Related Issues Research Articles

Blockchain and machine learning in education: a literature review

<span lang="EN-US">There is a growing influence around the use of technology in education, with many solutions already being implemented and many others being explored. Using various forms of technology to assist the educational process has increased dramatically in the previous decade in education systems in many respects. Both machine learning and the blockchain have had a significant impact on education. The purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on the application of machine learning and blockchain technology in educational institutions. Additionally, this study examines the potential applications, benefits, and challenges those educational institutions may face as a result of using machine learning and blockchain technologies. Using machine learning and blockchain in educational systems will have a positive impact on the entire educational process and student achievement. Researchers, academics, and practitioners will benefit from this study to focus on a wider range of educational applications and solve the related issues of machine learning and blockchain technology in the education sector.</span>

School Strategies on Improving Students’ Physical Activity Engagement During COVID-19 Pandemic Period: A Thematic Review

Study purpose. Physical inactivity among school students was an existing health issue over the past decade. This became more alarming when the world was hit by the COVID–19 pandemic. Movement restriction that results temporary school closure significantly affect students’ physical activity participation. Therefore, strategies and practices to improve active play engagement as well as to counteract its negative health-related effects on students were widely implemented by teachers and administrators in school upon its re-opening. Numerous articles have been published on the effectiveness of school-based interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still a lack of a review paper that deals with the identification of patterns and trends about school practices in this area. Hence, this paper intends to generate impressions and identify concepts within the published articles during 2021 to 2023. Materials and methods. Selected articles for this study were collected from the following databases: SCOPUS, Sage, ProQuest, Academic Search complete, Science Direct. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (ATLAS ti. 23) guided the comprehensiveness of this review. Study findings were generated and presented through quantitative and qualitative lenses. Results. Four central themes were identified: 1) Alternative Physical Education – modifying traditional physical education subject; 2) Physical literacy focus – approach anchored to multi-dimensional foundation in physical activity engagement 3) Web-based intervention – virtual and cyberspace approach and 4) Needs–based intervention – focusing on integration of participants’ attributes and specifically designed program. Conclusions. The structure of strategies conducted by schools were greatly affected by the current community health status. Findings of this study will serve as a reference for designing future intervention approach to address the sedentary lifestyles of young populations associated to specific community health and other related issues.

Analysing Barriers to Girls’ Education Outcomes in South Sudan

The study was conducted to analyzed barriers to girl education South Sudan programme. With literacy rate for the country at 47%, female literacy is worse within the region with 42% of the overall enrolment were girls which was lower by 16% to that of boys. The outcome of the results might be used to scale up cash transfers and other initiatives for girls as keys barriers are identified and analyzed for girls’ education outcomes. The study has used pareto analysis, tables and graphs to demonstrate the effects of those barriers to girl’s education outcome. The findings indicated that: For instance, girls are more likely to dropout due to pregnancy at 7%, and early marriage at 9% than boys who are more likely to dropout due to recruitment into military and insecurity on the road to school. The research found that girls are more likely to drop out of school (7.4%) as they go to higher level of education compared to male counter dropout rate. 85% of girls are likely to miss school due to long distance from school and fees related issues. While 79% are more likely to drop out of schools due to displacement, 70% are likely to miss due to personal and cultural issues at home, 59z% due to marriage and pregnancy having score 40%. Therefore, partners and the national ministry of general education and instructions should prioritize those factors in their strategy to improve girls’ education outcomes.

Predictors of menstrual health management among the high school adolescent girls

Background: Adolescence (10-19 years) is an essential human developmental stage, during which physical, sexual, psychological, and social development occurs Objectives: To estimate the knowledge and attitude regarding menstruation health as well as its determinants among school going adolescent girls. Methods: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among school going adolescent girls. In addition to descriptive analysis, bi-variate analysis was also done to find out the association between various predictors of knowledge and attitudes of the study population. Results: Majority of the adolescent girls preferred mother (75.6%) as a source of information regarding puberty related issue with 86.2% of them using health related sanitary pad as one of the methods for menstrual hygiene. Conclusion: Proper menstrual hygiene practices which could be imparted through appropriate interventions at earlier stages of life can prevent the girls and women from suffering reproductive morbidities.

Gastrointestinal perforations induced by long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use: a case series analysis and discussion

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are used in a wide range but may cause harm to the gastrointestinal mucosa, which leads to various complications. This study shows the impact of long term NSAID use on small and large intestine and presents 2 cases of patients with NSAID induced perforations. The first case involves a 62-year-old male patient with RA on long term Ibuprofen use, presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and lower limbs pain. Laparotomy revealed a 5 mm perforation in the proximal jejunum. The second case, a male patient of 65 years of age using diclofenac without a prescription, which lead to a 4×4 cm sigmoid colon perforation. The comparison of both the cases presents a difference in examination and laboratory findings. Long-term NSAID use has been associated with various GI complications, including perforations. The case presents the importance of considering NSAID related complications, mainly in older patients and the persons with ulcers. Combining NSAIDS with other drugs, like misoprostol may minimize the risk of the GI complications. NSAIDs are also linked with cardiovascular events, and heart related issues. This study shows the need of careful NSAID prescription, with their association with preventable adverse effects. 30% of hospitalizations for adverse drug reactions are only by the NSAIDs. PPIs and H2 receptor antagonist are commonly used to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa which minimizes the occurrence of ulcers. Healthcare professionals should be careful particularly in case of high risk patients to minimize the NSAID related complications.

CCPs: EU Equivalence and Regulatory ‘Bazookas’

AbstractThis paper discusses various aspects of equivalence and (re)location issues in relation to central counterparties (‘CCPs’). We will inevitably focus on the consequences of Brexit for the position of the London-based CCPs and the potential impact thereof on the derivatives clearing landscape in the European Union (‘EU’). We will first describe the regime applicable to CCPs under the 2012 EMIR regime. This is followed by an introduction to EMIR 2.2 and the tiering of third-country CCPs. Subsequently, we will review the ESMA assessment of substantially systemically important clearing services and summarise the EMIR 3.0 proposal and its implications. Subsequently, the potential impact of the imposition of a location policy will be addressed. Finally, we will comment on how the European regime applicable to CCPs aligns with what may be referred to as the ‘international legal order’ providing the regulatory parameters within which cross-border clearing services may be conducted. We contend that imposing additional requirements for Tier 2 CCPs and the implementation of a (partial) location policy could prove to be regulatory ‘bazookas’. Acting in breach of the international order of mutual recognition and deference could well backfire to the detriment of the European clearing industry.

Understanding Food Waste in Bulk in Incheon: Based on Naver Blog Big Data

Purpose: This study aims to provide insight into the contemporary food waste issue for the better management of food waste in large quantities in Incheon, one specific region in Korea, based on the analysis of the Naver Blog corpus, employing analysis techniques including text mining and LDA topic modeling.
 Design/methodology/approach: In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the current study has employed the R program for the analysis (e.g., TF, tf-idf, correlation, and LDA) of 868 Naver Blog posts which included information about food waste, and/or garbage produced in bulk by foodservice operators in the context of Incheon.
 Findings: The frequently addressed keywords in the dataset include food, waste, garbage, processor, workplace, food waste dewaterer, microorganism, pulverizer, plastic, compressor, restaurant, sink, cafeteria, and bean sprouts. The correlation analysis demonstrated that waste is largely generated by food material, and food material is closely related to specific types of private companies (e.g., cafeterias) and public places (e.g., military bases, prisons, hospi-tals). The LDA identified three topics: the implications for food waste produced by the workplace, recent equipment and technologies used for food waste processing, and effect of waste on the environment and call for remedies.
 Research limitations/implications: While this study has shed light on contemporary issues in relation to food waste in Incheon, it is suggested that the involved parties in the waste management industry pay more attention to the development of effective waste management strategies by hospitality operators in a specific region.
 Originality/value: This study responds to a lack of understanding underpinning foodservice operators who produce a large quantity of food waste in Incheon, albeit much attention has been paid to some recent research on food waste.

Sustainability teaching in higher education: assessing arts and design faculty perceptions and attitudes

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions and attitudes of arts and design faculty on teaching sustainability in higher education institutions in the USA. Design/methodology/approach Arts and design faculty from nine universities in the USA were approached for the study, using both closed and open-ended questions in a survey instrument. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the collected data. Findings Results related to arts and design faculty’s perception of sustainability showed high confidence in teaching sustainability but lower confidence in inspiring students to take action on sustainability issues. Faculty also perceived time, resources, knowledge and support as barriers to the integration of the topic into the curriculum. This study revealed that the faculty’s attitude toward sustainability demonstrated their recognition that sustainability should be at the core of their discipline and that they support its integration into courses. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to arts and design faculty in higher education institutions in the USA. The results may not be generalizable to other fields or locations. In addition, the use of self-reported data may be subject to bias. Practical implications The findings of this study can inform the development of curriculum and pedagogy in arts and design sustainability education. It can also guide institutions in addressing the challenges and barriers related to incorporating sustainability into their curriculum. Social implications Prioritizing sustainability education is crucial in addressing global climate change and related issues. Art and design educators’ perspectives on teaching sustainability can contribute to constructing a sustainable future for everyone. Originality/value This study provides insight into the perception and attitude of sustainability among arts and design faculty in higher education in the USA and highlights areas for improvement such as training and resources to better integrate sustainability into the curriculum.

Electroweak symmetry breaking by gravity

We consider a simple scale-invariant action coupling the Higgs field to the metric scalar curvature R and containing an R2 term that exhibits spontaneous breaking of scale invariance and electroweak symmetry. The coefficient of the R2 term in this case determines the self-coupling of the Higgs boson in the Einstein frame, and the scalaron becomes a dilaton weakly coupled to the Higgs boson. Majorana mass terms for right-handed neutrinos can be generated in a scale-invariant manner by using the Higgs-field invariant; in this case, the existing experimental limits on the Higgs-boson total width rule out Majorana mass values in a certain range. The model inherits the naturalness issues of general relativity connected with the smallness of the gravitational and cosmological constants.

The Role of Animal Companions in the Bereavement Experiences of Australian Lesbians and Gay Men.

All too often, humans who experience the death of a partner are directed towards other humans for support, ignoring the important role that animal companions play in the lives of many humans. For lesbians and gay men specifically - whose grief may be disenfranchised - animal companions may play a particularly important role. This paper reports on a secondary analysis of interviews with 10 Australian lesbians or gay men who had lost a partner due to non-HIV related issues. Six of the participants spoke impromptu about the importance of animal companions following the death of a partner. Thematic analysis resulted in the development of three themes: (1) animals provide comfort and company, (2) animals serve as a reminder of partners, and (3) animals give people a reason to go on. The paper concludes by considering the importance of speaking about animals in the context of research and practice related to human bereavement.

Choosing Routes in Urban Areas that are Robust Against Minor Nonrecurring Traffic Incidents

The paper looks at certain vehicle-level re-routing issues within urban road networks, and related network-level traffic management issues. These arise mostly when the traffic along a route of significance is hindered, slowed down, or even blocked because of some – possibly minor – unexpected, nonrecurring traffic incident at a sensitive road location, or road section. Considerations for planning routes in urban areas – routes that are in some sense robust against such incidents – are presented herein. Also, the on–the–spot detection of traffic queues by an ego-vehicle – relying on data streams from on-board visual line-of-sight (LoS) exteroceptive sensors watching, scanning and monitoring the ego-vehicle's road environment, and by some on-board dedicated real-time detection systems processing and analyzing the incoming data streams – is touched upon. However, this traffic congestion avoidance and mitigating approach – effectuated either by individual autonomous vehicles, or by human drivers – presumes availability of alternative routes, which is not the case for a good portion of the route considered. A route planning approach that could be used for routes with such critical sections is proposed and motivated through an example of an urban route of significance.

Mental Health First Aid Officers in the Wild: A Qualitative Study of Role Formalisation, Motivation and Support Systems

ABSTRACT Objective Mental Health First Aid Officers (MHFAO) have been integrated into workplaces to assist with rising concerns about employee mental health. However, there is a dearth of research on the experiences of MHFAO. This research explores three research questions. First, how are MHFAO roles defined and structured? Second, what motivates MHFAO to become and remain in their roles? Third, what support systems exist and what desired support systems are lacking? Method Twenty-four MHFAO from different organisations in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were thematically analysed. Results Firstly, MHFAO described three ways in which their roles were formalised: informal, semi-formal and fully formalised. Secondly, motivation to become a MHFAO included intrinsic interest in mental health, personal and knowing someone with lived experience, alignment with existing organisational roles, and anticipated rewards. Skill utilisation was critical for sustained motivation. Thirdly, MHFAO reported employee assistance programs, peer support groups and training as primary supports. Primary barriers to accessing support were confidentiality concerns and relational issues. MHFAO desired greater internal and external support groups, leader buy-in, and training. Discussion As the second study on this population, this research explores and expands the lived experiences of MHFAO. Both theoretical and practical insights are elaborated as well as a future research agenda.

THE MODERN BREXIT AGENDA: SOME CONSEQUENCES OF “TAKE BACK CONTROL”

Brexit, the historically unique process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, has continued to dominate the global conversation for several years and its significance has not waned. The withdrawal of a state from the EU happened for the first time in more than half a century of its history. Despite the formal completion of Brexit, many related issues regarding the implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the status of Northern Ireland, the implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the two parties, the place of EU law in the British national legal order, are still not finally resolved. The adopted legal decisions influence the current development of both the EU and especially the UK’s legal order. All this allows us to talk about the actual continuation of Brexit and the formation of its modern agenda.

The relationship between nighttime exercise and problematic smartphone use before sleep and associated health issues: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivePhysical exercise has the potential to mitigate addictive behaviors and relevant health issues. However, the nighttime exercise has not been studied regarding this research topic. This study aims to explore the association between nocturnal physical exercise and problematic smartphone use before sleep, as well as related health issues.MethodsTo explore the association between nighttime physical exercise and problematic smartphone use before sleep as well as related health issues, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 1,334 college students. Their daily exercise behaviors (including timeframe, rationale, frequency, and duration), smartphone use before sleep, sleep quality, smartphone addiction, anxiety, and depression were measured by questionnaires. The associations were assessed using generalized linear models.ResultsOur findings indicate that nearly 70% of participants chose to perform exercise at nighttime. Among these individuals who exercised at nighttime, the frequency and duration of nighttime exercise were significantly associated with decreased probabilities of smartphone use before sleep. Additionally, the frequency and duration of nighttime exercise were associated with lower levels of smartphone addiction and anxiety disorders.ConclusionNighttime Exercise behaviors can effectively reduce sleep delays caused by problematic smartphone use before bedtime. These findings contribute to understanding the potential effects of nighttime exercise on problematic smartphone use and relevant health issues. Future research should employ more precise methodologies to examine these associations.

Harnessing of Artificial Intelligence for the Diagnosis and Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Systematic Review.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the most common adverse events in healthcare and constitute a major global public health concern. Surveillance represents the foundation for the effective prevention and control of HAIs, yet conventional surveillance is costly and labor intensive. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have the potential to support the development of HAI surveillance algorithms for the understanding of HAI risk factors, the improvement of patient risk stratification as well as the prediction and timely detection and prevention of infections. AI-supported systems have so far been explored for clinical laboratory testing and imaging diagnosis, antimicrobial resistance profiling, antibiotic discovery and prediction-based clinical decision support tools in terms of HAIs. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current literature on AI applications in the field of HAIs and discuss the future potentials of this emerging technology in infection practice. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this study examined the articles in databases including PubMed and Scopus until November 2023, which were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 162 included articles. By elucidating the advancements in the field, we aim to highlight the potential applications of AI in the field, report related issues and shortcomings and discuss the future directions.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY IN MAKING OUTWARD REGULATING PROVISIONS AFTER THE AMENDMENT OF THE 1945 CONSTITUTION

Purpose: Along with the reform era, amendments to the 1945 Constitution were carried out which made the MPR a state institution that was equal in position with other state institutions, no longer the incarnation of all Indonesian people who exercised fully people's sovereignty. The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) as a representative institution has "as if" lost its authority to make provisions that are externally regulating. For this reason, the author conducted research on the Authority of the People's Consultative Assembly in Making Provisions that Regulate Outwardly After the Amendment of the 1945 Constitution. Theoretical Reference: To be able to analyze related issues under study, the author uses Authority Theory as a tool for analyzing existing data. Method: The research was conducted using normative juridical research with a statutory approach. Therefore, the data used are secondary data sourced from primary, secondary and tertiary legal materials. Results and Conclusion: From the results of the research conducted, it was concluded that the MPR still has the authority to make provisions that are regulatory outward in nature that are recognized for their existence and have binding legal force as long as they are made on the basis of higher laws and regulations or based on their authority, as stipulated in Article 8 of the Law on the Establishment of Laws and Regulations. Implications of Research: Therefore, the MPR should use this authority to make interpretations of constitutional norms as a reference or reference in examining the Law against the Constitution and references for state institutions in carrying out their duties and authorities derived from the 1945 Constitution. Originality/Value: Until this research was conducted, there had been no research that specifically discussed the authority of the MPR in making regulations that regulate exit based on the provisions of Article 8 of the Law on the Establishment of Legislative Regulations.

Exploring Palliative Care Needs Among Patients With Cancer and Non-Cancer Serious Chronic Diseases: A Comparison Study.

Palliative care (PC) is integral to improving the quality of life and mitigating suffering for individuals with serious illnesses. This interdisciplinary-led study aims to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence of distressing problems and unmet needs among both cancer and non-cancer chronic disease patients and explore their need for PC. A cross-sectional, comparative, and multicenter design was conducted, involving 458 patients from eight hospitals, utilizing a self-reported Problems and Needs in Palliative Care-sv questionnaire. The study included 276 (60.3%) patients with cancer and 182 (39.7%) with non-cancer chronic diseases. Most were 45-64 years old (n = 216, 47.2%). Patients with cancer reported a higher prevalence of physical symptoms, notably pain (n = 240, 87%) and anorexia (n = 192, 69.6%), while non-cancer patients faced more social challenges, including issues in companion relationships (n = 77, 42.3%) and discussing their disease with life companion (n = 78, 42.9%). Unmet needs were prevalent in both groups, with cancer patients having an average of 75.6% (n = 120) unmet needs, predominantly in the information (n = 145, 91.75%) and spiritual domains (n = 123, 77.8%). Non-cancer patients emphasized financial (n = 71, 66.6%) and autonomy (n = 59, 55.0%) problems. Moreover, patients in both groups with severe Charlson Comorbidity Index scores demonstrated significantly higher PC needs across all health domains. The study highlights the universal demand for comprehensive PC for patients with both cancer and non-cancer chronic diseases. The findings underscore the need for enhanced PC provision, especially for patients with multiple comorbidities. Further research is needed to comprehensively address psychological, social, and spiritual problems in both patient groups.

Marginalization of Women in Marriage: A Study of Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No Terrors and That Long Silence

Marginalization in society is not confined to limitations of opportunities to grow independently and lack means of endurance. It refers to the creation of an environment in which the individual is made to feel pride even in slavery. Marginalization in the case of women is more pronounced as it is not limited to any caste, creed or religion. It is a universal phenomenon and marriage as an institution is one of the basic foundations on which the marginalization of women is culturally strengthened. Marriages are a pivotal part of every society. By conforming to the institution of marriage, two distinct minds take oaths to stick by each other’s side lifelong. But in reality, the institution of marriage replicates the other side of patriarchal domination which contributes to the peripheral status of women. They are subjected to inevitable suppression, subjugation, and oppression in the environs of the marital frame regardless of the renunciation and forsaking of individuality by the woman for the sake of family. They are the victim of sheer oppression and violence due to their vulnerable status from time immemorial. In this paper, an attempt has been made to bring forth the hardships of marital life and how it assists in the marginalization of women with reference to the works of Shashi Deshpande. Her works of fiction, The Dark Holds No Terrors (1980) and That Long Silence (1988) aptly elucidate the issues of marital discord and disharmonious conjugal relationships which career-oriented women experience in their day-to-day existence. Women helplessly oscillate between traditional codes and modern aspirations, bearing the pangs of dead desires and unexpressed thoughts in public as well as domestic spheres. Characterization of women like Sarita and Jaya delineate the marginalization of women in a poignant and powerful manner.

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse as it Relates to Psychosocial Reasons among University Athletes in Selected Competitive Sports in Kenya

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of drug abuse as it relates to psychosocial reasons that include peer pressure, social environment, emotional state and relationships; among university athletes involved in selected competitive sports.
 Methodology: The study used a mixed methods research design with an intention to capture and utilize both qualitative and quantitative data. The study sample comprised 300 respondents. Out of the 300 students, 173 (57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female players derived from six selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya. The selected sports were badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling was used to select 10 universities proportionately (4 private and 6 public), the method was the most appropriate to capture universities with women rugby in addition to the five other selected sports. The study sought to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse due to factors such as psychosocial, medicinal and competition. SPSS computer version 20 was used to process data. The data was presented in form of tables.
 Findings: Data indicated clearly that athletes had abused drugs due to various psychosocial reasons. The prevalence per gender was close at 18% and 12.12% for males and females respectively. Peer pressure was regarded as a great contributor to drug abuse among the youth. Another psychosocial indicator is the emotional state of a particular individual. Students, just like other members of society, go through various challenging situations in life. The other indicator regarding drug abuse due to psychosocial factors is depression. Four (4, 40%) of the 10 dean of students interviewed said that students were victims of drug abuse due to depression. They alluded the depression cases mostly to relationship issues and financial challenges while the students are in session. The data was presented in form of Tables.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social Learning Theory, Stress-Coping Theory and Social Control Theory may be used to anchor future studies. It is recommended that university athletes be sensitized on proper use of sports to relieve stress and maintain emotional balance. Further, only qualified coaches and sports officers should be allowed to mentor and man sports in the universities. According to some heads of sports seven out of the ten (70%) and 4 of the 10 (40%) deans of students interviewed, some coaches may not report cases of drug abuse by athletes. This could be attributed to the fact that the coaches, who mostly are on casual basis, could fear experiencing bad blood with the players thereby threatening their jobs. Trained sports officers and coaches should accompany the university athletes always and act as worthy mentors to the young athletes.

Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture

Introduction and objectivesThoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been established as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, studies outside the critical care setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of TUS for hospitalized or ambulatory community patients.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective study conducted from 2016 to 2020 in the TUS clinic at Heraklion University Hospital. TUS examination was performed using a standard ultrasound machine (EUB HITACHI 8500), and a high-frequency microconvex probe (5–8 MHz). Patients had been referred by their primary physician to address a range of different questions. The various respiratory system entities were characterised according to internationally established criteria.Results762 TUS studies were performed on 526 patients due to underlying malignancy (n = 376), unexplained symptoms/signs (n = 53), pregnancy related issues (n = 42), evaluation of abnormal findings in X-ray (n = 165), recent surgery/trauma (n = 23), recent onset respiratory failure (n = 12), acute respiratory infection (n = 66) and underlying non-malignant disease (n = 25). Pleural effusion was the commonest pathologic entity (n = 610), followed by consolidation (n = 269), diaphragmatic dysfunction/paradox (n = 174) and interstitial syndrome (n = 53). Discrepancies between chest X-ray and ultrasonographic findings were demonstrated in 96 cases. The TUS findings guided invasive therapeutic management in 448 cases and non-invasive management in 43 cases, while follow-up monitoring was decided in 271 cases.ConclusionsThis study showed that TUS can identify the most common respiratory pathologic entities encountered in hospitalized and community ambulatory patients, and is especially useful in guiding the decision making process in a diverse group of patients.