bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glass wars: The Hanford tank wastes and public participation
Authors: Abbotts John , Weems Charles 
Published: April 2006

AbstractOne of the most difficult remediation challenges facing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is the need to immobilize some 50 million gallons of highly ra‐dioactive, liquid wastes stored in underground tanks at the Hanford site in Washington State. In part as a result of public participation, the technical strat‐egy for tank waste treatment was revised in 1994: high‐activity and low‐activity waste fractions would both be immobilized in a vitrified glass form, although the low‐activity fraction would remain at Hanford. This strategy has been subjected to cycles of reargument, reanalysis, and reconfirmation. As DOE proceeds with remediation of the Hanford tank wastes, it would be to the Department's advan‐tage to understand that public participation has already made positive contribu‐tions to technical decisions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of liquid crystalline poly(1‐pentyne)s and fabrication of polyacetylene–perovskite hybrids
Authors: Hua Jianli , Lam Jacky Wing Yip , Li Zhen , Qin Anjun , Sun Jingzhi , Dong Yongqiang , Dong Yuping , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPoly(1‐pentyne)s containing biphenyl and phthalimido pendant groups with different spacer lengths {P1(m); [HCC(CH2)3OBiphOCO(CH2)mN(CO)2C6H4]n, Biph4,4′biphenylyl; m = 7, 10} are synthesized in satisfactory yields by WCl6‐Ph4Sn catalyst in toluene at elevated temperatures. The structures and properties of the polymers are characterized and evaluated by IR, NMR, TGA, DSC, POM, and XRD analyses. Both of the polymers are thermally stable (Td ≥ 300 °C) and exhibit nematicity at high temperatures. Their phthalimido groups are converted into amino groups by hydrolysis, which can, after acidification, complex with lead(II) bromide to furnish polyacetylene–perovskite hybrids in high yields. The organic components contribute good solubility to the hybrids, while the perovskite framework induces the polyacetylene chains to align within the inorganic sheets. The hybrids emit a strong UV light of 374 nm upon photoexcitation, whose quantum yield increases with an increase in the spacer length. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3538–3550, 2006
Computational mutagenesis studies of protein structure‐function correlations
Authors: Masso Majid , Lu Zhibin , Vaisman Iosif I. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTopological scores, measures of sequence‐structure compatibility, are calculated for all 1,881 single point mutants of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 protease using a four‐body statistical potential function based on Delaunay tessellation of protein structure. Comparison of the mutant topological score data with experimental data from alanine scan studies specifically on the dimer interface residues supports previous findings that 1) L97 and F99 contribute greatly to the Gibbs energy of HIV‐1 protease dimerization, 2) Q2 and T4 contribute the least toward the Gibbs energy, and 3) C‐terminal residues are more sensitive to mutations than those at the N‐terminus. For a more comprehensive treatment of the relationship between protease structure and function, mutant topological scores are compared with the activity levels for a set of 536 experimentally synthesized protease mutants, and a significant correlation is observed. Finally, this structure‐function correlation is similarly identified by examining model systems consisting of 2,015 single point mutants of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme as well as 366 single point mutants of HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase and is hypothesized to be a property generally applicable to all proteins. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surveillance in Taiwan Using Molecular Epidemiology for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Yu Wen-Liang , Winokur Patricia L. , Jones Ronald N. , Sader Hélio S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To evaluate intrahospital and interhospital clonal dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae.Setting:Eight tertiary-care university hospitals and 16 regional hospitals in Taiwan.Methods:Two hundred eleven confirmed ESBL-producing isolates of K. pneumoniae were collected from January 1998 to June 2000. The isolates were characterized by various typing methods, including antibiogram (9 antimicrobial agents), computer-based ribotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and isoelectric focusing of beta-lactamase.Results:Ribotyping identified 70 distinct ribogroups among 200 isolates evaluated. Forty-three of these ribogroups were unique. Eleven ribogroups, comprising 115 isolates, were detected in more than one hospital (interhospital dissemination), whereas 16 groups (42 isolates) were detected in more than one patient within a hospital (intrahospital dissemination). The combination of ribotyping and PFGE identified two large epidemic clones, which were called 691.5/PFGE-G and 595.7/PFGE-A. These epidemic clones were detected mainly in the hospitals located in the northern and central regions of Taiwan. However, variation of the profiles of antibiograms and isoelectric focusing was apparent within each clone. In addition, isolates with the same isoelectric focusing profile (isoelectric points 7.9, 8.2, and 8.4) and antibiogram (resistance to 9 compounds evaluated) were present among different molecular-typed clones.Conclusions:Our results showed that clonal dissemination (both interhospital and intrahospital dissemination) is occurring in several regions of Taiwan. Rapid computer-based ribotyping associated with PFGE demonstrated multiple epidemic clones of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae in Taiwan. The combination of phenotypic and molecular methods has proved useful to characterize these epidemic clones.
Control of Enterobacteriaceae Producing Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase in Intensive Care Units: Rectal Screening May Not Be Needed in Non-Epidemic Situations
Authors: Thouverez Michelle , Talon Daniel , Bertrand Xavier 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the usefulness of screening cultures in the control of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in intensive care units (ICUs).Design:A 4-year retrospective study.Setting:Two adult ICUs of a university-affiliated public hospital in France.Results:A total of 7,777 specimens were analyzed and 28 (0.97%) of 2,883 screened patients had a positive result on a screening test, among the 3,678 admitted patients. Thirteen of these 28 patients were only carriers; 4 were carriers and then were colonized or infected 2, 2, 3, and 8 days later, respectively; and 11 were colonized or infected before a screening test was positive. Cluster analysis showed that the occurrence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae cross-transmission within both ICUs was limited to 9 cases. Thus, most cases (19 of 28) were probably imported. Surveillance cultures failed to detect 9 of the 19 cases.Conclusion:The low prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriers on admission (0.45%) and the relative ineffectiveness of our screening test to detect imported cases suggest that systematic detection of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in ICU patients is not cost-effective and that the use of clinical cultures may be sufficient to control ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in non-epidemic situations.
Rapidly Rising Prevalence of Nosocomial Multidrug-Resistant, Gram-Negative Bacilli: A 9-Year Surveillance Study
Authors: D'Agata Erika M. C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To examine and quantify the temporal trends of nosocomial multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli.Design:A 9-year surveillance study was conducted. Multidrug resistance was defined as resistance to 3 or more antimicrobial classes.Setting:Tertiary-care institution.Results:From 1994 to 2002, multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli increased from 1% to 16% for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 4% to 13% for multidrug-resistant Enterobacter species, 0.5% to 17% for multidrug-resistant Klebsiella species, 0% to 9% for multidrug-resistant Proteus species, and 0.2% to 4% for multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (P ≤ .05). The most common pattern of multidrug resistance was co-resistance to quinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides.Conclusion:The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli may warrant infection control programs to include these pathogens in strategies aimed at limiting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cholangitis After Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Failure of Routine Endoscope Cultures to Prevent an Outbreak
Authors: Fraser Thomas G. , Reiner Sandra , Malczynski Michael , Yarnold Paul R. , Warren John , Noskin Gary A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:Nosocomial infections due to medical devices are of increasing concern to infection control practitioners. Attempts to prevent such infections have included surveillance cultures of endoscopes and bronchoscopes. In July 2002, the infectious disease consultation service was asked to see three patients with sepsis due to multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).Objective:To describe an outbreak of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa sepsis after ERCP at an institution that performs routine surveillance cultures of endoscopes.Design:A traditional outbreak investigation supplemented by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was undertaken, including a case-control analysis based on the hypothesis that all infected individuals had their ERCP performed with the same endoscope.Setting:A tertiary-care academic medical center.Results:The case-control analysis confirmed the hypothesis that undergoing ERCP with the implicated endoscope was associated with a culture positive for Pseudomonas (P = .01). The available strains were identical by PFGE. This outbreak occurred despite a negative surveillance culture of the implicated endoscope 1 month earlier.Conclusions:Infectious morbidity can occur after endoscopy despite negative surveillance cultures. The practice of routine endoscope cultures does not prevent device-related infectious morbidity.
Intrinsic Klebsiella pneumoniae Contamination of Liquid Germicidal Hand Soap Containing Chlorhexidine
Authors: Brooks Steven E. , Walczak Mary A. , Malcolm Sharon , Hameed Rizwanullah 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe describe intrinsic contamination with Klebsiella pneumoniae occurring during the manufacture of germicidal hand soap, labeled as containing 2% chlorhexidine, used throughout a 350-bed community medical center. A 3-year retrospective study failed to find evidence of increased incidence of clinical isolates of this strain.
Molecular Typing of Agrobacterium Species Isolates From Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Giammanco Giovanni M. , Pignato Sarina , Santangelo Carmelita , Grimont Patrick A. D. , Grimont Francine , Giammanco Giuseppe 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAgrobacterium isolates from intravenous catheters of three hospitalized patients were initially identified as A. tumefaciens, but inability to produce 3-ketolactose revealed that two of them were A. vitis. However, rDNA analysis correlated all of the isolates to A. tumefaciens. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis ascertained the nosocomial transmission of the infection.
Policies and Practices for Improving Influenza Immunization Rates Among Healthcare Workers
Authors: Goldstein Adam O. , Kincade Jean E. , Gamble George , Bearman Rachel S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To determine the attitudes, policies, and barriers for requiring annual versus voluntary influenza vaccinations for the staff of healthcare institutions in North Carolina.Methods:Five different types of institutions serving at-risk elderly populations throughout North Carolina were chosen for study, including hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes, dialysis centers, and assisted living facilities. Infection control managers completed a 45-question telephone survey on policies for annual influenza vaccinations for employees, incentives to encourage immunizations, support for mandatory influenza vaccinations for workers, barriers to employee vaccinations, and support for a state law to mandate influenza immunizations for employees with patient care contact.Results:Of 312 institutions, 268 (86%) participated in the study. Only 38% of institutions reported having formal written employee influenza vaccination policies, and only 2% actually mandated annual employee vaccinations. Reported barriers to increasing healthcare worker annual influenza vaccinations included “fear of side effects” and “perceived ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine.” Almost half of the respondents would support mandating influenza vaccinations for all healthcare workers with direct patient contact.Conclusion:A state-wide survey of the receptivity, policies, and implications of mandated employee influenza vaccinations among healthcare institutions serving the elderly in North Carolina found written policies uncommon and most of the mechanisms used to increase vaccinations voluntary. Efforts should be tailored to individuals, institutions, and healthcare systems to dramatically increase employee immunization rates.
Use Of A Mobile Cart Influenza Program For Vaccination Of Hospital Employees
Authors: Sartor Catherine , Tissot-Dupont Herve , Zandotti Christine , Martin Francoise , Roques Pierre , Drancourt Michel 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:Rates of annual influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) remained low in our university hospital. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a mobile cart influenza vaccination program on HCW vaccination.Methods:From 2000 to 2002, the employee health service continued its annual influenza vaccination program and the mobile cart program was implemented throughout the institution. This program offered influenza vaccination to all employees directly on the units. Each employee completed a questionnaire. Vaccination rates were analyzed using the Mantel–Haenszel test.Results:The program proposed vaccination to 50% to 56% of the employees. Among the nonvaccinated employees, 52% to 53% agreed to be vaccinated. The compliance with vaccination varied from 61% to 77% among physicians and medical students and from 38% to 55% among nurses and other employees. Vaccination of the chief or associate professor of the unit was associated with a higher vaccination rate of the medical staff (P < .01). Altogether, the vaccination program led to an increase in influenza vaccination among employees from 6% in 1998 and 7% in 1999 before the mobile cart program to 32% in 2000, 35% in 2001, and 32% in 2002 (P < .001).Conclusions:The mobile cart program was associated with a significantly increased vaccination acceptance. Our study was able to identify HCW groups for which the mobile cart was effective and highlight the role of the unit head in its success.
Preventing Nosocomial Influenza by Improving the Vaccine Acceptance Rate of Clinicians
Authors: Salgado Cassandra D. , Giannetta Eve T. , Hayden Frederick G. , Farr Barry M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjectives:To assess the effects of interventions to prevent transmission of influenza and to increase employee compliance with influenza vaccination.Design:The change in the proportion of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed nosocomial influenza was observed over time and assessed using chi-square for trend analysis. The association between nosocomial influenza in patients and healthcare worker (HCW) compliance with vaccine was assessed by logistic regression.Setting:A 600-bed, tertiary-care academic hospital.Methods:After an outbreak of influenza A at this hospital in 1988, a mobile cart program was instituted with increased efforts to motivate employees to be vaccinated and furloughed when ill as well as new measures to prevent nosocomial spread.Results:HCW vaccination rates increased from 4% in 1987–1988 to 67% in 1999–2000 (P < .0001). Proportions of nosocomially acquired influenza cases among employees or patients both declined significantly (P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant inverse association between HCW compliance with vaccination and the rate of nosocomial influenza among patients (P < .001).Conclusion:A mobile cart vaccination program and an increased emphasis on HCWs to receive the vaccine were associated with a significant increase in vaccine acceptance and a significant decrease in the rate of nosocomial influenza among patients.
Influenza Vaccination: A Collaborative Effort to Improve the Health of the Community
Authors: Parry Michael F. , Grant Brenda , Iton Anthony , Parry Patricia D. , Baranowsky Diane 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:The need to improve influenza vaccination delivery in our community became painfully clear during the winter of 1997–1998 when high rates of respiratory illness led to congestion in the emergency department and a critical shortage of hospital beds. In response, the local hospital and the Department of Health launched a collaborative program to increase influenza vaccine coverage in the community.Methods:The partnership was designed to increase the number of citizens receiving influenza vaccine and to moderate the severity of lower respiratory tract illness during the winter season. A variety of methods were used to increase public awareness, enhance vaccine delivery, and create a relatively seamless service for the community.Results:During three seasons, influenza vaccination rates increased by a relative 150%. This represented immunization of 16% of the entire community and more than 75% of residents older than 65 years. Hospital employee vaccination rates also rose from 34% to 58%. When compared with other hospitals in the county, the campaign reduced the average number of annual visits to the emergency department for all respiratory diagnoses by 34% and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 46%.Conclusions:This influenza vaccination program illustrates the potential for synergy that exists between local departments of health and community hospitals in successfully increasing vaccine delivery to the community. Furthermore, it also suggests that such efforts can be successful in reducing use of the emergency department, resulting in a positive impact on the health of the community.
Characteristics of Long-Term–Care Facility Residents Associated With Receipt of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations
Authors: Bardenheier Barbara , Shefer Abigail , McKibben Linda , Roberts Henry , Bratzler Dale 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:Studies have found residency in long-term–care facilities (LTCFs) a risk factor for influenza and pneumonia and have demonstrated that vaccinations against these diseases reduce the risk of disease. However, rates are below Healthy People 2010 goals of 90% for LTCFs. During 1999–2002, a multi-state demonstration project was conducted in LTCFs to implement standing orders programs for immunizations.Objective:Identify nursing home resident–specific characteristics associated with vaccination coverage at baseline.Methods:Facility-level data were collected from self-reported surveys of selected nursing homes in 14 states and from the On-line Survey and Certification Reporting System. Resident-level data, including demographics and physical functioning, were obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Minimum Data Set; 2000–2001 vaccination status was obtained by chart review. Influenza vaccination status reflected a single season, whereas pneumococcal vaccination status reflected vaccination in the past. Multilevel analysis was used to control for facility-level variation.Results:Of 22,188 residents sampled in 249 LTCFs, complete data were obtained for 20,516 (92%). The average coverage for immunizations was 58.5% ± 0.7% for influenza and 34.6% ± 0.3% for pneumococcal. On bivariate analyses, residents with cognitive, psychiatric, or neurologic problems were more likely to be vaccinated; those with accidental injuries, unstable conditions, or cancer were less likely to receive either vaccine. On multilevel analysis, the strongest resident characteristics associated with receipt of immunizations, controlling facility variation, were cognitive deficits and psychiatric illness.Conclusion:The variation in baseline vaccination coverage associated with LTCF resident characteristics supports the need for strategies to increase vaccination coverage in LTCFs.
Adverse Effects of Amantadine and Oseltamivir Used During Respiratory Outbreaks in a Center for Developmentally Disabled Adults
Authors: McGeer Allison J. , Lee Wayne , Loeb Mark , Simor Andrew E. , McArthur Margaret , Green Karen , Benjamin Jonathan Hayfron , Gardner Charles 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground And Objectives:Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended for the control of institutional influenza A outbreaks. In long-term–care institutions other than nursing homes, neither the seriousness of influenza nor the risks and benefits of antiviral prophylaxis is clearly understood. We studied the severity of illness due to influenza among adults residing in a center for the developmentally disabled and assessed adverse reactions to amantadine and oseltamivir prophylaxis.Methods:Data were collected from the charts of consenting residents. Complications of upper respiratory tract illness were recorded. Potential adverse events were documented during amantadine and oseltamivir therapy, and during a baseline period with neither medication.Results:The median age of the 287 participants was 46.4 years. Only 15 (5%) were older than 65 years, and 69 (24%) had chronic underlying medical illness placing them at high risk for influenza. Of the 122 residents with an upper respiratory tract infection, 16 (13%) developed pneumonia, 12 (9.8%) were hospitalized, and 5 (4%) died. Twenty-eight (25%) of 112 residents had an adverse neurologic event while receiving amantadine prophylaxis, compared with 3 (2.7%) receiving no antiviral medication and 5 (4.5%) receiving oseltamivir (P < .001). Sixteen percent of the residents discontinued amantadine due to adverse events; in contrast, adverse events were identified in 2.9% of the residents prescribed oseltamivir, and none discontinued therapy.Conclusions:Viral respiratory tract infections are associated with a high risk of complications in this population. The rate of adverse neurologic events associated with amantadine was significantly higher than that associated with oseltamivir.