Selective Screening Criteria Research Articles

Bacillus Species as Direct-Fed Microbial Antibiotic Alternatives for Monogastric Production.

Antibiotic growth promoters have been utilized for long time at subtherapeutic levels as feed supplements in monogastric animal rations. Because of their side-effects such as antibiotic resistance, reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and dysbiosis, it is necessary to look for non-therapeutic alternatives. Probiotics play an important role as the key substitutes to antibacterial agents due to their many beneficial effects on the monogastric animal host. For instance, enhancement of the gut microbiota balance can contribute to improvement of feed utilization efficiency, nutrients absorption, growth rate, and economic profitability of livestock. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” They are available in diverse forms for use as feed supplements. Their utilization as feed additives assists in good digestion of feed ingredients and hence, making the nutrients available for promoting growth. Immunity can also be enhanced by supplementing probiotics to monogastrics diets. Moreover, probiotics can help in improving major meat quality traits and countering a variety of monogastric animals infectious diseases. A proper selection of the probiotic strains is required in order to confer optimal beneficial effects. The present review focuses on the general functional, safety, and technological screening criteria for selection of ideal Bacillus probiotics as feed supplements as well as their mechanism of action and beneficial effects on monogastric animals for improving production performance and health status.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12602-022-09909-5.

Pelatihan Menyelesaikan Soal-Soal Ujian Masuk PTN Dan Sekolah Kedinasan Melalui Trik 3M di Kabupaten Jayapura

The selection of the new student in university is like specter for most hight school students who will continue their education to college. One of the causes is because the lack of students’ readiness, as well as the selection techniques that have selective screening criteria. Which the test is carried out through CAT (Computer Assisted Test) with the provisions of passing Grade. This is the reason for carrying out this service. Namely training to high school student specially for students at GKI Yoanibi Doyo Baru, in Jayapura Regency, in preparing themselves to join the selection. This training is carried out for a week with a meeting duration of 2 hours every day. Through practicing to solve the questions with 3M tricks (menganalisis / analyzing, menentukan / determining, and mengerjakan / doing). The result is their knowledge are increased and ready for compete the selection. Furthermore, we are suggested to collaborate with other fields of course in providing acomplete materials. 

Universal screening for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) can result in thromboembolic stroke. Many trauma centers selectively screen patients with cervical computed tomographic angiography (CTA) based on clinical criteria. In 2016, our institution adopted universal screening for BCVI for all blunt trauma patients. The aim of this study was to accurately determine the incidence of BCVI and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Denver criteria (DC), expanded Denver criteria (eDC), and Memphis criteria (MC) in selecting patients for screening. Retrospective cohort study of adult (≥16 years) blunt trauma patients who presented to the Level I trauma center at University of Alabama at Birmingham. We reviewed all CTA reports and selected CTA images to obtain the true incidence rate of BCVI. We then evaluated the diagnostic performance of the DC, eDC, and MC. A total of 6,800 patients who had suffered blunt trauma were evaluated, of whom 6,287 (92.5%) had a neck CTA. Of these, 480 (7.6%) patients had CTA evidence of BCVI. The eDC identified the most BCVI cases (sensitivity 74.7%) but had the lowest positive predictive value (14.6%). The DC and MC had slightly greater positive predictive values (19.6% and 20.6%, respectively) and had the highest diagnostic ability in terms of likelihood ratio (2.8 and 2.9) but had low sensitivity (57.5% and 47.3%). Consequently, if relying on the traditional screening criteria, the DC, eDC, and MC would have respectively resulted in 42.5%, 25.3%, and 52.7% of patients with BCVI identified by universal screening not receiving a neck CTA to screen for BCVI. Blunt cerebrovascular injury is even more common than previously thought. The diagnostic performance of selective clinical screening criteria is poor. Consideration should be given to the implementation of universal screening for BCVI using neck CTA in all blunt trauma patients. Diagnostic, level III.

The Effect of Market Regimes on the Performance of Market Capitalization-Weighted and Smart Beta Shariah-Compliant Equity Portfolios

Shariah-compliant investment guidelines, while explicit on screening criteria for stock selection, are silent on the weighting methods to be used in the construction of Shariah-compliant equity portfolios. The market capitalization-weighted strategy and smart beta strategies (fundamental value-weighted, equal-weighted, and low-risk weighted strategies) exhibit different risk and return characteristics. This paper investigates whether the choice of weighting strategy affects the performance of Shariah-compliant equity portfolios under different market conditions. The sample consists of active constituent data from S&P 500 for the period 1986-2016. By utilizing the Markov-regime switching model, it is possible to categorize market returns into two regimes — high regimes for bullish market conditions and low regimes for bearish market conditions. The empirical results indicate a significant difference between the performances of Shariah-compliant equity portfolios in high and low regimes following different weighting strategies. The evidence suggests that market capitalization and fundamental value-weighted strategies perform better during market rallies. On the other hand, a low-risk strategy can be used as a hedge during periods of maximum drawdown and is associated with relatively lower value-at-risk and expected shortfalls as compared to alternative strategies.

CHALLENGES IN 21ST CENTURY INPATIENT GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY AND LONG TERM CARE PRACTICE.: Session 112

With the increase in life span, there has been a rise in the number of older adults. In 2010, approximately 40 million persons aged 65 years and older lived in the United States and this statistic is projected to increase to 88.5 million by 2050, accounting for 20.2% of the population. The number of older adults with psychiatric disorders is also expected to increase to 15 million by 2030. A significant proportion of these older adults will also have co-morbid medical issues, which may pose challenges. In this session, we will provide an overview of how nursing home facilities and inpatient geriatric psychiatry units are adapting to changes and challenges to provide care for this vulnerable population. In the last 20 years, the number of elderly patients cared for in nursing homes has increased, with facilities expanding to include more beds to respond to this need. The average resident age has also increased, with a corresponding increase in functional limitations, disabilities, cognitive and mental disorders requiring advanced care. Additionally, policy and industry changes over the years have affected the way we provide care for these residents. There has been rapid growth in assisted living facilities in order to provide an alternative care setting for these individuals who require more assistance with activities of daily living. This has led to the development of specialized units that will meet the needs of these residents. Since the implementation of the minimum data set (MDS) system, many prevalence reports have relied on either recorded diagnoses or scales derived from MDS to identify residents with psychiatric conditions. These have also been used as screening tools to identify residents in need of treatment. Available data indicates that there are an inadequate number of geriatric psychiatrists in the USA to care for these older adults with mental illness. The unfortunate consequence has been providers without specialist training or oversight attempting to provide care for residents. This often includes prescribing multiple psychotropic medications that are inappropriate for their symptoms and their age, which can ultimately lead to substantial psychological and functional morbidity. Additionally, these medication side effects and undertreated psychiatric disorders have a significantly negative impact on the residents’ quality of life, disability, and cost of care. Approximately 75-80% of residents in long- term care have a neurocognitive disorder. Although most major neurocognitive disorders are incurable, appropriate comprehensive treatment can substantially improve the quality of life of a resident, their family, and their caregivers. Routine provision of evidence-based care by a mental health care team with expertise in long-term care is essential for maintaining dignity and reducing suffering for these patients. This includes ongoing staff education, discontinuation of inappropriate medications, optimal use of appropriate psychotropic medications and other behavioral interventions. We will review how the geriatric psychiatrist, along with other allied health care professionals, can work as a team in today's highly regulated environment of long term care to improve patient outcomes. With the projection that the older adult population will swell over the next several decades, inpatient geriatric psychiatry facilities have arisen to address the need to provide acute services for these patients. These units appear to have distinct clinically relevant assessment and treatment advantages. They are more comprehensive in their diagnostic assessment of patients, are more likely to provide cognitive assessments and are more cognizant of potential side effects of psychotropic medications. They are also more likely to provide more age-specific aftercare recommendations, which is important in maintaining success after the hospitalization. However these specialized units are limited, expensive, and may encounter a unique set of challenges as the landscape changes for healthcare delivery, reimbursement and managed care. In this session, we will describe key characteristics of a typical geriatric psychiatry unit, discuss advantages of such a unit over a general psychiatry unit, discuss different models of geriatric psychiatry facilities, outline standard admission screening criteria for appropriate patient selection, address treatment challenges associated with the need for rapid improvement in patient psychopathologies and discuss the increased pressures in providing high quality care in the context of reduced length of stays with scarce resources for aftercare. At the end of our presentation, we will briefly showcase the unique characteristics of our inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit.

380. Adherence to a selective antenatal haemoglobinopathy screening policy within a tertiary level obstetric unit in Australia

There is no national Australian antenatal haemoglobinopathy screening policy and a previous Australian study of antenatal haemoglobin electrophoresis requests highlighted poor patient selection. Whilst benefits of screening have been well demonstrated, adherence to selective screening protocols in low prevalence populations has not been well described. This study aims to assess adherence to an established selective antenatal screening policy within a low prevalence Australian population. This single-centre retrospective cohort study identifies all women attending for routine public antenatal care with estimated due date between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2016 who meet criteria for selective screening on the basis of established guidelines. The primary outcome was the proportion of eligible women who were appropriately screened. Secondary outcomes included rates of partner testing and rates of specialist referral where fetal risk was identified. A total of 11,709 births were recorded during the study period. Eligibility for screening was identified on the basis of ethnicity in 1076 (9.1%), abnormal red cell indices in 427 (3.6%) and known personal or family history in 77 (0.6%). 158 (10%) had haemoglobin electrophoresis results documented during the antenatal course with 64 (4%) initiated by obstetric staff during the index pregnancy at a median gestation of 22 weeks. Partner testing was documented in 140 (88.6%) of “at risk” pregnancies and of these, appropriate specialist referral was indicated in 28 (20%) but occurred in only 17. This is the first Australian study to describe the rate of pregnancies meeting established criteria for selective screening in a low prevalence population. This data demonstrates poor identification of “at risk” patients leading to limitation of informed choice for affected families. The demonstration of poor adherence within the clinical setting supports arguments for universal screening which becomes increasingly cost effective as the selective screen failure rate rises.

Studies on root anatomy, morphology and physiology of rice grown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

With the changing climate and rainfall abrasions, there is a gradual shift in the system of rice cultivation from traditional transplanted anaerobic to aerobic system. Studies on the root anatomical and morpho-physiological traits provide insights about the adaptation under aerobic conditions. We investigated the root anatomical and morpho-physiological traits in anaerobic (BPT 5204) and aerobic (CR Dhan 202) adapted rice genotypes grown under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. It was observed that the formation of fewer aerenchyma, thickened root and larger xylem area were critical anatomical traits associated with aerobic adaptation as compared to anaerobic conditions. The root length of CR Dhan 202 significantly increased under aerobic condition which may be attributed to its aerobic adaptation in terms of water acquisition. The photosynthetic rate was significantly higher in CR Dhan 202as compared to that of BPT 5204 under the aerobic condition. The morpho-physiological results showed that the root length, total dry weight and photosynthetic rate are the key parameters for imparting aerobic adaptation. These root anatomical and morpho-physiological traits associated with the adaptation can be used as screening criteria for phenotyping and selection of genotypes suitable for aerobic system of cultivation. Such study is expected to expedite the development of rice aerobic varieties in aerobic breeding programmes.

Universal or selective ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip? A discussion of the key issues.

PurposeTo summarize recent developments and provide recommendations as to whether universal or selective programmes are advisable.MethodsA literature review was performed and preference given to studies with higher levels of evidence. All programmes reviewed included clinical screening.ResultsRecent studies underline the need for high quality screening programmes to promote the early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). A small number of cases may be missed clinically but with universal ultrasound screening programmes the late presentation rates appear to be virtually zero. Contemporary studies show treatment rates with universal screening programmes which are now lower than those with selective ultrasound. There is little agreement over the criteria used for selective programmes. Alternative outcome measures, such as the first operation rate or the percentage undergoing major (open) surgery are both lowest with universal ultrasound screening programmes. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the rate of surgery for DDH later in life was seen after the introduction of universal ultrasound screening, whereas the defined criteria for selective screening may not detect the majority of patients who require late surgery. Abduction bracing with modern orthoses is associated with a zero rate of avascular necrosis (AVN), whereas closed reduction techniques have an overall risk of 10%.ConclusionOn clinical grounds, if future studies confirm that hip abduction in flexible orthoses is not associated with AVN, it may be time for a paradigm shift of screening for DDH towards a universal ultrasound protocol. The costs associated both with each type of screening programme and with the management of late presenting cases are also important but may be secondary to clinical benefit.

Successful implementation of Lynch syndrome screening in a safety net institution

Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), and national guidelines recommend screening patients with CRC for LS. However, there is a paucity of data related to Lynch syndrome in the underserved population, in which unique issues of access, cultural beliefs regarding cancer, language barriers, immigration status, and financial restraints exist. We performed a descriptive, retrospective review of a selective LS screening protocol at an urban safety net hospital between 2009 and 2014 with the aim of describing the detected prevalence of LS as well as reporting the high quality and suboptimal screening rates. A total of 154 cases of CRC were identified over the 5-year period, of which 57 met selective LS screening criteria. Eleven patients had a positive screen, and three patients were diagnosed with LS, leading to an overall detected LS prevalence of 1.9%. The rate of high quality screen was greater than 90%, consistent with prior studies. Thus, we show that screening for LS in a safety net hospital can be successful in achieving high quality screening and provide an example for other public hospitals considering implementation of hereditary cancer screening.

Does Shari’ah Screening Cause Abnormal Returns? Empirical Evidence from Islamic Equity Indices

Islamic equity funds are subject to the screening criteria for stock selection imposed by the principles of Islamic jurisprudence (Shari’ah). Equities must pass three basic screens: revenue source, business activity, and financial factors to be included in an Islamic fund. However, screening criteria are not universal especially for the financial factors. One can use financial ratios based on either the book-value of total assets or the market-value of equity for screening of stocks. This may not only result in a different portfolio composition but also entail diverse rebalancing and monitoring costs. The performance of 29 Islamic equity indices (IEIs) versus conventional indices from four major international index providers using different Shari’ah screening criteria are analyzed in a single as well as in a multi-equation framework. The use of a multi-equation framework has the added advantage of utilizing the information content of different screening criteria adopted by different index providers. The empirical findings suggest that the difference in screening criteria does not significantly affect the performance of IEIs. Returns deviation, if any, stems from the relative riskiness of the IEI as compared with the relevant benchmark. Work needs to done to streamline the quantitative screening criteria to avoid confusion among the investing public.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Performance of a Selective Screening Strategy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus According to Ethnicity in Europe

The performance of standard selective screening strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may vary according to ethnicity. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of a selective screening tool to determine whether it accurately predicts GDM and events in women of different ethnicities. The tool selectively screens based on patients having one or more of the following risk factors (RFs): body mass index ≥25 kg/m(2), age ≥35 years, family history of diabetes, and personal history of GDM or macrosomia. We conducted an observational prospective study at a university hospital. We included 17 344 women of European (30.9%), North African (29.6%), Sub-Saharan African (22.2%), Caribbean (8.7%), Indian-Pakistani-Sri Lankan (5.5%), and Asian (3.3%) ethnicities who were without pregravid diabetes and had singleton deliveries (2002-2010). We universally screened GDM and GDM-related events (pre-eclampsia, birth weight ≥4000 g, or dystocia). Independent of confounding factors, North African (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.52; P < .001) and Indian-Pakistani-Sri Lankan (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 2.13-3.00; P < .001) women had more GDM than Europeans, whereas Sub-Saharan African women had less (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.94; P < .01). Having one or more RFs was associated with GDM among Europeans (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.22-1.76), North African (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.55), Sub-Saharan African (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.20-1.83), and Caribbean (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.12-2.14) women. Having one or more RFs was also associated with GDM-related events only in European (P < .01) and North African (P < .05) women, with the following incidences in Europeans: no GDM/no RF, 6.9%; no GDM/RF, 9.0%; GDM/no RF, 14.7%; and GDM/RF, 12.6%. Standard selective screening criteria were not predictive of GDM in women from India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka and Asia and were associated with GDM-related events only in European and North African women. However, the women with GDM, who were routinely treated, had a poor prognosis, even for those free of RFs. These results support universal screening, irrespective of ethnicity.

Improvement of selective screening strategy for gestational diabetes through a more accurate definition of high-risk groups

This study aimed to assess the predictive value of risk factors (RFs) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) established by selective screening (SS) and to identify subgroups of women at a higher risk of developing GDM. A retrospective, single-center study design was employed. Data of 1015 women screened for GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation and diagnosed according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria were evaluated. Information on RFs established by SS was also collected and their association with GDM was determined. To identify distinct and homogeneous subgroups of patients at a higher risk, the RECursive Partitioning and AMalgamation (RECPAM) method was used. Overall, 113 (11.1%) women were diagnosed as having GDM. The application of the SS criteria would result in the execution of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 58.3% of women and 26 (23.0%) cases of GDM would not be detected due to the absence of any RF. The RECPAM analysis identified high-risk subgroups characterized by fasting plasma glucose values >5.1 mmol/l (odds ratio (OR)=26.5; 95% CI 14.3-49.0) and pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=7.0; 95% CI 3.9-12.8 for overweight women). In a final logistic model including RECPAM classes, previous macrosomia (OR=3.6; 95% CI 1.1-11.6), and family history of diabetes (OR=1.8; 95% CI 1.1-2.8), but not maternal age, were also found to be associated with an increased risk of developing GDM. A screening approach based on the RECPAM model would reduce by over 50% (23.0 vs 10.6%) the number of undiagnosed GDM cases when compared with the current SS approach, at the expense of 50 additional OGTTs required. A screening approach based on our RECPAM model results in a significant reduction in the number of undetected GDM cases compared with the current SS procedure.

Audit on outcome of midwife-led gestational diabetes care

The aim was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of gestational diabetic women who received midwife-led care to those who received specific treatment from multidisciplinary teams and to determine the progress of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A retrospective audit was used on a cohort of 291 gestational diabetic women at an east London maternity unit. Outcome measures were ethnicity; attendance at the clinics; mode of deliveries; premature birth requiring admission to neonatal unit; macrosomia and diagnosis of T2DM 6 weeks post delivery. The highest proportion of GDM were Bangladeshi (81.7%) and African (7.9%) compared to (4.1%) Caucasian. This is representative of the ethnic group of T2DM in the 2005 Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) report. Clinic attendances during the first 6 months were reduced by 50% with significantly shorter waiting times. Sixty-two percent of the women delivered vaginally; 31% by caesarian section and 6% of women had assisted deliveries. Adverse pregnancy outcomes—macrosomic babies (1%, 3/298) and premature babies (4.1%, 13/298) born at 29–35 weeks—were lower in women receiving treatment. Four percent (12/219) women progressed to T2DM at 6 weeks post delivery. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2003) do not recommend routine screening. If nothing else, these 4% of women are the same women at risk of unrecognized, undiagnosed and untreated T2DM. CEMACH (2005) data suggested these women have particularly poor outcomes. The evidence of this audit led to the following changes in the diagnostic value for impaired glucose tolerance: the biochemistry value for 2 hours post 75g glucose is now equal to or more than 7.8mmol/L (World Health Organization, 1999; NICE, 2008). The gap identified in the criteria for selective screening is to screen all women from minority ethnic group including South Asian, Middle Eastern, African and Black Caribbean.

Screening Criteria for Selection of New Products in the Electronic Component Distribution Industry

Screening Criteria for Selection of New Products in the Electronic Component Distribution Industry

Selective Testing Criteria for Gonorrhea among Young Women Screened for Chlamydial Infection: Contribution of Race and Geographic Prevalence

Selective screening criteria have been widely implemented for genital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections but have rarely been developed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) infection. Women tested for CT in Washington State Infertility Prevention Project clinics in 2003 were also tested for GC using the Gen-Probe APTIMA COMBO 2 TMA assay. We derived 3 sets of selective testing criteria (STC) for gonorrhea, incorporating risk factors identified using logistic regression (STC-1), self-identified race (STC-2), and local rates of gonorrhea in men (STC-3). Of 55,781 women, 173 (0.3%) tested positive for GC. STC-1 included exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, presumptive CT treatment at screening, a pregnancy-related visit, report of a symptomatic partner, dysuria, abnormal vaginal discharge, or a new sex partner during the preceding 60 days. These criteria identified 80% of cases while testing 47% of women. STC-2 added race (black/Native American) to STC-1 and identified 89% of cases while testing 52%. STC-3 added clinic location in a ZIP code area with male urethral GC infection rates in the top quartile of Washington State rates to STC-1 and identified 86% of cases while testing 58%. Although testing criteria incorporating race were most specific, criteria including local area rates of GC infection in men had similar sensitivity and required testing only slightly more women.

HIV infection in hospitalized children with endemic diseases in Abakaliki, Nigeria: the role of clinically directed selective screening in diagnosis

The increasing prevalence of HIV infection in Nigeria, its similar manifestations with endemic diseases and limited facilities for screening calls for judicious HIV testing. Children aged one month to 15 years admitted into the paediatric ward of the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital between January 2000 and September 2001 for various endemic diseases were reviewed retrospectively. Eight clinical risk factors commonly associated with HIV infection and endemic diseases present either singly or in combination, were reviewed to determine whether they could help to predict HIV infection and at what level and finally help formulate criteria for selective screening of HIV infection. Children above 18 months of age were diagnosed as being infected with HIV if they tested positive by two different HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. In children less than 18 months of age the diagnosis of HIV infection was made if they were ELISA positive and also fulfilled the WHO criteria for symptomatic HIV infection. Of the 282 children reviewed 31 (11.0%) were HIV positive giving a sero-prevalence rate of 4.1% of total admission. The HIV seropositive rate was highest in oral candidiasis (OC) (38.2%), followed by severe malnutrition (SM) (33.8%) then generalized lymphadenopathy (GLN) (31.4%).The presence of SM, GLN, OC and chronic dermatitis were highly significant independent risk factors for predicting HIV seropositivity (p<0.05). A marked shift towards the likelihood of HIV sero-positivity in the presence of at least two of the eight risk factors was documented. Children with two risk factors present had a 9.1 times more risk of being HIV sero-positive compared with those who had only one risk factor present (χ2=11.6, p=0.0007, OR = 9.1, 95% Cl = 2.5–32.8). Thirteen children (41.9%) representing a vast majority of HIV-positive children showed evidence of at least two of the eight clinical risk factors. As the number of risk factors concomitantly present increased, the chances of the child being infected with HIV also increase significantly (p<0.0001). Our study shows that clinically-directed selective screening in the presence of at least two risk factors should be carried out which does have a practical role in early diagnosis of HIV infection in a resource-poor setting.

Probabilistic modeling for fracture mechanic studies of reactor vessels with characterization of uncertainties

The research presented in this paper addresses some important probabilistic fracture mechanics issues raised in recent efforts for assessing pressurized thermal shock risk (PTS) in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The common objectives addressing these issues were to (1) provide a framework including uncertainty characterization and treatment for PTS studies; (2) use the screening criteria for scenario selection developed and reported by the authors; (3) develop a simple computation approach for PTS analyses; and (4) support other researchers in their efforts to develop tools and techniques for reactor vessel failure assessment.The PTS evaluation consists of three disciplines: probabilistic risk assessment, thermal hydraulics, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. The major contribution of this research has been to provide a framework for the fracture mechanics aspects of pressurized thermal shock analysis including uncertainty characterization and treatment. The uncertainty analysis proposed in this research makes a distinction between aleatory and epistemic uncertainties for proper propagation of uncertainties.To ease the computational burden incurred by introducing thermal hydraulics uncertainties, a simple and reasonably accurate fracture mechanics computational approach that performs fracture mechanics calculations rapidly and conservatively is proposed. The approach is tested by developing a mathematical routine in form of a simple Mathematica™ routine called MATH-PFM.

Value of self-reportable screening criteria to identify asymptomatic individuals in the general population for urogential Chlamydia trachomatis infection screening.

Submission of samples from the home allows screening for Chlamydia trachomatis without preceding professional assessment of clinical risk factors. Therefore, a validation of self-reportable information for use as selective screening criteria is needed. We asked a total of 1175 women and 1033 men who participated in an in-home sampling screening study to provide information on behavior and sociodemographic characteristics. In a multivariate model, selective screening criteria were developed on the basis of information from a random part of the tested population (development group), and the validity was assessed for the remaining part of the tested population (validation group). To find all infections, 95% of the subjects had to be screened, and screening 63% of them would have detected 86% of infections. Low predictive values were found when selective screening criteria from other studies were assessed. Selective screening by means of in-home sampling strategies among men and women aged 21-23 years cannot be recommended in the area studied.

Risk factors for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Ultrasonographic Findings in the Neonatal Period

The relationship between ultrasonographic findings at birth and risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip have not been prospectively evaluated. Since implementing a routine screening programme for all new-born babies in 1989 we have collected 48 000 sets of data, including family history, birth presentation, mode of delivery and birth weight. Of the 92 babies (three per 1000 live births) with persistent ultrasonographic abnormality at 6 weeks only 20% displayed evidence of clinical instability at the original examination. Female babies without the additional risks of breech birth or positive family history were quantitatively the most significant group, accounting for 75% of cases treated. The majority of babies requiring intervention would not have been identified utilizing present criteria for selective ultrasound screening.

Risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip: ultrasonographic findings in the neonatal period.

The relationship between ultrasonographic findings at birth and risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip have not been prospectively evaluated. Since implementing a routine screening programme for all new-born babies in 1989 we have collected 48 000 sets of data, including family history, birth presentation, mode of delivery and birth weight. Of the 92 babies (three per 1000 live births) with persistent ultrasonographic abnormality at 6 weeks only 20% displayed evidence of clinical instability at the original examination. Female babies without the additional risks of breech birth or positive family history were quantitatively the most significant group, accounting for 75% of cases treated. The majority of babies requiring intervention would not have been identified utilizing present criteria for selective ultrasound screening.