V. Jankauskaite and R. Barkauskas
Discusses the use of piperylene‐styrene copolymer (PSC) for polychloroprene adhesive modification. States that PSC significantly improves modified adhesive properties ‐ bond…
Abstract
Discusses the use of piperylene‐styrene copolymer (PSC) for polychloroprene adhesive modification. States that PSC significantly improves modified adhesive properties ‐ bond strength, viscosity, high heat resistance, good adhesion to a variety of substrates, compatibility with other adhesive additives. Looks at the advantage of using more environmentally friendly technology for thermoplastic rubber bonding with PSC modified polychloroprene adhesives. Concludes that the new adhesive product can be used for specific combinations of materials and application methods, making it possible to produce cheaper and better products.
Haiyan Qu, Elena A. Platonova, Karen Norman Kennedy and Richard M. Shewchuk
The aim of this study is to examine patient satisfaction with non‐physician staff as related to patient demographics, satisfaction with physician, and intentions to recommend…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to examine patient satisfaction with non‐physician staff as related to patient demographics, satisfaction with physician, and intentions to recommend their physicians to others.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted at two internal medicine primary care clinics affiliated with a major university health system. A latent class analysis was used to detect patient subpopulations based on profiles of response for five satisfaction‐with‐staff indicators.
Findings
The response rate was 86.46 percent (479 of 554). Analyses revealed four patient subpopulation segments. Segment I (n=241) patients uniformly indicated a high level of satisfaction across the five satisfaction‐with‐staff indicators. These patients tended to be older and less educated, and have lower incomes relative to patients in other segments. Patients in Segment II (n=83) expressed satisfaction with staff caring and need accommodation, but dissatisfaction with access to their physicians. Patients in Segment III (n=51) indicated high levels of satisfaction with access and low levels of satisfaction with staff caring and need accommodation. Segment IV (n=104) patients uniformly expressed low levels of satisfaction across all indicators and generally were younger and more educated, as well as had higher incomes than other patients.
Originality/value
Patients have different expectations from their non‐physician staff, e.g. younger, more affluent, and educated patients expressed dissatisfaction with staff. This suggests that non‐physician staff should provide extra/further responsiveness to have these patients' needs met. Generally, approaches that are differentially targeted to specific patient subgroups are likely to be more efficient and patient‐oriented than undifferentiated approaches.
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Amanda Emerson, Ashlyn Lipnicky, Bernard Schuster and Patricia J. Kelly
The USA outpaces most other countries in the world in the rates at which it incarcerates its citizens. The one million women held in US jails and prisons on any day in the USA…
Abstract
Purpose
The USA outpaces most other countries in the world in the rates at which it incarcerates its citizens. The one million women held in US jails and prisons on any day in the USA face many physical health challenges, yet interventional work to address physical health in carceral settings is rare. This study’s purpose was to summarize the literature on programs and interventions implemented with women in US carceral settings (jail or prison) that primarily addressed a physical health issue or need.
Design/methodology/approach
A scoping review was conducted. The authors searched databases, reference lists, individual journals and websites for physical health program descriptions/evaluations and research studies, 2000–2020, that included women and were set in the USA.
Findings
The authors identified 19 articles and a range of problem areas, designs, settings and samples, interventions/programs, outcomes and uses of theory. The authors identified two cross-cutting themes: the carceral setting as opportunity and challenges of ethics and logistics.
Research limitations/implications
Much potential remains for researchers to have an impact on health disparities by addressing physical health needs of women during incarceration.
Originality/value
Interventional and programmatic work to address physical health needs of women during incarceration is sparse and diversely focused. This review uniquely summarizes the existing work in a small and overlooked but important area of research and usefully highlights gaps in that literature.
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V. Koncar, C. Cochrane, M. Lewandowski, F. Boussu and C. Dufour
The need for sensors and actuators is an important issue in the field of smart textiles and garments. Important developments in sensing and heating textile elements consist in…
Abstract
Purpose
The need for sensors and actuators is an important issue in the field of smart textiles and garments. Important developments in sensing and heating textile elements consist in using non‐metallic yarns, for instance carbon containing fibres, directly in the textile fabric. Another solution is to use electro‐conductive materials based on conductive polymer composites (CPCs) containing carbon or metallic particles. The purpose of this paper is to describe research based on the use of a carbon black polymer composite to design two electro‐conductive elements: a strain sensor and a textile heating element.
Design/methodology/approach
The composite is applied as a coating consisting of a solvent, a thermoplastic elastomer, and conductive carbon black nanoparticles. In both applications, the integration of the electrical wires for the voltage supply or signal recording is as discreet as possible.
Findings
The CPC materials constitute a well‐adapted solution for textile structures: they are very flexible, and thus do not modify the mechanical characteristics and general properties of the textile structure.
Research limitations/implications
In the case of the heating element, the use of metallic yarns as electrodes makes the final structure a more rigid. This can be improved by choosing other conducting yarns that are more flexible, or by developing knitted structures instead of woven fabrics.
Practical implications
The CPC provide a low cost solution, and the elements are usually designed so as to work with a low voltage supply.
Originality/value
The CPC has been prepared with a solvent process which is especially adapted to flexible materials like textiles. This is original in comparison to the conventional melt‐mixing process usually found in literature.
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This compilation of over 500 United States Government bibliographies is the second annual supplement to BIBLIOGRAPHY OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BIBLIOGRAPHIES 1968–1973 (Pierian…
Abstract
This compilation of over 500 United States Government bibliographies is the second annual supplement to BIBLIOGRAPHY OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BIBLIOGRAPHIES 1968–1973 (Pierian Press). Due to the Government Printing Office backlog during 1974, many 1973 and 1974 titles are included in this 1975 Supplement, which should have appeared earlier.
Lynn Unruh, C. Allison Russo, H. Joanna Jiang and Carol Stocks
Background – Reliable and valid hospital nurse staffing measures are a major requirement for health services research. As the use of these measures increases, discussion is…
Abstract
Background – Reliable and valid hospital nurse staffing measures are a major requirement for health services research. As the use of these measures increases, discussion is growing as to whether current nurse staffing measures adequately meet the needs of health services researchers.
Objective – This study assesses whether the measures, sampling frameworks, and data sources meet the needs of health services research in areas such as staffing assessment; patient, nurse, and financial outcomes; and prediction of staffing.
Methods – We performed a systematic review of articles from 1990 through 2007, which use hospital nurse staffing measures in original research, or which address the validity, reliability, and availability of the measures. Taxonomies of measures, sampling frameworks, and sources were developed. Articles were analyzed to assess what measures, sampling strategies, and sources of data were used and to ascertain whether the measures, samples, and sources meet the needs of researchers.
Results – The review identified 107 articles that use hospital nurse staffing measures for original research. Multiple types of measures, some of which are used more often than others and some of which are more valid than others, exist in each of the following categories: staffing counts, staffing/patient load ratios, and skill mix. Sampling frameworks range from hospital units to all hospitals nationally, with all hospitals in a state being the most common. Data sources range from small-scale surveys to national databases. The American Hospital Association Annual Survey is the most frequently used data source, but there are limitations with its nurse staffing measures. Arguably, the multiplicity of measures and differences in sampling and data sources are due, in part, to data availability. The limitations noted by other researchers and by this review indicate that staffing measures need improvements in conceptualization, content, scope, and availability.
Discussion – Recommendations are made for improvements to research and administrative practice and to data.
The purpose of this paper is to use data mined from Google Trends, in order to predict the unemployment rate prevailing among Canadians between 25 and 44 years of age.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use data mined from Google Trends, in order to predict the unemployment rate prevailing among Canadians between 25 and 44 years of age.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a theoretical framework, this study argues that the intensity of online leisure activities is likely to improve the predictive power of unemployment forecasting models.
Findings
Mining the corresponding data from Google Trends, the analysis indicates that prediction models including variables which reflect online leisure activities outperform those solely based on the intensity of online job search. The paper also outlines the most propitious ways of mining data from Google Trends. The implications for research and policy are discussed.
Originality/value
This paper, for the first time, augments the forecasting models with data on the intensity of online leisure activities, in order to predict the Canadian unemployment rate.
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Uri Gabbay and Michael Bukchin
Nurse shortage and rising healthcare resource burdens mean that appropriate workforce use is imperative. This paper aims to evaluate whether daily nursing staffing meets ward…
Abstract
Purpose
Nurse shortage and rising healthcare resource burdens mean that appropriate workforce use is imperative. This paper aims to evaluate whether daily nursing staffing meets ward workload needs.
Design/methodology/approach
Nurse attendance and daily nurses' workload capacity in three hospitals were evaluated. Statistical process control was used to evaluate intra‐ward nurse workload capacity and day‐to‐day variations. Statistical process control is a statistics‐based method for process monitoring that uses charts with predefined target measure and control limits. Standardization was performed for inter‐ward analysis by converting ward‐specific crude measures to ward‐specific relative measures by dividing observed/expected. Two charts: acceptable and tolerable daily nurse workload intensity, were defined. Appropriate staffing indicators were defined as those exceeding predefined rates within acceptable and tolerable limits (50 percent and 80 percent respectively).
Findings
A total of 42 percent of the overall days fell within acceptable control limits and 71 percent within tolerable control limits. Appropriate staffing indicators were met in only 33 percent of wards regarding acceptable nurse workload intensity and in only 45 percent of wards regarding tolerable workloads.
Research limitations/implications
The study work did not differentiate crude nurse attendance and it did not take into account patient severity since crude bed occupancy was used. Double statistical process control charts and certain staffing indicators were used, which is open to debate.
Practical implications
Wards that met appropriate staffing indicators prove the method's feasibility. Wards that did not meet appropriate staffing indicators prove the importance and the need for process evaluations and monitoring. Methods presented for monitoring daily staffing appropriateness are simple to implement either for intra‐ward day‐to‐day variation by using nurse workload capacity statistical process control charts or for inter‐ward evaluation using standardized measure of nurse workload intensity. The real challenge will be to develop planning systems and implement corrective interventions such as dynamic and flexible daily staffing, which will face difficulties and barriers.
Originality/value
The paper fulfils the need for workforce utilization evaluation. A simple method using available data for daily staffing appropriateness evaluation, which is easy to implement and operate, is presented. The statistical process control method enables intra‐ward evaluation, while standardization by converting crude into relative measures enables inter‐ward analysis. The staffing indicator definitions enable performance evaluation. This original study uses statistical process control to develop simple standardization methods and applies straightforward statistical tools. This method is not limited to crude measures, rather it uses weighted workload measures such as nursing acuity or weighted nurse level (i.e. grade/band).
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Sarah R. Taylor and Barbara Demmig‐Adams
The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current research on the health risks and benefits associated with coffee drinking.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current research on the health risks and benefits associated with coffee drinking.
Design/methodology/approach
This review includes up‐to‐date information from the original literature on coffee drinking and health and presents findings in a manner accessible to both experts and non‐experts.
Findings
Coffee contains caffeine, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals, all of which affect disease risks. There is evidence that coffee drinking may not be suitable for certain individuals. Overall, however, coffee drinking seems to be a non‐harmful habit for those who drink it regularly and in moderation, and recent studies indeed suggest that it may even be beneficial for most people. The most currently available evidence suggests that coffee drinking can help reduce the risk of several diseases, most notably type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, although the underlying mechanisms for this effect are still being investigated.
Practical implications
Current studies suggest that coffee drinkers can help protect themselves from neurodegenerative and other diseases by drinking an average of two cups of regular, filtered coffee per day.
Originality/value
This article provides accessible and comprehensive information to researchers, nutritionists, and consumers who are interested in the potential health risks and benefits of regular and moderate coffee drinking.
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Xiaosong (David) Peng, Yuan Ye, Raymond Lei Fan, Xin (David) Ding and Aravind Chandrasekaran
This research aims to explore the fine-grained relationships between nurse staffing and hospital operational performance with respect to care quality and operating costs. The…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to explore the fine-grained relationships between nurse staffing and hospital operational performance with respect to care quality and operating costs. The authors also investigate the moderation effect of competition in local hospital markets on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
A six-year panel data is assembled from five separate sources to obtain information of 2,524 USA hospitals. Fixed-effect (FE) models are used to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
First, nurse staffing is initially associated with improved care quality until nurse staffing reaches a turning point, beyond which nurse staffing is associated with worse care quality. Second, a similar pattern applies to the relationship between nurse staffing and operating costs, although the turning point is at a much lower nurse staffing level. Third, market competition moderates the relationship between nurse staffing and care quality so that the turning point of nurse staffing will be higher when the degree of competition is higher. This shift of turning point is also observed in the relationship between nurse staffing and operating costs.
Practical implications
The study identifies three ranges of nurse staffing in which hospitals will likely experience simultaneous improvements, a tradeoff or simultaneous decline of care quality and operating costs when investing in more nursing capacity. Hospitals should adjust nurse staffing levels to the right directions to achieve better care or reduce operating costs.
Originality/value
Nurses constitute the largest provider group in hospitals and profoundly impact care quality and operating costs among all health care professionals. Optimizing the level of nurse staffing, therefore, can significantly impact the care quality and operating costs of hospitals.