Traditional Work Research Articles

Sustainable procurement of medical devices in an international context - Part 3

Background and Objectives This article is the third in a series of three manuscripts published in this journal. It aims to describe how sustainable procurement of medical devices (MDs) can be implemented in operational projects in the context of developing countries. It also further details how the biomedical/clinical engineer lead (BCEL) in charge of technical support during the MD procurement process can apply sustainability principles and concepts of value-based procurement. Material and Methods Based on the authors’ experience of more than 20 years in procurement projects and implementation of MDs, the role of the BCEL will be developed from a theoretical point of view with the description of the second and third pillars of a sustainable purchase following the needs assessment: the assessment of existing conditions along with local capacities and the evaluation of the use conditions during the lifetime of the medical equipment. The application of these principles in operational projects will be further discussed by analyzing literature and lessons learned from projects implemented in developing countries. Results/Proposal The BCEL has a key role in the sustainable procurement of MDs to design the technical specifications of the goods, related services, and post-sales conditions to maximize the benefit of the investment. As the specialist can analyze the local existing conditions and capacities while ensuring efficient use of the MDs during their lifespan, they can contribute to a sustainable implementation of MDs in developing countries. The BCEL shall also be able to analyze the local and international markets to find all possible technological solutions that meet the needs, local conditions, and capacities and ensure quality use during the lifespan of the purchased MD. The BCEL shall have competencies in identifying all the risks related to the use of the MD from the safety risks linked to its installation, use, and maintenance to the sustainability risks linked to obtaining the conditions that guarantee the use of the device and maintaining them as long as possible. Examples of these conditions include the presence of qualified and trained users, availability of maintenance and consumable budgets, availability and maintenance of infrastructure conditions (access, electrical power, water, drainage, medical gasses, etc.), and last but not least, presence of patients requiring a diagnosis or treatment using the purchased MD who were identified during the evaluation of the first pillar: a sound needs assessment. Conclusion As an evolution of the BCEL’s traditional biomedical and clinical engineering work, he/she shall assume the responsibility to guarantee the sustainability of the MD purchase. This quality assurance and control role is achieved by a sound theoretical background knowledge based on the three sustainable procurement pillars: the needs, existing and lifetime use conditions assessments, the analysis of the local and international markets, and a broad understanding of sustainability risks.

Unsupervised Fusion Feature Matching for Data Bias in Uncertainty Active Learning.

Active learning (AL) aims to sample the most valuable data for model improvement from the unlabeled pool. Traditional works, especially uncertainty-based methods, are prone to suffer from a data bias issue, which means that selected data cannot cover the entire unlabeled pool well. Although there have been lots of literature works focusing on this issue recently, they mainly benefit from the huge additional training costs and the artificially designed complex loss. The latter causes these methods to be redesigned when facing new models or tasks, which is very time-consuming and laborious. This article proposes a feature-matching-based uncertainty that resamples selected uncertainty data by feature matching, thus removing similar data to alleviate the data bias issue. To ensure that our proposed method does not introduce a lot of additional costs, we specially design a unsupervised fusion feature matching (UFFM), which does not require any training in our novel AL framework. Besides, we also redesign several classic uncertainty methods to be applied to more complex visual tasks. We conduct rigorous experiments on lots of standard benchmark datasets to validate our work. The experimental results show that our UFFM is better than the similar unsupervised feature matching technologies, and our proposed uncertainty calculation method outperforms random sampling, classic uncertainty approaches, and recent state-of-the-art (SOTA) uncertainty approaches.

The Ideorealm of Translation from the Perspective of Translation Horizon Theory: A Case Study of a Happy Excursion

Professor Chen Daliang proposed the Chinese Translation Theory with “Translation Horizon” as its core, explaining the three states of literary translations: sense, flavor and ideorealm, constructing a theoretical system for the theory of translation horizon, which has Chinese characteristics and represents an innovative development of traditional Chinese translation theories. As the first chapter of Zhuangzi, A Happy Excursion can be regarded as representative of Zhuangzi both in terms of thought and artistry; it contains rich wisdom of classical Chinese philosophy. This paper takes Translation Horizon Theory as the theoretical framework through studying Lin Yutang’s English version of A Happy Excursion so as to explore strategies conducive to promoting Chinese culture by means of literature translation, and to building Chinese characteristic translation studies system, aiming at providing reference for translation of traditional Chinese works.

Poromechanics Modeling Forecasts Production, Analyzes Productivity Decline

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 212200, “Accurate Production Forecasting and Productivity Decline Analysis Using Coupled Full-Field and Near-Wellbore Poromechanics Modeling,” by Yan Li, Bin Wang, and Jiehao Wang, Chevron, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ Productivity index (PI) decline is caused by different mechanisms in both the wellbore region and the far field. Damage in the wellbore region can be simulated by detailed wellbore modeling. A newly developed full-field and near-wellbore poromechanics coupling scheme is used in the complete paper to model PI degradation against time. Near-wellbore damage and field and well interactions are identified when applying the coupling scheme for a deepwater well. History matching, production forecasting, and safe drawdown limits are derived for operational decisions. Full-Field Reservoir Model and Near-Wellbore Poromechanics Model Coupling Full-field and near-wellbore modeling involves coupling the simulation of a full-field reservoir model with one or more near-wellbore poromechanics models. In the coupled simulation, the full-field reservoir model dictates the changing flow or thermal boundary conditions for the embedded near-wellbore models. Meanwhile, near-wellbore phenomena affect well productivity in the full-field reservoir model, altering the flow and thermal boundary conditions on all near-wellbore models in the same field. While capturing the dynamic interactions between the full-field model and all embedded near-wellbore models is of vital importance, the traditional near-wellbore modeling work flow considers only one-way coupling. This work flow is labor-intensive and lacks the dynamic interplay between the reservoir and near-wellbore models. A novel near-wellbore coupling framework is developed to automate data exchange and capture dynamic interactions between the full-field model and the near-wellbore model. In the full-field reservoir and geomechanics coupling applications, only a reservoir simulator solves reservoir flow and thermal equations and a geomechanics simulator solves solid mechanics equations. The reservoir and geomechanics simulators exchange 3D field data. Because solid mechanics equations are quasistatic, the geomechanics simulator does not take timesteps in full-field coupling. In near-wellbore coupling, however, both reservoir and geomechanics simulators solve reservoir flow and thermal equations. The near-wellbore geomechanics model also may solve solid mechanics or other equations coupled to flow or thermal equations in the near-wellbore model. All physics are included in the near-wellbore model for the coupling. Both field properties (3D) and transient boundary conditions (2D) must be mapped onto the near-wellbore model. It is important to ensure that the full-field and near-wellbore models are consistent. A 3D data-mapping module is developed to map flow and rock properties and initial conditions from the full-field model to the near-wellbore model. During the simulation, the transient pressure/temperature boundary conditions (2D) at the external boundary of the near-wellbore model must be mapped from the full-field model to the near-wellbore model to update transient boundary conditions. The automated data mapping in the coupling scheme eliminates the need for manual mapping of field properties and transient boundary conditions.

Acoustic echo cancellation based on two‐stage BLSTM

AbstractAcoustic echo cancellation (AEC) methods aim to suppress the acoustic coupling for hands‐free speech communication. Traditional AEC works by identifying the acoustic impulse response using adaptive algorithms. With recent research advances, deep learning has become an attractive choice for AEC. This paper introduces a two‐stage bidirectional long short term memory (TS‐BLSTM) framework, incorporating multi‐head self‐attention mechanisms after each BLSTM block. This is aimed at better capturing contextual information and further enhancing ability of the model to handle complex acoustic scenarios. The BLSTM blocks are utilized to aggregate magnitude spectrum information, modelling both time and frequency dependencies. Additionally, dilation convolution is introduced to broaden the range of information in each convolution output. The magnitude decoder estimates a mask for the input, resulting in the generation of an estimated magnitude spectrum for near‐end speech. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves promising outcomes.

Flow visualization experiments of argon injection in a molten salt natural circulation loop

Off-gas systems are implemented in molten salt reactor designs to control the release of gaseous fission products. Two-phase flow in molten salt must be studied to understand how the system will behave in comparison to traditional working fluids like water. Flow visualization experiments and particle image velocimetry measurements were performed for three argon bubble sizes injected into a co-current stream of molten salt in a natural circulation loop facility. Similar bubble sizes were injected in experiments with water to compare the bubble shape, trajectory, and wake flow behavior of the fluids. The bubble region of interest was used to calculate the equivalent diameter and terminal velocity. Results for water showed a wobbling bubble surface and less stable bubble trajectory due to lower surface tension and viscosity compared with molten salt. Particle image velocimetry results demonstrated the increased viscosity of salt dampens turbulent fluctuations for the smaller bubble size. For a cap bubble, turbulent fluctuations were larger and longer lasting than in results for the wake flow of an argon cap bubble in water.

Understanding the informal aspects of medication processes to maintain patient safety in hospitals: a sociotechnical ethnographic study in paediatric units

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are common in hospitals, affecting one in six child in-patients. Medication processes are complex systems. This study aimed to explore the work-as-done of medication safety in three English paediatric units using direct observation and semi-structured interviews. We found that a combination of the physical environment, traditional work systems and team norms were among the systemic barriers to medicines safety. The layout of wards discouraged teamworking and reinforced professional boundaries. Workspaces were inadequate, and interruptions were uncontrollable. A less experienced workforce undertook prescribing and verification while more experienced nurses undertook administration. Guidelines were inadequate, with actors muddling through together. Formal controls against ADEs included checking (of prescriptions and administration) and barcode administration systems, but these did not integrate into workflows. Families played an important part in the safe administration of medication and provision of information about their children but were isolated from other parts of the system.

Improved Microelectrode Array Electrode Design for Heavy Metal Detection

Traditional working electrodes are not sufficient to realize the low detection limit and wide detection range necessary for the detection of heavy metals. In this study, a microelectrode array electrode was proposed using a design scheme based on microelectromechanical systems that was optimized with finite element software. The working electrode adopted an innovative composite structure to realize the integrated design of the working and counter electrodes, which improved the system integration. Performance tests showed that the electrode realized the quantitative analysis of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) with a low detection limit (0.1 μg/L) and a wide detection range (0.1–3000 μg/L). The electrode successfully measured the lead and copper ion concentrations in the Sanya River, including both seawater and freshwater environments. The experimental results demonstrate that the electrode exhibits excellent adaptability to environmental conditions and can be potentially applied for technical support in environmental monitoring and sewage treatment.

Citizen-Centric Governance: Enhancing Citizen Engagement through Artificial Intelligence Tools

The public sector presents important steps for digital transformation. Digital transformation uses a series of tools and methods to improve the relationship with citizens and improve benefits. This paper explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in governance processes and provides public institutions with insight regarding the impact of integrating chatbot communication tools when interacting with citizens. The present research provides an analysis of the socio-economic factors that determine the use of artificial intelligence tools, i.e., the propensity to interact more with the public administration as a result of improved communication through virtual assistants, and highlights the implications of AI in improving services towards civil society by determining the degree of satisfaction on aspects such as reduced waiting times in queues, access to information regardless of the traditional working hours of civil servants, quicker execution of operations, et al. The results, derived from an analysis of 507 sets of responses obtained from an online questionnaire, indicate that a number of variables, such as residential environment, employment status, household income and education level, significantly impact the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in mediating citizen communication with government.

Ключевые особенности сопровождения персонализированной профориентационной работы в цифровой профориентационной среде школы

The aim of the research is to identify the key features of supporting personalized career guidance work in the digital career guidance environment of schools. The article introduces the concepts of a digital career guidance environment, personalized career guidance work; clarifies the distinctive features of personalized career guidance work; outlines the tasks of organizing such work format in the digital career guidance environment of schools. It provides a detailed description of the actions of all participants in this process according to the selected forms and methods of career guidance work. The article describes the possibility of implementing personalized career guidance work in schools using modern methods, specifically through information and communication technologies. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the justification of not just organizing traditional career guidance work in schools but in personalizing it using modern digital technologies, achieved by orienting the implemented work around the essential characteristics of the concept of "digital career guidance environment" and the distinctive features of personalized career guidance work in the digital career guidance environment of schools. The study established that supporting personalized career guidance work in the digital career guidance environment of schools has its specifics, involving following the stages of implementing career guidance work (motivational-cognitive, diagnostic-informative, practical-activity, and actualizing), based on the activities of participants in this process (teachers and psychologists mainly support schoolchildren during the career guidance work process, while schoolchildren engage in active cognitive and practical activities in the digital environment by studying information and participating in career guidance events).

Finding Fulfillment: An Examination of the Fulfillment of Maslow’s Needs Among Traditional, Remote, and Hybrid-Setting Employees

The traditional office paradigm has shifted in the wake of COVID-19 and the Great Resignation. Workplace flexibility is no longer an employee benefit but rather an expectation. To explore the effects of this change, this study applied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory to elements of organizational job design. Specifically, this study sought to determine if traditional, remote, or hybrid work settings influence employees’ fulfillment of Maslow’s five fundamental human needs. As a result, this study found that hybrid-setting employees have statistically greater levels of satisfaction with physiological needs, safety-security needs, belongingness needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs than when compared to traditional and remote-setting employees. These results affirm the benefits of hybrid-setting employment, likely attributed to heightened workplace flexibility compounded with the maintenance of in-person collaboration and social contact.

Hybrid work – a reconceptualisation and research agenda

Abstract We begin this conceptual paper, by outlining three recent developments in the context of the changing the nature of work: (1) the increasing proportion of remote work, (2) the quickly expanding use of (generative) AI applications, and (3) the growing advancements in virtual world technologies and platforms. We argue that the synthesis of these developments will vastly impact traditional work models and practices. This transformation warrants a critical rethinking of the traditional understanding of hybrid work which, so far, has predominantly focused on the spectrum of in-person and remote work. We suggest adjusting this perspective and posit grand challenges and related research questions in order to do so.

Available Transfer Capability Assessment of Multiarea Power Systems with Conditional Generative Adversarial Network

Available transfer capability (ATC) is an important measurement index to evaluate the security margin of interconnected power grids and serve as a reference for the transmission right transaction. In modern power systems, ATC is affected by the transmission network topology, renewable power output uncertainty, and load demand uncertainty. Traditional works usually model the power source-load uncertainty by using robust optimization, interval optimization, or chance-constraint optimization, which cannot fully reflect the probabilistic distribution of the daily source-load uncertainty. This paper proposes an ATC assessment methodology based on the typical stochastic scenarios of renewable output and load demand of multiarea power systems. Furthermore, the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) algorithm is adopted to generate and select representative scenario sets based on historical raw data, which can fully reflect the usual operating condition of a system with high renewable energy penetration. The scenario set that is fed into the ATC assessment model can fully characterize the impact of source-load uncertainty on daily ATC. Finally, the proposed method is verified by a modified three-area IEEE 9-bus system and a real-world provincial power system.

The quantum mechanics of skincare: A context for the biochemistry curriculum.

Designing a relevant and engaging curriculum for biochemistry undergraduates can be challenging for topics which are at the periphery of the subject. We have used the framework of context-based learning as a means of assessing understanding of quantum theory in a group of students in their junior year. Our context, the role of retinol in skincare, provides a basis for the simple application of quantum mechanical principles to a biological context in an adaptation of the polyene in a box concept. As part of the learner journey, they gain experience of practical computational chemistry, which provided an in silico alternative to traditional laboratory work during the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and this approach is now firmly embedded in the undergraduate curriculum.

Effectiveness of Music Interventions in Occupational Stress of Women

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate if listening to music can help reduce stress for women who work in an electric car parts factory in Mashhad. Methods: Out of 200 people in this study, 32 were chosen at random and split into two groups: one for the experiment and one for comparison. To gather information, we used a job stress questionnaire and a music therapy plan that consisted of 30 sessions, which lasted for one month. In this study, we played the music that the participants liked 4 times during each session. Each time, we played the music for 15 minutes, while they were taking a break or before they started working. Results: There were 16 participants in the group we tested. The people in the control group followed their normal way of doing things and did not use this procedure. The research found that music intervention helps decrease the occupational stress in women more than the traditional work schedule method. The effect size of the music intervention was 0.809, which means it had approximately an 81% impact on reducing stress. Conclusion: The results of the pre-tests and post-tests indicated that the stress levels of women in the experiment group decreased significantly after listening to music. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that listening to music while taking breaks at work helps to lower job stress.

Ceramic Product Design Based on Chinese Festival Element

In order to improve cultural and artistic value, the study investigates the significance of incorporating Chinese festivals into digital ceramic design. The integration of Chinese festivals into digital ceramics is a way to celebrate and preserve traditional Chinese culture while communicating historical and cultural significance, according to a thematic analysis. This combination provides a forum for intercultural communication and creativity. Additionally, by enhancing artistic and cultural elements, combining Chinese festivals with digital ceramic product designs has synergistic value. With ceramics, this method allows for creative expression, storytelling, and cultural heritage preservation. Tradition and technology work together to create distinctive, eye-catching digital ceramic works that encapsulate the spirit of Chinese festivals while also preserving and advancing cultural traditions. Essentially, the study highlights how Chinese festivals can be incorporated into digital ceramic design. It demonstrates how this integration fosters creativity and cultural preservation by bridging the gap between tradition and technology. Similar to how symbols are essential to ceramic design, fusing traditional and modern aesthetics makes ceramic products more appealing and allows for deeper cultural significance. In order to bridge the gaps in Chinese ceramic design and ultimately advance Chinese culture and ceramics through innovative design, the study emphasises the necessity of semiotic approaches and thematic holiday-themed ceramic designs. This study advances the knowledge of how traditional culture can enhance modern ceramic design, creating a bond with consumers and preserving the health of China's ceramics sector.

Technostress Phenomenon as a Silent Impact of ICT Era: Case Study Indonesian Female Civil Servants

The transition of work systems from traditional systems to information, communication and technology (ICT)-based work systems after Covid 19 has had certain impacts on employees in all government offices in the world. The implementation of the work from home (WFH) policy established by a number of government offices in Indonesia is a reasonable decision to anticipate the spread of Covid 19 and implement a new normal work system. The transition from traditional work systems to new ICT-based and online work systems has had a direct and indirect impact on human life, especially civil servants in government offices in Indonesia. There are silent actors who are most affected, suchus women or mothers employee, because they have dual roles, household work and office work. This research was conducted to analyze the factors that driving technostress in female civil servants when working ICT-based or online. The study aims to carry out advocacy and provide recommendations for solutions to related parties. This research method uses a qualitative approach. The research analysis show that there are several factors that trigger technostress in female civil servants in Indonesia, such as unlimited working hours, when children or family members are sick, have to caring babies or toddlers while working virtually, technological capabilities issue, signal and network issue, limited facilities during WFH, unavailability of household assistants/caregivers, and so on. Based on the results of research and data analysis, this research recommends that even though WFO or WFH with working ICT -base system are implemented, the Indonesian Government must continue to make policy regulations regarding maximum working time hours for civil servants, especially female researchers in Indonesia. This is to avoid excessive and inefficient working time which can result in technostress. The ICT work system teaches us to change our lifestyle by prioritizing health and a balanced work system.

The anti-urolithiasis activity and safety of strangury-relieving herbs: A comparative study based on fruit fly kidney stone model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceUrolithiasis is one of the oldest and most widespread urological diseases suffered globally. In the long history of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there're numerous herbs documented with strangury-relieving properties playing crucial roles in treating various urological disorders, including dysuria, hematuria, and renal colic, etc., which may be caused by urolithiasis. Exploring these herbs may reveal safer, more effective, and cost-efficient drugs and therapies for urolithiasis. Aim of the studyThis study aims to assess the anti-urolithiasis efficacy and safety of 46 Chinese traditional and folk herbal drugs using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) kidney stone model, in order to identify the most valuable ethnomedicinal materials. Materials and methodsWater extract and 50% ethanol extract of each herb were prepared respectively. 0.2% (w/w) sodium oxalate was chosen as appropriate lithogenic agent through fruit fly life span study. Male fruit-flies within three days of emergence were aged for an additional three days, then were randomly divided into experimental groups, model group and control groups (n = 20). The flies in blank control group, model group and positive control group were fed with standard food, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) Garcinia cambogia extract, respectively. Meanwhile, flies in the experimental groups were raised on standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) herbal extract. The anti-urolithiasis capability of the extracts was evaluated using stone area ratio (the stone area divided by the area of the Malpighian tubule) and stone-clearing rate. Additionally, the 7-day mortality rate was employed as an indicator of safety. ResultsOut of the 46 herbs, 24 exhibited significant anti-urolithiasis effects in their water extracts. Among them, Herba Nephrolepidis, Herba Humuli, Herba Desmodii Styracifolii, Cortex Plumeriae Rubrae, and Herba Mimosae Pudicae showed us a low 7-day mortality rate of fruit-flies as well. However, only a limited number of herbal extracts (8 out of 46) showed obvious anti-urolithiasis activity in their 50% ethanol extracts. ConclusionHighly potential anti-urolithiasis candidates were discovered from strangury-relieving herbs recorded in classical Traditional Chinese Medicine works, highlighting the significant value of traditional and folk ethnopharmacological knowledge.

Gender Equality for Whom? The Changing College Education Gradients of the Division of Paid Work and Housework Among US Couples, 1968-2019.

In response to women's changing roles in labor markets, couples have adopted varied strategies to reconcile career and family needs. Yet, most studies on the gendered division of labor focus almost exclusively on changes either in work or family domain. Doing so neglects the process through which couples negotiate and contest traditional work and family responsibilities. Studies that do examine these tradeoffs have highlighted how work-family strategies range far beyond simple traditional-egalitarian dichotomies but are limited to specific points in time or population subgroups. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and latent-class analysis, this article provides the first population-based estimates of the couple-level tradeoffs inherent in work-family strategies in the United States, documents trends in the share of couples who fall into each of these strategies, and considers social stratification by gender and college education in these trends. Specifically, I identify seven distinct work-family strategies (traditional, neotraditional, her-second-shift, egalitarian, his-second-shift, female-breadwinner, and neither-full-time couples). Egalitarian couples experienced the fastest increase in prevalence among college-educated couples, whereas couples that lacked two full-time earners increased among less-educated couples. Still, about a quarter of all couples adopted "her-second-shift" strategies, with no variation across time, making it the modal work-family strategy among dual-earner couples. The long-run, couple-level results support the view that the gender revolution has stalled and suggest that this stall may be caused partly by strong traditional gender preferences, whereas structural resources appear to facilitate gender equality among a selected few.

Enhancing heat transfer in thermosyphons: The role of self-rewetting nanofluids, and filling ratios for improved performance

This study investigates the complex dynamics of heat transfer and phase change within a flat-shaped thermosyphon, examining various parameters and working fluids. The research explores the effects of different working fluids, filling ratios, and heat inputs on the system's thermal performance. This study employs an axisymmetric model, to enhance the accuracy of the solution compared to a 2D model while maintaining a low computational cost. To validate our numerical model, we conducted comprehensive comparisons with experimental data, including the axisymmetric model, and capturing the nanofluid effects. Remarkably, our simulations consistently align with the experimental findings, demonstrating a high degree of accuracy and reliability in our model.The findings show that self-rewetting nanofluids exhibit superior heat transfer capabilities and a reduced risk of dry-out compared to traditional working fluids. Notably, self-rewetting fluids and self-rewetting nanofluids exhibit a unique behavior, reversed surface tension trends with rising temperatures, which effectively prevents dry-out by attracting liquid to hot regions. Additionally, the enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids during boiling enhances their performance furthermore. Also, the research studies the impact of filling ratios on temperature profiles and heat transfer rates, emphasizing the importance of higher filling ratios in lowering bottom plate temperatures. These insights offer valuable guidance for optimizing thermosyphons in applications like electronic cooling.