37 research outputs found
Cost calculation and prediction in adult intensive care: A ground-up utilization study
Publisher's copy made available with the permission of the publisherThe ability of various proxy cost measures, including therapeutic activity scores (TISS and Omega) and cumulative daily severity of illness scores, to predict individual ICU patient costs was assessed in a prospective âground-upâ utilization costing study over a six month period in 1991. Daily activity (TISS and Omega scores) and utilization in consecutive admissions to three adult university associated ICUs was recorded by dedicated data collectors. Cost prediction used linear regression with determination (80%) and validation (20%) data sets. The cohort, 1333 patients, had a mean (SD) age 57.5 (19.4) years, (41% female) and admission APACHE III score of 58 (27). ICU length of stay and mortality were 3.9 (6.1) days and 17.6% respectively. Mean total TISS and Omega scores were 117 (157) and 72 (113) respectively. Mean patient costs per ICU episode (1991 6801 (2534, range 95,602. Dominant cost fractions were nursing 43.3% and overheads 16.9%. Inflation adjusted year 2002 (mean) costs were AUS). Total costs in survivors were predicted by Omega score, summed APACHE III score and ICU length of stay; determination R2, 0.91; validation 0.88. Omega was the preferred activity score. Without the Omega score, predictors were age, summed APACHE III score and ICU length of stay; determination R2, 0.73; validation 0.73. In non-survivors, predictors were age and ICU length of stay (plus interaction), and Omega score (determination R2, 0.97; validation 0.91). Patient costs may be predicted by a combination of ICU activity indices and severity scores.J. L. Moran, A. R. Peisach, P. J. Solomon, J. Martinhttp://www.aaic.net.au/Article.asp?D=200403
High Precision Measurement of the Proton Elastic Form Factor Ratio at low
We report a new, high-precision measurement of the proton elastic form factor
ratio \mu_p G_E/G_M for the four-momentum transfer squared Q^2 = 0.3-0.7
(GeV/c)^2. The measurement was performed at Jefferson Lab (JLab) in Hall A
using recoil polarimetry. With a total uncertainty of approximately 1%, the new
data clearly show that the deviation of the ratio \mu_p G_E/G_M from unity
observed in previous polarization measurements at high Q^2 continues down to
the lowest Q^2 value of this measurement. The updated global fit that includes
the new results yields an electric (magnetic) form factor roughly 2% smaller
(1% larger) than the previous global fit in this Q^2 range. We obtain new
extractions of the proton electric and magnetic radii, which are
^(1/2)=0.875+/-0.010 fm and ^(1/2)=0.867+/-0.020 fm. The charge
radius is consistent with other recent extractions based on the electron-proton
interaction, including the atomic hydrogen Lamb shift measurements, which
suggests a missing correction in the comparison of measurements of the proton
charge radius using electron probes and the recent extraction from the muonic
hydrogen Lamb shift.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure
TĂ©cnicas de colheita para tomate de mesa Harvesting methods for fresh market tomatoes
Comparou-se a qualidade de frutos provenientes de colheita utilizando cestas de bambu e sacolas de lona plĂĄstica em campos de produção na regiĂŁo de Mogi-Guaçu, SP. Utilizou-se como testemunha frutos nĂŁo submetidos ao manuseio. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (sistemas de colheita x dias apĂłs a colheita) com trĂȘs repetiçÔes. Foram observados o tempo de colheita, incidĂȘncia de danos fĂsicos (%) originados no campo e/ou no processo de colheita, perda de masa (%) durante o armazenamento, e a qualidade visual apĂłs armazenamento por 21 dias a temperatura ambiente (23ÂșC). O tempo necessĂĄrio para realizar a colheita no mesmo nĂșmero de plantas utilizando-se cesta de bambu foi superior em 20%, em relação Ă sacola plĂĄstica. A incidĂȘncia de danos fĂsicos (%) e perda de massa (%), apesar de maiores nos frutos colhidos com sacola, nĂŁo foram significativamente diferentes dos colhidos com cestas de bambus. Observou-se maior perda de massa (%) durante o armazenamento nos frutos colhidos utilizando-se sacolas de lonas plĂĄsticas. ApĂłs armazenamento por 21 dias, frutos colhidos com sacola plĂĄstica apresentavam maiores perdas do que aqueles colhidos utilizando-se cestas de bambu, principalmente devido a danos fĂsicos e podridĂ”es.<br>Quality of tomato fruits harvested using traditional bamboo baskets was compared to fruits harvested using harvest bags in the Mogi Guaçu region, SĂŁo Paulo State, Brazil. Fruits not submitted to handling were used as control. The trial was totally randomized (harvest system x days after harvest) in a factorial design. The observed data were time spent for each harvest operation, mechanical injury (%) caused either in the field or/and in the process of harvesting, weight loss (%) during storage and final quality of fruits after storage for 21 days at room temperature (23ÂșC). The time necessary for the harvest with bamboo baskets was 20% higher than using plastic bags. The results showed that weight loss (%) and injury incidence (%) using harvesting bags were higher than the harvest using bamboo baskets. Weight loss (%) was higher in fruits harvested with plastic bags during storage. After storage during 21 days, tomatoes harvested using plastic bag showed higher losses than fruits picked using bamboo baskets due to mainly mechanical injury and diseases