What is the appropriate diagnostic evaluation of fibroids?

Although transvaginal sonography (TVS) has inconsistent sensitivity (0.21-1.00) and specificity (0.53-1.00), its cost-efficiency and noninvasiveness make it the best initial test for ruling in fibroid disease (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on expert opinion, a systematic review, and prospective studies). Sonohysterography (SHG) and hysteroscopy have superior sensitivity, specificity, and more discriminating positive and negative likelihood ratios for diagnosing fibroids than does TVS (SOR: B, systematic review). SHG is less painful, less invasive, and more cost-effective than hysteroscopy (SOR: B; single, prospective comparative study and cost comparison). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had comparable precision to TVS in a single study, but it is too expensive to be a good initial test for fibroids (SOR: C, expert opinion and an uncontrolled prospective study). One study reported a strong correlation between ultrasound and bimanual examination (SOR: C, retrospective case review)

For knee pain, how predictive is physical examination for meniscal injury?

No single clinical examination element, or combination of such elements, reliably detects meniscal injury. The McMurray test is best for ruling in meniscal pathology. Assuming a 9% prevalence of meniscal tears among all knee injuries (a rate reflecting national primary care data), the posttest probability that a patient with McMurray's sign has a meniscal injury ranges from <30% to 63% (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B). In contrast, the absence of any positive physical examination findings effectively rules out meniscal pathology, yielding a posttest probability of 0.8% for lateral meniscus injury, 1.0% for medial meniscus injury, and 3.8% for any meniscal injury among primary care populations (SOR: B)

Satisfaction with Research Training in Christian Psychology Doctoral Programs: Survey Findings and Implications

Perceptions of research training at seven explicitly Christian doctoral programs in clinical psychology were assessed with a satisfaction survey. A total of 283 students, 98 alumni, and 51 faculty completed the online questionnaire. Perceived strengths include faculty-student collaboration, encouraging students to present at national meetings, respect for faculty, and effective curricula. Areas for future growth include enhanced research funding, making research mentoring available to all students, and decreasing the perceived dichotomy between clinical and research competence. Self-reported faculty and student publication and presentation rates are also presented and discussed

A preliminary benefit-cost study of a Sandia wind farm.

In response to federal mandates and incentives for renewable energy, Sandia National Laboratories conducted a feasibility study of installing an on-site wind farm on Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base property. This report describes this preliminary analysis of the costs and benefits of installing and operating a 15-turbine, 30-MW-capacity wind farm that delivers an estimated 16 percent of 2010 onsite demand. The report first describes market and non-market economic costs and benefits associated with operating a wind farm, and then uses a standard life-cycle costing and benefit-cost framework to estimate the costs and benefits of a wind farm. Based on these 'best-estimates' of costs and benefits and on factor, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, the analysis results suggest that the benefits of a Sandia wind farm are greater than its costs. The analysis techniques used herein are applicable to the economic assessment of most if not all forms of renewable energy

A preliminary benefit-cost study of a Sandia wind farm.

In response to federal mandates and incentives for renewable energy, Sandia National Laboratories conducted a feasibility study of installing an on-site wind farm on Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base property. This report describes this preliminary analysis of the costs and benefits of installing and operating a 15-turbine, 30-MW-capacity wind farm that delivers an estimated 16 percent of 2010 onsite demand. The report first describes market and non-market economic costs and benefits associated with operating a wind farm, and then uses a standard life-cycle costing and benefit-cost framework to estimate the costs and benefits of a wind farm. Based on these 'best-estimates' of costs and benefits and on factor, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, the analysis results suggest that the benefits of a Sandia wind farm are greater than its costs. The analysis techniques used herein are applicable to the economic assessment of most if not all forms of renewable energy

Collaborate With Whom? Clergy Responses to Psychologist Characteristics (Chapter 2 of Psychology and the Church)

Some clergy and psychologists are willing to collaborate in providing for people under their care and some are reticent. The purpose of this research is to see if clergy are more likely to collaborate with psychologists of a particular sex or training background. Six groups of clergy were given written descriptions of a psychologist that varied on these two dimensions-the institution from which the psychologist received training and sexand were then asked to rate how likely they would be to participate in 7 collaborative scenarios with the psychologist. No group differences were found. Furthermore, clergy characteristics were not significantly related to their likelihood of collaborating with psychologists. Differences were observed among the 7 collaborative scenarios, suggesting that clergy are more interested in some forms of collaboration than others. It appears that idiographic relational factors are ultimately more important than general demographic categories in establishing clergy-psychologist collaboration

Role of wireless broadband connectivity on 'Big Data' and the agricultural industry in the United States and Australia

Big Data has the potential to change the fabric of agriculture as we know it today; but only with wireless connectivity sufficient to employ telematics and other precision agricultural technologies. The primary focus of this paper is on data transfer, specifically as an enabling technology to precision agriculture. Limited wireless internet connectivity impedes the full utilization and effectiveness of precision agricultural practices and subsequent agricultural big data system. These failures lead to potential differentiation of farmland values; those fields with adequate wireless connectivity commanding a premium. In the absence of wireless data transfer for download and upload, precision agriculture technologies such as telematics cannot be utilized efficiently. Improving wireless connectivity is a primary driver of the adoption of big data. Increased connectivity could also intensify the adoption of precision agricultural technologies leading to input cost savings and decreased input usage.Peer reviewedAgricultural Economic

Energetic outer radiation belt electron precipitation during recurrent solar activity

Transmissions from three U.S. VLF (very low frequency) transmitters were received at Churchill, Canada, during an event study in May to November, 2007. This period spans four cycles of recurrent geomagnetic activity spaced similar to 27 days apart, with daily Sigma Kp reaching similar to 30 at the peaks of the disturbances. The difference in the amplitude of the signals received during the day and during the night varied systematically with geomagnetic activity, and was used here as a proxy for ionization changes caused by energetic electron precipitation. For the most intense of the recurrent geomagnetic storms there was evidence of electron precipitation from 3 300 keV and similar to 1 MeV trapped electrons, and also consistent with the daily average ULF (ultralow frequency) Pc1-2 power (L = 3.9) from Lucky Lake, Canada, which was elevated during the similar to 1 MeV electron precipitation period. This suggests that Pc1-2 waves may play a role in outer radiation belt loss processes during this interval. We show that the > 300 keV trapped electron flux from POES is a reasonable proxy for electron precipitation during recurrent high-speed solar wind streams, although it did not describe all of the variability that occurred. While energetic electron precipitation can be described through a proxy such as Kp or Dst, careful incorporation of time delays for different electron energies must be included. Dst was found to be the most accurate proxy for electron precipitation during the weak recurrent-activity period studied