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Additional Testing (additional + testing)
Selected AbstractsParticles from fires,a screening of common materials found in buildingsFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 6 2003Tommy Hertzberg Abstract Small combustion generated particles are known to have a negative impact on human health and on the environment. In spite of the huge amount of particles generated locally in a fire accident, few investigations have been made on the particles from such fires. In this article, 24 different materials or products, typically found in buildings have been exposed to burning conditions in order to examine their particle generating capacity. In addition, a carbon fibre based composite material was tested in order to investigate if asbestos-resembling particles could be generated in a fire situation. The majority of the experiments were performed in the small-scale cone calorimeter, and some further data were collected in intermediate scale (SBI) and full scale (room-corner) tests. Additional testing of the composite material was made in a small-scale tubular reactor. The amount of particles and particle size distributions were measured by the use of a low-pressure impactor and particle aerodynamic diameter sizes from 30 nm to 10 ,m were measured. The results from the project show that the yield of particles generated varied significantly between materials but that the shape of mass and number size distributions were very similar for all the materials tested. The maximum amount of particles was obtained from materials that did not burn well (e.g. flame retarded materials). Well-burning materials, e.g. wood materials, tend to oxidize all available substances and thereby minimize the amount of particles in the smoke gas. It was found that asbestos-resembling particles could be produced from under-ventilated combustion of the composite material tested. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Serological evidence of alpha herpesvirus infection in sooty mangabeysJOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2002R.D. Henkel Contact between sooty mangabeys (SMs) and a pigtailed macaque prompted the serological screening of SMs for evidence of infection with B virus. Serological tests detected SM antibodies that reacted with B virus polypeptides. Additional testing was performed with sera from SMs with no previous contact with macaques. Results from these tests indicated that 56% (33/59) of the SMs had antibodies that reacted with B virus and SA8. SM antibodies also reacted with herpesvirus papio 2 and to a lesser extent with human alpha herpesviruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2). There was an age-related increase in the presence of these antibodies in SMs that was consistent with the serological pattern of reactivity observed in other nonhuman primate species infected with alpha herpesviruses. These data suggest that SMs may be a host for a herpesvirus that is antigenically similar to those viruses present in other Old World nonhuman primates. [source] PROFESSION AND SOCIETY: Recovered Medical Error InventoryJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 3 2010DNSc, Patricia C. Dykes RN Abstract Purpose: To describe the development and psychometric testing of the Recovered Medical Error Inventory (RMEI). Design and Methods: Content analysis of structured interviews with expert critical care registered nurses (CCRNs) was used to empirically derive a 25-item RMEI. The RMEI was pilot tested with 345 CCRNs. The data set was randomly divided to use the first half for reliability testing and the second half for validation. A principal components analysis with Varimax rotation was conducted. Cronbach's alpha values were examined. A t test and Pearson correlation were used to compare scores of the two samples. Findings: The RMEI consists of 25 items and two subscales. Evidence for initial reliability includes a total scale alpha of .9 and subscale alpha coefficients of .88 (mistake) and .75 (poor judgment). Conclusions: The RMEI subscales have satisfactory internal consistency reliability and evidence for construct validity. Additional testing is warranted. Clinical Relevance: A tool to measure CCRNs' experiences with recovering medical errors allows quantification of nurse surveillance in promoting safe care and preventing unreimbursed hospital costs for treating nosocomial events. [source] Hand-Held Echocardiogram Does Not Aid in Triaging Chest Pain Patients from the Emergency DepartmentECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2009Mayank Kansal M.D. Background: Accurate triage of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with chest pain is a primary goal of the ED physician. In addition to standard clinical history and examination, a hand-held echocardiogram (HHE) may aid the emergency physician in making correct decisions. We tested the hypothesis that an HHE performed and interpreted by a cardiology fellow could help risk-stratify patients presenting to the ED with chest pain. Methods: ED physicians evaluated 36 patients presenting with cardiovascular symptoms. Patients were then dispositioned to either an intensive care bed, a monitored bed, an unmonitored bed, or home. Following disposition, an HHE was performed and interpreted by a cardiology fellow to evaluate for cardiac function and pathology. The outcomes evaluated (1) a change in the level of care and (2) additional testing ordered as a result of the HHE. Results: The HHE showed wall motion abnormalities in 31% (11 out of 36) of the studies, but the level of care did not change after HHE for any patients who presented with chest pain to the ED. No additional laboratory or imaging tests were ordered for any patients based on the results of the HHE. Eighty-six percent (31 out of 36) of the studies were of adequate quality for interpretation, and 32 out of 36 (89%) interpretations correlated with an attending overread. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of abnormal wall motion in this population, hand-held echocardiography performed in this ED setting did not aid in the risk stratification process of chest pain patients. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 26, July 2009) [source] Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition: initial validation of the Korean versionJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2009Myung-Sun Hyun Abstract Title.,Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition: initial validation of the Korean version. Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to test the validity and reliability of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition in Korean culture. Background., Depression is a significant mental health problem in adolescents. The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition has been shown to be a useful tool to assess depression in adolescents, with extensive research on this measure having been conducted in western cultures. Measures developed in western cultures need to be tested and validated before being used in Asian cultures. Method., The participants were a convenience sample of 440 Korean adolescents with a mean age of 13·78 years (sd = 0·95) from grades 7 to 9 in three public middle schools in South Korea. A cross-sectional design was used. Back-translation was used to create the Korean version, with additional testing for cultural meaning and comprehension. The data were collected at the end of 2004. Results., Internal consistency reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition was 0·89, with subscale reliability ranging from 0·66 to 0·81. Evidence for criterion-related, convergent and discriminant validity for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition was found. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 4-factor structure of Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition. Conclusion., Our results support the validity and reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale , Second Edition as a measure of depression and suggest that it can be used to screen students and to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive interventions in school settings. [source] Sonographic measurement of the fetal cerebellum, cisterna magna, and cavum septum pellucidum in normal fetuses in the second and third trimesters of pregnancyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 4 2003Selami Serhatlioglu MD Abstract Purpose Absence of the cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), the cisterna magna (CM), or both, and enlargement of either or both structures are associated with various central nervous system malformations. In an effort to determine normal sizes and relationships between these cranial structures, we measured the CSP and CM in normal fetuses in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy using transabdominal sonography. Methods Women with uncomplicated pregnancies and normal singleton fetuses between 16 and 38 weeks' menstrual age were included in this prospective study. The width and anteroposterior (AP) diameters of the CSP were measured on the transverse transventricular plane, and the AP diameter of the CM was measured on the transcerebellar plane from the posterior aspect of the cerebellar vermis to the inner edge of the cranium. The transverse and AP diameters of the cerebellum were also measured. In addition, we measured the biparietal diameters (BPDs). Results In total, 130 women participated; 64 were examined in their second trimester and 66 in their third trimester. The mean age of the women was 27.4 ± 4.8 years (range, 18,38 years), and the mean menstrual age of the fetuses was 26.9 ± 6.7 weeks (range, 16,38 weeks). The mean BPD was 66.8 ± 18.7 mm (range, 30,96 mm). The mean width and AP diameter of the CSP and the mean AP diameter of the CM differed significantly between the second and third trimesters (p < 0.001). All measured parameters correlated significantly with menstrual age and BPD. Conclusions In normal fetuses, the CSP and CM should be visible on transabdominal sonography between 16 and 38 weeks' menstrual age. Because abnormalities in these cranial structures may be indicative of central nervous system malformations, the availability of mean sonographic measurements from normal fetuses should be helpful in determining the need for additional testing in fetuses with abnormal measurements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:194,200, 2003 [source] Validation of LAB Color Mode as a Nondestructive Method to Differentiate Black Ballpoint Pen Inks,JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 4 2007Derek L. Hammond B.A. Abstract:, Nondestructive digital processing methods such as lab color mode (available in Adobe® Photoshop®) are emerging as alternative methods for forensic document examiners to use when attempting to differentiate writing instrument inks. Although these techniques appear to be viable, little data currently exists regarding the known or potential error rates associated with these techniques. Without adequate data, the validity and reliability of these techniques, including lab color, can not be established. In an attempt to begin to address these issues, 44 black ballpoint ink pens were obtained and used to create 990 pen-pair samples for analysis using established lab color mode techniques. No erroneous findings of "different" were reported following the examination of the known pen-pair combinations in which the same pen was used to create the samples (n = 44). Of the remaining 946 samples, 737 pen-pair samples were differentiated using the lab color mode method, while 209 samples were unable to be differentiated and were recorded as either being "similar" (n = 153) or "unsure" (n = 56). Comparison of the lab color mode results with the results obtained through additional testing using traditional infrared reflectance and infrared luminescence test methods showed that lab color differentiated 102 pen-pair samples (11%; 102/946) that were not differentiated using a VSC-4C. [source] Meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography for assessment of atherosclerosis in the ascending aorta in patients undergoing cardiac surgeryACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 9 2008B. VAN ZAANE Background: Stroke after cardiac surgery may be caused by emboli emerging from an atherosclerotic ascending aorta (AA). Epiaortic ultrasound scanning (EUS), the current ,gold' standard for detecting AA atherosclerosis, has not gained widespread use because there is a lack of optimized ultrasound devices, it lengthens the procedure, it endangers sterility, and there is a false belief by many surgeons that palpation is as sensitive as EUS. Furthermore there is no clear evidence proving that the use of epiaortic scanning changes outcome in cardiac surgery. Various researchers investigated the ability of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to discriminate between the presence and absence of AA atherosclerosis. It is acknowledged that TEE has limited value in this, but it has never been supported by a meta-analysis estimating the true diagnostic accuracy of TEE based on all quantitative evidence. We aimed to do this using state-of-the-art methodology of diagnostic meta-analyses. Methods: We searched multiple databases for studies comparing TEE vs. EUS for detection of atherosclerosis. A random-effects bivariate meta-regression model was used to obtain summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity, incorporating the correlation between sensitivity and specificity as well as covariates to explore heterogeneity across studies. Results: We extracted six studies with a total of 346 patients, of whom 419 aortic segments were analyzed, including 100 segments with atherosclerosis [median prevalence 25% (range 17,62%)]. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were 21% (95% CI 13,32%) and 99% (96,99%), respectively. Conclusions: Because of the low sensitivity of TEE for the detection of AA atherosclerosis, a negative test result requires verification by additional testing using epiaortic scanning. In case of a positive test result, AA atherosclerosis can be considered as present, and less manipulative strategies might be indicated. [source] Reconsideration of the physical and empirical origins of Z,R relations in radar meteorologyTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 572 2001A. R. Jameson Abstract The rainfall rate, R, and the radar reflectivity factor, Z, are represented by a sum over a finite number of raindrops. It is shown here and in past work that these variables should be linearly related. Yet observations show that correlations between R and Z are often more appropriately described by nonlinear power laws. In the absence of measurement effects, why should this be so? In order to justify this observation, there have been many attempts to create physical ,explanations' for power laws. However, the present work argues that, because correlations do not prove causation (an accepted fact in the statistical sciences), such explanations are suspect, particularly since the parametric fits are not unique and because they exhibit fundamental physical inconsistencies. So why, then, do so many correlations fit power laws when physical arguments show that Z and R should be related linearly? It is shown in the present work that physically based, linear, relations between Z and R apply in statistically homogeneous rain. (Note that statistical homogeneity does not mean that the rain is spatially uniform.) In contrast, nonlinear power laws are empirical fits to correlated, but statistically inhomogeneous data. This conclusion is proven theoretically after developing a ,generalized' Z,R relation based upon physical consideration of R and Z as random variables. This relation explicitly incorporates details of the drop microphysics as well as the variability in measurements of Z and R. In statistically homogeneous rain, this generalized expression shows that the coefficient relating Z and R is a constant resulting in a linear Z,R relation. In statistically inhomogeneous rain, however, the coefficient varies in an unknown fashion so that one must resort to statistical fits, often power laws, in order to relate the two quantities empirically over widely varying conditions. This conclusion is independently verified using Monte Carlo simulations of rain from earlier work and is also corroborated using disdrometer observations. Thus, the justification for nonlinear power-law Z,R relations is not physical, but rather statistical, in that they provide convenient parametric fits for estimating mean R from measured mean Z in statistically inhomogeneous rain. Finally, examples based upon disdrometer data suggest that such generalized relations between two variables defined by such sums are potentially useful over a wide range of remote-sensing problems and over a wide range of scales. The examples also offer hope that data collected over disparate sampling-volumes and sampling-frequencies can still be combined to yield meaningful estimates. Although additional testing is required, this allows us to write programs which combine estimates of R using remote-sensing techniques with sparse but direct rainfall observations. [source] Transplantation Risks and the Real World: What Does ,High Risk' Really Mean?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2009R. B. Freeman Candidates for, and recipients of, transplants face numerous risks that receive varying degrees of attention from the media and transplant professionals. Characterizations such as ,high risk donor' are not necessarily accurate or informative unless they are discussed in context with the other risks patients face before and after transplantation. Moreover, such labels do not provide accurate information for informed consent discussions or decision making. Recent cases of donor-transmitted diseases from donors labeled as being at ,high risk' have engendered concern, new policy proposals and attempts to employ additional testing of donors. The publicity and policy reactions to these cases do not necessarily better inform transplant candidates and recipients about these risks. Using comparative risk analysis, we compare the various risks associated with waiting on the list, accepting donors with various risk characteristics, posttransplant survival and everyday risks we all face in modern life to provide some quantitative perspective on what ,high risk' really means for transplant patients. In our analysis, donor-transmitted disease risks are orders of magnitude less than other transplantation risks and similar to many everyday occupational and recreational risks people readily and willingly accept. These comparisons can be helpful for informing patients and guiding future policy development. [source] Estimating the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a clinical prediction model based on patient characteristics and medical historyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010M Van Leeuwen Objective, To develop a clinical prediction rule that can help the clinician to identify women at high and low risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) early in pregnancy in order to improve the efficiency of GDM screening. Design, We used data from a prospective cohort study to develop the clinical prediction rule. Setting, The original cohort study was conducted in a university hospital in the Netherlands. Population, Nine hundred and ninety-five consecutive pregnant women underwent screening for GDM. Methods, Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we constructed a model to estimate the probability of development of GDM from the medical history and patient characteristics. Receiver operating characteristics analysis and calibration were used to assess the accuracy of the model. Main outcome measure, The development of a clinical prediction rule for GDM. We also evaluated the potential of the prediction rule to improve the efficiency of GDM screening. Results, The probability of the development of GDM could be predicted from the ethnicity, family history, history of GDM and body mass index. The model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77 (95% CI 0.69,0.85) and calibration was good (Hosmer and Lemeshow test statistic, P = 0.25). If an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in all women with a predicted probability of 2% or more, 43% of all women would be tested and 75% of the women with GDM would be identified. Conclusions, The use of a clinical prediction model is an accurate method to identify women at increased risk for GDM, and could be used to select women for additional testing for GDM. [source] | ||||||||||