The Graduate Dean as Guardian of Standards and Academic Excellence

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of the graduate dean at selected American Universities. The primaiy method of investigating the role of the graduate dean was grounded theory. The sample for this study was composed of the graduate dean at the University of North Dakota (UND) and nine institutions identified by the North Dakota University System as UND’s peers including Southern Illinois University—Carbondale, State University of New York at Buffalo, University of Louisville, University of Missouri—Kansas City, University of Nevada—Reno, University of South Carolina, Wright State University, Ohio University, and West Virginia University. The data analysis was based on transcriptions of semi-structured, in- depth interviews and responses to a case study. E-mail message responses assisted in clarifying or verifying an idea and were included in the analysis. A grounded theory model was developed describing causal conditions that underlie the primary role of the dean, intervening conditions that influence the dean’s decision-making, and the consequences of these conditions. In analyzing the data, I found that three issues that deans frequently raised were petitions, policies, and program development. Assertions and sub-assertions were derived from the data. The first assertion was that the graduate dean modifies or upholds the standards. Secondly, standards may be modified by the creation of new policies. A sub-assertion was that deans aim to consider students’ needs when new policies are developed. The third assertion was that deans want quality programs approved that meet standards of academic excellence. A subassertion was that deans wanted programs to address needs of the state. The graduate dean as the guardian of standards and academic excellence was the phenomenon in this study as participants most frequently discussed the importance of standards. All of the graduate deans, whether responding to petitions or policies, or working with faculty on new program proposals, had as their main concern whether the standards of academic excellence set forth for graduate education were being maintained. Intervening conditions were discussed as well as the strategies that deans employ to handle petitions, develop new policies, and to facilitate new programs

Lux et Lex: Volume 4, Number 1

This issue of Lux et Lex, a publication of the Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota, was published in May 1997

Mapping Unexploded Ordnance in Syria: Harnessing the Power of Open-Source

For over a decade, the widespread use of explosive weapons by all sides in the Syrian conflict has been well documented by a litany of public sources. Many of these explosive munitions fail to detonate as intended, thereby becoming unexploded ordnance (UXO) that threaten post-conflict recovery. To begin the process of clearing these explosive remnants of war (ERW), desk studies/non-technical studies can be utilized to initially assess the concentration and distribution of explosive weapons across a conflict zone, which in turn suggest the risk of UXO in an area. Traditional methods in non-technical surveys (NTS) focus on unweighted conflict intensity scores (counting the number of events) or after-the-fact munition detonations to determine current contamination.The authors propose a novel, nuanced approach to counting the number of munitions per event, not just the number of events. This new open-source weighted estimate (OSWE) method contains higher-fidelity data for analysis with more specific coverage across a larger geographic area than prior models. Using crucial and corroborated open-source investigation workflows, the authors created a nationwide assessment paradigm. In comparison with older models, we anticipate that the OSWE method of estimating UXO concentration is more useful across a greater range of geographic scopes through its leverage of big data, weighted nature, and data selection for events likely to generate UXO. The OSWE method also produces an estimate for UXO in Syria (a minimum of 100,000 nationwide). These are important findings, as more accurate estimates can be replicated across contexts, including in Ukraine

Clear cell sarcoma of the soft parts arising in the rectus abdominis in a child – aspiration cytology of a rare case

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clear cell sarcoma of soft parts is most commonly found associated with the tendons and aponeuroses of distal extremities in young adults with a peak incidence in the third decade. Location in the abdominal wall and in a child is very rare.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A nine-year-old female child presented with a swelling in the anterior abdominal wall in the suprapubic region. Fine needle aspiration revealed predominantly discrete cells with loose clustering at places. The cytoplasm was abundant, finely granular, and eosinophilic with some cells exhibiting clear vacuolated zones. No pigment was seen. The nuclei were rounded and eccentrically placed with a striking single eosinophilic macro nucleolus present in all the cells. Taking into consideration, the history, age of the patient, location of the tumor and absence of melanin pigment, a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma was made, the differential including Clear cell sarcoma. This was subsequently confirmed on histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The atypical presentation of the case made the cytological diagnosis rather challenging. Clear cell sarcoma should be considered when cytology of a soft-tissue tumor shows uncharacteristically high cellularity and relatively uniform cells with macronucleoli.</p

Hydatid cyst disease of the lung as an unusual cause of massive hemoptysis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Echinococcosis and/or hydatidosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in the world. In Turkey, echinococcosis is an endemic disease, however, hydatid disease of the lung is uncommon and usually caused by <it>Echinococcus granulosus</it>.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this report we describe a 17-year-old male patient who presented with massive hemoptysis due to hydatid disease of the lung.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although it is one of the less common causes of massive hemoptysis, hydatid disease of the lung requires greater attention in countries, such as Turkey, in which hydatid cyst disease is common.</p

Global Changes in Staphylococcus aureus Gene Expression in Human Blood

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of bloodstream infections worldwide. In the United States, many of these infections are caused by a strain known as USA300. Although progress has been made, our understanding of the S. aureus molecules that promote survival in human blood and ultimately facilitate metastases is incomplete. To that end, we analyzed the USA300 transcriptome during culture in human blood, human serum, and trypticase soy broth (TSB), a standard laboratory culture media. Notably, genes encoding several cytolytic toxins were up-regulated in human blood over time, and hlgA, hlgB, and hlgC (encoding gamma-hemolysin subunits HlgA, HlgB, and HlgC) were among the most highly up-regulated genes at all time points. Compared to culture supernatants from a wild-type USA300 strain (LAC), those derived from an isogenic hlgABC-deletion strain (LACΔhlgABC) had significantly reduced capacity to form pores in human neutrophils and ultimately cause neutrophil lysis. Moreover, LACΔhlgABC had modestly reduced ability to cause mortality in a mouse bacteremia model. On the other hand, wild-type and LACΔhlgABC strains caused virtually identical abscesses in a mouse skin infection model, and bacterial survival and neutrophil lysis after phagocytosis in vitro was similar between these strains. Comparison of the cytolytic capacity of culture supernatants from wild-type and isogenic deletion strains lacking hlgABC, lukS/F-PV (encoding PVL), and/or lukDE revealed functional redundancy among two-component leukotoxins in vitro. These findings, along with a requirement of specific growth conditions for leukotoxin expression, may explain the apparent limited contribution of any single two-component leukotoxin to USA300 immune evasion and virulence

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the head and neck expressing thyroid transcription factor-1: A case report with clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical literature review

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare neoplasm of follicular dendritic cells, most commonly affecting the lymph nodes and extranodal soft tissues of the head and neck, but also potentially arising in any visceral organ. FDCS with its diverse morphologies raises an occasionally challenging differential of primary and metastatic tumors with overlapping histologic and immunohistochemical features. When involving the head and neck, FDCS may be confused with squamous cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, extracranial meningioma, and variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma. We describe here a case of FDCS showing nuclear grooves, intranuclear pseudoinclusions, diffuse epithelial membrane antigen and focal cytokeratin staining, and the first documented report of positivity for thyroid transcription factor-1. A discussion of the differential diagnosis and potential diagnostic pitfalls in FDCS brought forth by thyroid transcription factor-1 immunoreactivity and a full review of clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of head and neck FDCS are presented. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Inconclusive or erroneous fine-needle aspirates of breast with adequate and representative material: A cytologic/histologic study

Adequately cellular and representative fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of breast have a high diagnostic accuracy. There is, however, a recognized category designated as gray zone where a definitive diagnosis cannot be reached. We reviewed our experience in this category to identify useful diagnostic parameters. Twenty-four such FNAs with surgical follow-up were retrieved from AUBMC files (2003-2009). Cytology slides were reviewed blindly. All cases were females, 29-73 years. There were three erroneous and 21 inconclusive diagnoses. The majority (15) was invasive adenocarcinomas: two cribriform, four tubular, one lobular, and eight not otherwise specified. The remaining cases were papillary and fibroepithelial tumors (three each), ductal carcinoma in situ, cribriform (two), and one adenomyoepithelioma (AME). Useful diagnostic features included: (1) Biphasic cell population with focal nuclear atypia and intranuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolar inclusions (AME). (2) Complex clusters of epithelial cells with cribriform architecture (cribriform carcinoma). (3) Rigid tubular epithelial structures with abrupt change in diameter, ending in pointed tips with abnormal branching (tubular carcinoma). (4) Cellular stromal fragments (fibroepithelial tumors). (5) Papillary fibrovascular cores, columnar cells, and three-dimensional papillary epithelial fragments (papillary tumors). Myoepithelial cells classically described in benign aspirates were not always a discriminatory factor. The gray zone in breast FNA is usually due to overlapping cytologic features of some benign and malignant lesions. Useful distinguishing cytologic features are described. Diagn. Cytopathol 2014;42:405-415. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Sarcoidosis Mimicking a Malignant Metastatic Disease

Sarcoidosis can have pulmonary and extrapulmonary clinical manifestations depending on the organ of involvement. Because multiple organs are involved by the disease, sarcoid can mimic metastatic diseases. Whenever clinical and radiological clues of metastasis are present, differentials other than cancer should not be missed. Herein, we present a case of a middle aged gentleman who presented to the oncology clinic for 1-month history of low back pain associated with a dry cough along with radiological findings of metastatic disease involving the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, axial spine, and adrenal gland. A biopsy of the liver lesion showed non-caseating granuloma. Elevated blood levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. © The Author(s) 2023