An empirical investigation of the factors contributing to spreadsheets usage and end-user computing satisfaction

The purpose of this research is to develop and test a model of the relationships between several external and various mediating variables and the end-users' satisfaction and usage of spreadsheets. The present research takes several steps toward establishing a valid motivational model of the end-users. Two fairly general, well-established theoretical models (i) 'theory of reasoned action' (TRA) of human behaviour from social psychology and (ii) 'technology acceptance model' (TAM) from management information systems were chosen as paradigms within which to formulate an extended model Several adaptations to these paradigms were introduced in order to make them applicable to the present context building upon and integrating previous research in a curnulative manner. This led to a model which was tested by a nine page questionnaire with 129 entries. Response data was collected from a cross-sectional survey of 333 university students who have been out for one year training in industry across the UK. A careful reliability and validity analysis for the measures used in the survey was conducted. Multiple regression analysis, path analysis, and LISREL modelling were used as different data analysis techniques. The analysis in part gave good support for the initial model considered but also indicated some shortcomings in the two base models

Measles on the Rise: The importance of vaccination

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Comprehensive assessment of a nationwide simulation-based course for artificial life support

BACKGROUND: Successful implementation of medical technologies applied in life-threatening conditions, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires appropriate preparation and training of medical personnel. The pandemic has accelerated the creation of new ECMO centers and has highlighted continuous training in adapting to new pandemic standards. To reach high standards of patients\u27 care, we created the first of its kind, National Education Centre for Artificial Life Support (NEC-ALS) in 40 million inhabitants\u27 country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The role of the Center is to test and promote the novel or commonly used procedures as well as to develop staff skills on management of patients needing ECMO. METHOD: In 2020, nine approved and endorsed by ELSO courses of Artificial Life Support with ECMO were organized. Physicians participated in the three-day high-fidelity simulation-based training that was adapted to abide by the social distancing norms of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge as well as crucial cognitive, behavioral and technical aspects (on a 5-point Likert scale) of management on ECMO were assessed before and after course completion. Moreover, the results of training in mechanical chest compression were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 115 participants (60% men) predominantly in the age of 30-40 years. Majority of them (63%) were anesthesiologists or intensivists with more than 5-year clinical experience, but 54% had no previous ECMO experience. There was significant improvement after the course in all cognitive, behavioral, and technical self-assessments. Among aspects of management with ECMO that all increased significantly following the course, the most pronounced was related to the technical one (from approximately 1.0 to more 4.0 points). Knowledge scores significantly increased post-course from 11.4 ± SD to 13 ± SD (out of 15 points). The quality of manual chest compression relatively poor before course improved significantly after training. CONCLUSIONS: Our course confirmed that simulation as an educational approach is invaluable not only in training and testing of novel or commonly used procedures, skills upgrading, but also in practicing very rare cases. The implementation of the education program during COVID-19 pandemic may be helpful in founding specialized Advanced Life Support centers and teams including mobile ones. The dedicated R&D Innovation Ecosystem established in the ECMO for Greater Poland program, with developed National Education Center can play a crucial role in the knowledge and know-how transfer but future research is needed

Free fatty acids profiling in response to carnitine synergize with lutein in diabetic rats

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the fatty acids profiling in diabetic rats induced by sterptozocine (STZ) and their response to administration of lutein and carnitine.Materials and methods: Ninety male albino rats were divided into 6 groups as follows: Normal control. The remaining rats were injected i.p a single dose of STZ (65 mg /kg bw) for induction of diabetes. Diabetic rats were grouped as: GP II: (Untreated): GP III: Rats were given orally with L-lutein (100 mg/kg bw).GP IV: Rats were given carnitine (30 μg/kg) i.p. GP V: Rats were given carnitine and lutein GP VI were given metformin (100mg/kg bw/d) for 6 weeks.Results: Treatment of diabetic rats with lutein, L-carnitine, combined decreased the levels of glucose, HA1C compared with untreated diabetic (p<0.001). Administration of L-lutein, carnitine, combined to normal rats significantly decreased the levels of myristic, palmitice, palmitoleic, stearic, linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidic and eicosadienoic when compared with control normal rats (p<0.001).Conclusion: Abnormalities of fatty acids composition was observed in diabetic rats. Combination treatment with lutein and carnitine could ameliorate deleterious effect induced by STZ and attenuate the changed fatty acid compositionKeywords: Fatty acids profiling- lutein-carnitine-rat

Keystone Design Sliding Skin Flap for the Management of Small Full Thickness Burns

Deep dermal burns and full thickness burns are generally managed by excision and split thickness skin grafting. The skin graft may lead to unacceptable colour changes and be aesthetically unacceptable. Also, there may be a contour defect and, furthermore, it is followed by varying degrees of contracture. The keystone design sliding flap, first described in 2003, avoids the need for grafting and is not associated with any skin graft problems. We report two cases of the use of this flap as the primary surgery in reconstruction of small full thickness burn defects.

Evaluating TAM Antecedents in Saudi Arabia

Antecedents of the technology acceptance model have been the focus of research on user intentions toward, and usage of, new technology. This research has found that in developed countries, the antecedents of the technology acceptance model are valuable predictors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. These findings can potentially translate into new methods that businesses can implement to improve employee acceptance and use of new systems. The present study investigates whether these same antecedents are significant and valid predictors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in developing countries, specifically in Saudi Arabia. The findings indicate that the antecedents of the technology acceptance model do, in fact, apply in Saudi Arabia, and therefore also have implications for businesses in developing countries to improve the user acceptance and use of new technologies

First record of Aequorea globosa Eschscholtz, 1829 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) in the coast of Syria

The Indo-Pacific jellyfish Aequorea globosa Eschscholtz, 1829 was reported last year for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea from Iskenderun Bay (S. Turkey). This jellyfish was observed in the coast of Syria, on 8 January 2012, during a regular monthly sampling program

Different chemical behaviors and antioxidant activity of three novel schiff bases containing hydroxyl groups. X-ray structure of CH2{cyclo-C6H10-NH=CH-(2-O-naphth)}2.H2O

The antioxidant activities of three new Schiff base compounds, 1–3, were studied through their direct scavenging ability to eliminate free radicals using DPPH and ABTS methods and also through their indirect antioxidant activity as measured using the ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method. The number of OH groups in the compounds and their positions play a role in the activity. The crystal structure of CH2{cycloC6H10NHCH-(2-O-naphth)}2.H2O (1), has been determined and proves the existence of intramolecular hydrogen-bonds and hydrogen-bonded water molecules and reveals the keto-amine (NH⋯O) tautomer of this compound. One cyclo-hexyl ring was found to be disordered, and was resolved in two orientations. Hydrogen atoms of the NHCH groups were located in difference maps and were refined freely. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibit the enol-imine form. The UV–vis spectra of the three compounds have been studied in organic solvents of different polarity, and in basic and acidic media, and were found helpful in understanding the tautomeric forms in these compounds; the polarity was modified by adding (CF3COOH) or [(C2H5)3N] to the solvent. All three compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, FTIR, NMR and MS

Novel thiophene derivatives with sulfonamide, isoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline and anthracene moieties as potential anticancer agents

A novel series of thiophenes having biologically active sulfonamide (2-11), 3-methylisoxazole (12), 4-methoxybenzo[d]thiazole (13), quinoline (14, 15), benzoylphenylamino (16) and anthracene-9,10-dione (17) moieties were prepared. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by elemental analysis and spectral data. All newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell line (MCF7). Most of the screened compounds showed cytotoxic activities compared to doxorubicin as a positive control. Compounds 6, 7, 9 and 13 (IC50 values 10.25, 9.70, 9.55 and 9.39 µmol L–1 revealed higher cytotoxic activities than that of doxorubicin (IC50 = 32.00 µmol L). Also, compounds 5, 8 and 10 were found nearly as active as doxorubicin (IC50 values 28.85, 23.48 and 27.51 µmol L–1)