Filmed Monologue Vignettes: a novel method for investigating how clinicians document consultations in electronic health records

Introduction and Objectives The accuracy of conclusions based on Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) research is highly dependent on the correct selection of descriptors (codes) by users. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of filmed vignette monologues as a resource-light method of assessing and comparing how different EHR users record the same clinical scenario. Methods Six short monologues of actors portraying patients presenting allergic conditions to their General Practitioners were filmed head-on then electronically distributed for the study; no researcher was present during data collection. The method was assessed by participant uptake, reported ease of completion by participants, compliance with instructions, the receipt of interpretable data by researchers, and participant perceptions of vignette quality, realism and information content. Results 22 participants completed the study, reporting only minor difficulties. 132 screen prints were returned electronically, enabling analysis of codes, free text and EHR features. Participants assigned a quality rating of 7.7/10 (range 2-10) to the vignettes and rated the extent to which vignettes reflected real-life (86-100%). Between 1 and 2 hours were required to complete the task. Full compliance with instructions varied between participants but was largely successful. Conclusions Filmed monologues are a reproducible, standardized method which require few resources, yet allow clear assessment of clinicians’ and EHRs systems’ impact on documentation. The novel nature of this method necessitates clear instructions so participants can fully complete the study without face to face researcher oversight.

A GMDH-type neural network with multi-filter feature selection for the prediction of transition temperatures of bent-core liquid crystals

The QSPR study on transition temperatures of five-ring bent-core LCs was performed using GMDH-type neural networks. A novel multi-filter approach, which combines chi square ranking, v-WSH and GMDH algorithm was used for the selection of descriptors.

Research of Characteristics Extraction Based on Dynamic Pressure Signal

The accuracy of pattern recognition was determined by the feature selection, and two methods of the characteristic description were discussed. The results show that the statistical characteristics could be used as a dynamic pressure signal descriptor, and the oscillation characteristic of curve is not suitable for describing dynamic pressure signal by itself. The selection of descriptors of dynamic pressure signal is the precondition to identify the leak signal and the non-leak signal effectively.

NUCLEAR IMAGES OF CELLS IN DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL STATES

To gain further insight into the supramolecular structure and behavior of chromatin, a set of parameters has been developed for the description of cell nuclear images. These images are obtained from Feulgen-stained nuclei in semithin sections. Data are extracted by a scanning microphotometer, printed on paper tape and processed by an electronic computer. The essential principles for the selection of descriptors were that: (a) they should correspond to characteristics that are employed in classical morphology and (b) they should be subject to interpretation in categories of biochemistry or molecular biology insofar as possible. Some of these parameters deal with the size and shape of the nucleus and its deoxyribonucleic acid content or staining behavior. Efforts were made to determine the relative amount of chromatin in the condensed state, because it may be assumed that the degree of condensation correlates with the activity of the chromatin. To demonstrate the power of the method, results from methylthiouracil-activated thyroid nuclei are presented. In stimulated nuclei the diffuse chromatin expands and fills the increasing nuclear volume, while the condensed chromatin retains its degree of condensation, and, probably, does not change in amount.