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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Domestic returns from investment in the control of tuberculosis in other countries.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that investments to improve the control of tuberculosis in selected high-incidence countries would prove to be cost saving for the United States by reducing the incidence of the disease among migrants. METHODS: Using decision analysis, we estimated tuberculosis-related morbidity, mortality, and costs among legal immigrants and refugees, undocumented migrants, and temporary visitors from Mexico after their entry into the United States. We assessed the current strategy of radiographic screening of legal immigrants plus current tuberculosis-control programs alone and with the addition of either U.S.-funded expansion of the strategy of directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS), in Mexico or tuberculin skin testing to screen legal immigrants from Mexico. We also examined tuberculosis-related outcomes among migrants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic using the same three strategies. RESULTS: As compared with the current strategy, expanding the DOTS program in Mexico at a cost to the United States of 34.9 million dollars would result in 2591 fewer cases of tuberculosis in the United States, with 349 fewer deaths from the disease and net discounted savings of 108 million dollars over a 20-year period. Adding tuberculin skin testing to radiographic screening of legal immigrants from Mexico would result in 401 fewer cases of tuberculosis in the United States but would cost an additional 329 million dollars. Expansion of the DOTS program would remain cost saving even if the initial investment were doubled, if the United States paid for all antituberculosis drugs in Mexico, or if the decline in the incidence of tuberculosis in Mexico was less than projected. A 9.4 million dollars investment to expand the DOTS program in Haiti and the Dominican Republic would result in net U.S. savings of 20 million dollars over a 20-year period. CONCLUSIONS: U.S.-funded efforts to expand the DOTS program in Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic could reduce tuberculosis-related morbidity and mortality among migrants to the United States, producing net cost savings for the United States.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2000

Dimensional accuracy of castings produced with ringless and metal ring investment systems.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The ringless casting procedure is in use in clinical dentistry, although there is no adequate scientific data to support its use. PURPOSE: This study compared the vertical margin accuracy of lost wax castings produced with the conventional casting technique using a metal ring and a technique that uses a ringless system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From copings fabricated on a metal die, 30 castings were produced from a high palladium alloy for metal ceramic restorations (Argedent). Ten castings were cast with Bellavest T (Bego) phosphate-bonded investment with the ringless technique, 10 were cast with the same investment with a metal ring, and the final 10 were cast using Hi-temp (Whip Mix) phosphate-bonded investment with a metal ring. The internal surface of the castings were not modified before seating with finger pressure. For vertical margin discrepancy measurements, an optical microscope at a magnification of 100x was used. Data were analyzed with 1-way multivariate ANOVA (repeated measures) and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. RESULTS: When following the manufacturers' recommendations, the castings of the ringless technique provided less vertical margin discrepancy (mean value 181 +/- 71 microm) than the castings produced with the conventional metal ring technique (290 +/- 87 microm and 291 +/- 88 microm). The difference was significant (P <. 001). CONCLUSION: The ringless technique may produce accurate castings for use in fixed prosthodontics, therefore further investigation is needed to develop a protocol for its use.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

The role of foreign direct investment in the nutrition transition.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the nutrition transition, focusing on highly processed foods. DESIGN: Data on FDI were identified from reports/databases and then compiled and analysed. A review of published literature on FDI into the food sector was conducted. SETTING: The nutrition transition is a public health concern owing to its connection with the rising burden of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases in developing countries. Global health leaders are calling for action to address the threat. Highly processed foods often have considerable fat, sugar and salt content, and warrant closer examination. RESULTS: FDI into food processing, service and retail has risen rapidly since the 1980s, mainly from transnational food companies (TFCs) in developed countries. As FDI has risen, so has the proportion invested in highly processed foods for sale in the host market. FDI has proved more effective than trade in generating sales of highly processed foods, and enables TFCs to cut costs, gain market power and obtain efficiencies in distribution and marketing. The amount of FDI targeted at developing countries is increasing; while a disproportionate share enters the larger developing economies, foreign affiliates of TFCs are among the largest companies in low- and low- to middle-income countries. The effect of FDI is to make more highly processed foods available to more people. FDI has made it possible to lower prices, open up new purchasing channels, optimise the effectiveness of marketing and advertising, and increase sales. CONCLUSION: FDI has been a key mechanism in shaping the global market for highly processed foods. Notwithstanding the role of demand-side factors, it has played a role in the nutrition transition by enabling and promoting the consumption of these foods in developing countries. Empirical data on consumption patterns of highly processed foods in developing countries are critically needed, but since FDI is a long-term investment vehicle, it is reasonable to assume that availability and consumption of highly processed foods will continue to increase. FDI can, however, bring considerable benefits as well as risks. Through its position 'upstream', FDI would therefore be an appropriate entry-point to implement a range of public health policies to 'redirect' the nutrition transition.

Commerce↗

PubMed2005

What can a pilot congestive heart failure disease management program tell us about likely return on investment?: A case study from a program offered to federal employees.

In 1999, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) implemented a pilot disease management program to manage congestive heart failure (CHF) among members. The purpose of this project was to estimate the financial return on investment in the pilot CHF program, prior to a full program rollout. A cohort of 457 participants from the state of Maryland was matched to a cohort of 803 nonparticipants from a neighboring state where the CHF program was not offered. Each cohort was followed for 12 months before the program began and 12 months afterward. The outcome measures of primary interest were the differences over time in medical care expenditures paid by FEP and by all payers. Independent variables included indicators of program participation, type of heart disease, comorbidity measures, and demographics. From the perspective of the funding organization (FEP), the estimated return on investment for the pilot CHF disease management program was a savings of $1.08 in medical expenditure for every dollar spent on the program. Adding savings to other payers as well, the return on investment was a savings of $1.15 in medical expenditures per dollar spent on the program. The amount of savings depended upon CHF risk levels. The value of a pilot initiative and evaluation is that lessons for larger-scale efforts can be learned prior to full-scale rollout.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Rates of public investment for road safety in developing countries: case studies of Uganda and Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: This paper assesses the magnitude of public investment in road safety in Uganda and Pakistan. METHODS: The study reviewed government budgetary records on expenditure for road safety for each country, as well as World Bank estimates of bilateral and NGO assistance directed to road safety. The authors interviewed key informants in each government who would know about public or NGO activity on road safety. RESULTS: Budgetary expenditure on road safety at all levels of government in Uganda and Pakistan is $0.09 and $0.07 per capita respectively. DISCUSSION: The scale of public activity in road safety in Uganda and Pakistan is extremely limited. If there are diminishing returns to scale for road safety investments, this would suggest that the potential effectiveness of properly chosen safety measures could never be higher. CONCLUSION: Large reductions in morbidity and mortality are likely if investment in road safety is expanded.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2002

Appropriate food policies and investments could reduce child malnutrition by 43% in 2020.

This report describes past trends in global child malnutrition and assesses future prospects for reducing child malnutrition. Most developing countries have significantly reduced the proportion of malnourished children during the past three decades. However, because of population growth, the absolute number of malnourished children has fallen much less sharply. Moreover, the number of malnourished children has increased in Sub-Saharan Africa. A global food supply-and-demand model is used to project child malnutrition to 2020 under alternative assumptions on policies and investments that influence food security outcomes in education, clean water, agricultural research, irrigation and rural infrastructure. The baseline "best-estimate" projection shows that the number of malnourished children will continue to decline slowly but that child malnutrition will continue to increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. The optimistic scenario shows that better policy and more rapid economic and agricultural growth can lead to substantial food security improvements, but the pessimistic scenario shows that significantly worse outcomes are also possible with relatively small declines in policy and investment efforts relative to the baseline. A concerted effort to eliminate childhood malnutrition would require policy reform and significant increases in public investment to produce long-term gains in income growth, agricultural productivity and social indicators.

Child↗

PubMed1980

Strength properties of some gypsum-bonded casting investments.

The present investigations show that there is no correlation between on the one hand the wet and the dry compressive strength of the three gypsum-bonded investments studied and on the other the compressive strength of the investments at burn-out temperature. The study also demonstrated that there is no correlation between the compressive strength and the fracture resistance of sharp edges of the investment mold when exposed to the impact of the casting alloy entering the mold. The inconveniences caused by the fracture of such edges are prevented by a moderate rounding of the corresponding parts in the preparation.

Calcium Sulfate↗

PubMed1980

An improved dental casting investment.

In the present investigation a gypsum-bonded investment is presented with negligible setting expansion and a thermal expansion of 1.7%. This investment can and should be used without a steel casting ring. In combination with an earlier described die-spacing technique the new investment facilitates the production of gold inlays and crowns which, independent of type, will show a suitable degree of loose-fit in or on the preparations in the patient's mouth.

Calcium Sulfate↗

PubMed1982

A modified phosphate-bonded casting investment.

An experimental phosphate-bonded casting investment with negligible setting expansion and a thermal expansion of 1.6%, sufficient to compensate for the solid thermal shrinkage of conventional dental gold alloys and high-precious alloys for the porcelain fused to metal technique, is described. When used in a ringless casting technique the investment makes it possible to produce cast restorations with a consistent slidefit. In combination with a die spacer technique the new investment make if possible routinely to produce cast restorations with a consistent and known degree of loosefit.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1981

Wetting effects of surface treatments on inlay wax-investment combinations.

Gypsum-bonded and phosphate-bonded investments were applied to wax surfaces which were untreated, treated by buffing with cotton moistened with a die lubricant containing organic solvent, or treatment with a wax pattern cleaner. Contact angles between the investment material and wax surfaces were measured and compared. The treatment of a wax pattern with a surface tension reducing agent significantly increases the degree of wetting by both gypsum- and phosphate-bonded investments.

Calcium Sulfate↗

PubMed2006

Considerations in asset allocation: investing wisely.

BACKGROUND: In this article, the author reviews the steps an investor should take to make sound asset allocation decisions and offers guidelines on assembling a portfolio that helps meet the investor's needs. CONCLUSIONS: The most important decision in structuring a broadly diversified investment portfolio is the allocation among and within the three major asset classes: stocks, bonds and short-term reserves. In selecting the appropriate mix, the investor should weigh four interrelated factors-investment objective, time horizon, risk tolerance and personal financial situation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A well-diversified investment portfolio and a disciplined savings program are important factors in reaching financial goals.

Dentists↗

PubMed2001

The Brazilian investment in science and technology.

An analysis of Brazilian federal expenditures in science and technology is presented is this study. The 1990-1999 data were compiled from records provided by two federal agencies (MCT and CNPq) responsible for managing most of the national budget related to these activities. The results indicate that the federal investments in Brazilian science and technology stagnated during the last decade (US$ 2.32 billion in 1990, US$ 2.39 billion in 1996, and US$ 2.36 billion in 1999). In contrast, a great increase in private investments in research was acknowledged both by industry and by the government during the same period, from US$ 2.12 to US$ 4.64 billion. However, this investment did not result in an increase in invention patents granted to residents (492 in 1990 and only 232 in 1997) or in a reduction of patent costs. Despite this unfavorable scenario, the number of graduate programs in the country has increased two-fold in the last decade and the contribution of Brazilians to the database of the Institute for Scientific Information has increased 4.7-fold from 1990 (2,725 scientific publications) to 2000 (12,686 scientific publications). Unstable federal resources for science, together with the poor returns of private resources in terms of developing new technologies, may jeopardize the future of Brazilian technological development.

Brazil↗

PubMed2005

[Financial investment in human resources: an experience at a hospital].

This study aimed to investigate the financial amount a large school hospital invested in training programs. Seven training programs for the hospital staff were analyzed by means of the absorption costing system, totaling 307 training sessions in 1999. Data analysis showed that, during that year, a total of R$ 225,493.84 was invested, that is, R$ 27.41 per worker. There are no data on other Brazilian hospitals to compare this figure. However, if this is compared with the annual worldwide average of US$ 252 per capita, the mean value is 9.2 times less than world average. This figure corresponds to 0.32% of the payment roll, while the world average is 2.7%. This study points towards the importance for Permanent Education Centers to understand the costs of training programs as well as for hospital organizations to create a formal policy for investment in these programs.

Brazil↗

PubMed1998

Effects of magnesia and potassium sulfate on gypsum-bonded alumina dental investment for high-fusing casting.

The purpose of this study was to improve the characteristics of gypsum-bonded alumina investments using magnesia and potassium sulfate as chemical additives. Magnesia content improved fluidity, delayed setting reaction, increased green strength, and decreased setting expansion, when mixed with distilled water. When the investment was mixed with potassium sulfate, the setting time and setting expansion were reduced, and the thermal expansion increased, however, the green strength decreased. Therefore, the investment with a small amount of magnesia mixed with potassium sulfate was considered a suitable composition, having adequate setting behavior, enough green strength and sufficient compensate expansion for casting.

Aluminum Oxide↗

PubMed2000

Interfacial oxidations of pure titanium and titanium alloys with investments.

External oxides of a commercially pure titanium (cpTi), Ti6Al4V alloy, and an experimental beta-type titanium alloy (Ti 53.4 wt%, Nb 29 wt%, Ta 13 wt%, and Zr 4.6 wt%) were characterized after heating to 600, 900, 1150, and 1400 degrees C in contact with three types of investments (alumina cement, magnesia cement, and phosphate-bonded) in air. XRD studies demonstrated that MgO, Li2TiO3 and/or Li2Ti3O7 were formed through reactions with the metal and the constituents in the magnesia cement-investment after heating to 900, 1150, and 1400 degrees C. Except for these conditions, TiO2 (rutile) was only formed on cpTi. For titanium alloys, the other components apart from Ti also formed simple and complex oxides such as Al2O3 and Al2TiO5 on Ti6Al4V, and Zr0.25Ti0.75Nb2O7 on the beta-type titanium alloy. However, no oxides containing V or Ta were formed. These results suggest that the constituents of titanium alloys reacted with the investment oxides and atmospheric oxygen to form external oxides due to the free energy of oxide formation and the concentration of each element on the metal surface.

Alloys↗

PubMed1994

[Variables effecting casting accuracy of quick heating casting investments].

Recently, several new products of investments for "quick heating" have been put on the Japanese market. The total casting procedure time for this quick heating method involves only one hour; 30-minutes waiting after the start of mixing before placing the mold directly into the 700 degrees C furnace and 30-minutes heating in the furnace. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two variables effecting casting accuracy using these new investments. The effect of thickness of the casting liner inside the casting ring and the effect of waiting time before placing the mold into the 700 degrees C furnace were evaluated. A stainless-steel die with a convergence angle of 8 degrees was employed. Marginal discrepancies of the crown between the wax patterns and castings were measured. The size of the cast crown became larger when the thickness of the ring liner was thick and when the waiting time before placing the mold into the furnace was long. These results suggest that these new investments have the advantage of providing sound castings using short-time casting procedures. However, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the casting conditions for obtaining reproducible castings.

Dental Casting Investment↗

PubMed1990

ROI (return on investment): its role in voluntary hospital planning.

Return on investment is the primary financial criterion used to evaluate the desirability of capital investment in investor-owned firms. Voluntary health care firms need to examine more carefully their return-on-investment levels. The potential loss of capital cost payment in the Medicare program and the removal of tax-exempt financing would raise the effective cost of capital to voluntary health care firms significantly. Many health care providers might find that they are no longer going concerns if capital costs increase much more.

Capital Expenditures↗

PubMed1991

Regulating physician investment and referral behavior in the competitive health care marketplace of the '90s--an argument for decentralization.

Congress regulates the investment and referral practices of physicians through the federal Anti-Fraud and Abuse statute. The Anti-Fraud and Abuse statute, however, limits the ability of physicians to adapt their investment and referral practices to an increasingly competitive health care industry. In order to restrict fraudulent practices without restricting competition, the authority to regulate physician investment and referral practices should be returned to the states, who can recognize and exempt beneficial competitive practices from the reach of the applicable state statutes.

Economic Competition↗