Reducing hospital associated infection : a role for social marketing

Purpose: Although hand hygiene is seen as the most important method to prevent the transmission of hospital associated infection in the UK, hand hygiene compliance rates appear to remain poor. This research aims to assess the degree to which social marketing methodology can be adopted by a particular organization to promote hand hygiene compliance. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research design is based on a conceptual framework developed from analysis of social marketing literature. Data collection involved taped interviews given by nursing staff working within a specific Hospital Directorate in Manchester, England. Supplementary data was obtained from archival records of the hand hygiene compliance rates. Findings: Findings highlighted gaps in the Directorate’s approach to the promotion of hand hygiene compared to what could be using social marketing methodology. Respondents highlighted how the Directorate failed to fully optimise resources required to endorse hand hygiene practice and this resulted in poorer compliance. Originality/Value: From the experiences and events documented, the study suggests how the emergent phenomena could be utilized by the Directorate to apply a social marketing approach which could positively influence hand hygiene compliance

Digraphs with Isomorphic Underlying and Domination Graphs: Pairs of Paths

A domination graph of a digraph D, dom (D), is created using thc vertex set of D and edge uv ϵ E (dom (D)) whenever (u, z) ϵ A (D) or (v, z) ϵ A (D) for any other vertex z ϵ A (D). Here, we consider directed graphs whose underlying graphs are isomorphic to their domination graphs. Specifically, digraphs are completely characterized where UGc (D) is the union of two disjoint paths

A Characterization of Connected (1,2)-Domination Graphs of Tournaments

Recently. Hedetniemi et aI. introduced (1,2)-domination in graphs, and the authors extended that concept to (1, 2)-domination graphs of digraphs. Given vertices x and y in a digraph D, x and y form a (1,2)-dominating pair if and only if for every other vertex z in D, z is one step away from x or y and at most two steps away from the other. The (1,2)-dominating graph of D, dom1,2 (D), is defined to be the graph G = (V, E ) , where V (G) = V (D), and xy is an edge of G whenever x and y form a (1,2)-dominating pair in D. In this paper, we characterize all connected graphs that can be (I, 2)-dominating graphs of tournaments

Kings and Heirs: A Characterization of the (2,2)-domination Graphs of Tournaments

In 1980, Maurer coined the phrase king when describing any vertex of a tournament that could reach every other vertex in two or fewer steps. A (2,2)-domination graph of a digraph D, dom2,2(D), has vertex set V(D), the vertices of D, and edge uv whenever u and v each reach all other vertices of D in two or fewer steps. In this special case of the (i,j)-domination graph, we see that Maurer’s theorem plays an important role in establishing which vertices form the kings that create some of the edges in dom2,2(D). But of even more interest is that we are able to use the theorem to determine which other vertices, when paired with a king, form an edge in dom2,2(D). These vertices are referred to as heirs. Using kings and heirs, we are able to completely characterize the (2,2)-domination graphs of tournaments

Erythema nodosum as a result of estrogen patch therapy for prostate cancer: a case report.

© 2015 Coyle et al.Introduction: Erythema nodosum is often associated with a distressing symptomatology, including painful subcutaneous nodules, polyarthropathy, and significant fatigue. Whilst it is a well-documented side-effect of estrogen therapy in females, we describe what we believe to be the first report in the literature of erythema nodosum as a result of estrogen therapy in a male. Case presentation: A 64-year-old Afro-Caribbean man with locally advanced carcinoma of the prostate agreed to participate in a randomized controlled trial comparing estrogen patches with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs to achieve androgen deprivation, and was allocated to the group receiving estrogen patches. One month later he presented with tender lesions on his shins and painful swelling of his ankles, wrists, and left shoulder. This was followed by progressive severe fatigue that required hospital admission, where he was diagnosed with erythema nodosum by a rheumatologist. Two months after discontinuing the estrogen patches the erythema nodosum, and associated symptoms, had fully resolved, and to date he remains well with no further recurrence. Conclusion: Trial results may establish transdermal estrogen as an alternative to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs in the management of prostate cancer, and has already been established as a therapy for male to female transsexuals. It is essential to record the toxicity profile of transdermal estrogen in men to ensure accurate safety information. This case report highlights a previously undocumented toxicity of estrogen therapy in men, of which oncologists, urologists, and endocrinologists need to be aware. Rheumatologists and dermatologists should add estrogen therapy to their differential diagnosis of men presenting with erythema nodosum

Resonances, radiation pressure and optical scattering phenomena of drops and bubbles

Acoustic levitation and the response of fluid spheres to spherical harmonic projections of the radiation pressure are described. Simplified discussions of the projections are given. A relationship between the tangential radiation stress and the Konstantinov effect is introduced and fundamental streaming patterns for drops are predicted. Experiments on the forced shape oscillation of drops are described and photographs of drop fission are displayed. Photographs of critical angle and glory scattering by bubbles and rainbow scattering by drops are displayed

Digital Preservation Should Be More Holistic: A Digital Stewardship Approach

A considerable amount of creative, cultural, and research output is expressed in digital form. It is imperative that the memory sector rapidly improve its capability and capacity for handling digital content in all forms, including complex data. It took gallery, library, archive, and museum (GLAM) sector institutions somewhere between decades and centuries to implement systems for managing physical collections. Those who work with digital content are acutely aware that the same time frames are not afforded when it comes to saving our digital cultural heritage. The “fragility” of content produced from computing environments — thanks to the rapid churn of technological innovation and obsolescence — means that even acquiring, preserving, and providing sustained access to a seemingly “simple” stand-alone file can take considerable effort. The interdependencies and limitations of the computing platforms, software, hardware, and other peripherals (whether mass-manufactured or custom-developed) bring a level of complexity that is typically not experienced with physical collections

Comparison of Gravel Substrate vs Soil Substrate for the Construction of an Experimental Fen

Under the Clean Water Act Section 404 of 1972 and 33 CFR 320-330 and 40 CFR 230 moderate the destruction of wetlands by the Air Force to make way for other uses. To obtain a permit for a design or construction project which affects a wetland, the Air Force must agree to create new wetlands, or replace lost wetland acreage through wetland creation or restoration. The Air Force is interested in building \u27successful\u27 wetlands as inexpensively as possible. It has been common practice to use hydric soil, which often had to be hauled in, as the substrate at the restored site to ensure vegetative success of the site. However, this project constructed a fen (wetland) 32m x lS.5m to experimentally compare the impact on vegetation of unsorted gravel till substrate versus hydric soil substrate. A fen is a groundwater driven wetland with a circumneutral pH and little to no standing water. Initial indicate that the hydric soil did better support vegetation, but the gravel substrate was functional. The vegetation on the gravel substrate is expected to catch up to that on the soil substrate in time

The dynamic analysis of offshore mooring terminals

This Thesis investigates the methods which are currently avail- able for the dynamic analysis of Offshore Mooring Terminals, particular regard being paid to Single Point Mooring (SPM) Terminals. Various aspects of the problem are considered in turn, these being the random vibration of non-linear systems, the analysis of catenary mooring lines, buoy dynamics, ship motions, second order (or slow drift) forces and motions, and low frequency motions caused by instabilities. These various aspects are then applied to the dynamic analysis of a Single Buoy Storage (SBS) System and the effect of the method of analysis employed, the system dimensions and the environmental conditions on the computed response is investigated. A Time Domain investigation of the stability of the SBS System in the presence of wind and current alone reveals that the system is only unstable for combinations of wind and current which are unlikely to occur in practise. A static offset position is then assumed and the calculation of the three-dimensional first and second order response to random waves is performed in the Frequency Domain, linear wave theory being used. The first order wave forces are calculated by using strip theory for the tanker and Morison's equation for the buoy. The second order response in surge, sway and yaw is calculated by a reflection coefficient method, these coefficients being obtained from published literature. The non-linear mooring system and the drag forces acting on the buoy are linearised using the equivalent linearisation method, due account being taken of the coupling between the first and second order response. The model developed for the first order response of the system allows the use of a spreading function in the incident wave spectrum. The accuracy of linearisation techniques and the statistics of the second order force and response are also investigated

A Study of the Out-Of-Class Experiences of Saint Mary\u27s College Students Studying in Maynooth, Ireland

Problem Statement. The purpose of this study is to describe the out-of-class experiences of 21 students who studied in the Saint Mary\u27s College Ireland Program in Maynooth, Ireland, during the 1998-1999 academic year. It examines (1) how the program orientation influenced students\u27 desire to become involved in out-of-class activities, (2) how out-of-class experiences fostered students\u27 learning of the Irish culture, and (3) how the experiences influenced students\u27 attitudes toward cultures other than their own. Methodology. This study employed descriptive qualitative research. Focus groups were conducted to gather data used in developing questions for long interviews, and these long interviews were the focus of the study. Twenty-one of the 23 students who studied in Maynooth during the 1998-1999 academic year served as the population for the interviews. Results. Results of this study suggest that students used ethnographic discovery methods as they learned about the Irish culture. As demonstrated through Spradley\u27s means-end domain of semantic relationships, their roles as participant observers, interacting sojourners, and travelers afforded them opportunities to learn about the Irish culture. Contact with former participants in the Ireland Program appeared to be the greatest incentive for students to become involved in out-of-class activities. Students reported that living, studying, and developing relationships with members of the host culture were ways in which they learned about the culture, and that both directed and serendipitous travel provided valuable, but different, ways of learning about Irish culture. Students believed that out-of-class experiences had a part in reducing their tendency to stereotype people, and increased their interest in other cultures. Many expected their behavior to change in accordance with these attitude changes. Conclusions. Results suggest that (1) former Ireland Program students should be an integral part of orientation programs; (2) students should live and study with members of the host culture; (3) both directed and serendipitous travel should be built into a study-abroad program; and (4) re-entry programs should provide opportunities for implementation ofbehavioral changes