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Factors that influence international nursing students’ experiences and perceptions of their learning environments: A scoping review
No full textObjective: The objective of this review was to explore factors that influence international undergraduate nursing students’ experiences and perceptions of their learning environment. Introduction: In the past 2 decades, international student enrollment in tertiary education increased globally, with English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States attracting a significant majority of these students. Many of these international students are attracted to studies in health professions and related sciences, particularly nursing. Despite their economic and cultural contributions to the host country, international nursing students face numerous challenges that affect their learning experiences. Inclusion criteria: Peer-reviewed studies reporting on the factors that positively or negatively influenced international undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions or experiences of their learning environment within the higher education sector, onshore in any country other than their own, were included. Studies of any research design and from any country were considered. Studies reporting on students whose educational preparation was vocational or led to registration to work under the supervision of registered nurses were excluded. Perceptions or experiences reported by educators, mentors, or clinical facilitators who supported international nursing students were also excluded. Methods: A search for relevant records was conducted in CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Emcare (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Databases were searched from 1995 onward for published studies on October 12, 2020, then subsequently updated on July 1, 2022, and March 15, 2024. Gray literature was searched using Google Scholar, CORE, and BASE. A data extraction tool developed by the reviewers was used to extract data from the included studies. The extracted data were analyzed through content analysis and simple qualitative synthesis based on the review questions. The findings are presented in narrative format, supported by mind maps and tables. Results: A total of 1928 records was identified in the databases. Of these, 10 were duplicates. The titles and abstracts of the remaining 1918 records were screened, and 1876 records were excluded for not meeting the study inclusion criteria. Forty-two full-text reports were retrieved and assessed against the eligibility criteria. Of the 42 reports, 13 discrete studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Findings from the included studies showed that international student nurses faced language barriers, cultural challenges, and discrimination in academic and clinical settings, compounded by inadequate support and high academic demands, which affected their well-being
Performance analysis of STAR-RIS aided RSMA system with hardware impairment
No full textThe performance of a simultaneous transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surface (STAR-RIS) aided rate splitting multiple access (RSMA) system is analyzed over κ-μ fading channel, where the transceiver hardware impairment and STAR-RIS phase error are both considered. Based on the performance analysis, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios of the users are derived, followed by an approximated closedform expression for the outage probability (OP). An optimization scheme for the power allocation (PA) coefficients is formulated to minimize the OP, and a closed-form expression for the optimal PA is derived. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis and PA scheme, and reveal that the system with the proposed PA scheme has lower OP than that with the conventional fixed PA. Besides, the system performance degrades due to the effect of hardware impairment and/or phase errors
Comparison of decision-making skill in 360° video to the field setting in highly skilled rugby union players
No full textLittle evidence exists of whether decision-making in immersive 360° video is representative of the field setting in sport. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether decision-making performance of a representative exemplar competition specific skill was similar between 360° video and a field task. Fifteen players from skilled junior rugby union pathways and professional rugby union teams in Australia were recruited to complete a 360° video decision-making choice response task involving four attackers and three defenders. Their decision-making was previously assessed in a similar field decision-making task that was representative of rugby game play. Decision-making was scored according to an expert coach rating scale. After the 360° video task, participants completed a sense of presence questionnaire and answered interview questions relating to their experience during the 360° video task. Bland–Altman analysis confirmed that 360° video and field tests measured decision-making skill, providing evidence of the similarity in performance between test modalities. Further analysis indicated a significant difference between decision-making performance in 360° video and the field task, however, the absolute percentage difference between the two tests was only 9%. Moreover, participants rated presence in the 360° video task highly and five themes were identified from the responses to interview questions. These themes indicated that the participants’ believed the 360° video task was representative of the field setting and would be a beneficial method to assess and enhance decision-making skill. These findings suggest the 360° video task has construct validity in terms of representative task design. This provides important implications for assessment and training of decision-making skill in sport
Creativity enactment in Ghanaian secondary visual arts programmes: An autoethnographic perspective
Get PDFCreativity is regarded as one of the competencies of 21st-century education and industry, and its enactment has been challenging for teachers and policymakers. This paper is an autoethnographic study that registers the accounts of the experiences and personal reflections of the lead researcher during his doctoral study, which explored creativity and creative pedagogies in visual arts practice in secondary schools in Ghana. It extends insights into how creativity is enacted in policy from a non-Western perspective and the realities and discrepancies surrounding the transitioning of creativity from the policy level into the local classrooms and studios within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in Ghana. This paper aimed to provide contextual understanding and suggestions for enhancing Ghanaian SVA education, focusing on fostering creativity in educational settings and incorporating it as a policy priority. Autoethnography was employed as a research method based on narrative theory, the sociocultural theory of creativity, social constructivist theory and reflexivity, making the study more personal through a social constructivist lens. I found issues with policy and educational documents regarding creativity. Teachers\u27 pedagogical practices were didactic and over-relied on teacher-led approaches that did not enhance students\u27 creativity. The learning environments were static, with traditional arrangements positioning the teacher in front of the classrooms and studios. Recent research-based definitions of creativity and established implementation procedures were absent from policy and educational documents. The learning settings lacked characteristics that promote innovative thinking and nurture creativity in students. Recommendations for policy and practice were also discussed
Discordance of small dense LDL cholesterol beyond LDL cholesterol or non–HDL cholesterol and carotid plaque
Get PDFBackground: Different low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles exhibit distinct proatherogenic properties. Objectives: This study sought to evaluate associations of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), large buoyant low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (lbLDL-C), sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio, and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C ratio with carotid plaque (CP) risk in the general population, and to perform discordance analyses to determine which biomarker better reflects CP risk beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). Methods: This study enrolled 20,369 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort. Discordant sdLDL-C, lbLDL-C, or ratio metrics (sdLDL-C/LDL-C and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C) relative to LDL-C or non-HDL-C, and discordant ratio metrics relative to sdLDL-C, were defined by residual differences and median values. Logistic regression models were used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs. Results: In this study, higher levels of sdLDL-C (OR: 1.354; 95% CI: 1.299-1.410), sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio (OR: 1.196; 95% CI: 1.148-1.247), and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C ratio (OR: 1.153; 95% CI: 1.110-1.197) were more strongly associated with increased odds of CP than lbLDL-C (OR: 1.110; 95% CI: 1.070-1.151). Additionally, discordantly high sdLDL-C or low lbLDL-C relative to LDL-C or non-HDL-C were associated with increased odds of CP, whereas discordantly low sdLDL-C or high lbLDL-C were associated with reduced odds. Finally, discordantly high sdLDL-C/LDL-C and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C ratios relative to LDL-C, non-HDL-C, or sdLDL-C were linked to increased odds of CP. Conclusions: The sdLDL-C, sdLDL-C/LDL-C, and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C, but not lbLDL-C, are superior to LDL-C and non-HDL-C in identifying individuals at increased risk of CP. The sdLDL-C/LDL-C and sdLDL-C/lbLDL-C ratios may capture additional risk information beyond sdLDL-C
Enhancing person-centred care in the final years of life: Insights from emergency department visits and hospitalisations in Victorian residential aged care (2015/16 to 2022/23)
Get PDFObjective: To explore emergency hospitalisations from Victorian residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of Victorian RACFs transfers to ED from 2015/16 to 2022/23. Main outcome measures: (1) ED event rate per 100 RACF beds; (2) Number of ED events, day/time, triage category, reason, comorbidity profile, length of stay, death within 12 months of ED presentation and costs; (3) Relationship between resident characteristics and total ED events; (4) Number of inpatient events, comorbidity profile, length of stay, intensive care use, preventable hospitalisations, diagnosis-related group, deaths and costs. Results: The rate of ED presentations from Victorian RACFs from 2015/16 to 2022/23 ranged from 77 to 91 ED events per 100 RACF beds. Associated costs for ED and inpatient stay were over $2.8B. An advance care directive or substitute decision maker was unavailable for 84% of ED events. Eighty-seven per cent of residents presenting to ED were admitted; 90% for medical DRGs. Sixteen per cent of inpatient stays were potentially preventable under the national definition. Conclusion: Victorian RACF residents make substantial use of hospitals. This study highlights a significant gap in advance care planning (ACP), with causes potentially linked to inadequate planning, poor document quality or lack of accessibility. To enhance hospital-RACF interactions, it is essential to identify and address unmet palliative care needs at policy, planning, and practice levels, ensuring person-centred care for residents in their final years
Soil organic carbon depth profiles and centennial and millennial decay rates in tidal marsh, mangrove and seagrass blue carbon ecosystems
Get PDFThe management of coastal blue carbon ecosystems can contribute to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, limited information on soil organic carbon (OC) decay rates in tidal marsh, mangrove, and seagrass soils hinders their inclusion in climate strategies and carbon-crediting schemes. Here, we analyzed downcore OC trends in 3761 soil cores from blue carbon ecosystems worldwide. A decrease in OC content with soil depth was measured in 63% of the cores, whereas stable and increasing trends were observed in 22% and 15% of the cores, respectively. Based on 85 profiles where OC decay could be modelled, the OC decay rate in blue carbon ecosystems was 0.023 ± 0.002 yr−1 over the last 100 years and 0.007 ± 0.0007 yr−1 over the last 1000 years. This results in the stabilization of 9% and 0.1% of the soil OC inputs 100 and 1000 yr after burial, respectively, showcasing the long residence time of OC in the sinks associated to blue carbon ecosystems. This study provides baseline estimates of soil OC decay under natural conditions for short- and long-term periods, and to assess the carbon abatement and additionally provided by carbon offsetting projects in blue carbon ecosystems
Alexithymia and impulsivity in combat sports – A tale of three measures
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to compare the psychometric properties of two measures of alexithymia – the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) – as well as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 measure of behavioural impulsivity because the psychometric properties of these scales have not been established in athletes. As part of a larger study, 298 participants completed an online survey that included the TAS-20, PAQ, and BIS 11, as well personal- (age and gender) and sport-specific (primary combat sport and level of competition) demographic measures. A unidimensional model was retained for the TAS-20. A unidimensional model with the possibility of multidimensional measure was retained for the PAQ, with the viability of a subscale for Generalised Externally Orientated Thinking supported. The only versions of the BIS that were retainable were unidimensional models for the BIS-15 (a 15-item version of the BIS 11) and the BIS-Brief (an 8-item version of the BIS 11). As expected, the measures of alexithymia were highly correlated. The associations between impulsivity and alexithymia as well as age and alexithymia were small in nature, with none these associations moderated by level of gender, level of competition, or primary sport for the participants. No differences in alexithymia or impulsivity according to gender, level of competition, or primary sport were noted for the participants. Implications of these findings for the measures of alexithymia – the TAS-20 and PAQ – and impulsivity – the BIS-15 and BIS-Brief – examined in the present study with athletes (as well as with other populations) are discussed
Artificial intelligence innovation and stock price crash risk
Get PDFThis study examines the association between artificial intelligence innovation (AII) and stock price crash risk (SPCR). AII serves as a governance mechanism that can bolster strength in internal controls, leading to increased financial transparency and thereby reducing the likelihood of future SPCR. The results hold after accounting for possible endogeneity issues Further, we find that monitoring through corporate governance mechanisms, level of following by equity analysts, and the reduced information asymmetry constitute important channels that mediate the association between AII and SPCR. Additionally, the relationship between AII and SPCR varies across corporate life cycle stages and workplace culture
Where are the alcohol advertising hotspots near schools?
Get PDFIssue Addressed: Physically locating liquor stores near schools can strongly influence the chances of youth accessing and consuming alcohol, and may also increase children\u27s exposure to alcohol advertising. Investigating the association between the presence of a liquor store near a school and the prevalence of outdoor alcohol advertising is crucial from a policy perspective, as it can inform future regulations on the placement of liquor stores and outdoor advertising near educational institutions. Methods: All outdoor alcohol advertising within a 500 m radius (audit zone) of 64 randomly selected schools from local government areas across metropolitan Perth was identified by direct observation; recording the size, setting, location and content of each advertisement. Results were compared based on whether the school audit zone contained a liquor store or not. Results: Over half (n = 36, 56%) of all school audit zones had at least one alcohol advertisement, with an average number of 5.9 alcohol advertisements per zone (SD = 10.2). The majority (97.9%) of advertisements were in the 38 audit zones containing a liquor store (average = 9.7, SD = 11.9 per zone), compared to zones without a liquor store (average =.3, SD =.7 per zone). Conclusions: Perth school zones containing a liquor store in their 500 m radius had, on average, 30 times more outdoor alcohol advertising, compared with school zones without a nearby liquor store. So What?: The siting of liquor stores and the display of alcohol advertisements around educational settings require combined policy, planning and public health approaches to mitigate children\u27s exposure to alcohol marketing, especially during school transit