E-Jurnal Universitas Tunas Husada Tasikmalaya
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‘The WOW factors’: Comparing Workforce Organisation and Wellbeing for doctors, nurses, midwives, and paramedics in England
No full textBackground: High rates of poor mental health in healthcare staff threatens the quality and sustainability of healthcare delivery. Multi-factorial causes include the nature and structure of work. We conducted a critical review of UK NHS (England) data pertaining to: doctors, nurses, midwivesand paramedics.Sources of data: Key demographic, service architecture (structural features of work) and wellbeing indicators were identified and reviewed by a stakeholder group. Data searching prioritised NHS whole workforce sources (focusing on hospital and community health services staff), which were rated according to strength of evidence.Findings: Key differences between professions were: (i) Demographics: gender (nursing and midwifery female-dominated, doctors and paramedics more balanced); age (professions other than doctors had ageing workforces); ethnicity (greater diversity among doctors and nurses); (ii) Service architecture: despite net staffing growth, turnover and retention were problematic in all professions; 41.5% doctors were consultants but smaller proportions held high grade/band roles inother professions; salaries were higher for doctors; (iii) Wellbeing: all reported high job stress, particularly midwives and paramedics; sickness absence rates for nurses, midwives and paramedics were three times those of doctors, and presenteeism nearly double.Growing points: Socio-cultural factors known to increase risk of poor mental health may explain some of the differences reported between professions. These factors and differences in service architecture are vital considerations when designing strategies to improve wellbeing.Areas timely for developing research: Multi-level systems approaches to wellbeing are required that consider intersectionality and structural differences between professions; together with interprofessional national databases to facilitate monitoring
The influence of sleep and experience on the cortical mRNA translation
No full textArguably, humans spend, on average, a third of their lives sleeping. However, the realfunction of sleep remains a matter of intense debate. One of the proposed functions for sleep isthat it is necessary for the consolidation of changes in synaptic communication (i.e. synapticplasticity) in response to experience during wakefulness. In this study, the influence of sleepon brain plasticity was assessed with a particular emphasis on the effect it exerts on proteintranslation in the cortex and cerebellum. Using rat model manipulations, the molecularmechanisms of translation underlying synaptic plasticity influenced by sleep and experiencewere investigated. The rats were exposed to different sleep/wake regimes, including extendedwake and enriched environment followed by sleep, then total brain lysate and synaptic-enrichedbrain fractions from rats were used to assess how sleep after exposure to a novel environmentaffects local translation at synapses. Analysis of the phosphorylation state of the translationinitiation activation marker 4EBP1 showed that it is hyperphosphorylated upon sleep comparedto those that were sleep deprived. Global phosphoprotemoic analysis showed increasedphosphorylation of synaptic proteins such as PSD-95, ARC and glutamate receptors. Moreover,Polysome profiling followed by global analysis of translation rate of mRNA using RNA-seqrevealed increased mRNA levels on heavy polysomal fractions from animals that weresubjected to sleep and enriched environment compared to those that were sleep deprived.Together, the results of this study show that sleep is key regulator of synaptic plasticity viamodulation of protein translation and phosphorylation
Non-Destructive Porosity Measurements of 3D Printed Polymer by Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy
No full textThe porosity and inhomogeneity of 3D printed polymer samples were examined using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, and the effects of 3D printer settings were analysed. A set of PETG samples were 3D printed by systematically varying the printer parameters, including layer thickness, nozzle diameter, filament (line) thickness, extrusion, and printing pattern. Their effective refractive indices and loss coefficients were measured and compared with those of solid PETG. Porosity was calculated from the refractive index. A diffraction feature was observed in the loss spectrum of all 3D printed samples and was used as an indication of inhomogeneity. A “sweet spot” of printer settings was found, where porosity and inhomogeneity were minimised
The impact of repetitive vascular occlusion stimulus on muscle, peripheral vasculature, and systemic inflammation in healthy controls and ICU patients
No full textIntensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) impairs hospital outcomes and causes a long-term physical disability among ICU survivors. No treatment has yet been identified. Repetitive vascular occlusion stimulus (RVOS) induces brief repeated ischaemia and reperfusion cycles using a cuff and could be a novel intervention to prevent ICU-AW. RVOS limits disuse muscle atrophy and weakness in both healthy controls and bed-bound orthopaedic patients improves vascular function and induces systemic anti-inflammatory effects.This thesis investigated the feasibility and efficacy of RVOS application to ICU patients and examined the underlying mechanisms of its reported protective effects in healthy controls. Methodologies utilised included: ultrasonography to assess the skeletal muscle size and vascular function, strength and physical function tests to assess functionality, immunoassays on plasma and muscle biopsies to assess blood biomarkers and signalling pathway, NIRS to assess microcirculation, and flow cytometry to assess inflammatory markers on circulatory leukocytes.Recruitment of ICU patients was low due to high ineligibility and low consent rates. RVOS application appears safe and acceptable and indicated a positive effect against target organ failure (lower AKI incidence and greater SOFA score reduction) (Chapter 3). No effectiveness against muscle wasting and vascular dysfunction were detected, however, an increase in growth factor IGF-1 and reduction in vascular dysfunction and inflammatory markers syndecan-1, IL-4, and TNF-RII were observed (Chapter 4). In healthy controls, no upregulation in the Akt/mTOR protein synthesis signalling pathway was observed in local muscle tissue, despite inducing significant ischemic and reactive hyperaemic stimulus. No remote effects on vessel and microcirculation of skeletal muscle were observed (Chapter 5). Downregulation of CD11b, Hsp70, NF-κBp65, and p38MAPK levels in activated NK and monocytes and upregulation in p38MAPK were observed in activated neutrophils, suggesting subset specific effect (Chapter 6).RVOS application to ICU patients was not feasible, however, the observed effects on target organs, biomarkers, and leukocyte subsets warrant further investigation
Job Experience as a Buffer Against Incivility: A Daily Diary Study
No full textPurpose – Incivility is pervasive in organisational settings, particularly in healthcare, and is associated with negative employee outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between experienced incivility, sleep quality, and emotional outcomes, positioning sleep quality as a mediator. Additionally, the protective role of tenure and unique effects of incivility from different sources were examined.Design/methodology/approach – This study used a daily diary longitudinal design using self-report questionnaires with 92 nurses of varying tenure.Findings – This research demonstrates that experiencing incivility negatively impacts sleep quality, which, in turn, increases surface acting, and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the negative relationship between incivility and sleep quality is attenuated among nurses who have longer tenure.Practical implications – These findings are helpful in developing targeted practical practices, such as incivility interventions and mentorship programs in order to reduce the incidence and impact of incivility.Originality – We draw upon theories of self-regulation and emotion regulation to examine how incivility diminishes self-control resources, leading to negative outcomes. We also position job tenure as a buffer against incivility and examine the differential impact of different sources of incivility
From “inbetweeners” to ‘transcultural mediators’: Turkish-German second-generation’s narratives of ‘return’ migration, third spaces and re-invention of the self
No full textThe paper explores how second-generation Turkish-German ‘returnees’ benefit from their “inbetweenness” in their ancestral homeland and initiate a process of re-inventing themselves as ‘transcultural mediators’. A thematic-narrative analysis was undertaken on 43 in-depth interviews with second-generation Turkish-German ‘return’ migrants to Antalya who had acquired jobs in the tourism sector. The paper unpacks how this tourism hub provides “third spaces” distanced from prominent national and diasporic identities, and the ways in which these liberating spaces encourage the lifestyle-style oriented, cosmopolitan second-generation ‘returnees’ to re-position themselves in their translocal social fields. The findings illustrate how the second generation, who formerly endured “being twice a stranger” in Germany and Turkey, undertake a process of transculturation in Antalya, and utilise their “transcultural capital” (i.e., bilingual skills, bi- multilingualism, translocal habitus) to perform different aspects of their multiple and hybrid identities, gain economic independence and build social relations
Easy to assemble PDMS/CNTs/PANI flexible supercapacitor with high energy-to-power density
No full textThe fabrication of a flexible supercapacitor with state-of-the-art performance is described, based on a facile and low-cost fabrication method that encompass aligned carbon nanotube arrays (ACNTA) – polyaniline/polydimethylsiloxane electrodes (ACNTA-PANI/PDMS). The ACNTA was partially embedded in PDMS to ensure excellent adhesion and integration whilst PANI was electrodeposited on its surface to improve energy storage properties. The supercapacitor structure and morphology were investigated by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The energy storage properties of the electrodes were evaluated in two and three-electrode configurations. The maximum value of specific capacitance was 408 mF.cm-2 (265 F.g-1) at 1 mA.cm-2 , and a high energy density of 20 µWh.cm-2 (25.5 Wh.kg-1) was achieved at power density of 100 µW.cm-2 (126.6 W.Kg-1) for a symmetric two-electrode device. The device showed a good capacitance retention of 76% after 5000 cycles and was able to maintain 80% of its electrochemical properties while measured at different bending angles, demonstrating excellent mechanical agility performance under extreme conditions and some of the highest carbon-based energy storage
Tourism memory, mood repair and behavioral intention
No full textRecall of tourism experiences evokes pleasant affect tied to the trip, which leads to mood and behavioral intentions. Based on experimental design with two studies, this research investigates the mood-repairing role of tourism memory, memory characteristics, and affective and behavioral consequences of tourism memory. Study 1 confirmed that both positive and negative mood groups recall positive tourism memories, and the effect of mood repair motivation on tourism memory valence is moderated by mood state. Study 2 identified tourism memory characteristics and the effect of tourism memory valence on mood and behavioral intentions. Findings contribute to the literature on relationships between tourism memories, mood and behavioral intentions, and inform tourism organizations on how to use tourism memories for experience management. </p
" Even We Are Confused " : A Thematic Analysis of Professionals' Perceptions of Processed Foods and Challenges for Communication
No full textProcessed foods are increasingly under the spotlight since the development of classification systems based on proxies for food processing. Published critical reviews and commentaries suggest different views among professional disciplines about the definition and classification of processed food. There is a need to further understand perspectives of professionals on the conceptualisation of processed food and the agreements and disagreements among experts, to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and aid communication to the public. The aim of this research was to elicit views and understandings of professionals on processed food, their perceptions of lay people's perceptions of the same, and their perspectives on the challenges of communicating about processed foods to the public. The online discussion groups brought together a range of professionals (n = 27), covering the fields of nutrition, food technology, policy making, industry, and civil society, mixed in 5 heterogenous groups. Through thematic analysis the following themes relating to the conceptualisation of processed food and challenges for communication were identified: (1) Broad concepts that need differentiation; (2) Disagreements on scope and degree of processing; (3) The role of food processing within the food system: the challenges in framing risks and benefits; and (4) The challenge of different perspectives and interests for risk communication. Throughout the discussions blurred lines in the characterisation of processing, processed foods, and unhealthy foods were observed. Participants agreed that consensus is important, but difficult. Participants identified a need for further interdisciplinary dialogue, including public engagement, to break down the observed issues, and work towards a mutual understanding and develop clear communication messages