A comparative study between visual, near infrared and infrared images for the detection of veins for intravenous cannulation

The process of identification and locating of veins plays an important role to reduce health care cost and suffering of patients during intravenous cannulation. This paper compares between three technologies to assess their suitability and capability for the detection of veins. Three types of cameras are used in this study, a visual camera, an infrared camera and a near infrared camera. The collected data has then been subjected to analysis and comparison using different image processing techniques, namely grayscale, invert grayscale, histogram equalisation, edge detection (difference of Gaussians) and unsharp mask enhancement to improve the visualisation of veins. In this study, the near infrared images supported by suitable LED illumination has been found to be the most effective technology and the most cost effective for the visualisation of veins

Systems Thinking in Upstream Social Marketing: Using Soft Systems Methodology to Improve Midwifery Policy in Jordan

Background: Despite being acknowledged worldwide as essential maternal care providers, midwives remain marginalized in the Jordanian healthcare system. Further, considering Jordan’s goal to achieve a total fertility rate of 2.1 by 2030 and Jordanian women’s preference for female providers, enhancing midwives’ role could significantly promote the use of reproductive health and family planning services. Focus of the Article: We report on opportunities created by opening the boundary of our social marketing understanding to systems thinking in practice (STiP), using soft systems methodology (SSM) to engage with the complex situation of midwifery policy in Jordan. Research Question: In what ways could STiP benefit upstream social marketing interventions? We attempt to answer this question from the perspective of an SSM action research in Jordan. Program Design/Approach: The intervention combines stakeholder analysis and evidence-based policy with an SSM seven-stage cycle. We analyze the compatibility of SSM with social marketing through the NSMC’s eight benchmark criteria. Importance to the Social Marketing Field: The case offers to learn experientially about the relevance of a systems’ approach to complement social marketing frameworks. Drawing from the practical application of SSM, this study suggests that using systems’ tools in social marketing interventions might significantly contribute to achieving intended behavioral outcomes. Methods: Gordon’s alternative framework for upstream social marketing, “advocacy, relationship building and stakeholders’ engagement,” was enacted through the SSM’s seven stages. Research findings provided advocacy arguments. Rich pictures, conceptual modeling, and the CATWOE exercise fostered relationship building and stakeholders’ engagement toward the accommodation stage. Results: At the systematic level, that is, the linear chain of programmatic activities, the policy objective was achieved with an amended Law submitted to the Parliament for debate. At the systemic level, that is, the dynamic relationships among stakeholders, the social learning that emerged during the SSM process reduced policymakers’ resistance and fostered their collective action. Recommendations for Research or Practice: Social marketers can benefit from further experimentation with systems’ approaches to develop their STiP capabilities. Thus, social marketing practice, at this historical moment, could be better equipped conceptually and practically to manage for the emergence of positive behavior change in messy upstream situations where policy and politics are always enmeshed. Limitations: SSM calls for several iterations until stakeholders feel that no more change is needed. However, these iterations are challenging to implement during the limited time frame of development projects. In this case, another iteration was suggested to diffuse the conflict between midwives and obstetrician-gynecologists who saw themselves as victims of this policy reform. However, with Jordan Communication Advocacy and Policy ending in December 2019, this case legacy might be passed on to other projects

Enabling decentral collaborative innovation processes - a web based real time collaboration platform

The main goal of this paper is to define a collaborative innovation process as well as a supporting tool. It is motivated through the increasing competition on global markets and the resultant propagation of decentralized projects with a high demand of innovative collaboration in global contexts. It bases on a project accomplished by the author group. A detailed literature review and the action design research methodology of the project led to an enhanced process model for decentral collaborative innovation processes and a basic realization of a browser based real time tool to enable these processes. The initial evaluation in a practical distributed setting has shown that the created tool is a useful way to support collaborative innovation processes.Comment: multikonferenz wirtschaftsinformati

Etude qualitative de la relation entre les Pratiques de Management du Capital Humain et l’Engagement Organisationnel : cas des Professionnels de la Santé Publique

L’objectif de cette réflexion est de proposer un inventaire des variables explicatives de l’engagement organisationnel en termes de pratiques de Management du Capital Humain offertes, ainsi que de ceux dont le personnel soignant souhaiterait disposer dans leur organisation. Dans ce sens, une étude qualitative exploratoire a été réalisée auprès de 23 professionnels de la santé publique pour présenter un modèle des pratiques du management de capital humain susceptibles d’influencer l’engagement organisationnel. Le traitement des entretiens semi-directifs a été réalisé sous le logiciel Nvivo 10, à travers une analyse de contenu thématique. Compte tenu des résultats, la caractéristique la plus marquante de cette étude est l’apparition du climat d’éthique comme un antécédent de l’engagement organisationnel.   This paper focuses on proposing an inventory of the explanatory variables of organizational commitment in terms of Human Capital Management practices offered, as well as those that the nursing staff would like to have in their organization. An exploratory qualitative study was carried out with 23 public health professionals. This study presented the main human capital management practices likely to influence organizational commitment. The processing of the semi-directive interviews was carried out using the Nvivo 10 software through a thematic content analysis. Considering the results, the most striking feature of this study is the appearance of ethical climate as an antecedent of organizational commitment

TREE PROVISION ACHIEVING KID’S THERMAL COMFORT THROUGH FINISHING MATERIAL PERFORMANCE IN SUBTROPICAL OUTDOOR PLAYGROUNDS. COMPARISON BETWEEN KING FAHED AND AL BIAA GARDEN IN TRIPOLI, LEBANON

Outdoor playgrounds are one of the most spaces needed for kids to make different types of activities, and enhancing thermal comfort in such space consist a critical value due to its impact on kids’ health. Unfortunately, the acceleration of urban heat island (UHI) in outdoor spaces, caused by the presence built-up area has affected the temperature of outdoor spaces especially playgrounds. Many researches highlighted the importance of studying outdoor playground materials to achieve kid’s thermal comfort. Nevertheless, analyzing the impact of providing trees on material performance consist a new research perspective. This research highlight on the importance of using trees as natural element to decrease temperature in outdoor playgrounds to achieve kid’s thermal comfort. The aim of this research is to achieve kid’s thermal comfort by enhancing the performance of outdoor playgrounds finishing materials through providing trees. The study will focus on the variation of playground surfaces temperature through simulating different scenario applied in Malek Fahed and Al Biaa garden in Tripoli, Lebanon. The simulation will be applied in subtropical climate using Envi-Met software. The present study provides an overview of outdoor playgrounds finishing materials and its relations with kid’s thermal comfort. Research findings define the performance level of each playground finishing material in chinaberry shading during summer. Results demonstrate that natural surfaces such as sand, grass and stone enhance kids’ thermal comfort more than artificial ones like concrete during summer days

PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS GENETIC COUNSELING AND CHILDHOOD GENETIC TESTING FOR CONGENITAL ANOMALIES IN QATAR

Background: Understanding parental baseline knowledge of the implications of genetic counseling and genetic testing may unveil educational gaps or circumstantial fear and reluctance towards this important component in the management of children with congenital anomalies. This study was designed to investigate parental knowledge of and attitudes towards genetic counseling and genetic testing as it pertains specifically to pediatric plastic surgery practice in Qatar. Methods: The study employed a prospective face-to-face questionnaire that was administered online to parents who met inclusion criteria and attended the pediatric plastic surgery clinic at Sidra Medicine between October 2022 and February 2023. The questionnaire consisted of 38 questions, the questionnaire considered (i) demographics, (ii) knowledge, and (iii) attitudes (perceived benefits vs. perceived barriers) towards genetic counseling and genetic testing. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software v28.0. Results: A total of 160 participants filled out the questionnaire. Parents were from Asia 27%, North Africa 25%, Middle East 22%, and America/Europe 6%; only 22% were Qatari nationals. Consanguinity account for 22.9%. About 6% of children were presented with minor anomalies, 73% with major isolated anomalies, and 21% with major syndromic anomalies. 37% of children had undergone genetic testing in the past. American/European parents and all parents holding undergraduate and graduate degrees P=0.003; P=0.001 respectively) scored higher on genetic knowledge than did the rest of the cohort. Moreover, American/European parents (P=0.028) and all parents with a higher knowledge score (P=0.048) had a higher positive attitude score towards genetic counseling and genetic testing. Qataris (46%) n=35 demonstrated strong knowledge but lower positive attitudes score towards perceived benefits and higher perceived barriers score than other ethnicities. Parents who were consanguineous (P=0.003) or whose child had already been referred for counselling and genetic testing by a medical provider (P<0.001) had a higher positive attitude score regarding possible benefits of genetic counseling and genetic testing. In turn, parents whose child had not been previously underwent genetic testing tested (P<0.001) and parents who did not have another child with a genetic disorder (P=0.002) had a higher negative attitude score towards genetic counselling and genetic testing Conclusion: This study highlights the need for cultural sensitivity and tailored education about genetic counseling and genetic testing for parents of children with congenital anomalies. Healthcare providers should consider parental education levels and consanguinity when providing information about the benefits of and the barriers to genetic testing. By addressing barriers and providing accurate information, healthcare providers can help parents make informed decisions about genetic testing and counseling. Plastic surgery physicians play a crucial role in advocating for genetic testing for their patients. By recognizing the benefits of genetic testing and referring their patients to genetics professionals, plastic surgery physicians can help identify patients who may be at an increased risk for genetic conditions and provide them with personalized care. Through proactive screening and early intervention, plastic surgery physicians can improve patient outcomes and help reduce the burden of genetic conditions on individuals, families, and society as a whole. It is essential for plastic surgery physicians to stay informed about advances in genetics and genomics and to collaborate with genetics professionals to provide the best possible care for their patients, as genetic testing becomes more accessible and affordable

Recommendations for Clinical CYP2C19 Genotyping Allele Selection: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology

This document was developed by the Pharmacogenetics (PGx) Working Group of the Association for Molecular Pathology Clinical Practice Committee, whose aim is to recommend variants for inclusion in clinical pharmacogenetic testing panels. The goals of the Association for Molecular Pathology PGx Working Group are to define the key attributes of PGx alleles recommended for clinical testing and to define a minimum set of variants that should be included in clinical PGx genotyping assays. These recommendations include a minimum panel of variant alleles (tier 1) and an extended panel of variant alleles (tier 2) that will aid clinical laboratories when designing PGx assays. The Working Group considered variant allele frequencies in different populations and ethnicities, the availability of reference materials, and other technical considerations for PGx testing when developing these recommendations. These CYP2C19 genotyping recommendations are the first of a series of recommendations for PGx testing. These recommendations are not to be interpreted as restrictive, but they are meant to provide a helpful guide

Recommendations for Clinical CYP2C9 Genotyping Allele Selection: A Joint Recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology and College of American Pathologists

The goals of the Association for Molecular Pathology Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Working Group of the Association for Molecular Pathology Clinical Practice Committee are to define the key attributes of PGx alleles recommended for clinical testing and a minimum set of variants that should be included in clinical PGx genotyping assays. This document provides recommendations for a minimum panel of variant alleles (Tier 1) and an extended panel of variant alleles (Tier 2) that will aid clinical laboratories when designing assays for CYP2C9 testing. The Working Group considered the functional impact of the variants, allele frequencies in different populations and ethnicities, the availability of reference materials, and other technical considerations for PGx testing when developing these recommendations. Our goal is to promote standardization of testing PGx genes and alleles across clinical laboratories. These recommendations are not to be interpreted as restrictive but to provide a reference guide. The current document will focus on CYP2C9 testing that can be applied to all CYP2C9-related medications. A separate recommendation on warfarin PGx testing is being developed to include recommendations on CYP2C9 alleles and additional warfarin sensitivity–associated genes and alleles

Elevated seminal protein carbonyl concentration is correlated with asthenozoospermia and affects adversely the laboratory intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes

Elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the semen can lead to oxidative protein damage as they react with the amino acids' side chains in the protein, leading to the generation of carbonyl groups. This study aimed to investigate the effect of protein carbonyl (PC) concentration on sperm motility and the laboratory intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. A total of 150 couples from the ICSI cycle were enrolled in this study and were divided into three groups (G) according to the PC concentration as following, G1 included samples with PC concentrations <0.65 nmol/mg, G2 included samples with 0.65≤PC≤2.23 nmol/mg and G3 included samples with PC>2.23 (nmol/mg). PC concentrations were measured in all semen samples, and the laboratory ICSI outcomes were evaluated for all injected oocytes. The Kruskal–Wallis p-values for the differences in the medians of sperm motility, fertilisation rate, embryo cleavage score and embryo quality score were <0.05. Furthermore, Dunn's post hoc test showed a significant difference between all groups, p-values <0.05, except for the medians of embryo quality score between G2 and G3. In conclusion, our results showed that sperm motility and laboratory ICSI outcomes are affected negatively by higher concentrations of PC in the semen