Effective Employee Engagement in the Workplace

Disengaged employees typically cost U.S. corporations $350 billion annually. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies that some communication business leaders use to engage their employees. The target population consisted of four communication business leaders in Jackson, Mississippi, who possessed at least 1 year of successful employee engagement experience. The self-determination theory served as the study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the participating company’s archived documents were gathered. Patterns were identified through a rigorous process of data familiarization, data coding, and theme development and revision. Interpretations from the data were subjected to member-checking to ensure trustworthiness of the findings. Based on the methodological triangulation of the data collected, prominent themes emerged from thematically analyzing the data: rewards and recognition, empowering employees, and building a bond between leaders and employees

Evaluation of Capacitors at Cryogenic Temperatures for Space Applications

Advanced electronic systems designed for use in planetary exploration missions must operate efficiently and reliably under the extreme cold temperatures of deep space environment. In addition, spacecraft power electronics capable of cold temperature operation will greatly simplify the thermal management system by eliminating the need for heating units and associated equipment and thereby reduce the size and weight of the overall power system. In this study, film, mica, solid tantalum and electric double layer capacitors were evaluated as a function of temperature from room to liquid nitrogen in terms of their dielectric properties. These properties included capacitance stability and dielectric loss in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 100 kHz. DC leakage current measurements were also performed on the capacitors. The results obtained are discussed and conclusions are made concerning the suitability of the capacitors investigated for low temperature applications

Curvature suppresses the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

The dynamics of a thin liquid film on the underside of a curved cylindrical substrate is studied. The evolution of the liquid layer is investigated as the film thickness and the radius of curvature of the substrate are varied. A dimensionless parameter (a modified Bond number) that incorporates both geometric parameters, gravity, and surface tension is identified, and allows the observations to be classified according to three different flow regimes: stable films, films with transient growth of perturbations followed by decay, and unstable films. Experiments and theory confirm that, below a critical value of the Bond number, curvature of the substrate suppresses the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Downscaling Using CDAnet Under Observational and Model Noises: The Rayleigh-Benard Convection Paradigm

Efficient downscaling of large ensembles of coarse-scale information is crucial in several applications, such as oceanic and atmospheric modeling. The determining form map is a theoretical lifting function from the low-resolution solution trajectories of a dissipative dynamical system to their corresponding fine-scale counterparts. Recently, a physics-informed deep neural network ("CDAnet") was introduced, providing a surrogate of the determining form map for efficient downscaling. CDAnet was demonstrated to efficiently downscale noise-free coarse-scale data in a deterministic setting. Herein, the performance of well-trained CDAnet models is analyzed in a stochastic setting involving (i) observational noise, (ii) model noise, and (iii) a combination of observational and model noises. The analysis is performed employing the Rayleigh-Benard convection paradigm, under three training conditions, namely, training with perfect, noisy, or downscaled data. Furthermore, the effects of noises, Rayleigh number, and spatial and temporal resolutions of the input coarse-scale information on the downscaled fields are examined. The results suggest that the expected l2-error of CDAnet behaves quadratically in terms of the standard deviations of the observational and model noises. The results also suggest that CDAnet responds to uncertainties similar to the theorized and numerically-validated CDA behavior with an additional error overhead due to CDAnet being a surrogate model of the determining form map

WHO Infant and Young Child Feeding Indicators in Relation to Anthropometric Measurements

Objective: This study aimed to report the WHO infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators from Kuwait and to investigate the associations between these indicators and anthropometric measurements. Design: The Kuwait Nutritional Surveillance System uses observational cross-sectional approach to collects data by face-to-face interviews with mothers or child guardians using a structured questionnaire that was developed based on the WHO IYCF indicators. The weight and height of infants and young children were measured using digital scales in a standardised manner. Setting: Vaccination centres in all governorates (provinces) of Kuwait. Participants: Infants and young Kuwaiti children aged 0–23 months (N 5839). Results: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and age-appropriate breastfeeding were 8·0 and 7·4 %, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 7·5 and 2·4 %, respectively, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 6·5 and 1·6 %, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, exclusive breastfeeding and age-appropriate breastfeeding were more common in children with stunted growth (AOR 1·71 (95 % CI 1·08, 2·70; P = 0·021) and 1·44 (95 % CI 1·01, 2·06; P = 0·046), respectively). The introduction of solid/semisolid or soft foods was inversely associated with stunting (AOR 0·52; 95 % CI 0·30, 0·90; P = 0·021). Only age-appropriate breastfeeding was inversely associated with overweight (AOR 0·62; 95 % CI 0·39, 0·98; P = 0·043). Conclusion: Our findings showed that indicators of breastfeeding are low in Kuwait. Our findings suggest that the associations between different WHO IYCF indicators and stunting as well as overweight is complex, which highlights the need for a better understanding of WHO IYCF indicators in both low- and high-income countries

Pain Management After Outpatient Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Effective pain management after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction improves patient satisfaction and function. PURPOSE: To collect and evaluate the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on pain control after ACL reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, UpToDate, Cochrane Reviews, CINAHL, and Scopus following PRISMA guidelines (July 2014). Only RCTs comparing a method of postoperative pain control to another method or placebo were included. RESULTS: A total of 77 RCTs met inclusion criteria: 14 on regional nerve blocks, 21 on intra-articular injections, 4 on intramuscular/intravenous injections, 12 on multimodal regimens, 6 on oral medications, 10 on cryotherapy/compression, 6 on mobilization, and 5 on intraoperative techniques. Single-injection femoral nerve blocks provided superior analgesia to placebo for up to 24 hours postoperatively; however, this also resulted in a quadriceps motor deficit. Indwelling femoral catheters utilized for 2 days postoperatively provided superior analgesia to a single-injection femoral nerve block. Local anesthetic injections at the surgical wound site or intra-articularly provided equivalent analgesia to regional nerve blocks. Continuous-infusion catheters of a local anesthetic provided adequate pain relief but have been shown to cause chondrolysis. Cryotherapy improved analgesia compared to no cryotherapy in 4 trials, while in 4 trials, ice water and water at room temperature provided equivalent analgesic effects. Early weightbearing decreased pain compared to delayed weightbearing. Oral gabapentin given preoperatively and oral zolpidem given for the first week postoperatively each decreased opioid consumption as compared to placebo. Ibuprofen reduced pain compared to acetaminophen. Oral ketorolac reduced pain compared to hydrocodone-acetaminophen. CONCLUSION: Regional nerve blocks and intra-articular injections are both effective forms of analgesia. Cryotherapy-compression appears to be beneficial, provided that intra-articular temperatures are sufficiently decreased. Early mobilization reduces pain symptoms. Gabapentin, zolpidem, ketorolac, and ibuprofen decrease opioid consumption. Despite the vast amount of high-quality evidence on this topic, further research is needed to determine the optimal multimodal approach that can maximize recovery while minimizing pain and opioid consumption. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results provide the best available evidence from RCTs on pain control regimens after ACL reconstruction

Does Prior Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Affect Outcomes of Subsequent Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injury may accelerate knee osteoarthritis, and patients with a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) tend to undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a greater rate than patients without a history of ACLR. Purpose: To compare clinical outcomes of TKA in patients with and without a history of ACLR through a systematic review. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Central, and SPORTDiscus databases from inception through November 2018 was performed to identify studies directly comparing outcomes of TKA between patients with and without a history of ipsilateral ACLR. Eligible studies were included in this review if they reported at least 1 outcome measure. Results: Included for review were 5 retrospective case-control studies collectively evaluating TKA outcomes in 318 patients (176 males, 142 females) with a history of ACLR and 455 matched controls. The mean age in the ACLR and control groups was 58.5 years and 60.9 years, respectively. The mean follow-up period after arthroplasty was 3.4 years in the ACLR group and 3.3 years in the control group. The mean time between ACLR and arthroplasty was 21.8 years. Three studies noted greater operative time in the ACLR group than in the control group. No differences in intraoperative blood loss were reported. Greater preoperative extension deficits were noted in the ACLR group in 2 studies. Two studies reported increased preoperative Knee Society Score function scores in the ACLR group, but no differences in postoperative subjective outcome scores were noted in any of the studies. One study reported increased incidence of periprosthetic joint infection and a higher total reoperation rate in the ACLR group, and another study reported an increased incidence of manipulation under anesthesia in the ACLR group. Conclusion: Short- and midterm subjective scores and functional outcomes of TKA appear to be comparable in patients with and without a history of ACLR, although the risk for reoperation after TKA may be greater in patients with prior ACLR. Surgeons should anticipate increased operative time in patients with a history of ACLR. However, the findings of this review must be interpreted within the context of its limitations

Attitudes of the Secondary School Students towards non-Curricular Reading in Light of some Variables in the State of Kuwait

هدفت الدراسة إلى الوقوف على اتجاهات طلبة المرحلة الثانوية في دولة الكويت نحو القراءة اللامنهجية في ضوء بعض المتغيرات, ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة استخدم الباحث المنهج الوصفي التحليلي،, وتم تطبيق استبانة على عينة الدراسة التي تكونت من (688) طالباً وطالبة من طلاب المرحلة الثانوية في محافظة الفروانية في دولة الكويت, تم اختيارهم بطريقة العينة العشوائية الطبقية, وتوصلت الدراسة إلى أن الاتجاهات السلبية نحو القراءة اللامنهجية قد تفوقت على الاتجاهات الإيجابية, حيث اتضح من نتائج الدراسة أن (43.8%) من أفراد العينة يملكون اتجاهات سلبية تجاه القراءة, و(27.6%) من أفرادها لم يملكوا اتجاهاً محدداً، وأما الذين كان لديهم اتجاه إيجابي نحو القراءة فقد بلغوا (28.6%) فقط من أفراد العينة, كما توصلت الدراسة إلى وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية وفقا لمتغير الجنس وكان لصالح الإناث, وبحسب متغير المرحلة الدراسية فكان لصالح طلاب المرحلة العاشرة, وفي متغير التحصيل العلمي كانت النتيجة لأصحاب التحصيل المرتفع, بينما لا توجد فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية تعزى إلى متغير التخصص الدراسي.The study aimed to identify the attitudes of secondary school students in the State of Kuwait towards extracurricular reading in the light of some variables. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach. Al-Farwaniyah in the State of Kuwait, they were selected using a stratified random sample method, and the study found that the negative attitudes towards extracurricular reading have outweighed the positive trends, as it became clear from the results of the study that 43.8% of the respondents had negative attitudes towards reading, and 27.6% of its members did not. They have a specific attitude, and those who had a positive attitude towards reading amounted to only 28.6% of the sample, and the study also found that there were statistically significant differences according to the gender variable and it was in favor of females, and according to the educational stage variable it was in favor of the tenth stage students, and in the achievement variable The scientific result was for high achievers, while there were no statistically significant differences attributed to the academic specialization variable