Enhancing migratory potential in fish passes: The role of pier shape in minimizing debris accumulation.

Biodiversity preservation is a primary challenge of the 21st century, focusing on restoring unobstructed river flows and mitigating the effects of barriers, supported by European biodiversity strategies up to 2030. Maintaining ecological continuity, such as unblocking fishways clogged by floating debris disrupting natural fish migration paths, remains a challenge despite conventional protective methods. This study, taking a vertical slot fish pass in Wrocław on the Odra River as a case study and based on research on bridge piers, suggests modifying pier shapes from rectangular to rounded in order to reduce debris accumulation.

Evaluating health care quality: the moderating role of outcomes.

An integrative model of health care quality is presented. "Health care quality" is defined as provider conformance to patient requirements at three benefit levels: core, intangible, and tangible. The model is operationalized and tested in a clinical setting, a large center for fertility studies with more than 5000 patients.

Pricing and performance in health maintenance organizations: a strategic management perspective.

Innovative, consumer-oriented pricing strategies have contributed to the impressive growth of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In a national study of HMO marketing directors, the relationships between strategic management style and (1) the relative importance of pricing in competitive marketing strategy, (2) the effectiveness of price strategy planning, and (3) financial performance are examined. The findings indicate that HMOs practicing effective price planning also perform well on an overall basis.

Management styles and marketing strategies: an analysis of HMOs.

The results of a recently conducted national study indicate that a variety of strategic management styles are being pursued by HMOs, and that relationships exist between these styles and marketing strategies. The findings themselves have strategic relevance for HMOs and other health service providers.