Hearing Conservation Program For Marching Band Members: A Risk For Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Purpose: To examine the risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in university marching band members and to provide an overview of a hearing conservation program for a marching band. Method: Sound levels during band rehearsals were recorded and audiometric hearing thresholds and transient otoacoustic emission were measured over a 3-year period. Musician's earplugs and information about hearing loss were provided to the students. The hearing thresholds of other college students were tested as a partial control. Results: There were no significant differences in hearing thresholds between the two groups. During initial testing, more marching band members showed apparent high-frequency notches than control students. Follow-up hearing tests in a subsequent year for the marching band members showed that almost all notches disappeared. Persistent standard threshold shift (STS) across tests was not observed in the band members. Conclusion: Band members showed no evidence of STS or persistent notched audiograms. Because accepted procedures for measuring hearing showed a lack of precision in reliably detecting early NIHL in marching band members, it is recommended that signs of NIHL be sought in repeated measurements compared to baseline audiograms rather than in a single measure (a single notch). A hearing conservation program for this population is still recommended because of lengthy rehearsal times with high sound-level exposure during rehearsals.Communication Sciences and Disorder

FLOOR (Framework for Linking Ontology Objects and Textual Requirements): A New Requirements Engineering Tool that Provides Real-time Feedback

Cost overruns on complex system-of-systems development programs frequently trace back to problems with requirements. For increasingly complex systems, a key capability is the identification and management of requirements early in a system’s life cycle, when errors are cheapest and easiest to correct. Significant work has been done to apply natural language processing (NLP) to the domain of requirements engineering. Recently, requirements engineering tools have been developed that use NLP to leverage both domain ontologies and requirement templates, which define acceptable sentence structures for requirements. Domain ontologies provide terminology consistency, and enable rule-checking during the testing of requirements. This thesis introduces FLOOR, a new software tool for requirements engineering that leverages NLP. FLOOR not only integrates domain ontologies and requirement templates, but also supports importing multiple external domain ontologies

Reactions to uncertainty and the accuracy of diagnostic mammography.

BackgroundReactions to uncertainty in clinical medicine can affect decision making.ObjectiveTo assess the extent to which radiologists' reactions to uncertainty influence diagnostic mammography interpretation.DesignCross-sectional responses to a mailed survey assessed reactions to uncertainty using a well-validated instrument. Responses were linked to radiologists' diagnostic mammography interpretive performance obtained from three regional mammography registries.ParticipantsOne hundred thirty-two radiologists from New Hampshire, Colorado, and Washington.MeasurementMean scores and either standard errors or confidence intervals were used to assess physicians' reactions to uncertainty. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit via generalized estimating equations to assess the impact of uncertainty on diagnostic mammography interpretive performance while adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsWhen examining radiologists' interpretation of additional diagnostic mammograms (those after screening mammograms that detected abnormalities), a 5-point increase in the reactions to uncertainty score was associated with a 17% higher odds of having a positive mammogram given cancer was diagnosed during follow-up (sensitivity), a 6% lower odds of a negative mammogram given no cancer (specificity), a 4% lower odds (not significant) of a cancer diagnosis given a positive mammogram (positive predictive value [PPV]), and a 5% higher odds of having a positive mammogram (abnormal interpretation).ConclusionMammograms interpreted by radiologists who have more discomfort with uncertainty have higher likelihood of being recalled

Investigation of a Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacterial freshwater harmful algal bloom associated with acute microcystin toxicosis in a dog

Microcystin poisoning was diagnosed in a dog exposed to a Microcystis aeruginosa dominated freshwater harmful algal bloom at Milford Lake, Kansas, which occurred during the summer of 2011. Lake water microcystin concentrations were determined at intervals during the summer, using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and indicated extremely high, localized microcystin concentrations of up to 126,000 ng/ml. Multiple extraction and analysis techniques were utilized in the determination of free and total microcystins in vomitus and liver samples from the poisoned dog. Vomitus and liver contained microcystins, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the presence of microcystin LR was confirmed in vomitus and liver samples using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Major toxic effects in a dog presented for treatment on the day following exposure included fulminant liver failure and coagulopathy. The patient deteriorated rapidly in spite of aggressive treatment, and was euthanized. Postmortem lesions included diffuse, acute, massive hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage, and acute necrosis of the renal tubular epithelium. A diagnosis of microcystin poisoning was based on the demonstration of M. aeruginosa and microcystin-LR in the lake water, as well as in vomitus produced early in the course of the poisoning, the presence of microcystin-LR in liver tissue, and on a typical clinical course

Evaluation of empirical models coupled with EUTROMOD for water quality prediction in Kansas reservoirs

Agricultural land use contributes high nutrient and sediment loads to nearby streams, lakes, and reservoirs, which can lead to excessive algal growth and increased siltation. Future intensification of agricultural production could further aggravate water quality concerns. To objectively evaluate the effects of agricultural intensification on future water quality, modeling tools must be able to quantitatively predict the degree to which land use change will affect the trophic state of water bodies. This study evaluated the water quality model EUTROMOD as well as several national and regional in-lake empirical water quality models as predictive tools for analyzing and estimating water quality in 28 Kansas reservoirs of varying size and watershed land use. Model-predicted nutrient loading was used with several in-lake empirical models to predict values for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll a concentrations. Predicted values were then compared to long-term water quality measurements obtained from the Kansas lake and reservoir monitoring program. All models over-predicted concentrations of TN and TP in Kansas reservoirs; however, predictions from the Bachmann TN and Canfield-Bachmann TP in-lake empirical models were most closely coupled to observed trends and had the least error. Two possible sources of model bias were identified: the sedimentation coefficient in the in-lake empirical models and the nutrient loading estimates from the watershed model. Areas of further research are suggested for determining the dominant source of model bias and improving quantitative predictions of water quality in the Midwest, USA

Accuracy of Short-Interval Follow-Up Mammograms by Patient and Radiologist Characteristics

The purpose of our study was to examine the accuracy of short-interval follow-up mammograms and evaluate patient and radiologist characteristics associated with accuracy

Chemical Safety Assessment Using Read-Across: Assessing the Use of Novel Testing Methods to Strengthen the Evidence Base for Decision Making

Background: Safety assessment for repeated dose toxicity is one of the largest challenges in the process to replace animal testing. This is also one of the proof of concept ambitions of SEURAT-1, the largest ever European Union research initiative on alternative testing, co-funded by the European Commission and Cosmetics Europe. This review is based on the discussion and outcome of a workshop organized on initiative of the SEURAT-1 consortium joined by a group of international experts with complementary knowledge to further develop traditional read-across and include new approach data. Objectives: The aim of the suggested strategy for chemical read-across is to show how a traditional read-across based on structural similarities between source and target substance can be strengthened with additional evidence from new approach data—for example, information from in vitro molecular screening, “-omics” assays and computational models—to reach regulatory acceptance. Methods: We identified four read-across scenarios that cover typical human health assessment situations. For each such decision context, we suggested several chemical groups as examples to prove when read-across between group members is possible, considering both chemical and biological similarities. Conclusions: We agreed to carry out the complete read-across exercise for at least one chemical category per read-across scenario in the context of SEURAT-1, and the results of this exercise will be completed and presented by the end of the research initiative in December 2015

Impact of an Educational Intervention Designed to Reduce Unnecessary Recall during Screening Mammography

To describe the impact of a tailored web based educational program designed to reduce excessive screening mammography recall