Homogeneous Definition Research Articles

Towards a definition of transcreation: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT ‘Transcreation’ has appeared in the last decade as a translation-related activity consisting in the creative reinterpretation of texts to suit the characteristics of an intended audience. However, the scientific literature surrounding transcreation does not offer a homogenous definition of the term. Given these disparities, the main objective of this work is to create a reliable source of reviewed scientific information about the topic. A sample of scientific works regarding the topic ‘transcreation’ has been compiled from databases and repositories of recognized reliability and has been analyzed with a qualitative data analysis software (NVivo). Findings show that research on transcreation expanded significantly between 2015 and 2019 and that most studies are of a qualitative nature. A critical analysis of the content connects transcreation with other fields of research: translation, communication, advertising and poetry. Following a concept-centric approach, this Systematic Literature Review has permitted the formulation of definitions for transcreation and the landscape of academic research on the topic to be outlined.

Artificial Intelligence Risks and Challenges in the Spanish Public Administration: An Exploratory Analysis through Expert Judgements

The expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration is generating numerous opportunities for governments. Current Spanish regulations have established electronic administration and support the expansion and implementation of this new technology, but they may not be adapted to the legal needs caused by AI. Consequently, this research aims to identify the risks associated with AI uses in Spanish public administration and if the legal mechanisms can solve them. We answer these questions by employing a qualitative research approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with several experts in the matter. Despite the benefits that this technology may involve, throughout this research we can confirm that the use of artificial intelligence can generate several problems such as opacity, legal uncertainty, biases, or breaches of personal data protection. The mechanisms already provided by Spanish law are not enough to avoid these risks as they have not been designed to face the use of artificial intelligence in public administration. In addition, a homogeneous legal definition of AI needs to be established.

Sepsis-3: new edition — old problems. analysis from the perspective of general pathology

Sepsis-3 Guidelines defines sepsis as an organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection. To record organ dysfunction, the SOFA/quick SOFA scales were recommended. In fact, in medical practice, sepsis is considered nothing more than a critical infection that requires intensive care. Therefore, sepsis is pathogenetically a nonhomogeneous condition manifested by diverse nosologies and syndromes. Unlike the previous two editions, Sepsis-1 and Sepsis-2 Guidelines, the formal criteria provided in the Sepsis-3 are closer to the de facto position, describe more specific, but less sensitive features to predict mortality. However, the initial, latent manifestations of critical conditions, which can be relatively effectively controlled by intensive therapy, remain outside the Sepsis-3 criteria. Not all signs of multiple organ dysfunctions (according to the Sepsis-3 criteria) will require intensive care. Hence, obviously the presence or absence of formal criteria of Sepsis-3 will not be always taken into account while verifying sepsis. The only relatively pathogenetically homogeneous definition in Sepsis-3 is “septic shock”. However, it also does not fully consider the staging (according to the degree of compensation of hemodynamic disturbances) and the phasing (according to the severity of the proinflammatory response) of the dynamics of the shock condition. From our point of view, a positive result of the Sepsis-3 consensus would be in transition of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) from the main to additional (optional) verifying sepsis criteria. We also believe that the weak side of the Sepsis-3 Guidelines is in underestimated mechanisms of systemic inflammation as a general pathological process in the genesis of developing critical conditions of various origins. From the perspective of general pathology, sepsis is a combination of the three common fundamental pathological processes: classical (canonical) and systemic inflammation (SI), as well as chronic systemic low-grade inflammation (parainflammation), the latter can be considered as an unfavorable background for development of the former two processes. All three processes are characterized by any SIR signs and require to be differentiated on the basis of integral criteria, which reflect specific blocks of the SI complex process. The pathogenesis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is a relevant example underlying inevitability of such approach. The systemic microvascular vasculitis, and its main clinical manifestations such as systemic microcirculatory disorders in the form of shockogenic conditions is the SI pathogenetic basis. Apparently, one of the modalities for further evolution of critical care medicine will be coupled to development of a more multilayered but effective methods for assessing pathogenesis of critical states and more differentiated methods of pathogenetic therapy. Therefore, it will require to modernize a number of fundamental premises in our knowledge about pathobiology, pathophysiology, and general pathology.

Cochrane in CORR®: Psychological Interventions to Foster Resilience in Healthcare Professionals.

Cochrane in CORR®: Psychological Interventions to Foster Resilience in Healthcare Professionals.

Sternal human variability and population affinity: Frequency of discrete traits and their relationship withsexand age.

Sternal morphological variations differ among populations and are influenced by the interaction between inheritance, development, and environment. There are currently no studies that include all variability from a morphogenesis approach following a homogeneous definition. The aims of this study were (a) to develop a standardized method for the anatomical study of the sternum; (b) to analyze the prevalence of the morphological variations and their relationship between sex and age; (c) to compare the results with other populations. The sterna of 155 skeletons from a Spanish population were studied. The age at the time of death was 17 to 97 years. We analyzed two metric and 22 sternal morphological variations described in the literature and designed an illustrated atlas. The atlas was validated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to measure the prevalence and relationship between sex and age. To analyze the interpopulation variability, we compared our results with those from other authors. The atlas with definitions and reference images improves the observation and detection of all morphological variations of the sternum (ICC=0.90). The dependence between the morphological traits and sex was significant for the variations in the sternal angle, the number of esternebra, and the development of the xiphoid process. No significant differences were found between age group and morphological traits. The expression of the sternal morphological variation and sex are population-specific. The results will help standardize future studies and provide valuable information on the variability of the sternal morphological variation.

Connecting Hydrometeorological Processes to Low‐Probability Floods in the Mountainous Colorado Front Range

AbstractEstimating the probabilities of rare floods in mountainous watersheds is challenging due to the hydrometeorological complexity of seasonally varying snowmelt and soil moisture dynamics, as well as spatiotemporal variability in extreme precipitation. Design storm methods and statistical flood frequency analyses often overlook these complexities and how they shape the probabilities of rare floods. This study presents a process‐based approach that combines gridded precipitation, stochastic storm transposition (SST), and physics‐based distributed rainfall‐runoff modeling to simulate flood peak and volume distributions up to the 10,000‐year recurrence interval and to provide insights into the hydrometeorological drivers of those events. The approach is applied to a small mountainous watershed in the Colorado Front Range in the United States. We show that storm transposition in the Front Range can be justified under existing definitions of regional precipitation homogeneity. The process‐based results show close agreement with a statistically based mixture distribution that considers underlying flood drivers. We further demonstrate that antecedent conditions and snowmelt drive frequent peak discharges and rarer flood volumes, while the upper tail of the flood peak distribution appears to be controlled by heavy rainfall and rain‐on‐snow. In particular, we highlight the important role of early fall extreme rainfall in controlling rare flood peaks (but not volumes), despite only one such event having been observed in recent decades. Notwithstanding issues related to the accuracy of gridded precipitation datasets, these findings highlight the potential of SST and process‐based modeling to help understand the relationships between flood drivers and flood frequencies.

Multi-collector 40Ar/39Ar dating of microtektites from Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica): A definitive link with the Australasian tektite/microtektite strewn field

Microtektites represent high-velocity/distal meteorite impact ejecta. Demonstrating that microtektites found at several locations throughout East-Antarctica consist of a homogeneous class of geological objects belonging to the Australasian tektite/microtektite strewn field is fundamental to define the actual extent of the largest and youngest known tektite field on Earth produced by an asteroidal impact ∼0.8 Ma ago. This study presents new 40Ar/39Ar analyses performed by multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometry on individual microtektites from two key locations in the Transantarctic Mountains: Miller Butte, in northern Victoria Land, and Mount Raymond, over 1,000 km further south, in the Grosvenor Mountains. Results indicate that particles are heavily contaminated by at least one extraneous Ar component, which is not correlated with size nor with bulk chemical composition, and precludes a straightforward interpretation of 40Ar/39Ar data. Analysis of data from step-heating and total fusion analyses in three-isotope correlation diagrams yielded indistinguishable isochron ages from the two locations, with a combined isochron average of 800 ± 89 ka (95% confidence level). These age results improve by more than one order of magnitude previously published 40Ar/39Ar age determinations and improve by ∼4 times a previous fission track date, thus providing conclusive evidence that microtektites found throughout the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica belong to a single source – the Australasian field. This study strengthens the southward extension of the Australasian field (∼4,000 km southward with respect to Australasian microtektites recovered at lower latitudes from deep sea sediments), thus implying a launch distance of nearly 12,000 km from the putative impact location in Indochina. From a broad perspective, results also reveal a contrasting behavior between microtektites from the Transantarctic Mountains, highly contaminated by extraneous Ar, and Australasian macroscopic tektites, weakly or negligibly contaminated. Although future dedicated experimental work, aimed at the definition of physical homogeneity of microtektites at the submicroscale and at the understanding of the true intra-particle spatial distribution of Ar isotopes are necessary, we speculatively hypothesize that the contrasting behavior between tektites and microtektites may reflect displacement in different environments.

Risk Factors for Atonic Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To identify and quantify risk factors for atonic postpartum hemorrhage. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for English language studies with no restrictions on date or location. Studies included randomized trials, prospective or retrospective cohort studies, and case-control studies of pregnant patients who developed atonic postpartum hemorrhage and reported at least one risk factor. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were performed using the Raayan web application. Of 1,239 records screened, 27 studies were included in this review. Adjusted or unadjusted odds ratios (ORs), relative risks, or rate ratios were recorded or calculated. For each risk factor, a qualitative synthesis of low and moderate risk of bias studies classifies the risk factor as definite, likely, unclear, or not a risk factor. For risk factors with sufficiently homogeneous definitions and reference ranges, a quantitative meta-analysis of low and moderate risk of bias studies was implemented to estimate a combined OR. Forty-seven potential risk factors for atonic postpartum hemorrhage were identified in this review, of which 15 were judged definite or likely risk factors. The remaining 32 assessed risk factors showed no association with atonic postpartum hemorrhage or had conflicting or unclear evidence. A substantial proportion of postpartum hemorrhage occurs in the absence of recognized risk factors. Many risk factors for atonic hemorrhage included in current risk-assessment tools were confirmed, with the greatest risk conferred by prior postpartum hemorrhage of any etiology, placenta previa, placental abruption, uterine rupture, and multiple gestation. Novel risk factors not currently included in risk-assessment tools included hypertension, diabetes, and ethnicity. Obesity and magnesium were not associated with atonic postpartum hemorrhage in this review. PROSPERO, CRD42020157521.

Robust Segmentation-Free Algorithm for Homogeneity Quantification in Images.

Homogeneity is a notion used to describe images in various fields and is often linked to critical aspects of those fields. However, this term is rarely defined in the literature and no gold standard exists for its quantification. A few quantification algorithms have been proposed, but they lack both simplicity and robustness. As a result, the scientific community uses the notion of homogeneity in subjective analysis, preventing objective comparison of a large number of data or of different studies. The main objectives of this manuscript are to propose a definition of homogeneity and an algorithm for its quantification. This algorithm, called MASQH, rely on a multi-scale, statistical and segmentation-free approach and outputs a single homogeneity index, which makes it robust and easy to use. The performance and reliability of the method are demonstrated through three case studies: Firstly, on synthetic images to study the behavior and assess the relevance of the algorithm in diverse situations and hence, in various potential fields. Secondly, on histological images derived from experimental chitosan-platelet-rich-plasma hybrid biomaterial, where the quantitative results are compared to a qualitative classification provided by an expert in the field. Thirdly, on experimental nanocomposites images for which results are compared to two other homogeneity quantification algorithms from the field of nanocomposites. By quantifying homogeneity, the MASQH method may help to compare disparate studies in the literature and quantitatively demonstrate the impact of homogeneity in various fields. The MASQH method is freely available online.

Prediction of the Partition Coefficient between Adipose Tissue and Blood for Environmental Chemicals: From Single QSAR Models to an Integrated Approach.

The adipose tissue:blood partition coefficient is a key-endpoint to predict the pharmacokinetics of chemicals in humans and animals, since other organ:blood affinities can be estimated as a function of this parameter. We performed a search in the literature to select all the available rat in vivo data. This approach resulted into two improvements to existing models: a homogeneous definition of the endpoint and an expanded data collection. The resulting dataset was used to develop QSAR models as a function of linear and non-linear algorithms. Several applicability domain definitions were assessed and the definition corresponding to a good balance between performance and coverage was retained. We assessed the pertinence of combining single models into integrated approaches to increase the accuracy in predictions. The best integrated model outperformed the single models and it was characterized by an external mean absolute error (MAE) equal to 0.26, while preserving an adequate coverage (84 %). This performance is comparable to experimental variability and it highlights the pertinence of the integrated model.

Enhancing the content uniformity of low dose drugs by using different granulation techniques

Progress in pharmaceutical research has delivered very strong medications, which require cautious definition and creation so as to deliver strong oral measurement structures with satisfactory homogeneity and physical stability. Mixing and formulation of low dose medications can be individually testing because of issues identified with isolation, content uniformity and physical stability. A cautious control on these variables is vital while fabricating low dose drugs. Choice of excipients for the particular strides during detailing/process improvement is basic to build up a homogenous and isolation free low portion definition. Numerous sorts of categories of gear have been intended towards encourage blending of low portion drugs with excipients. A side from traditional detailing strategies (like wet granulation, dry granulation, and direct compression) different new procedures have been announced, for example, high shear granulation, requested blending and spry drying. These innovative headways ensure enhanced the assembling and nature of low dose drugs items by accomplishing their predefined goal of substance consistency through outblending and plan of low dose drugs. Blending and detailing of low portion drugs are advanced work and includes part of issues related to isolation, content consistency and physical soundness which can be constrained by right choice of material, strategy and machine. This article surveys current headways identified with plan systems of low dose drugs.

The 30-day readmission rate in neurosurgery-a useful indicator for quality assessment?

A shift in how we evaluate healthcare outcomes has driven the introduction of quality indicators as potential parameters to evaluate value-based healthcare delivery. So far, only few studies have been performed evaluating quality indicators in the context of neurosurgery, especially in the European region. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 30-day readmission rate, identify reasons for readmission regarding the various neurosurgical diagnoses, and discuss the usefulness of this rate as a potential quality indicator. During a 6-year period, a total of 8878 hospitalized patients in our neurosurgical department were retrospectively analyzed and included in this study. Reasons for readmission were identified. Patients' diagnoses and baseline characteristics were obtained in order to identify possible risk factors for readmission. The 30-day readmission rate was 2.9%. The most common reason for unplanned readmissions were surgical site infections. The reasons for readmissions varied significantly between the different underlying neurosurgical diseases (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed hydrocephalus (OR, 4) and shorter length of stay during index admission (OR, 0.9) as risk factors for readmission. We provided an analysis of reasons for readmission for various neurosurgical diseases in a large patient spectrum in Germany. Although readmission rates are easy to track and an attractive tool for quality assessment, the rate alone cannot be seen as an adequate measure for quality in neurosurgery as it lacks a homogenous definition and depends on the underlying health care system. In addition, strategies for risk adjustment are required.

P309Aortic valve implantation-induced bundle branch block as a framework towards a more uniform electrocardiographic definition of left bundle branch block

Abstract INTRODUCTION The electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern of true left bundle branch block (LBBB) has not been fully clarified and various definitions of LBBB exist. New-onset LBBB after transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical (SAVR) aortic valve replacement implies a proximal pathogenesis of LBBB and thus may provide a reference to characterize and define true LBBB. PURPOSE This study compares ECG characteristics in aortic valve implantation-induced LBBB (AVI-LBBB) to a non-procedural-induced LBBB control group (co-LBBB) in order to set a more homogenous definition for true LBBB. METHODS The study enrolled all patients with new-onset TAVR- and SAVR-induced LBBB between 2013 and 2019. AVI-LBBB was defined as new-onset persistent LBBB occurring within 24h after TAVR or SAVR. Patients were matched for age, sex, ischemic heart disease and left ventricular systolic function to randomly selected co-LBBB patients in a 1:2 ratio. For inclusion in both groups, a non-strict LBBB definition was used (QRSD ≥120ms, QS or rS in lead V1, absence of Q wave in leads V5-6). ECG characteristics were digitally analysed by the MUSE algorithm and confirmed by two experts. All ECG recordings were classified according to 4 different LBBB definitions: MADIT, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Strauss and American Heart Association (AHA). RESULTS 59 patients with AVI-LBBB (34 TAVR, 25 SAVR, median age 82 years, 42% male) were compared to 118 matched co-LBBB patients. All patients with AVI-LBBB presented with QRS notching/slurring in the lateral leads, whereas this was present in only 85% of the co-LBBB group (p = 0.001). QRS duration (148ms vs 145ms, p = 0.074) and R wave peak time (58ms vs 62ms, p = 0.065) were not significantly different among both groups. AVI-LBBB was characterized by a more rightward QRS axis (-15° vs -30°, p = 0.013). When comparing AVI-LBBB to LBBB controls with QRS notching/slurring, a comparable QRS axis was observed. Almost all AVI-LBBB patients met the MADIT (98%), ESC (100%) and Strauss (95%) definition. Only 18% of patients met the AHA definition, because of the low combined presence of QRS notching/slurring in all 4 lateral leads (54%) and because only 27% of patients had an R wave peak time &amp;gt;60ms in both leads V5-6. In the co-LBBB group, adherence to the different definitions was significantly lower compared to the AVI-LBBB group: MADIT 86% (p = 0.007), ESC 85% (p = 0.001), Strauss 68% (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and AHA 7% (p = 0.035). Lower presence of lateral notching/slurring and more patients with smaller QRS duration (QRS duration ≥130ms, 86% vs 98%, p = 0.007) in the co-LBBB group explain these results. CONCLUSIONS Discordance exists between various definitions in scoring AVI-LBBB. Our data show that presence of QRS notching/slurring in the lateral leads is a crucial feature of proximal LBBB, rather than QRS duration and R wave peak time. The AVI-LBBB population provides a framework towards a more uniform definition and criteria for assessing true, proximal LBBB.

Multiresolution analysis of point processes and statistical thresholding for Haar wavelet-based intensity estimation

We take a wavelet-based approach to the analysis of point processes and the estimation of the first-order intensity under a continuous-time setting. A Haar wavelet multiresolution analysis is formulated which motivates the definition of homogeneity at different scales of resolution, termed J-th level homogeneity. Further to this, the activity in a point process’ first-order behaviour at different scales of resolution is also defined and termed L-th level innovation. Likelihood ratio tests for both these properties are proposed with asymptotic distributions provided, even when only a single realization is observed. The test for L-th level innovation forms the basis for a collection of statistical strategies for thresholding coefficients in a wavelet-based estimator of the intensity function. These thresholding strategies outperform the existing local hard thresholding strategy on a range of simulation scenarios. This methodology is applied to NetFlow data, characterizing multiscale behaviour on computer networks.

Pharmacogenetics of Pediatric Asthma: Current Perspectives.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects 339 million people worldwide and has a considerable impact on the pediatric population. Asthma symptoms can be controlled by pharmacological treatment. However, some patients do not respond to therapy and continue suffering from symptoms, which impair the quality of life of patients and limit their daily activity. Genetic variation has been shown to have a role in treatment response. The aim of this review is to update the main findings described in pharmacogenetic studies of pediatric asthma published from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. During this period, the response to short-acting beta-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma has been evaluated by eleven candidate-gene studies, one meta-analysis of a candidate gene, and six pharmacogenomic studies. The findings have allowed validating the association of genes previously related to asthma treatment response (ADRB2, GSDMB, FCER2, VEGFA, SPAT2SL, ASB3, and COL2A1), and identifying novel associations (PRKG1, DNAH5, IL1RL1, CRISPLD2, MMP9, APOBEC3B-APOBEC3C, EDDM3B, and BBS9). However, some results are not consistent across studies, highlighting the need to conduct larger studies in diverse populations with more homogeneous definitions of treatment response. Once stronger evidence was established, genetic variants will have the potential to be applied in clinical practice as biomarkers of treatment response enhancing asthma management and improving the quality of life of asthma patients.

Satisfaction of Patients with Type II Diabetes on Health Service in Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes /Baghdad 2019

Background: Patient satisfaction is of increasing importance and widely recognized as an important indicator of quality of the medical care. There was no homogeneous definition of patient satisfaction, since satisfaction concerns different aspects of care or settings, as well as care given by various professions.&#x0D; Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the patients’ level of satisfaction with diabetes care and to identify the underlying factors influencing it.&#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional study had been conducted in the Specialized Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Baghdad Al- Rusafa 2018. Where150 type two diabetic patients attending their follow-up were requested to fill the questionnaire. The questionnaire identified patients, doctors, and practice related factors. For statistical analysis of the data, SPSS Version 24 was used, and the Chi-square statistical test was applied, A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The study showed that the overall level of satisfaction was 79.3%. There was a statistically significant association between age group, gender, profession, educational level and marital status where P value 0.001 for all variables.&#x0D; Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that patients’ satisfaction was high. Majority of the diabetic patients were satisfied with health services, the level of satisfaction increases with age, female gender, and married patients, but it decreases with a high level of education and profession. High level of dissatisfaction seen on treatment services&#x0D;

Explanatory model of mental illness and treatment-seeking behavior among caregivers of patients with mental illness: Evidence from Eastern India

Background: Mental illness does not have a homogeneous definition since its explanation varies across the culture. Caregivers are playing a vital role in the decision-making process of patient treatment. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the explanatory models (EMs) about mental illnesses and treatment-seeking behavior (TSB) prevalent among the patients' caregivers in Jharkhand, India. Methods: The present study was conducted among the patients' caregivers from the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, India. Two-hundred and forty respondents were selected through a convenient sampling method. A sociodemographic detail sheet used for recording the sociodemographic profile of the respondents and semi-structure interview schedule sheet was used to record the EMs and TSB of the respondents. Results: Most caregivers understand mental illness as a brain dysfunction (50.4%) but unaware of the causation of it (48.3%). Whereas 82.1% of patients' caregivers prefer medical facilities for the treatment; at the same time, 57.5% prefer faith healers or religios practice to cure. Conclusion: It can be inferred from the results that half of the respondents still have other kinds of EMs on the causation of mental illness. Although the high frequency of seeking medical facilities has come in the result, different modes of treatment seeking which are done parallelly by caregivers such as faith and traditional healing cannot be ignored. Therefore, there is a need to raise the mental health literacy in this region in addition to the medical and psychiatric care facilities.

What nursing sensitive outcomes have been studied to-date among patients cared for in intensive care units? Findings from a scoping review

BackgroundAlthough many studies have considered mortality and adverse effects as outcomes sensitive to nursing practice, it seems that other outcomes of nursing care in intensive care units have been explored less commonly. ObjectivesTo describe the state-of-science in research in the field of nursing sensitive outcomes in intensive care units and to synthesize outcomes that have been documented to date as being influenced by nursing care. DesignA scoping review study based on the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, further refined by the Levac and Joanna Briggs Institute was performed in 2019. Data sourcesThe Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. In addition, the reference list of included articles was screened. Review methodsTwo researchers independently identified publications on the basis of the following criteria: (a) articles that reported nursing sensitive outcomes on critically-ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit, (b) as primary and secondary studies, (c) written in English, and (d) without any time frame limitation. ResultsOf the 4,231 records, 112 fully met the inclusion criteria and were included. Publications were mainly authored in the US and Canada (n = 44, 39.2%), and the majority (n = 62, 55.3%) had an observational design. A total of 233 nursing sensitive outcomes emerged, categorized in 35 outcomes, with, on average, two per study included. The most often measured outcomes were pressure ulcers (20 studies) and ventilator-associated pneumonias (19 studies); the less studied outcomes were quality of life, secretion clearance, patient-ventilator dysynchrony, and post-extubation dysphagia. When categorizing outcomes, the ones concerning safety (n = 77, 33.1%) were represented the most, followed by those concerning the clinical (n = 72, 30.9%), functional (n = 70, 30.0%), and perceptual (n = 14, 6.0%) domains. The interdependent outcomes linked to multi-professional interventions (e.g., ventilator-associated pneumonias) were the most frequently studied nursing sensitive outcomes (n = 20, 57.1%), while independent outcomes resulting from autonomous interventions performed by nurses were less often studied (n = 8, 22.9%). ConclusionsFrom a clinical point of view, a large heterogeneity of outcomes influenced by nursing care emerged. However, identified outcomes have been studied with different approaches and metrics, so that future efforts will need to establish homogeneous conceptual and operative definitions. Moreover, increasing efforts in establishing perceptual outcomes, or those close to the fundamentals of nursing care, are suggested in order to better depict the contribution of critical care nurses in the field.

Wetting of single crystalline and amorphous silicon surfaces: effective range of intermolecular forces for wetting

ABSTRACTWetting at nanoscale is a property of a three-dimensional region with a finite length into the solid domain from the surface. Understanding the extent of the solid region effective on wetting is important for recent coating applications as well as for both crystalline and amorphous solids of different atomic ordering. For such a case, we studied the wetting behaviour of silicon surfaces at various crystalline and amorphous states. Molecular distributions of amorphous systems were varied by changing the amorphisation conditions of silicon. Semi-cylindrical water droplets were formed on the surfaces to be large enough to remain independent of line tension and Tolman length effects. Contact angles showed up to 38% variation by the change in the atomic orientation of silicon. Instead of a homogeneous solid density definition, we calculated different solid densities for a given surface measured inside different extents from the interface. We correlated the observed wetting variation with each of these different solid densities to determine which extent governs the wetting variation. We observed that the variation of solid density measured inside a 0.13 nm extent from the surface reflected the variation of wetting angle better for both single crystalline and amorphous silicon surfaces.

Al Ittijãhãt fi al-Dirãsãt al-Ilmiyyah inda al-Thãlib al-Jãmi’i fi Qismi Ta’lîmi al-Lughah al-Arabiyyah bi Jãmiati Mãdûrã al-Islamiyyah al-Hukûmiyyah

Scientific research is one of the students’ contributions to solving problems faced by society now. In the academic years 2014-2015 at the Arabic Language Education department, Tarbiyah Faculty, IAIN Madura, the scientific researches of students are only concentrated in the areas of describing the teaching of the Arabic language. On contrary, today it requires several contributions in solving problems to develop the quality of Arabic language education that participates in the requirements of new education in this globalization era. So, the researcher conducts this research to know their research areas in the Arabic language. This research is a literary study and the type of research is an analytical descriptive study. The result are 1) percentage of scientific research of students; 22% are in educational techniques, 31.74% are in case study, 12.69% are in education strategies, 7,93% are in educational Media/teaching media, 11.11% are in educational evaluation , 1,58% are in curriculum study , 1,58% is translation , and the last 3.17% are in content analysis. 2) There are homogeneous definitions between strategies, methods, and techniques in education.