Live Performance Research Articles

Effectiveness of educational intervention on quality of life in adults with thalassemia major: A quasi-experimental study based on PRECEDE model.

Due to the adverse effects of their disease, patients with thalassemia major face many problems such as a lack of proper growth, enlarged spleen and liver, bone disorders, especially the bones of the head and face. As a result of the long treatment process of this disease, other aspects of their life are also affected. The physical and mental problems in this population of patients will lead to frustration and lower social performance and quality of life. The present study aimed to explore the effect of an educational intervention based on the PRECEDE model on quality of life of adults with thalassemia major in Hormozgan province. The present quasi-experimental study was conducted on 234 adults with major thalassemia who visited the thalassemia medical centers in Hormozgan province in 2022. The participants were selected through a simple randomization from two cities of Hormozgan province (Bandar Abbas as the intervention group and Minab as the control). Each group had an equal number of participants (n = 117). The data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, a researcher-made questionnaire based on the model constructs and the SF-12 quality of life questionnaire. The instruments were once administered before the intervention and once again 4 months after the intervention. The educational intervention included 3 sessions a week, each 60 min in length, shared in WhatsApp and Telegram. The data were analyzed in statistical package for the social sciences version 24 using Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-square test, Wilcoxon's test, and analysis of covariance. The results showed that after the educational intervention, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, enabling afctors, reinforcing factors and the mean score of overall quality of life increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control (p < 0.05). The covariance analysis showed when the effect of the pretest score is removed, the mean scores of the model constructs and the quality of life are significantly different in the two groups. Educational interventions based on the PRECEDE model can help identify factors affecting the quality of life on many aspects in patients with thalassemia major. Thus, these interventions help improve patients' quality of life. The present findings can guide health policy makers and experts use modern educational interventions to develop the educational content to promote a healthy lifestyle and self-management in certain diseases such as thalassemia major.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Physicians at General Governmental Hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It significantly impacts the quality of life and imposes a financial burden on healthcare systems. Previous studies have shown varying prevalence rates of IBS among different populations. Objective This study aims to determine the prevalence of IBS among physicians working in general governmental hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to analyze the associated demographic and lifestyle factors. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study of 391 physicians from King Fahad and East Jeddah General Hospitals used an anonymous electronic survey covering demographics, health, lifestyle, and the Birmingham IBS Symptoms Questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, with p < 0.05 as significant. Results The prevalence of IBS among the participants was 45% (n=176). Significant associations were found between Birmingham scores and various demographic and lifestyle factors. Younger age groups (25-29 years, 51.4%, n=201) had higher mean ranks (212.98) compared to older age groups, with a p-value of .009. Males (54.5%, n=213) had a significantly higher mean rank (213.37) compared to females (45.5%, n=178; 175.22) (p<.001). Non-smokers (38.1%, n=149) had a significantly higher mean rank (214.27) compared to smokers (61.9%, n=242; 166.33) (p<.001). Physical exercise was associated with a lower prevalence of IBS symptoms, with non-exercisers (39.9%, n=156) having a higher mean rank (207.67) compared to exercisers (60.1%, n=235; 178.42) (p=.012). Additionally, 46.3% (n=181) of participants reported missing work due to IBS symptoms. Conclusion The study found a high prevalence of IBS among physicians in Jeddah, with significant associations between IBS symptoms and various demographic and lifestyle factors. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness, regular screening, and support for physicians suffering from IBS to improve their quality of life and job performance.

Insulator defect detection algorithm based on YOLOv8-ISDD

Abstract Insulators are widely used in transmission lines due to their good insulation performance and pollution resistance. The damage to insulators will affect their service life and insulation performance, which brings potential safety hazards to transmission lines. With the replacement of manual inspection with UAV inspection, image detection technology based on deep learning is gradually combined with UAV inspection. Usually, the insulator defect target accounts for a small proportion of the acquired image. Therefore, the manuscript introduces an enhanced algorithm for detecting flaws on the surface of insulators, designated as YOLOv8-ISDD. In the backbone network, the YOLOv8-ISDD algorithm introduces reparameterized convolution (Repconv) to enhance the network’s capability in extracting features of defects; to fuse the features of different resolutions, PANet in the neck network is replaced by Bi-FPN for integrating features. Within the head network, the multi-scale detection head output is used to increase the diminutive object identification stratum and boost the algorithm’s capability to discern lesser targets. Experiments show that the mAP@0.5 of the YOLOv8-ISDD algorithm is 88.9%, which is 6% higher than that of the original YOLOv8 algorithm, indicating that YOLOv8-ISDD can detect insulator defects more accurately.

Social Media Addiction and its Association with Sleep Quality Among Medical Students in A Medical College In Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Medical students' social media addiction disrupts and lowers sleep quality, hurting their everyday life and academic performance, stressing the need for effective ways to promote their well-being and achievement. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of social media addiction and to find out the association with sleep quality among medical students in private medical college. Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving 792 MBBS students from a private medical college in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, utilized the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) to assess social media addiction and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality. Data were collected through a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: The study revealed a 17.7% prevalence of social media addiction among medical students, significantly associated with poor sleep quality, female gender, and morning social media use. Other factors included dependence on social media for updates, more than three hours of daily use, eye discomfort, Snapchat use, compulsion to post at least six photos and subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, duration, disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and Daytime dysfunction. Conclusions: Research demonstrates a significant correlation between social media addiction and poor sleep quality among medical students, highlighting the need for focused interventions and awareness activities to counteract its harmful influence.

On Meter and the Social Dynamics of Cueing in Bill Monroe’s “Muleskinner Blues”

“Muleskinner Blues,” the signature song of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, is at once central to the bluegrass canon and yet metrically enigmatic, featuring a flexible timing structure that fluctuated wildly between performances. This article engages in a longitudinal study of 165 performances of “Muleskinner Blues” across Bill Monroe’s career to explore how the musicians that rotated through his band, the Blue Grass Boys, cognitively grappled with the song’s flexible structure. Through a series of analytical vignettes, I will detail the distributed cognitive system that drives performances of “Muleskinner Blues,” giving special attention to musical cues as tools for calling collective attention to structurally important moments of action. Additionally, I show how the song’s flexible meter was weaponized by Monroe in acts of musical hazing, antagonizing his musicians in the high-stakes environment of a live performance. Through these analyses, I show how the song’s peculiar meter centered Monroe musically, structurally, and socially, transforming “Muleskinner Blues” into a potent vehicle for the masculine ideology of the father of bluegrass music.

Effects of feeding earthworm or vermicompost on early life performance of broilers under challenging dietary conditions

We investigated if feeding earthworms (EW) or vermicompost (VC) to broilers improves performance and aids in coping with dietary challenges from a soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-enriched diet (negative control diet; CON-). Newly-hatched male Cobb-500 birds (N = 480) were fed either a positive (+) control diet (CON+, n = 240) or CON+ supplemented with either 1% EW (CON+EW; n = 120) or 1% VC in DM (CON+VC; n = 120) for 8 d (Period 1; P1). At the end of P1, blood and intestinal samples were taken from half the birds in each group. Half of remaining birds on CON+ stayed on CON+ for further 8 d (P2; d9-16) or switched to CON-. Birds on CON+EW and CON+VC in P1 were switched to CON- in P2 (CON-EW and CON-VC, respectively). The CON+VC improved (P < 0.05) BW and ADG in P1 through an elevated feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) with no effect on FCR. CON+EW did not differ from the CON+ in terms of growth and FI in P1. In P2 CON- did not affect growth or DMI relative to CON+. In the end of P2, 10% of CON+ birds had pasty vent (PV). CON- increased incidence of PV and CON-VC aggravated this effect (P < 0.05), whereas CON-EW did not differ from CON+. CON- diet reduced proportion of 16S rDNA in colon digesta (P = 0.049), while CON-EW and CON-VC did not differ from CON+. Compared to CON-, CON-EW tended to decrease (P = 0.072) incidence of PV. Ceca were heavier (P < 0.05) in CON-EW than in CON+ fed birds. In conclusion, the challenge diet induced PV and reduced bacterial 16S rDNA in colon digesta, likely due to soluble NSP-induced anti-nutritive effects. VC supplementation enhanced early growth by increasing feed intake. Provision of EW did not impact performance but decreased incidence of PV and increased cecal size, suggesting that potential inoculation with beneficial microorganisms may counteract NSP effects.

Gender Wealth Gap in the USA’s Afrobeats Scene

The United States has been a space for global musical transnational encounters among African-descended peoples, with various artists collaborating. These collaborations have blossomed with the advent of Afrobeats—a loose term describing the contemporary transatlantic sound of popular African music. Although there are male and female Afrobeats performers on the African continent, this cultural exchange occurs more often between male artists and U.S. musicians. Because male artists are mostly invited for live performances, their visibility puts them in a position to perform with and collaborate with U.S. artists. As a result, male artists get nominations for global awards such as the Grammys and accumulate more wealth. For female artists, the result is less visibility and wealth. Using Tiwa Savage and Burna Boy—two Afrobeats giants—as case studies, this essay examines the factors that limit Tiwa, a female performer, from achieving the same wealth as her male counterpart, Burna Boy. Specifically, this study analyzes the sonic and semiotic representations in their popular music videos, Tiwa’s “Koroba” and Burna Boy’s “On the Low,” to understand why Burna Boy might have the edge over Tiwa. Their music and career trajectories shed light on how capitalism and sociopolitical issues, including colorism, might contribute to the gender wealth disparities between male and female Afrobeats performers.

Effect of Deposition Parameters on Micromechanical Properties and Machining Performance of CrN Coating for Wet Finish Turning of Ti6Al4V Alloy.

This study aims to optimize the performance of CrN coatings deposited on WC cutting tools for machining Ti6Al4V alloy, where the formation of built-up edge (BUE) is a prevalent and critical issue. In-house CrN coatings were developed using the PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) process, with variations in deposition parameters including nitrogen gas pressure, bias voltage, and coating thickness. A comprehensive experimental approach encompassing deposition, characterization, and machining performance evaluation was employed to identify the optimal deposition conditions. The results indicated that CrN coatings deposited at a nitrogen gas pressure of 4 Pa, a bias voltage of -50 V, and a thickness of 1.81 µm exhibited superior performance, significantly reducing BUE formation and tool wear. These optimized coatings demonstrated enhanced properties, such as a higher elastic modulus and a lower coefficient of friction, which contributed to improved tool life and machining performance. Comparative studies with commercial CrN coatings revealed that the in-house developed coatings outperformed the commercial variants by approximately 65% in tool life, owing to their superior mechanical properties and reduced friction. This research highlights the potential of tailored CrN coatings for advanced machining applications and emphasizes the importance of optimizing deposition parameters to achieve high-performance tool coatings.

Functional rehabilitation and long‑term efficacy of rotationplasty in pediatrics: A retrospective study.

Rehabilitation plays a critical role in the functional recovery of pediatric patients following rotationplasty for lower extremity malignant bone tumors. However, due to the limited number of cases and the unique characteristics of the surgery, there is a paucity of studies that have longitudinally evaluated the effect of rehabilitation strategies on long-term functional recovery after rotationplasty. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify an effective rehabilitation approach for pediatric patients undergoing rotationplasty for malignant bone tumors of the lower limb. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the effect of rehabilitation on long-term functional recovery and quality of life. A total of 12 patients were included in the current study, with a mean age at surgery of 6.58±1.73 years (range, 4-10 years). These patients underwent rotationplasty for malignant bone tumors of the lower extremity at the Fourth Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (Beijing, China) between March 2014 and March 2019. After surgery, patients underwent a 6-month postoperative rehabilitation programme, either on an outpatient or inpatient basis, with exercise therapy as the key training modality. The follow-up outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months and at 3 and 5 years were recorded and analyzed, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of long-term progress. The results demonstrated a gradual enhancement in functional performance and quality of life. Within a year of surgery, the patients displayed significant improvements in both functional recovery and quality of life, and all indicators remained stable 1 year later compared with those at 1 year post-surgery. More specifically, patients showed restored muscle strength and walking ability to normal levels, with a significant increase in muscle strength to 5/5. In addition, the study revealed that the mean distance covered in the 6-min walk test was 403.08±12.52 meters, while a duration of 8.83±0.72 sec was recorded in the timed up and go test. All patients have been continuously monitored up to date. The follow-up period for all patients ranged from 60 to 120 months, with a mean of 89.83±17.55 months. Overall, the findings indicated that the early postoperative period was a critical period for functional recovery, and that early postoperative rehabilitation interventions resulted in significant improvements to the rate and quality of functional recovery over time, thus further improving quality of life.

Effects of respiratory muscular training in post-covid-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundPost-Covid-19 syndrome is defined as non-self-sustaining signs and/or symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks, occurring during or after a Covid-19 infection. The primary outcome was the analysis of the respiratory muscle training (RMT) result in respiratory muscle strength, (maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) e maximum expiratory pressure (MEP)); and the secondary results were the analysis of lung function, dyspnea, quality of life (QoL), fatigue and functional performance. Methods: The PICO description for this research was: P: patients diagnosed with post-Covid-19; I: RMT; C: Sham or simulated inspiratory or expiratory muscle training and usual care; O: MIP, MEP, Lung Function, level of dyspnea, QoL and functional performance. On January 15, 2024, the following databases were consulted: PubMed, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, PEDro and EMBASE. Randomized clinical trials were included without restrictions on year of publication or language. The data selection and extraction steps were carried out by two independent reviewers. Results: The search in the databases resulted in a total of 14,216 studies, and after the eligibility process, 7 studies were included with a sample of 527 patients. The MIP results suffered a statistically significant increase, that is, the RMT was favorable to improve the MIP (MD = 29.55cmH2O IC 95%: 7.56cmH2O to 51.54cmH2O, p = 0,00001). For the MEP outcome, the results were statistically significant in favor of RMT (MD = 10.93cmH2O CI 95%: 3.65cmH2O to 18.21cmH2O, p = 0.00001). We also noticed a significant improvement for the group that received the RMT in the distance covered in the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) MD = 40.70 m CI 95%: 18.23 m to 65.17 m%, p = 0.01). Conclusion: We noticed that RMT is being used in patients with respiratory diseases, including post-Covid-19. Our systematic review observed that this training provides an increase in inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, a reduction in dyspnea levels, and an increase in the distance covered in the 6MWT and improved QoL in post-covid patients after intervention.

Improving High-Voltage Cycling Stability and High-Rate Capability of Sodium-Ion Layered Cathode Oxides through Trace Amounts of Low-Valence Metals.

With the increasing demand for clean energy sources, the need for large-scale energy storage systems to ensure the stable output of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, has also increased. Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a potential solution for these storage systems owing to their high energy density, abundance in the Earth's crust, and low cost. However, the larger atomic radius of sodium ions results in higher energy barriers for ion migration in cathode materials, which can affect the cycle life and rate performance of the battery. Therefore, developing a suitable structure that facilitates rapid sodiation and desodiation and maintains good cycling stability remains a significant challenge. This study aimed to reduce the content of trivalent manganese ions and minimize the impact of the Jahn-Teller effect to enhance the capacity retention of manganese-based layered oxides. Additionally, a series of P2-type Na0.78Li0.1ZnxNi0.15-xMn0.75O2 compounds were successfully synthesized through doping with divalent zinc ions. Structural analyses of the doped material indicated that Zn doping did not alter the crystal structure but increased the interlayer distance of the transition metals. Electrochemical performance tests revealed that appropriate Zn2+ doping promoted sodium-ion diffusion and improved the reversible capacity of the battery. This study provides a promising approach for developing sodium-ion batteries with rapid charging and discharging capabilities.

Wearable Technology and Its Influence on Motor Development and Biomechanical Analysis.

The convergence among biomechanics, motor development, and wearable technology redefines our understanding of human movement. These technologies allow for the continuous monitoring of motor development and the state of motor abilities from infancy to old age, enabling early and personalized interventions to promote healthy motor skills. For athletes, they offer valuable insights to optimize technique and prevent injuries, while in old age, they help maintain mobility and prevent falls. Integration with artificial intelligence further extends these capabilities, enabling sophisticated data analysis. Wearable technology is transforming the way we approach motor development and maintenance of motor skills, offering unprecedented possibilities for improving health, performance, and quality of life at every stage of life. The promising future of these technologies paves the way for an era of more personalized and effective healthcare, driven by innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Georeferencing Management for Optimization of Enrollment Slots in the Municipal Education System of Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ

This essay was presented with the aim of suggesting a georeferencing solution to optimize the pre-enrollment process in the education system of Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ. Using a mixed methodological approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis, collecting new student requests and georeferencing addresses and routing with the offered options, the study analyzed the current enrollment process and developed a new model guided by georeferencing. This was achieved by collecting geospatial data from students' residences and schools for subsequent geographic distribution analysis. The results demonstrated that the implementation of a georeferencing system not only streamlines parents' decision-making process regarding enrollment options but also significantly reduces the distances traveled by students. This optimization has a direct impact on improving the quality of life and academic performance of students, highlighting the effectiveness of georeferencing as a strategic tool in educational management.

Multifunctional zinc-nickel alloy enabling high-performance aqueous zinc ion batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries are considered to be the new type of secondary batteries that have the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries as the most widely used in the future due to their green environment, high specific capacity and abundant zinc resources. However, due to the contact between the zinc anode and electrolyte, the generation of by-products and corrosion phenomena are not completely avoided, which can easily lead to problems such as short cycle life and poor electrochemical performance of the battery. In this study, uniform zinc-nickel alloy (ZnNi) was prepared by melting method. The element nickel has excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used to improve the corrosion resistance of metal alloys, so the introduction of nickel effectively enhances the corrosion resistance of ZnNi alloys. In addition, metallic nickel shows strong attraction to Zn2+, which can promote the uniform distribution and deposition of Zn2+ and inhibit the dendrites growth to prolong the battery life. Notably, the ZnNi-assembled symmetric cell exhibited excellent cycling performance compared with the Zn//Zn cell (100 h), with a cycle life of up to 1000 h at 2 mA cm−2. In addition, the capacity retention rate of the ZnNi//MnO2 full cell was still as high as 90.6 % after 1000 cycles. The preparation of the ZnNi alloy anode may provide a new idea for future alloying strategies.

Severe trauma leads to sustained muscle loss, induced frailty, and distinct temporal changes in myokine and chemokine profiles of older patients

IntroductionSarcopenia is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes across multiple disease states, including severe trauma. Factors such as age, hyperinflammation, prolonged immobilization, and critical illness may not only exacerbate progression of this disease but may also contribute to the development of induced sarcopenia, or sarcopenia secondary to hospitalization. This study seeks to (1) determine the effects of severe traumatic injury on changes in skeletal muscle mass in older adults; (2) test whether changes in skeletal muscle mass are associated with clinical frailty, physical performance, and health-related quality of life; and (3) examine trauma-induced frailty and temporal changes in myokine and chemokine profiles. MethodsA prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 47 critically ill, older (≥45 years) adults presenting after severe blunt trauma was conducted. Repeated measures of computed tomography–based skeletal muscle index, frailty, and quality of life were obtained in addition to selected plasma biomarkers over 6 months. ResultsSevere trauma was associated with significant losses in skeletal muscle mass and increased incidence of sarcopenia from 36% at baseline to 60% at 6 months. Severe trauma also was associated with a transient worsening of induced frailty and reduced quality of life irrespective of sarcopenia status, which returned to baseline by 6 months after injury. Admission biomarker levels were not associated with skeletal muscle index at the time points studied but demonstrated distinct temporal changes across our entire cohort. ConclusionsSevere blunt trauma in older adults is associated with increased incidence of induced sarcopenia and reversible induced frailty. Despite muscle wasting, functional decline is transient, with a return to baseline by 6 months, suggesting a need for holistic definitions of sarcopenia and further investigation into long-term functional outcomes in this population.

Descriptive Study on the Relationship between Dyspnea, Physical Performance, and Functionality in Oncology Patients.

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Dyspnea, affecting up to 60% of cancer patients, exacerbates physical and psychological distress, reducing quality of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between dyspnea and factors such as age, sex, clinical diagnosis, and treatment lines in cancer patients, with the goal of improving understanding and management of this debilitating symptom to enhance patient care and quality of life. This study employed an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive approach to investigate patients with oncological disease at the University Hospital of Salamanca between March 2021 and April 2024. A convenience sample was selected, including patients over 18 years old with a pathological diagnosis of cancer, experiencing any degree of dyspnea, and who consented to participate by signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included lack of consent and clinical conditions that prevented an interview. The studied variables encompass sociodemographic (age, gender, diagnosis, tumor stage, number of treatment lines) and clinical aspects (daily activities, degree of dyspnea, functional capacity, physical performance), evaluated using the Barthel Index, the mMRC Dyspnea Scale, the ECOG Scale, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Data were collected through semistructured interviews and medical records, and analyzed using specialized software. This research has ethical approval CEiM Code 2023 12 1472, Reference 2024/01. The mean age was 66.82 years. Lung cancer was predominant (60.2%), with most patients in stage 3 (65.7%) and receiving three treatment lines (68.7%). Higher age, advanced disease stage, and more treatment lines correlated with lower Barthel and SPPB scores, and higher ECOG and mMRC scores, indicating worse functionality, physical performance, and greater dyspnea. No significant correlations were found between gender or pathological diagnosis and the studied variables. Advanced age, higher disease stage, and more treatment lines are associated with decreased functionality, poorer physical performance, and increased dyspnea in cancer patients. Gender and specific cancer diagnosis do not significantly affect these relationships. Addressing dyspnea is crucial to improving the quality of life and physical performance in this population. Future studies should explore additional factors like treatment types and nutritional status.

Research on the impact of streamers’ linguistic emotional valence on live streaming performance in live streaming shopping environments

As an emerging retail model, live streaming shopping involves real-time interactions between streamers and viewers, and among the viewers themselves. In live streaming interactions, the comments posted by the viewers reflect their emotional states, which may have been influenced by the streamers’ emotional expression. This study utilized the S-O-R model and emotional contagion theory as its theoretical foundation to investigate how the emotional valence of streamer speech and real-time comment influence live streaming performance (sales growth/fans growth) and explored the moderating effect of the live streaming atmosphere cues. With Python software and natural language processing technology of Baidu AI platform, sentiment analysis was conducted on 124,085 streamer speech sentences and 24,3767 viewer real-time comments. Our findings reveal that both positive and negative emotional valence of streamer speech positively affect live streaming performance; in addition to the negative impact of neutral emotional valence on sales growth and of negative emotional valence on fans growth, real-time comment emotional valence has a positive correlation with live streaming performance; finally, the study examined the moderating effect of atmosphere cues and demonstrated the complex dynamics of atmospheric cues affecting emotional contagion and sales in live streaming. The findings provide a scientific reference for live marketing managers to optimize the emotional expression of streamer speech and their live streaming operation mode.

MIL-125 (Ti) and porous dielectric polymer substrate introducing composite gel polymer electrolyte with enhanced mechanical property, thermal stability and electrochemical property

Lithium metal batteries have potentially high energy density, but severe uncontrolled lithium dendrites and unstable side reactions prevent large-scale applications. Serial three-dimensional porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) and copolymer membrane-based composite gel electrolytes are designed by introducing MIL-125 (Ti) and ethylene carbonate. Abundant lithium-ion transportation channels and homogeneous ion transport microregion are provided the new type porous fluoropolymer substrate. We also find that crystalline phase and dielectric properties of serial polymer membrane have significant impact on electrochemical performance for composite gel electrolytes. The mechanical and dielectric property of composite electrolyte enhanced by incorporating uniform and well distribution MIL-125 (Ti), which improve the electrolyte/electrode interface charge distribution and promote uniform lithium deposition, leading to lithium dendrite suppression. MIL-125 (Ti)/P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) composite membrane shows the enhanced maximum strain of 181 %, thermal stability (188 °C) and corresponding composite gel electrolyte reflects higher ionic conductivity of 1.7 × 10–3 S cm-1 and wider electrochemical window at room temperature than PVDF and PVDF-HFP composite electrolytes. Expectedly, quasi-solid state lithium metal battery of MIL-125 (Ti)/P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) composite gel electrolyte exhibits higher discharge capacity (152.8 mAh g-1) at 240th cycle and 1 C, longer cycling life and better rate performance under large current density than PVDF and PVDF-HFP composite electrolytes.

Randomized Control Trial on Internet-Based Self-Management of Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the impact of incorporating internet-based resources and popular science workshops on self-care management among hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula. Design A randomized controlled trial involving 110 hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula, randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Methods The experimental group received self-management training utilizing internet resources and interactive workshops, while the control group received conventional health education methods. After the intervention, the self-management proficiency of both groups was assessed, including comprehension of arteriovenous fistula-related information, satisfaction levels, self-care abilities, engagement in functional exercises, quality of life, and other relevant factors. Findings Patients in the experimental group exhibited significantly greater proficiency in arteriovenous fistula self-management knowledge, higher levels of patient satisfaction, enhanced self-management abilities, improved functional exercise performance, and better overall quality of life compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions The combination of internet resources and popular science workshops presents a novel and promising approach for educating and promoting self-care management among hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula. This method holds potential for widespread dissemination and implementation in science education. Clinical Evidence The study demonstrates the tangible benefits of integrating internet-based resources and popular science workshops into self-management training for arteriovenous fistula among hemodialysis patients, as evidenced by improved knowledge, satisfaction, abilities, exercise performance, and quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group.

The SME tool supporting employers of small- and medium-sized enterprises during the return to work of employees on long-term sick leave: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and for a process evaluation

BackgroundReturning to work after long-term sick leave can be challenging, particularly in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where support may be limited. Recognizing the responsibilities and challenges of SME employers, a web-based intervention (hereafter the SME tool) has been developed. The SME tool aims to enhance the employer’s intention and ability to support the sick-listed employee. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, it is hypothesized that this intention is enhanced by intervening in the employer’s autonomy, competences, and relatedness targeted at, e.g., communication with sick-listed employee, involvement of other stakeholders, and practical support. This is achieved by means of providing templates, communication videos, and information on legislation. This article describes the design of an effect and process evaluation of the SME tool.MethodsA randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 6-month follow-up will be conducted with a parallel-group design with two arms: an intervention group and a control group. Sick-listed employees (≤ 8 weeks) of SMEs (≤ 250 employees) at risk of long-term sick leave and their employers will be recruited and randomly allocated as a dyad (1:1). Employers randomized to the intervention group receive unlimited access to the SME tool, while those in the control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome is the satisfaction of the employee with the return to work (RTW) support provided by their employer. Secondary outcomes include social support, work performance, and quality of work life at the employee level and self-efficacy in providing RTW support at the employer level. Outcomes will be assessed using questionnaires at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Process evaluation measures include, e.g., recruitment and use of and perceived usefulness of the SME tool. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with employers, employees, and occupational physicians will explore the interpretation of the RCT results and strategies for the national implementation of the SME tool.DiscussionThe SME tool is hypothesized to be valuable in addition to usual care helping employers to effectively support the RTW of their long-term sick-listed employees, by improving the employers’ intention and ability to support.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06330415. Registered on February 14, 2024.