Improving retention strategies for IT professionals working in the public sector

Despite much research interest, effective retention of IT professionals has proved difficult for many public sector organizations. By concentrating on intention to leave, researchers may not have provided a clear way to formulate effective retention strategies. Consequently, we used intention to stay as an alternative lens to identify factors that can reduce turnover of IT professionals. Our findings indicated that attitudes, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and identification with the organization all had a statistically significant relationship with intention to stay; attitude was the strongest. It was concluded that existing retention strategies needed to be refocused on the issues that make IT staff stay; a number of practical recommendations for IT managers are presented.     

EDC/NHS交联胶原基牙周组织引导再生膜材料的研究

采用胶原材料制备了一种密实-疏松双层结构的牙周引导再生膜材料.为改善再生膜材料的物理化学性能,采用1-乙基-3-(3-二甲基氨丙基)碳二亚胺(EDC)和N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)为交联剂对膜材料进行交联,考察了不同交联剂质量浓度对膜材料物理化学性能的影响,并通过差示扫描量热分析仪(DSC)、扫描电镜(SEM)、吸水率测试、膨胀动力学分析、抗酶解性能分析等手段对膜材料交联前后的结构与性能进行了研究.结果表明,以EDC/NHS为交联剂,在pH为5.5、EDC质量浓度为5 g/L、交联时间为24 h的条件下,引导再生胶原膜材料的综合性能达到最佳,进一步提高交联剂的浓度,材料物理化学性能的变化并不明显.采用EDC/NHS交联后,可显著改善再生膜材料的物理化学性能.交联后膜材料的变性温度和抗酶解性能显著提高,并且维持了密实-疏松的双层结构.     

EDC和NHS对玉米醇溶蛋白成膜性质的影响

为提高玉米醇溶蛋白膜的抗拉强度和伸长率,降低其水蒸气透过率和吸水率,研究交联剂1-乙基-3-（3-二甲基氨丙基）碳二亚胺盐酸盐（EDC）和N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺（NHS）对成膜性质的影响。结果表明：以90%乙醇为溶剂,EDC和NHS的添加量分别为0.06 g/g时,制得的膜性能最佳,抗拉强度为83 MPa,较未添加交联剂的蛋白膜提高97.6%;伸长率为5.5%,提高57.1%;水蒸气透过率为2.5×10-8（g·m）/（m2·h·Pa）,降低43.2%;吸水率为39.4%,降低24.4%;质量损失率为3.6%,增加20.0%;静态接触角为67.4°,表明膜表面仍为疏水表面。原子力显微镜观测显示,加入交联剂后,蛋白分子聚集体变小,以均一的小球型聚集体形式紧密有序排列。     

Properties of filmogenic solutions of gliadin crosslinked with 1-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimidehydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide and cysteine

In this study gliadin solutions were crosslinked with 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) and cysteine. The filmogenic solutions were studied through rheological, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and FTIR analysis. Gliadin modified by EDC/NHS showed lower viscosity values when compared with the gliadin/cysteine system and the non-modified gliadin system. Determination of amino groups in gliadin modified by EDC/NHS was carried out through the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) method. The cast films were evaluated by FTIR analysis in order to detect structural changes in the secondary structure of protein. SDS-PAGE showed the formation of higher protein aggregates, indicating that cysteine promotes gliadin polymerization through covalent bonds (disulfide bonds). The TNBS analysis showed that non-chemically modified gliadin had higher amounts of ε-amino groups when compared with gliadin treated with EDC/NHS; however, both systems revealed similar amounts of amino groups for the whole range of glycerol content. The FTIR spectra for the films showed that the two crosslinking agents act by different mechanisms, promoting changes in the secondary structure of gliadin.     

Construction of functional aliphatic polycarbonates for biomedical applications

Aliphatic polycarbonates are one important kind of biodegradable polymers and have been commonly used as integral components of engineered tissues, medical devices and drug delivery systems. As far as the biomedical application is concerned, traditional aliphatic polycarbonates usually suffer from the strong hydrophobicity, deficient functionality, and insufficient compatibility with cell/organs. Consequently, the application is quite limited in scope. Due to the imparted appealing properties, aliphatic polycarbonates bearing specifically designed functional/reactive groups attract great interest from researchers in the recent years. The present review outlines the development up to date concerning the design and biomedical application of functional aliphatic polycarbonates, with an emphasis on their ring-opening (co)polymerization preparation.     

Synthesis and functionalization of nanoengineered materials using click chemistry

The synthesis of nanoengineered materials with precise control over material composition, architecture and functionality is integral to advances in diverse fields, including biomedicine. Over the last 10 years, click chemistry has emerged as a prominent and versatile approach to engineer materials with specific properties. Herein, we highlight the application of click chemistry for the synthesis of nanoengineered materials, ranging from ultrathin films to delivery systems such as polymersomes, dendrimers and capsules. In addition, we discuss the use of click chemistry for functionalizing such materials, focusing on modifications aimed at biomedical applications.     

Chitosan—A versatile semi-synthetic polymer in biomedical applications

This review outlines the new developments on chitosan-based bioapplications. Over the last decade, functional biomaterials research has developed new drug delivery systems and improved scaffolds for regenerative medicine that is currently one of the most rapidly growing fields in the life sciences. The aim is to restore or replace damaged body parts or lost organs by transplanting supportive scaffolds with appropriate cells that in combination with biomolecules generate new tissue. This is a highly interdisciplinary field that encompasses polymer synthesis and modification, cell culturing, gene therapy, stem cell research, therapeutic cloning and tissue engineering. In this regard, chitosan, as a biopolymer derived macromolecular compound, has a major involvement. Chitosan is a polyelectrolyte with reactive functional groups, gel-forming capability, high adsorption capacity and biodegradability. In addition, it is innately biocompatible and non-toxic to living tissues as well as having antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. These features highlight the suitability and extensive applications that chitosan has in medicine. Micro/nanoparticles and hydrogels are widely used in the design of chitosan-based therapeuticsystems. The chemical structure and relevant biological properties of chitosan for regenerative medicine have been summarized as well as the methods for the preparation of controlled drug release devices and their applications.     

Toward the biomimetic implant surface: Biopolymers on titanium-based implants for bone regeneration

Replacing malfunctioning tissues with titanium-based implants has become a widespread practice spurred by population aging. Advances in biomaterials, technology and implantation protocols have led to increasing expectations on the applicability and durability of implants. The field has recently moved from a bioinert to a bioactive paradigm due to surface modifications that trigger specific responses on the surrounding tissues. Biopolymeric surface coatings have taken up a central role in these developments. The use of these and other biomimetic strategies on implants provides greater control over material–cell interactions and it is aimed at improving long-term clinical results by replicating some of the structures and mechanisms of living tissues. This review summarizes the state of the art of biomimetic implants and discusses the main directions and challenges of this field toward a more predictable and successful implant osseointegration.     

基于GIS的增强型两步移动搜索法分析——以格拉斯哥市的英国国家医疗服务体系(NHS)可达性为例

本次研究采用增强型两步移动搜索法(E2SFCA),评估在主要出行方式下的医疗卫生服务可达性。本次研究的区域选择格拉斯哥市,一个英国的中型城市。本文首先对居民的出行偏好进行分析。此后,基于ArcGIS建立格拉斯哥市的交通网络和OD成本矩阵。在经过E2SFCA的运算之后,每一个数据单元的医疗卫生服务的供需关系被计算出来并作为医疗卫生服务的可达性。最终,地理加权回归(GWR)被用于模拟理论情况下的医疗卫生服务的可达性分布状态,与理论值不符的地区被找出并分析。本次研究结果显示在不同出行模式下医疗卫生服务的可达性存在差异。本文可对格拉斯哥市正在进行的医疗卫生设施的改进计划提参考意见,也可为同类决策机构在考虑公共设施布局等相关的空间决策时提供研究方法上的参考。     

Biodegradable synthetic polymers: Preparation, functionalization and biomedical application

Biodegradable polymers have been widely used and have greatly promoted the development of biomedical fields because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The development of biotechnology and medical technology has set higher requirements for biomedical materials. Novel biodegradable polymers with specific properties are in great demand. Biodegradable polymers can be classified as natural or synthetic polymers according to the source. Synthetic biodegradable polymers have found more versatile and diverse biomedical applications owing to their tailorable designs or modifications. This review presents a comprehensive introduction to various types of synthetic biodegradable polymers with reactive groups and bioactive groups, and further describes their structure, preparation procedures and properties. The focus is on advances in the past decade in functionalization and responsive strategies of biodegradable polymers and their biomedical applications. The possible future developments of the materials are also discussed.