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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

viwish: a visualization server for protein modelling and docking.

A visualization tool viwish for proteins based on the Tcl command language has been developed. The system is completely menu driven and can display arbitrary many proteins in arbitrary many windows. It isinstantly t o use, even for non computer experts and provides possibilities to modify menus, configurations, and windows. It may be used as a stand-alone molecular graphics package or as a graphics server for external programs. Communications with these client applications is established even across different machines (through the send command to Tk, an extension of Tcl). In addition, a wide rage of chemical data like molecular surfaces and 3D gridded samplings of chemical features can be displayed. Therefore the systmen is especially useful for the development of algorithms that need visual distributed freely, including the source code.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1977

Impact of external influences on food packaging.

Since the food supply is dependent upon an effective packaging system, threats to packaging represent implied threats to food processing and distribution. Enacted and potential legislation and regulation are retarding technological and commercial progress in food packaging and have already restricted some food packaging/processins systems. The results of these external influences is not simply the sum of the individual acts, but is a cascading self-imposed arresting of food packaging/processing advancement. The technological bases for the enacted and proposed legislation and regulation are presented in the enumeration of the external influences on food packaging. Economic and sociological arguments and facts surrounding the issues are also presented. Among the external influences on food packaging detailed are indirect additives, nutritional labeling, benefit:risk, solid waste and litter, environmental pollution, universal product code, and food industry productivity. The magnitude of the total impact of these external influences upon the food supply is so large that assertive action must be taken to channel these influences into more productive awareness. An objective and comprehensive public communications program supported by the technological community appears mandatory.

Advertising↗
PubMed1984

Vapor pressure and solvent vapor hazards.

This paper discusses applications of vapor pressure to industrial hygiene. Vapor pressure is the quantitative term characterizing solvent volatility; it is also equivalent to the concentration of solvent vapor at the liquid surface. The ratio between this concentration at the source and the acceptable concentration at the breathing zone is an intrinsic property of each chemical but varies over 6 orders-of-magnitude among common organic chemicals. The name Vapor Hazard Ratio (VHR) is introduced quantifying this ratio; and its logarithm is termed the Vapor Hazard Index (VHI). Thus, while vapor pressure is directly relatable to the economic effects of solvent evaporation and to airborne concentrations, the VHI has the added component of occupational toxicity. To be used safely and/or acceptably within the workplace, vapors must be diluted from concentrations at the source by a ratio equal to or greater than the Vapor Hazard Ratio, either by general or local exhaust ventilation. It is argued that the VHI can be used currently to predict the relative hazards of vapor concentrations of proposed substitute solvents to be used in similar settings and in hazard communication programs, and in the future with vapor dilution profiles to anticipate achieving quantitative compliance levels with new processes, work practices or ventilation controls. A review of the pertinent vapor pressure literature is also provided.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

Are tailored health education materials always more effective than non-tailored materials?

While promising, the evidence in support of tailored health communication has not been overwhelming. One explanation is that tailored materials may be far superior to non-tailored materials in some cases, but only slightly better, no different or less effective in others. In this study, 198 overweight adults were randomly assigned to receive either tailored or non-tailored weight loss materials. Participants' cognitive, affective and behavioral responses to the materials were measured at an immediate and 1 month follow-up. Analyses compared those who received tailored materials to those who received non-tailored materials that were--by chance alone--either a good fit, moderate fit or poor fit, based on the match between behavioral characteristics of the participant and content of the non-tailored materials. Findings showed that good-fitting non-tailored materials performed as well or better than tailored materials for several cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes. However, moderate- and poor-fitting non-tailored materials were consistently inferior to both approaches. The art and science of creating tailored health communication programs is still evolving. Data from this study suggest present approaches to tailoring are more effective than non-tailored materials in most, but not all cases. Specific recommendations are made describing ways to refine tailoring methods to maximize the effectiveness of this approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Manage nurse stress and increase potential at the bedside.

The nursing profession must continue to cement recognition as a powerful and innovative force in health care by first "caring for themselves" at the bedside for the goal of patient continuity of care. The negative effects of stress, both internal and external, major, minor, and adaptive, are rooted in the nurses occupational stress level, and how that level influences the continuity of care. Stress assessments and unit specific stress management sessions need to become ingrained within the health care environment by instituting "comprehensive" stress management programs. Communicative "healing" needs to flow from the bedside to the CEO and back down again.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Environmental ecology of Cryptosporidium and public health implications.

Cryptosporidium has become the most important contaminant found in drinking water and is associated with a high risk of waterborne disease particularly for the immunocompromised. There have been 12 documented waterborne outbreaks in North America since 1985; in two of these (Milwaukee and Las Vegas) mortality rates in the immunocompromised ranged from 52% to 68%. The immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) using epifluorescence microscopy has been used to examine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in sewage (1 to 120 oocysts/liter), filtered secondary treated wastewater (0.01 to 0.13 oocysts/liter), surface waters (0.001 to 107 oocysts/liter), groundwater (0.004 to 0.922 oocysts/liter) and treated drinking water (0.001 to 0.72 oocysts/liter). New rules are being developed (Information Collection Rule and Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule) to obtain more occurrence data for drinking water systems for use with new risk assessment models. Public health officials should consider a communication program to physicians treating the immunocompromised, nursing homes, develop a plan to evaluate cases of cryptosporidiosis in the community, and contribute to the development of public policies that limit contamination of source waters, improve water treatment, and protect public health.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Influence of mass media on mental health].

The author summarizes different research findings which have evaluated the influence of the media on the mental health of children, adolescents and adults. After this review of the literature, strategies are proposed to improve the promotion of mental health in the media. Also the importance of collaboration between health professionals and broadcasters in this process is highlighted. Concrete examples are reported such as the communication programs which have been developed by the Quebec Mental Illness Foundation and the Quebec Psychiatrists' Association.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Aided auditory thresholds in children with postmeningitic deafness.

Postmeningitic hearing loss is often bilateral, profound, and rapid in onset. Children with postmeningitic hearing loss may be identified as potential candidates for cochlear implantation. The length of time required for a definitive trial with conventional amplification, which must precede a final decision regarding cochlear implant surgery, has been the subject of debate. Twenty-five children with bilateral severe-to-profound postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with appropriate amplification and results of serial-aided tests were analyzed to determine the degree of benefit and changes in aided thresholds over time. Twelve children gave aided responses that clearly indicated the presence of residual hearing and good aided benefit. Ten youngsters have responded consistently in the vibrotactile range when aided, thus receiving limited benefit from conventional amplification. Of particular interest are three children who initially exhibited limited or no auditory responses but who, after a period of 16 to 25 months, showed excellent benefit with binaural hearing aids. These children are all in total communication programs and have received good auditory training. Caution should be exercised when concluding that such a child does not benefit from amplification.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗
PubMed1997

Health advisories for consumers of Great Lakes sport fish: is the message being received?

Nationwide, 45 states issue health advisories for sport fish consumers. Chemical contaminants in some Great Lakes (GL) sport fish include compounds suspected of causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. Although advisories to reduce consumption of contaminated fish, especially by women, have been issued by GL states (i.e., Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) since the mid-1970s, little is known about advisory awareness and GL sport fish consumption in the general population. To estimate the prevalence of GL sport fish consumption and health advisory awareness, we conducted a population-based telephone survey of 8,306 adult residents of the eight GL states. We gathered information concerning respondents' demographic characteristics, fish consumption during the preceding year, and sport fish consumption advisory awareness. The survey response rate was 69%. GL sport fish were eaten during the preceding year by 8.4% -95% confidence interval (CI), 7.6-9.2- of adults in the GL states, approximately 4.7 million persons. Women accounted for 43.9% (CI,39. 4-48.4) of consumers. Although 49.9% of GL sport fish consumers were aware of a health advisory, awareness varied significantly by sex: 58.2% (CI, 51.7-64.7) of males and 39.1% (CI, 32.6-45.6) of females were aware. Using logistic regression, we found awareness associated with male sex -odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; CI, 1.5-3.5), white race (OR = 4.2; CI, 1.9-9.1), college degree (OR = 3.1; CI, 1.3-7.6), and consuming >=24 GL sport fish meals/year (OR = 2.4; CI, 1.4-4.3). Only half of GL sport fish consumers reported awareness of a health advisory concerning eating GL sport fish. Awareness was especially low among women, suggesting the need of targeted risk communication programs for female consumers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Patterns of spelling in young deaf and hard of hearing students.

The study examined the invented spelling abilities demonstrated by kindergarten and first-grade deaf and hard of hearing students. The study included two parts: In Part 1, the researcher compared three groups (deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing) using posttesting only on the Early Reading Screening Inventory, or ERSI (Morris, 1998), and in part 2 collected and analyzed samples of the spelling of deaf students in a Total Communication program. Analysis showed that the deaf group performed significantly differently in three areas: concept of word, word recognition, and phoneme awareness ("invented spelling"; Read, 1971). The deaf group outperformed the hearing and hard of hearing groups in concept of word and word recognition. But in phoneme awareness, the deaf group performed significantly less well than the hearing group. Therefore, the deaf group's spelling was followed for 1 year. Deaf students' spelling patterns were not the same as those of hearing and hard of hearing students. Deaf students' spelling miscues were directly related to the cueing systems of lipreading, signing, and fingerspelling.

Achievement↗
PubMed2002

[Unwanted pregnancy: impact on health and society in Latin America and the Caribbean].

Engaging in sexuality and reproduction should always be something that is wanted and planned. Unfortunately, when that is not the case, one result can be unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted pregnancies have consequences for women, their families, and their countries. This document reviews the causes and results of unwanted pregnancy, emphasizing the impact that this problem has on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Four reasons why unwanted pregnancy is a continuing problem in LAC are: 1) people's growing desire to have smaller families, 2) the unmet need for family planning, 3) the fact that contraceptive methods are not 100% effective, and 4) unwanted sexual relations. Unwanted pregnancies especially affect adolescent women, single women, and women over 40 years of age. Given their desperate situation with an unwanted pregnancy, some women opt for an unsafe abortion, which can lead to their death. Other women can go so far as to commit suicide, or be murdered by a family member or other person who is unhappy that the pregnancy has occurred. It has been found that women who decide to continue with the pregnancy have higher risks of suffering an illness, and the same is true for the child. Reducing unwanted pregnancies and treating post-abortion complications are key to lowering maternal mortality and morbidity. This necessitates developing mass communication programs that address gender issues, education programs for girls, and sex education programs. It is also vital to make available to all persons reproductive health services that include family planning methods. In the countries of LAC with laws that specify grounds for legally ending a pregnancy, it is necessary that health care be organized to actually provide this service, and that health care programs obtain the safest, most effective technologies now available for ending a pregnancy.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1980

Is the dream of a voluntary society still possible? The 1980 Harvey Cushing oration.

The United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James reviews the historic search for a society which is as voluntary as possible for the greatest number of citizens. Under the rule of law, there must continue to exist freedom of choice, freshness of start and opportunity, and the promise of mobility. The citizenry should not become dependent upon public administrators or political masters. Growth and expansion should not be constrained beyond reasonable limits, and openness of opportunity must be given high priority. The variety of State and private educational resources should be tapped for the design of educational communication programs.

Democracy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coping with closure. Consideration of legal issues in hospital closing can save precious time and considerable money.

From the legal perspective, closing a hospital can be as difficult as opening one. Whether a hospital is closing or downsizing, it should become familiar with the relevant legal issues before the process begins and develop a strategy for addressing them. Hospitals planning to discontinue services often must give advance notice to federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as to nongovernmental organizations such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and to contractors. Failure to notify the applicable state licensing agency may violate the hospital licensing act and subject the hospital and its officers and directors to statutory sanctions. A hospital must carefully consider the closure's effect on its medical staff. If the medical staff brings legal action, the law in many states and the hospital's own corporate and medical staff bylaws may provide some defenses. A major consideration in any closure is the procedures for dealing with employee issues such as termination rights and benefits, access to personnel files, unemployment compensation benefits, severance pay and notice, transfer privileges, posttermination obligations, bargaining unit issues, preferential hiring, and communications. A hospital closure will also trigger issues concerning Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, debt instruments, Hill-Burton grants, bankruptcy, and Joint Commission accreditation. A good community communications program is essential to a smooth closure or downsizing. If the hospital does not explain why it must take the action, the community may misinterpret its motives and react with hostility, which can influence government agencies. The hospital might retain a professional public relations consultant, especially if the community is complex or has been hostile to the hospital in the past.

Catholicism↗
PubMed1999

Information management. Computer resources for the occupational and environmental health nurse.

Occupational and environmental health nurses are responsible for the management of large amounts of very complex information, ranging from individual employee health records to reports that insure corporate compliance. There are four primary tools available to the occupational health nurse to facilitate efficient management and use of health information--occupational health information systems, office support programs, communication systems, and the Internet and intranets. Selection and implementation of an integrated health information system requires the involvement of any organization that uses data processed by the system. A project management approach to implementation and maintenance of a system insures adherence to time lines and attention to details. The internet provides access to a vast amount of information useful to both the occupational health professional and the employee. Intranets are internal systems that may facilitate distribution of health information to employees, maintenance of current health related policies, and more efficient reporting procedures.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Achievable standard of care in low-resource settings.

The gap between rich and resource-poor countries has continued to grow as reproductive care providers integrate interventions to limit mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in a manner consistent with existing information. There are two major reasons for this difference: access to prophylactic antiretroviral therapy (ARV) for HIV-infected pregnant mothers and availability of alternative feeding for babies. In resource-poor settings, these options are beyond reach for the majority of the women. Infant and under-five mortality rates from other infections are high in these settings and breastfeeding remains the norm. Answering the question, What is an achievable standard of care in resource-poor settings? still remains a major challenge today. Dialogue has begun in most resource-poor settings to address the key elements in the package of interventions to reduce MTCT of HIV. These elements include the following: (1) overall prevention of HIV in mothers and fathers; (2) provision of good-quality voluntary testing and counseling (VCT) in antenatal clinics; (3) a comprehensive package of interventions during pregnancy, during labor, and after delivery, including screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), family planning, and--where possible--ARVs; (4) provision of infant and maternal nutrition within the socioeconomic realities; (5) advocacy and program communication; and (6) other supportive measures, including community mobilization to address issues such as stigmatization of and violence against HIV-infected women. This paper discusses the challenges faced by most resource-poor settings in integrating some of these activities into reproductive care services.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2000

How to use the Internet to improve care delivery--without changing the way physicians work.

Martin's Point Health Care is a nonprofit organization with more than 30 primary care physicians and 280 health care professionals serving 43,000 patients in four sites in Maine and New Hampshire. Like many medical group practices, Martin's Point believed its patients needed more channels to communicate with their physicians. An increasing number of patients wanted more in-depth advice from their doctors, and many already used the Internet to obtain health care information. This article describes how Martin's Point developed an interactive Web communications program to build physician/patient relationships and improve practice efficiency.

Confidentiality↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Population policy in industrialized countries: evaluating policy theories to assess the demographic impact of population policy.

"In this contribution the concept of population policy theory is defined. Also, the relevance of studying these theories in order to assess the demographic impact of population policy is discussed. The policy theory underlying the pronatalist marriage and family founding loans is evaluated as is the policy theory underlying antinatalist family planning communication programs. It is concluded that the behavioral mechanisms behind the two policy measures appear not to work in a way the policy theory assumes they work, i.e. appear not to be able to change fertility behavior substantially." The geographic focus is worldwide. (summary in FRE, ITA)

Demography↗