Choosing a Survey Sample When Data on the Population Are Limited: A Method Using Global Positioning Systems and Aerial and Satellite Photographs

Background Various methods have been proposed for sampling when data on the population are limited. However, these methods are often biased. We propose a new method to draw a population sample using Global Positioning Systems and aerial or satellite photographs. Results We randomly sampled Global Positioning System locations in designated areas. A circle was drawn around each location with radius representing 20 m. Buildings in the circle were identified from satellite photographs; one was randomly chosen. Interviewers selected one household from the building, and interviews were conducted with eligible household members. Conclusions Participants had known selection probabilities, allowing proper estimation of parameters of interest and their variances. The approach was made possible by recent technological developments and access to satellite photographs. &nbsp

Quality of care in for-profit and not-for-profit nursing homes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To compare quality of care in for-profit and not-for-profit nursing homes

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Use of the hands-free technique in hospital operating rooms : a study of the effectiveness of a recommended work practice

The hands-free technique is the indirect transfer of surgical instruments between surgeon(s) and other scrubbed personnel as well as circulating personnel, during which only one person touches the same sharp item at the same time. Items are usually placed in a designated neutral zone, which can be a section of the surgical field or a container, from where they can be retrieved.Use of the hands-free technique for passing sharp instruments during surgery has been recommended as a work practice by many professional organizations in order to reduce accidents, but its effectiveness has not been adequately studied. This study was designed to determine whether use of the hands-free technique resulted in a decrease in injuries, contaminations and glove tears.A prospective approach was used. All surgeries performed from the end of October, 1995 to mid-April 1996 at The Providence Medical Center in Seattle, Washington were eligible for inclusion in the study.In 3,765 of 5,388 (70%) eligible surgeries performed during that five and one/half month period, circulating nurses filled out forms in the operating rooms right after a surgical case, assessing the proportion of passes done where no more than one person touched a sharp instrument at the same time.In addition to use of the hands-free technique during surgery, type of surgery, length of surgery, bloodloss during surgery, noise levels, emergency status, number of personnel present and time of day, were also recorded.Results. The hands-free technique was used, as defined, in about 42% of the surgeries. In another 50% of the surgeries it was used half the time or almost never. It was not used at all in 8% of surgeries. An overall injury, contamination and glove tear rate of 3.9% was measured during the study period.Conclusion. Use of the hands-free technique at The Providence Medical Center during the study period was associated with a reduction in injuries, contaminations and glove tears, in surgeries with more than 100cc blood loss but a similar reduction was not observed when blood loss was less than 100 cc. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

Edcamp and Innovation in Professional Development for ALTs

Teacher professional development (PD) is essential to improve English language instruction in Japan. Nevertheless, current PD models have been criticised. Edcamps are a form of collaborative PD that has recently gained attention. We look at a compulsory PD event for assistant language teachers (ALTs) based on elements of the edcamp model. The aim of this study was to assess the participating ALTs’ attitudes towards currently available PD, investigate their criteria for suitable PD, and measure their responses to the edcamp model in reference to those criteria. ALTs broadly approved of the edcamp model but expressed concern that the PD did not meet their needs. They indicated that suitable PD should offer new ideas and direction as to how to apply them and should involve peer collaboration. The results highlight difficulties with moderating and offering opportunities for equal contribution. We make recommendations for the generalizability of the edcamp model for P

Metabolomics and its application to acute lung diseases

Metabolomics is a rapidly expanding field of systems biology that is gaining significant attention in many areas of biomedical research. Also known as metabonomics, it comprises the analysis of all small molecules or metabolites that are present within an organism or a specific compartment of the body. Metabolite detection and quantification provide a valuable addition to genomics and proteomics, and give unique insights into metabolic changes that occur in tangent to alterations in gene and protein activity that are associated with disease. As a novel approach to understanding disease, metabolomics provides a snapshot in time of all metabolites present in a biological sample such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, and many other specimens that may be obtained from either patients or experimental models. In this article, we review the burgeoning field of metabolomics in its application to acute lung diseases, specifically pneumonia and acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS). We also discuss the potential applications of metabolomics for monitoring exposure to aerosolized environmental toxins. Recent reports have suggested that metabolomics analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) approaches may provide clinicians with the opportunity to identify new biomarkers that may predict progression to more severe disease, such as sepsis, which kills many patients each year. In addition, metabolomics may provide more detailed phenotyping of patient heterogeneity which is needed to achieve the goal of precision medicine. However, although several experimental and clinical metabolomics studies have been conducted assessing the application of the science to acute lung diseases, only incremental progress has been made. Specifically, little is known about the metabolic phenotypes of these illnesses. These data are needed to substantiate metabolomics biomarker credentials so that clinicians can employ them for clinical decision-making and investigators can use them to design clinical trials