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At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Strategy application test: discriminate validity studies.

PURPOSE: Having a method of testing strategy application abilities provides important information for occupational performance. The goal of the present study was to investigate the discriminate validity of a strategy application test. This test measures the ability to apply and maintain a working strategy for efficient execution of tasks. The advantages of this test are that it is standardized, short, simple to administer, and applicable to various clinical populations. METHOD: Five different groups of participants were studied: senior healthy people, children affected by attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, people with multiple sclerosis or with depression and schizophrenia. All of these individuals had some frontal lobe involvement, thus suggesting possible executive dysfunction. RESULTS: As hypothesized, the results demonstrated strategy application skill impairment in all the clinical groups, as well as a gradual decline in strategy application abilities with advanced aging. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These results exhibit the discriminate validity of the strategy application test and add to the accumulating evidence of executive dysfunction in these populations.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Clinical application of topical fluoride products--risks, benefits, and recommendations.

This portion of the symposium discusses the various methods of professionally applying high-concentration topical fluoride products and their risks and benefits. Numerous recent investigations in this area of research are reviewed and discussed. Data from these research investigations point to the need for care when high-potency F products are used, especially in young children. Oral-retained F doses following four-minute topical application procedures ranged from 10 to 31 mg when no suction devices or patient expectoration was utilized. Following the use of suctioning devices, oral-retained F doses ranged from 6 to 12 mg, a clinically unacceptable level. Following the use of suctioning devices plus patient expectoration, the oral-retained F doses were reduced to from 2 to 7.5 mg, depending on type of F product and application system. The following recommendation for topical application of high-potency F products are made: (1) No more than 2 g of gel per tray or approximately 40% of tray capacity should be dispensed. Even more conservative amounts should be considered for small children. (2) Because patients may have the need to swallow during a four-minute topical application procedure, the use of a saliva ejector during the procedure is recommended. (3) Following the four-minute application procedure, the patient should be instructed to expectorate thoroughly for from 30 sec to one min, regardless of whether high-speed suction is utilized. Expectoration is probably the single most effective way of reducing orally retained fluoride. (4) When utilizing custom individually fitted trays for patients requiring daily or weekly application of a high-F-concentration product, utilize only 5 to 10 drops of product per tray.

Absorption↗

PubMed2004

Radiation dosimetry of a conformal heat-brachytherapy applicator.

The purpose of this paper is to report the radiation dosimetric characteristics of a new combination applicator for delivering heat and radiation simultaneously to large area superficial disease <1.5 cm deep. The applicator combines an array of brachytherapy catheters (for radiation delivery) with a conformal printed circuit board microwave antenna array (for heat generation), and a body-conforming 5-10 mm thick temperature-controlled water bolus. The rationale for applying both modalities simultaneously includes the potential for significantly higher response rate due to enhanced synergism of modalities, and lower peak toxicity due to temporal extension of heat and radiation induced toxicities. Treatment plans and radiation dosimetry are calculated with IPSA (an optimization tool developed at UCSF) for 15 x 15 cm(2) and 35 x 24 cm(2) applicators, lesion thicknesses of 5 to 15 mm, flat and curved surfaces, and catheter separation of 5 and 10 mm. The effect on skin dose of bolus thickness and presence of thin copper antenna structures between radiation source and tissue are also evaluated. Results demonstrate the ability of the applicator to provide conformal radiation dose coverage for up to 15 mm deep target volumes under the applicator. For clinically acceptable plans, tumor coverage is > 98%, homogeneity index > 0.95 and the percentage of normal tissue irradiated is < 20%. The dose gradient at the skin surface varies from 3 to 5 cGy/mm depending on bolus thickness and lesion depth. Attenuation of the photon beam by the printed circuit antenna array is of the order 0.25% and secondary electron emissions are absorbed completely within 5 mm of water bolus and plastic layers. Both phenomena can then be neglected in dose calculations allowing commercial software to be used for treatment planning. This novel applicator should prove useful for the treatment of diffuse chestwall disease located over contoured anatomy that may be difficult to treat with single field external beam therapy. By delivering heat and radiation simultaneously, increased synergism is expected with a TER in the range of 2-5. Lowering radiation dose by an equivalent factor may produce lower radiation toxicity with similar efficacy, while preserving the option of subsequent retreatment(s) with thermoradiotherapy in order to further extend patient survival.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2002

The application of geographical information systems to important public health problems in Africa.

Africa is generally held to be in crisis, and the quality of life for the majority of the continent's inhabitants has been declining in both relative and absolute terms. In addition, the majority of the world's disease burden is realised in Africa. Geographical information systems (GIS) technology, therefore, is a tool of great inherent potential for health research and management in Africa. The spatial modelling capacity offered by GIS is directly applicable to understanding the spatial variation of disease, and its relationship to environmental factors and the health care system. Whilst there have been numerous critiques of the application of GIS technology to developed world health problems it has been less clear whether the technology is both applicable and sustainable in an African setting. If the potential for GIS to contribute to health research and planning in Africa is to be properly evaluated then the technology must be applicable to the most pressing health problems in the continent. We briefly outline the work undertaken in HIV, malaria and tuberculosis (diseases of significant public health impact and contrasting modes of transmission), outline GIS trends relevant to Africa and describe some of the obstacles to the sustainable implementation of GIS. We discuss types of viable GIS applications and conclude with a discussion of the types of African health problems of particular relevance to the application of GIS.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Dialkyl phosphate metabolites of organophosphorus in applicators of agricultural pesticides in Majes - Arequipa (Peru).

BACKGROUND: Organophosphorus (OPs) pesticides are the most commonly used pesticides in Peruvian agriculture. The population at risk for OPs exposure includes formulators, applicators and farmers. Majes Valley is the most important agricultural center of the Southern region of Peru. The present study was aimed to determine the knowledge about using OPs, safety practice and urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites on OP applicators in the Majes Valley, Peru. METHODS: This study was based on a questionnaire which included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of safety practices to handling OPs, characteristics of pesticide application and use of protective measures to avoid pesticide contamination. Exposure was assessed by measuring six urinary OP metabolites (DMP, DMTP, DMDTP, DEP, DETP, and DEDTP) by gas chromatography using a single flame photometric detector. The sample consisted of 31 men and 2 women aged 20 - 65 years old. RESULTS: 76% of applicators had at least one urinary dialkylphosphate metabolite above the limit of detection. The geometric mean (GM) and the geometric standard deviation (GSD) of DMP and DEP were 5.73 microg/g cr. (GSD 2.51), and 6.08 microg/g cr. (GSD 3.63), respectively. The percentage of applicators with detectable DMP, DMDTP, and DMTP in urine was 72.72%, 3.03%, and 15.15%, respectively, while the corresponding figures for DEP, DETP, and DEDTP were 48.48%, 36.36% and 15.15%, respectively. There was no significant association between the use of protection practices and the absence of urine OPs metabolites suggesting inadequate protection practices. CONCLUSION: The pesticide applicators in Majes Valley have significant exposure to OP pesticides, probably due to inappropriate protective practices. Future work should evaluate possible health effects.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of an educational intervention on oncology nurses' attitude, perceived knowledge, and self-reported application of complementary therapies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of an educational program on oncology nurses' attitude, perceived knowledge, and self-reported application of 10 complementary therapies (art, exercise, humor, imagery, journaling, massage, music, relaxation, spirituality, and touch). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental with a pre- and post-test design. SETTING: A large tertiary care medical center in the midwestern United States. SAMPLE: A convenience sample consisting of 44 RNs working on two hematology and oncology patient care units. Eleven nurses comprised the educational intervention group, and 14 nurses on the same unit served as one control group. A second control group was comprised of 19 nurses from a different unit. METHODS: The study approach consisted of the assessment of all participants' initial attitude toward, knowledge of, and application of complementary therapies. A researcher-developed questionnaire was completed before and at three and six months after the educational intervention. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Nurses' attitudes toward, knowledge of, and use of complementary therapies. FINDINGS: Nurses value complementary therapies but lack the knowledge regarding their application. In addition, a gap exists between self-reported knowledge and the actual application of therapies. An eight-hour educational intervention was useful in enhancing knowledge and, to some degree, increasing application of some of the therapies. According to participants, lack of time was the main deterrent impeding use of complementary therapies in their nursing practice. CONCLUSIONS: Education can affect the knowledge and integration of complementary therapies in nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Further research is needed to evaluate outcomes and determine educational approaches that will produce positive changes in nurses' attitudes toward, knowledge of, and application of complementary therapies.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Evaluation of recent research grant applications to the National Institutes of Health in the area of pediatric nephrology.

To assess the National Institutes of Health extramural activity in the area of pediatric nephrology research, the rate of submission of grant applications to the National Institutes of Health and available indicators of the quality of these applications were analyzed. This was accomplished by utilizing the grant application files of the Division of Research Grants' Statistics and Analysis Branch with the help of the Reports, Analysis and Presentation Section. Applications reviewed during the period 1980-1983 (May 1980 to January 1984 Council dates) were evaluated, and data from the 10 Study Sections most frequently involved with the review of nephrology applications were tabulated. Results showed that the number of pediatric nephrology applications submitted was quite low, whereas the approval rate was good for those that were submitted.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1997

Reducing MMPI-2 defensiveness: the effect of specialized instructions on retest validity in a job applicant sample.

The MMPI-2 is often used for screening job applicants when public safety or security are at risk. Inherent in such applications is concern for profile validity and test defensiveness. In this study, we examine the impact of revised instructions on profile validity for a group of job applicants who initially produced invalid profiles. Participants were 271 male applicants for airline pilot positions. Of these, 72 produced invalid defensive MMPI-2 profiles during preemployment screening. The MMPI-2 was readministered to these applicants with instructions informing them of validity scales and instructing them to respond in a more open, honest manner. Comparisons were made between valid and invalid profiles for initial administrations and between valid and invalid profiles at readministration. Some clinical scales were more elevated for valid, nondefensive profiles. Most content scales showed more elevation for valid profiles, and 12% of the applicants who were retested produced significant elevations (T>or=65) on the content scales. Profiles were similar to those produced by employed pilots of a previous study.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of aboriginal and nonaboriginal applicants for admissions on the Multiple Mini-Interview using aboriginal and nonaboriginal interviewers.

BACKGROUND: Achievement on grade point average and Medical College Admissions Test contribute as unintentional barriers to advancement of underrepresented minorities. So long as noncognitive measures mimic random number generators, they merely perpetuate such discrepancies. As reliable noncognitive measures are developed, it is crucial to ensure immunity from bias, enabling them to better dilute unintended discrimination of cognitive measures. PURPOSE: The Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) is a recently developed, reliable (overall reliability = .70), noncognitive measure used for assessment of medical school applicants. Our purpose in this study was to evaluate whether any suggestion of bias existed in application of the MMI in its assessment of aboriginal medical school applicants. METHODS: In this study of the MMI (overall reliability = .70), each of 5 self-declared aboriginal applicants and 7 general-pool applicants experienced the same 11 vetted interview stations with the same 6 aboriginal raters and 5 nonaboriginal raters. RESULTS: The Interviewer Type x Interviewee Type interaction was nonsignificant, p > .7. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that MMI stations be vetted by aboriginally sensitive personnel, but neither aboriginal-specific rater training nor aboriginal rater assignment is required to ensure a level playing field for the assessment of applicants' personal qualities.

Canada↗

PubMed2005

Stomach- and site-selective delivery of 5-fluorouracil following its application on the gastric serosal surface in rats.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the stomach- and site-selective delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) following its application on the gastric serosal surface in rats. An experimental system utilizing a cylindrical diffusion cell attached to the gastric serosal surface was established. To evaluate the gastric distribution of 5-FU, the stomach was separated into the site under the diffusion cell (site 1) and the site not under the diffusion cell (site 2). Furthermore, the mucosal side at site 1 was separated from the serosal side. After intravenous and oral administration of 5-FU, the 5-FU concentrations at sites 1 and 2 until 240 min were similar. After gastric serosal surface application of 5-FU, however, the concentration of 5-FU at site 1 until 240 min was approximately 10-fold higher than that at site 2, and was sustained. Furthermore, the 5-FU concentration on the mucosal side at site 1 and the serosal side at site 1 were comparable after gastric serosal surface application. The blood concentration of 5-FU was low (<4.4 microg/ml) until 240 min after gastric serosal surface application. The maximum blood concentration of 5-FU after gastric serosal surface application was significantly lower than after intravenous administration. Thus, the stomach- and site-selective delivery system following application on the gastric serosal surface could be applied with anticancer drugs for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Novel pharmaceutical and biomedical applications of plasma techniques].

The plasma-induced surface radicals formed on a variety of organic polymers have been studied in detail using electron-spin resonance (ESR) coupled with systematic computer simulations. On the basis of the findings from such studies on the nature of radical formation and radical reactivity, we were able to open up several novel pharmaceutical and biomedical applications in plasma treatment. In this review, applications using plasma-irradiated organic polymers are described, which include: 1) preparation of double-compressed tablets applicable for reservoir-type drug-delivery systems (DDS) for sustained and delayed release, intragastric floating DDS (FDDS) for oral controlled-release dosage forms with gastric retention capabilities, and fabrication of functionalized composite powders applicable for controlled drug release with the mechanical application of plasma-irradiated polymer powder; 2) an approach to "patient-tailored DDS," administered by taking into account that the environment (pH, transit time, etc.) in the gastrointestinal tract varies with each patient, based on the combination of the above-mentioned DDS devices; 3) plasma-assisted promotion of seed germination of herbal medicines with hard coats; and 4) fabrication of polymer surfaces with durable hydrophilicity and lubricity using plasma techniques and the immobilization of oligo-nucleotides on hydrophilic polymer surfaces thus prepared applicable to constructing DNA diagnosis systems.

Drug Delivery Systems↗

PubMed2006

Cancer incidence among pesticide applicators exposed to cyanazine in the agricultural health study.

BACKGROUND: Cyanazine is a common pesticide used frequently in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. Animal and human studies have suggested that triazines may be carcinogenic, but results have been mixed. We evaluated cancer incidence in cyanazine-exposed pesticide applicators among the 57,311 licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS). METHODS: We obtained detailed pesticide exposure information from a self-administered questionnaire completed at enrollment (1993-1997). Cancer incidence was followed through January 2002. Over half of cyanazine-exposed applicators had >or=6 years of exposure at enrollment, and approximately 85% had begun using cyanazine before the 1990s. We used adjusted Poisson regression to calculate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of multiple cancer sites among cyanazine-exposed applicators. We calculated ptrend values, and all statistical tests were two-sided. Two exposure metrics were used: tertiles of lifetime days of exposure (LD) and intensity-weighted LD. RESULTS: A total of 20,824 cancer-free AHS applicators reported ever using cyanazine at enrollment. Cancer incidence comparisons between applicators with the lowest cyanazine exposure and those with the highest exposure yielded the following for the LD metric: all cancers, RR=0.99 (95% CI, 0.80-1.24); prostate cancer, RR=1.23 (95% CI, 0.87-1.70); all lymphohematopoietic cancers, RR=0.92 (95% CI, 0.50-1.72); non-Hodgkin lymphoma, RR=1.25 (95% CI, 0.47-3.35); lung cancer, RR=0.52 (95% CI, 0.22-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any clear, consistent associations between cyanazine exposure and any cancer analyzed. The number of sites was small for certain cancers, limiting any conclusion with regard to ovarian, breast, and some other cancers.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Perceptions of a dental career among successful applicants for dentistry compared with those of fifth-year dental students.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: A focused and vocational university programme such as dentistry may limit the opportunities for graduates who find that clinical dentistry is not for them. It is important that those advising and recruiting people into the profession should ascertain whether applicants have a realistic idea of what lies ahead. BASIC PROCEDURES: On the presumption that final-year undergraduate students have acquired a more realistic impression of the profession that potential entrants, it was of interest to investigate possible differences in the perceptions of dentistry between the two groups. The perceptions of dentistry have been categorised and compared by anonymous questionnaire between final-year dental students (n = 79) and successful undergraduate applicants (n = 109) at the same institution in the United Kingdom. The overall response rate was 100% in both cases. MAIN FINDINGS: It is clear that both groups are concerned with personal and professional matters followed by career opportunities and financial matters, respectively. Health matters pose the least concern. However a number of significant differences have emerged. Significantly fewer students (p = 0.001) considered the dental career as a positive contribution to society. A greater proportion of applicants considered the study of mathematics at school to be useful (p = 0.001). Significantly more applicants valued technical and manual skills as contributing to a 'good' dentist (p = 0.001). More students mentioned occupational flexibility, security and independence as a positive aspect of a career (p = 0.001); however students identified more job stresses in dentistry (p = 0.001). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION: Applicants appeared to have a more 'idealistic' view of dentistry than the senior students, however similarities between the responses of students and applicants are encouraging for the future of the profession.

Attitude↗

PubMed1991

[Development and evaluation of a multi-applicator system of endocavitary radiothermotherapy of gynecologic tumors].

An applicator system for the radiothermotherapy of gynecological tumors has been developed. The concept is based on combining high-dose rate afterloading therapy with local hyperthermia (27.12 MHz). The main applicator, the rf-gamma applicator consists of a guide tube for the gamma source, an electrode system and a cooling system. Isodoses and isotherms can be adapted to the individual anatomical-pathological situation presenting. For therapy planning the interaction between the applicators and the perfused tissue was investigated in a theoretical FEM model. In the first step, the SAR-function in the vicinity of the rf-applicator was determined by means of a 2D FEM calculation. In a second step, the 3D temperature fields was determined using linear shape functions. The results of these calculations showed that in every case the hot spots shifted from the applicator surface into the depths of the tissue. With the aid of an infrared camera and a split phantom the calculations were examined in a homogeneous non-perfused tissue model. Thermometry confirmed the accuracy of the results obtained. The radiothermotherapy system described here was tested in animal experiments, and is presently being used in a clinical pilot study.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Web applications for total quality management.

Total quality management involves the consideration of many quality subjects as part of the management, such as quality processes, quality education, quality assurance, quality planning, quality results and quality document management. But crucial quality elements are also communication, data management and information sharing. Web applications and other associated computer communication applications such as E-mail and newsgroups, for example, offer to the laboratory environment the best tools to achieve proper communication and data management/sharing. These applications, enabling the set-up of Internet and Intranet sites, are used to share the information in the form of simple text pages or of completely interactive pages, which could comprise audio and video files, web page formulae and web data management applications. These applications are being associated to several applications and also being integrated into the laboratory information system (LIS).

Internet↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Kinetics of protoporphyrin IX formation in rat oral mucosa and skin after application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its methylester.

The kinetics of accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) after topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its methylester (5-aminolevulinic acid methylester [ALA-Me]) was studied on rat oral mucosa. The accumulation of PpIX in mucosa and skin after intravenous injection of ALA and ALA-Me was also studied. The elimination rate of PpIX was dependent on drug and dose as well as on administration route. Application of ALA on rat oral mucosa and skin caused a systemic effect with PpIX building up in remote skin sites not exposed to the drugs. No such systemic effect was seen after application of ALA-Me either in mucosa or on skin. Intravenous injection of the drugs (0.2 g/kg) leads to more fluorescence in the skin than topical application of the drug (20%). For mucosa, the opposite is true. Maximal PpIX fluorescence appeared later after application of high concentrations of the drugs (around 8 h for 5% and 20% wt/wt) than after application of low concentrations (around 3-5 h for 1% and 2% wt/wt).

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

PubMed2006

Mechanized applicator for large-scale field deployment of paraffin-wax dispensers of pheromone for mating disruption in tree fruit.

A tractor-mounted mechanized applicator was developed for large-scale deployment of paraffin-wax dispensers of pheromone for mating disruption of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck). The wax formulation was mostly water and emulsified paraffin wax containing 5% (by weight) pheromone [93:6:1 blend of (Z)-8-dodecen-1-yl-acetate:(E)-8-dodecen-1-yl-acetate: (Z)-8-dodecen-1-ol]. Ten milliliters of wax was applied per tree as approximately 160 deposits (0.04 ml of wax per drop). An average of 23 min was required to treat 1 ha of crop. Disruption efficacy of mechanically applied wax was measured relative to an untreated control in replicated 0.4-ha blocks within a recently abandoned apple orchard. From 6 May to 27 June, 100% disruption of tethered virgin females and 97% inhibition of pheromone traps was achieved for 52 d with two applications of wax. However, during mid- to late summer (July-August), this level of efficacy was maintained for only approximately 1 wk after each of two applications. Higher temperatures later in the season may have accounted for abbreviated efficacy of the applied small drops. Mechanically applied paraffin-wax technology may increase adoption of mating disruption given that a higher level of efficacy was achieved despite deploying less active ingredient per hectare relative to that used with reservoir dispensers. The savings in labor by not requiring hand application of reservoir dispensers could be directed toward cost of machinery. However, the short duration of efficacy obtained with the current wax formulation and mechanical applicator is judged uneconomical given the eight or more applications that would have been required for high-performance disruption over the full season. Larger drops with lower surface area-to-volume ratios are expected to prolong pheromone release for extended efficacy and desirable overall economics.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Feasibility and costs of phosphorus application limits on 39 U.S. swine operations.

Concerns about manure P and water quality have prompted new regulations imposing P limits on land application of manure. Previous research established that P limits increase land needs for animal feeding operations. We evaluated the effect of N, annual P, and rotation P limits on the feasibility of manure management. A mechanistic model characterized manure management practices on 39 swine operations (20 unagitated lagoon and 19 slurry operations) in five states (Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania). Extensive information collected from each operation was used to determine effects of manure storage type, ownership structure, and application limits on attributes of manure management. Phosphorus limits had substantially greater effect on slurry operations, increasing land needs 250% (0.3 hectares per animal unit [AU]) and time for manure application 24% (2.5 min AU(-1)) for rotation P limits and 41% (4.4 min AU(-1)) for annual P limits. Annual P limits were infeasible for current land application equipment on two operations and had the greatest effect on time and costs because they required all but three slurry operations to reduce discharge rate. We recommend implementing rotation P limits (not to exceed crop N need) to minimize time effects, allow most farmers to use their current manure application methods, and allow manure to fulfill crop N and P needs in the year of application. Phosphorus limits increased potential manure value but would require slurry operations to recover at least 61% of manure value through manure sales. Phosphorus limits are likely to shape the U.S. swine industry through differential effects on the various sectors of the swine industry.

Agriculture↗