Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing <

Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing. Selleckchem Nepicastat Rheological measurements and morphology observations confirmed that PP nanocomposites containing the organoclay bearing C=C groups exhibited improved interfacial interaction between PP chains and MMT sheets. Thus, the PP nanocomposites showed not only higher storage modulus and complex viscosity values at low frequencies but also enhanced mechanical properties. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 1105-1112, 2010″
“Spending on hospital inpatients comprises a major proportion of healthcare costs. This study assessed the impact of systematic feedback to gastroenterologists on the cost of care provided to inpatients on a

gastrointestinal/hepatology (GIH) hospital service.

Patients with a GIH diagnosis were randomly assigned to be cared for by one of two hospital services. Over 3 months, teams were randomized to receive feedback (GIH A) or no feedback (GIH B, control group); feedback consisted eFT-508 of an email sent twice weekly to all physicians on the GIH A service detailing the length of stay (LOS) and real-time cost of care accrued by each inpatient.

Over 3 months, care was provided to 56 (GIH A) and 47 (GIH B) inpatients with a GIH illness. Patient complexity level was similar for both services as demonstrated by mean relative

value: 1.11 (GIH A) vs. 1.27 (GIH B), p = 0.2. Weighted LOS and weighted cost of care values were calculated to adjust for the respective RV of each patient. Mean weighted LOS (10.8 [GIH A] vs. 13.8 days/pt [GIH B], p = 0.02) and mean weighted cost of care (9,904 [GIH A] vs. 12,654 euros/pt [GIH B], p = 0.02) were significantly lower in the feedback group. Subsequent hospital readmission rates did not differ among both groups.

Systematic feedback on cost of care was associated with lower healthcare costs without compromising quality. Incorporating a running total of patient costs into computer software used to order patient tests may represent one approach to controlling healthcare expenses.”
“Background: Oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) is conceived

as a multidimensional construct. Here our aim was to investigate the dimensional structure of OHQoL as measured I��B/IKK inhibitor by the Spanish versions of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires applied simultaneously.

Methods: We recruited a consecutive sample of 270 healthy Spanish workers visiting the Employment Risk Prevention Centre for a routine medical check-up. OHIP-14 was self-completed by participants but the OIDP was completed in face-to-face interviews. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed to identify the underlying dimensions of the OHQoL construct assessed by both instruments. This factorial structure was later confirmed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using several estimators of goodness of fit indices.

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