MEDIA RICHNESS THEORY AND NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION MEDIA: A STUDY OF VOICE MAIL AND ELECTRONIC MAIL

In situations requiring the exchange of information to resolve equivocality or reduce uncertainty, can Media Richness Theory account for differences in individuals\u27 preferences for electronic mail and voice mail relative to one another? The results of this study indicate that, as predicted, electronic mail was preferred over voice mail for the exchange of information to reduce uncertainty. However, contrary to the predictions of Media Richness Theory, voice mail was not preferred over electronic mail for the resolution of equivocality. These results suggest that Media Richness Theory in its current formulation may not be applicable to the study of the new media. Future research should redefine and extend the concept of richness and its elements to account for the nature and functionality of the new media and investigate alternative social dimensions to individuals\u27 preferences for and usage of the new media

Exploration on ability of printable modified papers for the application in heat sublimation transfer printing of polyester fabric

Abstract In this work heat transfer papers were loaded with a new core–shell pigment based on precipitating thin shell of titanium dioxide on a core of rice husk silica ash TiO2/RHSA to be applied in dye sublimation printing of textile fabrics. Besides, 0.1% (w/w) cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and 1% (w/w) bentonite (Bt) were also added sequentially to improve drainage and filler retention of the paper hand-sheets made from bleached kraft bagasse pulps. The effect of the new core–shell pigment on the mechanical and barrier properties, thermal stability and surface morphology of modified paper sheets were investigated. In addition, the study of transfer printability and ease of dye release from paper to fabric in this heat transfer printing of polyester fabrics using silk-screen printing under different transfer parameters were studied. Also, fastness measurements including washing, light and perspiration of printing polyester fabric were also estimated

Transthoracic ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Context Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk not only from their critical illness but also from secondary processes such as nosocomial infection. Pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection in critically ill patients. Indeed, diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) requires a high clinical suspicion combined with bedside examination, radiographic examination, microbiological analysis of respiratory secretions, and blood test. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of lung ultrasound for VAP diagnosis and follow-up. Settings and design A prospective cohort study was conducted on 74 patients, with a total number of 54 with a high likelihood of VAP and 20 with a low likelihood of VAP. Methods and material Mechanically ventilated patients for 48 h or more were included. We calculated the clinical pulmonary infection score and the lung ultrasound was performed within 24 h. Statistical analysis Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20, IBM, and Armonk, New York). Quantitative data were expressed as mean ±standard deviation (SD) and compared with Student’s t-test. Nominal data were given as number (n) and percentage (%). Chi2 test was implemented on such data. Results Based on the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) with a cutoff point of ≥6, the sensitivity of transthoracic ultrasound was 81.5%, the specificity was 82%, and the accuracy was 81.6%. Regarding sonographic signs, the highest sensitivity was for subpleural dots of consolidation (82%), then B-lines (56%), followed by pleural effusion, and air bronchogram (both 19%). The highest specificity was for air bronchogram (100%), then B-lines, and pleural effusion (both 90%), followed by subpleural dots of consolidation (80%). The positive predictive value for transthoracic ultrasound was 92%; the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the total ultrasound score was 0.82. Conclusions Transthoracic ultrasound is an easy bedside tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of ventilator-associated pneumonia