Nanoporous antireflection coating for high-temperature applications in the infrared.

Antireflection (AR) coatings are essential to the performance of optical systems; without them, surface reflections increase significantly at steep angles and become detrimental to the functionality. AR coatings apply to a wide range of applications from solar cells and laser optics to optical windows. Many times, operational conditions include high temperatures and steep angles of incidence (AOIs).

What does an MRI scan cost?

Historically, hospital departments have computed the costs of individual tests or procedures using the ratio of cost to charges (RCC) method, which can produce inaccurate results. To determine a more accurate cost of a test or procedure, the activity-based costing (ABC) method must be used. Accurate cost calculations will ensure reliable information about the profitability of a hospital's DRGs.

Antenna gain of actively compensated free-space optical communication systems under strong turbulence conditions.

Current Strehl ratio models for actively compensated free-space optical communications terminals do not accurately predict system performance under strong turbulence conditions as they are based on weak turbulence theory. For evaluation of compensated systems, we present an approach for simulating the Strehl ratio with both low-order (tip/tilt) and higher-order (adaptive optics) correction. Our simulation results are then compared to the published models and their range of turbulence validity is assessed.

Fiscal strategy in an era of reform.

In a reform environment, hospitals and health systems should be able to control-rather than simply understand-their costs. Senior managers and line managers throughout a healthcare organization should be solidly behind-and deeply involved in-the organization's cost-control efforts. Physicians also should be heavily engaged in cost control, as they are the only ones who can both establish clinical pathways and monitor their colleagues' use of them.

Bumps along the ACO road.

The success of ACOs will depend on whether they can avoid difficulties inherent in six areas: Measuring costs. Computing expected costs. Managing prevention and wellness.

High-sensitivity DPSK receiver for high-bandwidth free-space optical communication links.

A high-sensitivity modem and high-dynamic range optical automatic gain controller (OAGC) have been developed to provide maximum link margin and to overcome the dynamic nature of free-space optical links. A sensitivity of -48.9 dBm (10 photons per bit) at 10 Gbps was achieved employing a return-to-zero differential phase shift keying based modem and a commercial Reed-Solomon forward error correction system.

Profit centers in clinical care departments: an idea whose time has gone.

If a hospital is to use profit centers successfully, it should resolve several philosophical, organizational, and accounting matters, including: How much decisionmaking latitude clinical care chiefs should have. Whether to take a cross-subsidization approach. What role clinical care departments should take in a service line strategy.

Using bundled prices and deep discounts to obtain managed care contracts: seller beware!

To achieve the potential of bundled pricing, and thereby help align the incentives of your medical staff and hospital, keep in mind the following points: *Balancing risk, reward, and control; *Aligning responsibility with control; *Linking costs and features; *Developing appropriate information.

The folly of using RCCs and RVUs for intermediate product costing.

Two measures for computing the cost of intermediate projects--a ratio of cost to charges and relative value units--are highly flawed and can have serious financial implications for the hospitals that use them. Full-cost accounting, using the principles of activity-based costing, enables hospitals to measure their costs more accurately, both for competitive bidding purposes and to manage them more effectively.

Strategic decision-making in healthcare organizations: it is time to get serious.

New and continuing environmental demands and competitive forces require healthcare organizations to be increasingly careful in thinking about their strategies. They must do so in a highly unusual (multi-actor) marketplace where a variety of system interdependencies complicate decision-making. A good strategy requires an attempt to understand the real, as distinct from the perceived, environment, and is characterized by explicit tradeoffs along three dimensions: service or program variety, patient needs, and patient access.

Missing elements in the healthcare debate.

Financial flows in the U.S. healthcare system could be restructured in several ways to ensure that individuals and institutions pay their fair share: Eliminate subsidies for people with preventable illnesses and/or large families.

Strategic decision making: it's time for healthcare organizations to get serious.

To get serious about its strategic decision making, a healthcare organization needs to know what it does not intent to be. Organizations make trade-offs along three dimensions: service or customer needs, and customer access. Strategic trade-offs also should be assessed in terms of competitive scope and pricing policy.

Improving operating room performance in a center of excellence.

The financial success of centers of excellence typically depends on effective utilization of the OR. Therefore, it's important to align the strategy, structure, information and reporting systems, culture, and behavior of both entities. Moving from management based on anecdote to a data-driven process can enhance the quality of decision-making.

Familial and cultural perceptions and beliefs of oral hygiene and dietary practices among ethnically and socio-economicall diverse groups.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE; The aim of this international study was to develop a valid and reliable psychometric measure to examine the extent to which parents' attitudes about engaging in twice-daily tooth brushing and controlling sugar snacking predict these respective behaviours in their children. A supplementary objective was to assess whether ethnic group, culture, level of deprivation or children's caries experience impact upon the relationships between oral health related behaviours, attitudes to these respective behaviours and to dental caries.

Clinical Setting: Nurseries, health centres and dental clinics in 17 countries.

GME: at what cost?

Current computing methods impede determining the real cost of graduate medical education. However, a more accurate estimate could be obtained if policy makers would allow for the application of basic cost-accounting principles, including consideration of department-level costs, unbundling of joint costs, and other factors.