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Biomedical subjects

Rachel Morgan

Publications and source records attributed to Rachel Morgan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Who is doing what to whom? Young infants' developing sense of social causality in animated displays.

In two different experiments a visual habituation/dishabituation procedure was used to test groups of 3-10-month-old infants for their ability to discriminate the role reversal of two abstract figures (discs of different colors) chasing each other on a computer screen. Results of the first experiment point to a reliable age effect. Only 8-10-month-old infants tended to dishabituate to a role reversal between chaser and chasee. A second experiment shows that in dishabituating to the role reversal, 8-10-month-olds do base this discrimination on relational information between the two discs and not merely on the contrast between their respective vitality or discrete dynamic. By the age of 8-10 months, infants demonstrate sensitivity to information specifying what one disc does to the other, at a distance. These findings point to important changes in perceptual-cognitive development and are discussed in the context of a well described key transition in social-cognitive development occurring at around 9 months of age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

The membrane-interactive tail of cytochrome b(5) can function as a stop-transfer sequence in concert with a signal sequence to give inversion of protein topology in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Sequence analyses of the C-terminal membrane intercalative region of the rat cytochrome b(5) indicated that this domain has, in addition to a signal sequence, a combined element of the classic stop-transfer sequence typically found in a variety of transmembrane proteins. Such bitopic protein arrangements arise by tandem but topogenically displaced activities of cleavable/noncleavable signal and stop-transfer sequences. A fusion precursor comprising an N-terminally linked prokaryotic signal sequence and the full-length of mammalian cytochrome b(5), including its C-terminal membrane insertion sequence, was engineered to investigate the outcome of this combination of signals on the targeting and topology of the cytochrome b(5) in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Precytochrome b(5) was cotranslationally translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. The signal-processed cytochrome b(5) was integrally anchored in the membrane with the globular domain facing the lumen. Thus, the topology of the signal sequence-directed cytochrome b(5) in the microsomal vesicle was reversed with respect to that of the native form. Posttranslational incubation of the precytochrome b(5) with microsomes resulted in a "loose" incorporation of the unprocessed form onto the surface of the vesicle. Our findings suggest that the membrane-insertion sequence of cytochrome b(5) has a functional stop-transfer sequence. We discuss the implications of these findings with respect to selective targeting of cytochrome b(5) to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in the view that signal and stop-transfer sequences are often interchangeable or combined for topogenic functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Providers issue brief: nursing shortages: year end report-2002.

According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report released in July of 2002, the national supply of full time equivalent nurses was estimated at 1.89 million in the year 2000, while the demand was estimated at two million. This reflects a nursing shortage of 110,000 or 6 percent. By the year 2015 the demand will accelerate and almost quadruple to 20 percent.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMed2002

Providers issue brief: scope of practice and prescriptive authority: year end report-2002.

Nonphysician providers continue to achieve enhanced stature, in part by gaining more autonomy in prescribing drugs. There is growing support for the concept that the public health is best served by the broadest access to primary care along with the safe use of pharmaceuticals. The states continue in their efforts to find ways to promote the use of less specialized and less costly providers to help serve the ever-growing population who have access to health care services.

Dental Hygienists↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: any willing provider: year end report-2002.

Today, almost half the states have laws obligating managed care organizations (MCOs) such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) to contract with any willing health care provider. Although most provisions are limited to pharmacies or pharmacists, several states have adopted broad provisions applying to hospitals, physicians, chiropractors, pharmacists, podiatrists, therapists and nurses.

Community Participation↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: comprehensive consumer rights bills: year end report-2002.

The health care industry has historically used established formats for patient rights in order to maintain the integrity and quality of care in all settings of care provision. By establishing rights and responsibilities for patients, it increased patient involvement and created boundaries for acceptable practice for health care providers. As the provision of health care is evolving and including the health payor as never before, legislators are faced with the task of bridging the gap for consumers by creating protective measures that are referred to as a "Patient's Bill of Rights".

Forecasting↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: continuity of care: year end report-2002.

When a health care provider leaves or is terminated by a managed care plan, how long can patients continue to receive covered treatment from that provider for a life-threatening condition, pregnancy, disability or other circumstance that requires continuous medical care? Lawmakers in 36 states have answered that question.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: direct access: year end report-2002.

Consumer demand for a less restrictive referral system has urged legislators, as well as the managed care industry and those in the medical field, to seek the best solution to the problem. The point of service (POS) plan was an early attempt by managed care plans to provide more freedom for enrollees. But POS plans are not always available or cost effective. Several of the larger managed care organizations, in an effort to improve enrollee and provider satisfaction, have eliminated or streamlined their referral processes. The American Medical Association has recommended that primary care and other medical specialty organizations collaborate in developing guidelines for specialty referrals, urging health plans to allow direct access in network without financial penalty as long as the access conforms with the established guidelines. In the meantime, legislators have responded to constituents by enacting measures that mandate direct access for specific types of care or standing referrals for ongoing treatment.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: freedom of choice: year end report-2002.

Should managed care plans have the ability to limit an individual's "freedom of choice" when it comes to selecting a provider? As part of the anti-managed care movement of the early 1990s, 22 states enacted freedom of choice laws; the majority apply only to pharmacies.

Forecasting↗
PubMed2002

Finance issue brief: health care claims payment: prompt payment: year end report-2002.

Since the mid 1990's state legislators and regulators have worked to resolve the complex issue of timely payment of health care claims. They have been challenged with bridging the communication gap between provider and payor and forced to address such base problems as what determines a correctly billed service. As time has progressed it is ever apparent that the completion of payment for services is dependent on many variables, not just simply timely processing of a claim.

Forecasting↗