Family-centred music therapy with preterm infants and their parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Colombia – A mixed-methods study

This article reports a mixed-methods study of Music Therapy (MT) with preterm infants and their parents in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Colombia. The aim was to find out whether live MT during kangaroo care had an effect on the physiological outcomes of the neonates and would help parents to decrease their anxiety levels and improve parent–infant bonding. The participants were 36 medically stable neonates born between the 28th and 34th week of gestation and their parents. The quantitative data collection included heart rate, oxygen saturation, weight gain, length of hospitalization and re-hospitalization rate. The assessment measures for anxiety and bonding were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Mother-to-Infant-Bonding Scale (MIBS). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data collected with semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The quantitative results showed statistically significant improvements in maternal state-anxiety (p = .007) and in the babies weight gain per day during the intervention period (p = .036). Positive trends were found regarding the babies’ length of hospitalization and re-hospitalization rate. Both parents improved their scores with the MIBS, but this was not statistically significant. The qualitative analysis showed that MT was important for parental well-being, for bonding and for fostering the development of the neonates. Interacting musically with their babies helped parents to experience feelings of connectedness and to distract themselves from their difficulties and from the noisy hospital environment

Bewertung der Lebensdauer von dünnen Hartstoffschichten: Der Impact-Test als ergänzende Prüfmethode

The impact test is a complementary test method for thin PVD and CVD hard coatings and was also examined beyond the specified tests for industry related layer systems such as, for example, CrN, TiAlN or AlCrBN. In addition to the conventional parameters, such as, layer thickness, hardness and adhesion, which describe a layer system, the result of the impact test gives a statement about the fatigue strength of the layer system. Depending on the application area, the impact test can be operated in a permanent contact or in a pounding mode. The reproducibility of the experiments is good, so that 2–3 impact tests permit a meaningful evaluation. If several tests are carried out on one component, a sufficient distance between the individual imprints is necessary in order to avoid mutual interference. The size of the impact imprint depends on the pressing and the material properties of the layer substrate composite, but not on the number of impacts. The deformation caused by the mechanical stresses within the material lead to coating damages at the edge and / or to expansion cracks in the interior of the impact imprint. The layer system is analyzed either by light-optical or by SEM-EDX with regard to damage. A cross-section of the impact imprint also allows it to make a statement about material damage under the layer system. Depending on the coating material to be tested, a suitable sphere material should be selected. Compared to carbide or ceramic sheres, a steel sphere is less suitable for higher test forces and long test durations. The service life of coatings can be determined on flat as well as on convex curved components

Green Factory Planning

Part 1: Sustainable ProductionInternational audiencePlanning green factories implies increased complexity depending on specific planning requirements and contradictory planning targets; these aspects challenge present methods and tool for factory planning. To properly face these challenges with limited time and resources (typical of planning projects) , a factory planning approach that particularly addresses green has to be adaptable to specific cases and aligned with the green vision of the factory. This paper proposes a modular Green Factory Planning and describes its main components. The conceptual elements for a framework and a planning process are presented and differences in methods and tool applications are described in comparison to established approaches. The method and tools are combined to planning modules, linked with a clear information flow as well as responsibility definition. A use case for a typical module that specifically considers energy consumption shows the potential of green as integrated vision for factory planning