Connecting Hospitalized Patients with Their Families: Case Series and Commentary

The overall aim of this project was to ascertain the utilization of a custom-designed telemedicine service for patients to maintain close contact (via videoconference) with family and friends during hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients (primarily children) with extended hospital length of stays. Telecommunication equipment was used to provide videoconference links from the patient's bedside to friends and family in the community. Thirty-six cases were managed during a five-year period (2006 to 2010). The most common reasons for using Family-Link were related to the logistical challenges of traveling to and from the hospital—principally due to distance, time, family commitments, and/or personal cost. We conclude that videoconferencing provides a solution to some barriers that may limit family presence and participation in care for hospitalized patients, and as a patient-centered innovation is likely to enhance patient and family satisfaction

Effect of settling test procedure on sizing thickeners

The main portion of the water in mineral processing plants is recovered in thickeners. The required cross-sectional area for thickeners is generally calculated using the Coe-Clevenger, and the Talmage-Fitch methods. Over the years, changes which were made in the original settling tests procedure led to inaccurate results owing to floc structure variation especially for the flocculated suspensions. In this study, the effect of flocculation history, defined as the initial solids concentration where the flocs first were formed, on their settling velocity was investigated using batch settling tests. The suspensions used for settling tests were prepared by two different methods to arrive at equal solids fractions. The methods were the conventional procedure of adding solids to a known amount of liquid and decantation. Results of all settling tests (with and without flocculant) on various ores, and coal suspensions showed that the settling velocity of particles in any solids fraction of suspension in the mass settling region could be affected (up to 5-fold) by solids content of the suspension at which flocs were first formed. The decantation method provided lower settling velocity compared to that of the conventional procedure. This was attributed to different flocs structure and size which were indirectly verified by the settling tests. In the case of Interkarbon coal preparation plant, this translated to 27% underestimation of the thickener capacity. It was then concluded that the settling tests performed to determine the required cross-sectional area for thickening should be carried out either on a single sample with the solids concentration of the thickener feed or various concentrations from the feed to the underflow concentrations provided that the samples obtained by decantation of the feed sample. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of mode of flocculation on flocs sedimentation behaviour in various regions of thickeners

Main portion of water in mineral processing plants is recovered in thickeners. The required surface area for thickeners is calculated based on the Coe and Clevenger theory where it is assumed, when no flocculants used, the settling velocity of particles in each layer in the free settling region is only a function of solids concentration in that layer. In this study, the effect of mode of flocculation, defined as the initial solids concentration where the floes first formed, on their settling velocity was investigated using batch settling tests. The pulps used for settling tests were prepared by two different methods to arrive at equal solids concentration. The methods were the standard procedure of adding solids to a known amount of liquid and decantation. The latter method made the change of mode of flocculation possible by decanting the dilute suspensions to obtain higher solids content pulps. Results of all settling tests (with and without flocculant) on copper, iron, lead and zinc ores, and coal suspensions showed that, unlike the Coe and Clevenger theory, the settling velocity of particles in any layer even in the free settling region is affected by solids content of the suspension where floes were first formed. For instance, the settling velocity of a layer of iron ore tailing with 22% solids in a flocculated (5 g/t) suspension varied from 1 .32 to 2. 73 em/min when the initial feed solids varied from 5 to 20%. Furthermore it was shown that the settling velocities of suspensions with equal solids content prepared by the two methods were different owing to the significant difference in their floes structures. It was concluded that the settling tests performed to determine the required surface area for thickening should be carried out etther on the single sample with the solids concentration of the thickener feed (after dilution if it is diluted) or on decanted samples. The conventional procedure of measuring settling velocities in various percent solids between the feed and the desired underflow is prone to large errors

Iranian Society of Asthma and Allergy Codes of Professional Ethics

The advances in science and technology in recent decades, especially in medical sciences, have raised new ethical challenges. Hence, professional organizations in the field of medical science are trying to develop regulations in the field of medical ethics to help medical science professionals in making the best decisions in different circumstances and moral dilemmas. The organizations also try to monitor their performance using those regulations. On the other hand, due to the specialization of medical science as well as the complexity of communication between these disciplines, there is a growing need for regulations to answer questions and resolve the challenges of each discipline. Certainly, scientific societies, due to benefit from relevant specialists, are the best reference for the development of specialized guidelines, one of which is the Iranian Society of Asthma and Allergy (ISAA). The aim of the current study was to develop codes of ethics for ISAA members, using a qualitative study. Generally, the ISAA codes of professional ethics consists of general and specific sections. In order to compile the general section, the upstream medical documents, including the patients' rights charter in Iran, the research ethics guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), ethical codes from the international societies of asthma and allergy, the general codes of professional ethics of the Iran Medical Council and the Islamic jurisprudential rules and the statute law of the country were used. To develop specific sections, we interviewed the experts in the field of Asthma and Allergy about the ethical challenges they had ever faced with. The ISAA codes of professional ethics developed in five chapters, entitled "Ethical Guidelines for the Mangers and Director of the Society, General Guidelines, Specific Guidelines, Ethical Guidelines for Research and Education, and Procedure for Supervision on the Professional Behavior of the ISAA Members", and approved by the board of directors of ISAA