Successful Performance Research Articles

Deeper Than Reason

This article chronicles factors contributingto the neglect of the assessment of practical forms of knowledge in Vocational Education and Training (VET) in England. It illustrates how older, more coherent concepts of forms of knowledge, skills and competence have been pushed to the margins of educational discourse, replaced by restricted, fragmented and much less credible conceptual imposters. The consequences of these restricted conceptions and how they have subsequently become organised, taught and assessed in VET are discussed. Particular attention is given to the ways in which such restricted conceptions can lead to vocational assessment regimes which require little more than ‘one-off’ demonstrations of successful performance, expressed in behaviourist outcomes; the superficial recall of cognitive concepts; and the regurgitation of factual information in pen and paper examinations. Comparisons are drawn between the strongly centralist system of control regulating VET in England and alternative more collaborative state partnership systems of VET currently operating in Continental Europe. This small-scale, qualitative study, conducted with 12 tutors of VET in Further Education (FE) colleges and Industry Training Providers (ITPs) brings to light the impact of these restricted concepts in VET in England today. Research methods include, iterature review, transcripts of semi-structured interviews with vocational teachers and education leaders and focus group discussions. Reflexive Thematic Anlaysis (RTA) is employed to identify subthemes and themes in the data in order to identify, refine and discuss findings. Results reveal that sector practitioners require further professional development in addressing current issues in incoherent curriculum design and inauthentic approaches to assessment.

Low-cost and high-safety montmorillonite-based solid electrolyte for lithium metal batteries

Composite solid-state electrolyte have good interfacial compatibility and mechanical properties, but their safety (such as easy to catch fire) and economic cost are still problems. In present work, an composite solid-state electrolyte was prepared by inserting poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer electrolyte matrix into the interlayer of a low cost clay mineral-montmorillonite. The composite electrolyte exhibited remarkable characteristics, including excellent flame retardancy, high room temperature ionic conductivity of 2.28 × 10−4 S cm−1, wide electrochemical stability window of 4.8 V, high lithium-ion transference number of 0.57 and good mechanical strength of 12.58 MPa. Furthermore, LiFePO4-based solid-state battery, utilizing this composite solid-state electrolyte, exhibited stable cycling with discharge specific capacity of 130 mAh g−1 for over 100 cycles at a rate of 0.5C at room temperature. This successful performance demonstrated the potential of utilizing low-cost and environmentally friendly raw clay mineral materials in high energy density solid-state battery applications.

Exploring the experiences of dentistry students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences of academic motivation: a content analysis study

BackgroundStudents’ academic motivation is crucial to their academic performance, success, and future career performance. Understanding the experiences of students regarding academic motivation can help address this issue. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of dentistry students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences regarding academic motivation.MethodsThis qualitative content analysis study collected data through semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions. The collected data were then organized into codes, subcategories, categories, and themes. Extensive interviews, meetings, and active engagement with the participants were conducted to ensure the strength of the data collected.ResultsThe results of this study yielded 20 subclasses and 11 classes. These codes, categories, and sub-categories were summarized into seven themes: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, outcome expectancies, emotional coping, self-regulation, situational perception, and environment.ConclusionThis study showed that various concepts, from personal processes to environmental and social processes, play a role in students’ academic motivation. This study’s findings can contribute to developing more effective interventions to improve the motivation level of dentistry students.

Professional Competence of Teachers Concerning the Content of the Educational Area: Man and the World of Work in Pre-primary and Primary Education

In the introduction of the paper, the issue of the quality of technical education from the point of view of the professional competence of teachers, with a focus on undergraduate preparation of future teachers and their successful performance in their future careers, is discussed. Further, in more detail, the authors analyse study programs, including the teaching subjects incorporated into them, of pre-primary and primary education at three universities in Slovakia concerning the content and goals of the educational area Man and the world of work. Results of their comparative analysis have shown significant differences in the teacher trainee preparation at the concerned universities. As to the bachelor study programs, these correspond with the topics of the educational area. In the master study programmes, the topical units of the educational area are indicated indirectly in the frame of the learning outcomes. At the same time, the emphasis is put mainly on didactical aspects.

Cross-frequency coupling in cortico-hippocampal networks supports the maintenance of sequential auditory information in short-term memory.

It has been suggested that cross-frequency coupling in cortico-hippocampal networks enables the maintenance of multiple visuo-spatial items in working memory. However, whether this mechanism acts as a global neural code for memory retention across sensory modalities remains to be demonstrated. Intracranial EEG data were recorded while drug-resistant patients with epilepsy performed a delayed matched-to-sample task with tone sequences. We manipulated task difficulty by varying the memory load and the duration of the silent retention period between the to-be-compared sequences. We show that the strength of theta-gamma phase amplitude coupling in the superior temporal sulcus, the inferior frontal gyrus, the inferior temporal gyrus, and the hippocampus (i) supports the short-term retention of auditory sequences; (ii) decodes correct and incorrect memory trials as revealed by machine learning analysis; and (iii) is positively correlated with individual short-term memory performance. Specifically, we show that successful task performance is associated with consistent phase coupling in these regions across participants, with gamma bursts restricted to specific theta phase ranges corresponding to higher levels of neural excitability. These findings highlight the role of cortico-hippocampal activity in auditory short-term memory and expand our knowledge about the role of cross-frequency coupling as a global biological mechanism for information processing, integration, and memory in the human brain.

Impact of sex differences on the feasibility and safety of distal radial access for coronary procedures: a multicenter prospective observational study.

Conventional transradial access in women is associated with a lower success rate and a higher incidence of spasm compared to men. To date, the effect of sex on the performance of distal radial access (DRA) has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of sex on catheterization success and other performance parameters of DRA procedures. This is a prospective three-center observational study. From August 2020 to September 2022, data from all consecutive patients who underwent DRA for coronary procedures were collected. A total of 868 procedures were registered and stratified into two groups according to sex: women (n = 258) and men (n = 610). Female patients had less favorable baseline characteristics than male patients in terms of absent or weak pulse (29% vs. 17%; P < 0.001), distal radial diameter (2.2 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.4 mm; P < 0.001) and proximal radial diameter (2.5 ± 0.7 vs. 2.7 ± 0.7 mm; P = 0.001). No differences in success rates were found in women compared to men (94.2% vs. 96.6%; P = 0.135), with a higher presence of arterial spasm in women (5.8% vs. 3.0%; P = 0.044). The preprocedural ultrasound evaluation was the only predictor of DRA success [odds ratio = 20.0 (4.739-83.333); P < 0.001]. In patients undergoing coronary procedures, the success rate of DRA was high regardless of sex, with a higher incidence of arterial spasm in women.

Assessment of Organizational and Technological Reliability Monolithic Works

Every year in the construction process new technologies are introduced, the use of new building materials increases, a large number of contractors are involved, with a significant increase in the scale of construction and the need to ensure the reliability of construction. There arises a necessity to forecast and correct activities of construction organizations, to give adequate assessments of the adopted organizational and technological solutions (OTS), which, asa rule, leads to a decrease in the prescriptive term of construction. Monolithic structure construction process design is closely connected with the necessity of clear and correct choice of the necessary organizational-technological solutions. Depending on the made decisions it is possible to estimate the reliability of monolithic works. This in its turn gives the possibility to forecast the terms of production, the cost of monolithic works on the stage of design of dwelling buildings and industrial objects directly. The article offers a methodology for calculating the evaluation of organizational and technical reliability of the process of monolithic structures. For the successful performance of monolithic works it is necessary to ensure the reliable functioning of all participants of the process from designers to construction teams. The article presents the calculation of organizational and technological reliability index (OTR) of monolithic works. To calculate the index the author proposed a model and introduced the concept of reliability of the considered process of monolithic works as a probability of achieving the final goal. At the same time, the process of monolithic works performance both for residential and civil objects is taken as a complex stochastic system, which includes a set of co-dependent relations. The application of the assumed approach for the calculation of organizational and technological reliability of monolithic works with small changes, refinements can be applied to the calculation of other works in the construction of buildings and structures throughout the life cycle of construction. At the same time, this methodology makes it possible to obtain a numerical value of reliability assessment, which is very relevant when choosing organizational and technological solutions.

Fleet management for earthmoving operation in the phase of detail estimation using mixed integer nonlinear programming

ABSTRACT Earthmoving operations generally account for about a quarter of the construction budget in high-way constructions. Feasible planning is thus required for delivering the successful performance of such projects. Selecting the best fleet for the operation is one of the crucial factors affecting both duration and cost. However, owing to changing operating circumstances and the uncertainty of construction projects, this task is yet conducted based on the experience of site managers. The existing literature has witnessed that discrete event simulation (DES) and references such as the construction standard production rate (CSPR) are used to assist the decision-making. Those methods have shown limitations for practical application due to the need for expert knowledge of simulation modeling and time-consuming efforts for data collection. Accordingly, this study proposes a more efficient method of using mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) in multi-objective problems, enabling optimal fleet information derivation based on given circumstances. The proposed method uses the CSPR-based mathematical equations for the consideration of productivity generated by the types and sizes of equipment. A comparative study of the proposed method and a DES approach was given for further discussions.

Evaluating Urology Program Directors' Perception on Resident Application Parameters Following the Transition of USMLE Step 1 to Pass/Fail

ObjectiveTo investigate how the shift of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 to a Pass/Fail (P/F) scoring system impacts the perceptions of Urology Program Directors (PDs) on evaluating urology residency applicants. Methods and MaterialsA cross-sectional survey was sent to 117 PDs, including questions about program characteristics, perceptions of shelf scores and medical school rank post-transition, beliefs about the predictive value of Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores for board success and residency performance, and changes in applicant parameter ranking. Results45 PDs (38% response rate) participated. Notably, 49% favored releasing quantitative clerkship grades, and 71% valued medical school rank more. Opinions on Step 1 scores' correlation with board success were split (49% agreed), and 44% endorsed Step 2 CK scores' connection to board performance. As predictors of good residents, only 9% and 22% considered Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores, respectively, indicative. Clerkship grades and Urology rotation recommendation letters-maintained significance, while research experience gained importance. Step 2 CK scores' importance rose but didn’t match Step 1 scores' previous significance. ConclusionThe transition to Pass/Fail (P/F) for USMLE Step 1 adds intricacies to urology residency selection, exposing Program Directors' uncertainties regarding clerkship grades and the relevance of medical school rank. This research underscores the dynamic nature of urology residency admissions, emphasizing the increasing importance of research in evaluating applicants and a diminishing emphasis on volunteering and leadership.

EMI EMC: Background, Standards and Design Aspects

In a multi subsystem environment, in order for the subsystems to interoperate, electromagnetic interference and compatibility aspects have to be addressed. This is a critical aspect of the design and identifying the EMI and EMC aspects at the specifications stage itself lends to a better final design outcome. This paper provides a brief overview of the current standards and elucidates the EMI EMC design aspects with the help of three case studies viz. Antenna Platform for LCA MMR, IDSN32 SRCU and Anuchitra DBS. The methods, measures and design practices used for a successful EMI-EMC performance outcome are elucidated.

Adaptive Tensor-Based Feature Extraction for Pupil Segmentation in Cataract Surgery.

Cataract surgery remains the only definitive treatment for visually significant cataracts, which are a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Successful performance of cataract surgery relies on stable dilation of the pupil. Automated pupil segmentation from surgical videos can assist surgeons in detecting risk factors for pupillary instability prior to the development of surgical complications. However, surgical illumination variations, surgical instrument obstruction, and lens material hydration during cataract surgery can limit pupil segmentation accuracy. To address these problems, we propose a novel method named adaptive wavelet tensor feature extraction (AWTFE). AWTFE is designed to enhance the accuracy of deep learning-powered pupil recognition systems. First, we represent the correlations among spatial information, color channels, and wavelet subbands by constructing a third-order tensor. We then utilize higher-order singular value decomposition to eliminate redundant information adaptively and estimate pupil feature information. We evaluated the proposed method by conducting experiments with state-of-the-art deep learning segmentation models on our BigCat dataset consisting of 5,700 annotated intraoperative images from 190 cataract surgeries and a public CaDIS dataset. The experimental results reveal that the AWTFE method effectively identifies features relevant to the pupil region and improved the overall performance of segmentation models by up to 2.26% (BigCat) and 3.31% (CaDIS). Incorporation of the AWTFE method led to statistically significant improvements in segmentation performance (P < 1.29 × 10-10 for each model) and yielded the highest-performing model overall (Dice coefficients of 94.74% and 96.71% for the BigCat and CaDIS datasets, respectively). In performance comparisons, the AWTFE consistently outperformed other feature extraction methods in enhancing model performance. In addition, the proposed AWTFE method significantly improved pupil recognition performance by up to 2.87% in particularly challenging phases of cataract surgery.

Defining competencies in robotic thyroidectomy: development of a model assessing an expert operator's intraoperative performance skills and cognitive strategies.

The changing medical education environment emphasizes the need for time efficiency, increasing the demand for competency-based medical education to improve trainees' learning strategies. This study was performed to determine the competencies required for successful performance of robotic thyroidectomy (RT) and to determine the consensus of experts for performance of RT. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews with RT experts and 11 field observations. Cognitive task analysis was performed to determine the competencies required for experts to perform RT. A modified Delphi methodology was used to determine how 20 experts rated the importance of each item of RT performance on a Likert 7-point scale. The criteria for the Delphi consensus were set at a Cronbach's α≥0.80 with two survey rounds. After 11 field observations and 12 semi-structured interviews, 89 items were identified within six modules. These items were grouped into sub-modules according to their theme. The modified Delphi survey, involving 21 experts, reached the consensus standard during the second round (Cronbach's α=0.954), enabling the identification of the 64 most important items within six modules related to RT performance: midline incision to isthmectomy (MID module; n=8), lateral dissection (LAT module; n=7), preservation of inferior parathyroid glands (INF module; n=16), preservation of recurrent laryngeal nerve and dissection of the ligament of Berry (BER module; n=21), dissection of the thyroid upper pole (SUP module; n=10), and specimen removal and closure (END module; n=2). This mixed-method study combining qualitative and quantitative methodology identified modules of core competencies required to perform RT. These modules can be used as a standard and objective guide to train surgeons to perform RT and evaluate outcomes.

Chimney Stenting vs BASILICA for Prevention of Acute Coronary Obstruction During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BackgroundCoronary obstruction (CO) is a potentially life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Chimney stenting or leaflet laceration with transcatheter electrosurgery (Bioprosthetic or Native Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to Prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery Obstruction [BASILICA]) are 2 techniques developed to prevent CO. ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to compare periprocedural and 1-year outcomes of chimney and BASILICA in TAVR patients at high risk of CO. MethodsThis multicenter observational registry enrolled consecutive TAVR patients at high risk of CO, undergoing either preventive chimney stenting or BASILICA. Clinical success was defined as successful performance of the chimney or BASILICA technique without clinically relevant ostial CO. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events, a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or unplanned target lesion coronary revascularization at 1 year. ResultsA total of 168 patients were included: 71 (42.3%) received chimney stenting, and 97 (57.7%) underwent BASILICA. Patients undergoing BASILICA had higher preprocedural risk of CO, as indicated by lower sinotubular junction height (18.2 ± 4.8 mm vs 14.8 ± 3.4 mm; P < 0.001) and diameter (28.2 ± 4.5 vs 26.8 ± 3.4; P = 0.029). Rates of periprocedural complications were similar between the 2 groups. Clinical success was 97.2% and 96.9% in chimney and BASILICA, respectively (P = 0.92). At 1-year follow-up, the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was 18.7% (95% CI: 11%-30.6%) in the chimney group and 19.9% (95% CI: 12.1%-31.5%) in the BASILICA group (log-rank P = 0.848), whereas chimney was associated with a numerically higher cardiovascular mortality than BASILICA (6.7% vs 1.3%; log-rank P = 0.168). ConclusionsChimney stenting and BASILICA effectively prevent TAVR-induced acute CO. Both techniques seem to have comparable acceptable periprocedural and 1-year outcomes.

REVIEW STUDY FOR MIGRAINE IDENTIFICATION USING BRAIN SIGNAL ANALYSIS

Migraine is a neurological disease characterized by pulsating pain on one side of the head. Sometimes it is accompanied by sensory and visual symptoms. The symptoms may worsen and turn from an occasional headache to a chronic headache. In some cases, it develops into other diseases such as epilepsy and stroke, which affects the health of the individual and society, causing the loss of many working hours. Therefore, the researchers proposed several ways to diagnose this disease ccombined with machine and deep learning techniques in order to advance the health situation and develop the medical care provided to the patient away from traditional methods that are usually cumbersome and take a long time. These methods include recording brain signals and analyzing them to extract distinctive features and benefit from them later in diagnosing and classifying the disease. As well as the MRI method) magnetic resonance imaging (of the brain to detect changes occurring in the functional connectivity of different brain regions associated with pain. So, the primary aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of machine and deep learning algorithms to predict and detection migraine and its types from EEG and MRI method. The results show that deep learning has the ability to predict migraines based on EEG, which could eventually be used to assist in clinical care. Based on the resting state, CWT method, and AlexNet classifier, the scenario, approach, and model that demonstrated the greatest successful performance for early diagnosis of migraine (99.74%) were determined. We believe that the results of this study are encouraging and useful for early detection of migraines based on electroencephalogram (EEG).

The Interaction Between Arousal, Negative Emotions, and Athlete Performance

This article examines the interaction between physiological arousal, negative emotions, and the athlete’s performance. It describes how heart rate, physiological arousal, emotions, the sympathetic nervous system, and performance are interconnected and explains how warm-ups prepare athletes for optimal training and competition. The article also provides coaches with strategies that can guide an athlete toward an appropriate level of physiological arousal for a successful performance and explains how to implement a growth mindset into day-to-day coaching so athletes have a positive attitude toward their training and can better manage situations that trigger negative emotions.

Franchise management strategy driving franchisee performance in the service sectors in Thailand

AbstractThis empirical study aims to investigate the impact of different dimensions of franchise management strategies on franchisee performance in the professional service sector. The hypothesized relationship was supported by agency theory, which explains the situation of two parties, one representing the other in day‐to‐day transactions. The samples were 259 managers and supervisors who had worked for franchise service businesses located in Thailand and had regular contact with the franchisor of the global firm. Purposive and snowballing methods were employed to distribute questionnaires to the target respondents. The results of structural equation modeling indicated a good fit of the data to the proposed model. Hypothesis testing revealed noteworthy direct influences of four franchise management strategies, namely innovative culture, supportive service, information exchange, and recommendation, on the performance of franchisees. This study offers valuable insights into the importance of implementing effective franchise management strategies and their direct implications for franchisee performance. The findings have practical implications for franchise businesses, highlighting key areas of focus for enhancing franchisee success and overall business performance.

Prioritization of sub-watersheds and subsequent site identification for soil water and conservation practices using the SWAT-AHP integrated model in the Lower Sutlej Sub-basin, India.

Prioritization of watersheds is a crucial step in integrated river basin management. It guides resource allocation, planning, decision-making, stakeholder engagement, targeted interventions, and monitoring and evaluation efforts. By identifying and addressing priority watersheds, comprehensive and sustainable management of water resources can be achieved within a river basin. The aim of the current study is to prioritize watersheds using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and site suitability analysis for the implementation of soil and water conservation structures (SWCS) in the prioritized watersheds by using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) of the Lower Sutlej Sub-basin, India. The model was calibrated with observed data from 2017 to 2019 with the first 2years (2015-16) as a warm-up period. Furthermore, validation of the model was done using 2-year data from 2020 to 2021. The model showed successful performance in terms of the R2 range from 0.72 to 0.89, the NSE range from 0.67 to 0.73, the PBIAS range from - 26.70 to 11.30, and the RSR range from 0.51 to 0.57 for stream flow and sediment yield during calibration and validation period. The basin's average annual soil loss ranged from 3.08 to 21.63 t/ha/year, a watershed with the WS2 index seeing the highest rate of soil erosion (21.63 t/ha/year). Hence, WS2 was found to be a top priority. In addition, the site suitability analysis of the prioritized watershed (WS2) reveals that about 1.42% of the area is extremely suitable, 16.14% is highly suitable, and 35.58% is moderately suitable for SWCS. According to the site suitability map validation, both dam locations were found in highly suitable areas, so the developed site suitability map is accurate. This research will help sustainability planners and managers make more informed decisions when building SWCS at suitable sites for better land and water conservation.

Perceptions and Teaching Practice on Musical Imagery Training among Chinese Piano Teachers

This study investigates the perceptions and teaching experiences of Chinese piano teachers regarding the integration of musical imagery training in piano teaching. Through a qualitative research design and purposive sampling, twelve piano teachers participated semi-structured interviews and class observations. Subsequently, three participants implemented the most musical imagery training strategies were invited in the second round of interviews and observations. Eight strategies related to musical imagery training were identified, categorized into notational audiation, inner ear, and mental rehearsal. The implementation process involved three key steps: thinking, communication, and experience, Notably, a multi-strategy combined approach was favored. The four strategies—breaking down music, listening to recordings, performing with eyes closed, and visualizing successful performances—were frequently applied. However, this study revealed participants’ limited familiarity with musical imagery training, leading to sporadic incorporation into teaching practices. It emphasizes the need to enhance teachers' comprehension of musical imagery for effective integration into piano pedagogy.

Comprehensive linear and nonlinear analysis of the effects of spinning on dynamic balancing ability in Hungarian folk dancers

PurposeIn the case of Hungarian folk dancers, it is crucial to maintain correct posture and promptly respond to imbalances. However, traditional dances often lack specific training to develop these skills.MethodsIn this present study, twelve dancers (8 male, 4 female, age: 21.7 ± 3.6 years) and ten non-dancers subjects forming a control group (6 male, 4 female, age: 21.6 ± 2.87 years) participated. During the measurements a 60-second long bipedal balancing test on the balance board was completed two times, and a spinning intervention was inserted in between the two sessions. The balance capabilities of the two groups were assessed through the characterization of motion on an unstable board, and the analysis of subject’s center of mass and head movements.ResultsDancers applied a more sophisticated and resource-intensive strategy to address the balancing task, yielding a better balancing performance in terms of balance board parameters. By preferring a solid stability in the medio-lateral direction, a greater fluctuation in the anterior-posterior direction can be observed (e.g., significantly lower SampEn values). The overall more successful performance is further evidenced by within-subject comparison since significant differences were observed mostly within the control group. Based on the results, the advanced balancing ability of the folk dancer group is more likely to be acquired through years of experience.ConclusionThe results indicate that additional specialized training could further enhance this ability, encouraging the reliance on poorly memorized corrective movements and reducing the risk of injury.

Effects of Individual Client’s Competencies on Construction Project Performance: Mediating Participation Attitude and Partnership

Within a construction project, the clients are categorized as private individuals, private companies, public institutions, etc. In this research, the private client is identified as a non-professional individual building owner and is involved in making decisions and solving problems for successful construction project performance. However, irrational decision-making and conflicts frequently occur with project delay and poor performance because the individual clients are normally non-professionals and lack the capacity to lead various stakeholders on the project. This study analyzes the effects of the project managerial competencies of the private individual clients on the construction performance. The client’s competencies were defined as ‘personal’, ‘social’, and ‘professional’ factors, and participation attitude and partnership were used as the mediating factors. The offline survey was conducted with 241 building owners in South Korea. The result indicates that personal and professional competencies had a positive effect on project performance, whereas social competency did not have an effect. Personal competency had the greatest effect on participation attitude and partnership. Social and professional competencies had a positive effect on partnership, not participation attitude. Hence, this shows that the personal competencies of the building owner as the end user of the project related to cognition, planning, and decision-making are important for project success.