Measuring Persuasive Communication in two nutrition education delivery methods in rural Mozambique

Background: Nutrition education programmes are frequently implemented in developing countries with the aim of improving dietary practices. Few studies have, to date, examined the various steps in such an education process in a developing country setting. This study, uses McGuire's "Communication/Persuasion" model to assess the impact among poor rural women in Mozambique of two nutrition education delivery methods: group classes only versus group classes plus individual classes. Methods: Study participants were randomly selected from the total population of RCT taking place in rural Mozambique: the Towards Sustainable Nutrition Improvement project. Participants were female, had a child under 5 years of age and had been randomised to receive the nutrition education program. McGuire's output steps (exposure, attention, understanding, memorisation/recall, skills acquisition, and attitude change) were assessed for both nutrition education delivery methods using a range of tools developed by the investigator, ranging from direct observations to questionnaires. The sample size varied for each output step depending on pre-defined criteria. Results: The methods devised in the current study for the assessment of McGuire's output steps were able to detect a good degree of variability in response. Mothers receiving both the group and individual classes (intervention II) scored higher in most output steps than those receiving only the group classes (intervention I), even after adjusting for possible confounding influences. For example, those mothers in intervention II had significantly higher skills acquisition scores than those mothers in intervention I (difference of means 1.03, independent t-test, p<0.001). Within the sample of intervention II mothers, the scores from measurements taken in individual classes were significantly higher than those taken in the group classes. For example, while there was no difference in observed attention scores between intervention II and intervention I mothers when assessed at group classes, observed attention scores at individual classes were Significantly higher (for intervention II mothers) than those of intervention I mothers at group classes (Independent t-test, p=0.031). Further analysis appeared to suggest that this advantage was due to the added benefit of receiving individual classes in addition to group classes; although this cannot be confirmed in the current study given the lack of a study 'arm providing only individual classes. 2 Conclusions: This study has for the first time used McGuire's model to systematically investigate and compare the communication process in two nutrition education delivery methods in a developing country and attempted to develop tools to measure McGuire's output steps in such a setting. McGuire's model emerged as a good conceptual framework to use for this purpose as it is practical, and. allowed for the breakdown of the process into _, discrete steps that permitted comparisons to be made between two delivery methods. The analysis suggested that there was an advantage in providing individual classes in addition to group classes, although this clearly has important resource implications

Effect of Low level laser on miniscrew displacement during canine retraction. (A randomized controlled clinical trial)

Background: Anchorage is an important consideration for successful orthodontic treatment. Skeletal anchorage by miniscrews provided better anchorage control then the ordinary extra-oral and intra-oral appliances. However, the stability of the miniscrews are still questionable since they might move under orthodontic loading. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low level laser on the miniscrew displacement when subjected to orthodontic force during canine retraction using CBCT. Methods: Twelve patients who required bilateral extraction of upper first premolar and absolute anchorage were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Beirut Arab University of age ranging 14-28 years. Twenty four miniscrews were assessed, two miniscrews were inserted into the buccal alveolar bone between the second premolar and first molar on the right and left side for each patient in a 60o oblique direction at the mucogingival junction to avoid root injury. They were divided into 2 sides; test side and a control side, the test side received 4 application of low-level laser therapy during the first twelve days of insertion with a 60 seconds for each application. While the control side did not receive any laser application. After waiting a period of twelve days from miniscrew insertion to allow for soft tissue healing, the upper right and left canines were retracted by 150g of nickel-titanium (NiTi) closed coil springs. A cone-beam computed tomography was taken to evaluate the miniscrew position before application of the force at baseline (T0) and after canine retraction at 6 months (T1). Results: There was no statistically significant difference of miniscrew head and tail displacements of the test side and a statistically significant difference of the heads for the control sides when compared to baseline. Conclusions: Miniscrews used in the current study with the suggested protocol underwent non-significant displacement when using low level laser. The miniscrews remained stable throughout the follow-up period (6 month) without any significant displacement on the test side

Fuzzy TOPSIS method in the selection of Investment Boards by incorporating operational risks

Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) involves not only attributes that are precise or crisp, but also values that are not deterministic. Currently, Fuzzy TOPSIS presents a solution for decision makers when dealing with real world data that are usually multi attributes and involves a complex decision making process. In this work, an application of this method is demonstrated in the selection of Investment Boards by taking into account the operational risks involved

Prediction of rain-induced cross polarization at millimeter wave bands in guinea

Microwave communication systems are planned to utilize orthogonal polarization. Two independent information channels of the same frequency band sent over a single link to make an optimum use of the frequency spectrum. However, above 10 GHz, the amount of rain aloft can severely degrade the performance of both satellite and terrestrial links, especially in tropical regions, at millimetre wave bands. This paper evaluates the differential attenuation and differential phase shift for the prediction of cross polarization discrimination using a 10-year rain data recorded in Conakry, Guinea. The drop size distribution (DSD) was computed using Marshall and Palmer (MP) model

EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERCEPTUAL LOAD PATTERNS, SELECTIVE ATTENTION AND VISUOSPATIAL WORKING MEMORY OF TWICE EXCEPTIONAL PUPILS WITH DYSCALCULIA OF PRIMARY STAGE

The research aims to examine the relationships between perceptual load patterns, selective attention and visuospatial working memory of twice exceptional pupils with dyscalculia of primary stage. The sample size consisted of 20 twice exceptional pupils with dyscalculia from sixth primary grade. The instruments were used for date collection: ordinary matrices test, prepared by Raven (1938); reading comprehension test, prepared by researcher; basic mathematical operations test, prepared by researcher; Bender gestalt test of motor visual disorder, prepared by Loretta Bendar (1938); Arabization by Fahmi, Ghoneim, Abu Al-Azayem Hospitalization (1990); quick survey form prepared by researcher; Wechsler 's Test of Children's Intelligence - Revised (1974), Arabization by Ismael and Malika (1999) ; selective attention task, prepared by researcher ;Computerized Verbal and Visual perceptual load pattern tasks (high-medium-low) prepared by researcher and Computerized Visuospatial working memory tasks (Pattern memory-Visual spatial sequencing) prepared by researcher. The date collected were analyzed by using the following statistical methods: frequency counts, percentages, Step-wise multiple regression analysis statistics, Z scores. The research concluded that perceptual load patterns, selective attention were very good predictors of visuospatial working memory of twice exceptional pupils with dyscalculia of primary stage.  Article visualizations

A comparative study to determine the shock absorption ability of two popular mouth guards available on the South African market

It is expected that most mouth guards will provide some level of protection to teeth. In this study a device was developed to measure the relative impact absorption of two different mouth guards (Proform, Type III vacuum-formed and Max, Type IV pressure laminate). Seven of each of the two types of mouth guards were made and each batch was exposed to between six and 10 impact trials.DHE

Synthesis of 5-arylazothiazoles, pyridines and thieno[2,3-b]pyridines derivatives containing 1,2,3-triazole moiety

1-(2-(4,5-dihydro-3-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-5-phenylpyrazol-1-yl)-4-subs-tituted-thiazol-5-yl)-2-phenyldiazene (4) and substituted pyridines (5-12) were synthesized via reaction of 1-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one with hydrazonoyl halides and active methylene compounds. Also, thieno[2,3-b]pyridines (14a-e) were prepared through reactions of 2-mercapto-6-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-4-phenyl-pyridine-3-carbonitrile with halo ester and halo ketones, respectively. The newly synthesized derivetived were elucidated by elemental analysis, spectral data and alternative synthetic routes wherever possobile

T & D Hijab / Ainor Syarfirah Osman... [et al.]

T&D Hijab Enterprise is a partnership with its headquarters located tn Batu 6 1/2, Jln Putatan, 88873 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and its shop in Lot 10, 1st Floor, Centre Point, Sabah. This shop sells varieties of designs and colors of hijabs inspired from tie and dye t-shirts. T & D Hijab tries to apply this concept on scarfs and shawls intending to make women wearing hijab look more colorful and trendv. T & D Hijab is different from other hijab retailers as we give more attention to bright colors and attract customers with these various colors and designs. We also intend to excel in giving customer service to our beloved customers. Through unheralded customer attention and its unique design, T&D Hijab will slowly gain market share in the business market. Women wearing hijabs across Malaysia are always searching for new designs and colors of hijab. T&D Hijab foreseen this opportunity to provide hijabs with the finest quality from the finest material as well as designs that fit with their unique taste. This proves that T&D Hijab will have the chance to be one of the most successful hijab retailers in Malaysia. We, T&D Hijab Enterprise saw’ the opportunity that this business has the potential of success provided that it is handled efficiently. Women wearing hijabs are always looking for hijabs with new designs and at least will buy a new scarf or shawl once a month. T&D Hijab sees this as a way to prosper in this market, by taking advantage of their nee

Pelvic exenteration and composite sacral resection in the surgical treatment of locally recurrent rectal cancer

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of rectal cancer recurrence after surgery is 5–45%. Extended pelvic resection which entails En-bloc resection of the tumor and adjacent involved organs provides the only true possible curative option for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer.AimTo evaluate the surgical and oncological outcome of such treatment.Patients and methodsBetween 2006 and 2012 a consecutive series of 40 patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer underwent abdominosacral resection (ASR) in 18 patients, total pelvic exenteration with sacral resection in 10 patients and extended pelvic exenteration in 12 patients. Patients with sacral resection were 28, with the level of sacral division at S2–3 interface in 10 patients, at S3–4 in 15 patients and S4–5 in 3 patients.ResultsForty patients, male to female ratio 1.7:1, median age 45years (range 25–65years) underwent extended pelvic resection in the form of pelvic exenteration and abdominosacral resection. Morbidity, re-admission and mortality rates were 55%, 37.5%, and 5%, respectively. Mortality occurred in 2 patients due to perineal flap sepsis and massive myocardial infarction. A R0 and R1 sacral resection were achieved in 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 22.6% and the 4-year recurrence free survival was 31.8%.ConclusionExtended pelvic resection as pelvic exenteration and sacral resection for locally recurrent rectal cancer are effective procedures with tolerable mortality rate and acceptable outcome. The associated morbidity remains high and deserves vigilant follow up

Primary Fibrosarcoma of the Testicle with Puzzling Post-surgery Presentation: Mimicking Recurrence

Sarcomas of the testis are extremely rare tumors, their incidence being difficult to assess accurately. The authors report a case of a 21-year-old male, presented with painless scrotal swelling that increased in size insidiously within three months. The examination revealed a 10 cm right testicular swelling—hard, not tender and oval in shape. Testicular ultrasound revealed right heterogenous testicular mass. Tumor markers (Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and alpha fetoprotein) were normal. CT chest and abdomen were normal. Radical orchidectomy was done through an inguinal approach. Histopathology showed testicular fibrosarcoma with spindle cells. After one month, the patient noticed reappearance of a swelling in the right hemiscrotum. Right inguinal exploration with massive resection of the recurrent scrotal mass was done. Histopathology revealed inflammatory process dominated by stitch granuloma. In conclusion, the recurrence rate of testicular sarcomas is high following radical orchidectomy, but still there was a place of non-malignant massthat looks like recurrence; it might occur like nonspecific inflammatory mass and stich granuloma