A method for estimating solid organ donor potential by organ procurement region

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to develop a methodology for estimating potential solid organ donors and measuring donation performance in a geographic region based on readily available data on the hospitals in that region. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed in a stratified random sample of 89 hospitals from 3 regions to attain a baseline of donor potential. Data on a range of hospital characteristics were collected and tested as predictors of donor potential through the use of hierarchical Poisson regression modeling. RESULTS: Five hospital characteristics predicted donor potential: hospital deaths, hospital Medicare case-mix index, total hospital staffed beds, medical school affiliation, and trauma center certification. Regional estimates were attained by aggregating individual hospital estimates. Confidence intervals for these regional estimates indicated that actual donations represented from 28% to 44% of the potential in the regions studied. CONCLUSIONS: This methodology accurately estimates organ donor potential within 3 geographic regions and lays the foundation for evaluating organ donation effectiveness nationwide. Additional research is needed to test the validity of the model in other geographic regions and to further explore organ donor potential in hospitals with fewer than 50 beds.     

Nutritional value of wet corn gluten feed for sheep and lactating dairy cows

Experiments were conducted to determine digestibility of wet corn gluten feed in sheep and effect of wet corn gluten feed on DM intake, milk production, and milk composition by dairy cows. In Trial 1, six wethers were fed wet corn gluten feed at maintenance and ad libitum for determination of nutrient digestibility by the conventional 7-d total collection technique. The sheep ate 1.32 times maintenance at ad libitum intake and no significant differences were found in digestibility due to intake. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, energy, CP, ether extract, ADF, NDF, and hemicellulose averaged 70.3, 73.0, 73.7, 78.3, 72.8, 51.4, 58.1, and 60.4%, respectively. Mean total digestible nutrients for both treatments was 70.3. In Trial 2, 12 Holstein cows in mid to late lactation were allotted to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Cows were fed a total mixed ration twice daily. Wet corn gluten feed was fed at 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30% of the total ration DM. There were no significant treatment effects on DM intake, milk yield, or milk composition. Dry matter intake (kg/d), milk production (kg/d), and percent milk fat were 21.4, 22.9, and 3.71, respectively, for control; 21.4, 23.0, and 3.80 for the 10%; 21.0, 23.1, and 3.71 for the 20%; and 21.0, 23.2, and 3.89 for the 30% wet corn gluten feed.     

Software Implementation of Biological Repository for Human Genetic Material

To provide biological specimens for scientific studies, the Medical Automation Research Center (MARC) designed and constructed a large-scale device that emphasizes the use of robotics and automation to integrate many associated laboratory operations. These included analysis, dilution, archival storage, and retrieval of purified human-derived specimens. Designers of automated biological repositories are challenged by complex engineering problems. In this paper, we present an overview of the biological repository (biorepository) and give details of the software architecture.     

Using clustering to discover the preferences of computer criminals

The ability to predict computer crimes has become increasingly important. The paper describes a method for discovering the preferences of computer criminals. This method involves sequential clustering based on the variance of clusters discovered in higher order clustering. These discovered preferences can be used for the direct protection of computer systems against ongoing attacks or for the construction of simulations of future attacks     

Axis I and Axis II disorders as predictors of prospective suicide attempts: Findings from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 113(2) of Journal of Abnormal Psychology (see record 2007-16710-001). On p. 378, the values in the "95% CI" column of Table 1 are incorrect. The correct values are given in the far right column of the table provided in the erratum.] This study examined diagnostic predictors of prospectively observed suicide attempts in a personality disorder (PD) sample. During 2 years of follow-up, 58 participants (9%) reported at least 1 definitive suicide attempt. Predictors that were examined include 4 PD diagnoses and selected Axis I diagnoses (baseline and course). Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that baseline borderline personality disorder (BPD) and drug use disorders significantly predicted prospective suicide attempts. Controlling for baseline BPD diagnosis, proportional hazards analyses showed that worsening in the course of major depressive disorder (MDD) and of substance use disorders in the month preceding the attempt were also significant predictors. Therefore, among individuals diagnosed with PDs, exacerbation of Axis I conditions, particularly MDD and substance use, heightens risk for a suicide attempt. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliability and validity of depressive personality disorder

OBJECTIVE: Depressive personality disorder was introduced into DSM-IV's appendix amid controversy. While that disorder appears to be a reliable and valid one, the authors offer new data about its relationship to major depression, dysthymic disorder, and other personality disorders. METHOD: The authors assessed 54 subjects with early-onset, long-standing mild depressive features for depressive personality disorder, axis I and axis II disorders, family history, and treatment history; they conducted follow-up interviews 1 year after the baseline assessment. Subjects with (N=30) and without (N=24) depressive personality disorder were characterized and compared in terms of those variables. RESULTS: Although depressive personality disorder and dysthymia co-occurred in some subjects, 63% of subjects with depressive personality disorder did not have dysthymia, and 60% did not have current major depression. Although subjects with depressive personality disorder were more likely than the mood disorder comparison group to have another personality disorder, 40% had no such disorder. Contrary to study hypotheses, mood disorder was not more common in first-degree relatives of subjects with depressive personality disorder than in relatives of the comparison group. Subjects with and without depressive personality disorder had similar rates of past treatment with medication and psychotherapy; however, the duration of psychotherapy was significantly longer for subjects with than for those without depressive personality. The depressive personality diagnosis was relatively stable over the 1-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive personality disorder appears to be a relatively stable condition with incomplete overlap with axis I mood disorders and personality disorders. Further studies are needed to better characterize its treatment response and relationship to axis I mood disorders.     

The effect of biased spacers on LDD MOSFET behavior

The concept of using LDD spacers that are independently biased with respect to the gate electrode is presented. It is shown that the lateral electric field is strongly influenced by the drain polysilicon spacer potential. Depending on the N^- dose, the peak substrate currents can be either enhanced or reduced by shorting the drain polysilicon spacer to the drain potential. Short-channel LDD MOSFETs have been fabricated with polysilicon LDD spacers shorted to the source and drain electrodes by titanium silicide