Mac Software Research Articles

The Potential of Liquid Organic Fertilizer for Hydroponic Nutrition: A Systematic Literature Review

Nutrients are the main component in a hydroponic system. Liquid organic fertilizer has the potential to be a source of hydroponic nutrition because it can be made from agricultural waste through a fermentation process using local microorganisms. The aim of the research is to analyze articles that use the theme of liquid organic fertilizer and describe various topics that are relevant and have novelties to be developed in future research. The bibiometric analysis used in the research used the 2019-2023 literature. The data collection method uses dimensions with the keyword "liquid organic fertilizer" to obtain 500 papers published in 2019-2023. The data was sorted into 300 articles for further analysis with the help of VOSviewer 1.6.19_Mac software. The research results show that the theme of liquid organic fertilizer implemented in scientific articles has become a serious concern and has had high interest value for researchers over the last 4 years. Several new topics that need to be studied further to support the development of liquid organic fertilizer as nutrition in hydroponic systems to support sustainable agriculture include: local microorganisms (mol), biostimulants, cocopeat, chicken manure. Elsevier is a publisher in the main ranking which publishes articles and is widely cited. Keywords with different topics are needed to analyze articles to get new ideas and innovations in developing knowledge and technology that supports sustainable agriculture.

Knowledge and Awareness of Parents About the Difference Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Childhood Absence Epilepsy in the Paediatric Population Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly in children. The signs and symptoms of ADHD include inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Consequently, Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) tends to present in children with sudden and recurrent episodes of loss of awareness alongside symptoms that occasionally include clonic, atonic, and simple automatisms. The present study evaluates parents' knowledge in Makkah regarding the difference between ADHD and CAE. The study was conducted among Saudi Arabian parents living in Makkah. Data were collected in April 2022 through the use of an online survey that was distributed electronically via social media platforms. The inclusion criteria entailed parents from different socio-economic backgrounds. In contrast, the exclusion criteria entailed parents who had not been involved in raising their children and those with children with intellectual disabilities. A group of consultants was tasked with validating all data collected through an original questionnaire. To effectively calculate the study sample size, OpenEpi Version 3.01 was used. Lastly, all statistical analyses were conducted with Stata Social Sciences (SPSS®) software for Mac, version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A total of 633 participants completed the survey. Of the total respondents, approximately 1% indicated having a good knowledge level, 15.17% indicated having moderate knowledge, and the remaining 84% indicated poor knowledge of the subject under study. Approximately 46% of the participants reported that social media was the primary source of information. One significant issue regards the observation that the parent's level of education was statistically associated with the level of knowledge. There is limited awareness of the difference between (ADHD) and (CAE) among parents in the pediatric population. These findings highlight an opportunity to raise awareness using well-organized education programs in Makkah City.

Pattern-electroretinogram in the differential diagnosis of ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE. To evaluate the clinical utility of pattern electroretinography (PERG) in the differential diagnosis of ocular hypertension and newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) of the initial stage.METHODS. This prospective non-randomized cohort study included patients over the age of 35 years with newly diagnosed ocular hypertension and initial stage POAG in at least one eye. All patients underwent a standard ophthalmological examination, as well as a complex of additional methods used to diagnose POAG: pachymetry, examination of the biomechanical properties of the cornea (Ocular Response Analyzer, Reichert), standard automated perimetry (SAP) (Octopus 900, Haag-Streit Diagnostics), optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve head (ONH) and macular area (OCT Triton Plus 3000, Topcon) and PERG (Diopsys Nova, Diopsys, Inc.). Data from both eyes of all included patients were analyzed (12 eyes in the ocular hypertension group and 26 eyes in the POAG group). Statistics was calculated using the StatPlus:mac Software package (StatPlus Inc., Taiwan).RESULTS. During this study we recorded statistically significant differences in steady-state PERG parameters according to the PERG-24 protocol (magnitude, magnitude D — taking into account the magnitude and variability of the response phase throughout the test — and their reverse ratio, determined at pattern contrasts of 100% and 85%) between the groups of patients with newly diagnosed ocular hypertension and newly diagnosed initial stage POAG with a comparable level of intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, biomechanical properties and comparable perimetric indices, as well as the average thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell complex according to OCT data. At the same time, all PERG parameters in the ocular hypertension group were within the normal range, while individual PERG parameters in the POAG group had deviations from the normal.CONCLUSION. Steady-state PERG may be an additional objective method for early detection of disorders in the functioning of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which allows differential diagnosis of ocular hypertension without damage of RGCs and initial stage POAG. In addition, dynamic examination with steady-state PERG of individuals with ocular hypertension may allow early detection of the onset of retinal ganglion cells death, i.e. the development of POAG, than with SAP and OCT.

Identifying and analyzing the ascenders of civil rights in the administrative system

The civil charter, known as civil rights in the administrative system in Iran, follows the ensuring of better governance via citizen participation and provides a basis for accountability, transparency, and better services. Implementation of the civil rights ratification in the administrative system since 1396 has encountered several challenges. Therefore, there has always been a need for revision of managerial approaches and utilization of new tools for planning based on the most influencing factors. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the most important ascenders of civil rights in the administrative system. To achieve this goal, data required to conduct research have been gathered first through library studies and then interviews with experts. In the beginning, a list of 48 effective ascenders of civil rights in the administrative system is studied. Then, 15 of these factors have been selected as important ascenders for measuring their impact and effectiveness in the matrix of interactions by "Delphi" methods. By analyzing Mic Mac software outputs, the impact and effectiveness of each of the selected ascenders are determined. According to this analysis, empowerment factors for citizens, the will of politicians, political open space, and social networks were identified as the key ascender that have the greatest impact on civil rights in the administrative system.

The effect of axial length to basement-membrane opening to fovea distance on optical coherence tomography.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) lateral scaling is influenced by axial length (AL). There is a need to incorporate a method to correct this measurement bias for accurate lateral OCT measurement. To identify the correlation of optic-nerve-to-fovea distance measurement to AL by OCT) as an internal factor for lateral scaling. Using Heidelberg Spectralis OCT, distance from the basement membrane opening at the optic disc margin to the centre of the fovea (BMO-fovea distance) was measured in 135 eyes (77 subjects, ages 25-85). These measurements were correlated with AL measurements from Zeiss IOLMaster 700 using linear regression before and after correction for ocular magnification. Statistical analysis including Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, Pearson correlation, and multivariate analysis of the association between disc-fovea distance and AL was performed using Wizard statistical software for mac. After lateral scaling, the mean distance between the fovea and BMO was 3.60 ± 0.25 mm (median: 3.59; range 3.07-4.23 mm). There was a significant positive correlation between AL and Bennett's formula-corrected BMO-fovea distance (p <0.001, r = 0.354). While there is significant variability in BMO-fovea distances, it is positively correlated with AL. A standard method is needed to improve the lateral scaling measurements in order to unify the results for enface OCT imaging.

Exploring and Explaining the Drivers Affecting the Future of Public Participation in Policy Making

Public participation in political decisions has a long history where it has been exposed to many developmental processes and has become particularly important in recent years. In Iran also this issue has recently come to the attention of policymakers. The present study aims to identify the most significant drivers affecting the future of public participation in policy making. To achieve this goal, after library studies were carried out and interviews with experts were taken, a list of 93 drivers affecting public participation in policy making was identified. In order to reduce this list, thematic analysis was used and it was finally reduced to 24 drivers. After being placed in the designed cross-impact matrix, the drivers were given to 5 experts. Then, the consolidation of their ideas about the impressiveness and impressionability of each of the drivers was entered in the cross-impact matrix. By analyzing the output of the Mick Mac software, the extent of the affect and affected of each driver was determined. Factors such as government type, technology level, sanctions, and people's knowledge and awareness were identified as key drivers having had the highest impact on public participation in policy making in Iran.

Structural Analysis of Drivers Affecting the Livelihood Sustainability of Villagers, an Emphasis on Future Studies (Case Study: Marivan County)

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to identify the drivers responsible for instability of livelihood and to investigate the extent and manner of their influences on each other and on the future livelihood status of villagers in Marivan County. Methodology: Applying a descriptive-analytical method and Delphi Technique, the present applied research identifies first, the most important drivers of the current situation of livelihood instability and and their eliminating impact on the future livelihood of the deprived villagers in Marivan County. Moreover, applying cross-impact method in Mick Mac software, it analyzes the effect and direct influence of these drivers on each other. Findings The most important drivers of livelihood instability of rural people in the county are a total of 36 drivers in five categories as follows: Economic failures with the influence(346) and dependence (371), social failures with the influence (290) and dependence (315), environmental-physical failures with the influence (172) and dependence (176), institutional-managerial failures with the influence (351) and dependence (287) and trans-regional failures with the influence(23) and dependence(12). Among all them the institutional-managerial failures have the most direct influence (315), and the economic failures have the most direct dependence (371) on the other drivers. The regulatory and two-dimensional drivers and their situation on the graph shows the continuing instability of the villagers’ livelihood in future, thus, this will increase deserted villages and wasted water and soil resources in the region. Limitations: The dispersion of a large number of villages and their small sizes in addition to their lack of accessibility, and also the lack of cooperation of some experts to conduct interviews were among the main limitations of the present study. Practical solutions: It is suggested to teaching villagers about the basic principles of entrepreneurship and how to take risks and identify opportunities. In this regard, make use of entrepreneurial villagers with successful experiences and non-governmental organizations in the region can be effective. Ultimately, plans and programs should be designed and implemented for the regulatory drivers such as: fatalism, lack of crisis management policies, recognizing rural development as equal to the traditional agriculture development. Originality and Value: The outcome of this study can be an introduction for subsequent studies for formulating scenarios, executive strategies, policies and planning in order to move toward sustainable livelihoods and the realization of a favorable livelihood for the villagers.

The effectiveness of Bacopamonnieri (Linn.) Wettst. as a nootropic, neuroprotective, or antidepressant supplement: analysis of the available clinical data

Bacopamonnieri (Linn.) Wettst. has been used in traditional medicine as a drug to enhance and improve memory. In this regard, this study aims to provide B. monnieri's efficacy as a neuroprotective drug and as a nootropic against various neurological diseases. Literatures were collected, following Prisma guidelines, from databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct and were scrutinized using a quality scoring system. Means, standard deviations and ‘n’ numbers were extracted from the metrics and analyzed. Jamovi computer software for Mac was used to carry out the meta-analysis. The selected studies suggested that the plant extracts were able to show some improvements in healthy subjects which were determined in Auditory Verbal Learning Task, digit span-reverse test, inspection time task and working memory, even though it was not significant, as no two studies found statistically significant changes in the same two tests. B. monnieri was able to express modest improvements in subjects with memory loss, wherein only a few of the neuropsychological tests showed statistical significance. B. monnieri in a cocktail with other plant extracts were able to significantly reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and depression which cannot be solely credited as the effect of B. monnieri. Although in one study B. monnieri was able to potentiate the beneficial effects of citalopram; on the whole, currently, there are only limited studies to establish the memory-enhancing and neuroprotective effects of B. monnieri. More studies have to be done in the future by comparing the effect with standard drugs, in order to establish these effects clinically in the plant and corroborate the preclinical data.

High preanalytical non-compliance and samples rejection rate in clinical biochemistry laboratory are decreased by nurse staff training in phlebotomy and sample handling

Background: Preanalytical phase of biomedical analysis remains an important source of diagnostic errors that deserves special attention. This study aims to evaluate the training in phlebotomy and sample handling impact on the preanalytical non-compliances. Material and Methods: we performed a prospective study before and after staff training in phlebotomy and sample handling by systematically recording all clinical samples non-compliances. First, we assessed and describe the non-compliance baseline rate from January to December 2017 in the clinical biochemistry laboratory of Hôpital Sominé DOLO de Mopti. After two sessions of one week staff training in January 2018, we performed the same study from January to December 2018. We compared the proportions of non-compliances between the two assessments. Data were collected on the case report forms, captured in Excel and analyzed by R software for (Mac) OS X version 4.0.3. Pearson Ch2 or Fisher exact tests were used for the comparison of proportions. The statistical significance was set at p &lt; 5%. Results: a total of 27,810 venous blood samples were received during the study period; 48% was for biochemistry, 41% for immuno-serology, 9% for blood cell count and 2% for coagulation tests. There were 3,826 instances of preanalytical non-compliances (13.76%) identified that led to sample rejection. Out of the 11 types of non-compliances investigated, 5 (45.4%) accounted for nearly 91% of the problems: insufficient sample volume (28.9%), hemolyzed samples (20.5%), inappropriate collection time (17.8%), sample clot (12.9%), and inappropriate sample collection tube (10.8%). We observed a significant difference in rates of non-compliance between inpatients and outpatients samples (44.4% vs 7.3%; p &lt; 0.001). The proportion of non-compliance have significatively decreased after the two training sessions of hospital staff in phlebotomy and sample handling 3,826/27,810 (13.8%) vs 3,009/32,476 (9.3%); p &lt; 0.001. Conclusion: we report a significantly higher rate of non-compliance in inpatients. Hospital staff training in phlebotomy and sample handling reduce the proportion of preanalytical non-compliance and thereby improve patient management and safety.

The influence of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on the adverse outcome of COVID-19 combined with diabetes mellitus: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:COVID-19 has become a global epidemic, causing huge loss of life and property. Diabetes will affect the prognosis of COVID-19 patients in many ways. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can affect oxidative stress and lead to the release of inflammatory mediators, leading to multiple organ damage and chronic inflammation. Here, we want to know whether hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia will adversely affect patients with diabetes and COVID-19 comorbidities. This has very important practical significance for the control of blood glucose in the treatment of diabetes combined with SARS-COV-2 infection.Methods:We will search electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang database using keywords related to COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. We will manually search gray literature, such as conference proceedings and academic degree dissertations, and trial registries. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, extract data, and evaluate risk of bias. Data analysis will be conducted using the Review Manager software version 5.3.5 and STATA4.0 software for Mac. The main outcome was the mortality of COVID-19 which was included in meta-analysis and subgroup analysis. The bias of the study was evaluated independently by NOS scale, and published by funnel chart. The sensitivity was analyzed row by row.Results:This study will provide a high-quality synthesis of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in patients with COVID-19 combined with diabetes mellitus. To provide evidence for clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus combined with COVID-19. And the results will be published at a peer-reviewed journal.INPLASY registration number INPLASY 202080096.

Usefulness of a circumferential wound retractor in emergency colorectal surgery as a preventive measure for surgical site infection. Alexis O-Ring® and emergency surgery

Introduction and aimsMore than 20% of healthcare-associated infections correspond to those at surgical sites, and there is a higher incidence of infections in colorectal surgery due to the associated bacterial load. Surgical wound protectors are designed to prevent contamination and mechanical trauma. Our aim was to demonstrate the usefulness of a circumferential wound retractor/protector for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) in emergency colorectal surgery. MethodsForty-one patients that underwent emergency open surgery at a tertiary care hospital were randomized into 2 groups: 20 cases without the retractor (group A) and 21 cases with the retractor (group B). Subjects were assigned to a group in a 1:1 randomization allocation ratio. The chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were employed for the quantitative variables, and the statistical analysis was performed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software for Mac, version 16.0 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). ResultsThe SSI rate was 17%. Six group A patients developed SSI versus one group B patient. The use of a circumferential wound retractor/protector was statistically significant for the prevention of surgical wound infections, with a p = 0.031 and an OR of 8.5. In addition, preoperative blood glucose levels below 200 mg/dl provided a 3.2-times higher protective effect, compared with glucose levels above 200 mg/dl. ConclusionsIn the present prospective randomized pilot study, the use of the circumferential wound retractor/protector significantly decreased the likelihood of surgical wound infection in emergency colorectal surgery.

Usefulness of a circumferential wound retractor in emergency colorectal surgery as a preventive measure for surgical site infection. Alexis O-Ring® and emergency surgery.

More than 20% of healthcare-associated infections correspond to those at surgical sites, and there is a higher incidence of infections in colorectal surgery due to the associated bacterial load. Surgical wound protectors are designed to prevent contamination and mechanical trauma. Our aim was to demonstrate the usefulness of a circumferential wound retractor/protector for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) in emergency colorectal surgery. Forty-one patients that underwent emergency open surgery at a tertiary care hospital were randomized into 2 groups: 20 cases without the retractor (group A) and 21 cases with the retractor (group B). Subjects were assigned to a group in a 1:1 randomization allocation ratio. The chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were employed for the quantitative variables, and the statistical analysis was performed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software for Mac, version 16.0 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The SSI rate was 17%. Six group A patients developed SSI versus one group B patient. The use of a circumferential wound retractor/protector was statistically significant for the prevention of surgical wound infections, with a P=.031 and an OR of 8.5. In addition, preoperative blood glucose levels below 200mg/dl provided a 3.2-times higher protective effect, compared with glucose levels above 200mg/dl. In the present prospective randomized pilot study, the use of the circumferential wound retractor/protector significantly decreased the likelihood of SSI in emergency colorectal surgery.

Efficacy and safety of ACEI/ARB drugs in patients with COVID-19 combined with diabetes mellitus: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background:Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has become a worldwide epidemic, causing huge loss of life and property. Because of its unique pathological mechanism, diabetes affects the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 in many aspects. At present, there are many controversies about whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) should be used in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 comorbidities. There is an urgent need to provide evidence for the use of ACEI/ARB through high-quality systematic evaluation and meta-analysis.Methods:We will search electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and Wanfang database using keywords related to COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, ACEI/ARB drugs, and randomized controlled trials . We will manually search gray literature, such as conference proceedings and academic degree dissertations, and trial registries. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, extract data, and evaluate risk of bias. Data analysis will be conducted using the Review Manager software version 5.3.5 and stata 14.0 software for Mac. Statistical heterogeneity will be assessed using a standard chi-square test with a significance level of P < .10. Biases associated with study will be investigated using funnel plots.Results:This study will provide a high-quality synthesis of efficacy and safety of ACEI/ARB drugs in patients with COVID-19 combined with diabetes mellitus, providing evidence for clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus combined with COVID-19. And the results will be published at a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusion:Our study will draw conclusions on the efficacy and safety of ACEI / ARB drugs in patients with diabetes mellitus complicated with covid-19, so as to provide theoretical guidance for clinical practice of diabetes mellitus with covid-19.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY 202060111.

The effect of diabetes on mortality of COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is a very serious and urgent infectious disease. With the development of global economy and the improvement of living standard, the incidence of diabetes is increasing year by year. And it is more common in the elderly. COVID-19 is associated with much chronic disease, especially diabetes. At present, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality based on large scale of data between diabetes and COVID-19 all over the world.Methods and analysis:The databases of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) and VIP were searched by computer, and the researches related to diabetes mellitus and mortality of COVID-19 were collected. The searching time was from the establishment of the database to April 30 2020. The meta-analysis was carried out by Review Manager Version 5.3 and stata 14.0 software for Mac software after 2 researchers independently selected literature, extracted data and evaluated the bias risk. The main outcome was the mortality of COVID-19 which was included in meta-analysis and subgroup analysis. The bias of the study was evaluated independently by NOS scale, and published by funnel chart. The sensitivity was analyzed row by row.Results:The results will be published at a peer-reviewed journal.Registration number: INPLASY202040158.

Structural analysis of Iranian educational technologies

The purpose of this research is to identify the key driving forces that have an impact on educational technologies to find out the effects of these drivers on each other and the system. This research is a special attention to driving forces which seem they are able to change the educational space paradigms. This study explored the identification of medium term investment opportunities in the field of educational technology. It also helps to plan for the creation and development of new educational institutions and equip universities and schools based on future needs. In this regard, after the identification of effective driving forces, the relationships between these drivers were determined by the experts including university professors, leading educational college managers, and product developers in the field of educational technology and then the results of cross-impact analysis were analyzed by Mick Mac software. Finally, the drivers of virtual learning and learning space as strategic drivers in this space were identified and the factors of reinforcement and system verification indicators were presented.

Prevalence and Profile of Migraine Patients in Brazzaville, Congo

Migraine is a chronic disease evolving through recurrent seizures; it constitutes a frequent reason of consultation in neurology. Epidemiological data on migraine in the world are available, but no study has been conducted in general population in Congo. To determinate the prevalence of migraine in population of Brazzaville, we conducted a prospective cross-sectional, door-to-door study. This study took place from March 1st to July 31st, 2018, in the city of Brazzaville. Regarding all subjects over 18 years old, living in Brazzaville for over ten years. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software for Mac. The prevalence of migraine was 11,3% in Brazzaville, with 6% definite migraine and 5,3% of probable migraine. Women are more affected than men respectively 63,5% and 36,5%. Migraine without aura is more common than migraine with aura. Migraine is a public health problem because of its prevalence. Its affects the young adult and more preferably the woman The knowledge of the epidemiology of migraine in Brazzaville will lead to better awareness-raising actions.

Land use Changes Scenarios for Rural Areas (Case study: Bash Qaleh Dehestan –Urmia County)

Purpose- The purpose of the study is to determine the land use change scenarios in Bash Qaleh dehestan. Design/methodology/approach- Research methodology is based on futures studies and scenario studies. First, a list of drivers using documents 34 domestic and foreign research in the field of land use was prepared and then through the view of villagers and farmers (318) (Using Likert scale) and experts (22) the importance and their impact on land use were studied. For development scenarios, a team of five experts (2 rural planners, 2 regional planners, one natural resource expert) was used. Mick Mac software and Wizard scenario were also used for data analysis. Findings- The results showed that people's income, production level, return on investment in activity, industrial agriculture and agricultural margin were the most effective and uncertain drivers of land use change. For these drivers, eight scenarios were developed and developed. Practical implications- Food security, encouragement of conservation of resources, encouraging policies for population growth, increasing community well-being, droughts, climate change, soil erosion, the emphasis of civil society on the rights of citizens and protection of the rights of the next generation, the emphasis of governments on economic self-sufficiency is only part of the opposite trends which has faced land use challenges. It is suggested that specific programs be developed and monitored to avoid them for any scenario.

SenseCube—a novel inexpensive wireless multisensor for physics lab experimentations

SenseCube is a multisensor capable of measuring many different real-time events and changes in environment. Most conventional sensors used in introductory-physics labs use their own software and have wires that must be attached to a computer or an alternate device to analyze the data. This makes the standard sensors time consuming, tedious, and space-constricted. SenseCube was developed to overcome these limitations. This research was focused on developing a device that is all-encompassing, cost-effective, wireless, and compact, yet can perform the same tasks as the multiple standard sensors normally used in physics labs. It measures more than twenty distinct types of real-time events and transfers the data via Bluetooth. Both Windows and Mac software were developed so that the data from this device can be retrieved and/or saved on either platform. This paper describes the sensor itself, its development, its capabilities, and its cost comparison with standard sensors.

Paramedics' Perspectives on Factors Impacting On-Scene Times for Trauma Calls.

This project used a descriptive, qualitative design to examine facilitators and barriers to achieving 10-minute OSTs on trauma calls, from the perspective of paramedics. Paramedics from a regional Emergency Services organization were interviewed extensively over the course of one year, using qualitative interviewing techniques developed by experts in that field. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and entered into NVivo for Mac (QSR International; Victoria, Australia) software that supports qualitative research, for ease of data analysis. Researcher triangulation was used to ensure credibility of the data. Thirteen percent of the calls had OSTs that were less than 10 minutes. The following six categories were outlined by the paramedics as impacting the duration of OSTs: (1) scene characteristics; (2) the presence and effectiveness of allied services; (3) communication with dispatch; (4) the paramedics' ability to effectively manage the scene; (5) current policies; and (6) the quantity and design of equipment. These findings demonstrate the complexity of the prehospital environment and bring into question the feasibility of the 10-minute OST standard. LevitanM, LawMP, FerronR, Lutz-GraulK. Paramedics' perspectives on factors impacting on-scene times for trauma calls. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(3):250-255.

TRANSLATION, CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE FOOT FUNCTION INDEX - REVISED (FFI-R).

ABSTRACTObjective:The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the “Foot Function Index - Revised” (FFI-R) for use in Brazilian Portuguese. Methods:The scale was translated and administered (as recommended by Guillemin, 2000) to 52 patients in the postoperative period after foot and ankle surgery. Seven days after the initial assessment, the scale was readministered by a different interviewer. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 software for Mac. Reproducibility was assessed using intraclass correlation analysis. Results were considered statistically significant at a type I error rate of 5%. Results: The following random-effects intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were obtained for each score on the FFI-R: 0.625 for pain, 0.558 for stiffness, 0.757 for difficulty, 0.718 for activity restrictions, 0.854 for personal concerns, and 0.753 for the total score. Conclusion:The FFI-R was successfully translated to Portuguese and culturally adapted for use in Brazilian patients, demonstrating satisfactory validity and reliability. Level of Evidence I, Testing of Previously Developed Diagnostic Criteria on Consecutive Patients (with universally applied reference “golg” standard).