What Collaboration Means to Me: How We Do & Don’t Collaborate at The Library Collective

The Library Collective is a non-profit organization devoted to redefining the library professional development landscape by providing low-cost, high-value learning opportunities for librarians. At the heart of The Library Collective’s efforts is a unique style of collaboration. The following column outlines how the Co-Founders and Co-Directors use and don’t use collaboration to create a professional development environment that embraces creativity, celebrates failure, and doesn’t cost a fortune

North 14th Street Corridor Improvements Project

The following project report was a study of the North 14th Street corridor ranging from Adams Street to Virginia Street conducted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln students for a senior design capstone project. Main focuses of the project were the intersection of Adams and 14th Street and the 14th Street bridges over Cornhusker Highway and Oak Creek. Study of this area included work in transportation, traffic, structural, geotechnical, water resources, and environmental engineering. However, this report done by students should not take the place of work done by licensed professional engineers. This project was done in collaboration with engineers for the City of Lincoln, who acted as clients looking for engineering consulting. Research was conducted to find the applicable design requirements for each of the civil engineering subdisciplines. These requirements were obtained through GIS data, maps, and certified design manuals. After obtaining the proper data and design requirements, it was concluded that the signalized intersection of Adams and 14th Street would be left alone, the bridge over Cornhusker Highway would be removed and designed as an at-grade roundabout, and the bridge over Oak Creek would be removed and completely replaced. The multi-phase project came to a total cost of about $30,759,090

Use of "biokit HSV-2 Rapid Assay" to improve the positive predictive value of Focus HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA

BACKGROUND: Commercially available assays to detect antibodies to the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-specific glycoprotein gG-2 have markedly improved serologic diagnosis of HSV-2 infection. However, even tests with high specificity can have low positive predictive values in low prevalence populations. HSV-2 is a chronic, life-long viral infection that requires both medical attention and potential alterations in health care strategy. As such, the concern for false positive diagnoses is high confirmatory testing is routine for other viral serologies such as HIV and hepatitis C. We evaluated such a strategy for HSV-2 serology by using an easily performed commercial test, biokitHSV-2 rapid test ("Biokit"; Biokit USA, Lexington MA) as a confirmatory test for the widely used gG-2 specific serology ("Focus;" HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA; Focus Diagnostics, Cypress CA). METHODS: We tested 782 sera by Focus HSV-2 ELISA, Biokit, and the current gold standard test, Western blot (WB). RESULTS: The positive predictive value of the Focus HSV-2 ELISA increased from 80.5% to 95.6% when Biokit testing was performed on sera that were initially positive by Focus HSV-2 ELISA. Confirmatory testing increased the specificity markedly among sera with Focus EIA values between 1.1 and 3.5: only 35% of low positive (index values 1.1–3.5) Focus HSV-2 ELISA results confirmed as positive by Biokit and WB compared with 92% of those with index values >3.5. Mathematical modeling of the data resulted in expected positive predictive values over 98% for populations with antibody prevalences typical of clinical practices in the US and Europe. CONCLUSION: Confirmatory Biokit testing of positive Focus HSV-2 ELISA results is fast, easy, and effective in reducing falsely positive HSV-2 antibody results. Patients, clinicians, and laboratories could benefit from the enhanced specificity of this simple HSV-2 serologic test combination

Correction: Use of "biokitHSV-2 Rapid Assay" to improve the positive predictive value of Focus HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA

As the competing interests for only the previous calendar year were included in the published article and it is journal policy to list competing interests for the previous five years, a full declaration of interests for the authors is now published

The Role of Photography in Increasing Efficiency of Dermatologic Inpatient Consulting Service

Abstract Introduction: Inpatient dermatology consultations can bring a mixed bag of pathologies. Due to the highly specialized nature of dermatology and the lack of dermatologic training in medical school, the dermatologic team is consulted for matters that range from non-urgent to pressing. Pictures are a critical component of dermatology and greatly aid in the diagnosis of cutaneous diseases. In the inpatient setting, pictures can help streamline diagnosis and prevent unnecessary tests or procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for the presence of pictures in patients’ chart after a dermatology consult had been placed through EPIC at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Methods: Baseline data was gathered for two months in regards to the presence or absence of pictures in patients’ charts upon consultation of the UNMC academic dermatology service. At the two month mark, a prompt was added to the EPIC order for dermatology consultation stating, “Are there pictures in the chart?” This prompt required the consulting team to check ‘yes’ or ‘no’ before proceeding with signing the electronic order. Data was then gathered after two months following initiation of the prompt. Results: In the baseline two months, 15/33 (45.4%) consults contained photographs. In the two months following the prompt, “Are there pictures in the chart?”, 57/71 (80.3%) of consult orders placed contained a photograph. A Chi-squared analysis was preformed and revealed a significant difference (Chi-squared statistic 12.823, p-value \u3c 0.001) between the number of pictures placed in the chart with consult order before and after prompt. Conclusion: By adding a prompt in the EPIC order questioning picture availability, a significant increase was seen in pictures taken by consulting teams. This can help improve patient care by decreasing time to diagnosis, preventing unnecessary testing or procedures, and practicing cost-efficient medicine

Cervical Antibodies to Herpes Simplex Virus Proteins in Pregnancy and Puerperium: A Pilot Study

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the changes in total and anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific cervical IgA and IgG antibody profiles during and after pregnancy

Hydrogen Motion in Magnesium Hydride by NMR

In coarse-grained MgH2, the diffusive motion of hydrogen remains too slow (<10^5 hops s^−1) to narrow the H NMR line up to 400 °C. Slow-motion dipolar relaxation time T1D measurements reveal the motion, with hopping rate ωH from 0.1 to 430 s^−1 over the range of 260 to 400 °C, the first direct measurement of H hopping in MgH2. The ωH data are described by an activation energy of 1.72 eV (166 kJ/mol) and attempt frequency of 2.5 × 10^15 s^−1. In ball-milled MgH2 with 0.5 mol % added Nb2O5 catalyst, line-narrowing is evident already at 50 °C. The line shape shows distinct broad and narrow components corresponding to immobile and mobile H, respectively. The fraction of mobile H grows continuously with temperature, reaching ∼30% at 400 °C. This demonstrates that this material’s superior reaction kinetics are due to an increased rate of H motion, in addition to the shorter diffusion paths from ball-milling. In ball-milled MgH2 without additives, the line-narrowed component is weaker and is due, at least in part, to trapped H2 gas. The spin−lattice relaxation rates T1^−1 of all materials are compared, with ball-milling markedly increasing T1^−1. The weak temperature dependence of T1^−1 suggests a mechanism with paramagnetic relaxation centers arising from the mechanical milling

Total synthesis of aurofusarin: studies on the atropisomeric stability of bis-naphthoquinones

An efficient annulation involving pyrone addition to a quinone and Dieckmann condensation was developed for rapid assembly of a γ-naphthopyrone monomeric precursor to the bis-naphthoquinone natural product aurofusarin. Dimerization was achieved through PdII -catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling. Further studies employing asymmetric nucleophilic epoxidation indicate that the atropisomers of aurofusarin and derivatives are not configurationally stable at ambient temperature.R24 GM111625 - NIGMS NIH HHS; R35 GM118173 - NIGMS NIH HH

The Grizzly, February 21, 2008

Administration Speaks Out About New Member Education • Rethinking Equality in America • Brought to a Grinding Halt: Reactions to NME Ban • Vending, Vending Everywhere: New Machines to Arrive for Students • Exploring the Circumcision Decision: Benefits and Risks • The Mysterious White Van: Science in Motion at Ursinus • Jasmine: For Those Willing to Spend a Buck or Two • Ursinus Hosts Award-Winning Poet • Professor Victor Brown: Making a Prominent Impact • Alumni Advice for UC Students • Opinions: The Harvard Effect: Will Ursinus Increase Financial Aid to Stay Competitive?; The Fair Tax • Men\u27s Basketball 16-0 in Conference • Glory Days • National Guard Honors Ursinus Rugby Teams • Cosmic Sucker-Punch: The Ultimate Teamhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1756/thumbnail.jp

Differences in atmospheric phosphorus deposition amongst rural and urban land use locations in Missouri

Atmospheric phosphorus (AP) produced by both anthropogenic and natural processes influences phytoplankton productivity and alters carbon processing in water bodies, resulting in potential impairment and toxic phytoplankton blooms. The production of AP, which is oftentimes transported vast distances by wind dispersal in the form of enriched mineral dust, can be re-deposited by wet (precipitation based) or dry (continual) deposition. Both rural and urban locations in Missouri experience varying anthropogenic activities; therefore, distinguishing between varying land use locations at these sites provides insight as to why AP may differ. The objective of this study is to determine if AP deposition differs among rural and urban land use locations in Missouri. When soil has been recently agitated and readily exposed, we hypothesize this additional P in the atmosphere will result in higher bulk deposition flux totals (BD) in rural locations. AP was collected from three rural locations and three urban locations, using a standard sized utility bucket, altered to reduce debris. After each two-week sampling period, a total sample water volume for each site is collected, total P is analyzed (TP), which determines the BD flux of each site by factoring the time it took to collect each sample (4 samples over approximately 70 days). Rural locations had the highest BD. Rural locations were not significantly different than urban locations (F5,18 = 1.667, p = 0.194). Further analysis of AP and the implication on water bodies is needed, as AP analysis is exceedingly rare. A multitude of differing land use practices results in variables that contribute significantly to the production of AP.Crystal Rein, Sarahi Viscarra Arellano, Karl Friesen-Hughes, Ashley King, Alexia Marten, Corey Sanderson, Jason J Venkiteswaran, Helen Baulch, Nora Jessie Casson, Colin J Whitfield, and Rebecca North (University of Missouri, University of Saskatchewan, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Winnipeg