Data Analysis Software Research Articles

Explaining the process of learning about dignity by undergraduate nursing students: A grounded theory study.

The learning process about dignity and how undergraduate nursing students experience and use this ethical knowledge is an under-represented field in nursing research. To overcome the lack of conceptual clarity, it is important to understand what processes and dimensions students develop to support this learning outcome. This study aimed to explain the process of learning about dignity by undergraduate nursing students. A qualitative study was conducted using the grounded theory method. Data was collected through free reports and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 participants. A focus group was held for the selective coding. Sampling began purposefully and evolved into theoretical. Reflective and theoretical memos were generated from the data collection and constant comparison. Data analysis was performed using qualitative data analysis software using Corbin and Strauss' method. The research was approved by a specialized research ethics committee from a Health School. The process of learning about dignity by undergraduate nursing students revealed 'recognition of dignity' as the core category, supported by five main categories: 'proto-conscience of dignity', 'pathway to nursing', 'consciousness of dignity', 'ways of learning', and 'becoming capable'. These categories illustrate the processes and dimensions involved in nursing students' concept translation of dignity learning, allowing a theory to emerge. The 'Recognition of Dignity' theory aims to contribute to developing educational, training, and supervision processes for nursing programs. It seeks to enhance the ethical and moral development of undergraduate nursing students by helping them understand the concept of dignity and its fundamental importance in nursing.

The potential of lesson study in enhancing secondary school mathematics teachers’ pedagogical practices in lesson planning: evidence from Ethiopia

PurposeThe main purpose of this study was to explore how engaging in lesson study enhances secondary school mathematics teachers’ pedagogical practice in lesson planning in Jimma, Ethiopia.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a design-based research approach with qualitative and quantitative data collected from two secondary schools, and 12 mathematics teachers. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants. Interviews, observations, questionnaires and document analysis were the main sources of data. Qualitative data were analyzed using themes with the support of Atlas-ti qualitative data analysis software. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon ranked signs test.FindingsThe findings revealed that engaging secondary school mathematics teachers in lesson study enhanced their lesson planning competence. As a result, teachers began to carefully plan detailed lessons, use curriculum materials and create more student-oriented lessons. Lesson study was found to be a potent model on which to build secondary school mathematics teachers’ lesson planning competence. Hence, it would be rewarding to integrate lesson study into the present school-based teachers’ pedagogical capacity-building program in the study settings.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were collected from particular localities with a small sample size in the quantitative phase. Therefore, it is difficult to generalize to the entire secondary school teachers in the country. However, thick descriptions were provided that would allow readers to determine the transferability of the findings to their specific school context. Future research should investigate the effects that enhanced TPP in lesson planning has on teachers’ mathematics teaching in more schools using a larger sample size.Practical implicationsThis study provides insight into and empirical evidence of how engaging in the process of LS is essential to enhance teachers’ lesson planning competence. It adds important knowledge to a small but growing model of lesson study research. It also informs future researchers in the practical use of LS where lesson planning is a crucial concern in many secondary schools of the country.Originality/valueThis research was originally conducted to build mathematics teachers' pedagogical practice in lesson planning through lesson study in Ethiopian secondary school contexts.

Diagnostic Performance of TOF, 4D MRA, ASL and SWAN sequences in the Post-Radiosurgery Monitoring of Brain Arteriovenous Malformation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Brain Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital anomalies of the cerebrovascular system, often discovered incidentally or through symptomatic presentations such as intracranial hemorrhage, seizure, headache, or neurological deficits. Various treatment modalities exist for AVMs, including radiosurgery, a treatment modality that is noninvasive and efficient. Accurate imaging is crucial for risk assessment, treatment planning, and monitoring of these patients before and after radiosurgery. Currently, Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) stands as the preferred imaging modality. Despite its efficacy, DSA is notably invasive, presenting inherent risks to the patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for monitoring brain AVMs after radiosurgery. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases was done and methodological quality assessment performed with the QUADAS-2 checklist diagnostic test accuracy. We utilized the bivariate random-effects meta-analysis model (BRMA) with STATA/MP 17 software for data analysis. No significant publication bias was detected.14 studies were eligible for qualitative and quantitative analysis. MRI offers high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (99%) in detecting residual AVMs. Different MRI sequences, including 3DTOF MRA, 4D-MRA, and ASL demonstrated varying diagnostic accuracies with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92, 0.97, and 0.96 respectively. 4D-MRA exhibited a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 99%, ASL showed a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 92% while 3D-TOF MRA showed 90% sensitivity and 87% specificity. Meta-regression did not fully explain the sources of heterogeneity. Only one study assessed the SWAN method, and most studies involved small participant groups with varied MR techniques and sequences. Additionally, the retrospective nature of most studies may introduce bias, warranting cautious interpretation of the results. MRI sequences show acceptable diagnostic performance in post-radiosurgery monitoring of brain AVMs, with ASL and 4D-MRA showing acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Combining different MRI sequences may further enhance diagnostic reliability. However, Further investigation is needed to assess whether MRI sequences can serve as a feasible substitute for DSA, taking into account their risk-benefit profile, with the potential to establish them as the recommended standard.

Determining Intention to Visit Negeri Sembilan among Local Young Tourist in Malaysia

Many organisations will experience an effect on their target population as a result of demographic shifts. Therefore, in order to increase their market share and profitability, all companies must target a younger demographic. Malaysia's greatest contributor to its gross domestic product is tourism, which takes advantage of the country's numerous picturesque landscapes. Additionally, Seremban is a highly frequented tourist destination, attracting a significant number of visitors. This research demonstrates how the Malaysian tourism sector can effectively appeal to a younger demographic of tourists. This research endeavour will employ generation theory to examine the attributes of a locality that influence the visitation patterns of individuals within the 15–30 age bracket in Seremban. Once the data collection is complete, This study will employ the SmartPLS software for data analysis. The purpose of this analysis is to establish a statistically significant relationship between the dependent variable, Young Generation Tourism for Visiting Seremban, and the independent variables, Amenities, Attractions, Complementary Services, and Entrance Fees.

Relationship Between Health Literacy Level and the Adoption of Preventive Behaviors Against Coronavirus Disease

Background: Health literacy skills play a pivotal role in adopting preventive behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed emphasis on health-oriented behaviors, and health literacy is considered one of the most influential indicators affecting health-centric behaviors. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the level of health literacy and the adoption of preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among students at Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz. Methods: In this study, the research population comprised 223 newly enrolled students from seven main faculties at Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz in the year 2022. Participants were randomly selected, and data collection instruments included a COVID-19 prevention questionnaire and a health literacy questionnaire for adults. The questionnaire links and study participation consent forms were sent to the participants. Inclusion criteria consisted of willingness and consent to participate in the study, and enrollment in the first year of study (either the first or second semester) in various academic levels at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. The exit criteria were defined as failure to respond to more than 5% of the questions. After data collection, descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient tests, and regression analysis were employed using SPSS software for data analysis. Results: The findings revealed that women, married individuals, employed participants, and those with underlying health conditions obtained higher scores in preventive behaviors against COVID-19 and health literacy. Regression coefficients indicated that a one-unit increase in health literacy scores could lead to a 0.439-unit increase in preventive behaviors against COVID-19. According to correlation analysis, a positive, direct, and significant correlation existed among all dimensions of health literacy and preventive behaviors against COVID-19 (P < 0.05), with the behavioral dimension being the only significant predictor of preventive behaviors. Specifically, a one-unit increase in the behavioral dimension score could result in a 0.373-unit increase in preventive behaviors against COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results showed that health literacy is directly related to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Therefore, to promote preventive behaviors against infectious diseases, special attention should be paid to health literacy and its influential dimensions. Recognizing the importance of advancing health literacy across various dimensions can significantly contribute to the control and prevention of communicable diseases.

The influence of service quality and marketing ethics on relationship marketing outcome in private hospitals

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the impacts of service quality and marketing ethics dimensions on patient satisfaction, ultimately affecting patient loyalty and word-of-mouth in private hospitals in Jordan. The study, based on a survey of 320 participants using Google Forms and social media, employs Amos software for data analysis. The findings reveal that the majority of service quality dimensions, including technical quality, interpersonal quality, and administrative quality, as well as all marketing ethics variables such as trust, privacy, and honesty, significantly influence patient satisfaction, subsequently contributing to both patient loyalty and word-of-mouth. However, an insignificant relationship was found between environmental quality and patient satisfaction. Notably, patient satisfaction acts as a mediator in these relationships. The research contributes to customer relationship marketing theory in healthcare by operationalizing CRM variables and examining the interplay between service quality, marketing ethics, and patient satisfaction in private hospitals, thus filling a gap in the existing literature.

SIKAP BELA NEGARA SEBAGAI KONTROL DIRI DALAM MEMINIMALISIR PERILAKU KECURANGAN DIPANDANG DARI PERSPEKTIF FRAUD DIAMOND

This research aim to test and empirically demonstrate how pressure, opportunity, rationalization, and capacity can influence academic fraud behaviour and how national defense attitudes play a role in moderating such influence. This research is a quantitative study using up to 94 students from S1 Accounting student UPN “Veteran” East Java as samples. The research used SEM PLS with WarpPLS 7.0 software for data analysis. The finding of this research may be used as a resource for universities related to fraud in the university environment, specially in S1 Accounting students and can provide an overview of fraud related to occurring, so that the universities can take determined further action to deal with such matters. Research findings demonstrate that pressure and rationalization have a significant influence on fraud behavior and national defense attitudes can moderate the influence of opportunity against fraud behavior. Opportunity and capability have no significant influence on fraud behavior and national defense attitudes do not moderate the influence of pressure, racinoalization, and capability against fraud behavior.

Influences of a Remote Monitoring Program of Home Nasogastric Tube Feeds on Transition from NICU to Home.

The transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to the home is complex and multifaceted for families and infants, particularly those with ongoing medical needs. Our hospital utilizes a remote monitoring program called Growing @ Home (G@H) to support discharge from the NICU with continued nasogastric tube (NGT) feeds. We aim to describe the experience of the transition from NICU to home for families enrolled in G@H. Using a semistructured interviewing technique, parents of infants discharged on G@H were interviewed at NICU discharge, at 1 month, and at 6 months after NICU discharge. Interviews were recorded and transcribed into data analysis software. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Codes were assigned to describe key elements of the interviews and used to identify major themes. Parents (n = 17) identified three major themes when discussing the effect of G@H on the transition to home. The program provided a means of escape from the NICU, allowing families to stop living split lives between their homes and the NICU. It acted as a middle ground between the restrictive yet supportive NICU environment, and the normal yet isolated home environment. G@H served as a safety net for families, providing a continued connection to the NICU for their still-fragile infants. G@H utilizes telehealth to positively support the complex transition from NICU to home for families and infants discharged with NGT feeds. · G@H program supported parents in their transition from NICU to home.. · G@H program provided a means of escape from the NICU.. · G@H program was a middle ground between the NICU and home.. · G@H program created a safety net after discharge.. · Follow-up with a consistent provider was essential to a positive parent experience..

A Clinical Study of Drakshadi Syrup in Lowering Absolute Eosinophil Count (AEC) and Immunoglobulin E(Ige) Level in Tamak Swash (Bronchial Asthma) in Children

Childhood asthma is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, affecting millions of children. Its impact is not only on the children themselves but also on their families, schools, and healthcare systems. Inspite of all recent advances in modern medical science the prevalence is increasing day by day. Aim: The present study is to assess the response of polyherbal compound ‘Drakshadi Syrup’ in lowering AEC and IgE level in childhood bronchial asthma. Materials and Methods: 106 nos. of patient were registered irrespective of sex between the age group 3-16 years out of which 100 patients completed the trial. Routine blood investigations including basic pathological markers i.e., AEC and IgE were recorded before and after 90 days of treatment. Statistical Tool Used: Paired-t test was done in GraphPad prism 10 software for data analysis. Results and Conclusion: After statistical analysis the t value of AEC was 13.31 with p<.0001 i.e., highly significant and in IgE the t value was 9.73 with p<.0001 i.e., highly significant. It can be concluded that the polyherbal compound is very effective in lowering AEC and IgE levels in childhood bronchial asthma.

Overview of the Medical Waste Management System by Health Human Resources (SDK) at the Putri Ayu Public Health Center, Jambi City in 2024

According to the Jambi City Health Service Profile in 2021-2022, Putri Ayu Health Center is one of the inpatient health centers in Jambi City which is also acontributes the largest amount of medical waste with the amount of waste is 615 kg out of a total of 7804.1 kg of medical waste from health centers in Jambi City, so it has the potential to spread disease if medical waste is not managed properly. This research uses qualitative research methods with a descriptive approach. Data was obtained from 8 informants by conducting in-depth interviews and observations in May 2023 - April 2024 using qualitative research data analysis software. In the input aspect (1) Human Resources in the quantity aspect are sufficient, while the qualifications are not appropriate because they come from general administration. (2) Facilities and infrastructure are not sufficient and if there is damage, goods will be procured and reported to envinronmental health authority. Meanwhile, in the process aspect (3) Sorting is carried out by each waste producing poly unit by labeling the type of waste, date and poly, (4) The container used at the Putri Ayu Public Health Center meets the standards of Minister of Health Regulation Number 18 of 2020 (5) Transportation is carried out more than once every 2 days by PT Anggrek (6). Storage is carried out at TPS with a time span of 2-3 days at the latest. There are still input aspects that do not comply with standards (in the case of this research, namely the quality of human resources) causing disruption to process aspects, such as less than optimal management performance in managing medical waste in the container, transport and storage processes.

Gcplyr: an R package for microbial growth curve data analysis

BackgroundCharacterization of microbial growth is of both fundamental and applied interest. Modern platforms can automate collection of high-throughput microbial growth curves, necessitating the development of computational tools to handle and analyze these data to produce insights.ResultsTo address this need, here I present a newly-developed R package: gcplyr. gcplyr can flexibly import growth curve data in common tabular formats, and reshapes it under a tidy framework that is flexible and extendable, enabling users to design custom analyses or plot data with popular visualization packages. gcplyr can also incorporate metadata and generate or import experimental designs to merge with data. Finally, gcplyr carries out model-free (non-parametric) analyses. These analyses do not require mathematical assumptions about microbial growth dynamics, and gcplyr is able to extract a broad range of important traits, including growth rate, doubling time, lag time, maximum density and carrying capacity, diauxie, area under the curve, extinction time, and more.Conclusionsgcplyr makes scripted analyses of growth curve data in R straightforward, streamlines common data wrangling and analysis steps, and easily integrates with common visualization and statistical analyses.

A normative study of speech development in Mandarin-speaking infants and children

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the development of speech ability in Mandarin-speaking infants and children with normal hearing using MUSS and to provide a normal value control for the evaluation of speech ability in children with hearing loss. Methods: From September 2012 to January 2023, a total of 256 infants and children aged 1-60 months in Mandarin language environment participated in this study. 200 infants and children aged from 1 to 60 months were finally included, whose hearing was considered normal according to the history collection, high-risk registers for hearing loss and hearing screening. All infants and children were divided into 10 groups with 20 infants or children in each group. They were: 1 month, 2-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-9 months, 10-12 months, 13-18 months, 19-24 months, 25-36 months, 37-48 months, and 49-60 months. Using SPSS 19.0 software for data analysis, we calculated regression equations based on fitting curves. Results: The language ability of infants and children with normal hearing increased with age and reached ceiling at 56.5months.The regression equation was: score=-0.009 3×(age) 2+2.179×(age)+6.718 6, r2=0.85; age=0.003 9×(score) 2+0.148 4×(score)+2.708, r2=0.85. Conclusions: The speech ability of infants and children with normal hearing shows an increasing trend with age. Scores of different speech skills can be predicted according to their age. Age can also be predicted according to their scores of different speech skills.

P-529 Optical Genomic Mapping (OGM) enable cryptic chromosomal rearrangements in a couple with recurrent miscarriages undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Abstract Study question Could Optical Genomic Mapping (OGM) detect chromosomal structural variations (SVs) below the detection limit of conventional cytogenetic diagnostics in couples with recurrent miscarriages? Summary answer The Next-generation cytogenetics of Optical Genomic Mapping confirmed a cryptic chromosomal translocation in a couple with recurrent miscarriages undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). What is known already Chromosomal structural variants (SVs) significantly contribute to infertility, recurrent pregnancy losses and congenital defects... Approximately 2-4% of couples facing recurrent miscarriages carry chromosomal abnormalities. Currently, their detection is based on convencional cytogenetic methods (karyotyping, FISH or array-CGH), however cryptic chromosomal rearrangements are difficult to identify. Next-generation cytogenetics such as OGM is able to detect SVs with a resolution of < 500 kb, allowing a better understanding of the cause of patient’s infertility. In our study, we utilized OGM to confirm a cryptic translocation in a couple experiencing recurrent miscarriages, aiming to enhance our understanding of the underlying causes of their infertility. Study design, size, duration Our study focuses on a non-consanguineous couple diagnosed with recurrent pregnancy loss that attended to our private fertility clinic to undergo assisted reproductive treatment (ART) with their autologous semen, oocytes and PGT-A. Conventional cytogenetic technique was performed on both partners by G-banding karyotyping. PGT-A was performed by NGS (Veriseq, Illumina). Optical Genomic Mapping (OGM) served as a diagnostic tool, complemented by lymphocyte FISH analysis to confirm chromosomal structural variations in these infertile patients. Participants/materials, setting, methods Ultra High Molecular Weight genomic DNA (UHMW gDNA) was extracted from frozen human peripheral blood of both partners. UHMW gDNA was quantified using Qubit dsDNA assay BR kit and Qubit 4 Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). We used Saphyr system (Bionano Genomics) for cytogenetic diagnosis. The consensus genomic map was constructed by de novo assembly in the Bionano Solve data analysis software. SVs were identified by aligning Optical Genomic Map with the reference genome GRCh38/hg38. Main results and the role of chance The couple had suffered four prior miscarriages and undergoing three PGT-A cycles. Both partners provided a normal karyotype. Among 13 biopsied embryos, four showed CNVs on chromosomes 2(p24.3è25.3, 12Mb) and 6(p24.1è25.3, 11Mb). Following this result we suspected that the couple might has a cryptic chromosomal structural abnormalities. To test our hypothesis, we performed OGM. We analysed UHMW gDNA samples from both partners. OGM generated an average of 823.67Gb. The average N50 molecule length (≥150kb) was 318kb. The average mapping rate was 90.75% and the average labeling rate was 15.30 labels per 100kb. The average effective coverage depth was 242X. OGM successfully identified a cryptic translocation in the male partner ogm[GRch38]t(2;6)(p24.3;24.1), while the female partner showed no abnormalities. Translocation breakpoints identified by OGM were Chr2:12.560.508 and Chr6:11.622.593. The translocated segments were near to the detection limit of conventional cytogenetic analysis and with similar pattern that could be the reason for missed detection by karyotyping. Importantly, we identified one gene disrupted by OGM rearrangement breakpoint: MIR3681HG. A previous study considered that CNV loci of 2p24.3, including MIR3681HG gene, could be associated with spermatogenesis. The lymphocyte FISH analysis finding corroborated the OGM result. Limitations, reasons for caution OGM is a very powerful method for detecting chromosomal structural variants in human genomes and is able to detect cryptic structural variants. However, this is a very new diagnostic application, so there is limited experience with OGM for correlating structural variations results to infertility diagnosis in couples with recurrent miscarriages. Wider implications of the findings A balanced cryptic translocation has been identified in a couple with recurrent miscarriages. Our case report demonstrates the high diagnostic capability of Optical Genomic Mapping for cryptic SVs. OGM technology allows a more accurate cytogenetic diagnosis by detecting cryptic structural variants with high resolution in infertile patients with recurrent miscarriages. Trial registration number not applicable

Impact of government support policies on entrepreneurial orientation and SME performance

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often resource-constrained and motivated by necessity or opportunity. They play an essential role in national economies due to their contributions to employment, human capital development, knowledge spillovers, and social mobility in maintaining diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems. Government support policies (GSP), both financial and nonfinancial, can directly impact SME performance or indirectly by developing an entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Few studies have investigated the important question of how GSP simultaneously may impact both the EO and the performance of an SME. Thus, this paper aims to identify the current understanding of how different forms of GSPs relate to and impact the EO and the performance of SMEs. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA methodology to synthesize this understanding, resulting in 65 relevant articles from the ABI/INFORM, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Web of Science databases. The relationships between the constructs were analyzed using thematic and semantic analyses, employing computer-assisted data analysis software (NVivo 12 and Leximancer 4.5). This resulted in the categorization of GSPs as direct and indirect support policies, with financial and nonfinancial-subcategories, and depicted their pathways of influence on SMEs’ EO and performance. The study found that GSPs have four different pathways by which they can impact performance. Both direct and indirect policies have moderating effects that can magnify the impact of EO on performance. The review established that the direct effect of GSP on EO varies by sector, SME growth-intention, and type of GSP. Based on the findings, we recommend policymakers develop support policies tailored to SMEs’ specific sector and its intentions to enhance performance.

Investigating the influence of temperature on salt solubility in water: a STEM approach with pre-university chemistry students

Abstract In a society heavily influenced by technological advancements, developing scientific and technological literacy among young people is essential. Along these lines, this research describes a STEM activity developed to promote the teaching of chemistry content related to the solubility of potassium nitrate in water. It also facilitated the mastery of technological skills such as programming Arduino microcontrollers and using Microsoft Excel as tools for automatic data acquisition and analysis. Eighty pre-university Chemistry students participated in this research. This pedagogical approach was divided into three main stages: (1) preliminary research on components used in the experimental apparatus; (2) introduction to the assembly of electrical circuits and Arduino programming; (3) experimental investigation of the dependence of potassium nitrate solubility on temperature. The activity allowed the students to successfully achieve the proposed chemistry learning objectives while mobilizing other scientific and technological knowledge and skills. Despite the students’ limited prior knowledge of programming and electronics, as well as their limited proficiency in data analysis software, the integration of programming in the Chemistry class proved to be a differentiating factor with a highly positive impact, particularly in terms of motivation and interest among most students.

PEMODELAN SPASIAL DALAM MENGIDENTIFIKASI TINGKAT KERENTANAN BANJIR DI KECAMATAN MEJOBO, KABUPATEN KUDUS, JAWA TENGAH, INDONESIA

The occurrence of flood disasters is an annual unavoidable event in the Mejobo District, Kudus Regency. This study aims to map the vulnerable areas to floods in the Mejobo District using spatial modelling. The parameters used to determine the vulnerability areas include soil type, elevation, population density, river buffer, rainfall, and land use. The research location is situated in the Mejobo District. The research method employed is the models and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, with the assistance of ArcGIS software for data processing and analysis. The research findings yield a final map depicting flood vulnerability, which indicates the distribution of flood-prone areas. Areas with a high level of flood vulnerability are dispersed across agricultural fields and areas adjacent to rivers, covering an area of 1,770 hectares. Meanwhile, areas with a moderate level of vulnerability are predominantly distributed in residential areas, covering an area of 1,907 hectares.

Large-Scale S. aureus Screening with Molecular Epidemiology; the Role of MSSA and Community MRSA in Hospital Transmissions

Background: The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus transmission in hospitals is unknown: symptomatic infection may occur months after transmission and colonization, and infection prevention efforts rely on indirect measurements, rather than direct detection of transmission events. We implemented a hospital-based S. aureus screening program, combined with whole genome sequencing of S. aureus surveillance and clinical cultures and data extracted from the electronic health record, to identify S. aureus clonal complex-, patient- and location-specific factors associated with S. aureus transmission in our health system. Methods: Screening S. aureus cultures were obtained at admission by nasal swab for adults admitted to Medicine, Transplant, Oncology and intensive care, and weekly by swab of nares, axilla and groin for children admitted to intensive care and Oncology at NYU Langone Health in New York City. All methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from screening and clinical (blood, wound, sputum) cultures and all methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) from screening and blood cultures underwent whole genome sequencing. Isolates from distinct patients with < 2 0 single nucleotide pair differences were considered genetically related. Electronic health data was extracted for descriptive statistics and for spatiotemporal plots to assess plausible transmissions. We used REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and SAS software for data analysis to evaluate S. aureus transmissions between November 2022 and November 2023. Results: We analyzed 8,567 S. aureus isolates: including 6,552 screening cultures, 1,008 blood cultures, and 1,007 clinical cultures. We found 424 plausible S. aureus hospital transmissions using sequencing and electronic health data. Screening cultures identified 75% of transmissions that would have otherwise been missed with blood and clinical cultures alone. The majority of positive screening cultures isolated MSSA, but the proportion of transmissions due to MSSA differed by age. In children, MSSA colonization accounted for 62% of transmissions. In adults, only 15% of transmissions were due to MSSA colonization, whereas MRSA colonization accounted for 56% of transmissions. Analysis of adult MRSA isolates by clonal complex found that 45% of transmissions were due to CC8, higher than the 17% among isolates agnostic of transmissions. Emergency departments and the neonatal intensive care unit had the highest number of transmissions. Patients involved in transmissions had longer lengths of stay and frequent hospitalizations. Conclusions: A S. aureus screening program, coupled with genome sequencing and electronic health data, can identify patient group, hospital locations and clonal complexes that are at high risk for S. aureus transmissions.

Incorporating Technology Adoption in Medical Education: A Qualitative Study of Medical Students' Perspectives.

The integration of technology into medical education has witnessed significant growth in recent years, with tools such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine gaining prominence. These tool in medical education, offering immersive, experiential learning experiences. We approached medical students currently enrolled in medical education programs and who are familiar with and actively use AI in medical education. Initially, we invited 21 random students to participate in the study; however, only 13 agreed to interviews. Some students cited their busy exam schedules as the reason for not participating. The participants were informed of the objective of the study before the commencement of the recorded interviews. Semi-structured interviews were used to guide the record interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software. Participants exhibited a diverse range of perceptions and levels of awareness regarding VR, AI, and telemedicine technologies. Learning with virtual reality was considered to be fun, memorable, inclusive, and engaging by participants. The use of virtual reality technology is seen as complementing current teaching and learning approaches, helping to build learners' confidence, as well as providing medical students with a safe environment for problem-solving and trial-and-error learning. The students reported that AI was seen as a potential game-changer in the healthcare sector. Participants hoped that telemedicine would provide healthcare services to remote and underserved populations. The study conducted focus group discussions with medical students and residents in Saudi Arabia to explore their views on integrating VR, AI, and telemedicine in medical education and practice. Their insights highlight the need for informed decision-making and strategic development to optimize the benefits and address challenges like initial investments, technical issues, ethics, and regulations. These considerations are crucial for fully realizing the potential benefits of technology in medical education globally.

Automated object detection for muon tomography data analysis

In recent years, there have been ongoing efforts to improve screening technologies to improve security and prevent terrorist threats. The most widely used technologies for scanning shipping containers are gamma and X-ray radiography, which can be harmful to operators and the environment. Muon tomography screening systems are considered as a potential tool to enhance border security and prevent terrorist threats or smuggling, especially in the context of shipping container inspections. Muon tomography uses naturally occurring cosmic ray muons to create detailed images of the inside of objects, such as shipping containers, without the need for physical intervention. Various realistic smuggling scenarios were simulated using the GEANT4 toolkit. The implemented filtering algorithms successfully reduce background noise from the surrounding cargo, enabling the detection of concealed threats and contraband. With the tools provided by the ROOT data analysis package, prohibited items can be automatically detected and localized in a cargo container.

Retrospective clinical study analysis of skin adverse reactions related to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) represent a cornerstone in the targeted therapy of malignant tumors. While effective, dermatological adverse events (dAEs) associated with EGFRIs pose a significant challenge, often necessitating treatment discontinuation due to their severity and potential to impede the continuity of cancer therapy. Despite extensive research, the specific mechanisms and predictors of these adverse events remain poorly understood, particularly in diverse populations. This gap in knowledge underscores the need for targeted studies to better predict and manage these events, enhancing patient outcomes and adherence to life-saving therapies. This observational study was conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, covering cancer patients treated with EGFRIs from 2020 to 2022. We analyzed clinical data including patient demographics, treatment specifics, and the development and timing of dAEs. The study employed SPSS 26.0 software for data analysis, focusing on the incidence of dAEs and factors influencing their occurrence. We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods to establish a predictive model for dAEs, tracking their onset and impact on treatment continuity. In our study of 120 patients treated with EGFR inhibitors at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, we found a high prevalence of dAEs, with 84.2% of patients experiencing such effects. The most common manifestations were papulopustular rashes, observed as pustules in 52.5% and papules in 57.4% of cases, followed by nail lesions in 62.4% of patients, oral or other mucosal ulcers in 34.7%, and hair changes in 26.7%. The median incubation time (MIT) for dAEs was 5 weeks. We identified drug type, ethnicity, and occupation as statistically significant risk factors (P<0.05 for all) that influenced the MIT, which the Cox regression model further identified as protective factors. Nomograms were developed to assess the risk of dAEs, although it is important to note that these models have only been internally validated, lacking external validation data at this stage. The study highlights the high incidence of EGFRIs-associated dAEs, with specific dermatological manifestations posing significant challenges in cancer therapy. The identification of drug type, ethnicity, and occupation as influential factors on the MIT for dAEs informs clinical decisions. Our prediction model serves as a practical tool for evaluating the risk of developing dAEs over time, aiming to optimize patient management and mitigate treatment interruptions.