Two-part multiple spell models for health care demand

The demand for certain types of health care services depends on decisions of both the individual and the health care provider. This paper studies the conditions under which it is possible to separately identify the parameters driving the two decision processes using only count data on the total demand. It is found that the frequently used hurdle models may not be adequate to describe this type of demand, especially when the assumption of a single illness spell per observation period is violated. A test for the single spell hypothesis is developed and alternative modelling strategies are suggested, including one that allows for correlated unobserved heterogeneity. The results of the paper are illustrated with an application.

A restorative approach for class II resin composite restorations: A two-year follow-up

This clinical report describes a restorative technique used to replace two Class II resin composite restorations on the upper premolars. A sectional matrix band was used in conjunction with an elastic ring (Composi- Tight) to obtain tight proximal contact. A nanofilled resin composite (Filtek Supreme Ultra) was incrementally applied using oblique layers to reduce the C-factor, each layer being no more than 2 mm thick, and then light cured for 20 seconds with a light-emitting diode lamp (EliparFreeLight 2 LED Curing Light) with a power density of 660 mW/cm2. A centripetal technique was used to restore the lost tooth structure from the periphery toward the center of the cavity in order to achieve a better contour and anatomy with less excess, thereby minimizing the use of rotary instruments during the finishing procedures. Finally, the resin composite restorations were finished and polished, and a surface sealer (Perma Seal) was applied to fill small gaps and defects that may have been present on the surfaces and margins of the restorations after the finishing and polishing procedures

Toward guidelines on running multi-country, multi-site projects: summary report of an in-house workshop held on 18 January 1997

ICLARM, Research programmes, Development projects, Project management, International cooperation

Microeconometrics : Editors’ introduction

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FGF/heparin differentially regulates Schwann cell and olfactory ensheathing cell interactions with astrocytes: a role in astrocytosis

After injury, the CNS undergoes an astrocyte stress response characterized by reactive astrocytosis/proliferation, boundary formation, and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) expression. Previously, we showed that in vitro astrocytes exhibit this stress response when in contact with Schwann cells but not olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). In this study, we confirm this finding in vivo by demonstrating that astrocytes mingle with OECs but not Schwann cells after injection into normal spinal cord. We show that Schwann cell-conditioned media (SCM) induces proliferation in monocultures of astrocytes and increases CSPG expression in a fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1)-independent manner. However, SCM added to OEC/astrocyte cocultures induces reactive astrocytosis and boundary formation, which, although sensitive to FGFR1 inhibition, was not induced by FGF2 alone. Addition of heparin to OEC/astrocyte cultures induces boundary formation, whereas heparinase or chlorate treatment of Schwann cell/astrocyte cultures reduces it, suggesting that heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are modulating this activity. In vivo, FGF2 and FGFR1 immunoreactivity was increased over grafted OECs and Schwann cells compared with the surrounding tissue, and HSPG immunoreactivity is increased over reactive astrocytes bordering the Schwann cell graft. These data suggest that components of the astrocyte stress response, including boundary formation, astrocyte hypertrophy, and GFAP expression, are mediated by an FGF family member, whereas proliferation and CSPG expression are not. Furthermore, after cell transplantation, HSPGs may be important for mediating the stress response in astrocytes via FGF2. Identification of factors secreted by Schwann cells that induce this negative response in astrocytes would further our ability to manipulate the inhibitory environment induced after injury to promote regeneration

Structural basis for dual roles of Aar2p in U5 snRNP assembly

Yeast U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) is assembled via a cytoplasmic precursor that contains the U5-specific Prp8 protein but lacks the U5-specific Brr2 helicase. Instead, pre-U5 snRNP includes the Aar2 protein not found in mature U5 snRNP or spliceosomes. Aar2p and Brr2p bind competitively to a C-terminal region of Prp8p that comprises consecutive RNase H-like and Jab1/MPN-like domains. To elucidate the molecular basis for this competition, we determined the crystal structure of Aar2p in complex with the Prp8p RNase H and Jab1/MPN domains. Aar2p binds on one side of the RNase H domain and extends its C terminus to the other side, where the Jab1/MPN domain is docked onto a composite Aar2p–RNase H platform. Known Brr2p interaction sites of the Jab1/MPN domain remain available, suggesting that Aar2p-mediated compaction of the Prp8p domains sterically interferes with Brr2p binding. Moreover, Aar2p occupies known RNA-binding sites of the RNase H domain, and Aar2p interferes with binding of U4/U6 di-snRNA to the Prp8p C-terminal region. Structural and functional analyses of phospho-mimetic mutations reveal how phosphorylation reduces affinity of Aar2p for Prp8p and allows Brr2p and U4/U6 binding. Our results show how Aar2p regulates both protein and RNA binding to Prp8p during U5 snRNP assembly

Theory and experiment of the ESR of Co2+^{2+} in Zn2_2 % (OH)PO4_4 and Mg2_2(OH)AsO4_4

Experiments of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) were performed on Co$$ substituting Zn$^{2+}$ or Mg$^{2+}$ in powder samples of Zn$_2$(OH)PO$_4$ and Mg$_2$(OH)AsO$_4$. The observed resonances are described with a theoretical model that considers the departures from the two perfect structures. It is shown that the resonance in the penta-coordinated complex is allowed, and the crystal fields that would describe the resonance of the Co$^{2+}$ in the two environments are calculated. The small intensity of the resonance in the penta-coordinated complex is explained assuming that this site is much less populated than the octahedral one; this assumption was verified by a molecular calculation of the energies of the two environments, with both Co and Zn as central ions in Zn$_2$(OH)PO$_4$.Comment: 43 pages, LaTex file, 6 figures, EPS. submitted to Journal of Physics Condens

Thermodynamics of Chaplygin gas

We clarify thermodynamics of the Chaplygin gas by introducing the integrability condition. All thermal quantities are derived as functions of either volume or temperature. Importantly, we find a new general equation of state, describing the Chaplygin gas completely. We confirm that the Chaplygin gas could show a unified picture of dark matter and energy which cools down through the universe expansion without any critical point (phase transition).Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, version "Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science

Standard Unretrofitted Buildings and Net Zero-Energy Concept

There are many different possible combinations of building envelope, utility equipments and onsite energy generation equipments that can lead to net zero-energy performance. For instance, a building with standard design can offset its energy demand by adding a large amount of photovoltaic cells or by improving its energy efficiency rating first and then adding a smaller amount of photovoltaic cells. Despite the second strategy being considered the roadmap to net zeroenergy status, the first scenario is also possible in the actual Portuguese context where laws favor conditions for the installation of PV´s and solar thermal systems. This paper intends to discuss the implications of this fact from a national perspective coupled with the IEA SHC Task 40 - ECBCS Annex 52 vision where authors are active participants

Vibrational Analysis Of Amorphous Carbon-nitrogen Alloys By 15n And D Isotopic Substitution

The origin of the vibrational modes of a-CNx alloys is investigated by infrared (ir) and Raman spectroscopies. Isotopic substitution of 15N and D is used in the identification of vibration modes. In nonhydrogenated materials containing low nitrogen concentration (≤20 at. %), the ir and Raman spectra are not equivalent. Above this concentration (up to ∼30 at. %), the spectra became very similar to each other. On the contrary, for a suitable hydrogen content the spectra are quite similar, independently of the range of nitrogen concentrations studied. Quantum chemical Parametric Method 3 calculations are performed to obtain the frequencies and intensities of the ir active vibrations of organic molecules and large carbon-nitrogen clusters. These results are used to help in the identification of the features observed in the ir spectra. The importance of both the promotion of bond dipoles and symmetry breaking by nitrogen in the ir spectra is established. ©2000 The American Physical Society.61210831087Fang, P.H., (1995) J. Mater. Sci. Lett., 14, p. 536Franceschini, D.F., Achete, C.A., Freire Jr., F.I., (1992) Appl. Phys. Lett., 60, p. 3229Jones, D.I., Stewart, A.D., (1982) Philos. Mag. B, 46, p. 423Chen, L.C., Lu, T.R., Cuo, C.T., Bhusari, D.M., Wu, J.J., Chen, K.H., Chen, T.M., (1998) Appl. Phys. Lett., 72, p. 3449Liu, A., Cohen, L., (1989) Science, 245, p. 841Kaufman, J.H., Metin, S., Saperstein, D.D., (1989) Phys. Rev. B, 39, p. 13053Souto, S., Alvarez, F., (1997) Appl. Phys. Lett., 70, p. 1539Hammer, P., Victoria, N.M., Alvarez, F., (1998) J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 16, p. 2941Alvarez, F., Victoria, N.M., Hammer, P., Freire Jr., F.L., Dos Santos, M.C., (1998) Appl. Phys. Lett., 73, p. 1065Alvarez, F., Dos Santos, M.C., Hammer, P., (1998) Appl. Phys. Lett., 73, p. 3521Souto, S., Pickholz, M., Dos Santos, M.C., Alvarez, F., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 57, p. 2536Dos Santos, M.C., Alvarez, F., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 58, p. 13918Stewart, J.J.P., (1989) J. Comput. Chem., 10, p. 209(1995) SPARTAN, Package V. 5, , Wavefunction, Inc(1996) HYPERCHEM, Version 5, , Hypercube, IncLey, L., (1984) Topics in Applied Physics, 56. , The Physics of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon II, edited by J. D. Joannopoulos and G. Lucousky, Springer-Verlag, BerlinSubramanian, V., Chitra, K., Venkatesh, K., Sanker, S., Ramasami, T., (1997) Chem. Phys. Lett., 264, p. 92Shinohara, Y., Saito, R., Kimura, T., Dresselhaus, G., Dresselhaus, M.S., (1994) Chem. Phys. Lett., 227, p. 365Borisenko, V.E., Baturin, A.V., Przeslawka, M., Koll, A., (1997) J. Mol. Struct., 407, p. 53Robertson, J., (1991) Prog. Solid State Chem., 21, p. 19