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Benefits

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences47%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting13%
Life Sciences12%
Humanities and Social Sciences7%
Chemistry4%
Engineering3%
Psychology2%
Earth and Environmental Science2%
6 Other Domains10%
Distribution within Medical Sciences
Cardiovascular Disease6%
Dermatology4%
102 Other Subdomains74%

Kinds of Benefits

  • adaptive benefit
  • added benefit
  • additional benefit
  • additional health benefit
  • adjunctive benefit
  • aggregate benefit
  • biodiversity benefit
  • business benefit
  • cardiovascular benefit
  • clear benefit
  • clinical benefit
  • cognitive benefit
  • conservation benefit
  • considerable benefit
  • consumer benefit
  • cost benefit
  • demonstrated benefit
  • different benefit
  • direct benefit
  • disability benefit
  • diversification benefit
  • documented benefit
  • drug benefit
  • ecological benefit
  • economic benefit
  • educational benefit
  • environmental benefit
  • expected benefit
  • external benefit
  • female benefit
  • financial benefit
  • fitness benefit
  • foraging benefit
    		•
  • full benefit
  • functional benefit
  • future benefit
  • genetic benefit
  • government benefit
  • great benefit
  • greater benefit
  • greatest benefit
  • health benefit
  • hedonic benefit
  • hemodynamic benefit
  • immediate benefit
  • important benefit
  • in-work benefit
  • indirect benefit
  • indirect genetic benefit
  • insurance benefit
  • lasting benefit
  • likely benefit
  • limited benefit
  • little benefit
  • long-term benefit
  • main benefit
  • major benefit
  • management benefit
  • many benefit
  • many potential benefit
  • marginal benefit
  • material benefit
  • maximal benefit
  • maximum benefit
  • meaningful benefit
  • means-tested benefit
    		•
  • medical benefit
  • modest benefit
  • monetary benefit
  • mortality benefit
  • multiple benefit
  • mutual benefit
  • net benefit
  • nutritional benefit
  • obvious benefit
  • other benefit
  • outcome benefit
  • own benefit
  • palliative benefit
  • particular benefit
  • patient benefit
  • pension benefit
  • perceived benefit
  • performance benefit
  • personal benefit
  • positive benefit
  • possible benefit
  • potential benefit
  • potential economic benefit
  • potential health benefit
  • potential therapeutic benefit
  • practical benefit
  • prescription drug benefit
  • private benefit
  • proposed benefit
  • psychological benefit
  • psychosocial benefit
  • public benefit
  • public health benefit
    		•
  • putative benefit
  • real benefit
  • relative benefit
  • reproductive benefit
  • research benefit
  • retirement benefit
  • secondary benefit
  • short-term benefit
  • significant benefit
  • significant clinical benefit
  • significant survival benefit
  • similar benefit
  • social benefit
  • specific benefit
  • ssi benefit
  • strategic benefit
  • subjective benefit
  • substantial benefit
  • survival benefit
  • sustained benefit
  • symptomatic benefit
  • tangible benefit
  • tax benefit
  • theoretical benefit
  • therapeutic benefit
  • total benefit
  • treatment benefit
  • unemployment benefit
  • useful benefit
  • welfare benefit

    • Terms modified by Benefits

  • benefit analysis
  • benefit assessment
  • benefit available
  • benefit formula
  • benefit function
    		•
  • benefit level
  • benefit only
  • benefit outweigh
  • benefit patient
  • benefit payment
    		•
  • benefit plan
  • benefit profile
  • benefit program
  • benefit ratio
  • benefit receipt
    		•
  • benefit scheme
  • benefit score
  • benefit system
  • benefit transfer

    • Selected Abstracts

    WHAT KIND OF BENEFIT DO WE EXPECT FOR PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS?

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2006
    Taketo Yamaguchi
    Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is characterized by slow growth and a relatively favorable prognosis, however, invasive cancer originating in an IPMT is associated with a poor prognosis. Although various parameters in imaging modalities have been advocated to differentiate between benign IPMN and malignant ones, it is not easy to obtain definite diagnosis based on these parameters. Peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) allows a clear and direct visualization of the pancreatic duct, providing useful information regarding tumor nature in IPMT. The authors have studied the usefulness of POPS in the diagnosis of IPMT. Nevertheless, its usefulness is not necessarily widely accepted and the significance of POPS is still controversial. In this review, the authors intended to address the diagnostic value of POPS and to clarify its role in the diagnosis of IPMT. The authors think treatment of IPMT can be improved by introducing POPS because the determination of surgical procedure as well as the area of resection based on the preoperative diagnosis of the involvement of the main pancreatic duct and branch duct is inevitable. [source]

    PARENTS BENEFIT FROM EATING OFFSPRING: DENSITY-DEPENDENT EGG SURVIVORSHIP COMPENSATES FOR FILIAL CANNIBALISM

    EVOLUTION, Issue 10 2006
    Hope Klug
    Abstract Why should animals knowingly consume their own young? It is difficult to imagine many circumstances in which eating one's own young (i.e., filial cannibalism) actually increases an individual's fitness; however, filial cannibalism commonly co-occurs with parental care in fishes. The evolutionary significance of filial cannibalism remains unclear. The most commonly accepted explanation is that filial cannibalism is a mechanism by which caring males gain energy or nutrients that they reinvest into future reproduction, thereby increasing net reproductive success. There is mixed support for this hypothesis and, at best, it can only explain filial cannibalism in some species. A recent alternative hypothesis suggests that filial cannibalism improves the survivorship of remaining eggs by increasing oxygen availability, and thus increases current reproductive success. This theory has received little attention as of yet. We evaluated the hypothesis of oxygen-mediated filial cannibalism in the sand goby by examining the effect of oxygen and egg density on the occurrence of filial cannibalism, evaluating the effects of partial clutch cannibalism on the survivorship of remaining eggs, and comparing potential costs and benefits of filial cannibalism related to the net number of eggs surviving. Indeed, we found that oxygen level and egg density affected the occurrence of cannibalism and that simulated partial clutch cannibalism improved survivorship of the remaining eggs. Additionally, because increased egg survivorship, stemming from partial egg removal, compensated for the cost of cannibalism (i.e., number of eggs removed) at a range of cannibalism levels, filial cannibalism potentially results in no net losses in reproductive success. However, oxygen did not affect egg survivorship. Thus, we suggest a more general hypothesis of filial cannibalism mediated by density-dependent egg survivorship. [source]

    A PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR AN UNEXPECTED BENEFIT OF CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2007
    Emre Noteroglu MD
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    OLDER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BENEFIT FROM WATER EXERCISE, SHOWING LONGER TOTAL SLEEP TIME

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006
    Katia L. F. G. Alencar MSc
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    PROTEIN, FIBRE AND BLOOD PRESSURE: POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF LEGUMES

    CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    Ya Ping Lee
    SUMMARY 1Prevention of hypertension and improved blood pressure control can be achieved through dietary modification. In particular, population studies and randomised controlled trials have indicated a beneficial effect of both dietary protein and dietary fibre on level of blood pressure. 2A large population study indicates that an increase in 37 g/day of protein leads to a decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure by approximately 3 and 2.5 mmHg, respectively. This protective effect is independent of the source of dietary protein. 3Meta-analysis suggests that a fibre increase of approximately 17 g/day will decrease systolic blood pressure by 1.15 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.65 mmHg, with soluble fibre showing a stronger effect than insoluble fibre. 4Protein and dietary fibre may have additive effects to lower blood pressure. One feasible approach to increasing both protein and fibre in the daily diet could be through the incorporation of legumes, a protein- and fibre-rich food. 5This review assesses the evidence for effects of protein and fibre to reduce blood pressure and the potential of incorporation of legumes into the daily diet as a feasible approach to achieving such benefits for blood pressure. [source]

    BENEFITS AND COSTS OF INTENSIVE FOSTER CARE SERVICES: THE CASEY FAMILY PROGRAMS COMPARED TO STATE SERVICES

    CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 3 2009
    RICHARD O. ZERBE
    The foster care system attempts to prepare children and youth who have suffered child maltreatment for successful adult lives. This study documents the economic advantages of a privately funded foster care program that provided longer term, more intensive, and more expensive services compared to public programs. The study found significant differences in major adult educational, health, and social outcomes between children placed in the private program and those placed in public programs operated by Oregon and Washington. For the outcomes for which we could find financial data, the estimated present value of the enhanced foster care services exceeded their extra costs. Generalizing to the roughly 100,000 adolescents age 12-17 entering foster care each year, if all of them were to receive the private model of services, the savings for a single cohort of these children could be about $6.3 billion in 2007 dollars. (JEL D61, H75) [source]

    PRISON GANG POLICY AND RECIDIVISM: SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT BENEFITS, LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES

    CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 2 2007
    MARIE GRIFFIN
    First page of article [source]

    BENEFITS TO RESEARCH SUBJECTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRIALS: DO THEY REDUCE EXPLOITATION OR INCREASE UNDUE INDUCEMENT?

    DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 3 2008
    ANGELA BALLANTYNE
    ABSTRACT There is an alleged tension between undue inducement and exploitation in research trials. This paper considers claims that increasing the benefits to research subjects enrolled in international, externally-sponsored clinical trials should be avoided on the grounds that it may result in the undue inducement of research subjects. It proceeds from the premise that there are good grounds for thinking that, at least some, international research sponsors exploit trial participants because they do not provide the research population with a fair share of the benefits of research. This provides a prima facie argument for increasing the benefits for research participants. Concern over undue inducement is a legitimate moral concern; however, if this concern is to prevent research populations from receiving their fair share of benefits from research there must be sufficient evidence that these benefits will unduly influence patients' decision-making regarding trial participation. This article contributes to the debate about exploitation versus undue inducement by introducing an analysis of the available empirical research into research participants' motivations and the influence of payments on research subjects' behaviour and risk assessment. Admittedly, the available research in this field is limited, but the research that has been conducted suggests that financial rewards do not distort research subjects' behaviour or blind them to the risks involved with research. Therefore, I conclude that research sponsors should prioritise the prevention of exploitation in international research by providing greater benefits to research participants. [source]

    PUNISHING THE POOR: A CRITIQUE OF MEANS-TESTED RETIREMENT BENEFITS

    ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2008
    Oskari Juurikkala
    Means-tested retirement benefits create strong disincentives to work and to save prior to retirement. This article outlines the structure of means-tested benefits in the UK and the USA, and reviews the theoretical and empirical evidence of their incentive effects. [source]

    EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND MILITARY SERVICE: AN ANALYSIS OF ENLISTMENT, REENLISTMENT, AND VETERANS' BENEFIT USAGE 1991,2005,

    ECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 4 2010
    CURTIS J. SIMON
    Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) educational benefits are a prime recruiting tool in today's all-volunteer military. This paper studies the effects of changes in education benefits using data of the period 1990,2005. Higher benefits lead to higher separation due to both pure incentive effects and by attracting more college-oriented youth into military service. We deal with potential selection issues by distinguishing between anticipated and unanticipated benefit changes. Higher education benefits are associated with higher separation from the Army and Air Force, but not the other services. A $10,000 increase in MGIB benefits is estimated to increase usage by about 5 percentage points, but the duration of usage is estimated to be insensitive to benefit levels. (JEL H52, I21, J24) [source]

    THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATORS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT:

    FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 2 2005
    A Response to Tippins, Wittmann
    In their article, Tippins and Wittmann articulate a strong position against custody evaluators making specific custody recommendations to the court. This response will focus on my thoughts about their concepts and my belief that recommendations can be useful and appropriate some of the time, even though there may be significant problems with certain types of recommendations and problems with some evaluators. [source]

    ESTIMATING THE TAX BENEFITS OF DEBT

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE, Issue 1 2001
    John Graham
    The standard approach to valuing interest tax shields assumes that full tax benefits are realized on every dollar of interest deduction in every scenario. The approach presented in this paper takes account of the possibility that interest tax shields cannot be used in some scenarios, in part because of variations in the firm's profitability. Because of the dynamic nature of the tax code (e.g., tax-loss carrybacks and carryforwards), it is necessary to consider past and future taxable income when estimating today's effective marginal tax rate. The paper uses a series of numerical examples to show that (1) the incremental value of an extra dollar of interest deduction is equal to the marginal tax rate appropriate for that dollar; and (2) a firm's effective marginal tax rate (and therefore the marginal benefit of incremental interest deductions) can actually decline as the firm takes on additional debt. Based on marginal benefit functions for thousands of firms from 1980,1999, the author concludes that the tax benefits of debt averaged approximately 10% of firm value during the 1980s, while declining to around 8% in the 1990s. By taking maximum advantage of the interest tax shield, the average firm could have increased its value by approximately 15% over the 1980s and 1990s, suggesting that the consequences of being underlevered are significant. Surprisingly, many of the companies that appear best able to service debt (i.e., those with the lowest apparent costs of debt) use the least amount of debt, on average. Treasurers and CFOs should critically reevaluate their companies' debt policies and consider the benefits of additional leverage, even if taking on more debt causes their credit ratings to slip a notch. [source]

    HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE PHENOLICS FROM POSTHARVEST STAGES FOR POTENTIAL TYPE 2 DIABETES MANAGEMENT USING IN VITRO MODELS

    JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2010
    I. ADYANTHAYA
    ABSTRACT An increasing number of studies indicate that regular intake of fruits and vegetables have clear links to reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects in many cases have been attributed to the phenolic and antioxidant content of the fruits and vegetables. Apples are a major source of fiber and contain good dietary phenolics with antioxidant function. Previous epidemiological studies have indicated that intake of apples reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our studies indicate that this reduced risk is potentially because of the modulation of postprandial glucose increase by phenolics present in apples via inhibition of, -glucosidase. Phenolic content was evaluated during 3 months of postharvest storage of four varieties of apples and results indicated positive linkage to enhanced postharvest preservation and, -glucosidase inhibition. These in vitro results along with existing epidemiological studies provide strong biochemical rationale for further animal or human clinical studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The understanding of phenolic-linked antioxidant enzyme responses during postharvest storage of apples has implications for using the same phenolic functional ingredients toward health benefits such as ,-glucosidase inhibition linked to glycemic index control associated with type 2 diabetes. Therefore strategies to understand phenolic-linked postharvest preservation and natural treatments to extend this preservation in selected varieties, such as McIntosh and Cortland in this study, can be basis for food ingredient design for health benefits. These strategies can then be extended to prolong postharvest preservation and enhance phenolic linked human health benefits of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. [source]

    REHABILITATION AND RELEASE OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE UNITED STATES: RISKS AND BENEFITS

    MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2007
    Michael Moore
    Abstract Rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals elicits polarized attitudes: initially done alongside display collections, but release of rehabilitated animals has become more common. Justifications include animal welfare, management of beach use conflict, research, conservation, and public education. Rehabilitation cost and risks have been identified that vary in degree supported by data rather than perception. These include conflict with fisheries for resources, ignorance of recipient population ecology, poor understanding of long-term survival, support of the genetically not-so-fit, introduction of novel or antibiotic-resistant pathogens, harm to human health, and cost. Thus facilities must balance their welfare appeal against public education, habitat restoration, human impact reduction, and other conservation activities. Benefits to rehabilitating marine mammals are the opportunity to support the welfare of disabled animals and to publish good science and so advance our understanding of wild populations. In specific cases, the status of a population may make conservation the main reason for rehabilitation. These three reasons for rehabilitation lead to contrasting, and sometimes conflicting, management needs. We therefore outline a decision tree for rehabilitation managers using criteria for each management decision, based on welfare, logistics, conservation, research, and funding to define limits on the number of animals released to the wild. [source]

    Heart Failure and Diabetes: Collateral Benefit of Chronic Disease Management

    CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 3 2006
    Molly G. Ware MD
    To test the hypothesis that a focus on heart failure (HF) care may be associated with inadequate diabetes care, the authors screened 78 patients (aged 64±11 years; 69% male) with diabetes enrolled in an HF disease management program for diabetes care as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Ninety-five percent of patients had hemoglobin A1c levels measured within 12 months, and 71% monitored their glucose at least once daily. Most patients received counseling regarding diabetic diet and exercise, and approximately 80% reported receiving regular eye and foot examinations. Mean hemoglobin A1c level was 7.8±1.9%. There was no relationship between hemoglobin A1c levels and New York Heart Association class or history of HF hospitalizations. Contrary to the authors' hypothesis, patients in an HF disease management program demonstrated levels of diabetic care close to ADA goals. "Collateral benefit" of HF disease management may contribute to improved patient outcomes in diabetic patients with HF. [source]

    Private Property and Public Benefit: Habitat Conservation Planning for Endangered Species

    CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
    Gregory A. Thomas
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    Multiple Conceptualizations of Small Business Web Use and Benefit*

    DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 3 2003
    Kurt A. Pflughoeft
    ABSTRACT Small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy and there is anecdotal evidence that use of the Web is beneficial to such businesses. There is, however, little systematic analysis of the conditions that lead to successful use of and thereby benefits from the Web for small businesses. Based on the innovation adoption, organizations, and information systems (IS) implementation literature, we identify a set of variables that are related to adoption, use, and benefits of information technology (IT), with particular emphasis on small businesses. These variables are reflective of an organization's contextual characteristics, its IT infrastructure, Web use, and Web benefits. Since the extant research does not suggest a single theoretical model for Web use and benefits in the context of small businesses, we adopt a modeling approach and explore the relationships between "context-IT-use-benefit" (CIUB) through three models,partial-mediator, reduced partial-mediator, and mediator. These models posit that the extent of Web use by small businesses and the associated benefits are driven by organizations' contextual characteristics and their IT infrastructure. They differ in the endogeneity/exogeneity of the extent of IT sophistication, and in the direct/mediated effects of organizational context. We examine whether the relationships between variables identified in the literature hold within the context of these models using two samples of small businesses with national coverage, including various sizes, and representing several industry sectors. The results show that the evidence for patterns of relationships is similar across the two independent samples for two of these models. We highlight the relationships within the reduced partial-mediator and mediator models for which conclusive evidence are given by both samples. Implications for small business managers and providers of Web-based technologies are discussed. [source]

    Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Has No Benefit for Patients with Primary Cutaneous Melanoma: An Assertion Based on Comprehensive, Critical Analysis

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
    David G. Brodland MD
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    Benefit,Cost Appraisals of Export Processing Zones: A Survey of the Literature

    DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 1 2003
    Kankesu Jayanthakumaran
    This article surveys research on the performance of Export Processing Zones (EPZs) using a benefit,cost analytical framework. Results suggest that zones in South Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia are economically efficient and generate returns well above estimated opportunity costs. On the other hand, the heavy infrastructure costs involved in setting up the zone in the Philippines resulted in a negative net present value. The zones have been an important source of employment in all cases and have promoted local entrepreneurs in some. However, as industrial development proceeds, the gap between the market and opportunity costs of labour narrows and the interest in EPZs tends to disappear. It may hold only if the zones generate private profit to domestic shareholders. [source]

    Value of Transesophageal 3D Echocardiography as an Adjunct to Conventional 2D Imaging in Preoperative Evaluation of Cardiac Masses

    ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2008
    Silvana Müller M.D.
    Background: This study sought to compare three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess intracardiac masses. It was hypothesized that 3D TEE would reveal incremental information for surgical and nonsurgical management. Methods: In 41 patients presenting with intracardiac masses (17 thrombi, 15 myxomas, 2 lymphomas, 2 caseous calcifications of the mitral valve and one each of hypernephroma, hepatocellular carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, lipoma, and fibroelastoma), 2D and 3D TEE were performed, aiming to assess the surface characteristics of the lesions, their relationship to surrounding structures, and attachments. Diagnoses were made by histopathology (n = 28), by computed tomography (n = 8), or by magnetic resonance imaging (n = 5). Benefit was categorized as follows: (A) New information obtained through 3D TEE; (B) helpful unique views but no additional findings compared to 2D TEE; (C) results equivalent to 2D TEE; (D) 3D TEE missed 2D findings. Results: In 15 subjects (37%), 3D TEE revealed one or more items of additional information (category A) regarding type and site of attachment (n = 9, 22%), surface features (n = 6, 15%), and spatial relationship to surrounding structures (n = 8, 20%). In at least 18% of all intracardiac masses, 3D TEE can be expected to deliver supplementary information. In six patients, additional findings led to decisions deviating from those made on the basis of 2D TEE. In 11 subjects (27%), 3D echocardiographic findings were categorized as "B." Conclusions: Information revealed by 3D imaging facilitates therapeutic decision making and especially the choice of an optimal surgical access prior to removal of intracardiac masses. [source]

    Echocardiographic Features of Patients With Heart Failure Who May Benefit From Biventricular Pacing

    ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2003
    Amgad N. Makaryus
    Background: Recent studies suggest that cardiac resynchronization therapy through biventricular pacing (BVP) may be a promising new treatment for patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF). This method involves implantation of pacer leads into the right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), and coronary sinus (CS) in patients with ventricular dyssynchrony as evidenced by a bundle branch block pattern on electrocardiogram (ECG). Clinical trials are enrolling stable patients with ejection fractions (EF) , 35%, left ventricular end-diastolic diameters (LVIDd) , 54 mm, and QRS duration ,140 msec. We compared echocardiography features of these patients (group 1) with other patients with EF , 35%, LVIDd , 54 mm, and QRS < 140 msec (group 2 = presumably no dyssynchrony). Methods: Nine hundred fifty-one patients with CHF, LVID 54 mm, EF 35% by echocardiography were retrospectively evaluated. One hundred forty-five patients remained after those with primary valvular disease, prior pacing systems, or chronic atrial arrhythmias were excluded. From this group of 145 patients, a subset of 50 randomly selected patients were further studied (25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 1, and 25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 2). Mean age group 1 = 75 years old, mean age group 2 = 67 years old. Mean QRS group 1 = 161 msec, mean QRS group 2 = 110 msec. Each group was compared for presence of paradoxical septal motion, atrial and ventricular chamber sizes, LV mass, LVEF, and RV systolic function. Results: Of the initial group of 951 patients, 145 (15%) met inclusion criteria. In the substudy, 20/25 (80%) of group l and 7/25 (28%) of group 2 subjects had paradoxical septal motion on echo (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0005). The t-tests performed on the other echocardiography variables demonstrated no differences in chamber size, function, or LV mass. Conclusions: Cardiac resynchronization therapy with BVP appears to target a relatively small population of our advanced CHF patients (15% or less). Although increasing QRS duration on ECG is associated with more frequent paradoxical septal motion on echo, it is not entirely predictive. Paradoxical septal motion on echo may therefore be more sensitive at identifying patients who respond to BVP. Further prospective studies are needed. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, April 2003) [source]

    Screen Printed Electrodes and Screen Printed Modified Electrodes Benefit from Insonation

    ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 9 2006
    Biljana, ljuki
    Abstract The synergy of power ultrasound with screen printed electrodes and screen printed modified electrodes is shown to be possible and beneficial. Proof-of-concept is shown for the anodic stripping voltammetry of lead at screen printed electrodes and screen printed calomel modified electrodes offering shorter deposition times and increased sensitivity. [source]

    Do Unions Benefit from Working in Partnership with Employers?

    INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 4 2008
    Evidence from Ireland
    Advocates and critics of voluntary workplace partnership have presented a series of theoretical arguments as to the potential consequences for unions working under partnership arrangements. A survey of Irish employees' views is used to assess these competing claims. The study is timely on two counts: first, empirical investigations of the effects of partnership on union influence and members' commitment to unions are rare; and, second, it is 11 years since employers, unions, and government in Ireland first signed a national framework agreement to promote the diffusion of partnership as a means for the handling of workplace change. The evidence provides support for the arguments as advanced by advocates. [source]

    Country-Specific Risk and the Cost and Benefit of Audit Quality: Evidence from Israeli Initial Public Offerings in the United States

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 3 2002
    Edward B. Douthett Jr.
    We examine audit fees and returns to auditor reputation for Israeli entrepreneurs making initial public offerings (IPOs) of equity in U.S. capital markets. We find that the cost of audit quality in terms of audit fees is higher, and the benefit of audit quality in terms of IPO proceeds is lower for a sample of Israeli IPOs matched to a control sample of U.S. IPOs. The results suggest that the higher levels of country-specific risk in Israel are modifying the cost and benefits of audit quality for Israeli entrepreneurs selling securities in the U.S. [source]

    A Reexamination of the Tradeoff between the Future Benefit and Riskiness of R&D Increases

    JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008
    ALLAN EBERHART
    ABSTRACT Many previous studies document a positive relation between research and development (R&D) and equity value. Though R&D can increase equity value by increasing firm value, it can also increase equity value at the expense of bondholder wealth through an increase in firm risk because equity is analogous to a call option on the underlying firm value. Shi [2003] tests this hypothesis by examining the relation between a firm's R&D intensity and its bond ratings and risk premiums at issuance. His results show that the net effect of R&D is negative for bondholders. We reexamine Shi's [2003] findings and in so doing make three contributions to the literature. First, we find that Shi's [2003] results are sensitive to the method of measuring R&D intensity. When we use what we argue is a better measure of R&D intensity, we find that the net effect of R&D is positive for bondholders. Second, when we use tests that Shi [2003] recognizes are even better than the ones that he uses, we find even stronger evidence of the positive effect of R&D on bondholders. Third, we examine cross-sectional differences in the effect of R&D on debtholders. Consistent with our main finding, we document a negative relation between R&D increases and default risk. The default risk reduction is also more pronounced for firms with higher initial default scores (where the debtholders have more to gain from an R&D increase) and for firms with more bank debt (where the debtholders have greater covenant protection from the possible detriments associated with R&D increases). [source]

    Healthcare Cost Differences with Participation in a Community-Based Group Physical Activity Benefit for Medicare Managed Care Health Plan Members

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2008
    Ronald T. Ackermann MD
    OBJECTIVES: To determine whether participation in a physical activity benefit by Medicare managed care enrollees is associated with lower healthcare utilization and costs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Medicare managed care. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 1,188 older adult health maintenance organization enrollees who participated at least once in the EnhanceFitness (EF) physical activity benefit and a matched group of enrollees who never used the program. MEASUREMENTS: Healthcare costs and utilization were estimated. Ordinary least squares regression was used, adjusting for demographics, comorbidity, indicators of preventive service use, and baseline utilization or cost. Robustness of findings was tested in sensitivity analyses involving continuous propensity score adjustment and generalized linear models with nonconstant variance assumptions. RESULTS: EF participants had similar total healthcare costs during Year 1 of the program, but during Year 2, adjusted total costs were $1,186 lower (P=.005) than for non-EF users. Differences were partially attributable to lower inpatient costs (,$3,384; P=.02), which did not result from high-cost outliers. Enrollees who attended EF an average of one visit or more per week had lower adjusted total healthcare costs in Year 1 (,$1,929; P<.001) and Year 2 (,$1,784; P<.001) than nonusers. CONCLUSION: Health plan coverage of a preventive physical activity benefit for seniors is a promising strategy to avoid significant healthcare costs in the short term. [source]

    Setting Eligibility Criteria for a Care-Coordination Benefit

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2005
    Christine T. Cigolle MD
    Objectives: To examine different clinically relevant eligibility criteria sets to determine how they differ in numbers and characteristics of individuals served. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2000 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal health interview survey of adults aged 50 and older. Setting: Population-based cohort of community-dwelling older adults, subset of an ongoing longitudinal health interview survey. Participants: Adults aged 65 and older who were respondents in the 2000 wave of the HRS (n=10,640, representing approximately 33.6 million Medicare beneficiaries). Measurements: Three clinical criteria sets were examined that included different combinations of medical conditions, cognitive impairment, and activity of daily living/instrumental activity of daily living (ADL/IADL) dependency. Results: A small portion of Medicare beneficiaries (1.3,5.8%) would be eligible for care coordination, depending on the criteria set chosen. A criteria set recently proposed by Congress (at least four severe complex medical conditions and one ADL or IADL dependency) would apply to 427,000 adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Criteria emphasizing cognitive impairment would serve an older population. Conclusion: Several criteria sets for a Medicare care-coordination benefit are clinically reasonable, but different definitions of eligibility would serve different numbers and population groups of older adults. [source]

    Do-Not-Resuscitate and Do-Not-Hospitalize Directives of Persons Admitted to Skilled Nursing Facilities Under the Medicare Benefit

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2005
    Cari R. Levy MD
    Objectives: To determine prevalence and factors associated with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and do-not-hospitalize (DNH) directives of residents admitted under the Medicare benefit to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). To explore geographic variation in use of DNR and DNH orders. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Nursing homes in the United States. Participants: Medicare admissions to SNFs in 2001 (n=1,962,742). Measurements: Logistic regression was used to select factors associated with DNR and DNH directives and state variation in their use. Results: Thirty-two percent of residents had DNR directives, whereas less than 2% had DNH directives. Factors associated with having a DNR or DNH directive at the resident level included older age, cognitive impairment, functional dependence, and Caucasian ethnicity. African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and North American Native residents were all significantly less likely than Caucasian residents to have DNR (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.35, 0.51, 0.61, and 0.62, respectively) or DNH (adjusted OR=0.26, 0.41, 0.43, and 0.67, respectively) directives. In contrast, residents in rural and government facilities were more likely to have DNR or DNH directives. After controlling for resident and facility characteristics, significant variation between states existed in the use of DNR and DNH directives. Conclusion: Ethnic minorities are less likely to have DNR and DNH directives even after controlling for disease status, demographic, facility, and geographic characteristics. Wide variation in the likelihood of having DNR and DNH directives between states suggests a need for better-standardized methods for eliciting the care preferences of residents admitted to SNFs under the Medicare benefit. [source]

    Multimorbidity and a Comprehensive Medicare Care-Coordination Benefit

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2005
    Wayne C. McCormick MD
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    Exercise Training as a Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure: Can Older People Benefit?

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2003
    Miles D. Witham BM
    Despite recent advances in pharmacological therapy, chronic heart failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older people. Studies of exercise training in younger, carefully selected patients with heart failure have shown improvements in symptoms and exercise capacity and in many pathophysiological aspects of heart failure, including skeletal myopathy, ergoreceptor function, heart rate variability, endothelial function, and cytokine expression. Data on mortality and hospitalization are lacking, and effects on everyday activity, depression, and quality of life are unclear. Exercise therapy for patients with heart failure appears to be safe and has the potential to improve function and quality of life in older people with heart failure. To realize these potential benefits, exercise programs that are suitable for older, frail people need to be established and tested in an older, frail, unselected population with comorbidities. [source]