Cost-effective utilization of a private facility to perform outpatient surgery in public hospital waiting list patients.

Background: Public hospitals' long waiting lists make outpatient surgery in private facilities very attractive provided a standardized protocol is applied. The aim of this study was to assess this kind of innovative collaboration in abdominal surgery from a clinical and economical perspective. Methods: All consecutive patients operated on in an outpatient basis in a private facility by a public hospital abdominal surgeon and an assistant over a 5-year period (2004-2009) were included. Clinical assessment was carried out from patients' charts and satisfaction questionnaire, and economic assessment from the comparison between the surgeons' charges paid by the private facility and the surgeons' hospital salaries during the days devoted to surgery at the private facility. Results: Over the 5 years, 602 operative procedures were carried out during 190 operative days. All patients could be discharged the same day and only 1% of minor complications occurred. The patients' satisfaction was 98%. The balance between the surgeons' charges paid by the private facility and their hospital salary costs was positive by 25.8% for the senior surgeon and 12.6% for the assistant or, on average, 21.9% for both. Conclusion: Collaboration between an overloaded university hospital surgery department and a private surgical facility was successful, effective, safe, and cost-effective. It could be extended to other surgical specialities. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

An approach to costs and energy consumption in private urban Spanish Mediterranean landscapes from a simplified model in sprinkle irrigation

The number of private gardens has increased in recent years, creating a more pleasant urban model, but not without having an environmental impact, including increased energy consumption, which is the focus of this study. The estimation of costs and energy consumption for the generic typology of private urban gardens is based on two simplifying assumptions: square geometry with surface areas from 25 to 500 m2 and hydraulic design with a single pipe. In total, eight sprinkler models have been considered, along with their possible working pressures, and 31 pumping units grouped into 5 series that adequately cover the range of required flow rates and pressures, resultin in 495 hydraulic designs repeated for two climatically different locations in the Spanish Mediterranean area (Girona and Elche). Mean total irrigation costs for the locality with lower water needs (Girona) and greater needs (Elche) were € 2,974 ha-¹ yr-¹ and € 3,383 ha-¹ yr-¹, respectively. Energy costs accounted for 11.4% of the total cost for the first location, and 23.0% for the second. While a suitable choice of the hydraulic elements of the setup is essential, as it may provide average energy savings of 77%, due to the low energy cost in relation to the cost of installation, the potential energy savings do not constitute a significant incentive for the irrigation system design. The low efficiency of the pumping units used in this type of garden is the biggest obstacle and constraint to achieving a high quality energy solution

Two component Emden sphere

The theory of a self-gravitating gas sphere is given. The gravitational field is generated by two components, each of which is an independent isothermal gas. Various quantities of interest, such as density profiles, core radii of both components, masses, free-free luminosity, surface brightness, central surface density, and overestimate of central mass density, are given for different values of both parameters which arise naturally (ratio of central densities, ratio of rms velocities). Fundamental changes appear when comparison is made with a theory in which the second component is a 'test component'. Procedures are given for the complete analysis of real astrophysical configurations such as clusters of galaxies or globular clusters.

Business Sphere, Vol. 17, no.3

Through networking, Iowa’s manufacturers share expertise in lean manufacturing, supply chain efficiency and rapid prototyping, strengthening the powerful environment for success. The Iowa Department of Economic Development builds on these strengths with a focus on advanced manufacturing, extending financial and tax benefits to companies making substantial investments and creating higher skill, higher paying jobs. Many companies these days are finding that it pays to explore options in Iowa as they plan manufacturing expansions. You can get in touch with us at www.iowalifechanging.com.

Business Sphere, Vol. 17, no.2

Anadvanced foods economy is under development in the state of Iowa that builds on Iowa’s established strengths in plant and animal sciences,production agriculture, food science, nutrition, and processing technology. This new pathway was identified when Battelle Institute studied Iowa’s strengths in the biosciences and recommended six technology platforms as opportunities to use these strengths for growing the economy. One of those technology platforms is functional foods, sometimes called nutraceuticals.

Business Sphere, Vol. 17, no.1

Iowa first in ethanol Iowa is now the largest ethanol-producing state in America, according to the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, with 864 million gallons of production capacity. Fourteen facilities now produce ethanol in Iowa, and nine more plants are planned or under construction. This burgeoning renewable fuels industry continues to spread through the state of Iowa.

Business Sphere, Vol. 18, no.2

The biosciences industry significantly impacts Iowa’s economy. Kemin, Integrated DNA Technologies, Archer Daniels Midland Co., Roquette America, Cargill, Monsanto and DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred International are only a few of Iowa’s 1,800 bioscience companies employing more than 83,000 people. Everyday, Kemin and other Iowa life sciences companies seek to commercialize new bioscience innovations. Together with Iowa’s outstanding business climate, a skilled, well educated and adaptable workforce, and an enviable quality of life, Iowa is providing bioscience companies with an exciting new resource to assist us in our endeavors: The Biosciences Alliance of Iowa.

Business Sphere, Vol. 21, no.4

Iowans have long been proud of our educational heritage. With I-VREP, business and educational leaders are taking steps to enhance its world-class education for Iowans, while ensuring the qualified workforce needed by Iowa’s businesses competing in a global economy. For more information on the Iowa Virtual Reality Education Pathfinder, or a confidential consultation on how Iowa innovation can fuel your company’s growth, contact IDED at 800.245.IOWA or visit iowalifechanging.com

Business Sphere, Vol. 18, no.4

As the nation’s leading producer of ethanol and biodiesel, Iowa is building upon its national reputation as an innovative renewable fuel and energy leader by aggressively pursuing more wind energy production. We invite you to take a closer look at Iowa as we harness the winds of renewable energy

Business Sphere, Vol. 19, no.4

We keep in touch with insurance leaders throughout the nation, as well as in our state, to promote Iowa as one of the most competitive locations for insurance operations. These ongoing efforts have produced strong growth that is the envy of other states. The insurance industry in the state of Iowa is expanding for all the right reasons. With the support of the State of Iowa, domestic insurers and the insurance division, the environment is favorable for companies looking for a competitive location in the U.S. insurance market.

Business Sphere, Vol. 20, no.3

When selecting sites for the industry’s leading data centers, experts and IT leaders such as Google and Microsoft, are increasingly choosing Iowa They’re doing so because they understand that Iowa is a safe zone for data and information storage — tucked away from the major threats and terrorist targets in the U.S. What’s more, there are many infrastructural and financial benefits that only Iowa offers. With all this activity, available research and Iowa’s inherent advantages, it seems the question isn't so much why Iowa, but why not?

Business Sphere, Vol. 21, no.3

Iowa may be known for some of the world’s most fertile cropland, but in recent years, we’ve become fertile ground for rapid growth in information technology as well. From the recent “plug-in” of Google’s $600-million Council Bluffs data center to Microsoft’s planned half-billion-dollar West Des Moines expansion to IBM’s 1,300-job-creating expansion in Dubuque, technology leaders are finding Iowa a place to grow. And why not? Iowa has a supportive business climate and its infrastructure — physical and human — give our technology companies the competitive advantages that allow them to grow and prosper.

Business Sphere, Vol. 18, no.3

Iowa may be known for some of the world’s most fertile cropland, but in recent years, we’ve become fertile ground for rapid growth in information technology as well. From the recent “plug-in” of Google’s $600-million Council Bluffs data center to Microsoft’s planned half-billion-dollar West Des Moines expansion to IBM’s 1,300-job-creating expansion in Dubuque, technology leaders are finding Iowa a place to grow. And why not? Iowa has a supportive business climate and its infrastructure — physical and human — give our technology companies the competitive advantages that allow them to grow and prosper.

Business Sphere, Vol. 19, no.3

Iowa may be known for some of the world’s most fertile cropland, but in recent years, we’ve become fertile ground for rapid growth in information technology as well. From the recent “plug-in” of Google’s $600-million Council Bluffs data center to Microsoft’s planned half-billion-dollar West Des Moines expansion to IBM’s 1,300-job-creating expansion in Dubuque, technology leaders are finding Iowa a place to grow. And why not? Iowa has a supportive business climate and its infrastructure — physical and human — give our technology companies the competitive advantages that allow them to grow and prosper.