The influence of halogen compounds on gaseous oxidation processes

Imperial Users onl

A Competitive Bidding Approach to Medicare Reform

Medicare reform is a critical issue for the public agenda. The most promising option for addressing Medicare reform is competitive bidding -- using health plans' bids to determine the government's contribution to a basic set of benefits in every market area. This paper begins with a review of the history of competitive bidding in Medicare. It then moves to a definition of terms, which is crucial in any discussion of competitive pricing because the often-heated public debate around these issues frequently distorts positions and confuses issues by conflating different terms and making some arguments appear other than they are. Following this terminological exercise, the report includes a series of sections discussing competitive bidding in Medicare, with special focus on the challenges to introducing it

Giant Teratoma in a Bovine

The teratoma, a specialized neoplasm, is not commonly found in the bovine and it does not appear to be of any economic importance. However, the one described below is curious because of its large size and the diagnostic and clinical problem that it afforded

Methodology for Sampling Women at High Maternal Risk in Administrative Data

Background: In population level studies, the conventional practice of categorizing women into low and high maternal risk samples relies upon ascertaining the presence of various comorbid conditions in administrative data. Two problems with the conventional method include variability in the recommended comorbidities to consider and inability to distinguish between maternal and fetal risks. High maternal risk sample selection may be improved by using the Obstetric Comorbidity Index (OCI), a system of risk scoring based on weighting comorbidities associated with maternal end organ damage. The purpose of this study was to compare the net benefit of using OCI risk scoring vs the conventional risk identification method to identify a sample of women at high maternal risk in administrative data. Methods: This was a net benefit analysis using linked delivery hospitalization discharge and vital records data for women experiencing singleton births in Georgia from 2008 to 2012. We compared the value identifying a sample of women at high maternal risk using the OCI score to the conventional method of dichotomous identification of any comorbidities. Value was measured by the ability to select a sample of women designated as high maternal risk who experienced severe maternal morbidity or mortality. Results: The high maternal risk sample created with the OCI had a small but positive net benefit (+ 0.6), while the conventionally derived sample had a negative net benefit indicating the sample selection performed worse than identifying no woman as high maternal risk. Conclusions: The OCI can be used to select women at high maternal risk in administrative data. The OCI provides a consistent method of identification for women at risk of maternal morbidity and mortality and avoids confounding all obstetric risk factors with specific maternal risk factors. Using the OCI may help reduce misclassification as high maternal risk and improve the consistency in identifying women at high maternal risk in administrative data

Thermal kinetic inductance detectors for ground-based millimeter-wave cosmology

We show measurements of thermal kinetic inductance detectors (TKID) intended for millimeter wave cosmology in the 200-300 GHz atmospheric window. The TKID is a type of bolometer which uses the kinetic inductance of a superconducting resonator to measure the temperature of the thermally isolated bolometer island. We measure bolometer thermal conductance, time constant and noise equivalent power. We also measure the quality factor of our resonators as the bath temperature varies to show they are limited by effects consistent with coupling to two level systems.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Journal of Low Temperature Physic

Laundering pesticide contaminated clothing

"File: Textiles and Clothing""The problem of how to launder pesticide contaminated clothing has puzzled many as pesticide use has become widespread. What is the best method? What water temperature should be used? Is there a different in detergent performance? Must you be careful about washing contaminated clothes with other clothing?"--First paragraph.Carol Bryan Easley (Research Technologist, Textiles, Clothing and Design), Joan Laughlin (Assoc. Professor of Textiles, Clothing and Design), Roger Gold (Extension Specialist - Environmental Program

Transfer RNA genes experience exceptionally elevated mutation rates.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are a central component for the biological synthesis of proteins, and they are among the most highly conserved and frequently transcribed genes in all living things. Despite their clear significance for fundamental cellular processes, the forces governing tRNA evolution are poorly understood. We present evidence that transcription-associated mutagenesis and strong purifying selection are key determinants of patterns of sequence variation within and surrounding tRNA genes in humans and diverse model organisms. Remarkably, the mutation rate at broadly expressed cytosolic tRNA loci is likely between 7 and 10 times greater than the nuclear genome average. Furthermore, evolutionary analyses provide strong evidence that tRNA genes, but not their flanking sequences, experience strong purifying selection acting against this elevated mutation rate. We also find a strong correlation between tRNA expression levels and the mutation rates in their immediate flanking regions, suggesting a simple method for estimating individual tRNA gene activity. Collectively, this study illuminates the extreme competing forces in tRNA gene evolution and indicates that mutations at tRNA loci contribute disproportionately to mutational load and have unexplored fitness consequences in human populations

What Is Program Level Assessment and Why Does It Matter to Me?

Oftentimes, faculty know the Office of Institutional Effectiveness facilitates program assessment for SACSCOC, but they may not know exactly what program assessment entails, why it is important, or how faculty can assist. The purpose of this session is to provide helpful information for faculty about program-level assessment and its meaning to faculty and the University at a practical level