Abstracts

This paper examines the economic forces that distribute healthcare services in concentrated areas and in turn leave other areas underserved. The analysis discusses the theories behind this disproportionate distribution and the effects on the respective markets. Then the author outlines a multi-phased solution, which is broken into three elements. First, increase the supply of professionals who practice in rural areas. Second, utilize the Patient Centered Medical Home model to engage patients to become more attentive to their own care, and do so in retail or customer friendly settings. Finally, increase the use of Telemedicine to both leverage improvements to patient coverage and care and to help physicians remain in touch with peers and major medical centers.

On December 17, 2008, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued two 'no objection' letters for generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for use of rebiana, a refined extraction of the stevia plant, in foods and beverages as a non-caloric sweetener. Rebiana is the first naturally occurring non-caloric sweetener to be approved for use as a food additive. In less than a year, this 'natural' food additive has captured over 11% of the non-caloric tabletop market and is being commercialized at an astonishing rate by food industry powerhouses such as Cargill, Whole Earth, and McNeil Nutritionals. Since two thirds of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese and 13% have diabetes, this product provides an important option for consumers, which must be understood by dietitians and other health care professionals. This poster presents the history, chemistry, metabolism and safety research, and commercialization of rebiana.

Patients with sepsis may progress quickly to severe sepsis and septic shock. Nurses at the bedside are in an optimal position for screening and quickly intervening to prevent sepsis cascade. However, nurses' knowledge of sepsis cascade has rarely been explored. The purpose of this study was to describe and explore nurses' knowledge of sepsis cascade in adult patients at a community hospital in southeastern Michigan. A questionnaire developed by Robson, Beavis, and Spittle (2007) regarding knowledge of sepsis cascade and early goal-directed therapy was administered to a convenience sample of 60 nurses from medical, surgical, oncology, telemetry, and intensive care units, rehabilitation units, and emergency departments. Results showed that the respondents were somewhat knowledgeable (range 33%-88%, mean = 68%, SD = 11%) regarding the sepsis cascade but clearly need further education regarding identification of septic patients, diagnostic tests, and treatment based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC).

Homelessness has a pernicious association with a lack of education and ill health. Without education, one cannot obtain work that is sufficient to support adequate housing for themselves and their families. Being homeless, in turn, often results in children and adolescents receiving inadequate education, since residence is required for school registration. The homeless rarely seek health care, due to cost, lack of access, and shame felt from their living situation. Many minor illnesses therefore progress to major health issues that are treated inadequately. Social philosopher Karl Marx recognized this struggle for the worker in his writings about alienation and the governing societies within class struggles. Nursing theorist and educator Jean Watson recognized the need for caring and compassion within the homeless community for physical and psychological reasons. She saw that involvement of healthcare providers with homeless shelters and communities that support them could be the beginning of hope for the homeless. This paper integrates two theoretical perspectives into a concept of understanding of the homeless, their health issues, and their struggle to get out of the homeless downward spiral.

The presenters will discuss findings in Washtenaw County Head Start's Annual Self Assessment Validation System. The purpose of this evaluation was twofold: (1) To assess compliance with performance standards by schools funded by the Washtenaw County Head Start Program, and (2) To assist in the planning of training and assistance needed by these schools to improve and strengthen the provision of services to families and children served by the Head Start Program. The assessment monitors the compliance of individual Head Start sites in covering a number of systems and services such as Nutritional Services, Disability Services, Family and Community Partners, Health and Safety, and Early Childhood Development. Data were collected utilizing interviews of staff and parents, classroom observations, and document reviews. After reviewing all material, the review team discusses areas of non-compliance with the performance standards. Each site has a 30-day window to develop a corrective action plan, which is submitted.

This research aims to identify and address the social and emotional needs of middle college students. A needs assessment conducted for 109 students identified students' primary needs and interests in areas of Self-Defense, Stress Management/Emotional Support, Nutrition, and Depression. Development of an after-school leadership/support group is the first intervention strategy to address these needs. Additional programmatic enhancements and community and systems interventions will be employed.

Magnesium alloys are increasingly used in the manufacturing industries due to their exceptional high ratio of strength over weight. However, further expansion of the applications is limited by their weakness in corrosion resistance. Generally, surfaces of the magnesium alloys need to be treated and coated to suppress the corrosion. Thus, the quick and correct evaluation of corrosion resistance of the coated magnesium alloys is critically important to the development of magnesium alloys and their applications. The study will use a relatively newly developed technique, AC/DC/AC, which takes much less testing time to achieve the result and has met success in evaluation of corrosion resistance of coated steel and aluminum alloys, to evaluate corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys, and compare the results with several traditional evaluation methods. The study will provide guidelines for development of a reliable and high-efficient technique used to evaluate corrosion resistance of coated magnesium alloys.

Polymeric aromatic polyimides are characterized by their high temperature resistance, electrical conductivity and structural integrity but rather poor flexibility and film forming properties. Such polymers have found applications as a high-temperature adhesive in a number of aerospace and electronic end-uses. The aim of this project is to prepare hybrid organic-inorganic polyimide resins that can be formulated into high temperature coatings for thermal managements in thin films and composites. The hybrid organic-inorganic polymers were synthesized from 1, 2, 4, 5-Benzenetetracarboxylic anhydride (PMDA) and 4, 4'-Oxydianiline (ODA) via thermal imidization of amine-terminated polamic acid oligomers. The amine-funtional imide oligomers were then reacted with octa (propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, and silanol-functionality silicone resin to produce film-forming compounds that showed tenacious adhesion to metals. Modification with polydimethyl siloxane resulted in increased solubility and flexibility. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the hybrid polymers had excellent thermal stability with a 10% and 40% mass loss at 500 and 700 C.

The development of self-healing materials has the potential to significantly impact the coatings and related industries by enhancing coatings' performance and longevity. In an effort to mimic self-healing functions in living systems, here we report the development of polymeric coating systems that are stimuli responsive and possess the ability to self-heal. The most attractive feature of this system is that the factors that cause the most damage to the coating, such as humidity, exposure to high temperatures, and so on, are the same factors that initiate self-healing phenomenon. This property is unique since the extent of the healing is proportional to the magnitude of the damage, that is, release on demand. It was confirmed that the simulated natural aging or mechanical damage triggered the release of healing agents, repaired the damage, and enhanced overall coating properties. The healing performance was assessed through observation of improved key coating properties, enhanced mechanical and surface properties, and substantial improvement in corrosion resistance compared to standard polyurethane coatings.

Operation of a computer either in the workplace or at home in today's society is almost a must. Whether staying in touch with friends and family through simple email or navigating the workplace with more complex computer operations and software, knowing how to operate is very important. Computer automation is taking over the way we operate on a daily basis. An issue with this is people who are relatively new to the technology or have never even turned on a computer and the anxiety that accompanies computer operation. The more experienced one is in years of computer use, the less anxious he or she is in operating it. This study examined the effects that computer experience and age (independent variables) have on computer anxiety (dependant variable). Data were collected from 33 people from a widely diverse group. The results show that age and computer experience do have an impact on computer anxiety.

This research will investigate the perceptions of guests to green sustainability practices in the restaurant industry to determine if guests value those practices, thus increasing the organizational Triple Bottom Line. The term triple bottom line has been used to refer to an organization adopting performance standards and practices that take into account its economic, social, and environmental activities (Dwyer, 2005; Elkington, 1997). A structured survey using a Likert-type 5-point scale with statements relating to Level of Importance, Statements of Green Practices, and Demographics was distributed to guests to fill out while dining. The survey instrument was sent to four different upscale casual restaurants, part of the same restaurant group, in three different Midwestern states. The usable study sample was 501. Correlation and regression analysis was used to answer the questions and describe the strength of the relationship of guest perceptions and attitudes concerning cost sharing of restaurant green practices.

As the world changes due to human activities, more governments, businesses, and individuals are willing to take actions to save the planet. One such action is to go green, and this has become a hot topic in the hospitality industry. This research introduced green concepts and information about national green hospitality organizations, green certification programs state by state, and simple actions that hospitality organizations can implement in going green. The research also indicated the benefits a certified corporation may receive and encouraged operators to continue to seek new green ideas.

The swiper is a floor-cleaning device that dries the floor while mopping. This device alleviates several issues that businesses manage while caring for wet floors. The most common issue is the danger of slip and fall accidents to customers and employees that may occur while the floor is wet after cleaning. Our modern mop is based on an existing cleaning device that uses wet cloths to wash the floor. We have attached a dryer to blow in the direction of the floor after the wet cloth has been "swiped" across the floor.

A large portion of today's technology is based on an event in American history that set the course for not only our level of technological achievements but also the processes used to advance and implement new technologies. This event was the defeat of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, the immigration of more than 1600 German scientists to America after 1945, and the seizure of almost 30, 000 German patents, copyrights, trademarks, and patent applications as wartime reparations. America began to evolve into a nation of innovations _ buying creative ideas and outsourcing our research, designs, and manufacturing. Yet today, only sixty-five years later, America finds itself dependent on foreign technologies, and American industries must increasingly purchase inventions and technologies from foreign sources to stay competitive globally. This research examines the role embedded knowledge played in those industries that benefited directly from the seized World War II technology.