Thermal and mechanical enhancements of polyetherimide/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite performance using "Solid Nano-Nectar" assisted melt dispersion.

Manufacturing industrial-volume composites with well controlled uniform dispersion can be challenging, and is especially true for high performance polymers, such as polyetherimide (PEI). Toward that end, we report here a simple and versatile 2-Step processing approach which is based on formation of a high concentration of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filled PEI, which we call "Solid Nano-Nectar" (SNN). In this study we found surprisingly strong influences of the solvents that were used in the SNN preparation for dispersion of MWCNTs on the properties of the composites. The thermal conductivity of the SNN (made using DMF solvent) incorporated composites was about 72% higher than pure PEI, and 50% higher than that from 1-Step processing at same loading of 0.5 wt%. The thermal stability increased by 13 degrees C from this composite prepared by 1-Step processing, but a more noticeable change in thermal stability of 33 degrees C was observed at same loading using the 2-Step process. Such improvement was also observed in dynamic mechanical properties.

English letter frequencies and their applications: part II--digraph frequencies.

This article continues the presentation of new data regarding the frequencies of English letters organized by word length and letter position. Digraphs (defined here as all two-letter combinations) were the objects of study. The frequencies of digraphs were derived from a sample of 320,780 English words (including 6505 different words), which were credibly demonstrated by Whissell to be a parsimonious representation of modern English word usage. A total of 997,380 digraphs were counted and sorted by locations according to word length and digraph positions within words. As assessed by the Whissell source, the data about digraphs presented accurately represent the frequencies with which digraphs occur in modern English. How these data can provide a resource for reading research and practice is explored.

English letter frequencies and their applications: part I.

This article presents data regarding the relative frequencies of single letters in English, organized by word length and letter position. Derived from a parsimonious sample of English word use patterns presented by Whissell in 1998, the data accurately represent letter frequencies found in modern English. These data provide a resource for various applications, including reading research and practice.

Downsizing of health-system pharmacist positions.

The effects of downsizing on institutional pharmacists were studied. A national mail survey was sent to a random sample of 533 members of ASHP in January 1997. The questionnaire was designed to determine (1) the influence of selected factors on the downsizing of pharmacist positions and (2) pharmacists' attitudes about downsizing. A total of 256 usable questionnaires were received, for a net response rate of 48%. Forty-four pharmacists, or 17%, had personally been affected by downsizing. Sixty-one percent of the pharmacists affected by downsizing had had administrative positions. After downsizing, only 32% of the pharmacists had an administrative position. Most of the pharmacists were currently employed. Thirty-five (79%) described their current job responsibilities as substantially changed. Two thirds made the same salaries or higher salaries. Pharmacists who had been downsized rated mergers, the impact of managed care, and the profit motive as the most influential causes of downsizing of pharmacist positions. The three most common negative comments about the impact of downsizing cited reduction in the quality of patient care, increased stress, and lowered morale. Most of the pharmacists believed that communication skills, education, cross-training, and clinical skills are keys to surviving downsizing. Most pharmacists whose positions were downsized said they went on to jobs with similar or higher salaries and substantially different responsibilities.

Prescribing authority: an examination of Ohio pharmacists' opinions.

This study was conducted to determine the opinions of Ohio pharmacists about possible implementation of prescribing authority for pharmacists in the state. Questionnaires designed to determine pharmacists' opinions were mailed to a random sample of Ohio Pharmacists Association members. The overall net response rate was 44%. A majority of respondents preferred dependent prescribing authority under physician supervision. Respondents favored charging a fee for prescribing, although they did not expect the fee to be large enough to increase income substantially. A majority agreed that pharmacists should pass a qualifying exam and receive formal training to prescribe medications. A large number of respondents agreed that prescribing authority will lead to greater use of generic drugs and lower health care costs. For prescribing authority to succeed, it is suggested that appropriate protocols be developed in consideration of state requirements.

Maslach Burnout Inventory: factor structures for pharmacists in health maintenance organizations and comparison with normative data for USA pharmacists.

This study compared the factor structure and burnout scores obtained on the Maslach Burnout Inventory from 84 pharmacists in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) with the normative data for USA pharmacists. Results provided empirical support for the reliability and validity of the inventory to measure burnout within the profession of pharmacy. Values of Cronbach coefficient alpha for subscales of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment were similar to those obtained with the normative sample. Factor analysis was conducted to yield the best three-factor solution. Derived factor loadings matched the three hypothesized subscales. On Personal Accomplishment the mean subscale score for HMO pharmacists was significantly higher than the normative score. Given limitations of the small sample, research is indicated to substantiate use of the inventory among HMO pharmacists.

Hospital pharmacy staff development programs in Ohio.

Although staff development programs have been used to implement clinical services in Ohio hospital pharmacies, the majority of clinical services have been implemented without the use of staff development programs. The results of this study show that less than half of Ohio hospital pharmacy departments provide staff development programs. In those hospitals where the programs were provided, the average number of clinical services implemented through staff development was not significantly different from the average number implemented without these programs. Nor was there a significant difference in the average number of clinical services implemented through staff development between small hospitals (199 beds or less), medium hospitals (200 to 399 beds), and larger hospitals (400 or more beds); between government (city, county, or state) and private, nonprofit hospitals; and between hospitals whose staff development program coordinators were directors and hospitals whose coordinators were not directors. For the majority of departments that provided staff development programs, certification or testing of pharmacists was not required before providing clinical services. Results from the survey indicated that certification may not be necessary for all clinical services. Commitment to staff development programs in terms of management support and participation, awarding of continuing-education credit, and use in pharmacist performance evaluations was demonstrated by no more than 34 percent of all departments that responded. Financial commitment to these programs was low. Overall, since less than half of the departments reported providing staff development programs, the level of commitment to staff development appeared to be low.

Therapeutic drug monitoring: improved performance through educational intervention.

A pilot study done at our institution and previous studies in the literature indicate that therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is frequently performed without a proper indication. In addition, samples are often improperly collected or interpreted by physicians. The purpose of this study was to determine if a pharmacy-based educational intervention could positively influence the performance of TDM in a teaching institution. A cost-savings analysis on the reduction of drug levels not indicated or improperly sampled was also performed. The study consisted of a preliminary data collection period, an educational intervention, and a postintervention data collection period. The pre- and posteducational intervention periods consisted of a 1-month concurrent review of aminoglycosides, digoxin, and theophylline serum levels. The educational intervention consisted of in-service programs and newsletter. There were 188 and 211 serum drug levels analyzed during the pre- and postintervention periods, respectively. Overall, the educational intervention significantly increased the number of drug levels obtained for rational indications, correctly sampled and appropriately interpreted by physicians (p less than 0.001, chi 2 analysis). Cost savings associated with this program was +2,788 in patient charges (+559 in hospital costs) per month. This study demonstrated that TDM may be significantly improved through education.

Refusal to dispense a prescription: what is the law?

Courts are beginning to recognize that a pharmacist has a duty to act for the patient's benefit, and that simply dispensing a prescription order correctly does not meet that duty. But a duty to refuse to dispense medication does not exist except under the most extreme circumstances.

Evaluating risk taking propensity as a predictor of the outcome dimensions of medication history taking.

Medication history taking is a commonly discussed factor in the role of the pharmacist. Effective and efficient interviewing skills are important since they can be influential in affecting the quality of the medication history. Level of risk taking has been related to many factors which affect personal interaction. The objective of this study was to relate level of risk taking to the successful outcome of the medication history interview. Outcome dimensions of the medication interview were defined as successful completion and unsuccessful completion. Senior pharmacy students were observed and rated relative to the performance criteria of effectiveness and efficiency in acquiring patient medication histories over an eight-week period in an ambulatory medicine clinic. A significant Kendall Coefficient of Concordance indicated that the judges involved applied essentially the same standards in ranking the subjects. Subjects were administered a six-item questionnaire, the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire (CDQ), which measured their risk taking propensity. There were significant differences in mean levels of risk taking between the groups rated as high and low in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Effective and efficient interviewers, who successfully completed interviews, were significantly higher in risk taking propensity. Tetrachoric r indicated the CDQ was efficient in distinguishing the criterion groups.

The community pharmacist and health education.

A behavioral-oriented approach to providing information to patients was examined. The goal of the approach was to produce behavioral change through health education. The pharmacist's role as a health educator was discussed, and patient education was distinguished from information dispensing. It was concluded that the preventive medicine concept makes the pharmacist's educational role important and requires communication and education skills to make that role viable. Pharmacy curricula and continuing education should address the need for such skills.

Processing sets of letters for order: Evidence from reaction time experiments.

In two experiments, subjects were required to impose different levels of organization on randomly ordered letters. In a between-subject design, the subject was to identify the letter in the set coming first in the alphabet or to reorganize the set into an alphabetic sequence. In a within-subject design, presentation of the letters was followed by an instruction to carry out the identification or reorganization task or to recite the letters in left-to-right order. Reaction time varied systematically with level of required organization, size of the presented set, and position and spacing of the letter set in the alphabet. The results are discussed in terms of two simple models.