Tracking projects-at-a-glance: Applying the SAS/GRAPH® as product a project management tool

The project management-at-a-glance concept was developed to provide a communication graphic which could visibly provide the managers of several departments with an overview of all active projects. All the major milestones are predefined for simplicity. The detail between the milestones was also eliminated for clarity. The chart was designed to show multiple projects in a compressed format. Eight projects and 12 milestones can be shown on each page of the chart.

The Base SAS® package was utilized as the programming tool. The SAS/FSEDIT® product was used for data entry. The data for the report was stored in an IBM TSO sequential flat file. SAS/GRAPH's® annotate tools are used to create the layered project management chart. The SAS system was chosen because of its strong ability to handle dates and custom generated graphics.     

Neuroleptic use and behavioral disturbance in nursing homes: a 1-year study

This article discusses a longitudinal study of change in disruptive behaviors among nursing home residents treated with neuroleptics compared with those not treated with neuroleptics. Observations were made of 201 participants on admission to and after 1 year in eight skilled nursing facilities. Nine disruptive behaviors were measured using the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale with nursing assistants. Neuroleptic use was documented from medication records. Odds ratios are reported for the association of behavior at baseline and use of neuroleptics on nine problem behaviors. For those who received neuroleptics during the year, there was greater change in both developing and resolving disruptive behaviors than for those not receiving neuroleptics. For both groups, restless or pacing behavior and belligerent behavior manifested by refusing instructions changed the most, both in developing and in apparently resolving. Our results show that change in disruptive behaviors occurs among nursing home residents regardless of neuroleptic use, but it occurs more frequently among those who receive neuroleptic medication. Knowledge of which disruptive behaviors are most likely to resolve or develop is important in training nursing home staff to cope with the behaviors as well as in planning interventions that may modify such behaviors.     

From mini to mainframe: how one HMO made the leap

As HMO enrollment climbs, managed care companies like Sacramento-based Foundation Health are turning to easily upgradable systems to give management and customers the information edge they need to thrive in the 1990s.     

A methodology for fabrication of thermomechanically activated switchable surface wettability

In this study a platform is laid out for the creation of a multitiered surface exhibiting switchable wettability. This is done through a combination of both an acrylate‐based polymer understructure photopolymerized into a pillared array, and selectively placed surface treatments on these pillars. The acrylate‐based polymer is created through a systematic study and is shown to exhibit drastic alterations in material stiffness over a 19 °C temperature transition under aqueous conditions, allowing for stiff, erect pillars in the low temperature state, and pliable pillars that can easily be bent in the high temperature state. The glass transition temperature and onset temperature for the polymer system is found to be 49 and 30 °C, respectively. Three different surface treatments, including trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorooctyl)silane, polydimethylsiloxane, and polydopamine, are investigated using static contact angle studies, and are selectively deposited onto the pillared surface such that a hydrophobic surface is exposed with the pillars erect, and a hydrophilic surface is exposed with the pillars in the bent state. The surface is shown to transition between first a hydrophobic, then hydrophilic state and return to a hydrophobic state when the investigations are coupled together forming a hierarchical surface structure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44122.     

Methanol Steam Reforming Over NiAl and Ni (M) Al Layered Double Hydroxides (M = Au, Rh, Ir) Derived Catalysts

This paper deals with an experimental investigation concerning steam reforming of methanol at 280, 340 and 380 °C over NiAl and Ni (Au, Rh or Ir)Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) derived catalysts. Incorporation of noble metal ions into the NiAl-LDH framework was evidenced by XRD, TGA and TEM techniques. High selectivity to H₂ and CO₂ with less than 5% (volume) CO and trace CH₄ was observed over the NiAl-LDH catalyst. Whereas CO and H₂ are major products at lower temperatures after addition of Au, Rh and Ir to the NiAl-LDH system. They are significantly reduced with the concomitant increase in CH₄ and CO₂ as the temperature increased.     

Using the community health assessment to screen for continued driving

This project used the interRAI based, community health assessment (CHA) to develop a model for identifying current elder drivers whose driving behavior should be reviewed. The assessments were completed by independent housing sites in COLLAGE, a non-profit, national senior housing consortium. Secondary analysis of data drawn from older adults in COLLAGE sites in the United States was conducted using a baseline assessment with 8042 subjects and an annual follow-up assessment with 3840 subjects. Logistic regression was used to develop a Driving Review Index (DRI) based on the most useful items from among the many measures available in the CHA assessment. Thirteen items were identified by the logistic regression to predict drivers whose driving behavior was questioned by others. In particular, three variables reference compromised decision-making abilities: general daily decisions, a recent decline in ability to make daily decisions, and ability to manage medications. Two additional measures assess cognitive status: short-term memory problem and a diagnosis of non-Alzheimers dementia. Functional measures reflect restrictions and general frailty, including receiving help in transportation, use of a locomotion appliance, having an unsteady gait, fatigue, and not going out on most days. The final three clinical measures reflect compromised vision, little interest or pleasure in things normally enjoyed, and diarrhea. The DRI focuses the review process on drivers with multiple cognitive and functional problems, including a significant segment of potentially troubled drivers who had not yet been publicly identified by others. There is a need for simple and quickly identified screening tools to identify those older adults whose driving should be reviewed. The DRI, based on the interRAI CHA, fills this void. Assessment at the individual level needs to be part of the backdrop of science as society seeks to target policy to identify high risk drivers instead of simply age-based testing.     

Controlled modification and direct characterization of multimode-fiber refractive-index profiles

A combination of controlled annealing and characterization by scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is used to demonstrate that the refractive-index proffle of a commercially available silica-based optical fiber can be accurately reconfigured for use as an evanescent field sensor. The process relies on the controlled relocation of the silica glass dopants across the fiber cross section through heat treatment and the accurate measurement of the resulting dopant redistribution with SPM and differential etching techniques. The effect of variable annealing along a length of fiber is to produce a mode transformer to couple light from a laser source into the sensing region of the fiber.     

Anion-exchange membranes composed of quaternized-chitosan derivatives for alkaline fuel cells

A series of quaternized-chitosan derivatives (QCDs) with various degrees of quaternization was synthesized using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride as a main quaternized reagent. These QCDs were then processed into hydroxide—form quaternary ammonium salts with aqueous potassium hydroxide solutions. The resultant hydroxide—form QCD gels were further crosslinked into anion-exchange membranes using ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The crosslinking density, crystallinity, swelling index, ion exchange capacity, ionic conductivity and thermal stability of the crosslinked membranes were subsequently investigated. It was found that properties of crosslinked membranes were modulated mainly by the degree of quaternization and crosslinking density of membranes. Some membranes exhibited promising characteristics and had the potential for applications in alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells in considering their integrative properties.