4,166 research outputs found
The first dental visit: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of North Carolina dentists regarding physician referral guidelines
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to (1) assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of North Carolina (NC) dentists regarding infant and toddler dental referral guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and (2) to determine factors among this population that influence embracement of these guidelines. One thousand general dentists in NC were randomly selected to participate. The primary outcome variable was acceptance of children referred for the age one dental visit, therefore allowing physicians to comply with referral guidelines. Significant predictors of referral acceptance included correct knowledge about the guideline (OR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.2-3.3), increased confidence in providing preventive care to infants and toddlers (OR = 2.6, 95%CI 1.3 - 4.9), and agreement that parents see importance in dental referrals (OR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.2-3.6). This study identifies factors that influence acceptance of physician referrals for the age one dental visit among NC dentists, that can lead to development of interventions to maximize availability of a dental home for young children
An exploratory study looking at the relationship marketing techniques used in the music festival industry
There are current issues and trends in the music festival
market, which may affect the success of an event, and market saturation
is at the forefront of these issues. Previous literature, maintaining
the need for a marketing approach to festivals, identifi es the need
for maintaining strong stakeholder relationships in order to succeed
in a business environment; attention has been focused to the theory
of relationship marketing (RM) because of the recognition that this
practice is complementary to the marketing of festivals. The very nature
of the music festival as an annual, usually, 4-day event means that
effective marketing is needed to keep connections with the consumer
throughout the year. This article focuses on the RM techniques
utilised within the music festival industry from the viewpoint of the
festival organiser in an attempt to establish how festival organisations
value and monitor organisational relationships. This article explores
the extent to which these relationships are valued and managed;
furthermore, the variations between these intricate relationships
are considered by focusing on those held with the organisation ’ s
consumers and sponsors, the results of which have provided the
ability to establish the importance and relevance of RM to the industry
and further identify the marketing communication methods employed
to establish and maintain such relationships. In-depth, convergent
interviews have been conducted with a segment of music festival
organisers from a range of events. The results have been integrated
with the study of current literature to best exemplify these issues. It
has been established that RM has a strong role in today ’ s commercial
and independent music festival industry; technological advances are
enabling the organiser to support online relationships further and
increase consumer loyalty. There is a need to expand the research
further because of the complexity of organisational relationships and
the varying categories of festivals
High glucose up-regulates ENaC and SGK1 expression in HCD-cells
Background/Aim: Diabetic nephropathy is associated with progressive renal damage, leading to impaired function and end-stage renal failure. Secondary hypertension stems from a deranged ability of cells within the kidney to resolve and appropriately regulate sodium resorption in response to hyperglycaemia. However, the mechanisms by which glucose alters sodium re-uptake have not been fully characterised.
Methods: Here we present RT-PCR, western blot and immunocytochemistry data confirming mRNA and protein expression of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase (SGK1) and the a conducting subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in a model in vitro system of the human cortical collecting duct (HCD). We examined changes in expression of these elements in response to glucose challenge, designed to mimic hyperglycaemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Changes in Na+ concentration were assessed using single-cell microfluorimetry.
Results: Incubation with glucose, the Ca2+-ionophore ionomycin and the cytokine TGF-beta 1 were all found to evoke significant and time-dependent increases in both SGK1 and alpha ENaC protein expression. These molecular changes were correlated to an increase in Na+-uptake at the single-cell level.
Conclusion: Together these data offer a potential explanation for glucose-evoked Na+-resorption and a potential contributory role of SGK1 and ENaCs in development of secondary hypertension, commonly linked to diabetic nephropathy
Effects of Progesterone or Progesterone and GnRH Administration on Blood Serum Progesterone, Estradiol and Luteinizing Hormone in Prepuberal Beef Heifers
A study using twelve prepuberal Angus heifers was conducted to determine the effects that synthetic progesterone with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) had on blood serum concentrations of progesterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone (LH) over a 48-hour period. Four heifers were given an implant containing the synthetic progestogen norgestomet for 9 days. Four other heifers were given a similar implant and also received an injection of GnRH after implant removal. The remaining four heifers served as controls and received no treatment. Serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations did not differ between treatments (P\u3e .8). Heifers receiving norgestomet and GnRH had increased levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) during the 4.5 hours following the injection (P\u3c .0001). Serum LH concentrations in heifers treated with norgestomet only did not differ from those of controls
Effects of Administering Progesterone or Progesterone and GnRH on Age at Pubery in Crossbred Beef Heifers
A study using 143 replacement beef heifers was conducted over a 3-year period to determine the effects that progesterone or progesterone and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) would have on age at puberty in beef heifers. Progesterone treated heifers were 21.8 and 38.9 days younger (P\u3c.05) at puberty than control heifers in the first 2 years of the study, while progesterone plus GnRH treated heifers were 35.4 days (P\u3c.01) and 31.2 days (P\u3c.05) younger than controls. No difference (P\u3e.05) in age at puberty was detected between groups in the third year. While progesterone and progesterone plus GnRH treated heifers had a higher conception rate (P\u3c.01) to Al than controls in the first year of the study, calving records showed they experienced a higher rate of embryonic loss. However, calving rate still remained higher than in the control group. These differences were not observed in the second year and calving data for the final year of the study is currently not available
A Close Binary Star Resolved from Occultation by 87 Sylvia
The star BD+29 1748 was resolved to be a close binary from its occultation by
the asteroid 87 Sylvia on 2006 December 18 UT. Four telescopes were used to
observe this event at two sites separated by some 80 km apart. Two flux drops
were observed at one site, whereas only one flux drop was detected at the
other. From the long-term variation of Sylvia, we inferred the probable shape
of the shadow during the occultation, and this in turn constrains the binary
parameters: the two components of BD+29 1748 have a projected separation of
0.097" to 0.110" on the sky with a position angle 104 deg to 107 deg. The
asteroid was clearly resolved with a size scale ranging from 130 to 290 km, as
projected onto the occultation direction. No occultation was detected for
either of the two known moonlets of 87 Sylvia.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables; submitted to the PAS
Barriers to Pediatricians’ Adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics Oral Health Referral Guidelines: North Carolina General Dentists’ Opinions
Purpose—The purposes of this study were to: (1) assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of
North Carolina general dentists (GDs) regarding American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) dental
referral guidelines; and (2) determine factors that influence pediatricians’ ability to comply with
AAP guidelines.
Methods—One thousand GDs were surveyed to determine barriers toward acceptance of
physician referrals of infants and toddlers. The primary outcome using ordered logistic regression
was GDs’ acceptance of children described in five case scenarios, with different levels of risk and
oral health status.
Results—GDs believed pediatricians should refer patients at risk for caries to a dentist. While 61
to 75 percent of GDs were willing to accept low caries risk referrals of infants and toddlers, only
35 percent would accept referrals when caries was present. Predictors of referral acceptance were
correct knowledge about AAP guidelines (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.2-3.3), confidence in pro- viding
preventive care to infants and toddlers (OR=2.6, 95%CI=1.3-4.9), and agreement that parents see
importance in dental referrals (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.6).
Conclusions—This study identified factors influencing acceptance of pediatrician referrals for
the age one dental visit among North Carolina GDs and highlighted challenges pediatricians face
in referring young children for dental care
Ambiguity, complexity and dynamics in the membership of collaboration
This paper is concerned with the role that membership structures of inter-organizational collaborations have on the achievement of collaborative advantage in the context of tackling social issues. Based on action research involving participants in a wide variety of collaborative situations, the paper aims to explore the nature of the membership of collaborations in practice. A picture of membership is built up from two perspectives. The first considers the structure of collaboration, and argues that ambiguity and complexity in structure may be demonstrated over many dimensions. The second adds another layer of complication through exploring the dynamics of the way in which membership structures change over time. The paper concludes by examining the implications for practitioners and policy makers of this picture in terms of its effect on the design of collaborations and on the factors which tend to lead to collaborative inertia instead of collaborative advantage
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