SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “STAMPS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Odontophilately: dentistry on stamps.

The collecting of stamps can be a rewarding exercise and may be as intense or as superficial as one would wish. Some collectors concentrate on the technical aspects of stamp production, whereas others concentrate on the details of their issue by the postal authorities. Others collect stamps with the view to buying and selling them for financial gain. Some are more interested in the "social" aspects of a stamp (e.g., facts about the country issuing it, location of the country, population, government structure, main industries, place of dentistry within the society). A collection of topical stamps on odontophilately with the details of those types listed above should stimulate anyone with the imagination to appreciate the wide and sometimes romantic stories behind every stamp.

Asia↗

PubMed1994

Mortality at an automotive stamping and assembly complex.

Mortality among workers with 2 or more years employment at an automotive stamping and assembly complex was analyzed using standardized mortality ratio (SMR), proportional mortality ratio (PMR), and mortality odds ratio (MOR) methods. The stamping plant all-cause SMR was considerably less than expected (for white men, SMR = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54, 0.79; for black men, SMR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.45, 1.13), indicating a strong "healthy worker effect." However, six stomach cancer deaths produced an SMR of 4.4 (95% CI = 1.62, 9.6) and a PMR of 6.8 (95% CI = 2.5, 15). Based on small numbers of cases, stomach cancer risk increased with duration in stamping and tool and die departments where exposures included drawing compound and other metalworking fluids. Stamping plant lung cancer mortality was elevated among production welders (MOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 6.3), and increased with duration. Welding was performed on sheet metal sometimes coated with drawing compound, primer, or epoxy resin adhesive. As was observed for the stamping plant, the all-cause SMR for the two assembly plants was unusually low (for white men, SMR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.56, 0.73; for black men, SMR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.75). The lung cancer SMR was not elevated but the MOR was (MOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.4) and increased with assembly plant duration (MOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.02, 3.1, at mean duration of cases). In the assembly plants, paint oven stack emissions had been reintroduced into the plant by the ventilation system.

Black or African American↗

PubMed2005

Direct patterning of mammalian cells onto porous tissue engineering substrates using agarose stamps.

This paper describes simple, inexpensive, and potentially generic methodology for generating patterns of mammalian cells on porous scaffolds for tissue engineering using replica printing. Circular patterns (diameter: 200, 700, and 1000 microm) of human osteoblasts were transferred directly from topographically patterned agarose stamps onto porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds or onto fibronectin-coated glass slides. The use of hydrogel stamps provided a "wet", biocompatible surface and maintained the viability of cells adsorbed on stamps during the patterning process. Stamps inked once with suspensions of cells allowed the repeated patterning of substrates. Direct stamping of human osteoblasts (and, potentially other mammalian cells) can be used to control the size, spacing, and geometry of patterns of cells printed on porous tissue engineering substrates. This approach may find use in controlling the spatial invasion of scaffolds, promoting the hierarchical organization of cells, and in controlling cell-cell interactions as a step in preservation of phenotypes of cells.

Actins↗

PubMed2006

Microfabrication using elastomeric stamp deformation.

Elastomeric stamp deformation has been utilized for the contact printing (CP) of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and, more recently, polymers and proteins. Here, we take advantage of this well-studied phenomenon to fabricate a series of new metal thin-film patterns not present on the original stamp. The rounded patterns are of nanoscale thickness, long-range order, and are created from elastomeric stamps with only straight-edged features. The metal was printed onto the surface of an alpha,omega-alkanedithiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The new shapes are controlled by a combination of stamp geometry design and the application of external pressure. Previously published rules on stamp deformation for contact printing of SAMs are invalid because the coating is instead a thin-metal film. This method represents a new pathway to micropatterning metal thin films, leading to shapes with higher complexity than the original lithographic masters.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Paper stamp checklist tool enhances asthma guidelines knowledge and implementation by primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the management of asthmatic patients were last published in 1999, with updates in 2001 and June 2004. Large disparities exist in the implementation of these guidelines into clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the knowledge of Quebec-based primary care physicians regarding the CPGs, as well as patient outcomes before and after introducing physicians to a new clinical tool--a memory aid in the form of a self-inking paper stamp checklist summarizing CPG criteria and guidelines for assessing asthmatic patient control and therapy. The primary objective of the present study was to assess whether the stamp would improve physicians' knowledge of the CPGs, and as a secondary objective, to assess whether it would decrease patient emergency room visits and hospitalizations. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled study of 104 primary care physicians located in four Quebec regions was conducted. Each physician initially responded to questions on their knowledge of the CPGs, and was then randomly assigned to one of four groups that received information about the CPGs while implementing an intervention (the stamp tool) aimed at supporting their decision-making process at the point of care. Six months later, the physicians were retested, and patient outcomes for approximately one year were obtained from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec. RESULTS: The stamp significantly improved physicians' knowledge of the CPGs in all Quebec regions tested, and reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations in patients who were followed for at least one year. CONCLUSION: A paper stamp summarizing CPGs for asthma can be used effectively to increase the knowledge of physicians and to positively affect patient outcomes.

Asthma↗

PubMed1996

Race-specific versus general stamps on African-American women's survey return rates.

This study examined cancer survey return rates in relation to race-specific versus general stamps used on self-addressed stamped return envelopes. Of the 104 race-specific stamps sent 41 (39%) were returned. Of the 108 general stamps sent 41 (38%) were returned. Thus, race-specific stamps were not effective in increasing return rates in this sample of African-American women.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Microsized 2D protein arrays immobilized by micro-stamps and micro-wells for disease diagnosis and drug screening.

A novel method of protein array immobilization, using micro stamps to pick up proteins from micro wells and deposit them on to a bio-absorption chip, has been developed. This method can potentially transfer several protein spots on to an organized array for applications such as disease diagnosis and drug screening by parallel biological or chemical processes. Fabrication of the micro stamp and the micro well arrays involves thick-photoresist lithography, bulk micromachining, and a molding process, whereas fabrication of the bio-absorption chip involves amino-modification by use of APTS (aminopropyItrimethoxysilane) and surface activation by use of BS3 (bis-sulfosuccinimidyl suberate). Successful transfer of protein on to the bio-absorption surface using the micro stamp-well array has been demonstrated. The size variation between different stamping spots has been shown to be less than 10%, and the APTS-BS3 surface has also been proved to bind the protein efficiently. Appreciable protein retention was achieved during 6-h washing, which shows the binding strength of the bio-absorption surface is sufficient for protein processing.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Clinical experience of postage stamp autograft with porcine skin onlay dressing in extensive burns.

Fifteen patients with extensive burns (deep second-degree burn > 50%, or third-degree burn > 30% of total body surface area) were treated with postage stamp autograft and meshed porcine skin onlay dressing from 1992 to 1996. All patients received the procedure within 10 days of sustaining the burn, with an average of 6.3 days. The areas chosen for postage stamp autograft were the anterior chest, abdomen, back, buttocks and the proximal part of the extremities. The scalp was the donor site of choice when available. The harvested skin was cut into 0.5-1.0 cm postage-stamp-like squares and applied to the recipient sites separated by a distance of 0.5-2.0 cm. The expansion ratio was from 1:4 to 1:9. Meshed porcine skin was then used for onlay dressing. The average graft area was 26% of the total body surface area. The success rate of the skin grafts was nearly 100% in 14 patients. One patient had a 40% loss due to contamination from adjacent wounds. In conclusion, the postage stamp autograft with porcine skin overlay is an effective way to treat extensive burn wounds in the early stages.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

A mail survey of United States hematologists and oncologists: a comparison of business reply versus stamped return envelopes.

Mailed surveys are a popular means of obtaining data on large populations. In July 1999 a mail survey was conducted among 3000 randomly selected members of the American Society of Hematology to assess their approach to diagnosis and treatment of polycythemia vera. Because the researchers and the study population are members of the same professional organization with a vested interest in the results, we anticipated that the advantages of return stamped postage seen in previous studies would be less significant. The response rate for stamped return envelopes was 38% versus 32% for business reply envelopes. This statistically significant difference (P =.0005) of six percentage points is comparable to previous research. Excluding labor, the total cost per returned survey was $2.62 for business reply envelopes versus $1.82 for stamped return envelopes. We conclude that stamped return envelopes are a more effective and cost-efficient means of procuring data from physician specialists.

Compliance↗

PubMed2005

Single-feature inking and stamping: a versatile approach to molecular patterning.

A technique for micrometer-scale patterning of multiple functional biological molecules on surfaces is demonstrated. The technique is referred to as single-feature inking and stamping (SFINKS). It combines elements of dip-pen nanolithography and microcontact printing. "Inked" atomic force microscopy probes are used to ink individual features of an elastomer stamp. From a single stamp, we printed three different probe ssDNA with <10 mum resolution and showed that they specifically hybridize the complementary DNA labeled with different fluorophores. As a further demonstration of SFINKS' versatility, we patterned a silane onto a silicon wafer consisting of four subpatterns separated by >100 mum and composed of 2 mum lines. We discuss why patterns such as these are impractical with available techniques. Furthermore, we comment on the prospects for multiple stamping after a single inking.

Biomimetic Materials↗

PubMed2005

High resolution printing of DNA feature on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrates using supramolecular nano-stamping.

In recent years, a large number of devices based on organic and biological materials have been developed. To scale-up the production of these systems to industrially acceptable standards, there is a need to develop soft-material stamping approaches with the needed resolution, complexity, and versatility. We have recently developed a DNA-based stamping method (supramolecular nano-stamping, SuNS) that has superior resolution and can print multiple molecules at the same time. A similar technique was independently developed by Crooks and co-workers. Here we show that SuNS can be used to efficiently print DNA features on a polymeric substrate (poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA) with a 40 nm point resolution and a coverage that exceeds 100 mum2. The stamped PMMA substrate was also used as a master to print on a gold substrate. With PMMA being optically clear and electrically insulating, future applications of SuNS to print DNA micro- and nanoarrays are envisioned.

DNA, Single-Stranded↗

PubMed2005

Stamp collapse in soft lithography.

We have studied the so-called roof collapse in soft lithography. Roof collapse is due to the adhesion between the PDMS stamp and substrate, and it may affect the quality of soft lithography. Our analysis accounts for the interactions of multiple punches and the effect of elastic mismatch between the PDMS stamp and substrate. A scaling law among the stamp modulus, punch height and spacing, and work of adhesion between the stamp and substrate is established. Such a scaling law leads to a simple criterion against the unwanted roof collapse. The present study agrees well with the experimental data.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Elderly food stamp participants are different from eligible nonparticipants by level of nutrition risk but not nutrient intake.

Nutrition risk, nutrient intake, and selected socioeconomic characteristics of elderly food stamp recipients were compared with elderly people who were eligible for food stamps but did not participate in the program. Data were collected by survey using a convenience sample of 200 low-income elderly people living in subsidized housing. Although there were no significant differences in food group or nutrient intake between participants and nonparticipants, overall, these low-income subjects did not meet minimum Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) standards for many nutrients and had caloric and food group serving intakes that were below recommendations. Food Stamp Program participants were at significantly higher nutrition risk than their nonparticipating peers as detected by the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist (P< or =.01) and other indicators of disability. It seems that those already at highest risk were in fact participating in the Food Stamp Program because those eligible but not participating had significantly higher incomes and were at significantly lower nutritional risk.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Temporal expressiveness in querying a time-stamp--based clinical database.

Most health care databases include time-stamped instant data as the only temporal representation of patient information. Many previous efforts have attempted to provide frameworks in which medical databases could be queried in relation to time. These, however, have required either a sophisticated database representation of time, including time intervals, or a time-stamp-based database coupled with a nonstandard temporal query language. In this work, the authors demonstrate how their previously described data retrieval application, DXtractor, can be used as a database querying application with expressive power close to that of temporal databases and temporal query languages, using only standard SQL and existing time-stamp-based repositories. DXtractor provides the ability to compose temporal queries through an interface that is understood by nonprogramming medical personnel. Not all temporal constructs are easily implemented using this framework; nonetheless, DXtractor's temporal capabilities provide a significant improvement in the temporal expressivity accessible to clinicians using standard time-stamped clinical databases.

Database Management Systems↗

PubMed2006

Barriers to participation in the food stamp program among food pantry clients in Los Angeles.

Substantial numbers of food pantry clients are eligible for food stamps but do not receive them. Background characteristics of 14317 food pantry users in Los Angeles were analyzed to provide information helpful in food stamp outreach programs. Ninety percent of food pantry users were living well below poverty level, 59% were Hispanic, and 44% were homeless. Only 15% of the food pantry clients received food stamps, with homelessness and limited English language skills acting as barriers to food stamp program participation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Assessment of household food security among food stamp recipient families in Maryland.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the relationship between food security status and various sociodemographic characteristics among households that include children and that receive food stamps. METHODS: A modified version of the US Food Security Survey Module was implemented by telephone survey with Maryland food stamp recipients. RESULTS: Of the 245 households, 66% experienced food insecurity. Food security status was associated with participation in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the summer food program, and a food bank. Food security status was not associated with the number of months households received food stamps. There was no difference between the food security status of households living in urban and rural counties. CONCLUSIONS: A gap exists between the food stamp support provided and some households' nutritional and economic needs.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Time stamp services for trustworthy health communications.

Trustworthy communication and co-operation requires in general static TTP services describing status and relation of communicating principals as well as their corresponding keys and attributes. Additional TTP services are needed to provide trustworthy information about dynamic issues of communication and cooperation such as message identifier, time and location of processes, workflow relations and system behaviour. Certified time stamps are important notary's functions dealing with the services mentioned above. Within the European RESHEN project, the ONCONET regional health network for improving cancer care has been moving from system-related to certified time stamps using a local secure time stamp server or deploying remote time stamp services provided by an accredited CA. After implementing such services at the beginning of 2002, an evaluation of the operation modes will be performed during 2002 to derive recommendations for optimisation of these important services in national and international health networks.

Communication↗

PubMed1988

Ethnicity and Food Stamp program participation: effect upon dietary intakes of low-income mothers served by a north Florida family practice center.

Ethnic differences in self-reported dietary intake between blacks and whites (participants and non-participants in the Food Stamp program) were studied in a group of 102 low-income mothers presenting themselves for treatment at an urban family practice center. The study population included 51 whites, of whom 21 were participants in the Food Stamp program, and 51 blacks, of whom 29 were Food Stamp program participants. The mean age of white and black mothers was approximately 29 years. Mean numbers of children per family were 2.1 for whites and 2.82 for blacks. Food and nutrient intake data were collected using a 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Mean intakes of calcium, iron, riboflavin, and thiamin were found to be less than the RDAs for both groups. Whites additionally had mean intakes of vitamin A and niacin that fell below the RDAs. Blacks had significantly higher mean intakes of niacin and protein and a significantly higher 24-hour mean intake of soft drinks than whites. Being a member of the black race was positively associated with consumption of chicken, hot dogs, collard/mustard greens, and white rice. Being a member of the white race was positively associated with consumption of broccoli, potatoes, and whole wheat bread. Among participants in the Food Stamp program, mean intakes of protein, niacin, and soft drinks were significantly higher for blacks than for whites. This study suggests that ethnic differences in food preferences do exist but that those preferences do not translate into major differences in daily reported nutrient intakes.

Adult↗