Delayed discharges and unplanned admissions from the Day Care Unit at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

Day care units are playing an increasingly important role in healthcare provision, however they require the development of specialised resources to fulfil their role. The rate of unplanned admissions following day-case procedures is considered as one of several indicators of the quality of day-case services available.1 The aim of this study is to identify how often there are delayed discharged or unplanned admissions following day-cases at the Day Care Unit at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH), Malta. A list of patients whose discharge did not go as planned was forwarded daily to the authors by the Bed Management Unit at MDH. The medical files of these patients were then reviewed and data collected. This included demographics, type of procedure carried out and reasons for delayed discharge or unplanned admission. The study was carried out over 45 days.peer-reviewe

The Giant Branches of Open and Globular Clusters in the Infrared as Metallicity Indicators: A Comparison with Theory

We apply the giant branch slope-[Fe/H] relation derived by Kuchinski et al. [AJ, 109, 1131 (1995)] to a sample of open clusters. We find that the slope of the giant branch in K vs. (J-K) color-magnitude diagrams correlates with [Fe/H] for open clusters as it does for metal-rich globular clusters but that the open cluster data are systematically shifted to less negative values of giant branch slope, at constant [Fe/H]. We use isochrone models to examine the theoretical basis for this relationship and find that for a given value of [Fe/H], the slope of the relationship remains constant with decreasing population age but the relation shifts to less negative values of giant branch slope with decreasing age. Both of these theoretical predictions agree with the trends found in the data. Finally, we derive new coefficients for the giant branch slope-[Fe/H] relation for specific members of 3 populations, metal-rich globular clusters, bulge stars and open clusters.Comment: 16 pages including 3 figures (AASTEX), AJ Accepted, also available at http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~martini/pubs.htm

MapSnapper: Engineering an Efficient Algorithm for Matching Images of Maps from Mobile Phones

The MapSnapper project aimed to develop a system for robust matching of low-quality images of a paper map taken from a mobile phone against a high quality digital raster representation of the same map. The paper presents a novel methodology for performing content-based image retrieval and object recognition from query images that have been degraded by noise and subjected to transformations through the imaging system. In addition the paper also provides an insight into the evaluation-driven development process that was used to incrementally improve the matching performance until the design specifications were met

MICC: A tool for computing short distances in the curve complex

The complex of curves $\mathcal{C}(S_g)$ of a closed orientable surface of genus $g \geq 2$ is the simplicial complex having its vertices, $\mathcal{C}^0(S_g)$, are isotopy classes of essential curves in $S_g$. Two vertices co-bound an edge of the $1$-skeleton, $\mathcal{C}^1(S_g)$, if there are disjoint representatives in $S_g$. A metric is obtained on $\mathcal{C}^0(S_g)$ by assigning unit length to each edge of $\mathcal{C}^1(S_g)$. Thus, the distance between two vertices, $d(v,w)$, corresponds to the length of a geodesic---a shortest edge-path between $v$ and $w$ in $\mathcal{C}^1 (S_g)$. Recently, Birman, Margalit and the second author introduced the concept of {\em initially efficient geodesics} in $\mathcal{C}^1(S_g)$ and used them to give a new algorithm for computing the distance between vertices. In this note we introduce the software package MICC ({\em Metric in the Curve Complex}), a partial implementation of the initially efficient geodesic algorithm. We discuss the mathematics underlying MICC and give applications. In particular, we give examples of distance four vertex pairs, for $g=2$ and 3. Previously, there was only one known example, in genus $2$, due to John Hempel.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, Version 2 has updated figures and reference

Spinal fractures in Malta over one year

Spinal fractures, particularly those associated with spinal cord injuries, give rise to significant morbidity and mortality.1 Early recognition and adequate management are paramount to minimalize the two. This descriptive study reviews the cases diagnosed with a vertebral fracture at the Accident and Emergency Department over a one year period including the patients’ demographic characteristics and looks into the management instituted. It also highlights the factors which may be associated with a prolonged hospital stay.peer-reviewe

General anaesthesia in acute intermittent porphyria

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is caused by the deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase, a haem synthesis enzyme, giving rise to crises characterized by abdominal pain, tachyarrythmias and psychiatric features. Anaesthesia in AIP is challenging because it has to avoid precipitating an attack. We report a case of a lady with AIP who underwent total abdominal hysterctomy whose anaesthesia was uneventful.peer-reviewe

Addressing Reasons for Members\u27 Non-Attendance at the Elmhurst Seventh-day Adventist Church

Problem. By 2010, when this project began, the Elmhurst Seventh-day Adventist Church (ESDA) had 199 members (December 2009 clerk’s records). Yet ongoing, direct observation indicated that 122 of these (61%) were attending the church service fewer than six times per year. Only 66 of the members (33%) were attending at least once a month—a fact partially obscured by the routine presence of visitors. The underlying reasons for their regular absence remained unknown due to insufficient personal contact. As a result, it was not possible to define the kinds of meaningful ministry that would best serve the non-attending majority. Method. Eight, non-attending, adult members of Elmhurst Seventh-day Adventist Church were interviewed using a survey instrument with 10 questions. Six of the interviews took place between May 3, 2012 and July 12, 2012 and two more were completed in December 2012 and June 2013. Following this, an intervention was implemented to address concerns stated in the interviews. This intervention included direct work with these eight individuals as well as specific adjustments in my personal ministry in this church. The intervention focused on getting non-attending members to take a proactive approach in creating and maintaining their own connection with the church. It also focused on listening, and conflict resolution. It sought to address limitations of the Dunbar Effect which led to the formation of mini prayer groups. In addition, it dealt with the personal church involvement of attending members (seeking to avoid the opposite extremes of burnout and inactivity). It also necessitated creating a system for tracking the attendance of individual members. Results. From May 2012 through December 2013, two of the interviewees transferred to other churches. One completely discontinued attendance. Three now attend intermittently. One now normally attends fairly regularly (more than once per month). And another (who returned long before the interview) is reaching out to non-attending members himself. Insights gained through the interviews have helped to shape the way the church uses resources of time, money, and personnel. In the larger picture, as of May 2014, ESDA had 227 members (May 2014 clerk’s records). Of these, 123 (54%) attend fewer than six times per year. Eighty-eight (39%) attend at least once per month. This is partly due to some non-attending members returning to various levels of participation. It is also one result of a large influx of people from a neighboring congregation. These people were at a crossroads with their church attendance. Rather than becoming permanently, non-attending members of the neighboring church, they became a part of our congregation. Conclusions. Ministry to non-attending members can be complicated and person-specific. This study suggests that certain ministry adjustments can make a significant difference. These adjustments include at least three areas. First, non-attending members can be helped to be proactive in their own spiritual condition. Second, certain, built-in limitations require a change in how time is used in ministry. Third, ongoing work with these people especially calls for compassionate listening and addressing conflict in positive ways