A study of certain factors affecting survival of vegetative cells of Bacillus popilliae preserved by lyophilization

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1966 L756Master of Scienc

Dynamic Network Topologies

Demand for effective network defense capabilities continues to increase as cyber attacks occur more and more frequently and gain more and more prominence in the media. Current security practices stop after data encryption and network address filtering. Security at the lowest level of network infrastructure allows for greater control of how the network traffic flows around the network. This research details two methods for extending security practices to the physical layer of a network by modifying the network infrastructure. The first method adapts the Advanced Encryption Standard while the second method uses a Steiner tree. After the network connections are updated, the traffic is re-routed using an approximation algorithm to solve the resulting multicommodity flow problem. The results show that modifying the network connections provides additional security to the information. Additionally, this research extends on previous research by addressing enterprise-size networks; networks between 5 and 1000 nodes with 1 through 5 interfaces are tested. While the final configuration depends greatly on the starting network infrastructure, the speed of the execution time enables administrators to make infrastructure adjustments in response to active cyber attacks

Effects of procurement practices on quality of medical device or service received: a qualitative study comparing countries

We know little about how procurement of a high-risk medical device (HRMD) affects clinical practice and outcomes. In health systems in high-income countries, and specifically those that maintain a national arthroplasty registry, procurement decisions are frequently guided by long-term clinical results, with the goal of ensuring at least standard quality of HRMDs. But in countries like Mexico, decision-making is often dominated by lowest acquisition price. We set out to study the impact of procurement for orthopaedic HRMDs on clinical procedures and outcomes.; We based our qualitative study on 59 in-depth interviews with stakeholders from Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, and UK: orthopaedic specialists, government officials, other experts, and social security system managers or administrators. We took a healthcare delivery approach to capturing and comparing factors that affected the regulations of HRMDs and procurement processes, and to understanding connections between procurement and clinical practice.; Our findings demonstrate for procurement processes that the three European countries compared to Mexico don't have similar concerns with regards to their procurement processes. Deficiencies of procurement regulations and practices identified from representatives in Mexico were almost absent in European countries. We identified three areas of deficiency: 1) HRMD regulations based on insufficiently robust clinical evidence (mainly noted by European countries); 2) Follow-up on Health Technology Assessments is inadequate (noted by Mexico) and methodology not always good enough (noted by European countries); and, 3) Lowest-acquisition price often guides procurement decisions and thus may not align with needs of clinical procedures (noted by Mexico and some European countries).; Procurement processes for orthopaedic HRMDs may have an impact on clinical procedures and outcomes. A favourable approach is one where orthopaedic specialists are parties to the procurement process, and post-market surveillance data informs decision-making. Actors in the procurement process can improve their impact on clinical procedures and outcomes by developing specific strategies that better align the needs of both, procurement and clinical procedures

Negotiating Vertical Urbanization at the Public-Private Nexus: On the Institutional Embeddedness of Planning Committees

While the planning and development of dense and high-rise neighborhoods are commonly perceived as primarily technical procedures, the past several decades have highlighted the growing social complexity of these processes. Neighborhood initiatives opposing development, as well as an increasing variety of public and private stakeholders involved in these processes, have led to the continual emergence of organizations that facilitate the production of urban density and verticality. Committees are founded to operate at the nexus of public and private development, while simultaneously promoting urban growth and public interests. Although they often are not formally recognized as political entities, they are constituted by political acts and hence influence planning processes. However, despite all the research into dense and high-rise neighborhood developments, academic interest has so far neglected the role of committees in these processes. This article aims to fill this gap by presenting an analysis of 23 committees engaging with high-rise housing and neighborhood developments in the three German-speaking countries of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. First, it reveals the heterogeneity of committees, delineating four components for the institutionalization of committees. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of two committees in Austria and Switzerland, to demonstrate how these structural components influence the development of neighborhoods

How does the knowledge environment shape procurement practices for orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico?

BACKGROUND: In organisational theory there is an assumption that knowledge is used effectively in healthcare systems that perform well. Actors in healthcare systems focus on managing knowledge of clinical processes like, for example, clinical decision-making to improve patient care. We know little about connecting that knowledge to administrative processes like high-risk medical device procurement. We analysed knowledge-related factors that influence procurement and clinical procedures for orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico. METHODS: We based our qualitative study on 48 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders in Mexico: orthopaedic specialists, government officials, and social security system managers or administrators. We took a knowledge-management related perspective (i) to analyse factors of managing knowledge of clinical procedures, (ii) to assess the role of this knowledge and in relation to procurement of orthopaedic medical devices, and (iii) to determine how to improve the situation. RESULTS: The results of this study are primarily relevant for Mexico but may also give impulsion to other health systems with highly standardized procurement practices. We found that knowledge of clinical procedures in orthopaedics is generated inconsistently and not always efficiently managed. Its support for procuring orthopaedic medical devices is insufficient. Identified deficiencies: leaders who lack guidance and direction and thus use knowledge poorly; failure to share knowledge; insufficiently defined formal structures and processes for collecting information and making it available to actors of health system; lack of strategies to benefit from synergies created by information and knowledge exchange. Many factors are related directly or indirectly to technological aspects, which are insufficiently developed. CONCLUSIONS: The content of this manuscript is novel as it analyses knowledge-related factors that influence procurement of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico. Based on our results we recommend that the procurement mechanism should integrate knowledge from clinical procedures adequately in their decision-making. Without strong guidance, organisational changes, and support by technological solutions to improve the generation and management of knowledge, procurement processes for orthopaedic high-risk medical devices will remain sub-optimal

Perfume

This article provides an insight into my final-year project, Perfume, created as part of the Costume with Textiles course at the University of Huddersfield, comprising the design and construction of a costume for a theatre adaptation of Patrick Süskind’s novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Initially, the analysis of the underlying literature, i.e. the script and its key themes, including the motives of identity and scent, built the foundation for the project Perfume. Additional literature research into cultural, historical and artistic influences, as well as practical experiments, influenced the design, textile and making process of a costume that uniquely unites both eighteenth-century period construction and interactive technology. Ultimately, the costume construction reaches completion in its final disintegration. This article explores this alleged contradiction and, as a result, the modifications necessary to make my project work in a practical theatre context. Despite these conflicts, the project succeeds in combining traditional and new craftsmanship, bridging the fields of costume, art and technology in an innovative way

The regulation, assessment, and management of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico : crucial aspects, problems, and steps to improve it

Introduction: In organisational theory there is an assumption that knowledge is used effectively in healthcare systems that perform well. Actors in healthcare systems focus on managing knowledge of clinical processes like, for example, clinical decision-making to improve patient care. We know little about connecting that knowledge to administrative processes like high-risk medical device procurement or technology assessments. Well-tailored policies for health technologies such as medical devices are essential and contribute to improved quality of health care. The regulation, assessment, and management represent important functions of the Medical Device Life-Cycle (MDLC). Insufficiently developed interactions between these functions impact the quality of health care and health system’s effectiveness. To date studies lack to analyse these functions in a broad way even though they are increasingly of interest to policy makers and health system experts in Mexico. Objective: This Ph.D. research was designed and carried out so get a better understanding on policies and practices of the MDLC areas for orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico. The research encompasses four objectives spanning from (i) defining which areas of procurement are crucial for clinical practice and outcomes of orthopaedic medical devices, (ii) assessing attitudes of stakeholders regarding outcomes of the MDLC areas and analysing knowledge-related factors that influence these areas, (iii) analysing challenges of and discussing possible ways forward in fostering the regulation, assessment, and management of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico, and (iv) analysing interests, positions, and power of stakeholders to three alternative strategies to improve processes and practices with regard to the regulation, assessment, and management of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico to assess the political feasibility of these strategies. Methods: We used a mainly qualitative research approach through overall 166 interviews (four sub-studies) and 187 survey participants (one sub-study) as well as a literature review (one sub-study) based on an overall framework that considers the MDLC relevant areas and the different levels by which the delivery of health care is being shaped. First, we determined and analysed themes that were relevant to the different interest groups of the MDLC by using ‘procurement’ as starting point. We used in-depth interviews and interviewed 58 persons representing different stakeholders from four countries to define which areas of procurement are crucial for clinical practice and outcomes of orthopaedic HRMDs. Second, we generated initial conclusions that served to further provide more specific insights on the most relevant themes. To do so we conducted two sub-studies: (i) we conducted a study using semi-structured interviews to assess opinions from 48 stakeholders from Mexico, and (ii) we conducted a survey to assess attitudes of 187 orthopaedic specialists from Mexico. Third, we discussed ideas for possible ways forward in fostering the MDLC. To do so we conducted two sub-studies: (i) we interviewed 42 persons representing different stakeholders from Mexico to analyse challenges of and discuss possible ways forward in fostering the regulation, assessment, and management of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico, and (ii) we used a literature review to discuss the contribution of survival rate benchmarks as decision-making rule. Fourth, we analysed interests, positions, and power of stakeholders to specific strategies with regard to changes of processes and practices of the MDLC relevant areas. We used a stakeholder analysis method and included 17 persons representing multiple interest groups to analyse interests, positions, and power of stakeholders to three alternative strategies to improve processes and practices with regard to the regulation, assessment, and management of orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico to assess the political feasibility of these strategies. Results: The MDLC system in Mexico is not coherently outlined and set-up across the regulatory, the assessment, and the management domains of orthopaedic medical devices, and this results in a situation that the quality of services delivered to patients is sub-optimal. First, the management of data and information is a critical aspect of the performance of the MDLC. Our research provided insights into problems related to data and information, and how this might have an influence on outputs and outcomes of the MDLC. The focus on knowledge-related factors (second sub-study) allowed us to better explain the relation of MDLC function such as ‘management’ and clinical procedures for orthopaedic medical devices in Mexico. Second, technovigilance receives relatively high attention by policy makers in Mexico but that stakeholders of the MDLC underestimate its contribution regarding improving MDLC outcomes. Our research showed that the information flow between the micro level (observations from clinical practice) and macro level is relatively weak. Third, in Mexico, HTA adds little value to decision-making and HTA at the level of hospitals has not received a lot of attention yet even though it may provide important benefits to the quality of health care and to the health system’s effectiveness. Fourth, stakeholders of the MDLC function ‘management’ in Mexico underestimate the role played by procurement regarding purchasing of orthopaedic HRMDs. Our research showed that decisions are either based on simple decision criteria or impacted by lowest-price offers. Quality attributes such as clinical long-term performance and intra-operative handling performance is rarely influencing into decision-making. Conclusion: Only some of the findings that our research has produced have been discussed in the literature before. This research is novel in terms of its specific focus on key MDLC functions and on orthopaedic medical devices. Further, it was timely because some of the presented themes are currently undergoing policy discussion in Mexico. The MDLC system in Mexico is not coherently outlined and set-up across the regulatory, the assessment, and the management domains of orthopaedic medical devices. The fragmentation of responsibilities of the MDLC areas, which is underpinned by the health system structure, has recently received more attention from different stakeholders and is subject to the current policy discussion. The suggested changes of current processes and practices of the regulation, assessment, and management can improve outputs and outcomes of these functions and positively influence the quality of health care and health system’s effectiveness. We have the following recommendations to the Mexican policy makers and other stakeholders related to the MDLC: (i) A government agency is needed to broadly oversee, monitor and report on quality-related issues within the health system; (ii) Decision-makers should apply an integrative approach of selecting medical devices to better prevent an economic and health burden due to disconnected processes and practices of the MDLC functions; (iii) Specific policies and organizational practice targeting orthopaedic medical devices are necessary; (iv) Technovigilance needs to be strengthened to improve the understanding of potential health risks associated with sub-standard HRMDs; (v) Data, information, and knowledge need to be managed appropriately across the sub-systems of health care provision; (vi) Technologies should be assessed during the purchasing process by applying strategies such as risk assessment, the adequate involvement of end-users, and basing decisions on multiple criteria including clinical impact in the short-term and long-term; (vii) The methodology applied to technology assessments for evaluating HRMDs needs to be adapted to the gold standard and HTAs at the level of hospitals should be introduced; (viii) Decision-making needs to distinguish between different risk classes of medical devices because decisions on complex medical devices are based on simple decision criteria; and (ix) ‘Procurement’ needs more attention so that actors involved in procurement or impacted by procurement decisions are less confronted by problems

Der Einfluss subjektiv bedeutsamer Gerüche auf physiologische Indikatoren von Basisemotionen

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersuchte den Einfluss der Gerüche Desinfektionsmittel, Kerzenduft, Sommerluft, Verbranntes, Erbrochenes und Moder auf physiologische Indikatoren des autonomen Nervensystems für die sechs Basisemotionen Angst, Überraschung, Freude, Wut, Ekel und Trauer. Die autonomen Reaktionen wurden mit Hilfe der physiologischen Kennwerte Hauttemperatur, Hautleitfähigkeit, Atemfrequenz, Aktivität der Unterarmmuskulatur, Lidschlagfrequenz, Herzschlagfrequenz und Herzschlagfrequenzvariabilität erfasst. Die subjektiven Assoziationen der Gerüche mit den Basisemotionen, deren Valenz, Intensität und Bekanntheit sowie die durch die Düfte hervorgerufenen emotionalen Erinnerungen wurden durch einen Fragebogen festgehalten. Mit diesen Ergebnissen wurde versucht, ein für Basisemotionen typisches Reaktionsmuster des autonomen Nervensystems aufzuzeigen. Die Untersuchung erfolgte mit 15 Frauen und 15 Männern und bestand aus zwei Einzelsitzungen. In der Voruntersuchung wurde das Riechvermögen der Versuchspersonen geprüft. Während der Hauptuntersuchung wurden die Gerüche präsentiert und gleichzeitig die physiologischen Kennwerte aufgezeichnet. Im Anschluss erfolgte die subjektive Bewertung der Düfte. Die statistische Auswertung erfolgte mittels einfaktorieller Varianzanalysen für wiederholte Messungen (ANOVA) und anschließenden post-hoc Tests mit LSD- und Bonferroni-Korrektur. Korrelationen wurden mittels 2-seitigem Pearson-Test sowie partieller Korrelation berechnet. Unter Berücksichtigung aller Kennwerte konnte kein, für Basisemotionen typisches, autonomes Reaktionsmuster beobachtet werden. Jedoch unterschieden sich die Amplitudenhöhen der Hautleitfähigkeit von Verbranntem und Erbrochenem von der Amplitudenhöhe der Sommerluft. Je niedriger die Valenz des Duftreizes war, desto größer war die Amplitudenhöhe. Die Gerüche Kerzenduft und Sommerluft wurden subjektiv mit der Basisemotion Freude, Verbranntes und Erbrochenes mit der Emotion Ekel assoziiert.This study tested the effect of the odours disinfectant, candle flavour, summer air, burnt, vomit and mustiness on parameters of the autonomic nervous system which are associated with the basic emotions fear, surprise, happiness, anger, disgust and sadness. The physiological parameters skin temperature, skin conductance, breathing rate, fore arm muscle activity, blinking rate, heart rate and heart rate variability were recorded. The subjects were asked about their subjective associations of the odour with the basic emotions and about the valence, intensity and familiarity of the odours. With this results, specific nervous system patterns for these emotions should be evaluated. The subjects were 15 women and 15 men. The first session aimed to ensure an intact sense of smell. In the second session, the physiological parameters were recorded during the presentation of the odours. After this session, the subjects evaluated the odours by using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses were carried out using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the post-hoc t-test with least significant difference (LSD) or Bonferroni-correction. Correlations were tested with 2-way Pearson-test and partial correlation. In consideration of all physiological parameters and subjective associations, no specific ANS-patterns for basic emotions could be observed. Data evaluation showed differences of the ANS parameter skin conductance. The amplitudes of burnt and vomit differed from the amplitude of summer air. Unpleasant odours elicited higher amplitudes than pleasant odours did. The odours candle flavour and summer air were associated with the basic emotion happiness; burnt and vomit with disgust