Implementation of a guideline for local health policy making by regional health services: exploring determinants of use by a web survey

Background. Previous evaluation showed insufficient use of a national guideline for integrated local health policy by Regional Health Services (RHS) in the Netherlands. The guideline focuses on five health topics and includes five checklists to support integrated municipal health policies. This study explores the determinants of guideline use by...

Use of theory to plan or evaluate guideline implementation among physicians: A scoping review

Background: Guidelines support health care decision-making and high quality care and outcomes. However, their implementation is sub-optimal. Theory-informed, tailored implementation is associated with guideline use. Few guideline implementation studies published up to 1998 employed theory. This study aimed to describe if and how theory is now...

Assessment of Determinants of Emission Potentially Affecting the Concentration of Airborne Nano-Objects and Their Agglomerates and Aggregates

Background: Nano-specific inhalation exposure models could potentially be effective tools to assess and control worker exposure to nano-objects, and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA). However, due to the lack of reliable and consistent collected NOAA exposure data, the scientific basis for validation of the existing NOAA exposure models...

Effects of a Theory-Based Education Program to Prevent Overweightness in Primary School Children

The effectiveness of the “Extra Fit!” (EF!) education program in promoting healthy diet and physical activity to prevent and reduce overweightness among primary school children aged 9 to 11 was evaluated. A randomized controlled design was carried out in 45 primary schools (n = 1112) in the Netherlands, 23 intervention and 22 control schools....

Predictie van groei vanaf jonge leeftijd: Curve matching’ met de TNO Groeivoorspeller [Prediction of growth from an early age: curve matching with the TNO growth predictor]

Curve matching is a new big data technique to predict an outcome given earlier measurements. Here we apply curve matching to predict the future growth of a specific child, the target child. The method searches in large datasets of longitudinal growth data for other children who are similar to the target child in terms of factors that influence...

Piezoelectric and mechanical properties of structured PZT-epoxy composites

Structured lead zirconium titanate (PZT)-epoxy composites are prepared by dielectrophoresis. The piezoelectric and dielectric properties of the composites as a function of PZT volume fraction are investigated and compared with the corresponding unstructured composites. The effect of poling voltage on piezoelectric properties of the composites is...

BCIs in multimodal interaction and multitask environments: Theoretical issues and initial guidelines

The development of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) enters a phase in which these devices are no longer restricted to applications in controlled, single-task environments. For instance, BCIs for gaming or high-end operator stations will function as part of a multimodal user interface in a multitask environment. This phase introduces new issues...

How to determine the dynamic fracture energy of concrete. Theoretical considerations and experimental evidence

Data on the dynamic fracture energy of concrete are scarce and also not consistent due to different test methods, data analyses and definitions. In [1] the authors summarized and evaluated the test methods. Suggestions for the standardization of dynamic tensile testing were given. In the current paper the discussion is continued. First,...

Improving work style behavior in computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms

Introduction: The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a group-based interactive work style intervention in improving work style behavior. Methods: Computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms were randomised into the work style group (WS, N = 152), the work style and physical activity group (WSPA, N = 156), or the usual...

Simplivariate models: Ideas and first examples

One of the new expanding areas in functional genomics is metabolomics: measuring the metabolome of an organism. Data being generated in metabolomics studies are very diverse in nature depending on the design underlying the experiment. Traditionally, variation in measurements is conceptually broken down in systematic variation and noise where the...

Skin sensitisation and epidermal disposition: The relevance of epidermal disposition for sensitisation hazard identification and risk assessment: The report and recommendations of ECVAM workshop 59a

Models and theories in studies on educating and counseling children about physical health: A systematic review

The aim of this review is to gain a comprehensive view on the theories and models referred to in studies on educating and counseling children about physical health. A computer search was conducted using PubMed Medline, and Silverplatter Webspirs Psycinfo. Original studies, reviews, and theoretical papers published between 1992-2003 were included...

Stabilization versus inhibition of TAFIa by competitive inhibitors in vitro

Two competitive inhibitors of TAFIa (activated thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor), 2-guanidinoethyl-mercaptosuccinic acid and potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor, variably affect fibrinolysis of clotted human plasma. Depending on their concentration, the inhibitors shortened, prolonged, or had no effect on lysis in vitro. The...

Theoretical and experimental investigation into the explosive boiling potential of thermally stratified liquid-liquid systems

The occurrence of a rapid phase transition, or so-called explosive boiling, when a cold volatile liquid comes into contact with a hot liquid or hot surface is a potential hazard in industry. This study was focused on the explosive boiling potential of thermally stratified liquid-liquid systems that result from a runaway reaction. The...