bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studying Factors Affecting Indoor Gamma-radiation Dose using Mcnp5 Simulation Software—revisited: Adding Two More Factors
Authors: Orabi M. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
The main factors that affect the gamma-radiation dose rate inside a room are defined in a simulation model. Some previously studied factors are the point of detection inside the room, the dimensions of the room, the thicknesses of the different parts of the room, and the density of the building material. The model is meant to ease the dose-rate estimation. Relative dose rates are calculated for different values of the different factors. The calculations are made using Monte Carlo n-particle simulation software. In this study two new factors are being added: the existence of a neighboring room and the split of a wall into two portions.
Verification of Safety Compliance of Delivering Radionuclides at Vanderbilt University
Authors: Chen Liang , Helstern Christopher M. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Various radionuclides are transported at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center on a daily basis, to provide the necessities for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research applications. The delivery of the radionuclides takes various pathways where the general public may receive radiation doses. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Health Radiological Division regulates the dose limits for members of the public to be less than 1 mSv per year and 20 μSv in any hour. We designed a project to verify that potential doses received by the general public meet state regulations. Before the departure of the delivery, dose rates from three directions at a distance of 30 cm with respect to the transport vehicle, were measured using a tissue equivalent survey meter. During the shipment, times were recorded and the number of persons encountered along the path was estimated. Annual and hourly doses were calculated, conservatively assuming that a member of general public would follow the shipment at a distance of 30 cm, for the entire duration of the delivery. Calculated dose rates for each delivery and various combinations of radionuclides were found to be below state regulation limits.
Evaluation of an Upward Trend in Background Count Rates from a Stack Particulate Continuous Air Monitor
Authors: Rishel Jeremy P. , Barnett J. Matthew , Mozhayev Andrey V. , Dutcher Elliott “Dutch” , Colby Scott A. , Carter Gregory L. , Patello Gertrude K. , Steen Franciska H. , Hanson Eric M. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory operates the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, which is a multi-purpose, non-reactor nuclear research facility. Regulations require both continuous sampling and monitoring of radioactive particulates and tritium gas in the exhaust from the main stack. Releases of other radioactive gases, including planned releases of radon, are tracked separately in a database and reported. During the 2015 calibration of the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory stack continuous air monitor, measured alpha and beta background count rates were much higher than expected, especially when compared to count rates from previous calibrations. The source of the higher background count rates was examined by trending of historical continuous air monitor measurements and a comparison to the sampler data. The analysis revealed that the sample results showed no increase in emissions, whereas the continuous air monitor showed a steady increase in count rates. Ultimately, the continuous air monitor filter was analyzed and found to contain higher-than-normal background levels of 220Rn progeny. Assessments were performed to determine the cause of the increased background values, including reviews of building research activities, radioactive material usage and storage, adequacy of procedures, and the potential for internal continuous air monitor contamination. Project reviews determined that a research activity involving 228Th was left in an unsealed state, resulting in 220Rn being released from a hot cell into the exhaust system. The 228Th source material was subsequently repackaged and contained, resulting in a decrease of continuous air monitor background count rates. An estimate of the 220Rn release was made and the contribution to the annual offsite dose from the facility was calculated. The released activity and reported dose results were well below the permit limits for the facility.
Dose Estimation in Recycling of Decontamination Soil Resulting From The Fukushima NPS Accident For Road Embankments
Authors: Takai Shizuka , Sawaguchi Takuma , Takeda Seiji 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Since the Fukushima nuclear power station accident, large quantities of radiocesium-contaminated soil generated from decontamination activities have been stored in Fukushima prefecture. To complete the final disposal of decontamination soil, reducing the disposal volume through recycling can prove effective. The Ministry of the Environment of Japan has developed a policy of handling low-activity decontamination soil as recycled materials under the management of public authority. The recycling is limited to civil engineering structures in public projects, such as road embankments and coastal levees. However, there has been no practical review or safety assessment of decontamination soil recycling. In this study, to contribute to guideline development for decontamination soil recycling by the Ministry of the Environment, dose estimation was considered as a way of ensuring that the use of recycled decontamination soil for road embankments was safe. First, based on Japanese construction standards, additional doses to workers and the public in construction and service (e.g., use of a road embankment) scenarios were evaluated. From the result, the radioactive cesium concentration level of recycled materials that would result in all additional doses meeting the radiation criterion of 1 mSv y−1 was derived to be 6,000 Bq kg−1. Then, construction conditions were reviewed to reduce additional doses to the public in a service scenario. To confine doses to the public to below 10 μSv y−1 based on the derived radioactivity level, an additional layer of soil slope protection of 40 cm or more was needed. Finally, additional doses expected in a disaster scenario were confirmed to be below 1 mSv y−1 based on the derived radioactivity level, an additional layer of soil slope protection of 40 cm or more was needed. Finally, additional doses expected in a disaster scenario were confirmed to be below 1 mSv y−1 based on the derived radioactivity level.
Comparison of U.S. NRC’S Rascal Emergency Response Code with Noaa’s Hyrad Dispersion Model and Tracer Experimental Data
Authors: Abbott Michael L. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Field Research Division uses the HYRad-HYSPLIT dispersion model to assess hypothetical accidental releases of airborne radioactive materials at the Idaho National Laboratory in southeastern Idaho. The State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Idaho National Laboratory Oversight Program provides independent assessment of these releases using a different model, RASCAL, which is the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s primary reactor-emergency response code. To confirm RASCAL is a reasonable independent assessment tool, the Oversight Program compared the two models’ output for typical meteorological cases encountered at the Idaho National Laboratory. RASCAL results were also compared to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experimental SF6 tracer data from 2013 at the Idaho National Laboratory. Both RASCAL and HYRad predicted very similar plume shapes and paths for the different meteorological cases. For typical daytime conditions, HYRad predicted slightly higher integrated air concentrations by up to a factor of two at downwind distances of less than about 40 km, then decreased below the RASCAL concentrations. The opposite was true for a nighttime release, with RASCAL giving significantly higher concentrations (by one to two orders of magnitude) at a distance of 20 km. For all the runs, RASCAL predicted significantly less total deposition, except at the outer edges of the plume during a nighttime release. Most of the discrepancies are believed to be due to differences in the models’ simulation algorithms and the hard-wired input parameter values used by each model (e.g., deposition velocities). For tracer data comparisons, RASCAL’s straight-line Gaussian plume model calculated maximum 2 h predicted-to-observed concentration ratios of 0.8 to 1.8 for unstable conditions and 0.4 to 0.9 for neutral conditions.
137Cs Lake Sediment Depth Profiles and Inventories Within Four Lakes of Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness
Authors: Bishop Benjamin Thomas , Brey Richard 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
A total of 68 sediment cores from four freshwater alpine lakes in Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness were collected during the summer of 2017. The objectives of the study were to determine depth distributions of 137Cs in the cores using gamma spectrometry and to estimate the sedimentation rates of the lakes from the identified geochronological peaks linked to nuclear fallout. The 137Cs radioactivity above reference-area values was detected in all studied lakes. The maximum 137Cs concentrations measured in each lake’s sediment ranged from 74.0 ± 6.09 to 255 ± 7.48 Bq kg−1. Factors such as elevation, latitude, and pH showed no correlation to total 137Cs deposition. However, the data developed during this investigation suggested that characteristics such as geological location or lake flushing patterns are important factors in the total 137Cs deposition observed. Three of the lakes had 137Cs sediment depth distributions that resembled the deposition pattern of weapons testing as a function of time. Mean sedimentation rate estimates ranged from 0.08 ± 0.3 to 0.1 ± 0.05 cm y−1 and decreased with increasing altitude.
A Review of Indoor and Outdoor Radon Equilibrium Factors—part I: 222Rn
Authors: Chen Jing , Harley Naomi H. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Radon exposure limits are given in terms of radon gas concentration in the air. However, in the calculation of radon dose to the lung, the radon equilibrium equivalent concentration is used. The measured equilibrium factor times the measured radon gas concentration estimates the equilibrium equivalent concentration. Therefore, the equilibrium factor is an important factor in radon dose calculations. A review of published measurements of equilibrium factors shows a range of values reported in studies from more than 20 countries, measured in indoor residential, indoor public, and outdoor environments. Values for 222Rn are reported and discussed here, with special attention paid to results from India and China, where measured equilibrium factors are reported for hundreds and thousands of households, respectively. The wide range of equilibrium factors suggests that location-specific values are more appropriate than a worldwide average value in the calculation of lung bronchial dose.
The Effect of Body Mass Index on Rehabilitation of Patients with Amputation
Authors: Burke David T. , Al-Adawi Samir , Jain Nitin B. , Burke Daniel P. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction
This retrospective cohort study was designed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the functional progress of 327 consecutive patients with amputation admitted to the amputee unit of a freestanding acute care rehabilitation hospital between January 2000 and April 2006.

Methods
Data were analyzed during the period of January 2000 to April 2006 from all previously amputated patients admitted and discharged from an acute freestanding rehabilitation hospital. Data were retrieved from the medical record including diagnosis, height, and weight measured before amputation, functional independence measurements (FIMs) scored on admission and discharge, and the length of rehabilitation hospitalization.

Results
After adjusting for age, sex, and length of stay, the FIM gain per day was the highest among those in the obese class I, followed by those in obese class III and the underweight group.

Conclusions
In patients undergoing rehabilitation after amputation, FIM gain per day is not significantly associated with BMI. Thus, obese patients can expect to have functional gains that are similar to patients with normal BMI after amputation.
Relationships of Microbiome Markers With Extraintestinal, Psychological Distress and Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Hollister Emily B. , Cain Kevin C. , Shulman Robert J. , Jarrett Monica E. , Burr Robert L. , Ko Cynthia , Zia Jasmine , Han Claire J. , Heitkemper Margaret M. 
Published: August 2018

Introduction:
Altered microbial diversity has been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Less is known about the relationship of microbiome with extraintestinal pain and psychological distress symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in persons with IBS. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of fecal microbiota to GI symptoms, stool consistency, psychological distress, extraintestinal pain, and QOL in participants meeting Rome III criteria for IBS.

Methods:
Seventy-six women completed a 28-day diary that included GI, stool consistency, psychological distress, and extraintestinal pain ratings. Participants completed the IBS-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Principal component analysis was performed and the first 2 components (PC1, PC2) were used to test relationships among bacterial families and clinical measures.

Results:
Participants were categorized as IBS constipation (n=22), IBS diarrhea (n=39), IBS mixed (n=13), and IBS unsubtyped (n=2). There was a significant group effect for the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and PC1. Lower microbial diversity and richness were associated with increased urgency and extraintestinal pain, worse QOL, and looser stools. Lower extraintestinal pain was associated with increased Rikenellaceae, Christensenellaceae, Dehalobabacteriaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Sutterellaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae abundances. QOL was positively associated with many of these same bacterial families. Higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was positively associated with loose stools. There were no statistically significant relationships between daily psychological distress or abdominal pain and bacterial families.

Conclusions:
Stool microbial diversity and composition are linked to daily extraintestinal symptoms, stool consistency, and QOL in women with IBS.
Peripartum Maternal Hepatitis B Care in a US Nationwide Data Set
Authors: Chang Matthew S. , Wharam J. Frank , Zhang Fang , LeCates Robert F. , Morton-Eggleston Emma , Tuomala Ruth E. , Rutherford Anna E. , Mutinga Muthoka L. , Andersson Karin L. , Brown Robert S. , Ukomadu Chinweike , Oken Emily 
Published: August 2018

Background:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening during pregnancy is standard of care to prevent vertical transmission to infants, yet the mothers themselves may not receive appropriate follow-up.Goals:Using a national database, we sought to determine rates of maternal peripartum follow-up with a HBV specialist and identify factors associated with a lack of follow-up.Materials and Methods:We identified women who delivered in 2000 to 2012 and were diagnosed with HBV according to International Classification of Diseases-9 codes using a national database (Optum) derived from commercial insurance claims with ∼46 million members ages 0 to 64 in all 50 states. Our primary outcome was follow-up during or after pregnancy with a HBV specialist (gastroenterology/infectious diseases).Results:The prevalence of HBV was 0.27% (2558/959,747 pregnancies), and median follow-up was 45 months. Only 21% of women had peripartum HBV specialist follow-up. On multivariable regression, predictors of peripartum follow-up at 1-year included younger age [odds ratio (OR), 0.97/y; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94, 0.99], Asian race/ethnicity (OR, 1.56 vs. white; 95% CI, 1.13, 2.17), and residing in the Northeast (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.09, 2.66) and Midwest (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07, 2.81) versus West. Predictors of testing for HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase at 1 year included Asian race (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.23, 2.41), a primary care physician visit within 2 years of delivery (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19, 2.22), and peripartum HBV specialist follow-up within 1 year (OR, 15.68; 95% CI, 11.38, 21.60).Conclusions:Maternal HBV specialist follow-up rates were extremely low in this large, diverse cohort representing all United States regions. Referral to a HBV specialist was the strongest predictor of appropriate postpartum HBV laboratory testing. Follow-up rates may be even lower in uninsured populations.
Comparison of Complication Rates of Central Venous Catheters Versus Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters in Pediatric Patients*
Authors: Noonan Patrick J. , Hanson Sheila J. , Simpson Pippa M. , Dasgupta Mahua , Petersen Tara L. 
Published: August 2018

Objectives:
The purpose of our study is to compare the rate of central line–associated blood stream infections and venous thromboembolism in central venous catheters versus peripherally inserted central catheters in hospitalized children. There is a growing body of literature in adults describing an increased rate of venous thromboembolisms and similar rates of central line–associated blood stream infection associated with peripherally inserted central catheters versus central venous catheters. It is not known if the rate of central line–associated blood stream infection and venous thromboembolism differs between peripherally inserted central catheters and central venous catheters in children. Based on current adult literature, we hypothesize that central line–associated blood stream infection rates for peripherally inserted central catheters and central venous catheters will be similar, and the rate of venous thromboembolism will be higher for peripherally inserted central catheters versus central venous catheters.

Design:
This is a cohort study using retrospective review of medical records and prospectively collected hospital quality improvement databases.

Setting:
Quaternary-care pediatric hospital from October 2012 to March 2016.

Patients:
All patients age 1 day to 18 years old with central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters placed during hospital admission over the study dates were included. Central venous catheters that were present upon hospital admission were excluded. The primary outcomes were rate of central line–associated blood stream infection and rate of venous thromboembolism.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
Of 2,709 catheters included in the study, 1,126 were peripherally inserted central catheters and 1,583 were central venous catheters. Peripherally inserted central catheters demonstrated a higher rate of both infection and venous thromboembolism than central venous catheters in all reported measures. In multivariable analysis, peripherally inserted central catheters had increased association with central line–associated blood stream infection (odds ratio of 3.15; 95% CI, 1.74–5.71; p = 0.0002) and increased association with venous thromboembolism (odds ratio of 2.71; 95% CI, 1.65–4.45; p < 0.0001) compared with central venous catheters.

Conclusions:
Rates of central line–associated blood stream infection and venous thromboembolism were higher in hospitalized pediatric patients with peripherally inserted central catheters as compared to central venous catheters. Our study confirms the need for further investigation into the safety of central access devices to assist in proper catheter selection.
Clustering Analysis to Explore Cohorts in Comorbid Patients
Authors: Karkare Rasika 
Published: August 2018

1.ABSTRACTMultimorbidities are associated with significant burden on the healthcare system and the lack of accurate and pertinent statistical exploratory techniques have often limited their analysis. Here we employ exploratory hierarchal agglomerative clustering (HAC) of multimorbidities in the inpatient population in the state of Ohio. The examination exposed the presence of ten discrete, clinically pertinent groups of multimorbidities within the Ohio inpatient population. This method offers an assessable empirical exploration of the multimorbidities present in a specific geographic populace.
Direct estimation of HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity from serum
Authors: Kuusisto Sanna , Holmes Michael V. , Ohukainen Pauli , Kangas Antti J. , Karsikas Mari , Tiainen Mika , Perola Markus , Salomaa Veikko , Kettunen Johannes , Ala-Korpela Mika 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHigh-density lipoprotein mediated cholesterol efflux capacity (HDL-CEC) is a functional attribute that may have a protective role in atherogenesis. However, the estimation of HDL-CEC is based on in vitro cell assays that are laborious and hamper large-scale phenotyping. Here, we present a cost-effective high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy method to estimate HDL-CEC directly from serum. We applied the new method in a population-based study of 7,603 individuals including 574 who developed incident coronary heart disease (CHD) during 15 years of follow-up, making this the largest quantitative study for HDL-CEC. As estimated by NMR-spectroscopy, a 1-SD higher HDL-CEC was associated with a lower risk of incident CHD (hazards ratio 0.86; 95%CI 0.79-0.93, adjusted for traditional risk factors and HDL-C). These findings are consistent with published associations based on in vitro cell assays. These corroborative large-scale findings provide further support for a potential protective role of HDL-CEC in CHD, and substantiate this new method and its future applications.
Designing a Study of Correlates of Risk for Ebola Vaccination
Authors: Elizabeth Halloran M. , Longini Ira M. , Gilbert Peter B. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe rVSV Ebola vaccine was shown to be very efficacious in a novel ring vaccination trial in Guinea. However, no correlates of vaccine protection have been established for Ebola vaccines. Several Ebola vaccine candidates are available, but conducting randomized trials of additional candidates in outbreak situations has become difficult. Establishing correlates of vaccine protection would be useful in helping vaccine candidates become licensed. In this note, we explore power and sample calculations to study potential correlates of risk (protection) during an Ebola vaccination campaign in an outbreak situation under a number of assumptions. At an overall vaccine efficacy of 75%, 50 Ebola endpoints in the vaccinees provided good power. At an overall vaccine efficacy of 90%, 20 Ebola endpoints gave good power under certain assumptions. In the May – July 2018 Ebola outbreak in DRC, over 3000 individuals were vaccinated, with no reported cases in vaccinated individuals. To be feasible, this type of study need Ebola endpoints in vaccinated individuals.