Cultural Differences And EMR Experiences: From The USA To The UAE And The UK

Electronic medical record (EMR) has gained increasing attention in the healthcare industry worldwide. Unfortunately, the adoption rate has been slower than what healthcare practitioners and IT professionals would expect. While various issues have recently been raised concerning hospitals’ and physicians’ EMR challenges, this research proposal specifically focuses on cultural differences in those healthcare organizations’ and practitioners’ EMR experiences. More specifically, a four-layer cultural framework is proposed and discussed. In additional to traditionally perceived national and organizational cultures, the framework further distinguishes institutional and group cultures that might also interact with other cultural elements and healthcare organizations’ EMR experiences. Six organizations situated in three culturally contrasting countries with comparative external environments, business purposes, managerial values, IT services, and organizational sizes are selected as potential study sites. An interpretive case study is further proposed to help investigate complex interactions involved in this research phenomenon. With a more comprehensive perspective on cultural effects and emerging nature of EMR systems, empirical research contribution, upon the project’s completion, is thus anticipated

Laboratory Course Modular Design for Learning Magnetic Components in Power Conversion Applications at Taipei Tech

The main theme of this paper is to present the laboratory course modular design for learning and hands-on magnetic components in power converters. The objective of the course is to give the students to model the converters, realize magnetic components and test the implemented converters via the hands-on work in order to improve practical skills of students under the insufficiency of regular course training. This designed course is based upon the modular concept of five modules in common use which include forward converter, flyback converter, push-pull converter, half-bridge converter and full-bridge converter. The controllers for these converter modules include voltage mode control and peak current mode control. The specifications for each converter module are the same, 48V/12V, 60W and 100 kHz of switching frequency. The designed modular curriculum has been applied to the Industrial Technology Research and Development Master (ITRDM) Program sponsored by the industry and government. And excellent acknowledgment from students is received for providing practical training and covering the wide range of magnetic components in power conversion applications

An Empirical Examination Of The Use Of Mobile Technology—A Social Pressure Perspective

Mobile technology has been predicted to create new challenges and competitions to organizations. To business decision makers, the understanding of mobile technology would then become critical in helping organizations to better manage relevant technological issues. The theoretical analysis and empirical examination of mobile phenomenon, however, remain scarce. In addition, conventional wisdom tends to emphasize the economic aspect of information technology. Such emphasis, nonetheless, lacks the explanatory power to understand social factors of the use of technologies. Social aspects of technologies could significantly influence the success of adoption. Derived from institutional theory, which emphasizes the influence of social pressures on collective members’ isomorphic behavior, the paper proposes how three different social pressures—coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures would positively influence a group member’s use of mobile technology. Our findings suggest that the influence of social pressures on the use of mobile technology might be contingent upon the types of technologies. While normative pressure is positively related to the use of cellular phones, coercive and mimetic pressures are significant to the use of laptops. Business decision makers might thus employ various strategies to create certain social pressure and in turn promote the use of corresponding mobile technologies

Optic neuritis - more than a loss of vision

Optic neuritis (ON) is the presence of an acute inflammation of the optic nerve that results in painful loss of vision. It is the most commonly encountered optic neuropathy in general practice, and is often associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies show that in about 15–20% of MS cases, ON was the presenting symptom and more than half of people with MS experience at least one episode of ON during their disease. The risk of developing MS can be stratified by appropriate imaging investigations at the diagnosis of ON. Therefore, early recognition is important to ensure timely referral, investigation and treatment; prompt treatment can hasten visual recovery

A Research on the Creativity Design Method of Visual Communication Design

[[abstract]]Among the practice of visual communication design, we usually judge the work on the creativity of the design. However, what “creativity” exactly is? What visual forms shall “creative performances” contain in visual communication design? Is there any standard to follow in creative design? Those are the task which this research intends to clarify with the final purpose to construct a “creative design method of visual communication design” as the reference of the future practical creation in design structure. The research begins with literature review in the hope to clarify the basic theoretical principals of skill of visual communication design through the relevant research results of the scholars & experts. Practical design application test of the “creative design method of visual communication design” is conducted through the case analysis of actual design competition and virtual design topic. Through the verification of these 2 stages, it is hoped to conclude the “creative design method of visual communication design” with theoretical base and practical demands under their interlinear. It is concluded in the research that “creativity” is an issue of personal reception which can’t be discussed below-by below, however, there is existed common creativity principle to pursuit. Five evaluation conditions of “creativity character of visual communication design” are listed as below:１. Original visual display with no former example.２. Equip with intensive visual attraction with the visual construction of comprehensive display of esthetics and tension.３. Express simple idea which directly hit the core and will not cause blur or allo-interpretation. ４. Masterly design with multiple levels of comprehension fun in the work５. The creative work recognized by the view definitely touches his/her heart with movement. The proper and overall “creative design method of visual communication design” is indeed helpful as the reference of the structure of the execution of the design creation. It will help the creator: Before the design generation：Assist you to control the issue core, offer you the direction and method of data collection. Among the design construction：Assist to expand thinking and stimulate the generation of new viewpoint. After the execution of colored draft：Assist to verify and evaluate the result of the visual expression of the design work.

Decay Constants of Pseudoscalar DD-mesons in Lattice QCD with Domain-Wall Fermion

We present the first study of the masses and decay constants of the pseudoscalar $D$ mesons in two flavors lattice QCD with domain-wall fermion. The gauge ensembles are generated on the $24^3 \times 48$ lattice with the extent $N_s = 16$ in the fifth dimension, and the plaquette gauge action at $\beta = 6.10$, for three sea-quark masses with corresponding pion masses in the range $260-475$ MeV. We compute the point-to-point quark propagators, and measure the time-correlation functions of the pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The inverse lattice spacing is determined by the Wilson flow, while the strange and the charm quark masses by the masses of the vector mesons $\phi(1020)$ and $J/\psi(3097)$ respectively. Using heavy meson chiral perturbation theory (HMChPT) to extrapolate to the physical pion mass, we obtain $f_D = 202.3(2.2)(2.6)$ MeV and $f_{D_s} = 258.7(1.1)(2.9)$ MeV.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. v2: the statistics of ensemble (A) with m_sea = 0.005 has been increased, more details on the systematic error, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Multiple sclerosis presenting with homonymous hemianopia

Ophthalmic manifestations are a prominent feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). Optic neuritis accounts for 18% of initial MS symptoms and 40–70% of all patients with MS have at least one episode of optic neuritis during their disease course. Eye movement abnormalities such as internuclear ophthalmoplegia are seen in over 50% of patients with MS. This case study describes a rare initial presentation of MS with ‘left eye blurred vision’ and examination findings of a complete left homonymous hemianopia. Although homonymous hemianopia is uncommon (0.5–3.5% of MS cases), this case highlights an important reminder that people with a field defect often complain of ‘blurred vision’ on the side of the defect

Are Vision-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaires Important in Assessing Rehabilitation for Patients With Hemianopia Post Stroke?

This author accepted manuscript (post print) is made available following a 12 month embargo from the date of publication (2011) in accordance with the publisher copyright policy.Objective: To explore the relationship between disability and functional measures with vision-specific quality of life (QoL) measures for people with hemianopia and stroke. Method: The Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) and the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI) were compared with scores on 2 vision-specific QoL measures, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and Veteran Low Vision Visual Function Questionnaire (VA LV VFQ-48). Setting: Rehabilitation hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. Participants: Stroke patients (n = 24) with homonymous hemianopia. Results: Most of the BIT and MPAI scores were significantly associated with the NEI VFQ-25 and VA LV VFQ-48 scores. Behavioral test scores of the BIT and the MPAI total score correlated with more aspects of the QoL measures than the other components of the BIT and the MPAI. Conclusion: BIT and MPAI measure constructs associated with QoL for people with hemianopia following stroke. Vision-specific QoL questionnaires can complement the functional instruments by identifying the domains of difficulty, based on the instrument’s subscale, that can guide rehabilitation therapists to address the person’s deficit

Refinement treatment of nasal bone fracture: A 6-year study of 329 patients

SummaryBackgroundThe reliability of X-ray radiography for diagnosing nasal bone fractures (NBFs) remains controversial. Recent studies show that, for determining the orientation and location of the displaced/depressed fracture, nasal sonography is as accurate as facial computed tomography. This retrospective study compared conductor-assisted nasal sonography (CANS) to conventional diagnostic tools and reported subjective patient satisfaction and discomfort after closed reduction combined with tube technique.MethodsThis retrospective study reports the results of 329 refinement treatments for nasal bone fracture (including 199 men and 130 women) performed from 2005 to 2011. All patients were assessed with CANS and completed a survey immediately prior to removing the packing. Questionnaires were adapted from the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale.ResultsThe study found that CANS has a 97.2% rate of accuracy in diagnosing NBF. The visual analog scale scores of nasal obstruction, nasal congestion, sleep disturbance, trouble breathing, and inability to move air through the nose were analyzed. The experimental group scores were significantly different from the control group for all scores (p < 0.001).ConclusionCompared to conventional methods, CANS is more accurate for detecting NBF. We recommend its use as an alternative tool for diagnosing a nasal fracture. Because the tube technique balances pressure between the nasopharynx and middle ear during swallowing, patient comfort is enhanced. Application of these modifications can improve accuracy in diagnosing NBF and can improve the quality of NBF treatment