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Papers by Michael RIE Aquino

Decision Support Systems, 2019

Over the last years home dialysis has become the preferred treatment option for some patients wit... more Over the last years home dialysis has become the preferred treatment option for some patients with kidney failure. However, determining efficient and effective daily home-dialysis service plans imposes multiple challenges to hospital administrators, as it is a complex task with a number of interrelated decisions. These decisions are about the number of nurses required for daily visits and their travel itineraries, and involve multiple (often conflicting) objectives. Working together with physicians and administrators from The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) in Canada, we have developed a system intended to support administrators of nephrology departments in creating daily visit schedules and routes for nurses assisting with dialysis treatment in patients' homes. The decision support system, called Home Dialysis Scheduler System (HDSS), employs a mixed-integer linear programming model to create daily nurse itineraries that minimize the cost of providing home dialysis for a pre-specified group of patients. In developing this model, we also considered nurses' workload balance, overtime work, need for mealtime breaks (lunch or dinner, depending on shift times), restrictions and preferences associated with the time of the visits, and different types of services provided to patients. The model was validated using data provided by the Division of Nephrology at TOH. The interface of the HDSS was developed following the principles of user-centred design and validated with a group of end-users. In the validation stage, daily visit schedules and nurse routes generated by the HDSS were compared to nurse itineraries created manually by hospital administrators. The use of the HDSS resulted in improved workload distribution among nurses, simpler routes, and reduced total distance travelled-which translates into lower costs for the home dialysis program. In this paper, we provide details about the mixed-integer linear programming model, describe the HDSS, and discuss its implementation results and managerial implications.

Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2010

This article introduces a facile nanoparticle self-assembly/annealing method for the preparation ... more This article introduces a facile nanoparticle self-assembly/annealing method for the preparation of nanoisland films. First, nanoparticle-polymer multilayer films are prepared with layer-by-layer assembly. Nanoparticle multilayer films are then annealed at ~ 500 o C in air to evaporate organic matters from the films. During the annealing process, the nanoparticles on the solid surface undergo nucleation and coalescence, resulting in the formation of nanostructured gold island arrays. By controlling the overall thickness (number of layers) of nanoparticle multilayer films, nanoisland films with various island density and different average sizes are obtained. The surface property of gold nanoisland films is further controlled by the self-assembly of alkanethiols, which results in an increased surface hydrophobicity of the films. The structure and characteristics of these nanoisland film arrays are found to be quite comparable to those of nanoisland films prepared by vacuum evaporation method. However, this self-assembly/annealing protocol is simple and requires only common laboratory supplies and equipment for the entire preparation process.

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 2013

Segmental testicular infarction can mimic testicular carcinoma on sonography and can lead to unne... more Segmental testicular infarction can mimic testicular carcinoma on sonography and can lead to unnecessary orchiectomy. This case series describes and correlates sonographic and histologic findings of 7 pathologically proven segmental testicular infarction cases. Segmental testicular infarction should be suspected on sonography when a geographic lesion with low or mixed echogenicity has absent or near‐absent flow in a patient with scrotal pain. A hyperechoic rim and peripheral hyperemia correspond to interstitial hemorrhage and inflammatory changes. As an infarct evolves, it becomes more discrete and hypoechoic as ghost outlines replace seminiferous tubules. Follow‐up or contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging or sonography can increase diagnostic confidence in suspected cases and prevent unnecessary orchiectomy.

Pediatric radiology, 2015

Spondyloarthritides are a group of inflammatory rheumatological diseases that cause arthritis wit... more Spondyloarthritides are a group of inflammatory rheumatological diseases that cause arthritis with a predilection for spinal or sacroiliac involvement in addition to a high association with HLA-B27. Juvenile spondyloarthritis is distinct from adult spondyloarthritis and manifests more frequently as peripheral arthritis and enthesitis. Consequently juvenile spondyloarthritis is often referred to as enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) subtype under the juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) classification criteria. The American College of Rheumatology Treatment Recommendations for JIA, including ERA, are based on the following clinical parameters: current treatment, disease activity and the presence of poor prognostic features. The MRI features of juvenile spondyloarthritis include marrow edema, peri-enthesal soft-tissue swelling and edema, synovitis and joint or bursal fluid. Marrow edema is nonspecific and can be seen with other pathologies as well as in healthy subjects, and this is an...

The Journal of extra-corporeal technology, 2010

The recent global threat of a severe pandemic influenza outbreak has suggested that extracorporea... more The recent global threat of a severe pandemic influenza outbreak has suggested that extracorporeal life support will begin to play an evolving role in the care of critically ill influenza stricken patients. The highly communicable attributes of influenza could result in widespread infection and an associated increased need for advanced life support. Supply and demand equilibrium may be abruptly disrupted, and ethical decisions regarding the allocation of life saving resources will inevitably need to be made. Protocol oriented planning, research analysis, and advanced technologies are critical factors in averting catastrophe. This review article details the epidemiology, diagnostic techniques, and interventions for the influenza A virus, including H1N1.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011

This article reports the effects of heating temperature and composition of nanoparticle multilaye... more This article reports the effects of heating temperature and composition of nanoparticle multilayer films on the morphology, stability, and optical property of gold nanoisland films prepared by nanoparticle self-assembly/heating method. First, nanoparticle-polymer multilayer films are prepared by the layer-by-layer assembly. Nanoparticle multilayer films are then heated at temperature ranging from 500 °C to 625 °C in air to induce an evaporation of organic matters from the films. During the heating process, the nanoparticles on the solid surface undergo coalescence, resulting in the formation of nanostructured gold island arrays. Characterization of nanoisland films using atomic force microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy suggests that the morphology and stability of gold island films change when different heating temperatures are applied. Stable gold nanoisland thin film arrays can only be obtained after heat treatments at or above 575 °C. In addition, the results show that the use of nanoparticles with different sizes produces nanoisland films with different morphologies. Multilayer films containing smaller gold nanoparticles tend to produce more monodisperse and smaller island nanostructures. Other variables such as capping ligands around nanoparticles and molecular weight of polymer linkers are found to have only minimal effects on the structure of island films. The adsorption of streptavidin on the biotinfunctionalized nanoisland films is studied for examining the biosensing capability of nanoisland arrays.

Pediatric Radiology, 2011

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare but aggressive malignancy in children and adolescents. ... more Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare but aggressive malignancy in children and adolescents. Prognosis is related to initial tumor resectability as well as staging of the disease based on tumor invasiveness, tumor bulk, nodal disease and metastases. We report the unusual presentation of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma with metastatic extension through the inguinal canal and encasement of the abdominal aorta. These features portend a poor prognosis given their association with a greater stage of disease and unresectable nature at presentation. Delayed surgical resection follows a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in such cases of extensive disease. Encasement of the abdominal aorta has been shown to increase presurgical risk for intraoperative vascular injury when related to other malignancies, but its role in relation to metastatic paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma has not been investigated. Also, rhabdomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnoses of tumors that demonstrate encasement of the abdominal aorta.

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2004

We investigated personal protective behaviors against West Nile virus infection. Barriers to adop... more We investigated personal protective behaviors against West Nile virus infection. Barriers to adopting these behaviors were identified, including the perception that DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide and related compounds) is a health and environmental hazard. Televised public health messages and knowing that family or friends practiced protective behaviors were important cues to action.

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2006

Objective.To determine the validity of using healthcare worker (HCW) recall of patient interactio... more Objective.To determine the validity of using healthcare worker (HCW) recall of patient interactions and medical record review for contact tracing in a critical care setting.Design.Trained observers recorded the interactions of nurses, respiratory therapists, and service assistants with study patients in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. These observers' records were used as the reference standard to test the criterion validity of using HCW recall data or medical record review data to identify exposure characteristics. We assessed the effects of previous quarantine of the HCW (because of possible exposure) and the availability of patients' medical records for use as memory aids on the accuracy of HCW recall.Setting.A 10-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.Patients.Thirty-six HCWs observed caring for 16 patients, for a total of 55 healthcare worker shifts.Results.Recall accuracy was better among HCWs who were provided with...

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2005