Development of the Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ): A Rural Nurse Recruitment and Retention Tool

Introduction: Health professional shortages are a significant issue throughout the USA, particularly in rural communities. Filling nurse vacancies is a costly concern for many critical access hospitals (CAH), which serve as the primary source of health care for rural communities. CAHs and rural communities have strengths and weaknesses that affect their recruitment and retention of rural nurses. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool that rural communities and CAHs can utilize to assess their strengths and weaknesses related to nurse recruitment and retention. Methods: The Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ) was developed based on an extensive literature review, visits to multiple rural sites, and consultations with rural nurses, rural nurse administrators and content experts. Results: A quantitative interview tool consisting of 50 factors that affect rural nurse recruitment and retention was developed. The tool allows participants to rate each factor in terms of advantage and importance level. The tool also includes three open-ended questions for qualitative analysis. Conclusions: The NCAQ was designed to identify rural communities’ and CAHs’ strengths and challenges related to rural nurse recruitment and retention. The NCAQ will be piloted and a database developed for CAHs to compare their results with those in the database. Furthermore, the NCAQ results may be utilized to prioritize resource allocation and tailor rural nurse recruitment and retention efforts to highlight a community’s strengths. The NCAQ will function as a useful real-time tool for CAHs looking to assess and improve their rural nurse recruitment and retention practices and compare their results with those of their peers. Longitudinal results will allow CAHs and their communities to evaluate their progress over time. As the database grows in size, state, regional, and national results can be compared, trends may be discovered and best practices identified

A Poisson approximation for the number of k-matches

Consider a sample of size n drawn with replacement from an urn with m different balls, and let Xn denote the number of k-matches, i.e. the number of times that a ball of the same color is drawn as on one of the previous k draws. This generalizes the situation studied by Arnold (1972), who investigated the waiting time until the first such duplication. We prove that the distribution of Xn can be well approximated by that of a Poisson random variable if k2 = o(m), and use the Stein-Chen method to obtain total variation bounds for this comparison. Conditions are also obtained for Poisson convergence when the balls are not equiprobable. Finally, it is shown that the variable Wn, defined as the number of k-matches when each draw is allotted a full memory window of size k, can be approximated by a Poisson random variable with the same mean provided only that k = o(m). © 1994

A Poisson approximation for the number of k-matches

Consider a sample of size n drawn with replacement from an urn with m different balls, and let Xn denote the number of k-matches, i.e. the number of times that a ball of the same color is drawn as on one of the previous k draws. This generalizes the situation studied by Arnold (1972), who investigated the waiting time until the first such duplication. We prove that the distribution of Xn can be well approximated by that of a Poisson random variable if k2 = o(m), and use the Stein-Chen method to obtain total variation bounds for this comparison. Conditions are also obtained for Poisson convergence when the balls are not equiprobable. Finally, it is shown that the variable Wn, defined as the number of k-matches when each draw is allotted a full memory window of size k, can be approximated by a Poisson random variable with the same mean provided only that k = o(m)Matches in sampling with replacement Poisson approximation Stein-Chen method Coupling

Exploring As-Cast PbCaSn-Mg anodes for improved performance in copper electrowinning

Lead calcium tin (PbCaSn) alloys are the common anodes used in copper electrowinning (Cu EW). Given a large amount of energy consumed in Cu EW process, anodes with controlled oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics and a lower OER overpotential are advantageous for reducing the energy consumption. To date, magnesium (Mg) has never been studied as an alloying element for EW anodes. As-cast PbCaSn anodes with the addition of Mg were examined herein, revealing an improved performance compared to that of the industrial standard PbCaSn anode. The alloy performances in the early stages of anode life and passivation were established from electrochemical studies which were designed to simulate industrial Cu EW process. The 24-hour polarization testing revealed that the Mg alloying depolarizes the anode potential up to 80 mV; thus, resulting in a higher Cu EW efficiency. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the alteration of the alloy microstructure and the corresponding interfacial reactions contribute to the changes of the anode electrochemical performances. The present study reveals for the first time the potency of Mg alloying in reducing the overpotential of PbCaSn anode

Recycling of Spent Lead-Acid Battery for Lead Extraction with Sulfur Conservation

This study proposed a cleaner pyrometallurgical lead-acid battery (LAB) recycling method for lead extraction and sulfur conservation without an excessive amount of SO2 generation. A reducing atmosphere was introduced to the lead paste recycling system to selectively reduce PbSO4 to PbS. At the same time, PbO and PbO2 components contained in the lead paste were also reduced to metallic Pb. Then, the intermediate PbS further reacted with a sulfur-fixing agent, typically Fe3O4, to generate PbO and FeS. Sulfur was transformed from PbSO4 to PbS and finally conserved as FeS. Thus, SO2 emissions and pollution were significantly eliminated. This work investigated the thermodynamic and experimental feasibility and phase conversion mechanism of this proposed method, the detailed lead extraction and sulfur fixing mechanisms were clarified, and the phase transformation and microstructural evolution processes were characterized. Additionally, a bench experiment of industrial, end-of-life LAB paste was conducted to detect the lead recovery and sulfur fixation efficiency.Peer reviewe