Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Research Articles

Global knowledge and attitudes towards mpox (monkeypox) among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The recent increase in human mpox (monkeypox) cases emphasizes the importance of early detection, prompt response and preventive management to control the spread of the disease. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a crucial role in this process. This study aimed to determine the global knowledge and attitudes towards mpox among HCWs. This study searched multiple databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Web of Science, Embase, Springer and ProQuest, to locate various publications. The search was limited to English-language articles published between May 2022 (when the increase in mpox incidence was reported) and August 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Data were obtained using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and subsequently scrutinized through STATA software, version 14. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the inverse variance and Cochran Q statistics based on the I2 test statistics. The Dersimonian and Liard random effects models were used where heterogeneity existed. Subgroup analysis and univariate and multivariable metaregression techniques were used to examine the causes of heterogeneity. A total of 22 studies, including 22 studies for knowledge (27731 HCWs) and 6 studies for attitudes (14388 HCWs), were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates for good knowledge and positive attitudes among HCWs were 26.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.8 to 34.2) and 34.6% (95% CI 19.0 to 50.2), respectively. Moreover, the knowledge was 34.8% (95% CI 24.1 to 45.6) among HCWs with <5y of work experience and 41.6% (95% CI 33.1 to 50) among individuals possessing >5y of professional background. Good knowledge of HCWs is at a low level. It is suggested that training sessions should be tailored towards younger HCWs with less healthcare experience. Additionally, it is essential to identify strategies on how to improve the knowledge and attitudes for better practice about the disease in HCWs worldwide.

Analisa Nilai OTTV (Overall Thermal Transfer Value) pada Bangunan Pemerintahan di Kota Lhokseumawe

Global warming and the energy crisis are the biggest problems in the world today, many efforts must be made to avoid them. One of them is by continuing to increase the implementation of energy efficient buildings. In Indonesia, energy-efficient buildings must meet the requirements set out in SNI 03-6389-2020 where the maximum limit for the OTTV (Overall Thermal Transfer Value) value is 35 Watt/m² and has been enforced by the Government from now on. However, these requirements have not been fully fulfilled by investors, as well as planning agencies or consulting units. There are still many buildings whose OTTV value is not yet known. As is the case with the object of this research, namely the Lhokseumawe Mayor's Office building. This research aims to calculate and determine the OTTV value for the research object of the Lhokseumawe Mayor's Office building, so that later it will be known whether the building is categorized as an energy efficient building or not. The research method used is an experimental quantitative method using the OTTV Microsoft Excel spreadsheet calculator from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (BGH-PUPR). The results of this research analysis show that the Lhokseumawe Mayor's Office building has many large openings and has sunlight fenestration, so that the overall OTTV value on the building envelope is below the SNI standard threshold of 35 Watt/m² and can be categorized as an energy efficient building.

Survival Secrets: Unmasking the Factors Predicting Failure of Non-operative Management (NOM) in Splenic Injuries.

Splenic injuries are common solid organ injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma in road traffic accidents. Very often, splenic injuries can be life-threatening. Earlier, splenic injuries were often dealt with surgical intervention, such as splenectomy. With the recognition of the immunological function of the spleen and possible complications of splenectomy surgery, such as overwhelming post-splenectomy infections (OPSI), there has been a recent trend for non-operative management (NOM). To study the variables predicting failure of NOM in blunt abdominal trauma patients with splenic injury. This is a retrospective study that includes 235 patients who presented to the Safdarjung Hospital emergency room (New Delhi, India) with blunt trauma abdomen and splenic injuries with or without associated injuries between January 2019 and December 2021. The data was entered in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Pearson's chi-square test of association was used to determine if there is a relationship between two variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 235 patients with blunt abdominal trauma and splenic injuries, 82 were hemodynamically unstable despite resuscitation and were taken up for emergency laparotomy. The remaining 153 patients, who were either hemodynamically stable or stabilized after adequate resuscitation, were managed on the lines of NOM. The number of patients with splenic injury in AAST grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was 36, 50, 40, 24, and three, respectively. Out of 153 patients, 130 (85%) were successfully managed by NOM, while eight (5%) had to discontinue NOM as they required surgical intervention. The failure of NOM (fNOM) is seen mostly with grade 5 injuries (2/2, 100%, p<0.01), followed by grade 4 (4/20, 20%) and grade 3 (2/37, 5.7%). The mean age in fNOM was 58.3 years, as compared to 42.2 years in the success of NOM (sNOM). All eight patients had multiple concomitant injuries, with femur fracture being the most common association in up to six patients (p<0.01), followed by liver injury in four patients. There were 15 mortalities, irrespective of AAST severity grade. All of these patients had associated concomitant injuries, with intracranial bleeding (n = 10, 32%, p<0.01) being the most common association, followed by femur fracture (n = 6, 20%) and liver injury (n = 5, 16%). Also, the cause of death was unrelated to splenic trauma (p = 0.67), with pulmonary embolism (n = 6, 40%, p<0.01) being the most common cause, followed by brain stem herniation (n = 5, 34%). Non-operative management is a safe and efficient method for treating patients with splenic injuries who are hemodynamically stable or stabilized. The factors associated with fNOM include elderly age, a higher American Association for the Surgery of Trauma(AAST) grade of splenic injury, and associated concomitant injuries. Femur fracture was the most common concomitant injury present in cases where NOM failed, followed by liver injury. The presence of intracranial bleeds in these patients was a common association with mortality, irrespective of the grade of splenic injury.

Reproductive Behavior of Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Chitwan National Park, Nepal

The Asiatic wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr), an endangered species featured on the IUCN Red List, is distributed across Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand. This investigation delves into the reproductive and certain social behaviors exhibited by Bubalus arnee across distinct habitats and herd types within Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and Chitwan National Park (CNP) during the premonsoon and postmonsoon spans of 2018. The data were amassed through direct observations employing focal animal sampling, continuous sampling, and scan sampling methodologies. Eight primary behavioral activities were noted: chasing, courtship, grazing, mating, mowing, sniffing, urination, and wallowing. We carefully structured the gathered data and input it into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to facilitate analysis. For a more comprehensive visualization of reproductive behavior, we utilized the ggplot2 package within R-studio, enabling the creation of informative graphical depictions. During the premonsoon phase, Bull A exhibited six reproductive behaviors in KTWR. Notably, sniffing was the most frequently observed behavior, recorded six times (37.5%) daily, succeeded by fighting and urination with four (25%) and three (18.35%) daily observations, respectively. Chasing, mating, and courtship were each observed once (6.25%) daily. In contrast, during both seasons, Bulls B, M, and J were not observed partaking in mating activities. When analyzing the postmonsoon reproductive behavior of the observed B. arnee in KTWR and CNP, a notable distinction emerged. In KTWR, there were four more instances of sniffing behavior compared to CNP. In addition, courtship behavior was slightly more frequent in KTWR, occurring three times, whereas it was observed only twice in CNP. Similarly, urination activity was recorded twice as often in KTWR as compared to CNP. As a suggestion for future research, exploring the specific factors influencing the observed variations in reproductive behaviors and habitat preferences of Bubalus arnee could provide valuable insights into the conservation and management of these endangered species.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of critical result notification protocol of biochemistry laboratory at a tertiary care hospital

Objectives: Critical value reporting is an essential aspect of laboratory medicine, ensuring prompt communication of life-threatening results to clinicians for immediate action. Existing guidelines emphasize the importance of timely notification, but protocols may vary. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the protocol for reporting critical results in the biochemistry laboratory of a tertiary care hospital and proposed alternative protocols for improvement. Materials and Methods: Data were collected over a 6-month period, including the total number of investigations, critical values detected, parameters analyzed, and clinical departments involved. Quality indicators such as turnaround time (TAT), unsuccessful reporting rates, and clinical actions taken were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. Statistical Analysis: All statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, United States). Data were presented as numbers and percentages. Results: Out of 390,000 investigations, 0.5% had critical values. Serum potassium (55.9%) had the highest frequency of critical values, followed by sodium, calcium, and glucose. The emergency department received the highest number of critical alerts. The success rate of critical result reporting within 1 hour was 86.8%, while unsuccessful reporting accounted for 10.7%. The causes of unsuccessful reporting included outpatient requests and delayed intimation due to patient transfers. Corrective action was taken in 91% of cases, with documentation primarily in nurse charts. Conclusion: Evaluation of the protocol for reporting critical results identified areas for improvement. Recommendations included revising the critical value list, reducing TAT through process optimization and automation, enhancing staff training and awareness, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and maintaining incident records. Implementing these changes can enhance compliance, reduce errors, and improve patient care.

Animal and their products used for treatment and prevention of disease practiced by traditional healers in Jimma Arjo district, East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is one of the countries with richest fauna used for medicinal purpose. The Jimma Arjo community has knowledge and practice of utilizing this medicinal animal for treatment of human and animal ailments. The objective of this research is to assess animals and their products used for treatment of human and animal ailment METHODS: A cross-sectional ethnozoological survey was conducted using a semi structured questionnaire among purposively selected traditional healers resided in Jimma Arjo district. The data collected was entered in Microsoft excel spread sheet and analysed using SPSS statistical software. Fidelity level (FL), use value and informant consensus factor was determined. A total of 33 animal species was found to be used for treating 40 human ailments and different livestock disease confirmed by 36 informants of different ages, sexes and educational backgrounds. The majority of animals (63.63%) were mammals followed by birds (15.15%). Most of the respondents were male, married and aged 55 years and above. Most of the healers learn ethnozoological practice from the father (36.11%) followed by mother (19.44%). The traditional practice is accepted by (72.22%) of the community where 61.11% of the healers are not willing to transfer their knowledge to other. For most of the healers, the reason to practice traditional healing was for treating one's own family or animals (41.67%). The FL was found 100% for honey from Apis mellifera and Trigona spp. for asthma, Cynopterus sphinx for viral skin disease and Crocuta crocuta for bad sprit treatment. In this study, honey from A. mellifera, Hystrix cristata and Sus scrofa domesticus were reported to cure different ailments. This study indicated wide use of medicinal animals and their products which could be used as an alternative and complementary medicine or a basis for in developing new drugs because the existing drugs especially antimicrobials are under threat due to the development of resistance by microbes.

Assessment of subject and methodological competencies of graduates of a pedagogical university — future teachers of informatics: Deficits and prospects

The article is devoted to the analysis of the assessment results of pedagogical university graduates’ subject and methodological competencies to determine the professional deficits of future informatics teachers, their readiness for professional pedagogical activity, building continuity between the training of pedagogical personnel and the subsequent support of graduates of a pedagogical university in professional activities in the creation and implementation of a continuous system of pedagogical education. 35 students of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the Voronezh State Pedagogical University took part in the study in 2022: 10 graduates in the field of training 44.03.01 “Pedagogical Education” (profile “Informatics and ICT”) and 25 graduates in the field of training 44.03.05 “Pedagogical Education (with two training profiles)” (profiles “Mathematics”, “Informatics”). The maximum number of primary points for diagnostic work is 38 points. In the course of the study, the graduates performed a diagnostic work consisting of 16 tasks: the first part of the work evaluated subject competencies, and the second part assessed methodological competencies of future teachers of informatics. The analysis of the obtained results was carried out using the single-sample Kolmogorov—Smirnov test, the Student’s t-test for independent samples. The results were systematized and visualized in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets; statistical analysis was carried out in the SPSS Statistics 26.0 software. The results of the study indicate that the majority of graduates of the pedagogical university, future teachers of informatics, do not reach the basic level of formation of subject and methodological competencies and that graduates have deficits in subject and methodological training. Graduates of the 4th year of “Pedagogical Education” (profile “Informatics and ICT”) demonstrated higher results compared to graduates of the 5th year of “Pedagogical Education (with two training profiles)” (profile “Mathematics”, “Informatics”). The results of the study show the need for changes in the content and organization of the educational process of training future informatics teachers at the pedagogical university. The obtained results may be of interest to university teachers who train future teachers of informatics, institutes of education development, and centers of continuous improvement of pedagogical skills, providing advanced training and professional retraining of teachers of informatics.

73 A pilot of introducing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in older patients admitted to an acute hospital to prevent acute re-hospitalisation

Abstract Background Recurrent hospitalisation is increasingly observed in older adults aged 65 or above and, is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes including delayed recovery, increased morbidity, and mortality. We introduced Performa-based, Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) driven Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) as a model of care of older patients admitted to an acute Irish hospital, and to see its impact in preventing acute re-hospitalisation after an acute admission. Methods CGA was performed, on inpatients aged 65 or older, admitted to a designated ward which had multidisciplinary team access, via a designed and prescribed Performa, by Advanced Nurse Practitioner and interventions suggested by it, were offered to those patients. The pilot continued for three months. Patients who underwent CGA, were monitored for re-admission at 3 months from the date of their discharge via hospital patient management system. Data was compiled and studied via Microsoft excel spread sheet. Results 28 patients were admitted to the designated ward who underwent the CGA during the time frame of the pilot. 26 (92.8%) patients did neither present to ED nor were admitted to hospital in the immediate 3 months post discharge from the hospital. CGA resulted in various multidisciplinary interventions/referrals on all patients which were studied as secondary aims. The major interventions were MDT referrals (physiotherapy 100%, occupational therapy 85.7%, Swallow Therapists 46.4% and dietetic referrals 32.1%) and deprescribing (50% of patients). Conclusion The pilot showed reduced acute re-hospitalisation rates in older patients undergoing CGA, and an attempt to adopt CGA as model of care in acute hospitals to prevent acute re-hospitalisation in such patients. In the model, CGA also offered multiple interventions including MDT referrals/interventions and deprescribing. Further powered research replicating similar results, is needed to explore and adopt such CGA based models of care in older inpatients in acute hospitals.

Insights from a cross-sectional survey of neonatal resuscitation instructors from India

Neonatal resuscitation training can change outcomes of neonatal mortality due to perinatal asphyxia. Recently, in 2021, the advanced NRP course material was changed, and for Basic NRP, a hybrid course was introduced in India. We assessed the instructor’s feedback to improve the conduct of the IAP NNF NRP Program as well as get their perception of the effectiveness, usefulness, and pitfalls of the new hybrid Basic NRP course (offline + online). A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst instructors across India with current status with IAP NRP FGM Office. The data were exported to a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. STATA 14.2 was used for descriptive [Frequency (percent) analysis. 827 basic and 221 advanced NRP instructors responded. Bag and mask ventilation was identified as the most important step in basic 468 (56.6%) and advanced 147 (66.5%) courses. In the basic NRP, almost two third (71.0%) participants believe that it is challenging to conduct a case scenario for bag and mask ventilation, whereas, in the advanced course, intubation 116 (52.5%) was considered the most difficult step to teach and medication 80(36.2%) followed by intubation 62(28.1%) are the most difficult steps to conduct case scenario. 725(87.7%) reported that it would be easy to explain them in an offline course after completion of an online course. Most of the instructors were satisfied with the course structure, material, overall quality of the workshop, and support from the IAP NRP office. Constructive suggestions were obtained from the instructors for improvement of the course.

Dried urine spot method for detection of Schistosoma mansoni circulating cathodic antigen in resource-limited settings: a proof of concept study.

Among the challenges in schistosomiasis surveillance and mapping surveys is the lack of a sensitive diagnostic method especially in low transmission setting. Currently, the WHO recommends the use point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (Schisto POC-CCA) tests for surveillance and mapping of intestinal schistosomiasis. However, Schisto POC-CCA test has its drawbacks, one of which is the timely availability of test kits. One approach to overcoming this challenge is to develop a low-cost sampling method that allows for the collection and transport of urine specimens even in resource-limited settings. To develop a simple and efficient method for the collection and detection of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) CCA using urine spotted onto filter paper. To develop a dried urine spot (DUS) method, various dried matrix extraction parameters were tested and optimized using predesigned steps. The parameters include the size of filter paper (determined by the number of punches), volume of solvents, and type of solvent. Moreover, we optimized the incubation conditions (time and temperature). Urine and stool specimens to conduct the experiments were collected from volunteer fishermen in Mwanza and this project staff. Data were entered into the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20 for analysis. The optimal results were obtained when the procedure was run under the following conditions: Five punches of filter paper containing DUS were dissolved in 150 µl of distilled water and incubated at room temperature for 24 hours in an Eppendorf tube. More than 93% of the assays performed under these conditions produced results that were either comparable to or significantly better than the standard method. This study demonstrates the feasibility of collecting urine specimen (DUS) using filter paper and detecting Schistosoma CCA from DUS specimen using the Schisto POC-CCA cassette test.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN INTRATHECAL NALBUPHINE AND DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS ADJUVANTS TO HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE FOR LOWER LIMB ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES

Objective: Sub arachnoid block is a reasonably safe and simple technique of regional anesthesia. This randomized double-blind study was conducted to compare the efficacy of intrathecal nalbuphine and Dexmedetomidine as adjuvant with hyperbaric bupivacaine for lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Methods: Sixty adult patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 who were scheduled for elective lower limb orthopedic surgeries were divided into two groups, D and N, of 30 each. Group D patients received dexmedetomidine 4 mcg and Group N received nalbuphine 2 mg as adjuvant along with bupivacaine heavy 0.5% (3 mL) intrathecally. Sensory and motor block characteristics and time to first rescue analgesic (intravenous tramadol 100 mg) were the primary end points and drug-related side effects such as pruritis, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression were taken as secondary end points. Subsequently, data were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and Statistical Package for the Social Science software version 22 was used for statistical analysis. Results: All 60 patients showed adequate block. The onset of sensory and motor block was statistically comparable in both groups. The duration of sensory and motor block and duration of analgesia were markedly extended in dexmedetomidine group patients. There were no significant intraoperative or post-operative side-effects in both group of patients. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine (4 mcg) increases the sensory and motor block duration and duration of post-operative analgesia significantly more than nalbuphine (2 mg), when administered intrathecally as an adjuvant to bupivacaine (15 mg).

A Systematic Review of the Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Detection of Neurovascular Conflict in Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating disorder causing severe, episodic, unilateral stabbing facial pain disturbing enough to disrupt the activities of daily life. Classic TN is caused due to compression injury of the trigeminal nerve at the cistern segment caused by either an artery or a vein, referred to as neurovascular contact or conflict (NVC). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the standard tool for the diagnosis of NVC. This study aimed to determine the incidence of NVC in TN, as identified by MRI, assess the various MRI grading patterns among patients with TN, and identify the vessels primarily involved in NVC. A systematic search of studies that used MRI for the diagnosis of TN in reference to NVC was conducted on DOAJ and PubMed/PubMed Central. Data were extracted and entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The outcomes measured were the incidence of NVC as shown in MRI, vessels involved in NVC, and MRI grading patterns. We identified and selected 20 studies that fulfilled inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 1,436 patients were enrolled in all included studies. The type of MRI used was 1.5 T or 3 T MRI. The mean age of the patients varied from 49 to 63 years, with an equivalent male-to-female ratio. NVC was seen in 1,276 cases out of 1,436 cases (88.85%) of TN on the ipsilateral side, as shown by MRI. The vessels involved were arteries in 80-90% of the cases, followed by veins. Among the arteries, the superior cerebellar artery was the most common artery (80-90% of cases). The grades of NVC as assessed by MRI included grades I, II, and III with varied proportions in different studies. NVC is a common problem in TN, wherein there is compression at the nerve root entry zone, and it shows a strong predilection for the elderly population. MRI seems to be a novel imaging diagnostic investigation to identify NVC associated with TN. Moreover, NVC grading must be done with MRI so that it may help the surgeon in stratifying the patient's treatment.

Estimation of radiological and functional outcome of closed calcaneus fractures treated by open reduction internal fixation with calcaneal plate and screws: A prospective study

Background: Calcaneus fracture comprising only about 2% of all fractures is the most common tarsal bone fracture, constituting about 60% of all tarsal bone fractures. Most of calcaneus fractures are intra-articular making them difficult to treat conservatively with unpredictable outcome. With surgical fixation, there is apprehension of soft-tissue complication. Hence, we decided to conduct this study to estimate radiological and functional outcome of closed calcaneus fractures treated by open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with calcaneal plate and screws. Aims and Objectives: Study was conducted to estimate radiological and functional outcomes of closed calcaneus fractures treated by ORIF with calcaneal plate and screws. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included patients with calcaneus fractures operated by extended lateral approach and fixed by ORIF with standard calcaneal low-profile locking plates and screws at Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Department of Orthopaedics and reviewed at out or inpatient department between January 2021 and August 2022. 15 patients with total 19 calcaneus fractures, with 4 patients needing bilateral calcaneus fixation, were enrolled for the study. The data were then recorded as for duration to fracture union, satisfactory radiological reduction as for Bohler’s angle, and functional outcome using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score. Data were then processed and analyzed with the help of Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and SPSS (version 27.0) using descriptive statistics in terms percentage and frequency, range, and standard deviation. Results: Comparing pre-operative and post-operative Bohler’s angle, 17 (89.47%) had adequate reduction and for 2 (10.53%) cases, adequate reduction could not be achieved. In our study, overall 7 out of 19 limbs (36.84%) had excellent functional outcome, 10 (52.63%) had good result, and 2 (10.53%) had fair result. Conclusion: ORIF of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures through extended lateral approach with low-profile locking calcaneal plates gives good subtalar joint reduction in most cases with satisfactory functional outcome with few complications.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Assistive Technology for Executive Function Support for People With Acquired Brain Injury: Protocol for Single-Case Experimental Designs.

Executive function, including prospective memory, initiating, planning, and sequencing everyday activities, is frequently affected by acquired brain injury (ABI). Executive dysfunction necessitates the use of compensatory cognitive strategies and, in more severe cases, human support over time. To compensate for the executive dysfunction experienced, growing options for electronic mainstream and assistive technologies may be used by people with ABI and their supporters. We outline the study protocol for a series of single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) to evaluate the effectiveness of smart home, mobile, and/or wearable technologies in reducing executive function difficulties following ABI. Up to 10 adults with ABI who experience executive dysfunction and have sufficient cognitive capacity to provide informed consent will be recruited across Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. Other key inclusion criteria are that they have substantial support needs for everyday living and reside in community dwellings. On the basis of the participant's identified goal(s) and target behavior(s), a specific electronic assistive technology will be selected for application. Both identification of the target behavior(s) and selection of the assistive technology will be determined via consultation with each participant (and their key support person, if applicable). The choice of SCED will be individualized for each participant based on the type of technology used in the intervention, the difficulty level of the behavior targeted for change, and the anticipated rate of change. For each SCED, repeated measurements of the target behavior(s) during the baseline condition will provide performance data for comparison with the performance data collected during the intervention condition (with technology introduced). Secondary outcome measures will evaluate the impact of the intervention. The protocol includes 2 customizable Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for electronic record keeping. Recruitment period is June 2022 through March 2024. Trial results for the individual participants will be graphed and analyzed separately using structured visual analysis supplemented with statistical analysis. Analysis will focus on important features of the data, including both within- and between-phase comparisons for response level, trend, variability, immediacy, consistency, and overlap. An exploratory economic evaluation will determine the impact on formal and informal support usage, together with quality of life, following the implementation of the new technological intervention. The study has been designed to test the cause-effect functional relationships between the intervention-in this case, electronic assistive technology-and its effect in changing the target behavior(s). The evaluation evidence gained will offer new insights into the application of various electronic assistive technologies for people who experience executive dysfunction following ABI. Furthermore, the results will help increase the capacity of key stakeholders to harness the potential of technology to build independence and reduce the cost of care for this population. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622000835741, https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12622000835741.aspx. DERR1-10.2196/48503.

Immediate postpartum family planning utilization and its associated factors among postpartum women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Family planning integration in areas where women contact the healthcare system routinely is essential for addressing the high unmet need for family planning among postpartum women and reducing the risk of short interpregnancies. Immediate postpartum family planning (IPPFP) is an integrated service, and opportunities exist for women by providing family planning (FP) counseling and contraceptives as part of care following childbirth within 48 h. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the pooled estimate of immediate postpartum family planning utilization and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Electronic databases were used to conduct an extensive search of all published studies, and the digital library was used to identify any unpublished studies. An observational study that reports the prevalence/magnitude and/or associated factors/predictors/determinants of IPPFP utilization in Ethiopia was included. Data were extracted on the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using STATA Version 11. A random-effects model was applied to determine the pooled prevalence of immediate postpartum family planning utilization with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Inverse variance (I2) was used to identify the presence of heterogeneity, and a funnel plot and Egger's test were used to check the presence of publication bias. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the sample size, region, and year of study to identify the source of heterogeneity. Of 15 primary studies, the overall pooled prevalence of immediate postpartum family planning utilization among postpartum women in Ethiopia was 21.04% (95% CI: 13.08, 29.00). Received counseling on FP [OR: 3.59; 95% CI (1.84, 7.01; P < 0.001), having a positive attitude toward FP [OR: 3.2; 95% CI (1.23, 8.35); P = 0.017], and partner support to use FP [OR: 5.85; 95% CI (1.12, 30.54; P = 0.036) were significant predictors of immediate postpartum family planning utilization. Generally, IPPFP utilization in Ethiopia was insufficient. Therefore, to enhance the utilization, integrating FP counseling at all maternal service care points, strengthening community awareness to develop a favorable attitude toward family planning, and promoting partner involvement in family planning counseling are essential. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=239053, identifier: CRD42021239053.

Effect of Equity on Financial Performance of Listed Insurance Corporations In Kenya

Efforts to revive ailing corporations across the world have mostly been centered on financial restructuring and re-engineering. Slow growth in the financial performance of insurance companies in Kenya coupled with low market penetration rate motivated the researcher’s interest to investigate the effect of Equity on financial performance of these organizations. Three theories namely the Modigliani and Miller Theory, the Pecking Order Theory, and the Trade Off Theory guided the study. The concepts of capital structure and financial performance as well as empirical literature are discussed in chapter two. A descriptive research design was adopted to describe the relationship between the variables of the study. Whereas equity capital forms the independent variable, financial performance as measured by ROA formed the dependent variable. The target population was a census of all insurance firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The study used secondary data extracted from the annual financial reports of respective firms from 2016 to 2020. Data coding and analysis was done using version 28 of the SPSS and STATA version 18 software while financial ratios were calculated using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The data was then summarized using descriptive statistics which included the standard deviation and weighted means. There were significant positive correlations between ROA and Equity Ratio, suggesting that higher equity was associated with better financial performance (ROA). Overall, the findings indicated that Equity had a positive correlation with financial performance according to regression and panel data analysis. The study recommends that insurance corporations should prioritize equity over debt in their capital structure decisions so as to increase their financial performance

BENDING RESISTANCE OF HIGH STRENGTH HOT-ROLLED STEEL UNIVERSAL COLUMN SECTION

The most commonly found steel grades in the market are S 275 and S 355 However, recent advancement in the welding techniques allows for the development of high-strength steel for higher grades up to S 700 with reasonable cost and quality to construct heavy-loaded and long spanned structures. To facilitate the selection of the section sizes in accordance to Eurocode 3 Standard, this research focusses on investigate and validate the bending resistance, Mc,Rd and lateral torsional buckling resistance, Mb,Rd of a hot-rolled steel universal column section (UKC) from common steel grades (S 275 and S 355) up to high strength steels (S 460, S 550 and S 650). This study employed Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to develop a program for design calculation for UKC in accordance with Eurocode 3 Standard and compared with the available results provided in SCI P363. The validated program was further applied to develop selection data for high strength UKC steels (S 460, S 550 and S 650). The study outcome suggests that the classification, Mc,Rd and Mb,Rd of the steel is greatly affected by the steel grade. The parametric study in this research also shows that C1 factor, section size and span length can also affect the Mc,Rd and Mb,Rd of the steel, aside from steel grade. Further analysis of high strength UKC steels was done and tabulated since the program developed was validated and employed in the study

DEPENDENCE OF PRODUCTIVITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE ON CHANGES IN THERMAL REGIME

The dynamics of changes in the average annual air temperature in 24 regions of Ukraine in the period 2011 - 2020 is analyzed. The correlation between the yield of major crops and the average annual air temperature is studied. The regional features of this dependence are analyzed. The regions of the country are ranked according to the degree of correlation between the average annual temperature and crop yields.&#x0D; Agriculture is largely dependent on natural factors, the most important of which is the change in agro-climatic conditions due to modern climate change. The main manifestation of modern climate change is an increase in air temperature, and in Ukraine the temperature increase is much more intense than in most regions of the world. Given the significant contribution of the agricultural sector to the economy of Ukraine, the problem of the dependence of agricultural production on changes in the thermal regime is of particular relevance.&#x0D; The article discusses the impact of changes in the thermal regime on the territory of Ukraine on the productivity of major agricultural crops. The average annual air temperature is used as an indicator characterizing the thermal regime of the territory. The dynamics of the average annual temperature in twenty-four regions of Ukraine in the period from 2011 to 2020 is analyzed. In particular, the regions of the most intensive increase in temperature have been identified. The relationship between the average annual air temperature and the productivity of the main agricultural crops, which include potatoes, sunflowers, as well as cereals and legumes, vegetables, fruit and berries, has been studied. To identify the relationship between temperature and yield, the method of pair correlation was used. The calculations were carried out using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.&#x0D; The study revealed significant differences in the degree of dependence of the yield of different crops on temperature conditions. It has been proven that the nature of the influence of thermal conditions on yield can vary significantly depending on the type of crop. In particular, the current increase in temperature favorably affects the efficiency of growing cereals and legumes and, at the same time, leads to a significant decrease in potato yield. It is shown that the dependence of the yield of different crops on air temperature is characterized by significant territorial disproportions. Wherein, the regions with the highest indicators of correlation dependence are located mainly in the west and northwest of Ukraine.&#x0D; The regions of Ukraine were ranked in accordance with the total degree of correlation between the average annual air temperature and the yield of selected agricultural crops. When ranking regions according to the degree of influence of the thermal factor, the arithmetic mean of the absolute values ​​(modules) of the correlation coefficients was used. According to the ranking results, the regions were grouped. It has been proved that when analyzing territorial disproportions, it is necessary to take into account the differences in the agricultural specialization of the regions, since the specialization of crop production causes significant differences in the sown areas of crops with different dependence on thermal factors.&#x0D; Based on the study, we can conclude that the current change in the thermal regime already has a significant impact on the process of transformation of agriculture, which, in particular, is manifested in a change in the agricultural specialization of the regions. For example, in regions specializing in the cultivation of vegetable crops, an increase in air temperature leads to a decrease in the efficiency of agricultural production. In turn, the decrease in the efficiency of agricultural production leads to a decrease in the volume of production. At the same time, the increase in the thermal resources of Polesye makes it possible to grow sunflower and other heat-loving crops in this zone.&#x0D; The novelty of the study is to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the influence of the thermal factor on the yield of various crops. At the same time, it should be noted that the main result of the study is obtaining a numerical characteristic of the degree of correlation dependence, which allows analyzing the degree of dependence of different crops on temperature conditions, as well as identifying and analyzing territorial disproportions in the distribution of this dependence.&#x0D; Key words: yield, average annual air temperature, specialization of agriculture.

Recommendation for Improvement in COVID-19 Vaccine Program in Malaysia: An Online Nationwide Qualitative Survey

Introduction: Maintaining high levels of vaccinations is important for public health success in any vaccination planning. Success requires a better understanding of the public’s perceptions of diseases and consequent decisions about vaccinations. This study aims to gather exploratory qualitative data on public opinion on the Malaysian Government’s COVID-19 immunization campaigns. Methods: Open-ended question on Google Form was advertised online between 2 to 17 December 2020. The questionnaire form was deactivated when saturation has been reached. The free text questions were analysed by qualitative thematic analysis by all authors on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Results: Six hundred and sixty-one participants replied to the online questionnaire. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis on suggestions for future National COVID-19 Immunisation Program. First, COVID-19 vaccine administration policy; secondly, knowledge dissemination and plan to address obstacles of public acceptances towards the vaccine proactively; thirdly, better implementation programs by the government and fourthly, using local research expertise for vaccine development and alternative medicines. Participants believe all this are essential in increasing their trust and uptake for the government’s future national COVID-19 Immunisation Program. Conclusion: This study highlights the suggestions made by the public for the Malaysian Government. These findings will help develop education and intervention strategies for new vaccine introduction to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

002 National clinical audit on the management of Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in adults

Abstract UK guidelines for the management of Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in adults, published by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) in 2016, outline a set of audit standards (Creamer D, Walsh SA, Dziewulski P et al. U.K. guidelines for the management of Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in adults 2016. Br J Dermatol 2016; 174:1194–227). Our aim was to audit the current management of SJS/TEN in adults against audit standards in the BAD guidelines. BAD members were invited to submit data on five consecutive adults with SJS/TEN per department over an 8-week period in 2022. All data were obtained from respondents using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet proforma returned to the BAD by email. No patient-identifiable data were requested. Initial data extraction was conducted using a novel and reproducible program written in the R statistical language (V3.7 and the readxl, ggplot2 and ggthemes packages). The data analysis was also performed using Microsoft Excel. Thirty-nine (29%) dermatology centres in the UK participated and data for 147 adults with SJS/TEN were collected. Within 24 h of a diagnosis being made or suspected, the following were documented: Severity-of-Illness Score for TEN (SCORTEN) for 52% (n = 76/147) of submitted cases, list of medications for 77% (n = 113) and timelines for commencement/alterations of medications for 71% (n = 104). Initial assessment was of the eyes (by an ophthalmologist) for 48% (n = 71) of cases, the mouth in 88% (n = 130), the genital skin in 70% (n = 103) and the urinary tract in 63% (n = 93). In the first 10 days after a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of SJS/TEN, daily assessments of the mouth were documented in 18% (n = 26) of cases, the eyes in 8% (n = 12) and the urinary tract and genital skin in 10% (n = 14). Documentation regarding advice on (i) avoidance of the culprit drug was present for 58% (n = 76/130) of cases and (ii) request for a medic alert bracelet/amulet in 6% (n = 9/147). In adults with SJS/TEN, drug causality assessment was documented adequately. Initial assessment of the mouth, eyes, urinary tract and genital skin was good to fair; however, daily assessments were poor. Other audit standards that require improving include documentation of SCORTEN and advice to avoid the culprit drug and request a medic alert bracelet/amulet. In adults with SJS/TEN, there are multiple points in the assessment pathway that require careful documentation and regular review. These are a challenge for many clinical inpatient environments. Care within a burns unit or similar may not be possible for all. This audit suggests that some form of assessment and clinical review checklist might enable colleagues to maintain standards outlined in the guideline. Among these, use of SCORTEN, advice to avoid the culprit drug and requests for a Medic Alert bracelet/amulet are key.