Office of Technology Assessment

About: Office of Technology Assessment is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Health care & Public policy. The organization has 165 authors who have published 222 publications receiving 8443 citations.

Virtual Reality

Abstract: General Education Foundation COMMUNICATION 6 ENG-111 English Composition I ENG-112 English Composition II MATH-SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY** 7-9 Choose from General Education course list (Math/Science) Mathematics Elective (3/4 CR) Laboratory Science (4 CR) Technology (0-1 CR)* SOCIAL SCIENCE OR HUMANITIES 3 Choose from General Education course list GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES (9 CR) 9 PHO-113 History of Photography General Education Elective** General Education Elective** General Education Foundation Credits 25-27 Photography & Imaging Core (39 CR) PHO-115 Photography I 3 CMP-128 Computer Science I 3 CMP-129 Computer Science II 3 CMP-150 Game Programming 3 PHO-204 Digital Imaging I 3 IMG-112 X-R Principles PHO-117 Color Photography I 3 PHO-216 Studio Lighting I 3 PHO-224 Digital Imaging II 3 IMG-214 X-R Studio IMG-201 Narrative and Storytelling in X-R PHO-226 Portfolio Preparation 3 PHO-227 Professional Studio Photography 3 Photography & Imaging Core (39 CR) Credits 30

Citizen participation, perceived control, and psychological empowerment.

Abstract: The research integrates the citizen participation literature with research on perceived control in an effort to further our understanding of psychological empowerment. Eleven indices of empowerment representing personality, cognitive, and motivational measures were identified to represent the construct. Three studies examined the relationship between empowerment and participation. The first study examined differences among groups identified by a laboratory manipulation as willing to participate in personally relevant or community relevant situations. Study II examined differences for groups defined by actual involvement in community activities and organizations. Study III replicated Study II with a different population. In each study, individuals reporting a greater amount of participation scored higher on indices of empowerment. Psychological empowerment could be described as the connection between a sense of personal competence, a desire for, and a willingness to take action in the public domain. Discriminant function analyses resulted in one significant dimension, identified as pyschological empowerment, that was positively correlated with leadership and negatively correlated with alienation.

Predicting azo dye toxicity

Abstract: Literature regrading azo dye carcinogenicity was examined to establish, if possible, guidelines to predict the human health risks of new azo dyes. Three different mechanisms for azo dye carcinogenicity were identified, all involving metabolic activation to reactive electrophilic intermediates that covalently bind DNA. In the order of decreasing number of published references, these mechanisms are Azo dyes that are toxic only after reduction and cleavage of the azo linkage to give aromatic amines, mostly via intestinal anaerobic bacteria. The aromatic amines are met‐abolically oxidized to reactive electrophilic species that covalently bind DNA. Azo dyes with structures containing free aromatic amine groups that can be meta‐bolically oxidized without azo reduction. Azo dyes that may be activated via direct oxidation of the azo linkage to highly reactive electrophilic diazonium salts. Each mechanism may be compound specific, thus azo toxicity is probably caused by more than one mechanism. Although i...

Users' Guides to the Medical Literature: VIII. How to Use Clinical Practice Guidelines A. Are the Recommendations Valid?

Abstract: CLINICAL SCENARIO You are relieved to find that the last patient in your busy primary care clinic is a previously well 48-year-old woman with acute dysuria. There has been no polydipsia, fever, or hematuria; the physical examination reveals suprapubic tenderness; and urinalysis shows pyuria but no casts. You arrange cultures and antibiotic treatment for a lower urinary tract infection. On her way out the door, your patient observes that her friend has just started taking "female hormones," and she wonders whether she should too. Her menstrual periods stopped 6 months ago and she has never had cervical, ovarian, uterine, breast, or cardiovascular problems, but her mother had a mastectomy at age 57 for postmenopausal breast cancer. You give the same general advice you have offered similar patients in the past, but suggest that the matter be discussed at greater length when she returns after completing the antibiotic treatment. Later, as

Preventive Eye Care in People With Diabetes Is Cost-Saving to the Federal Government: Implications for health-care reform

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Diabetic retinopathy, which leads to macular edema and retinal neovascularization, is the leading cause of blindness among working-age Americans. Previous research has demonstrated significant cost savings associated with detection of eye disease in Americans with type 1 diabetes. However, detection and treatment of eye disease among those with type II diabetes was previously thought not to be cost-saving. Our purpose was to estimate the current and potential federal savings resulting from the screening and treatment of retinopathy in patients with type II diabetes, based on recently availabledata concerning efficacy of treating both macular edema and neovascularization along withnew data on federal budgetary costs of blindness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used computer modeling, incorporating data from population-based epidemiological studies and multicenter clinical trials. Monte Ciarlosimulation was used, combined with sensitivity analysis and present value analysis of cost savings. RESULTS Screening and treatment for eye disease in patients with type II diabetes generates annual savings of $247.9 million to the federal budget and 53,986 person-years of sight, even at current suboptimal (60%) levels of care. If all patients with type II diabetes receive recommended care, the predicted net savings (discounted at 5%) exceeds $472.1 million and 94,304 person-years of sight. Nearly all savings areassociated with detection and treatment of diabetic macular edema. Enrolling each additional person with type II diabetes into currently recommended ophthalmological care resultsin an average net savings of $975/person, even if all costs of care are borne by the federal government. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicates that prevention programs aimed at improving eye care for patients with diabetes not only reduce needless vision loss but also willprovide a financial return on the investment of public funds.