On Interaction Classification

Further classification is made of Lindquist's dichotomy of inter action effects. The extension hopefully reduces errors of inter pretation and provides a simple, accurate means of summarizing in teractions obtained.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67338/2/10.1177_001316448004000405.pd

Categorical regression in marketing

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/21641/1/0000025.pd

Management perspectives on Markstrat: The GE experience and beyond

Markstrat has attained great success as an educational tool for marketing management. It is also a simulated environment in which academics are now conducting experimental studies on marketing variables and monitoring the impact in the Markstrat context. A most important question that arises in both these types of utilization of Markstrat is the degree to which it reflects the real world of marketing decision making. Do managers from diverse industry experience perceive that Markstrat reflects a real enough marketplace to be useful both as a teaching tool and as a research environment? This article reports the results of a study of this question in the General Electric Company, plus the perceptions of another set of managers drawn from a broad set of other companies. Overall results indicate that managers working in diverse industries believe that Markstrat does reflect a real environment useful for teaching and research.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26491/1/0000027.pd

Why are Some Engaged and Not Others? Explaining Environmental Engagement among Small Firms in Tourism

This paper examines the reasons for different levels of environmental engagement among small firms in tourism. Drawing on theories of motivation, notably Social Cognitive Theory, Motivation Systems Theory and Goal Orientation Theory, as well as the literature on environmental sensitivity, it proposes a novel conceptual framework that is subsequently used to inform an empirical study. The findings of the research suggest that varying levels of environmental engagement may be explained by differences in worldviews, self-efficacy beliefs, context beliefs and goal orientation. The paper concludes by considering the policy implications of the results. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

What kind of sick person would see a Foot Doctor! The Foot Disease in Inpatients Study (FDIS) [Conference Abstract]

Background Many different guidelines recommend people with foot complications, or those at risk, should attend multiple health professionals for foot care each year. However, few studies have investigated the characteristics of those attending health professionals for foot care and if those characteristics match those requiring foot care as per guideline recommendations. The aim of this paper was to determine the associated characteristics of people who attended a health professional for foot care in the year prior to their hospitalisation. Methods Eligible participants were all adults admitted overnight, for any reason, into five diverse hospitals on one day; excluding maternity, mental health and cognitively impaired patients. Participants underwent a foot examination to clinically diagnose different foot complications; including wounds, infections, deformity, peripheral arterial disease and peripheral neuropathy. They were also surveyed on social determinant, medical history, self-care, foot complication history, and, past health professional attendance for foot care in the year prior to hospitalisation. Results Overall, 733 participants consented; mean(±SD) age 62(±19) years, 408 (55.8%) male, 172 (23.5%) diabetes. Two hundred and fifty-six (34.9% (95% CI) (31.6-38.4)) participants had attended a health professional for foot care; including attending podiatrists 180 (24.5%), GPs 93 (24.6%), and surgeons 36 (4.9%). In backwards stepwise multivariate analyses attending any health professional for foot care was independently associated (OR (95% CI)) with diabetes (3.0 (2.1-4.5)), arthritis (1.8 (1.3-2.6)), mobility impairment (2.0 (1.4-2.9)) and previous foot ulcer (5.4 (2.9-10.0)). Attending a podiatrist was independently associated with female gender (2.6 (1.7-3.9)), increasing years of age (1.06 (1.04-1.08), diabetes (5.0 (3.2-7.9)), arthritis (2.0 (1.3-3.0)), hypertension (1.7 (1.1-2.6) and previous foot ulcer (4.5 (2.4-8.1). While attending a GP was independently associated with having a foot ulcer (10.4 (5.6-19.2). Conclusions Promisingly these findings indicate that people with a diagnosis of diabetes and arthritis are more likely to attend health professionals for foot care. However, it also appears those with active foot complications, or significant risk factors, may not be more likely to receive the multi-disciplinary foot care recommended by guidelines. More concerted efforts are required to ensure all people with foot complications are receiving recommended foot care

Beyond global charge: role of amine bulkiness and protein fingerprint on nanoparticle–cell interaction

Amino groups presented on the surface of nanoparticles are well‐known to be a predominant factor in the formation of the protein corona and subsequent cellular uptake. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this relationship is poorly defined. This study investigates how amine type and density affect the protein corona and cellular association of gold nanoparticles with cells in vitro. Four specific poly(vinyl alcohol‐co‐N‐vinylamine) copolymers are synthesized containing primary, secondary, or tertiary amines. Particle cellular association (i.e., cellular uptake and surface adsorption), as well as protein corona composition, are then investigated. It is found that the protein corona (as a consequence of “amine bulkiness”) and amine density are both important in dictating cellular association. By evaluating the nanoparticle surface chemistry and the protein fingerprint, proteins that are significant in mediating particle–cell association are identified. In particular, primary amines, when exposed on the polymer side chain, are strongly correlated with the presence of alpha‐2‐HS‐ glycoprotein, and promote nanoparticle cellular association

Epidemiology, prehospital care and outcomes of patients arriving by ambulance with dyspnoea: An observational study

Background: This study aimed to determine epidemiology and outcome for patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) with shortness of breath who were transported by ambulance. Methods: This was a planned sub-study of a prospective, interrupted time series cohort study conducted at three time points in 2014 and which included consecutive adult patients presenting to the ED with dyspnoea as a main symptom. For this sub-study, additional inclusion criteria were presentation to an ED in Australia or New Zealand and transport by ambulance. The primary outcomes of interest are the epidemiology and outcome of these patients. Analysis was by descriptive statistics and comparisons of proportions. Results: One thousand seven patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 74 years (IQR 61-68) and 46.1 % were male. There was a high rate of co-morbidity and chronic medication use. The most common ED diagnoses were lower respiratory tract infection (including pneumonia, 22.7 %), cardiac failure (20.5%) and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19.7 %). ED disposition was hospital admission (including ICU) for 76.4 %, ICU admission for 5.6 % and death in ED in 0.9 %. Overall in-hospital mortality among admitted patients was 6.5 %. Discussion: Patients transported by ambulance with shortness of breath make up a significant proportion of ambulance caseload and have high comorbidity and high hospital admission rate. In this study, >60 % were accounted for by patients with heart failure, lower respiratory tract infection or COPD, but there were a wide range of diagnoses. This has implications for service planning, models of care and paramedic training. Conclusion: This study shows that patients transported to hospital by ambulance with shortness of breath are a complex and seriously ill group with a broad range of diagnoses. Understanding the characteristics of these patients, the range of diagnoses and their outcome can help inform training and planning of services

Polypharmacy management by 2030: A patient safety challenge

The SIMPATHY (Stimulating Innovation Management of Polypharmacy and Adherence in The Elderly) consortium have explored how healthcare management programmes can be implemented to improve medication safety and prevent patient harm by addressing the appropriate use of multiple medications (polypharmacy). Fundamental to these programmes is the principle that providers work in partnership with patients to enable shared decision making regarding medication, which improves patient adherence and medicines related outcomes. This report sets out the case for prioritising working together now to address inappropriate medication use over the next decade, to ensure the quality, economic and political systems are put in place to improve medication safety for patients. There are encouraging signs of the increasing recognition of these challenges, and the timeliness of this report. In March 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a global challenge to address medication safety, with polypharmacy as a flagship element. A special interest group will be launched by the International Foundation on Integrated Care in May 2017