Updating a survey for measuring the perceived effectiveness of mentoring entrepreneurs

In an era filled with tremendous technology advancement as well as increased levels of uncertainty, entrepreneurs as a cohort of aspiring thinkers and doers are trained as problem solvers for the modern challenges. Many universities and entrepreneur education centers have invested tremendous resources in terms of mentors, organization support, capitals and more. Building a well-functional mentoring program has always been difficult to most such educational centers. The objective of this quantitative research study is to update a survey that measures perceived mentoring effectiveness for entrepreneurs and hopefully provide entrepreneur educational centers with a scientific tool to measure the quality of mentoring in relation to the development of entrepreneurs. This study strives to answer five research questions: (1) What is the internal consistency reliability of the updated survey? (2) To what degree is one factor distinct from but related to other factors in Mentor Relation Scale and Entrepreneur Self-Efficacy Scale? (3) What is the statistical association between the mentoring factors and entrepreneur self-efficacy factors? (4) Is there any significant mean difference among various demographics? (5) What are the statistical association between mentor net promoter scores (NPS) and mentoring factors and entrepreneur self-efficacy? To answer them, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Pearson Correlations, multiple regressions, T-test and ANOVA were performed. Results showed four new mentoring factors with strong statistical significance. They were “Trust (TRU),” “Clarity (CLA),” “Communality (COM),” and “Business Growth (GRW).” Similarly, results also showed four new self-efficacy factors with strong statistical significance. They are “Design (DES),” “financials (FIN),” “Business plan (BUS),” and “operations (OPE)”. Second, regression results showed that mentoring factors GRW positively and significantly predict three self-efficacy factors DES, FIN, and BUS; in addition, GRW positively and significantly predict the average of all self-efficacy factors. Furthermore, mentoring factors COM and GRW both positively and significantly predict self-efficacy factor OPE. In other words, entrepreneurs who received more support and encouragement toward business growth were likely to rate themselves higher in self-efficacy scores. Finally, and most importantly, mentoring factor “communality (COM)” and “clarity (CLA)” as well as self-efficacy factor “financials (FIN)” were found to positively predict mentoring NPS. In other words, if a mentor helps entrepreneurs to facilitate a sense of mutual exchange and support, gain clear understandings about the strengths and weaknesses in themselves and their ideas, and offer strong support in financial planning and management, entrepreneurs are more likely to recommend this mentor to others. Other findings were further discussed and implications offered

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AMONG PSU SINGLETON AND NON-SINGLETON STUDENTS

This descriptive study was designed to explore, describe, and compare singleton and non-singleton Pittsburg State University Chinese students, who self-reported their independent and dependent personality characteristics. Data for this study were obtained from a survey instrument developed by this investigator and administrated to volunteer Chinese students (Mainland or Taiwan) enrolled in 2010 fall semester at Pittsburg State University. Participation was voluntary and anonymity was assured. No statistically significant differences were found in independent and dependent personality characteristics among singleton and non-singleton Chinese college students at Pittsburg State University. Conclusions were that the findings from the present study were consistent with prior research conducted in China. Jiang and Yao (2010) and Ye (2010) concluded that the development of certain personality, cognitive, emotional, and social differences are most pronounced with younger children, particularly in early childhood and in kindergarten. As only borns mature, differences overtime tend to become less pronounced or to become not significant

Sustainable Freight Village Concepts for Agricultural Products Logistics - A Knowledge Management-oriented Study

Freight villages (FVs) are logistics phenomenon with broad economic, environmental, and social consequences. This research extends sustainability in the context of FVs to twofold meanings. This includes the sustainable development of FVs, and the sustainability contributions they created. China has showed a more recent but quicker story in developing FVs. Nevertheless, a number of problems and limits exist. Taking China as research background, this research consists of theoretical explorations, status quo analysis, and practical applications in agricultural products logistics (APL). This research proposes that knowledge management (KM) is the most desirable option to reach sustainable values of FVs. The status quo analysis examines the adaption of FVs to China s current logistics situation. It identifies several orientations for the next development step of FVs. To cope with the pervasive problems during FV planning stage, this research adopts sense-making KM approach to guide a systematic planning process including sense making, knowledge creation, and decision making. In order to achieve a high sustainability rating, this research uses KM cycle model to generate synergies among major stakeholders of FVs. Moreover, it proposes a roadmap for organizing KM process so as to build sustainability capability. Three key elements for the roadmap are identified: human ability, stakeholder engagement, and information system. This research focuses on the application of sustainable FV concepts for agricultural products logistics (APL). It deals with issues affecting city logistics and agricultural products (agri-products) supply in China. This can make best use of FV functions from a sustainability perspective. Agri-FV is proposed to bring professional logistics facilities and services, efficient distribution of agri-products, and information-based operations. An integrated APL system is structured consisting of farmers cooperatives, chain stores, and agri-FVs. In this system, agri-FV plays an important role in levering sustainability outcomes. Furthermore, KM approaches are applied to agri-FV project planning and operations, meanwhile considering the characteristics of agri-products and APL

An edge-directed interpolation method for fetal spine MR images

Abstract Background Fetal spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a prenatal routine for proper assessment of fetus development, especially when suspected spinal malformations occur while ultrasound fails to provide details. Limited by hardware, fetal spine MR images suffer from its low resolution. High-resolution MR images can directly enhance readability and improve diagnosis accuracy. Image interpolation for higher resolution is required in clinical situations, while many methods fail to preserve edge structures. Edge carries heavy structural messages of objects in visual scenes for doctors to detect suspicions, classify malformations and make correct diagnosis. Effective interpolation with well-preserved edge structures is still challenging. Method In this paper, we propose an edge-directed interpolation (EDI) method and apply it on a group of fetal spine MR images to evaluate its feasibility and performance. This method takes edge messages from Canny edge detector to guide further pixel modification. First, low-resolution (LR) images of fetal spine are interpolated into high-resolution (HR) images with targeted factor by bi-linear method. Then edge information from LR and HR images is put into a twofold strategy to sharpen or soften edge structures. Finally a HR image with well-preserved edge structures is generated. The HR images obtained from proposed method are validated and compared with that from other four EDI methods. Performances are evaluated from six metrics, and subjective analysis of visual quality is based on regions of interest (ROI). Results All these five EDI methods are able to generate HR images with enriched details. From quantitative analysis of six metrics, the proposed method outperforms the other four from signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structure similarity index (SSIM), feature similarity index (FSIM) and mutual information (MI) with seconds-level time consumptions (TC). Visual analysis of ROI shows that the proposed method maintains better consistency in edge structures with the original images. Conclusions The proposed method classifies edge orientations into four categories and well preserves structures. It generates convincing HR images with fine details and is suitable in real-time situations. Iterative curvature-based interpolation (ICBI) method may result in crisper edges, while the other three methods are sensitive to noise and artifacts

A comparison of the burden of knee osteoarthritis attributable to high body mass index in China and globally from 1990 to 2019

BackgroundExcess body mass index (BMI) plays a key role in the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis (knee OA). However, the burden of knee OA attributable to high BMI at the global, Chinese, and regional levels have received far too little attention. The aim of this study is to provide evidence to support the design of policy by investigating long-term trends of years lived with disability (YLDs) for knee OA.MethodsTo illustrate the trends of YLDs for knee OA attributable to high BMI and the temporal trends of the YLDs rate by age, period, and cohort, Joinpoint regression software and age-period-cohort (APC) were used to analyze the YLDs data of knee OA from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019.ResultsIn China, there were 549,963.5 YLDs for knee OA attributable to high BMI in 2019, which had increased by 460.7% since 1990. From 1990 to 2019, age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR) of knee OA attributable to high BMI trended upwards. The average annual percent change (AAPC) of knee OA attributable to high BMI in China and globe were 3.019, 1.419%, respectively. The longitudinal age curve of the APC model showed that the YLDs rates of knee OA due to high BMI increased with age, and YLDs rates were higher among females than males. The period rate ratios (RRs) of knee OA due to high BMI increased significantly. The cohort RRs of knee OA due to high BMI increased among those born between 1900 and 1970. The net drifts of knee OA attributable to high BMI in China and globe were above 1. Compared with global condition, the net drift values of knee OA attributable to high BMI in China was higher. Compared with females, males had higher net drift value. Countries with high socio-demographic index (SDI) have a much higher burden of knee OA caused by high BMI than countries with low SDI.ConclusionIn China, high BMI is a substantial cause of knee OA, the incidence of which has been increasing since 1990. In addition, women and the elderly are more vulnerable to knee OA caused by high BMI. The Chinese government must take the long-term impact of high BMI on knee OA into account and implement effective public health policies and resort to interventions to reduce the burden as soon as possible

Prevalence and Correlates of Discomfort and Acceptability of Acupuncture among Outpatients in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. This study aims to give a profile of discomfort and acceptability of acupuncture, including the prevalence and association with demographic and acupuncture-related factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing, China. Outpatients of acupuncture and moxibustion departments were recruited using purposive sampling. 925 subjects were interviewed with an anonymous questionnaire. Multinomial and binary logistic regression were used to analyze factors affecting discomfort and acceptability of acupuncture. Results. The average VAS value of 925 subjects’ acupuncture discomfort was 2.66 ± 2.02, within the range of mild discomfort. Acupuncture was easily accepted by 81.1% of the subjects. Results of logistic regression were as follows: (1) subjects with a better knowledge of acupuncture, or a greater fear of pain or needles, experienced more “moderate to severe discomfort” and showed a decreased acupuncture acceptance (P<0.001 or P<0.01); (2) Acupuncture with less discomfort or implemented by a more qualified doctor was easy to be accepted (P<0.001); (3) subjects aged 20–29 preferred to report “moderate to severe discomfort” while those aged 40–59 preferred to report “slight discomfort” (P<0.001). Conclusion. Acupuncture is an acceptable therapy with less discomfort, which can be greatly affected by fear of pain or needles, age, knowledge of acupuncture, and professional title of acupuncturist

Electroacupuncture Improves Bladder and Bowel Function in Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Prospective Observational Study

In order to explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) for chronic bowel and bladder dysfunction after traumatic spinal cord injury, 14 patients were treated with electroacupuncture once a day, five times a week for the first four weeks, and once every other day, three times a week for the following four weeks. The patients were then followed up for six months. After treatment, four (4/14, 28.57%) patients resumed normal voiding; six (6/14, 42.86%) resumed normal voiding for no less than half of all micturition behaviors; four (4/14, 28.57%) required supplementary urination methods for higher than half of all micturition behaviors. These effects persisted during followup. Mean postvoid RUV decreased by 190.29±101.87 mL (P<0.01) after treatment and by 198.86±112.18 mL (P<0.01) during followup. Patients’ weekly urinary incontinence frequency decreased 7.14±46.34 times/week (P=0.036) after treatment and decreased 49.86±44.38 times/week during followup. After treatment, four (4/14, 28.57%) patients resumed normal bowel movements (P=0.025); five (5/14, 35.71%) reduced the dependence on supplementary defecation methods; five (5/14, 35.71%) had no changes. In patients with chronic bowel and bladder dysfunction after traumatic SCI, EA may provide a valuable alternative tool in improving patients’ self-controlled bowel and bladder functions with minimal side effects

In ovo serial skeletal muscle diffusion tractography of the developing chick embryo using DTI: feasibility and correlation with histology

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive method of evaluating embryonic development. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), based on the directional diffusivity of water molecules, is an established method of evaluating tissue structure. Yet embryonic motion degrades the in vivo acquisition of long-duration DTI. We used a dual-cooling technique to avoid motion artifact and aimed to investigate whether DTI can be used to monitor chick embryonic skeletal muscle development in ovo, and to investigate the correlation between quantitative DTI parameters fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber length and quantitative histologic parameters fiber area percentage (FiberArea%) and limb length. Results From 84 normally developing chick embryos, 5 were randomly chosen each day from incubation days 5 to 18 and scanned using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. A dual-cooling technique is used before and during imaging. Eggs were cracked for making histological specimen after imaging. 3 eggs were serially imaged from days 5 to 18. We show that skeletal muscle fibers can be tracked in hind limb in DTI beginning with incubation day 8. Our data shows a good positive correlation between quantitative DTI and histologic parameters (FA vs FiberArea%: r= 0.943, p\u3c0.0001; Fiber_length vs Limb_length: r=0.974, p\u3c0.0001). The result of tracked fibers in DTI during incubation corresponds to the development of chick embryonic skeletal muscle as reported in the literature. Conclusion Diffusion tensor imaging can provide a noninvasive means of evaluating skeletal muscle development in ovo

Increased plasma renin by vasodilators promotes the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Background: It is well-accepted that antihypertensive therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients with hypertension. Direct-acting vasodilators were used in the treatment of hypertension by directly relaxing vascular smooth muscle but may have destructive effects on the aortic wall by activating the renin–angiotensin system axis. Their roles in AAA disease remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used hydralazine and minoxidil, two classical direct-acting vasodilators, to investigate their influence and potential mechanisms on AAA disease.Methods and results: In this study, we investigated the plasma renin level and plasma renin activity in AAA patients. Simultaneously, age and gender ratio-matched patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease and varicose veins were selected as the control group using a ratio of 1:1:1. Our regression analysis suggested both the plasma renin level and plasma renin activity are positively associated with AAA development. In view of the well-established relationship between direct-acting vasodilators and increased plasma renin concentration, we established a porcine pancreatic elastase-infused AAA mouse model, followed by oral administration of hydralazine (250 mg/L) and minoxidil (120 mg/L) to investigate effects of direct-acting vasodilators on AAA disease. Our results suggested both hydralazine and minoxidil promoted the progression of AAA with increased aortic degeneration. Mechanistically, the vasodilators aggravated aortic inflammation by increased leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine secretion.Conclusion and relevance: The plasma renin level and plasma renin activity are positively associated with AAA development. Direct vasodilators aggravated experimental AAA progression, which raised cautionary concerns about their applications in AAA disease

The application of additive manufacturing technology in pelvic surgery: A bibliometrics analysis

With the development of material science, additive manufacturing technology has been employed for pelvic surgery, addressing the challenges, such as the complex structure of the pelvis, difficulty in exposing the operative area, and poor visibility, of the traditional pelvic surgery. However, only limited studies have been done to review the research hotspots and trends of the additive manufacturing technology applied for pelvic surgery. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the literatures related to additive manufacturing technology in pelvic surgery by a bibliometrics analysis and found that additive manufacturing technology is widely used in several aspects of preoperative diagnosis, preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, and personalized implants for pelvic surgery. Firstly, we searched and screened 856 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) with TS = (3D printing OR 3D printed OR three-dimensional printing OR additive manufacturing OR rapid prototyping) AND TS = (pelvis OR sacrum OR ilium OR pubis OR ischium OR ischia OR acetabulum OR hip) as the search strategy. Then, 565 of these were eliminated by evaluating the titles and abstracts, leaving 291 pieces of research literature whose relevant information was visually displayed using VOSviewer. Furthermore, 10 publications with high citations were selected by reading all publications extensively for carefully evaluating their Titles, Purposes, Results, Limitations, Journal of affiliation, and Citations. Our results of bibliometric analysis demonstrated that additive manufacturing technology is increasingly applied in pelvic surgery, providing readers with a valuable reference for fully comprehending the research hotspots and trends in the application of additive manufacturing technology in pelvic surgery