The Antisocial Fantasies of Jude the Obscure

This article discusses two prevalent tensions in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure: Jude’s failed attempts to become a Christminster scholar, and his vexed sexual relationships. At different points in the novel’s publication history, Hardy figures each of these tensions as the novel’s primary conflict. By so doing, he seems to invite the reader to decide whether the novel is really about “the tragedy of unfulfilled aims” or “a deadly war waged between the flesh and spirit.”  Reading the novel through a psychoanalytic framework, I argue that  Hardy offers this as a false choice. Rather, I suggest that Jude’s academic and sexual ambitions are simply two manifestations of a single antisocial fantasy

The role of communities of practice for registered nurses in specialized practice

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore nursing specific processes associated with communities of practice (CoPs) in specialized acute care settings with a focus on their potential role in Registered Nurse (RN) integration and professional development. The following research questions were formulated to support the achievement of this purpose: (a) What are the key features, roles, and processes of a community of practice (CoP) in specialized acute care nursing practice settings?; (b) What are the social processes that are integral to the integration of RNs into their chosen specialized acute care nursing practice settings; (c) What role, if any, do CoPs serve in the integration process of RNs into their chosen specialized acute care nursing practice settings? Research Design: This research was conducted using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Sample/Setting: The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has designated 20 areas as specialties, examples of which include Cardiovascular Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Neuroscience Nursing, Perinatal Nursing, Perioperative Nursing, and Oncology Nursing. From these 20 CNA designations, three specialized areas were chosen for this study. To safeguard the confidentiality of study participants, the units are identified only as A, B, and C. These nursing units were situated within the same urban tertiary institution in a mid-sized Western Canadian city. In total, 19 RNs employed in specialized care units participated in this research. Methods/Procedure: The study was conducted from March 2012 through September 2013 following ethical and operational approval from all required institutions. During this 18-month period, 19 RN participants were engaged in a total of 25 interviews and several participants were invited to submit personal reflective journals, with 8 sets of journals submitted and included as part of the study data. Following transcription, the interviews as well as the journal entries were entered into the ATLAS.ti software program to aid with organization of study coding. Data analysis was completed following the constructivist grounded theory approach of Charmaz (2006). Findings: Key findings from this research included the identification of competence in the specialized RN role as a main concern for participants. The achievement of competence was influenced by two Basic Social Processes (BSPs) relating to the transition and integration of new RNs into their specialized environments. For each of these BSPs, there are additional phases that further define the experience. Developing a Sense of Specialized RN Self (transition) included the phases Finding RN Fit, Sharing Passion and Community Values, and Embracing Life-Long Learning. Integrating into Specialized RN Practice (integration) included the phases Learning the Ropes and Settling In. The social context for this development was a CoP in each specialized unit and the particular aspects of these nursing community groups were also uncovered during the course of this research and are detailed in the study findings. Conclusions: These research results have highlighted the importance of delineating the fundamental differences in the processes of RN transition and integration. The findings have also provided a foundation for a newly emerging consideration of CoPs in nursing and their potential role in supporting the transition and integration of RNs. Knowing more about how CoPs function in their workplaces may allow RNs, either newly graduated or new to their specialty areas, to be more successful in their own transition and integration experiences

What Does it Mean to Decolonize the Curriculum?

Join Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy, department chair of Native American Studies at Cal Poly and author of we are dancing for you: Native Feminisms & the Revitalization of Women’s Coming-of-Age Ceremonies for an introduction to decolonizing the curriculum

Experimental Animal Models for Studies on the Mechanisms of Blast-Induced Neurotrauma

A blast injury is a complex type of physical trauma resulting from the detonation of explosive compounds and has become an important issue due to the use of improvised explosive devices (IED) in current military conflicts. Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is a major concern in contemporary military medicine and includes a variety of injuries that range from mild to lethal. Extreme forces and their complex propagation characterize BINT. Modern body protection and the development of armored military vehicles can be assumed to have changed the outcome of BINT. Primary blast injuries are caused by overpressure waves whereas secondary, tertiary, and quaternary blast injuries can have more varied origins such as the impact of fragments, abnormal movements, or heat. The characteristics of the blast wave can be assumed to be significantly different in open field detonations compared to explosions in a confined space, such an armored vehicle. Important parameters include peak pressure, duration, and shape of the pulse. Reflections from walls and armor can make the prediction of effects in individual cases very complex. Epidemiological data do not contain information of the comparative importance of the different blast mechanisms. It is therefore important to generate data in carefully designed animal models. Such models can be selective reproductions of a primary blast, penetrating injuries from fragments, acceleration movements, or combinations of such mechanisms. It is of crucial importance that the physical parameters of the employed models are well characterized so that the experiments can be reproduced in different laboratory settings. Ideally, pressure recordings should be calibrated by using the same equipment in several laboratories. With carefully designed models and thoroughly evaluated animal data it should be possible to achieve a translation of data between animal and clinical data. Imaging and computer simulation represent a possible link between experiments and studies of human cases. However, in order for mathematical simulations to be completely useful, the predictions will most likely have to be validated by detailed data from animal experiments. Some aspects of BINT can conceivably be studied in vitro. However, factors such as systemic response, brain edema, inflammation, vasospasm, or changes in synaptic transmission and behavior must be evaluated in experimental animals. Against this background, it is necessary that such animal experiments are carefully developed imitations of actual components in the blast injury. This paper describes and discusses examples of different designs of experimental models relevant to BINT

Bench-To-Bedside and Bedside Back to the Bench; Coordinating Clinical and Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury Studies

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading cause of death and long-term disability in virtually every country. Advances in neurointensive care have resulted in steadily decreasing morbidity, but the number of individuals with severe long-term disability have not changed significantly and the number of moderate disability has shown steady increase over the last 3 decades. Despite years of intensive preclinical research – and millions spent – there are virtually no drugs specifically developed to mitigate the consequences of TBI. Here we discuss some of the existing gaps between clinical and experimental TBI studies that may have contributed to the current status. We do this hoping that clinical, basic, and translational scientists will design and coordinate studies in order to achieve maximum benefits for TBI patients. In conclusion, we suggest to: (1) Develop consensus-based guidelines for experimental TBI research, similar to “best practices” in the clinic; (2) Generate a consensus-based template for clinical data collection and deposition as well as for experimental TBI data collection and deposition; (3) Use a systems biology approach and create a database for integrating existing data from basic and clinical research

Polytech to PolyTEK: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and the Future Forward Polytechnic University

It is clear from Cal Poly Humboldt’s Polytechnic Prospectus that Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous communities are key parts of what elevates Humboldt’s development of a polytechnic university for the next century. The prospectus demonstrates Humboldt\u27s proposed framework for a different comprehensive polytechnic will also be informed by Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, as many Native peoples have lived sustainably in their places since time immemorial” (19). There are many considerations when engaging with TEK, especially around sustainable use. It is also important that engagement with TEK and Indigenous science not only center knowledge sharing, but also how departments, programs, and colleges are dedicated to upholding sovereignty and self-determination and working to empower Indigenous students, communities, and ongoing projects of land return, environmental justice, and education. This article will discuss the role of Native American Studies in building decolonial frameworks for a new polytechnic—polytech to PolyTEK. The article explores the history of cultural knowledge exploitation, Humboldt Native programs and initiatives; the resurgence of Indigenous science and knowledges, and new interdisciplinary initiatives at Humboldt that value NAS as a partner to building polytechnic programming. Humboldt is positioned to offer a cutting edge and unrivaled polytechnic experience to current and future students. Indigenous knowledge systems are especially important and appropriate to consider in the development of a polytechnic institute because Indigenous knowledges are fundamentally interdisciplinary and applied. Indigenous knowledges are also at the forefront of cutting-edge research interventions in the sciences and western academic institutions. When we talk about or propose “decolonizing” curriculum or higher education we must build this from Indigenous frameworks with Indigenous Peoples at the center of our academic vision and planning

Selectivity in the Reinnervation of the Lateral Gastrocnemius Muscle after Nerve Repair with Ethyl Cyanoacrylate in the Rat

There is a need for complementary surgical techniques that enable rapid and reliable primary repair of transected nerves. Previous studies after peripheral nerve transection and repair with synthetic adhesives have demonstrated regeneration to an extent comparable to that of conventional techniques. The aim of this study was to compare two different repair techniques on the selectivity of muscle reinnervation after repair and completed regeneration. We used the cholera toxin B technique of retrograde axonal tracing to evaluate the morphology, the number, and the three-dimensional location of α-motoneurons innervating the lateral gastrocnemius muscle and compared the results after repair with either ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) or epineural sutures of the transected parent sciatic nerve. In addition, we recorded the wet weight of the muscle. Six months after transection and repair of the sciatic nerve, the redistribution of the motoneuron pool was markedly disorganized, the motoneurons had apparently increased in number, and they were scattered throughout a larger volume of the spinal cord gray matter with a decrease in the synaptic coverage compared to controls. A reduction in muscle weight was observed as well. No difference in morphometric variables or muscle weight between the two repair methods could be detected. We conclude that the selectivity of motor reinnervation following sciatic nerve transection and subsequent repair with ECA is comparable to that following conventional micro suturing

Comparing Research Trends and Industrial Adoption of Manufacturing Operations Management Solutions

For decades, the operations on the shop floor of manufacturing organizations have been supported by Manufacturing Execution Systems. In this paper, we investigate the trends of Manufacturing Operations Management in the research community and analyze of the adoption in the industry. Our literature review identifies the following trends for Manufacturing Operations Management: distributed system architectures, cloud technology, and use of standards. We conducted a survey targeting Manufacturing Operations Management solution providers and adopters to explore the adoption of these trends. The survey results show that the use of standards is already addressed to some extent by the industry. Practitioners anticipate distributed system architectures for Manufacturing Operations Management solutions in the future. However, practitioners are still reluctant towards cloud-only technology and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future