5 CFR 850.301 - Electronic records; other acceptable records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...; other acceptable records. (a) Acceptable electronic records for processing by the electronic retirement and insurance processing system include— (1) Electronic employee data submitted by an agency or other entity through EHRI and stored within the new retirement and insurance processing system; (2) Electronic...

5 CFR 850.301 - Electronic records; other acceptable records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...; other acceptable records. (a) Acceptable electronic records for processing by the electronic retirement and insurance processing system include— (1) Electronic employee data submitted by an agency or other entity through EHRI and stored within the new retirement and insurance processing system; (2) Electronic...

5 CFR 850.301 - Electronic records; other acceptable records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...; other acceptable records. (a) Acceptable electronic records for processing by the electronic retirement and insurance processing system include— (1) Electronic employee data submitted by an agency or other entity through EHRI and stored within the new retirement and insurance processing system; (2) Electronic...

5 CFR 850.301 - Electronic records; other acceptable records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...; other acceptable records. (a) Acceptable electronic records for processing by the electronic retirement and insurance processing system include— (1) Electronic employee data submitted by an agency or other entity through EHRI and stored within the new retirement and insurance processing system; (2) Electronic...

An electron linac-based system for BNCT of shallow tumors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farhad Masoudi, S.; Ghiasi, Hedieh; Harif, Maryam; Rasouli, Fatemeh S.

2018-07-01

Although BNCT has been in existence since the 1950s, it continues to be of special significant and interest for wide groups of researchers. Recent studies, focused on investigating appropriate neutron sources as alternatives for nuclear reactors, revealed the high potential of electron linac-based facilities to improve the efficiency of this treatment method. The present simulation study has been devoted to both designing an optimized and geometrically simple target to be used as a photoneutron source based on an electron linac and designing a configuration composed of arrangement of materials to generate an appropriate beam for BNCT of shallow tumors considering the widely accepted criteria for pre-clinical survey. It has been found that the behavior of photoneutrons' current and their average energy on the surface of the target is independent of the incident energy. Accordingly, we managed to present a formula to predict the average energy of photoneutrons knowing the electron energy to an acceptable approximation avoiding Monte Carlo simulations. Considering the conflict between the beam intensity and its purity in the whole beam designing process, an optimized beam shaping assembly for electron linac of 18 MeV/ mA has been proposed. These results in essence confirm the ability of these sources for BNCT of shallow tumors and are therefore encouraging for further studies. Furthermore, the results show that this configuration, which the corresponding beam fulfills all the medical requirements, is also usable for electron linacs of other energies. This can be of high importance in practical point of view.

Effect of substituent of terpyridines on the in vitro antioxidant, antitubercular, biocidal and fluorescence studies of copper(II) complexes with clioquinol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kharadi, G. J.

2014-01-01

An octahedral complexes of copper with clioquinol(CQ) and substituted terpyridine have been synthesized. The Cu(II) complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analyses, magnetic moment measurements, FT-IR, electronic, 1H NMR and FAB mass spectra. Antimycobacterial screening of ligand and its copper compound against Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows clear enhancement in the antitubercular activity upon copper complexation. Ferric-reducing anti-oxidant power of all complexes were measured. The fluorescence spectra of complexes show red shift, which may be due to the chelation by the ligands to the metal ion. It enhances ligand ability to accept electrons and decreases the electron transition energy. The antimicrobial efficiency of the complexes were tested on five different microorganisms and showed good biological activity.

Acceptability and utility of an electronic psychosocial assessment (myAssessment) to increase self-disclosure in youth mental healthcare: a quasi-experimental study.

PubMed

Bradford, Sally; Rickwood, Debra

2015-12-01

Technology is increasingly being used in youth mental healthcare to support service delivery and improve health outcomes. The current study trialed a new electronic psychosocial application (myAssessment) that aims to provide a holistic assessment of relevant risk and protective factors in youth mental healthcare. The study aimed to determine whether myAssessment was acceptable to all users, and whether it affected: reporting of certain behaviors and ratings of self-disclosure; youth ratings of control, fears of judgmental reactions or time-efficiency; clinician ratings of time-efficiency or their ability to formulate a treatment plan; and the therapeutic alliance. The application was tested at a youth mental health service using a quasi-experimental two phase Treatment-as-Usual/Intervention design. Three hundred thirty nine youth and 13 clinicians participated across both phases. Reporting of behaviors, self-disclosure, youth control, judgmental reactions, time efficiency, ability to formulate treatment plans, and the therapeutic alliance were compared between groups. myAssessment was found to be widely accepted by both young people and clinicians. Use of myAssessment resulted in reporting of behaviors that were 2.78 through 10.38 times higher for a variety of substances (use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, hallucinogens, and opioids), in identifying non-heterosexual sexual orientation, having had sex, an STI check, sex without a condom, having felt pressured to have sex in the past, having self-harmed, and in having put themselves in an unsafe situation. Participants who used the application also reported being less likely to lie on past experiences of being bullied, substance use, and self-harm. Use of the application resulted in improved youth ratings of time efficiency in session. The application was found to have no impact on youth control, judgmental reactions, formulation of treatment plans, or the therapeutic alliance. Electronic psychosocial assessments can increase rates of self-disclosure and, therefore, provide an earlier and more comprehensive picture of young people's risks without negatively impacting the therapeutic alliance. Additionally, this type of technology has been shown to be widely accepted by both young people and clinicians and can improve youth beliefs that there is enough time in session to speak about what is most important to them.

Investigation of Conformal Coatings for Electronic Circuits

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-01

dcvice with at least 3 mils of dielectric and assuring that there are no voids around any of the pins. Sev’en products were evaluated for their...ability to uniformly coat (void-free) the pins of a 244-pin grid array. Four products , Conap EN-I 11, Dow Coming 93-5W,) McGhan Nusil CU-2500, and Solithane...procedure, pricing information, and technical data sheets which list specific information on those product -s that were found to be acceptable. 14. SUBJECT

5 CFR 850.301 - Electronic records; other acceptable records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... SERVICE REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) ELECTRONIC RETIREMENT PROCESSING Records § 850.301 Electronic records; other acceptable records. (a) Acceptable electronic records for retirement and insurance processing by... (SF 2806 or SF 3100), or data or images obtained from such documents, including images stored in EDMS...

Semi-transparent all-oxide ultraviolet light-emitting diodes based on ZnO/NiO-core/shell nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Zhi-Feng; Xu, Ting-Ting; Wu, Di; Zhang, Yuan-Tao; Zhang, Bao-Lin; Tian, Yong-Tao; Li, Xin-Jian; Du, Guo-Tong

2016-05-01

Semi-transparent all-oxide light-emitting diodes based on ZnO/NiO-core/shell nanowire structures were prepared on double-polished c-Al2O3 substrates. The entire heterojunction diode showed an average transparency of ~65% in the ultraviolet and visible regions. Under forward bias, the diode displayed an intense ultraviolet emission at ~382 nm, and its electroluminescence performance was remarkable in terms of a low emission onset, acceptable operating stability, and the ability to optically excite emissive semiconductor nanoparticle chromophores.Semi-transparent all-oxide light-emitting diodes based on ZnO/NiO-core/shell nanowire structures were prepared on double-polished c-Al2O3 substrates. The entire heterojunction diode showed an average transparency of ~65% in the ultraviolet and visible regions. Under forward bias, the diode displayed an intense ultraviolet emission at ~382 nm, and its electroluminescence performance was remarkable in terms of a low emission onset, acceptable operating stability, and the ability to optically excite emissive semiconductor nanoparticle chromophores. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07236k

SU-D-BRD-07: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Statistical Process Control Methods to Detect Systematic Errors For Routine Electron Energy Verification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parker, S

2015-06-15

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of statistical process control methods to detect systematic errors when using a two dimensional (2D) detector array for routine electron beam energy verification. Methods: Electron beam energy constancy was measured using an aluminum wedge and a 2D diode array on four linear accelerators. Process control limits were established. Measurements were recorded in control charts and compared with both calculated process control limits and TG-142 recommended specification limits. The data was tested for normality, process capability and process acceptability. Additional measurements were recorded while systematic errors were intentionally introduced. Systematic errors included shifts in the alignmentmore » of the wedge, incorrect orientation of the wedge, and incorrect array calibration. Results: Control limits calculated for each beam were smaller than the recommended specification limits. Process capability and process acceptability ratios were greater than one in all cases. All data was normally distributed. Shifts in the alignment of the wedge were most apparent for low energies. The smallest shift (0.5 mm) was detectable using process control limits in some cases, while the largest shift (2 mm) was detectable using specification limits in only one case. The wedge orientation tested did not affect the measurements as this did not affect the thickness of aluminum over the detectors of interest. Array calibration dependence varied with energy and selected array calibration. 6 MeV was the least sensitive to array calibration selection while 16 MeV was the most sensitive. Conclusion: Statistical process control methods demonstrated that the data distribution was normally distributed, the process was capable of meeting specifications, and that the process was centered within the specification limits. Though not all systematic errors were distinguishable from random errors, process control limits increased the ability to detect systematic errors using routine measurement of electron beam energy constancy.« less

Trapped in imidazole: how to accumulate multiple photoelectrons on a black-absorbing ruthenium complex.

PubMed

Zedler, Linda; Kupfer, Stephan; de Moraes, Inês Rabelo; Wächtler, Maria; Beckert, Rainer; Schmitt, Michael; Popp, Jürgen; Rau, Sven; Dietzek, Benjamin

2014-03-24

Ruthenium dyes incorporating a 4H-imidazole chromophore as a ligand exhibit a spectrally broad absorption in the UV/Vis region. Furthermore, they show the ability to store two electrons within the 4H-imidazole ligand. These features render them promising molecular systems, for example, as inter- or intramolecular electron relays. To optimize the structures with respect to their electron-storage capability, it is crucial to understand the impact of structural changes accompanying photoinduced charge transfer in the electronic intermediates of multistep electron-transfer processes. The photophysical properties of these (reactive) intermediates might impact the function of the molecular systems quite substantially. However, the spectroscopic study of short-lived intermediates in stepwise multielectron-transfer processes is experimentally challenging. To this end, this contribution reports on the electrochemical generation of anions identical to intermediate structures and their spectroscopic characterization by in situ resonance Raman and UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry and computational methods. Thereby, an efficient two-electron pathway to the 4H-imidazole electron-accepting ligand is identified. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Computer-based nursing documentation in nursing homes: A feasibility study.

PubMed

Yu, Ping; Qiu, Yiyu; Crookes, Patrick

2006-01-01

The burden of paper-based nursing documentation has led to increasing complaints and decreasing job satisfaction amongst aged-care workers in Australian nursing homes. The automation of nursing documentation has been identified as one of the possible strategies to address this issue. A major obstacle to the introduction of IT solutions, however, has been a prevailing doubt concerning the ability and/or the willingness of aged-care workers to accept such innovation. This research investigates the attitudes of aged-care workers towards adopting IT innovation. Questionnaire survey were conducted in 13 nursing homes around the Illawarra and Sydney regions in Australia. The survey found that an unexpected 89.3% of participants supported the strategy of introducing electronic nursing documentation systems into residential aged-care facilities. 94.3% of them would use such a system depending on circumstances. Despite a shortage of computers in the workplace, which is a major barrier, this research provides strong evidence that care workers in residential aged-care facilities are willing to accept electronic nursing documentation practice and the uptake of information technology in residential aged-care is feasible in Australia.

Electronic communication based interventions for hazardous young drinkers: A systematic review.

PubMed

O Rourke, L; Humphris, G; Baldacchino, A

2016-09-01

Previous reviews have specifically looked at computer-based or Internet-based approaches. However, there has been no systematic review focused upon electronic communication based interventions for hazardous young drinkers. Out of 3298 relevant citations, 13 papers consisting of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Effectiveness of intervention delivery was assessed using behavioural outcomes. Eight papers delivered interventions using the Web, three implemented text messaging, one used a mobile phone app and the remaining paper used a social networking site. The ability to provide personalized electronic feedback resulted in a reduction in alcohol consumption, frequency of binge drinking, and drinking in a non-risky way. However, intervention length did not appear to have an impact on overall effectiveness. Usage of text messaging and Social Network Sites (SNS) increased accessibility and ease of engaging in an intervention that is appealing and acceptable for young adults. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Portable Electronic Nose For Hydrazine and Monomethyl Hydrazine Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, Rebecca C.; Linnell, Bruce R.; Peterson, Barbara V.; Brooks, Kathy B.; Griffin, Tim P.

2004-01-01

The Space Program and military use large quantities Hydrazine (Hz) and monomethyl hydrazine (MMI-I) as rocket propellant. These substances are very toxic and are suspected human carcinogens. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist set the threshold limit value to be 10 parts per billion (ppb). Current off-the-shelf portable instruments require 10 to 20 minutes of exposure to detect 10 ppb concentration. This shortcofriing is not acceptable for many operations. A new prototype instrument using a gas sensor array and pattern recognition software technology (i.e., an electronic nose) has demonstrated the ability to identify either Hz or MM}{ and quantify their concentrations at 10 parts per billion in 90 seconds. This paper describes the design of the portable electronic nose (e-nose) instrument, test equipment setup, test protocol, pattern recognition algorithm, concentration estimation method, and laboratory test results.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Wenting; Zhang, Qinggang; Wang, Ruiqin

Unsaturated metal species (UMS) confined in nanomaterials play important roles for electron transfer in a wide range of catalytic reactions. However, the limited fabrication methods of UMS restrict their wider catalytic applications. Here in this paper, we report on the synergy of unsaturated Zn and Cu dopants confined in carbon dots (ZnCu-CDs) to produce enhanced electron transfer and photooxidation processes in the doped CDs. The Zn/Cu species chelate with the carbon matrix mainly through Cu-O(N)-Zn-O(N)-Cu complexes. Within this structure, Cu 2+ acts as a mild oxidizer that facilely increases the unsaturated Zn content and also precisely tunes the unsaturated Znmore » valence state to Zn d+, where d is between 1 and 2, instead of Zn. With the help of UMS, electron-transfer pathways are produced, enhancing both the electron donating (7.0 times) and-accepting (5.3 times) abilities relative to conventional CDs. Because of these synergistic effects, the photocatalytic efficiency of CDs in photooxidation reactions is shown to improve more than 5-fold.« less

The central active site arginine in sulfite oxidizing enzymes alters kinetic properties by controlling electron transfer and redox interactions.

PubMed

Hsiao, Ju-Chun; McGrath, Aaron P; Kielmann, Linda; Kalimuthu, Palraj; Darain, Farzana; Bernhardt, Paul V; Harmer, Jeffrey; Lee, Mihwa; Meyers, Kimberley; Maher, Megan J; Kappler, Ulrike

2018-01-01

A central conserved arginine, first identified as a clinical mutation leading to sulfite oxidase deficiency, is essential for catalytic competency of sulfite oxidizing molybdoenzymes, but the molecular basis for its effects on turnover and substrate affinity have not been fully elucidated. We have used a bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase, SorT, which lacks an internal heme group, but transfers electrons to an external, electron accepting cytochrome, SorU, to investigate the molecular functions of this arginine residue (Arg78). Assay of the SorT Mo centre catalytic competency in the absence of SorU showed that substitutions in the central arginine (R78Q, R78K and R78M mutations) only moderately altered SorT catalytic properties, except for R78M which caused significant reduction in SorT activity. The substitutions also altered the Mo-centre redox potentials (Mo VI/V potential lowered by ca. 60-80mV). However, all Arg78 mutations significantly impaired the ability of SorT to transfer electrons to SorU, where activities were reduced 17 to 46-fold compared to SorT WT , precluding determination of kinetic parameters. This was accompanied by the observation of conformational changes in both the introduced Gln and Lys residues in the crystal structure of the enzymes. Taking into account data collected by others on related SOE mutations we propose that the formation and maintenance of an electron transfer complex between the Mo centre and electron accepting heme groups is the main function of the central arginine, and that the reduced turnover and increases in K Msulfite are caused by the inefficient operation of the oxidative half reaction of the catalytic cycle in enzymes carrying these mutations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Technology Acceptance of Electronic Medical Records by Nurses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stocker, Gary

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Technology Acceptance Model's (TAM) relevance of the intention of nurses to use electronic medical records in acute health care settings. The basic technology acceptance research of Davis (1989) was applied to the specific technology tool of electronic medical records (EMR) in a specific setting…

Collection efficiency and acceptance maps of electron detectors for understanding signal detection on modern scanning electron microscopy.

PubMed

Agemura, Toshihide; Sekiguchi, Takashi

2018-02-01

Collection efficiency and acceptance maps of typical detectors in modern scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) were investigated. Secondary and backscattered electron trajectories from a specimen to through-the-lens and under-the-lens detectors placed on an electron optical axis and an Everhart-Thornley detector mounted on a specimen chamber were simulated three-dimensionally. The acceptance maps were drawn as the relationship between the energy and angle of collected electrons under different working distances. The collection efficiency considering the detector sensitivity was also estimated for the various working distances. These data indicated that the acceptance maps and collection efficiency are keys to understand the detection mechanism and image contrast for each detector in the modern SEMs. Furthermore, the working distance is the dominant parameter because electron trajectories are drastically changed with the working distance.

Evaluation of photosynthetic electrons derivation by exogenous redox mediators.

PubMed

Longatte, Guillaume; Fu, Han-Yi; Buriez, Olivier; Labbé, Eric; Wollman, Francis-André; Amatore, Christian; Rappaport, Fabrice; Guille-Collignon, Manon; Lemaître, Frédéric

2015-10-01

Oxygenic photosynthesis is the complex process that occurs in plants or algae by which the energy from the sun is converted into an electrochemical potential that drives the assimilation of carbon dioxide and the synthesis of carbohydrates. Quinones belong to a family of species commonly found in key processes of the Living, like photosynthesis or respiration, in which they act as electron transporters. This makes this class of molecules a popular candidate for biofuel cell and bioenergy applications insofar as they can be used as cargo to ship electrons to an electrode immersed in the cellular suspension. Nevertheless, such electron carriers are mostly selected empirically. This is why we report on a method involving fluorescence measurements to estimate the ability of seven different quinones to accept photosynthetic electrons downstream of photosystem II, the first protein complex in the light-dependent reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis. To this aim we use a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, impaired in electron downstream of photosystem II and assess the ability of quinones to restore electron flow by fluorescence. In this work, we defined and extracted a "derivation parameter" D that indicates the derivation efficiency of the exogenous quinones investigated. D then allows electing 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone, 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone and p-phenylbenzoquinone as good candidates. More particularly, our investigations suggested that other key parameters like the partition of quinones between different cellular compartments and their propensity to saturate these various compartments should also be taken into account in the process of selecting exogenous quinones for the purpose of deriving photoelectrons from intact algae. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

27 CFR 73.11 - What are the required components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures? 73.11 Section 73.11 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES; ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF FORMS Electronic Signatures § 73.11...

Motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking: a systematic review

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background In spite of the negative health effects of waterpipe tobacco smoking, its use is becoming more common. The objective of this study is to systematically review the medical literature for motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking. Methods We electronically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the ISI the Web of Science in January 2012. We included both quantitative and qualitative studies. We selected studies and abstracted data using standard systematic review methodology. We synthesized data qualitatively. Results We included 58 papers reporting on 56 studies. The main motives for waterpipe tobacco smoking were socializing, relaxation, pleasure and entertainment. Peer pressure, fashion, and curiosity were additional motives for university and school students while expression of cultural identity was an additional motive for people in the Middle East and for people of Middle Eastern descent in Western countries. Awareness of the potential health hazards of waterpipe smoking was common across settings. Most but not all studies found that the majority of people perceived waterpipe smoking as less harmful than cigarette smoking. Waterpipe smoking was generally socially acceptable and more acceptable than cigarette smoking in general. In Middle Eastern societies, it was particularly more acceptable for women’s use compared to cigarette use. A majority perceived waterpipe smoking as less addictive than cigarette smoking. While users were confident in their ability to quit waterpipe smoking at any time, willingness to quit varied across settings. Conclusions Socializing, relaxation, pleasure and entertainment were the main motives for waterpipe use. While waterpipe users were aware of the health hazards of waterpipe smoking, they perceived it as less harmful, less addictive and more socially acceptable than cigarette smoking and were confident about their ability to quit. PMID:23816366

Motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking: a systematic review.

PubMed

Akl, Elie A; Jawad, Mohammed; Lam, Wai Yim; Co, Christopher N; Obeid, Rawad; Irani, Jihad

2013-07-02

In spite of the negative health effects of waterpipe tobacco smoking, its use is becoming more common. The objective of this study is to systematically review the medical literature for motives, beliefs and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking. We electronically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the ISI the Web of Science in January 2012. We included both quantitative and qualitative studies. We selected studies and abstracted data using standard systematic review methodology. We synthesized data qualitatively. We included 58 papers reporting on 56 studies. The main motives for waterpipe tobacco smoking were socializing, relaxation, pleasure and entertainment. Peer pressure, fashion, and curiosity were additional motives for university and school students while expression of cultural identity was an additional motive for people in the Middle East and for people of Middle Eastern descent in Western countries. Awareness of the potential health hazards of waterpipe smoking was common across settings. Most but not all studies found that the majority of people perceived waterpipe smoking as less harmful than cigarette smoking. Waterpipe smoking was generally socially acceptable and more acceptable than cigarette smoking in general. In Middle Eastern societies, it was particularly more acceptable for women's use compared to cigarette use. A majority perceived waterpipe smoking as less addictive than cigarette smoking. While users were confident in their ability to quit waterpipe smoking at any time, willingness to quit varied across settings. Socializing, relaxation, pleasure and entertainment were the main motives for waterpipe use. While waterpipe users were aware of the health hazards of waterpipe smoking, they perceived it as less harmful, less addictive and more socially acceptable than cigarette smoking and were confident about their ability to quit.

Barriers and facilitators to electronic documentation in a rural hospital.

PubMed

Whittaker, Alice A; Aufdenkamp, Marilee; Tinley, Susan

2009-01-01

The purpose of the study was to explore nurses' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to adoption of an electronic health record (EHR) in a rural Midwestern hospital. This study was a qualitative, descriptive design. The Staggers and Parks Nurse-Computer Interaction Framework was used to guide directed content analysis. Eleven registered nurses from oncology and medical-surgical units were interviewed using three semistructured interview questions. Predetermined codes and operational definitions were developed from the Staggers and Parks framework. Narrative data were analyzed by each member of the research team and group consensus on coding was reached through group discussions. Participants were able to identify computer-related, nurse-related, and contextual barriers and facilitators to implementation of EHR. In addition, two distinct patterns of perceptions and acceptance were identified. The Staggers and Parks Nurse-Computer Interaction framework was found to be useful in identifying computer, nurse, and contextual characteristics that act as facilitators or barriers to adoption of an EHR system. Acceptance and use of an EHR are enhanced when barriers are managed and facilitators are supported. Understanding and management of facilitators and barriers to EHR adoption may impact nurses' ability to provide and document nursing care.

Commercial printing and electronic color printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, Joseph W.

1995-04-01

Technologies such as Xeikon, Indigo, and the Heidelberg/Presstek GTO-DI can change both the way print buyers may purchase printed material and the way printers and trade services respond to changing demands. Our recent study surveys the graphic arts industry for their current views of these new products and provides forecasts of installations and usage with breakdowns by market segment and size of firm. The acceptance of desktop publishing and electronic prepress have not only paved the way for a totally electronic printing process, but it has broadened the base of people who develop color originals for reproduction. Electronic printing adds the ability to customize jobs on the fly. How print providers will respond to the impact of electronic color printing depends on how each firm perceives the 'threat.' Most printing companies are run by entrepreneurial individuals who have, as their highest priority, their own economic survival. Service bureaus are already looking at electronic color printing as yet another way to differentiate their businesses. The study was based on a mail survey with 682 responses from graphic arts firms, interviews with printers, suppliers, associations and industry executives, and detailed secondary research. Results of a new survey in progress in January 1995 is also presented.

Effect of protonation, composition and isomerism on the redox properties and electron (de)localization of classical polyoxometalates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, Xavier

2017-10-01

This publication reviews some relevant features related with the redox activity of two inorganic compounds: [XM12O40]q- (Keggin structure) and [X2M18O62]q- (Wells-Dawson structure). These are two well-known specimens of the vast Polyoxometalate (POM) family, which has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical research owing to their unmatched properties. In particular, their redox activity focus a great deal of attention from scientists due to their prospective related applications. POMs are habitually seen as `electron sponges' since many of them accept several electrons without losing their chemical identity. This makes them excellent models to study mechanisms of electrochemical nature. Their redox properties depend on: (i) the type and number of transition metal atoms in the structure, (ii) the basicity of the first reduced species and, occasionally, of the fully oxidized species; (iii) the size of the molecule, (iv) the overall negative charge of the POM, and (v) the size of the central heteroatom. In the last years, important collaboration between the experimental and theoretical areas has been usual on the development of POM science. In the present chapter three of these synergies are highlighted: the influence of the internal heteroatom upon the redox potentials of Keggin anions; the dependence of the redox waves of Fe-substituted Wells-Dawson compounds with pH; and the role of electron delocalization and pairing in mixed-metal Mo/W Wells-Dawson compounds in their ability to accept electrons. In these three cases, a complete understanding of the problem would not have been possible without the mutual benefit of experimental and computational data.

Role of Humic-Bound Iron as an Electron Transfer Agent in Dissimilatory Fe(III) Reduction

PubMed Central

Lovley, Derek R.; Blunt-Harris, Elizabeth L.

1999-01-01

The dissimilatory Fe(III) reducer Geobacter metallireducens reduced Fe(III) bound in humic substances, but the concentrations of Fe(III) in a wide range of highly purified humic substances were too low to account for a significant portion of the electron-accepting capacities of the humic substances. Furthermore, once reduced, the iron in humic substances could not transfer electrons to Fe(III) oxide. These results suggest that other electron-accepting moieties in humic substances, such as quinones, are the important electron-accepting and shuttling agents under Fe(III)-reducing conditions. PMID:10473447

Synergies between Unsaturated Zn/Cu Doping Sites in Carbon Dots Provide New Pathways for Photocatalytic Oxidation

DOE PAGES

Wu, Wenting; Zhang, Qinggang; Wang, Ruiqin; ...

2017-12-07

Unsaturated metal species (UMS) confined in nanomaterials play important roles for electron transfer in a wide range of catalytic reactions. However, the limited fabrication methods of UMS restrict their wider catalytic applications. Here in this paper, we report on the synergy of unsaturated Zn and Cu dopants confined in carbon dots (ZnCu-CDs) to produce enhanced electron transfer and photooxidation processes in the doped CDs. The Zn/Cu species chelate with the carbon matrix mainly through Cu-O(N)-Zn-O(N)-Cu complexes. Within this structure, Cu 2+ acts as a mild oxidizer that facilely increases the unsaturated Zn content and also precisely tunes the unsaturated Znmore » valence state to Zn d+, where d is between 1 and 2, instead of Zn. With the help of UMS, electron-transfer pathways are produced, enhancing both the electron donating (7.0 times) and-accepting (5.3 times) abilities relative to conventional CDs. Because of these synergistic effects, the photocatalytic efficiency of CDs in photooxidation reactions is shown to improve more than 5-fold.« less

Hard and soft acids and bases: structure and process.

PubMed

Reed, James L

2012-07-05

Under investigation is the structure and process that gives rise to hard-soft behavior in simple anionic atomic bases. That for simple atomic bases the chemical hardness is expected to be the only extrinsic component of acid-base strength, has been substantiated in the current study. A thermochemically based operational scale of chemical hardness was used to identify the structure within anionic atomic bases that is responsible for chemical hardness. The base's responding electrons have been identified as the structure, and the relaxation that occurs during charge transfer has been identified as the process giving rise to hard-soft behavior. This is in contrast the commonly accepted explanations that attribute hard-soft behavior to varying degrees of electrostatic and covalent contributions to the acid-base interaction. The ability of the atomic ion's responding electrons to cause hard-soft behavior has been assessed by examining the correlation of the estimated relaxation energies of the responding electrons with the operational chemical hardness. It has been demonstrated that the responding electrons are able to give rise to hard-soft behavior in simple anionic bases.

GEANT4 Simulation of Neutron Detector for DAMPE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ming, He; Tao, Ma; Jin, Chang; Yan, Zhang; Yong-yi, Huang; Jing-jing, Zang; Jian, Wu; Tie-kuang, Dong

2016-10-01

In recent decades, dark matter has gradually become a hot topic in astronomical research, and the related theoretical research and experimental project are updated with each passing day. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) of our country was proposed under this background. As the detected object involves high-energy electrons, appropriate methods must be taken to distinguish them from protons, in order to reduce the event probability of other charged particles (for example protons) being mistaken as electrons. The experiments show that the hadron shower of high-energy proton in BGO (Bismuth Germanium Oxide) calorimeter, which is usually accompanied with the emitting of a large number of secondary neutrons, is significantly different from the electromagnetic shower of high-energy electron. Through the detection of secondary neutron signals emerging from the bottom of BGO calorimeter, and the shower shape of incident particles in the BGO calorimeter, we can effectively distinguish whether the incident particles are high-energy protons or electrons. This paper introduces the structure and detection principle of the DAMPE neutron detector. We use the Monte-Carlo method and the GEANT4 software to simulate the signals produced by protons and electrons at the characteristic energy in the neutron detector, and finally summarize the neutron detector's ability to distinguish protons and electrons under different electron acceptabilities.

GEANT4 Simulation of Neutron Detector for DAMPE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, M.; Ma, T.; Chang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Huang, Y. Y.; Zang, J. J.; Wu, J.; Dong, T. K.

2016-01-01

During recent tens of years dark matter has gradually become a hot topic in astronomical research field, and related theory researches and experiment projects change with each passing day. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) of our country is proposed under this background. As the probing object involves high energy electrons, appropriate methods must be taken to distinguish them from protons in order to reduce the event probability of other charged particles (e.g. a proton) being mistaken as electrons. The experiments show that, the hadronic shower of high energy proton in BGO electromagnetic calorimeter, which is usually accompanied by the emitting of large number of secondary neutrons, is significantly different from the electromagnetic shower of high energy electron. Through the detection of secondary neutron signal emitting from the bottom of BGO electromagnetic calorimeter and the shower shape of incident particles in BGO electromagnetic calorimeter, we can effectively distinguish whether the incident particles are high energy protons or electrons. This paper introduces the structure and detecting principle of DAMPE neutron detector. We use Monte-Carlo method with GEANT4 software to simulate the signal emitting from protons and electrons at characteristic energy in the neutron detector, and finally summarize the neutron detector's ability to distinguish protons and electrons under different electron acception efficiencies.

Association of 2-acylaminopyridines and benzoic acids. Steric and electronic substituent effect studied by XRD, solution and solid-state NMR and calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ośmiałowski, Borys; Kolehmainen, Erkki; Ejsmont, Krzysztof; Ikonen, Satu; Valkonen, Arto; Rissanen, Kari; Nonappa

2013-12-01

Eight single crystal X-ray structures, solid-state NMR spectroscopic, and theoretical studies utilizing QTAIM methodology were used to characterize the 2-acyl (alkyl in acyl = methyl, ethyl, t-butyl, and 1-adamantyl) amino-6-R-pyridine/4-R‧-benzoic acid (R,R‧ = H or Me) cocrystals. As expected among alkyl groups 1-adamantyl due to its bulkiness has the most significant effect on the relative positions of molecules in cocrystals. In addition, the subtle electronic and steric effects by the methyl substituents were observed. The theoretical calculations with full geometry optimizations are in agreement with the experimental findings (geometry, energy of hydrogen bonds). Based on the crystal structures and calculations it is concluded that p-methyl substituent in benzoic acid increase the hydrogen bond accepting ability of the CO oxygen and decreases the hydrogen bond donating ability of OH proton. The 15N solid-state (CP MAS) NMR chemical shifts prove that molecules in cocrystal are held together by hydrogen bonding. The biggest variation in the 15N chemical shift of acylamino nitrogen can be related with the size of the alkyl group in acyl moiety.

Improvement in electron-beam lithography throughput by exploiting relaxed patterning fidelity requirements with directed self-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Hao Yun; Liu, Chun-Hung; Shen, Yu Tian; Lee, Hsuan-Ping; Tsai, Kuen Yu

2014-03-01

Line edge roughness (LER) influencing the electrical performance of circuit components is a key challenge for electronbeam lithography (EBL) due to the continuous scaling of technology feature sizes. Controlling LER within an acceptable tolerance that satisfies International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors requirements while achieving high throughput become a challenging issue. Although lower dosage and more-sensitive resist can be used to improve throughput, they would result in serious LER-related problems because of increasing relative fluctuation in the incident positions of electrons. Directed self-assembly (DSA) is a promising technique to relax LER-related pattern fidelity (PF) requirements because of its self-healing ability, which may benefit throughput. To quantify the potential of throughput improvement in EBL by introducing DSA for post healing, rigorous numerical methods are proposed to simultaneously maximize throughput by adjusting writing parameters of EBL systems subject to relaxed LER-related PF requirements. A fast, continuous model for parameter sweeping and a hybrid model for more accurate patterning prediction are employed for the patterning simulation. The tradeoff between throughput and DSA self-healing ability is investigated. Preliminary results indicate that significant throughput improvements are achievable at certain process conditions.

Investigating Students' Usage and Acceptance of Electronic Books

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sieche, Susan; Krey, Birte; Bastiaens, Theo

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate students' usage and acceptance of electronic books. Factors correlating with students' attitude towards e-books were examined using the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, Bagozzi, & Warshaw 1989). A questionnaire was administered online for students at University of Hagen. Results indicate that…

Structure Effect of Squarylium Cyanine Dyes on Third-Order Optical Nonlinearities in Ground and Excited States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xu-chun; Xu, Gang; Si, Jin-hai; Ye, Pei-xian; Lin, Tong; Peng, Bi-xian

1999-08-01

A series of squarylium cyanine dyes with different substituents were synthesized and the third-order optical nonlinearities of their ground and excited states were investigated by backward degenerate four-wave-mixing. For the ground state, the molecular hyperpolarizability γg increases with the red-shift of the absorption peak λmaxab of the squaraine with different substituents, whereas for the excited-state molecular hyperpolarizability γe, the nonlinear enhancement γe/γg decreases, which may indicate that in the excited state the electron accepting-donating ability of different substituents changes in the reverse order compared with the order in the ground state.

Implementation of a low-cost Interim 21CFR11 compliance solution for laboratory environments.

PubMed

Greene, Jack E

2003-01-01

In the recent past, compliance with 21CFR11 has become a major buzzword within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. While commercial solutions exist, implementation and validation are expensive and cumbersome. Frequent implementation of new features via point releases further complicates purchasing decisions by making it difficult to weigh the risk of non-compliance against the costs of too frequent upgrades. This presentation discusses a low-cost interim solution to the problem. While this solution does not address 100% of the issues raised by 21CFR11, it does implement and validate: (1) computer system security; (2) backup and restore ability on the electronic records store; and (3) an automated audit trail mechanism that captures the date, time and user identification whenever electronic records are created, modified or deleted. When coupled with enhanced procedural controls, this solution provides an acceptable level of compliance at extremely low cost.

78 FR 24817 - Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-26

...The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned about the effects of distraction on motor vehicle safety due to drivers' use of electronic devices. Consequently, NHTSA is issuing nonbinding, voluntary Driver Distraction Guidelines (NHTSA Guidelines) to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles. This notice announces the issuance of the final version of the first phase of the NHTSA Guidelines. This first phase applies to original equipment (OE) in-vehicle electronic devices used by the driver to perform secondary tasks (communications, entertainment, information gathering, navigation tasks, etc. are considered secondary tasks) through visual-manual means (i.e., the driver looks at a device, manipulates a device-related control with his or her hand, and/or watches for visual feedback). The NHTSA Guidelines list certain secondary tasks believed by the agency to interfere inherently with a driver's ability to safely control the vehicle. The NHTSA Guidelines recommend that in-vehicle devices be designed so that they cannot be used by the driver to perform these inherently distracting secondary tasks while driving. For all other visual-manual secondary tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines specify a test method for measuring eye glance behavior during those tasks. Eye glance metrics are compared to acceptance criteria to evaluate whether a task interferes too much with driver attention, rendering it unsuitable for a driver to perform while driving. If a task does not meet the acceptance criteria, the NHTSA Guidelines recommend that the task be made inaccessible for performance by the driver while driving. In addition, the NHTSA Guidelines contain several recommendations to limit and reduce the potential for distraction associated with the use of OE in-vehicle electronic devices.

15 CFR 700.13 - Acceptance and rejection of rated orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... order and transmit the acceptance or rejection in writing (hard copy), or in electronic format, within... rejection, pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, in writing (hard copy) or electronic format...

"Grandma, You Should Do It--It's Cool" Older Adults and the Role of Family Members in Their Acceptance of Technology.

PubMed

Luijkx, Katrien; Peek, Sebastiaan; Wouters, Eveline

2015-12-05

Despite its potential, the acceptance of technology to support the ability to live independently in one's own home, also called aging in place, is not optimal. Family members may play a key role in technology acceptance by older adults; however, it is not well understood why and how they exert influence. Based on open interviews with 53 community-dwelling older adults, this paper describes the influence of family members, including spouses, on the use of various types of consumer electronics by older adults as was reported by themselves. Such a broad focus enables understanding the use of technology as was reported by older adults, instead of its intended use. Our study reveals that the influence of each family member has its own characteristics. The influence of technology acceptance is a natural and coincidental part of the interaction with spouses and grandchildren in which entertainment and pleasure are prominent. This is also partly true for the influence of children, but their influence also is intentional and driven by concerns. Our study indicates the importance of including all family members when implementing technology in the lives of older adults. Besides information for children about the use(fullness) of devices, it is worthwhile to give grandchildren an important role, because older adults easily adopt their enthusiasm and it might eventually lighten the burden on children.

“Grandma, You Should Do It—It’s Cool” Older Adults and the Role of Family Members in Their Acceptance of Technology

PubMed Central

Luijkx, Katrien; Peek, Sebastiaan; Wouters, Eveline

2015-01-01

Despite its potential, the acceptance of technology to support the ability to live independently in one’s own home, also called aging in place, is not optimal. Family members may play a key role in technology acceptance by older adults; however, it is not well understood why and how they exert influence. Based on open interviews with 53 community-dwelling older adults, this paper describes the influence of family members, including spouses, on the use of various types of consumer electronics by older adults as was reported by themselves. Such a broad focus enables understanding the use of technology as was reported by older adults, instead of its intended use. Our study reveals that the influence of each family member has its own characteristics. The influence of technology acceptance is a natural and coincidental part of the interaction with spouses and grandchildren in which entertainment and pleasure are prominent. This is also partly true for the influence of children, but their influence also is intentional and driven by concerns. Our study indicates the importance of including all family members when implementing technology in the lives of older adults. Besides information for children about the use(fullness) of devices, it is worthwhile to give grandchildren an important role, because older adults easily adopt their enthusiasm and it might eventually lighten the burden on children. PMID:26690188

Gerontechnology acceptance by elderly Hong Kong Chinese: a senior technology acceptance model (STAM).

PubMed

Chen, Ke; Chan, Alan Hoi Shou

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a senior technology acceptance model (STAM) aimed at understanding the acceptance of gerontechnology by older Hong Kong Chinese people. The proposed STAM extended previous technology acceptance models and theories by adding age-related health and ability characteristics of older people. The proposed STAM was empirically tested using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a sample of 1012 seniors aged 55 and over in Hong Kong. The result showed that STAM was strongly supported and could explain 68% of the variance in the use of gerontechnology. For older Hong Kong Chinese, individual attributes, which include age, gender, education, gerontechnology self-efficacy and anxiety, and health and ability characteristics, as well as facilitating conditions explicitly and directly affected technology acceptance. These were better predictors of gerontechnology usage behaviour (UB) than the conventionally used attitudinal factors (usefulness and ease of use).

Hydrogen concentrations as an indicator of the predominant terminal electron-accepting reactions in aquatic sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovley, D.R.; Goodwin, S.

1988-01-01

Factors controlling the concentration of dissolved hydrogen gas in anaerobic sedimentary environments were investigated. Results, presented here or previously, demonstrated that, in sediments, only microorganisms catalyze the oxidation of H2 coupled to the reduction of nitrate, Mn(IV), Fe(III), sulfate, or carbon dioxide. Theoretical considerations suggested that, at steady-state conditions, H2 concentrations are primarily dependent upon the physiological characteristics of the microorganism(s) consuming the H2 and that organisms catalyzing H2 oxidation, with the reduction of a more electrochemically positive electron acceptor, can maintain lower H2 concentrations than organisms using electron acceptors which yield less energy from H2 oxidation. The H2 concentrations associated with the specified predominant terminal electron-accepting reactions in bottom sediments of a variety of surface water environments were: methanogenesis, 7-10 nM; sulfate reduction, 1-1.5 nM; Fe(III) reduction, 0.2 nM; Mn(IV) or nitrate reduction, less than 0.05 nM. Sediments with the same terminal electron acceptor for organic matter oxidation had comparable H2 concentrations, despite variations in the rate of organic matter decomposition, pH, and salinity. Thus, each terminal electron-accepting reaction had a unique range of steady-state H2 concentrations associated with it. Preliminary studies in a coastal plain aquifer indicated that H2 concentrations also vary in response to changes in the predominant terminal electron-accepting process in deep subsurface environments. These studies suggest that H2 measurements may aid in determining which terminal electron-accepting reactions are taking place in surface and subsurface sedimentary environments. ?? 1988.

Microbiome involved in microbial electrochemical systems (MESs): A review.

PubMed

Saratale, Rijuta Ganesh; Saratale, Ganesh Dattatraya; Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan; Zhen, Guangyin; Kumar, Gopalakrishnan; Kadier, Abudukeremu; Sivagurunathan, Periyasamy

2017-06-01

Microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) are an attracting technology for the disposal of wastewater treatment and simultaneous energy production. In MESs, at the anode microorganisms through the catalytic activity generates electrons that can be converted into electricity or other valuable chemical compounds. Microorganisms those having ability to donate and accept electrons to and from anode and cathode electrodes, respectively are recognized as 'exoelectrogens'. In the MESs, it renders an important function for its performance. In the present mini-review, we have discussed the role of microbiome including pure culture, enriched culture and mixed culture in different BESs application. The effects of operational and biological factors on microbiome development have been discussed. Further discussion about the molecular techniques for the evaluation of microbial community analysis is addressed. In addition different electrochemical techniques for extracellular electron transfer (EET) mechanism of electroactive biofilms have been discussed. This review highlights the importance of microbiome in the development of MESs, effective operational factors for exo-electrogens activities as well their key challenges and future technological aspects are also briefly discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complex mixture analysis by photoionization mass spectrometry with a VUV hydrogen laser source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huth, T. C.; Denton, M. B.

1985-12-01

Trace organic analysis in complex matrix presents one of the most challenging problems in analytical mass spectrometry. When ionization is accomplished non-selectively using electron impact, extensive sample clean-up is often necessary in order to isolate the analyte from the matrix. Sample preparation can be greatly reduced when the VUV H2 laser is used to selectively photoionize only a small fraction of compounds introduced into the ion source. This device produces parent ions only for all compounds whose ionization potentials lie below a threshold value determined by the photon energy of 7.8 eV. The only observed interference arises from electron impact ionization, when scattered laser radiation interacts with metal surfaces, producing electrons which are then accelerated by potential fields inside the source. These can be suppressed to levels acceptable for practical analysis through proper instrumental design. Results are presented which indicate the ability of this ion source to discriminate against interfering matrix components, in simple extracts from a variety of complex real world matrices, such as brewed coffee, beer, and urine.

Cancer, Cognitive Impairment, and Work-Related Outcomes: An Integrative Review.

PubMed

Von Ah, Diane; Storey, Susan; Tallman, Eileen; Nielsen, Adele; Johns, Shelley; Pressler, Susan

2016-09-01

Cancer survivors often report concerns regarding their memory, attention, and ability to process information and make decisions. These problems, which have also been demonstrated on objective neuropsychological assessments, may have a significant impact on work-related outcomes.
. A literature review was conducted using the following electronic databases. Articles were evaluated by two independent researchers.
. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten were qualitative, 15 were quantitative, and 1 had a mixed-methods design. Quantitative articles were synthesized using the integrative methodology strategies proposed by Whittemore and Knafl. Synthesis of qualitative articles was conducted using the criteria established by the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services. 
. To date, research in this context has been limited by cognitive assessments focusing primarily on patient self-assessments of attention, concentration, and memory. Additional research is needed to examine the impact of cognitive performance and to expand work-related outcomes measures to include perceived work ability, productivity, and actual performance.
. Lack of information regarding cognitive impairment inhibits survivors' ability to prepare, understand, and accept impending cognitive changes and how they may affect work ability. Oncology nurses can assist cancer survivors by preparing and educating them on how to better manage impairment associated with cancer and its treatment.

45 CFR 1217.3 - Qualifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... position must have: (a) Completed a one-year term as a VISTA volunteer. (b) Demonstrated ability to work... ability to work well with and gain acceptance of other volunteers. (d) Demonstrated ability to provide...

45 CFR 1217.3 - Qualifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... position must have: (a) Completed a one-year term as a VISTA volunteer. (b) Demonstrated ability to work... ability to work well with and gain acceptance of other volunteers. (d) Demonstrated ability to provide...

45 CFR 1217.3 - Qualifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... position must have: (a) Completed a one-year term as a VISTA volunteer. (b) Demonstrated ability to work... ability to work well with and gain acceptance of other volunteers. (d) Demonstrated ability to provide...

Syntrophic growth of Desulfovibrio alaskensis requires genes for H2 and formate metabolism as well as those for flagellum and biofilm formation.

PubMed

Krumholz, Lee R; Bradstock, Peter; Sheik, Cody S; Diao, Yiwei; Gazioglu, Ozcan; Gorby, Yuri; McInerney, Michael J

2015-04-01

In anaerobic environments, mutually beneficial metabolic interactions between microorganisms (syntrophy) are essential for oxidation of organic matter to carbon dioxide and methane. Syntrophic interactions typically involve a microorganism degrading an organic compound to primary fermentation by-products and sources of electrons (i.e., formate, hydrogen, or nanowires) and a partner producing methane or respiring the electrons via alternative electron accepting processes. Using a transposon gene mutant library of the sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20, we screened for mutants incapable of serving as the electron-accepting partner of the butyrate-oxidizing bacterium, Syntrophomonas wolfei. A total of 17 gene mutants of D. alaskensis were identified as incapable of serving as the electron-accepting partner. The genes identified predominantly fell into three categories: membrane surface assembly, flagellum-pilus synthesis, and energy metabolism. Among these genes required to serve as the electron-accepting partner, the glycosyltransferase, pilus assembly protein (tadC), and flagellar biosynthesis protein showed reduced biofilm formation, suggesting that each of these components is involved in cell-to-cell interactions. Energy metabolism genes encoded proteins primarily involved in H2 uptake and electron cycling, including a rhodanese-containing complex that is phylogenetically conserved among sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria. Utilizing an mRNA sequencing approach, analysis of transcript abundance in wild-type axenic and cocultures confirmed that genes identified as important for serving as the electron-accepting partner were more highly expressed under syntrophic conditions. The results imply that sulfate-reducing microorganisms require flagellar and outer membrane components to effectively couple to their syntrophic partners; furthermore, H2 metabolism is essential for syntrophic growth of D. alaskensis G20. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Syntrophic Growth of Desulfovibrio alaskensis Requires Genes for H2 and Formate Metabolism as Well as Those for Flagellum and Biofilm Formation

PubMed Central

Bradstock, Peter; Sheik, Cody S.; Diao, Yiwei; Gazioglu, Ozcan; Gorby, Yuri; McInerney, Michael J.

2015-01-01

In anaerobic environments, mutually beneficial metabolic interactions between microorganisms (syntrophy) are essential for oxidation of organic matter to carbon dioxide and methane. Syntrophic interactions typically involve a microorganism degrading an organic compound to primary fermentation by-products and sources of electrons (i.e., formate, hydrogen, or nanowires) and a partner producing methane or respiring the electrons via alternative electron accepting processes. Using a transposon gene mutant library of the sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20, we screened for mutants incapable of serving as the electron-accepting partner of the butyrate-oxidizing bacterium, Syntrophomonas wolfei. A total of 17 gene mutants of D. alaskensis were identified as incapable of serving as the electron-accepting partner. The genes identified predominantly fell into three categories: membrane surface assembly, flagellum-pilus synthesis, and energy metabolism. Among these genes required to serve as the electron-accepting partner, the glycosyltransferase, pilus assembly protein (tadC), and flagellar biosynthesis protein showed reduced biofilm formation, suggesting that each of these components is involved in cell-to-cell interactions. Energy metabolism genes encoded proteins primarily involved in H2 uptake and electron cycling, including a rhodanese-containing complex that is phylogenetically conserved among sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria. Utilizing an mRNA sequencing approach, analysis of transcript abundance in wild-type axenic and cocultures confirmed that genes identified as important for serving as the electron-accepting partner were more highly expressed under syntrophic conditions. The results imply that sulfate-reducing microorganisms require flagellar and outer membrane components to effectively couple to their syntrophic partners; furthermore, H2 metabolism is essential for syntrophic growth of D. alaskensis G20. PMID:25616787

TERMINAL ELECTRON ACCEPTING PROCESSES IN THE ALLUVIAL SEDIMENTS OF A HEADWATER STREAM

EPA Science Inventory

Chemical fluxes between catchments and streams are influenced by biochemical processes in the groundwater-stream water (GW-SW) ecotone, the interface between stream surface water and groundwater. Terminal electron accepting processes (TEAPs) that are utilized in respiration of ...

Electronic adherence monitoring device performance and patient acceptability: a randomized control trial.

PubMed

Chan, Amy Hai Yan; Stewart, Alistair William; Harrison, Jeff; Black, Peter Nigel; Mitchell, Edwin Arthur; Foster, Juliet Michelle

2017-05-01

To investigate the performance and patient acceptability of an inhaler electronic monitoring device in a real-world childhood asthma population. Children 6 to 15 years presenting with asthma to the hospital emergency department and prescribed inhaled corticosteroids were included. Participants were randomized to receive a device with reminder features enabled or disabled for use with their preventer. Device quality control tests were conducted. Questionnaires on device acceptability, utility and ergonomics were completed at six months. A total of 1306 quality control tests were conducted; 84% passed pre-issue and 87% return testing. The most common failure reason was actuation under-recording. Acceptability scores were high, with higher scores in the reminder than non-reminder group (median, 5 th -95 th percentile: 4.1, 3.1-5.0 versus 3.7, 2.3-4.8; p < 0.001). Most (>90%) rated the device easy to use. Feedback was positive across five themes: device acceptability, ringtone acceptability, suggestions for improvement, effect on medication use, and effect on asthma control. This study investigates electronic monitoring device performance and acceptability in children using quantitative and qualitative measures. Results indicate satisfactory reliability, although failure rates of 13-16% indicate the importance of quality control. Favorable acceptability ratings support the use of these devices in children.

Locating Anomalies in Complex Data Sets Using Visualization and Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panetta, Karen

2001-01-01

The research goals are to create a simulation framework that can accept any combination of models written at the gate or behavioral level. The framework provides the ability to fault simulate and create scenarios of experiments using concurrent simulation. In order to meet these goals we have had to fulfill the following requirements. The ability to accept models written in VHDL, Verilog or the C languages. The ability to propagate faults through any model type. The ability to create experiment scenarios efficiently without generating every possible combination of variables. The ability to accept adversity of fault models beyond the single stuck-at model. Major development has been done to develop a parser that can accept models written in various languages. This work has generated considerable attention from other universities and industry for its flexibility and usefulness. The parser uses LEXX and YACC to parse Verilog and C. We have also utilized our industrial partnership with Alternative System's Inc. to import vhdl into our simulator. For multilevel simulation, we needed to modify the simulator architecture to accept models that contained multiple outputs. This enabled us to accept behavioral components. The next major accomplishment was the addition of "functional fault models". Functional fault models change the behavior of a gate or model. For example, a bridging fault can make an OR gate behave like an AND gate. This has applications beyond fault simulation. This modeling flexibility will make the simulator more useful for doing verification and model comparison. For instance, two or more versions of an ALU can be comparatively simulated in a single execution. The results will show where and how the models differed so that the performance and correctness of the models may be evaluated. A considerable amount of time has been dedicated to validating the simulator performance on larger models provided by industry and other universities.

Development of a prediction model on the acceptance of electronic laboratory notebooks in academic environments.

PubMed

Kloeckner, Frederik; Farkas, Robert; Franken, Tobias; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas

2014-04-01

Documentation of research data plays a key role in the biomedical engineering innovation processes. It makes an important contribution to the protection of intellectual property, the traceability of results and fulfilling the regulatory requirement. Because of the increasing digitalization in laboratories, an electronic alternative to the commonly-used paper-bound notebooks could contribute to the production of sophisticated documentation. However, compared to in an industrial environment, the use of electronic laboratory notebooks is not widespread in academic laboratories. Little is known about the acceptance of an electronic documentation system and the underlying reasons for this. Thus, this paper aims to establish a prediction model on the potential preference and acceptance of scientists either for paper-based or electronic documentation. The underlying data for the analysis originate from an online survey of 101 scientists in industrial, academic and clinical environments. Various parameters were analyzed to identify crucial factors for the system preference using binary logistic regression. The analysis showed significant dependency between the documentation system preference and the supposed workload associated with the documentation system (p<0.006; odds ratio=58.543) and an additional personal component. Because of the dependency of system choice on specific parameters it is possible to predict the acceptance of an electronic laboratory notebook before implementation.

33 CFR 154.806 - Application for acceptance as a certifying entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) The ability to review and evaluate design drawings and failure analyses; (2) A knowledge of the... regulations; (3) The ability to monitor and evaluate test procedures and results; (4) The ability to perform...

33 CFR 154.806 - Application for acceptance as a certifying entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) The ability to review and evaluate design drawings and failure analyses; (2) A knowledge of the... regulations; (3) The ability to monitor and evaluate test procedures and results; (4) The ability to perform...

33 CFR 154.806 - Application for acceptance as a certifying entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) The ability to review and evaluate design drawings and failure analyses; (2) A knowledge of the... regulations; (3) The ability to monitor and evaluate test procedures and results; (4) The ability to perform...

33 CFR 154.806 - Application for acceptance as a certifying entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) The ability to review and evaluate design drawings and failure analyses; (2) A knowledge of the... regulations; (3) The ability to monitor and evaluate test procedures and results; (4) The ability to perform...

Better protection from blasts without sacrificing situational awareness.

PubMed

Killion, Mead C; Monroe, Tim; Drambarean, Viorel

2011-03-01

A large number of soldiers returning from war report hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Many deployed soldiers decline to wear their hearing protection devices (HPDs) because they feel that earplugs interfere with their ability to detect and localize the enemy and their friends. The detection problem is easily handled in electronic devices with low-noise microphones. The localization problem is not as easy. In this paper, the factors that reduce situational awareness--hearing loss and restricted bandwidth in HPD devices--are discussed in light of available data, followed by a review of the cues to localization. Two electronic blast plug earplugs with 16-kHz bandwidth are described. Both provide subjectively transparent sound with regard to sound quality and localization, i.e., they sound almost as if nothing is in the ears, while protecting the ears from blasts. Finally, two formal experiments are described which investigated localization performance compared to popular existing military HPDs and the open ear. The tested earplugs performed well regarding maintaining situational awareness. Detection-distance and acceptance studies are underway.

The Search for Effective p-Type Material in GaN-Based Devices: Past, Present, and Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juday, Reid; Fischer, Alec; Ponce, Fernando; Dupuis, Russell

2009-10-01

In the continued drive towards viable, large-scale solid state lighting, GaN and its alloys with In and Al have risen to the forefront of current research. Regardless of GaN's success in LEDs and laser diodes, certain technological obstacles have remained. Since the beginning of GaN fabrication, the ability to reliably and effectively create p-type material has been a major concern. Mg is the most widely used and successful acceptor in GaN and appears to behave even more favorably in InxGa1-xN with small values of x (< 0.1). It is commonly accepted, however, that Mg-H complexes form during growth, inhibiting hole formation. This talk will focus on comparing the techniques most commonly used to activate p-GaN, such as thermal annealing and low-energy electron beam irradiation in a scanning electron microscope, as well as the properties of low-indium content p-type InGaN thin films.

75 FR 54287 - Submission of Electronic Documentation With Comailed and Copalletized Mailings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-07

... file, permit the tracking of containers from their origin, through the consolidation site, and... accepted at the origin site, and separate electronic postage statements for the portion being directed to a... origin acceptance location. Origin mailers preparing mailings of bundles of flats must prepare separate...

Amine-capped ZnS-Mn2+ nanocrystals for fluorescence detection of trace TNT explosive.

PubMed

Tu, Renyong; Liu, Bianhua; Wang, Zhenyang; Gao, Daming; Wang, Feng; Fang, Qunling; Zhang, Zhongping

2008-05-01

Mn2+-doped ZnS nanocrystals with an amine-capping layer have been synthesized and used for the fluorescence detection of ultratrace 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by quenching the strong orange Mn2+ photoluminescence. The organic amine-capped nanocrystals can bind TNT species from solution and atmosphere by the acid-base pairing interaction between electron-rich amino ligands and electron-deficient aromatic rings. The resultant TNT anions bound onto the amino monolayer can efficiently quench the Mn2+ photoluminescence through the electron transfer from the conductive band of ZnS to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of TNT anions. The amino ligands provide an amplified response to the binding events of nitroaromatic compounds by the 2- to approximately 5-fold increase in quenching constants. Moreover, a large difference in quenching efficiency was observed for different types of nitroaromatic analytes, dependent on the affinity of nitro analytes to the amino monolayer and their electron-accepting abilities. The amine-capped nanocrystals can sensitively detect down to 1 nM TNT in solution or several parts-per-billion of TNT vapor in atmosphere. The ion-doped nanocrystal sensors reported here show a remarkable air/solution stability, high quantum yield, and strong analyte affinity and, therefore, are well-suited for detecting the ultratrace TNT and distinguishing different nitro compounds.

Research in Review. Children's Eating: The Development of Food-Acceptance Patterns.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birch, Leann L.; And Others

1995-01-01

Reviews what is known about the factors that influence child's food-acceptance patterns, including children's sensory responsiveness, innate preferences, and ability to learn about food; the consequences of eating; and the effect of child-feeding practices on children's food-acceptance patterns. Suggests that early experience contributes to the…

Self-Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance of Young Children Who Stutter: Initial Findings

PubMed Central

Hertsberg, Naomi; Zebrowski, Patricia M.

2016-01-01

Purpose The goals of this study were to determine whether young children who stutter (CWS) perceive their own competence and social acceptance differently than young children who do not stutter (CWNS), and to identify the predictors of perceived competence and social acceptance in young speakers. Method We administered the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA; Harter & Pike, 1984) to 13 CWS and 14 CWNS and examined group differences. We also collected information on the children's genders, temperaments, stuttering frequencies, language abilities, and phonological skills to identify which of these factors predicted PSPCSA scores. Results CWS, as a group, did not differ from CWNS in their perceived general competence or social acceptance. Gender predicted scores of perceived general competence, and stuttering frequency predicted perceived social acceptance. Temperament, language abilities, and phonological skills were not significant predictors of perceived competence or social acceptance in our sample. Conclusions While CWS did not significantly differ from CWNS in terms of perceived competence and social acceptance, when both talker groups were considered together, girls self-reported greater perceived competence than boys. Further, lower stuttering frequency was associated with greater perceived social acceptance. These preliminary findings provide motivation for further empirical study of the psychosocial components of childhood stuttering. PMID:27614314

Barriers to accepting e-prescribing in the U.S.A.

PubMed

Smith, Alan D

2006-01-01

With the number of prescriptions rising nationally each year, it is surprising that Web-based technology is not fully embraced in the pharmacy industry as an aid to quality-assuring prescribing processes. Traditional prescription handling is done in a manual fashion with physicians hand-writing prescriptions for the patients during an office visit, giving the patient the responsibility of taking the prescription to a pharmacy or mailing the prescription to a mail order company for fulfillment. Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) has the ability not only to streamline the prescription writing process, but also to reduce the number of errors that may be incurred with hand-written prescriptions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these phenomena in the U.S.A. A number of hypotheses were tested using principal-components analysis (PCA) and factor analyses. As a result, a total of 55 fully employed, professional and semi-professional service management and internet users, representing a college-educated and knowledge-based sample derived from the metropolitan section of Pittsburgh, was selected. The six major constructs generated from the factor loadings in descending order of importance were: profit and risk factors, shipping and handling, saving, customer relationship management (CRM) and ethics, age, and awareness. The dependent variable chosen to be regressed against these major independent factor-based constructs was willingness to purchase prescriptions online. The overall relationship was found to be statistically significant (F = 2.971, p = 0.015) in predicting willingness to use e-prescribing options based on the various independent constructs. However, when testing the various standardized beta coefficients in the linear model, only the factor score-based construct CRM and ethics was found to significantly contribute to predicting the willingness to purchase prescriptions online (t = -3.074, p = 0.003). Although this study appears to represent the e-prescribing process in the U.S.A., the sample size and region studied are only one slice of the general population. Practical implications - Unfortunately, the adoption of e-prescribing has been difficult to attain owing to numerous barriers throughout the industry. Such acceptance barriers include lack of technology trust, associated system costs, and risk of un-securing patient health and medical information. This article documents that increasing numbers of pharmacies today are building their IT-infrastructures to accept electronic prescriptions and it may soon be the preferred method for physicians to write prescriptions. It is with great anticipation that this technology will also enhance the prescription-writing abilities of prescribing physicians globally, giving them electronic access to patient medical records and resources that will assist them in prescribing the correct drug for the patient.

An Empirical Analysis of Citizens' Acceptance Decisions of Electronic-Government Services: A Modification of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model to Include Trust as a Basis for Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Awuah, Lawrence J.

2012-01-01

Understanding citizens' adoption of electronic-government (e-government) is an important topic, as the use of e-government has become an integral part of governance. Success of such initiatives depends largely on the efficient use of e-government services. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model has provided a…

Navy Controls for Invoice, Receipt, Acceptance, and Property Transfer System Need Improvement

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-25

iR APT as a web-based system to electronically invoice, receipt, and accept ser vices and product s from its contractors and vendors. The iR APT system...electronically shares document s bet ween DoD and it s contractors and vendors to eliminate redundant data entr y, increase data accuracy, and reduce...The iR APT system allows contractors to submit and track invoices and receipt and acceptance documents over the web and allows government personnel to

On the physics of electron transfer (drift) in the substance: about the reason of “abnormal” fast transfer of electrons in the plasma of tokamak and at known Bohm’s diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boriev, I. A.

2018-03-01

An analysis of the problem of so-called “abnormal” fast transfer of electrons in tokamak plasma, which turned out much faster than the result of accepted calculation, is given. Such transfer of hot electrons leads to unexpectedly fast destruction of the inner tokamak wall with ejection of its matter in plasma volume, what violates a condition of plasma confinement for controlled thermonuclear fusion. It is shown, taking into account real physics of electron drift in the gas (plasma) and using the conservation law for momentum of electron transfer (drift), that the drift velocity of elastically scattered electrons should be significantly greater than that of accepted calculation. The reason is that the relaxation time of the momentum of electron transfer, to which the electron drift velocity is proportional, is significantly greater (from 16 up to 4 times) than the electron free path time. Therefore, generally accepted replacement of the relaxation time, which is unknown a priori, by the electron free path time, leads to significant (16 times for thermal electrons) underestimation of electron drift velocity (mobility). This result means, that transfer of elastically (and isotropically) scattered electrons in the gas phase should be so fast, and corresponds to multiplying coefficient (16), introduced by D. Bohm to explain the observed by him “abnormal” fast diffusion of electrons.

Bi-diketopyrrolopyrrole (Bi-DPP) as a novel electron accepting compound in low band gap π-conjugated donor–acceptor copolymers/oligomers

PubMed Central

Ahner, Johannes; Nowotny, Jürgen; Schubert, Ulrich S.; Hager, Martin D.

2017-01-01

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of a novel 2,5-diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole(DPP)-based accepting building block with the scheme DPP-neutral small linker-DPP (Bi-DPP) is presented, which was utilized as electron accepting moiety for low band gap π-conjugated donor–acceptor copolymers as well as for a donor–acceptor small molecule. The electron accepting moiety Bi-DPP was prepared via a novel synthetic pathway by building up two DPP moieties step by step simultaneously starting from a neutral phenyl core unit. Characterization of the synthesized oligomeric and polymeric materials via cyclic voltammetry afford LUMO energy levels from −3.49 to −3.59 eV as well as HOMO energy levels from −5.07 to −5.34 eV resulting in low energy band gaps from 1.52 to 1.81 eV. Spin coating of the prepared donor–acceptor oligomers/polymers resulted in well-defined films. Moreover, UV–vis measurements of the investigated donor–acceptor systems showed a broad absorption over the whole visible region. It is demonstrated that Bi-DPP as an electron accepting moiety in donor–acceptor systems offer potential properties for organic solar cell devices. PMID:29491794

10 CFR 2.304 - Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance for filing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Management for NRC Adjudicatory Hearings § 2.304 Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance... section, it may be struck. (1) An electronic document must be signed using a participant's or a... paragraph (d) of this section. (i) When signing an electronic document using a digital ID certificate, the...

10 CFR 2.304 - Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance for filing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Management for NRC Adjudicatory Hearings § 2.304 Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance... section, it may be struck. (1) An electronic document must be signed using a participant's or a... paragraph (d) of this section. (i) When signing an electronic document using a digital ID certificate, the...

Impact of constitutional isomers of (BMes(2))phenylpyridine on structure, stability, phosphorescence, and Lewis acidity of mononuclear and dinuclear Pt(II) complexes.

PubMed

Rao, Ying-Li; Wang, Suning

2009-08-17

The impact of two constitutional isomers, 2-(4-BMes(2)-Ph)-pyridine (p-B-ppy, 1) and 5-BMes(2)-2-ph-pyridine (p-ppy-B, 2), as N,C-chelate ligands on the structures, stabilities, electronic and photophysical properties, and Lewis acidities of Pt(II) complexes has been investigated. Six Pt(II) complexes, Pt(p-B-ppy)Ph(DMSO) (1a), Pt(p-B-ppy)Ph(py) (1b), [Pt(p-B-ppy)Ph](2)(4,4'-bipy) (1c), Pt(p-ppy-B)Ph(DMSO) (2a), Pt(p-ppy-B)Ph(py) (2b), and [Pt(p-ppy-B)Ph](2)(4,4'-bipy) (2c), have been synthesized and fully characterized. The structures of 1a, 1c, 2a, and 2c were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All complexes adopt a cis geometry with the phenyl ligand being cis to the phenyl ring of the ppy chelate. The dinuclear complexes 2a and 2c were found to exist in two isomeric forms in solution, syn and anti, with respect to the relative orientation of the two BMes(2) groups in the molecule. While all complexes are stable in solution under ambient air, compound 2a was found to react with H(2)O slowly in solution and form complex 2a-OH, where one of the mesityl groups on the boron center was replaced by an OH group. This instability of 2a is attributed to an internal dimethylsulfoxide-directed hydrolysis process via hydrogen bonds. The electron-accepting ability of the free ligands and the complexes were examined by cyclic voltammetry, establishing that, for p-ppy-B, Pt(II) chelation enhances the electron-accepting ability while, for p-B-ppy, Pt(II) chelation has little impact. All Pt(II) complexes display oxygen-sensitive phosphorescence in solution at ambient temperature, dominated by B-ppy or ppy-B centered pi --> pi* transitions. The Lewis acidity of the complexes was examined by fluoride titration experiments using UV-vis, phosphorescence, and NMR spectroscopic methods, establishing that the p-ppy-B complexes have similar and strong binding constants while the p-B-ppy complexes have a much lower affinity toward F(-), compared to the free ligands. In the dinuclear complexes, weak electronic communication between the two Pt(II) units is evident in 1c but absent in 2c, attributable to the different steric interactions in the two molecules.

Acceptor Percolation Determines How Electron-Accepting Additives Modify Transport of Ambipolar Polymer Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Ford, Michael J; Wang, Ming; Bustillo, Karen C; Yuan, Jianyu; Nguyen, Thuc-Quyen; Bazan, Guillermo C

2018-06-18

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) that utilize ambipolar polymer semiconductors can benefit from the ability of both electron and hole conduction, which is necessary for complementary circuits. However, simultaneous hole and electron transport in organic field-effect transistors result in poor ON/OFF ratios, limiting potential applications. Solution processing methods have been developed to control charge transport properties and transform ambipolar conduction to hole-only conduction. The electron-acceptor phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM), when mixed in solution with an ambipolar semiconducting polymer, can reduce electron conduction. Unipolar p-type OFETs with high, well-defined ON/OFF ratios and without detrimental effects on hole conduction are achieved for a wide range of blend compositions, from 95:5 to 5:95 wt % semiconductor polymer:PC 61 BM. When introducing the alternative acceptor N, N'-bis(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4:9,10-perylenediimide (PDI), high ON/OFF ratios are achieved for 95:5 wt % semiconductor polymer:PDI; however, electron conduction increases for 50:50 and 5:95 wt % semiconductor polymer:PDI. As described within, we show that electron conduction is practically eliminated when additive domains do not percolate across the OFET channel, that is, electrons are "morphologically trapped". Morphologies were characterized by optical, electron, and atomic force microscopy as well as X-ray scattering techniques. PC 61 BM was substituted with an endohedral Lu 3 N fullerene, which enhanced contrast in electron microscopy and allowed for more detailed insight into the blend morphologies. Blends with alternative, nonfullerene acceptors further emphasize the importance of morphology and acceptor percolation, providing insights for such blends that control ambipolar transport and ON/OFF ratios.

Global Distribution of Net Electron Acceptance in Subseafloor Sediment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fulfer, V. M.; Pockalny, R. A.; D'Hondt, S.

2017-12-01

We quantified the global distribution of net electron acceptance rates (e-/m2/year) in subseafloor sediment (>1.5 meters below seafloor [mbsf]) using (i) a modified version of the chemical-reaction-rate algorithm by Wang et al. (2008), (ii) physical properties and dissolved oxygen and sulfate data from interstitial waters of sediment cores collected by the Ocean Drilling Program, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, International Ocean Discovery Program, and U.S. coring expeditions, and (iii) correlation of net electron acceptance rates to global oceanographic properties. Calculated net rates vary from 4.8 x 1019 e-/m2/year for slowly accumulating abyssal clay to 1.2 x 1023 e-/m2/year for regions of high sedimentation rate. Net electron acceptance rate correlates strongly with mean sedimentation rate. Where sedimentation rate is very low (e.g., 1 m/Myr), dissolved oxygen penetrates more than 70 mbsf and is the primary terminal electron acceptor. Where sedimentation rate is moderate (e.g., 3 to 60 m/Myr), dissolved sulfate penetrates as far as 700 mbsf and is the principal terminal electron acceptor. Where sedimentation rate is high (e.g., > 60 m/Myr), dissolved sulfate penetrates only meters, but is the principal terminal electron acceptor in subseafloor sediment to the depth of sulfate penetration. Because microbial metabolism continues at greater depths than the depth of sulfate penetration in fast-accumulating sediment, complete quantification of subseafloor metabolic rates will require consideration of other chemical species.

Molecular complexes of some anthraquinone anti-cancer drugs: experimental and computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Gogary, Tarek M.

2003-03-01

It is known that anti-cancer drugs target DNA in the cell. The mechanism of interaction of anti-cancer drugs with DNA is not fully understood. It is thought that the forces of interaction have some contribution from charge-transfer (CT) binding. The ability of some anthraquinones (AQs) anti-cancer drugs to form CT complexes with well-known electron donor molecules was investigated by NMR. The NMR spectroscopy has indicated the formation of CT complexes between 1,4-bis{[2-(dimethylamino) ethyl]amino}-5,8-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione, (AQ4), and its des-hydroxylated equivalent 1,4-bis{[2-(dimethylamino) ethyl]amino}anthracene-9,10-dione, (AQ4H), as electron acceptors and pyrene (PY) and hexamethylbenzene (HMB) as electron donors. Association constants of the formed CT complexes were determined from the NMR data. AQ4 showed weaker electron accepting power than AQ4H, which could be easily explained on the basis of the electron donating nature of the two-hydroxyl groups. AQ4 and AQ4H have higher stability constant with PY than with HMB. This reflects the weaker interaction of the AQs with the latter, which is a direct effect of the six bulky methyl groups. Electronic absorption spectroscopy of the studied system was performed in chloroform and showed the absence of new absorption bands. The extent of interaction between AQs and donors has been computed using molecular mechanics and quantum mechanics. The computed values were compared with the experimental results of association constants.

Use and acceptance of electronic communication by patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicenter questionnaire study.

PubMed

Haase, Rocco; Schultheiss, Thorsten; Kempcke, Raimar; Thomas, Katja; Ziemssen, Tjalf

2012-10-15

The number of multiple sclerosis (MS) information websites, online communities, and Web-based health education programs has been increasing. However, MS patients' willingness to use new ways of communication, such as websites, mobile phone application, short message service, or email with their physician, remains unknown. We designed a questionnaire to evaluate the a priori use of electronic communication methods by MS patients and to assess their acceptance of such tools for communication with their health care providers. We received complete data from 586 MS patients aged between 17 and 73 years. Respondents were surveyed in outpatient clinics across Germany using a novel paper-and-pencil questionnaire. In addition to demographics, the survey items queried frequency of use of, familiarity with, and comfort with using computers, websites, email, and mobile phones. About 90% of all MS patients used a personal computer (534/586) and the Internet (527/586) at least once a week, 87.0% (510/586) communicated by email, and 85.6% (488/570) communicated by mobile phone. When asked about their comfort with using electronic communication methods for communication with health care providers, 20.5% (120/586) accepted communication by mobile Internet application or short message service via mobile phone, 41.0% (240/586) by websites, 54.3% (318/586) by email service, and 67.8% (397/586) by at least one type of electronic communication. The level of a priori use was the best predictor for the acceptance of electronic communication with health care providers. Patients who reported already searching online for health information (odds ratio 2.4, P < .001) and who had already communicated with a physician through a website (odds ratio 3.3, P = .03) reported higher acceptance for Web-based communication. Patients who already scheduled appointments with their mobile phones (odds ratio 2.1, P = .002) were more likely to accept the use of mobile phone applications or short message service for communicating with their physician. The majority of MS patients seen at specialist centers already use modern communication technology regularly. New forms of electronic communication appear to have high levels of acceptance for exchanging information about MS between patients and health care providers. Such methods should be integrated into eHealth services such as electronic health records and patient relationship management systems.

Future direction of direct writing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Nam-Soo; Han, Kenneth N.

2010-11-01

Direct write technology using special inks consisting of finely dispersed metal nanoparticles in liquid is receiving an undivided attention in recent years for its wide range of applicability in modern electronic industry. The application of this technology covers radio frequency identification-tag (RFID-tag), flexible-electronics, organic light emitting diodes (OLED) display, e-paper, antenna, bumpers used in flip-chip, underfilling, frit, miniresistance applications and biological uses, artificial dental applications and many more. In this paper, the authors have reviewed various direct write technologies on the market and discussed their advantages and shortfalls. Emphasis has given on microdispensing deposition write (MDDW), maskless mesoscale materials deposition (M3D), and ink-jet technologies. All of these technologies allow printing various patterns without employing a mask or a resist with an enhanced speed with the aid of computer. MDDW and M3D are capable of drawing patterns in three-dimension and MDDW, in particular, is capable of writing nanoinks with high viscosity. However, it is still far away for direct write to be fully implemented in the commercial arena. One of the hurdles to overcome is in manufacturing conductive inks which are chemically and physically stable, capable of drawing patterns with acceptable conductivity, and also capable of drawing patterns with acceptable adhesiveness with the substrates. The authors have briefly discussed problems involved in manufacturing nanometal inks to be used in various writing devices. There are numerous factors to be considered in manufacturing such inks. They are reducing agents, concentrations, oxidation, compact ability allowing good conductivity, and stability in suspension.

Trust, confidentiality, and the acceptability of sharing HIV-related patient data: lessons learned from a mixed methods study about Health Information Exchanges.

PubMed

Maiorana, Andre; Steward, Wayne T; Koester, Kimberly A; Pearson, Charles; Shade, Starley B; Chakravarty, Deepalika; Myers, Janet J

2012-04-19

Concerns about the confidentiality of personal health information have been identified as a potential obstacle to implementation of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Considering the stigma and confidentiality issues historically associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, we examine how trust-in technology, processes, and people-influenced the acceptability of data sharing among stakeholders prior to implementation of six HIEs intended to improve HIV care in parts of the United States. Our analyses identify the kinds of concerns expressed by stakeholders about electronic data sharing and focus on the factors that ultimately facilitated acceptability of the new exchanges. We conducted 549 surveys with patients and 66 semi-structured interviews with providers and other stakeholders prior to implementation of the HIEs to assess concerns about confidentiality in the electronic sharing of patient data. The patient quantitative data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 to yield sample descriptive statistics. The analysis of the qualitative interviews with providers and other stakeholders followed an open-coding process, and convergent and divergent perspectives emerging from those data were examined within and across the HIEs. We found widespread acceptability for electronic sharing of HIV-related patient data through HIEs. This acceptability appeared to be driven by growing comfort with information technologies, confidence in the security protocols utilized to protect data, trust in the providers and institutions who use the technologies, belief in the benefits to the patients, and awareness that electronic exchange represents an enhancement of data sharing already taking place by other means. HIE acceptability depended both on preexisting trust among patients, providers, and institutions and on building consensus and trust in the HIEs as part of preparation for implementation. The process of HIE development also resulted in forging shared vision among institutions. Patients and providers are willing to accept the electronic sharing of HIV patient data to improve care for a disease historically seen as highly stigmatized. Acceptability depends on the effort expended to understand and address potential concerns related to data sharing and confidentiality, and on the trust established among stakeholders in terms of the nature of the systems and how they will be used.

Implementation of an electronic fingerprint-linked data collection system: a feasibility and acceptability study among Zambian female sex workers.

PubMed

Wall, Kristin M; Kilembe, William; Inambao, Mubiana; Chen, Yi No; Mchoongo, Mwaka; Kimaru, Linda; Hammond, Yuna Tiffany; Sharkey, Tyronza; Malama, Kalonde; Fulton, T Roice; Tran, Alex; Halumamba, Hanzunga; Anderson, Sarah; Kishore, Nishant; Sarwar, Shawn; Finnegan, Trisha; Mark, David; Allen, Susan A

2015-06-27

Patient identification within and between health services is an operational challenge in many resource-limited settings. When following HIV risk groups for service provision and in the context of vaccine trials, patient misidentification can harm patient care and bias trial outcomes. Electronic fingerprinting has been proposed to identify patients over time and link patient data between health services. The objective of this study was to determine 1) the feasibility of implementing an electronic-fingerprint linked data capture system in Zambia and 2) the acceptability of this system among a key HIV risk group: female sex workers (FSWs). Working with Biometrac, a US-based company providing biometric-linked healthcare platforms, an electronic fingerprint-linked data capture system was developed for use by field recruiters among Zambian FSWs. We evaluated the technical feasibility of the system for use in the field in Zambia and conducted a pilot study to determine the acceptability of the system, as well as barriers to uptake, among FSWs. We found that implementation of an electronic fingerprint-linked patient tracking and data collection system was feasible in this relatively resource-limited setting (false fingerprint matching rate of 1/1000 and false rejection rate of <1/10,000) and was acceptable among FSWs in a clinic setting (2% refusals). However, our data indicate that less than half of FSWs are comfortable providing an electronic fingerprint when recruited while they are working. The most common reasons cited for not providing a fingerprint (lack of privacy/confidentiality issues while at work, typically at bars or lodges) could be addressed by recruiting women during less busy hours, in their own homes, in the presence of "Queen Mothers" (FSW organizers), or in the presence of a FSW that has already been fingerprinted. Our findings have major implications for key population research and improved health services provision. However, more work needs to be done to increase the acceptability of the electronic fingerprint-linked data capture system during field recruitment. This study indicated several potential avenues that will be explored to increase acceptability.

17 CFR 232.14 - Paper filings not accepted without exemption.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Paper filings not accepted... COMMISSION REGULATION S-T-GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ELECTRONIC FILINGS General § 232.14 Paper filings not accepted without exemption. The Commission will not accept in paper format any filing required to...

The Relative Importance of Psychological Acceptance and Emotional Intelligence to Workplace Well-Being

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Donaldson-Feilder, Emma J.; Bond, Frank W.

2004-01-01

Psychological acceptance (acceptance) and emotional intelligence (EI) are two relatively new individual characteristics that are hypothesised to affect well-being and performance at work. This study compares both of them, in terms of their ability to predict various well-being outcomes (i.e. general mental health, physical well-being, and job…

Self-perceived competence and social acceptance of young children who stutter: Initial findings.

PubMed

Hertsberg, Naomi; Zebrowski, Patricia M

The goals of this study were to determine whether young children who stutter (CWS) perceive their own competence and social acceptance differently than young children who do not stutter (CWNS), and to identify the predictors of perceived competence and social acceptance in young speakers. We administered the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA; Harter & Pike, 1984) to 13 CWS and 14 CWNS and examined group differences. We also collected information on the children's genders, temperaments, stuttering frequencies, language abilities, and phonological skills to identify which of these factors predicted PSPCSA scores. CWS, as a group, did not differ from CWNS in their perceived general competence or social acceptance. Gender predicted scores of perceived general competence, and stuttering frequency predicted perceived social acceptance. Temperament, language abilities, and phonological skills were not significant predictors of perceived competence or social acceptance in our sample. While CWS did not significantly differ from CWNS in terms of perceived competence and social acceptance, when both talker groups were considered together, girls self-reported greater perceived competence than boys. Further, lower stuttering frequency was associated with greater perceived social acceptance. These preliminary findings provide motivation for further empirical study of the psychosocial components of childhood stuttering. Readers will be able to describe the constructs of perceived competence and social acceptance in young children, and whether early stuttering plays a role in the development of these constructs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Electronic Prescribing Decision Support System at a Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital: The User Acceptance Perspective.

PubMed

Omar, Abdurahman; Ellenius, Johan; Lindemalm, Synnöve

2017-01-01

This study aims to evaluate pediatrician's acceptance, perception and use of Electronic Prescribing Decision Support Systems (EPDSS) at a tertiary care using Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2). Qualitative research methodology was applied. Semi-structured questions were developed according to TAM2 model. Pediatricians perceived that the EPDSS is useful and they showed a favorable attitude. However, perceived ease of use and output quality appeared to affect use of EPDSS. Concerns were expressed about complicated screens, difficulty to read and view medication overview of the patient, the navigation requires many clicks and medication system don't meet their need. End users have difficulty of ordering drugs for ploy-clinical patients and they were unable to cancel or stop medications. Junior pediatricians were influenced by senior colleague since they can get better advice about medication order than the system. Applying TAM2 framework has revealed that pediatrician's attitude and acceptance of electronic prescribing system. This study has identified factors that are important for end user acceptance as well as suggestions for system improvement. Although pediatricians are positive to the usefulness of EPDSS, it appears there are some acceptance problems due to ease of use concern and usability issues of the system.

Validating the Technology Acceptance Model in the Context of the Laboratory Information System-Electronic Health Record Interface System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aquino, Cesar A.

2014-01-01

This study represents a research validating the efficacy of Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by pairing it with the Organizational Change Readiness Theory (OCRT) to develop another extension to the TAM, using the medical Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)--Electronic Health Records (EHR) interface as the medium. The TAM posits that it is…

Using simulation to test critical thinking skills of nursing students.

PubMed

Johannsson, S L; Wertenberger, D H

1996-10-01

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using simulations to test critical thinking ability of nursing students. Nine medical and surgical videotaped vignettes were selected from the critical thinking component of the Performance Based Development System (PBDS). Pathology, difficulty rating and the obviousness of cues varied between vignettes. Each student was rated as acceptable, partially acceptable or unacceptable in their ability to identify a problem and provide appropriate nursing interventions with rationale for each vignette. A paper and pencil exercise and interviews were used to validate findings obtained from the video simulations. The pros and cons of using video simulations to assess critical thinking abilities of nursing students are discussed.

Abilities and Skill Acquisition: A Latent Growth Curve Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Voelkle, Manuel C.; Wittmann, Werner W.; Ackerman, Phillip L.

2006-01-01

The relationship between abilities and skill acquisition has been the subject of numerous controversies in psychology. However, while most researchers implicitly or explicitly accept the idea that abilities and skill acquisition should be related, empirical research has failed to provide evidence for a consistently strong correlation between the…

33 CFR 154.2010 - Qualifications for acceptance as a certifying entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... qualifications: (a) The ability to review and evaluate design drawings and failure analyses for compliance to... incorporated by reference; (c) The ability to monitor and evaluate test procedures and results for compliance with the operational requirements of this subpart; (d) The ability to perform inspections and observe...

Trust, Isolation, and Presence: The Virtual Work Environment and Acceptance of Deep Organizational Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Laurence Michael

2013-01-01

The primary focus of this research was to explore through the use of a grounded theory methodology if the human perceptions of trust, isolation, and presence affected the virtual workers ability to accept deep organizational change. The study found that the virtual workers in the sample defined their acceptance of deep organizational change by…

Investigating Parental Acceptability of the Incredible Years Self-Administered Parent Training Program for Children Presenting Externalizing Behavior Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Latoya S.; Carlson, John S.

2010-01-01

This study takes an in-depth look at parental acceptability (i.e., the ability to meet parent needs) of an intervention that has shown strong empirical support for treating and preventing childhood conduct disorder. The authors obtained acceptability data from 30 parents of children ages 5 to 12 years presenting externalizing behavior problems…

16 CFR 1110.5 - Acceptable certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Acceptable certificates. 1110.5 Section 1110.5 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE § 1110.5 Acceptable certificates. A certificate that is in hard copy or electronic...

16 CFR 1110.5 - Acceptable certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Acceptable certificates. 1110.5 Section 1110.5 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE § 1110.5 Acceptable certificates. A certificate that is in hard copy or electronic...

16 CFR 1110.5 - Acceptable certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Acceptable certificates. 1110.5 Section 1110.5 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE § 1110.5 Acceptable certificates. A certificate that is in hard copy or electronic...

16 CFR 1110.5 - Acceptable certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Acceptable certificates. 1110.5 Section 1110.5 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE § 1110.5 Acceptable certificates. A certificate that is in hard copy or electronic...

Study of the electronic structure of electron accepting cyano-films: TCNQversusTCNE.

PubMed

Capitán, Maria J; Álvarez, Jesús; Navio, Cristina

2018-04-18

In this article, we perform systematic research on the electronic structure of two closely related organic electron acceptor molecules (TCNQ and TCNE), which are of technological interest due to their outstanding electronic properties. These studies have been performed from the experimental point of view by the use electron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS) and supported theoretically by the use of ab-initio DFT calculations. The cross-check between both molecules allows us to identify the characteristic electronic features of each part of the molecules and their contribution to the final electronic structure. We can describe the nature of the band gap of these materials, and we relate this with the appearance of the shake-up features in the core level spectra. A band bending and energy gap reduction of the aforementioned electronic structure in contact with a metal surface are seen in the experimental results as well in the theoretical calculations. This behavior implies that the TCNQ thin film accepts electrons from the metal substrate becoming a Schottky n-junction.

27 CFR 73.11 - What are the required components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... signatures not based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures that are not based upon biometrics you...) Electronic signatures based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures based upon biometrics, they must...

27 CFR 73.11 - What are the required components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... signatures not based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures that are not based upon biometrics you...) Electronic signatures based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures based upon biometrics, they must...

27 CFR 73.11 - What are the required components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... signatures not based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures that are not based upon biometrics you...) Electronic signatures based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures based upon biometrics, they must...

27 CFR 73.11 - What are the required components and controls for acceptable electronic signatures?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... signatures not based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures that are not based upon biometrics you...) Electronic signatures based on biometrics. If you use electronic signatures based upon biometrics, they must...

Enhancing user acceptance of mandated mobile health information systems: the ePOC (electronic point-of-care project) experience.

PubMed

Burgess, Lois; Sargent, Jason

2007-01-01

From a clinical perspective, the use of mobile technologies, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) within hospital environments is not new. A paradigm shift however is underway towards the acceptance and utility of these systems within mobile-based healthcare environments. Introducing new technologies and associated work practices has intrinsic risks which must be addressed. This paper contends that intervening to address user concerns as they arise throughout the system development lifecycle will lead to greater levels of user acceptance, while ultimately enhancing the deliverability of a system that provides a best fit with end user needs. It is envisaged this research will lead to the development of a formalised user acceptance framework based on an agile approach to user acceptance measurement. The results of an ongoing study of user perceptions towards a mandated electronic point-of-care information system in the Northern Illawarra Ambulatory Care Team (TACT) are presented.

Reduced graphene oxide and porphyrin. An interactive affair in 2-D.

PubMed

Wojcik, Aleksandra; Kamat, Prashant V

2010-11-23

Photoexcited cationic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)porphyrin tetra(p-toluenesulfonate) (TMPyP) undergoes charge-transfer interaction with chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Formation of the ground-state TMPyP-RGO complex in solution is marked by the red-shift of the porphyrin absorption band. This complexation was analyzed by Benesi-Hildebrand plot. Porphyrin fluorescence lifetime reduced from 5 to 1 ns upon complexation with RGO, indicating excited-state interaction between singlet excited porphyrin and RGO. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements carried out with TMPyP adsorbed on RGO film revealed fast decay of the singlet excited state, followed by the formation of a longer-living product with an absorption maximum around 515 nm indicating the formation of a porphyrin radical cation. The ability of TMPyP-RGO to undergo photoinduced charge separation was further confirmed from the photoelectrochemical measurements. TMPyP-RGO coated conducting glass electrodes are capable of generating photocurrent under visible excitation. These results are indicative of the electron transfer between photoexcited porphyrin and RGO. The role of graphene in accepting and shuttling electrons in light-harvesting assemblies is discussed.

Provider perceptions of the value of same-day, electronic patient-reported measures for use in clinical HIV care

PubMed Central

Fredericksen, RJ; Tufano, J; Ralston, J; McReynolds, J; Stewart, M; Lober, WB; Mayer, K; Mathews, WC; Mugavero, M; Crane, PK; Crane, HM

2016-01-01

Strong evidence suggests that patient-reported outcomes (PROs) aid in managing chronic conditions, reduce omissions in care, and improve patient-provider communication. However, provider acceptability of PROs and their use in clinical HIV care is not well known. We interviewed providers (n=27) from four geographically diverse HIV and community care clinics in the U.S. that have integrated PROs into routine HIV care, querying perceived value, challenges, and use of PRO data. Perceived benefits included the ability of PROs to identify less-observable behaviors and conditions, particularly suicidal ideation, depression, and substance use; usefulness in agenda-setting prior to a visit; and reduction of social desirability bias in patient-provider communication. Challenges included initial flow integration issues and ease of interpretation of PRO feedback. Providers value same-day, electronic patient-reported measures for use in clinical HIV care with the condition that PROs are 1) tailored to be the most clinically relevant to their population; 2) well-integrated into clinic flow; 3) easy to interpret, highlighting chief patient concerns and changes over time. PMID:27237187

Trust, confidentiality, and the acceptability of sharing HIV-related patient data: lessons learned from a mixed methods study about Health Information Exchanges

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Concerns about the confidentiality of personal health information have been identified as a potential obstacle to implementation of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Considering the stigma and confidentiality issues historically associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, we examine how trust—in technology, processes, and people—influenced the acceptability of data sharing among stakeholders prior to implementation of six HIEs intended to improve HIV care in parts of the United States. Our analyses identify the kinds of concerns expressed by stakeholders about electronic data sharing and focus on the factors that ultimately facilitated acceptability of the new exchanges. Methods We conducted 549 surveys with patients and 66 semi-structured interviews with providers and other stakeholders prior to implementation of the HIEs to assess concerns about confidentiality in the electronic sharing of patient data. The patient quantitative data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 to yield sample descriptive statistics. The analysis of the qualitative interviews with providers and other stakeholders followed an open-coding process, and convergent and divergent perspectives emerging from those data were examined within and across the HIEs. Results We found widespread acceptability for electronic sharing of HIV-related patient data through HIEs. This acceptability appeared to be driven by growing comfort with information technologies, confidence in the security protocols utilized to protect data, trust in the providers and institutions who use the technologies, belief in the benefits to the patients, and awareness that electronic exchange represents an enhancement of data sharing already taking place by other means. HIE acceptability depended both on preexisting trust among patients, providers, and institutions and on building consensus and trust in the HIEs as part of preparation for implementation. The process of HIE development also resulted in forging shared vision among institutions. Conclusions Patients and providers are willing to accept the electronic sharing of HIV patient data to improve care for a disease historically seen as highly stigmatized. Acceptability depends on the effort expended to understand and address potential concerns related to data sharing and confidentiality, and on the trust established among stakeholders in terms of the nature of the systems and how they will be used. PMID:22515736

Ability to monitor driving under the influence of marijuana among non-fatal motor-vehicle crashes: An evaluation of the Colorado electronic accident reporting system.

PubMed

Peterson, Alexis B; Sauber-Schatz, Erin K; Mack, Karin A

2018-06-01

As more states legalize medical/recreational marijuana use, it is important to determine if state motor-vehicle surveillance systems can effectively monitor and track driving under the influence (DUI) of marijuana. This study assessed Colorado's Department of Revenue motor-vehicle crash data system, Electronic Accident Reporting System (EARS), to monitor non-fatal crashes involving driving under the influence (DUI) of marijuana. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on surveillance system evaluation were used to assess EARS' usefulness, flexibility, timeliness, simplicity, acceptability, and data quality. We assessed system components, interviewed key stakeholders, and analyzed completeness of Colorado statewide 2014 motor-vehicle crash records. EARS contains timely and complete data, but does not effectively monitor non-fatal motor-vehicle crashes related to DUI of marijuana. Information on biological sample type collected from drivers and toxicology results were not recorded into EARS; however, EARS is a flexible system that can incorporate new data without increasing surveillance system burden. States, including Colorado, could consider standardization of drug testing and mandatory reporting policies for drivers involved in motor-vehicle crashes and proactively address the narrow window of time for sample collection to improve DUI of marijuana surveillance. Practical applications: The evaluation of state motor-vehicle crash systems' ability to capture crashes involving drug impaired driving (DUID) is a critical first step for identifying frequency and risk factors for crashes related to DUID. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effects of Retronasal Smelling, Variety and Choice on Appetite and Satiety

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Jean; Halpern, Bruce; Binsted, K.; Caldwell, Bryan

2014-01-01

Four principal areas were investigated. Nasal Patency: Measure nasal tissue swelling and airflow in BR and compare this to PreBR baseline and PostBR recovery; Ask subjects to self-assess nasal congestion at each test to compare with Astronaut self-assessment. Odorant Identification: Measure subject's ability to recognize odorants obtained from food samples taken from FARU (Flight Analog Research Unit) menu and compare this with recognition of food odors not available on FARU; Compare subject assessed ratings of odorant intensity and food liking with nasal airflow measurements to determine effect of fluid shift on smell ability. Meal Acceptability: Determine the onset and progression of reported 'menu fatigue' during BR; Determine whether decreased nasal airflow or smell ability are factors in 'menu fatigue'. Daily Mood and Health: Record mood changes during study and compare with meal acceptability and smell ability. A change in smell ability is measured by tracking subject perception of 35 odorants from admission to the FARU through to dismissal.

Tablet computers in assessing performance in a high stakes exam: opinion matters.

PubMed

Currie, G P; Sinha, S; Thomson, F; Cleland, J; Denison, A R

2017-06-01

Background Tablet computers have emerged as a tool to capture, process and store data in examinations, yet evidence relating to their acceptability and usefulness in assessment is limited. Methods We performed an observational study to explore opinions and attitudes relating to tablet computer use in recording performance in a final year objective structured clinical examination at a single UK medical school. Examiners completed a short questionnaire encompassing background, forced-choice and open questions. Forced choice questions were analysed using descriptive statistics and open questions by framework analysis. Results Ninety-two (97% response rate) examiners completed the questionnaire of whom 85% had previous use of tablet computers. Ninety per cent felt checklist mark allocation was 'very/quite easy', while approximately half considered recording 'free-type' comments was 'easy/very easy'. Greater overall efficiency of marking and resource savings were considered the main advantages of tablet computers, while concerns relating to technological failure and ability to record free type comments were raised. Discussion In a context where examiners were familiar with tablet computers, they were preferred to paper checklists, although concerns were raised. This study adds to the limited literature underpinning the use of electronic devices as acceptable tools in objective structured clinical examinations.

Adult Second Language Learners' Pragmatic Development in the Study-Abroad Context: A Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xiao, Feng

2015-01-01

The ability to use language effectively in communication is regarded as important as knowledge of grammatical rules in the communicative competence models. Pragmatic competence, namely the ability to understand and use linguistic forms appropriately according to context, is thus accepted as a vital component of language ability. Recently,…

An extension of trust and TAM model with IDT in the adoption of the electronic logistics information system in HIS in the medical industry.

PubMed

Tung, Feng-Cheng; Chang, Su-Chao; Chou, Chi-Min

2008-05-01

Ever since National Health Insurance was introduced in 1995, the number of insurants increased to over 96% from 50 to 60%, with a continuous satisfaction rating of about 70%. However, the premium accounted for 5.77% of GDP in 2001 and the Bureau of National Health Insurance had pressing financial difficulties, so it reformed its expenditure systems, such as fee for service, capitation, case payment and the global budget system in order to control the rising medical costs. Since the change in health insurance policy, most hospitals attempted to reduce their operating expenses and improve efficiency. Introducing the electronic logistics information system is one way of reducing the cost of the department of central warehouse and the nursing stations. Hence, the study proposes a technology acceptance research model and examines how nurses' acceptance of the e-logistics information system has been affected in the medical industry. This research combines innovation diffusion theory, technology acceptance model and added two research parameters, trust and perceived financial cost to propose a new hybrid technology acceptance model. Taking Taiwan's medical industry as an experimental example, this paper studies nurses' acceptance of the electronic logistics information system. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the causal model and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the reliability and validity of the measurement model. The results of the survey strongly support the new hybrid technology acceptance model in predicting nurses' intention to use the electronic logistics information system. The study shows that 'compatibility', 'perceived usefulness', 'perceived ease of use', and 'trust' all have great positive influence on 'behavioral intention to use'. On the other hand 'perceived financial cost' has great negative influence on behavioral intention to use.

Individual and contextual predictors of cyberbullying: the influence of children's provictim attitudes and teachers' ability to intervene.

PubMed

Christian Elledge, L; Williford, Anne; Boulton, Aaron J; Depaolis, Kathryn J; Little, Todd D; Salmivalli, Christina

2013-05-01

Electronic social communication has provided a new context for children to bully and harass their peers and it is clear that cyberbullying is a growing public health concern in the US and abroad. The present study examined individual and contextual predictors of cyberbullying in a sample of 16, 634 students in grades 3-5 and 7-8. Data were obtained from a large cluster-randomized trial of the KiVa antibullying program that occurred in Finland between 2007 and 2009. Students completed measures at pre-intervention assessing provictim attitudes (defined as children's beliefs that bullying is unacceptable, victims are acceptable, and defending victims is valued), perceptions of teachers' ability to intervene in bullying, and cyberbullying behavior. Students with higher scores on provictim attitudes reported lower frequencies of cyberbullying. This relationship was true for individual provictim attitudes as well as the collective attitudes of students within classrooms. Teachers' ability to intervene assessed at the classroom level was a unique, positive predictor of cyberbullying. Classrooms in which students collectively considered their teacher as capable of intervening to stop bullying had higher mean levels of cyberbullying frequency. Our findings suggest that cyberbullying and other indirect or covert forms of bullying may be more prevalent in classrooms where students collectively perceive their teacher's ability to intervene in bullying as high. We found no evidence that individual or contextual effects were conditional on age or gender. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Perceived Harm, Addictiveness, and Social Acceptability of Tobacco Products and Marijuana Among Young Adults: Marijuana, Hookah, and Electronic Cigarettes Win

PubMed Central

Berg, Carla J.; Stratton, Erin; Schauer, Gillian L.; Lewis, Michael; Wang, Yanwen; Windle, Michael; Kegler, Michelle

2015-01-01

Background There has been an increase in non-daily smoking, alternative tobacco product and marijuana use among young adults in recent years. Objectives This study examined perceptions of health risks, addictiveness, and social acceptability of cigarettes, cigar products, smokeless tobacco, hookah, electronic cigarettes, and marijuana among young adults and correlates of such perceptions. Methods In Spring 2013, 10,000 students at two universities in the Southeastern United States were recruited to complete an online survey (2,002 respondents), assessing personal, parental, and peer use of each product; and perceptions of health risks, addictiveness, and social acceptability of each of these products. Results Marijuana was the most commonly used product in the past month (19.2%), with hookah being the second most commonly used (16.4%). The least commonly used were smokeless tobacco products (2.6%) and electronic cigarettes (4.5%). There were high rates of concurrent product use, particularly among electronic cigarette users. The most positively perceived was marijuana, with hookah and electronic cigarettes being second. While tobacco use and related social factors, related positively, influenced perceptions of marijuana, marijuana use and related social factors were not associated with perceptions of any tobacco product. Conclusions/Importance Marketing efforts to promote electronic cigarettes and hookah to be safe and socially acceptable seem to be effective, while policy changes seem to be altering perceptions of marijuana and related social norms. Research is needed to document the health risks and addictive nature of emerging tobacco products and marijuana and evaluate efforts to communicate such risks to youth. PMID:25268294

Perceived harm, addictiveness, and social acceptability of tobacco products and marijuana among young adults: marijuana, hookah, and electronic cigarettes win.

PubMed

Berg, Carla J; Stratton, Erin; Schauer, Gillian L; Lewis, Michael; Wang, Yanwen; Windle, Michael; Kegler, Michelle

2015-01-01

There has been an increase in non-daily smoking, alternative tobacco product and marijuana use among young adults in recent years. This study examined perceptions of health risks, addictiveness, and social acceptability of cigarettes, cigar products, smokeless tobacco, hookah, electronic cigarettes, and marijuana among young adults and correlates of such perceptions. In Spring 2013, 10,000 students at two universities in the Southeastern United States were recruited to complete an online survey (2,002 respondents), assessing personal, parental, and peer use of each product; and perceptions of health risks, addictiveness, and social acceptability of each of these products. Marijuana was the most commonly used product in the past month (19.2%), with hookah being the second most commonly used (16.4%). The least commonly used were smokeless tobacco products (2.6%) and electronic cigarettes (4.5%). There were high rates of concurrent product use, particularly among electronic cigarette users. The most positively perceived was marijuana, with hookah and electronic cigarettes being second. While tobacco use and related social factors, related positively, influenced perceptions of marijuana, marijuana use and related social factors were not associated with perceptions of any tobacco product. Conclusions/Importance: Marketing efforts to promote electronic cigarettes and hookah to be safe and socially acceptable seem to be effective, while policy changes seem to be altering perceptions of marijuana and related social norms. Research is needed to document the health risks and addictive nature of emerging tobacco products and marijuana and evaluate efforts to communicate such risks to youth.

Good Liars Are Neither ‘Dark’ Nor Self-Deceptive

PubMed Central

Wright, Gordon R. T.; Berry, Christopher J.; Catmur, Caroline; Bird, Geoffrey

2015-01-01

Deception is a central component of the personality 'Dark Triad' (Machiavellianism, Psychopathy and Narcissism). However, whether individuals exhibiting high scores on Dark Triad measures have a heightened deceptive ability has received little experimental attention. The present study tested whether the ability to lie effectively, and to detect lies told by others, was related to Dark Triad, Lie Acceptability, or Self-Deceptive measures of personality using an interactive group-based deception task. At a group level, lie detection accuracy was correlated with the ability to deceive others—replicating previous work. No evidence was found to suggest that Dark Triad traits confer any advantage either to deceive others, or to detect deception in others. Participants who considered lying to be more acceptable were more skilled at lying, while self-deceptive individuals were generally less credible and less confident when lying. Results are interpreted within a framework in which repeated practice results in enhanced deceptive ability. PMID:26083765

16 CFR § 1110.5 - Acceptable certificates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Acceptable certificates. § 1110.5 Section § 1110.5 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE § 1110.5 Acceptable certificates. A certificate that is in hard copy or electronic...

20 CFR 655.34 - Electronic job registry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Electronic job registry. 655.34 Section 655... Electronic job registry. (a) Location of and placement in the electronic job registry. Upon acceptance of the... copy of the job order posted by the SWA on the Department's electronic job registry, including any...

20 CFR 655.34 - Electronic job registry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Electronic job registry. 655.34 Section 655... Electronic job registry. (a) Location of and placement in the electronic job registry. Upon acceptance of the... copy of the job order posted by the SWA on the Department's electronic job registry, including any...

Do GPs use electronic mental health resources? - a qualitative study.

PubMed

Austin, David; Pier, Ciaran; Mitchell, Joanna; Schattner, Peter; Wade, Victoria; Pierce, David; Klein, Britt

2006-05-01

The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOMHC) initiative encourages general practitioners to use electronic mental health resources (EMHRs) during consultation with patients requiring psychological assistance. However, there is little data on GPs' acceptance and use of EMHRs. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 27 GPs to determine their attitude toward EMHRs, and their use during consultation with patients. Few GPs reported frequently using EMHRs in consultation. Identified barriers to use included lack of familiarity with information technology, and insufficient knowledge of available resources. Identified advantages of electronic resources included high patient acceptance, time efficiency, and improved quality of information. General practitioners recognise several advantages of utilising electronic resources for managing patients with mental illness. However, GPs are not sufficiently familiar with electronic resources to use them effectively. This could be overcome by education.

Stretching: Does It Help?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vardiman, Phillip; Carrand, David; Gallagher, Philip M.

2010-01-01

Stretching prior to activity is universally accepted as an important way to improve performance and help prevent injury. Likewise, limited flexibility has been shown to decrease functional ability and predispose a person to injuries. Although this is commonly accepted, appropriate stretching for children and adolescents involved with sports and…

Predicting Peer Acceptance in Dutch Youth: A Multilevel Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lubbers, Miranda; Van Der Werf, Margaretha; Kuyper, Hans; Offringa, G.

2006-01-01

This article uses an ecological approach to predict students' peer acceptance within junior high school classes. The authors investigate whether various characteristics (self-perception of physical attractiveness and athletic competence, cognitive ability, agreeableness, extraversion, age, parents education, number of siblings, siblings at same…

Simultaneous analysis of consumer variables, acceptability and sensory characteristics of dry-cured ham.

PubMed

Sugimoto, Masahiro; Obiya, Shinichi; Kaneko, Miku; Enomoto, Ayame; Honma, Mayu; Wakayama, Masataka; Tomita, Masaru

2016-11-01

We conducted a consumer acceptability analysis of dry-cured ham based on sensory evaluation. Consumer acceptability data are rendered heterogeneous by the diverse backgrounds and assessment abilities of the participants, requiring versatile analytical methods for their interpretation. Totally, 9 sensory attributes of 12 kinds of dry-cured ham samples collected from Japan (n=9), Italy (n=1), Spain (n=1), and Germany (n=1) were tasted by 117 Japanese consumers who showed acceptable evaluation abilities during blind sampling. Common techniques, such as hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis, and external preference mapping, were simultaneously utilized to analyze each characteristics scored in modified hedonic scale. These analyses revealed the relationships between the features and preferences of the assessors. For example, consumers aged 20-30 with smoking and drinking habits preferred sweetness and saltiness, and gave high ratings to Spanish Jómon serrano and Italian prosciutto. Our approach could assist ham marketers to identify potential purchasers and the preferred characteristics of their products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acceptance alone is a better predictor of psychopathology and well-being than emotional competence, emotion regulation and mindfulness.

PubMed

Kotsou, Ilios; Leys, Christophe; Fossion, Pierre

2018-01-15

Emotional competence, emotion regulation, mindfulness and acceptance have all been strongly associated to emotional disorders and psychological well-being in multiple studies. However little research has compared the unique predictive ability of these different constructs. We hypothesised that they will all share a large proportion of common variance and that when compared to the broader constructs emotional competence, emotion regulation and mindfulness, acceptance alone would predict a larger proportion of unique variance METHODS: 228 participants from a community sample completed anonymously measures of anxiety, depression, happiness, acceptance, mindfulness, emotional competence and emotion regulation. We then ran multiple regressions to assess and compare the predictive ability of these different constructs. For measures of psychological distress, the acceptance measure uniquely accounted for between 4 and 30 times the variance that the emotional competence, emotion regulation and mindfulness measures did. These results are based on cross-sectional designs and non-clinical samples, longitudinal and experimental studies as clinical samples may be useful in order to assess the potential protective power of acceptance over time. Another limitation is the use of self-report questionnaires. Results confirmed our hypothesis, supporting the research on the importance of acceptance as a central factor in the understanding of the onset and maintenance of emotional disorders. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Integrative medicine for chronic pain

PubMed Central

Saha, Felix J.; Brüning, Alexander; Barcelona, Cyrus; Büssing, Arndt; Langhorst, Jost; Dobos, Gustav; Lauche, Romy; Cramer, Holger

2016-01-01

Abstract Introduction: Integrative medicine inpatient treatment has been shown to improve physical and mental health in patients with internal medicine conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient treatment in patients with chronic pain syndromes and the association of treatment success with patient-related process variables. Methods: Inpatients with chronic pain syndromes participating in a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient program were included. Patients’ pain intensity, pain disability, pain perception, quality of life, depression, and perceived stress were measured on admission, discharge, and 6 months after discharge. Likewise process variables including ability and will to change, emotional/rational disease acceptance, mindfulness, life and health satisfaction, and easiness of life were assessed. Results: A total of 310 inpatients (91% female, mean age 50.7 ± 12.4 year, 26.5% low back pain, and 22.9% fibromyalgia) were included. Using mixed linear models, significant improvements in pain intensity, pain disability, pain perception, quality of life, depression, and perceived stress were found (all P < 0.05). Ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, mindfulness, life and health satisfaction, and light heartedness/easiness likewise improved (all P < 0.05). Improved outcomes were associated with increases in process variables, mainly ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, life and health satisfaction, and light heartedness/easiness (R2 = 0.03–0.40). Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient treatment can benefit patients with chronic pain conditions. Functional improvements are associated with improved ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, and satisfaction. PMID:27399133

Electronic Adherence Monitoring in a High-Utilizing Pediatric Asthma Cohort: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Kenyon, Chén Collin; Chang, Joyce; Wynter, Sheri-Ann; Fowler, Jessica C; Long, Jin; Bryant-Stephens, Tyra C

2016-06-22

Inner-city, minority children with asthma have the highest rates of morbidity and death from asthma and the lowest rates of asthma controller medication adherence. Some recent electronic medication monitoring interventions demonstrated dramatic improvements in adherence in lower-risk populations. The feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention in the highest-risk children with asthma has not been studied. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence monitoring intervention among the highest utilizers of acute asthma care in an inner-city practice. This was a prospective cohort pilot study targeting children with the highest frequency of asthma-related emergency department and hospital care within a local managed care Medicaid plan. The 3-month intervention included motivational interviewing, electronic monitoring of controller and rescue inhaler use, and outreach by a community health worker for predefined medication alerts. We measured acceptability by using a modified technology acceptability model and changes in asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Given prominent feasibility issues, we describe qualitative patterns of medication use at baseline only. We enrolled 14 non-Hispanic black children with a median age of 3.5 years. Participants averaged 7.8 emergency or hospital visits in the year preceding enrollment. We observed three distinct patterns of baseline controller use: 4 patients demonstrated sustained use, 5 patients had periodic use, and 5 patients lapsed within 2 weeks. All participants initiated use of the electronic devices; however, no modem signal was transmitted for 5 or the 14 participants after a mean of 45 days. Of the 9 (64% of total) caregivers who completed the final study visit, all viewed the electronic monitoring device favorably and would recommend it to friends, and 5 (56%) believed that the device helped to improve asthma control. ACT scores improved by a mean of 2.7 points (P=.05) over the 3-month intervention. High-utilizer, minority families who completed a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence intervention found it generally acceptable. Prominent feasibility concerns, however, such as recruitment, data transmission failure, and lost devices, should be carefully considered when designing interventions in this setting.

Increased Electron-Accepting and Decreased Electron-Donating Capacities of Soil Humic Substances in Response to Increasing Temperature.

PubMed

Tan, Wenbing; Xi, Beidou; Wang, Guoan; Jiang, Jie; He, Xiaosong; Mao, Xuhui; Gao, Rutai; Huang, Caihong; Zhang, Hui; Li, Dan; Jia, Yufu; Yuan, Ying; Zhao, Xinyu

2017-03-21

The electron transfer capacities (ETCs) of soil humic substances (HSs) are linked to the type and abundance of redox-active functional moieties in their structure. Natural temperature can affect the chemical structure of natural organic matter by regulating their oxidative transformation and degradation in soil. However, it is unclear if there is a direct correlation between ETC of soil HS and mean annual temperature. In this study, we assess the response of the electron-accepting and -donating capacities (EAC and EDC) of soil HSs to temperature by analyzing HSs extracted from soil set along glacial-interglacial cycles through loess-palaeosol sequences and along natural temperature gradients through latitude and altitude transects. We show that the EAC and EDC of soil HSs increase and decrease, respectively, with increasing temperature. Increased temperature facilitates the prevalence of oxidative degradation and transformation of HS in soils, thus potentially promoting the preferentially oxidative degradation of phenol moieties of HS or the oxidative transformation of electron-donating phenol moieties to electron-accepting quinone moieties in the HS structure. Consequently, the EAC and EDC of HSs in soil increase and decrease, respectively. The results of this study could help to understand biogeochemical processes, wherein the redox functionality of soil organic matter is involved in the context of increasing temperature.

Evaluating a web-based test results system at an urban STI clinic.

PubMed

Ling, Sarah B; Richardson, Douglas B; Mettenbrink, Christie J; Westergaard, Benton C; Sapp-Jones, Terri D; Crane, Lori A; Nyquist, Ann-Christine; McFarlane, Mary; Kachur, Rachel; Rietmeijer, Cornelis A

2010-04-01

Notifying patients of gonorrhea and chlamydia test results using online services may improve clinic efficiency and increase receipt of test results. This study evaluated the implementation of an online results system in an urban sexually transmitted infections clinic. Using the clinic's electronic medical records system to assess if and how gonorrhea and chlamydia test results were obtained, 3 time periods were examined between December 2007 and April 2009: period 1, six months before initiation of the online results system; Period 2, six months when patients could opt in for online results by creating their own access codes; and Period 3, four months when access codes were assigned. In addition, a survey was conducted to assess reasons for accepting or declining the online results system. A total of 9056 new patient visits were evaluated. During periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively 67%, 67%, and 70% patients received results either online or by telephone (NS). The proportion of patients calling the clinic for results decreased from 67% in period 1, to 51% in period 2, and 36% in period 3 (P < 0.0001). Survey results indicated that patients accepted online results primarily because of the ability to check results anytime of day. Reasons for not accepting results online included lack of Internet access or a preference to receive results via the telephone. The online results system decreased the number of phone calls to the clinic pertaining to STI test results, but had no effect on the overall proportion of patients receiving results.

An Investigation of Employees' Use of E-Learning Systems: Applying the Technology Acceptance Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Yi-Hsuan; Hsieh, Yi-Chuan; Chen, Yen-Hsun

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to apply the technology acceptance model to examine the employees' attitudes and acceptance of electronic learning (e-learning) systems in organisations. This study examines four factors (organisational support, computer self-efficacy, prior experience and task equivocality) that are believed to influence employees'…

Development and Validation of Mobile Learning Acceptance Measure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Sujeet Kumar; Sarrab, Mohamed; Al-Shihi, Hafedh

2017-01-01

The growth of Smartphone usage, increased acceptance of electronic learning (E-learning), the availability of high reliability mobile networks and need for flexibility in learning have resulted in the growth of mobile learning (M-learning). This has led to a tremendous interest in the acceptance behaviors related to M-learning users among the…

An evaluation of flight path management automation in transport category aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chandra, D.; Bussolari, S. R.

1991-01-01

A desk-top simulation of a Boeing 757/767 Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS) and Control Display Unit (CDU) was used in an experiment to compare three modes of communication for the clearance amendment process: standard voice procedures, a textual delivery method, and a graphical delivery method. Eight qualified Boeing 757/767 pilots served as subjects. Each flew nine landing scenarios with three amendments given in each scenario. Both acceptable and unacceptable clearance amendments were presented in order to assess situational awareness. Times for comprehension and execution of the amendment were recorded along with workload ratings, responses to unacceptable amendments, and subjective impressions. The graphical mode was found to be superior in terms of the time measures and subjective ratings. No difference was found between the modes in the ability to detect unacceptable clearances.

Summary of nondestructive testing theory and practice

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meister, R. P.; Randall, M. D.; Mitchell, D. K.; Williams, L. P.; Pattee, H. E.

1972-01-01

The ability to fabricate design critical and man-rated aerospace structures using materials near the limits of their capabilities requires a comprehensive and dependable assurance program. The quality assurance program must rely heavily on nondestructive testing methods for thorough inspection to assess properties and quality of hardware items. A survey of nondestructive testing methods is presented to provide space program managers, supervisors and engineers who are unfamiliar with this technical area with appropriate insight into the commonly accepted nondestructive testing methods available, their interrelationships, used, advantages and limitations. Primary emphasis is placed on the most common methods: liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, radiography, ultrasonics and eddy current. A number of the newer test techniques including thermal, acoustic emission, holography, microwaves, eddy-sonic and exo-electron emission, which are beginning to be used in applications of interest to NASA, are also discussed briefly.

The Emotional Benefits of Camping.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Rebecca Cowan

1991-01-01

Regardless of participant background, age, or ethnic origin, camp can aid in the following key components of emotional maturity: open, positive and appropriate expression of feelings; self-acceptance; a sense of self; an awareness and acceptance of others and their feelings; the ability to develop relationships; and emotional stability. (LP)

Validation and testing of the Acceptability E-scale for Web-based patient-reported outcomes in cancer care

PubMed Central

Tariman, Joseph D.; Berry, Donna L.; Halpenny, Barbara; Wolpin, Seth; Schepp, Karen

2010-01-01

The performance of the Acceptability E-scale was tested in a sample of 627 adult and older adult patients from various oncology clinics who completed an electronic symptoms survey. The revised Acceptability E-scale has strong psychometric properties and can be useful in assessing the acceptability and usability of computerized health-related programs in oncology and other health population. PMID:20974066

Introduction: Background on CROMERR

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This self-directed, online course is designed for states, tribes, and local governments that administer EPA-authorized programs under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) and accept or wish to accept electronic reports.

P-Care BPJS Acceptance Model in Primary Health Centers.

PubMed

Markam, Hosizah

2017-01-01

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are increasingly adopted in healthcare facilities. Recently, implementation failure of electronic information systems is known to be caused by not only the quality of technical aspects, but also the user's behavior. It is known as applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This research aimed to analyze the acceptance model of p-care BPJS in the primary health centers. A total sample of 30 p-care BPJS users was drawn by multistage random sampling in which of these 30 primary health centers participated. Data analysis used both descriptive and inferential statistics. In the phase of structural model, it indicated that p-care BPJS acceptance model in the primary health centers was formed by Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU) through Attitude towards use of p-care BPJS and Behavioral Intention to use p-care BPJS.

Measuring Work Ability with Its Antecedents: Evaluation of the Work Ability Survey.

PubMed

Voltmer, Jan-Bennet; Deller, Jürgen

2017-07-24

Purpose The revised version of the Work Ability Survey (WAS-R) assesses work ability on several sub-scales at the intersection of personal and organizational capacity, thus adding to the measurement of work ability by integrating the holistic model. It, therefore, improves on two features of the current standard measurement tool of work ability, the Work Ability Index (WAI): (1) a ceiling effect and (2) limited detail due to a focus on physical health and personal capacity. Method In two samples (n 1  = 1093, n 2  = 359), psychometric properties and the structure of the WAS-R were analyzed. To evaluate construct validity, inter-correlations of the WAS-R and WAI, sickness absence, expected and desired retirement age, and post-retirement work intention were calculated. Results The WAS-R was found to be distributed closer to normality than the WAI. The structural analyses yielded acceptable results for the hypothesized model. The WAS-R was adequately correlated with the WAI, negatively with sickness absence, and positively with desired retirement age. Conclusions The WAS-R extends the measurement of work ability, reflecting organizations' work demands. Its broad sub-scales lead to high acceptance of the results within the participating companies. In particular, the organizational capacity scales can be used to guide interventions aiming at organizational characteristics to improve work ability.

Two-photon or higher-order absorbing optical materials for generation of reactive species

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marder, Seth R. (Inventor); Cumpston, Brian (Inventor); Lipson, Matthew (Inventor); Perry, Joseph W. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

Disclosed are highly efficient multiphoton absorbing compounds and methods of their use. The compounds generally include a bridge of pi-conjugated bonds connecting electron donating groups or electron accepting groups. The bridge may be substituted with a variety of substituents as well. Solubility, lipophilicity, absorption maxima and other characteristics of the compounds may be tailored by changing the electron donating groups or electron accepting groups, the substituents attached to or the length of the pi-conjugated bridge. Numerous photophysical and photochemical methods are enabled by converting these compounds to electronically excited states upon simultaneous absorption of at least two photons of radiation. The compounds have large two-photon or higher-order absorptivities such that upon absorption, one or more Lewis acidic species, Lewis basic species, radical species or ionic species are formed.

Two-photon or higher-order absorbing optical materials for generation of reactive species

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, Joseph W (Inventor); Cumpston, Brian (Inventor); Lipson, Matthew (Inventor); Marder, Seth R (Inventor)

2007-01-01

Disclosed are highly efficient multiphoton absorbing compounds and methods of their use. The compounds generally include a bridge of pi-conjugated bonds connecting electron donating groups or electron accepting groups. The bridge may be substituted with a variety of substituents as well. Solubility, lipophilicity, absorption maxima and other characteristics of the compounds may be tailored by changing the electron donating groups or electron accepting groups, the substituents attached to or the length of the pi-conjugated bridge. Numerous photophysical and photochemical methods are enabled by converting these compounds to electronically excited states upon simultaneous absorption of at least two photons of radiation. The compounds have large two-photon or higher-order absorptivities such that upon absorption, one or more Lewis acidic species, Lewis basic species, radical species or ionic species are formed.

Two-Photon or Higher-Order Absorbing Optical Materials for Generation of Reactive Species

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, Joseph W. (Inventor); Cumpston, Brian (Inventor); Lipson, Matthew (Inventor); Marder, Seth R. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

Disclosed are highly efficient multiphoton absorbing compounds and methods of their use. The compounds generally include a bridge of pi-conjugated bonds connecting electron donating groups or electron accepting groups. The bridge may be substituted with a variety of substituents as well. Solubility, lipophilicity, absorption maxima and other characteristics of the compounds may be tailored by changing the electron donating groups or electron accepting groups, the substituents attached to or the length of the pi-conjugated bridge. Numerous photophysical and photochemical methods are enabled by converting these compounds to electronically excited states upon simultaneous absorption of at least two photons of radiation. The compounds have large two-photon or higher-order absorptivities such that upon absorption, one or more Lewis acidic species, Lewis basic species, radical species or ionic species are formed.

Evaluation of surface resistivity measurements as an alternative to the rapid chloride permeability test for quality assurance and acceptance : technical summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-07-01

This project investigated the use of a surface resistivity device as an indication of concretes ability to resist chloride ion penetration for use in quality assurance (QA) and acceptance of high performance concrete (HPC). : The objectives of thi...

Fostering Social Acceptance in Inclusive Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiener, Judith

2009-01-01

The mere presence of students with learning disabilities in general education classrooms is not inclusion. Inclusion involves meaningful participation by these students, achievement in accordance with their abilities, and social acceptance by teachers and peers. Teachers who view these students as a challenge rather than a burden, who believe that…

46 CFR 12.03-1 - Coast Guard-accepted training other than approved courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Guard-accepted training other than approved courses. (a) When the training and assessment of competence... assessment must meet the following requirements: (1) The training and assessment must have written, clearly defined objectives that emphasize specific knowledge, skills, and abilities, and that include criteria to...

Educational Data Mining Acceptance among Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wook, Muslihah; Yusof, Zawiyah M.; Nazri, Mohd Zakree Ahmad

2017-01-01

The acceptance of Educational Data Mining (EDM) technology is on the rise due to, its ability to extract new knowledge from large amounts of students' data. This knowledge is important for educational stakeholders, such as policy makers, educators, and students themselves to enhance efficiency and achievements. However, previous studies on EDM…

48 CFR 252.232-7003 - Electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests. However, scanned documents are... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Electronic submission of... PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions And Clauses 252.232-7003 Electronic submission of payment...

48 CFR 252.232-7003 - Electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests. However, scanned documents are... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Electronic submission of... PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions And Clauses 252.232-7003 Electronic submission of payment...

48 CFR 252.232-7003 - Electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests. However, scanned documents are... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Electronic submission of... PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions And Clauses 252.232-7003 Electronic submission of payment...

48 CFR 252.232-7003 - Electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests. However, scanned documents are... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Electronic submission of... PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions And Clauses 252.232-7003 Electronic submission of payment...

48 CFR 252.232-7003 - Electronic submission of payment requests and receiving reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests. However, scanned documents are... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Electronic submission of... PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions And Clauses 252.232-7003 Electronic submission of payment...

Long-range coupling of electron-hole pairs in spatially separated organic donor-acceptor layers

PubMed Central

Nakanotani, Hajime; Furukawa, Taro; Morimoto, Kei; Adachi, Chihaya

2016-01-01

Understanding exciton behavior in organic semiconductor molecules is crucial for the development of organic semiconductor-based excitonic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic solar cells, and the tightly bound electron-hole pair forming an exciton is normally assumed to be localized on an organic semiconducting molecule. We report the observation of long-range coupling of electron-hole pairs in spatially separated electron-donating and electron-accepting molecules across a 10-nanometers-thick spacer layer. We found that the exciton energy can be tuned over 100 megaelectron volts and the fraction of delayed fluorescence can be increased by adjusting the spacer-layer thickness. Furthermore, increasing the spacer-layer thickness produced an organic light-emitting diode with an electroluminescence efficiency nearly eight times higher than that of a device without a spacer layer. Our results demonstrate the first example of a long-range coupled charge-transfer state between electron-donating and electron-accepting molecules in a working device. PMID:26933691

In-Situ Characterization of Underwater Radioactive Sludge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simpson, A.P.; Clapham, M.J.; Swinson, B.

2008-07-01

A fundamental requirement underpinning safe clean-up technologies for legacy spent nuclear fuel (SNF) ponds, pools and wet silos is the ability to characterize the radioactive waste form prior to retrieval. The corrosion products resulting from the long term underwater storage of spent nuclear fuel, reactor components and reprocessing debris present a major hazard to facility decontamination and decommissioning in terms of their radioactive content and physical / chemical reactivity. The ability to perform in-situ underwater non-destructive characterization of sludge and debris in a safe and cost-effective manner offers significant benefits over traditional destructive sampling methods. Several techniques are available formore » underwater measurements including (i) Gross gamma counting, (ii) Low-, Medium- and High- Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy, (iii) Passive neutron counting and (iv) Active Neutron Interrogation. The optimum technique depends on (i) the radioactive inventory (ii) mechanical access restrictions for deployment of the detection equipment, interrogation sources etc. (iii) the integrity of plant records and (iv) the extent to which Acceptable Knowledge which may be used for 'fingerprinting' the radioactive contents to a marker nuclide. Prior deployments of underwater SNF characterization equipment around the world have been reviewed with respect to recent developments in gamma and neutron detection technologies, digital electronics advancements, data transfer techniques, remote operation capabilities and improved field ruggedization. Modeling and experimental work has been performed to determine the capabilities, performance envelope and operational limitations of the future generation of non-destructive underwater sludge characterization techniques. Recommendations are given on the optimal design of systems and procedures to provide an acceptable level of confidence in the characterization of residual sludge content of legacy wet storage facilities such that retrieval and repackaging of SNF sludges may proceed safely and efficiently with support of the regulators and the public. (author)« less

Advancing Partner Notification Through Electronic Communication Technology: A Review of Acceptability and Utilization Research.

PubMed

Pellowski, Jennifer; Mathews, Catherine; Kalichman, Moira O; Dewing, Sarah; Lurie, Mark N; Kalichman, Seth C

2016-06-01

A cornerstone of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention is the identification, tracing, and notification of sex partners of index patients. Although partner notification reduces disease burden and prevents new infections as well as reinfections, studies show that only a limited number of partners are ever notified. Electronic communication technologies, namely, the Internet, text messaging, and phone calls (i.e., e-notification), have the potential to expand partner services. We conducted a systematic review of studies that have investigated the acceptability and utility of e-notification. We identified 23 studies that met the following criteria: (a) 9 studies presented data on the acceptability of technology-based communications for contacting sex partner(s), and (b) 14 studies reported on the utilization of communication technologies for partner notification. Studies found high levels of interest in and acceptability of e-notification; however, there was little evidence for actual use of e-notification. Taken together, results suggest that electronic communications could have their greatest impact in notifying less committed partners who would otherwise be uninformed of their STI exposure. In addition, all studies to date have been conducted in resource-rich countries, although the low cost of e-notification may have its greatest impact in resource-constrained settings. Research is needed to determine the best practices for exploiting the opportunities afforded by electronic communications for expanding STI partner services.

Anticancer Vitamin K3 Analogs: A Review.

PubMed

Badave, Kirti D; Khan, Ayesha A; Rane, Sandhya Y

2016-01-01

Menadione (Vitamin K3) comprises of 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) moiety that can form redox isomers such as napthosemiquinone (NSQ) and catechol by accepting one or two electrons, respectively. The quinone redox cycling ability leads to the generation of "reactive oxygen species" (ROS) as well as arylation reactions, which are of biological relevance. This ability can be modulated with the help of suitable derivatization. A pharmacophore can be appended at suitable position of Vitamin K3 to have a synergistic or additive effect. In the present review, an attempt has been made to accrue such derivatives modified at 1 or 2 position and evaluated for their cytotoxicity activity on different series of human cancer cell lines such as HeLa, HL-60 and MCF- 7 etc. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by Vitamin K3 derivatives leads to apoptosis and tumor inhibition. Recently, the CR-108 compound has shown to exhibit oxidative path together with non-oxidative phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase in human breast cancer cells. Thus the chemical-biological interactions have been discussed which can be further extrapolated for the development of a potent anticancer drug. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Towards a physical interpretation of substituent effect: Quantum chemical interpretation of Hammett substituent constants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varaksin, Konstantin S.; Szatylowicz, Halina; Krygowski, Tadeusz M.

2017-06-01

Quantitative description of substituent effects is of a great importance especially in organic chemistry and QSAR-type treatments. The proposed approaches: substituent effect stabilization energy (SESE) and charge of the substituent active region (cSAR) provide substituent effect characteristics, physically independent of the Hammett's substituent constants, σ. To document abilities of these descriptors the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method is employed to examine changes in properties of a reaction center Y (Y = COOH or COO- groups) and a transmitting moiety (benzene ring) due to substituent effects in a series of meta- and para-X-substituted benzoic acid and benzoate anion derivatives (X = NMe2, NH2, OH, OMe, CH3, H, F, Cl, CF3, CN, CHO, COMe, CONH2, COOH, NO2, NO). The transmitting moiety is described by aromaticity indices HOMA and NICS(1). Furthermore, an advantage of the cSAR characteristic is the ability to use it to describe both electron donating/accepting properties of a substituent as well as a reaction center. It allows demonstration of the reverse substituent effects of COOH and COO- groups on substituent X.

Integrative medicine for chronic pain: A cohort study using a process-outcome design in the context of a department for internal and integrative medicine.

PubMed

Saha, Felix J; Brüning, Alexander; Barcelona, Cyrus; Büssing, Arndt; Langhorst, Jost; Dobos, Gustav; Lauche, Romy; Cramer, Holger

2016-07-01

Integrative medicine inpatient treatment has been shown to improve physical and mental health in patients with internal medicine conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient treatment in patients with chronic pain syndromes and the association of treatment success with patient-related process variables. Inpatients with chronic pain syndromes participating in a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient program were included. Patients' pain intensity, pain disability, pain perception, quality of life, depression, and perceived stress were measured on admission, discharge, and 6 months after discharge. Likewise process variables including ability and will to change, emotional/rational disease acceptance, mindfulness, life and health satisfaction, and easiness of life were assessed. A total of 310 inpatients (91% female, mean age 50.7 ± 12.4 year, 26.5% low back pain, and 22.9% fibromyalgia) were included. Using mixed linear models, significant improvements in pain intensity, pain disability, pain perception, quality of life, depression, and perceived stress were found (all P < 0.05). Ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, mindfulness, life and health satisfaction, and light heartedness/easiness likewise improved (all P < 0.05). Improved outcomes were associated with increases in process variables, mainly ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, life and health satisfaction, and light heartedness/easiness (R = 0.03-0.40). Results of this study suggest that a 2-week integrative medicine inpatient treatment can benefit patients with chronic pain conditions. Functional improvements are associated with improved ability to change and implementation, disease acceptance, and satisfaction.

76 FR 51128 - Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-17

... duty; alternate work schedules, standards of conduct and ethics programs; indebtedness; employee... stored on paper, microform, or in electronic media. Retrievability: By name, social security number, or... maceration. Records in electronic media are electronically erased using accepted techniques. System Manager...

75 FR 41875 - Technical Processing Requirements for Multifamily Project Mortgage Insurance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-19

... submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction... principals are acceptable and have the insurance for new or rehabilitated housing. The information collected is used to determine if key principals are acceptable and have the ability to manage the development...

29 CFR 1450.12 - Collection in installments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the debtor is financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may be accepted in... unable to pay the debt in one lump sum. If FMCS agrees to accept payment in regular installments it will... the debtor's ability to pay. If possible, the installment payments should be sufficient in size and...

29 CFR 1450.12 - Collection in installments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the debtor is financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may be accepted in... unable to pay the debt in one lump sum. If FMCS agrees to accept payment in regular installments it will... the debtor's ability to pay. If possible, the installment payments should be sufficient in size and...

29 CFR 1450.12 - Collection in installments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... the debtor is financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may be accepted in... unable to pay the debt in one lump sum. If FMCS agrees to accept payment in regular installments it will... the debtor's ability to pay. If possible, the installment payments should be sufficient in size and...

29 CFR 1450.12 - Collection in installments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the debtor is financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may be accepted in... unable to pay the debt in one lump sum. If FMCS agrees to accept payment in regular installments it will... the debtor's ability to pay. If possible, the installment payments should be sufficient in size and...

Electronic tools for infectious diseases and microbiology

PubMed Central

Burdette, Steven D

2007-01-01

Electronic tools for infectious diseases and medical microbiology have the ability to change the way the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases are approached. Medical information today has the ability to be dynamic, keeping up with the latest research or clinical issues, instead of being static and years behind, as many textbooks are. The ability to rapidly disseminate information around the world opens up the possibility of communicating with people thousands of miles away to quickly and efficiently learn about emerging infections. Electronic tools have expanded beyond the desktop computer and the Internet, and now include personal digital assistants and other portable devices such as cellular phones. These pocket-sized devices have the ability to provide access to clinical information at the point of care. New electronic tools include e-mail listservs, electronic drug databases and search engines that allow focused clinical questions. The goal of the present article is to provide an overview of how electronic tools can impact infectious diseases and microbiology, while providing links and resources to allow users to maximize their efficiency in accessing this information. Links to the mentioned Web sites and programs are provided along with other useful electronic tools. PMID:18978984

Electronic Adherence Monitoring in a High-Utilizing Pediatric Asthma Cohort: A Feasibility Study

PubMed Central

Chang, Joyce; Wynter, Sheri-Ann; Fowler, Jessica C; Long, Jin; Bryant-Stephens, Tyra C

2016-01-01

Background Inner-city, minority children with asthma have the highest rates of morbidity and death from asthma and the lowest rates of asthma controller medication adherence. Some recent electronic medication monitoring interventions demonstrated dramatic improvements in adherence in lower-risk populations. The feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention in the highest-risk children with asthma has not been studied. Objective Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence monitoring intervention among the highest utilizers of acute asthma care in an inner-city practice. Methods This was a prospective cohort pilot study targeting children with the highest frequency of asthma-related emergency department and hospital care within a local managed care Medicaid plan. The 3-month intervention included motivational interviewing, electronic monitoring of controller and rescue inhaler use, and outreach by a community health worker for predefined medication alerts. We measured acceptability by using a modified technology acceptability model and changes in asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Given prominent feasibility issues, we describe qualitative patterns of medication use at baseline only. Results We enrolled 14 non-Hispanic black children with a median age of 3.5 years. Participants averaged 7.8 emergency or hospital visits in the year preceding enrollment. We observed three distinct patterns of baseline controller use: 4 patients demonstrated sustained use, 5 patients had periodic use, and 5 patients lapsed within 2 weeks. All participants initiated use of the electronic devices; however, no modem signal was transmitted for 5 or the 14 participants after a mean of 45 days. Of the 9 (64% of total) caregivers who completed the final study visit, all viewed the electronic monitoring device favorably and would recommend it to friends, and 5 (56%) believed that the device helped to improve asthma control. ACT scores improved by a mean of 2.7 points (P=.05) over the 3-month intervention. Conclusions High-utilizer, minority families who completed a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence intervention found it generally acceptable. Prominent feasibility concerns, however, such as recruitment, data transmission failure, and lost devices, should be carefully considered when designing interventions in this setting. PMID:27335355

A New Method for the Evaluation and Prediction of Base Stealing Performance.

PubMed

Bricker, Joshua C; Bailey, Christopher A; Driggers, Austin R; McInnis, Timothy C; Alami, Arya

2016-11-01

Bricker, JC, Bailey, CA, Driggers, AR, McInnis, TC, and Alami, A. A new method for the evaluation and prediction of base stealing performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3044-3050, 2016-The purposes of this study were to evaluate a new method using electronic timing gates to monitor base stealing performance in terms of reliability, differences between it and traditional stopwatch-collected times, and its ability to predict base stealing performance. Twenty-five healthy collegiate baseball players performed maximal effort base stealing trials with a right and left-handed pitcher. An infrared electronic timing system was used to calculate the reaction time (RT) and total time (TT), whereas coaches' times (CT) were recorded with digital stopwatches. Reliability of the TGM was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficient of variation (CV). Differences between the TGM and traditional CT were calculated with paired samples t tests Cohen's d effect size estimates. Base stealing performance predictability of the TGM was evaluated with Pearson's bivariate correlations. Acceptable relative reliability was observed (ICCs 0.74-0.84). Absolute reliability measures were acceptable for TT (CVs = 4.4-4.8%), but measures were elevated for RT (CVs = 32.3-35.5%). Statistical and practical differences were found between TT and CT (right p = 0.00, d = 1.28 and left p = 0.00, d = 1.49). The TGM TT seems to be a decent predictor of base stealing performance (r = -0.49 to -0.61). The authors recommend using the TGM used in this investigation for athlete monitoring because it was found to be reliable, seems to be more precise than traditional CT measured with a stopwatch, provides an additional variable of value (RT), and may predict future performance.

Development of a tripolar model of technology acceptance: Hospital-based physicians' perspective on EHR.

PubMed

Beglaryan, Mher; Petrosyan, Varduhi; Bunker, Edward

2017-06-01

In health care, information technologies (IT) hold a promise to harness an ever-increasing flow of health related information and bring significant benefits including improved quality of care, efficiency, and cost containment. One of the main tools for collecting and utilizing health data is the Electronic Health Record (EHR). EHRs implementation can face numerous barriers to acceptance including attitudes and perceptions of potential users, required effort attributed to their implementation and usage, and resistance to change. Various theories explicate different aspects of technology deployment, implementation, and acceptance. One of the common theories is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which helps to study the implementation of different healthcare IT applications. The objectives of this study are: to understand the barriers of EHR implementation from the perspective of physicians; to identify major determinants of physicians' acceptance of technology; and develop a model that explains better how EHRs (and technologies in general) are accepted by physicians. The proposed model derives from a cross-sectional survey of physicians selected through multi-stage cluster sampling from the hospitals of Yerevan, Armenia. The study team designed the survey instrument based on a literature review on barriers of EHR implementation. The analysis employed exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) with a robust weighted least squares (WLSMV) estimator for categorical indicators. The analysis progressed in two steps: appraisal of the measurement model and testing of the structural model. The derived model identifies the following factors as direct determinants of behavioral intention to use a novel technology: projected collective usefulness; personal innovativeness; patient influence; and resistance to change. Other factors (e.g., organizational change, professional relationships, administrative monitoring, organizational support and computer anxiety) exert their effects through projected collective usefulness, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. The model reconciles individual-oriented and environment-oriented theoretical approaches and proposes a Tripolar Model of Technology Acceptance (TMTA), bringing together three key pillars of the healthcare: patients, practitioners, and provider organizations. The proposed TMTA explains 85% of variance of behavioral intention to use technology. The current study draws from the barriers of EHR implementation and identifies major determinants of technology acceptance among physicians. The study proposes TMTA as affording stronger explanative and predictive abilities for the health care system. TMTA paves a long overlooked gap in TAM and its descendants, which, in organizational settings, might distort construal of technology acceptance. It also explicates with greater depth the interdependence of different participants of the healthcare and complex interactions between healthcare and technologies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Organic Reaction Mechanisms in the Sixth Form Part 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simpson, Peter

1989-01-01

Presents the mechanistic ideas underlying reactions between nucleophiles and carbonyl compounds as well as some popular misconceptions. Relates reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives to those of aldehydes and ketones. Discusses leaving group ability and the ability of carbonyl oxygen to accept a negative charge. (Author/MVL)

Return to work from long-term sick leave: a six-year prospective study of the importance of adjustment latitudes at work and home.

PubMed

Dellve, Lotta; Fallman, Sara L; Ahlstrom, Linda

2016-01-01

The aim was to investigate the long-term importance of adjustment latitude for increased work ability and return to work among female human service workers on long-term sick leave. A cohort of female human service workers on long-term sick leave (>60 days) was given a questionnaire four times (0, 6, 12, 60 months). Linear mixed models were used for longitudinal analysis of the repeated measurements of work ability and return to work. Having a higher level of adjustment latitude was associated with both increased work ability and return to work. Adjustments related to work pace were strongly associated with increased work ability, as were adjustments to the work place. Having individual opportunities for taking short breaks and a general acceptance of taking short breaks were associated with increased work ability. At home, a higher level of responsibility for household work was related to increased work ability and return to work. Individuals with possibilities for adjustment latitude, especially pace and place at work, and an acceptance of taking breaks had greater increased work ability over time and a greater work ability compared with individuals who did not have such opportunities. This study highlights the importance of opportunities for adjustment latitude at work to increase work ability and return to work among female human service workers who have been on long-term sick leave. The results support push and pull theories for individual decision-making on return to work.

Synthesis of Perylene Imide Diones as Platforms for the Development of Pyrazine Based Organic Semiconductors.

PubMed

de Echegaray, Paula; Mancheño, María J; Arrechea-Marcos, Iratxe; Juárez, Rafael; López-Espejo, Guzmán; López Navarrete, J Teodomiro; Ramos, María Mar; Seoane, Carlos; Ortiz, Rocío Ponce; Segura, José L

2016-11-18

There is a great interest in peryleneimide (PI)-containing compounds given their unique combination of good electron accepting ability, high abosorption in the visible region, and outstanding chemical, thermal, and photochemical stabilities. Thus, herein we report the synthesis of perylene imide derivatives endowed with a 1,2-diketone functionality (PIDs) as efficient intermediates to easily access peryleneimide (PI)-containing organic semiconductors with enhanced absorption cross-section for the design of tunable semiconductor organic materials. Three processable organic molecular semiconductors containing thiophene and terthiophene moieties, PITa, PITb, and PITT, have been prepared from the novel PIDs. The tendency of these semiconductors for molecular aggregation have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy and supported by quantum chemical calculations. 2D NMR experiments and theoretical calculations point to an antiparallel π-stacking interaction as the most stable conformation in the aggregates. Investigation of the optical and electrochemical properties of the materials is also reported and analyzed in combination with DFT calculations. Although the derivatives presented here show modest electron mobilities of ∼10 -4 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , these preliminary studies of their performance in organic field effect transistors (OFETs) indicate the potential of these new building blocks as n-type semiconductors.

Anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum-contaminated harbor sediments under sulfate-reducing and artificially imposed iron-reducing conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Coates, J.D.; Anderson, R.T.; Woodward, J.C.; Phillips, E.J.P.; Lovley, D.R.

1996-01-01

The potential use of iron(III) oxide to stimulate in-situ hydrocarbon degradation in anaerobic petroleum-contaminated harbor sediments was investigated. Previous studies have indicated that Fe(III)-reducing bacteria (FeRB) can oxidize some electron donors more effectively than sulfate- reducing bacteria (SRB). In contrast to previous results in freshwater sediments, the addition of Fe(III) to marine sediments from San Diego Bay, CA did not switch the terminal electron-accepting process (TEAP) from sulfate reduction to Fe-(III) reduction. Addition of Fe(III) also did not stimulate anaerobic hydrocarbon oxidation. Exposure of the sediment to air [to reoxidize Fe(II) to Fe(III)] followed by anaerobic incubation of the sediments, resulted in Fe-(III) reduction as the TEAP, but contaminant degradation was not stimulated and in some instances was inhibited. The difference in the ability of FeRB to compete with the SRB in the different sediment treatments was related to relative population sizes. Although the addition of Fe(III) did not stimulate hydrocarbon degradation, the results presented here as well as other recent studies demonstrate that there may be significant anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation under sulfate-reducing conditions in harbor sediments.

Ultrahigh Performance C60 Nanorod Large Area Flexible Photoconductor Devices via Ultralow Organic and Inorganic Photodoping

PubMed Central

Saran, Rinku; Stolojan, Vlad; Curry, Richard J.

2014-01-01

One dimensional single-crystal nanorods of C60 possess unique optoelectronic properties including high electron mobility, high photosensitivity and an excellent electron accepting nature. In addition, their rapid large scale synthesis at room temperature makes these organic semiconducting nanorods highly attractive for advanced optoelectronic device applications. Here, we report low-cost large-area flexible photoconductor devices fabricated using C60 nanorods. We demonstrate that the photosensitivity of the C60 nanorods can be enhanced ~400-fold via an ultralow photodoping mechanism. The photodoped devices offer broadband UV-vis-NIR spectral tuneability, exhibit a detectivitiy >109 Jones, an external quantum efficiency of ~100%, a linear dynamic range of 80 dB, a rise time 60 µs and the ability to measure ac signals up to ~250 kHz. These figures of merit combined are among the highest reported for one dimensional organic and inorganic large-area planar photoconductors and are competitive with commercially available inorganic photoconductors and photoconductive cells. With the additional processing benefits providing compatibility with large-area flexible platforms, these devices represent significant advances and make C60 nanorods a promising candidate for advanced photodetector technologies. PMID:24853479

Lable-free quadruple signal amplification strategy for sensitive electrochemical p53 gene biosensing.

PubMed

Wang, Zonghua; Xia, Jianfei; Song, Daimin; Zhang, Feifei; Yang, Min; Gui, Rijun; Xia, Lin; Bi, Sai; Xia, Yanzhi

2016-03-15

A versatile label-free quadruple signal amplification biosensing platform for p53 gene (target DNA) detection was proposed. The chitosan-graphene (CS-GR) modified electrode with excellent electron transfer ability could provide a large specific surface for high levels of AuNPs-DNA attachment. The large amount of AuNPs could immobilize more capture probes and enhance the electrochemical signal with the excellent electrocatalytic activity. Furthermore, with the assist of N.BstNB I (the nicking endonuclease), target DNA could be reused and more G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme could be formed, allowing significant signal amplification in the presence of H2O2. Such strategy can enhance the oxidation-reduction reaction of adsorbed methylene blue (MB) and efficiently improve the sensitivity of the proposed biosensor. The morphologies of materials and the stepwise biosensor were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signals of MB provided quantitative measures of the concentrations of target DNA, with a linear calibration range of 1.0 × 10(-15)-1.0 × 10(-9)M and a detection limit of 3.0 × 10(-16)M. Moreover, the resulting biosensor also exhibited good specificity, acceptable reproducibility and stability, indicating that the present strategy was promising for broad potential application in clinic assay. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Opto-electronic conversion logic behaviour through dynamic modulation of electron/energy transfer states at the TiO2-carbon quantum dot interface.

PubMed

Wang, Fang; Zhang, Yonglai; Liu, Yang; Wang, Xuefeng; Shen, Mingrong; Lee, Shuit-Tong; Kang, Zhenhui

2013-03-07

Here we show a bias-mediated electron/energy transfer process at the CQDs-TiO(2) interface for the dynamic modulation of opto-electronic properties. Different energy and electron transfer states have been observed in the CQDs-TNTs system due to the up-conversion photoluminescence and the electron donation/acceptance properties of the CQDs decorated on TNTs.

Characterization of a Two-Stage Pulse Tube Cooler for Space Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orsini, R.; Nguyen, T.; Colbert, R.; Raab, J.

2010-04-01

A two-stage long-life, low mass and efficient pulse tube cooler for space applications has been developed and acceptance tested for flight applications. This paper presents the data collected on four flight coolers during acceptance testing. Flight acceptance test of these cryocoolers includes thermal performance mapping over a range of reject temperatures, launch vibration testing and thermal cycling testing. Designed conservatively for a 10-year life, the coolers are required to provide simultaneous cooling powers at 95 K and 180 K while rejecting to 300 K with less than 187 W input power to the electronics. The total mass of each cooler and electronics system is 8.7 kg. The radiation-hardened and software driven control electronics provides cooler control functions which are fully re-configurable in orbit. These functions include precision temperature control to better than 100 mK p-p. This 2 stage cooler has heritage to the 12 Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) coolers currently on orbit with 2 operating for more than 11.5 years.

Electron transfer properties of peat organic matter: from electrochemical analysis to redox processes in peatlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sander, Michael; Getzinger, Gordon; Walpen, Nicolas

2017-04-01

Peat organic matter contains redox-active functional groups that can accept and/or donate electrons from and to biotic and abiotic reaction partners present in peatlands. Several studies have provided evidence that electron accepting quinone moieties in the peat organic matter may act as terminal electron acceptors for anaerobic microbial respiration. This respiration pathway may competitively suppress methanogenesis and thereby lead to excess carbon dioxide to methane formation in peatlands. Electron donating phenolic moieties in peat organic matter have long been considered to inhibit microbial and enzymatic activities in peatlands, thereby contributing to carbon stabilization and accumulation in these systems. Phenols are expected to be comparatively stable in anoxic parts of the peats as phenoloxidases, a class of enzymes capable of oxidatively degrading phenols, require molecular oxygen as co-substrate. Despite the general recognition of the importance of redox-active moieties in peat organic matter, the abundance, redox properties and reactivities of these moieties remain poorly studied and understood, in large part due to analytical challenges. This contribution will, in a first part, summarize recent advances in our research group on the analytical chemistry of redox-active moieties in peat organic matter. We will show how mediated electrochemical analysis can be used to quantify the capacities of electron accepting and donating moieties in both dissolved and particulate peat organic matter. We will link these capacities to the physicochemical properties of peat organic matter and provide evidence for quinones and phenols as major electron accepting and donating moieties, respectively. The second part of this contribution will highlight how these electroanalytical techniques can be utilized to advance a more fundamental understanding of electron transfer processes involving peat organic matter. These processes include the redox cycling (i.e., repeated reduction and re-oxidation) of peat organic matter under alternating anoxic-oxic conditions as well as the oxidation of phenolic moieties in peat organic matter by phenol oxidases in the presence of molecular oxygen. Overall, this contribution will attempt to link molecular-level insights into the redox properties of peat organic matter to larger scale redox processes that are important to carbon cycling in peatlands.

Mechanisms of mammalian iron homeostasis

PubMed Central

Pantopoulos, Kostas; Porwal, Suheel Kumar; Tartakoff, Alan; Devireddy, L.

2012-01-01

Iron is vital for almost all organisms because of its ability to donate and accept electrons with relative ease. It serves as a cofactor for many proteins and enzymes necessary for oxygen and energy metabolism, as well as for several other essential processes. Mammalian cells utilize multiple mechanisms to acquire iron. Disruption of iron homeostasis is associated with various human diseases: iron deficiency resulting from defects in acquisition or distribution of the metal causes anemia; whereas iron surfeit resulting from excessive iron absorption or defective utilization causes abnormal tissue iron deposition, leading to oxidative damage. Mammals utilize distinct mechanisms to regulate iron homeostasis at the systemic and cellular levels. These involve the hormone hepcidin and iron regulatory proteins, which collectively ensure iron balance. This review outlines recent advances in iron regulatory pathways, as well as in mechanisms underlying intracellular iron trafficking, an important but less-studied area of mammalian iron homeostasis. PMID:22703180

Precise through-space control of an abiotic electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, Kyle E.; Bocanegra, Jessica L.; Liu, Xiaoxi; Chau, H.-Y. Katharine; Lee, Patrick C.; Li, Jianing; Schneebeli, Severin T.

2017-04-01

Nature has evolved selective enzymes for the efficient biosynthesis of complex products. This exceptional ability stems from adapted enzymatic pockets, which geometrically constrain reactants and stabilize specific reactive intermediates by placing electron-donating/accepting residues nearby. Here we perform an abiotic electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, which is directed precisely through space. Ester arms--positioned above the planes of aromatic rings--enable it to distinguish between nearly identical, neighbouring reactive positions. Quantum mechanical calculations show that, in two competing reaction pathways, both [C-H...O]-hydrogen bonding and electrophile preorganization by coordination to a carbonyl group likely play a role in controlling the reaction. These through-space-directed mechanisms are inspired by dimethylallyl tryptophan synthases, which direct biological electrophilic aromatic substitutions by preorganizing dimethylallyl cations and by stabilizing reactive intermediates with [C-H...N]-hydrogen bonding. Our results demonstrate how the third dimension above and underneath aromatic rings can be exploited to precisely control electrophilic aromatic substitutions.

A Novel Electrophototrophic Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris Strain RP2, Exhibits Hydrocarbonoclastic Potential in Anaerobic Environments

PubMed Central

Venkidusamy, Krishnaveni; Megharaj, Mallavarapu

2016-01-01

An electrophototrophic, hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris stain RP2 was isolated from the anodic biofilms of hydrocarbon fed microbial electrochemical remediation systems (MERS). Salient properties of the strain RP2 were direct electrode respiration, dissimilatory metal oxide reduction, spore formation, anaerobic nitrate reduction, free living diazotrophy and the ability to degrade n-alkane components of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) in anoxic, photic environments. In acetate fed microbial electrochemical cells, a maximum current density of 305 ± 10 mA/m2 (1000Ω) was generated (power density 131.65 ± 10 mW/m2) by strain RP2 with a coulombic efficiency of 46.7 ± 1.3%. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that anaerobically grown cells of strain RP2 is electrochemically active and likely to transfer electrons extracellularly to solid electron acceptors through membrane bound compounds, however, aerobically grown cells lacked the electrochemical activity. The ability of strain RP2 to produce current (maximum current density 21 ± 3 mA/m2; power density 720 ± 7 μW/m2, 1000 Ω) using PH as a sole energy source was also examined using an initial concentration of 800 mg l-1 of diesel range hydrocarbons (C9-C36) with a concomitant removal of 47.4 ± 2.7% hydrocarbons in MERS. Here, we also report the first study that shows an initial evidence for the existence of a hydrocarbonoclastic behavior in the strain RP2 when grown in different electron accepting and illuminated conditions (anaerobic and MERS degradation). Such observations reveal the importance of photoorganotrophic growth in the utilization of hydrocarbons from contaminated environments. Identification of such novel petrochemical hydrocarbon degrading electricigens, not only expands the knowledge on the range of bacteria known for the hydrocarbon bioremediation but also shows a biotechnological potential that goes well beyond its applications to MERS. PMID:27462307

Biology Today: New Developments in Reproductive Biology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flannery, Maura C.

1982-01-01

Briefly reviews research studies focusing on sex differences in the human brain. One study suggests that the presence of androgens either during fetal development or at puberty (rather than their continued presence) determines spatial ability. Cautions against accepting this hypothesis of hormonal influence of spatial ability are discussed.…

Occupational/Career Decision-Making Thought Processes of Adolescents of High Intellectual Ability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Jae Yup

2017-01-01

Three competing models of the career decision-making thought processes of adolescents of high intellectual ability were tested in this study. Survey data were collected from 664 intellectually gifted Australian adolescents and analyzed using structural equation modeling procedures. The finally accepted, optimal model suggested that, regardless of…

Peer Acceptance and Friendship in Early Childhood: The Conceptual Distinctions between Them

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beazidou, Eleftheria; Botsoglou, Kafenia

2016-01-01

This paper reviews previous literature about peer acceptance and friendship, two of the most critical aspects of peer relations that have received most of research attention during the past years. In this review, we will focus on the processes explaining the way children use the ability to socialise with peers; explore the hypothesis that certain…

Psychometric Evaluation of the Work Acceptance and Action Questionnaire of Psychological Flexibility Modified for University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lang, Brent; Rosenberg, Harold; Lauritsen, Kirstin; Davis, Alan K.; Cross, Nicole

2017-01-01

According to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), "psychological flexibility" refers to an individual's ability to maintain mindful awareness of his or her thoughts and emotions in the present moment while behaving according to his or her personal values. Psychological inflexibility could set the foundation for emotional distress and…

Parental Social Cognitions: Considerations in the Acceptability of and Engagement in Behavioral Parent Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mah, Janet W. T.; Johnston, Charlotte

2008-01-01

Behavioral parent training (BPT) is a widely used, evidence-based treatment for externalizing child behaviors. However, the ability of BPT programs to be maximally effective remains limited by relatively low rates of acceptance, attendance, and adherence to treatment. Previous reviews have focused on a variety of demographic and mental health…

Empirical Examination of the Adoption of WebCT Using TAM

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ngai, E. W. T.; Poon, J. K. L.; Chan, Y. H. C.

2007-01-01

Web Course Tools (WebCT) have enhanced the ability and motivation of institutes of higher education to support e-learning. In this study, we extended the Technology Acceptance Model to include technical support as a precursor and then investigated the role of the extended model in user acceptance of WebCT. Responses from 836 university students…

Use and Non-Use of IT in the Workplace: Studies on Emotions, Identity and Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stein, Mari-Klara

2013-01-01

Adoption, acceptance and, more recently, continued use of information technology (IT) in workplace contexts have been researched extensively over the last three decades. As acceptance and use of IT underlie its ability to fulfill expected business benefits, it is unsurprising that researchers have sustained a great interest in the topic. While…

46 CFR 133.40 - Evaluation, testing and approval of lifesaving appliances and arrangements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... OCMI for use on the OSV. (c) The Commandant (CG-521) may accept a novel lifesaving appliance or... Evaluation, Testing and Acceptance of Prototype Novel Life-saving Appliances and Arrangements; or (2) Has... OCMI deems the crew's ability to use and assist others in the use of the lifesaving appliances or...

Electronic paper rewrites the rulebook for displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graham-Rowe, Duncan

2007-05-01

Following years of development, electronic paper is now entering ebooks, mobile phones and signs, and, as Duncan Graham-Rowe reports, is starting to gain the market acceptance that it has long strived for.

Hidden Markov Item Response Theory Models for Responses and Response Times.

PubMed

Molenaar, Dylan; Oberski, Daniel; Vermunt, Jeroen; De Boeck, Paul

2016-01-01

Current approaches to model responses and response times to psychometric tests solely focus on between-subject differences in speed and ability. Within subjects, speed and ability are assumed to be constants. Violations of this assumption are generally absorbed in the residual of the model. As a result, within-subject departures from the between-subject speed and ability level remain undetected. These departures may be of interest to the researcher as they reflect differences in the response processes adopted on the items of a test. In this article, we propose a dynamic approach for responses and response times based on hidden Markov modeling to account for within-subject differences in responses and response times. A simulation study is conducted to demonstrate acceptable parameter recovery and acceptable performance of various fit indices in distinguishing between different models. In addition, both a confirmatory and an exploratory application are presented to demonstrate the practical value of the modeling approach.

Factors influencing the adoption of health information technologies: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Garavand, Ali; Mohseni, Mohammah; Asadi, Heshmatollah; Etemadi, Manal; Moradi-Joo, Mohammad; Moosavi, Ahmad

2016-01-01

Introduction The successful implementation of health information technologies requires investigating the factors affecting the acceptance and use of them. The aim of this study was to determine the most important factors affecting the adoption of health information technologies by doing a systematic review on the factors affecting the acceptance of health information technology. Methods This systematic review was conducted by searching the major databases, such as Google Scholar, Emerald, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Scopus. We used various keywords, such as adoption, use, acceptance of IT in medicine, hospitals, and IT theories in health services, and we also searched on the basis of several important technologies, such as Electronic Health Records (HER), Electronic Patient Records (EPR), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), Hospital Information System (HIS), Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), and others in the 2004–2014 period. Results The technology acceptance model (TAM) is the most important model used to identify the factors influencing the adoption of information technologies in the health system; also, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model has had a lot of applications in recent years in the health system. Ease of use, usefulness, social impact, facilitating conditions, attitudes and behavior of users are effective in the adoption of health information technologies. Conclusion By considering various factors, including ease of use, usefulness, and social impact, the rate of the adoption of health information technology can be increased. PMID:27757179

Factors influencing the adoption of health information technologies: a systematic review.

PubMed

Garavand, Ali; Mohseni, Mohammah; Asadi, Heshmatollah; Etemadi, Manal; Moradi-Joo, Mohammad; Moosavi, Ahmad

2016-08-01

The successful implementation of health information technologies requires investigating the factors affecting the acceptance and use of them. The aim of this study was to determine the most important factors affecting the adoption of health information technologies by doing a systematic review on the factors affecting the acceptance of health information technology. This systematic review was conducted by searching the major databases, such as Google Scholar, Emerald, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Scopus. We used various keywords, such as adoption, use, acceptance of IT in medicine, hospitals, and IT theories in health services, and we also searched on the basis of several important technologies, such as Electronic Health Records (HER), Electronic Patient Records (EPR), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), Hospital Information System (HIS), Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), and others in the 2004-2014 period. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is the most important model used to identify the factors influencing the adoption of information technologies in the health system; also, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model has had a lot of applications in recent years in the health system. Ease of use, usefulness, social impact, facilitating conditions, attitudes and behavior of users are effective in the adoption of health information technologies. By considering various factors, including ease of use, usefulness, and social impact, the rate of the adoption of health information technology can be increased.

76 FR 39792 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-07

.... NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Enter ``N/A'' in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or...

76 FR 53712 - Notice of Request for the Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-29

...: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the U.S. Government... accepting electronic comments.) All electronic submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic... laws. Respondents: State and local government, private non-profit organizations and public...

Electron transfer from a solid-state electrode assisted by methyl viologen sustains efficient microbial reductive dechlorination of TCE.

PubMed

Aulenta, Federico; Catervi, Alessandro; Majone, Mauro; Panero, Stefania; Reale, Priscilla; Rossetti, Simona

2007-04-01

The ability to transfer electrons, via an extracellular path, to solid surfaces is typically exploited by microorganisms which use insoluble electron acceptors, such as iron-or manganese-oxides or inert electrodes in microbial fuel cells. The reverse process, i.e., the use of solid surfaces or electrodes as electron donors in microbial respirations, although largely unexplored, could potentially have important environmental applications, particularly for the removal of oxidized pollutants from contaminated groundwater or waste streams. Here we show, for the first time, that an electrochemical cell with a solid-state electrode polarized at -500 mV (vs standard hydrogen electrode), in combination with a low-potential redox mediator (methyl viologen), can efficiently transfer electrochemical reducing equivalents to microorganisms which respire using chlorinated solvents. By this approach, the reductive transformation of trichloroethene, a toxic yet common groundwater contaminant, to harmless end-products such as ethene and ethane could be performed. Furthermore, using a methyl-viologen-modified electrode we could even demonstrate that dechlorinating bacteria were able to accept reducing equivalents directly from the modified electrode surface. The innovative concept, based on the stimulation of dechlorination reactions through the use of solid-state electrodes (we propose for this process the acronym BEARD: Bio-Electrochemically Assisted Reductive Dechlorination), holds promise for in situ bioremediation of chlorinated-solvent-contaminated groundwater, and has several potential advantages over traditional approaches based on the subsurface injection of organic compounds. The results of this study raise the possibility that immobilization of selected redox mediators may be a general strategy for stimulating and controlling a range of microbial reactions using insoluble electrodes as electron donors.

Photoinduced discharge of electrons stored in a TiO2-MWCNT composite to an analyte: application to the fluorometric determination of hydrogen peroxide, glucose and aflatoxin B1.

PubMed

Rhouati, Amina; Nasir, Muhammad; Marty, Jean-Louis; Hayat, Akhtar

2017-12-06

The authors describe an analytical detection scheme based on the use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) that accept and store electrons upon contact with photo-irradiated TiO 2 nanoparticles (TiO 2 -NPs). The Fermi level equilibration with photo-irradiated TiO 2 -NPs has a storage value of 0.35 mM of electrons per 120 mg·L -1 of MWCNTs. The stored electrons can be discharged on demand upon addition of electron acceptors to the TiO 2 -NP/MWCNT composite. These findings are applied to detect the quencher hydrogen peroxide. H 2 O 2 also is produced on enzymatic action of glucose oxidase on glucose, and this enables glucose also to be quantified by using the TiO 2 -NP/MWCNT fluorescent nanoprobe. The wide scope of the method also is demonstrated by an assay for aflatoxin B1 that is making use of an FAM-labeled aptamer where the FAM fluorophore on the aptamer quenches the emission of the nanoprobe. The following analytical linear ranges and limits of detection are found: H 2 O 2 : 0.1-100 μM and 15 nM; glucose: 5-200 μM and 0.5 μM; aflatoxin: 0.1-40 ng·mL -1 and 0.02 ng·mL -1 . The method was applied to the determination of glucose in human serum. Graphical abstract The assays demonstrated in (b) and (c) are based on the fluorescence quenching ability of MWCNTs-TiO 2 . In the presence of the target (analyte), the fluorescence is restored and the target concentration is determined from the percentage of fluorescence recovery.

The relationship of state Medicaid coverage to Medicaid acceptance among substance abuse providers in the United States.

PubMed

Andrews, Christina M

2014-10-01

The Affordable Care Act will dramatically increase the number of Americans with Medicaid coverage for substance abuse treatment (SAT). Currently, few SAT providers accept Medicaid, and consequently, there is concern that newly-eligible Medicaid enrollees will have difficulty finding SAT providers willing to serve them. However, little is known about why few SAT providers accept Medicaid. In response, this study examines how features of state Medicaid coverage for SAT, including benefits, eligibility, and oversight, are associated with Medicaid acceptance among SAT providers. Medicaid acceptance was positively associated with the number of SAT services covered, and the number of optional categorical expansions implemented by the state. Requirements for physician involvement were associated with lower odds of acceptance. The results suggest that more generous Medicaid coverage may encourage SAT providers to accept Medicaid, but regulatory policies may inhibit their ability to do so.

Enhancement of titanium dioxide photocatalysis with polyhydroxy fullerenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishna, Vijay B.

2007-05-01

Semiconductor photocatalysts, particularly TiO2, are attracting extensive research for destruction of environmentally hazardous chemicals (e.g., organic pollutants, greenhouse gases) and hazardous bioparticulates (e.g., bacterial endospores, emerging pathogens) because they can achieve complete mineralization without generation of toxic byproducts. Several attempts have been made to improve the quantum efficiency of TiO2 by conjugating it with conductors such as metals and organic molecules for scavenging the photo-generated electrons. Another class of materials well known for their electron accepting properties is carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. TiO2 (anatase polymorph) was coated on multi-wall carbon nanotubes by sol-gel coating and the resulting nanocomposites were found to inactivate bacterial endospores two times faster than Degussa P25 (gold standard), but were ineffective against Escherichia coli. This was attributed to their high aspect ratio, which prevented contact with the fimbriae covered cell-wall of E. coli. Water-soluble and non-toxic polyhydroxy fullerenes (PHF) were employed as alternate to the TiO2 coated MWNT. Adsorption of PHF molecules onto TiO2 by electrostatic interaction was demonstrated. PHF-TiO 2 nanocomposites enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 for dye degradation and E. coli inactivation. Surface coverage of TiO2 nanoparticles by PHF molecules determined the extent of enhancement, with an optimum at 2--7% surface coverage. The rate of photocatalytic dye degradation by the TiO2-PHF nanocomposite was 2.6 times the rate found with TiO2 alone. The hypothesis that scavenging of photo-generated electrons and therefore higher generation of hydroxyl radicals is the mechanism for the observed enhancement was validated. The concentration of hydroxyl radicals generated by PHF-TiO 2 nanocomposite was up to 60% greater than the concentration obtained with TiO2 alone as determined with EPR. Influence of functional groups of PHF on its electron scavenging ability and stability was determined. Fresh and aged forms of PHF were characterized by MS, FTIR, XPS and TGA. Higher concentrations of impure groups were detrimental to stability and electron scavenging ability of PHF. A ratio of impure groups to hydroxyl groups of 0.27 was associated with successful enhancement by PHF, whereas a ratio of 1.66 was associated with no enhancement. Guidelines for effective formulation of PHF-TiO2 nanocomposites were developed.

48 CFR 232.7003 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Section 232.7003 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports 232.7003 Procedures. (a) The accepted electronic form for...

48 CFR 232.7003 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Section 232.7003 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports 232.7003 Procedures. (a) The accepted electronic form for...

48 CFR 232.7003 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Section 232.7003 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports 232.7003 Procedures. (a) The accepted electronic form for...

48 CFR 232.7003 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Section 232.7003 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports 232.7003 Procedures. (a) The accepted electronic form for...

48 CFR 232.7003 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Section 232.7003 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports 232.7003 Procedures. (a) The accepted electronic form for...

Accuracy and trending ability of the fourth-generation FloTrac/Vigileo System™ in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

PubMed

Maeda, Takuma; Hattori, Kohshi; Sumiyoshi, Miho; Kanazawa, Hiroko; Ohnishi, Yoshihiko

2018-06-01

The fourth-generation FloTrac/Vigileo™ improved its algorithm to follow changes in systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI). This revision may improve the accuracy and trending ability of CI even in patients who undergo abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery which cause drastic change of SVRI by aortic clamping. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the accuracy and trending ability of the fourth-generation FloTrac/Vigileo™ in patients with AAA surgery by comparing the FloTrac/Vigileo™-derived CI (CI FT ) with that measured by three-dimensional echocardiography (CI 3D ). Twenty-six patients undergoing elective AAA surgery were included in this study. CI FT and CI3 D were determined simultaneously in eight points including before and after aortic clamp. We used CI 3D as the reference method. In the Bland-Altman analysis, CI FT had a wide limit of agreement with CI 3D showing a percentage error of 46.7%. Subgroup analysis showed that the percentage error between CO 3D and CO FT was 56.3% in patients with cardiac index < 2.5 L/min/m 2 and 28.4% in patients with cardiac index ≥ 2.5 L/min/m 2 . SVRI was significantly higher in patients with cardiac index < 2.5 L/min/m 2 (1703 ± 330 vs. 2757 ± 798; p < 0.001). The tracking ability of fourth generation of FloTrac/Vigileo™ after aortic clamp was not clinically acceptable (26.9%). The degree of accuracy of the fourth-generation FloTrac/Vigileo™ in patients with AAA surgery was not acceptable. The tracking ability of the fourth-generation FloTrac/Vigileo™ after aortic clamp was below the acceptable limit.

Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of electronic health records among nurses: Application of Technology Acceptance Model.

PubMed

Tubaishat, Ahmad

2017-09-18

Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly being implemented in healthcare organizations but little attention has been paid to the degree to which nurses as end-users will accept these systems and subsequently use them. To explore nurses' perceptions of usefulness and ease-of-use of EHRs. The relationship between these constructs was examined, and its predictors were studied. A national exploratory study was conducted with 1539 nurses from 15 randomly selected hospitals, representative of different regions and healthcare sectors in Jordan. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which was based on the Technology Acceptance Model. Correlations and linear multiple regression were utilized to analyze the data. Jordanian nurses demonstrated a positive perception of the usefulness and ease-of-use of EHRs, and subsequently accepted the technology. Significant positive correlations were found between these two constructs. The variables that predict usefulness were the gender, professional rank, EHR experience, and computer skills of the nurses. The perceived ease-of-use was affected by nursing and EHR experience, and computers skills. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on issues related to the acceptance of technology in the health informatics field, focusing on nurses' acceptance of EHRs.

The role of electrostatics in TrxR electron transfer mechanism: A computational approach.

PubMed

Teixeira, Vitor H; Capacho, Ana Sofia C; Machuqueiro, Miguel

2016-12-01

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is an important enzyme in the control of the intracellular reduced redox environment. It transfers electrons from NADPH to several molecules, including its natural partner, thioredoxin. Although there is a generally accepted model describing how the electrons are transferred along TrxR, which involves a flexible arm working as a "shuttle," the molecular details of such mechanism are not completely understood. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations with Poisson-Boltzmann/Monte Carlo pKa calculations to investigate the role of electrostatics in the electron transfer mechanism. We observed that the combination of redox/protonation states of the N-terminal (FAD and Cys59/64) and C-terminal (Cys497/Selenocysteine498) redox centers defines the preferred relative positions and allows for the flexible arm to work as the desired "shuttle." Changing the redox/ionization states of those key players, leads to electrostatic triggers pushing the arm into the pocket when oxidized, and pulling it out, once it has been reduced. The calculated pKa values for Cys497 and Selenocysteine498 are 9.7 and 5.8, respectively, confirming that the selenocysteine is indeed deprotonated at physiological pH. This can be an important advantage in terms of reactivity (thiolate/selenolate are more nucleophilic than thiol/selenol) and ability to work as an electrostatic trigger (the "shuttle" mechanism) and may be the reason why TrxR uses selenium instead of sulfur. Proteins 2016; 84:1836-1843. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using Combinations of Oxidants and Bases as PCET Reactants: Thermochemical and Practical Considerations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Waidmann, Christopher R.; Miller, Alexander J.; Ng, Cheuk-Wa A.

Studies in proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) often require the combination of an outer-sphere oxidant and a base, to remove an electron and a proton. A common problem is the incompatibility of the oxidant and the base, because the former is electron deficient and the latter electron rich. We have tested a variety of reagents and report a number of oxidant/base combinations that are compatible and therefore potentially useful as PCET reagents. A formal bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) for a reagent combination is defined by the redox potential of the oxidant and pKa of the base. This is a formalmore » BDFE because no X-H bond is homolytically cleaved, but it is a very useful way to categorize the H• accepting ability of an oxidant/base PCET pair. Formal BDFEs of stable oxidant/base combinations range from 71 to at least 100 kcal mol-1. Effects of solvent, concentration, temperature, and counterions on the stability of the oxidant/base combinations are discussed. Possible extensions to related reductant/acid combinations are mentioned. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the U.S. National Science Foundation Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry (for a fellowship to A.J.M.M.), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (grant GM-50422), and the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.« less

The Critical Role of Arabidopsis Electron-Transfer Flavoprotein:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase during Dark-Induced StarvationW⃞

PubMed Central

Ishizaki, Kimitsune; Larson, Tony R.; Schauer, Nicolas; Fernie, Alisdair R.; Graham, Ian A.; Leaver, Christopher J.

2005-01-01

In mammals, electron-transfer flavoprotein:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETFQO) and electron-transfer flavoprotein (ETF) are functionally associated, and ETF accepts electrons from at least nine mitochondrial matrix flavoprotein dehydrogenases and transfers them to ubiquinone in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In addition, the mammalian ETF/ETFQO system plays a key role in β-oxidation of fatty acids and catabolism of amino acids and choline. By contrast, nothing is known of the function of ETF and ETFQO in plants. Sequence analysis of the unique Arabidopsis thaliana homologue of ETFQO revealed high similarity to the mammalian ETFQO protein. Moreover, green fluorescent protein cellular localization experiments suggested a mitochondrial location for this protein. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that Arabidopsis ETFQO transcripts accumulated in long-term dark-treated leaves. Analysis of three independent insertional mutants of Arabidopsis ETFQO revealed a dramatic reduction in their ability to withstand extended darkness, resulting in senescence and death within 10 d after transfer, whereas wild-type plants remained viable for at least 15 d. Metabolite profiling of dark-treated leaves of the wild type and mutants revealed a dramatic decline in sugar levels. In contrast with the wild type, the mutants demonstrated a significant accumulation of several amino acids, an intermediate of Leu catabolism, and, strikingly, high-level accumulation of phytanoyl-CoA. These data demonstrate the involvement of a mitochondrial protein, ETFQO, in the catabolism of Leu and potentially of other amino acids in higher plants and also imply a novel role for this protein in the chlorophyll degradation pathway activated during dark-induced senescence and sugar starvation. PMID:16055629

Predictive validity of the Work Ability Index and its individual items in the general population.

PubMed

Lundin, Andreas; Leijon, Ola; Vaez, Marjan; Hallgren, Mats; Torgén, Margareta

2017-06-01

This study assesses the predictive ability of the full Work Ability Index (WAI) as well as its individual items in the general population. The Work, Health and Retirement Study (WHRS) is a stratified random national sample of 25-75-year-olds living in Sweden in 2000 that received a postal questionnaire ( n = 6637, response rate = 53%). Current and subsequent sickness absence was obtained from registers. The ability of the WAI to predict long-term sickness absence (LTSA; ⩾ 90 consecutive days) during a period of four years was analysed by logistic regression, from which the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC) was computed. There were 313 incident LTSA cases among 1786 employed individuals. The full WAI had acceptable ability to predict LTSA during the 4-year follow-up (AUC = 0.79; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.82). Individual items were less stable in their predictive ability. However, three of the individual items: current work ability compared with lifetime best, estimated work impairment due to diseases, and number of diagnosed current diseases, exceeded AUC > 0.70. Excluding the WAI item on number of days on sickness absence did not result in an inferior predictive ability of the WAI. The full WAI has acceptable predictive validity, and is superior to its individual items. For public health surveys, three items may be suitable proxies of the full WAI; current work ability compared with lifetime best, estimated work impairment due to diseases, and number of current diseases diagnosed by a physician.

Promising Curriculum and Instructional Practices for High-Ability Learners Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Auld, Corrine; Brown, Jane; Duffy, Mary; Falter, Nancy; Hammond, Tom; Jensen, Dennis; Schlager, Carolyn; Senseney, Alice; Ward, Noreen

This manual is intended to assist teachers in Nebraska's schools in meeting the needs of high-ability learners in their classrooms. Chapter 1 focuses on curriculum differentiation regarding the content, process, and product. Bloom's taxonomy of thinking is discussed; a list of acceptable student projects for elementary and secondary students is…

Women and Mathematics: Research vs. Achievement in Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abel, Theodora Mead; And Others

Many educators and researchers who believe that girls have less mathematical ability than boys associate this deficiency with girls' inferior spatial ability. This generally accepted belief that spatial skills are a major prerequisite for math achievement was tested through a study of the visual-spatial skills of a sample of 32 professional…

Prognostic scales ISS-RTS-TRISS, PRISM, APACHE II and PTS in decision support of treatment children with severe mechanical trauma.

PubMed

Vasilyeva, I V; Shvirev, S L; Arseniev, S B; Zarubina, T V

2013-01-01

The aim of the present study is to assess a possibility and validity of prognostic scales ISS-RTS-TRISS, PRISM, APACHE II and PTS to be used for the automated calculation in decision support when treating children with severe mechanical traumas. The mentioned scales are used in the Hospital Information System (HIS) MEDIALOG. The retrospective study was conducted using clinical and physiological data collected at the admission and during the first 24 hours of hospitalization in 166 patients. Scales PRISM, APACHE II, ISS-RTS-TRISS were used for calculating the severity of injury and for prognosis in death outcomes. Scale PTS was used for evaluating the severity index only. Our research has shown that ISS-RTS-TRISS has excellent discrimination ability, PRISM and APACHE II prognostic scales have acceptable discrimination ability; moreover, they all have significant calibration ability. PTS scale has acceptable discrimination ability. It has been showed that automated calculation scales ISS-RTS-TRISS, PRISM, APACHE II and PTS are useful for assessing outcomes in children with severe mechanical trauma.

Monitored Natural Attenuation and Enhanced Attenuation for Chlorinated Solvent Plumes - It’s All About Balance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

VANGELAS, KAREN

2005-05-19

Nature's inherent ability to cleanse itself is at the heart of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA). The complexity comes when one attempts to measure and calculate this inherent ability, called the Natural Attenuation Capacity (NAC), and determine if it is sufficient to cleanse the system to agreed upon criteria. An approach that is simple in concept for determining whether the NAC is sufficient for MNA to work is the concept of a mass balance. Mass balance is a robust framework upon which all decisions can be made. The inflows to and outflows from the system are balanced against the NAC ofmore » the subsurface system. For MNA to be acceptable, the NAC is balanced against the contaminant loading to the subsurface system with the resulting outflow from the system being in a range that is acceptable to the regulating and decision-making parties. When the system is such that the resulting outflow is not within an acceptable range, the idea of taking actions that are sustainable and that will bring the system within the acceptable range of outflows is evaluated. These sustainable enhancements are being developed under the Enhanced Attenuation (EA) concept.« less

Monitored natural attenuation and enhanced attenuation for chlorinated solvent plumes - It's all about balance

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adams, K.A.; Vangelas, K.M.; Looney, B.B.; Chapelle, F.; Early, T.; Gilmore, T.; Sink, C.H.

2005-01-01

Nature's inherent ability to cleanse itself is at the heart of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA). The complexity comes when one attempts to measure and calculate this inherent ability, called the Natural Attenuation Capacity (NAC), and determine if it is sufficient to cleanse the system to agreed upon criteria. An approach that is simple in concept for determining whether the NAC is sufficient for MNA to work is the concept of a mass balance. Mass balance is a robust framework upon which all decisions can be made. The inflows to and outflows from the system are balanced against the NAC of the subsurface system. For MNA to be acceptable, the NAC is balanced against the contaminant loading to the subsurface system with the resulting outflow from the system being in a range that is acceptable to the regulating and decision-making parties. When the system is such that the resulting outflow is not within an acceptable range, the idea of taking actions that are sustainable and that will bring the system within the acceptable range of outflows is evaluated. These sustainable enhancements are being developed under the Enhanced Attenuation (EA) concept. Copyright ASCE 2005.

High-yield positron systems for linear colliders

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clendenin, J.E.

1989-04-01

Linear colliders, such as the SLC, are among those accelerators for which a high-yield positron source operating at the repetition rate of the accelerator is desired. The SLC, having electron energies up to 50 GeV, presents the possibility of generating positron bunches with useful charge even exceeding that of the initial electron bunch. The exact positron yield to be obtained depends on the particular capture, transport and damping system employed. Using 31 GeV electrons impinging on a W-type converter phase-space at the target to the acceptance of the capture rf section, the SLC source is capable of producing, for everymore » electron, up to two positrons within the acceptance of the positron damping ring. The design of this source and the performance of the positron system as built are described. Also, future prospects and limitations for high-yield positron systems are discussed. 11 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Theoretical study on the spectroscopic and third-order nonlinear optical properties of two-dimensional charge-transfer pyrazine derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haipeng; Zhang, Yi; Bi, Zetong; Xu, Runfeng; Li, Mingxue; Shen, Xiaopeng; Tang, Gang; Han, Kui

2017-12-01

In this paper, density functional theory method was employed to study the electronic absorption spectrum and electronic static second hyperpolarisability of X-shaped pyrazine derivatives with two-dimensional charge-transfer structures. Computational results show that the push-pull electron abilities of the substituent groups and the length of the conjugated chains affect the electronic spectrum and static second hyperpolarisability of the pyrazine derivatives. As the push-pull electron abilities of the substituent groups or the length of the conjugated chains increases, the frontier molecular orbital energy gap decreases, resulting in increased second hyperpolarisability and redshift of the electronic absorption bands. The electronic absorption spectra of the pyrazine derivatives maintain good transparency in the blue light band. The electronic static second hyperpolarisability exhibits a linear relationship to the frontier molecular orbital energy gap. Particularly, increasing/decreasing the push-pull electron abilities of the substituent groups considerably affect the static second hyperpolarisability in long conjugated systems, which is important to the modulation of molecular organic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The studied pyrazine derivatives show large third-order NLO response and good transparency in the blue light band and are thus promising candidates as NLO materials for photonics applications.

76 FR 61937 - Practice and Procedure: Rules of General Application, Safeguards, Antidumping and Countervailing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-06

... System Web site at https://edis.usitc.gov . Failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter and... Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) already accepts electronic filing of certain documents, and..., regardless of whether the electronic docketing system is operational. The ITC TLA makes a similar comment...

Sample acceptance time criteria, electronic issue and alloimmunisation in thalassaemia.

PubMed

Trompeter, S; Baxter, L; McBrearty, M; Zatkya, E; Porter, J

2015-12-01

To determine the safety of a 1-week acceptance criteria of sample receipt in laboratory to transfusion commencement in transfusion dependent thalassaemia with respect to alloimmunisation. To determine the safety of electronic issue of blood components in such a setting. Retrospective audit of alloimmunisation (1999-2012) and blood exposure in registered thalassaemia patients at a central London thalassaemia centre where the acceptance criteria for the group and save sample from arrival in the laboratory to the time of issue of blood for transfusion for someone who has been transfused in the last 28 days was 1 week, and there was electronic issue protocol for patients who have always had a negative antibody screen (other than temporary positivity in pregnant women receiving prophylactic anti-D or anti Le-a, Anti Le-b and Anti P1 that are no longer detectable). There were 133 patients with thalassemia variants regularly attending UCLH for review. A total of 105 patients had transfusion dependent thalassaemia (TDT) (7 E-beta thalassaemia, 98 beta thalassaemia major). Ten of the 84 patients who received their transfusions at UCLH were alloimmunised. Seven of them had been alloimmunised prior to arrival at UCLH. Only two patients developed antibodies at UCLH during this period. The prevalence of alloantibody formation of 2% in UCLH transfused patients, with presumptive incidence of 0.01 alloantibodies per 100 units or 0·001 immunisations per person per year compares favourably with other reported series and suggests that 1 week interval with appropriate electronic issue is acceptable practice. © 2015 British Blood Transfusion Society.

A change of course: The importance to DoD of international standards for electronic commerce

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Payne, Judith E.

1991-12-01

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to using electronic commerce in the future with the over 300,000 vendors interested in doing business with DoD. Electronic commerce will move DoD from a paper-based world to one based on electronic transactions enabled by the exchange of formatted, electronic messages referred to as electronic data interchange (EDI). With electronic commerce, DoD plans to reduce costs, increase effectiveness, and make it easier for vendors to deal with DoD. Benefits from electronic commerce are enhanced when many businesses use the same standards for EDI messages themselves and their transmission. The fewer standards used, the less time and resources must be spent translating messages and agreeing on how to use different standards. To enhance benefits and smooth the transition to electronic commerce for itself and its vendors, DoD has chosen to use the widely accepted American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12 standards for EDI messages, coupled with international standards for delivering messages and organizing addresses. In the past 18 months, EDI standards sponsored by a United Nations body and serving the same purpose as ANSI X12 message standards have begun to gain wider acceptance internationally.

The IJHPR publishes its 100th article, and other momentous milestones.

PubMed

Rosen, Bruce; Israeli, Avi

2013-12-19

The Israel Journal of Health Policy Research (IJHPR) was launched in January 2012 and it is now publishing its 100th article. It was accepted into PubMed after only six months of publication and it has now also been accepted by Thomson Reuters for inclusion in the Web of Science as well as the Social Science Citation Index. It is rare for a new journal to reach these milestones at such an early stage in its development.One of the key factors in the journal's acceptance into these prestigious databases has been its unique national/international approach - exploring both what Israel can learn from health systems in other countries and what other countries can learn from Israeli health care. Another key factor has been its ability to attract high quality contributions from virtually all of the Israeli universities and research centers involved in health policy. A third important factor has been the journal's ability to engage leading international scholars as contributors and/or editorial board members.

Experiences and Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations with STI Symptoms and Ability to Negotiate Sexual Safety among Young Liberian Women

PubMed Central

Callands, Tamora A.; Sipsma, Heather L.; Betancourt, Theresa S.; Hansen, Nathan B.

2013-01-01

Women who experience intimate partner violence may be at elevated risk for poor sexual health outcomes including sexual transmitted infections (STIs). This association however, has not been consistently demonstrated in low-income or post-conflict countries; furthermore, the role that attitudes towards intimate partner violence play in sexual health outcomes and behaviour has rarely been examined. We examined associations between intimate partner violence experiences, accepting attitudes towards physical intimate partner violence, and sexual health and behavioural outcomes among 592 young women in post-conflict Liberia. Participants’ experiences with either moderate or severe physical violence or sexual violence were common. Additionally, accepting attitudes towards physical intimate partner violence were positively associated with reporting STI symptoms, intimate partner violence experiences and the ability to negotiate safe sex. Findings suggest that for sexual health promotion and risk reduction intervention efforts to achieve full impact, interventions must address the contextual influence of violence, including individual attitudes toward intimate partner violence. PMID:23586393

Experiences and acceptance of intimate partner violence: associations with sexually transmitted infection symptoms and ability to negotiate sexual safety among young Liberian women.

PubMed

Callands, Tamora A; Sipsma, Heather L; Betancourt, Theresa S; Hansen, Nathan B

2013-01-01

Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at elevated risk for poor sexual health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This association, however, has not been consistently demonstrated in low-income or post-conflict countries. Furthermore, the role that attitudes towards IPV play in sexual-health outcomes and behaviour has rarely been examined. We examined associations between IPV experiences, accepting attitudes towards physical IPV, and sexual-health and behavioural outcomes among 592 young women in post-conflict Liberia. Participants' experiences with either moderate or severe physical violence or sexual violence were common. Additionally, accepting attitudes towards physical IPV were positively associated with reporting STI symptoms, IPV experiences and the ability to negotiate safe sex. Findings suggest that for sexual-health-promotion and risk-reduction-intervention efforts to achieve full impact, interventions must address the contextual influence of violence, including individual attitudes toward IPV.

A dual-stimuli-responsive fluorescent switch ultrathin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhixiong; Liang, Ruizheng; Liu, Wendi; Yan, Dongpeng; Wei, Min

2015-10-01

Stimuli-responsive fluorescent switches have shown broad applications in optical devices, biological materials and intelligent responses. Herein, we describe the design and fabrication of a dual-stimuli-responsive fluorescent switch ultrathin film (UTF) via a three-step layer-by-layer (LBL) technique: (i) encapsulation of spiropyran (SP) within an amphiphilic block copolymer (PTBEM) to give the (SP@PTBEM) micelle; (ii) the mixture of riboflavin (Rf) and poly(styrene 4-sulfonate) (PSS) to enhance the adhesion ability of small molecules; (iii) assembly of negatively charged SP@PTBEM and Rf-PSS with cationic layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets to obtain the (Rf-PSS/LDH/SP@PTBEM)n UTFs (n: bilayer number). The assembly process of the UTFs and their luminescence properties, as monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), present a uniform and ordered layered structure with stepwise growth. The resulting Rf-PSS/LDH/SP@PTBEM UTF serves as a three-state switchable multicolor (green, yellow, and red) luminescent system based on stimulation from UV/Vis light and pH, with an acceptable reversibility. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to fabricate stimuli-responsive solid-state film switches with tunable-color luminescence, which have potential applications in the areas of displays, sensors, and rewritable optical memory and fluorescent logic devices.Stimuli-responsive fluorescent switches have shown broad applications in optical devices, biological materials and intelligent responses. Herein, we describe the design and fabrication of a dual-stimuli-responsive fluorescent switch ultrathin film (UTF) via a three-step layer-by-layer (LBL) technique: (i) encapsulation of spiropyran (SP) within an amphiphilic block copolymer (PTBEM) to give the (SP@PTBEM) micelle; (ii) the mixture of riboflavin (Rf) and poly(styrene 4-sulfonate) (PSS) to enhance the adhesion ability of small molecules; (iii) assembly of negatively charged SP@PTBEM and Rf-PSS with cationic layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets to obtain the (Rf-PSS/LDH/SP@PTBEM)n UTFs (n: bilayer number). The assembly process of the UTFs and their luminescence properties, as monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), present a uniform and ordered layered structure with stepwise growth. The resulting Rf-PSS/LDH/SP@PTBEM UTF serves as a three-state switchable multicolor (green, yellow, and red) luminescent system based on stimulation from UV/Vis light and pH, with an acceptable reversibility. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to fabricate stimuli-responsive solid-state film switches with tunable-color luminescence, which have potential applications in the areas of displays, sensors, and rewritable optical memory and fluorescent logic devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05376e

Origins and Predictors of Friendships in 6- to 8-Year-Old Children Born at Neonatal Risk.

PubMed

Heuser, Katharina M; Jaekel, Julia; Wolke, Dieter

2018-02-01

To test effects of gestational age (GA), early social experiences, and child characteristics on children's friendships and perceived peer acceptance. As part of the prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study (1147 children, 25-41 weeks GA), children's friendships (eg, number of friends, frequency of meeting friends) and perceived peer acceptance were assessed before school entry (6 years of age) and in second grade (8 years of age) using child and parent reports. The parent-infant relationship was evaluated during the 5 months after birth. Child characteristics (ie, height, motor impairment, cognitive ability, behavioral problems) were measured at 6 years of age. Multiple regressions estimated effects of GA, parent-infant relationship, and child characteristics. Overall, children with higher GA had more friends, spent more time with friends, and were more accepted by peers at 6 years of age. Better parent-infant relationships, higher cognitive abilities, and fewer motor and behavioral problems predicted more friendships and higher peer acceptance after adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, multiples, siblings, and special schooling. Across all GA groups, number of friends (child report: mean change, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.57-1.96) and peer acceptance (child report: mean change, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.09-0.19; parent report: mean change, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.11-0.17) increased with age, but the increase in number of friends was higher among preterm children (ie, interaction effect age*GA group: P = .034). Our results provide evidence of a dose-response effect of low GA on children's friendships and perceived peer acceptance. Improvements in early parenting and motor, cognitive, and behavioral development may facilitate friendships and peer acceptance for all children across the gestation spectrum. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acceptance and barriers to access of occupational e-mental health: cross-sectional findings from a health-risk population of employees.

PubMed

Hennemann, Severin; Witthöft, Michael; Bethge, Matthias; Spanier, Katja; Beutel, Manfred E; Zwerenz, Rüdiger

2018-04-01

Occupational e-mental-health (OEMH) may extend existing instruments for preservation or restoration of health and work ability. As a key precondition to efficient implementation, this study examined acceptance and person-centered barriers to potential uptake of OEMH for work-related distress in employees with an elevated risk of early retirement. Within the framework of the "Third German Sociomedical Panel of Employees", 1829 employees with prior sickness absence payments filled out a self-administered questionnaire. Participants had a mean age of 49.93 years (SD = 4.06). 6.2% indicated prior use of eHealth interventions. Potential predictors of acceptance of OEMH were examined based on the "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology" (UTAUT) extended by work ability, mental health, eHealth literacy and demographic characteristics. 89.1% (n = 1579) showed low to moderate acceptance (M = 2.20, SD = 1.05, range 1-5). A path analysis revealed significant, positive direct effects of UTAUT predictors on acceptance (performance expectancy: 0.48, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001; effort expectancy: 0.20, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001; social influence: 0.28, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001).Online time and frequency of online health information search were further positive direct predictors of acceptance. Model fit was good [χ 2 (7) = 12.91, p = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.02, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.01]. Attitudes towards OEMH are rather disadvantageous in the studied risk group. Implementation of OEMH, therefore, requires a-priori education including promotion of awareness, favorable attitudes regarding efficacy and usability in a collaborative approach.

Electronics lab instructors' approaches to troubleshooting instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dounas-Frazer, Dimitri R.; Lewandowski, H. J.

2017-06-01

In this exploratory qualitative study, we describe instructors' self-reported practices for teaching and assessing students' ability to troubleshoot in electronics lab courses. We collected audio data from interviews with 20 electronics instructors from 18 institutions that varied by size, selectivity, and other factors. In addition to describing participants' instructional practices, we characterize their perceptions about the role of troubleshooting in electronics, the importance of the ability to troubleshoot more generally, and what it means for students to be competent troubleshooters. One major finding of this work is that, while almost all instructors in our study said that troubleshooting is an important learning outcome for students in electronics lab courses, only half of instructors said they directly assessed students' ability to troubleshoot. Based on our findings, we argue that there is a need for research-based instructional materials that attend to both cognitive and noncognitive aspects of troubleshooting proficiency. We also identify several areas for future investigation related to troubleshooting instruction in electronics lab courses.

Personalised electronic messages to improve sun protection in young adults.

PubMed

Mair, Sarah; Soyer, H Peter; Youl, Philippa; Hurst, Cameron; Marshall, Alison; Janda, Monika

2012-07-01

We studied the acceptability and feasibility of delivering sun protection messages via electronic media such as short message services (SMS) to people aged 18-40 years. An online survey was conducted using a pre-established panel of volunteers. We compared the characteristics of those who indicated that they would like to be alerted to the UV index, with those who would not, using bivariate logistic regression. Characteristics found to be associated with a desire to receive such advice were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The median age of the 141 participants was 34 years. Overall, 80% of participants agreed that they would like to receive some form of sun protection advice. Of these, 20% preferred to receive it via SMS and 42% via email. Willingness to receive electronic messages about the UV index was associated with being unsure about whether a suntanned person would look healthy and greater use of sun protection in the past. Careful attention to message framing and timing of message delivery, and focus on the short-term effects of sun exposure such as sunburn and skin ageing should increase the acceptability of such messages to young people. Sun protection messages delivered to young adults via electronic media appear to be feasible and acceptable.

Toward optimizing patient-specific IMRT QA techniques in the accurate detection of dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable patient plans

PubMed Central

McKenzie, Elizabeth M.; Balter, Peter A.; Stingo, Francesco C.; Jones, Jimmy; Followill, David S.; Kry, Stephen F.

2014-01-01

Purpose: The authors investigated the performance of several patient-specific intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) dosimeters in terms of their ability to correctly identify dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable IMRT patient plans, as determined by an in-house-designed multiple ion chamber phantom used as the gold standard. A further goal was to examine optimal threshold criteria that were consistent and based on the same criteria among the various dosimeters. Methods: The authors used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the sensitivity and specificity of (1) a 2D diode array undergoing anterior irradiation with field-by-field evaluation, (2) a 2D diode array undergoing anterior irradiation with composite evaluation, (3) a 2D diode array using planned irradiation angles with composite evaluation, (4) a helical diode array, (5) radiographic film, and (6) an ion chamber. This was done with a variety of evaluation criteria for a set of 15 dosimetrically unacceptable and 9 acceptable clinical IMRT patient plans, where acceptability was defined on the basis of multiple ion chamber measurements using independent ion chambers and a phantom. The area under the curve (AUC) on the ROC curves was used to compare dosimeter performance across all thresholds. Optimal threshold values were obtained from the ROC curves while incorporating considerations for cost and prevalence of unacceptable plans. Results: Using common clinical acceptance thresholds, most devices performed very poorly in terms of identifying unacceptable plans. Grouping the detector performance based on AUC showed two significantly different groups. The ion chamber, radiographic film, helical diode array, and anterior-delivered composite 2D diode array were in the better-performing group, whereas the anterior-delivered field-by-field and planned gantry angle delivery using the 2D diode array performed less well. Additionally, based on the AUCs, there was no significant difference in the performance of any device between gamma criteria of 2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm, and 5%/3 mm. Finally, optimal cutoffs (e.g., percent of pixels passing gamma) were determined for each device and while clinical practice commonly uses a threshold of 90% of pixels passing for most cases, these results showed variability in the optimal cutoff among devices. Conclusions: IMRT QA devices have differences in their ability to accurately detect dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable plans. Field-by-field analysis with a MapCheck device and use of the MapCheck with a MapPhan phantom while delivering at planned rotational gantry angles resulted in a significantly poorer ability to accurately sort acceptable and unacceptable plans compared with the other techniques examined. Patient-specific IMRT QA techniques in general should be thoroughly evaluated for their ability to correctly differentiate acceptable and unacceptable plans. Additionally, optimal agreement thresholds should be identified and used as common clinical thresholds typically worked very poorly to identify unacceptable plans. PMID:25471949

Toward optimizing patient-specific IMRT QA techniques in the accurate detection of dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable patient plans.

PubMed

McKenzie, Elizabeth M; Balter, Peter A; Stingo, Francesco C; Jones, Jimmy; Followill, David S; Kry, Stephen F

2014-12-01

The authors investigated the performance of several patient-specific intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) dosimeters in terms of their ability to correctly identify dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable IMRT patient plans, as determined by an in-house-designed multiple ion chamber phantom used as the gold standard. A further goal was to examine optimal threshold criteria that were consistent and based on the same criteria among the various dosimeters. The authors used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the sensitivity and specificity of (1) a 2D diode array undergoing anterior irradiation with field-by-field evaluation, (2) a 2D diode array undergoing anterior irradiation with composite evaluation, (3) a 2D diode array using planned irradiation angles with composite evaluation, (4) a helical diode array, (5) radiographic film, and (6) an ion chamber. This was done with a variety of evaluation criteria for a set of 15 dosimetrically unacceptable and 9 acceptable clinical IMRT patient plans, where acceptability was defined on the basis of multiple ion chamber measurements using independent ion chambers and a phantom. The area under the curve (AUC) on the ROC curves was used to compare dosimeter performance across all thresholds. Optimal threshold values were obtained from the ROC curves while incorporating considerations for cost and prevalence of unacceptable plans. Using common clinical acceptance thresholds, most devices performed very poorly in terms of identifying unacceptable plans. Grouping the detector performance based on AUC showed two significantly different groups. The ion chamber, radiographic film, helical diode array, and anterior-delivered composite 2D diode array were in the better-performing group, whereas the anterior-delivered field-by-field and planned gantry angle delivery using the 2D diode array performed less well. Additionally, based on the AUCs, there was no significant difference in the performance of any device between gamma criteria of 2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm, and 5%/3 mm. Finally, optimal cutoffs (e.g., percent of pixels passing gamma) were determined for each device and while clinical practice commonly uses a threshold of 90% of pixels passing for most cases, these results showed variability in the optimal cutoff among devices. IMRT QA devices have differences in their ability to accurately detect dosimetrically acceptable and unacceptable plans. Field-by-field analysis with a MapCheck device and use of the MapCheck with a MapPhan phantom while delivering at planned rotational gantry angles resulted in a significantly poorer ability to accurately sort acceptable and unacceptable plans compared with the other techniques examined. Patient-specific IMRT QA techniques in general should be thoroughly evaluated for their ability to correctly differentiate acceptable and unacceptable plans. Additionally, optimal agreement thresholds should be identified and used as common clinical thresholds typically worked very poorly to identify unacceptable plans.

Copolymer semiconductors comprising thiazolothiazole or benzobisthiazole, or benzobisoxazole electron acceptor subunits, and electron donor subunits, and their uses in transistors and solar cells

DOEpatents

Jenekhe, Samson A; Subramaniyan, Selvam; Ahmed, Eilaf; Xin, Hao; Kim, Felix Sunjoo

2014-10-28

The inventions disclosed, described, and/or claimed herein relate to copolymers comprising copolymers comprising electron accepting A subunits that comprise thiazolothiazole, benzobisthiazole, or benzobisoxazoles rings, and electron donating subunits that comprise certain heterocyclic groups. The copolymers are useful for manufacturing organic electronic devices, including transistors and solar cells. The invention also relates to certain synthetic precursors of the copolymers. Methods for making the copolymers and the derivative electronic devices are also described.

Synthesis of an A-D-A type of molecule used as electron acceptor for improving charge transfer in organic solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chao-Zhi; Gu, Shu-Duo; Shen, Dan; Yuan, Yang; Zhang, Mingdao

2016-08-01

Electron-accepting molecules play an important role in developing organic solar cells. A new type of A-D-A molecule, 3,6-di([7-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-1,5,2,4,6,8-dithiotetrazocin-3-yl]thiophen-2-yl)-9-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole, was synthesized. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels are -3.55 and -5.85 eV, respectively. Therefore, the A-D-A type of compound could be used as electron acceptor for fabricating organic solar cell with a high open circuit voltage. Gibbs free energy (-49.2 kJ/mol) reveals that the process of A-D-A acceptor accepting an electron from poly(3-hexylthiophene) at excited state is spontaneous. The value of entropy (118 J/mol) in the process of an electron transferring from P3HT to the A-D-A acceptor at organic interface suggests that electrons generated from separation of electron-hole pairs at donor/acceptor interface would be delocalized efficiently. Therefore, the A-D-A molecule would be a potential acceptor for efficient organic BHJ solar cells.

Computed tomography guided percutaneous injection of a mixture of lipiodol and methylene blue in rabbit lungs: evaluation of localization ability for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

PubMed

Jin, Kwang Nam; Lee, Kyung Won; Kim, Tae Jung; Song, Yong Sub; Kim, Dong Il

2014-01-01

Preoperative localization is necessary prior to video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the detection of small or deeply located lung nodules. We compared the localization ability of a mixture of lipiodol and methylene blue (MLM) (0.6 mL, 1:5) to methylene blue (0.5 mL) in rabbit lungs. CT-guided percutaneous injections were performed in 21 subjects with MLM and methylene blue. We measured the extent of staining on freshly excised lung and evaluated the subjective localization ability with 4 point scales at 6 and 24 hr after injections. For MLM, radio-opacity was evaluated on the fluoroscopy. We considered score 2 (acceptable) or 3 (excellent) as appropriate for localization. The staining extent of MLM was significantly smaller than methylene blue (0.6 vs 1.0 cm, P<0.001). MLM showed superior staining ability over methylene blue (2.8 vs 2.2, P=0.010). Excellent staining was achieved in 17 subjects (81%) with MLM and 8 (38%) with methylene blue (P=0.011). An acceptable or excellent radio-opacity of MLM was found in 13 subjects (62%). An appropriate localization rate of MLM was 100% with the use of the directly visible ability and radio-opacity of MLM. MLM provides a superior pulmonary localization ability over methylene blue.

Computed Tomography Guided Percutaneous Injection of a Mixture of Lipiodol and Methylene Blue in Rabbit Lungs: Evaluation of Localization Ability for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

PubMed Central

Jin, Kwang Nam; Kim, Tae Jung; Song, Yong Sub; Kim, Dong Il

2014-01-01

Preoperative localization is necessary prior to video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the detection of small or deeply located lung nodules. We compared the localization ability of a mixture of lipiodol and methylene blue (MLM) (0.6 mL, 1:5) to methylene blue (0.5 mL) in rabbit lungs. CT-guided percutaneous injections were performed in 21 subjects with MLM and methylene blue. We measured the extent of staining on freshly excised lung and evaluated the subjective localization ability with 4 point scales at 6 and 24 hr after injections. For MLM, radio-opacity was evaluated on the fluoroscopy. We considered score 2 (acceptable) or 3 (excellent) as appropriate for localization. The staining extent of MLM was significantly smaller than methylene blue (0.6 vs 1.0 cm, P<0.001). MLM showed superior staining ability over methylene blue (2.8 vs 2.2, P=0.010). Excellent staining was achieved in 17 subjects (81%) with MLM and 8 (38%) with methylene blue (P=0.011). An acceptable or excellent radio-opacity of MLM was found in 13 subjects (62%). An appropriate localization rate of MLM was 100% with the use of the directly visible ability and radio-opacity of MLM. MLM provides a superior pulmonary localization ability over methylene blue. PMID:24431917

H2 CONSUMPTION DURING THE MICROBIAL REDUCTIVE DEHALOGENATION OF CHLORINATED PHENOLS AND TETRACHLOROETHENE

EPA Science Inventory

Competition for molecular hydrogen exists among hydrogen-utilizing microorganisms in anoxic environments, and evidence suggests that lower hydrogen concentrations are observed with more energetically favorable electron-accepting processes. The transfer of electrons to organochlor...

Supporting the Literacy Learner: Promising Literacy Strategies in Alberta

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alberta Education, 2008

2008-01-01

Literacy has become much more than just the ability to read: recent literature related to literacy instruction suggests that an essential goal is to develop in students the ability to think deeply about what they read and to express themselves accurately and expressively in all contexts. There is a growing acceptance of the importance of lifelong…

A Case Study: An ACT Stress Management Group in a University Counseling Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daltry, Rachel M.

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) stress management group in a college counseling center setting. This study explored (a) the effectiveness of ACT in increasing participants' ability to tolerate distress, which directly affects their ability to function in a stressful college…

Gifted, Talented and High Ability: Selection for Education in a One-Dimensional World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomlinson, Sally

2008-01-01

This article attempts to explain why it is that in England, despite twentieth-century moves towards egalitarianism in education, the selection and segregation of those regarded as being gifted, talented, or of higher ability in better resourced schools and programmes is now increasingly acceptable. Explanations for moves away from attempts to…

Social Cognitive Predictors of Peer Acceptance at Age 5 and the Moderating Effects of Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braza, Francisco; Azurmendi, Aitziber; Munoz, Jose M.; Carreras, Maria R.; Braza, Paloma; Garcia, Ainhoa; Sorozabal, Aizpea; Sanchez-Martin, Jose R.

2009-01-01

In this study we examined the effects of social intelligence, empathy, verbal ability and appearance-reality distinction on the level of peer acceptance, as well as the moderating role of gender. Participants were 98 five-year-old children (43 boys and 55 girls; mean age 5 years 3 months for boys and girls). Our results showed a main effect of…

Optimizing information technology to improve sexual health-care delivery: public and patient preferences.

PubMed

Ross, J D C; Copas, A; Stephenson, J; Fellows, L; Gilleran, G

2007-07-01

Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to improve the quality of care and efficiency in sexual health clinics, but its introduction requires input not only from health-care professionals and ICT specialists but also from service users and potential future users. In this study, views on ICT in relation to the delivery of sexual health services were assessed using a structured interview in two groups - a community sample of young people and a clinic sample of existing patients. In all, 542 community interviewees and 202 clinic patients participated. About 75% of respondents had access to the Internet and overall 60% reported that the self-collection of a sexual history on an electronic form was acceptable. Black Caribbean individuals had significantly less access to the Internet and a lower acceptance of electronic data collection. For booking an appointment, the majority of patients reported the telephone (community sample 93%, clinic sample 96%) or attending in person (community sample 77%, clinic sample 54%) to be acceptable, with a smaller proportion choosing email (community sample 10%, clinic sample 27%) or the Internet (community sample 7%, clinic sample 11%). Electronic booking was significantly less acceptable to Black Caribbean respondents. Although new technologies offer the opportunity to improve the quality of sexual health services, patient preferences and differences between groups in access to technology also need to be considered when services are reconfigured.

The structure of PccH from Geobactersulfurreducens-a novel low reduction potential monoheme cytochrome essential for accepting electrons from an electrode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dantas, Joana; Campelo, Luisa M.; Duke, Norma E. C.

The structure of cytochrome c (GSU3274) designated as PccH from Geobactersulfurreducens was determined at a resolution of 2.0 angstrom. PccH is a small (15kDa) cytochrome containing one c-type heme, found to be essential for the growth of G.sulfurreducens with respect to accepting electrons from graphite electrodes poised at -300mV versus standard hydrogen electrode. with fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor. The structure of PccH is unique among the monoheme cytochromes described to date. The structural fold of PccH can be described as forming two lobes with the heme sandwiched in a cleft between the two lobes. In addition, PccH hasmore » a low reduction potential of -24mV at pH7, which is unusual for monoheme cytochromes. Based on difference in structure, together with sequence phylogenetic analysis, we propose that PccH can be regarded as a first characterized example of a new subclass of class I monoheme cytochromes. The low reduction potential of PccH may enable the protein to be redox active at the typically negative potential ranges encountered by G. sulfurreducens. Because PccH is predicted to be located in the periplasm of this bacterium, it could not be involved in the first step of accepting electrons from the electrode but is very likely involved in the downstream electron transport events in the periplasm.« less

The structure of PccH from Geobacter sulfurreducens  - a novel low reduction potential monoheme cytochrome essential for accepting electrons from an electrode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dantas, Joana M.; Campelo, Luísa M.; Duke, Norma E. C.

2015-04-10

The structure of cytochrome-c (GSU3274) designated as PccH from Geobacter sulfurreducens was determined at 2.0 Å resolution. PccH is a small (15 kDa) cytochrome containing one c-type heme, found to be essential for growth of G. sulfurreducens accepting electrons from graphite electrodes poised at -300 mV versus SHE with fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor. The structure of PccH is unique among the monoheme cytochromes described to date. The structural fold of PccH can be described as forming two lobes with the heme sandwiched in a cleft between the two lobes. In addition, PccH has a low reduction potential ofmore » -24 mV at pH 7, which is unusual for monoheme cytochromes. Based on difference in structure together with sequence phylogenetic analysis we propose that PccH can be regarded as a first characterized example of a new subclass of class I monoheme cytochromes. The low reduction potential of PccH may enable the protein to be redox active at the typically negative potential ranges encountered by this bacterium. Because PccH is predicted to be located in the periplasm of G. sulfurreducens, it could not be involved in the first step of accepting electrons from the electrode but very likely involved in the downstream electron transport events in the periplasm.« less

Enhanced metabolite generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chidambaram, Devicharan

The present invention relates to the enhanced production of metabolites by a process whereby a carbon source is oxidized with a fermentative microbe in a compartment having a portal. An electron acceptor is added to the compartment to assist the microbe in the removal of excess electrons. The electron acceptor accepts electrons from the microbe after oxidation of the carbon source. Other transfers of electrons can take place to enhance the production of the metabolite, such as acids, biofuels or brewed beverages.

Do Open Access Electronic Theses and Dissertations Diminish Publishing Opportunities in the Sciences?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramírez, Marisa L.; McMillan, Gail; Dalton, Joan T.; Hanlon, Ann; Smith, Heather S.; Kern, Chelsea

2014-01-01

In academia, there is a growing acceptance of sharing the final electronic version of graduate work, such as a thesis or dissertation, in an online university repository. Though previous studies have shown that journal editors are willing to consider manuscripts derived from electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), faculty advisors and graduate…

78 FR 66675 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List Multiple Species of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-06

... to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only... this document, identified by the code NOAA-NMFS-2013-0150, by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov...

Extensions of the Theory of the Electron-Phonon Interaction in Metals: A Collection.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-11-03

accepted The measured zero -field susceptibility is given 50 . . . . 26 GENERALIZATION OF THE THEORY OF THE ELECTRON-... 1199 JP by X.P_ IM T V.IM 0... Generalization of the Theory of the Electron-Phonon Inter- action: Thermodynamic Formulation of Superconducting- and Normal-State Properties...A microscopic treatment of the consequences for supercon- ductivity of a nonconstant electronic density of states is presented. Generalized

40 CFR 35.6705 - Records retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical... ten-year period, whichever is later. (c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of...

40 CFR 35.6705 - Records retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical... ten-year period, whichever is later. (c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of...

40 CFR 35.6705 - Records retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical... ten-year period, whichever is later. (c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of...

40 CFR 35.6705 - Records retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical... ten-year period, whichever is later. (c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of...

40 CFR 35.6705 - Records retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical... ten-year period, whichever is later. (c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of...

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Acceptability of Adult Cigarette Smoking Among Florida Youth: Renormalization of Smoking?

PubMed

Choi, Kelvin; Grana, Rachel; Bernat, Debra

2017-05-01

There is a dearth of research into whether electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) promote acceptance of cigarette smoking. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between ENDS exposure, acceptance of cigarette smoking, and susceptibility to cigarette smoking. Data from the 2014 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey with a state representative sample of middle and high school students (n = 68,928) were analyzed. Own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, living with ENDS users, acceptance of adult cigarette smoking, demographics, and known predictors of cigarette smoking were assessed. Susceptibility to cigarette smoking was assessed among never smokers. Weighted multiple logistic regression models and mediation analyses were conducted, stratified by middle/high school and never/ever smoking. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, and living with ENDS users were associated with acceptance of adult cigarette smoking even among never smokers, after accounting for covariates (p < .05). In a mediation analysis, own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, and living with ENDS users were indirectly associated with susceptibility to cigarette smoking among never smokers through acceptance of adult cigarette smoking (p < .05). Youth ENDS exposure may contribute to normalizing adult cigarette smoking and may in turn heighten susceptibility to cigarette smoking. If confirmed by longitudinal studies, these findings suggest that ENDS policy interventions may help prevent youth cigarette smoking. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The case for home based telehealth in pediatric palliative care: a systematic review

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Over the last decade technology has rapidly changed the ability to provide home telehealth services. At the same time, pediatric palliative care has developed as a small, but distinct speciality. Understanding the experiences of providing home telehealth services in pediatric palliative care is therefore important. Methods A literature review was undertaken to identify and critically appraise published work relevant to the area. Studies were identified by searching the electronic databases Medline, CINAHL and Google Scholar. The reference list of each paper was also inspected to identify any further studies. Results There were 33 studies that met the inclusion criteria of which only six were pediatric focussed. Outcome measures included effects on quality of life and anxiety, substitution of home visits, economic factors, barriers, feasibility, acceptability, satisfaction and readiness for telehealth. While studies generally identified benefits of using home telehealth in palliative care, the utilisation of home telehealth programs was limited by numerous challenges. Conclusion Research in this area is challenging; ethical issues and logistical factors such as recruitment and attrition because of patient death make determining effectiveness of telehealth interventions difficult. Future research in home telehealth for the pediatric palliative care population should focus on the factors that influence acceptance of telehealth applications, including goals of care, access to alternative modes of care, perceived need for care, and comfort with using technology. PMID:23374676

Lecithin-based novel cationic nanocarriers (LeciPlex) I: fabrication, characterization and evaluation.

PubMed

Date, Abhijit A; Srivastava, Deepika; Nagarsenker, Mangal S; Mulherkar, Rita; Panicker, Lata; Aswal, Vinod; Hassan, Puthusserickal A; Steiniger, Frank; Thamm, Jana; Fahr, Alfred

2011-10-01

In the present investigation, the feasibility of fabricating novel self-assembled cationic nanocarriers (LeciPlex) containing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and soybean lecithin using pharmaceutically acceptable biocompatible solvents such as 2-Pyrrolidone (Soluphor P) and diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol) was established. The interaction between DDAB/CTAB and soybean lecithin in the nanocarriers was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro antimicrobial studies. The positive charge on the nanocarriers was confirmed by zeta potential analysis. Transmission electron microscopy analysis could not reveal sufficient information regarding the internal structure of the nanocarriers, whereas cryotransmission electron microscopy studies indicated that these novel nanocarriers have unilamellar structure. Small-angle neutron scattering studies confirmed interaction of cationic surfactant (DDAB) and lecithin in the nanocarriers and confirmed the presence of unilamellar nanostructures. Various hydrophobic drugs could be encapsulated in the CTAB/DDAB-based lecithin nanocarriers (CTAB-LeciPlex or DDAB-LeciPlex) irrespective of their difference in log p-values. In vitro antimicrobial studies on triclosan-loaded LeciPlex confirmed entrapment of triclosan in the nanocarriers. The ability of CTAB-LeciPlex and DDAB-LeciPlex to condense plasmid DNA was established using agarose gel electrophoresis. DDAB-LeciPlex could successfully transfect pDNA in HEK-293 cells indicating potential in gene delivery.

New model of inverting substation for DC traction with regenerative braking system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omar, Abdul Malek Saidina; Samat, Ahmad Asri Abd; Isa, Siti Sarah Mat; Shamsuddin, Sarah Addyani; Jamaludin, Nur Fadhilah; Khyasudeen, Muhammad Farris

2017-08-01

This paper presents a power electronic devices application focus on modeling, analysis, and control of switching power converter in the inverting DC substation with regenerative braking system which is used to recycle the surplus regenerative power by feed it back to the main AC grid. The main objective of this research is to improve the switching power electronic converter of the railway inverting substation and optimize the maximum kinetic energy recovery together with minimum power losses from the railway braking system. Assess performance including efficiency and robustness will be evaluated in order to get the best solution for the design configuration. Research methodology included mathematical calculation, simulation, and detail analysis on modeling of switching power converter on inverting substation. The design stage separates to four main areas include rectification mode, regenerative mode, control inverter mode and filtering mode. The simulation result has shown that the regenerative inverter has a capability to accept a maximum recovery power on the regeneration mode. Total energy recovery has increase and power losses have decreases because inverter abilities to transfer the surplus energy back to the main AC supply. An Inverter controller with PWM Generator and PI Voltage Regulator has been designed to control voltage magnitude and frequency of the DC traction system.

The influence of tinnitus acceptance on the quality of life and psychological distress in patients with chronic tinnitus

PubMed Central

Riedl, David; Rumpold, Gerhard; Schmidt, Annette; Zorowka, Patrick G.; Bliem, Harald R.; Moschen, Roland

2015-01-01

Recent findings show the importance of acceptance in the treatment of chronic tinnitus. So far, very limited research investigating the different levels of tinnitus acceptance has been conducted. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life (QoL) and psychological distress in patients with chronic tinnitus who reported different levels of tinnitus acceptance. The sample consisted of outpatients taking part in a tinnitus coping group (n = 97). Correlations between tinnitus acceptance, psychological distress, and QoL were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate a cutoff score for the German “Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire” (CTAQ-G) and to evaluate the screening abilities of the CTAQ-G. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare QoL and psychological distress in patients with low tinnitus acceptance and high tinnitus acceptance. A cutoff point for CTAQ-G of 62.5 was defined, differentiating between patients with “low-to-mild tinnitus acceptance” and “moderate-to-high tinnitus acceptance.” Patients with higher levels of tinnitus acceptance reported a significantly higher QoL and lower psychological distress. Tinnitus acceptance plays an important role for patients with chronic tinnitus. Increased levels of acceptance are related to better QoL and less psychological distress. PMID:26356381

Improving the Ability of Mathematic Representation Capabilities and Students Skills in Importing Square Forms to Square Using Variation Solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nirawati, R.

2018-04-01

This research was conducted to see whether the variation of the solution is acceptable and easy to understand by students with different level of ability so that it can be seen the difference of students ability in facilitating the quadratic form in the upper, middle and lower groups. This research used experimental method with factorial design. Based on the result of final test analysis, there were differences of students ability in upper group, medium group, and lower group in putting squared form based on the use certain variation of solution.

Clinician Acceptance of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): Relating Personality Factors to Continuance Intention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McClellan, Molly Ann

2011-01-01

Many models currently exist for evaluating acceptance and continued use of technology. However, none of these models are healthcare specific, nor do they involve aspects of users' personality. Although the five-factor model (FFM) of personality has been effectively used in psychology and human resources and management research to predict…

Electronic Health in Perspective of Healthcare Managers: A Qualitative Study in South of Iran

PubMed Central

BASTANI, Peivand; ABOLHASANI, Nazanin; SHAARBAFCHIZADEH, Nasrin

2014-01-01

Abstract Background The important role of electronic health as well as importance of health care systems awareness and readiness may lead to develop the essential infrastructures for electronic health especially in developing countries. This study aims to investigate goals, gains, applications, challenges and other important issues related to success performance of electronic health. Method This research proposed a grounded theory in a qualitative design and a purposive sampling was used to select participants which consisted of 28 hospital managers and staff field managers working in deputy of health and curative affairs of Medical Science Universities in south of Iran. Semi structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide and intended themes derived from the results using Max QDA software during five steps. Results Nine themes through interviewees” viewpoints were made up as followed: Electronic health definition, necessity and importance of electronic health, electronic health advantages, relationship between electronic health and internet, physicians” opposition to electronic health, prerequisites for electronic health, solutions for applying electronic health plan, factors affecting electronic health acceptance in society and electronic health system challenges. Conclusion It seems that there are good circumstances in the south medical universities about settlement and implementations of electronic health and their managers are aware of its advantages, importance and necessities. The present findings implicate that these organizations should consider the user friendly and probable resistances of the present clients, in this regard it is suggested that the used technology must be accepted by users, having standard base, inexpensive and simple enough while less vulnerable in response to changes. PMID:26110152

Electronic Health in Perspective of Healthcare Managers: A Qualitative Study in South of Iran.

PubMed

Bastani, Peivand; Abolhasani, Nazanin; Shaarbafchizadeh, Nasrin

2014-06-01

The important role of electronic health as well as importance of health care systems awareness and readiness may lead to develop the essential infrastructures for electronic health especially in developing countries. This study aims to investigate goals, gains, applications, challenges and other important issues related to success performance of electronic health. This research proposed a grounded theory in a qualitative design and a purposive sampling was used to select participants which consisted of 28 hospital managers and staff field managers working in deputy of health and curative affairs of Medical Science Universities in south of Iran. Semi structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide and intended themes derived from the results using Max QDA software during five steps. Nine themes through interviewees" viewpoints were made up as followed: Electronic health definition, necessity and importance of electronic health, electronic health advantages, relationship between electronic health and internet, physicians" opposition to electronic health, prerequisites for electronic health, solutions for applying electronic health plan, factors affecting electronic health acceptance in society and electronic health system challenges. It seems that there are good circumstances in the south medical universities about settlement and implementations of electronic health and their managers are aware of its advantages, importance and necessities. The present findings implicate that these organizations should consider the user friendly and probable resistances of the present clients, in this regard it is suggested that the used technology must be accepted by users, having standard base, inexpensive and simple enough while less vulnerable in response to changes.

The High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) for the CSES satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sparvoli, Roberta

2016-04-01

We present the advanced High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) developed to be installed on the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES), launch scheduled by the end of 2016. The HEPD instrument aims at studying the temporal stability of the inner Van Allen radiation belts and at investigating precipitation of trapped particles induced by magnetospheric, ionosferic and tropospheric EM emissions, as well as by the seismo-electromagnetic and anthropogenic disturbances. In occasion of many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, several measurements, on ground and by experiments on LEO satellites revealed: electromagnetic and plasma perturbations, and anomalous increases of high-energy Van Allen charged particle flux. The precipitation of trapped electrons and protons (from a few MeV to several tens of MeV) could be induced by diffusion of particles pitch-angle possibly caused by the seismo-electromagnetic emissions generated before (a few hours) earthquakes. Due to the longitudinal drift along a same L-shell, anomalous particle bursts of precipitating particles could be detected by satellites not only on the epicentral area of the incoming earthquake, but along the drift path. Moreover, the opposite drift directions of positive and negative particles could allow reconstructing the longitude of the earthquake focal area. Although, the earthquake prediction is not within the reach of current knowledge, however the study of the precursors aims at collecting all relevant information that can infer the spatial and temporal coordinates of the seismic events from measurements. At this purposes, it is essential to detect particles in a wide range of energies (because particles of different energies are sensitive to different frequencies of seismo-electromagnetic emissions), with a good angular resolution (in order to separate fluxes of trapped and precipitating particles), and excellent ability to recognize the charge (that determines the direction of the longitudinal drift of precipitating particles). The East-West or West-East drift direction is an essential information to retrieve the longitude of the starting point of the burst precipitation and then to reconstruct the geographical area where the interaction between particles and seismo-electromagnetic emissions occurred. HEPD has been designed to provide good energy resolution and high angular resolution for electrons (3 - 100 MeV) and proton (30 - 200 MeV). The detector consists of two layers of segmented plastic scintillators and a calorimeter, constituted by a tower of scintillator counters. The direction of the incident particle is provided by two planes of double-side silicon micro-strip detectors placed in front of the trigger scintillator planes to limit the effect of Coulomb multiple scattering on the direction measurement. The electron angular resolution varies between 13° at 2.5 MeV and ≤ 1° for energies above 35 MeV. The detector has a wide angular acceptance (>60°) over the full energy range 2.5-100 MeV. The angle-integrated, total acceptance is larger than 100 cm2sr between 2.5 and 35 MeV, decreasing at higher energies (about 40 cm2sr at 100 MeV). The proton angular resolution is ≤1° over the full detection range. The proton integrated-angle, total acceptance is larger than 100 cm2sr between 30 MeV and 150 MeV, decreasing to 60 cm2sr at 200 MeV. The good energy-loss measurement of the silicon track, combined with the energy resolution of the scintillators and calorimeter, allows identifying electrons with acceptable proton background levels (10-5-10-3).

Writing Abilities of American Young Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeCrow, Roger, Ed.

This brief digest of the results of the National Assessment of Writing compares the writing abilities of a sample of 17 year olds, in school and out, with an adult sample aged 26 to 35. In writing for social communication, 57% of the adults and 75% of the 17 year olds wrote descriptions that were judged acceptable. When asked to describe an auto…

13 CFR 120.441 - How does a Lender become a CLP Lender?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... consider whether the Lender: (1) Has the ability to process, close, service and liquidate loans; (2) Has a... application packages; (3) Has an acceptable SBA purchase rate; and (4) Has shown the ability to work well with... Lender may appeal to the D/FA, whose decision will be final. If SBA grants CLP status, it applies only in...

Is the association between various emotion-regulation skills and mental health mediated by the ability to modify emotions? Results from two cross-sectional studies.

PubMed

Berking, Matthias; Poppe, Christine; Luhmann, Maike; Wupperman, Peggilee; Jaggi, Verena; Seifritz, Erich

2012-09-01

In order to clarify mechanisms underlying the association between emotion regulation and psychopathology, we tested whether the ability to modify negative emotions mediates the associations of other emotion-regulation skills with psychopathological symptoms in two studies. The first study included 151 college students; the second included 121 psychiatric inpatients. Bootstrapping-enhanced mediation analyses were utilized to assess associations between self-reports of emotion-regulation skills and psychopathology, as well as potential mediation effects. In both samples, the ability to modify emotions completely mediated the association between symptoms and skills for most skills, but not for the skill of accepting/tolerating negative emotions. Major limitations include the use of a cross-sectional design as well as exclusive use of self-report data. The ability to modify negative emotions may be the common pathway by which many emotion-regulation skills exert their influence on mental health; however, the skill of accepting/tolerating negative emotions may be beneficial to mental health regardless of whether or not it facilitates modification of emotions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Satiated with belongingness? Effects of acceptance, rejection, and task framing on self-regulatory performance.

PubMed

DeWall, C Nathan; Baumeister, Roy F; Vohs, Kathleen D

2008-12-01

Seven experiments showed that the effects of social acceptance and social exclusion on self-regulatory performance depend on the prospect of future acceptance. Excluded participants showed decrements in self-regulation, but these decrements were eliminated if the self-regulation task was ostensibly a diagnostic indicator of the ability to get along with others. No such improvement was found when the task was presented as diagnostic of good health. Accepted participants, in contrast, performed relatively poorly when the task was framed as a diagnostic indicator of interpersonally attractive traits. Furthermore, poor performance among accepted participants was not due to self-handicapping or overconfidence. Offering accepted participants a cash incentive for self-regulating eliminated the self-regulation deficits. These findings provide evidence that the need to belong fits standard motivational patterns: Thwarting the drive intensifies it, whereas satiating it leads to temporary reduction in drive. Accepted people are normally good at self-regulation but are unwilling to exert the effort to self-regulate if self-regulation means gaining the social acceptance they have already obtained.

Satiated with Belongingness? Effects of Acceptance, Rejection, and Task Framing on Self-Regulatory Performance

PubMed Central

DeWall, C. Nathan; Baumeister, Roy F.; Vohs, Kathleen D.

2008-01-01

Seven experiments showed that the effects of social acceptance and social exclusion on self-regulatory performance depend on the prospect of future acceptance. Excluded participants showed decrements in self-regulation, but these decrements were eliminated if the self-regulation task was ostensibly a diagnostic indicator of the ability to get along with others. No such improvement was found when the task was presented as diagnostic of good health. Accepted participants, in contrast, performed relatively poorly when the task was framed as a diagnostic indicator of interpersonally attractive traits. Furthermore, poor performance among accepted participants was not due to self-handicapping or overconfidence. Offering accepted participants a cash incentive for self-regulating eliminated the self-regulation deficits. These findings provide evidence that the need to belong fits standard motivational patterns: thwarting the drive intensifies it, whereas satiating it leads to temporary reduction in drive. Accepted people are normally good at self-regulation but are unwilling to exert the effort to self-regulate if self-regulation means gaining the social acceptance they have already obtained. PMID:19025289

Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) Extended Wear Comfort Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

JSAM eyeglass frames containing his optical prescription. Comfort Questionnaire (CQ). The CQ was completed ten times as scheduled by the USAF...and comfort of the JSAM while wearing eyeglass frames was very acceptable. Their ability to see was reported as acceptable. No fogging of the...Performance Wing acceleration and altitude test subject panels. The subjects were male, ranged in age from 28-39 years, physically fit , and considered

Use of an electronic Partograph: feasibility and acceptability study in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

PubMed

Litwin, Lindsay Elizabeth; Maly, Christina; Khamis, Asma Ramadan; Hiner, Cyndi; Zoungrana, Jérémie; Mohamed, Khadija; Drake, Mary; Machaku, Michael; Njozi, Mustafa; Muhsin, Salhiya Ali; Kulindwa, Yusuph K; Gomez, Patricia P

2018-05-09

The ePartogram is a tablet-based application developed to improve care for women in labor by addressing documented challenges in partograph use. The application is designed to provide real-time decision support, improve data entry, and increase access to information for appropriate labor management. This study's primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ePartogram use in resource-constrained clinical settings. The ePartogram was introduced at three facilities in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Following 3 days of training, skilled birth attendants (SBAs) were observed for 2 weeks using the ePartogram to monitor laboring women. During each observed shift, data collectors used a structured observation form to document SBA comfort, confidence, and ability to use the ePartogram. Results were analyzed by shift. Short interviews, conducted with SBAs (n = 82) after each of their first five ePartogram-monitored labors, detected differences over time. After the observation period, in-depth interviews were conducted (n = 15). A thematic analysis of interview transcripts was completed. Observations of 23 SBAs using the ePartogram to monitor 103 women over 84 shifts showed that the majority of SBAs (87-91%) completed each of four fundamental ePartogram tasks-registering a client, entering first and subsequent measurements, and navigating between screens-with ease or increasing ease on their first shift; this increased to 100% by the fifth shift. Nearly all SBAs (93%) demonstrated confidence and all SBAs demonstrated comfort in using the ePartogram by the fifth shift. SBAs expressed positive impressions of the ePartogram and found it efficient and easy to use, beginning with first client use. SBAs noted the helpfulness of auditory reminders (indicating that measurements were due) and visual alerts (signaling abnormal measurements). SBAs expressed confidence in their ability to interpret and act on these reminders and alerts. It is feasible and acceptable for SBAs to use the ePartogram to support labor management and care. With structured training and support during initial use, SBAs quickly became competent and confident in ePartogram use. Qualitative findings revealed that SBAs felt the ePartogram improved timeliness of care and supported decision-making. These findings point to the ePartogram's potential to improve quality of care in resource-constrained labor and delivery settings.

Aluminum/vacuum multilayer configuration for spatial high-energy electron shielding via electron return effects induced by magnetic field.

PubMed

Chen, Tuo; Tang, Xiaobin; Chen, Feida; Ni, Minxuan; Huang, Hai; Zhang, Yun; Chen, Da

2017-06-26

Radiation shielding of high-energy electrons is critical for successful space missions. However, conventional passive shielding systems exhibit several limitations, such as heavy configuration, poor shielding ability, and strong secondary bremsstrahlung radiation. In this work, an aluminum/vacuum multilayer structure was proposed based on the electron return effects induced by magnetic field. The shielding property of several configurations was evaluated by using the Monte Carlo method. Results showed that multilayer systems presented improved shielding ability to electrons, and less secondary x-ray transmissions than those of conventional systems. Moreover, the influences of magnetic flux density and number of layers on the shielding property of multilayer systems were investigated using a female Chinese hybrid reference phantom based on cumulative dose. In the case of two aluminum layers, the cumulative dose in a phantom gradually decreased with increasing magnetic flux density. The maximum decline rate was found within 0.4-1 Tesla. With increasing layers of configuration, the cumulative dose decreased and the shielding ability improved. This research provides effective shielding measures for future space radiation protection in high-energy electron environments.

A Survey of Professor Acceptance and Use of E-Textbooks in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Randy

2013-01-01

As electronic books (e-books) have continued to gain in popularity, more and more books are becoming available in electronic format. Textbooks are no exception. More and more publishers are making textbooks available in electronic format (e-textbooks). There have been many devices specifically designed to use e-books and e-textbooks with many more…

Electronic health record acceptance by physicians: testing an integrated theoretical model.

PubMed

Gagnon, Marie-Pierre; Ghandour, El Kebir; Talla, Pascaline Kengne; Simonyan, David; Godin, Gaston; Labrecque, Michel; Ouimet, Mathieu; Rousseau, Michel

2014-04-01

Several countries are in the process of implementing an Electronic Health Record (EHR), but limited physicians' acceptance of this technology presents a serious threat to its successful implementation. The aim of this study was to identify the main determinants of physician acceptance of EHR in a sample of general practitioners and specialists of the Province of Quebec (Canada). We sent an electronic questionnaire to physician members of the Quebec Medical Association. We tested four theoretical models (Technology acceptance model (TAM), Extended TAM, Psychosocial Model, and Integrated Model) using path analysis and multiple linear regression analysis in order to identify the main determinants of physicians' intention to use the EHR. We evaluated the modifying effect of sociodemographic characteristics using multi-group analysis of structural weights invariance. A total of 157 questionnaires were returned. The four models performed well and explained between 44% and 55% of the variance in physicians' intention to use the EHR. The Integrated model performed the best and showed that perceived ease of use, professional norm, social norm, and demonstrability of the results are the strongest predictors of physicians' intention to use the EHR. Age, gender, previous experience and specialty modified the association between those determinants and intention. The proposed integrated theoretical model is useful in identifying which factors could motivate physicians from different backgrounds to use the EHR. Physicians who perceive the EHR to be easy to use, coherent with their professional norms, supported by their peers and patients, and able to demonstrate tangible results are more likely to accept this technology. Age, gender, specialty and experience should also be taken into account when developing EHR implementation strategies targeting physicians. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electronic cigarettes. A position statement of the forum of international respiratory societies.

PubMed

Schraufnagel, Dean E; Blasi, Francesco; Drummond, M Bradley; Lam, David C L; Latif, Ehsan; Rosen, Mark J; Sansores, Raul; Van Zyl-Smit, Richard

2014-09-15

Awareness and usage of electronic cigarettes has exponentially increased during the last few years, especially among young people and women in some countries. The rapid acceptance of electronic cigarettes may be attributed in part to the perception created by marketing and the popular press that they are safer than combustible cigarettes. To alert and advise policy makers about electronic cigarettes and their potential hazards. Using The Union's position paper on electronic cigarettes as the starting template, the document was written using an iterative process. Portions of the manuscript have been taken directly from the position papers of participating societies. Because electronic cigarettes generate less tar and carcinogens than combustible cigarettes, use of electronic cigarettes may reduce disease caused by those components. However, the health risks of electronic cigarettes have not been adequately studied. Studies looking at whether electronic cigarettes can aid smoking cessation have had inconsistent results. Moreover, the availability of electronic cigarettes may have an overall adverse health impact by increasing initiation and reducing cessation of combustible nicotine delivery products. The health and safety claims regarding electronic nicotine delivery devices should be subject to evidentiary review. The potential benefits of electronic cigarettes to an individual smoker should be weighed against potential harm to the population of increased social acceptability of smoking and use of nicotine, the latter of which has addictive power and untoward effects. As a precaution, electronic nicotine delivery devices should be restricted or banned until more information about their safety is available. If they are allowed, they should be closely regulated as medicines or tobacco products.

The Decision to Publish Electronically.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Craig, Gary

1983-01-01

Argues that decision to publish a given intellectual product "electronically" is a business decision based on customer needs, available format alternatives, current business climate, and variety of already existing factors. Publishers are most influenced by customers' acceptance of new products and their own role as intermediaries in…

Physical and Chemical Microstructural Damage in Pressed CL-20 explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demol, Gauthier; Sandusky, Harold W.

1999-06-01

Based upon its molecular composition, its structure, and its heat of formation, it was expected that CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane) would be more energetic and more sensitive than RDX and HMX. Reports of batch-to-batch variations in the sensitivity of neat CL-20 have led to its sensitivity being ranked in the range between the sensitivity of RDX and that of PETN. The ultimate utility of CL-20 as an ingredient in explosive and propellant formulations will depend upon the ability to understand the factors that are responsible for this batch-to-batch variability, and to control the sensitivity in formulations within acceptable limits. This work is a characterization of CL-20 at various stages in its life cycle. The evolution of damage from the initial neat crystals of CL-20 to the ready-to-use pressed pellets will be described. This characterization includes physical documentation using light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Spatially resolved chemical analysis is also performed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

A Comparative Molecular Similarity Index Analysis (CoMSIA) study identifies an HLA-A2 binding supermotif

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doytchinova, Irini A.; Flower, Darren R.

2002-08-01

The 3D-QSAR CoMSIA technique was applied to a set of 458 peptides binding to the five most widespread HLA-A2-like alleles: A*0201, A*0202, A*0203, A*0206 and A*6802. Models comprising the main physicochemical properties (steric bulk, electron density, hydrophobicity and hydrogen-bond formation abilities) were obtained with acceptable predictivity ( q 2 ranged from 0.385 to 0.683). The use of coefficient contour maps allowed an A2-supermotif to be identified based on common favoured and disfavoured areas. The CoMSIA definition for the best HLA-A2 binder is as follows: hydrophobic aromatic amino acid at position 1; hydrophobic bulky side chains at positions 2, 6 and 9; non-hydrogen-bond-forming amino acids at position 3; small aliphatic hydrogen-bond donors at position 4; aliphatic amino acids at position 5; small aliphatic side chains at position 7; and small aliphatic hydrophilic and hydrogen-bond forming amino acids at position 8.

PROP taster status interacts with the built environment to influence children's food acceptance and body weight status.

PubMed

Burd, Carlye; Senerat, Araliya; Chambers, Earle; Keller, Kathleen L

2013-04-01

Eating behaviors and obesity are complex phenotypes influenced by genes and the environment, but few studies have investigated the interaction of these two variables. The purpose of this study was to use a gene-environment interaction model to test for differences in children's food acceptance and body weights. Inherited ability to taste 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) was assessed as a marker of oral taste responsiveness. Food environment was classified as "healthy" or "unhealthy" based on proximity to outlets that sell fruits/vegetables and fast foods using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The cohort consisted of 120 children, ages 4-6 years, recruited from New York City over 2005-2010. Home address and other demographic variables were reported by parents and PROP status, food acceptance, and anthropometrics were assessed in the laboratory. Based on a screening test, children were classified as PROP tasters or non-tasters. Hierarchical linear models analysis of variance was performed to examine differences in food acceptance and body mass index (BMI) z-scores as a function of PROP status, the food environment ("healthy" vs. "unhealthy"), and their interaction. Results showed an interaction between taster status and the food environment on BMI z-score and food acceptance. Non-taster children living in healthy food environments had greater acceptance of vegetables than taster children living in healthy food environments (P ≤ 0.005). Moreover, non-tasters from unhealthy food environments had higher BMI z-scores than all other groups (P ≤ 0.005). Incorporating genetic markers of taste into studies that assess the built environment may improve the ability of these measures to predict risk for obesity and eating behaviors. Copyright © 2012 The Obesity Society.

PROP taster status interacts with the built environment to influence children's food acceptance and body weight status

PubMed Central

Burd, Carlye; Senerat, Araliya; Chambers, Earle; Keller, Kathleen L.

2012-01-01

Eating behaviors and obesity are complex phenotypes influenced by genes and access to foods in the environment, but few studies have investigated the interaction of these two variables. The purpose of this study was to use a gene-environment interaction model to test for differences in children's food acceptance and body weights. Inherited ability to taste 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) was assessed as a marker of oral taste responsiveness. Food environment was classified as “healthy” or “unhealthy” based on proximity to outlets that sell fruits/vegetables and fast foods using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The cohort consisted of 120 children, ages 4–6 years, recruited from New York City over 2005–2010. Home address and other demographic variables were reported by parents and PROP status, food acceptance, and anthropometrics were assessed in the laboratory. Based on a screening test, children were classified as PROP tasters or non-tasters. Hierarchical linear models analysis of variance was performed to examine differences in food acceptance and body mass index (BMI) z-scores as a function of PROP status, the food environment (“healthy” vs. “unhealthy”), and their interaction. Results showed an interaction between taster status and the food environment on BMI z-score and food acceptance. Non-taster children living in healthy food environments had greater acceptance of vegetables than taster children living in healthy food environments (p≤0.005). Moreover, non-tasters from unhealthy food environments had higher BMI z-scores than all other groups (p≤0.005). Incorporating genetic markers of taste into studies that assess the built environment may improve the ability of these measures to predict risk for obesity and eating behaviors. PMID:23401219

Single-molecule interfacial electron transfer dynamics in solar energy conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhital, Bharat

This dissertation work investigated the parameters affecting the interfacial electron transfer (ET) dynamics in dye-semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) system by using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging combined with electrochemistry. The influence of the molecule-substrate electronic coupling, the molecular structure, binding geometry on the surface and the molecule-attachment surface chemistry on interfacial charge transfer processes was studied on zinc porphyrin-TiO2 NP systems. The fluorescence blinking measurement on TiO2 NP demonstrated that electronic coupling regulates dynamics of charge transfer processes at the interface depending on the conformation of molecule on the surface. Moreover, semiconductor surface charge induced electronic coupling of molecule which is electrostatically adsorbed on the semiconductor surface also predominantly alters the ET dynamics. Furthermore, interfacial electric field and electron accepting state density dependent ET dynamics has been dissected in zinc porphyrin-TiO2 NP system by observing the single-molecule fluorescence blinking dynamics and fluorescence lifetime with and without applied bias. The significant difference in fluorescence fluctuation and lifetime suggested the modulation of charge transfer dynamics at the interface with external electric field perturbation. Quasi-continuous distribution of fluorescence intensity with applied negative potential was attributed to the faster charge recombination due to reduced density of electron accepting states. The driving force and electron accepting state density ET dependent dynamics has also been probed in zinc porphyrin-TiO2 NP and zinc porphyrin-indium tin oxide (ITO) systems. Study of a molecule adsorbed on two different semiconductors (ITO and TiO2), with large difference in electron densities and distinct driving forces, allows us to observe the changes in rates of back electron transfer process reflected by the suppressed fluorescence blinking of molecule on ITO surface. Finally, the electric field effect on the interface properties has been probed by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and supported by density functional theory calculations in alizarin-TiO2 system. The perturbation, created by the external potential, has been observed to cause a shift and/or splitting interfacial bond vibrational mode, typical indicator of the coupling energy changes between alizarin and TiO2. Such splitting provides evidence for electric field-dependent electronic coupling changes that have a significant impact on the interfacial electron transfer dynamics.

Experimental and DFT Studies of the Electron-Withdrawing Ability of Perfluoroalkyl (R F) Groups: Electron Affinities of PAH(R F) n Increase Significantly with Increasing R F Chain Length

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

San, Long K.; Spisak, Sarah N.; Dubceac, Cristina

Two series of aromatic compounds with perfluoroalkyl (RF) groups of increasing length, 1,3,5,7-naphthalene(RF)4 and 1,3,5,7,9-corannulene(RF)5, have been prepared and their electronic properties studied by low-temperature PES (i.e., gas-phase electron affinity (EA) measurements). These and many related compounds were also studied by DFT calculations. The data demonstrate unambiguously that the electron-withdrawing ability of RF substituents increases significantly and uniformly from CF3 to C2F5 to n-C3F7 to n-C4F9.

Experimental and DFT Studies of the Electron-Withdrawing Ability of Perfluoroalkyl (R-F) Groups: Electron Affinities of PAH(R-F)(n) Increase Significantly with Increasing R-F Chain Length

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

San, Long K.; Spisak, Sarah N.; Dubceac, Cristina

2018-01-26

Two series of aromatic compounds with perfluoroalkyl (RF) groups of increasing length, 1,3,5,7-naphthalene(RF)4 and 1,3,5,7,9-corannulene(RF)5, have been prepared and their electronic properties studied by low-temperature PES (i.e., gas-phase electron affinity (EA) measurements). These and many related compounds were also studied by DFT calculations. The data demonstrate unambiguously that the electron-withdrawing ability of RF substituents increases significantly and uniformly from CF3 to C2F5 to n-C3F7 to n-C4F9.

Natural organic matter as electron acceptor: experimental evidence for its important role in anaerobic respiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, Maximilian Peter; Sander, Michael; Gelbrecht, Jörg; Hupfer, Michael

2014-05-01

Microbial respiration is a key driver of element cycling in oxic and anoxic environments. Upon depletion of oxygen as terminal electron acceptor (TEA), a number of anaerobic bacteria can employ alternative TEA for intracellular energy generation. Redox active quinone moieties in dissolved organic matter (DOM) are well known electron acceptors for microbial respiration. However, it remains unclear whether quinones in adsorbed and particulate OM accept electrons in a same way. In our studies we aim to understand the importance of natural organic matter (NOM) as electron acceptors for microbial energy gain and its possible implications for methanogenesis. Using a novel electrochemical approach, mediated electrochemical reduction and -oxidation, we can directly quantify reduced hydroquinone and oxidized quionone moieties in dissolved and particulate NOM samples. In a mesocosm experiment, we rewetted sediment and peat soil and followed electron transfer to the inorganic and organic electron acceptors over time. We found that inorganic and organic electron acceptor pools were depleted over the same timescales. More importantly, we showed that organic, NOM-associated electron accepting moieties represent as much as 21 40% of total TEA inventories. These findings support earlier studies that propose that the reduction of quinone moieties in particulate organic matter competitively suppresses methanogenesis in wetland soils. Our results indicate that electron transfer to organic, particulate TEA in inundated ecosystems has to be accounted for when establishing carbon budgets in and projecting greenhouse gas emissions from these systems.

40 CFR 60.758 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Waste Landfills § 60.758 Recordkeeping requirements. (a) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B... triggered § 60.752(b), the current amount of solid waste in-place, and the year-by-year waste acceptance... electronic formats are acceptable. (b) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B), each owner or operator of...

40 CFR 60.758 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Waste Landfills § 60.758 Recordkeeping requirements. (a) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B... triggered § 60.752(b), the current amount of solid waste in-place, and the year-by-year waste acceptance... electronic formats are acceptable. (b) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B), each owner or operator of...

40 CFR 60.758 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Waste Landfills § 60.758 Recordkeeping requirements. (a) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B... triggered § 60.752(b), the current amount of solid waste in-place, and the year-by-year waste acceptance... electronic formats are acceptable. (b) Except as provided in § 60.752(b)(2)(i)(B), each owner or operator of...

Investigating the Determinants and Age and Gender Differences in the Acceptance of Mobile Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Yi-Shun; Wu, Ming-Cheng; Wang, Hsiu-Yuan

2009-01-01

With the proliferation of mobile computing technology, mobile learning (m-learning) will play a vital role in the rapidly growing electronic learning market. M-learning is the delivery of learning to students anytime and anywhere through the use of wireless Internet and mobile devices. However, acceptance of m-learning by individuals is critical…

Internet Acceptable User Policies in Alabama School Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Feng; McLean, James E.

The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of and need for acceptable use policies (AUPs) for students' use of the Internet in Alabama school systems. Alabama superintendents were questioned using an electronic survey that could be returned via e-mail on an anonymous Internet site. Primary questions were: (1) What is your level…

Electronic alerts and clinician turnover: the influence of user acceptance.

PubMed

Hysong, Sylvia J; Spitzmuller, Christiane; Espadas, Donna; Sittig, Dean F; Singh, Hardeep

2014-11-01

Use of certain components of electronic health records (EHRs), such as EHR-based alerting systems (EASs), might reduce provider satisfaction, a strong precursor to turnover. We examined the impact of factors likely to influence providers' acceptance of an alerting system, designed to facilitate electronic communication in outpatient settings, on provider satisfaction, intentions to quit, and turnover. We conducted a cross-sectional Web-based survey of EAS-related practices from a nationwide sample of primary care providers (PCPs) practicing at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Of 5001 invited VA PCPs, 2590 completed the survey. We relied on Venkatesh's Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to create survey measures of 4 factors likely to impact user acceptance of EAS: supportive norms, monitoring/ feedback, training, and providers' perceptions of the value (PPOV) of EASs to provider effectiveness. Facility-level PCP turnover was measured via the VA's Service Support Center Human Resources Cube. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. After accounting for intercorrelations among predictors, monitoring/feedback regarding EASs significantly predicted intention to quit (b = 0.30, P < .01), and PPOV of EASs predicted both overall provider satisfaction (b = 0.58, P < .01) and facility-level provider turnover levels (b = -0.19, P < .05), all without relying on any intervening mechanisms. Design, implementation, and use of EASs might impact provider satisfaction and retention. Institutions should consider strategies to help providers perceive greater value in these clinical tools.

Investigation of the Effect of Various Oxide and Fluoride Additives on the Microstructure, Electronic Properties, and Phase Shifting Ability of Ba(1-x) Sr(x)TiO3

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-09-01

AD-A271 756 ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY Investigation of the Effect of Various Oxide and Flouride Additives on the Microstructure, Electronic Properties ...NUMBERS Investigation of the Effect of Various Oxide and Fluoride Additives on the Microstructure, Electronic Properties , and Phase Shifting Ability of...dielectric properties . tunability. hysteresis. and grain size have been investigated. The homogeneity of the doped materials has been verified using

Co-simulation of heavy truck tire dynamics and electronic stability control systems (phase B).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-07-01

In the past decade, electronic stability controls (ESC) have become increasingly common on vehicles operating in the United States. The acceptance of this technology has progressed to the point where all new passenger vehicles sold in the US are requ...

Developing a Numerical Ability Test for Students of Education in Jordan: An Application of Item Response Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abed, Eman Rasmi; Al-Absi, Mohammad Mustafa; Abu shindi, Yousef Abdelqader

2016-01-01

The purpose of the present study is developing a test to measure the numerical ability for students of education. The sample of the study consisted of (504) students from 8 universities in Jordan. The final draft of the test contains 45 items distributed among 5 dimensions. The results revealed that acceptable psychometric properties of the test;…

Evaluating Learners's Ability to Use Technology in Distance Education: The Case of External Degree Programme of the University of Nairobi

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Omito, Ouma

2016-01-01

The study was aimed at investigating the students' ability to use technology for distance education with specific reference to the University of Nairobi's External Degree Program. To achieve this, one specific objective was formulated: To find out the student teacher's readiness to accept and utilize technology for learning purposes in relation to…

U.S. Central Command Headquarters’ Use of the Government Purchase Card

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-25

required the coordinator to document training sessions. During our review, the squadron was developing a new electronic system to support the...approving officials and cardholders. 2. Establish a plan to ensure that the new electronic Government Purchase Card Tracking system is completed...tickets,” invoices, shipping/packing documents or receiving reports, or electronic purchase confirmations are acceptable) for each purchase and other

Effects of major-road vehicle speed and driver age and gender on left-turn gap acceptance.

PubMed

Yan, Xuedong; Radwan, Essam; Guo, Dahai

2007-07-01

Because the driver's gap-acceptance maneuver is a complex and risky driving behavior, it is a highly concerned topic for traffic safety and operation. Previous studies have mainly focused on the driver's gap acceptance decision itself but did not pay attention to the maneuver process and driving behaviors. Using a driving simulator experiment for left-turn gap acceptance at a stop-controlled intersection, this study evaluated the effects of major traffic speed and driver age and gender on gap acceptance behaviors. The experiment results illustrate relationships among drivers' left-turn gap decision, driver's acceleration rate, steering action, and the influence of the gap-acceptance maneuver on the vehicles in the major traffic stream. The experiment results identified an association between high crash risk and high traffic speed at stop-controlled intersections. The older drivers, especially older female drivers, displayed a conservative driving attitude as a compensation for reduced driving ability, but also showed to be the most vulnerable group for the relatively complex driving maneuvers.

A review on remote monitoring technology applied to implantable electronic cardiovascular devices.

PubMed

Costa, Paulo Dias; Rodrigues, Pedro Pereira; Reis, António Hipólito; Costa-Pereira, Altamiro

2010-12-01

Implantable electronic cardiovascular devices (IECD) include a broad spectrum of devices that have the ability to maintain rhythm, provide cardiac resynchronization therapy, and/or prevent sudden cardiac death. The incidence of bradyarrhythmias and other cardiac problems led to a broader use of IECD, which turned traditional follow-up into an extremely heavy burden for healthcare systems to support. Our aim was to assess the impact of remote monitoring on the follow-up of patients with IECD. We performed a review through PubMed using a specific query. The paper selection process included a three-step approach in which title, abstract, and cross-references were analyzed. Studies were then selected using previously defined inclusion criteria and analyzed according to the country of origin of the study, year, and journal of publication; type of study; and main issues covered. Twenty articles were included in this review. Eighty percent of the selected papers addressed clinical issues, from which 94% referred clinical events identification, clinical stability, time savings, or physician satisfaction as advantages, whereas 38% referred disadvantages that included both legal and technical issues. Forty-five percent of the papers referred patient issues, from which 89% presented advantages, focusing on patient acceptance/satisfaction, and patient time-savings. The main downsides were technical issues but patient privacy was also addressed. All the papers dealing with economic issues (20%) referred both advantages and disadvantages equally. Remote monitoring is presently a safe technology, widely accepted by patients and physicians, for its convenience, reassurance, and diagnostic potential. This review summarizes the principles of remote IECD monitoring presenting the current state-of-the-art. Patient safety and device interaction, applicability of current technology, and limitations of remote IECD monitoring are also addressed. The use of remote monitor should consider the selection of patients, the type of disease, and centers' availability to receive, interpret and respond to device alerts. Before remote IECD monitoring can be routinely used, technical, procedure, and ethical/legal issues should be addressed.

A Study of the Effects of Goal Orientation on the Reflective Ability of Electronic Portfolio Users

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Gary; Chau, Juliana

2013-01-01

This paper explores and discusses the effects of different goal orientations on students' reflective ability as demonstrated in their electronic portfolios (ePortfolios). Primary data was collected from 54 showcases (digital containers) generated by 26 undergraduate students on an ePortfolio platform over a period of 3 months. The participants had…

Development and testing of the Junkeeper Control Corporation integrated programmable electronic controller and hydronics package

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hankins, J. D.

1979-01-01

Additional developmental work on the existing programmable electronic controller and hydronic package for use with solar heating and cooling systems is summarized. The controller/hydronics subsystems passed all acceptance tests and performance criteria. The subsystems were shown marketable for public use.

75 FR 79438 - Notice of Request for the Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-20

... Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Request for Comments. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork... of Transportation's (DOT's) electronic docket is no longer accepting electronic comments.) All... users, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov . You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act...

30 CFR 870.16 - Acceptable payment methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... for one or more mines, you must: (1) Use an electronic fund transfer mechanism approved by the U.S... one or more mines, you may: (1) Forward payments by electronic transfer in accordance with the... of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, P.O. Box 360095M, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15251. (c...

Electronic Travel Aids for Blind Persons.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Everett W.; Bradfield, Anna L.

1987-01-01

The article describes four of the most widely accepted and utilized Electronic Travel Aids for blind persons--the Lindsay Russell Pathsounder, the Mowat Sensor, the Sonicguide, and the C-5 Laser Cane. Current uses and applications of the four aids for specific populations of visually impaired persons are discussed. (Author)

Health care and privacy law in electronic commerce.

PubMed

Wright, B

1994-01-01

As electronic data interchange (EDI) continues to gain acceptance and use, questions regarding protection of the confidentiality of private healthcare information have arisen. This article explains how a computer-based information system equipped with appropriate safeguards can be far better at ensuring privacy than a paper-based system.

17 CFR 38.552 - Elements of an acceptable audit trail program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... of the order shall also be captured. (b) Transaction history database. A designated contract market's audit trail program must include an electronic transaction history database. An adequate transaction history database includes a history of all trades executed via open outcry or via entry into an electronic...

17 CFR 38.552 - Elements of an acceptable audit trail program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... of the order shall also be captured. (b) Transaction history database. A designated contract market's audit trail program must include an electronic transaction history database. An adequate transaction history database includes a history of all trades executed via open outcry or via entry into an electronic...

38 CFR 36.4333 - Maintenance of records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... electronic form; i.e., an image of the original document in .jpg, .gif, .pdf, or a similar widely accepted... (CONTINUED) LOAN GUARANTY Guaranty or Insurance of Loans to Veterans With Electronic Reporting § 36.4333... factors affecting the obligor's credit worthiness, work sheets, and other documents supporting the holder...

38 CFR 36.4333 - Maintenance of records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... electronic form; i.e., an image of the original document in .jpg, .gif, .pdf, or a similar widely accepted... (CONTINUED) LOAN GUARANTY Guaranty or Insurance of Loans to Veterans With Electronic Reporting § 36.4333... factors affecting the obligor's credit worthiness, work sheets, and other documents supporting the holder...

38 CFR 36.4333 - Maintenance of records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... electronic form; i.e., an image of the original document in .jpg, .gif, .pdf, or a similar widely accepted... (CONTINUED) LOAN GUARANTY Guaranty or Insurance of Loans to Veterans With Electronic Reporting § 36.4333... factors affecting the obligor's credit worthiness, work sheets, and other documents supporting the holder...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mieno, H.; Kabe, R.; Allendorf, M. D.

Here, the first metal–organic framework exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) was developed. The zirconium-based framework (UiO-68-dpa) uses a newly designed linker composed of a terphenyl backbone, an electron-accepting carboxyl group, and an electron-donating diphenylamine and exhibits green TADF emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 30% and high thermal stability.

78 FR 53772 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-30

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2013-N-0519... Veterinary Medicine Using the Food and Drug Administration Electronic Submission Gateway AGENCY: Food and... Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) accepts certain types of submissions electronically with no...

Two-screen single-shot electron spectrometer for laser wakefield accelerated electron beams.

PubMed

Soloviev, A A; Starodubtsev, M V; Burdonov, K F; Kostyukov, I Yu; Nerush, E N; Shaykin, A A; Khazanov, E A

2011-04-01

The laser wakefield acceleration electron beams can essentially deviate from the axis of the system, which distinguishes them greatly from beams of conventional accelerators. In case of energy measurements by means of a permanent-magnet electron spectrometer, the deviation angle can affect accuracy, especially for high energies. A two-screen single-shot electron spectrometer that correctly allows for variations of the angle of entry is considered. The spectrometer design enables enhancing accuracy of measuring narrow electron beams significantly as compared to a one-screen spectrometer with analogous magnetic field, size, and angular acceptance. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Electronic Commerce and Competitive Procurement

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-01

electronic commerce techniques ( electronic Jata interchange (EDI). electronic mail ( E -mail), electronic bulletin boards and facsimile] to competitive ...The ability to conduct discussions and negotiations with offerors electronically by E -mail supports the competitive proposal solicitation method...software vendors understand the dimensions of the DoD electronic commerce market , they may through competitive forces provide EDI capability. If their

Electron shuttles in biotechnology.

PubMed

Watanabe, Kazuya; Manefield, Mike; Lee, Matthew; Kouzuma, Atsushi

2009-12-01

Electron-shuttling compounds (electron shuttles [ESs], or redox mediators) are essential components in intracellular electron transfer, while microbes also utilize self-produced and naturally present ESs for extracellular electron transfer. These compounds assist in microbial energy metabolism by facilitating electron transfer between microbes, from electron-donating substances to microbes, and/or from microbes to electron-accepting substances. Artificially supplemented ESs can create new routes of electron flow in the microbial energy metabolism, thereby opening up new possibilities for the application of microbes to biotechnology processes. Typical examples of such processes include halogenated-organics bioremediation, azo-dye decolorization, and microbial fuel cells. Herein we suggest that ESs can be applied widely to create new microbial biotechnology processes.

Development of a glucose sensor employing quick and easy modification method with mediator for altering electron acceptor preference.

PubMed

Hatada, Mika; Loew, Noya; Inose-Takahashi, Yuka; Okuda-Shimazaki, Junko; Tsugawa, Wakako; Mulchandani, Ashok; Sode, Koji

2018-06-01

Enzyme based electrochemical biosensors are divided into three generations according to their type of electron transfer from the cofactors of the enzymes to the electrodes. Although the 3rd generation sensors using direct electron transfer (DET) type enzymes are ideal, the number of enzyme types which possess DET ability is limited. In this study, we report of a glucose sensor using mediator-modified glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), that was fabricated by a new quick-and-easy method using the pre-functionalized amine reactive phenazine ethosulfate (arPES). Thus mediator-modified GDH obtained the ability to transfer electrons to bulky electron acceptors as well as electrodes. The concentration of glucose was successfully measured using electrodes with immobilized PES-modified GDH, without addition of external electron mediators. Therefore, continuous monitoring systems can be developed based on this "2.5th generation" electron transfer principle utilizing quasi-DET. Furthermore, we successfully modified two other diagnostically relevant enzymes, glucoside 3-dehydrogenase and lactate oxidase, with PES. Therefore, various kinds of diagnostic enzymes can achieve quasi-DET ability simply by modification with arPES, suggesting that continuous monitoring systems based on the 2.5th generation principle can be developed for various target molecules. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dose computation for therapeutic electron beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glegg, Martin Mackenzie

The accuracy of electron dose calculations performed by two commercially available treatment planning computers, Varian Cadplan and Helax TMS, has been assessed. Measured values of absorbed dose delivered by a Varian 2100C linear accelerator, under a wide variety of irradiation conditions, were compared with doses calculated by the treatment planning computers. Much of the motivation for this work was provided by a requirement to verify the accuracy of calculated electron dose distributions in situations encountered clinically at Glasgow's Beatson Oncology Centre. Calculated dose distributions are required in a significant minority of electron treatments, usually in cases involving treatment to the head and neck. Here, therapeutic electron beams are subject to factors which may cause non-uniformity in the distribution of dose, and which may complicate the calculation of dose. The beam shape is often irregular, the beam may enter the patient at an oblique angle or at an extended source to skin distance (SSD), tissue inhomogeneities can alter the dose distribution, and tissue equivalent material (such as wax) may be added to reduce dose to critical organs. Technological advances have allowed the current generation of treatment planning computers to implement dose calculation algorithms with the ability to model electron beams in these complex situations. These calculations have, however, yet to be verified by measurement. This work has assessed the accuracy of calculations in a number of specific instances. Chapter two contains a comparison of measured and calculated planar electron isodose distributions. Three situations were considered: oblique incidence, incidence on an irregular surface (such as that which would be arise from the use of wax to reduce dose to spinal cord), and incidence on a phantom containing a small air cavity. Calculations were compared with measurements made by thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) in a WTe electron solid water phantom. Chapter three assesses the planning computers' ability to model electron beam penumbra at extended SSD. Calculations were compared with diode measurements in a water phantom. Further measurements assessed doses in the junction region produced by abutting an extended SSD electron field with opposed photon fields. Chapter four describes an investigation of the size and shape of the region enclosed by the 90% isodose line when produced by limiting the electron beam with square and elliptical apertures. The 90% isodose line was chosen because clinical treatments are often prescribed such that a given volume receives at least 90% dose. Calculated and measured dose distributions were compared in a plane normal to the beam central axis. Measurements were made by film dosimetry. While chapters two to four examine relative doses, chapter five assesses the accuracy of absolute dose (or output) calculations performed by the planning computers. Output variation with SSD and field size was examined. Two further situations already assessed for the distribution of relative dose were also considered: an obliquely incident field, and a field incident on an irregular surface. The accuracy of calculations was assessed against criteria stipulated by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurement (ICRU). The Varian Cadplan and Helax TMS treatment planning systems produce acceptable accuracy in the calculation of relative dose from therapeutic electron beams in most commonly encountered situations. When interpreting clinical dose distributions, however, knowledge of the limitations of the calculation algorithm employed by each system is required in order to identify the minority of situations where results are not accurate. The calculation of absolute dose is too inaccurate to implement in a clinical environment. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Sheath effects on current collection by particle detectors with narrow acceptance angles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, N.; Baugher, C. R.

1981-01-01

Restriction of the aperture acceptance angle of an ion or electron trap on an attracting spacecraft significantly alters the volt-ampere characteristics of the instrument in a low Mach number plasma. It is shown when the angular acceptance of the aperture is restricted the current to the collector tends to be independent of the Debye length. Expressions for the RPA characteristics for both a thin sheath and a thick sheath are derived; and it is shown that as the aperture is narrowed the curves tend toward equivalence.

75 FR 352 - FFP Qualified Hydro 18 LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-05

... Hydro 18 LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments... Hydro 18 LLC filed an application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal... electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site...

Finite Forward Acceptance Angles for Single Electron Capture by ^3He^2+ Ions in He and H_2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mawhorter, Rj; Greenwood, J.; Smith; Chutjian, A.

2004-05-01

Perhaps surprisingly, electron capture scattering angles of a few degrees or more are observed for slow ions impacting light targets. Gas cells must be designed with this in mind. Indeed the difference between small acceptance angle results(W.L. Nutt, et al., J. Phys. B 8), 1457 (1978) and the larger acceptance-angle studies of both Kusakabe, et al.(T. Kusakabe, et al., J. Phys. Soc. Japan 59), 1218 (1990) and our group at JPL (presented here; energy range 0.33-4.67 keV/amu) for ^3He^2+ in H2 can be ascribed to this effect. Olson and Kimura(R. E. Olson and M. Kimura, J. Phys. B 15), 4231 (1982) have modeled the problem theoretically. We use existing differential cross section data(D. Bordenave-Montesquieu and R. Dagnac, J. Phys. B 27), 543 1994) for both H_2/ D2 and ^4He targets to calculate realistic acceptance angles. The resulting small total cross section corrections provide reliable absolute results for these benchmark systems. This work was carried out at JPL/Caltech, and was supported through agreement with NASA.

Elucidating the Structure-Reactivity Correlations of Phenothiazine-Based Fluorescent Probes toward ClO.

PubMed

Wang, Shichao; Zhang, Boyu; Wang, Wenjing; Feng, Gang; Yuan, Daqiang; Zhang, Xuanjun

2018-06-07

In this work, with the aim of developing effective molecular probes and investigating the structure-reactivity correlation, a short series of phenothiazine-based fluorescent probes are designed for the detection of ClO - with differing electron push-pull groups. Sensing experiment results and single-crystal X-ray analysis with the aid of time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations reveal that substituting groups with increasing electron-withdrawing ability can increase the dihedral angle of the phenothiazine moiety and reduce the gap energy of the probes, leading to enhanced reactivity toward ClO - . Both PT1 and PT2 show two-color switching upon detection of ClO - . PT1, with the strong electron-donating group thiophene, shows a fluorescence color switch from salmon to blue. PT2, with a medium electron-donating/accepting group benzothiazole, shows a fluorescence color switch from red to green. However, both PT1 and PT2 show almost no response to ONOO - . Through the introduction of strong electron-withdrawing ketone combined with a cyano group, PT3 shows a cyan emission upon detection of ClO - and weak red emission upon detection of ONOO - . HRMS and 1 H NMR results confirm that PT1 and PT2 have the same sensing mode, in which the divalent sulfur of phenothiazine can be oxidized to sulfoxide by ClO - . Upon reaction with ClO - , PT3 experiences two-step reactions. It is first oxidized into the sulfone structure by ClO - , and then transformed into sulfoxide phenothiazine aldehyde. Upon encountering ONOO - , PT3 changes into an aldehyde structure and some nonfluorescent byproducts. Owing to their special selectivity and high sensitivity, PT1 and PT2 are applied to image the endogenous ClO - in macrophage cells and zebrafish larvae. This study is expected to provide useful guidelines for probe design for various applications. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The Swedish version of the Acceptance of Chronic Health Conditions Scale for people with multiple sclerosis: Translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric properties.

PubMed

Forslin, Mia; Kottorp, Anders; Kierkegaard, Marie; Johansson, Sverker

2016-11-11

To translate and culturally adapt the Acceptance of Chronic Health Conditions (ACHC) Scale for people with multiple sclerosis into Swedish, and to analyse the psychometric properties of the Swedish version. Ten people with multiple sclerosis participated in translation and cultural adaptation of the ACHC Scale; 148 people with multiple sclerosis were included in evaluation of the psychometric properties of the scale. Translation and cultural adaptation were carried out through translation and back-translation, by expert committee evaluation and pre-test with cognitive interviews in people with multiple sclerosis. The psychometric properties of the Swedish version were evaluated using Rasch analysis. The Swedish version of the ACHC Scale was an acceptable equivalent to the original version. Seven of the original 10 items fitted the Rasch model and demonstrated ability to separate between groups. A 5-item version, including 2 items and 3 super-items, demonstrated better psychometric properties, but lower ability to separate between groups. The Swedish version of the ACHC Scale with the original 10 items did not fit the Rasch model. Two solutions, either with 7 items (ACHC-7) or with 2 items and 3 super-items (ACHC-5), demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. Use of the ACHC-5 Scale with super-items is recommended, since this solution adjusts for local dependency among items.

The concept of work ability.

PubMed

Tengland, Per-Anders

2011-06-01

The concept of "work ability" is central for many sciences, especially for those related to working life and to rehabilitation. It is one of the important concepts in legislation regulating sickness insurance. How the concept is defined therefore has important normative implications. The concept is, however, often not sufficiently well defined. AIM AND METHOD The objective of this paper is to clarify, through conceptual analysis, what the concept can and should mean, and to propose a useful definition for scientific and practical work. RESULTS Several of the defining characteristics found in the literature are critically scrutinized and discussed, namely health, basic standard competence, occupational competence, occupational virtues, and motivation. These characteristics are related to the work tasks and the work environment. One conclusion is that we need two definitions of work ability, one for specific jobs that require special training or education, and one for jobs that most people can manage given a short period of practice. Having work ability, in the first sense, means having the occupational competence, the health required for the competence, and the occupational virtues that are required for managing the work tasks, assuming that the tasks are reasonable and that the work environment is acceptable. In the second sense, having work ability is having the health, the basic standard competence and the relevant occupational virtues required for managing some kind of job, assuming that the work tasks are reasonable and that the work environment is acceptable. CONCLUSION These definitions give us tools for understanding and discussing the complex, holistic and dynamic aspects of work ability, and they can lay the foundations for the creation of instruments for evaluating work ability, as well as help formulate strategies for rehabilitation.

Annotations for the Collaboration of the Health Professionals

PubMed Central

Bringay, Sandra; Barry, Catherine; Charlet, Jean

2006-01-01

In the French DocPatient project, we work on documentary functionalities to improve the use of the electronic medical record. We suggest that integration of specific uses for paper medical documents in the design of the electronic medical record will improve its utility, use and acceptance. We propose in this paper to add a functionality of annotations in the electronic medical record to reinforce collaboration, coordination and awareness. PMID:17238309

Biogeochemical stability and reactions of iron-organic carbon complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Y.; Adhikari, D.; Zhao, Q.; Dunham-Cheatham, S.; Das, K.; Mejia, J.; Huang, R.; Wang, X.; Poulson, S.; Tang, Y.; Obrist, D.; Roden, E. E.

2017-12-01

Our core hypothesis is that the degradation rate of soil organic carbon (OC) is governed by the amount of iron (Fe)-bound OC, and the ability of microbial communities to utilize OC as an energy source and electron shuttle for Fe reduction that in turn stimulates reductive release of Fe-bound labile dissolved OC. This hypothesis is being systematically evaluated using model Fe-OC complexes, natural soils, and microcosm system. We found that hematite-bound aliphatic C was more resistant to reduction release, although hematite preferred to sorb more aromatic C. Resistance to reductive release represents a new mechanism that aliphatic soil OC was stabilized by association with Fe oxide. In other studies, pyrogenic OC was found to facilitate the reduction of hematite, by enhancing extracellular electron transport and sorbing Fe(II). For ferrihydrite-OC co-precipitates, the reduction of Fe and release of OC was closely governed by the C/Fe ratio in the system. Based on the XPS, XANES and XAFS analysis, the transformation of Fe speciation was heterogeneous, depending on the conformation and composition of Fe-OC complexes. For natural soils, we investigated the quantity, characteristics, and reactivity of Fe-bound OC in soils collected from 14 forests in the United States. Fe-bound OC contributed up to 57.8% of total OC in the forest soils. Under the anaerobic conditions, the reduction of Fe was positively correlated to the electron accepting capacity of OC. Our findings highlight the closely coupled dynamics of Fe and OC, with broad implications on the turnover of OC and biogeochemical cycles of Fe.

Early detection of Candida albicans biofilms at porous electrodes.

PubMed

Congdon, Robert B; Feldberg, Alexander S; Ben-Yakar, Natalie; McGee, Dennis; Ober, Christopher; Sammakia, Bahgat; Sadik, Omowunmi A

2013-02-15

We describe the development of an electrochemical sensor for early detection of biofilm using Candida albicans. The electrochemical sensor used the ability of biofilms to accept electrons from redox mediators relative to the number of metabolically active cells present. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques were used to monitor the redox reaction of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) at porous reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) (238.7 cm(2)) working electrodes versus Ag/AgCl reference. A shift in the peak potential occurred after 12 h of film growth, which is attributed to the presence of C. albicans. Moreover, the intensity of the ferricyanide reduction peak first increased as C. albicans deposited onto the porous electrodes at various growth times. The peak current subsequently decreased at extended periods of growth of 48 h. The reduction in peak current was attributed to the biofilm reaching its maximum growth thickness, which correlated with the maximum number of metabolically active cells. The observed diffusion coefficients for the bare RVC and biofilm-coated electrodes were 2.2 × 10(-3) and 7.0 × 10(-6) cm(2)/s, respectively. The increase in diffusivity from the bare electrode to the biofilm-coated electrode indicated some enhancement of electron transfer mediated by the biofilm to the porous electrode. Verification of the growth of biofilm was achieved using scanning electron microcopy and laser scanning confocal imaging microscopy. Validation with conventional plating techniques confirmed that the correlation (R(2) = 0.9392) could be achieved between the electrochemical sensors data and colony-forming units. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 19420 - Michael J. Aruta, M.D.; Decision and Order

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-07

... no indication that any acceptable measure of mental status, cognitive ability and response time was..., neurosurgery, psychiatry, addiction medicine and/or psychology''; \\42\\ (10) reflected ``a gross lack of past...

Neural indicators of emotion regulation via acceptance vs reappraisal in remitted major depressive disorder

PubMed Central

Keng, Shian-Ling; Ji, Jie Lisa; Moore, Tyler; Minkel, Jared; Dichter, Gabriel S.

2015-01-01

Mood disorders are characterized by impaired emotion regulation abilities, reflected in alterations in frontolimbic brain functioning during regulation. However, little is known about differences in brain function when comparing regulatory strategies. Reappraisal and emotional acceptance are effective in downregulating negative affect, and are components of effective depression psychotherapies. Investigating neural mechanisms of reappraisal vs emotional acceptance in remitted major depressive disorder (rMDD) may yield novel mechanistic insights into depression risk and prevention. Thirty-seven individuals (18 rMDD, 19 controls) were assessed during a functional magnetic resonance imaging task requiring reappraisal, emotional acceptance or no explicit regulation while viewing sad images. Lower negative affect was reported following reappraisal than acceptance, and was lower following acceptance than no explicit regulation. In controls, the acceptance > reappraisal contrast revealed greater activation in left insular cortex and right prefrontal gyrus, and less activation in several other prefrontal regions. Compared with controls, the rMDD group had greater paracingulate and right midfrontal gyrus (BA 8) activation during reappraisal relative to acceptance. Compared with reappraisal, acceptance is associated with activation in regions linked to somatic and emotion awareness, although this activation is associated with less reduction in negative affect. Additionally, a history of MDD moderated these effects. PMID:25617820

Development and validation of the brief esophageal dysphagia questionnaire.

PubMed

Taft, T H; Riehl, M; Sodikoff, J B; Kahrilas, P J; Keefer, L; Doerfler, B; Pandolfino, J E

2016-12-01

Esophageal dysphagia is common in gastroenterology practice and has multiple etiologies. A complication for some patients with dysphagia is food impaction. A valid and reliable questionnaire to rapidly evaluate esophageal dysphagia and impaction symptoms can aid the gastroenterologist in gathering information to inform treatment approach and further evaluation, including endoscopy. 1638 patients participated over two study phases. 744 participants completed the Brief Esophageal Dysphagia Questionnaire (BEDQ) for phase 1; 869 completed the BEDQ, Visceral Sensitivity Index, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for phase 2. Demographic and clinical data were obtained via the electronic medical record. The BEDQ was evaluated for internal consistency, split-half reliability, ceiling and floor effects, and construct validity. The BEDQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. The symptom frequency and severity scales scored above the standard acceptable cutoffs for reliability while the impaction subscale yielded poor internal consistency and split-half reliability; thus the impaction items were deemed qualifiers only and removed from the total score. No significant ceiling or floor effects were found with the exception of 1 item, and inter-item correlations fell within accepted ranges. Construct validity was supported by moderate yet significant correlations with other measures. The predictive ability of the BEDQ was small but significant. The BEDQ represents a rapid, reliable, and valid assessment tool for esophageal dysphagia with food impaction for clinical practice that differentiates between patients with major motor dysfunction and mechanical obstruction. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Development and Validation of the Brief Esophageal Dysphagia Questionnaire

PubMed Central

Taft, Tiffany H.; Riehl, Megan; Sodikoff, Jamie B.; Kahrilas, Peter J.; Keefer, Laurie; Doerfler, Bethany; Pandolfino, John E.

2017-01-01

Background Esophageal dysphagia is common in gastroenterology practice and has multiple etiologies. A complication for some patients with dysphagia is food impaction. A valid and reliable questionnaire to rapidly evaluate esophageal dysphagia and impaction symptoms can aid the gastroenterologist in gathering information to inform treatment approach and further evaluation, including endoscopy. Methods 1,638 patients participated over two study phases. 744 participants completed the Brief Esophageal Dysphagia Questionnaire (BEDQ) for phase 1; 869 completed the BEDQ, Visceral Sensitivity Index, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for phase 2. Demographic and clinical data were obtained via the electronic medical record. The BEDQ was evaluated for internal consistency, split-half reliability, ceiling and floor effects, and construct validity. Key Results The BEDQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. The symptom frequency and severity scales scored above the standard acceptable cutoffs for reliability while the impaction subscale yielded poor internal consistency and split-half reliability; thus the impaction items were deemed qualifiers only and removed from the total score. No significant ceiling or floor effects were found with the exception of 1 item, and inter-item correlations fell within accepted ranges. Construct validity was supported by moderate yet significant correlations with other measures. The predictive ability of the BEDQ was small but significant. Conclusions & Inferences The BEDQ represents a rapid, reliable and valid assessment tool for esophageal dysphagia with food impaction for clinical practice that differentiates between patients with major motor dysfunction and mechanical obstruction. PMID:27380834

Assessing Commercially Available Personal Health Records for Home Health: Recommendations for Design.

PubMed

Kneale, Laura; Choi, Yong; Demiris, George

2016-01-01

Home health nurses and clients experience unmet information needs when transitioning from hospital to home health. Personal health records (PHRs) support consumer-centered information management activities. Previous work has assessed PHRs associated with healthcare providers, but these systems leave home health nurses unable to access necessary information. To evaluate the ability of publically available PHRs to accept, manage, and share information from a home health case study. Two researchers accessed the publically available PHRs on myPHR.com, and attempted to enter, manage, and share the case study data. We qualitatively described the PHR features, and identified gaps between the case study information and PHR functionality. Eighteen PHRs were identified in our initial search. Seven systems met our inclusion criteria, and are included in this review. The PHRs were able to accept basic medical information. Gaps occurred when entering, managing, and/or sharing data from the acute care and home health episodes. The PHRs that were reviewed were unable to effectively manage the case study information. Therefore, increasing consumer health literacy through these systems may be difficult. The PHRs that we reviewed were also unable to electronically share their data. The gap between the existing functionality and the information needs from the case study may make these PHRs difficult to use for home health environments. Additional work is needed to increase the functionality of the PHR systems to better fit the data needs of home health clients.

Analysis of the factors influencing healthcare professionals' adoption of mobile electronic medical record (EMR) using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) in a tertiary hospital.

PubMed

Kim, Seok; Lee, Kee-Hyuck; Hwang, Hee; Yoo, Sooyoung

2016-01-30

Although the factors that affect the end-user's intention to use a new system and technology have been researched, the previous studies have been theoretical and do not verify the factors that affected the adoption of a new system. Thus, this study aimed to confirm the factors that influence users' intentions to utilize a mobile electronic health records (EMR) system using both a questionnaire survey and a log file analysis that represented the real use of the system. After observing the operation of a mobile EMR system in a tertiary university hospital for seven months, we performed an offline survey regarding the user acceptance of the system based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). We surveyed 942 healthcare professionals over two weeks and performed a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis to identify the intention to use the system among the participants. Next, we compared the results of the SEM analysis with the results of the analyses of the actual log files for two years to identify further insights into the factors that affected the intention of use. For these analyses, we used SAS 9.0 and AMOS 21. Of the 942 surveyed end-users, 48.3 % (23.2 % doctors and 68.3 % nurses) responded. After eliminating six subjects who completed the survey insincerely, we conducted the SEM analyses on the data from 449 subjects (65 doctors and 385 nurses). The newly suggested model satisfied the standards of model fitness, and the intention to use it was especially high due to the influences of Performance Expectancy on Attitude and Attitude. Based on the actual usage log analyses, both the doctors and nurses used the menus to view the inpatient lists, alerts, and patients' clinical data with high frequency. Specifically, the doctors frequently retrieved laboratory results, and the nurses frequently retrieved nursing notes and used the menu to assume the responsibilities of nursing work. In this study, the end-users' intentions to use the mobile EMR system were particularly influenced by Performance Expectancy and Attitude. In reality, the usage log revealed high-frequency use of the functions to improve the continuity of care and work efficiency. These results indicate the influence of the factor of performance expectancy on the intention to use the mobile EMR system. Consequently, we suggest that when determining the implementation of mobile EMR systems, the functions that are related to workflow with ability to increase performance should be considered first.

Reduced Effectiveness of Interruptive Drug-Drug Interaction Alerts after Conversion to a Commercial Electronic Health Record.

PubMed

Wright, Adam; Aaron, Skye; Seger, Diane L; Samal, Lipika; Schiff, Gordon D; Bates, David W

2018-05-15

Drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts in electronic health records (EHRs) can help prevent adverse drug events, but such alerts are frequently overridden, raising concerns about their clinical usefulness and contribution to alert fatigue. To study the effect of conversion to a commercial EHR on DDI alert and acceptance rates. Two before-and-after studies. 3277 clinicians who received a DDI alert in the outpatient setting. Introduction of a new, commercial EHR and subsequent adjustment of DDI alerting criteria. Alert burden and proportion of alerts accepted. Overall interruptive DDI alert burden increased by a factor of 6 from the legacy EHR to the commercial EHR. The acceptance rate for the most severe alerts fell from 100 to 8.4%, and from 29.3 to 7.5% for medium severity alerts (P < 0.001). After disabling the least severe alerts, total DDI alert burden fell by 50.5%, and acceptance of Tier 1 alerts rose from 9.1 to 12.7% (P < 0.01). Changing from a highly tailored DDI alerting system to a more general one as part of an EHR conversion decreased acceptance of DDI alerts and increased alert burden on users. The decrease in acceptance rates cannot be fully explained by differences in the clinical knowledge base, nor can it be fully explained by alert fatigue associated with increased alert burden. Instead, workflow factors probably predominate, including timing of alerts in the prescribing process, lack of differentiation of more and less severe alerts, and features of how users interact with alerts.

49 CFR 172.201 - Preparation and retention of shipping papers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... basic description required by § 172.202(a). (5) Electronic shipping papers. For transportation by rail... the shipping paper required by § 172.200(a), or an electronic image thereof, that is accessible at or... hazardous waste, the shipping paper copy must be retained for three years after the material is accepted by...

Guidelines for Acceptable Electronic Communication with Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Todoric, Mary E.

2011-01-01

Rarely does a day go by when one doesn't hear or read something relating to digital communication and school. Whether it's referencing cell phones, email, Facebook, texting, blogs, or Twitter, this constant barrage of messages in the media makes it clear that electronic communications are in the forefront of students' lives. They are also an…

75 FR 32143 - Submission of Electronic Documentation With Comailed and Copalletized Mailings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-07

... efficiency in the processing of copalletized mailings. The Postal Service can accept piece-level electronic...-size pieces in trays, which include pieces to be incorporated within a copalletized mailing, to prepare... statements for payment at the consolidator site. Consolidators of letter-size pieces in trays will also be...

12 CFR 205.12 - Relation to other laws.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Relation to other laws. 205.12 Section 205.12 Banks and Banking FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM ELECTRONIC...) The Electronic Fund Transfer Act and this part govern— (i) The addition to an accepted credit card as...

41 CFR 101-42.1102-6 - Noncertified and certified electronic products.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... radiation test to determine the acceptability for use and/or modification to bring it into compliance with..., noncertified black and white television receivers, and noncertified microwave ovens. (2) Donation of electronic... it: (A) Is aware of the potential danger in using the product without a radiation test to determine...

10 CFR 2.304 - Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance for filing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., and General Hearing Management for NRC Adjudicatory Hearings § 2.304 Formal requirements for documents... section, it may be struck. (1) An electronic document must be signed using a participant's or a... paragraph (d) of this section. (i) When signing an electronic document using a digital ID certificate, the...

10 CFR 2.304 - Formal requirements for documents; signatures; acceptance for filing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

..., and General Hearing Management for NRC Adjudicatory Hearings § 2.304 Formal requirements for documents... section, it may be struck. (1) An electronic document must be signed using a participant's or a... paragraph (d) of this section. (i) When signing an electronic document using a digital ID certificate, the...

77 FR 61443 - Acceptance of Application for Special Nuclear Materials License From Rensselaer Polytechnic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-09

... determination by the presiding officer that the filing demonstrates good cause by satisfying the following three... on electronic storage media. Participants may not submit paper copies of their filings unless they.... Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not submitting documents electronically must file an...

Fellows' Perceptions of a Mandatory Reflective Electronic Portfolio in a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruiz, Jorge G.; Qadri, Syeda S.; Karides, Marina; Castillo, Carmen; Milanez, Marcos; Roos, Bernard A.

2009-01-01

Electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) can be useful for evaluating and documenting mastery of competencies. We investigated geriatric medicine fellows' perceptions of an ePortfolio. We conducted surveys and focus groups followed by quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Our study revealed that fellows considered the ePortfolio acceptable and…

36 CFR 1235.50 - What specifications and standards for transfer apply to electronic records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... electronic records in a format that is independent of specific hardware or software. Except as specified in... a request from NARA to provide the software to decompress the records. (3) Agencies interested in... organization. Acceptable transfer formats include the Geography Markup Language (GML) as defined by the Open...

78 FR 78353 - Hydro Green Energy, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-26

... concrete tetrapods; and (10) a new single- circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line approximately 9 miles in... encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and [email protected] , (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502- 8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing...

A BPTTF-based self-assembled electron-donating triangle capable of C60 binding.

PubMed

Goeb, Sébastien; Bivaud, Sébastien; Dron, Paul Ionut; Balandier, Jean-Yves; Chas, Marcos; Sallé, Marc

2012-03-25

A kinetically stable self-assembled redox-active triangle is isolated. The resulting electron-donating cavity, which incorporates three BPTTF units, exhibits a remarkable binding ability for electron-deficient C(60), supported by a favorable combination of structural and electronic features.

49 CFR 212.201 - General qualifications of State inspection personnel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... acceptable; (3) The ability to record data on standard report forms with a high degree of accuracy; (4) The..., and terminology common to operating and maintenance functions; and (2) The scope and major...

49 CFR 212.201 - General qualifications of State inspection personnel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... acceptable; (3) The ability to record data on standard report forms with a high degree of accuracy; (4) The..., and terminology common to operating and maintenance functions; and (2) The scope and major...

Exploring critical factors influencing physicians' acceptance of mobile electronic medical records based on the dual-factor model: a validation in Taiwan.

PubMed

Liu, Chung-Feng; Cheng, Tain-Junn

2015-02-07

With respect to information management, most of the previous studies on the acceptance of healthcare information technologies were analyzed from "positive" perspectives. However, such acceptance is always influenced by both positive and negative factors and it is necessary to validate both in order to get a complete understanding. This study aims to explore physicians' acceptance of mobile electronic medical records based on the dual-factor model, which is comprised of inhibitors and enablers, to explain an individual's technology usage. Following an earlier healthcare study in the USA, the researchers conducted a similar survey for an Eastern country (Taiwan) to validate whether perceived threat to professional autonomy acts as a critical inhibitor. In addition, perceived mobility, which is regarded as a critical feature of mobile services, was also evaluated as a common antecedent variable in the model. Physicians from three branch hospitals of a medical group were invited to participate and complete questionnaires. Partial least squares, a structural equation modeling technique, was used to evaluate the proposed model for explanatory power and hypotheses testing. 158 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding a response rate of 33.40%. As expected, the inhibitor of perceived threat has a significant impact on the physicians' perceptions of usefulness as well as their intention to use. The enablers of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were also significant. In addition, as expected, perceived mobility was confirmed to have a significant impact on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and perceived threat. It was confirmed that the dual-factor model is a comprehensive method for exploring the acceptance of healthcare information technologies, both in Western and Eastern countries. Furthermore, perceived mobility was proven to be an effective antecedent variable in the model. The researchers believe that the results of this study will contribute to the research on the acceptance of healthcare information technologies, particularly with regards to mobile electronic medical records, based on the dual-factor viewpoints of academia and practice.

The digital curriculum vitae.

PubMed

Galdino, Greg M; Gotway, Michael

2005-02-01

The curriculum vitae (CV) has been the traditional method for radiologists to illustrate their accomplishments in the field of medicine. Despite its presence in medicine as a standard, widely accepted means to describe one's professional career and its use for decades as an accomplice to most applications and interviews, there is relatively little written in the medical literature regarding the CV. Misrepresentation on medical students', residents', and fellows' applications has been reported. Using digital technology, CVs have the potential to be much more than printed words on paper and offers a solution to misrepresentation. Digital CVs may incorporate full-length articles, graphics, presentations, clinical images, and video. Common formats for digital CVs include CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs containing articles (in Adobe Portable Document Format) and presentations (in Microsoft PowerPoint format) accompanying printed CVs, word processing documents with hyperlinks to articles and presentations either locally (on CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs) or remotely (via the Internet), or hypertext markup language documents. Digital CVs afford the ability to provide more information that is readily accessible to those receiving and reviewing them. Articles, presentations, videos, images, and Internet links can be illustrated using standard file formats commonly available to all radiologists. They can be easily updated and distributed on an inexpensive media, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. With the availability of electronic articles, presentations, and information via the Internet, traditional paper CVs may soon be superseded by their electronic successors.

Electron/proton spectrometer certification documentation analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gleeson, P.

1972-01-01

A compilation of analyses generated during the development of the electron-proton spectrometer for the Skylab program is presented. The data documents the analyses required by the electron-proton spectrometer verification plan. The verification plan was generated to satisfy the ancillary hardware requirements of the Apollo Applications program. The certification of the spectrometer requires that various tests, inspections, and analyses be documented, approved, and accepted by reliability and quality control personnel of the spectrometer development program.

Substrate specificity in enzymatic fluorination. The fluorinase from Streptomyces cattleya accepts 2′-deoxyadenosine substrates†

PubMed Central

Cobb, Steven L.; Deng, Hai; McEwan, Andrew R.; Naismith, James H.; O’Hagan, David; Robinson, David A.

2012-01-01

The fluorinase enzyme from Streptomyces cattleya displays an unusual ability in biocatalysis in that it forms a C–F bond. We now report that the enzyme will accept 2′-deoxyadenosine in place of adenosine substrates, and structural evidence reveals a reorganisation in hydrogen bonding to accommodate this substrate series. It emerges from this study that the enzyme does not require a planar ribose conformation of the substrate to catalyse C–F bond formation. PMID:16604208

Real-time measurement and monitoring of absorbed dose for electron beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korenev, Sergey; Korenev, Ivan; Rumega, Stanislav; Grossman, Leon

2004-09-01

The real-time method and system for measurement and monitoring of absorbed dose for industrial and research electron accelerators is considered in the report. The system was created on the basis of beam parameters method. The main concept of this method consists in the measurement of dissipated kinetic energy of electrons in the irradiated product, determination of number of electrons and mass of irradiated product in the same cell by following calculation of absorbed dose in the cell. The manual and automation systems for dose measurements are described. The systems are acceptable for all types of electron accelerators.

Electron beam magnetic switch for a plurality of free electron lasers

DOEpatents

Schlitt, Leland G.

1984-01-01

Apparatus for forming and utilizing a sequence of electron beam segments, each of the same temporal length (substantially 15 nsec), with consecutive beams being separated by a constant time interval of the order of 3 nsec. The beam sequence is used for simultaneous inputs to a plurality of wiggler magnet systems that also accept the laser beams to be amplified by interaction with the co-propagating electron beams. The electron beams are arranged substantially in a circle to allow proper distribution of and simultaneous switching out of the beam segments to their respective wiggler magnets.

Acceptability of an mHealth App Intervention for Persons With Type 2 Diabetes and its Associations With Initial Self-Management: Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Torbjørnsen, Astrid; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Jenum, Anne Karen; Årsand, Eirik; Ribu, Lis

2018-05-21

Mobile health interventions are increasingly used in health care. The level of acceptability may indicate whether and how such digital solutions will be used. This study aimed to explore associations between the level of acceptability of a mobile diabetes app and initial ability of self-management for patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited from primary health care settings to a 3-armed randomized controlled trial in the Norwegian study in the RENEWING HEALTH project. At the 1-year follow-up, 75 out of 101 participants from the intervention groups completed an acceptability questionnaire (The Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire). In the randomized controlled trial, the 2 intervention groups (n=101 in total) received a mobile phone with a diabetes diary app, and one of the groups received additional health counseling given by telephone calls from a diabetes specialist nurse (n=50). At baseline, we collected clinical variables from medical records, whereas demographic data and self-management (The Health Education Impact Questionnaire) measures were self-reported. Log data from the use of the app by self-monitoring were registered continuously. Associations between initial ability to self-manage at baseline and acceptability of the diabetes diary app after 1 year were analyzed using linear regression. We found statistically significant associations between 5 of the 8 self-management domains and perceived benefit, one of the acceptability factors. However, when adjusting for age, gender, and frequency of use, only 1 domain, skill and technique acquisition, remained independently associated with perceived benefit. Frequency of use of the app was the factor that revealed the strongest association with the acceptability domain perceived benefit. Our findings indicate that persons with diabetes may accept the app, despite its perceived benefit being associated with only one of the 8 domains of their initial level of self-management. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01315756; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01315756 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6z46qPhWl). ©Astrid Torbjørnsen, Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, Anne Karen Jenum, Eirik Årsand, Lis Ribu. Originally published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 21.05.2018.

Generalist genes and high cognitive abilities.

PubMed

Haworth, Claire M A; Dale, Philip S; Plomin, Robert

2009-07-01

The concept of generalist genes operating across diverse domains of cognitive abilities is now widely accepted. Much less is known about the etiology of the high extreme of performance. Is there more specialization at the high extreme? Using a representative sample of 4,000 12-year-old twin pairs from the UK Twins Early Development Study, we investigated the genetic and environmental overlap between web-based tests of general cognitive ability, reading, mathematics and language performance for the top 15% of the distribution using DF extremes analysis. Generalist genes are just as evident at the high extremes of performance as they are for the entire distribution of abilities and for cognitive disabilities. However, a smaller proportion of the phenotypic intercorrelations appears to be explained by genetic influences for high abilities.

Generalist genes and high cognitive abilities

PubMed Central

Haworth, Claire M.A.; Dale, Philip S.; Plomin, Robert

2014-01-01

The concept of generalist genes operating across diverse domains of cognitive abilities is now widely accepted. Much less is known about the etiology of the high extreme of performance. Is there more specialization at the high extreme? Using a representative sample of 4000 12-year-old twin pairs from the UK Twins Early Development Study, we investigated the genetic and environmental overlap between web-based tests of general cognitive ability, reading, mathematics and language performance for the top 15% of the distribution using DF extremes analysis. Generalist genes are just as evident at the high extremes of performance as they are for the entire distribution of abilities and for cognitive disabilities. However, a smaller proportion of the phenotypic intercorrelations appears to be explained by genetic influences for high abilities. PMID:19377870

Photo-excitation of electrons in cytochrome c oxidase as a theory of the mechanism of the increase of ATP production in mitochondria by laser therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zielke, Andrzej

2014-02-01

The hypothesis explains the molecular basis for restoring mitochondrial function by laser therapy. It also explains how laser therapy reverses both excessive oxidation (lack of NADH/FADH2) and excessive reduction (lack of O2) states of cytochrome c oxidase complex. It is proposed that photons interact with heme molecules of cytochrome c oxidase. A molecule of heme contains a porphyrin ring and an atom of iron in the center. The iron atom (Fe) can switch oxidation states back and forth between ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) by accepting or releasing an electron. The porphyrin ring is a complex aromatic molecule that has 26 pi electrons which are "delocalized", spinning in the carbon rings creating a resonating electromagnetic cloud. Photons with similar wavelengths are absorbed by the cloud increasing its energy. The energy is then passed on to the centrally located atom of iron existing in a reduced state (Fe2+). The electrons on the orbits of the iron atom accept this electromagnetic energy, and change orbitals to a higher energetic level. If the energy is sufficient, electrons leave the atom entirely. If this occurs, Fe2+ become oxidized to Fe3+ releasing electrons, thus restoring electron flow and the production of ATP. At the same time, electrons freed from complex IV may have sufficient energy to be picked by NAD+/FADH and re-enter the chain at the complex I or II amplifying the flow of electrons.

Children acceptance of laser dental treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazea, Andreea; Todea, Carmen

2016-03-01

Objectives: To evaluate the dental anxiety level and the degree of acceptance of laser assisted pedodontic treatments from the children part. Also, we want to underline the advantages of laser use in pediatric dentistry, to make this technology widely used in treating dental problems of our children patients. Methods: Thirty pediatric dental patients presented in the Department of Pedodontics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeş", Timişoara were evaluated using the Wong-Baker pain rating scale, wich was administered postoperatory to all patients, to assess their level of laser therapy acceptance. Results: Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale (WBFPS) has good validity and high specificity; generally it's easy for children to use, easy to compare and has good feasibility. Laser treatment has been accepted and tolerated by pediatric patients for its ability to reduce or eliminate pain. Around 70% of the total sample showed an excellent acceptance of laser dental treatment. Conclusions: Laser technology is useful and effective in many clinical situations encountered in pediatric dentistry and a good level of pacient acceptance is reported during all laser procedures on hard and soft tissues.

Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tschirhart, Tanya; Kim, Eunkyoung; McKay, Ryan; Ueda, Hana; Wu, Hsuan-Chen; Pottash, Alex Eli; Zargar, Amin; Negrete, Alejandro; Shiloach, Joseph; Payne, Gregory F.; Bentley, William E.

2017-01-01

The ability to interconvert information between electronic and ionic modalities has transformed our ability to record and actuate biological function. Synthetic biology offers the potential to expand communication `bandwidth' by using biomolecules and providing electrochemical access to redox-based cell signals and behaviours. While engineered cells have transmitted molecular information to electronic devices, the potential for bidirectional communication stands largely untapped. Here we present a simple electrogenetic device that uses redox biomolecules to carry electronic information to engineered bacterial cells in order to control transcription from a simple synthetic gene circuit. Electronic actuation of the native transcriptional regulator SoxR and transcription from the PsoxS promoter allows cell response that is quick, reversible and dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the imposed electronic signals. Further, induction of bacterial motility and population based cell-to-cell communication demonstrates the versatility of our approach and potential to drive intricate biological behaviours.

Acceptance threshold hypothesis is supported by chemical similarity of cuticular hydrocarbons in a stingless bee, Melipona asilvai.

PubMed

Nascimento, D L; Nascimento, F S

2012-11-01

The ability to discriminate nestmates from non-nestmates in insect societies is essential to protect colonies from conspecific invaders. The acceptance threshold hypothesis predicts that organisms whose recognition systems classify recipients without errors should optimize the balance between acceptance and rejection. In this process, cuticular hydrocarbons play an important role as cues of recognition in social insects. The aims of this study were to determine whether guards exhibit a restrictive level of rejection towards chemically distinct individuals, becoming more permissive during the encounters with either nestmate or non-nestmate individuals bearing chemically similar profiles. The study demonstrates that Melipona asilvai (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) guards exhibit a flexible system of nestmate recognition according to the degree of chemical similarity between the incoming forager and its own cuticular hydrocarbons profile. Guards became less restrictive in their acceptance rates when they encounter non-nestmates with highly similar chemical profiles, which they probably mistake for nestmates, hence broadening their acceptance level.

Molecules with enhanced electronic polarizabilities based on defect-like states in conjugated polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beratan, David N. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

Highly conjugated organic polymers typically have large non-resonant electronic susceptibilities, which give the molecules unusual optical properties. To enhance these properties, defects are introduced into the polymer chain. Examples include light doping of the conjugated polymer and synthesis, conjugated polymers which incorporate either electron donating or accepting groups, and conjugated polymers which contain a photoexcitable species capable of reversibly transferring its electron to an acceptor. Such defects in the chain permit enhancement of the second hyperpolarizability by at least an order of magnitude.

Approaches for optimizing the first electronic hyperpolarizability of conjugated organic molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marder, S. R.; Beratan, D. N.; Cheng, L.-T.

1991-01-01

Conjugated organic molecules with electron-donating and -accepting moieties can exhibit large electronic second-order nonlinearities, or first hyperpolarizabilities, beta. The present two-state, four-orbital independent-electron analysis of beta leads to the prediction that its absolute value will be maximized at a combination of donor and acceptor strengths for a given conjugated bridge. Molecular design strategies for beta optimization are proposed which give attention to the energetic manipulations of the bridge states. Experimental results have been obtained which support the validity of this approach.

Pavement condition model based on automated pavement distress surveys.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-05-01

Many government agencies and private consulting companies must deal with the issue of : pavement maintenance. The ability to maintain an in-service pavement structure in : acceptable condition from structural and functional points of view is related ...

Control in the Rate-Determining Step Provides a Promising Strategy To Develop New Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation: A Local Pair Natural Orbital Coupled Cluster Theory Study.

PubMed

Mondal, Bhaskar; Neese, Frank; Ye, Shengfa

2015-08-03

The development of efficient catalysts with base metals for CO2 hydrogenation has always been a major thrust of interest. A series of experimental and theoretical work has revealed that the catalytic cycle typically involves two key steps, namely, base-promoted heterolytic H2 splitting and hydride transfer to CO2, either of which can be the rate-determining step (RDS) of the entire reaction. To explore the determining factor for the nature of RDS, we present herein a comparative mechanistic investigation on CO2 hydrogenation mediated by [M(H)(η(2)-H2)(PP3(Ph))](n+) (M = Fe(II), Ru(II), and Co(III); PP3(Ph) = tris(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)phosphine) type complexes. In order to construct reliable free energy profiles, we used highly correlated wave function based ab initio methods of the coupled cluster type alongside the standard density functional theory. Our calculations demonstrate that the hydricity of the metal-hydride intermediate generated by H2 splitting dictates the nature of the RDS for the Fe(II) and Co(III) systems, while the RDS for the Ru(II) catalyst appears to be ambiguous. CO2 hydrogenation catalyzed by the Fe(II) complex that possesses moderate hydricity traverses an H2-splitting RDS, whereas the RDS for the high-hydricity Co(III) species is found to be the hydride transfer. Thus, our findings suggest that hydricity can be used as a practical guide in future catalyst design. Enhancing the electron-accepting ability of low-hydricity catalysts is likely to improve their catalytic performance, while increasing the electron-donating ability of high-hydricity complexes may speed up CO2 conversion. Moreover, we also established the active roles of base NEt3 in directing the heterolytic H2 splitting and assisting product release through the formation of an acid-base complex.

Comparison of DSMC and CFD Solutions of Fire II Including Radiative Heating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liechty, Derek S.; Johnston, Christopher O.; Lewis, Mark J.

2011-01-01

The ability to compute rarefied, ionized hypersonic flows is becoming more important as missions such as Earth reentry, landing high mass payloads on Mars, and the exploration of the outer planets and their satellites are being considered. These flows may also contain significant radiative heating. To prepare for these missions, NASA is developing the capability to simulate rarefied, ionized flows and to then calculate the resulting radiative heating to the vehicle's surface. In this study, the DSMC codes DAC and DS2V are used to obtain charge-neutral ionization solutions. NASA s direct simulation Monte Carlo code DAC is currently being updated to include the ability to simulate charge-neutral ionized flows, take advantage of the recently introduced Quantum-Kinetic chemistry model, and to include electronic energy levels as an additional internal energy mode. The Fire II flight test is used in this study to assess these new capabilities. The 1634 second data point was chosen for comparisons to be made in order to include comparisons to computational fluid dynamics solutions. The Knudsen number at this point in time is such that the DSMC simulations are still tractable and the CFD computations are at the edge of what is considered valid. It is shown that there can be quite a bit of variability in the vibrational temperature inferred from DSMC solutions and that, from how radiative heating is computed, the electronic temperature is much better suited for radiative calculations. To include the radiative portion of heating, the flow-field solutions are post-processed by the non-equilibrium radiation code HARA. Acceptable agreement between CFD and DSMC flow field solutions is demonstrated and the progress of the updates to DAC, along with an appropriate radiative heating solution, are discussed. In addition, future plans to generate more high fidelity radiative heat transfer solutions are discussed.

Development and Application of a New Learning Object for Teaching Operative Dentistry Using Augmented Reality.

PubMed

Espejo-Trung, Luciana Cardoso; Elian, Silvia Nagib; Luz, Maria Aparecia Alves De Cerqueira

2015-11-01

Learning objects (LOs) associated with augmented reality have been used as attractive new technologic tools in the educational process. However, the acceptance of new LOs must be verified with the purpose of using these innovations in the learning process in general. The aim of this study was to develop a new LO and investigate the acceptance of gold onlay in teaching preparation design at a dental school in Brazil. Questionnaires were designed to assess, first, the users' computational ability and knowledge of computers (Q1) and, second, the users' acceptance of the new LO (Q2). For both questionnaires, the internal consistency index was calculated to determine whether the questions were measuring the same construct. The reliability of Q2 was measured with a retest procedure. The LO was tested by dental students (n=28), professors and postgraduate students in dentistry and prosthetics (n=30), and dentists participating in a continuing education or remedial course in dentistry and/or prosthetics (n=19). Analyses of internal consistency (Kappa coefficient and Cronbach's alpha) demonstrated a high degree of confidence in the questionnaires. Tests for simple linear regressions were conducted between the response variable (Q2) and the following explanative variables: the Q1 score, age, gender, and group. The results showed wide acceptance regardless of the subjects' computational ability (p=0.99; R2=0), gender (p=0.27; R2=1.6%), age (p=0.27; R2=0.1%), or group (p=0.53; R2=1.9%). The methodology used enabled the development of an LO with a high index of acceptance for all groups.

Student Perceptions of a Trial of Electronic Text Matching Software: A Preliminary Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, David; Lindemann, Iris; Marshall, Kelly; Wilkinson, Grette

2005-01-01

It is accepted that using electronic detection methods has benefits within an overall strategy to promote academic integrity in an institution. Little attention has been paid to obtaining student perceptions to evaluate the cost/benefit of using such methods. This study reports on the evaluation of a trial of Turnitin software. 728 students…

Electronic Health Records: Overcoming Obstacles to Improve Acceptance and Utilization for Mental Health Clinicians

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Odom, Stephen A.

2017-01-01

The dynamics and progress of the integration of the electronic health record (EHR) into health-care disciplines have been described and examined using theories related to technology adoption. Previous studies have examined health-care clinician resistance to the EHR in primary care, hospital, and urgent care medical settings, but few studies have…

76 FR 32025 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Proposed Rulemaking To Revise Critical Habitat for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-02

...-BA81 by any one of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http... required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. The petition, 90-day finding, 12-month...

78 FR 78353 - Hydro Green Energy, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-26

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-26

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Evaluation of dose variation during total skin electron irradiation using thermoluminescent dosimeters.

PubMed

Weaver, R D; Gerbi, B J; Dusenbery, K E

1995-09-30

To determine acceptable dose variation using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) in the treatment of Mycosis Fungoides with total skin electron beam (TSEB) irradiation. From 1983 to 1993, 22 patients were treated with total skin electron beam therapy in the standing position. A six-field technique was used to deliver 2 Gy in two days, treating 4 days per week, to a total dose of 35 to 40 Gy using a degraded 9 MeV electron beam. Thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed on several locations of the body and the results recorded. The variations in these readings were analyzed to determine normal dose variation for various body locations during TSEB. The dose to flat surfaces of the body was essentially the same as the dose to the prescription point. The dose to tangential surfaces was within +/- 10% of the prescription dose, but the readings showed much more variation (up to 24%). Thin areas of the body showed large deviations from the prescription dose along with a large amount of variation in the readings (up to 22%). Special areas of the body, such as the perineum and eyelid, showed large deviations from the prescription dose with very large (up to 40%) variations in the readings. The TLD results of this study will be used as a quality assurance check for all new patients treated with TSEB. The results of the TLDs will be compared with this baseline study to determine if the delivered dose is within acceptable ranges. If the TLD results fall outside the acceptable limits established above, then the patient position can be modified or the technique itself evaluated.

Acceptability of using electronic vending machines to deliver oral rapid HIV self-testing kits: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Young, Sean D; Daniels, Joseph; Chiu, ChingChe J; Bolan, Robert K; Flynn, Risa P; Kwok, Justin; Klausner, Jeffrey D

2014-01-01

Rates of unrecognized HIV infection are significantly higher among Latino and Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Policy makers have proposed that HIV self-testing kits and new methods for delivering self-testing could improve testing uptake among minority MSM. This study sought to conduct qualitative assessments with MSM of color to determine the acceptability of using electronic vending machines to dispense HIV self-testing kits. African American and Latino MSM were recruited using a participant pool from an existing HIV prevention trial on Facebook. If participants expressed interest in using a vending machine to receive an HIV self-testing kit, they were emailed a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) code to retrieve the test from the machine. We followed up with those who had tested to assess their willingness to participate in an interview about their experience. Twelve kits were dispensed and 8 interviews were conducted. In general, participants expressed that the vending machine was an acceptable HIV test delivery method due to its novelty and convenience. Acceptability of this delivery model for HIV testing kits was closely associated with three main factors: credibility, confidentiality, and convenience. Future research is needed to address issues, such as user-induced errors and costs, before scaling up the dispensing method.

Validation of Gujarati Version of ABILOCO-Kids Questionnaire.

PubMed

Diwan, Shraddha; Diwan, Jasmin; Patel, Pankaj; Bansal, Ankita B

2015-10-01

ABILOCO-Kids is a measure of locomotion ability for children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6 to 15 years & is available in English & French. To validate the Gujarati version of ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire to be used in clinical research on Gujarati population. ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire was translated into Gujarati from English using forward-backward-forward method. To ensure face & content validity of Gujarati version using group consensus method, each item was examined by group of experts having mean experience of 24.62 years in field of paediatric and paediatric physiotherapy. Each item was analysed for content, meaning, wording, format, ease of administration & scoring. Each item was scored by expert group as either accepted, rejected or accepted with modification. Procedure was continued until 80% of consensus for all items. Concurrent validity was examined on 55 children with Cerebral Palsy (6-15 years) of all Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level & all clinical types by correlating score of ABILOCO-Kids with Gross Motor Functional Measure & GMFCS. In phase 1 of validation, 16 items were accepted as it is; 22 items accepted with modification & 3 items went for phase 2 validation. For concurrent validity, highly significant positive correlation was found between score of ABILOCO-Kids & total GMFM (r=0.713, p<0.005) & highly significant negative correlation with GMFCS (r= -0.778, p<0.005). Gujarati translated version of ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire has good face & content validity as well as concurrent validity which can be used to measure caregiver reported locomotion ability in children with CP.

Neural indicators of emotion regulation via acceptance vs reappraisal in remitted major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Smoski, Moria J; Keng, Shian-Ling; Ji, Jie Lisa; Moore, Tyler; Minkel, Jared; Dichter, Gabriel S

2015-09-01

Mood disorders are characterized by impaired emotion regulation abilities, reflected in alterations in frontolimbic brain functioning during regulation. However, little is known about differences in brain function when comparing regulatory strategies. Reappraisal and emotional acceptance are effective in downregulating negative affect, and are components of effective depression psychotherapies. Investigating neural mechanisms of reappraisal vs emotional acceptance in remitted major depressive disorder (rMDD) may yield novel mechanistic insights into depression risk and prevention. Thirty-seven individuals (18 rMDD, 19 controls) were assessed during a functional magnetic resonance imaging task requiring reappraisal, emotional acceptance or no explicit regulation while viewing sad images. Lower negative affect was reported following reappraisal than acceptance, and was lower following acceptance than no explicit regulation. In controls, the acceptance > reappraisal contrast revealed greater activation in left insular cortex and right prefrontal gyrus, and less activation in several other prefrontal regions. Compared with controls, the rMDD group had greater paracingulate and right midfrontal gyrus (BA 8) activation during reappraisal relative to acceptance. Compared with reappraisal, acceptance is associated with activation in regions linked to somatic and emotion awareness, although this activation is associated with less reduction in negative affect. Additionally, a history of MDD moderated these effects. © The Author (2015). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Hybrid ECG signal conditioner

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rinard, G. A.; Steffen, D. A.; Sturm, R. E.

1979-01-01

Circuit with high common-mode rejection has ability to filter and amplify accepted analog electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of varying amplitude, shape, and polarity. In addition, low power circuit develops standardized pulses that can be counted and averaged by heart/breath rate processor.

Electronic Brief Intervention and Text Messaging for Marijuana Use During Pregnancy: Initial Acceptability of Patients and Providers

PubMed Central

Gray, Justin; Svikis, Dace S; Puder, Karoline S; Resnicow, Ken; Konkel, Janine; Rice, Shetoya; McGoron, Lucy; Ondersma, Steven J

2017-01-01

Background Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance during pregnancy. Technology-delivered brief interventions and text messaging have shown promise in general and pregnant samples but have not yet been applied to marijuana use in pregnancy. Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate, among pregnant women and prenatal care providers, the acceptability of an electronic brief intervention and text messaging plan for marijuana use in pregnancy. Methods Participants included patients (n=10) and medical staff (n=12) from an urban prenatal clinic. Patient-participants were recruited directly during a prenatal care visit. Those who were eligible reviewed the interventions individually and provided quantitative and qualitative feedback regarding software acceptability and helpfulness during a one-on-one interview with research staff. Provider-participants took part in focus groups in which the intervention materials were reviewed and discussed. Qualitative and focus group feedback was transcribed, coded manually, and classified by category and theme. Results Patient-participants provided high ratings for satisfaction, with mean ratings for respectfulness, interest, ease of use, and helpfulness ranging between 4.4 and 4.7 on a 5-point Likert scale. Of the 10 participants, 5 reported that they preferred working with the program versus their doctor, and 9 of 10 said the intervention made them more likely to reduce their marijuana use. Provider-participants received the program favorably, stating the information presented was both relevant and important for their patient population. Conclusions The findings support the acceptability of electronic brief intervention and text messaging for marijuana use during pregnancy. This, combined with their ease of use and low barrier to initiation, suggests that further evaluation in a randomized trial is appropriate. PMID:29117931

Nurses' experiences and perspectives on medication safety practices: an explorative qualitative study.

PubMed

Smeulers, Marian; Onderwater, Astrid T; van Zwieten, Myra C B; Vermeulen, Hester

2014-04-01

To explore nurses' experiences with and perspectives on preventing medication administration errors. Insight into nurses' experiences with and perspectives on preventing medication administration errors is important and can be utilised to tailor and implement safety practices. A qualitative interview study of 20 nurses in an academic medical centre was conducted between March and December of 2011. Three themes emerged from this study: (1) nurses' roles and responsibilities in medication safety: aside from safe preparation and administration, the clinical reasoning of nurses is essential for medication safety; (2) nurses' ability to work safely: knowledge of risks and nurses' work circumstances influence their ability to work safely; and (3) nurses' acceptance of safety practices: advantages, feasibility and appropriateness are important incentives for acceptance of a safety practice. Nurses' experiences coincide with the assumption that they are in a pre-eminent position to enable safe medication management; however, their ability to adequately perform this role depends on sufficient knowledge to assess the risks of medication administration and on the circumstances in which they work. Safe medication management requires a learning climate and professional practice environment that enables further development of professional nursing skills and knowledge. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Measurement of Tensor Analyzing Powers for Elastic Electron Scattering from a Polarized 2H Target Internal to a Storage Ring

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

M. Ferro-Luzzi; M. Bouwhuis; E. Passchier

1996-09-23

We report an absolute measurement of the tensor analyzing powers T20 and T22 in elastic electron-deuteron scattering at a momentum transfer of 1.6 fm{sup -1}. The novel approach of this measurement is the use of a tensor polarized 2H target internal to an electron storage ring, with in situ measurement of the polarization of the target gas. Scattered electrons and recoil deuterons were detected in coincidence with two large acceptance nonmagnetic detectors. The techniques demonstrated have broad applicability to further measurements of spin-dependent electron scattering.

Electron-Poor Polar Intermetallics: Complex Structures, Novel Clusters, and Intriguing Bonding with Pronounced Electron Delocalization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Qisheng; Miller, Gordon J.

Intermetallic compounds represent an extensive pool of candidates for energy related applications stemming from magnetic, electric, optic, caloric, and catalytic properties. The discovery of novel intermetallic compounds can enhance understanding of the chemical principles that govern structural stability and chemical bonding as well as finding new applications. Valence electron-poor polar intermetallics with valence electron concentrations (VECs) between 2.0 and 3.0 e –/atom show a plethora of unprecedented and fascinating structural motifs and bonding features. Furthermore, establishing simple structure-bonding-property relationships is especially challenging for this compound class because commonly accepted valence electron counting rules are inappropriate.

Electron-Poor Polar Intermetallics: Complex Structures, Novel Clusters, and Intriguing Bonding with Pronounced Electron Delocalization

DOE PAGES

Lin, Qisheng; Miller, Gordon J.

2017-12-18

Intermetallic compounds represent an extensive pool of candidates for energy related applications stemming from magnetic, electric, optic, caloric, and catalytic properties. The discovery of novel intermetallic compounds can enhance understanding of the chemical principles that govern structural stability and chemical bonding as well as finding new applications. Valence electron-poor polar intermetallics with valence electron concentrations (VECs) between 2.0 and 3.0 e –/atom show a plethora of unprecedented and fascinating structural motifs and bonding features. Furthermore, establishing simple structure-bonding-property relationships is especially challenging for this compound class because commonly accepted valence electron counting rules are inappropriate.

The body that does not diminish itself: fat acceptance in Israel's lesbian queer communities.

PubMed

Maor, Maya

2012-01-01

This article follows Charlotte Cooper's call to widen fat studies scholarship to contexts outside the United States, and Adrianne Hill's call to locate historically specific connections between lesbian communities and promotion of fat acceptance. Three in-depth interviews were conducted with Jewish-Israeli fat women. Through the development of their ability to appreciate their fat body and the fat bodies of other women, participants employed a mixture of disparate feminist-lesbian and queer discourses, in a similar, albeit not identical manner to the one used in the U.S. context. One of the major differences is that queer/lesbian communities in Israel are not in contact with the Israeli fat acceptance movement. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Fabrication of TiO2 Nanosheet Aarrays/Graphene/Cu2O Composite Structure for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jinzhao; Fu, Ke; Deng, Xiaolong; Yao, Nannan; Wei, Mingzhi

2017-04-01

TiO2 NSAs/graphene/Cu2O was fabricated on the carbon fiber to use as photocastalysts by coating Cu2O on the graphene (G) decorated TiO2 nanosheet arrays (NSAs). The research focus on constructing the composite structure and investigating the reason to enhance the photocatalytic ability. The morphological, structural, and photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized products were characterized. The experimental results indicate that the better photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the following reasons. First, the TiO2 NSAs/graphene/Cu2O composite structure fabricated on the carbon cloth can form a 3D structure which can provide a higher specific surface area and enhance the light absorption. Second, the graphene as an electron sink can accept the photoelectrons from the photoexcited Cu2O which will reduce the recombination. Third, the TiO2 nanosheet can provide more favorable carrier transportation channel which can reduce the recombination of carriers. Finally, the Cu2O can extend the light absorption range.

Separate Nitrite, Nitric Oxide, and Nitrous Oxide Reducing Fractions from Pseudomonas perfectomarinus

PubMed Central

Payne, W. J.; Riley, P. S.; Cox, C. D.

1971-01-01

Pseudomonas perfectomarinus was found to grow anaerobically at the expense of nitrate, nitrite, or nitrous oxide but not chlorate or nitric oxide. In several repetitive experiments, anaerobic incubation in culture media containing nitrate revealed that an average of 82% of the cells in aerobically grown populations were converted to the capacity for respiration of nitrate. Although they did not form colonies under these conditions, the bacteria synthesized the denitrifying enzymes within 3 hr in the absence of oxygen or another acceptable inorganic oxidant. This was demonstrated by the ability, after anaerobic incubation, of cells and of extracts to reduce nitrite, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide to nitrogen. From crude extracts of cells grown on nitrate, nitrite, or nitrous oxide, separate complex fractions were obtained that utilized reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as the source of electrons for the reduction of (i) nitrite to nitric oxide, (ii) nitric oxide to nitrous oxide, and (iii) nitrous oxide to nitrogen. Gas chromatographic analyses revealed that each of these fractions reduced only one of the nitrogenous oxides. PMID:4324803

An Analogue VLSI Implementation of the Meddis Inner Hair Cell Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McEwan, Alistair; van Schaik, André

2003-12-01

The Meddis inner hair cell model is a widely accepted, but computationally intensive computer model of mammalian inner hair cell function. We have produced an analogue VLSI implementation of this model that operates in real time in the current domain by using translinear and log-domain circuits. The circuit has been fabricated on a chip and tested against the Meddis model for (a) rate level functions for onset and steady-state response, (b) recovery after masking, (c) additivity, (d) two-component adaptation, (e) phase locking, (f) recovery of spontaneous activity, and (g) computational efficiency. The advantage of this circuit, over other electronic inner hair cell models, is its nearly exact implementation of the Meddis model which can be tuned to behave similarly to the biological inner hair cell. This has important implications on our ability to simulate the auditory system in real time. Furthermore, the technique of mapping a mathematical model of first-order differential equations to a circuit of log-domain filters allows us to implement real-time neuromorphic signal processors for a host of models using the same approach.

Fabrication of 3D honeycomb-like porous polyurethane-functionalized reduced graphene oxide for detection of dopamine.

PubMed

Vilian, A T Ezhil; An, Suyeong; Choe, Sang Rak; Kwak, Cheol Hwan; Huh, Yun Suk; Lee, Jonghwi; Han, Young-Kyu

2016-12-15

A three dimensional reduced graphene oxide/polyurethane (RGO-PU) porous material with connected pores was prepared by physical adsorption of RGO onto the surface of porous PU. The porous PU was prepared by directional melt crystallization of a solvent, which produced high pores with controlled orientation. The prepared RGO-PU was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, spectroscopy and electro-chemical methods. The RGO-PU porous material revealed better electrochemical performance, which might be attributed to the robust structure, superior conductivity, large surface area, and good flexibility. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis of DA using the RGO-PU exhibited a linear response range over a wide DA concentration of 100-1150pM, with the detection limit of 1pM. This sensor exhibited outstanding anti-interference ability towards co-existing molecules with good stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Furthermore, the fabricated sensor was successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of DA in human serum and urine samples with acceptable recovery, which indicates its feasibility for practical application. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Doing More with Less: Cost-effective, Compact Particle Accelerators (489th Brookhaven Lecture)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Trbojevic, Dejan

2013-10-22

Replace a 135-ton magnet used for cancer-fighting particle therapies with a magnet that weighs only two tons? Such a swap is becoming possible thanks to new particle accelerator advances being developed by researchers at Brookhaven Lab. With an approach that combines techniques used by synchrotron accelerators with the ability to accept more energy, these new technologies could be used for more than fighting cancer. They could also decrease the lifecycle of byproducts from nuclear power plants and reduce costs for eRHIC—a proposed electron-ion collider for Brookhaven Lab that researchers from around the world would use to explore the glue thatmore » holds together the universe’s most basic building blocks and explore the proton-spin puzzle. During this lecture, Dr. Trbojevic provides an overview of accelerator technologies and techniques—particularly a non-scaling, fixed-focused alternating gradient—to focus particle beams using fewer, smaller magnets. He discusses how these technologies will benefit eRHIC and other applications, including particle therapies being developed to combat cancer.« less

A systematic review of patient acceptance of consumer health information technology.

PubMed

Or, Calvin K L; Karsh, Ben-Tzion

2009-01-01

A systematic literature review was performed to identify variables promoting consumer health information technology (CHIT) acceptance among patients. The electronic bibliographic databases Web of Science, Business Source Elite, CINAHL, Communication and Mass Media Complete, MEDLINE, PsycArticles, and PsycInfo were searched. A cited reference search of articles meeting the inclusion criteria was also conducted to reduce misses. Fifty-two articles met the selection criteria. Among them, 94 different variables were tested for associations with acceptance. Most of those tested (71%) were patient factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, health- and treatment-related variables, and prior experience or exposure to computer/health technology. Only ten variables were related to human-technology interaction; 16 were organizational factors; and one was related to the environment. In total, 62 (66%) were found to predict acceptance in at least one study. Existing literature focused largely on patient-related factors. No studies examined the impact of social and task factors on acceptance, and few tested the effects of organizational or environmental factors on acceptance. Future research guided by technology acceptance theories should fill those gaps to improve our understanding of patient CHIT acceptance, which in turn could lead to better CHIT design and implementation.

Electron transfer capacity dependence of quinone-mediated Fe(III) reduction and current generation by Klebsiella pneumoniae L17.

PubMed

Li, Xiaomin; Liu, Liang; Liu, Tongxu; Yuan, Tian; Zhang, Wei; Li, Fangbai; Zhou, Shungui; Li, Yongtao

2013-06-01

Quinone groups in exogenous electron shuttles can accelerate extracellular electron transfer (EET) from bacteria to insoluble terminal electron acceptors, such as Fe(III) oxides and electrodes, which are important in biogeochemical redox processes and microbial electricity generation. However, the relationship between quinone-mediated EET performance and electron-shuttling properties of the quinones remains incompletely characterized. This study investigates the effects of a series of synthetic quinones (SQs) on goethite reduction and current generation by a fermenting bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae L17. In addition, the voltammetric behavior and electron transfer capacities (ETCs) of SQ, including electron accepting (EAC) and donating (EDC) capacities, is also examined using electrochemical methods. The results showed that SQ can significantly increase both the Fe(III) reduction rates and current outputs of L17. Each tested SQ reversibly accepted and donated electrons as indicated by the cyclic voltammograms. The EAC and EDC results showed that Carmine and Alizarin had low relative capacities of electron transfer, whereas 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS), 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-HNQ), and 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (5-HNQ) showed stronger relative ETC, and 9,10-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQC) and 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQS) had high relative ETC. Enhancement of microbial goethite reduction kinetics and current outputs by SQ had a good linear relationship with their ETC, indicating that the effectiveness of quinone-mediated EET may be strongly dependent on the ETC of the quinones. Therefore, the presence of quinone compounds and fermenting microorganisms may increase the diversity of microbial populations that contribute to element transformation in natural environments. Moreover, ETC determination of different SQ would help to evaluate their performance for microbial EET under anoxic conditions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Patients' experiences when accessing their on-line electronic patient records in primary care.

PubMed Central

Pyper, Cecilia; Amery, Justin; Watson, Marion; Crook, Claire

2004-01-01

BACKGROUND: Patient access to on-line primary care electronic patient records is being developed nationally. Knowledge of what happens when patients access their electronic records is poor. AIM: To enable 100 patients to access their electronic records for the first time to elicit patients' views and to understand their requirements. DESIGN OF STUDY: In-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires as patients accessed their electronic records, plus a series of focus groups. SETTING: Secure facilities for patients to view their primary care records privately. METHOD: One hundred patients from a randomised group viewed their on-line electronic records for the first time. The questionnaire and focus groups addressed patients' views on the following topics: ease of use; confidentiality and security; consent to access; accuracy; printing records; expectations regarding content; exploitation of electronic records; receiving new information and bad news. RESULTS: Most patients found the computer technology used acceptable. The majority found viewing their record useful and understood most of the content, although medical terms and abbreviations required explanation. Patients were concerned about security and confidentiality, including potential exploitation of records. They wanted the facility to give informed consent regarding access and use of data. Many found errors, although most were not medically significant. Many expected more detail and more information. Patients wanted to add personal information. CONCLUSION: Patients have strong views on what they find acceptable regarding access to electronic records. Working in partnership with patients to develop systems is essential to their success. Further work is required to address legal and ethical issues of electronic records and to evaluate their impact on patients, health professionals and service provision. PMID:14965405

Development of a Telehealth Intervention for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

PubMed Central

Studts, Jamie L.; Bumpous, Jeffrey M.; Gregg, Jennifer L.; Wilson, Liz; Keeney, Cynthia; Scharfenberger, Jennifer A.; Pfeifer, Mark P.

2009-01-01

Abstract Treatment for head and neck cancer precipitates a myriad of distressing symptoms. Patients may be isolated both physically and socially and may lack the self-efficacy to report problems and participate as partners in their care. The goal of this project was to design a telehealth intervention to address such isolation, develop patient self-efficacy, and improve symptom management during the treatment experience. Participatory action research and a review of the literature were used to develop electronically administered symptom management algorithms addressing all major symptoms experienced by patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers. Daily questions and related messages were then programmed into an easy-to-use telehealth messaging device, the Health Buddy®. Clinician and patient acceptance, feasibility, and technology issues were measured. Using participatory action research is an effective means for developing electronic algorithms acceptable to both clinicians and patients. The use of a simple tele-messaging device as an adjunct to symptom management is feasible, affordable, and acceptable to patients. This telehealth intervention provides support and education to patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers. PMID:19199847

Development of a telehealth intervention for head and neck cancer patients.

PubMed

Head, Barbara A; Studts, Jamie L; Bumpous, Jeffrey M; Gregg, Jennifer L; Wilson, Liz; Keeney, Cynthia; Scharfenberger, Jennifer A; Pfeifer, Mark P

2009-01-01

Treatment for head and neck cancer precipitates a myriad of distressing symptoms. Patients may be isolated both physically and socially and may lack the self-efficacy to report problems and participate as partners in their care. The goal of this project was to design a telehealth intervention to address such isolation, develop patient self-efficacy, and improve symptom management during the treatment experience. Participatory action research and a review of the literature were used to develop electronically administered symptom management algorithms addressing all major symptoms experienced by patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers. Daily questions and related messages were then programmed into an easy-to-use telehealth messaging device, the Health Buddy(R). Clinician and patient acceptance, feasibility, and technology issues were measured. Using participatory action research is an effective means for developing electronic algorithms acceptable to both clinicians and patients. The use of a simple tele-messaging device as an adjunct to symptom management is feasible, affordable, and acceptable to patients. This telehealth intervention provides support and education to patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers.

Non-Fullerene Electron Acceptors for Use in Organic Solar Cells

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Conspectus The active layer in a solution processed organic photovoltaic device comprises a light absorbing electron donor semiconductor, typically a polymer, and an electron accepting fullerene acceptor. Although there has been huge effort targeted to optimize the absorbing, energetic, and transport properties of the donor material, fullerenes remain as the exclusive electron acceptor in all high performance devices. Very recently, some new non-fullerene acceptors have been demonstrated to outperform fullerenes in comparative devices. This Account describes this progress, discussing molecular design considerations and the structure–property relationships that are emerging. The motivation to replace fullerene acceptors stems from their synthetic inflexibility, leading to constraints in manipulating frontier energy levels, as well as poor absorption in the solar spectrum range, and an inherent tendency to undergo postfabrication crystallization, resulting in device instability. New acceptors have to address these limitations, providing tunable absorption with high extinction coefficients, thus contributing to device photocurrent. The ability to vary and optimize the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level for a specific donor polymer is also an important requirement, ensuring minimal energy loss on electron transfer and as high an internal voltage as possible. Initially perylene diimide acceptors were evaluated as promising acceptor materials. These electron deficient aromatic molecules can exhibit good electron transport, facilitated by close packed herringbone crystal motifs, and their energy levels can be synthetically tuned. The principal drawback of this class of materials, their tendency to crystallize on too large a length scale for an optimal heterojunction nanostructure, has been shown to be overcome through introduction of conformation twisting through steric effects. This has been primarily achieved by coupling two units together, forming dimers with a large intramolecular twist, which suppresses both nucleation and crystal growth. The generic design concept of rotationally symmetrical aromatic small molecules with extended π orbital delocalization, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phthalocyanines, etc., has also provided some excellent small molecule acceptors. In most cases, additional electron withdrawing functionality, such as imide or ester groups, can be incorporated to stabilize the LUMO and improve properties. New calamitic acceptors have been developed, where molecular orbital hybridization of electron rich and poor segments can be judiciously employed to precisely control energy levels. Conformation and intermolecular associations can be controlled by peripheral functionalization leading to optimization of crystallization length scales. In particular, the use of rhodanine end groups, coupled electronically through short bridged aromatic chains, has been a successful strategy, with promising device efficiencies attributed to high lying LUMO energy levels and subsequently large open circuit voltages. PMID:26505279

Acceptance and Usage of Electronic Health Record Systems in Small Medical Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tannan, Ritu

2012-01-01

One of the objectives of the U.S. government has been the development of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including adoption and use of an electronic health records (EHR) system. However, a 2008 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics indicated a 41.5% usage of the EHR system by physicians in office-based…

75 FR 52940 - Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public Meeting of the Chartered Science...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-30

... should be supplied to the DFO in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature and one electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, MS Word, WordPerfect, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). Submitters are asked to provide electronic...

Preparation and Degradation of Polysilylenes

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-02

Grignard reagent formation from Mg and alkyl iodides in comparison with less reactive alkyl chlorides 2 3 . Electron transfer to the chlorides occur at...stoichiometric balance of reagents and nearly complete conversions (e.g. DPN-100 at 99% conversion in a homogeneous polycondensation with exact stoichiometric...the magnesium surface, whereas alkyl iodides accept electrons through Ŝ. larger distance and could not efficiently form organomagneslum reagents but

IEEE Validation of the Continuing Education Achievement of Engineers Registry System. Procedures for Use with a CPT 8000 Word Processor and Communications Package.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, NY.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) validation program is designed to motivate persons practicing in electrical and electronics engineering to pursue quality technical continuing education courses offered by any responsible sponsor. The rapid acceptance of the validation program necessitated the additional development of a…

Obstacles and Opportunites of iPad Use Balance of Acceptance in a Texas School System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gros, Lisa Horst

2013-01-01

"A Kindle in Every Backpack", a proposal written by Thomas Z. Freedman and published by the Democratic Leadership council called for a Kindle or some other electronic reading device for every child in the United States in grades kindergarten through 12. The proposal stated that while the electronic reading devices, eReaders, would be…

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence of a Zr-based metal–organic framework

DOE PAGES

Mieno, H.; Kabe, R.; Allendorf, M. D.; ...

2017-12-22

Here, the first metal–organic framework exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) was developed. The zirconium-based framework (UiO-68-dpa) uses a newly designed linker composed of a terphenyl backbone, an electron-accepting carboxyl group, and an electron-donating diphenylamine and exhibits green TADF emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 30% and high thermal stability.

The Study of Electronic Medical Record Adoption in a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency Using a Grounded Theory Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

May, Joy L.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the experiences of clinicians in the adoption of Electronic Medical Records in a Medicare certified Home Health Agency. An additional goal for this study was to triangulate qualitative research between describing, explaining, and exploring technology acceptance. The experiences…

Electronic Health Records: Applying Diffusion of Innovation Theory to the Relationship between Multifactor Authentication and EHR Adoption

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lockett, Daeron C.

2014-01-01

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are increasingly becoming accepted as future direction of medical record management systems. Programs such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have provided incentives to hospitals that adopt EHR systems. In spite of these incentives, the perception of EHR adoption is that is has not achieved the…

Final Scientific Report: Bacterial Nanowires and Extracellular Electron Transfer to Heavy Metals and Radionuclides by Bacterial Isolates from DOE Field Research Centers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nealson, Kenneth

This proposal involved the study of bacteria capable of transferring electrons from the bacterial cells to electron acceptors located outside the cell. These could be either insoluble minerals that were transformed into soluble products upon the addition of electrons, or they could be soluble salts like uranium or chromium, that become insoluble upon the addition of electrons. This process is called extracellular electron transport or EET, and can be done directly by cellular contact, or via conductive appendages called bacterial nanowires. In this work we examined a number of different bacteria for their ability to perform EET, and also lookedmore » at their ability to produce conductive nanowires that can be used for EET at a distance away from the EET-capable cells. In the work, new bacteria were isolated, new abilities of EET were examined, and many new methods were developed, and carefully described in the literature. These studies set the stage for future work dealing with the bioremediation of toxic metals like uranium and chromium. They also point out that EET (and conductive nanowires) are far more common that had been appreciated, and may be involved with energy transfer not only in sediments, but in symbioses between different bacteria, and in symbiosis/pathogenesis between bacteria and higher organisms.« less

Carbon dot-Au(i)Ag(0) assembly for the construction of an artificial light harvesting system.

PubMed

Jana, Jayasmita; Aditya, Teresa; Pal, Tarasankar

2018-03-06

Artificial light harvesting systems (LHS) with inorganic counterparts are considered to be robust as well as mechanistically simple, where the system follows the donor-acceptor principle with an unchanged structural pattern. Plasmonic gold or silver nanoparticles are mostly chosen as inorganic counterparts to design artificial LHS. To capitalize on its electron accepting capability, Au(i) has been considered in this work for the synergistic stabilization of a system with intriguingly fluorescing silver(0) clusters produced in situ. Thus a stable fluorescent Au(i)Ag(0) assembly is generated with electron accepting capabilities. On the other hand, carbon dots have evolved as new fluorescent probes due to their unique physicochemical properties. Utilizing the simple electronic behavior of carbon dots, an electronic interaction between the fluorescent Au(i)Ag(0) and a carbon dot has been investigated for the construction of a new artificial light harvesting system. This coinage metal assembly allows surface energy transfer where it acts as an acceptor, while the carbon dot behaves as a good donor. The energy transfer efficiency has been calculated experimentally to be significant (81.3%) and the Au(i)Ag(0)-carbon dot assembly paves the way for efficient artificial LHS.

Factors influencing acceptance of technology for aging in place: a systematic review.

PubMed

Peek, Sebastiaan T M; Wouters, Eveline J M; van Hoof, Joost; Luijkx, Katrien G; Boeije, Hennie R; Vrijhoef, Hubertus J M

2014-04-01

To provide an overview of factors influencing the acceptance of electronic technologies that support aging in place by community-dwelling older adults. Since technology acceptance factors fluctuate over time, a distinction was made between factors in the pre-implementation stage and factors in the post-implementation stage. A systematic review of mixed studies. Seven major scientific databases (including MEDLINE, Scopus and CINAHL) were searched. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) original and peer-reviewed research, (2) qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods research, (3) research in which participants are community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older, and (4) research aimed at investigating factors that influence the intention to use or the actual use of electronic technology for aging in place. Three researchers each read the articles and extracted factors. Sixteen out of 2841 articles were included. Most articles investigated acceptance of technology that enhances safety or provides social interaction. The majority of data was based on qualitative research investigating factors in the pre-implementation stage. Acceptance in this stage is influenced by 27 factors, divided into six themes: concerns regarding technology (e.g., high cost, privacy implications and usability factors); expected benefits of technology (e.g., increased safety and perceived usefulness); need for technology (e.g., perceived need and subjective health status); alternatives to technology (e.g., help by family or spouse), social influence (e.g., influence of family, friends and professional caregivers); and characteristics of older adults (e.g., desire to age in place). When comparing these results to qualitative results on post-implementation acceptance, our analysis showed that some factors are persistent while new factors also emerge. Quantitative results showed that a small number of variables have a significant influence in the pre-implementation stage. Fourteen out of the sixteen included articles did not use an existing technology acceptance framework or model. Acceptance of technology in the pre-implementation stage is influenced by multiple factors. However, post-implementation research on technology acceptance by community-dwelling older adults is scarce and most of the factors in this review have not been tested by using quantitative methods. Further research is needed to determine if and how the factors in this review are interrelated, and how they relate to existing models of technology acceptance. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Anaerobic humus and Fe(III) reduction and electron transport pathway by a novel humus-reducing bacterium, Thauera humireducens SgZ-1.

PubMed

Ma, Chen; Yu, Zhen; Lu, Qin; Zhuang, Li; Zhou, Shun-Gui

2015-04-01

In this study, an anaerobic batch experiment was conducted to investigate the humus- and Fe(III)-reducing ability of a novel humus-reducing bacterium, Thauera humireducens SgZ-1. Inhibition tests were also performed to explore the electron transport pathways with various electron acceptors. The results indicate that in anaerobic conditions, strain SgZ-1 possesses the ability to reduce a humus analog, humic acids, soluble Fe(III), and Fe(III) oxides. Acetate, propionate, lactate, and pyruvate were suitable electron donors for humus and Fe(III) reduction by strain SgZ-1, while fermentable sugars (glucose and sucrose) were not. UV-visible spectra obtained from intact cells of strain SgZ-1 showed absorption peaks at 420, 522, and 553 nm, characteristic of c-type cytochromes (cyt c). Dithionite-reduced cyt c was reoxidized by Fe-EDTA and HFO (hydrous ferric oxide), which suggests that cyt c within intact cells of strain SgZ-1 has the ability to donate electrons to extracellular Fe(III) species. Inhibition tests revealed that dehydrogenases, quinones, and cytochromes b/c (cyt b/c) were involved in reduction of AQS (9, 10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, humus analog) and oxygen. In contrast, only NADH dehydrogenase was linked to electron transport to HFO, while dehydrogenases and cyt b/c were found to participate in the reduction of Fe-EDTA. Thus, various different electron transport pathways are employed by strain SgZ-1 for different electron acceptors. The results from this study help in understanding the electron transport processes and environmental responses of the genus Thauera.

46 CFR 12.03-1 - Coast Guard-accepted training other than approved courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., skills, and abilities described in the training objectives. (4) Neither a specialist in a particular field of non-maritime education, such as mathematics or first aid, nor a person with at least 3 years of...

32 CFR 903.3 - Selection criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... are selected on the basis of demonstrated character, test scores, medical examination, prior academic... Board (DODMERB). (3) Have an acceptable academic record as determined by HQ USAFA/RR. Each applicant... would enhance diversity at USAFA, such as unique academic abilities, language skills, demonstrated...

The genome of Geobacter bemidjiensis, exemplar for the subsurface clade of Geobacter species that predominate in Fe(III)-reducing subsurface environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aklujkar, Muktak; Young, Nelson D; Holmes, Dawn

2010-01-01

Background. Geobacter species in a phylogenetic cluster known as subsurface clade 1 are often the predominant microorganisms in subsurface environments in which Fe(III) reduction is the primary electron-accepting process. Geobacter bemidjiensis, a member of this clade, was isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated subsurface sediments in Bemidji, Minnesota, and is closely related to Geobacter species found to be abundant at other subsurface sites. This study examines whether there are significant differences in the metabolism and physiology of G. bemidjiensis compared to non-subsurface Geobacter species. Results. Annotation of the genome sequence of G. bemidjiensis indicates several differences in metabolism compared to previously sequenced non-subsurfacemore » Geobacteraceae, which will be useful for in silico metabolic modeling of subsurface bioremediation processes involving Geobacter species. Pathways can now be predicted for the use of various carbon sources such as propionate by G. bemidjiensis. Additional metabolic capabilities such as carbon dioxide fixation and growth on glucose were predicted from the genome annotation. The presence of different dicarboxylic acid transporters and two oxaloacetate decarboxylases in G. bemidjiensis may explain its ability to grow by disproportionation of fumarate. Although benzoate is the only aromatic compound that G. bemidjiensis is known or predicted to utilize as an electron donor and carbon source, the genome suggests that this species may be able to detoxify other aromatic pollutants without degrading them. Furthermore, G. bemidjiensis is auxotrophic for 4-aminobenzoate, which makes it the first Geobacter species identified as having a vitamin requirement. Several features of the genome indicated that G. bemidjiensis has enhanced abilities to respire, detoxify and avoid oxygen. Conclusion. Overall, the genome sequence of G. bemidjiensis offers surprising insights into the metabolism and physiology of Geobacteraceae in subsurface environments, compared to non-subsurface Geobacter species, such as the ability to disproportionate fumarate, more efficient oxidation of propionate, enhanced responses to oxygen stress, and dependence on the environment for a vitamin requirement. Therefore, an understanding of the activity of Geobacter species in the subsurface is more likely to benefit from studies of subsurface isolates such as G. bemidjiensis than from the non-subsurface model species studied so far.« less

Phthalocyanine Doped Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Platform for the detection of Dopamine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mphuthi, Ntsoaki G.; Adekunle, Abolanle S.; Fayemi, Omolola E.; Olasunkanmi, Lukman O.; Ebenso, Eno E.

2017-03-01

The electrocatalytic properties of metal oxides (MO = Fe3O4, ZnO) nanoparticles doped phthalocyanine (Pc) and functionalized MWCNTs, decorated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was investigated. Successful synthesis of the metal oxide nanoparticles and the MO/Pc/MWCNT composite were confirmed using UV-Vis, EDX, XRD and TEM techniques. Successful modification of GCE with the MO and their composite was also confirmed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. GCE-MWCNT/ZnO/29H,31H-Pc was the best electrode towards DA detection with very low detection limit (0.75 μM) which compared favourably with literature, good sensitivity (1.45 μA/μM), resistance to electrode fouling, and excellent ability to detect DA without interference from AA signal. Electrocatalytic oxidation of DA on GCE-MWCNT/ZnO/29H,31H-Pc electrode was diffusion controlled but characterized with some adsorption of electro-oxidation reaction intermediates products. The fabricated sensors are easy to prepare, cost effective and can be applied for real sample analysis of dopamine in drug composition. The good electrocatalytic properties of 29H,31H-Pc and 2,3-Nc were related to their (quantum chemically derived) frontier molecular orbital energies and global electronegativities. The better performance of 29H,31H-Pc than 2,3-Nc in aiding electrochemical oxidation of DA might be due to its better electron accepting ability, which is inferred from its lower ELUMO and higher χ.

Phthalocyanine Doped Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Platform for the detection of Dopamine

PubMed Central

Mphuthi, Ntsoaki G.; Adekunle, Abolanle S.; Fayemi, Omolola E.; Olasunkanmi, Lukman O.; Ebenso, Eno E.

2017-01-01

The electrocatalytic properties of metal oxides (MO = Fe3O4, ZnO) nanoparticles doped phthalocyanine (Pc) and functionalized MWCNTs, decorated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was investigated. Successful synthesis of the metal oxide nanoparticles and the MO/Pc/MWCNT composite were confirmed using UV-Vis, EDX, XRD and TEM techniques. Successful modification of GCE with the MO and their composite was also confirmed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. GCE-MWCNT/ZnO/29H,31H-Pc was the best electrode towards DA detection with very low detection limit (0.75 μM) which compared favourably with literature, good sensitivity (1.45 μA/μM), resistance to electrode fouling, and excellent ability to detect DA without interference from AA signal. Electrocatalytic oxidation of DA on GCE-MWCNT/ZnO/29H,31H-Pc electrode was diffusion controlled but characterized with some adsorption of electro-oxidation reaction intermediates products. The fabricated sensors are easy to prepare, cost effective and can be applied for real sample analysis of dopamine in drug composition. The good electrocatalytic properties of 29H,31H-Pc and 2,3-Nc were related to their (quantum chemically derived) frontier molecular orbital energies and global electronegativities. The better performance of 29H,31H-Pc than 2,3-Nc in aiding electrochemical oxidation of DA might be due to its better electron accepting ability, which is inferred from its lower ELUMO and higher χ. PMID:28256521

Pursuing prosthetic electronic skin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chortos, Alex; Liu, Jia; Bao, Zhenan

2016-09-01

Skin plays an important role in mediating our interactions with the world. Recreating the properties of skin using electronic devices could have profound implications for prosthetics and medicine. The pursuit of artificial skin has inspired innovations in materials to imitate skin's unique characteristics, including mechanical durability and stretchability, biodegradability, and the ability to measure a diversity of complex sensations over large areas. New materials and fabrication strategies are being developed to make mechanically compliant and multifunctional skin-like electronics, and improve brain/machine interfaces that enable transmission of the skin's signals into the body. This Review will cover materials and devices designed for mimicking the skin's ability to sense and generate biomimetic signals.

48 CFR 1446.670 - Inspection, receiving and acceptance reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... each commercial shipping document or packing list, whether by manual or electronic means, for supplies... INTERIOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Material Inspection and Receiving Reports 1446.670...

48 CFR 1446.670 - Inspection, receiving and acceptance reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... each commercial shipping document or packing list, whether by manual or electronic means, for supplies... INTERIOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Material Inspection and Receiving Reports 1446.670...

48 CFR 1446.670 - Inspection, receiving and acceptance reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... each commercial shipping document or packing list, whether by manual or electronic means, for supplies... INTERIOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Material Inspection and Receiving Reports 1446.670...

48 CFR 1446.670 - Inspection, receiving and acceptance reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... each commercial shipping document or packing list, whether by manual or electronic means, for supplies... INTERIOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Material Inspection and Receiving Reports 1446.670...

48 CFR 1446.670 - Inspection, receiving and acceptance reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... each commercial shipping document or packing list, whether by manual or electronic means, for supplies... INTERIOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Material Inspection and Receiving Reports 1446.670...

Interface Engineering for Nanoelectronics.

PubMed

Hacker, C A; Bruce, R C; Pookpanratana, S J

2017-01-01

Innovation in the electronics industry is tied to interface engineering as devices increasingly incorporate new materials and shrink. Molecular layers offer a versatile means of tuning interfacial electronic, chemical, physical, and magnetic properties enabled by a wide variety of molecules available. This paper will describe three instances where we manipulate molecular interfaces with a specific focus on the nanometer scale characterization and the impact on the resulting performance. The three primary themes include, 1-designer interfaces, 2-electronic junction formation, and 3-advancing metrology for nanoelectronics. We show the ability to engineer interfaces through a variety of techniques and demonstrate the impact on technologies such as molecular memory and spin injection for organic electronics. Underpinning the successful modification of interfaces is the ability to accurately characterize the chemical and electronic properties and we will highlight some measurement advances key to our understanding of the interface engineering for nanoelectronics.

Interface Engineering for Nanoelectronics

PubMed Central

Hacker, C. A.; Bruce, R. C.; Pookpanratana, S. J.

2017-01-01

Innovation in the electronics industry is tied to interface engineering as devices increasingly incorporate new materials and shrink. Molecular layers offer a versatile means of tuning interfacial electronic, chemical, physical, and magnetic properties enabled by a wide variety of molecules available. This paper will describe three instances where we manipulate molecular interfaces with a specific focus on the nanometer scale characterization and the impact on the resulting performance. The three primary themes include, 1-designer interfaces, 2-electronic junction formation, and 3-advancing metrology for nanoelectronics. We show the ability to engineer interfaces through a variety of techniques and demonstrate the impact on technologies such as molecular memory and spin injection for organic electronics. Underpinning the successful modification of interfaces is the ability to accurately characterize the chemical and electronic properties and we will highlight some measurement advances key to our understanding of the interface engineering for nanoelectronics. PMID:29276553

Do People With Psychosis Have Specific Difficulties Regulating Emotions?

PubMed

Lincoln, Tania M; Hartmann, Maike; Köther, Ulf; Moritz, Steffen

2015-01-01

Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are present in psychotic disorders, but their precise nature is not yet fully understood and it is unclear which difficulties are unique to psychosis compared with other disorders. This study investigated whether ER difficulties in psychosis are more prominent for the ability to modify emotions or for the ability to tolerate and accept them. Furthermore, it investigated whether ER difficulties occur for sadness, anxiety, anger and shame likewise. ER skills were assessed in participants with psychotic disorders (n = 37), participants with depression (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 28) using the Emotion Regulation Skill Questionnaire that asks participants to rate the intensity of different emotions over the past week and the skills employed to handle each of them. Compared with healthy controls, participants with psychosis showed reduced skills related to awareness, understanding and acceptance of potentially distressing emotions, but not in the ability to modify them. These differences remained significant after controlling for depression. Participants with psychosis showed reduced ER skills in regard to all of the assessed emotions compared with the healthy controls, despite the fact that they only reported sadness as being significantly more intense. The participants with depression showed a similar pattern of ER skills to the psychosis sample, although with a tendency towards even more pronounced difficulties. It is concluded that psychosis is characterized by difficulties in using specific ER skills related to awareness, understanding and acceptance to regulate anger, shame, anxiety and sadness. These difficulties are not unique to psychosis but nevertheless present a promising treatment target. The participants with psychosis found it more difficult to be aware of their emotions, to understand them and to accept them than the healthy control group. However, they reported equal skills when it came to actively modifying emotions. The difficulties in emotion regulation reported by the participants with psychosis were comparable with those reported by the participants with depression, and they occurred for all types of negative emotions likewise. The difficulties in using specific ER skills related to awareness, understanding and acceptance are a promising target for psychological treatment of psychosis. Interventions that are aimed specifically at increasing these skills need to be further developed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Stepwise Bay Annulation of Indigo for the Synthesis of Desymmetrized Electron Acceptors and Donor–Acceptor Constructs

DOE PAGES

Kolaczkowski, Matthew A.; He, Bo; Liu, Yi

2016-10-10

In this work, a selective stepwise annulation of indigo has been demonstrated as a means of providing both monoannulated and differentially double-annulated indigo derivatives. Disparate substitution of the electron accepting bay-annulated indigo system allows for fine control over both the electronic properties as well as donor-acceptor structural architectures. Optical and electronic properties were characterized computationally as well as through UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Finally, this straightforward method provides a modular approach for the design of indigo-based materials with tailored optoelectronic properties.

A review on chemistry of a powerful organic electron acceptor 7, 7, 8, 8, tetracynoquinodimethane (TCNQ)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Yadunath

2018-05-01

Organic semiconductors have so far found extensive practical applications similar to inorganic semiconductors. Interest in these compounds has been stimulated by the synthesis of several powerful electron acceptors, such as tetracynoethylene (TCNE), 7, 7, 8, 8, tetracynoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and cyno-p-benzoquinone. In this connection TCNQ is of particular interest, due to presence of four powerful electron accepting groups in its molecule. Nucleophillic addition reactions, which are rarely encountered among unsaturated compounds, as well as addition reactions proceeding via a one electron transfer stage are characteristic of this substance.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bose, A; Gardel, EJ; Vidoudez, C

Oxidation-reduction reactions underlie energy generation in nearly all life forms. Although most organisms use soluble oxidants and reductants, some microbes can access solid-phase materials as electron-acceptors or -donors via extracellular electron transfer. Many studies have focused on the reduction of solid-phase oxidants. Far less is known about electron uptake via microbial extracellular electron transfer, and almost nothing is known about the associated mechanisms. Here we show that the iron-oxidizing photoautotroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 accepts electrons from a poised electrode, with carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source/electron acceptor. Both electron uptake and ruBisCo form I expression are stimulated by light.more » Electron uptake also occurs in the dark, uncoupled from photosynthesis. Notably, the pioABC operon, which encodes a protein system essential for photoautotrophic growth by ferrous iron oxidation, influences electron uptake. These data reveal a previously unknown metabolic versatility of photoferrotrophs to use extracellular electron transfer for electron uptake.« less

Resolution Quality and Atom Positions in Sub-?ngstr?m Electron Microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

O'Keefe, Michael A.; Allard Jr, Lawrence Frederick; Blom, Douglas Allen

2005-01-01

John Cowley pioneered use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for high-resolution imaging and helped spur improvements in resolution that enabled researchers to pinpoint the positions of all but the lightest atoms within a crystal structure. Sub-{angstrom} capabilities allow imaging of even the lightest atoms. Initially achieved with software aberration correction (focal-series reconstruction of the specimen exit-surface wave), sub-{angstrom} imaging will become commonplace for next-generation electron microscopes with hardware-corrected lenses and monochromated electron beams. Currently, advanced HR-TEMs can image columns of light atoms (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen) in complex structures, including the lithium atoms present in battery materials. The ability to determinemore » whether an image peak represents one single atom (or atom column) instead of several depends on the resolution of the HR-(S)TEM. Rayleigh's resolution criterion, an accepted standard in optics, was derived as a means for judging when two image intensity peaks from two sources of light (stars) are distinguishable from a single source. Atom spacings closer than the Rayleigh limit have been resolved in HR-TEM, suggesting that it may be useful to consider other limits, such as the Sparrow resolution criterion. From the viewpoint of the materials scientist, it is important to be able to use the image to determine whether an image feature represents one or more atoms (resolution), and where the atoms (or atom columns) are positioned relative to one another (resolution quality). When atoms and the corresponding image peaks are separated by more than the Rayleigh limit of the HR-(S)TEM, it is possible to adjust imaging parameters so that relative peak positions in the image correspond to relative atom positions in the specimen. When atoms are closer than the Rayleigh limit, we must find the relationship of the peak position to the atom position by peak fitting or, if we have a suitable model, by image simulation.« less

Effects of multidisciplinary teams and an integrated follow-up electronic system on clinical pharmacist interventions in a cancer hospital.

PubMed

Aziz, Muhammad Tahir; Rehman, Tofeeq Ur; Qureshi, Sadia; Andleeb, Sidrah

2017-12-01

Background The aim of drug therapy is to attain distinct therapeutic effects that not only improve patient's quality of life but also reduce the inherent risks associated with the therapeutic use of drugs. Pharmacists play a key role in reducing these risks by developing appropriate interventions. Whether to accept or reject the intervention made by the pharmacist is a relevant consultant's decision. Objective To evaluate the impact of electronic prompts and follow-up of rejected pharmacy interventions by clinical pharmacists in an in-patient setting. Setting Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan. Method The study was conducted in two phases. Data for 3 months were collected for each phase of the study. Systematic and quantifiable consensus validity was developed for rejected interventions in phase 1, based on patient outcome analyses. Severity rating was assigned to assess the significance of interventions. Electronic prompts for follow-on interventions in phase 2 were then developed and implemented, including daily review via a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. Main outcome measure Validity of rejected interventions, acceptance of follow-on interventions before and after re-engineering the pharmacy processes, rejection rate and severity rating of follow-on interventions. Result Of a total of 2649 and 3064 interventions that were implemented during phase 1 and phase 2, 238 (9%) and 307 (10%) were rejected, respectively. Additionally, 133 (56%) were inappropriate rejections during phase 1. The estimated reliability between pharmacists regarding rejected interventions was 0.74 (95% CI of 0.69, 0.79, p 0.000). Prospective data were analysed after implementing electronic alerts and an MDT approach. The acceptance rate of follow-on interventions in phase 2 was 60% (184). Conclusion Electronic prompts for follow-on interventions together with an MDT approach enhance the optimization of pharmacotherapy, increase drug rationality and improve patient care.

"Why the hell do we need electronic health records?". EHR acceptance among physicians in private practice in Austria: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Hackl, W O; Hoerbst, A; Ammenwerth, E

2011-01-01

Progress in the medical sciences, together with related technologies, in the past has led to higher specialization and has created a strong need to exchange health information across institutional borders. The concept of electronic health records (EHR) was introduced to fulfill these needs. Remarkably, many EHR introduction projects ran into trouble, not least because they lacked the acceptance of EHR among physicians. Negative emotions, such as anxiety and fear due to a lack of information, may cause change barriers and hamper physicians' acceptance of such projects. The goal of this study was to gain deeper insight into the negative emotions related to the intended implementation of a mandatory national electronic health record system (called ELGA) in Austria among physicians in private practice. Qualitative, problem-centered interviews were conducted with eight physicians in private practice in the capital region of Tyrol. The methods of qualitative content analysis were used to analyze the data. Three hundred and twenty-eight passages in the interviews were selected, annotated, and paraphrased. These passages were assigned to 139 different primary categories. Finally, 18 main categories in the form of statements were derived. They were correlated and a theoretical model was formed to explain the genesis of the detected fears and anxiety related to the ELGA project. The results show that the physicians feel uninformed and snubbed. They fear unknown changes, increased costs, as well as workload and surveillance without obtaining any advantages from using electronic health records in their daily practice. Impartial information campaigns that are tailored to the physicians' needs and questions as along with a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis could benefit the physicians' opinion of EHRs.

Patient and provider perspectives on the design and implementation of an electronic consultation system for kidney care delivery in Canada: a focus group study.

PubMed

Bello, Aminu K; Molzahn, Anita E; Girard, Louis P; Osman, Mohamed A; Okpechi, Ikechi G; Glassford, Jodi; Thompson, Stephanie; Keely, Erin; Liddy, Clare; Manns, Braden; Jinda, Kailash; Klarenbach, Scott; Hemmelgarn, Brenda; Tonelli, Marcello

2017-03-02

We assessed stakeholder perceptions on the use of an electronic consultation system (e-Consult) to improve the delivery of kidney care in Alberta. We aim to identify acceptability, barriers and facilitators to the use of an e-Consult system for ambulatory kidney care delivery. This was a qualitative focus group study using a thematic analysis design. Eight focus groups were held in four locations in the province of Alberta, Canada. In total, there were 72 participants in two broad stakeholder categories: patients (including patients' relatives) and providers (including primary care physicians, nephrologists, other care providers and policymakers). The e-Consult system was generally acceptable across all stakeholder groups. The key barriers identified were length of time required for referring physicians to complete the e-Consult due to lack of integration with current electronic medical records, and concerns that increased numbers of requests might overwhelm nephrologists and lead to a delayed response or an unsustainable system. The key facilitators identified were potential improvement of care coordination, dissemination of best practice through an educational platform, comprehensive data to make decisions without the need for face-to-face consultation, timely feedback to primary care providers, timeliness/reduced delays for patients' rapid triage and identification of cases needing urgent care and improved access to information to facilitate decision-making in patient care. Stakeholder perceptions regarding the e-Consult system were favourable, and the key barriers and facilitators identified will be considered in design and implementation of an acceptable and sustainable electronic consultation system for kidney care delivery. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

The impact of self-interviews on response patterns for sensitive topics: a randomized trial of electronic delivery methods for a sexual behaviour questionnaire in rural South Africa.

PubMed

Harling, Guy; Gumede, Dumile; Mutevedzi, Tinofa; McGrath, Nuala; Seeley, Janet; Pillay, Deenan; Bärnighausen, Till W; Herbst, Abraham J

2017-08-17

Self-interviews, where the respondent rather than the interviewer enters answers to questions, have been proposed as a way to reduce social desirability bias associated with interviewer-led interviews. Computer-assisted self-interviews (CASI) are commonly proposed since the computer programme can guide respondents; however they require both language and computer literacy. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using electronic methods to administer quantitative sexual behaviour questionnaires in the Somkhele demographic surveillance area (DSA) in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted a four-arm randomized trial of paper-and-pen-interview, computer-assisted personal-interview (CAPI), CASI and audio-CASI with an age-sex-urbanicity stratified sample of 504 adults resident in the DSA in 2015. We compared respondents' answers to their responses to the same questions in previous surveillance rounds. We also conducted 48 cognitive interviews, dual-coding responses using the Framework approach. Three hundred forty (67%) individuals were interviewed and covariates and participation rates were balanced across arms. CASI and audio-CASI were significantly slower than interviewer-led interviews. Item non-response rates were higher in self-interview arms. In single-paper meta-analysis, self-interviewed individuals reported more socially undesirable sexual behaviours. Cognitive interviews found high acceptance of both self-interviews and the use of electronic methods, with some concerns that self-interview methods required more participant effort and literacy. Electronic data collection methods, including self-interview methods, proved feasible and acceptable for completing quantitative sexual behaviour questionnaires in a poor, rural South African setting. However, each method had both benefits and costs, and the choice of method should be based on context-specific criteria.

Clinical decision support systems at the Vienna General Hospital using Arden Syntax: Design, implementation, and integration.

PubMed

Schuh, Christian; de Bruin, Jeroen S; Seeling, Walter

2015-12-01

The Allgemeines Krankenhaus Informations Management (AKIM) project was started at the Vienna General Hospital (VGH) several years ago. This led to the introduction of a new hospital information system (HIS), and the installation of the expert system platform (EXP) for the integration of Arden-Syntax-based clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). In this report we take a look at the milestones achieved and the challenges faced in the creation and modification of CDSSs, and their integration into the HIS over the last three years. We introduce a three-stage development method, which is followed in nearly all CDSS projects at the Medical University of Vienna and the VGH. Stage one comprises requirements engineering and system conception. Stage two focuses on the implementation and testing of the system. Finally, stage three describes the deployment and integration of the system in the VGH HIS. The HIS provides a clinical work environment for healthcare specialists using customizable graphical interfaces known as parametric medical documents. Multiple Arden Syntax servers are employed to host and execute the CDSS knowledge bases: two embedded in the EXP for production and development, and a further three in clinical routine for production, development, and quality assurance. Three systems are discussed; the systems serve different purposes in different clinical areas, but are all implemented with Arden Syntax. MONI-ICU is an automated surveillance system for monitoring healthcare-associated infections in the intensive care setting. TSM-CDS is a CDSS used for risk prediction in the formation of cutaneous melanoma metastases. Finally, TacroDS is a CDSS for the manipulation of dosages for tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive agent used after kidney transplantation. Problems in development and integration were related to data quality or availability, although organizational difficulties also caused delays in development and integration. Since the inception of the AKIM project at the VGH and its ability to support standards such as Arden Syntax and integrate CDSSs into clinical routine, the clinicians' interest in, and demand for, decision support has increased substantially. The use of Arden Syntax as a standard for CDSSs played a substantial role in the ability to rapidly create high-quality CDSS systems, whereas the ability to integrate these systems into the HIS made CDSSs more popular among physicians. Despite these successes, challenges such as lack of (consistent and high-quality) electronic data, social acceptance among healthcare personnel, and legislative issues remain. These have to be addressed effectively before CDSSs can be more widely accepted and adopted. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

45 CFR 46.305 - Additional duties of the Institutional Review Boards where prisoners are involved.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... such a magnitude that his or her ability to weigh the risks of the research against the value of such... research are commensurate with risks that would be accepted by nonprisoner volunteers; (4) Procedures for...

45 CFR 46.305 - Additional duties of the Institutional Review Boards where prisoners are involved.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... such a magnitude that his or her ability to weigh the risks of the research against the value of such... research are commensurate with risks that would be accepted by nonprisoner volunteers; (4) Procedures for...

45 CFR 46.305 - Additional duties of the Institutional Review Boards where prisoners are involved.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... such a magnitude that his or her ability to weigh the risks of the research against the value of such... research are commensurate with risks that would be accepted by nonprisoner volunteers; (4) Procedures for...

45 CFR 46.305 - Additional duties of the Institutional Review Boards where prisoners are involved.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... such a magnitude that his or her ability to weigh the risks of the research against the value of such... research are commensurate with risks that would be accepted by nonprisoner volunteers; (4) Procedures for...

Electronics Lab Instructors' Approaches to Troubleshooting Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dounas-Frazer, Dimitri R.; Lewandowski, H. J.

2017-01-01

In this exploratory qualitative study, we describe instructors' self-reported practices for teaching and assessing students' ability to troubleshoot in electronics lab courses. We collected audio data from interviews with 20 electronics instructors from 18 institutions that varied by size, selectivity, and other factors. In addition to describing…

EAST: Developing an Electronic Assessment and Storage Tool.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Katherine I.; Fernandez, Eugenia; Milionis, Tracey M.; Williamson, David M.

2002-01-01

Describes the purpose, development, analysis, prototyping, and features of the Electronic Assessment and Storage Tool (EAST). The Web-based system aids curriculum assessment at Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis through the ability to easily store artifacts in electronic form, support…

A clinical laboratory model for evaluating the acute effects of electronic "cigarettes": nicotine delivery profile and cardiovascular and subjective effects.

PubMed

Vansickel, Andrea R; Cobb, Caroline O; Weaver, Michael F; Eissenberg, Thomas E

2010-08-01

Electronic "cigarettes" are marketed to tobacco users as potential reduced exposure products (PREP), albeit with little information regarding electronic cigarette user toxicant exposure and effects. This information may be obtained by adapting clinical laboratory methods used to evaluate other PREPs for smokers. Thirty-two smokers participated in four independent Latin-square ordered conditions that differed by product: own brand cigarette, "NPRO" electronic cigarettes (NPRO EC; 18 mg cartridge), "Hydro" electronic cigarettes (Hydro EC; 16 mg cartridge), or sham (unlit cigarette). Participants took 10 puffs at two separate times during each session. Plasma nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, heart rate, and subjective effects were assessed. Own brand significantly increased plasma nicotine and CO concentration and heart rate within the first five minutes of administration whereas NPRO EC, Hydro EC, and sham smoking did not. Own brand, NPRO EC, and Hydro EC (but not sham) significantly decreased tobacco abstinence symptom ratings and increased product acceptability ratings. The magnitude of symptom suppression and increased acceptability was greater for own brand than for NPRO EC and Hydro EC. Under these acute testing conditions, neither of the electronic cigarettes exposed users to measurable levels of nicotine or CO, although both suppressed nicotine/tobacco abstinence symptom ratings. This study illustrates how clinical laboratory methods can be used to understand the acute effects of these and other PREPs for tobacco users. The results and methods reported here will likely be relevant to the evaluation and empirically based regulation of electronic cigarettes and similar products. (c)2010 AACR.

The use of electronic games in therapy: a review with clinical implications.

PubMed

Horne-Moyer, H Lynn; Moyer, Brian H; Messer, Drew C; Messer, Elizabeth S

2014-12-01

Therapists and patients enjoy and benefit from interventions that use electronic games (EG) in health care and mental health settings, with a variety of diagnoses and therapeutic goals. We reviewed the use of electronic games designed specifically for a therapeutic purpose, electronic games for psychotherapy (EGP), also called serious games, and commercially produced games used as an adjunct to psychotherapy, electronic games for entertainment (EGE). Recent research on the benefits of EG in rehabilitation settings, EGP, and EGE indicates that electronic methods are often equivalent to more traditional treatments and may be more enjoyable or acceptable, at least to some consumers. Methodological concerns include the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCT) for many applications. Suggestions are offered for using EG in therapeutic practice.

Consumers Are Ready to Accept the Transition to Online and Electronic Records If They Can Be Assured of the Security Measures

PubMed Central

Chhanabhai, Prajesh; Holt, Alec

2007-01-01

Background Healthcare has entered the electronic domain. This domain has improved data collection and storage abilities while allowing almost instantaneous access and results to data queries. Furthermore, it allows direct communication between healthcare providers and health consumers. The development of privacy, confidentiality, and security principles are necessary to protect consumers' interests against inappropriate access. Studies have shown that the health consumer is the important stakeholder in this process. With the international push toward electronic health records (EHRs), this article presents the importance of secure EHR systems from the public's perspective. Objective To examine the public's perception of the security of electronic systems and report on how their perceptions can shape the building of stronger systems. Methods A cross-sectional survey (September-November 2005) of people attending healthcare providers (n = 400) was conducted in the 4 major cities in New Zealand. Participants were surveyed on computer use, knowledge of EHR-proposed benefits and issues, security issues, and demographics. Results A total of 300 surveys were completed and returned (a 75% response rate), with 180 (60%) being women. One hundred eighty-eight (62.6%) had not heard of EHRs, with those who had heard of them indicating that they were a positive innovation in the health sector. However, 202 (73.3%) participants were highly concerned about the security and privacy of their health records. This feeling was further accentuated when participants were asked about security of electronic systems. Participants were worried about hackers (79.4%), vendor access (72.7%), and malicious software (68%). Participants were also introduced to various security systems, and in each case, over 80% of participants believed that these would make EHR systems more secure. A number of chi-square tests were carried out with each variable, and it was found that there were strong relationships between age, location, computer use, EHR knowledge, and the concern for privacy and the security of medical records (P < .05). The survey also showed that there was a very small difference (9.8%) between health consumers who believed that paper records are more secure than EHRs and those who believed otherwise. Conclusions The findings showed that for the EHR to be fully integrating in the health sector, there are 2 main issues that need to be addressed: The security of the EHR system has to be of the highest level, and needs to be constantly monitored and updated.The involvement of the health consumer in the ownership and maintenance of their health record needs to be more proactive. The EHR aims to collect information to allow for “cradle to the grave” treatment; thus, the health consumer has to be seen as a major player in ensuring that this can happen correctly. The results from this study indicated that the consumer is ready to accept the transition, as long as one can be assured of the security of the system. PMID:17435617

Consumers are ready to accept the transition to online and electronic records if they can be assured of the security measures.

PubMed

Chhanabhai, Prajesh; Holt, Alec

2007-01-11

Healthcare has entered the electronic domain. This domain has improved data collection and storage abilities while allowing almost instantaneous access and results to data queries. Furthermore, it allows direct communication between healthcare providers and health consumers. The development of privacy, confidentiality, and security principles are necessary to protect consumers' interests against inappropriate access. Studies have shown that the health consumer is the important stakeholder in this process. With the international push toward electronic health records (EHRs), this article presents the importance of secure EHR systems from the public's perspective. To examine the public's perception of the security of electronic systems and report on how their perceptions can shape the building of stronger systems. A cross-sectional survey (September-November 2005) of people attending healthcare providers (n = 400) was conducted in the 4 major cities in New Zealand. Participants were surveyed on computer use, knowledge of EHR-proposed benefits and issues, security issues, and demographics. A total of 300 surveys were completed and returned (a 75% response rate), with 180 (60%) being women. One hundred eighty-eight (62.6%) had not heard of EHRs, with those who had heard of them indicating that they were a positive innovation in the health sector. However, 202 (73.3%) participants were highly concerned about the security and privacy of their health records. This feeling was further accentuated when participants were asked about security of electronic systems. Participants were worried about hackers (79.4%), vendor access (72.7%), and malicious software (68%). Participants were also introduced to various security systems, and in each case, over 80% of participants believed that these would make EHR systems more secure. A number of chi-square tests were carried out with each variable, and it was found that there were strong relationships between age, location, computer use, EHR knowledge, and the concern for privacy and the security of medical records (P < .05). The survey also showed that there was a very small difference (9.8%) between health consumers who believed that paper records are more secure than EHRs and those who believed otherwise. The findings showed that for the EHR to be fully integrating in the health sector, there are 2 main issues that need to be addressed: The security of the EHR system has to be of the highest level, and needs to be constantly monitored and updated. The involvement of the health consumer in the ownership and maintenance of their health record needs to be more proactive. The EHR aims to collect information to allow for "cradle to the grave" treatment; thus, the health consumer has to be seen as a major player in ensuring that this can happen correctly. The results from this study indicated that the consumer is ready to accept the transition, as long as one can be assured of the security of the system.

Applying Electronic Medical Records in Health Care

PubMed Central

Abdekhoda, Mohammadhiwa; Dehnad, Afsaneh; Noruzi, Alireza; Gohari, Mahmodreza

2016-01-01

Summary Background In order to fulfill comprehensive interoperability and recognize the electronic medical records (EMRs’) benefits, physicians’ attitudes toward using and applying EMR must be recognized. Objectives The purpose of this study was to present an integrated model of applying EMRs by physicians. Methods This was a cross sectional study in which a sample of 330 physicians working in hospitals affiliated to the Tehran University of medical sciences (TUMS) was selected. Physicians’ attitudes toward using and accepting EMR in health care have been analyzed by an integrated model of two classical theories i.e. technology acceptance model (TAM) and diffusion of innovation (DOI). The model was tested using an empirical survey. The final model was tested by structural equation modeling (SEM) and represented by Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). Results The results suggest that the hybrid model explains about 43 percent of the variance of using and accepting of EMRs (R2=0.43). The findings also evidenced that Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Complicatedness and Trainability have direct and significant effect on physicians’ attitudes toward using and accepting EMRs. But concerning observeability, significant path coefficient was not reported. Conclusions The integrated model supplies purposeful intuition for elucidates and anticipates of physicians’ behaviors in EMRs adoption. The study identified six relevant factors that affect using and applying EMRs that should be subsequently the major concern of health organizations and health policy makers. PMID:27437045

Acceptability of Using Electronic Vending Machines to Deliver Oral Rapid HIV Self-Testing Kits: A Qualitative Study

PubMed Central

Young, Sean D.; Daniels, Joseph; Chiu, ChingChe J.; Bolan, Robert K.; Flynn, Risa P.; Kwok, Justin; Klausner, Jeffrey D.

2014-01-01

Introduction Rates of unrecognized HIV infection are significantly higher among Latino and Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Policy makers have proposed that HIV self-testing kits and new methods for delivering self-testing could improve testing uptake among minority MSM. This study sought to conduct qualitative assessments with MSM of color to determine the acceptability of using electronic vending machines to dispense HIV self-testing kits. Materials and Methods African American and Latino MSM were recruited using a participant pool from an existing HIV prevention trial on Facebook. If participants expressed interest in using a vending machine to receive an HIV self-testing kit, they were emailed a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) code to retrieve the test from the machine. We followed up with those who had tested to assess their willingness to participate in an interview about their experience. Results Twelve kits were dispensed and 8 interviews were conducted. In general, participants expressed that the vending machine was an acceptable HIV test delivery method due to its novelty and convenience. Discussion Acceptability of this delivery model for HIV testing kits was closely associated with three main factors: credibility, confidentiality, and convenience. Future research is needed to address issues, such as user-induced errors and costs, before scaling up the dispensing method. PMID:25076208

Validation of Gujarati Version of ABILOCO-Kids Questionnaire

PubMed Central

Diwan, Jasmin; Patel, Pankaj; Bansal, Ankita B.

2015-01-01

Background ABILOCO-Kids is a measure of locomotion ability for children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6 to 15 years & is available in English & French. Aim To validate the Gujarati version of ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire to be used in clinical research on Gujarati population. Materials and Methods ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire was translated into Gujarati from English using forward-backward-forward method. To ensure face & content validity of Gujarati version using group consensus method, each item was examined by group of experts having mean experience of 24.62 years in field of paediatric and paediatric physiotherapy. Each item was analysed for content, meaning, wording, format, ease of administration & scoring. Each item was scored by expert group as either accepted, rejected or accepted with modification. Procedure was continued until 80% of consensus for all items. Concurrent validity was examined on 55 children with Cerebral Palsy (6-15 years) of all Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level & all clinical types by correlating score of ABILOCO-Kids with Gross Motor Functional Measure & GMFCS. Result In phase 1 of validation, 16 items were accepted as it is; 22 items accepted with modification & 3 items went for phase 2 validation. For concurrent validity, highly significant positive correlation was found between score of ABILOCO-Kids & total GMFM (r=0.713, p<0.005) & highly significant negative correlation with GMFCS (r= -0.778, p<0.005). Conclusion Gujarati translated version of ABILOCO-Kids questionnaire has good face & content validity as well as concurrent validity which can be used to measure caregiver reported locomotion ability in children with CP. PMID:26557603

Strategies for coping with pain presented by adolescents with hematopoietic malignancies.

PubMed

Cepuch, Grazyna; Wojnar-Gruszka, Katarzyna; Kowalczyk, Marta

2012-01-01

Leukaemias and lymphomas are the most common malignant diseases diagnosed among adolescents and they are associated with pain and anxiety. As a result they may affect the way patients accept their disease and determine subjective assessment of quality of life. The objective of this study was to recognise strategies for coping with pain, evaluate the process of accepting the disease and assess quality of life among adolescents diagnosed with hematopoietic malignancies. The study group comprised 66 patients aged between 14 and 21 and diagnosed with leukaemia or lymphoma. The following measuring tools were used: the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life evaluation. Coping self-statements and praying or hoping were the two most common strategies used by our respondents when coping with pain. In the study group the level of anxiety had no influence on pain control and the ability to reduce it. A statistically significant relation was found between the level of catastrophizing as a method of coping with pain and quality of life in the physical domain. An additional correlation was observed between quality of life in the psychological domain and the level of pain control. The ability of coping with pain promotes the acceptance of illness and improves patient's quality of life. The age and duration of the disease were factors affecting strategies for coping with pain. A small percentage of respondents who experienced anxiety suggests that further and deeper research is needed in this field.

Hydrogenation of Organic Matter as a Terminal Electron Sink Sustains High CO 2 :CH 4 Production Ratios During Anaerobic Decomposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, Rachel M.; Tfaily, Malak M.; Rich, Virginia I.

Once inorganic electron acceptors are depleted, organic matter in anoxic environments decomposes by hydrolysis, fermentation, and methanogenesis, requiring syntrophic interactions between microorganisms to achieve energetic favorability. In this classic anaerobic food chain, methanogenesis represents the terminal electron accepting (TEA) process, ultimately producing equimolar CO 2 and CH 4 for each molecule of organic matter degraded. However, CO 2:CH 4 production in Sphagnum-derived, mineral-poor, cellulosic peat often substantially exceeds this 1:1 ratio, even in the absence of measureable inorganic TEAs. Since the oxidation state of C in both cellulose-derived organic matter and acetate is 0, and CO 2 has an oxidationmore » state of +4, if CH 4 (oxidation state -4) is not produced in equal ratio, then some other compound(s) must balance CO 2 production by receiving 4 electrons. Here we present evidence for ubiquitous hydrogenation of diverse unsaturated compounds that appear to serve as organic TEAs in peat, thereby providing the necessary electron balance to sustain CO 2:CH 4 >1. While organic electron acceptors have previously been proposed to drive microbial respiration of organic matter through the reversible reduction of quinone moieties, the hydrogenation mechanism that we propose, by contrast, reduces C-C double bonds in organic matter thereby serving as 1) a terminal electron sink, 2) a mechanism for degrading complex unsaturated organic molecules, 3) a potential mechanism to regenerate electron-accepting quinones, and, in some cases, 4) a means to alleviate the toxicity of unsaturated aromatic acids. In conclusion, this mechanism for CO 2 generation without concomitant CH 4 production has the potential to regulate the global warming potential of peatlands by elevating CO 2:CH 4 production ratios.« less

Hydrogenation of Organic Matter as a Terminal Electron Sink Sustains High CO 2 :CH 4 Production Ratios During Anaerobic Decomposition

DOE PAGES

Wilson, Rachel M.; Tfaily, Malak M.; Rich, Virginia I.; ...

2017-07-03

Once inorganic electron acceptors are depleted, organic matter in anoxic environments decomposes by hydrolysis, fermentation, and methanogenesis, requiring syntrophic interactions between microorganisms to achieve energetic favorability. In this classic anaerobic food chain, methanogenesis represents the terminal electron accepting (TEA) process, ultimately producing equimolar CO 2 and CH 4 for each molecule of organic matter degraded. However, CO 2:CH 4 production in Sphagnum-derived, mineral-poor, cellulosic peat often substantially exceeds this 1:1 ratio, even in the absence of measureable inorganic TEAs. Since the oxidation state of C in both cellulose-derived organic matter and acetate is 0, and CO 2 has an oxidationmore » state of +4, if CH 4 (oxidation state -4) is not produced in equal ratio, then some other compound(s) must balance CO 2 production by receiving 4 electrons. Here we present evidence for ubiquitous hydrogenation of diverse unsaturated compounds that appear to serve as organic TEAs in peat, thereby providing the necessary electron balance to sustain CO 2:CH 4 >1. While organic electron acceptors have previously been proposed to drive microbial respiration of organic matter through the reversible reduction of quinone moieties, the hydrogenation mechanism that we propose, by contrast, reduces C-C double bonds in organic matter thereby serving as 1) a terminal electron sink, 2) a mechanism for degrading complex unsaturated organic molecules, 3) a potential mechanism to regenerate electron-accepting quinones, and, in some cases, 4) a means to alleviate the toxicity of unsaturated aromatic acids. In conclusion, this mechanism for CO 2 generation without concomitant CH 4 production has the potential to regulate the global warming potential of peatlands by elevating CO 2:CH 4 production ratios.« less

Hydrogenation of organic matter as a terminal electron sink sustains high CO 2 :CH 4 production ratios during anaerobic decomposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, Rachel M.; Tfaily, Malak M.; Rich, Virginia I.

Once inorganic electron acceptors are depleted, organic matter in anoxic environments decomposes by hydrolysis, fermentation, and methanogenesis, requiring syntrophic interactions between microorganisms to achieve energetic favorability. In this classic anaerobic food chain, methanogenesis represents the terminal electron accepting (TEA) process, ultimately producing equimolar CO2 and CH4 for each molecule of organic matter degraded. However, CO2:CH4 production in Sphagnum-derived, mineral-poor, cellulosic peat often substantially exceeds this 1:1 ratio, even in the absence of measureable inorganic TEAs. Since the oxidation state of C in both cellulose-derived organic matter and acetate is 0, and CO2 has an oxidation state of +4, if CH4more » (oxidation state -4) is not produced in equal ratio, then some other compound(s) must balance CO2 production by receiving 4 electrons. Here we present evidence for ubiquitous hydrogenation of diverse unsaturated compounds that appear to serve as organic TEAs in peat, thereby providing the necessary electron balance to sustain CO2:CH4 >1. While organic electron acceptors have previously been proposed to drive microbial respiration of organic matter through the reversible reduction of quinone moieties, the hydrogenation mechanism that we propose, by contrast, reduces C-C double bonds in organic matter thereby serving as 1) a terminal electron sink, 2) a mechanism for degrading complex unsaturated organic molecules, 3) a potential mechanism to regenerate electron-accepting quinones, and, in some cases, 4) a means to alleviate the toxicity of unsaturated aromatic acids. This mechanism for CO2 generation without concomitant CH4 production has the potential to regulate the global warming potential of peatlands by elevating CO2:CH4 production ratios.« less

Electron Beam Welding of Duplex Steels with using Heat Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarz, Ladislav; Vrtochová, Tatiana; Ulrich, Koloman

2010-01-01

This contribution presents characteristics, metallurgy and weldability of duplex steels with using concentrated energy source. The first part of the article describes metallurgy of duplex steels and the influence of nitrogen on their solidification. The second part focuses on weldability of duplex steels with using electron beam aimed on acceptable structure and corrosion resistance performed by multiple runs of defocused beam over the penetration weld.

Development of a Hand Held Thromboelastograph

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

documents will be referenced during the Entegrion PCM System design, verification and validation activities. EN 61010 -1:2010 (Edition3.0) Safety...requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use – Part 1: General requirements. EN 61010 -2-101:2002 Safety...IPC-A-610E Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies IPC 7711/21B Rework, Modification and Repair of Electronic Assemblies. IEC 62304:2006/AC:2008

p-Type semiconducting nickel oxide as an efficiency-enhancing anodal interfacial layer in bulk heterojunction solar cells

DOEpatents

Irwin, Michael D; Buchholz, Donald B; Marks, Tobin J; Chang, Robert P. H.

2014-11-25

The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a solar cell. In one embodiment, the solar cell includes an anode, a p-type semiconductor layer formed on the anode, and an active organic layer formed on the p-type semiconductor layer, where the active organic layer has an electron-donating organic material and an electron-accepting organic material.

Integrating a Hand Held computer and Stethoscope into a Fetal Monitor

PubMed Central

Ahmad Soltani, Mitra

2009-01-01

This article presents procedures for modifying a hand held computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) into a versatile device functioning as an electronic stethoscope for fetal monitoring. Along with functioning as an electronic stethoscope, a PDA can provide a useful information source for a medical trainee. Feedback from medical students, residents and interns suggests the device is well accepted by medical trainees. PMID:20165517

Carbon dioxide electron cooling rates in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, L.; Brunger, M. J.; Rescigno, T. N.

2008-08-01

The cooling of electrons in collisions with carbon dioxide in the atmospheres of Venus and Mars is investigated. Calculations are performed with both previously accepted electron energy transfer rates and with new ones determined using more recent theoretical and experimental cross sections for electron impact on CO2. Emulation of a previous model for Venus confirms the validity of the current model and shows that use of the updated cross sections leads to cooling rates that are lower by one third. Application of the same model to the atmosphere of Mars gives more than double the previous cooling rates at altitudes where the electron temperature is very low.

Self-acceptance of stuttering: A preliminary study.

PubMed

De Nardo, Thales; Gabel, Rodney M; Tetnowski, John A; Swartz, Eric R

2016-01-01

This study explored the relationship between self-acceptance of stuttering and (1) psychosocial factors (self-esteem, hostility towards others, emotional support, and perceived discrimination); (2) treatment history (support group participation, therapy duration, and perceived therapy success); and (3) previously reported variables in self-acceptance of stuttering, which include age and stuttering severity. Participants were 80 adults who stutter who were recruited with assistance from the National Stuttering Association and Board Certified Specialists in Fluency Disorders. Participants completed an electronic survey composed of an acceptance of stuttering scale, psychosocial scales, and a participant information questionnaire. Statistical analysis identified significant correlations between participants' reports of self-acceptance of stuttering and self-esteem, perceived discrimination, hostility towards others, and perceived therapy outcome. Self-esteem was positively correlated with self-acceptance, while hostility towards others and perceived discrimination was negatively correlated with self-acceptance. Participants who perceived their therapy outcome to be successful were significantly more likely to report higher levels of self-acceptance. No significant relationships were found between self-acceptance of stuttering and support group participation, emotional support, stuttering severity, and participant age. This exploratory investigation has provided a foundation for future studies on the self-acceptance of stuttering. The findings indicate common psychosocial variables in self-acceptance of stuttering and of other disabilities. The significant relationships between self-acceptance of stuttering and psychosocial and therapeutic variables found need to be further explored to identify its causalities and clinical implications. The reader will be able to (1) discuss the importance of assessing self-acceptance of stuttering, (2) summarize the literature on self-acceptance of disability, and (3) describe the significant findings related to self-acceptance of stuttering and psychosocial, therapeutic variables. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Web-Based Alcohol Management Intervention in Community Sports Clubs: A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Wolfenden, Luke; Wiggers, John; Tindall, Jenny; Yoong, Sze Lin; Lecathelinais, Christophe; Gillham, Karen; Sherker, Shauna; Rowland, Bosco; McLaren, Nicola; Kingsland, Melanie

2017-01-01

Background The implementation of comprehensive alcohol management strategies can reduce excessive alcohol use and reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm at sporting venues. Supporting sports venues to implement alcohol management strategies via the Web may represent an effective and efficient means of reducing harm caused by alcohol in this setting. However, the feasibility and acceptability of such an approach is unknown. Objective This study aimed to identify (1) the current access to and use of the Web and electronic devices by sports clubs; (2) the perceived usefulness, ease of use, and intention to use a Web-based program to support implementation of alcohol management policies in sports clubs; (3) the factors associated with intention to use such a Web-based support program; and (4) the specific features of such a program that sports clubs would find useful. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with club administrators of community football clubs in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Perceived usefulness, ease of use and intention to use a hypothetical Web-based alcohol management support program was assessed using the validated Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) instrument. Associations between intention to use a Web-based program and club characteristics as well as perceived ease of use and usefulness was tested using Fisher’s exact test and represented using relative risk (RR) for high intention to use the program. Results Of the 73 football clubs that were approached to participate in the study, 63 consented to participate and 46 were eligible and completed the survey. All participants reported having access to the Web and 98% reported current use of electronic devices (eg, computers, iPads/tablets, smartphones, laptops, televisions, and smartboards). Mean scores (out of a possible 7) for the TAM constructs were high for intention to use (mean 6.25, SD 0.87), perceived ease of use (mean 6.00, SD 0.99), and perceived usefulness (mean 6.17, SD 0.85). Intention to use the Web-based alcohol management program was significantly associated with perceived ease of use (P=.02, RR 1.4, CI 1.0-2.9), perceived usefulness (P=.03, RR 1.5, CI 1.0-6.8) and club size (P=.02, RR 0.8, CI 0.5-0.9). The most useful features of such a program included the perceived ability to complete program requirements within users’ own time, complete program accreditation assessment and monitoring online, develop tailored action plans, and receive email reminders and prompts to complete action. Conclusions A Web-based alcohol management approach to support sports clubs in the implementation of recommended alcohol management policies appears both feasible and acceptable. Future research should aim to determine if such intended use leads to actual use and club implementation of alcohol management policies. PMID:28666977

77 FR 11199 - Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-24

...The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned about the effects of distraction due to drivers' use of electronic devices on motor vehicle safety. Consequently, NHTSA is issuing nonbinding, voluntary NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines (NHTSA Guidelines) to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles. This notice details the contents of the first phase of the NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines. These NHTSA Guidelines cover original equipment in-vehicle device secondary tasks (communications, entertainment, information gathering, and navigation tasks not required to drive are considered secondary tasks) performed by the driver through visual-manual means (meaning the driver looking at a device, manipulating a device-related control with the driver's hand, and watching for visual feedback). The proposed NHTSA Guidelines list certain secondary, non-driving related tasks that, based on NHTSA's research, are believed by the agency to interfere inherently with a driver's ability to safely control the vehicle. The Guidelines recommend that those in-vehicle devices be designed so that they cannot be used by the driver to perform such tasks while the driver is driving. For all other secondary, non-driving-related visual-manual tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines specify a test method for measuring the impact of task performance on driving safety while driving and time-based acceptance criteria for assessing whether a task interferes too much with driver attention to be suitable to perform while driving. If a task does not meet the acceptance criteria, the NHTSA Guidelines recommend that in- vehicle devices be designed so that the task cannot be performed by the driver while driving. In addition to identifying inherently distracting tasks and providing a means for measuring and evaluating the level of distraction associated with other non-driving-related tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines contain several design recommendations for in-vehicle devices in order to minimize their potential for distraction. NHTSA seeks comments on these NHTSA Guidelines and any suggestions for how to improve them so as to better enhance motor vehicle safety.

Influence of 6-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone and 3-chloro-6-phenylpyrazine on mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M HCl medium: Experimental and theoretical studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olasunkanmi, Lukman O.; Sebona, Mabina Frans; Ebenso, Eno E.

2017-12-01

Two pyridazine derivatives, namely, 6-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (P1) and 3-chloro-6-phenylpyrazine (P2) were investigated for their influence on mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M HCl, using Tafel polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), surface morphology, FTIR and UV-vis techniques. Quantum chemical calculations were also conducted to corroborate experimental findings. P1 was found to accelerate corrosion at low concentrations but exhibits inhibitive action at higher concentrations, attaining 61% inhibition efficiency at 1.25 mM. The inhibitive action of P2 increases with increasing concentration from 88% at 0.1 mM to 96% at 1.25 mM as deduced from EIS measurements. Both compounds are mixed type inhibitors. P2 seems to display chiefly anodic inhibitive effects. The adsorption of P2 on mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and involved competitive physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy analyses of steel surfaces in acid-inhibitor solutions showed that both compounds protect mild steel surface effectively at 1.25 mM. FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopic analyses revealed that Nsbnd H, Cdbnd O, and Csbnd N functional groups of the pyridazine derivatives are actively involved in adsorption of the molecules onto steel surface. Quantum chemical parameters showed that the higher inhibition efficiency of P2 compared to P1 might be related to better electron acceptance ability of P2.

Barriers to electronic prescribing: Nebraska pharmacists' perspective.

PubMed

Lander, Lina; Klepser, Donald G; Cochran, Gary L; Lomelin, Daniel E; Morien, Marsha

2013-01-01

Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) and its accompanying clinical decision support capabilities have been promoted as means for reducing medication errors and improving efficiency. The objectives of this study were to identify the barriers to adoption of e-prescribing among nonparticipating Nebraska pharmacies and to describe how the lack of pharmacy participation impacts the ability of physicians to meet meaningful use criteria. We interviewed pharmacists and/or managers from nonparticipating pharmacies to determine barriers to the adoption of e-prescribing. We used open-ended questions and a structured questionnaire to capture participants' responses. Of the 23 participants, 10 (43%) reported plans to implement e-prescribing sometime in the future but delayed participation due to transaction fees and maintenance costs, as well as lack of demand from customers and prescribers to implement e-prescribing. Nine participants (39%) reported no intention to e-prescribe in the future, citing start-up costs for implementing e-prescribing, transaction fees and maintenance costs, happiness with the current system, and lack of understanding about e-prescribing's benefits and how to implement e-prescribing. The barriers to e-prescribing identified by both late adopters and those not willing to accept e-prescriptions were similar and were mainly initial costs and transaction fees associated with each new prescription. For some rural pharmacies, not participating in e-prescribing may be a rational business decision. To increase participation, waiving or reimbursing transaction fees, based on demographic or financial characteristics of the pharmacy, may be warranted. © 2012 National Rural Health Association.

Semiconductor Quantum Dots with Photoresponsive Ligands.

PubMed

Sansalone, Lorenzo; Tang, Sicheng; Zhang, Yang; Thapaliya, Ek Raj; Raymo, Françisco M; Garcia-Amorós, Jaume

2016-10-01

Photochromic or photocaged ligands can be anchored to the outer shell of semiconductor quantum dots in order to control the photophysical properties of these inorganic nanocrystals with optical stimulations. One of the two interconvertible states of the photoresponsive ligands can be designed to accept either an electron or energy from the excited quantum dots and quench their luminescence. Under these conditions, the reversible transformations of photochromic ligands or the irreversible cleavage of photocaged counterparts translates into the possibility to switch luminescence with external control. As an alternative to regulating the photophysics of a quantum dot via the photochemistry of its ligands, the photochemistry of the latter can be controlled by relying on the photophysics of the former. The transfer of excitation energy from a quantum dot to a photocaged ligand populates the excited state of the species adsorbed on the nanocrystal to induce a photochemical reaction. This mechanism, in conjunction with the large two-photon absorption cross section of quantum dots, can be exploited to release nitric oxide or to generate singlet oxygen under near-infrared irradiation. Thus, the combination of semiconductor quantum dots and photoresponsive ligands offers the opportunity to assemble nanostructured constructs with specific functions on the basis of electron or energy transfer processes. The photoswitchable luminescence and ability to photoinduce the release of reactive chemicals, associated with the resulting systems, can be particularly valuable in biomedical research and can, ultimately, lead to the realization of imaging probes for diagnostic applications as well as to therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer.

Leading change: introducing an electronic medical record system to a paramedic service.

PubMed

Baird, Shawn; Boak, George

2016-05-03

Purpose Leaders in health-care organizations introducing electronic medical records (EMRs) face implementation challenges. The adoption of EMR by the emergency medical and ambulance setting is expected to provide wide-ranging benefits, but there is little research into the processes of adoption in this sector. The purpose of this study is to examine the introduction of EMR in a small emergency care organization and identify factors that aided adoption. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews with selected paramedics were followed up with a survey issued to all paramedics in the company. Findings The user interfaces with the EMR, and perceived ease of use, were important factors affecting adoption. Individual paramedics were found to have strong and varied preferences about how and when they integrated the EMR into their practice. As company leadership introduced flexibility of use, this enhanced both individual and collective ability to make sense of the change and removed barriers to acceptance. Research limitations/implications This is a case study of one small organization. However, there may be useful lessons for other emergency care organizations adopting EMR. Practical implications Leaders introducing EMR in similar situations may benefit from considering a sense-making perspective and responding promptly to feedback. Originality/value The study contributes to a wider understanding of issues faced by leaders who seek to implement EMRs in emergency medical services, a sector in which there has been to date very little research on this issue.

Revealing the influence of Cyano in Anchoring Groups of Organic Dyes on Adsorption Stability and Photovoltaic Properties for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

PubMed

Chen, Wei-Chieh; Nachimuthu, Santhanamoorthi; Jiang, Jyh-Chiang

2017-07-10

Determining an ideal adsorption configuration for a dye on the semiconductor surface is an important task in improving the overall efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Here, we present a detailed investigation of different adsorption configurations of designed model dyes on TiO 2 anatase (101) surface using first principles methods. Particularly, we aimed to investigate the influence of cyano group in the anchoring part of dye on its adsorption stability and the overall photovoltaic properties such as open circuit voltage, electron injection ability to the surface. Our results indicate that the inclusion of cyano group increases the stability of adsorption only when it adsorbs via CN with the surface and it decreases the photovoltaic properties when it does not involve in binding. In addition, we also considered full dyes based on the results of model dyes and investigated the different strength of acceptor abilities on stability and electron injection ability. Among the various adsorption configurations considered here, the bidentate bridging mode (A3) is more appropriate one which has higher electron injection ability, larger V OC value and more importantly it has higher dye loading on the surface.

Employers' Perceptions of the Benefits of Employment Electronic Portfolios

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leahy, Ronda L.; Filiatrault, Ariana

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine employers' perceptions of the effectiveness of employment electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) when evaluating potential job candidates. For the purpose of this study, ePortfolios were defined as a collection of electronic files that demonstrates one's qualifications, abilities, and experiences that are…

Acceptability of an Electronic Self Report Assessment Program for Patients with Cancer

PubMed Central

Wolpin, S.; Berry, D.; Austin-Seymour, M.; Bush, N.; Fann, J.R.; Halpenny, B.; Lober, W.; McCorkle, Ruth

2010-01-01

Background Eliciting symptom and quality of life information from patients is an important component of medical and nursing care processes. Traditionally, this information has been collected with paper and pencil. However, this approach presents several barriers, including delays in receiving information, difficulty integrating responses with electronic records and the time required to manual score questionnaires for measurement purposes. One solution that addresses many of these barriers is the adoption of computerized screening for symptom and quality of life information. Objective This research explored the acceptability of asking symptom and quality of life questions using the Electronic Self Report Assessment – Cancer program on wireless laptops equipped with touch screen format. Methods Acceptability data was explored with respect to whether any differences may be attributed to demographics, and symptom and quality of life levels such as depression, cognitive and emotional functioning. This evaluation utilized descriptive and univariate statistics to examine data from 342 participants from the ongoing ESRA-C randomized clinical trial. Research participants for the ESRA-C study were recruited from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), a consortium between the University of Washington Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Results The sample consisted of 342 adult participants who completed both baseline and follow-up survey sessions. Medical Oncology represented the largest recruitment group (45.3%), followed by Stem Cell Transplant (34.5%) and Radiation Oncology (20.2%). The primary finding was that patients were generally able to utilize ESRA-C quickly and without difficulty in a real-world clinical setting and that they were overall quite satisfied with the ESRA-C program. Significant differences were found in several acceptability areas with respect to demographics and quality of life measures, such as age, gender, and severe distress. Conclusions This analysis confirms that the ESRA-C application for collecting symptom and quality of life information is easy for patients to use and acceptable across a range of user characteristics. We intend to build on our work by using the survey platform in other modalities while ensuring that the patient’s preferences are considered at all times. PMID:19047882

Acceptability of an Electronic Self-Report Assessment Program for patients with cancer.

PubMed

Wolpin, Seth; Berry, Donna; Austin-Seymour, Mary; Bush, Nigel; Fann, Jesse R; Halpenny, Barbara; Lober, William B; McCorkle, Ruth

2008-01-01

Eliciting symptom and quality of life information from patients is an important component of medical and nursing care processes. Traditionally, this information has been collected with paper and pencil. However, this approach presents several barriers, including delays in receiving information, difficulty in integrating responses with electronic records, and the time required to manually score questionnaires for measurement purposes. One solution that addresses many of these barriers is the adoption of computerized screening for symptom and quality-of-life information. This research explored the acceptability of asking symptom and quality-of-life questions using the Electronic Self Report Assessment-Cancer program on wireless laptops equipped with touch-screen format. Acceptability data were explored with respect to whether any differences may be attributed to demographics and symptom and quality-of-life levels, such as depression and cognitive and emotional functioning. This evaluation used descriptive and univariate statistics to examine data from 342 participants from the ongoing ESRA-C randomized clinical trial. Research participants for the ESRA-C study were recruited from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, a consortium among the University of Washington Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, WA. The sample consisted of 342 adult participants who completed both baseline and follow-up survey sessions. Medical oncology represented the largest recruitment group (45.3%), followed by stem cell transplant (34.5%) and radiation oncology (20.2%). The primary finding was that patients were generally able to use ESRA-C quickly and without difficulty in a real-world clinical setting and that they were overall quite satisfied with the ESRA-C program. Significant differences were found in several acceptability areas with respect to demographics and quality of life measures such as age, sex, and severe distress. This analysis confirms that the ESRA-C application for collecting symptom and quality of life information is easy for patients to use and acceptable across a range of user characteristics. We intend to build on our work by using the survey platform in other modalities while ensuring that the patient's preferences are considered at all times.

User acceptance of mobile health services from users' perspectives: The role of self-efficacy and response-efficacy in technology acceptance.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaofei; Han, Xiaocui; Dang, Yuanyuan; Meng, Fanbo; Guo, Xitong; Lin, Jiayue

2017-03-01

With the swift emergence of electronic medical information, the global popularity of mobile health (mHealth) services continues to increase steadily. This study aims to investigate the efficacy factors that directly or indirectly influence individuals' acceptance of mHealth services. Based on the technology acceptance model, this research incorporates efficacy factors into the acceptance decision process. A research model was proposed involving the direct and indirect effects of self-efficacy and response-efficacy on acceptance intention, along with their moderating effects. The model and hypotheses were validated using data collected from a field survey of 650 potential service users. The results reveal that: (1) self-efficacy and response-efficacy are both positively associated with perceived ease of use; and (2) self-efficacy and response-efficacy moderate the impact of perceived usefulness toward adoption intention. Self-efficacy and response-efficacy both play an important role in individuals' acceptance of mHealth services, which not only affect their perceived ease of use of mHealth services, but also positively moderate the effects of perceived usefulness on adoption intention. Our findings serve to provide recommendations that are specifically customized for mHealth service providers and their marketers.

Electronic Prescribing and Medication Management at a Residential Aged Care Facility: Uptake by General Practitioners and Qualitative Evaluation of the Benefits and Barriers.

PubMed

Elliott, Rohan A; Lee, Cik Yin; Hussainy, Safeera Y

2016-01-01

A cloud-based mobile electronic prescribing and medication management system (ePMMS), in which prescribers' orders directly populate residential aged care facility (RACF) medication administration records (MARs) and are communicated electronically to the RACF's pharmacy, may create efficiencies and improve patient safety when compared to the paper-based and hybrid paper-electronic medication management systems used in most Australian RACFs. Little is known about general-practitioners' (GPs'), nurses' and pharmacists' acceptance of, or experiences with, ePMMS. To explore the uptake of an ePMMS by GPs, and the experiences and perceptions of GPs, nurses and pharmacists, at a 90-bed RACF that tested a beta-version ePMMS. Retrospective audit to determine the proportion of medicines ordered by GPs via the ePMMS over a three-month period. Focus groups conducted three-to-four months after implementation: one with GPs (n=5), one with nurses (n=12); in-depth interview/survey of pharmacists (n=2). Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Three of seven GPs used the ePMMS to order medicines; 53/205(25.9%) medicines were ordered via the ePMMS by GPs. Two broad themes were identified: benefits of the ePMMS, and barriers/limitations. Benefits related to patient safety and workforce efficiency, and included GPs' ability to access and modify residents' MARs remotely, no need for nurses to fax orders to the pharmacy, and no need for pharmacy transcription of GPs' handwritten orders to create electronic MARs. Barriers and limitations related to inefficiency, low GP uptake and training/support, and included slower prescribing compared to written orders, the need for GP-signed paper copies of the MAR, lack of integration with GP clinic software, and low GP motivation to use the system, especially GPs with few patients at the RACF. GPs, nurses and pharmacists felt the ePMMS improved medication-safety and workforce-efficiency, however a number of barriers were identified that contributed to low GP-uptake and limited the benefits.

Test Scores and Stereotypes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gose, Ben

1995-01-01

A psychologist's research suggests that black and female students may have lower standardized test scores and academic achievement because they have accepted stereotypes concerning their ability. Critics feel the researcher, Claude M. Steele, may be overlooking other factors. Steele has developed a program a Stanford University (California) to…

Development of techniques and data for evaluating ride quality. Volume 2 : ride-quality research

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-03-01

Ride-quality models for city buses and intercity trains are presented : and discussed in terms of their ability to predict passenger : comfort and ride acceptability. : This, the second of three volumes, contains a technical discussion, : of the ride...

Accepting Evolution or Discarding Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharpes, Donald K.; Peramas, Mary M.

2006-01-01

Challenging basic principles of constitutional law, advocates of intelligent design are undermining educators' ability to teach evolution in their science classrooms. Because US Supreme Court rulings now prohibit creationist accounts of the origin of life in schools, arguments favoring divine intervention, known as intelligent design, have emerged…

13 CFR 124.504 - What circumstances limit SBA's ability to accept a procurement for award as an 8(a) contract?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... otherwise expressed publicly a clear intent to reserve the procurement as a small business set-aside, or a... whether rejection of the requirement would seriously reduce the pool of similar types of contracts...

13 CFR 124.504 - What circumstances limit SBA's ability to accept a procurement for award as an 8(a) contract?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... otherwise expressed publicly a clear intent to reserve the procurement as a small business set-aside, or a... whether rejection of the requirement would seriously reduce the pool of similar types of contracts...

13 CFR 124.504 - What circumstances limit SBA's ability to accept a procurement for award as an 8(a) contract?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... solicitation for or otherwise expressed publicly a clear intent to award the contract as a small business set... include consideration of whether rejection of the requirement would seriously reduce the pool of similar...

Losing a dime with a satisfied mind: positive affect predicts less search in sequential decision making.

PubMed

von Helversen, Bettina; Mata, Rui

2012-12-01

We investigated the contribution of cognitive ability and affect to age differences in sequential decision making by asking younger and older adults to shop for items in a computerized sequential decision-making task. Older adults performed poorly compared to younger adults partly due to searching too few options. An analysis of the decision process with a formal model suggested that older adults set lower thresholds for accepting an option than younger participants. Further analyses suggested that positive affect, but not fluid abilities, was related to search in the sequential decision task. A second study that manipulated affect in younger adults supported the causal role of affect: Increased positive affect lowered the initial threshold for accepting an attractive option. In sum, our results suggest that positive affect is a key factor determining search in sequential decision making. Consequently, increased positive affect in older age may contribute to poorer sequential decisions by leading to insufficient search. 2013 APA, all rights reserved

Oxidative damage, skin aging, antioxidants and a novel antioxidant rating system.

PubMed

Palmer, Debbie M; Kitchin, Jennifer Silverman

2010-01-01

It is believed that oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen and a biological system's ability to neutralize the reactive intermediates. Oxidative damage occurs because of both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Together, intrinsic and extrinsic damage are the primary causes of skin aging. The skin uses a series of intrinsic antioxidants to protect itself from free radical damage. Naturally occurring extrinsic antioxidants have also been widely shown to offset and alleviate these changes. Unlike sunscreens, which have an SPF rating system to guide consumers in their purchases, there is no widely accepted method to choose antioxidant anti-aging products. ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) and ABEL-RAC (Analysis By Emitted Light-Relative Antioxidant Capacity), are both accepted worldwide as a standard measure of the antioxidant capacity of foods, and are rating systems that could be applied to all antioxidant skincare products. The standardization of antioxidant creams could revolutionize the cosmeceutical market and give physicians and consumers the ability to compare and choose effectively.

Mindfulness-based group therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus: A first exploration of a promising mind-body intervention.

PubMed

Horesh, Danny; Glick, Ittai; Taub, Renen; Agmon-Levin, Nancy; Shoenfeld, Yehuda

2017-02-01

Psychological effects related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are tremendous. While a variety of psychological treatments have been applied to assist SLE patients, the effects of mindfulness practice were never documented in SLE. Mindfulness-based psychotherapy includes several techniques, including body-scan, breathing exercises, and full awareness during daily activities. In this case report, we present a first attempt at conducting mindfulness-based group therapy among SLE patients. Six female SLE patients participated in an 8-week program. Improvement was observed in several areas: patients' increased ability to differentiate between themselves and the disease; increased ability to accept, rather than to actively fight the fact that one must live with the disease; and decreased behavioral avoidance. These observations speak to the significant therapeutic potential of mindfulness practice among SLE patients. With its emphasis on acceptance of negative physical and emotional states, mindfulness practice is a promising treatment option, which needs to be further studied. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Examining the Measurement Precision and Invariance of the Revised Get Ready to Read!

PubMed Central

Farrington, Amber L.; Lonigan, Christopher J.

2016-01-01

Children's emergent literacy skills are highly predictive of later reading abilities. To determine which children have weaker emergent literacy skills and are in need of intervention, it is necessary to assess emergent literacy skills accurately and reliably. In this study, 1,351 children were administered the Revised Get Ready to Read! (GRTR-R), and an item response theory analysis was used to evaluate the item-level reliability of the measure. Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses were conducted to examine whether items function similarly between subpopulations of children. The GRTR-R had acceptable reliability for children whose ability level was just below the mean. DIF for a small number of items was present for only two comparisons—children who were older versus younger and children who were White versus African American. These results demonstrate that the GRTR-R has acceptable reliability and limited DIF, enabling the screener to identify those at risk for developing reading problems. PMID:23851136

Psychometric evaluation of a new assessment of the ability to manage technology in everyday life.

PubMed

Malinowsky, Camilla; Nygård, Louise; Kottorp, Anders

2011-03-01

Technology increasingly influences the everyday lives of most people, and the ability to manage technology can be seen as a prerequisite for participation in everyday occupations. However, knowledge of the ability and skills required for management of technology is sparse. This study aimed to validate a new observation-based assessment, the Management of Everyday Technology Assessment (META). The META has been developed to assess the ability to manage technology in everyday life. A sample of 116 older adults with and without cognitive impairment were observed and interviewed by the use of the META when managing their everyday technology at home. The results indicate that the META demonstrates acceptable person response validity and technology goodness-of-fit. Additionally, the META can separate individuals with higher ability from individuals with lower ability to manage everyday technology. The META can be seen as a complement to existing ADL assessment techniques and is planned to be used in both research and practice.

Application-oriented computational studies on a series of D-π-A structured porphyrin sensitizers with different electron-donor groups.

PubMed

Fan, Chencheng; Zhang, Bao; Li, Yuanchao; Liang, Yuxia; Xue, Xiaodong; Feng, Yaqing

2015-11-11

A series of D-π-A zinc porphyrin sensitizers bearing a substituted iminodibenzyl group at the porphyrin meso position, which is expected to have different electron-donating abilities, were designed. Theoretical studies were performed to examine the photovoltaic properties of these molecules in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In particular, the important concepts, the Fukui function and the extended condensed Fukui function, are employed to describe the electron-donating abilities accurately at the quantitative level. Tangui Le Bahers model was adopted to analyze charge transfer (CT) during electron transition. A correlation between the electron donating abilities of the derived iminodibenzyl group and CT was built to evaluate the cell performance based on sensitizers . The theoretical studies showed that porphyrins bearing an extremely strong electron-donating group (EDG) would fail in the generation of photocurrent in the closed circuit when applied in DSSCs due to the higher level of the HOMO energy than the redox potential of the redox couple (I(-)/I3(-)). The one with a weaker EDG () is expected to show better photovoltaic performance than porphyrin with an unsubstituted iminodibenzyl group. This study demonstrates a reliable method involving the employment of the Fukui function, the extended condensed Fukui function and the Tangui Le Bahers model for the evaluation of newly designed D-π-A type porphyrin sensitizers for use in DSSCs, and as guidance for future molecular design.

77 FR 26038 - Alaska Native Claims Selection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-02

... transmitted by electronic means, such as facsimile or email, will not be accepted as timely filed. Parties who... . Persons who use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay...

Connected health: cancer symptom and quality-of-life assessment using a tablet computer: a pilot study.

PubMed

Aktas, Aynur; Hullihen, Barbara; Shrotriya, Shiva; Thomas, Shirley; Walsh, Declan; Estfan, Bassam

2015-03-01

Incorporation of tablet computers (TCs) into patient assessment may facilitate safe and secure data collection. We evaluated the usefulness and acceptability of a TC as an electronic self-report symptom assessment instrument. Research Electronic Data Capture Web-based application supported data capture. Information was collected and disseminated in real time and a structured format. Completed questionnaires were printed and given to the physician before the patient visit. Most participants completed the survey without assistance. Completion rate was 100%. The median global quality of life was high for all. More than half reported pain. Based on Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, the top 3 most common symptoms were tiredness, anxiety, and decreased well-being. Patient and physician acceptability for these quick and useful TC-based surveys was excellent. © The Author(s) 2013.

Simulating geriatric home safety assessments in a three-dimensional virtual world.

PubMed

Andrade, Allen D; Cifuentes, Pedro; Mintzer, Michael J; Roos, Bernard A; Anam, Ramanakumar; Ruiz, Jorge G

2012-01-01

Virtual worlds could offer inexpensive and safe three-dimensional environments in which medical trainees can learn to identify home safety hazards. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of virtual worlds for geriatric home safety assessments and to correlate performance efficiency in hazard identification with spatial ability, self-efficacy, cognitive load, and presence. In this study, 30 medical trainees found the home safety simulation easy to use, and their self-efficacy was improved. Men performed better than women in hazard identification. Presence and spatial ability were correlated significantly with performance. Educators should consider spatial ability and gender differences when implementing virtual world training for geriatric home safety assessments.

Clinical and Para Clinical Information Needs of Infertility Electronic Health Records in Iran: A Delphi Study.

PubMed

Farzandipour, Mehrdad; Jeddi, Fateme Rangraz; Gilasi, Hamid Reza; Shirzadi, Diana

2017-09-01

infertility is referred to the person's inability to conceive pregnancy after one year of intercourse without using protection. This study paves the ground for creating a complete, united, and coherent source of patients' medical information. this is an applied research of descriptive-cross sectional type which has been carried out through qualitative - quantitative methods. The sample of the present study was 50 specialists in the field of infertility which has been chosen based on purposive sampling method. Designing the questionnaire was done based on library studies and Gathering experts' views was done based on Delphi technique. 261 items from clinical and Para clinical information of infertile patients' electronic health records were subjected to an opinion poll by experts. During this process 223 items were accepted and 38 items have been rejected after two sessions of surveys by infertility experts. Para clinical information section consisted of 57 items that all of them have been accepted by the experts. Also, clinical information section consisted of 242 items from which 204 items were accepted and 38 items were rejected by the experts. existence of a structured electronic record system of infertile patients' information leads to the integration of patients' information, improvement of health care services and a decrease in treatment costs: all working to increase information safety. Furthermore, only essential and relevant information would be provided for the specialists and it will facilitate and direct the future infertility related studies due to the coherence, unity and relevance of the information.

An Alternative Derivation of the Energy Levels of the "Particle on a Ring" System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vincent, Alan

1996-10-01

All acceptable wave functions must be continuous mathematical functions. This criterion limits the acceptable functions for a particle in a linear 1-dimensional box to sine functions. If, however, the linear box is bent round into a ring, acceptable wave functions are those which are continuous at the 'join'. On this model some acceptable linear functions become unacceptable for the ring and some unacceptable cosine functions become acceptable. This approach can be used to produce a straightforward derivation of the energy levels and wave functions of the particle on a ring. These simple wave mechanical systems can be used as models of linear and cyclic delocalised systems such as conjugated hydrocarbons or the benzene ring. The promotion energy of an electron can then be used to calculate the wavelength of absorption of uv light. The simple model gives results of the correct order of magnitude and shows that, as the chain length increases, the uv maximum moves to longer wavelengths, as found experimentally.

[Resistance to peer and partner pressure and tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents].

PubMed

Andrade Palos, Patricia; Pérez de la Barrera, Citlalli; Alfaro Martínez, Lilia Bertha; Sánchez Oviedo, Martha Elba; López Montes de Oca, Alicia

2009-01-01

Drug consumption constitutes a public health problem in Mexico. In the international literature and from the health promotion perspective, the Life Skills Approach proposed by the World Health Organization identifies the ability to resist pressure as a key component in the prevention of legal and illegal drug use among adolescents. An instrument for measuring this ability was developed and validated in order to confirm whether, as the empirical evidence suggests, it differs between users and non-users of alcohol and tobacco. The sample was made up of 5651 adolescents, 2637 (47.9%) of whom were male and 2864 (52.1%) female. These participants were selected at random from among public high school pupils in Mexico City, and average age was 16.7 years. The instrument used was that validated in the first phase of the study. To measure patterns of use, we used a scale based on indicators derived from the National Addiction Survey (2002). Factor analysis yielded three factors: peer pressure acceptance, partner pressure acceptance and peer/partner pressure resistance. Non-users of alcohol and tobacco scored higher in the ability to resist pressure than those who had used alcohol and tobacco in the last month. Based on these results, the aim is to develop an addiction prevention program for public high school pupils in Mexico City.

The effects of yoga practice in school physical education on children's motor abilities and social behavior.

PubMed

Folleto, Júlia C; Pereira, Keila Rg; Valentini, Nadia Cristina

2016-01-01

In recent years, yoga programs in childhood have been implemented in schools, to promote the development for children. To investigate the effects of yoga program in physical education classes on the motor abilities and social behavior parameters of 6-8-year-old children. The study included 16 children from the 1(st) grade of a public elementary school in the South of Brazil. The children participated in a 12-week intervention, twice weekly, with 45 min each session. To assess children's performance, we used the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition, the flexibility test (sit and reach - Eurofit, 1988), the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children and semi-structured interviews with children, parents, and classroom' teacher. Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon test and level of significance was 5%. The yoga program was well accepted by children, children also demonstrated significant and positive changes in overall motor abilities scores (balance, strength, and flexibility). In addition, the interviews reported changing in social behavior and the use of the knowledge learned in the program in contexts outside of school. These findings suggest that the implementation of yoga practice in physical education lessons contributed to children's development.

The effects of yoga practice in school physical education on children's motor abilities and social behavior

PubMed Central

Folleto, Júlia C; Pereira, Keila RG; Valentini, Nadia Cristina

2016-01-01

Background: In recent years, yoga programs in childhood have been implemented in schools, to promote the development for children. Aim: To investigate the effects of yoga program in physical education classes on the motor abilities and social behavior parameters of 6–8-year-old children. Methods: The study included 16 children from the 1st grade of a public elementary school in the South of Brazil. The children participated in a 12-week intervention, twice weekly, with 45 min each session. To assess children's performance, we used the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition, the flexibility test (sit and reach – Eurofit, 1988), the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children and semi-structured interviews with children, parents, and classroom’ teacher. Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon test and level of significance was 5%. Results: The yoga program was well accepted by children, children also demonstrated significant and positive changes in overall motor abilities scores (balance, strength, and flexibility). In addition, the interviews reported changing in social behavior and the use of the knowledge learned in the program in contexts outside of school. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the implementation of yoga practice in physical education lessons contributed to children's development. PMID:27512323

Effect of redox conditions on MTBE biodegradation in surface water Sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bradley, P.M.; Chapelle, F.H.; Landmeyer, J.E.

2001-01-01

Microbial degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was observed in surface water-sediment microcosms under anaerobic conditions. The efficiency and products of anaerobic MTBE biodegradation were dependent on the predominant terminal electron-accepting conditions. In the presence of substantial methanogenic activity, MTBE biodegradation was nominal and involved reduction of MTBE to the toxic product, tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). In the absence of significant methanogenic activity, accumulation of [14C]TBA generally decreased, and mineralization of [U-14C]MTBE to 14CO2 generally increased as the oxidative potential of the predominant terminal electron acceptor increased in the order of SO4, Fe(III), Mn(IV) < NO3 < O2. Microbial mineralization of MTBE to CO2 under Mn(IV)or SO4-reducing conditions has not been reported previously. The results of this study indicate that microorganisms inhabiting the sediments of streams and lakes can degrade MTBE effectively under a range of anaerobic terminal electron-accepting conditions. Thus, anaerobic bed sediment microbial processes may provide a significant environmental sink for MTBE in surface water systems throughout the United States.

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic-Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer.

PubMed

Kato, Takehito; Oinuma, Chihiro; Otsuka, Munechika; Hagiwara, Naoki

2017-01-10

The photoactive layer of a typical organic thin-film bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cell commonly uses fullerene derivatives as the electron-accepting material. However, fullerene derivatives are air-sensitive; therefore, air-stable material is needed as an alternative. In the present study, we propose and describe the properties of Ti-alkoxide as an alternative electron-accepting material to fullerene derivatives to create highly air-stable BHJ solar cells. It is well-known that controlling the morphology in the photoactive layer, which is constructed with fullerene derivatives as the electron acceptor, is important for obtaining a high overall efficiency through the solvent method. The conventional solvent method is useful for high-solubility materials, such as fullerene derivatives. However, for Ti-alkoxides, the conventional solvent method is insufficient, because they only dissolve in specific solvents. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to morphology control that uses the molecular bulkiness of Ti-alkoxides without the conventional solvent method. That is, this method is one approach to obtain highly efficient, air-stable, organic-inorganic bulk-heterojunction solar cells.

The Short-Term Effect of Grade Retention on Peer Relations and Academic Performance of At-Risk First Graders

PubMed Central

Gleason, Katie A.; Kwok, Oi-man; Hughes, Jan N.

2010-01-01

Using latent variable structural equation modeling, we tested a theoretical model positing that grade retention has a positive effect on children’s teacher- and peer-rated academic competencies and on sociometric measures of peer acceptance. We also expected that the positive effect of grade retention on peer acceptance would be mediated by children’s ability to meet academic challenges in their classrooms. Participants were 350 (52.6% male) ethnically diverse and academically at-risk first graders attending 1 of 3 school districts in Texas. An individually administered test of academic achievement, teacher-report and peer-report measures of academic competence, and peer-report measures of peer acceptance were collected on children in first grade and 1 year later, at which time 63 children were repeating first grade and 287 were in second grade. The hypothesized model provided a good fit to the data. Children’s academic competencies, as perceived by peers and teachers, fully mediated the effect of retention on subsequent peer acceptance. PMID:20431696

Risk-Based Tailoring of the Verification, Validation, and Accreditation/Acceptance Processes (Adaptation fondee sur le risque, des processus de verification, de validation, et d’accreditation/d’acceptation)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-01

Systems Concepts and Integration SET Sensors and Electronics Technology SISO Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization SIW Simulation...conjunction with 2006 Fall SIW 2006 September SISO Standards Activity Committee approved beginning IEEE balloting 2006 October IEEE Project...019 published 2008 June Edinborough, UK Held in conjunction with 2008 Euro- SIW 2008 September Laurel, MD, US Work on Composite Model 2008 December

Space shuttle food system study: Food and beverage package development, modification 8S

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

A new, highly utile rehydration package was developed for foods in zero gravity. Rehydratable foods will become more acceptable as a result of their overall rehydration capability and improved palatability. This new package design is greatly enhanced by the specified spacecraft condition of atmospheric pressure; the pressure differential between the atmosphere and the package carries the functional responsibility for rapid food rehydration without excess package manipulation by the consumer. Crew acceptance will further be enhanced by less manipulation, hotter rehydration water temperatures and the ability to hold the foods at preparation temperatures until they are consumed.

Effects of rational emotive behavior coaching on occupational stress and work ability among electronics workshop instructors in Nigeria.

PubMed

Ogbuanya, Theresa C; Eseadi, Chiedu; Orji, Chibueze T; Ohanu, Ifeanyi B; Bakare, Jimoh; Ede, Moses O

2017-05-01

This study examined the effectiveness of rational emotive behavior coaching (REBC) on occupational stress and work ability in a sample of electronics workshop instructors in Nigeria. A pretest-posttest control group design was used. The participants were 108 electronics workshop instructors in technical colleges in the south-east of Nigeria who met the study inclusion criteria. Data were collected using 3 questionnaires and analyzed using a repeated measure analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U test. REBC led to a significant reduction in occupational stress experienced by the electronics workshop instructors in the REBC group compared to their counterparts in the waitlist control group. Furthermore, the scores for occupation-related irrational beliefs of the instructors in the REBC group were significantly lower than those in the waitlist control group at the end of the coaching intervention. The work ability of the REBC group was significantly better than that of the waitlist control group. Finally, the effects in the REBC group were significantly sustained at 3-month follow-up. REBC is a time-efficient and solution-focused therapeutic modality for assisting occupationally stressed employees in a Nigerian setting. REBC can be used for improving and maintaining work ability of workers. The researchers hope that occupational health professionals and health counselors would extend this approach to tackle psychological issues limiting employees' effectiveness and performance in the Nigerian work environment and in other countries.

Effects of rational emotive behavior coaching on occupational stress and work ability among electronics workshop instructors in Nigeria

PubMed Central

Ogbuanya, Theresa C.; Eseadi, Chiedu; Orji, Chibueze T.; Ohanu, Ifeanyi B.; Bakare, Jimoh; Ede, Moses O.

2017-01-01

Abstract Background/objective: This study examined the effectiveness of rational emotive behavior coaching (REBC) on occupational stress and work ability in a sample of electronics workshop instructors in Nigeria. Methods: A pretest–posttest control group design was used. The participants were 108 electronics workshop instructors in technical colleges in the south-east of Nigeria who met the study inclusion criteria. Data were collected using 3 questionnaires and analyzed using a repeated measure analysis of variance and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: REBC led to a significant reduction in occupational stress experienced by the electronics workshop instructors in the REBC group compared to their counterparts in the waitlist control group. Furthermore, the scores for occupation-related irrational beliefs of the instructors in the REBC group were significantly lower than those in the waitlist control group at the end of the coaching intervention. The work ability of the REBC group was significantly better than that of the waitlist control group. Finally, the effects in the REBC group were significantly sustained at 3-month follow-up. Conclusion: REBC is a time-efficient and solution-focused therapeutic modality for assisting occupationally stressed employees in a Nigerian setting. REBC can be used for improving and maintaining work ability of workers. The researchers hope that occupational health professionals and health counselors would extend this approach to tackle psychological issues limiting employees’ effectiveness and performance in the Nigerian work environment and in other countries. PMID:28489795

23 CFR 950.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ELECTRONIC TOLL... Express Lanes Demonstration Program, and the Interstate System Construction Toll Pilot Program. Electronic toll collection means the ability for vehicle operators to pay tolls automatically without slowing down...

An integrated analog O/E/O link for multi-channel laser neurons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nahmias, Mitchell A., E-mail: mnahmias@princeton.edu; Tait, Alexander N.; Tolias, Leonidas

2016-04-11

We demonstrate an analog O/E/O electronic link to allow integrated laser neurons to accept many distinguishable, high bandwidth input signals simultaneously. This device utilizes wavelength division multiplexing to achieve multi-channel fan-in, a photodetector to sum signals together, and a laser cavity to perform a nonlinear operation. Its speed outpaces accelerated-time neuromorphic electronics, and it represents a viable direction towards scalable networking approaches.

Temperature management of photo cathodes at MAMI and MESA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aulenbacher, K.; Friederich, S.; Tyukin, V.

2018-05-01

Production of highly polarized electron current is limited by cathode heating which leads to the destruction of the active layer. For the new electron accelerator MESA a more efficient solution for the cathode cooling problem is required, with the goal to achieve acceptable temperatures at an incident power of about 1 Watt. The current status of temperature management of photo cathodes at MAMI and MESA is presented.

Power-line harmonic radiation - Can it significantly affect the earth's radiation belts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thorne, R. M.; Tsurutani, B. T.

1979-01-01

It has been suggested that harmonic radiation from the earth's 50- and 60-hertz power transmission lines might significantly influence the distribution of electrons in the radiation belts. On the basis of observations presented here, it seems advisable to accept such a hypothesis with caution. New evidence suggests that power-line radiation does not play any major role in the nonadiabatic dynamics of radiation belt electrons.