Effects of turbidity and prey density on the foraging success of age 0 year yellow perch Perca flavescens.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine how larval and juvenile yellow perch Perca flavescens respond to changes in prey density when exposed to different levels and types of turbidity (phytoplanktonic or sedimentary). Across prey densities, consumption by P. flavescens tended to be less in phytoplanktonic turbidity compared with sedimentary turbidity. For larvae, this effect was dependent on turbidity level (consumption differed between turbidity types only at high turbidity), while for juveniles the difference with turbidity type was equal across turbidity levels. These results suggest that phytoplankton blooms are detrimental to the ability of late season age 0 year P. flavescens to forage and support the need to control factors leading to excessive phytoplankton growth in lakes.

A reduction in cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability after implementation of a paediatric rapid response system.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a multifaceted paediatric rapid response system on the duration of predefined clinical instability and the subsequent rate of cardiac arrests. METHODS: An interrupted time series study coupled with a retrospective chart review to evaluate the effects of implementing a four component paediatric rapid response system. All patients in a 136-bed university-affiliated paediatric hospital from August 2003 to May 2007 were considered. The main outcome measures included rate of cardiac arrests as indicated by the number of patient days between ward paediatric cardiac arrests and duration of predefined clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel. RESULTS: The mean time interval between cardiac arrests increased significantly with the establishment of the rapid response system from a baseline of 2512 to 9418 patient days. The median duration of clinical instability decreased from 9 h 55 min to 4 h 15 min post intervention (p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a paediatric rapid response system is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel. This study provides evidence that implementation of a rapid response system brings emergency personnel to deteriorating patients earlier, thus preventing cardiac arrests.

A reduction in cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability after implementation of a paediatric rapid response system.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a multifaceted paediatric rapid response system on the duration of predefined clinical instability and the subsequent rate of cardiac arrests. METHODS: An interrupted time series study coupled with a retrospective chart review to evaluate the effects of implementing a four component paediatric rapid response system. All patients in a 136-bed university-affiliated paediatric hospital from August 2003 to May 2007 were considered. The main outcome measures included rate of cardiac arrests as indicated by the number of patient days between ward paediatric cardiac arrests and duration of predefined clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel. RESULTS: The mean time interval between cardiac arrests increased significantly with the establishment of the rapid response system from a baseline of 2512 to 9418 patient days. The median duration of clinical instability decreased from 9 h 55 min to 4 h 15 min post intervention (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a paediatric rapid response system is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel. This study provides evidence that implementation of a rapid response system brings emergency personnel to deteriorating patients earlier, thus preventing cardiac arrests.

Transverse bond strength of repaired acrylic resin strips and temperature rise of dentures relined with VLC reline resin.

This study measured the transverse strength of polymethyl methacrylate heat-cured resin samples repaired with Triad visible light-cured reline resin with and without bonding pretreatments and with autopolymerizing resin, and it measured the temperature rise of Triad resin during relining of complete dentures at various curing cycles. The results indicated that pretreatment with either monomer or Triad bonding agent improved the bond of the Triad visible light-cured reline resin to the heat-cured resin. However, the use of the monomer rather than bonding agent resulted in a stronger bond and obtained values similar to those of samples repaired with autopolymerizing resin. Polymerization of samples repaired with Triad resin in the curing unit for two cycles of 5 minutes with 1 minute between cycles resulted in bubble formation and severe distortion of the heat-cured resin in the samples. Curing of the relined dentures for 10 minutes as recommended by the manufacturer raised the average peak temperature to 120 degrees C. In addition, it was shown that interrupting the light curing cycle attenuated the temperature rise, but it also resulted in a relatively softer reline resin. A continuous light curing of at least 5 minutes with the adjunct temperature rise is required to reach 1-hour hardness of 21.8 Vickers hardness number of the Triad reline resin.

Preventing fraud and abuse fallout.

With government and public scrutiny of healthcare costs becoming more intense, the healthcare industry can learn from the defense industry's response to charges of fraud, waste, and abuse. Ethics-awareness programs, compliance programs, and related training can reduce the risks of such violations and their financial and public relations consequences.