Measurements and modeling of gamma absorbed doses due to releases from a linear proton accelerator: experimental design and preliminary results

External radiation levels due to positron annihilation radiation from /sup 11/C, /sup 13/N, and /sup 15/O released by the 800 MeV linear proton accelerator at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) have been monitored at a fence-line location both by thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and high pressure ionization chambers (HPICs). The accelerator is located in irregular terrain consisting of mesas and canyons. Fifteen-minute, accumulated external radiation levels were recorded with the HPICs. Instruments on a nerby meteorological tower concurrently measured wind speed and direction at three levels, temperature at two levels, solar radiation, and rainfall. Real-time radionuclide release rates and stack velocities were measured at the release point with in-stack monitors. This paper presents analyses of short-term radiation levels using HPICs and long-term levels using TLDs. Work being done to develop a computer model to predict external radiation levels based on meteorological data is also discussed

Organizational Stages and Processes of Change for Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Care

This article provides an overview of the transtheoretical model of change (TTM, or stage model) and how it can guide the development of stage-matched interventions to increase physicians\u27 readiness for continuous quality improvement (CQI) in health care. In addition, this article describes the development and initial validation of two TTM measures-stages and processes of change-designed to assess the extent to which hospitals are engaging in activities that can facilitate individual providers\u27 movement through the stages of change for CQI. A majority (57%) of informants reported that their organizations were in the maintenance stage for CQI. Organizational-level processes of change differed significantly across the stages: Hospitals in the precontemplation stage tended to use the processes least, and hospitals in the maintenance stage tended to use them most. © 2001 Educational Publishing Foundation and the Division of Consulting Psychology