A Comparison of Wireless Devices for Terahertz Imaging Applications

As technology advances, notable scientific research accomplishments have been made. Terahertz (THz) waves have been seen to have endless potential applications that could further improve the current limitations of other frequency bands for imaging applications. Currently, THz waves display great potential in various applications due to their noninvasive and nonionizing features. However, the THz band has not been technically well established. This paper focuses on a comparative survey of the current methods applied in THz imaging in the field of medical and industrial security applications. Different types of methods, findings, advantages, and challenges of surveys ranging from 2016 to 2021 were discussed for both medical and industrial security applications to deepen the understanding of the latest trends, research, and technologies to have efficient THz imaging systems.

Reason and Experience in Renaissance Italy

Political life in Renaissance Italy was held together by political principles which underlay, or were used to justify, political proposals and decisions in practice. This wide-ranging comparative survey examines these political principles, as expressed in sources such as council debates, preambles to legislation and official correspondence, in the mid-fifteenth to the mid-sixteenth century Italy. Focusing especially on the five republics - Florence, Venice, Genoa, Siena and Lucca - the book also considers princes and signori, and the principles underlying relations between states, particularly relations between major and minor powers. Many of the ideas articulated by those confronting practical political problems ranged beyond the questions dealt with in formal treatises of political thought and philosophy. Drawing on extensive archival research, Christine Shaw explores the relationship between 'reason and experience' in the conduct of political affairs in Renaissance Italy, and the gap between theory and practice.

Quality of Life among Dialysis Patients in United Arab Emirates

<p>Background: Quality of Life (QOL) has emerged as an important parameter for evaluating the quality of health care for patients with renal failure. The QOL of dialysis patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not previously been studied. This research examined the cultural relevancy of two QOL tools and compared the QOL between dialysis patients and a sample from the community in UAE. Method: A descriptive comparative survey design was used to study the QOL of 161 dialysis patients and 350 participants from the community. Dialysis patients completed the SF-36 and the QOL Index dialysis version tool. Participants from the community completed the SF-36 and QOL Index generic version tool. Both samples also completed three open-ended questions about the cultural relevancy of the tools. Analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics was done within and between groups to establish similarities and differences in QOL scores. Open-ended questions were analysed thematically. Results: The overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated lower when self-assessed using the SF-36 compared with the community sample (58.92 vs. 75.02, p = <0.0001). Furthermore, the overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated almost the same when self-assessed using the QOL Index compared with the community sample (77.2 vs. 78.6, p = 0.421). Moreover, the total scores of both tools were higher in the community sample (75.02 vs. 78.6). The comparison between the statistically significant variables for both samples revealed contradictory results with the two tools. The majority of participants considered both tools culturally relevant in general. There were more questions that were not answered by participants in the QOL Index by both samples compared with the SF-36. Conclusion: In the UAE the SF 36 and the QOL Index capture different aspects of quality of life. Clinicians and researchers need to be aware of these differences when using these tools. An effective way of establishing the cultural relevancy of QOL tools involves comparing the QOL of a group with a health condition with a sample from the community, asking the participants about their views of the cultural relevancy of the tools, examining missing data, and asking participants open-ended questions about what they value in life.</p>

Quality of Life among Dialysis Patients in United Arab Emirates

<p>Background: Quality of Life (QOL) has emerged as an important parameter for evaluating the quality of health care for patients with renal failure. The QOL of dialysis patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not previously been studied. This research examined the cultural relevancy of two QOL tools and compared the QOL between dialysis patients and a sample from the community in UAE. Method: A descriptive comparative survey design was used to study the QOL of 161 dialysis patients and 350 participants from the community. Dialysis patients completed the SF-36 and the QOL Index dialysis version tool. Participants from the community completed the SF-36 and QOL Index generic version tool. Both samples also completed three open-ended questions about the cultural relevancy of the tools. Analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics was done within and between groups to establish similarities and differences in QOL scores. Open-ended questions were analysed thematically. Results: The overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated lower when self-assessed using the SF-36 compared with the community sample (58.92 vs. 75.02, p = <0.0001). Furthermore, the overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated almost the same when self-assessed using the QOL Index compared with the community sample (77.2 vs. 78.6, p = 0.421). Moreover, the total scores of both tools were higher in the community sample (75.02 vs. 78.6). The comparison between the statistically significant variables for both samples revealed contradictory results with the two tools. The majority of participants considered both tools culturally relevant in general. There were more questions that were not answered by participants in the QOL Index by both samples compared with the SF-36. Conclusion: In the UAE the SF 36 and the QOL Index capture different aspects of quality of life. Clinicians and researchers need to be aware of these differences when using these tools. An effective way of establishing the cultural relevancy of QOL tools involves comparing the QOL of a group with a health condition with a sample from the community, asking the participants about their views of the cultural relevancy of the tools, examining missing data, and asking participants open-ended questions about what they value in life.</p>

Interplay Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Lipid Profile: A Comparative Survey Between Day-Time Healthcare and Non-healthcare Female Workers

Introduction: Occupational physicians, as an aspect of the periodic health surveillance of workers prescribed by law, must develop preventive programs against adverse health-related occurrences (Legislative Decree 81/2008, art.25) to reduce major risk factors for non-communicable/chronic diseases. Eating habits play an important role in defining risk trajectories in the workplace.Methods: We randomly and cross-sectionally evaluated 147 females, of which 59 were healthcare workers (HCWs) and 88 were non-HCWs. The assessment included a dietary screening for adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and a clinical baseline collection of major fluid biomarkers and anthropometric indicators for cardiovascular and metabolic risk.Results: The HCW group exhibited greater adherence to the MD than the non-HCW group. Nevertheless, they showed higher serum levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. Menopause and type of work significantly and unfavorably affected triglyceride serum levels among HCWs.Conclusion: Greater preventive efforts are needed in the context of periodic health surveillance by occupational physicians. Disseminating additional information on a healthier lifestyle, particularly among female workers of perimenopausal age, is a key issue.