Blood sampled from existing peripheral IV cannulae yields results equivalent to venepuncture: a systematic review

Objectives: To establish whether blood samples taken from used peripheral intravenous cannulae are clinically interchangeable with venepuncture. Design: Systematic review. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched for relevant trials. Setting: Trials which compared blood samples from used peripheral intravenous cannulae to venepuncture and provided limits of agreement or data which allowed calculation of limits of agreement. Participants: Seven trials with 746 participants. Blood tests included 13 commonly ordered biochemistry, haematology and blood gas measurements. Main outcome measures: 95% limits of agreement. Data were pooled using inverse variance weighting and compared to a clinically acceptable range estimated by expert opinion from previous trials. Results: Limits of agreement for blood samples from used peripheral intravenous cannulae were within the clinically acceptable range for sodium, chloride, urea, creatinine and haematology samples. Limits of agreement for potassium were 0.47 mmol/L which exceeded the clinically acceptable range. Peripheral intravenous cannula samples for blood gas analysis gave limits of agreement which far exceeded the clinically acceptable range. Conclusions: Blood sampling from used peripheral intravenous cannulae is a reasonable clinical practice for haematology and biochemistry samples. Potassium samples from used peripheral intravenous cannulae can be used in situations where error up to 0.47 mmol/L is acceptable. Peripheral intravenous cannula samples should not be used for blood gas analysis

User acceptance of SaaS ERP considering perceived risk, system performance and cost

The use of cloud solution to support ERP system has become the priority of many organizations to stay competitive in the current global world. This research will be focusing on the user acceptance of SaaS ERP (SAP ByDesign) in a global construction tool provider considering perceived risk, cost and system performance. Due to many unique variables, the purpose of this research is to analyze and investigate issues related to acceptance of SaaS in the construction tool provider companies. The results of this research can help both organizations and researchers to build a fundamental level on understanding how these factors that can predict the user acceptance of SaaS ERP in a global construction tool provider company which significantly beneficial. 80 users ranging from executive and higher management level globally were targeted. SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1 was used to analyze respondents' data and SAS dataset was then run by SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1 to produce descriptive analysis, Cronbach alpha, factor analysis and PLS-SEM will be used to analyses the responses and each hypothesis will be tested based on the data consolidated. Lastly, Partial Least Square- SEM will be performed to summarize and give an analysis of the research model propose

Factors affecting faculty use of learning technologies: Implications for models of technology adoption

This study examines factors associated with the use of learning technologies by higher education faculty. In an online survey in a UK university, 114 faculty respondents completed a measure of Internet self-efficacy, and reported on their use of learning technologies along with barriers to their adoption. Principal components analysis suggested two main barriers to adoption: structural constraints within the University and perceived usefulness of the tools. Regression analyses indicated both these variables, along with Internet self-efficacy, were associated with use of online learning technology. These findings are more consistent with models of technology engagement that recognize facilitating or inhibiting conditions (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology; decomposed theory of planned behavior) than the classic technology acceptance model (TAM). Practical implications for higher education institutions are that while faculty training and digital literacy initiatives may have roles to play, structural factors (e.g., provision of resources and technical support) must also be addressed for optimal uptake of learning technologies

A predictive model of users’ behavior and values of smart energy meters using PLS-SEM

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. A smart energy metering system is an IoT device that connects several electrical household devices and record, monitor, estimate, control in-house energy consumption in a real-time basis. Although smart energy meters have great capabilities, this technology is still in infancy stages in many developing countries, and little is known about what perceived values are associated with smart meters from residents’ perspectives. Therefore, this research aimed to fill this gap by examining the impact of six different types of perceived values on residents’ intentions to use smart meters in UAE. The study followed a quantitative approach by gathering 266 survey responses which were tested by using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The statistical results genuinely indicated that perceived epistemic values, environmental values, emotional values, and convenience values can significantly impact residents’ intention to use smart meter, whereas social values and monetary values found to have no significant impact on their intentions to use this technology. Theoretical and practical implications are indicated, and directions of future research are specified afterwards

Working towards fostering programming acceptance in the everyday lives of older and adult people with low levels of formal education:a qualitative case study

With the ever-increasing development of digital technologies, understanding their acceptance or rejection is important. A great deal of research, led by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), shows that technology acceptance is a hot and complex topic. Much of it has been quantitative and operationalized within mandatory—workplace/organizational—contexts, where instrumental aspects of technology use (e.g., efficiency and productivity) play a central role. In this chapter, we report on a qualitative case study—based on 3 in-person learning courses—of factors that can help us foster programming acceptance in the everyday lives of older and adult people with low levels of formal education. We discuss the relative relevance of technology acceptance constructs, showing that perceived ease-of-use is much less relevant than perceived usefulness, because all participants had to find the fit of programming in their lives. We show that two social aspects—the figure of the course instructor and the group—were key to introduce programming and encourage decision-making. We also discuss some methodological issues, such as the difficulties in asking validated items of TAM (e.g. “I have the knowledge necessary to use the system”) to our participants

Getting it right: a model for compliance assessment

Compliance is important for organisations but models and tools to aid understanding of compliance behaviour is limited. This paper argues that the understanding of the interaction between subjects and objects and their intention to comply with requirements of rules and regulations may be a predictor of compliance behaviour. Thus, a Conceptual Compliance Assessment Model (CAM) is developed by extension of Technology Acceptance Model and Activity theory for assessment of compliance behaviour. Data collected and evaluated showed that the awareness and understanding of the mediational tool is critical in realizing the outcome. It also showed that other factors like the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, the community and the management set up also affected compliance behaviour. Essentially, the use of CAM will be useful in assessing the compliance activities of subjects which may aid in formulation of behaviour support systems to improve compliance behaviour

Matched sizes of activating and inhibitory receptor/ligand pairs are required for optimal signal integration by human Natural Killer cells

It has been suggested that receptor-ligand complexes segregate or co-localise within immune synapses according to their size, and this is important for receptor signaling. Here, we set out to test the importance of receptor-ligand complex dimensions for immune surveillance of target cells by human Natural Killer (NK) cells. NK cell activation is regulated by integrating signals from activating receptors, such as NKG2D, and inhibitory receptors, such as KIR2DL1. Elongating the NKG2D ligand MICA reduced its ability to trigger NK cell activation. Conversely, elongation of KIR2DL1 ligand HLA-C reduced its ability to inhibit NK cells. Whereas normal-sized HLA-C was most effective at inhibiting activation by normal-length MICA, only elongated HLA-C could inhibit activation by elongated MICA. Moreover, HLA-C and MICA that were matched in size co-localised, whereas HLA-C and MICA that were different in size were segregated. These results demonstrate that receptor-ligand dimensions are important in NK cell recognition, and suggest that optimal integration of activating and inhibitory receptor signals requires the receptor-ligand complexes to have similar dimensions

Investigating the experience of Moodle adoption through expert voices

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) such as Moodle are now widely used in universities and other organisations. One crucial factor in the successful employment of such platforms is the ability and commitment of teaching staff to adopt the system. Despite the importance of this role, there has been little work to examine the experience of using VLEs in practice. This paper presents initial, qualitative research aimed at understanding how Moodle is being used and the different experiences and perspectives of the staff involved. To generate themes and areas of interest for future investigation this paper uses interview data from two “expert witnesses” who have a deep understanding of how the platform is used. Emergent themes include: divergence between confident and basic users; the spread of usage within an academic community; lack of progression to innovative teaching methods