The effect of the collaborative infertility counseling model on coping strategies in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Infertility is a stressful condition influencing interpersonal and social relationships among infertile couples. Various strategies have been suggested for coping with infertility. This study examined the effect of the collaborative infertility counseling model on coping strategies in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in an urban area of Iran. Materials and Methods: This clinical controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with primary infertility selected from Milad Infertility Center in Mashhad, Iran. They were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups with 29 and 31 samples in each group. The intervention group received individual counseling based on the collaborative reproductive healthcare model. The counseling was provided with the collaboration of a midwife, a gynecologist and a clinical psychologist in 5 sessions during a 2-month period. The control group received only routine care. The fertility problem inventory (FPI) and general health questionnaire were used to measure perceived fertility-related stress and general health, respectively. Moreover, the ways of coping-revised questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the women’s coping strategies at the beginning of the study and at the day of the embryo transfer. The student t test, Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was reported between the two groups in terms of problem-focused coping strategies (P = 0.037). However, no statistically significant difference was reported between the groups with regard to emotion-focused coping strategies (P = 0.947). There were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in the mean scores of seeking social support (P = 0.022) and planful problem-solving strategies (P = 0.045) as the subscales of problem-focused coping strategies. Conclusion: The collaborative reproductive healthcare model promoted the use of problem-focused coping strategies. Therefore, the use of collaborative counseling approaches by healthcare professionals is suggested for assisting infertile women to cope with infertility. © 2018 The Author (s)

Strokes2Surface: Recovering Curve Networks From 4D Architectural Design Sketches

We present Strokes2Surface, an offline geometry reconstruction pipeline that recovers well-connected curve networks from imprecise 4D sketches to bridge concept design and digital modeling stages in architectural design. The input to our pipeline consists of 3D strokes' polyline vertices and their timestamps as the 4th dimension, along with additional metadata recorded throughout sketching. Inspired by architectural sketching practices, our pipeline combines a classifier and two clustering models to achieve its goal. First, with a set of extracted hand-engineered features from the sketch, the classifier recognizes the type of individual strokes between those depicting boundaries (Shape strokes) and those depicting enclosed areas (Scribble strokes). Next, the two clustering models parse strokes of each type into distinct groups, each representing an individual edge or face of the intended architectural object. Curve networks are then formed through topology recovery of consolidated Shape clusters and surfaced using Scribble clusters guiding the cycle discovery. Our evaluation is threefold: We confirm the usability of the Strokes2Surface pipeline in architectural design use cases via a user study, we validate our choice of features via statistical analysis and ablation studies on our collected dataset, and we compare our outputs against a range of reconstructions computed using alternative methods.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

A comparative study of dynamic and static balance status in childern with specific learning diability and normal childern

Introduction: Balance is one of the important principles of learning in children, and impaired balance can affect learning. This study was conducted to compare the balance status of children with specific learning disability with that of the normal children. The results are to be used to help rehabilitate such children properly. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all students with specific learning disorder who were qualified for our study in Semnan (58 students) and the same number of students without a specific learning disorder were examined as control group. In order to choose the children in control group, three schools of children without learning disorders were selected by convenience method and 58 students were selected by simple random sampling. The balance test was administered using Biodex balance system (D3) and observing the test requirements. Results: In open-eye state, dynamic balance index, a significant difference was observed between students with learning disorder and normal students in their total balance (p=0.015), posterior-anterior (p=0.025) and lateral (p=0.026). However, these parameters were not significantly different in both groups (p>0.05) in close-eye state and also the static balance index in open-eye and close-eye states. Conclusion: The research results indicated that dynamic balance was impaired in students with specific learning disability with the eyes opened. It is necessary that therapists and parents take the matter into account. It is also necessary to perform interventions to improve the dynamic balance. © 2017, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Implementation outcome instruments for use in physical healthcare settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Implementation research aims to facilitate the timely and routine implementation and sustainment of evidence-based interventions and services. A glaring gap in this endeavour is the capability of researchers, healthcare practitioners and managers to quantitatively evaluate implementation efforts using psychometrically sound instruments. To encourage and support the use of precise and accurate implementation outcome measures, this systematic review aimed to identify and appraise studies that assess the measurement properties of quantitative implementation outcome instruments used in physical healthcare settings. METHOD: The following data sources were searched from inception to March 2019, with no language restrictions: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL and the Cochrane library. Studies that evaluated the measurement properties of implementation outcome instruments in physical healthcare settings were eligible for inclusion. Proctor et al.'s taxonomy of implementation outcomes was used to guide the inclusion of implementation outcomes: acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adoption, penetration, implementation cost and sustainability. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Psychometric quality of the included instruments was assessed using the Contemporary Psychometrics checklist (ConPsy). Usability was determined by number of items per instrument. RESULTS: Fifty-eight publications reporting on the measurement properties of 55 implementation outcome instruments (65 scales) were identified. The majority of instruments assessed acceptability (n = 33), followed by appropriateness (n = 7), adoption (n = 4), feasibility (n = 4), penetration (n = 4) and sustainability (n = 3) of evidence-based practice. The methodological quality of individual scales was low, with few studies rated as 'excellent' for reliability (6/62) and validity (7/63), and both studies that assessed responsiveness rated as 'poor' (2/2). The psychometric quality of the scales was also low, with 12/65 scales scoring 7 or more out of 22, indicating greater psychometric strength. Six scales (6/65) rated as 'excellent' for usability. CONCLUSION: Investigators assessing implementation outcomes quantitatively should select instruments based on their methodological and psychometric quality to promote consistent and comparable implementation evaluations. Rather than developing ad hoc instruments, we encourage further psychometric testing of instruments with promising methodological and psychometric evidence. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017065348

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

Synthesis, characterization of Nickel doped Zinc oxide by radio-frequency sputtering and application in photo-electrocatalysis degradation of Norfloxacin

In this study photoelectrocatalysis process (PECP) applied to the degradation of Norfloxacin (NOR), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Nickel (Ni) doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) surface by radio-frequency (RF) sputtering was synthesized an anode electrode and titanium plate was selected a cathode electrode. Characterizations of synthesized anode were performed using liner Sweep voltammetry (LSV), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The degradation efficiencies 98 under Ultra Violet-A (UV-A) and 64 under visible light were obtained. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Synthesis, characterization of Nickel doped Zinc oxide by radio-frequency sputtering and application in photo-electrocatalysis degradation of Norfloxacin

In this study photoelectrocatalysis process (PECP) applied to the degradation of Norfloxacin (NOR), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Nickel (Ni) doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) surface by radio-frequency (RF) sputtering was synthesized an anode electrode and titanium plate was selected a cathode electrode. Characterizations of synthesized anode were performed using liner Sweep voltammetry (LSV), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The degradation efficiencies 98 under Ultra Violet-A (UV-A) and 64 under visible light were obtained. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mechanistic investigation of ciprofloxacin recovery by magnetite�imprinted chitosan nanocomposite: Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and reusability studies

Recovery of antibiotics from water and wastewaters has recently gained a great deal of attention due to their serious health and environmental problems. In this work, a magnetite imprinted chitosan polymer nanocomposites (Fe-CS NCs) were synthesized and applied for the adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin (CIFO) as a model fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The composition and surface morphology of Fe-CS NCs were studied by SEM, BET, XRD, TEM, FTIR and zeta potential meter. Modelling and optimization of adsorption process were studied using response surface methodology (RSM). The reliability of the RSM models was tested by fitting the data. A comparative analysis of the results derived from the models demonstrated that the second-order model was the best. From the contour plotting results, at pH < pH iep low adsorption rate was observed due to protonation of the chitosan NH 2 groups, whereas the adsorption rate was significantly enhanced and achieved to a maximum level at pH 6 due to the electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Under optimum conditions, maximum removal efficiency and maximum adsorption capacity were obtained 68 and 142 mg/g, respectively. Well regenerability of Fe-CS together with its high capacity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics removal provide a promisable strategy to remediation of wastewaters. © 2019 Elsevier B.V