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Kinds of Collection Terms modified by Collection Selected AbstractsDouble-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Response Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Subjects with Crow's FeetDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2005Nicholas J. Lowe MD Background Published evidence suggests that botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is an effective treatment for crow's feet. However, few dose-ranging studies have been performed. Objectives To assess the safety and efficacy of a single treatment with one of four doses of BTX-A (Botox/Vistabel, Allergan Inc) compared with placebo for the improvement of crow's feet. Methods Subjects received a single bilateral treatment of 18, 12, 6, or 3 U of BTX-A or placebo injected into the lateral aspect of the orbicularis oculi muscle (parallel-group, double,blind design). Investigators and subjects rated crow's feet severity at maximum smile on day 7 and at 30-day intervals from days 30 to 180. Results As observed by both investigators and subjects, all doses of BTX-A resulted in improvements in crow's feet severity when compared with placebo. A dose-dependent treatment effect for efficacy was observed, with higher doses having an increased magnitude and duration of effect. However, a clear differentiation between the 18 U and 12 U doses was not apparent. Few adverse events were reported, with no statistically significant differences between BTX-A and placebo in the incidence of subjects experiencing adverse events. Conclusion BTX-A is safe and effective in decreasing the severity of crow's feet, with 12 U per side suggested as the most appropriate dose. THIS STUDY WAS FUNDED BY ALLERGAN, WHICH WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF THE STUDY; COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA; AND PREPARATION, REVIEW, AND APPROVAL OF THE MANUSCRIPT. DRS. LOWE AND FRACZEK ARE PAID CONSULTANTS FOR ALLERGAN, DRS. KUMAR AND EADIE ARE EMPLOYEES OF ALLERGAN, AND DRS. LOWE AND KUMAR HOLD STOCK OPTIONS. [source] RESIN COLLECTION AND SOCIAL IMMUNITY IN HONEY BEESEVOLUTION, Issue 11 2009Michael Simone Diverse animals have evolved an ability to collect antimicrobial compounds from the environment as a means of reducing infection risk. Honey bees battle an extensive assemblage of pathogens with both individual and "social" defenses. We determined if the collection of resins, complex plant secretions with diverse antimicrobial properties, acts as a colony-level immune defense by honey bees. Exposure to extracts from two sources of honey bee propolis (a mixture of resins and wax) led to a significantly lowered expression of two honey bee immune-related genes (hymenoptaecin and AmEater in Brazilian and Minnesota propolis, respectively) and to lowered bacterial loads in the Minnesota (MN) propolis treated colonies. Differences in immune expression were also found across age groups (third-instar larvae, 1-day-old and 7-day-old adults) irrespective of resin treatment. The finding that resins within the nest decrease investment in immune function of 7-day-old bees may have implications for colony health and productivity. This is the first direct evidence that the honey bee nest environment affects immune-gene expression. [source] BENTHIC MARINE ALGAL HERBARIUM OF LONG ISLAND SOUND DIGITAL COLLECTIONJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2001Article first published online: 24 SEP 200 Cudiner, S.2, Gillies, N.2 & Yarish, C.1 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT 06901-23151; 2Jeremy Richard Library, University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT 06901-2315 University of Connecticut presents the "Benthic Marine Algal Herbarium of Long Island Sound Digital Collection." When Phase One of this project is completed, this collection will include an online herbarium of all Long Island Sound macroalgae species. The database will be on the web and open to the public. The taxonomy and descriptive text are part of a collaboration between the University of Connecticut and NEAS. Database features include the ability to create searches and generate sets based on subjects, division, class, order, family, genus, habitat, species, keyword, location, etc. Each record will be cataloged according to Dublin Core cataloging guidelines. All species have a thumbnail image and a larger image for full viewing. TIFF files will be archived and available in the future (10mg images). Certain species will be marked as a teaching collection and made available upon request on a CDrom for teaching purposes. Future plans include expanding the database geographically in the Northeast. The database is located and maintained on a server at the Homer Babbidge Library on the UConn Storrs campus. The information is in Microsoft Access, and is made available for viewing and searching on the web through ColdFusion. This online collection is in the process of being created, a test site is now available at: http://norman.lib.uconn.edu:6550/algae/algaesearch.cfm (hit enter for all records or use search term: lamin) [source] 18. THE MEDIEVAL COLLECTIONACTA ARCHAEOLOGICA, Issue 1 2007Article first published online: 7 DEC 200 First page of article [source] SIMILAR PROBLEMS, DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS: COMPARING REFUSE COLLECTION IN THE NETHERLANDS AND SPAINPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2 2010GERMÀ BEL Because of differences in institutional arrangements, public service markets, and national traditions regarding government intervention, local public service provision can vary greatly. In this paper we compare the procedures adopted by the local governments of The Netherlands and Spain in arranging for the provision of solid waste collection. We find that Spain faces a problem of consolidation, opting more frequently to implement policies of privatization and cooperation, at the expense of competition. By contrast, The Netherlands, which has larger municipalities on average, resorts somewhat less to privatization and cooperation, and more to competition. Both options,cooperation and competition,have their merits when striving to strike a balance between transaction costs and scale economies. The choices made in organizational reform seem to be related to several factors, among which the nature of the political system and the size of municipalities appear to be relevant. [source] SIZE OF HOUSEHOLD FIREARM COLLECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUBCULTURES AND GENDER,CRIMINOLOGY, Issue 3 2007BRIAN R. WYANT Recent work (Cook and Ludwig, 2003) has linked local firearm density to increased burglary victimization risk. The current work investigates within-household gun density or household firearm collection size. Previous work has suggested two subcultures of gun owners: protection-minded and sport- or hunting-minded. It also has identified gender gaps in reporting any household guns and in the number reported. None of the earlier work, however, has controlled for selection into gun-owning household status. This limitation raises potential questions about earlier findings. The current research controls for selection. If the two subcultures thesis is correct, protection-minded owners should report smaller household firearm collections. The expected impact is observed in one national survey and is partially replicated in a second. Gender gaps seemed more independent than previously suggested. This study is the first to provide evidence of two partially overlapping subcultures of gun owners even after controlling for selection into gun-owning household status. Practical implications for burglary risk may exist. [source] PAUL FURSE AND HIS PLANT COLLECTIONS AT KEWCURTIS'S BOTANICAL MAGAZINE, Issue 1 2007Kit Strange Summary Paul Furse was an accomplished botanical artist and amateur botanist who, after his retirement from the Navy, spent several years searching for bulbs, travelling to remote locations in the Near East. He went to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and collected many plants which are still in cultivation today. His pioneering expeditions and enthusiasm inspired a generation of botanists to explore these areas. [source] SYSTEMATICS OF THE HILDENBRANDIALES (RHODOPHYTA): GENE SEQUENCE AND MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSES OF GLOBAL COLLECTIONS,JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Alison R. Sherwood Fifty-seven collections of marine and freshwater Hildenbrandia from North America, South America, Europe, and Africa were compared with 21 type and historically important specimens using multivariate morphometrics. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses of 48 specimens of Hildenbrandia and two specimens of Apophlaea were carried out based on sequences of the rbcL chloroplast gene and the nuclear 18S rRNA gene. Morphometric analyses based on vegetative cell and filament dimensions distinguished two groups of freshwater Hildenbrandia specimens, the first corresponding to those collections from North America and the Philippines and the second to those from Europe and the Canary Islands. The first group had smaller mean cell and filament dimensions (cells 4.0 × 4.4 ,m, filaments 46.5 ,m) and corresponded to H. angolensis, whereas the second group had larger mean dimensions (cells 5.8 × 6.6 ,m, filaments 55.3 ,m) and represented H. rivularis. Marine specimens were morphometrically distinguishable into two groups based on tetrasporangial division pattern as well as other thallus characters. However, measurements and character determinations of some type specimens differed greatly from the original descriptions, and thus further work to determine the stability of these characters is required. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the 18S rRNA gene and rbcL gene sequence data generally demonstrated separation of the marine and freshwater forms of Hildenbrandia, with some marine taxa forming monophyletic groups (e.g. H. lecannellieri and H. occidentalis) and others forming paraphyletic groups (e.g. H. rubra). The two specimens of Apophlaea formed a monophyletic group within the paraphyletic genus Hildenbrandia. [source] 17. THE ARRANGEMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE COLLECTIONSACTA ARCHAEOLOGICA, Issue 1 2007Article first published online: 7 DEC 200 First page of article [source] Embryonic holoprosencephaly: pathology and phenotypic variabilityCONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 4 2006Shigehito Yamada ABSTRACT Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is one of the major brain anomalies caused by the failure of cleavage of the prosencephalon during the early stage of development. Over 200 cases of HPE in the Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos were observed grossly and histologically, with special emphasis on the anomalies of the brain, face and eye. The facial anomalies of HPE human embryos after Carnegie stage (CS) 18 could be classified into cyclopia, synophthalmia, ethmocephaly, cebocephaly, and premaxillary agenesis, similarly as the classical classification for postnatal cases. On the other hand, HPE embryos at CS 13,17 showed some characteristic facies which are different from those in older embryos. In the present paper, pathology and phenotypic variability in HPE embryos were discussed from the embryopathological point of view. Recently, the molecular mechanism of HPE has been clarified by the techniques of gene manipulation, and various HPE genes have been identified by gene analysis of familial HPE cases. HPE is one of the major CNS anomalies which have been extensively studied and provides a clue to the mechanisms of normal and abnormal development of craniofacial structures. [source] The Animated Muse: An Interpretive Program for Creative ViewingCURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 3 2005Austin Clarkson ABSTRACT Explore a Painting in Depth, an experiment presented in the Canadian Collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario, consisted of a booth that offered seating for two visitors and, opposite them, The Beaver Dam, a 1919 landscape painting by the Canadian artist J. E. H. MacDonald. In a 12-minute audio-guided Exercise for Exploring, visitors were invited to engage in a creative process with the imagery of the painting. This paper sketches how the experiment evolved, presents the background of the Exercise for Exploring, and surveys the effects of the exhibit on a wide range of visitors. The question is raised: How can facilitating visitors' creative responses to artworks be part of the museum's educational mandate and its arsenal of interpretive resources? More broadly: Do strategies that foster and privilege visitor creativity, as well as honor the creativity of artists, affect the accessibility and relevance of the museum for the general public? [source] Healing with Stories: Your Casebook Collection for Using Therapeutic MetaphorsDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2009Fay Edebohls [source] The Politics of Revision in Samuel Daniel's The Civil WarsENGLISH LITERARY RENAISSANCE, Issue 3 2008Gillian Wright Samuel Daniel's historical poem The Civil Wars has traditionally been regarded as a conservative text, committed in presentation and in practice to upholding the principle of hereditary right in monarchy. Such a view overlooks Daniel's many complex revisions to the poem between its first appearance in print in 1595 and the final,though still unfinished,version published in 1609. Comparative analysis of the different printed editions of the poem shows that between 1595 and 1609 Daniel's political priorities changed significantly, especially on the question of the role and legitimacy of kingship. Whereas the 1595 Civil Wars does indeed adopt a broadly conservative attitude to the rights of hereditary monarchs, the 1609 text of the poem no longer automatically endorses kingly authority but instead consistently privileges the monarch's commitment to the "publique good" and the just execution of the laws. This subtle but radical pattern of change culminates in Daniel's vignette of Elizabeth Grey and Edward IV (1609, Book VIII), which departs from the poet's sources in representing Grey's resistance to Edward's attempted seduction in explicitly politicized terms. This observable shift in Daniel's political values also foreshadows later aspects of his historiography in the prose Collection of the Historie of England (1618). (G.W.) [source] "All Hayle to Hatfeild": A New Series of Country House Poems from Leeds University Library, Brotherton Collection, MS Lt q 44 [with text]ENGLISH LITERARY RENAISSANCE, Issue 2 2008Tom Lockwood Presented here in semi-diplomatic transcription of a newly discovered poem from Leeds University Library, Brotherton Collection MS Lt q 44, "All Hayle to Hatfield" is composed of a sequence of eight unattributed poems (one in two parts), addresses the family of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury (1591,1668), and describes in detail one of their residences, Hatfield House. Probably composed between July 1625 and April 1627, the sequence of poems appears never to have been printed and may, since it is not listed in the first-line indexes of the Beinecke, Bodleian, Folger and Huntington libraries, be unique to this manuscript. This essay briefly introduces the sequence of poems in relation to their local, political, and literary contexts. Chief among such contexts are Hatfield House, its gardens and its chapel; the essay argues that the relationship of the poems to questions of religion, ceremony, and the Duke of Buckingham allows them to be read in the context of mid-1620s political debate. Consolidating this reading, it is argued that the sequence's frequent allusions to Ben Jonson's poem "To Penshurst" and his masque, The Gypsies Metamorphosed, potentially align its literary sources with its political contexts. [source] Methadone in pregnancy: treatment retention and neonatal outcomesADDICTION, Issue 2 2007Lucy Burns ABSTRACT Aim To examine the association between retention in methadone treatment during pregnancy and key neonatal outcomes. Design Client data from the New South Wales Pharmaceutical Drugs of Addiction System was linked to birth information from the NSW Midwives Data Collection and the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection from 1992 to 2002. Measurements Obstetric and perinatal characteristics of women who were retained continuously on methadone maintenance throughout their pregnancy were compared to those who entered late in their pregnancies (less than 6 months prior to birth) and those whose last treatment episode ended at least 1 year prior to birth. Findings There were 2993 births to women recorded as being on methadone at delivery, increasing from 62 in 1992 to 459 births in 2002. Compared to mothers who were maintained continuously on methadone throughout their pregnancy, those who entered treatment late also presented later to antenatal services, were more likely to arrive at hospital for delivery unbooked, were more often unmarried, indigenous and smoked more heavily. A higher proportion of neonates born to late entrants were born at less than 37 weeks gestation and were admitted to special care nursery more often. Conclusion Continuous methadone treatment during pregnancy is associated with earlier antenatal care and improved neonatal outcomes. Innovative techniques for early engagement in methadone treatment by pregnant heroin using women or those planning to become pregnant should be identified and implemented. [source] Dense array EEG: Methodology and new hypothesis on epilepsy syndromesEPILEPSIA, Issue 2008Mark D. Holmes Summary Dense array EEG is a method of recording electroencephalography (EEG) with many more electrodes (up to 256) than is utilized with standard techniques that typically employ 19,21 scalp electrodes. The rationale for this approach is to enhance the spatial resolution of scalp EEG. In our research, dense array EEG is used in conjunction with a realistic model of head tissue conductivity and methods of electrographic source analysis to determine cerebral cortical localization of epileptiform discharges. In studies of patients with absence seizures, only localized cortical regions are involved during the attack. Typically, absences are accompanied by "wave,spike" complexes that show, both at the beginning and throughout the ictus, repetitive cycles of stereotyped, localized involvement of mainly mesial and orbital frontal cortex. Dense array EEG can also be used for long-term EEG video monitoring (LTM). We have used dense array EEG LTM to capture seizures in over 40 patients with medically refractory localization-related epilepsy, including both temporal and extra temporal cases, where standard LTM failed to reveal reliable ictal localization. One research goal is to test the validity of dense array LTM findings by comparison with invasive LTM and surgical outcome. Collection of a prospective series of surgical candidates who undergo both procedures is currently underway. Analysis of subjects with either generalized or localization-related seizures suggest that all seizures, including those traditionally classified as "generalized," propagate through discrete cortical networks. Furthermore, based on initial review of propagation patterns, we hypothesize that all epileptic seizures may be fundamentally corticothalamic or corticolimbic in nature. Dense array EEG may prove useful in noninvasive ictal localization, when standard methods fail. Future research will determine if the method will reduce the need for invasive EEG recordings, or assist in the appropriate placement of novel treatment devices. [source] Synthesis of a Benzolactone Collection using Click ChemistryEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2007Jan Ritschel Abstract A collection of benzotriazoles consisting of seven compounds was prepared from the propynyl-substituted benzolactone 1 and various azides using click chemistry. The lactone 1 was obtained through a short route by direct esterification of the allylbenzoic acid 9 with the alkynol 7 giving the benzoate 2. The homopropargyl alcohol 7 in turn was obtained by opening the epoxide 6 with triisopropylsilyl acetylide. Ring-closing metathesis of the ester 2 using Grubbs catalyst II followed by removal of the silicon protecting group furnished the lactone 1. Two of the benzotriazoles, 17a and 17b, were also converted into the corresponding phenols to probe the role of the phenolic OH on the biological activity. All nine benzotriazoles showed cytotoxic activity in a L929 mouse fibroblast assay with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source] Controversies, Clarifications, and Consequences of Divorce's Legacy: Introduction to the Special CollectionFAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 4 2003Sanford L. Braver Recent publications describing long-term results of longitudinal investigations of divorced couples have stirred controversies because of substantial differences in findings. The current Special Collection was initiated to clarify some of the issues brought into controversy. Five primary themes are explored by the nine papers in this collection: How severe is the long-term effect of divorce on children? Why do various research findings on the long-term effect of divorce tend to disagree so substantially? Why is divorce considered a problem? What do children have to say about their experiences with divorce? And what, if anything, can be done to help the children of divorce? [source] Introduction to the Special Collection on the Intersection of Families and the Law,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 4 2002Tammy L. Henderson First page of article [source] Ownership and Production Costs: Choosing between Public Production and Contracting-Out in the Case of Swedish Refuse CollectionFISCAL STUDIES, Issue 4 2003Henry Ohlsson Abstract Many comparisons of public and private firms use a public/private ownership dummy variable to capture cost differences. If, however, public and private firms use different production technologies, the dummy-variable approach is misspecified. Data from public and private firms should not be pooled. Secondly, selectivity bias may arise, making it more difficult to identify cost differentials that actually exist. Thirdly, if data should be pooled, the resulting empirical model may be logically inconsistent. This paper compares public and private firms using the refuse collection costs of 170 firms in 115 Swedish municipalities. First, public production costs were 6 per cent lower than private production costs. Secondly, cost differences did not affect producer choice. It is crucial to adjust for selectivity. Data for private and public firms should not be pooled. The dummy-variable model is misspecified. [source] Adhesion and Percolation Parameters in Two Dimensional Pd,LSCM Composites for SOFC Anode Current CollectionADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Samir Boulfrad Abstract This paper is concerned with palladium,(La0.75Sr0.25)0.97Cr0.5Mn0.5O3 (LSCM) composite current collectors for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); the composites, which are in a 2D configuration (thickness of about 8,10,µm), are deposited upon an LSCM electrode layer on top of an yttria zirconia electrolyte substrate. The influence of the LSCM particle size on the adhesion between palladium and LSCM are reported and discussed. Compositions using four different LSCM particle sizes (0.21, 0.49, 0.64, and 0.81,µm) with sintered Pd particle sizes approaching 10,µm are investigated. The best bonding is obtained when smaller particles are used. The electrical dc conductivity of the composite is reported as a function of the palladium volume fraction for all used LSCM particle sizes. The measured experimental values present typical insulating,conductive percolation. However, the transition occurs at ,33% of the conductive phase, that is, a lower percentage than for 2D ideal systems and a higher percentage than for 3D ideal systems. This is consistent with lower-dimension percolation for a system of large-grained conductors and small-grained insulators. The general effective media (GEM) equation is used to fit the experimental data, and the two main parameters (the threshold point ,c and the exponent t) are defined. [source] Effects of decadal climate change on zooplankton over the last 50 years in the western subarctic North PacificGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006SANAE CHIBA Abstract Decadal- to multi-decadal variations have been reported in many regional ecosystems in the North Pacific, resulting in an increasing demand to elucidate the link between long-term climatic forcing and marine ecosystems. We detected phenological and quantitative changes in the copepod community in response to the decadal climatic variation in the western subarctic North Pacific by analyzing the extensive zooplankton collection taken since the 1950s, the Odate Collection. Copepod species were classified into five seasonal groups depending on the timing of the annual peak in abundance. The abundance of the spring community gradually increased for the period 1960,2002. The spring,summer community also showed an increasing trend in May, but a decadal oscillation pattern of quasi-30-year cycles in July. Phenological changes coincided with the climate regime shift in the mid-1970s, indicated by the Pacific decadal oscillation index (PDO). After the regime shift, the timing of the peak abundance was delayed one month, from March,April to April,May, in the spring community, whereas it peaked earlier, from June,July to May,June, in the spring,summer community, resulting in an overlap of the high productivity period for the two communities in May. Wintertime cooling, followed by rapid summertime warming, was considered to be responsible for delayed initiation and early termination of the productive season after the mid-1970s. Another phenological shift, quite different from the previous decade, was observed in the mid-1990s, when warm winters followed by cool summers lengthened the productive season. The results suggest that climatic forcing with different decadal cycles may operate independently during winter,spring and spring,summer to create seasonal and interannual variations in hydrographic conditions; thus, combinations of these seasonal processes may determine the annual biological productivity. [source] Macro- and Micro-Purge Soil-Gas Sampling Methods for the Collection of Contaminant VaporsGROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 1 2009Brian A. Schumacher Purging influence on soil-gas concentrations for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as affected by sampling tube inner diameter and sampling depth (i.e., system volume) for temporary probes in fine-grained soils, was evaluated at three different field sites. A macro-purge sampling system consisted of a standard, hollow, 3.2-cm outer diameter (OD) drive probe with a retractable sampling point attached to an appropriate length of 0.48-cm inner diameter (ID) Teflon® tubing. The macro-purge sampling system had a purge system volume of 24.5 mL at a 1-m depth. In contrast, the micro-purge sampling systems were slightly different between the field sites and consisted of a 1.27-cm OD drive rod with a 0.10-cm ID stainless steel tube or a 3.2-cm OD drive rod with a 0.0254-cm inner diameter stainless steel tubing resulting in purge system volumes of 1.2 and 7.05 mL at 1-m depths, respectively. At each site and location within the site, with a few exceptions, the same contaminants were identified in the same relative order of abundances indicating the sampling of the same general soil atmosphere. However, marked differences in VOC concentrations were identified between the sampling systems, with micro-purge samples having up to 27 times greater concentrations than their corresponding macro-purge samples. The higher concentrations are the result of a minimal disturbance of the ambient soil atmosphere during purging. The minimal soil-gas atmospheric disturbance of the micro-purge sampling system allowed for the collection of a sample that is more representative of the soil atmosphere surrounding the sampling point. That is, a sample that does not contain an atmosphere that has migrated from distance through the geologic material or from the surface in response to the vacuum induced during purging soil-gas concentrations. It is thus recommended that when soil-gas sampling is conducted using temporary probes in fine-grained soils, the sampling system use the smallest practical ID soil-gas tubing and minimize purge volume to obtain the soil-gas sample with minimal risk of leakage so that proper decisions, based on more representative soil-gas concentrations, about the site can be made. [source] Energy Collection, Transport, and Trapping by a Supramolecular Organization of Dyes in Hexagonal Zeolite Nanocrystals,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 2 2006C. Minkowski Abstract The incorporation of guest molecules into the cavities of molecular sieves leads to a large variety of highly interesting materials. Zeolite,L,an aluminosilicate with one-dimensional channels of open diameter 7.1,Å,is a very versatile material for building highly organized host,guest systems. We present materials where organic dye molecules have been incorporated into the channels of zeolite,L by means of diffusion, to build artificial photonic antenna systems. The channel entrance can be plugged by adding closure molecules that then connect the guest molecules inside with materials or molecules outside of the zeolite channels, since they can act as extensions of the interior of the zeolite crystal. The photophysical processes taking place in such dye-loaded zeolite,L antennae can be studied either on single-micrometer- or submicrometer-sized crystals or on crystals dispersed in a solvent or coated as thin layers on a support. The energy-transfer process occurring is of the Förster-type, and its transfer rate can be tuned by separating the donor dyes and the acceptor dyes locally by varying amounts of spacer molecules. The distribution of the dye molecules and empty sites within a zeolite crystal has been modeled by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The Förster energy migration and transfer steps are described as a random walk. [source] Learning from research on the information behaviour of healthcare professionals: a review of the literature 2004,2008 with a focus on emotionHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Ina Fourie Objective:, A review, focusing on emotion, was conducted of reported studies on the information behaviour of healthcare professionals (2004,2008). Findings were intended to offer guidelines on information services and information literacy training, to note gaps in research and to raise research interest. Method:, Databases were searched for literature published from January 2004 to December 2008 and indexed on eric, Library and Information Science Abstracts, medline, PsycINFO, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Social Work Abstracts; SocINDEX with Full Text; SPORTDiscus; cinhal; and the ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Key journals were manually scanned and citations followed. Literature was included if reporting on issues concerning emotion. Results:, Emotion in information behaviour in healthcare contexts is scantily addressed. This review, however, offers some insight into the difficulty in identifying and expressing information needs; sense making and the need to fill knowledge gaps; uncertainty; personality and coping skills; motivation to seeking information; emotional experiences during information seeking; self-confidence and attitude; emotional factors in the selection of information channels; and seeking information for psychological or emotional reasons. Conclusion:, Suggestions following findings, address information literacy programs, information services and research gaps. [source] Employed Family Physician Satisfaction and Commitment to Their Practice, Work Group, and Health Care OrganizationHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010Ben-Tzion Karsh Objective. Test a model of family physician job satisfaction and commitment. Data Sources/Study Setting. Data were collected from 1,482 family physicians in a Midwest state during 2000,2001. The sampling frame came from the membership listing of the state's family physician association, and the analyzed dataset included family physicians employed by large multispecialty group practices. Study Design and Data Collection. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data about physician working conditions, job satisfaction, commitment, and demographic variables. Principal Findings. The response rate was 47 percent. Different variables predicted the different measures of satisfaction and commitment. Satisfaction with one's health care organization (HCO) was most strongly predicted by the degree to which physicians perceived that management valued and recognized them and by the extent to which physicians perceived the organization's goals to be compatible with their own. Satisfaction with one's workgroup was most strongly predicted by the social relationship with members of the workgroup; satisfaction with one's practice was most strongly predicted by relationships with patients. Commitment to one's workgroup was predicted by relationships with one's workgroup. Commitment to one's HCO was predicted by relationships with management of the HCO. Conclusions. Social relationships are stronger predictors of employed family physician satisfaction and commitment than staff support, job control, income, or time pressure. [source] Predictors of Chain Acquisition among Independent Dialysis FacilitiesHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010Alyssa S. Pozniak Objective. To determine the predictors of chain acquisition among independent dialysis providers. Data Sources. Retrospective facility-level data combined from CMS Cost Reports, Medical Evidence Forms, Annual Facility Surveys, and claims for 1996,2003. Study Design. Independent dialysis facilities' probability of acquisition by a dialysis chain (overall and by chain size) was estimated using a discrete time hazard rate model, controlling for financial and clinical performance, practice patterns, market factors, and other facility characteristics. Data Collection. The sample includes all U.S. freestanding dialysis facilities that report not being chain affiliated for at least 1 year between 1997 and 2003. Principal Findings. Above-average costs and better quality outcomes are significant determinants of dialysis chain acquisition. Facilities in larger markets were more likely to be acquired by a chain. Furthermore, small dialysis chains have different acquisition strategies than large chains. Conclusions. Dialysis chains appear to employ a mix of turn-around and cream-skimming strategies. Poor financial health is a predictor of chain acquisition as in other health care sectors, but the increased likelihood of chain acquisition among higher quality facilities is unique to the dialysis industry. Significant differences among predictors of acquisition by small and large chains reinforce the importance of using a richer classification for chain status. [source] Preventive HIV Vaccine Acceptability and Behavioral Risk Compensation among a Random Sample of High-Risk Adults in Los Angeles (LA VOICES)HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009Peter A. Newman Objective. To assess HIV vaccine acceptability among high-risk adults in Los Angeles. Study Setting. Sexually transmitted disease clinics, needle/syringe exchange programs, Latino community health/HIV prevention programs. Study Design. Cross-sectional survey using conjoint analysis. Participants were randomly selected using three-stage probability sampling. Data Collection. Sixty-minute structured interviews. Participants rated acceptability of eight hypothetical vaccines, each with seven dichotomous attributes, and reported post-vaccination risk behavior intentions. Principal Findings. Participants (n=1164; 55.7 percent male, 82.4 percent ethnic minority, mean age=37.4 years) rated HIV vaccine acceptability from 28.4 to 88.6; mean=54.5 (SD=18.8; 100-point scale). Efficacy had the greatest impact on acceptability, followed by side effects and out-of-pocket cost. Ten percent would decrease condom use after vaccination. Conclusions. Findings support development of social marketing interventions to increase acceptability of "partial efficacy" vaccines, behavioral interventions to mitigate risk compensation, and targeted cost subsidies. [source] Comparing Safety Climate between Two Populations of Hospitals in the United StatesHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 5p1 2009Sara J. Singer Objective. To compare safety climate between diverse U.S. hospitals and Veterans Health Administration (VA) hospitals, and to explore the factors influencing climate in each setting. Data Sources. Primary data from surveys of hospital personnel; secondary data from the American Hospital Association's 2004 Annual Survey of Hospitals. Study Design. Cross-sectional study of 69 U.S. and 30 VA hospitals. Data Collection. For each sample, hierarchical linear models used safety-climate scores as the dependent variable and respondent and facility characteristics as independent variables. Regression-based Oaxaca,Blinder decomposition examined differences in effects of model characteristics on safety climate between the U.S. and VA samples. Principal Findings. The range in safety climate among U.S. and VA hospitals overlapped substantially. Characteristics of individuals influenced safety climate consistently across settings. Working in southern and urban facilities corresponded with worse safety climate among VA employees and better safety climate in the U.S. sample. Decomposition results predicted 1.4 percentage points better safety climate in U.S. than in VA hospitals: ,0.77 attributable to sample-characteristic differences and 2.2 due to differential effects of sample characteristics. Conclusions. Results suggest that safety climate is linked more to efforts of individual hospitals than to participation in a nationally integrated system or measured characteristics of workers and facilities. [source] Development and Validation of a Risk-Adjustment Tool in Acute AsthmaHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 5p1 2009Chu-Lin Tsai Objective. To develop and prospectively validate a risk-adjustment tool in acute asthma. Data Sources. Data were obtained from two large studies on acute asthma, the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration (MARC) and the National Emergency Department Safety Study (NEDSS) cohorts. Both studies involved >60 emergency departments (EDs) and were performed during 1996,2001 and 2003,2006, respectively. Both included patients aged 18,54 years presenting to the ED with acute asthma. Study Design. Retrospective cohort studies. Data Collection. Clinical information was obtained from medical record review. The risk index was derived in the MARC cohort and then was prospectively validated in the NEDSS cohort. Principle Findings. There were 3,515 patients in the derivation cohort and 3,986 in the validation cohort. The risk index included nine variables (age, sex, current smoker, ever admitted for asthma, ever intubated for asthma, duration of symptoms, respiratory rate, peak expiratory flow, and number of beta-agonist treatments) and showed satisfactory discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.75) and calibration ( p=.30 for Hosmer,Lemeshow test) when applied to the validation cohort. Conclusions. We developed and validated a novel risk-adjustment tool in acute asthma. This tool can be used for health care provider profiling to identify outliers for quality improvement purposes. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||