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Impact of education on physician attitudes toward computed tomography utilization and consent.
Michael R. Greenberg, Ph.D. - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:00
Impact of education on physician attitudes toward computed tomography utilization and consent.
J Emerg Med. 2012 Nov;43(5):e349-53
Authors: Weigner MB, Dewar KM, Basham HF, Rupp VA, Greenberg MR
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are risks to ordering computed tomography (CT) scans.
OBJECTIVE: We set out to determine whether emergency physician attitudes and their predictions of CT ordering behaviors could be influenced by education.
METHODS: We surveyed emergency physicians at a Level I trauma center with a yearly census of 74,000. Physicians were given a baseline survey that encompassed demographics, attitudes toward CT informed consent, and ordering behaviors. After receiving an education session regarding CT risks, each participant received a follow-up survey. Data analysis was performed using frequencies and chi-squared.
RESULTS: Seventy-five physicians participated; 69% residents and 31% attendings; 34% were female and 66% male. Thirteen percent reported they did not know if informed consent was required for CT scans obtained in the Emergency Department. Pre-education, 89% reported sometimes ordering a CT scan due to a consultant request that they felt was not indicated, and 92% reported that they sometimes ordered a CT scan to appease a patient or family. Eighty-five percent reported that they sometimes ordered a CT scan defensively due to malpractice risk. After education, physicians were more likely to believe a patient should give informed consent before CT (p<0.01) and predicted that they would be more likely to discuss the risks/benefits of CT with their patients all of the time (p=0.001).
CONCLUSION: After education about the risks of CT utilization, emergency physicians were more likely to believe that patients should give informed consent before CT scan and predicted that they would be more likely to discuss the risks and benefits of CT with their patients.
PMID: 22326405 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
Inter-conversion of Chromium Species During Air Sampling: Effects of O3, NO2, SO2, Particle Matrices, Temperature and Humidity.
Paul J. Lioy, Ph.D. - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:00
Inter-conversion of Chromium Species During Air Sampling: Effects of O3, NO2, SO2, Particle Matrices, Temperature and Humidity.
Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Apr 3;
Authors: Huang L, Fan ZT, Yu CH, Hopke PK, Lioy PJ, Buckley B, Lin L, Ma Y
Abstract
The inter-conversion between Cr(VI), a pulmonary carcinogen, and Cr(III), an essential human nutrient, poses challenges to the measurement of Cr(VI) in airborne particles. Chamber and field tests were conducted to identify the factors affecting Cr(VI)-Cr(III) inter-conversion in the basic filter medium under typical sampling conditions. In the chamber tests, isotopically enriched 53Cr(VI) and 50Cr(III) were spiked on diesel particulate matter (DPM) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) that were pre-collected on a basic MCE filter. The filter samples were then exposed to clean air or the air containing SO2 (50 and 160 ppb), 100 ppb O3, or 150 ppb NO2 for 24 hours at 16.7 LPM flow rate at designated temperature (20 and 31ºC) and RH (40% and 70%) conditions. Exposure to 160 ppb SO2 had the greatest effect on 53Cr(VI) reduction, with 53Cr(VI) recovery of 31.7 ± 15.8% (DPM) and 42.0 ± 7.9% (SOA). DPM and SOA matrix induced 53Cr(VI) reduction when exposed to clean air while reactive oxygen species in SOA could promote 50Cr(III) oxidation. Deliquescence when RH increased from 40% to 70% led to conversion of Cr(III) in SOA, whereas oxidized organics in DPM and SOA enhanced hygroscopicity and thus facilitated Cr(VI) reduction. Field tests showed seasonal variation of Cr(VI)-Cr(III) inter-conversion during sampling. Correction of the inter-conversion using USEPA method 6800 is recommended to improve accuracy of ambient Cr(VI) measurements.
PMID: 23550818 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
Sulfur mustard induces an endoplasmic reticulum stress response in the mouse ear vesicant model.
Jeffrey D. Laskin, Ph.D. - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:00
Sulfur mustard induces an endoplasmic reticulum stress response in the mouse ear vesicant model.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2013 Apr 15;268(2):178-87
Authors: Chang YC, Wang JD, Svoboda KK, Casillas RP, Laskin JD, Gordon MK, Gerecke DR
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is a cell survival pathway upregulated when cells are under severe stress. Severely damaged mouse ear skin exposed to the vesicant, sulfur mustard (bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide, SM), resulted in increased expression of ER chaperone proteins that accompany misfolded and incorrectly made proteins targeted for degradation. Time course studies with SM using the mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM) showed progressive histopathologic changes including edema, separation of the epidermis from the dermis, persistent inflammation, upregulation of laminin γ2 (one of the chains of laminin-332, a heterotrimeric skin glycoprotein required for wound repair), and delayed wound healing from 24h to 168h post exposure. This was associated with time related increased expression of the cell survival ER stress marker, GRP78/BiP, and the ER stress apoptosis marker, GADD153/CHOP, suggesting simultaneous activation of both cell survival and non-mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Dual immunofluorescence labeling of a keratinocyte migration promoting protein, laminin γ2 and GRP78/BIP, showed colocalization of the two molecules 72h post exposure indicating that the laminin γ2 was misfolded after SM exposure and trapped within the ER. Taken together, these data show that ER stress is induced in mouse skin within 24h of vesicant exposure in a defensive response to promote cell survival; however, it appears that this response is rapidly overwhelmed by the apoptotic pathway as a consequence of severe SM-induced injury.
PMID: 23357548 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
The World Health Organization (WHO) Recommends Vaccine Composition for the 2011-2012 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season
PandemicFlu.gov - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:00
The World Health Organization (WHO) Recommends Vaccine Composition for the 2011-2012 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season
Categories: Government Agency News
UK: Soldier Dead After Terror Attack
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 13:07
A man reported to be a serving soldier is dead and two people have been shot in Woolwich, south east London, after what Sky sources understand is being treated as a terrorist attack. Downing Street has called a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee after the incident in John Wilson Street, which David Cameron [...]
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UK: Soldier Dead After Terror Attack
Categories: Homeland Security News
North Carolina man pleads to buying gun for terrorist jihad
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 09:07
A North Carolina man who the FBI says spoke of killing U.S. Army soldiers as part of a personal jihad has pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm. The man admitted guilt Tuesday in U.S. District Court as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. The terms of the agreement have not been made [...]
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North Carolina man pleads to buying gun for terrorist jihad
Categories: Homeland Security News
Saudi with pressure cooker in baggage seeks bond
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 09:01
A Saudi man arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after allegedly lying about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker asked to be released on bond Monday. Hussain Al Khawahir, 33, was arrested May 11 by federal agents at the airport in Romulus, Mich., and charged with giving false statements to federal agents and possessing [...]
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Saudi with pressure cooker in baggage seeks bond
Categories: Homeland Security News
Russia Claims to Have Foiled Possible Terror Act – ABC News
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 08:47
Russia’s counterterrorism agency said Monday that its special forces killed two militants and detained a third believed to have been planning a terrorist act in Moscow. A spokesman for the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, known as NAK, said on state television that the militants were Russian citizens who had received training along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. They [...]
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Russia Claims to Have Foiled Possible Terror Act – ABC News
Categories: Homeland Security News
Watertown: Marathon Bombing Investigators Ask What Attracted Terror Suspects to Boston Suburb – ABC News
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 08:46
Among the many unanswered questions about the two Tsarnaev brothers accused of the Boston Marathon bombing is why, days after the attack, they were heading to the suburb of Watertown and its manicured lawns and tulips when police picked up their trail and began a chase. Investigators want to know what drew the accused bombers [...]
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Watertown: Marathon Bombing Investigators Ask What Attracted Terror Suspects to Boston Suburb – ABC News
Categories: Homeland Security News
Man fatally shot by FBI agent knew Boston bombing suspect, friend says
Homeland Security News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 08:29
A man who was fatally shot by an FBI agent in Florida knew one of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, a friend of the victim said Wednesday. FBI Agent Dave Couvertier said in a statement that an unidentified agent encountered Ibragim Todashev, of Orlando, while conducting official duties.”The suspect is deceased,” the statement [...]
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Man fatally shot by FBI agent knew Boston bombing suspect, friend says
Categories: Homeland Security News
Posttraumatic stress disorder in parents and youth after health-related disasters
Environmental/Disaster News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 02:00
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Increased incidence of escherichia coli bacteremia post-christchurch earthquake 2011: possible associations
Environmental/Disaster News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 02:00
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
External factors impacting hospital evacuations caused by hurricane rita: the role of situational awareness
Environmental/Disaster News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 02:00
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
Impact of the christchurch earthquakes on hospital staff
Environmental/Disaster News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 02:00
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
The impact of recurrent disasters on mental health: a study on seasonal floods in Northern India
Environmental/Disaster News - Wed, 05/22/2013 - 02:00
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
NEW: Public Health Matters Blog - Do 1 Thing: Work, School, and Community
CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response - Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:00
Disasters don't run on schedule, they can happen anywhere and at any time. Do you know what you would do if a disaster occurred while you were at work or school? This months Do 1 Thing tip is to focused on work, school and community. Read our latest blog post to learn what you can do to be ready.
Categories: Government Agency News
CO adsorption and desorption on size-selected Pd(n)∕TiO(2)(110) model catalysts: Size dependence of binding sites and energies, and support-mediated adsorption.
Fred S. Roberts, Ph.D. - Tue, 05/21/2013 - 02:00
CO adsorption and desorption on size-selected Pd(n)∕TiO(2)(110) model catalysts: Size dependence of binding sites and energies, and support-mediated adsorption.
J Chem Phys. 2012 May 28;136(20):204705
Authors: Kaden WE, Kunkel WA, Roberts FS, Kane M, Anderson SL
Abstract
The nature of CO adsorption on Pd(n)∕TiO(2)(110) (n = 1, 2, 7, 20) has been examined using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), temperature-dependent helium ion scattering (TD-ISS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All samples contain the same number of Pd atoms (0.10 ML-equivalent) deposited as different size clusters. The TPD and TD-ISS show that CO binds in two types of sites associated with the Pd clusters. The most stable sites are on top of the Pd clusters ("on-top" sites), however, there are also less stable sites, in which CO is bound in association with, but not on top of the Pd ("peripheral" sites). For saturation CO coverage over a fixed atomic concentration of Pd (present in the form of Pd(n) clusters of varying size), the population of CO in peripheral sites decreases with increasing cluster size, while the on-top site population is size-independent. This is consistent with what geometric considerations would predict for the density of the two types of sites, provided the clusters adsorb predominantly as 2D islands, which ISS results suggest to be the case. The XPS analysis indicates that CO-Pd binding is dominated by π-backbonding to the Pd(n) clusters. The results also show evidence for efficient support-mediated adsorption (reverse-spillover) of CO initially impinging on TiO(2) to binding sites associated with the Pd clusters.
PMID: 22667579 [PubMed - in process]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
Size-dependent oxygen activation efficiency over Pd(n)/TiO2(110) for the CO oxidation reaction.
Fred S. Roberts, Ph.D. - Tue, 05/21/2013 - 02:00
Size-dependent oxygen activation efficiency over Pd(n)/TiO2(110) for the CO oxidation reaction.
J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Sep 29;132(38):13097-9
Authors: Kaden WE, Kunkel WA, Kane MD, Roberts FS, Anderson SL
Abstract
The dissociative binding efficiency of oxygen over Pd(n)/TiO(2)(110) (n = 4, 7, 10, 20) has been measured using temperature programmed reaction (TPR) mass spectrometry and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) following exposure to O(2) with varying doses and dose temperatures. Experiments were carried out following two different O(2) exposures at 400 K (10 L and 50 L) and for 10 L of O(2) exposure at varying temperatures (T(surf) = 200, 300, and 400 K). During TPR taken after sequential O(2) and CO (5 L at 180 K) exposures, unreacted CO is found to desorb in three features at T(desorb) ≈ 150, 200, and 430 K, while CO(2) is observed to desorb between 170 and 450 K. We show that Pd(20) has exceptionally high efficiency for oxygen activation, compared to other cluster sizes. As a consequence, its activity becomes limited by competitive CO binding at low O(2) exposures, while other Pd(n) sizes are still limited by inefficient O(2) activation. This difference in mechanism can ultimately be related back to differences in electronic properties, thus making this question one that is interesting from the theoretical perspective. We also demonstrate a correlation between one of the two CO binding sites and CO(2) production, suggesting that only CO in that site is reactive.
PMID: 20809570 [PubMed]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
Digital biology: an emerging and promising discipline.
Fred S. Roberts, Ph.D. - Tue, 05/21/2013 - 02:00
Digital biology: an emerging and promising discipline.
Trends Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):113-7
Authors: Morris RW, Bean CA, Farber GK, Gallahan D, Jakobsson E, Liu Y, Lyster PM, Peng GC, Roberts FS, Twery M, Whitmarsh J, Skinner K
Abstract
This article examines the role of computation and quantitative methods in modern biomedical research to identify emerging scientific, technical, policy and organizational trends. It identifies common concerns and practices in the emerging community of computationally-oriented bio-scientists by reviewing a national symposium, Digital Biology: the Emerging Paradigm, held at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, November 6th and 7th 2003. This meeting showed how biomedical computing promises scientific breakthroughs that will yield significant health benefits. Three key areas that define the emerging discipline of digital biology are: scientific data integration, multi-scale modeling and networked science. Each area faces unique technical challenges and information policy issues that must be addressed as the field matures. Here we summarize the emergent challenges and offer suggestions to academia, industry and government on how best to expand the role of computation in their scientific activities.
PMID: 15734552 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
Consensus functions and patterns in molecular sequences.
Fred S. Roberts, Ph.D. - Tue, 05/21/2013 - 02:00
Consensus functions and patterns in molecular sequences.
Bull Math Biol. 1993;55(4):695-713
Authors: Mirkin B, Roberts FS
Abstract
In recent years, methods of consensus, developed for the solution of problems in the social sciences, have become widely used in molecular biology. We study a method of consensus originally due to Waterman et al. (Waterman, Galas and Arratis. 1984. Pattern recognition in several sequences: consensus and alignment. Bull. math. Biol. 46, 515-527) which is used to identify patterns or features in a molecular sequence where a pattern can vary in position within a given window. We show that some well-known consensus methods of the social sciences, the median and the mean, are special cases of this method for certain choices of the parameters used in it and give a precise account of the parameters for which these special cases arise. We also show that the specific parameters used in the method of Waterman et al. make their method equivalent to the media procedure which is widely used in the social sciences.
PMID: 8318927 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Categories: Publications from UCDPER Members
