Superphosphate fertilizer industry

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University, 1949. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program for Glycemic Control

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate the impact of Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. The goals were to improve glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and improve patient satisfaction. Methods: A quality improvement project using the Iowa model was implemented in a primary care setting in Southern California to provide DSME program for adults with type 2 diabetes. A nurse practitioner conducted three DSME group sessions, which were done for 90 minutes per session in a 4-month period. The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7 self-care behavior guidelines were used to develop the DSME program. Five patients with type 2 DM participated in the program. Patient satisfaction and A1C levels were collected at baseline and after the completion of the program. Results: The average AIC for patients at the initiation of DSME was 9%. After the completion of DSME program, the mean reduction in A1C was 1.44%, and the range change was 1% to 1.8 %. Twenty percent of total participants met the objective of decreased A1C level below 7%. Five patients, (100%), had 10% decrease in their A1C levels after completing the program and scored “highly satisfied” with the DSME program. Conclusion: As the prevalence and incidence of diabetes increase, a coordinated model of care can meet the growing demand for access and utilization of DSME programs. Health care providers in primary care settings can replicate DSME programs focusing on chronic conditions to improve outcomes

Confirmation of random mating and indication for gene flow in the grapevine dieback fungus, Eutypa lata

Research NoteRAPD markers were used to analyze the genetic structure in an Eutypa lata population from a single vineyard located in Charente, France. The high level of genotypic diversity and the lack of genetic disequilibrium between RAPD loci strongly suggest that the population originated from random mating. Its genetic structure was similar to that previously observed within a population from a vineyard located in Herault, France. No genetic differentiation was found between the two populations separated by 390 km. Ascospore-mediated gene flow would unify E. lata populations into a panmictic population at least at the geographic scale studied

Effect of grapevine cultivar, strain of Xylophilus ampelinus and culture medium on in vitro development of bacterial necrosis

Research NoteFactorial experiments were designed to study the response of in vitro cultivated grapevine after inoculation with Xylophilus ampelinus, the causal agent of bacterial necrosis. Significant effects of culture medium, cultivar and strain were demonstrated. The possible. uses for the in vitro test are discussed

Application of fiber-reinforced bismaleimide materials to aircraft nacelle structures

Existing aircraft engine nacelle structures employ advanced composite materials to reduce weight and thereby increase overall performance. Use of advanced composite materials on existing aircraft nacelle structures includes fiber-reinforced epoxy structures and has typically been limited to regions furthest away from the hot engine core. Portions of the nacelle structure that are closer to the engine require materials with a higher temperature capability. In these portions, existing nacelle structures employ aluminum sandwich construction and skin/stringer construction. The aluminum structure is composed of many detail parts and assemblies and is usually protected by some form of ablative, insulator, or metallic thermal shield. A one-piece composite inner cowl for a new-generation engine nacelle structure has been designed using fiber-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) materials and honeycomb core in a sandwich construction. The new composite design has many advantages over the existing aluminum structure. Multiple details were integrated into the one-piece composite design, thereby significantly reducing the number of detail parts and fasteners. The use of lightweight materials and the reduction of the number of joints result in a significant weight reduction over the aluminum design; manufacturing labor and the overall number of tools required have also been reduced. Several significant technical issues were addressed in the development of a BMI composite design. Technical evaluation of the available BMI systems led to the selection of a toughened BMI material which was resistant to microcracking under thermal cyclic loading and enhanced the damage tolerance of the structure. Technical evaluation of the degradation of BMI materials in contact with aluminum and other metals validated methods for isolation of the various materials. Graphite-reinforced BMI in contact with aluminum and some steels was found to degrade in salt spray testing. Isolation techniques such as those used for graphite-reinforced epoxy structures were shown to provide adequate protection. The springback and producibility of large BMI structures were evaluated by manufacturing prototype hardware which had the full-scale cross section of the one-piece composite structure

The impact of bariatric and metabolic surgery on cancer development.

Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome, and fatty liver disease is one of the most common preventable risk factors for cancer development worldwide. They are responsible for at least 40% of all newly diagnosed cancers, including colon, ovarian, uterine, breast, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer. Although various efforts are being made to reduce the incidence of obesity, its prevalence continues to spread in the Western world. Weight loss therapies such as lifestyle change, diets, drug therapies (GLP-1-receptor agonists) as well as bariatric and metabolic surgery are associated with an overall risk reduction of cancer. Therefore, these strategies should always be essential in therapeutical concepts in obese patients. This review discusses pre- and post-interventional aspects of bariatric and metabolic surgery and its potential benefit on cancer development in obese patients

The Relationship Between the Impacts of Telecommuting Engagement and Employee Performance in Oil and Gas Industry in Kuantan, Pahang

Telecommuting refers to the work option that enables telecommuters to work outside of the office. It allows telecommuters to have a direct contact with those inside and outside of the organization by using information and communication technologies. Despite the continuous effort by Malaysia’s government, the implementation and occurrence of telecommuting practice in Malaysia had not gained full support from many local companies. Consequently, the Malaysian workforce has suffered from low-level performance and poor productivity due to the lack of flexibility in task accomplishment. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate whether the impacts of telecommuting engagement (i.e. job autonomy, work-family balance, work productivity, and level of occupational stress) lead to employee’s performance. This research aims to identify the most dominant impact of telecommuting engagement that leads to the employee performance. The study has adopted a correlational research and cross-sectional survey research design to explore the relationship between variables. There were 229 respondents who practice telecommuting work arrangement. They were chosen from 11 oil and gas companies located in Kuantan, Pahang. The findings of the study had revealed that all of the telecommuting impacts which consists of the job autonomy, work-family balance, work productivity and level of occupational stress have a significant relationship with the employee performance at r = .923, p < 0.05, r = .734, p < 0.05, r = .817, p < 0.05, and r = .408, p < 005 respectively. Job autonomy was found the most dominant impact of telecommuting engagement that leads to the employee performance with r = .923, p < 0.05. The positive experiences and knowledge possessed by the telecommuters in the oil and gas industry helped to increase the level of motivation and maintain the good mental and physical state of employees. The exercise of the proper balance between the personal and professional life could guarantee the high employees’ performance among the telecommuters. Hence, it is suggested for the government to promote and develop more appropriate policies regarding telecommuting practice in Malaysia. The purpose is to enhance the level of acceptance towards the work arrangement among the local society. Moreover, the active approaches by the government can stimulate the implementation of telecommuting in this country as people will have more proper guidelines to assist the work practices. Telecommuting work arrangement helps to achieve excellent performance in an organization

Gastric Outlet Obstruction due to Cytomegalovirus Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient

A case of gastric outlet obstruction accompanied by diffuse gastritis and gastric ulcer due to cytomegalovirus infection is presented. The patient, a woman aged 67 years with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis under immunosuppressive treatment (methotrexate), was admitted to our department complaining mostly of abdominal pain located in the epigastrium and the right abdomen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the presence of gastritis accompanied by ulcer in the prepyloric area and gastric outlet obstruction due to cytomegalovirus infection which was confirmed histologically. The patient responded well – although after many weeks – to specific treatment with antiviral treatment (ganciclovir). It is concluded that gastric outlet obstruction caused by cytomegalovirus infection can be observed in immunocompromised patients. The clinician must search for possible cytomegalovirus infection in all immunocompromised patients presenting with a clinical picture of gastric outlet obstruction by obtaining enough biopsies and by asking the histopathologist to specifically stain the specimen for the presence of cytomegalovirus, especially if infection by Helicobacter pylori is not present