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St. Louis (st. + loui)
Selected AbstractsSuspended sediment load estimation and the problem of inadequate data sampling: a fractal viewEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 4 2006Bellie Sivakumar Abstract Suspended sediment load estimation at high resolutions is an extremely difficult task, because: (1) it depends on the availability of high-resolution water discharge and suspended sediment concentration measurements, which are often not available; (2) any errors in the measurements of these two components could significantly influence the accuracy of suspended sediment load estimation; and (3) direct measurements are very expensive. The purpose of this study is to approach this sampling problem from a new perspective of fractals (or scaling), which could provide important information on the transformation of suspended sediment load data from one scale to another. This is done by investigating the possible presence of fractal behaviour in the daily suspended sediment load data for the Mississippi River basin (at St. Louis, Missouri). The presence of fractal behaviour is investigated using five different methods, ranging from general to specific and from mono-fractal to multi-fractal: (1) autocorrelation function; (2) power spectrum; (3) probability distribution function; (4) box dimension; and (5) statistical moment scaling function. The results indicate the presence of multi-fractal behaviour in the suspended sediment load data, suggesting the possibility of transformation of data from one scale to another using a multi-dimensional model. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Predictability of river flow and suspended sediment transport in the Mississippi River basin: a non-linear deterministic approachEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 6 2005Bellie Sivakumar Abstract As the Mississippi River plays a major role in fulfilling various water demands in North America, accurate prediction of river flow and sediment transport in the basin is crucial for undertaking both short-term emergency measures and long-term management efforts. To this effect, the present study investigates the predictability of river flow and suspended sediment transport in the basin. As most of the existing approaches that link water discharge, suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load possess certain limitations (absence of consensus on linkages), this study employs an approach that presents predictions of a variable based on history of the variable alone. The approach, based on non-linear determinism, involves: (1) reconstruction of single-dimensional series in multi-dimensional phase-space for representing the underlying dynamics; and (2) use of the local approximation technique for prediction. For implementation, river flow and suspended sediment transport variables observed at the St. Louis (Missouri) station are studied. Specifically, daily water discharge, suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load data are analysed for their predictability and range, by making predictions from one day to ten days ahead. The results lead to the following conclusions: (1) extremely good one-day ahead predictions are possible for all the series; (2) prediction accuracy decreases with increasing lead time for all the series, but the decrease is much more significant for suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load; and (3) the number of mechanisms dominantly governing the dynamics is three for each of the series. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Geographic Variation of Pediatric Burn Injuries in a Metropolitan AreaACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2003Kristine G. Williams MD Objectives: To use a geographic information system (GIS) and spatial statistics to describe the geographic variation of burn injuries in children 0,14 years of age in a major metropolitan area. Methods: The authors reviewed patient records for burn injuries treated during 1995 at the two children's hospitals in St. Louis. Patient addresses were matched to block groups using a GIS, and block group burn injury rates were calculated. Mapping software and Bayesian analysis were used to create maps of burn injury rates and risks in the city of St. Louis. Results: Three hundred eleven children from the city of St. Louis were treated for burn injuries in 1995. The authors identified an area of high incidence for burn injuries in North St. Louis. The filtered rate contour was 6 per 1,000 children at risk, with block group rates within the area of 0 to 58.8 per 1,000 children at risk. Hierarchical Bayesian analysis of North St. Louis burn data revealed a relative risk range of 0.8771 to 1.182 for census tracts within North St. Louis, suggesting that there may be pockets of high risk within an already identified high-risk area. Conclusions: This study shows the utility of geographic mapping in providing information about injury patterns within a defined area. The combination of mapping injury rates and spatial statistical analysis provides a detailed level of injury surveillance, allowing for identification of small geographic areas with elevated rates of specific injuries. [source] The First International Workshop on Systems Biology of Yeast, St. Louis, USA, 9 November, 2003FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 7 2004Jens Nielsen No abstract is available for this article. [source] Multistage analysis strategies for genome-wide association studies: summary of group 3 contributions to Genetic Analysis Workshop 16GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue S1 2009Rosalind J. Neuman Abstract This contribution summarizes the work done by six independent teams of investigators to identify the genetic and non-genetic variants that work together or independently to predispose to disease. The theme addressed in these studies is multistage strategies in the context of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The work performed comes from Group 3 of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 held in St. Louis, Missouri in September 2008. These six studies represent a diversity of multistage methods of which five are applied to the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium rheumatoid arthritis case-control data, and one method is applied to the low-density lipoprotein phenotype in the Framingham Heart Study simulated data. In the first stage of analyses, the majority of studies used a variety of screening techniques to reduce the noise of single-nucleotide polymorphisms purportedly not involved in the phenotype of interest. Three studies analyzed the data using penalized regression models, either LASSO or the elastic net. The main result was a reconfirmation of the involvement of variants in the HLA region on chromosome 6 with rheumatoid arthritis. The hope is that the intense computational methods highlighted in this group of papers will become useful tools in future GWAS. Genet. Epidemiol. 33 (Suppl. 1):S19,S23, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Successful amplification of degraded DNA for use with high-throughput SNP genotyping platforms,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 12 2008Simon Mead Abstract Highly accurate and high-throughput SNP genotyping platforms are increasingly popular but the performance of suboptimal DNA samples remains unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the best platform, amplification technique, and loading concentration to maximize genotype accuracy and call rate using degraded samples. We amplified high-molecular weight genomic DNA samples recently extracted from whole blood and degraded DNA samples extracted from 50-year-old patient sera. Two whole-genome amplification (WGA) methodologies were used: an isothermal multiple displacement amplification method (MDA) and a fragmentation-PCR,based method (GenomePlex® [GPLEX]; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO). Duplicate runs were performed on genome-wide dense SNP arrays (Nsp-Mendel; Affymetrix) and custom SNP platforms based on molecular inversion probes (Targeted Genotyping [TG]; Affymetrix) and BeadArray technology (Golden Gate [GG]; Illumina). Miscalls and no-calls on Mendel arrays were correlated with each other, with confidence scores from the Bayesian calling algorithm, and with average probe intensity. Degraded DNA amplified with MDA gave low call rates and concordance across all platforms at standard loading concentrations. The call rate with MDA on GG was improved when a 5,×,concentration of amplified DNA was used. The GPLEX amplification gave high call rate and concordance for degraded DNA at standard and higher loading concentrations on both TG and GG platforms. Based on these analyses, after standard filtering for SNP and sample performance, we were able to achieve a mean call rate of 99.7% and concordance 99.7% using degraded samples amplified by GPLEX on GG technology at 2,×,loading concentration. These findings may be useful for investigators planning case-control association studies with patient samples of suboptimal quality. Hum Mutat 0, 1,7, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mortality Risk in Older Inner-City African AmericansJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 7 2007Theodore K. Malmstrom PhD OBJECTIVES: To investigate mortality risks in a sample of poor, inner-city-dwelling, older African Americans. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: St. Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred twenty-two African Americans aged 68 to 102 at the time of their 1992 to 1994 baseline interviews. MEASUREMENTS: Risk factors previously identified in the literature were examined for seven categories: demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, biomedical, disability and physical function, perceived health, and health services utilization. Vital status was ascertained through 2002. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-six subjects (62.1%) were deceased and 236 were alive (mortality higher than in matched controls). Significant risks for mortality were older age, male sex, annual income less than $10,000, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, dependencies in lower-body function, and number of physician visits in the 12 months before baseline. CONCLUSION: In addition to improving the risk factors for stroke and malignant disease in this population, studies focused on improving lower-body functioning may be warranted as a part of efforts aimed at enhancing longevity in older African-American adults. [source] Cognitive Ability and Physical Performance in Middle-Aged African AmericansJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 6 2005Theodore K. Malmstrom PhD Objectives: To investigate the association between cognitive ability and physical performance in a population-based sample of middle-aged African Americans. Design: Cross-sectional study, 2000/2001. Setting: St. Louis, Missouri. Participants: Nine hundred ninety-eight African Americans born between 1936 and 1950. Measurements: Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Animal Naming Test of verbal fluency. Physical performance was measured using eight tests: chair stand, semitandem stand, tandem stand eyes open, tandem stand eyes closed, one-leg stand, usual gait speed, grip strength, and peak expiratory flow. Results: There was a statistically significant and monotonic (progressively worsening) trend of the eight physical performance measures across cognitive tertiles in all eight MMSE analyses and five of eight Animal Naming analyses, controlling for age, sex, education, geographic area, depressive symptoms, and comorbid conditions. Conclusion: The association between physical performance and cognitive function appears robust. The results extend previous reports for adults aged 65 and older to a measure of verbal fluency and to a population-based sample of African Americans aged 49 to 65. Further research is needed to disentangle the temporal sequence and identify potential interventions to prevent declines in function. [source] FREE RADICAL-SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT CHITIN OLIGOSACCHARIDES LEAD TO ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT IN LIVE CELLSJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2010DAI-NGHIEP NGO ABSTRACT Chitin oligosaccharides (NA-COS) with low molecular weight distribution of 229.21,593.12 Da were produced from crab chitin by acid hydrolysis. They showed reducing power and scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO), hydroxyl and alkyl radicals. It was observed that the radical-scavenging activity of NA-COS increased in a dose-dependent manner. Their IC50 values for DPPH, hydroxyl and alkyl radicals were 0.8, 1.75 and 1.14 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, NA-COS exhibited the inhibitory effect on the oxidative damage of DNA from human lymphoma U937 (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA) and the direct radical-scavenging effect in human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) (American Type Culture Collection) in 2,,7,-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay (Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, OR). The results suggest that NA-COS can exert antioxidant effect in live cells and have the potential to be applied to food supplements or nutraceuticals. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Chitin oligosaccharides (NA-COS) are the hydrolyzed products of chitin (KEUMHO chemical products Co. Ltd., Gyeongbuk, Korea) of which derivatives have shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant effects. According to previous studies, NA-COS have beneficial biological activities similar to those of chitin. Furthermore, they are easily soluble in water because of their shorter chain length. Therefore, NA-COS are potentially applicable to improve food quality and human health. [source] EFFECTS OF MUSCLE PROTEASES, ENDOGENOUS PROTEASE INHIBITORS AND MYOFIBRIL FRAGMENTATION ON POSTMORTEM AGING OF GOAT MEATJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2006N.S. NAGARAJ ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to evaluate the extent of postmortem proteolysis in longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus goat muscles on postmortem aging at an ambient (27C) temperature. The activities of calpains and calpastatin were determined after separation on a (diethylamino)ethyl,Sephacel column (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and cathepsin (B, B + L and H) by carboxymethyl,Sepharose column (Sigma). The results showed that the decrease in calpain I and calpastatin activities was significantly higher than that of calpain II. Cathepsin B, B + L, H and cystatin were found to fall by 30,80% after 12 h, whereas cathepsin D decreased significantly in all the muscles. The disappearance of titin 1 and nebulin, and the appearance of a 30-kDa component were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The appearance of the 30-kDa component reported here explains the time-induced structural changes of myofibrils. The Z-line degradation had occurred by 6 h postmortem. Cathepsins are not stable compared to calpains during postmortem aging, and both enzymes may play a significant role in the proteolysis of myofibrillar proteins at ambient temperature. [source] EFFECT OF FROZEN TEMPERATURE AND STORAGE TIME ON CALPAINS, CATHEPSINS (B, B + L, H AND D) AND THEIR ENDOGENOUS INHIBITORS IN GOAT MUSCLESJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006N.S. NAGARAJ ABSTRACT The effects of frozen storage on the biochemical properties of myofibrils, muscle proteinases (cathepsins and calpains) and their endogenous inhibitors were investigated. Longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles from goat were frozen (,15C) and studied up to 120 days. The results showed that the percentage change in sarcomere length was 8.4,13.1. The calpain activity was determined after separation on a diethylaminoethyl,Sephacel column (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Significantly greater percentage of calpain II activity was recovered when compared to calpain I. There was a 15,25% loss in calpastatin inhibitory activity, and the cystatin level fell by 11,16% after 80 days. Cathepsin B, B + L, H and D were very stable when compared to calpains. The calcium concentration may also be the factor for calpain activation. The sodium dodecyl sulfate,polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis result showed the appearance of 55 kDa components. It was concluded that calpains, not cathepsins, play an important role in the proteolysis of myofibrillar proteins at the freezing temperature. [source] Factors associated with trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder among homeless youth in three U.S. cities: The importance of transience,JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 1 2010Kimberly Bender Homeless youth experience disproportionately high rates of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined correlates of trauma and PTSD among homeless youth with a focus on the impact of homeless culture, substance addiction, and mental health challenges. Homeless youth (N = 146) from Los Angeles, California, Denver, Colorado, and St. Louis, Missouri, were recruited from organizations providing services to homeless youth using comparable methods. Results indicate that 57% of respondents had experienced a traumatic event and 24% met criteria for PTSD. A multinomial logistic regression model revealed greater transience, alcohol addiction, mania, and lower self-efficacy predicted PTSD whereas trauma exposure was associated with alcohol addiction only. Findings have implications for screening and intervening with traumatized homeless youth across service settings. [source] The Economic Impact of Sports Stadium Construction: The Case of the Construction Industry in St. Louis, MOJOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2002Phillip A. Miller This article examines the St. Louis construction industry's employment with special attention given to the periods during which the Kiel Center and the Trans World Dome were being built. We analyze whether the construction of a major sports stadium increases construction industry employment. An econometric model is developed to explain the times series trend of construction industry employment in the St. Louis SMSA. The statistical evidence suggests that the levels of employment in the construction industry were neither higher nor lower during the construction of these stadia. It is argued that construction on these projects merely substituted for other construction projects in this SMSA. [source] Materials and Corrosion 6/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 6 2010Article first published online: 22 JUN 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof- Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 5/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 5 2010Article first published online: 14 MAY 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof- Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 4/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 4 2010Article first published online: 12 APR 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 3/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 3 2010Article first published online: 18 MAR 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 2/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 2 2010Article first published online: 9 FEB 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 1/2010MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 1 2010Article first published online: 8 JAN 2010 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 12/2009MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 12 2009Article first published online: 17 DEC 200 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof- Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 11/2009MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 11 2009Article first published online: 24 NOV 200 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof- Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 10/2009MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 10 2009Article first published online: 19 OCT 200 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 9/2009MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 9 2009Article first published online: 10 SEP 200 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof-Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Materials and Corrosion 8/2009MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 8 2009Article first published online: 21 AUG 200 Cover: Surface-near zone of a creep rupture specimen of a centrifigally cast Fe-Ni-Cr alloy after exposure at 1050°C with strong oxidation in beginning creep cracks and with carbide free subsurface area due to chromium consumption by oxide scale formation. The specimen was prepared for metallographic investigation by coating with a thin ZnSe interference layer for colour contrast. More details about the microstructures of these materials are given in E. Berghof- Hasselbächer, P. Gawenda, M. Schorr, M. Schütze, J. J. Hoffmann, Atlas of Microstructures, MTI St. Louis 2008, ISBN 978-1-57698-046-0. [source] Regional system of greenways: If you can make it in St. Louis, you can make it anywhereNATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW, Issue 2 2008W. Scott Krummenacher First page of article [source] Déjà Vu all over again: Charter reform fails in St. LouisNATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW, Issue 3 2005Robert A. Cropf Editor's note: There is a lively ongoing debate in this country over the forms of organization and the distribution of powers within local government, especially when it comes to the critical question of mayoral leadership. The following essay is an account of a failed attempt to change St. Louis's city charter. Because the National Civic League's Community Services program played a role in facilitating the discussion leading up to the proposal of charter amendments, we would like to emphasize that as with most essays and reports published in this journal, the analysis and conclusions herein represent the perspectives of the authors, or in some cases the participants they interviewed, and not necessarily those of National Civic League staff. We hope this essay will stimulate further discussion and debate on these critical issues of concern. [source] Edna Dell Weinel, Champion of Public Health Nursing, Excerpts from an Oral HistoryPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 2 2008Irene Kalnins ABSTRACT Edna Dell Weinel is a former executive director (1980,1991) of the Family Care Center, a federally funded neighborhood health center in St. Louis, Missouri; this position capped her career as a county public health nurse, state maternal-child nursing consultant, and educator. In all her positions, Weinel lived her values: working at one's highest level of skill, social justice, and teamwork, and used political skills to build alliances for the improvement of community health. Her many contributions to public health and public health nursing were recognized by the Public Health Nursing Section of the American Public Health Association in 1993 with the Ruth B. Freeman Distinguished Career award. In interviews conducted early in 2007, Weinel spoke of her pride in being a public health nurse, her unchanging belief that health care can best be delivered by teams, and that public health nurses are an essential part of any effective team. [source] The Spanish Influenza of 1918 in St. Louis, MissouriPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2006Irene Kalnins ABSTRACT In view of current concern about a possible pandemic of virulent avian influenza, it is timely to revisit the public health response to the "Spanish" influenza of 1918. St. Louis, Missouri, was the most successful of nine largest cities in limiting the death toll from influenza and pneumonia through the use of public health measures during the first 8 weeks of the epidemic. A second wave of cases increased the final death rate, but it remained below that of other major cities. Public health officials attributed the lower death rate to the early and rigorous ban on public gatherings. [source] Management of Stage IV Glottic Carcinoma: Therapeutic OutcomesTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 8 2004Gershon J. Spector MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: The best therapeutic approach for the treatment of stage IV glottic carcinoma is controversial. Study Design: A retrospective study. Methods: A retrospective study of Tumor Research Project data was performed using patients with stage IV glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with curative intent by five different treatment modalities from 1955 to 1998 at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis, MO). Results: Ninety-six patients with stage IV glottic carcinoma were treated by five modalities: total laryngectomy (TL) (n = 13), total laryngectomy with neck dissection (TL/ND) (n = 18), radiation therapy alone (RT) (n = 7) (median dose, 69.5 Gy), total laryngectomy combined with radiation therapy (TL/RT) (n = 10), and total laryngectomy and neck dissection combined with radiation therapy (TL/ND/RT) (n = 48). The overall 5-year observed survival (OS) rate was 39%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate was 45%. The 5-year DSS rates for the individual treatment modalities included the following: TL, 58.3%; TL/ND, 42.9%; RT, 50.0%; TL/RT, 30.0%; and TL/ND/RT, 43.9%. There was no significant difference in DSS for any individual treatment modality (P = .759). The overall locoregional control rate was 69% (66 of 96). The overall recurrence rate was 39% with recurrence at the primary site and in the neck at 19% and 17%, respectively. Recurrence was not related to treatment modality. The 5-year DSS after treatment of locally recurrent cancer (salvage rate) was 30% (3 of 10) and for recurrent neck disease (28 of 67) was 42%. The incidence of delayed regional metastases was 28%; of distant metastasis, 12%; and of second primary cancers, 9%. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between node-negative (N0) necks initially treated (5-y DSS, 31%) versus N0 necks observed and later treated if necessary (5-y DSS, 44%) (P = .685). Conclusion: The five treatment modalities had statistically similar survival, recurrence, and complication rates. The overall 5-year DSS for patients with stage IV glottic carcinoma was 45%, and the OS was 39%. The cumulative disease-specific survival (CDSS) was 0.4770 with a mean survival of 10.1 years and a median survival of 3.9 years. Patients younger than age 55 years had better survival (DSS) than patients 56 years of age or older (P = .0002). Patients with early T stage had better survival than patients with more advanced T stage (P = .04). Tumor recurrence at the primary site (P = .0001) and in the neck (P = .014) and distant metastasis (P = .0001) had a deleterious effect on survival. Tumor recurrence was not related to treatment modality. Patients with clear margins of resection had a statistically significant improved survival (DSS and CDSS) compared with patients with close or involved margins (P = .0001). Post-treatment quality of life was not significantly related to treatment modality. Patients whose N0 neck was treated with observation and appropriate treatment for subsequent neck disease had statistically similar survival compared with patients whose N0 neck was treated prophylactically at the time of treatment of the primary. A minimum of 7 years of follow-up is recommended for early identification of recurrent disease, second primary tumors, and distant metastasis. None of the standard treatment modalities currently employed has a statistical advantage regarding survival, recurrence, complications, or quality of life. [source] Is Rapid Organ Recovery a Good Idea?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2009An Exploratory Study of the Public's Knowledge, Attitudes In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended demonstration projects on uncontrolled donation after cardiac death or rapid organ recovery (ROR). To investigate what the public thinks about key ethical and policy questions associated with ROR, 70 African-American, Caucasian and Latino community members in St. Louis, MO, participated in focus groups and completed surveys, before and after being educated about ROR. Before the focus group, most participants believed mistakenly that they could donate organs following an unexpected cardiac arrest (76%). After the focus group, 84% would want to donate organs after unexpected cardiac arrest; 81% would support organ cooling to enable this. The public generally supported organ cooling without family consent if the individual had joined the donor registry, but were mixed in their opinions about what should be done if they were not on the registry. African-American and Latino participants expressed greater fears than Caucasians that if they consented to organ donation, physicians might do less to save their life; however, support for ROR was not significantly lower in these subgroups. Although this study is exploratory, public support for ROR was present. We recommend that adequate consent processes and safeguards be established to foster trust and support for ROR. [source] | ||||||||||||||||