STATIC AND DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPOSITE ONE·PIECE HOCKEY STICKS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differE:nces in slatic and dynamic characteristics of one-piece composite hockey sticks of different brands and models. Earlier studies had only evaluated two-pieces sticks of different materials. Even if some static results present many similarities with those disclosed by earlier researchers, torsion tests have demonstrated one-piece composite sticks to be much more torsion resistant than two-pieces and wooden sticks. Furthermore, dynamic evaluations have disclosed very interesting puck-blade interactions, including multiple puck-blade impacts in actual slap shot situations

Direct and indirect effects of land use on bryophytes in grasslands

Land-use intensification is the major threat for biodiversity in agricultural grasslands, and fertilization has been suggested as the most important driver. A common explanation for the decline of bryophyte diversity with higher land-use intensity is an indirect negative effect via the increase in vascular plant productivity, which reduces light levels for bryophytes. However, direct negative effects of land-use intensification may also be important. Here, we disentangle direct and vascular plant biomass mediated indirect effects of land use on bryophytes. We analyzed two complementary datasets from agricultural grasslands, an observational study across 144 differently managed grasslands in Germany and an experimental fertilization and irrigation study of eleven grasslands in the Swiss Alps. We found that bryophyte richness and cover strongly declined with land-use intensity and in particular with fertilization. However, structural equation modelling revealed that although both direct and indirect effects were important, the direct negative effect of fertilization was even stronger than the indirect effect mediated by increased plant biomass. Thus, our results challenge the widespread view that the negative effects of fertilization are mostly indirect and mediated via increased light competition with vascular plants. Our study shows that land use intensification reduces bryophyte diversity through several different mechanisms. Therefore, only low-intensity management with limited fertilizer inputs will allow the maintenance of bryophyte-rich grasslands

La pertinence des stages de formation pratique pour le développement de l’identité professionnelle d’étudiantes infirmières au Québec

Afin d’explorer le processus peu documenté du développement de l’identitéprofessionnelle (IP) d’étudiantes infirmières inscrites à un continuum de formation DECBAC, huit entretiens collectifs (N = 46) ont été analysés à l’aide de concepts issus du modèle psychosociologique de l’IP (Gohier, Anadón, Bouchard, Charbonneau, & Chevrier, 2001). L’analyse de contenu a été effectuée selon l’approche qualitative de Miles et Huberman (2003). Les situations qui conduisent à une remise en question ou minent le désir de devenir infirmière de même que les contextes favorables au développement de l’IP sont précisés. Il s’avère que les stages permettent la mise en pratique de l’IP anticipée dans un contexte sécuritaire. Les attitudes d’accueil en stage favorisent l’émergence d’une IP affirmée. Le site web devenirinfirmiere.org donne accès aux outils éducatifs, aux détails sur le projet et à des données de recherche

Development and Validation of a Tool for Measuring the Professional Identity of Nursing Students: the Q-IPEI / Le développement et la validation d’un instrument de mesure de l’identité professionnelle chez les étudiantes infirmières : le Q-IPEI

Background: The various pressures on nurses in their practice environment, given the complexity of care, have exposed the confusion around the role definition and level of professional identity (PI) of future nurses. To support them in their practice, it is important throughout their education to know their commitment, representations, and sense of identity with respect to their future profession. To our knowledge, there is no measurement tool in the literature that can be used to measure the PI of nursing students throughout their education, given its complex multidimensional nature. Objective: Based on a framework that takes into account the diversity of meanings of PI, the aim of this study was to construct and validate a questionnaire, the Q-IPEI that describes the PI of future nursing students at the personal, relational, and professional practice levels. Methods: A development research approach was used. It was based on a literature review, expert consultation, and validation of the psychometric properties of the Q-IPEI. Data were collected from 488 nursing students in 2013 and 504 in 2014 at five levels of nursing education in the province of Quebec, Canada. Results: The validated Q-IPEI is a questionnaire divided into three components, 11 dimensions, and 68 items. Its factor structure was explored through principal component analyses using 2013 data. It was then confirmed with 2014 data, with an RMSEA of 0.072 and CFI of 0.861. Internal consistency was considered acceptable with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.823 in 2013 and 0.832 in 2014. Discussion: Using the Q-IPEI, key decision-makers in the health system would serve to consolidate and develop proactive strategies with nursing students throughout their education to strengthen their confidence as future nurses and especially help them cope with the current challenges facing the nursing profession. Résumé Contexte : Les diverses pressions imposées aux infirmières dans l’exercice de leur profession, compte tenu de la complexité des soins, ont révélé une confusion quant à la définition du rôle et le niveau d’identité professionnelle (IP) de futures infirmières. Afin de les appuyer dans leur pratique, il est important de connaître leur engagement, leur représentation et leur perception identitaire quant à leur future profession, et ce, tout au long de leur formation. À notre connaissance, en raison de sa nature multidimensionnelle complexe, il n’existe aucun outil dans la littérature permettant de mesurer l’IP des étudiantes durant leur formation en sciences infirmières. Objectif : Fondé sur un cadre qui tient compte de la diversité des significations de l’IP, l’objectif de cette étude était d’élaborer et de valider un questionnaire, le Q-IPEI, qui décrit l’IP des futures étudiantes en sciences infirmières au niveau personnel, relationnel et au niveau de la pratique professionnelle. Méthodologie : Une approche de recherche et développement basée sur une recension des écrits, une consultation d’experts et la validation des propriétés psychométriques du Q-IPEI a été utilisée. Des données ont été recueillies auprès de 488 étudiantes infirmières en 2013 et de 504 étudiantes en 2014 à cinq niveaux de formation infirmière dans la province de Québec, au Canada. Résultats : Le Q-IPEI validé est un questionnaire divisé en 3 éléments, 11 dimensions et 68 énoncés. La structure factorielle a été explorée à l’aide d’analyses de la composante principale en utilisant les données de 2013. Cette structure a ensuite été confirmée avec les données de 2014 (RMSEA de 0,072 et CFI de 0,861). La cohérence interne a été considérée comme acceptable avec un coefficient alpha de Cronbach de 0,823 en 2013 et de 0,832 en 2014. Discussion : À l’aide du Q-IPEI, les décideurs clés du système de santé pourront consolider et développer des stratégies proactives auprès des étudiantes en sciences infirmières durant leur formation, qui renforceraient davantage leur confiance en tant que futures infirmières et surtout les aideraient à mieux faire face aux difficultés actuelles de la profession

Ultrafast Radiographic Imaging and Tracking: An overview of instruments, methods, data, and applications

Ultrafast radiographic imaging and tracking (U-RadIT) use state-of-the-art ionizing particle and light sources to experimentally study sub-nanosecond dynamic processes in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, materials science and other fields. These processes, fundamental to nuclear fusion energy, advanced manufacturing, green transportation and others, often involve one mole or more atoms, and thus are challenging to compute by using the first principles of quantum physics or other forward models. One of the central problems in U-RadIT is to optimize information yield through, e.g. high-luminosity X-ray and particle sources, efficient imaging and tracking detectors, novel methods to collect data, and large-bandwidth online and offline data processing, regulated by the underlying physics, statistics, and computing power. We review and highlight recent progress in: a.) Detectors; b.) U-RadIT modalities; c.) Data and algorithms; and d.) Applications. Hardware-centric approaches to U-RadIT optimization are constrained by detector material properties, low signal-to-noise ratio, high cost and long development cycles of critical hardware components such as ASICs. Interpretation of experimental data, including comparisons with forward models, is frequently hindered by sparse measurements, model and measurement uncertainties, and noise. Alternatively, U-RadIT makes increasing use of data science and machine learning algorithms, including experimental implementations of compressed sensing. Machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches, refined by physics and materials information, may also contribute significantly to data interpretation, uncertainty quantification and U-RadIT optimization.Comment: 51 pages, 31 figures; Overview of ultrafast radiographic imaging and tracking as a part of ULITIMA 2023 conference, Mar. 13-16,2023, Menlo Park, CA, US

Assistive Arm Exoskeleton

The Assistive Arm Exoskeleton aims to assist those in need of support when trying to perform daily tasks. The need for independence during eating by those afflicted by Muscular Dystrophy was specifically targeted. In order to accomplish this, a motorized linkage system capable of supporting a person's arm proof of concept was developed. In implementation, the device would be attached to the user's battery powered wheelchair, and be available to them whenever needed. The system uses a collection of force sensing devices in order to detect user intent. With the information gathered by this sensor interface, the system can position the linkage, and subsequently the user's arm, anywhere within the work space, thus enabling the user to have independent control of their arm once again.\

Assistive Arm Exosleleton

The Assistive Arm Exoskeleton aims to assist those in need of support when trying to perform daily tasks. The need for independence during eating by those afflicted by Muscular Dystrophy was specifically targeted. In order to accomplish this, a motorized linkage system capable of supporting a person’s arm proof of concept was developed. In implementation, the device would be attached to the user’s battery powered wheelchair, and be available to them whenever needed. The system uses a collection of force sensing devices in order to detect user intent. With the information gathered by this sensor interface, the system can position the linkage, and subsequently the user’s arm, anywhere within the work space, thus enabling the user to have independent control of their arm once again

Modelling exchanges between surface water reservoirs and groundwater in basement areas: Case of Kierma (Burkina Faso)

Small-scale surface water reservoirs are essential for water storage in arid and semi-arid areas worldwide and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (Cecchi et al., 2020; Saruchera and Lautze, 2019). These infrastructures provide water for a wide range of activities, in particular irrigation (Forkuor et al., 2019). Besides their essential functions, surface water reservoirs can induce local groundwater recharge (Bambara et al., 2020; Mushtaha et al., 2019). In a context of increasing and pressing water needs of populations and the implementation of a sustainable and integrated water resources management policy, a more complete understanding of the hydrological processes in the watersheds with surface water reservoirs is essential (Ala-aho et al., 2015). It is mainly important to characterize the interactions between surface and groundwater (Boubacar et al., 2020) which remain very complex in general and particularly difficult in semi-arid watersheds where few accurate data are available. The objective of this study is to characterize and assess the interactions between surface water reservoirs and groundwater for water supply to the population. The study was carried out in the Kierma basin in Burkina Faso, which contains surface water reservoirs for irrigation. The physically-based hydrological model, HydroGeoSphere, integrating surface and subsurface flow processes was used for the study. A fully integrated hydrologic model of the Kierma watershed hydrologic was built and calibrated with a three-stage temporal resolution approach. This ranges from steady-state average conditions to dynamic equilibrium with repeating monthly normal forcing data and, fully transient conditions. Simulations results show that the model reproduces seasonal surface water flows and the dynamic of the groundwater levels fairly well. The model allowed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the interactions between surface water and groundwater. The water reservoirs constitute privileged zones of focused recharge estimated on average at 504 mm/year. Direct groundwater recharge also occurs during the rainy season and is estimated on average at 144 mm/year. Groundwater in the Kierma watershed can therefore be exploited for water supply to the population and complementary irrigation