Dielectric characterization of doped M5.

We analyze the dielectric properties of the liquid crystal M5 used to investigate the electrohydrodynamics instability in nematic liquid crystals. We show that the spectra of the electrical impedance of doped samples of M5 with several concentrations of salt and of acid can be interpreted by assuming the doped liquid crystal as a dispersion of ions in a dielectric liquid. The analysis has been performed by considering the electrodes as blocking. From the best fit of the experimental data relevant to the real and imaginary parts of the electrical impedance of the cells, we derive the diffusion coefficients for the positive and negative ions and their bulk density. According to our analysis, in the limit of small concentrations of doping substance, the effective dielectric constant of the resulting liquid is, practically, independent of the doping.

Differentiated practice: the new paradigm using a theoretical approach.

Differentiated practice is a term that has been identified in nursing for years. Nurses today, however, still practice under the old paradigm that disregards preparation and states that "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse." The idea of differentiated practice, which supports the restructuring of nursing roles based on education, experience, and competence, can again be found in recent literature. Current models for differentiated practice and rationales for implementation are reviewed. This article addresses the need to shift from the old paradigm and provides an analysis of the issues central to differentiated practice from two theoretical perspectives: role theory and nursing theory.

The effect of the clean air act of Erie County, New York on restaurant employment.

The objective of this study was to assess the economic impact of the Erie County, New York, Clean Air Act on the restaurant industry by examining restaurant employment and payroll statistics. Monthly county-specific data were compared between 1996 (before the law), 1997 (after phase 1, which required 80% of indoor restaurant seating to be smoke-free), and 1998 (after phase 2 which prohibited smoking in 100% of indoor restaurant seating). Erie County's Clean Air Act had no adverse economic impact on its restaurant industry.

Evaluating patient education: a case study of a diabetes program.

This paper presents an evaluation of a diabetic education program for patients at Stephens County Hospital in Toccoa, Georgia. An analysis of covariance is employed along with multiple classification analysis to determine the effect of the program in reducing hospital readmissions. The major finding is that the teaching program is an important variable in the reduction of readmissions. A second outcome is that the occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) on initial admission is a second factor in determining readmissions. Patients having the benefit of instruction are less likely to experience readmission than those not being educated; those having DKA are more likely to be readmitted within six months from release than those not having this degree of loss of control. Implications of this study suggest that in designing a diabetic education program, greater attention must be focused upon the needs of the ketosis-prone patients.