scholarly journals Targeted rapid testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the emergency department is associated with large reductions in uninfected patient exposure time

2021 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
J.S. Hinson ◽  
R.E. Rothman ◽  
K. Carroll ◽  
H.H. Mostafa ◽  
K. Ghobadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Rapid Testing ◽  
Patient Exposure ◽  
Uninfected Patient

scholarly journals A Double Triage and Telemedicine Protocol to Optimize Infection Control in an Emergency Department in Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Feasibility Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hao Lin ◽  
Wen-Pin Tseng ◽  
Jhong-Lin Wu ◽  
Joyce Tay ◽  
Ming-Tai Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Conventional Group ◽  
Patient Questionnaire ◽  
Total Exposure ◽  
Evaluation Time ◽  
Total Exposure Time ◽  
The Mean

BACKGROUND Frontline health care workers, including physicians, are at high risk of contracting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) owing to their exposure to patients suspected of having COVID-19. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits and feasibility of a double triage and telemedicine protocol in improving infection control in the emergency department (ED). METHODS In this retrospective study, we recruited patients aged ≥20 years referred to the ED of the National Taiwan University Hospital between March 1 and April 30, 2020. A double triage and telemedicine protocol was developed to triage suggested COVID-19 cases and minimize health workers’ exposure to this disease. We categorized patients attending video interviews into a telemedicine group and patients experiencing face-to-face interviews into a conventional group. A questionnaire was used to assess how patients perceived the quality of the interviews and their communication with physicians as well as perceptions of stress, discrimination, and privacy. Each question was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. Physicians’ total exposure time and total evaluation time were treated as primary outcomes, and the mean scores of the questions were treated as secondary outcomes. RESULTS The final sample included 198 patients, including 93 cases (47.0%) in the telemedicine group and 105 cases (53.0%) in the conventional group. The total exposure time in the telemedicine group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group (4.7 minutes vs 8.9 minutes, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), whereas the total evaluation time in the telemedicine group was significantly longer than that in the conventional group (12.2 minutes vs 8.9 minutes, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). After controlling for potential confounders, the total exposure time in the telemedicine group was 4.6 minutes shorter than that in the conventional group (95% CI −5.7 to −3.5, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), whereas the total evaluation time in the telemedicine group was 2.8 minutes longer than that in the conventional group (95% CI −1.6 to −4.0, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). The mean scores of the patient questionnaire were high in both groups (4.5/5 to 4.7/5 points). CONCLUSIONS The implementation of the double triage and telemedicine protocol in the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic has high potential to improve infection control.

Development and Implementation of a Model to Improve Identification of Patients Infected with HIV Using Diagnostic Rapid Testing in the Emergency Department

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1149-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason S. Haukoos ◽  
Emily Hopkins ◽  
Vassily T. Eliopoulos ◽  
Richard L. Byyny ◽  
Kate A. LaPerriere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rapid Testing

scholarly journals Study on Concrete Deterioration in Different NaCl-Na2SO4 Solutions and the Mechanism of Cl− Diffusion

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5054
Author(s):  
Fei Zhang ◽  
Zhiping Hu ◽  
Feng Wei ◽  
Xin Wen ◽  
Xiaoguang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Diffusion Rate ◽  
Mercury Porosimetry ◽  
Rapid Testing ◽  
Reinforcing Bars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Concrete Deterioration ◽  
Corrosion Of Steel

The diffusion of sulfate (SO42−) and chloride (Cl−) ions from rivers, salt lakes and saline soil into reinforced concrete is one of the main factors that contributes to the corrosion of steel reinforcing bars, thus reducing their mechanical properties. This work experimentally investigated the corrosion process involving various concentrations of NaCl-Na2SO4 leading to the coupled erosion of concrete. The appearance, weight, and mechanical properties of the concrete were measured throughout the erosion process, and the Cl− and SO42− contents in concrete were determined using Cl− rapid testing and spectrophotometry, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy, energy spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, and mercury porosimetry were also employed to analyze microstructural changes and complex mineral combinations in these samples. The results showed that with higher Na2SO4 concentration and longer exposure time, the mass, compressive strength, and relative dynamic elastic modulus gradually increased and large pores gradually transitioned to medium and small pores. When the Na2SO4 mass fraction in the salt solution was ≥10 wt%, there was a downward trend in the mechanical properties after exposure for a certain period of time. The Cl− diffusion rate was thus related to Na2SO4 concentration. When the Na2SO4 mass fraction in solution was ≤5 wt% and exposure time short, SO42− and cement hydration/corrosion products hindered Cl− migration. In a concentrated Na2SO4 environment (≥10 wt%), the Cl− diffusion rate was accelerated in the later stages of exposure. These experiments further revealed that the Cl− migration rate was higher than that of SO42−.

scholarly journals A Double Triage and Telemedicine Protocol to Optimize Infection Control in an Emergency Department in Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Feasibility Study

10.2196/20586 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e20586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hao Lin ◽  
Wen-Pin Tseng ◽  
Jhong-Lin Wu ◽  
Joyce Tay ◽  
Ming-Tai Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Conventional Group ◽  
Patient Questionnaire ◽  
Total Exposure ◽  
Evaluation Time ◽  
Total Exposure Time ◽  
The Mean

Background Frontline health care workers, including physicians, are at high risk of contracting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) owing to their exposure to patients suspected of having COVID-19. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits and feasibility of a double triage and telemedicine protocol in improving infection control in the emergency department (ED). Methods In this retrospective study, we recruited patients aged ≥20 years referred to the ED of the National Taiwan University Hospital between March 1 and April 30, 2020. A double triage and telemedicine protocol was developed to triage suggested COVID-19 cases and minimize health workers’ exposure to this disease. We categorized patients attending video interviews into a telemedicine group and patients experiencing face-to-face interviews into a conventional group. A questionnaire was used to assess how patients perceived the quality of the interviews and their communication with physicians as well as perceptions of stress, discrimination, and privacy. Each question was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. Physicians’ total exposure time and total evaluation time were treated as primary outcomes, and the mean scores of the questions were treated as secondary outcomes. Results The final sample included 198 patients, including 93 cases (47.0%) in the telemedicine group and 105 cases (53.0%) in the conventional group. The total exposure time in the telemedicine group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group (4.7 minutes vs 8.9 minutes, P<.001), whereas the total evaluation time in the telemedicine group was significantly longer than that in the conventional group (12.2 minutes vs 8.9 minutes, P<.001). After controlling for potential confounders, the total exposure time in the telemedicine group was 4.6 minutes shorter than that in the conventional group (95% CI −5.7 to −3.5, P<.001), whereas the total evaluation time in the telemedicine group was 2.8 minutes longer than that in the conventional group (95% CI −1.6 to −4.0, P<.001). The mean scores of the patient questionnaire were high in both groups (4.5/5 to 4.7/5 points). Conclusions The implementation of the double triage and telemedicine protocol in the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic has high potential to improve infection control.

Progress In The Practical Application Of Automated Image Analysis To Tem Negatives

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 214-217
Author(s):  
F. A. Heckman ◽  
E. Redman ◽  
J.E. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Image Quality ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Image Contrast ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
High Image Quality ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Comprehensive Study

In our initial publication on this subject1) we reported results demonstrating that contrast is the most important factor in producing the high image quality required for reliable image analysis. We also listed the factors which enhance contrast in order of the experimentally determined magnitude of their effect. The two most powerful factors affecting image contrast attainable with sheet film are beam intensity and KV. At that time we had only qualitative evidence for the ranking of enhancing factors. Later we carried out the densitometric measurements which led to the results outlined below.Meaningful evaluations of the cause-effect relationships among the considerable number of variables in preparing EM negatives depend on doing things in a systematic way, varying only one parameter at a time. Unless otherwise noted, we adhered to the following procedure evolved during our comprehensive study:Philips EM-300; 30μ objective aperature; magnification 7000- 12000X, exposure time 1 second, anti-contamination device operating.

Structure images of Si, Ge and Mos2 crystals and some application to radiation damage studies

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 292-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Izui ◽  
T. Nishida ◽  
S. Furuno ◽  
H. Otsu ◽  
S. Kuwabara
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Damage ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Gaussian Distribution ◽  
Intensity Distribution ◽  
Chromatic Aberration ◽  
Magnetic Lens

Recently we have observed the structure images of silicon in the (110), (111) and (100) projection respectively, and then examined the optimum defocus and thickness ranges for the formation of such images on the basis of calculations of image contrasts using the n-slice theory. The present paper reports the effects of a chromatic aberration and a slight misorientation on the images, and also presents some applications of structure images of Si, Ge and MoS2 to the radiation damage studies.(1) Effect of a chromatic aberration and slight misorientation: There is an inevitable fluctuation in the amount of defocus due to a chromatic aberration originating from the fluctuations both in the energies of electrons and in the magnetic lens current. The actual image is a results of superposition of those fluctuated images during the exposure time. Assuming the Gaussian distribution for defocus, Δf around the optimum defocus value Δf0, the intensity distribution, I(x,y) in the image formed by this fluctuation is given by

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