Employee health promotion programs at the hospital worksite

This study was conducted to determine the interest of the employees at East Tennessee Children\u27s Hospital concerning a health promotion program at the hospital worksite. The data gathered were used to make recommendations for designing an initial health promo tion program. Current literature on both hospital and industry wellness and health programs was reviewed and a questionnaire was distributed to the full time staff members at the hospital regarding interest in specific health activities, current participation in health-related activities and factors which would hinder and motivate individuals to join and participate in a health promotion program. Analysis of the data received from completed questionnaires revealed that employees were interested in assertiveness training, weight reduction, stretch and tone classes and computerized health risk assessments as the high priority activity in each health category. Most people were currently involved in walking as a health-related activity and the factor checked most often as hindering participation in the program was outside time commitments. Respondents checked their own motivation as the factor most likely to stimulate participation in the program. Most individuals were mediumly satisfied with their current health status. Conclusions derived from the results of the questionnaire included that the majority of respondents were interested in the initiation of a health promotion program at the hospital and that their participation in the program could lead to greater job satisfaction, less employee turnover and less absenteeism due to illness, Design recommendations include appointment of a Wellness Director, initiation of stretch and tone classes, weight reduction/nutrition classes and assertiveness training on a weekly basis along with stress management workshops presented once a month. Future recommendations include application of health promotion programs which emphasize the influences of lifestyles, family issues, financial pressures and environmental issues. Evaluation of the programs in an organized and comprehensive manner must be implemented on an on-going basis to assure that quality programs are in effect which stimulate positive health behaviors and meet the needs of the hospital staff

Chemically Functionalized Arrays Comprising Micro and Nano-Electro-Mechanizal Systems for Reliable and Selective Characterization of Tank Waste

Innovative technology of sensory and selective chemical monitoring of hazardous wastes present in storage tanks are of continued importance to the environment. This multifaceted research program exploits the unique characteristics of micro and nano-fabricated cantilever-based, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMES) and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) in chemical sensing

Fiber-optic chemical sensors for competitive binding fluoroimmunoassay

This paper describes the development of a fiber-optic chemical sensor based on the principle of competitive-binding fluorescence immunoassay. Rabbit immunoglobln G (IgG) is covalently Immobilized on the distal sensing tip of a quartz optical fiber. The sensor is exposed to fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled and unlabeled anti-rabbit IgG. The 488-nm line of an argon-ion laser provides excitation of sensor-bound analyte. This results in fluorescence emission at the optical fiber‧s sensing tip. Sensor response is inversely proportional to the amount of unlabeled anti-IgG In the sample. Limits of detection (LOD) vary with Incubation time, sample size, and measurement conditions. For 10-μL samples, typical LOD are 25 fmol of unlabeled antibody In a 20-min Incubation period. These results Indicate that each fiber-optic fluoroimmunosensor can be constructed to perform a single sensitive, rapid, low-volume immunoassay, in in situ or benchtop applications. © 1987, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Capillary electrokinetic separations: Influence of mobile phase composition on performance

The composition of the mobile phase employed in capillary zone electrophoresis and the related technique, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, is an important factor in determining separation performance. The influences of ionic salt, surfactant, and organic solvent mobile phase additives on separation efficiency, retention, and elution range are discussed and demonstrated. 23 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs

Smoking‐induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in infertile men

Male fertility rates have shown a progressive decrease in both developing and industrialised countries in the past 50 years. Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated controversial results about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking on seminal parameters. Some studies could not establish a negative effect by tobacco smoking on sperm quality and function, whereas others have found a significant reduction in sperm quality and function. This study reviews the components in cigarette smoke and discusses the effects of smoking on male fertility by focusing extensively on smoking‐induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in infertile men. Chromosomal aneuploidies, sperm DNA fragmentation and gene mutations are discussed in the first section, while changes in DNA methylation, chromatin remodelling and noncoding RNAs are discussed in the second section as part of epigenetic alterations