Changing Tactics: Effectively Engaging Level 1 Nursing Students on Different Campuses

The UNM Health Sciences Rio Rancho campus opened its doors to Level 1 nursing students in the fall semester of 2018. The first cohort consisted of 8 students with the intent to slowly increase admissions. Faculty were challenged to incorporate the Rio Rancho cohort into their level 1 nursing courses. Without increasing faculty numbers, the 8 students on the Rio Rancho campus and the 64 students at the main campus needed to receive the same content and quality of instruction each week in separate locations. Initially, ZoomTM, a video conferencing program, was used in the Introduction to Nursing Concepts course to teach on both campuses simultaneously. From the beginning there were issues with the microphones and speakers. While many of these issues were corrected, students on both campuses felt frustrated and stated that the ZoomTM sessions disrupted the flow of class. The Rio Rancho campus students lacked interest in the lectures, and it was difficult to get them to participate in discussions. It was easier for the students on the main campus to participate in discussions however, they often had to repeat the discussion information for the Rio Rancho cohort. According to the students’ course evaluations for the fall of 2018, Zoom video conferencing was not effective. Faculty decided to change tactics and develop narrated Microsoft PowerPoint presentations for the subsequent semester. Videos and narrated PowerPoint presentations are effective, engaging, and preferred by nursing students (Hampton, Pearce, & Moser, 2017). Students also find narrated PowerPoint presentations to be useful, interesting and state that the presentations contribute to their learning (Lim, Doherty, & Honey, 2011). In addition to the narrated Power Point presentations, class time is now used for further discussion of assigned reading and PowerPoint presentations and learning is enhanced through in-class case studies and other learning activities. The students’ evaluations from the fall 2018 and spring 2019 were compared. A 1-to-5 Likert scale was used with 5 being strongly agree and 1 being strongly disagree. The question “The structure of the course encouraged student engagement” scored higher in the spring where narrated power point lectures were used

Rapid detection of laboratory cross-contamination with Mycobacterium tuberculosis using multispacer sequence typing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ability to culture <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>from clinical specimens serves as the gold standard for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. However, a number of false-positive diagnoses may be due to cross-contamination of such specimens. We herein investigate such episode of cross-contamination by using a technique known as multispacer sequence typing (MST). This technique was applied to six <it>M. tuberculosis </it>isolates prepared within the same laboratory over a two-week period of time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MST analysis indicated a unique and common sequence profile between a strain isolated from a patient with proven pulmonary tuberculosis and a strain isolated from a patient diagnosed with lung carcinoma. Using this approach, we were able to provide a clear demonstration of laboratory cross-contamination within just four working days. Further epidemiological investigations revealed that the two isolates were processed for culture on the same day.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The application of MST has been demonstrated to serve as a rapid and efficient method to investigate cases of possible cross-contamination with <it>M. tuberculosis</it>.</p

Personal failure makes society seem fonder: An inquiry into the roots of social interdependence

A universal consideration among people concerns the relative premium placed on social interdependence relative to self-reliant independence. While interdependence requires submission to social constraints, it also offers empowerment through coalition. While independence fosters freedom, it also imposes individual responsibility for attained outcomes whether good or bad. In four studies we obtain the first direct evidence that failure prompts a shift toward interdependence. Implications are discussed for conditions under which people are driven to collective action

The Role of Epistemic Motivation in the Link between Arousal and Focus of Attention

Over 60 years of research has led to a law-like acceptance of the Easterbrook (1959) hypothesis. Easterbrook (1959) famously reviewed the evidence on the arousal-attention link and concluded that as arousal increases, the range of cues utilized decreases, and the focus of attention narrows. However, the present set of eight studies suggests that the Easterbrook hypothesis needs to be seriously qualified. Recent developments in the understanding of the role of arousal in information processing suggests that rather than invariably leading to a focus of attention, arousal instead serves as information regarding the urgency and/or importance of active processing strategies (Storbeck & Clore, 2008). Because some processing strategies lead to a broadening of attention, arousal should sometimes be negatively related to a focusing of attention. A first set of four studies investigated the need for closure as it relates to the arousal-attention link. The need for closure refers to the motivation to make quick, firm judgments, and has been shown to lead to the use of fewer available cues. Because of this, it seems that the need for closure should lead to a tendency to focus one's attention. However, when need for closure is low, individuals tend to process more available cues, broadening attention in order to avoid reaching premature closure. The results indicate that when individuals are high on the need for closure, arousal is positively related to focus of attention, whereas when individuals are low on the need for closure, arousal is negatively related to focus of attention. A second set of four studies investigated the influence of the regulatory modes of locomotion and assessment on the arousal-attention link. Because locomotion is oriented towards movement, it should lead to a focus of attention. Because assessment is oriented towards making evaluations based on comparisons among alternatives, it should lead to a broadening of attention. The results show that when a locomotion mode is active, arousal is positively related to focus of attention, whereas, when an assessment mode is active, arousal is negatively related to focus of attention

"Easier Said than Done": Promises as False Proxies in Goal Pursuit

This study investigated goal activation following a promise to complete the goal. Because promising is a statement of commitment to a goal, it is generally assumed to increase goal activation. However, when individuals have the motivation to infer progress on the goal, and when information is accessible which would facilitate such an inference from the act of promising, goal activation should decrease following the promise. We hypothesized and found that when promises are made after competing goals have been activated and when positive affect is experienced following the promise, goal activation is lower than when a promise is not made. Only when competing goals were not activated and positive affect was experienced did promising lead to greater goal activation than not promising. These results add to current work on feedback processes in goal pursuit, and demonstrate the paradoxical effects of promising to complete a goal

DESIGN AND REALIZATION OF COMPLEX AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Klimatizacija prostorov, v katerih se zadržujemo ali bivamo, zahteva primerno pripravo zraka, da se dobro počutimo in da naše zdravje pri tem ni ogroženo. To pomeni, da moramo glede na letni čas zrak, ki v prostore vstopa, ogreti ali hladiti, po potrebi vlažiti in s prezračevanjem hkrati zagotavljati, da je nivo ogljikovega dioksida dovolj nizek. Poleg tega sodobni pristopi k izvedbi klimatizacije zahtevajo tudi optimizacijo porabe energije in spremljanje varnostnih parametrov, pri čemer imamo v mislih možnost nastanka požara, ki ga ugotavljamo z namestitvijo ustreznih dimnih senzorjev in požarne centrale. Spremljanje velikega števila veličin, njihovo vodenje in arhiviranje ter možnost poseganja v delovanje klimatizacijskega sistema z oddaljenih lokacij, zahteva ustrezno izbiro strojne in programske opreme in seveda povezavo vseh komponent v enovit sistem, katerega delovanje v sedanjih razmerah najpogosteje uravnavamo s pomočjo centralnega nadzornega sistema. V diplomski nalogi smo predstavili vse faze projekta načrtovanja klimatizacije Medpodjetniškega izobraževalnega centra Maribor. V prvem delu smo opisali kriterije in zahteve, ki smo jih morali pri načrtovanju upoštevati. Sledi opis izbire strojne in programske opreme in njenih glavnih značilnosti, ki so ključne za izvedbo projekta. V fazi gradnje se je pomembno zavedati, da je za uspešno rabo nameščenih naprav ključno, da je delo z realiziranim sistemom pregledno in kjer je mogoče, tudi enostavno. Po izvedenem projektu smo realizirali tudi testiranje delovanja, odpravili manjše težave in izvedeni projekt uspešno predali naročniku. Tako načrtovan projekt seveda predstavlja hkrati tudi pomembno referenco za pridobivanje nadaljnjih naročil.Room air-conditioning demands coresponding air preparation. This means that air need to be healthy and enables to feel comfortable. Depending on a season such conditions demand air heating or cooling before entering the room and in adition, if needed, air has to be also humidified. At the same tame it is necessary to ensure low level of carbon dioxide by ventilation. Modern approaches of the implementation of the air-conditioning require energy optimization and monitoring safety parameters. We need to have in mind the possibility of fire, which can be identified by the appropriate smoke sensors and fire stations. Monitoring a large number of variables, their management and archiving as well as the possibility to control the operation of the air-conditioning system from remote locations, require an appropriate choice of hardware and software. We connected all components in a single system, which is controlled by supervisory control and data acquisition system. In the diploma thesis planing and design of air-conditioning system is presented for Medpodjetniški izobraževalni center Maribor. In the first part the criteria and requirements of the project are described. The next part presents the selection of corresponding hardware and software equipment and all important properties. In the construction phase, it is important to have in mind that the system has to be organized transparently and as simple as possible. After the construction phase the system\u27s operation was tested and minor problems were solved succesfully. The system is used now and such it represents also an important reference to our company

Positive affect as informational feedback in goal pursuit

Two studies investigated the cognitive activation of a goal following a promise to complete it. Current theorizing about the impact of positive affect as informational feedback in goal pursuit suggests two contradictory conclusions: (1) positive affect can signal that sufficient progress towards a goal has been made, but also (2) positive affect can signal that commitment to a goal should be maintained. When individuals infer that significant progress toward goal achievement has been made, the goal should be deactivated, but when individuals infer that commitment to the goal should be maintained, goal activation should be increased. To determine the conditions in which positive affect leads to increased goal activation as opposed to goal deactivation, we proposed that competing goals serve as a moderator. We found that positive affect led to decreased goal activation when competing goals were present, but to increased goal activation when competing goals were absent

A new decade of uses for geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to research, measure and analyze library services

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore library research that uses geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to evaluate library services and resources to ascertain current trends and establish future directions for this growing research area. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study searched full text for geographic information systems in two databases: Library and Information Science Source (LISS) and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), replicating the method used in a prior literature review. The titles and abstracts of the search results were analyzed to gather only the research that used GIS as a tool to measure and analyze library services. Findings: This study found growth in the last decade for library research using GIS. There remain two ways the tool is primarily used: to analyze service areas and to manage facilities and collections. Practical Implications: The findings are relevant for library and information science researchers and practitioners because they summarize a specific area of research that has grown and changed and that still has potential to be used more widely. Using GIS in practice and research could benefit all library users and nonusers because spatial analysis facilitates more precise and informed delivery of services and resources. Originality/Value: The paper provides future directions for use of GIS in library research and attempts to define subdivisions within this research area to clarify the area for researchers and practitioners

Data Services Librarians’ Responsibilities and Perspectives on Research Data Management

This study of data services librarians is part of a series of studies examining the current roles and perspectives on Research Data Management (RDM) services in higher education. Reviewing current best practices provides insights into the role-based responsibilities for RDM services that data services librarians perform, as well as ways to improve and create new services to meet the needs of their respective university communities. Objectives: The objectives of this article are to provide the context of research data services through a review of past studies, explain how they informed this qualitative study, and provide the methods and results of the current study. This study provides an in-depth overview of the overall job responsibilities of data services librarians and as well as their perspectives on RDM through job analyses. Methods: Job analysis interviews provide insight and context to the tasks employees do as described in their own words. Interviews with 10 data services librarians recruited from the top 10 public and top 10 private universities according to the 2020 Best National University Rankings in the US News and World Reports were asked 30 questions concerning their overall job tasks and perspectives on RDM. Five public and five private data services librarians were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were analyzed in NVivo using a grounded theory application of open, axial, and selective coding to generate categories and broad themes based on the responses using synonymous meanings. Results: The results presented here provide the typical job tasks of data services librarians that include locating secondary data, reviewing data management plans (DMPs), conducting outreach, collaborating, and offering RDM training. Fewer data services librarians assisted with data curation or manage an institutional repository. Discussion: The results indicate that there may be different types of data services librarians depending on the mix of responsibilities. Academic librarianship will benefit from further delineation of job titles using tasks while planning, advertising, hiring, and evaluating workers in this emerging area. There remain many other explorations needed to understand the challenges and opportunities for data services librarians related to RDM. Conclusions: This article concludes with a proposed matrix of job tasks that indicates different types of data services librarians to inform further study. Future job descriptions, training, and education will all benefit from differentiating between the many associated research data services roles and with increased focus on research data greater specializations will emerge