bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the skills gap between higher education and industry in the UK in artificial intelligence sector
Authors: Jaiswal Khushi , Kuzminykh Ievgeniia , Modgil Sanjay
Published: September 2024

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) changes how businesses work, there’s a growing need for people who can work in this sector. This paper investigates how well universities in United Kingdom offering courses in AI, prepare students for jobs in the real world. To gain insight into the differences between university curricula and industry demands we review the contents of taught courses and job advertisement portals. By using custom data scraping tools to gather information from job advertisements and university curricula, and frequency and Naive Bayes classifier analysis, this study will show exactly what skills industry is looking for. In this study we identified 12 skill categories that were used for mapping. The study showed that the university curriculum in the AI domain is well balanced in most technical skills, including Programming and Machine learning subjects, but have a gap in Data Science and Maths and Statistics sk\ill categories.
Design and analysis of a pipe robot based on metamorphic mechanism
Authors: He Jianfeng , Jia Xiaoli , Xu Bo , Huang Shutong , Liu Lu , Dai Jingting , Liu Hengxiang
Published: September 2024

Addressing the challenges of limited passability and adaptability encountered by existing pipe robots in navigating through tee and four-way junction pipes, This article designs a pipe robot based on the principle of metamorphism. This robot is designed with a variable number of linkages, constituting the core of its system structure. Through this innovative approach, it achieves movement in diverse types of pipelines by altering its own structural configuration. Kinematic analysis is conducted using both the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) method and screw theory, providing expressions for the forward kinematics in terms of the robot’s positional and attitudinal states, as well as geometric solutions for the inverse kinematics. Simulations conducted in MATLAB and ADAMS software demonstrate consistent postural changes of the robot, validating its design and capabilities. Prototype experiments in a 500 mm diameter pipeline further confirm the robot’s structural design rationality and its ability to navigate through tee and four-way junction pipes by altering its posture. The results indicate that this pipe robot effectively navigates through straight, vertical tee, and horizontal four-way junction pipes, offering a viable solution for efficiently maneuvering through complex pipeline junctions.
Influence of Digitalisation and Personality on Job Performance Among Healthcare Employees: A Case Study in Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Arif Mohd Firdaus , Ta Goh Choo , Mokhtar Mazlin , Ern Lee Khai
Published: September 2024

This research attempted to examine the influence of digitalisation and well-being as aspects of personality traits on job performance among medical doctors in a government hospital in Malaysia. This study collected responses through quantitative close-ended questionnaires from 239 medical doctors, ranging from specialists, general medical doctors and housemen. The scope of healthcare digitalisation chosen for this research was the six applications of Information Systems and Health Information Systems, namely HRMIS (Human Resource Management Information System), SPP (Patient Management System/Sistem Pengurusan Pesakit), LIS (Laboratory Information System), RIS (Radiology Information System), OTMS (Operation Theatre Management System) and MyHix (Malaysia Health Information Exchange). The reference for personality traits was derived from the Big Five theory of extroversion and measured with the psychometric NEO Personality Inventory. Job performance was analysed employing the Eight Dimensions of Effective Phrases as it centred on respondents’ self-evaluations. The analysis validated that digital systems implementations within healthcare services significantly influenced job performance in aspects of relevancy, easing workload and increasing productivity. The extrovert personality traits confirmed the most important influence on job performance than the introvert. Digitalisation and personality traits contributed to and influenced job performance. With digitalisation, doctors with assertive extrovert personalities reportedly performed better.
Study on Cantharidin Reversing the Drug-resistance of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer to DDP by Regulating the Expression of PD-L1
Authors: Jin Xing , Ma Chunhui , Tan Xiaojing , Qian Jian , Chen Yongbing , Wang Dongfeng
Published: September 2024

Background and Purpose

Cantharidin can or cannot reverse the drug resistance of non-small cell lung cancer to cisplatin (DDP) by reducing the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Materials and Methods

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method was used to screen for sublethal doses of cantharidin and determine its sensitizing effect on DDP. Detect the apoptosis rate of A549/DDP cells treated with cantharidin, DDP, or the combination of cantharidin and DDP. The effects of cantharidin on the expressions of p53 and PD-L1 in the cell line were investigated. Furthermore, pifithrin-α (PFT-α) pretreatment was performed to inhibit the function of p53 and verify whether cantharidin can affect the expression of PD-L1 through p53.

Results

Cantharidin significantly enhanced the sensitivity of cells to DDP and increased the apoptosis of cells induced by DDP. Cantharidin upregulated the expression of p53 in A549/DDP cells with wild-type p53 and downregulated the expression of PD-L1. Pretreatment with PFT-α inhibited the apoptosis of cells induced by the combination treatment of cantharidin and DDP.

Conclusion

Cantharidin can regulate the expression of p53 and downregulate the PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer with wild-type p53. It may enhance the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer to DDP by further altering the levels of PD-L1 through the regulation of p53 expression.
History Teaching in the Times of Digital Technology
Authors: Gupta Deepika
Published: September 2024

The contemporary school ethos is marked by an incursion of technological forces. In India, school systems have begun accepting internet technology and gadgets as enabling tools for learning. The technology-driven climate is dramatically transforming the methods of learning history. The adoption of digital technology in Indian school system has become an entry point for ideologically driven content in the history classrooms. This article presents an auto-ethnographic account of teaching history in an Indian school that has adopted the use of internet technology in classroom teaching and other routine activities. The experiences have been categorised as four episodes, each discussing a dimension of a particular school routine which was altered due to the incursion of an audio–video pedagogical culture. It argues that digital technology in education has impeding effects on the students’ ability to think historically and calls for teachers to not succumb to its epistemological onslaught.
“A Better Me for My Children”: A Call for Systemic Relational Family Work in Child and Youth Mental Health
Authors: Sanders Jane Elizabeth , Seale Ariel , Wilton Lauren , Carrothers Emily , Siddall Mackenzie , Pereira Zenaida , Watson Elora , Bernardi Kendra , Arundel M. K. , Csiernik Rick
Published: September 2024

Despite an established body of knowledge supporting the efficacy of systemic and relational approaches in children’s mental health care, there are mounting barriers to family involvement. The current reflexive thematic analysis included data from parents, social work students, university faculty and field professionals, and school board professionals ( n = 65) to understand the mental health needs of parents and families. The findings exemplify the importance of systemic and relational family work for parents supporting their child and family’s mental health. We found a pre-existing and deepening gap in the accessibility of such supports since COVID-19. Implications include a call to renew systems thinking in children’s mental health, a systemic re-shift toward family service organizations including options for multiple members of a family, and education in social work that fosters systemic and relational family approaches to children’s mental health.
Control of uncertain non-affine nonlinear systems using neural networks subject to input saturation with unknown control direction
Authors: Rezaei Mohammad Hadi , Ghaseminezhad Morteza , Kabiri Meisam
Published: September 2024

In this paper, based on the implicit function theorem and mean value theorem, a novel neural network controller for trajectory tracking of uncertain non-affine nonlinear systems with input saturation, unknown control direction, and external disturbance is designed. To compensate for actuator saturation, the controller employs an auxiliary system and a modified tracking error. Radial basis function neural networks are employed to approximate uncertainties within the system dynamics. A Nussbaum-type function tackles the challenge of unknown control direction. Adaptive control techniques are implemented to handle actuator saturation and compensate for neural network approximation errors and disturbance. For output feedback control where some states are unavailable, a high-gain observer is utilized for state estimation. Lyapunov analysis guarantees asymptotic convergence of closed-loop error signals. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through simulations.
Program Implementation Strategies Associated With Reduced Acute Care Utilization for Medicaid Beneficiaries in California’s Whole Person Care Pilot Program
Authors: Chuang Emmeline , Yue Dahai , O’Masta Brenna , Haley Leigh Ann , Zhou Weihao , Pourat Nadereh
Published: September 2024

Public health care policymakers and payers are increasingly investing in efforts to address patients’ health-related social needs (HRSNs) as a strategy for improving health while controlling or reducing costs. However, evidence regarding the implementation and impact of HRSN interventions remains limited. California’s Whole Person Care Pilot program (WPC) was a Medicaid Section 1115 waiver demonstration program focused on the provision of care coordination and other services to address eligible beneficiaries’ HRSN. In this study, we examine pilot-level variation in impact on acute care utilization and identify factors associated with differential outcomes. The majority of pilots reduced emergency department (ED) visits for enrollees relative to matched controls; however, only four pilots reduced both ED visits and hospitalizations. Coincidence analysis results highlight the importance of cross-sector partnerships, field-based outreach and engagement, and adequate program investment in differentiating pilots that reduced acute care utilization from those that did not.
Implementation of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics dosing service at a rural NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center
Authors: Green Jenna K , Hackett Laura J , Green Donald C , Deharvengt Sophie J , Brooks Gabriel A , Khan Wahab A , Tsongalis Gregory J , Lewis Lionel D , Shah Parth S
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The goal of pharmacogenetic testing is to identify genetic variants with significant implications on drug safety and efficacy. Several professional organizations and institutions have demonstrated the value of pharmacist involvement in the implementation of pharmacogenomic services. Therefore, we aimed to establish a pharmacist-guided model for interpretation of pharmacogenetic results for all oncology patients seen at the Dartmouth Cancer Center (DCC) in Lebanon, NH.

Methods

A pilot of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics dosing service was implemented at the DCC. Pharmacy services included review of results from a next generation sequencing panel for DPYD, TPMT, NUDT15, and UGT1A1 variants. The pharmacist wrote a note in the electronic health record (EHR) detailing actionable drug-gene interactions and drug-dosing guidance, which was then routed to the treating oncologist. Outcomes collected included highlighting actionable mutations and defining pharmacist interventions. In addition, time spent formulating and documenting patient-specific drug-dosing recommendations was collected.

Results

From February 2024 through May 2024, a total of 71 patients with pharmacogenetic results, provided by the clinical molecular laboratory at Dartmouth Health, were reviewed by the pharmacist. The majority of patients tested were diagnosed with a malignancy of gastrointestinal origin. Twenty-one patients were found to have actionable variants in at least one of the four genes evaluated, and five of the 21 identified patients had active treatment plans for which dose changes were then implemented.

Conclusions

Implementation of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics based dosing service aided in optimizing drug therapy and has positioned Dartmouth Health for further expansion of pharmacogenomics and personalized patient care.
Effect of elastic pre-bending on mitigating welding deformation for aluminium alloy thick-walled plates joined by FSW
Authors: Yu Haidong , Yuan Ke , Gu Bin
Published: September 2024

Welding-induced deformation affects the dimensional accuracy of welded components. The mitigation of welding deformation is important for the quality control of welded structures. In this paper, the mechanism of welding angular deformation for thick-walled plates joined by friction stir welding is clarified based on the inherent strain method. The transverse elastic pre-bending method is applied to mitigate the welding-induced angular deformation. An analytical model is developed to quantitatively study the effect of transverse elastic pre-bending displacement on the welding angular deformation. The optimal pre-bending displacement is determined to be 1.37 mm based on the quantitative model, by which the welding angular deformation is reduced to 0.02 mm. The influence of welding process parameters on the optimal pre-bending displacement is discussed, which may provide the guidance for the deformation control of welded structures.
Residual correction-based dam deformation monitoring method via data dimension reduction and optimized Bi-LSTM algorithm
Authors: Zhu Yantao , Niu Xinqiang
Published: September 2024

As the most direct and effective evaluation indicator, dam displacements are often utilized to reflect the behavior of dam structures under external environments and loads. The statistical regression dam monitoring model has the disadvantages of limited generalization ability and weak robustness in dealing with complex dam deformation behavior prediction problems. To solve these problems, this study combines artificial intelligence and deep learning (DL) methods to propose a high-precision hybrid forecasting model considering residual correction. Specifically, kernel principal component analysis is utilized to reduce the data dimension of high-dimensional prototypical monitoring data. The statistical regression algorithm and improved hydraulic-thermal-time are combined to develop the overall trend of dam deformation sequences. Then, the residual components that cannot be effectively explained by traditional statistical models are fed into DL-based algorithms to learn the underlying relationship. Specifically, a bidirectional long short-term memory neural with the self-attention mechanism network is used to learn the residual distribution law, and the random search optimization algorithm is used for determining the optimal parameters. A high arch in long-term service with massive prototypical monitoring data is introduced as the case study, and the three typical dam displacement monitoring points are utilized as research items. The experimental results show that the method can fully combine the interpretability of the traditional statistical regression method and the nonlinear modeling ability of the DL-based method, and has achieved good performance in the deformation prediction of high arch dams.
Formative Research to Design and Evaluate Caring Text Messages for American Indian and Alaska Native Youth, College Students, and Veterans
Authors: Caughlan Colbie , Kakuska Amanda , Manthei Jane , Martinez Aurora , DiBianco Lisa , Craig Rushing Stephanie
Published: September 2024

Purpose. Caring Text Messages (CTM) is an evidence-based intervention, developed by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, modeled after the Caring Contacts (CC) intervention. CC has been shown to prevent suicide deaths, attempts, ideation, and hospitalizations in a variety of settings. Method. Three sets of CTM were developed by American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) teens, college students, and veterans (tailored for each audience), which were reviewed by psychologists familiar with the intervention. To enroll in the service, participants texted a keyword to a text message short code and received two text messages per week with hopeful and encouraging messages. A robust multimedia social marketing campaign was designed to promote the service for each audience. Results. By September 2023, 387 participants enrolled in the Youth CTM intervention, 141 enrolled in the College CTM, and 31 enrolled in the Veterans CTM. Post surveys show elevated levels of user satisfaction. Conclusions. CTM can be tailored to reach populations at higher risk of suicide, including AI/AN youth, college students, and veterans, and connect them to culturally responsive peer and crisis support services. Continued monitoring and evaluation can guide next steps for marketing and outreach and will be useful to determine its impact on those who enroll.
‘You take me for a moron or what’? Analysing French felony courts through legitimacy of justice and therapeutic jurisprudence lenses
Authors: Herzog-Evans Martine
Published: September 2024

French literature pertaining to felony courts has used quantitative-descriptive or sociological critical approaches. It has portrayed an assembly line system where offenders are industrially processed. However, this literature has not documented the consequences this processing has on the interactions between the accused and judicial practitioners. This article attempts to bridge this gap. It analyses the felony hearings which took place during a year in the three chambers of a local court, by using a semi-ethnographic methodology. Data was coded with a legitimacy of justice-procedural justice-therapeutic jurisprudence (LJ-PJ-TJ) analytical grid. In the majority of cases, the interactions with the accused did not meet LJ-PJ-TJ criteria. French felony courts are noisy, summary, and dehumanised. However, there were interesting exceptions to this rule: the collegial chamber was significantly more respectful and dignified than the one-judge chamber; at an individual level, a strong minority of judges meet the majority of the LJ-PJ-TJ criteria.
Suicide in Healthcare Workers: An Umbrella Review of Prevalence, Causes, and Preventive Strategies
Authors: Jain Lakshit , Sarfraz Zouina , Karlapati Surya , Kazmi Sibtain , Nasir Muhammad Jamal , Atiq Noor , Ansari Danya , Shah Darshini , Aamir Urooj , Zaidi Kashaf , Shakil Zubair Aarij , Jyotsana Pallawi
Published: September 2024

Background:

The medical profession faces a critical challenge with the mental health of its practitioners, leading to an alarming increase in suicide rates among healthcare workers (HCW). Factors such as the culture of perfectionism, excessive workloads, and stigma against seeking help exacerbate this issue. This umbrella review synthesizes the existing literature on HCW suicide, exploring the prevalence, causes, and potential preventive strategies.

Methods:

This study conducted a search of the literature from PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar until April 2, 2024. The non-exhaustive search terms used were “doctor suicide,” “physician suicide,” “medical professional suicide,” "suicide in healthcare," “healthcare worker suicide prevention,” and “causes of healthcare worker suicide.” Hand-searches were also conducted. Of the 487 studies initially identified, a total of 10 systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included.

Results:

This umbrella review collates findings from 400 primary clinical studies conducted between the years 2004 and 2023. With a focus on mental health factors contributing to suicide in HCW, there are regional and specialty-specific variations in stress prevalence in the populace. Further, anesthesiologists and psychiatrics depicted higher rates of burnout compared to other HCW; causative factors such as seeking perfection and challenging work-life balance were key when assessing suicidal behaviors in these groups. Job demand level was found to correlate directly with suicidal thoughts, specifically among psychiatric ward HCW, where access to drugs and sharp instruments is readily available. In specific contexts, female HCWs showed a standardized mortality ratio (SMR), indicating that the rate of suicide was higher among them as compared to the general female population. Interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness were effective in decreasing depression, psychological distress, and anxiety in several included studies. This umbrella review also identified major obstacles to seeking help, including stigma and the fear of professional consequences.

Conclusion:

To reduce suicide rates among HCWs, it is the need of the hour to implement evidence-based interventions and create supportive work environments that encourage mutual care for each other’s emotional health. Further research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of various measures in preventing suicide among HCW.
Evaluation of Interprofessional Delivery of Diabetes Medication Management Training Among Family Medicine Residents
Authors: Davis Amanda , Davis Katherine , Moore Elise , Samuelson Britanee , Stonerock Lauren , Miller Nathaniel E.
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Diabetes-related care makes up approximately 24% of outpatient clinic visits. Therefore, confidence and understanding of diabetes management is necessary for family medicine residents.

Methods:

We developed a combined lecture and simulation lab curriculum utilizing a registered nurse and pharmacist to deliver education to 20 family medicine learners. Pre and post surveys of the educational material were completed in 2 sections including one gauging medical knowledge and a second part gauging level of comfort.

Results:

Of the learners who participated, fourteen completed the pre-post surveys. Most (53%) respondents improved their scores, while 20% scored the same 27% scored worse. The overall average score increased 57% to 70% and improvement was statistically significant ( P < .05). All learners improved confidence by at least 1 point.

Conclusion:

An interprofessional team utilizing a lecture curriculum focusing on providing education on effective prescribing, medication safety profiles, and resource availability, showed improvement in confidence but mixed knowledge benefit. Further modifications to the curriculum may yield further educational gains.
“Drive to Survive” Drives New Fans to Formula 1? Studying Viewer Experiences of a Sports Documentary and Its Influence on the Sport’s Fandom
Authors: Shah Dhwanil , Williams Anthony Lamont
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the influence of the sport docuseries Drive to Survive on Formula 1 fandom. Beyond its added entertainment value, this study was conducted to learn about the docuseries influence in bringing new fans to the sport—along with deepening the connection of existing fans. Semi-structured interviews of twelve participants who watched Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive docuseries were conducted. The participant pool included both non-Formula 1 fans and Formula 1 fans before watching the docuseries. Social Learning Theory was utilized to understand the ways that participants learned about the sport of Formula 1 through the docuseries. A thematic analysis was used to make sense of the findings, which produced three main themes: facilitates learning, social connections, and dramatization. These factors fostered Formula 1 fandom among participants, with two thirds of the participants crediting the docuseries for their newfound or raised fandom of the sport. Overall, this study provides insights on factors influencing fandom and the positive influence of the docuseries on the sport. Formula 1’s success with Drive to Survive can serve as a case study for other sports looking to expand their global reach and the value of an all-access sports documentary beyond the added entertainment value.
Patient’s perceived technology use workload on overall satisfaction in new cancer patient visits
Authors: Super Ilse , Asan Onur
Published: September 2024

Health information technology became an integral part of the healthcare system as well as is being used during healthcare visits extensively. This study focusses on the patient’s perceived workload of using an electronic healthcare record (EHR) system during the first visit after being newly diagnosed with cancer. We investigate what aspects contribute to the perceived workload due to technology use, using the NASA-TLX TECH score which we have adopted and developed for this research. We also explore the relationship between this perceived workload and patient satisfaction with the overall visit. This study uses a survey to collect data of 72 patients on their perception of perceived workload and satisfaction during the first visit. For analysis of the data, we used descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression. The results of the study indicate that the average NASA-TLX TECH score of the patients is relatively low. Another finding shows that there is a significant negative relationship between perceived workload and patient satisfaction, indicating that although the perceived workload is relatively low, an increase in workload due to technology use is undesirable. This study is the first to provide insight into the perceived workload of patients due to technology use and contributes to how use of EHR systems during visits can be improved to reduce the burden on patients and develop trustworthy doctor-patient relationships.
A SEIPS 101 Analysis of Heparin Administration in Inpatient Care Settings
Authors: Murphy Morgan N. , Perris Eve E. , Shah Priyanka , Tremoulet Patrice D.
Published: September 2024

Heparin, a blood thinner used to treat several conditions, must be titrated carefully to avoid adverse effects. An 18-hospital healthcare system tasked a Human Factors Engineering (HFE) team with identifying factors that contribute to the six most common kinds of heparin administration errors across its enterprise. The HFEs conducted an ethnographic study that included interviewing and/or observing three nurses from each of the eight units. Data produced from those activities were analyzed using a SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) approach, creating two SEIPS 101 tools: a PETT (People, Environment, Tools, Tasks) scan and tools and tasks matrices, to help understand how interactions between nurses and the tools they use when completing heparin management tasks may contribute to errors. The HFE team then developed a set of recommendations to mitigate these errors. These recommendations were grouped into four categories—technology, nurse-driven heparin protocol, reminders, and training.
Campus to Community Partnerships: Advancing the Field of Design in Long-Term Care
Authors: Trudel Chantal , Attef Maryam , Abdou Sara , Clark Dawson , Nakashima Sophia , Schwellnus Meg , Thomas Missy , Orosz Zsofia
Published: September 2024

Long-term Care (LTC) (a.k.a nursing homes, personal care homes, residential care facilities, lodges, assisted living facilities and supportive housing), is both a service and home providing health and personal care primarily to older adults who require support that can’t be met in the community due to challenges related to disability or health. The service is provided by a variety of workers (e.g., clinical, caregiving, administrative, housekeeping, food preparation, facilities management, and activity/ recreation staff) as well as volunteers. Long-term care’s intersection with the field of design is vast, including the design of homes, services, products, workplace technologies, assistive technologies, communication, and information. Design matters in this context. Despite this, design-related research has been largely absent in serving the sector compared to other healthcare domains, which our research team first discovered in examining the role of design in end-of-life and palliative care. To address this gap, students from Carleton University have been working in LTC design with Ontario’s Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-term Care (CLRI) at Bruyère and various LTC homes in Ontario. This collaboration has become a significant part of a larger research program, the Design for Public Health (D4pH) Lab, where students examine how ‘research for, into and through design’ informs the design of LTC systems, services, products, technologies, and homes. In this paper we profile the work of 4 graduate students to illustrate the integrated, systems design approach they took to study pressing issues in LTC. Students investigated the experiences of multi-site LTC workers during the pandemic and communicating the findings through creative mediums; spiritual care through service design methods; service design for individuals transitioning to LTC and advanced care planning; and a user experience study focused on understanding continence care at a systems level to support dignity and safety in this important care element.
Effects of Neurodivergence on Deepfake-Video Detection: Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Tidler Zachary R. , Catrambone Richard
Published: September 2024

This study was the third in a series of investigations aimed at explaining inter-individual differences in the ability to detect digitally falsified videos known as ‘deepfakes’. This study’s predecessors revealed that characteristics associated with autism spectrum disorder and the disorder itself were influential of one’s ability to confidently detect deepfakes. The present work was an exploration of whether types of neurodivergence (namely mild cognitive impairment) similarly impact deepfake detection. To that end, fifty-six (30 who self-reported having been diagnosed with MCI and 26 who self-reported not having been diagnosed with MCI) completed a deepfake detection task. In a pattern similar to the previous ASD-related findings, the neurodivergent (MCI) group did not perform significantly differently than the neurotypical group but was significantly more confident in their judgements. Several qualifications of these findings, along with recommendations for extensions and practical implications of the work, are discussed.
The Effect of the Metaverse Environment and Task Difficulty on Emotional Response and Cognitive Workload
Authors: Islam Fabiha , Bright Zipporah , Cheng Mu , Shi Chao
Published: September 2024

Objective: People's mental workload and emotional responses were assessed while performing cognitive load demanding tasks in virtual and non-virtual environments.

Background: The virtual world is providing fascinating experiences by offering a perpetual and persistent multiuser environment. Yet users report several side effects and degraded performance during and after the exposure to the virtual environment. Therefore, there exists a necessity to measure people’s emotional response and cognitive workload in virtual and non-virtual environments.

Method: We designed a within-subject experiment and hired 20 participants to play Fruit Ninja 2 at two difficulty levels: easy and hard. An iPad presented the game in traditional 2D environment while a head mount device was used to project the game virtually. After each game the participants filled out the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and NASA Task Load Index (NASA TLX) questionnaire.

Results: The result revealed that, higher NASA TLX scores were associated with the virtual environment compared to the iPad environment. The Positive affect (PA) scores for the hard level were significantly smaller than the easy level at virtual environment. However, no significant differences were observed among the PA scores of two environments. The Negative Affect (NA) scores for virtual environment were significantly greater than the NA scores of iPad at the same difficulty level.

Conclusion: We concluded that, people feel higher mental workload and more distressed in virtual world compared to traditional iPad environment. Nevertheless, they express equal positiveness towards both environments.

Application: The results can help future researchers to take advantage of the metaverse to create emotion eliciting environment. Additionally, the findings of this study can guide healthcare professionals to tailor the metaverse environment as a digital therapeutic platform to treat individuals while maximizing their emotional engagement and optimizing cognitive workload.
User-centered Design of Applications Embedded in Electronic Health Records: Case Study of a Visualization Application for Heart Failure
Authors: Lin Hung-Yeh , Tan Yi Rong , Pruitt Stephanie , Daley Carly , Cornet Victor
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we discuss the user-centered design (UCD) strategies we employed to design an electronic health record (EHR)-integrated application for documentation and tracking of guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. We designed this clinician-facing application by engaging heart failure clinicians, patients and family members, and technology experts. We report on these strategies that, while not uncommon for patient-facing technologies, are less often seen for the design and evaluation of clinician-facing EHR applications. We also provide suggestions for practitioners seeking to build EHR applications and propose avenues for future research.
Integrating Human Factors to Enhance Healthcare Distance Simulation
Authors: Bailey Shannon K. T. , Hughes Ashley M. , Dong Yue , Robertson Jamie M. , Ray Jessica M.
Published: September 2024

The Human Factors (HF) track at the Annual Healthcare Distance Simulation Summit focuses on improving the effectiveness of distance simulation utilizing human factors principles. During this presentation, we will 1. review the work to-date of the HF track of the Distance Simulation Summit, 2. discuss current opportunities for collaboration between human factors practitioners and simulationists, and 3. introduce ideas for future work. The potential target audiences for this discussion are researchers and practitioners who are interested in or involved in distance simulation or simulation in healthcare generally, educators who want to learn how to use distance simulation effectively and efficiently, and healthcare professionals and students who want to enhance their skills and knowledge about distance simulation. The presentation will stimulate discussion and feedback from the audience, which can enrich the knowledge base and generate new research questions and directions for distance simulation.
Positive Root Cause Analysis: Reframing The Debrief Interview Approach to Prioritize Participant Wellbeing
Authors: Marber Matthew
Published: September 2024

Human factors guidance documents and standards direct usability test moderators to collect a participant’s reported root cause during a debrief interview. Common root cause investigation techniques focus on collecting feedback related to participants’ mistakes rather than also highlighting their successes. Such emphasis on a participant’s errors can lead to participant frustration, withdrawal, and poor-quality responses. Positive root cause analysis is a novel framework moderators can employ to approach the debrief interview from a success-based perspective. This technique results in more engaged participants who share higher-quality responses, all while prioritizing a participant’s emotional wellbeing.
We Weren’t Prepared – Rethinking the Design of Long-Term Care Homes for Infectious Outbreaks
Authors: Trudel Chantal , Attef Maryam , Abdou Sara , Dickson Julia , Dzumhur Daren , Murmann Maya , Nakashima Sophie , Pham An , Schnarr Gabriella , Seaton Denée , St. Arnaud Claudie
Published: September 2024

Canada’s Long-Term Care (LTC) sector was severely burdened by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, accounting for 81% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide as of June 2020, and 43% of deaths at the end of 2021 despite widespread vaccination. Ontario’s Science Table on COVID-19 identified 5 priorities moving forward which included improving staffing, essential caregiver access, timely/ high-quality palliative care, building/ maintaining infection prevention and control (IPC) expertise in homes, and rethinking the design of LTC homes. Given the frequent contact among residents, staff, and caregivers/ family members in homes, supporting IPC through design is an important strategy to ensure the quality of life (QoL) and care of residents, and the occupational health and safety (OHS) of healthcare workers. To support the ‘design priority’ from Ontario’s Science Table, we studied how the design of 8 LTC homes in Ontario influenced IPC, QoL, and OHS during the pandemic through photo diaries and interviews/ focus groups (N=38). We then developed alternative home concepts through co-design sessions with participants. We found deficiencies in the design of entrances/ exits, resident rooms, shared resident areas, outdoor areas, staff work areas, storage/ supply areas, soiled/ clean areas, design to support the donning/ doffing of personal protective equipment, among other issues. From this we developed design recommendations and concepts that may help inform how we can better respond to infectious outbreaks while balancing the QoL of residents, staff members, and caregivers/ family members.
Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on Dignity in Dementia: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Schou-Juul Frederik , Kjeldsen Rebecca Amalie Struwe , Ferm Lucca-Mathilde Thorup , Lauridsen Sigurd
Published: September 2024

In dementia care, the concept of dignity has garnered substantial attention from both researchers and policymakers. However, the concept often remains vague and open to interpretation, potentially leading to misunderstandings and suboptimal care for people with dementia. As healthcare professionals occupy a critical role in upholding dignity, exploring their viewpoints on this complex concept is paramount. In this study, we explore Danish healthcare professionals’ views on the dignity of people with dementia and discuss these perspectives against existing theoretical accounts. We employed thematic analysis of data collected during facilitated discussions with a total of 99 healthcare professionals, including nurses and healthcare workers, during which we posed the question, “What is dignity to you?” and documented their perspectives. Through a systematic process of data coding and interpretation, we identified recurring patterns in their responses. This approach allowed us to uncover the depth and complexity of their viewpoints, providing valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of dignity as perceived by healthcare professionals. Our findings revealed that healthcare professionals possessed a nuanced understanding of dignity, recognizing both a subjective element and a universal aspect applicable to all individuals, aligning with theoretical interpretations. However, conceptual ambiguity remained a challenge.
Outcomes of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyposis and Risk Factors of Recurrence in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Authors: Aldajani Ahmad , Alroqi Ahmad , Alrashidi Ali , Alsaif Anas , Almeshari Saif , Aldwaighri Mohammed , Alromaih Saud , Aloulah Mohammad O. , Alrasheed Abdulaziz S. , Aldousary Surayie , Alsaleh Saad
Published: September 2024

Background

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the gold standard for treating patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to medical therapy. It is considered a relatively safe and effective procedure in all age groups, with overall success rates ranging from 76% to 97.5%. However, failure of primary endoscopic sinus surgery (PESS) occurs at a rate ranging from 2% to 24%. Patients who are still symptomatic after PESS and optimal medical therapy are candidates for revision endoscopic sinus surgery (RESS).

Objectives

to study the outcomes of ESS and assess the risk factors of recurrence of nasal polyps, as well as to compare the outcomes of PESS and RESS at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Design

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

This study is conducted on patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) who underwent ESS at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) between May 2015 and December 2021. During this period, ESS was performed 470 times for CRSwNP. The Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire, the Lund–Kennedy (LK) score, the Lund–MacKay (LM) score, and the polyp grading system were used to evaluate subjective and objective outcomes. They were scored preoperatively and from 6 to 12 months postoperatively.

Results

Out of the 470 endoscopic sinus surgeries, 321 (68.3%) were PESS and 149 (31.7%) were RESS. Asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and Samter's triad were observed more in the RESS group. The LK and LM scores were significantly different between primary and revision sinus surgeries, revealing that PESS patients had better postoperative LK and LM scores. The RESS patients had significantly worse postoperative SNOT-22 scores compared to PESS patients.

Conclusion

Lund–MacKay, Lund–Kennedy, and SNOT-22 scores improved after ESS for both primary and revision ESS patients, with better outcomes observed after PESS compared to RESS. The presence of asthma, aspirin sensitivity, Samter's Triad, high-grade nasal polyps, and older age were identified as risk factors for CRSwNP recurrence, which may require RESS.
Physiological and communicative emotional disconcordance in children on the autism spectrum
Authors: Finkel Emma , Sah Eric , Spaulding McKenna , Herrington John D. , Tomczuk Liza , Masino Aaron , Pang Xueqin , Bhattacharya Anushua , Hedley Darren , Kushleyeva Yelena , Thomson Phoebe , Doppelt Natalie , Tan Jessica , Pennington Jeffrey , Dissanayake Cheryl , Bonafide Christopher P. , Nuske Heather J.
Published: September 2024

Background

Individuals on the autism spectrum commonly have differences from non-autistic people in expressing their emotions using communicative behaviors, such as facial expressions. However, it is not yet clear if this reduced expressivity stems from reduced physiological reactivity in emotional contexts or if individuals react internally, but do not show these reactions externally to others. We hypothesized that autism is characterized by a discordance between in-the-moment internal psychophysiological arousal and external communicative expressions of emotion.

Methods

Forty-one children on the autism spectrum and 39 non-autistic, typically developing (TD) children of two age groups (2–4 and 8–12 years) participated in a low-level stress task whilst wearing a wireless electrocardiogram. Children’s negative emotional expressions (facial, vocal, bodily) were coded following standardized protocols. Alexithymia traits were assessed using the Children’s Alexithymia Measure with school-aged children only. Data analyses involved ANOVAs, correlations, and sensitivity analyses.

Results

There were no group differences in physiological arousal (heart rate) or in communicative expressions of stress to the stress task. For TD preschoolers, physiological arousal during the stress task was associated with vocal expressions and for TD school-aged children, they were associated with facial and bodily expressions. By contrast, for children on the autism spectrum, physiological arousal during the stress tasks was not associated with communicative expressions across age groups.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that children on the autism spectrum might experience emotional disconcordance, in that their physiological arousal does not align with their communicative expressions. Therefore, the internally experienced stress of children on the autism spectrum may be inadvertently missed by teachers and caregivers and, consequently, learning opportunities for teaching emotional communication and regulation may be also missed. Our results support the use of wearable biosensors to facilitate such interventions in children on the autism spectrum.
Digital music and movement intervention to improve health and wellbeing in older adults in care homes: a pilot mixed methods study
Authors: De Nys Len , Oyebola Esther F. , Connelly Jenni , Ryde Gemma C. , Whittaker Anna C.
Published: September 2024

Background

Low physical activity among older adults is related to adverse health outcomes such as depression and loneliness, poor physical function and increased risk of falls. This study was designed to increase physical activity through a digital, group-based, physical activity and music intervention and to examine its effectiveness on social, mental and physical health outcomes.

Methods

Participants were 34 older adults (65 years +) recruited across four care homes in Scotland to a pilot study. Surveys were administered at baseline and post-intervention, comprising measures of fear of falling, depression and anxiety, loneliness, sleep satisfaction and quality of life. A battery of physical function tests and saliva sampling for cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone hormone analysis were also conducted at each time point. Additionally, process evaluation measures (recruitment, intervention fidelity, attendance, retention rates and safety) were monitored. The intervention comprised 12 weeks of three prescribed digital sessions per week: movement and music (n = 2) and music-only (n = 1), delivered by an activity coordinator in the care home. Post-intervention interviews with staff and participants were conducted to gain qualitative data on the acceptability of the intervention.

Results

An average of 88% of prescribed sessions were delivered. Pre- to post-intervention intention-to-treat analysis across all participants revealed significant improvements in anxiety, salivary DHEA, fear of falling and loneliness. There were no significant improvements in health-related quality of life, perceived stress, sleep satisfaction or physical function tests, including handgrip strength. Qualitative analysis highlighted benefits of and barriers to the programme.

Conclusions

The digital movement and music intervention was deemed acceptable and delivered with moderate fidelity, justifying progression to a full-scale trial. Although a proper control group would have yielded more confident causal relationships, preliminary psychosocial and biological effects were evident from this trial. To show significant improvements in physical function, it is likely that a bigger sample size providing sufficient power to detect significant changes, greater adherence, longer intervention and/or higher exercise volume may be necessary.

Trial registration

The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT05601102 on 01/11/2022.