Opportunities For Advancement Research Articles

Automated Insulin Delivery Systems in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes: A Narrative Review.

This narrative review assesses the use of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems in managing persons with type 1 diabetes (PWD) in the pediatric population. It outlines current research, the differences between various AID systems currently on the market and the challenges faced, and discusses potential opportunities for further advancements within this field. Furthermore, the narrative review includes various expert opinions on how different AID systems can be used in the event of challenges with rapidly changing insulin requirements. These include examples, such as during illness with increased or decreased insulin requirements and during physical activity of different intensities or durations. Case descriptions give examples of scenarios with added user-initiated actions depending on the type of AID system used. The authors also discuss how another AID system could have been used in these situations.

P.112 Understanding obstacles: a neurosurgical view on gender disparities in career progression

Background: Gender disparities persist in neurosurgery, unfortunately impacting career progression for women. Understanding these challenges is vital for fostering inclusivity. Methods: An international survey designed using a physician wellness framework was sent to neurosurgeons between June 2021 and November 2021. Univariate analysis (Kruskal-Wallis Test) was performed to assess various aspects of perceived career progression as a function of gender. Results: Of the total 537 respondents (64% neurosurgeons, 6% fellows, and 30% residents), 69% identified as male, 29% as female, and 2% as other. Compared to their male colleagues, female neurosurgeons expressed greater desire to advance in their career (p<0.05) and to leave their home country in the interest of job prospects (p<0.05). Despite these aspirations, female neurosurgeons reported that they did not have available career advancement opportunities (p<0.05), that the culture in their country inhibited their career advancement (p<0.05), and that they felt subject to harassment at their workplace (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our survey highlights significant gender-related obstacles in neurosurgical career advancement. Female neurosurgeons express strong career aspirations but face barriers such as limited opportunities, cultural impediments, and harassment. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving gender equity in neurosurgery.

Development of Measurement Instruments for Teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits and Self-Directed Learning

Lifelong learning is a crucial process that contributes to the continuous professional advancement opportunities for teachers. To promote teachers as lifelong learners, it is essential to leverage comprehensive insights into key mobilizing factors for lifelong learning, including a Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning. This research aims to 1) develop measurement instruments for teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning, and to 2) examine the quality of the measurement instruments, including the establishment of norms for all three variables. The research sample consisted of 943 elementary school teachers, selected using stratified random sampling. The measurement instrument consisted of a questionnaire containing 35 items each utilizing a 5-point rating scale. The research findings show that item content validity ratio (CVR) values for each of the instrument subscales ranged between .71 and 1.00, while the content validity index (S-CVI) value for the entire scale was .97. The internal consistency reliability values for the individual variable subscales ranged from .925 to .963, while the construct validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as measured by the Mplus program showed that the measurement model fit the empirical data at the .05 significance level. This study also established percentile norms for the developed instruments.

Zr/Ni metal oxide nanostructures: Electrochemical exploration and urea oxidation catalysts

Metal-organic framework (MOF) derived metal oxide nanostructures hold immense promise as electrodes for energy storage/conversion applications, notably in supercapacitors and urea oxidation. This study explores into optimizing such nanostructures, specifically focusing on a Zr/Ni ratio of 1:1, which has exhibited favorable electrochemical and catalytic performance. Employing thorough characterization methods, including PXRD analysis, we verified the successful synthesis of a ZrO2/NiO binary phase (i.e. Zr/Ni) nanostructure via the MOF-derived approach, showcasing its versatility as a catalyst across diverse energy conversion domains. The Zr/Ni nanostructure electrode displayed noteworthy characteristics, boasting a capacity of 432 C/g alongside exceptional cycling stability of 99%, reflecting battery-like electrochemical behavior. Furthermore, in an asymmetric device setup (Zr/Ni//AC), it achieved a notable potential of up to 1.4 V with an impressive power density of 1044.56 W/kg. Additionally, the Zr/Ni nanostructure demonstrated efficient electrocatalytic activity in urea oxidation, evidenced by a maximum current density of 60 mA/cm2. This underscores its viability as a preferred catalyst in energy conversion applications, signaling opportunities for further exploration and advancement in this dynamic field.

Early adverse physiological event detection using commercial wearables: challenges and opportunities

Data from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) wearables leveraged with machine learning algorithms provide an unprecedented potential for the early detection of adverse physiological events. However, several challenges inhibit this potential, including (1) heterogeneity among and within participants that make scaling detection algorithms to a general population less precise, (2) confounders that lead to incorrect assumptions regarding a participant’s healthy state, (3) noise in the data at the sensor level that limits the sensitivity of detection algorithms, and (4) imprecision in self-reported labels that misrepresent the true data values associated with a given physiological event. The goal of this study was two-fold: (1) to characterize the performance of such algorithms in the presence of these challenges and provide insights to researchers on limitations and opportunities, and (2) to subsequently devise algorithms to address each challenge and offer insights on future opportunities for advancement. Our proposed algorithms include techniques that build on determining suitable baselines for each participant to capture important physiological changes and label correction techniques as it pertains to participant-reported identifiers. Our work is validated on potentially one of the largest datasets available, obtained with 8000+ participants and 1.3+ million hours of wearable data captured from Oura smart rings. Leveraging this extensive dataset, we achieve pre-symptomatic detection of COVID-19 with a performance receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of 0.725 without correction techniques, 0.739 with baseline correction, 0.740 with baseline correction and label correction on the training set, and 0.777 with baseline correction and label correction on both the training and the test set. Using the same respective paradigms, we achieve ROC AUCs of 0.919, 0.938, 0.943 and 0.994 for the detection of self-reported fever, and 0.574, 0.611, 0.601, and 0.635 for detection of self-reported shortness of breath. These techniques offer improvements across almost all metrics and events, including PR AUC, sensitivity at 75% specificity, and precision at 75% recall. The ring allows continuous monitoring for detection of event onset, and we further demonstrate an improvement in the early detection of COVID-19 from an average of 3.5 days to an average of 4.1 days before a reported positive test result.

Anesthetic considerations in robotic surgery: a comprehensive review.

Recent advancements have led to a rise, in the demand for surgical methods with robot-assisted procedures becoming increasingly popular for addressing the limitations of traditional laparoscopy. However, incorporating surgery involves making changes in the way patients are positioned and logistical planning, which can challenge conventional approaches to providing anesthesia care. Despite these obstacles robotic technology shows potential for bringing about improvements in therapy. Anesthesiologists play a role in ensuring safety and delivering high quality anesthesia care during robotic surgery. Having an understanding of the elements of robotic surgical systems is essential for adjusting anesthesia practices effectively. Keeping up to date with the developments in surgery is key to achieving optimal outcomes for patients. Effective collaboration between teams and anesthesiologists is essential for managing the complexities of anesthesia during surgery. By promoting communication and cooperation across disciplines healthcare professionals can enhance safety and results. In summary while the introduction of surgery presents challenges in anesthesia care it also offers opportunities for innovation and advancement. Anesthesiologists need to embrace these advancements adapt their practices accordingly and engage in education and collaboration to ensure the safe and successful integration of robotic technology, into surgical procedures ultimately improving patient care.

Five Key Strategies for Organizing Interdisciplinary Scientific Events to Strengthen Careers, Collaborations, and Creativity.

Science is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary; the widespread emergence of dedicated interdisciplinary journals, conferences, and graduate programs reflects this trend. Interdisciplinary scientific events are extremely valuable in that they offer opportunities for career advancement, especially among early career researchers, for collaboration beyond traditional disciplinary echo chambers, and for the creative generation of innovative solutions to longstanding scientific problems. However, organizing such events can pose unique challenges due to the intentionality required to meaningfully break down the barriers that separate long-independent disciplines. In this paper, we propose five key strategies for organizing and hosting interdisciplinary scientific events. The recommendations offered here apply both to small symposia aiming to contribute an interdisciplinary component to a larger event and to broad interdisciplinary conferences hosting hundreds or thousands of attendees.

A review of talent management and human resource practices in the context of small and medium enterprises

In the dynamic environment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the expertise of Talent Management (TM) and Human Resource (HR) practices is important. These include a comprehensive approach for identifying, nurturing and retaining qualified workers, which define the core structure of SMEs' organizational strength. It represent an inclusive strategy to workforce development, including recruiting, upskilling, performance optimization, and developing a working culture that is well matched to the unique subtleties and challenges that SMEs encounter. This review provides a comprehensive examination of TM and HR management (HRM) methods in the context of SMEs. It starts by stressing the significance and specifics of SMEs, emphasizing their critical role in fostering growth as well as the unique obstacles they confront as a result of resource restrictions and enterprising dynamics. The importance of TM in SMEs is highlighted its crucial role in generating organizational success and innovation. Despite the inherent difficulties of TM in SMEs, such as limited resources and talent acquisition hurdles, there are exciting opportunities for advancement. Innovations in technology, strategic collaborations and talent development programs provide opportunities for SMEs to improve their competitiveness and sustainability. By addressing these significant difficulties, this summary gives a complete review of TM and HRM practices in SMEs, emphasizing the need for specialized solutions to assist SMEs with managing the complexity of recruitment and achieving sustainable success.

Continuously Geometrical Tuning to Boost Circular Dichroism in 3D Chiral Metamaterials

AbstractChiral metamaterials possess unique optical chiral responses, and the attainment of remarkable intrinsic chirality typically necessitates the disruption of their mirror symmetry to facilitate cross‐coupling between electric and magnetic dipoles. However, achieving such symmetry breaking in a flexible and controllable manner remains challenging due to the limited range of applications afforded by available methodologies. Here, a method is proposed for fabricating robust three‐dimensional (3D) chiral metamaterials by projecting arbitrary planar chiral metasurfaces onto on‐demand height‐tunable 3D silicon structures, thereby effectively modulating their optical chiral responses through continuously tuning the degree of cross‐coupling between dipoles. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate this approach's ability to precisely control circular dichroism (CD) from a non‐chiral state to various activated and enhanced chirality. Enhancing CD with high precision and continuous control manners can naturally provide an advanced opportunity and platform for the future design and actual applications of chiral optical systems.

Investigating young children’s physical activity through time and place

BackgroundPrevious research indicates the start of primary school (4-5-year-old) as an essential period for the development of children’s physical activity (PA) patterns, as from this point, the age-related decline of PA is most often observed. During this period, young children are exposed to a wider variety of environmental- and social contexts and therefore their PA is influenced by more diverse factors. However, in order to understand children’s daily PA patterns and identify relevant opportunities for PA promotion, it is important to further unravel in which (social) contexts throughout the day, PA of young children takes place.MethodsWe included a cross-national sample of 21 primary schools from the Startvaardig study. In total, 248 children provided valid accelerometer and global positioning (GPS) data. Geospatial analyses were conducted to quantify PA in (social) environments based on their school and home. Transport-related PA was evaluated using GPS speed-algorithms. PA was analysed at different environments, time-periods and for week- and weekend days separately.ResultsChildren accumulated an average of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), both during week- and weekend days. Schools contributed to approximately half of daily MVPA during weekdays. During weekends, environments within 100 m from home were important, as well as locations outside the home-school neighbourhood. Pedestrian trips contributed to almost half of the daily MVPA.ConclusionsWe identified several social contexts relevant for children’s daily MVPA. Schools have the potential to significantly contribute to young children’s PA patterns and are therefore encouraged to systematically evaluate and implement parts of the school-system that stimulate PA and potentially also learning processes. Pedestrian trips also have substantial contribution to daily MVPA of young children, which highlights the importance of daily active transport in school- and parental routines.

Different roads, same destination: The shared future of plant ecophysiology and ecohydrology.

Terrestrial water fluxes are substantially mediated by vegetation, while the distribution, growth, health, and mortality of plants are strongly influenced by the availability of water. These interactions, playing out across multiple spatial and temporal scales, link the disciplines of plant ecophysiology and ecohydrology. Despite this connection, the disciplines have provided complementary, but largely independent, perspectives on the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum since their crystallization as modern scientific disciplines in the late 20th century. This review traces the development of the two disciplines, from their respective origins in engineering and ecology, their largely independent growth and maturation, and the eventual development of common conceptual and quantitative frameworks. This common ground has allowed explicit coupling of the disciplines to better understand plant function. Case studies both illuminate the limitations of the disciplines working in isolation, and reveal the exciting possibilities created by consilience between the disciplines. The histories of the two disciplines suggest opportunities for new advances will arise from sharing methodologies, working across multiple levels of complexity, and leveraging new observational technologies. Practically, these exchanges can be supported by creating shared scientific spaces. This review argues that consilience and collaboration are essential for robust and evidence-based predictions and policy responses under global change.

Advancing Gender Equality in the Workplace: Challenges, Strategies, and the Way Forward

Gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in the modern workplace, manifesting in various forms, such as wage disparities, unequal promotion opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. This paper explores the complex factors contributing to gender inequality in the workplace, including gendered organisational structures, intersectional marginalisation, and gender stereotypes and biases. Drawing upon existing literature and research, the paper discusses potential strategies for addressing these challenges, such as implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, closing the gender pay gap, promoting work-life balance, fostering inclusive leadership, and challenging gender biases. The paper argues that achieving gender equality requires a multi-faceted approach and sustained efforts from organisations, policymakers, and society. Furthermore, promoting gender equality is a matter of fairness and justice and contributes to enhanced organisational innovation, productivity, and financial performance. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for a long-term, collaborative effort to create an inclusive workplace environment where individuals of all genders can thrive and reach their full potential.

From Cadres to Managers: The Double-hundred Action Programme and China's State-owned Enterprise Reform

Abstract Reforming China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is a complex endeavour. Among recent initiatives, the double-hundred action (DHA) programme stands out for its ambition, especially in its aim to revamp corporate governance structures and management systems. A notable change is that top executive positions are now open to a wider and more diverse candidate pool and are no longer restricted to Party cadres. Based on fieldwork and interviews at a DHA-selected enterprise, this paper explores the DHA's impact on SOE functioning and governance. Our research reveals unanimous support among top executives for the policy, despite stringent performance appraisals and limitations on future promotion opportunities. The policy has significantly transformed recruitment, performance evaluation and remuneration within the enterprise under study. However, although top executive recruitment is no longer tied to Party membership, the Party still exerts its influence through key appointments on the board of directors.

Newer generations of multi-target CAR and STAb-T immunotherapeutics: NEXT CART Consortium as a cooperative effort to overcome current limitations.

Adoptive T cellular immunotherapies have emerged as relevant approaches for treating cancer patients who have relapsed or become refractory (R/R) to traditional cancer treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has improved survival in various hematological malignancies. However, significant limitations still impede the widespread adoption of these therapies in most cancers. To advance in this field, six research groups have created the "NEXT Generation CART MAD Consortium" (NEXT CART) in Madrid's Community, which aims to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for R/R and poor prognosis cancers. At NEXT CART, various basic and translational research groups and hospitals in Madrid concur to share and synergize their basic expertise in immunotherapy, gene therapy, and immunological synapse, and clinical expertise in pediatric and adult oncology. NEXT CART goal is to develop new cell engineering approaches and treatments for R/R adult and pediatric neoplasms to evaluate in multicenter clinical trials. Here, we discuss the current limitations of T cell-based therapies and introduce our perspective on future developments. Advancement opportunities include developing allogeneic products, optimizing CAR signaling domains, combining cellular immunotherapies, multi-targeting strategies, and improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)/T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. Furthermore, basic studies aim to identify novel tumor targets, tumor molecules in the tumor microenvironment that impact CAR efficacy, and strategies to enhance the efficiency of the immunological synapse between immune and tumor cells. Our perspective of current cellular immunotherapy underscores the potential of these treatments while acknowledging the existing hurdles that demand innovative solutions to develop their potential for cancer treatment fully.

Exercise Responses During Outdoor Versus Virtual Reality Indoor Arm+FES-Leg Cycling in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Virtual reality (VR)-enhanced indoor hybrid cycling in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) can be comparable to outdoor hybrid cycling. Method: Eight individuals with chronic thoracic-lesion SCI performed voluntary arm and electrically assisted leg cycling on a hybrid recumbent tricycle. Exercises were conducted outdoors and indoors incorporating VR technology in which the outdoor environment was simulated on a large flat screen monitor. Electrical stimulation was applied bilaterally to the leg muscle groups. Oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate, energy expenditures, and Ratings of Perceived Exertion were measured over a 30-minute outdoor test course that was also VR-simulated indoors. Immediately after each exercise, participants completed questionnaires to document their perceptual-psychological responses. Results: Mean 30-minute VO2 was higher for indoor VR exercise (average VO2-indoor VR-exercise: 1316 ± mL/min vs. outdoor cycling: 1255 ± 53 mL/min; highest VO2-indoor VR-exercise: 1615 ± 67 mL/min vs. outdoor cycling: 1725 ± 67 mL/min). Arm and leg activity counts were significantly higher during indoor VR-assisted hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling than outdoors; 42% greater for the arms and 23% higher for the legs (P < 0.05). Similar responses were reported for exercise effort and perceptual-psychological outcomes during both modes. Conclusion: This study proposes that combining FES and VR technology provides new opportunities for physical activity promotion or exercise rehabilitation in the SCI population, since these modes have similar "dose-potency" and self-perceived effort. Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Sydney Ref. No. 01-2010/12385.

The Significance of SWOT Analysis in Enhancing Christian Religious Education: A Comprehensive Examination

Education stands as a dynamic force in human and societal development, continually evolving to meet shifting demands and needs. In this modern era marked by rapid transformations, the importance of keeping education abreast with the times cannot be overstated. One effective tool for rejuvenating and advancing education is the SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis, encapsulating Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, transcends its traditional business applications to offer profound insights in diverse domains, including education. In the realm of Christian Religious Education (CRE), a critical aspect of the educational landscape, SWOT analysis unveils avenues for both refinement and growth. This paper explores the application of SWOT analysis in the context of CRE, acknowledging its pivotal role in shaping individual character, values, and spiritual beliefs. Tracing the historical trajectory of CRE from ancient churches to contemporary times, the analysis underscores the foundational principles upon which CRE stands. Within the framework of CRE, SWOT analysis serves as a potent tool to discern existing dynamics and chart future trajectories. By identifying internal strengths such as robust faith traditions and biblically grounded curricula, opportunities for enriching CRE education emerge. Simultaneously, weaknesses such as resource constraints and technological integration challenges highlight areas ripe for improvement. Furthermore, SWOT analysis illuminates potential opportunities for CRE advancement, including technological integration and policy shifts. However, it also unveils threats such as societal value shifts and information overload that impede effective CRE delivery. In navigating these dynamics, effective educational management emerges as paramount. Without strategic oversight and management, the pursuit of excellence in CRE remains elusive. Hence, this study delves into the pivotal role of educational management in fostering the quality and efficacy of CRE. Utilizing an analytical methodology, this research delves deep into existing literature and textual sources to unravel insights and generate new knowledge. Through systematic analysis and interpretation, this study seeks to enrich the discourse on CRE and underscore the imperative of strategic planning and management. In conclusion, SWOT analysis emerges as a cornerstone in the enhancement of CRE. By systematically evaluating internal dynamics and external trends, SWOT analysis paves the way for informed decision-making and strategic interventions. Thus, this paper advocates for the systematic integration of SWOT analysis in CRE, heralding a new era of excellence and relevance in religious education.

Strategies to Improve the Performance of Health Work Assistants at District General Hospital Kalutara

Background: A high level of performance of the employees is mandatory to improve the quality of healthcare service rendered to the patients. Performance is a function of the interaction between an individual’s motivation, ability, and environment. It was highlighted that the Health Work Assistants (HWA) working at District General Hospital (DGH) Kalutara are poorly motivated leading to underperformance.Objective: To identify strategies to improve the performance of HWAs working at DGH Kalutara.Methods: Issues related to underperformance were identified using a problem tree analysis. The underlying causes were tabulated against a set of criteria. Prioritization was done based on; the technical feasibility of the alternative interventions, and the impact of the issue on the institution and the patients. Poor employee motivation was selected for further analysis based on the prioritized value.Results: Absenteeism, unavailability of streamlined induction training and regular in-service training, poor attitudes, poor employee motivation and family and social issues were identified as the main issues related to the poor performance of HWAs working at DGH Kalutara. “Intrinsic factors” and supervisor-related factors were selected to plan interventions based on the prioritized value.Conclusion: Providing opportunities for achievements, advancements, and personal growth, through recognition for HWAs’ hard work, dedication, and achievements. Improving their sense of responsibility by improving their relationship with supervisors and improving the quality of supervision.

Community support for families affected by dementia.

This paper provides and overview of the community support services that may be available for people with dementia and their family carers. The authors introduce dementia, including the impact of the diagnosis on both the person with dementia and the wider family. Using a case study approach, the authors describe the support available, spanning health and social care and third sector organisations. They discuss how this support can enable people with dementia and their carers to maintain wellbeing and cope with the impact of dementia. This article will be of interest to community nurses, and health and social care professionals more generally, who may encounter families affected by dementia in community settings. Having a good knowledge of the support available and how to access it will allow community nurses to capitalise on the health promotion opportunities presented to them, when they come into contact with families affected by dementia in the course of their day-to-day practice.

Professional perspectives on dietary practices and nutrition from pre-conception to birth: An exploratory study

The foundations for child health begin in pregnancy and pre-conception; however, little is known about how health professionals advise prospective parents regarding nutritional needs. The aim of this study was to understand the facilitators and barriers to healthy food and diet practices during pre-conception and pregnancy; how the barrier(s) to healthy diets can be addressed; and the changes required to facilitate good food practices. Three focus groups and four interviews were conducted with 12 UK professional representatives working in health or dietary/nutrition contexts. Participants reported that expectant parents need to understand what healthy eating means and that health and allied health professionals require more nutrition-related education to maximise health promotion opportunities. There is a need for consistent, engaging and culturally appropriate dietary information, as well as access to professionals who can give generic and tailored advice.

Advancements and Challenges in Linear Friction Welding of Inconel 718: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review explores the linear friction welding of Inconel 718, a super alloy widely employed in aerospace and other high-temperature applications. Delving into the intricate relationship between process parameters and material properties, the paper examines microstructural transformations and their impact on mechanical integrity. Discussions encompass weldability, common defects, and mitigation strategies, providing valuable insights for practitioners. The review also highlights the evolving landscape of research trends, recent developments, and real-world applications, showcasing the versatility of linear friction welding. Challenges in the process are analyzed, offering a nuanced perspective on current limitations and avenues for improvement. Through a comparative lens with traditional welding techniques, the paper elucidates the unique advantages of linear friction welding in enhancing efficiency and performance. This synthesis of knowledge contributes to a holistic understanding of the state-of-the-art in linear friction welding of Inconel 718, presenting opportunities for future advancements in this critical domain.