Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing

Process Parameter Optimization in EDM using Ni Coated Electrode for MRR and Ra Using Taguchi Method and TOPSIS for Titanium Alloy

Nguyen Van Duc — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Currently, using coated electrodes in EDM is a new technology, and the effectiveness of this technical solution in improving the EDM machining process has been proven by recently published results. However, research to determine the optimal set of process parameters in EDM with coated electrodes is very necessary, because it will contribute to improving the efficiency of using this technology in practice. In this article, the optimal process parameters in EDM with Nickel Coated Electrode for Ti-6Al-4V have been determined. The Topsis method is used to solve the multi-objective problem in this study. The problem experimental work was performed using Taguchi based L16 orthogonal to solve multi-objective optimization. The current (I), voltage (U) and pulse on time (Ton) were used as input response variables for investigation process while material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) were selected as performance measures. The experimental results show that the optimal process parameters of the multi-objective decision problem in EDM with Nickel Coated Electrode include U = 40 V, I = 40 A, Ton = 1000 µs, resulting in an MRR of 0.028 mg/ min and an SR of 7.56 µm. The combination between TOPSIS and Taguchi method has contributed to reducing the time and cost of experimental research.

Stress as a Regulatory Variable of the Training and Psychoso-cial Profile of Undergraduate Students in Post COVID-19 era: A Systematic Review

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Stress is fundamental variable in human behavior. The aim of this systematic review is to carry out an analysis of the state of the art on stress in university students. To this end, a search was carried out in the Web of Science database for the descriptors "stress" and "undergraduate students". After applying the inclusion criteria, a total of 88 articles were selected. Interest in this variable has in-creased, motivated by the health situation derived from COVID-19. The results show stress interacts with socioeconomic variables, emotional intelligence, motivation and social skills of university students. Likewise, it is decisive in the face of addictions to mobile devices and narcotic substances.

Experimental Investigation of µEDM Process Parameters for Titanium Alloy with AlCrN Coated Electrode

Tam Nguyen Chi — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Micro Electric discharge machining (Micro-EDM) is a non-traditional machining method, and it is widely used in mold, tool and biomedical manufacturing. Therefore, research to clarify this technology in practice is very necessary. In this article, the influence of technological parameters in micro-EDM with coated electrodes on quality indicators is investigated. The experiments were performed on titanium alloy strip (Ti-6Al-4V) and AlCrN coated tungsten carbide rod served as electrode rod. The technology parameters used in the study include Voltage (V), Capacitance (C) and Spindle Rotation (RPM), and tool wear rate (TWR), overcut (OVC) and depth (Z co-ordinate) are the Quality indicators in research results. Taguchi method is used to design experiments, and ANOVA is used to analyze the results of quality indicators. They conclude that C has greater effect on multi-performance characteristics than U and RPM. Z co-ordinate, OVC and TWR were increased with the increase in U, and C increases have resulted in Z co-ordinate and TWR both increasing. The influence of RPM on OVC and TWR is similar.

Biopsychosocial Aspects Associated with Covid-19 of Pregnant Women who Delivered in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction. The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly and become pandemic. This study aims to analyze the biopsychosocial aspects associated with COVID-19 who delivered in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM).

Methods. This is a descriptive observational cross-sectional study, included all pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 who delivered in RSCM from March to December 2020. Data were collected from medical records and interviewing the subjects. Cases were analyzed for demographic, biophysical, psychological, and social aspects associated with COVID-19.

Result. We collected 183 patients with suspected COVID-19, and 37 patients were confirmed for COVID-19. Most pregnant women with COVID-19 infection have no comorbid before testing positive (65%). The outcome of both mothers and neonates was good with only 2.7% of mortality. From the psychological aspects, most subjects had sleep disturbance (53%), and 1 subject admitted suicide desire. From a social aspect, we observe the source of transmission through contact history and application of health protocols, only 30% of the subjects were known to have had contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, and most of the subjects followed health protocol (72.2%).

Conclusion. The most common method of delivery was a cesarean section, with good clinical outcomes. Neonatal outcomes also had good clinical outcomes with most of the PCR results being negative. From the psychological aspects, most subjects had sleep disturbance. From the social aspect, most have not known to have contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 and most of the subjects followed health protocol consistently.

Returns of Higher University Education in the Huánuco Region, Peru

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There is abundant theoretical and empirical literature that indicates that education plays a preponderant role in the economic and social development of a nation. Along these lines, many academics maintain that education helps to enhance the skills and abilities of individuals, resulting in more productive individuals in the workplace. The objective of the study was to estimate the returns of university higher education in the Huánuco region, Peru for the year 2014. The theoretical framework was Mincer's income model, which holds that a person's salary income depends on the years of study and work experience that he or she has, and based on this, the returns on education were estimated. Regarding the methodology, this study belongs to the quantitative approach, is applied, has an explanatory level and a non-experimental cross-sectional design. In particular, data from the 2014 National Survey of University Graduates and Universities implemented by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of Peru were used to estimate an econometric model called the Mincerian income equation. The results of the study show that there is a positive relationship between salary income, years of education and work experience of university professionals. From the estimation of the econometric model, it is found that an additional year of education tends to increase wage income by 13%, this value constitutes the return of university higher education in the Huánuco region.

Classroom Interventions During the COVID Pandemic: Impacts of Intervention Strategies for Students Benefit in Higher Education

William J. Jones , Douglas Rhein , Alexander Nanni , Virot Ali — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article summarizes the results of a yearlong study designed to measure the impact of a education intervention course introduced as part of the general education curriculum at a university in Thailand. The study was conceived following the outbreak of the COVID epidemic. 369 total participants, 212 participants in the control group, and 157 participants in the experimental group. A pre-intervention and a post-intervention response were included for each participant; therefore, a total of 738 observations were included. It was hypothesized that the classroom intervention would, when compared to the control group, impact positively. This article argues that higher education and its consumers, students, are best served by an approach to learning that not only focuses on their cognitive capacities but also their mental well-being. Using intervention strategies to assist students cope and adapt to internal and external stressors while, allowing equipping them with tools to predict and thus head off negative stressors allows for better classroom performance and overall mental well-being.

Performance of Rice Cooperatives in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Initiatives for Sustainable and Organic-Oriented Agricultural Development

Nguyen Thuy Trang, Vo Hong Tu — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rice cooperatives are vital to the agricultural landscape of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, yet their performance and contributions to sustainable agriculture are not well understood. This study provides a comprehensive analysis using data from 135 rice cooperatives, employing multiple regression and logit model. The findings reveal uneven membership distribution despite significant social influence, with most cooperatives having fewer than 100 members. Charter capital varies widely and does not strongly correlate with membership numbers. Despite challenges in rice processing, cooperatives offer diverse services to enhance productivity and market access, with a notable focus on high-quality rice production (41.5% of surveyed cooperatives produce premium rice,) and contract farming (43.7% engage in contract farming). Regression analysis highlights the influence of service provision, annual profit, and contract farming on cooperative performance, stressing the need for strategic management, financial stability, and market-oriented approaches to drive success in Mekong Delta's rice cooperatives.

The Role of Knowledge and Talent Management in Honorary Teachers in Makassar

Fakhruddin Kurnia M , Ilham Safar, Muhammad Nurhadi N — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research is a development of the role of knowledge management, transformational leadership and Employee Engagement on the performance of Honorary Teachers from elementary to high school levels in the city of Makassar. The number of respondents who contributed to filling out the questionnaire during this research was 195 with locations of service as teachers divided into several schools in Makassar. Knowledge management is an important thing because its implementation requires follow-up from both parties, namely the organization and the teachers themselves, so it is very interesting to see this phenomenon occur. While transformational leadership is considered an elegant leadership model and is suitable in several types of organizations, this requires further proof. Meanwhile, employee engagement is an interesting issue because the composition of workers in the world of work today has entered various types of generations whose work culture has a different work perspective from previous generations. This research is a quantitative approach using SmartPLS 3.2.9 software. as a tool for managing existing data. The results of the research show that in terms of direct and indirect influence, all independent and dependent variables have an influence and are significant, while the role of the transformational leadership variable as a moderator of the relationship between knowledge management and performance is not able to strengthen this relationship. Based on this research, it can be said that the important role of knowledge management, transformational leadership and employee engagement of every honorary teacher can actually encourage good performance, so it is important to manage this matter well, existing knowledge, the right leadership model and the teacher's sense of attachment to the teacher. organization and work.

Utilitarian Value, Convenience, on Repurchase Intention Through Trust in Online Shop Users

Erick Karunia , Gusfen Alextron Simangunsong , Hanadelansa — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze Utilitarian Value and Convenience of Repurchase Intention through Trust in Online Shop Users. Quantitative approach method is used in path analysis processed with Structural Equation Model (SEM). Validity tests and reliability tests will be carried out, then estimation tests and structural model fit tests. Based on the results of the structural model, this study found that Convenience had a significant impact on Trust. In other words, when online shop users found the shopping process convenient, it positively influenced their level of trust in the online shop. Additionally, Trust had a significant effect on Repurchase Intention. This means that when users had a higher level of trust in the online shop, they were more likely to intend to repurchase from that shop in the future. However, this study did not find any significant effects of Utilitarian Value on Trust, Utilitarian Value on Repurchase Intention, or Convenience on Repurchase Intention. This suggests that the perceived usefulness of the online shop and the convenience of the shopping experience did not directly impact users' trust or their intention to repurchase. The result of this study imply that the perceived benefits of efficiency and convenience alone may not be sufficient to influence customers' trust, repurchase intention, or perceived performance of an online shop. Factors such as trust, confidence in product selection, and the ability to acquire guaranteed products that align with purchasing power play a more crucial role in increasing repurchase interest for online consumers.

Using The (4mat) Model in Teaching The Triangles Similarity Unit For The Ninth Grade

Wafiq Hibi — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the effectiveness of the 4mat model in teaching engineering and developing thinking skills and geometric tendencies among ninth-grade middle school students in "the triangles similarity unit". The study used a semi-experimental approach with 64 students divided into an experimental (32 students) and control group (32 students). The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the average scores of both groups for systemic thinking skills. Additionally, the post-application scores of the experimental group were higher than their pre-application scores. Therefore, the study concludes that the 4mat model is effective in enhancing thinking skills and geometric tendencies among ninth-grade students in "the triangles similarity unit". This study suggests that math teachers use 4mat model in their teaching practices and receive training on how to use it. The findings provide valuable insight into improving math education outcomes, and future studies could examine the 4mat model effectiveness in different contexts.

Running Head: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in the Relationship between Insecure Attachment and Loneliness

Panos Kordoutis, Markos Moschos — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Attachment-related insecurities along with emotional processing difficulties, hamper the ability of individuals to acquire and maintain close relational bonds. Identification and expression of feelings enable individuals to form supportive and intimate interpersonal relationships, and serve a protective function against experiencing loneliness. This is particularly relevant in young adults, who experience important life transitions and their levels of loneliness show an upward trend, the last decades. This study aims to investigate associations between alexithymic characteristics and adult attachment orientations (anxiety and avoidance), as well as, the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between insecure attachment and loneliness. Our sample consisted of 379 Greek-speaking young adults, aged 18-25, who took part in an online survey and completed measures of attachment orientation, alexithymia and loneliness. Regression models indicated that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were positively associated with alexithymia dimensions and consistently predicted higher level of loneliness. Results also revealed, that alexithymia partially mediated the effects of both attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety on participant’s levels of loneliness. The findings underline that individuals who have the capacity to understand and express their emotions can benefit from receiving emotional support and feel less lonely. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as, directions for future research are also discussed.

Mental Health During Covid-19: Understanding The Role Of Stress And Resilienc

Namrata , Saif R. Farooqi — Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background COVID-19 is one of the most stressful life experiences worldwide in recent times. This has triggered common mental health problems among people. Given the impact and lacunae in existing literature, it is significant to understand the risks as well as protective factors associated with mental health.

Aims The study thus aimed to examine the role of stress and resilience in mental health in the general population during COVID-19.

Methods A total of 397 individuals (192 males and 205 females) ranging from 18-40 years, participated in an online survey. Self-report measures Adult Self-Report Response to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used to examine the COVID-19 stress, resilience, and mental health, respectively. Pearson product moment correlation analysis was used to assess the associations between stress, resilience and mental health. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of mental health.

Results Results showed that stress and resilience significantly predicted mental health. This suggests that high stress leads to negative outcomes on mental health, and high resilience helps in coping with mental health issues. Results also showed that gender significantly predicted mental health. Specifically, females being more affected by mental health problems as compared to males.

Conclusion The study suggests that enhancing resilience and minimising stress may improve the mental health conditions of individuals during difficult times. Also, females were found to be more susceptible to mental health issues, therefore, special intervention programs should be designed for them.

Exploring Intercultural Communication Competence Among Primary School Teachers In North Macedonia: A Survey Analysis

Bujar Adili, Arbresha Zenki-Dalipi, Makfirete Ameti — Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC) plays a crucial role in the performance of modern teachers. The research aimed to analyze if there exists a statistically significant diference in ICC levels among teachers. Based on variables like cultural school structure, gender, seniority, prior intercultural education, and education degree, the investigation was conducted. 217 primary school teachers in the Republic of North Macedonia participated in the study. A 5-point Intercultural Communication Likert Scale of Intercultural Sensitivity Index (ISI) with 11 items was utilized. The Scale’s Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient stood at α=0.87. Descriptive statistics were utilized to assess the levels of teachers’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC). The ICC levels were interpreted with the following intervals: 1.00–1.79 as “very low,” 1.80–2.59 as “low,” 2.60–3.39 as “middling,” 3.40–4.19 as “high,” and 4.20–5.00 as “very high.” Statistical tests, including t-tests and One Way ANOVA at p=.05, were conducted to assess differences in teachers' ICC levels. The research outcomes demonstrated significant differences in teachers’ ICC levels, particularly concerning cultural school structure and teacher education degree. Teachers working in multicultural schools exhibited a higher ICC level (M=3.64) compared to those in monocultural schools (M=3.39). Teachers possessing a Ph.D. demonstrated a higher ICC level compared to those with bachelor’s degrees (p=.031). No statistically significant differences were detected in ICC levels with respect to gender, seniority, and prior intercultural education among teachers. The findings underline the necessity for professional development initiatives in the realm of intercultural education for teachers.

Adaptation and Validation of the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale Revised (ASAS-R) Instrument for the Filipino Context

Santos, Leilani R — Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R) is a commonly employed tool for evaluating an individual's subjective capacity to participate in self-care activities. Nevertheless, the extent to which it can be applied and its accuracy in the specific setting of the Philippines has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to modify and authenticate the ASAS-R tool for application in the Filipino community. An iterative adaptation procedure was undertaken, comprising translation, cultural adaption, and pilot testing. The modified tool underwent psychometric evaluation to determine its construct validity, reliability, and internal consistency. The results showed that the modified ASAS-R instrument had good psychometric qualities, confirming its validity and reliability for application in the Philippines environment. This study adds to the expanding body of research on the evaluation of self-care agency and offers a culturally suitable tool for assessing self-care practices among Filipinos.

Psychological Effects Of Animal-Assisted Programs Among Children With Special Needs- Experiences From A Systematic Review

Zita Éva Balogh, Ildikó Erdei, Karolina Eszter Kovács , Beáta Erika Nagy — Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Programmes involving animals are becoming more and more common. These programmes can vary widely in their methodology, focus and purpose, and their developmental impact can be significant for healthy children and those with various disorders. In the present systematic review, we aimed to explore the psychological effects of animal-assisted activities (AAA), therapies (AAT) and interventions (AAI). Using the EBSCO Discovery Service search engine, we searched 85 databases for relevant studies alongside the relevant keywords. The search yielded 262 results, of which 21 studies were relevant after title and abstract filtering and full-text analysis. The results show that most animal-assisted programmes involve dogs and horses. Regarding the type of the disorder, autism, cerebral palsy and ADHD were over-represented. There was considerable variability in the duration of sessions and the overall programme, independent of disorder type and patient age. The main indicators revolved around relational, cognitive and behavioural effectiveness. Overall, the studies were of high methodological quality. The studies typically focus on a single segment or the child/adolescent only, but the results are not interpreted in context. In the future, it would be worthwhile to broaden the spectrum of studies in terms of comparisons of psychological and physiological indicators and follow-up, longitudinal design and analysis.

Music therapy, how does it change the way of perceiving colours for patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy?

Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The choice of colours according to their positive or negative connotation could be an indirect way of reflecting individual's psychology. This concept has never been explored in oncology. The aim of this study is to investigate the evolution of colour choices reflecting the psychology of breast cancer patients receiving music therapy (MT) during their radiotherapy (RT).This is a prospective study which enrolled two groups of breast cancer patients undergoing RT: first group attending weekly MT sessions during their RT courses (MT arm) and second group who didn’t attend to MT sessions (control arm). Patients were asked to choose the colour reflecting their psychology at different assessments: before RT (T0), during RT (T1), at the end of RT (T2) and 2 months after RT (T3). Sixty patients were included and equally divided between both arms. In the MT arm, the evolutionary profile of colours with positive connotation showed a significant increase between T0-T1, T0-T2 and T0-T3 (p=0.014, p=0.021 and p=0.021 respectively). However, in the control arm, it showed a significant decrease between T1-T2 and T0-T2 (p=0.008 and p=0.039 respectively) and a significant increase between T2-T3 (p=0.003).Their comparison showed a significant improvement at T2 in favour of MT arm (p=0.001). Thus, MT seems to boost positive psychology in breast cancer patients undergoing RT by ameliorating their perception of colours. Consequently, it would be interesting to integrate it into cancer treatment and to involve psychologists during the patients’ assessment to better understand their colours choices.

A Correlation between MRI findings in current and future Disc Herniation Grade 1- Amongst Low Back Pain Patients

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a procedure used to assess the effects of a herniated disc. There is a hypothesis that there might be a correlation between MRI findings at baseline and follow-up to determine whether there is an ability to predict future progress in LBP among LBP patients with non- or mild disc prolapse (grade 1-disc herniation) with the help of MRI findings.

Method: This study consisted of a total of 70 patients, all of whom gave their informed consent to participate in the study. Using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), patients were asked to rate how intense the back pain was and to complete the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire for an assessment of their disability. For all patients, the spine was assessed by MRI scan. Within 1.5 years of baseline MRI scan, 39 volunteers were repeat MRI scan for LBP patients.

Result: In this study, we found that age, VAS, disability index, and disc herniation were weakly correlated. Pain and disability also had a weak relation with Grade 1 (r=0.11, r=0.04). In addition, Our longitudinal study found that most of the MRI findings did not seem to be linked to future LBP - severity, whether the participant experienced LBP in the past or not (r= 0.07, p=0.8).

Conclusion: it was discovered that MRI scans in both ongoing and forthcoming studies do not exhibit a statistically noteworthy association with the magnitude and position of lumbar disc herniation, pain, and disability.

Psychological Resilience and Cognitive Flexibility Levels of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Eker Berra, Hallaç Süeda, Savaş Esra, Örnek Billur — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background Numerous cancer patients experience a range of obstacles and problems during their healing and therapy processes. Cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience are key ideas when assessing the psychological health of cancer patients during this process. The cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience of breast cancer patients, nevertheless, have not received sufficient focus. Moreover, there is still an inadequate amount of data about the association between receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and psychological resilience and cognitive flexibility.

Aims To investigate the psychological resilience and cognitive flexibility of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer compared to those who have not.

Methods A cross-sectional study that was descriptive and correlational was carried out. The study included a total of 157 female respondents without a breast cancer diagnosis and 143 female respondents with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Results The analysis's findings indicate that the psychological resilience averages of the participants who were diagnosed with both breast cancer and a psychiatric diagnosis (X = 108.88, SD = 20.66) were lower than those of the participants who were only diagnosed with breast cancer (X = 120.90, SD = 16, 63). The results of the t-test analysis reveal that there is a significant difference in the average psychological resilience between those in the breast cancer diagnostic group who have a psychiatric diagnosis and those who do not (t = -3.18, p <.01).

Conclusions The findings of this study reveal a significant disparity in psychological resilience among breast cancer patients based on the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis. Specifically, participants with both breast cancer and a psychiatric diagnosis exhibit lower psychological resilience compared to those solely diagnosed with breast cancer.

Teachers’ Learning Management and Its Effect on Grade 8 Filipino Students’ Performance in Mathematics in a Post Covid-19 Pandemic Context

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explored the connection between the learning management strategies utilized by teachers and their impact on the academic performance of Grade 8 Filipino students in Mathematics. The research focused on public high schools within the North district of the Department of Education in Cebu City Division during the 2022-2023 school year. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational design, the study involved 158 students from the research sites. Data were analyzed using T-test and Pearson r. The findings revealed that both schools exhibited a moderate level of observed learning management, with a moderate impact on students. The average grades of the respondents were satisfactory. However, the effectiveness of learning management strategies did not predict academic performance. Furthermore, statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between the evaluations made by the two groups regarding the effects of learning management on students. The results suggest that while learning management strategies are important, they are not definitive predictors of Grade 8 students' academic performance in the post-COVID-19 context. Consequently, this study recommends a further investigation on confounding variables that may impede the successful implementation of comprehensive learning management plans to enhance academic outcomes.