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Frontiers in Psychology 2024Teaching presence is the core role of teachers in online education and is the most promising mechanism for developing online learning communities. Drawing on the...
Teaching presence is the core role of teachers in online education and is the most promising mechanism for developing online learning communities. Drawing on the theoretical framework of teaching presence, and based on data from an online survey of university students from 334 Chinese universities, this study constructs a framework for teaching presence and compares the differences in teaching presence among different student groups, and further explores the impact of teaching presence on students' online learning experience and its heterogeneity in terms of gender and discipline. The study finds that teaching presence includes three dimensions: instructional design and organization, facilitating interaction, and direct instruction, and there are differences among different groups. Teaching presence has a significant impact on the online learning experience, among which facilitating interaction is the most important influencing factor. Heterogeneity examination reveals that the direct instruction dimension has a greater impact on the online learning experience of female students and students in science and engineering, while the facilitating interaction dimension has a greater impact on the experience of male students and students in science and engineering. For the development of online teaching, it is necessary to help online teachers comprehensively improve teaching presence, adopt different teaching strategies and improvement measures for different student groups, and pay attention to collecting and analyzing student behavioral data for teachers to reflect on and improve teaching.
PubMed: 38947911
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1291341 -
ACS Omega Jun 2024The long- and short-range structural chemistry of the C-type bixbyite compounds ThNdCeO, ThNdCeO, and ThNdCeO is systematically examined using synchrotron X-ray powder...
Probing the Long- and Short-Range Structural Chemistry in the C-Type Bixbyite Oxides ThNdCeO, ThNdCeO, and ThNdCeO via Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction and Absorption Spectroscopy.
The long- and short-range structural chemistry of the C-type bixbyite compounds ThNdCeO, ThNdCeO, and ThNdCeO is systematically examined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (S-PXRD), high-energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near edge (HERFD-XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) measurements supported by electronic structure calculations. S-PXRD measurements revealed that the title compounds all form classical C-type bixbyite structures in space group 3̅ that have disordered cationic crystallographic sites with further observation of characteristic superlattice reflections corresponding to oxygen vacancies. Despite the occurrence of oxygen vacancies, HERFD-XANES measurements on the Ce L-edge revealed that Ce incorporates as Ce into the structures but involves local distortion that resembles cluster behavior and loss of nearest-neighbors. In comparison, HERFD-XANES measurements on the Nd L-edge supported by electronic structure calculations reveal that Nd adopts a local coordination environment similar to the long-range C-type structure while providing charge balancing for the formation of oxygen defects. Th L-edge EXAFS analysis reveals shorter average Th-O distances in the title compounds in comparison to pristine ThO in addition to shorter Th-O and Th-Ce distances compared to Th-Th or Ce-Ce in the corresponding F-type binary oxides (ThO and CeO). These distances are further found to decrease with the increased Nd content of the structures despite simultaneous observation of the overall lattice structure progressively expanding. Linear combination calculations of the M-O bond lengths are used to help explain these observations, where the role of oxygen defects, via Nd incorporation, induces local bond contraction and enhanced Th cation valence, leading to the observed increased lattice expansion with progressive Nd incorporation. Overall, the investigation points to the significance of dissimilar cations exhibiting variable short-range chemical behavior and how it can affect the long-range structural chemistry of complex oxides.
PubMed: 38947849
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02200 -
Cureus May 2024Wearable technologies have emerged as powerful tools in healthcare, offering continuous monitoring and personalized insights outside traditional clinical settings. These... (Review)
Review
Wearable technologies have emerged as powerful tools in healthcare, offering continuous monitoring and personalized insights outside traditional clinical settings. These devices have garnered significant attention in cardiovascular medicine for their potential to transform patient care and improve outcomes. This comprehensive review provides an overview of wearable technologies' evolution, advancements, and applications in cardiovascular medicine. We examine the miniaturization of sensors, integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and proliferation of remote patient monitoring solutions. Key findings include the role of wearables in the early detection of cardiovascular conditions, personalized health tracking, and remote patient management. Challenges such as data privacy concerns and regulatory hurdles are also addressed. The adoption of wearable technologies holds promise for shifting healthcare from reactive to proactive, enabling precision diagnostics, treatment optimization, and preventive strategies. Collaboration among healthcare stakeholders is essential to harnessing the full potential of wearables in cardiovascular medicine and ushering in a new era of personalized, proactive healthcare.
PubMed: 38947726
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61312 -
Cureus May 2024This literature review aims to explore religiosity, faith, and related beliefs in autistic adolescents. The term religiosity was used interchangeably with various... (Review)
Review
This literature review aims to explore religiosity, faith, and related beliefs in autistic adolescents. The term religiosity was used interchangeably with various related concepts such as faith, spirituality, and religious beliefs, and a broader, multifaceted approach encompassing the cognitive, subjective, social, cultural, and emotional domains of religiosity is analyzed in this population subgroup. In alignment with the neurodiversity paradigm, this review endeavors to adopt an inclusive lens toward autism spectrum conditions, appreciating the spectrum of cognitive and behavioral differences and highlighting the importance of recognizing strengths and challenges alike, reflecting the nuanced discourse surrounding neurodiversity and autism spectrum conditions. However, terms such as "high-functioning autism" and "disorder" were used where needed to reflect the journals included in the review. A systematic search was conducted by accessing academic search engines such as APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycTests, and PubMed. Only peer-reviewed articles written in English and performed on human subjects were included using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Several recurring themes were identified from the 13 articles selected after review for relevance and quality. The most important finding was the association of different terminologies and features while exploring "religiosity in autism." Thirty-nine key themes were identified, which were grouped into six major themes. These were religious faith, spirituality, and its expression in autistic adolescents; religious behaviors and practices of autistic adolescents; cognition and religion in autistic teens; social and cultural influences on religiosity in autistic young ones; parents' and carers' influence, perspectives, and experiences about faith and spirituality on autistic adolescents; and perceived benefits of faith to autistic teens: parents and adolescent perspectives. Looking at the concept of religiosity and spirituality as a whole, it can be inferred from the available research included in this review that religiosity (cognitive abilities, behaviors, and experiences) in a subset of autistic adolescents (high-functioning autism) might not be significantly subdued as compared to neurotypical adolescents. However, there is not enough research to conclude the same or the opposite for autistic adolescents in general. When found, reserved religiosity could be attributed to a plethora of factors, and decreased mental ability or mentalization, empathy, or imagination did not seem to be the sole or primary predictors or contributors to religiosity. The role of culture, parents, carers, and religious affiliations was significant and might be a stronger contributor to religiosity and its expression than other previously argued predictors like mentalization. Many autistic teens and their carers regard religiosity and spirituality as essential domains in their and their children's lives, want their children to be given opportunities to be a part of religious groups and affiliations, and look forward to government, religious, and healthcare authorities actively supporting them in this domain. The findings call for policymakers, religious leaders, and stakeholders to devise strategies for inclusion and support for autistic adolescents. The possible role of religion as a resource and coping strategy for these children and their families is worth exploring.
PubMed: 38947705
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61271 -
Cureus May 2024Invasive Paget's disease (IPDN) is a rare phenomenon characterised by invasive carcinoma localised to the nipple. It is associated with Paget's disease of the nipple...
Invasive Paget's disease (IPDN) is a rare phenomenon characterised by invasive carcinoma localised to the nipple. It is associated with Paget's disease of the nipple (PDN) whereby Paget cells locally invade the underlying epidermis. Often in PDN, histopathological confirmation is needed, due to a lack of clear symptoms on clinical presentation. An 82-year-old female with single duct ectasia presented to the breast clinic in September 2023 with a tender, inflamed right nipple with a necrotic appearance. The lesion was excised, and an ultrasound scan showed right U2, implying no underlying malignancy. Microscopy showed Paget's disease with underlying ductal carcinoma in situ and two small (0.4 and 0.3mm) foci of dermal invasion by Paget cells in keeping with IPDN. Research suggests that dermal invasion by Paget cells has little effect on clinical outcome and prognosis depends largely on the associated underlying malignancy. However, all cases of IPDN with deep invasion or penetration of Paget cells into the dermis have the potential for regional and distant lymphatic spread. In extramammary Paget's disease, depth of invasion has been associated with poorer survival. Therefore, wide variability in clinical patterns and presentations of PDN mandates that a careful clinical approach correlated with in-depth histopathological evaluation is adopted in all cases.
PubMed: 38947628
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61381 -
Cureus May 2024Both public and academic scrutiny of the financial relationships between the medical device industry and the healthcare society occur less frequently than those...
Both public and academic scrutiny of the financial relationships between the medical device industry and the healthcare society occur less frequently than those involving the pharmaceutical industry, and Japan is no exception to these shortcomings. This paper examines the ethical and legal challenges inherent in Japan's medical device industry through the lens of bribery scandals, placing these issues within the broader context of global healthcare corruption. It aims to derive lessons and suggest universal strategies for ethical and legal enhancements. The discussion includes two notable cases: one involving inappropriate transactions between a cancer center and a biliary stent manufacturer, and another concerning a corrupt donation scheme between a medical device company and a university's anesthesiology department, which was found guilty. In our analysis, we also acknowledge the industry's efforts toward compliance and reform to maintain a balanced perspective. The analysis not only highlights the unique culture and structure of the Japanese medical device industry, such as the exploitation of flexible pricing and opaque financial practices but also contrasts these issues with the tightly regulated pharmaceutical industry. This approach reveals both sector-specific challenges and common corruption drivers, enhancing our understanding of why such scandals occur and persist. We propose ethical and compliance-focused business measures such as centralizing donation decisions, limiting the financial independence of marketing divisions, and increasing transparency, alongside adopting mandatory disclosure practices based on successful models from the United States and Europe. By emphasizing integrity and presenting diverse perspectives, this study aims to elevate ethical and legal standards in the medical device industry and improve patient health outcomes worldwide.
PubMed: 38947609
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61285 -
Cureus May 2024Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist significantly decreases morbidity and mortality in regular operating room cases. However,...
Adaptation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist for Use With Cesarean Sections: Implementation and Outcomes With the Safe Cesarean Section Checklist.
Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist significantly decreases morbidity and mortality in regular operating room cases. However, significant differences in workflow and processes exist between regular operating room cases and cesarean sections performed on the labor and delivery unit. The aim of this study is to adapt the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist for the labor and delivery unit and cesarean sections to improve communication and patient safety. Methods A multidisciplinary team consisting of all major stakeholders reviewed and revised the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist making it more applicable to cesarean section operations. The new Safe Cesarean Section Checklist was tested and then integrated into the electronic medical record and utilized on the labor and delivery unit. A specific cesarean section safety attitudes questionnaire was developed, validated, and administered prior to and one year after implementation. Results Usage of the Safe Cesarean Section Checklist was greater than 95% after initial implementation. Significant improvements were reported by the staff on the cesarean section attitudes questionnaire for several key areas including the feeling that all necessary information was available at the beginning of the procedure, decreases in communication breakdowns and delays, and fewer issues related to not knowing who was in charge during the procedure. Discussion Implementation of the Safe Cesarean Section Checklist was successfully adopted by the staff, and improvements in staff perceptions of several key safety issues on our unit were demonstrated. Additional studies should be undertaken to determine if clinical outcomes from this intervention are comparable to those seen with the use of the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist.
PubMed: 38947575
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61330 -
IScience Jun 2024The aviation industry's emissions have had a significant impact on global climate change. This study focuses on carbon emission trading schemes, sustainable aviation...
The aviation industry's emissions have had a significant impact on global climate change. This study focuses on carbon emission trading schemes, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), and hydrogen energy, as vital means for the aviation industry to reduce emissions. To evaluate the climate effects of global routes under four scenarios (24 sub-scenarios) until 2100, this study proposes the Aviation-FAIR (Aviation-Finite Amplitude Impulse Response) method. The findings reveal that while CO emissions and concentrations are significant, other emissions, such as NO and CH, have a greater effective radiative forcing (ERF) and contribute significantly to climate change. Moreover, SAFs are more effective in mitigating airline pollutant emissions than relying solely on carbon trading schemes. The effectiveness of hydrogen fuel cells may be hindered by technical limitations compared to hydrogen turbine engines. The findings of this study provide reference for the global aviation industry to adopt emission reduction measures.
PubMed: 38947511
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110126 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior refers to service workers' helping, cooperating, sharing, and donating actions that benefit others at a cost to...
Service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior refers to service workers' helping, cooperating, sharing, and donating actions that benefit others at a cost to themselves. Based on ethical climate theory, this research investigates whether corporations adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management enhance service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (SO OCB) among service employees. A total of 230 surveys were collected from call center workers in the insurance industry, and STATA 14.0 was used to analyze the 204 responses with useable data. The results show that employees' recognized ESG activities enable SO OCB through organizational commitment. Additionally, ESG activity recognition has a positive relationship with self-efficacy and empowerment, which helps service employees regulate external expectations. Thus, this finding is significant for call center workers experiencing emotional labor. Furthermore, the results suggest that firms can contribute to employees' SO OCB by practicing ESG activities. Firms should inform employees of their ESG management efforts as employees' recognition of an ethical climate can enhance their willingness to perform service-oriented behavior. Finally, ESG activity recognition can increase employees' organizational commitment, an important predictor of employee satisfaction and negative turnover rates.
PubMed: 38947470
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31999 -
Heliyon Jun 2024This work aimed to investigate the adoption value of blood lactic acid (BLA) combined with the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in the early screening of sepsis...
This work aimed to investigate the adoption value of blood lactic acid (BLA) combined with the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in the early screening of sepsis patients and assessing their severity. The data and materials utilized in this work were obtained from the electronic medical record system of 537 anonymized sepsis patients who received emergency rescue in the emergency rescue area of Liuzhou People's Hospital, Guangxi, from July 1, 2020, to December 26, 2020. Based on the 28-day outcomes of sepsis patients, the medical records were rolled into Group S (407 survival cases) and Group D (130 dead cases). Basic information such as the mode of hospital admission, initial management, use of emergency ventilator within 24 h of admission, NEWS score, arterial oxygen pressure/alveolar oxygen pressure ratio (PaO/PAO), alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), oxygenation index (OI), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), D-dimer, use of vasoactive drugs within 24 h of admission, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, SOFA score, BLA level, NEWS with lactate (NEWS-L) score, SOFA score including lactate level (SOFA-L) score, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay, total hospital stay, ICU stay/total hospital stay, and septic shock condition were compared between groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of various predictive factors on prognosis and to plot the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results suggested marked differences between Group S and Group D in terms of mean age ( = -5.620; OR = -9.96, 95 % CI: -13.44∼-6.47; < 0.001). Group S showed drastic differences in terms of mode of hospital admission (χ = 9.618, < 0.01), method of initial management (χ = 51.766, < 0.001), use of emergency ventilator within 24 h of admission (χ = 98.564, < 0.001), incidence of septic shock (χ = 77.545, < 0.001), use of vasoactive drugs within 24 h of admission (χ = 102.453, < 0.001), heart rate ( = -4.063, < 0.001), respiratory rate ( = -4.758, < 0.001), oxygenation status (χ = 20.547, < 0.001), NEWS score ( = -6.120, < 0.001), PaO/PAO ratio ( = 2.625, < 0.01), A-aDO value ( = -3.581, < 0.001), OI value ( = -3.106, < 0.01), PLT value ( = -2.305, < 0.05), SCr value ( = -3.510, < 0.001), BUN value ( = -3.170, < 0.01), D-dimer ( = -4.621, < 0.001), CRP level ( = -4.057, < 0.001), PCT value ( = -2.783, < 0.01), IL-6 level ( = -2.904, < 0.001), length of hospital stay ( = -4.138, < 0.001), total hospital stay ( = -8.488, < 0.001), CCU/total hospital stay ( = -9.118, < 0.001), NEWS score ( = -6.120, < 0.001), SOFA score ( = -6.961, < 0.001), SOFA-L score ( = -4.609, < 0.001), NEWS-L score ( = -5.845, < 0.001), BLA level ( = -6.557, < 0.001), and GCS score ( = 6.909, < 0.001) when compared to Group D. The use of ventilators, septic shock, PCT, NEWS score, GCS score, SOFA score, SOFA-L score, NEWS-L score, and BLA level were identified as independent risk factors for predicting the prognosis of sepsis patients ( < 0.001). The areas under ROC curve (AUC) of blood lactic acid, PCT, NEWS, NEWS-L, GCS, SOFA, and SOFA-L were 0.695, 0.665, 0.692, 0.698, 0.477, 0.700, and 0.653, respectively. These findings indicate that the combination of BLA with NEWS (NEWS-L) score and SOFA score has certain advantages in assessing the prognosis of sepsis.
PubMed: 38947447
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31907