I am developing a link between our LIMS and a medical biochemical analyzer that has LIS protocol supported.

For various reasons we would like all of the results to be channeled to the system, also the ones marked automatically or manually rejected.

I am sending a Request message to the instrument which looks like this: <STX>2Q|1|^ALL^^||^^^^|R|||||||<CR><ETX>51<CR><LF> and in my mind is supposed to mean "give me everything you have".

I then do receive everything that is on the instrument's "deck" (i.e. all the current results, before they are archived at the end of the day) - except the rejected ones. If I export the data to a CSV file, everything is exported, with appropriate statuses (AA, MA, AR, MR for automatically or manually accepted, automatically or manually rejected). I do not however know how to get the rejected results over LIS - is it at all possible?

Thank you for any possible insights!

Working outside traditional office environments, companies actively seek effective digital communication tools. And despite all remote work challenges, software developers have much to offer. Slack is a powerful tool for organizing work life. This popular collaboration software offers multiple features and free and paid plans. Millions of people benefit from the app, but it has tailored its functionalities to fit enterprise users. 

If you are a small business owner looking for an affordable team collaboration tool, explore these top five alternatives to Slack software. They have much in common with Slack but offer more control over team communication. So let’s choose a solid replacement program that will help you stay productive. 

Taken from: https://unsplash.com/photos/gUIJ0YszPig 

What Is Slack Software?

Slack is a messaging program for bringing work communication into one place, launched in 2013. The acronym SLACK is deciphered as the Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge, and its advanced features prove a sound codename. It has a user-friendly interface and rich functionalities. The app ensures your information, conversations, and files stay safe. Many world companies, including Uber, Sky, Airbnb, etc communicate effectively using Slack. 

You can try it for free and benefit from 10,000 recent messages or choose one of the paid plans: Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid. Pro is good for small teams and offers unlimited message history and 10 GB of file storage. Business+ is twice as expensive and has advanced management tools and round-the-clock support. With Enterprise Grid, you can collaborate with up to 500,000 users and tailor all functionalities according to your need and preferences. 

Why Use Slack for Team Communication?

Remote workers look for appropriate home office equipment and professional communication tools. With Slack software, it’s easy to keep in touch and manage the work process easily from any place at any time. Here are top program features that make it so demanded among businesses: 

• It has chat rooms (channels) organized by topic, private groups, and direct messaging. You can organize your work efficiently, create alignment with sync information accessing, and make channels private, public, or connect with multiple organizations.
• You can easily connect Slack with other services for smooth work. Connect the best productivity apps in one place, and do not worry about data security. You can find about 2,400 apps available in the Slack App Directory. 
• Users have complete control over their data in Slack with their own encryption keys. The Slack Enterprise Key Management technology-enhanced collaboration security. You get visibility at every stage and can revoke access in a targeted manner. 
• It is easy to automate workflow with Slack without coding using Workflow Builder. Deliver requests quickly, share updates, and incorporate your favorite tools into the process to improve automation. 

Taken from: https://unsplash.com/photos/iTtFt8FG1SY 

Features to Look For in Online Communication Apps

Choosing the right communication program for your business can be challenging. So before we move on to top Slack alternatives, let’s find out what features these team communication tools should possess. 

• Direct messaging is a paramount feature allowing to exchange messages instantly with one of the teammates or connect with the whole team. 
• Video chat plays a huge role in group conversations as you can discuss any problem face-to-face in real-time. 
• The audio conferencing feature should also be available in professional communication software in case a video call doesn’t work. 
• App integrations allow people to boost productivity and use their favorite tools in one place. 
• Screen sharing makes video chats more meaningful as you can easily share reports or presentations with colleagues. 
• Secured file-sharing of different formats and sizes facilitates the work process. 
• Screen recording helps employees capture online conferences and review and share them. Here you can find how to record your screen if your tool doesn’t have this feature built in. 
• Reasonable price is another vital feature as high-quality, secure software cannot be cheap, and you have to pay for convenient use. 

5 Best Slack Alternatives to Use in 2024

Slack is not an open-source tool so users look for alternatives to install on their server and fully control the data. Here we will explore the best five solutions to replace Slack and benefit from flawless in-team collaboration. 

#1 Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a viable Slack alternative with many advanced online communication features and a straightforward interface. Users can easily sign up with their email addresses. It has a lot of training and tutorials for smooth program use. Follow Microsoft Teams on social media and read teams’ blogs. Microsoft Teams has one free plan and three paid. 

• You can sign up for free and benefit from unlimited one-to-one and group meetings with up to 100 participants. There is data encryption, file sharing, unlimited chat, and 5 GB of cloud storage for each user. 
• With Microsoft Teams Essentials for $4 per month, you will get everything available in a free version and 10 GB of cloud storage, and up to 300 participants per meeting.
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $6 and offers meetings recordings with transcripts, 1 TB cloud storage, and business-class email. 
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard has a range of office apps and services, webinar hosting, and customer appointment management for $12 per month. 

Choose Microsoft Teams, and you will get high-quality online meetings, secure Teams Phone calling, innovative devices, instant messaging with quick chats, workflow automation with connecting apps, and high-security level and organizer controls.

#2 Chanty

Chanty is an easy-to-use team collaboration tool that is used by over 75,000 world companies. It is a great replacement program for businesses seeking to address issues fast and easily. The intuitive user interface ensures a seamless experience and 55% higher productivity. You do not have to spend much time learning how to use Chanty as all features are available with Teambook at your fingertips. You can choose a free or paid plan.

• If you have a small team with up to ten members, a free plan will be enough for you. Sign up with your email address and benefit from many great features, including unlimited public and private conversations, searchable history, one-on-one audio calls, and voice messages. You will have the possibility to invite one guest user and one multi-conversation guest. Get 20GB per team file storage and up to ten integrations for free. 
• The business plan, starting at $3 per user per month, provides additional features and unlimited members. Paid version ensures dedicated customer support and unlimited integrations. You will pay $3 per multi-conversation guest and invite three guests for free. File storage amounts to 20GB per member. There is also built-in task management and roles & permissions.

#3 Element

Element is the open-source team communication software, ensuring secure conversations connected via Matrix. There are a lot of advanced features such as encrypted messaging, data sovereignty, scalability, device verification, app integrations, auditing, antivirus, and powerful widgets. You can download it on your mobile or desktop device. It has flexible pricing, so choose the right plan for your organization.

• The Element app costs $3 per monthly active user and $0.50 per remote monthly active user. It is available for Web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows & Linux users. You can benefit from unlimited E2EE messaging, voice and video calls, voice messages, and private and public rooms. Users have spaces to organize conversations and app translation in 60 languages.
• If you choose Element Enterprise for $4 per monthly active user, you will get all of the above-mentioned Element features and more. There is a 99.9% uptime SLA, data retention policies, and managed deployment protocol. You will be able to select your hosting region, have an audit and admin bots, and even a content scanner.

#4 Fleep

With Fleep software, you can stay connected and coordinate your team’s work flawlessly. Create an account in a few simple steps and benefit from unlimited communication and advanced features. Your team can discuss and make plans on the conversation’s Pinboard. Taskboard allows you to create tasks, assign them to the right people, and coordinate execution. The file drawer contains all shared photos. There are also presence features, audio-video calling, screen-sharing, app integrations, and a full-featured API. You can choose the appropriate plan: basic, business, or enterprise. 

• The basic plan is free and offers unlimited 1:1 conversations, full message history, one group conversation, one GB of file storage, and native apps.
• The business plan costs €5 per month and has unlimited conversations, 100 GB of file storage, user account management, and organization settings.
• The Enterprise plan is custom, and it’s a great choice for corporations and large businesses. You can benefit from a full message history, unlimited conversations, 100 GB of file storage, native apps, teams, and a volume discount.

#5 Twake

Twake is an open-source tool that is simple and secure to use. It’s fully compliant with GDPR and has secure code encrypted. Your team productivity will improve significantly with Twake software. Manage key activities in your company from one place with a calendar, video conferences, application integrations, and real-time document collaboration. Starting using Twake is easy, you simply sign up with your email. You can download it for free or choose among standard, premium, and enterprise plans. 

• The free plan provides access to 10000 most recent messages, 6 GB storage, calendar, tasks, and meetings. 
• The standard plan for 4,19 € per month has unlimited chat, workspaces and integrations, 11 GB storage, guest user, and office.
• Premium costs 10,39 € per month and provides all the above-listed features with 25 GB storage and SSO authentication.
• The enterprise plan has custom prices and offers unlimited communication possibilities. You will have 1 TB storage per user, data and file encryption, and more. 

Final Thoughts 

Slack is a good chat tool for businesses, but there are many great alternatives to choose from. Pay attention to the team communication program that fits your company culture and needs. You can select a top tool from the list or find yours, considering the must-have features listed above. We hope that remote work in your company will be smooth and engaging with one of the solid Slack alternatives. 

The post Top 5 Best Slack Alternatives appeared first on Productivity Land.

I use these codes to transfer hello worlds but i just receive "&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&" in the receiver. I don't understand what is the problem.

*******************Transmitter code:

#include <SPI.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <RF24.h>

RF24 radio(7, 8);

const byte rxAddr[6] = "00001";

void setup()
{
  radio.begin();
  radio.setRetries(15, 15);
  radio.openWritingPipe(rxAddr);

  radio.stopListening();
}

void loop()
{
  const char text[] = "Hello World";
  radio.write(&text, sizeof(text));

  delay(1000);
}

*****************receiver code:

    #include <SPI.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <RF24.h>

RF24 radio(7, 8);

const byte rxAddr[6] = "00001";

void setup()
{
  while (!Serial);
  Serial.begin(9600);

  radio.begin();
  radio.openReadingPipe(0, rxAddr);

  radio.startListening();
}

void loop()
{
  if (radio.available())
  {
    char text[32] = {0};
    radio.read(&text, sizeof(text));

    Serial.println(text);
  }
}

by Jackson Weiser and Joya Lahoud

Being a parent is challenging enough, but being a parent while your partner is deployed can be even more difficult. You may feel like you have to do everything on your own, from managing the household to taking care of the kids. You may also worry about your partner’s safety and well-being, and how their absence affects your children. How can you cope with these challenges and still provide a loving and stable environment for your family?

In this article, we will share some parenting tips for the partner of a military member. These tips are based on research and expert advice from various sources, such as Military OneSource1,2, USO3, Military.com4, and SpouseLink5. We will cover topics such as communication, childcare, support, stress management, organization, and more. By following these tips, you can make parenting while your spouse is deployed easier and more rewarding for yourself and your children.

Prioritize Quality Time

Carving out quality time for your loved ones becomes a valuable and necessary standard during the demands of military life.

Nurturing Relationships Through Time Together: Quality time offers the opportunity for deeper connections and understanding between family members. For couples, quality time fosters intimacy and strengthens the foundation of their relationship.

Making The Most of Time Spent Together:

• Planning Family Activities and Outings During Leave Periods: When your partner is on leave, take advantage of this time by planning special family activities and outings. Explore local attractions, parks, or plan day trips to create lasting memories together.
• Engaging in Shared Hobbies or Interests: Discovering and enjoying activities that everyone in the family loves can be a bonding experience. Whether it’s hiking, cooking, playing sports, or working on a craft project, shared hobbies promote teamwork and joy.
• Establishing Family Traditions: Creating and maintaining family traditions is a beautiful way to anchor your family during times of change. Whether it’s a weekly game night, a special mealtime routine, or holiday traditions, these rituals strengthen the sense of belonging and create a shared identity.
• Unplugging and Being Present: In a world filled with distractions, make a conscious effort to unplug from screens and be fully present during quality time. Engage in active listening, genuine conversations, and show appreciation for one another. Remember, quality time is about the depth of connection and presence during those moments. 

The Importance of Resilience

Resilience isn’t merely about “being tough”. It combines emotional strength, flexibility, and optimism. For military families, resilience equips children with the ability to tackle changes and separations with bravery and optimism.

Strengthening Your Children’s Resilience

 Facilitating Emotional Expression:

• Create a comfortable environment where your kids can freely discuss their emotions.
• Validate their sentiments, making sure they know it’s okay to express whatever they are feeling.
• Listen actively without minimizing their worries.

Enhancing Problem-Solving and Flexibility:

• Involve your children in the decision-making, letting them have a say in their actions.
• Encourage flexibility and adaptability by embracing change positively as a family.
• Impart problem-solving methods, guiding them to tackle obstacles bit by bit.

Celebrating Their Strength and Successes:

• Celebrate achievements and growth to support their confidence.
• Praise their efforts when confronting challenges, regardless of the results.
• During tough times, recall their prior successes to reinforce their self-belief.

Prioritizing Self-Care

• For Parents: Military commitments can drain you, both mentally and physically. To best aid your family, self-care is pivotal as it rejuvenates energy, alleviates stress, and nurtures emotional stability.
• For Children: Self-care techniques benefit kids by helping with stress management and emotional regulation, setting them on a path of lifelong health.

Self-Care Techniques for Parents:

• Rest: Ensure adequate sleep and rest, sticking to a routine and emphasizing its importance. 
• Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness through meditation or yoga for stress reduction and mental focus.
• Boundaries: Recognize your limits and decline when overburdened. 
• Personal Time: Dedicate moments for self-relaxation or activities you love.

Addressing Deployment and TDY (Temporary Duty assignment) Concerns

Preparing for reunions and adjustments afterward can be important for a smooth transition. Here are some suggestions for deployment or TDY scenarios:

Staying Connected When Physically Separated: 

• If you or your partner is away on a deployment or TDY, there are still ways to stay connected to your family. To read about how to make your long-distance military relationship work, click here.

Preparing for Homecomings and Adjustments:

• Realistic Forethought: Acknowledge that separations might bring about change. Patience is key during both separation and reconnection.
• Transition Period: Allow for a transition period after the reunion, as both the returning parent and the family may need time to readjust to each other’s presence.
• Open Dialogues: Post-reunion, try to converse openly about roles and expectations.

Seek Support and Utilize Resources

Navigating military family life becomes smoother with available support and resources.

Embrace the Military Community’s Support:

• Tap into the vast network of fellow military families who understand the journey you’re on: The Modern Military Association of America is the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community.
• You can find more support programs for military families here. 

Counseling and Relationship Aids:

• Counseling: Experts like those from Military OneSource offer safe spaces for discussions.
• Relationship Guidance: The OurRelationship program provides a free online program for military couples to learn about and address their core relational issues with their partner.

Remember, seeking help showcases your dedication to a healthy family life. 

Conclusion

For military families, robust, connected relationships form the foundation for resilience. Fostering open dialogues, quality time, and mutual understanding establishes trust. The bond and affection within the family can act as a security net through military life’s challenges. Implement these strategies to cultivate a loving, resilient, and united family that stands strong over time.

References

(1) Positive Parenting Tips for Military Parents | Military OneSource. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/responsible-military-parenting-tips/.

(2) Parenting While Your Spouse Is Deployed | Military OneSource. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/family-life/10-tips-for-parenting-while-your-spouse-is-deployed/.

(3) 8 Best Things to Do with Your Kids When Your Spouse Is Deployed. https://www.uso.org/stories/2279-8-things-for-military-kids.

(4) Divorce and Children: Military Parenting During Divorce. https://www.military.com/spouse/relationships/divorce-and-children-military-parenting-during-divorce.html.

(5) 9 Essential Tips for Pregnant Military Spouses & New Moms. https://spouselink.aafmaa.com/9-essential-tips-for-pregnant-military-spouses-new-moms/.

The post Parenting Tips for Military Spouses appeared first on OurRelationship.