On angles, projections and iterations

We investigate connections between the geometry of linear subspaces and the convergence of the alternating projection method for linear projections. The aim of this article is twofold: in the first part, we show that even in Euclidean spaces the convergence of the alternating method is not determined by the principal angles between the subspaces involved. In the second part, we investigate the properties of the Oppenheim angle between two linear projections. We discuss, in particular, the question of existence and uniqueness of "consistency projections" in this context.Comment: 15 pages; published in "Linear Algebra and Its Applications". This version corrects a number of misprint

Introducing Game Development into the University Curriculum

Integrating computer games development into computer science curriculum is gaining acceptance. However, the question is how this should be done. In our course on computer game development we present all necessary steps that a game project has to address, from design to publication and marketing, from the theoretical to the practical point of view. The goal is that each student makes a casual game for Apple iOS platform and possibly publishes it. The games are built on our xni framework for iOS, which is a subset of Microsoft’s xna. We take an iterative incremental approach to teaching game development, where we discuss a number of selected topics from various categories, such as gameplay design, graphics and artificial intelligence, each week. Thereafter the students receive mandatory and non-mandatory assignments that force them to add functionality to their game and, thus, steadily progress towards their goal. At the end of the course more than 20 % of all projects were ready for the Apple App Store, which, together with student pools saying that the course was one of the best executed courses they attended, confirms the viability of the suggested scheme

Early diagnosis of contrast mediainduced nephropathy in intensive care

At the Research Department in hospital of Nova Gorica we are faced with new cathlab practice and problems connected with it. Together with other project partners we intend to investigate contrast media induced nephropathy by measuring the release of NGAL, which is considered to be a good biomarker for detecting reduced kidney function. Our first priority is extensive study of NGAL and develop special detecting lab-on-a chip that should be small and simple to use at every day hospital practice. Our second priority is to develop new and intensify pre-existing collaborations and exchange of knowledge between project partners

Attitudes of Slovenian family practice patients toward changing unhealthy lifestyle and the role of family physicians: cross-sectional study

Aim To assess patients’ attitudes toward changing unhealthy lifestyle, confidence in the success, and desired involvement of their family physicians in facilitating this change. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in 15 family physicians’ practices on a consecutive sample of 472 patients (44.9% men, mean age (± standard deviation) 49.3 ± 10.9 years) from October 2007 to May 2008. Patients were given a self-administered questionnaire on attitudes toward changing unhealthy diet, increasing physical activity, and reducing body weight. It also included questions on confidence in the success, planning lifestyle changes, and advice from family physicians. Results Nearly 20% of patients planned to change their eating habits, increase physical activity, and reach normal body weight. Approximately 30% of patients (more men than women) said that they wanted to receive advice on this issue from their family physicians. Younger patients and patients with higher education were more confident that they could improve their lifestyle. Patients who planned to change their lifestyle and were more confident in the success wanted to receive advice from their family physicians. Conclusion Family physicians should regularly ask the patients about the intention of changing their lifestyle and offer them help in carrying out this intention

Computer aided method for colour calibration and analysis of digital rock photographs

The methods used in geology to determine colour and colour coverage are expensive, time consuming, and/ or subjective. Estimates of colour coverage can only be approximate since they are based on rough comparison- based measuring etalons and subjective estimation, which is dependent upon the skill and experience of the person performing the estimation. We present a method which accelerates, simpli es, and objecti es these tasks using a computer application. It automatically calibrates the colours of a digital photo, and enables the user to read colour values and coverage, even after returning from eld work. Colour identi cation is based on the Munsell colour system. For the purposes of colour calibration we use the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport colour chart placed onto the photographed scene. Our computer application detects the ColorChecker colour chart, and nds a colour space transformation to calibrate the colour in the photo. The user can then use the application to read colours within selected points or regions of the photo. The results of the computerised colour calibration were compared to the reference values of the ColorChecker chart. The values slightly deviate from the exact values, but the deviation is around the limit of human capability for visual comparison. We have devised an experiment, which compares the precision of the computerised colour analysis and manual colour analysis performed on a variety of rock samples with the help of geology students using Munsell Rock-color Chart. The analysis showed that the precision of manual comparative identi cation on multi- coloured samples is somewhat problematic, since the choice of representative colours and observation points for a certain part of a sample are subjective. The computer based method has the edge in veri ability and repeatability of the analysis since the application the original photo to be saved with colour calibration, and tagging of colour- analysed points and regions

Uporabnost pisne informacije o zdravilu (PMIL) in informacije o zdravilih, ki jih poda strokovnjak

Background: The Patient information leaflet (PIL) is an important source of information for every patient. Little is known about whether patients read the PIL and whether it contains useful information. Other sources of drug-related information are professionals (a family practitioner, a pharmacist and a nurse). Informing patients on drugs improves their compliance. The aim of the study was to identify the usefulness of PIL from the perspective of the patient, to assess professionals as a source of drug-related information and to suggest changes that can improve informing and therefore patients\u27 compliances. Methods: Four focus group interviews were conducted across different primary health care centres in the North East of Slovenia. Focus groups were composed of randomly selected patients (in total 20) who were willing to express their views on PILs, on other drug information sources and on possible improvements. A qualitative analysis of the data was based of the transcription of the audiotapes. Results: Patients read the PILs selectively. They were most interested in side effects, contraindications and the purpose of the prescribed drug. Participants reported that the language in PILs is too scientific. In the case they do not understand PILs or they recognise some of the side effects, a majority of participants decide to contact a family physician first, and less frequently a pharmacist or a nurse. A family physician is considered to be the most trustworthy source of information and patients think that pharmacists could play a more active role in patients% education. Conclusion: Current PILs offer enough partial information to patients but need some improvements in terms of better legibility and access to the most crucial information. PIL does not enable a comprehensive information with respect to patient%s health status. Most reliable source of information is considered to be a family practitioner. Pharmacists could play a more active role in the education of patients.Izhodišče: Informacija o zdravilu za bolnika (PMIL) je pomemben vir informacij o zdravilih. Manj je znano, ali bolniki ta navodila berejo in, ali pri tem dobijo potrebne informacije. Bolniki dobivajo ustrezne informacije tudi od strokovnjakov (zdravnik, farmacevt, medicinska sestra). Informiranje bolnika o zdravilu je pomemben dejavnik, ki pozitivno vpliva na komplianco. Namen študije je preveriti uporabnost PMIL z vidika bolnika in ugotoviti, katerim drugim virom informacij o zdravilih bolniki zaupajo ter predlagati izboljšave, ki bodo pri bolnikih povečale informiranost in s tem komplianco. Metode: 4 fokusne skupine so bile oblikovane v različnih zdravstvenih zavodih v severovzhodni Sloveniji. Udeleženci, skupaj 20, so bili naključni bolniki, ki so bili pripravljeni izraziti svoja stališča o PMIL, o drugih virih informacij o zdravilih in o možnih spremembah. Pogovori so bili posneti in po prepisu je bilo besedilo analizirano po kakovosti. Rezultati: Bolniki berejo PMIL selektivno: najbolj jih zanimajo stranski učinki, kontraindikacije in namen, zakaj se zdravilo uporablja. Bolniki so poudarili, da je jezik v PMIL preveč strokoven. Če ne razumejo prebranega ali prepoznajo stranski učinek, se večina bolnikov odloči poiskati izbranega zdravnika in precej manjkrat medicinsko sestro ali farmacevta. Zdravnik jim je najbolj zanesljiv vir informacij. Menijo pa, da bi farmacevti lahko zavzemali bolj dejavno vlogo pri poučevanju o zdravilih. Zaključek: PMIL nudi zadosti delnih odgovorov, vendar bolniki v njem ne dobijo celovite informacije o zdravilu glede na svoje zdravstveno stanje, zato ga nimajo kot zadostni vir informacij. V PMIL pogrešajo večji poudarek ključnim informacijam in boljšo čitljivost besedila. Najbolj zanesljiv vir informacij o zdravilih je zanje družinski zdravnik. Farmacevti bi lahko prevzeli dejavnejšo vlogo pri poučevanju bolnikov

Vprašalnik za samooceno kompetenc zdravnika družinske medicine na področju izboljševanja kakovosti

Aim: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Quality Improvement Competency Self Assessment (QICS) questionnaire for family physicians into the Slovenian language and to validate it in a representative sample of Slovenian FPs. Methods: This cross-sectional observational postal survey was conducted in a random sample of 398 Slovenian FPs. We used the QICS questionnaire that was developed on the basis of the new Quality Improvement Competency Framework for family medicine. The QICS questionnaire consists of 37 items included in six domains. The questions can be answered on a five-point Likert scale. The validity of the translation was provided by the backward translation from Slovenian to the English language and by the reference group consisting of experienced FPs in the consensus process. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Spearman rho to determine the test-retest reliability (the questionnaire was sent to the physicians in the sample twice in a period of two weeks). Results: The final sample consisted of 100 (25.1%) family physicians, out of which 71 (71.0%) were women. Mean age of the sample was 43.3 ± 9.6 years. Mean score of the QICS questionnaire was 127.0 ± 30.1 points (first round) and 127.8 ± 30.6 points (second round). Cronbach’s alpha scores were 0.984 (first round) and 0.988 (second round). Spearman’s rho for the summary score of the whole scale was 0.829 with p < 0.001. Conclusion: The Slovenian version of the QICS questionnaire proved to be a valid and reliable tool for selfassessment of quality improvement competencies by FPs in terms of continuous professional development.Namen: Izvesti medkulturno prilagoditev vprašalnika o samoocenjevanju kompetenc zdravnika družinske medicina na področju izboljševanju kakovosti (vprašalnik QICS) in ga validirati na reprezentativnem vzorcu slovenskih zdravnikov družinske medicine. Metode: Ta presečna opazovalna raziskava je bila izvedena v naključnem vzorcu 398 slovenskih zdravnikov družinske medicine. Uporabili smo vprašalnik QICS, ki je bil razvit na podlagi novega teoretičnega okvira izboljševanja kakovosti v družinski medicini. Vprašalnik QICS je sestavljen iz 37 vprašanj, vključenih v šest področij. Na vprašanja je mogoče odgovoriti po petstopenjski Likertovi lestvici. Veljavnost prevoda je bila zagotovljena z dvosmernim prevodom in s pomočjo referenčne skupine, ki so jo sestavljali izkušeni zdravniki družinske medicine. Zanesljivost vprašalnika smo ocenjevali s pomočjo koeficienta Cronbach alfa in koeficienta Spearman rho za ugotavljanje časovne stabilnosti (vprašalnik je bil poslan zdravnikom v vzorcu dvakrat v razmiku dveh tednov). Rezultati: Končni vzorec je bil sestavljen iz 100 (25,1 %) zdravnikov družinske medicine, od katerih je bilo 71 (71,0 %) žensk. Povprečna starost vzorca je bila 43,3 ± 9,6 leta. Povprečno število točk na vprašalniku QICS je bilo 127,0 ± 30,1 (prvo pošiljanje) in 127,8 ± 30,6 (drugo pošiljanje). Cronbach alfa je bil 0,984 (prvo pošiljanje) in 0,988 (drugo pošiljanje). Spearman rho je bil 0,829 s p < 0,001. Zaključki: Slovenska različica vprašalnika QICS je zanesljivo in veljavno orodje za samooceno kompetenc zdravnikov družinske medicine na področju izboljševanja kakovosti v sklopu stalnega podiplomskega izobraževanja oz. stalnega strokovnega dograjevanja