Metrological research into the foot measurement found in the celtic oppidum of Manching

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Validity and reliability on three European language versions of the Safety Organizing Scale

Background The Safety Organizing Scale (SOS) offers a reliable snapshot of nurses' engagement in unit-level safety behaviors in hospitals. As no comparable questionnaire exists in German, French and Italian, we explored the psychometric properties of SOS translations into each of those languages. Design and Methods The psychometric properties of the nine-item SOS were tested according to American Educational Research Association guidelines. Subjects and Setting Between October 2009 and June 2010, 1633 registered medical and/or surgical nurses in 35 Swiss hospitals completed translated SOS questionnaires. Results For each translation, psychometric evaluation revealed evidence based on content (scale-content validity index >0.89), response patterns (e.g. average of missing values across all items = 0.80%), internal structure (e.g. comparative fit indices >0.90, root mean square error of approximation 0.79). We differentiated the scale regarding one related concept (implicit rationing of nursing care). Higher SOS scores correlated with supportive leadership and lower nurse-reported medication errors, but not with nurse-reported patient falls. Conclusions The SOS offers a valuable measurement of engagement in safety practices that might influence patient outcomes. Initial evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the translated versions supports their use in German, French and Italian. Concurrent validity will require confirmation via further analysis using more reliable outcome measures (e.g. mortality rates). The translated versions' predictive validity needs to be established in prospective studie

Validity and reliability on three European language versions of the Safety Organizing Scale

Background: The Safety Organizing Scale (SOS) offers a reliable snapshot of nurses' engagement in unit-level safety behaviors in hospitals. As no comparable questionnaire exists in German, French and Italian, we explored the psychometric properties of SOS translations into each of those languages. Design and Methods: The psychometric properties of the nine-item SOS were tested according to American Educational Research Association guidelines. Subjects and Setting: Between October 2009 and June 2010, 1633 registered medical and/or surgical nurses in 35 Swiss hospitals completed translated SOS questionnaires. Results: For each translation, psychometric evaluation revealed evidence based on content (scale-content validity index >0.89), response patterns (e.g. average of missing values across all items = 0.80%), internal structure (e.g. comparative fit indices >0.90, root mean square error of approximation 0.79). We differentiated the scale regarding one related concept (implicit rationing of nursing care). Higher SOS scores correlated with supportive leadership and lower nurse-reported medication errors, but not with nurse-reported patient falls. Conclusions: The SOS offers a valuable measurement of engagement in safety practices that might influence patient outcomes. Initial evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the translated versions supports their use in German, French and Italian. Concurrent validity will require confirmation via further analysis using more reliable outcome measures (e.g. mortality rates). The translated versions' predictive validity needs to be established in prospective studies

Evaluation of yasmine’s adventures: exploring the socio-cultural potential of location aware multimedia stories

This paper describes Yasmine’s Adventures, a location aware multi‐ media story designed as a location based service for a museum. Yasmine’s Adventures follows a young local girl (Yasmine) through a series of short animated adventures, tailored specifically to engage visitors in exploring the rela‐ tively neglected streets of the area in which the museum is situated. Yasmine’s perceptions of the landmarks, identified by community members themselves, reflect the real concerns of the community. Results from the evaluation of the user’s experience suggest location connection and perception changes when loca‐ tive media narratives include learning, understanding and discovery elements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Numerical study of the coupling between reaction and mass transfer for liquid-liquid slug flow in square microchannels

While the benefits of miniaturisation on processes have been widely demonstrated, its impact on microfluidics and local mechanisms such as mass transfer is still little understood. The aim of this work is to simulate coupling between reaction and mass transfer in microchannels for liquid-liquid slug flow. First, the extrapolation to confined flow of the classical model used to calculate interfacial mass fluxes in reactive infinite media was studied. This model consists in estimating transferred fluxes between two phases as a function of the enhancement factor E. Its expression depends on the model used to represent interfacial mass transfer. In infinite media, Lewis and Whitman’s stagnant film theory is generally preferred for its simplicity and its reliability. In the case of confined slug flow, the limitation of such a model to predict interfacial fluxes is highlighted. Secondly, the case of liquid-liquid competitive consecutive reactions in microchannels is considered. This work emphasizes the unfavourable impact of the length between droplets on selectivity. This is a direct consequence of mass transport mechanisms in microchannels

The Importance of Mental Well-Being for Health Professionals During Complex Emergencies: It Is Time We Take It Seriously

The number of people displaced from their homes or villages as a result of conflict has increased in the last 20 years.1 As a result, millions have been forced to live far from their homes and communities in refugee camps sometimes for months or years. In 2014, an estimated 60 million refugees worldwide fled war-torn and conflict areas and, of these, more than 60% were forcibly uprooted and displaced within their own countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).1 As a result, the demand for an emergency health care response has increased, as has the need for a qualified health care workforce, particularly nurses, physicians, and similarly trained or licensed professionals.2 Additionally, as the number of man-made and natural disasters have increased, the demand for aid has also risen, especially in settings where complex emergencies have occurred. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines complex emergencies as “combin[ing] internal conflict with large-scale displacements of people, mass famine or food shortage, and fragile or failing economic, political, and social institutions. Often, complex emergencies can be created by natural disasters.”3 With the incidence of global complex emergencies and humanitarian crises rising, local and expatriate health professionals have become increasingly exposed to stress and trauma for protracted periods. This type of stress and psychological trauma can be further defined as primary or secondary: primary stress and psychological trauma involves direct dangers or events that happen to one’s self while secondary stress and trauma results from exposure to the experiences of others.4 While small steps have been taken to mitigate mental health consequences, more can be done to support the psychosocial well-being of health professionals in crisis situations. This article calls on humanitarian aid organizations to address the mental health of their local and expatriate workforce by integrating proven mental health strategies, including psychosocial support, into health delivery models, thereby protecting, enhancing, and improving staff capacity to provide care for vulnerable populations. In this article, the authors review the possible effects of acute and prolonged stress on the mental health of health professionals, and propose new ways for organizations to ensure that health professionals have the support they need in order to remain effective in the field

Local sensing of absolute refractive index during protein-binding using microlasers with spectral encoding

Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - EP/P030017/1; Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung; European Research Council - 640012; Royal Society - DH160102.Multiplexed, specific, and sensitive detection of antigens is critical for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of disease and the informed development of personalized treatment plans. Here, it is shown that polymer microsphere lasers can be used as photonic sensors to monitor and quantify direct surface binding of biomolecules via changes in the refractive index. The unique spectral signature of each individual laser can be used to find their size and effective refractive index which adds a new encoding dimension when compared to conventional fluorescent beads. Antibody-functionalized microlasers selectively detect protein binding, as demonstrated for Immunoglobulin G and C-reactive protein, and have the ability to resolve different stages of the multilayer surface modification. Moreover, by continuously monitoring single lasers, the possibility of real-time monitoring of binding dynamics between antigens in solution phase and the immobilized antibodies is demonstrated. For multiplexed detection, the microlasers are employed in a flow cytometer configuration, with fast spectral detection and identification of microlasers with and without antigen binding. It is envisioned that by combining microlasers with well-established surface modification chemistries and flow geometries, the multiplexing ability of microbead immunoassays can be strongly increased while also opening avenues for single-cell profiling within heterogeneous cell populations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Pseudomonas Diversity Within Urban Freshwaters

Freshwater lakes are home to bacterial communities with 1000s of interdependent species. Numerous high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequence surveys have provided insight into the microbial taxa found within these waters. Prior surveys of Lake Michigan waters have identified bacterial species common to freshwater lakes as well as species likely introduced from the urban environment. We cultured bacterial isolates from samples taken from the Chicago nearshore waters of Lake Michigan in an effort to look more closely at the genetic diversity of species found there within. The most abundant genus detected was Pseudomonas, whose presence in freshwaters is often attributed to storm water or runoff. Whole genome sequencing was conducted for 15 Lake Michigan Pseudomonas strains, representative of eight species and three isolates that could not be resolved with named species. These genomes were examined specifically for genes encoding functionality which may be advantageous in their urban environment. Antibiotic resistance, amidst other known virulence factors and defense mechanisms, were identified in the genome annotations and verified in the lab. We also tested the Lake Michigan Pseudomonas strains for siderophore production and resistance to the heavy metals mercury and copper. As the study presented here shows, a variety of pseudomonads have inhabited the urban coastal waters of Lake Michigan

Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: V. Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care Working Group Report

AbstractThe Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care Working Group had 3 goals: (1) to establish guidelines for ancillary therapy and supportive care in chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), including treatment for symptoms and recommendations for patient education, preventive measures, and appropriate follow-up; (2) to provide guidelines for the prevention and management of infections and other common complications of treatment for chronic GVHD; and (3) to highlight the areas with the greatest need for clinical research. The definition of “ancillary therapy and supportive care” embraces the most frequent immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory interventions used with topical intent and any other interventions directed at organ-specific control of symptoms or complications resulting from GVHD and its therapy. Also included in the definition are educational, preventive, and psychosocial interventions with this same objective. Recommendations are organized according to the strength and quality of evidence supporting them and cover the most commonly involved organs, including the skin, mouth, female genital tract, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Recommendations are provided for prevention of infections, osteoporosis, and steroid myopathy and management of neurocognitive and psychosocial adverse effects related to chronic GVHD. Optimal care of patients with chronic GVHD often requires a multidisciplinary approach