GSTF Digital Library (GSTF-DL): Open Journal Systems (Global Science and Technology Forum)
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Health Risks Associated with Nurse Night Shift Work: A Systematic Review
Get PDFThe purpose of this systematic review is to examine health risks associated with nurse shift work. An electronic literature search for “Health Risks Nurse Night Shift†was conducted using Pubmed, CINAHL, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition databases. Inclusion criteria used was English language, full text available, and published dates between January 1, 2004 and March 1, 2015. Based on the search criteria a total of 90 articles were identified. Abstracts for the articles were reviewed for relevance and duplicate citations removed for a total of 33 articles being included in the review. Identified health risks associated with nurse night shift work included breast cancer, fractures, obesity, type 2 diabetes, menstrual irregularities, stroke, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression. Rotating night shift work was associated with a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and skin cancer. Future research should focus on effective interventions to decrease health risks associated with prolonged nurse night shift rotations
Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Quality of Life among Kidney Transplant Recipients
Get PDFObjective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between perceived social support and quality of life (QOL) among recipients after kidney transplantation. Methods 210 kidney transplant recipients participated in this survey, and survey tools included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (SF-36). Results The mean scores of kidney transplant recipients for MSPSS three sub-scales family support, friend support, and significant others support were 6.18±0.90, 5.48±1.32, 5.65±1.05 respectively, while MSPSS total scale score was 5.77±0.91. The mean scores for SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were 47.48±6.70, 48.40±9.65 respectively. Recipients’ PCS scores were correlated to significant others support sub-scale score and MSPSS total score significantly (P<0.05), while MCS scores were correlated to three sub-scales scales and total scale score (P<0.01). Conclusion Perceived social support of patients after kidney transplantation was significant related to their quality of life. The higher perceived social support was associated with the better quality of life
High-level simulation of concurrency operations in microthreaded many-core architectures
No full textComputer architects are always interested in analyzingthe complex interactions amongst the dynamically allocatedresources. Generally a detailed simulator with a cycle-accuratesimulation of the execution time is used. However, the cycleaccurate simulator can execute at the rate of 100K instructions per second, divided over the number of simulated cores. This means that the evaluation of a complex application with complex concurrency interactions on contemporary multi-core machine can be very slow. To perform efficient design space exploration we present a co-simulation environment, where the detailed execution of concurrency instructions in the pipeline of microthreaded cores and the interactions amongst the hardware components are abstracted. We present the evaluation of the high-level simulation framework against the cycle-accurate simulation framework. The results show that high-level simulator is faster and less complicated than cycle-accurate simulator and has reasonableaccuracy
Consciousness Representationalism and the Self- Representational Theory of Consciousness
No full textAccording to Consciousness representationalism (CR), the qualitative character of a conscious experience is captured by its representational content. The Representational theory of consciousness (RTC) and the Higher-order approach to consciousness (HOAC) are the two main versions of CR. RTC is faced with some notorious problems suggesting that HOAC is preferable. I argue that standard versions of the latter are faced with an intolerable infinite regress. I propose a non-standard version of the HOAC, the Self-Representational theory of consciousness (SRTC), as a way to overcome that problem. I distinguish various interpretations of SRTC and argue in support of the interpretation according to which the (self)-representational content is a de re proposition
The Understanding of the Concept of Culture as Crucial to the Transformation of Africa
No full textThis discourse acknowledges the persistent clamor for transformation of African nations in order to curb the unwholesome condition of existence prevalent in the continent. It observes that the need for transformation in the continent is not only talked about by communities outside Africa, internally the imperative is also obvious. The discourse holds that evidences of efforts towards transforming the African continent are not lacking. However, it opines that in order that there may be effective transformation in the continent to guarantee qualitative existence in the African terrain, an understanding of the concept of culture is crucial as it exposes what are to be avoided and what are to be embraced
Caring for Self: Perceived by Persons Living with HIV Infection in Bandung, Indonesia
Get PDFThe continuing increase of persons living with HIV infection (PLWH) in Indonesia is impacting on society. This is a part of focused ethnographic study aims to explore and describe the caring perceptions among Muslim PLWH in Bandung, Indonesia. Twelve PLWH were recruited purposively to participate in this study. Data collection included participant observation, interviews and filed notes during the eight months period. The Leininger’s ethnonursing phases of qualitative data analysis were used as the guideline in analyzing process. Four major themes emerged: (1) accepting the reality of being an HIV-infected person while submitting self to Allah (God); (2) striving to maintain health by performing optimum efforts and supplication; (3) gaining the blessing of God by doing good deeds and worship; and (4) building brotherhood and networking to share, support, and help each other. Findings indicated that the patient’s perceptions of caring were related to socio-cultural context especially Muslim teaching and cultural beliefs. Health care providers, particularly nurses, could take this knowledge to design a culturally congruent community based care for PLWH and their family members
Intensive Care Management of The Critically Ill Elderly Population: The Case of ‘Sotiria’ Regional Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens, Greece
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to assess the characteristics and short-term outcome of elderly patients admitted to the ICU of ‘Sotiria’ Regional Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens. We examined retrospectively the records of 344 patients aged ≥70 years old admitted to the ICU of a tertiary hospital during a five-year period, from 2009-2013. We reported demographic and clinical data, length of ICU stay, need for mechanical ventilation and ICU mortality. Among 1730 admitted to the ICU during this period, the elderly comprised 344 (19.8%). The main causes of ICU admission were Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation (n=169), postoperative respiratory failure (n=78), acute respiratory failure of various etiologies (n=76) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (n=25). Overall mortality rate of elderly patients was 41.5%. According to age groups, 200 patients were 70-74 years old with a mortality rate of 47%, 42 patients were 80-84 years old presenting a mortality rate of 28.5%, while 14 patients aged over 85 years old, presented a mortality of 42.8%. The mean length of ICU stay (LOS) for the elderly patients was 11.2 days, while the corresponding LOS value for younger patients was 8.1 days. Elderly patients present highest mortality than younger population. However, mortality does not correlate exclusively with advancing age over 70 years, but mostly with the underlying disease. Therefore, age should not be the sole determinant of ICU admission
Science-Technology Relationships in Sino-Western Philosophies of Technology: Hints for Innovation, Competitiveness, and Policy
No full textScience, technology, and innovation play crucial roles in the society. Studies on science-technology relationships primarily serve for innovation, competitiveness, and policy. Nevertheless, science-technology relationships in the evolution have been disputed in studies from academic and practical circles, especially from the philosophy of technology. This project aims to investigate science-technology relationships in Sino-Western philosophies of technology, and the hints for innovation, competitiveness, and policy. This paper launches and argues on a theoretical framework for science-technology relationships: (i) technology emerges earlier than science; (ii) science and technology are different but closely connected; (iii) science and technology engage in dynamic interaction; (iv) science-technology interaction takes various forms in its complex progress of nonlinearity and diversification; and (v) science-technology integration is presentational. This study applies a systems-theoretic approach to the interdependent policy issues relating to science, technology, innovation, and competitiveness. This article examines how endogenous and exogenous developments of science and technology in China and the West based on science-technology relationships have influenced science and technology innovations, national competitiveness, and science and technology policies. The results reveal cognitive progress and cultural diversity. National competitiveness is preferentially strengthened in real productivities by technological invention and innovation, assisted by scientific research and innovation. This study recommends shifting the centers of science policy and technology policy from exogenous developments to endogenous developments. This article proposes proper reforms from exogenous growth to endogenous growth in science and technology innovations, national competitiveness, and science and technology policies for policy making
Ineffability and Aesthetic Force
No full textSo many artists, aestheticians and audiences are committed to the idea that nonverbal art is ineffable. The challenge, however, is to clarify and substantiate this view. In this paper I argue that an adequate model of ineffability must account for three features, viz. invariability, intentionality and flexibility. After reviewing several recent attempts at explaining ineffabilty, I offer an alternative based on two claims: that the force of artworks is essentially functionless and that this force is an indissoluble aspect of aesthetic content. With these claims, I argue for a more convincing and substantial model
Impact of Neotectonism in the Discussion of Geomorphological Processes as a Feedback System: North Bengal Foothills, West Bengal
Get PDFThe ongoing research paper is concerned about the sensitive issue like neotectonism and its impact on the landscape development. It is a detail and micro level study of North Bengal Himalayan foothills where the effect of tectonism is precisely observed. The term, neotectonism was introduced by Obruchen (1948) to summarize the active tectonic processes including the last major tectonic configuration change and establishment of modern stress. The North Bengal Himalayan foothill are very much concerned about the neotectonism activities at last to present geological periods. It is the one of the active unstable area of NE India where faults/thrusts and presence of synformal axis are predominantly controlling the geomorphological landscape development. This frontal region of an active orogenic beltlikethe NE Himalaya is characterized by complex terrace morphology with fluvial aggradation, degradationandstrath terraces. The detail study is mainly about the lineaments, drainage sequences, thrusting zone and synformal depressed zone of the area. Near the Neora-Mal river valley, close to to the mountain front a thick supported boulder bed with huge angular boulders of gneisses are exposed near Neora valley of Samsing area. Concerning the fault zone area of Matiali scarp, it is very clearly observed the extended part of Garubathan thrust (MBT) under the Matiali formation near the upper part of Kurtiriver. But, in the middle part of the river, where the synformation axis is present, river terraces are magnificiently developed over two sides of R. Kurti near Matiali hat. Here, two terraces are well virtualized but the upper most flat terrain is designated as fan surface which is made of mainly by the sediments of Matialiformation. In this region, slope of the fan surface is southerly 2.1Ëš. In south of the Matiali scarp on the banks of R. Neora, Kurti, Murti raised terraces are distinctly observed as T1 and T2.There kinds of features have developed due to the active tectonic activities from last Pleistocene to recent Holocene. As an evidence , we can consider the recent seismic study with in meizoseismal zone of both the 1934 Bihar-Nepal and 1950 Assam earthquakes but last surface rupture with a recorded displacement of 14m of Chalsafault related to the historical earthquake in Nepal around 1100 AD (Kumar et.al. 2011). It is a positive feedback system where neotectonism and geomorphological landscape are well related and in a classical model of fault propagation; geomorphic evolution through the structure/process is present in respect of time and space