Adaptation of FDMT to include process-based models and consider regional aspects following radionuclide deposition events.

Experience from earlier nuclear accidents has clearly shown the need for maintaining and developing appropriate modelling capabilities. Dealing with complex issues such as human exposure following a nuclear accident necessitates the implementation of a set of interconnected models such as FDMT. FDMT is an integrated module within the two main European decision support systems for radiological emergency preparedness, ARGOS and JRODOS, to simulate the transfer of radionuclides along terrestrial food chains and to predict their activity concentrations in foodstuffs. In order to make the module more fit-for-purpose, FDMT has been implemented in a new modelling platform (ECOLEGO) which provides a high degree of flexibility with regard to conducting developmental work. This paper presents improvements in FDMT further through either the incorporation of new models or further elaboration of existing ones, as well as updates in default parameters. Models have also been made more fit-for-purpose through consideration of regional-specific parameters. Specific improvements include modelling developments related to dry deposition, radioactive particle weathering, radiocaesium transfer influenced by soil characteristics and, for a region-specific case, animal uptake. In addition, the paper presents new pathways and parameters (and updated values) to be considered for making FDMT more adapted for Norwegian conditions. Overall, the improvements made in the present work should significantly reduce the uncertainties associated with the outputs of the FDMT models.

The Comparative Genome Dashboard.

The Comparative Genome Dashboard is a web-based software tool for interactive exploration of the similarities and differences in gene functions between organisms. It provides a high-level graphical survey of cellular functions, and enables the user to drill down to examine subsystems of interest in greater detail. At its highest level the Comparative Dashboard contains panels for cellular systems such as biosynthesis, energy metabolism, transport, and response to stimulus. Each panel contains a set of bar graphs that plot the numbers of compounds or gene products for each organism across a set of subsystems of that panel. Users can interactively drill down to focus on subsystems of interest and see grids of compounds produced or consumed by each organism, specific GO term assignments, pathway diagrams, and links to more detailed comparison pages. For example, the dashboard enables users to compare the cofactors that a set of organisms can synthesize, the metal ions that they are able to transport, their DNA damage repair capabilities, their biofilm-formation genes, and their viral response proteins. The dashboard enables users to quickly perform comprehensive comparisons at varying levels of detail.

Research on the relationship between nurses' emergency public health response capacity and workplace resilience: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing nurses' ability to respond to public health emergencies and understand the relationship between nurses' ability to respond to emergencies and workplace resilience. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 361 nurses from military hospitals was conducted from January 18 to September 6, 2022, using an online survey. The Infectious Diseases Emergency Response Capacity (IDERC) questionnaire and the Workplace Resilience Scale (WRS) were utilized, and sociodemographic information was also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency analysis. Differences between groups were identified by one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression was used to analyze the main factors influencing the infectious emergency response capacity. Results: The average infectious emergency response capacity score on the IDERC questionnaire and workplace resilience, measured by WRS, were 4.01 (SD = 0.76) and 3.85 (SD = 0.71), respectively, on a scale of 1-5, indicating high performance. Factors such as degree of education, nurses' service years and experience in epidemic prevention participation were found to be the main influencing factors of the score of IDERC. The level of workplace resilience showed a positive correlation with the capacity to respond to infectious disease, the score of WRS and the service year accounted for 63.6% of the variance in emergency response capabilities. Conclusion: The results indicate an urgent need to strengthen the training of nurses with lower degree of education, shorter service years, no prior work, or no experience of epidemic prevention participation, and hospitals should also prioritize improving nurses' workplace resilience through targeted interventions, enhancing their abilities in infectious disease prevention, preparation, first aid, and subsequent critical patient care.

Effects of 6-Week Weighted-Jump-Squat Training With and Without Eccentric Load Reduction on Explosive Performance.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 6-week barbell weighted-jump-squat (WJS) training with and without eccentric load reduction on explosive performance. METHODS: Twenty well-trained male athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). Participants completed 12 WJS training sessions (6 sets of 5 repetitions of barbell back squat at 30% of 1-repetition maximum [1RM]) twice a week over a 6-week period. While the control group used 0% eccentric loading (ie, traditional WJS), the experimental group utilized a 50% eccentric loading reduction with a mechanical braking unit (ie, eccentric load set at 15% of 1RM). Performance assessments, including countermovement jump, 20-m sprint, standing long jump, and 1RM barbell back squat, were conducted both before (pretests) and after (posttests) the intervention. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and the control group demonstrated a significant increase in countermovement-jump height (+6.4% [4.0%] vs +4.9% [5.7%]; P < .001) and peak power output (+2.3% [2.7%] vs +1.9% [5.1%]; P = .017), faster 20-m sprint times (+9.4% [4.8%] vs +9.2% [5.5%]; P < .001), longer standing long jump (+3.1% [2.5%] vs +3.0% [3.3%]; P < .001), and higher 1RM back squat (+6.4% [4.0%] vs +4.9% [5.7%]; P < .001) from pretests to posttests. However, there was no significant condition × time interaction for any variable (all P ≥ .294). CONCLUSIONS: Both WJS training methods, with and without load reduction in the eccentric phase, effectively enhance explosive performance. Nevertheless, athletes in later stages of injury rehabilitation or intense training may find reducing eccentric load a more tolerable strategy for achieving similar performance gains compared with traditional isoinertial loading.

Sustainability risk management: Exploring the role of artificial intelligence capabilities through an information-processing lens.

The global sustainability movement is reshaping the operational requirements and managerial approaches of maritime firms, resulting in the emergence of unprecedented and complex risks in the sector. This has driven maritime firms to leverage digital tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, to enhance their sustainability risk management (SRM) endeavors. Drawing on the organizational information-processing theory (OIPT), this study proposes four AI capabilities: customer value proposition, key process optimization, key resource optimization, and societal good. It examines their influence on sustainability-related knowledge management capabilities (SKMC), stakeholder engagement, and SRM. A survey questionnaire was used to gather responses from 157 maritime professionals across various sectors of the industry, providing empirical data for analysis. Employing structural equation modeling, the findings reveal that AI capabilities can improve SKMC. These findings enhance existing literature by using OIPT concepts to investigate the interplay among the constructs that lead to better SRM in maritime firms. Furthermore, the study offers managerial guidance by providing insights into AI capabilities that maritime firms should incorporate into their operations, fostering best practices to effectively manage sustainability risks and ensure the firm's long-term survival.

Resilience of hospitals in an age of disruptions: a systematic literature review on resources and capabilities.

Hospitals play a critical role in ensuring continuous and effective healthcare delivery, especially during crises. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in hospital systems, prompting a need to enhance resilience-the ability to withstand, absorb, respond to, recover from, and learn from disasters. A systematic literature review, grounded in the resource-based view, identified organizational characteristics, in terms of resources and capabilities, and their synergistic effects that bolster hospital resilience. The results demonstrate that digital technologies impact on anticipation and adaptation abilities, organizational capabilities to reorganize roles, tasks, and spaces enhance adaptability, and Inter-organizational collaborations increase the responsiveness of the hospitals. The study provides substantial theoretical and practical contributions. It expands knowledge of hospital resilience in light of recent disruptive events and promotes integration capabilities as determinants for the majority of resilience dimensions. All organisational and inter-organisational collaboration, cooperation, and coordination are deemed crucial for hospital resilience.

Venkatapuram Responds to "Positive epidemiology, revisited: The case for centering human rights and economic justice".

This commentary responds to the article by Qureishi et al. (Am J Epidemol. XXXX;XXX(XX):XXXX-XXXX)) that criticizes a new proposal for "positive epidemiology." They argue that positive epidemiology as it is being proposed and conducted ignores supra-individual social contextual factors that constrain wellbeing of some individuals more than others, and it could exacerbate inequalities if applied at a population level, among other harms. They offer an alternative approach to defining causal factors that are helpful for wellbeing, and seek to ground their view in human rights and economic justice frameworks. This commentary considers their criticisms of PE and suggests that their alternative as well as all research into positive health and wellbeing would benefit from drawing on the ongoing debates and works in health equity and justice philosophy. A coherent conception of health and wellbeing, the link between health/wellbeing and theories of justice, and the capabilities approach are discussed. The efforts at conducting epidemiology for the causes and distribution of good health and wellbeing grounded in justice is welcomed.

When does digital merger and acquisition create shareholder value? An empirical investigation in the Chinese context.

In China, acquiring firms are increasingly focused on the immediate financial returns that digital mergers and acquisitions (DM&A) can help them achieve in the stock market, but there is little literature that examines which acquiring firms achieve greater returns. Based on signaling theory, this study conceptualizes DM&A announcements as signals released by the acquiring firms to the stock market and explores the factors influencing the Chinese stock market's reaction to such signals. This research empirically investigates potential influencing factors using a short-term event methodology together with regression analysis based on the data collected in China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets during 2012-2021. The research finds that the Chinese stock market reacts more positively to DM&A announcements for acquiring firms with high executive shareholdings, high executive openness, strong digital innovation capabilities, and in regions with higher levels of investor protection. This study is the first attempt to explore the factors influencing the stock market's response to DM&A in the Chinese context.

The contingent effects of strategic orientations and strategic capabilities on competitive performance: Evidence from Ethiopian manufacturing enterprises.

While there are several studies that examine the performance implications of different strategic orientations, little is known regarding the complex interplay between the two prominent strategic orientations and strategic capabilities in impacting firm performance. Notably, it is ambiguous how a firm's strategic orientations are aligned with different strategic capabilities to maintain competitive performance. To address this gap, the study employs a moderated mediation analysis to investigate the mediating role of strategic capabilities in the relationship between market, technology orientations, and firm performance. It also examines the moderating effect of environmental dynamism in shaping the mediated association between strategic orientations and performance. Based on the survey results of 205 large Ethiopian manufacturing firms, our findings confirm that market orientation exerts a positive and significant influence on both marketing and market-linking capabilities, while only marketing capabilities mediate the relationship between market orientation and firm performance. Likewise, there is a strong association between technology orientation and strategic capabilities (i.e., technology and information technology capabilities), mediating the relationship with firm performance. Meanwhile, environmental dynamism influences the indirect relationship that exists between market, technology, and firm performance through their corresponding strategic capabilities. Our study sheds light on strategic management literature by showing the unique relationship and interdependency between strategic orientations and capabilities in attaining superior performance. This study also forwarded some practical implications of the findings.

Effect of diacylglycerol on partial coalescence of aerated emulsions: Fat crystal-membrane interaction and air-liquid Interface interaction insights.

Currently, the poor whipping capabilities of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) in aerated emulsion products are a major obstacle for their use in beverages like tea and coffee, as well as in cakes and desserts, presenting fresh hurdles for the food industry. In this study, the mechanism of action of diacylglycerols (DAGs) with different carbon chain lengths and degrees of saturation on the partial coalescence of aerated emulsions was systematically investigated from three fundamental perspectives: fat crystallization, air-liquid interface rheology, and fat globule interface properties. The optimized crystallization of long carbon chain length diacylglycerol (LCD) based on stearate enhances interactions between fat globules at the air-liquid interface (with an elastic modulus E' reaching 246.42 mN/m), leading to a significantly reduced interface membrane strength. This promotes fat crystal-membrane interactions during whipping, resulting in a thermally stable foam structure with excellent shaping capability due to enhanced partial coalescence of fat globules. Although Laurate based medium carbon chain length diacylglycerol (MCD) promoted fat crystallization and optimized interface properties, it showed weaker foam properties because it did not adequately encapsulate air bubbles during whipping. Conversely, oleate long carbon chain length diacylglycerol (OCD) proved to be ineffective in facilitating fat crystal-membrane interaction, causing foam to have a subpar appearance. Hence, drawing from the carefully examined fat crystal-membrane interaction findings, a proposed mechanism sheds light on how DAGs impact the whipping abilities of aerated emulsions. This mechanism serves as a blueprint for creating aerated emulsions with superior whipping capabilities and foam systems that are resistant to heat.

Population-specific equations of age-related maximum handgrip force: a comprehensive review.

Background: The measurement of handgrip force responses is important in many aspects, for example: to complement neurological assessments, to investigate the contribution of muscle mass in predicting functional outcomes, in setting realistic treatment goals, evaluating rehabilitation strategies. Normative data about handgrip force can assist the therapist in interpreting a patient's results compared with healthy individuals of the same age and gender and can serve as key decision criteria. In this context, establishing normative values of handgrip strength is crucial. Hence, the aim of the this study is to develop a tool that could be used both in rehabilitation and in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This tool takes the form of population-specific predictive equations, which express maximum handgrip force as a function of age. Methodology: In order to collect data from studies measuring maximum handgrip force, three databases were searched. The search yielded 5,058 articles. Upon the removal of duplicates, the screening of abstracts and the full-text review of potentially relevant articles, 143 publications which focussed on experimental studies on various age groups were considered as fulfilling the eligibility criteria. A comprehensive literature review produced 1,276 mean values of maximum handgrip force. Results: A meta-analysis resulted in gender- and world region-specific (general population, USA, Europe and Asia) equations expressing maximum force as a function of age. The equations showed quantitative differences and trends in maximum handgrip force among age, gender and national groups. They also showed that values of maximum handgrip force are about 40% higher for males than for females and that age-induced decrease in force differs between males and females, with a proved 35% difference between the ages of 35 and 75. The difference was lowest for the 60-64 year olds and highest for the 18-25 year-olds. The equations also showed that differences due to region are smaller than those due to age or gender. Conclusions: The equations that were developed for this study can be beneficial in setting population-specific thresholds for rehabilitation programmes and workstation exposure. They can also contribute to the modification of commonly used methods for assessing musculoskeletal load and work-related risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders by scaling their limit values.

High Levels of Erucic Acid Cause Lipid Deposition, Decreased Antioxidant and Immune Abilities via Inhibiting Lipid Catabolism and Increasing Lipogenesis in Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus).

This study investigated the effects of dietary erucic acid (EA) on growth, lipid accumulation, antioxidant and immune abilities, and lipid metabolism in black carp fed six diets containing varying levels of EA (0.00%, 0.44%, 0.81%, 1.83%, 2.74%, and 3.49%), for 8 weeks. Results showed that fish fed the 3.49% EA diet exhibited lower weight gain, compared to those fed the 0.81% EA diet. In a dose-dependent manner, the serum triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly elevated in the EA groups. The 1.83%, 2.74%, and 3.49% levels of EA increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as decreased acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase values compared to the EA-deficient group. The hepatic catalase activity and transcriptional level were notably reduced, accompanied by increased hydrogen peroxide contents in the EA groups. Furthermore, dietary EA primarily increased the C22:1n-9 and C20:1n-9 levels, while decreasing the C18:0 and C18:1n-9 contents. In the EA groups, expressions of genes, including hsl, cpt1a, cpt1b, and ppara were downregulated, whereas the fas and gpat expressions were enhanced. Additionally, dietary EA elevated the mRNA level of il-1ß and reduced the expression of il-10. Collectively, high levels of EA (2.74% and 3.49%) induced lipid accumulation, reduced antioxidative and immune abilities in black carp by inhibiting lipid catabolism and increasing lipogenesis. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the use of rapeseed oil rich in EA for black carp and other carnivorous fish species.

The impact of tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the gut microbiome in juvenile tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in Takifugu rubripes, commonly known as pufferfish, through the ingestion of TTX-bearing organisms as part of their food chain. Although researchers believe that pufferfish use TTX to relieve stress, data are not currently available on how TTX affects the gut microbiota of pufferfish. To address this gap, our study aimed to investigate whether administering TTX to fish could alter their gut microbiota and overall health under various salinity conditions, including 30.0 ppt, 8.5 ppt, and 1.7 ppt salinity, which represent full-strength, isosmotic, and low-salinity stress, respectively. We analyzed the effect of TTX ingestion on the community structure, core microbiome, and metabolic capabilities of the gut microbiome using high-throughput sequencing technologies. The predominant bacterial taxa within the gut microbiome were Firmicutes (21-85%), Campilobacterota (2.8-67%), Spirochaetota (0.5-14%), and Proteobacteria (0.7-9.8%), with Mycoplasma, uncultured Arcobacteraceae, Brevinema, Vibrio, Rubritalea, and uncultured Pirellulaceae as core genera. Our findings indicated that the impact of TTX on high-abundance genera at 30.0 ppt and 8.5 ppt salinity levels was negligible, indicating their stability and resilience to TTX ingestion. However, at 1.7 ppt, TTX-fed fish showed a significant increase in uncultured Arcobacteraceae. Furthermore, our analysis of TTX-fed fish revealed taxonomic alterations in low-abundance taxa, which altered the predicted functions of the gut microbiota at all salinity levels. These results suggest that TTX administration could cause subtle effects on the metabolic functions of gut microbial communities. Overall, our study provides insights into the complex relationship between a TTX-accumulating animal, T. rubripes, and its gut microbiota.

Towards sustainable development goals: An analysis of environmental efficiency and the impacts of self-purification capacity across diverse income levels.

The increasing urgency of global environmental degradation, particularly across diverse economic development stages, underscores a critical need for nuanced understanding and targeted strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Our study examines environmental efficiency trends over 27 years in 163 countries, utilizing greenhouse gases and particulate matter 2.5 as indicators. We address the challenge by developing and applying a two-stage method that combines a hyperbolic distance function with a stochastic meta frontier approach to assess environmental meta-efficiency. The average meta efficiency of these countries is 0.464, which remains at a relatively low level. Our model indicates that the high-income country group needs to reduce greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions by 25% and increase non-fossil energy usage by 33% to improve environmental efficiency. This suggests these countries must transition towards more sustainable energy sources and practices. Moreover, recognizing that existing income grouping inadequately characterizes each country, we use k-means cluster analysis for regrouping, more accurately reflecting individual differences. The regrouping results show that some high-income countries are classified into inactive groups, implying serious environmental problems. Our findings advocate for collaborative and tailored strategies to address these disparities. We conclude that income levels cannot solely drive environmental efficiency but must also consider geographical and climatic factors, which are pivotal in shaping a country's environmental policies and efforts. This approach offers a clearer understanding of current inefficiencies and sets the stage for more informed policy-making that can better address the specific needs and capabilities of different countries.

Toward a knowledge-synthesis heuristic for sport leaders: the strategic leader synthesis model.

Sport management leadership research has predominantly focused on leadership behaviours, particularly transformative leadership, without fully acknowledging the complex, multifaceted nature of leadership within the sports context. This perspective overlooks the reality that sports leaders operate within complex organizations and varied contexts that significantly influence their behaviours. Leadership in sports demands core capabilities in decision-making, communication, and strategic thinking, and a mindset that influences perception, decision-making, and behaviour. Consequently, a singular focus on transformative leadership may undervalue the importance of other attributes. This paper thus argues for a comprehensive leadership framework that integrates behaviours, roles, capabilities, and mindset, and draws insights from business management. By proposing this framework organized across four domains-Context, Roles, Capabilities, and Mindset-this paper aims to foster a deeper understanding of sports leadership dynamics, highlighting the necessity of a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of these elements.

A comparison of morning priming exercise using traditional-set and cluster-set configurations on afternoon explosive performance.

The impact of two priming exercise protocols using traditional (TS) or cluster-set (CS) arrangements on explosive performance 6 hours later were examined. Sixteen male collegiate athletes performed three testing sessions (one baseline without any prior exercise in the morning and two experimental sessions) separated by 72 hours. Participants completed two morning (9-11 am) priming protocols in a randomized order, either using a TS (no rest between repetitions) or CS (30 seconds of rest between repetitions) configuration. The protocols consisted of 3 sets × 3 repetitions of barbell back squat at 85% of 1 repetition maximum, with 4 minutes of rest between sets. In the afternoon (3-5 pm) of each trial, after a 6-hour rest period, a physical test battery was conducted that replicated baseline testing, including countermovement jump, 20-meter straight-line sprint, and T-test abilities. Across both conditions, participants exhibited increased countermovement jump height, 20-meter sprint time and T-test time compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Improvements in countermovement jump height (+4.4 ± 5.4%; P = 0.008) and 20-meter sprint time (+1.3 ± 1.7%; P = 0.022), but not T-test time (+1.1 ± 3.3%; P = 0.585), were significantly greater for CS than TS. In conclusion, compared to a traditional set arrangement, a morning-based priming protocol using a cluster-set configuration led to superior explosive performance benefits in the afternoon.

Coopetition, exploration and exploitation capabilities, and growth performance in digital healthcare ventures.

Introduction: Studies focusing on coopetition and dynamic capabilities have expanded significantly over the past several decades. Coopetition strategy and dynamic capabilities are increasingly recognised as sources of sustained competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the factors driving growth performance in digital healthcare ventures by examining the role of coopetition, exploration and exploitation capabilities, and environmental uncertainty. While numerous studies have examined the competitive advantage of coopetition, its specific contribution to the growth of ventures in the digital realm remains less explored. Clarifying the strategic role of coopetition in driving growth performance is critical for delineating the intricate relationship between coopetition and growth performance, particularly in the context of digital healthcare ventures. To fill in this research gap, this study uses coopetition theory and dynamic capabilities theory to look at how exploration and exploitation capabilities, as well as environmental uncertainty, affect the relationship between coopetition and growth performance in digital healthcare ventures. Methods: We collected a total of 338 questionnaires from Chinese digital healthcare ventures between March 2023 and August 2023. We conducted data analysis using SPSS 26.0 and its macro-program PROCESS. Results: Our results confirm that coopetition has a positive effect on growth performance in digital healthcare ventures. Furthermore, exploration and exploitation capabilities fully mediate the relationship between coopetition and growth performance. Moreover, environmental uncertainty significantly and distinctively moderates the impact of exploration and exploitation capabilities on growth performance. Discussion: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing deeper insight into the relationship between coopetition and growth performance in digital healthcare ventures. It also offers important practical implications for public health improvement and socio-economic development.

Exploring Seaweed-Associated Marine Microbes: Growth Impacts and Enzymatic Potential for Sustainable Resource Utilization.

Seaweed, a valuable marine resource widely cultivated worldwide, can be vulnerable to stress and microbiome alterations, resulting in the decay of seaweeds and substantial economic losses. To investigate the seaweed-microbiome interaction, our study aimed to isolate marine bacteria and fungi that can cause Ice-Ice disease and evaluate their enzymatic characteristics for potential application in bioethanol production from seaweed biomass. Three red seaweed species (Gracilaria edulis, Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Eucheuma cottonii) were obtained for our study and placed in separate culture tanks. Among the 18 isolated marine microbial species, 12 tested positive for agar and carrageenan activity: six exhibited both activities, three displayed only agar activity, and three only carrageenan activity. DNA sequencing of the positive microbes identified ten bacteria and two yeast species. The 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) assay results revealed that the identified bacterial Caldibacillus kokeshiiformis strain FJAT-47861 exhibited the highest carrageenase activity (0.76 units/ml), while the yeast Pichia fermentans strain PM79 demonstrated the highest agarase activity (0.52 units/ml). Notably, Pichia fermentans strain PM79 exhibited the highest overall agarase and carrageenase activity, averaging 0.63 units/ml. The average carrageenase activity of all six positive microbes was 1.5 times higher than their agarase activity. These findings suggest that the 12 isolated microbes hold potential for bioethanol production from macroalgae, as their agarase and carrageenase activity indicates their ability to break down seaweed cell wall carbohydrates, causing ice-ice disease. Moreover, these results provide exciting prospects for harnessing the bioconversion capabilities of these microbes, paving the way for sustainable and efficient bioethanol production from seaweed resources. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01205-w.

Capabilities Toward Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia: A Cross-Sectional Study of Registered Nurses Working in Two Tertiary Hospitals in China and Thailand.

BACKGROUND: An increased interest has been observed in the wide use of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) to control acute postoperative pain in both China and Thailand. The safety and efficacy of IV-PCA in patient care requires competent and capable staff nurses. This study aimed to appraise the capabilities of Thai and Chinese registered nurses regarding IV-PCA as a guide to develop educational programs. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 203 Chinese and 270 Thai registered nurses. An anonymous self-report questionnaire addressing 6 domains of capabilities toward IV-PCA was used to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. RESULTS: The study found that the mean percentage scores (MPS) of the overall capability on IV-PCA of the Thai and Chinese nurse participants were 55.5 (mean [M] = 57.3, standard deviation [SD] = 4.9) and 62.6 (M = 58.7, SD = 13.0), respectively, which indicated very low and low levels. Barriers to the use and care of patients receiving IV-PCA after surgery according to the Thai and Chinese nurse participants included a lack of knowledge and systematic training regarding IV-PCA and a lack of first-hand experience in providing care for IV-PCA patients. CONCLUSION: The study results call for intensive and effective training and education concerning all domains for registered nurses involved with patients receiving IV-PCA.

Recognition of advanced level practice against multiprofessional capabilities: Experiences of the first radiography applicants.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced practice is well established in the health professions with multiprofessional capabilities in place in England. To recognise achievement of these capabilities an ePortfolio (supported) route was initiated in 2022. This study aimed to review the demographics and experiences of radiographers applying for recognition in the first year of operation. METHODS: The multi method evaluation consisted of quantitative data analysis of information regarding the first three cohorts of radiographers (n = 40) participating in the NHS England (NHSE) scheme. Interviews with 12 participants was undertaken with thematic analysis of the transcripts. RESULTS: Self-rated scores of expertise were significantly higher by therapeutic radiographers (n = 8) compared to their 32 diagnostic colleagues (t = 5.556; p < 0.01). Radiographers saw the ePortfolio as an opportunity to validate their experience and to evidence parity with other professions. Participants felt the process also enabled critical reflection and gave unseen insight into themselves and their roles. The support of experienced educational supervisors was felt to be vital in this process and for successful completion of portfolio. CONCLUSIONS: Several radiographers have now achieved the necessary standards to achieve NHSE recognition. The evaluation exposed that most radiographers did not have the relevant evidence to hand and the ongoing collection of evidence around capabilities and impact is critical to evidencing advanced practice capabilities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Radiographers are able to achieve the capabilities expected for multiprofessional practice. Cultural change is required to normalise recording of evidence within practice including case-based discussions, clinical supervision and feedback from colleagues and patients. The support of an experienced educational supervisor aided the critical reflection on practice level.