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Reconceptualising nursing curricula for planetary health: A web-based desktop audit
Full text linkBackground
Despite international support for integrating planetary health into nursing curricula from academia, clinicians, and students themselves, there is limited evidence of incorporation into undergraduate curricula in Australia and New Zealand.
Aim
To obtain a snapshot of planetary health theory and practice in nursing curricula, to inform future education development at a professional and policy level.
Methods
A descriptive study incorporated a web-based desktop audit of preregistration nursing programs in Australia and New Zealand and surveyed program directors to ascertain the perceived level of importance of climate change and carbon emission reduction in curricula.
Results
The audit and survey demonstrated sparse evidence of planetary health in the Australian and New Zealand undergraduate nursing curriculum (11%), and the sub-optimal response to a survey regarding the integration of planetary health into the curriculum further supported evidence of limited integration.
Conclusion
The pedagogic recontextualization of planetary health within nursing curricula by employing case study concept nodes and utilizing the person-centered care framework by centering patients at the core of planetary health is required to amplify nursing's response to the global health priorities caused by climate change
Exploring veganism in Australia, France, Spain, and Portugal: a netnographic study using the transtheoretical model
Full text linkThe rising popularity of veganism and vegetarianism has attracted significant market attention, yet limited understanding exists regarding consumer perceptions and adoption of these ethical and sustainable lifestyle choices. To address this gap, we conducted a netnographic analysis using Google Trends and HappyCow. Google Trends data found that food and restaurant-related searches predominated, with lower volumes in France, indicating a distinct food culture and potentially less interest in veganism. Australians exhibited higher search frequencies for “vegan,” reflecting a keen interest in vegan food establishments and products. HappyCow data indicated a relatively more significant number of vegan outlets in Australia. This study provides cross-cultural insights into consumer information-seeking behavior regarding veganism, highlighting the availability of vegan choices in diverse food settings and influencing factors for plant-based alternatives
Hybridity in Nonprofit Organizations: Organizational Perspectives on Combining Multiple Logics
Full text linkSeeking to better understand how nonprofit organizations (NPOs) manage hybridity, we investigated what distinguishes NPOs that combine multiple logics in productive and unproductive ways. We collected and analyzed data from six case studies of NPOs delivering social services in Australia. Our findings reveal that organizational members of NPOs take a perspective on their hybrid nature which comprises four elements: motivational framing, actor engagement, resourcing attitude, and governance orientation. NPOs that combine multiple logics in productive and unproductive ways, respectively, are distinguished by (1) a compelling or confused motivational framing for combining logics; (2) actors having active and shared, or passive and isolated, engagement with multiple logics; (3) attitudes toward resourcing multiple logics that are either coherent or competitive; and (4) a governance orientation toward multiple logics as opportunities to leverage or problems to resist. Our findings contribute to the literature by deepening understanding of the interplay between complex constellations of multiple logics in NPOs, including religious and professional logics. We also develop a model of organizational perspectives on hybridity and their implications for distinguishing NPOs that productively harness tensions between logics
A 3D decoupling Alzheimer’s disease prediction network based on structural MRI
Full text linkPurpose
This paper aims to develop a three-dimensional (3D) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prediction method, thereby bettering current predictive methods, which struggle to fully harness the potential of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data.
Methods
Traditional convolutional neural networks encounter pressing difficulties in accurately focusing on the AD lesion structure. To address this issue, a 3D decoupling, self-attention network for AD prediction is proposed. Firstly, a multi-scale decoupling block is designed to enhance the network’s ability to extract fine-grained features by segregating convolutional channels. Subsequently, a self-attention block is constructed to extract and adaptively fuse features from three directions (sagittal, coronal and axial), so that more attention is geared towards brain lesion areas. Finally, a clustering loss function is introduced and combined with the cross-entropy loss to form a joint loss function for enhancing the network’s ability to discriminate between different sample types.
Results
The accuracy of our model is 0.985 for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset and 0.963 for the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle (AIBL) dataset, both of which are higher than the classification accuracy of similar tasks in this category. This demonstrates that our model can accurately distinguish between normal control (NC) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), as well as between stable mild cognitive impairment (sMCI) and progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI).
Conclusion
The proposed AD prediction network exhibits competitive performance when compared with state-of-the-art methods. The proposed model successfully addresses the challenges of dealing with 3D sMRI image data and the limitations stemming from inadequate information in 2D sections, advancing the utility of predictive methods for AD diagnosis and treatment
The process of change and efficacy of trauma-focused social adjustment therapy (TF-SAT) on psychosocial adjustment of young individuals with complex trauma-related disorders: A case study
Full text linkTrauma-focused social adjustment therapy (TF-SAT) is a specialized therapeutic protocol proposed to target treatment-resistant effects of trauma on young individuals’ psychosocial adjustment. This pilot study aimed to investigate the hypothesized process of change and efficacy of TF-SAT. Using a single-subject case study design, two young adults (one female, aged 22, and one male, aged 30) with a history of complex trauma and current significant problems with psychosocial adjustment participated in a semistructured intervention delivered on a weekly basis for over a period of 8 months. The trend of change in the variables of interest was evaluated through repetitive assessments during the baseline, therapeutic, and follow-up phases. The results of visual analysis, D index, and the percentage of nonoverlapping data showed that TF-SAT improved social problem-solving, reduced cognitive avoidance, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and improved overall social adjustment. One-month follow-up assessments identified stable improving trends for both participants after completing the therapeutic process. Based on our findings, TF-SAT is a promising short intervention to be used with young individuals with a complex trauma history and struggling with psychosocial adjustment. However, more controlled empirical studies are required to evaluate the efficacy and the applicability of TF-SAT in different therapeutic contexts and with larger sample sizes
Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Solution for Greener Polymeric Materials with Low Fire Hazards
No full textThe non-degradability of polymeric materials and the flammability of their products have resulted in significant environmental pollution. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) serve as innovative flame retardants, featuring a high specific surface area, ample pore volume, and customizable structure. By leveraging the structural adjustability of MOFs, biological modifiers containing flame retardant elements can be integrated into MOFs, thereby ensuring flame retardation while imparting biodegradable properties. Moreover, the issue of material pollution can be effectively addressed by utilizing MOFs as flame retardants within renewable polymer matrices. Recently, an increasing number of researchers have concentrated on developing green flame-retardant polymer materials using MOFs. However, as far as is known, no comprehensive review on green polymers with minimal fire risk produced using MOFs currently exists. Consequently, this study reviews the recent advancements in the development of green flame-retardant polymer materials utilizing MOFs, covering the preparation and utilization of bio-based and recyclable MOFs. Additionally, a flame-retardant renewable matrix based on MOFs is also synthesized. Furthermore, this review anticipates discussing the benefits and drawbacks associated with using MOFs to manufacture green flame-retardant polymer products. This work aims to assist researchers in rapidly comprehending the most recent advancements in this field and guiding efficient design
Price dynamics and quality collaborations: a game theory exploration of cooperative advertising and contract design in manufacturer–retailer supply chains
No full textThis research presents a game theory model for extending a cooperative advertising and contract design (pricing and quality investment) problem in a manufacturer–retailer game. The demand of customers depends on selling price, quality, and advertisement expenditures. The manufacturer invests in national advertising (brand name investment) and the quality of the product, and the manufacturer decides on the wholesale price of the product. The retailer invests in local advertisement and decides about sale price of the product. The problem is analyzed in four different conditions: centralized, decentralized, revenue-sharing (contract design), and market segmentation conditions. The market segmentation condition considers customers’ characteristics into three different types: price-oriented customers, quality-oriented customers, and customers who are not price or quality oriented (individually). The model is solved in all conditions and the results are presented. Sensitivity analysis of key parameters is performed to analyze different situations and the optimal behavior of the supply chain players. Application of the proposed approach for a Middle Eastern country is provided and a real case of the generic medicines market in Iran investigates the performance of the proposed approach
Effect of phenylbutazone administration on the enteroinsular axis in horses with insulin dysregulation
No full textBackground
Phenylbutazone is prescribed for laminitis-associated pain and decreases glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose test (OGT) in horses with insulin dysregulation (ID).
Hypothesis/Objectives
Investigate the effect of phenylbutazone administration on the enteroinsular axis in horses.
Animals
Sixteen horses, including 7 with ID.
Methods
Randomized cross-over study design, with horses assigned to treatment with phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg IV q24h) or placebo (5 mL 0.9% saline). On Day 9 of treatment, an OGT was conducted, followed by a 10-day washout period, administration of the alternative treatment, and repetition of the OGT. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and active glucagon-like peptide 1 and 2 (aGLP-1 and GLP-2) concentrations were determined by ELISA. The effects of ID status and treatment on peptide concentrations were assessed using t tests and analyses of variance.
Results
Horses with ID had significantly higher maximum GIP concentrations (Cmax) than controls (median, 279.1; interquartile range [IQR], 117.5-319.4 pg/mL vs median, 90.12; IQR, 74.62-116.5 pg/mL; P = .01), but no significant effect of ID was detected on aGLP-1 and GLP-2 concentrations. In horses with ID, phenylbutazone treatment significantly decreased GIP Cmax compared with placebo (168.1 ± 59.26 pg/mL vs 242.8 ± 121.8 pg/mL; P = .04), but no significant effect of phenylbutazone was detected on aGLP-1 and GLP-2 concentrations.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, aGLP-1 and GLP-2 do not mediate the decrease in glucose and insulin concentrations observed after phenylbutazone administration. Only GIP was repeatedly associated with ID status, calling into question the role of the enteroinsular axis in ID
Stability of a rectangular trapdoor in three dimensions: A Gene expression programming method
No full textThis paper focuses on the stability analysis of three-dimensional rectangular trapdoors beneath cohesive-frictional soils via three-dimensional finite element limit analysis (3D FELA). By applying Terzaghi’s superposition method, the average upper bound and lower bound limit analyses are conducted to determine three stability factors: the cohesion factor (Fc), the surcharge factor (Fs), and the unit weight factor (Fr). Additionally, a machine learning technique, specifically genetic expression programming (GEP), is employed to develop explicit predictive equations for each stability factor. The numerical results show excellent performance of the GEP model prediction, with R2 values of 0.991, 0.992, and 0.994 for the cohesion, surcharge, and unit weight stability factors, respectively. A series of equations, figures, and tables were subsequently developed to determine the stability factors of a rectangular trapdoor. The incorporation of modern machine learning techniques with advanced 3D FELA makes this study highly significant for geotechnical engineering practices
Gravity models of airfreight exports during the pre-COVID era: Evidence from New Zealand
No full textThis study examines key determinants of New Zealand’s airfreight exports to its key overseas trading partners by empirically estimating augmented gravity models using panel from 2015 to 2018. Consistent estimation results were obtained from static panel-IV gravity model and dynamic panel data GMM mode specifications. The estimation results confirm that GDP per capita and population size of New Zealand’s key trading partners have positive impacts on the gross weight and value of airfreight exports. Scheduled air cargo capacity had limited positive effects on airfreight export weight and value. Alongside findings that the gross weight of airfreight exports was sensitive to transport costs, and the gross value of airfreight exports were sensitive to flying distance and exchange rate, respectively. Dynamic model specifications further suggest persistent trading patterns in airfreight exports. Overall, our analysis suggests that in order to further grow the airfreight export sector in New Zealand, it is important to increase air cargo capacity and reduce transport costs in a sustainable manner, especially at existing hub airports that providing services to both passenger aircraft and freighters. Major aviation and trade liberalisation efforts are called for in facilitating New Zealand’s airfreight exports and air cargo operations