Service Learning: Discovering Effective Communication Strategies by Emphasizing the Community\u27s Perspective

Service learning is a broadly defined term that may encompass a spectrum of projects and course work ranging from acts of charity to activism for social change. The aim of service learning is always to heighten awareness in our communities that we have the capacity to both learn from and serve each other... and work toward a more just and egalitarian society (bttp://www.invcol.pdx.edulic.htm). Another description of service learning from Brevard Community College\u27s The Power (1994) explains that, for many community organizations, students augment service delivery, meet crucial human needs, and provide a basis for future citizen support. The Power depicts community service as an opportunity for students to enrich and apply classroom knowledge; explore careen or majors; develop civic and cultural literacy; improve citizenship and develop occupational skills; enhance personal growth and self-image; establish job links; and foster a concern for social problems. This introduction to community service leads to a sense of social responsibility and commitment to public and human service. Although the researcher will discuss service learning in explicit detail in Chapter Two, a brief sketch is warranted here to introduce the reader to the concept

From a different angle: A novel approach to health valuation

The value of a health state is typically described relative to the value of an optimal state, specifically as a ratio ranging from unity (equal to optimal health) to negative infinity. Incorporating potentially infinite values is a challenging issue in the econometrics of health valuation. In this paper, we apply a directional statistics approach based on the assumption of wavering preference. Unlike ratio statistics, directional statistics are based on polar coordinates (angle, radius). The range of angles is bounded between 45 degrees (unity) and negative 90 degrees (i.e., negative infinity); therefore, mean angles are well behaved and negate the impetus behind arbitrary data manipulations. Using time trade-off (TTO) responses from the seminal Measurement and Valuation of Health study, we estimate 243 EQ-5D health state values by minimizing circular variance with and without radial weights. For states with published values greater than zero (i.e., better-than-death), the radially weighted estimates are nearly identical to the published values (Mean Absolute Difference 0.07; Lin’s rho 0.94). For worse-than-death states, the estimates are substantially lower than the published values (Mean Absolute Difference 0.186; Lin’s rho 0.576). For the worst EQ-5D state (33333), the published value is -0.59 and the directional estimate is -1.11. By taking a directional statistics approach, we circumvent problems inherent to ratio statistics and the systematic bias introduced by arbitrary data manipulations. The predictions suggest that published estimates overvalue severe states. This paper examines TTO responses; however, it may be extended to all forms of health valuation

Ceftaroline fosamil: development a rapid HPLC method indicating stability and bioassay for determination in pharmaceutical formulation, stability and cytotoxicity studies

The present study reports the development and validation of a microbiological assay. To assess this methodology, the method was developed and validated for the quantification of CEF by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The validation of the microbial assay by diffusion method in 3x3 cylinder agar presented showed satisfactory results as to specificity, linearity in the range of 2.0 - 8.0 μg.mL-1, precision (109.42 %), accuracy (102.3 %), and robustness. The development and validation of the method by HPLC were evaluated according to specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness. A high performance liquid chromatography from Shimadzu with Agilent® C18 column, mobile phase (water with triethylamine 1.0 % pH 5.0: acetonitrile 87:13 v/v was used in the chromatographic method. The validated microbiological and chromatographic methods were compared statistically and there was no significant difference between them when compared by Student's t-test. In the preliminary stability study, it was found stable in acid hydrolysis (0.1M) and UVA light in the period evaluated, and unstable against thermal degradation (40 and 60 °C), oxidative with hydrogen peroxide, basic in NaOH (0.1 M and 0.01M) and UVC light. Samples exposed to UVC light and thermal degradation at 60°C showed degradation kinetics following zero order and second order, respectively. The cytotoxicity assay showed no difference between the normal condition and the sample submitted to forced degradation, suggesting that the possible degradation products formed did not change the result. The methods developed did not present a significant difference, therefore, they are interchangeable, and so can be used for routine quality control analysis

New methods for modelling EQ-5D-5L value sets: an application to English data

Background: The EQ-5D is a widely used questionnaire that describes and values health related quality of life. Recently, a five level version was developed. Updated methods to estimate values for all health states are required. Data: 996 respondents representative of the English general population completed Time Trade-Off (TTO) and Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) tasks. Methods: We estimate models, with and without interactions, using DCE data only; TTO data only; and TTO/DCE data combined. TTO data are interpreted as both left and right censored. Heteroskedasticity and preference heterogeneity between individuals is accounted for. We use maximum likelihood estimation in combination with Bayesian methods. The final model is chosen using the deviance information criterion (DIC). Results: Censoring and taking account of heteroskedasticity has important effects on parameter estimation. Regarding DCE, models with different dimension parameters and similar level parameters are best. Considering models for both TTO and DCE/TTO combined, models with parameters for all dimensions and levels perform best, as judged by the DIC. Taking account of heterogeneity improves fit, and a three latent group multinomial model has the lowest DIC. Conclusion: Studies to elicit values for the EQ-5D-5L need new approaches to estimate the underlying value function. This paper presents approaches which suit the characteristics of these data and recognise preference heterogeneity

Valuation and modeling of EQ-5D-5L health states using a hybrid approach

Background: The EQ-5D instrument is the most widely used preference-based health-related quality of life questionnaire in cost-effectiveness analysis of health care technologies. Recently, a version called EQ-5D-5L with 5 levels on each dimension was developed. This manuscript explores the performance of a hybrid approach for the modeling of EQ-5D-5L valuation data. Methods: Two elicitation techniques, the composite time trade-off, and discrete choice experiments, were applied to a sample of the Spanish population (n=1000) using a computer-based questionnaire. The sampling process consisted of 2 stages: stratified sampling of geographic area, followed by systematic sampling in each area. A hybrid regression model combining composite time trade-off and discrete choice data was used to estimate the potential value sets using main effects as starting point. The comparison between the models was performed using the criteria of logical consistency, goodness of fit, and parsimony. Results: Twenty-seven participants from the 1000 were removed following the exclusion criteria. The best-fitted model included 2 significant interaction terms but resulted in marginal improvements in model fit compared to the main effects model. We therefore selected the model results with main effects as a potential value set for this methodological study, based on the parsimony criteria. The results showed that the main effects hybrid model was consistent, with a range of utility values between 1 and -0.224. Conclusion: This paper shows the feasibility of using a hybrid approach to estimate a value set for EQ-5D-5L valuation data.</p

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CEFPIROME IN RAW MATERIAL AND INJECTABLE PREPARATION

Cefpirome is a fourth-generation cephalosporin active against a broad spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infections. The present work describe the development and validation of a simple, sensitive and specific agar diffusion bioassay applying cylinder-plate method for quantification of cefpirome in raw material and powder for injectable preparation. The validation method yielded good results and included linearity, precision, accuracy and specificity. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of cefpirome upon the strain of Kocuria rizophila ATCC 9341 as the test microorganism. The result of assay were treated statistically by ANOVA and the response graphs for standard and sample solutions were linear (r = 0.9948) in the range of 0.3 – 1.2 µg mL-1, precise (intra-assay: RSD = 0.11; inter-assay: RSD = 0.18) and accurate (mean recovery value = 99.41%). A preliminary stability study of cefpirome showed that the microbiological assay is specific for the determination cefpirome in the presence of its degradation products. The proposed microbiological method allows the quantitation of cefpirome in pharmaceutical dosage form and raw material and can be used for the drug analysis in routine quality control

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRY AND LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF CEFPIROME IN RAW MATERIAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE

In the present work, analytical methods, UV Spectrophotometry and Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), were developed and validated for quantification of cefpirome, a broad-spectrum fourth-generation cephalosporin, in raw material and powder for injectable preparation. The UV spectrophotometric method was performed at 271 nm, using 0.1 M hydrochloric acid as solvent. The HPLC was carried out using Techsphere ODS column and mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (30:70, v/v) with flow rate 0.8 mL/min and UV detection at 265 nm. The validation method yielded good results demonstrated statistically that the methods were linear, precise, accurate, specific and robust. A preliminary stability study of cefpirome showed that the UV Spectrophotometry and Liquid Chromatography methods were specific for the determination cefpirome in the presence of its degradation products. No statistically difference was observed between the proposed methods. The UV Spectrophotometry and Liquid Chromatography methods allow the quantitation of cefpirome in pharmaceutical dosage form and raw material and can be used for the drug analysis in routine quality control.