University at Buffalo

About: University at Buffalo is a education organization based out in Buffalo, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 33773 authors who have published 63840 publications receiving 2278954 citations. The organization is also known as: UB & State University of New York at Buffalo.

Allostatic Load and Its Impact on Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Introduction: Allostatic load refers to the cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events. It involves the interaction of different physiological systems at varying degrees of activity. When environmental challenges exceed the individual ability to cope, then allostatic overload ensues. Allostatic load is identified by the use of biomarkers and clinical criteria. Objective: To summarize the current knowledge on allostatic load and overload and its clinical implications based on a systematic review of the literature. Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to December 2019. A manual search of the literature was also performed, and reference lists of the retrieved articles were examined.We considered only studies in which allostatic load or overload were adequately described and assessed in either clinical or non-clinical adult populations. Results: A total of 267 original investigations were included. They encompassed general population studies, as well as clinical studies on consequences of allostatic load/overload on both physical and mental health across a variety of settings. Conclusions: The findings indicate that allostatic load and overload are associated with poorer health outcomes. Assessment of allostatic load provides support to the understanding of psychosocial determinants of health and lifestyle medicine. An integrated approach that includes both biological markers and clinimetric criteria is recommended.

How Valid Are Medical Records and Patient Questionnaires for Physician Profiling and Health Services Research?: A Comparison With Direct Observation of Patient Visits

Abstract: Objectives.This study was designed to determine the optimal nonobservational method of measuring the delivery of outpatient medical services.Methods.As part of a multimethod study of the content of primary care practice, research nurses directly observed consecutive patient visits to 138 practic

A review of agile manufacturing systems

Abstract: About a decade ago, the agile manufacturing paradigm was formulated in response to the constantly changing 'new economy' and as a basis for returning to global competitiveness. While agility means different things to different enterprises under different contexts, the following elements capture its essential concept: agility is characterized by cooperativeness and synergism (possibly resulting in virtual corporations), by a strategic vision that enables thriving in face of continuous and unpredictable change, by the responsive creation and delivery of customer-valued, high quality and mass customized goods/services, by nimble organization structures of a knowledgeable and empowered workforce, and facilitated by an information infrastructure that links constituent partners in a unified electronic network. During this period, a significant amount of attention from both the academic and industrial communities has produced a large body of results in research and development related to this topic. Each contrib...

The beneficial effects of volunteering for older volunteers and the people they serve: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: The current political-economic climate, which is generally supportive of both private and public sector down-sizing, increasingly demands that human service workers assess, engage, and creatively use consumer strengths and resources. This meta-analysis of thirty-seven independent studies provided the means of inferring not only that elder volunteers' sense of well-being seemed to be significantly bolstered through volunteering, but also that such relatively healthy older people represent a significant adjunct resource for meeting some of the service needs of more vulnerable elders, as well as those of other similarly vulnerable groups such as disabled children. Averaging across studies, 85 percent of the "clients" who received service from an older volunteer (e.g., peer-counseling of nursing home residents) scored better on dependent measures (e.g., diminished depression) than the average person in comparison conditions did (U3 = .847 [Cohen, 1988], combined p < .001). The policy implications of such beneficial effects among both older volunteers and the people they serve are discussed.

Carbohydrates in cell surfaces.

Abstract: Publisher Summary The carbohydrate components of cell surfaces occur in structures that are free to react with agents in the external environment of the cell, as in the antigenic reactions in which they are involved. Carbohydrates are well suited for formation of stereospecific structures. They are relatively rigid molecules in which there are many groups for hydrogen bonding and for lipophilic interaction. The shape of the molecule and the position of the reactive groups can be markedly different depending on the sugars involved, the hydroxyl position to which the nonreducing sugar is linked, and the α or β configuration of the glycosidic linkage. Glucose is rarely in the outer tier of sugars in glycoproteins or glycolipids. This is consonant with the recognition site hypothesis, because free glucose in the body fluids could otherwise inhibit recognition of specific binding or receptor sites. Sialoglycoproteins are generally poor antigens, and antibodies against glycoproteins are rarely directed toward the sialic acids, even though they are terminal sugars in glycoproteins and glycolipids.