures and to comprehensively assess five consensus-based negative symptoms: asociality, avolition, anhedonia (consummatory and anticipatory), affective flattening, and alogia. Results indicated satisfactory internal consistency reliability for the total CAINS scale score and promising inter-rater agreement, with clear areas identified in need of improvement. Convergent validity was evident in general agreement between the CAINS and alternative negative symptom measures. Further, CAINS subscales significantly correlated with relevant self-report emotional experience measures as well as with social functioning. Discriminant validity of the CAINS was strongly supported by its small, non-significant relations with positive symptoms, general psychiatric symptoms, and depression. These preliminary data on an early beta-version of the CAINS provide initial support for this new assessment approach to negative symptoms and suggest directions for further scale development. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorylation of a Tyrosine Residue on Zap70 by Lck and Its Subsequent Binding via an SH2 Domain May Be a Key Gatekeeper of T Cell Receptor Signaling In Vivo.

PubMed

Thill, Peter A; Weiss, Arthur; Chakraborty, Arup K

2016-09-15

The initiation of signaling in T lymphocytes in response to the binding of the T cell receptor (TCR) to cognate ligands is a key step in the emergence of adaptive immune responses. Conventional models posit that TCR signaling is initiated by the phosphorylation of receptor-associated immune receptor activation motifs (ITAMs). The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase Zap70 binds to phosphorylated ITAMs, is subsequently activated, and then propagates downstream signaling. While evidence for such models is provided by experiments with cell lines, in vivo, Zap70 is bound to phosphorylated ITAMs in resting T cells. However, Zap70 is activated only upon TCR binding to cognate ligand. We report the results of computational studies of a new model for the initiation of TCR signaling that incorporates these in vivo observations. Importantly, the new model is shown to allow better and faster TCR discrimination between self-ligands and foreign ligands. The new model is consistent with many past experimental observations, and experiments that could further test the model are proposed. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The use of theory based semistructured elicitation questionnaires: formative research for CDC's Prevention Marketing Initiative.

PubMed Central

Middlestadt, S E; Bhattacharyya, K; Rosenbaum, J; Fishbein, M; Shepherd, M

1996-01-01

Through one of its many HIV prevention programs, the Prevention Marketing Initiative, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes a multifaceted strategy for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among people less than 25 years of age. The Prevention Marketing Initiative is an application of marketing and consumer-oriented technologies that rely heavily on behavioral research and behavior change theories to bring the behavioral and social sciences to bear on practical program planning decisions. One objective of the Prevention Marketing Initiative is to encourage consistent and correct condom use among sexually active young adults. Qualitative formative research is being conducted in several segments of the population of heterosexually active, unmarried young adults between 18 and 25 using a semistructured elicitation procedure to identify and understand underlying behavioral determinants of consistent condom use. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of this type of qualitative research methodology in designing effective theory-based behavior change interventions. Issues of research design and data collection and analysis are discussed. To illustrate the methodology, results of content analyses of selected responses to open-ended questions on consistent condom use are presented by gender (male, female), ethnic group (white, African American), and consistency of condom use (always, sometimes). This type of formative research can be applied immediately to designing programs and is invaluable for valid and relevant larger-scale quantitative research. PMID:8862153

The use of theory based semistructured elicitation questionnaires: formative research for CDC's Prevention Marketing Initiative.

PubMed

Middlestadt, S E; Bhattacharyya, K; Rosenbaum, J; Fishbein, M; Shepherd, M

1996-01-01

Through one of its many HIV prevention programs, the Prevention Marketing Initiative, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes a multifaceted strategy for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among people less than 25 years of age. The Prevention Marketing Initiative is an application of marketing and consumer-oriented technologies that rely heavily on behavioral research and behavior change theories to bring the behavioral and social sciences to bear on practical program planning decisions. One objective of the Prevention Marketing Initiative is to encourage consistent and correct condom use among sexually active young adults. Qualitative formative research is being conducted in several segments of the population of heterosexually active, unmarried young adults between 18 and 25 using a semistructured elicitation procedure to identify and understand underlying behavioral determinants of consistent condom use. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of this type of qualitative research methodology in designing effective theory-based behavior change interventions. Issues of research design and data collection and analysis are discussed. To illustrate the methodology, results of content analyses of selected responses to open-ended questions on consistent condom use are presented by gender (male, female), ethnic group (white, African American), and consistency of condom use (always, sometimes). This type of formative research can be applied immediately to designing programs and is invaluable for valid and relevant larger-scale quantitative research.

Differential uptake of recent Papanicolaou testing by HPV vaccination status among young women in the United States, 2008-2013.

PubMed

Sauer, Ann Goding; Jemal, Ahmedin; Simard, Edgar P; Fedewa, Stacey A

2015-08-01

A positive association between recent Papanicolaou (Pap) test uptake and initiation of HPV vaccination among U.S. women has been reported. However, it is unknown whether recent Pap testing by HPV vaccination status varies by race/ethnicity. Discerning racial/ethnic variations is important given the higher prevalence of HPV types other than 16 and 18 in some racial/ethnic groups. We assessed whether uptake of recent Pap testing differed among women aged 21-30 years who had not initiated the HPV vaccination series versus those who had and whether this pattern differed by sociodemographic factors. 2008, 2010, and 2013 National Health Interview Survey data were used to generate weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (n=7095). Adjusted predicted marginal models were used to generate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to assess the relationship between recent Pap test uptake and HPV vaccination series initiation by race/ethnicity. The uptake of recent Pap testing among those who had not initiated the HPV vaccination series was significantly lower (81.0%) compared to those who had initiated vaccination (90.5%) (aPR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.90-0.96). This finding was consistent across most sociodemographic factors, though not statistically significant for Blacks, Hispanics, those with lower levels of education, or those with higher levels of income. Young women who had not initiated HPV vaccination were less likely to have had a recent Pap test compared to women who had initiated vaccination. Concerted efforts are needed to increase uptake of recommended cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination among young women. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.