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Appropriate Utilization (appropriate + utilization)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Polymers and Materials Science28%
Medical Sciences28%

Selected Abstracts

Appropriate utilization of hospital beds in internal medicine: evaluation in a tertiary care hospital

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
Ömer Dizdar MD
Abstract Aim, To assess the appropriateness of utilization of beds in the internal medicine department of a university hospital. Methods, The appropriateness of hospital stay was evaluated using the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. A random sample of 402 days of stay was assessed. Results, One hundred and thirty-nine days of stay (34.6%) were classified as inappropriate. The inappropriate stays were mostly secondary to hospital-related factors. The two major factors for inappropriate stays were ,inappropriate timing/delay in diagnostic procedures/consultations' (27%) and ,delay in obtaining test results' (27%). None of the factors including age, gender, residence and inpatient period was significantly related to inappropriate stay in univariate analysis. Conclusion, This study indicated that a significant portion of stays were inappropriate. Efforts to decrease particularly hospital-related factors associated with inappropriate stay are needed. [source]

On Different Approaches to Estimate the Mass Fractal Dimension of Coal Aggregates

PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 5 2005
Jimmy Y. H. Liao
Abstract Several methods to measure the structures of coal aggregates are compared. Loose and compact coal aggregates were generated through flocculation of ultrafine coal particles (mean volume diameter of 12,,m) under specific shearing conditions. Aggregate structure in terms of mass fractal dimension, Df, was determined using various methods; namely 2D and 3D image analysis, interpretation of intensity patterns from small angle light scattering, changes in aggregation state through light obscuration, and settling behavior. In this study, the measured values of Df ranged from 1.84,2.19 for coal aggregates with more open structures, and around 2.27,2.66 for the compact ones. All of these approaches could distinguish structural differences between aggregates, albeit with variation in Df values estimated by the different techniques. The discrepancy in the absolute values for fractal dimension is due to the different physical properties measured by each approach, depending on the assumptions used to infer Df from measurable parameters. In addition, image analysis and settling techniques are based on the examination of individual aggregates, such that a large number of data points are required to yield statistically representative estimations. Light scattering and obscuration measure the aggregates collectively to give average Df values of the particulate systems; consequently ignoring any structural variation between the aggregates, and leaving possible small contaminations undetected (e.g. by dust particles or air bubbles). Appropriate utilization of a particular method is thus largely determined by system properties and required data quality. [source]

Raw materials: the importance of quality and safety.

FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010
A review.
Abstract Aromatic plants and spices are used throughout the world for flavouring food and beverages, as well as for food supplements, novel foods and as a source of essential oils and aromatic extracts. The non-availability or inadequacy of standards for checking and assuring the quality of aromatic plants and spices is one of the main problems that arise for industry when using such raw materials. As many aromatic plants are harvested from the wild, standardization to assure their quality is important for their safe and effective utilization in food and beverage industries. On the other hand, there are numerous parameters that influence the chemical composition of plants, which play an important role in the final quality of the product and possibly in any risk arising to the consumer. Also, from a safety point of view, aromatic plants and spices should be free of undeclared contaminants and adulterants, such as toxic botanicals, pathogenic microorganisms and excessive levels of microbial toxins, pesticides or fumigation agents. We focus on these aspects and examine ways to assure their appropriate utilization from the quality and safety standpoint. The regulatory situation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) is very complicated; several differences in standards and regulations between countries can be found, a situation that can result in more health risks arising for consumers. To clarify some of the existing problems, the major regulations of the USA and the European Union (EU) and the borderlines between food supplements and medicines and other international standards, are briefly described and discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

High Efficiency Blue Organic LEDs Achieved By an Integrated Fluorescence,Interlayer,Phosphorescence Emission Architecture

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 4 2010
Tianhang Zheng
Abstract This paper presents a new strategy to develop efficient organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) by doping fluorescent- and phosphorescent-type emitters individually into two different hosts separated by an interlayer to form a fluorescence,interlayer,phosphorescence (FIP) emission architecture. One blue OLED with FIP emission structure comprising p -bis(p - N,N -diphenylaminostyryl)benzene (DSA-Ph) and bis[(4,6-di-fluorophenyl)-pyridinate- N,C2']picolinate (FIrpic) exhibiting a peak luminance efficiency of 15.8,cd A,1 at 1.54,mA cm,2 and a power efficiency of 10.2,lm W,1 at 0.1,mA cm,2 is successfully demonstrated. The results are higher than those of typical phosphorescent OLEDs with a single emission layer by 34% and 28%, respectively. From experimental and theoretical investigations on device performance, and the functions of the used emitters and interlayer, such enhancement should ascribe to the appropriate utilization of the two types of emitters. The fluorescent emitter of DSA-Ph is used to facilitate the carrier transport, and thus accelerate the generation of excitons, while the phosphorescent emitter of FIrpic could convert the generated excitons into light efficiently. The method proposed here can be applied for developing other types of red, green, and white OLEDs. [source]

Myocardial perfusion imaging in evaluation of undiagnosed acute chest pain

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2001
J. C. Knott
Abstract Myocardial perfusion imaging is a relatively new technique in the emergency department management of acute chest pain. With improved sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods of risk stratification, an abnormal scan rapidly identifies individuals with acute perfusion abnormalities and allows the appropriate utilization of limited resources. Conversely, a normal scan allows prompt hospital discharge and is associated with excellent outcomes both in the short and medium terms. Acute chest pain myocardial perfusion imaging has been demonstrated to alter patient management and disposition and its routine use results in decreased costs in the intermediate risk population. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 544,546) [source]

A robust methodology for RANS simulations of highly underexpanded jets

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 12 2008
G. Lehnasch
Abstract This work aims at developing/combining numerical tools adapted to the simulation of the near field of highly underexpanded jets. An overview of the challenging numerical problems related to the complex shock/expansion structure encountered in these flows is given and an efficient and low-cost numerical strategy is proposed to overcome these, even on short computational domains. Based on common upwinding algorithms used on unstructured meshes in a mixed finite-volume/finite-element approach, it relies on an appropriate utilization of zonal anisotropic remeshing algorithms. This methodology is validated for the whole near field of cold air jets issuing from axisymmetric convergent nozzles and yielding various underexpansion ratios. In addition, the most usual corrections of the k,, model used to take into account the compressibility effects on turbulence are precisely assessed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Billing effectively with the new health and behavior current procedural terminology codes in primary care and specialty clinics

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 10 2006
Robin E. S. Miyamoto
The health and behavior current procedural terminology (CPT) codes introduced in 2003 have gained nationwide acceptance through Medicare and limited acceptance through third party payers. The codes facilitate accurate description and quantification of behavioral medicine services within a primary care or specialty clinic setting. The author reviews their appropriate utilization to enhance reimbursement and facilitate development of self-sustaining behavioral medicine programs. Information is provided on increased use and reimbursement of codes within psychology. Future directions for continued advocacy, increased acceptance, training, and research are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 62: 1221,1229, 2006. [source]