bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of In-Service Teaching Training on Job Performance of Teachers: An Empirical Study
Authors: Gull Shahroz , Khan Tariq Mahmood , Jabbar Muhammad Naveed
Published: September 2022

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of in-service teaching training on the job performance of teachers. The teaching faculty was selected as a population from the Kasur district, whereas 243 participants were designated as a sample through a random sampling technique.The questionnaire based on five points Like-rt scale was administered for data collection through the survey method. The research questions were evaluated by using SPSS-25. The findings revealed that there was a positive and moderate effect of in-service teaching training on teachers' job performance.This research may contribute to the development of the teaching-learning process at the secondary school level through the adaptation of various techniques for the development of the professional skills of teaching faculty.
Analysis of Minimalist Syntactic Complexity in English Writing among Secondary Level Students
Authors: Saleem Muhammad , Zahra Tehseen , Khan Shaista Irshad
Published: September 2022

This research is an analysis of minimalist syntactic complexity in the syntactic structures of secondary-level students of government schools. It highlights the null constituents in the syntactic structures of students writing in annual examinations. It also finds the occurrences of null constituents in the written syntactic structures of the students. For this purpose, the researchers selected ten government high schools [male students] of district Mardan. In this research, a hundred samples of attempted answer sheets of English paper (class 9 and 10) were collected through a random sampling technique. The theoretical framework of the Noam Chomskys Minimalist program was used for this research. The syntactic structures of the attempted answer sheets of the students were analyzed through parsing (tree diagram) with the perspective of minimalism. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively; the null constituents are discussed qualitatively, and the occurrences of null constituents shown are quantitatively through tabulation.
Gap Analysis of Competence-related Learning Outcomes of PhD Graduates
Authors: Ahmed Munawwar , Asim Razia , Ali Muhammad Sher Baz
Published: September 2022

This research aimed to investigate the disparity between the levels of competence-related learning outcomes and those anticipated from PhD programmes at four public institutions in Punjab.The study was done in two parts using a mixed-methods confirmatory methodology. During the first phase, a self-designed questionnaire was used to gather electronic data from 269 PhD grads to measure their projected levels of competence-related learning outcomes. The purpose of this phase was to gather this data. Meanwhile, 72 teaching staff were questioned for confirmation of the results of the first phase of the research. PhD students predicted a high degree of knowledge gain, while faculty members believed that PhD holders displayed a moderate level of knowledge acquisition. A sample t-test demonstrated a statistically significant gap between the levels of competence-related learning outcomes realized by PhD graduates and those anticipated. According to the conclusions of the research, the HEC should include pertinent elements of the NQF in the curriculum designs for the PhD programme.
Prediction of Student Achievement through Teacher's Professional Characteristics by using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Sheikh Muhammad Ismail , Ahmad Haseeb , Lodhi Huma
Published: September 2022

Teacher characteristics are important for teaching learning and are important predictors of students’ achievement. The present study aims to predict students’ academic achievement criteria on teachers’ characteristics with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The data were collected from 100students from one of the universities in Lahore, Pakistan, through a questionnaire comprising of teachers’ characteristics effective for teaching, against a 4-point scale varying from strongly agree to strongly disagree to the find extant of the existence of certain characteristics in the teachers. The analysis was done to predict the student grade based on teacher characteristics in the class with the help of artificial intelligence. Two machine learning models were built, and their accuracy was compared. Thek-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models were built. The accuracies of the KNN and MLR were 83 Percent and 91 Percent, respectively. This work concluded that the MLR model could be effectively used to predict student performance.
Analysing Meaning Potential in Verbal Art: A Discourse-functional Perspective on Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Authors: Tehseem Tazanfal , Faiz Rabia , Nawaz Sana
Published: September 2022

This paper aims to explore the construal of socio-political meanings in Faiz Ahmad Faiz with a focus on his artistry work titled ‘mujh se pahli si Mohabbat’ to help unfold higher patterns of organization at the level of transitivity choices to reflect the underlying perspective.Drawing on the Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) for the transitivity analysis (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2014) the study highlights the meaning potential encoded through the process types. As referred above, the selected poem comprises twenty-nine clauses that were written originally in Urdu language but for the ease of the readership, the transliterated text is adopted from Hasan (2009). She (ibid) proposes a theory of verbal art that extends the higher level of linguistic patterns to encode sublime meaning potential. The analysis shows that apparently, the poem appears to express the plight of circumstances but it is a tragic tale of misery and despair propounded at the crossroad of love and revolution. The findings also reveal that the dominant process type in the poem is the existential one with the male protagonist narrating the tale of socio-cultural agonies and the subsequent is the material process type which posits the significant meaning potential regarding inflicting pain in apolitical turmoil.
Discovery of Existential Paralysis, Death, and Resolve in Autoethnographic Poetry of Taufiq Rafat through Poundian Image: A Study of Poetic Therapy
Authors: Rasheed Saba , Javaid Sahar
Published: September 2022

Poetry therapy is a very useful technique tocope with extremely unbearable emotional experiencesin the lives of poets by manoeuvring autoethnographicpoems as a form of self-therapy. It engages a process ofself-disclosure to transform the developmental changestaking place in the affective domain of humans to bringemotional equilibrium. The poetic techniques ofconjuring subjective images in superposition withobjective metaphors – Poundian Image – imply theexistential themes of loss, death, dread,meaninglessness, void, resolve, etc., to relate theotherwise inarticulable emotional states. This paperseeks to investigate Taufiq Rafat's autoethnographicpoems about loss and death in his family from hisanthology Half Moon: Poems (1979-1983) to discoverhis existential thematic dimensions – fear of death,existential paralysis, the journey towards death,existential resolve through spiritual relief, andeverlasting memories – to come to term with theultimate reality of death using Ezra Pound'stheorization of Poundian image. Moreover, the studyalso takes into account the use of ethnographic poemsas self-therapy.
Style In Literature: A Stylistics Analysis of the Poem "The Sari" by Moniza Alvi
Authors: Khan Marina , Islam Saddam Ul , Noor Sanaa Malaikah
Published: September 2022

This paper probes a stylistic analysis of poem of eminent Pakistani English Poetess Moniza Alvi. The well-known poem by Moniza Alvi is titled"The Sari." Alvi received a Cholmondeley Award for Poetry in 2002, and Bloodaxe released Alvi'sretrospective collection, Split World: Poems 1990–2005,in 2008. Her voice is restrained, indirect, fantastical,kind, and unique. She possesses a special understanding of cultural and emotional splits. Here,the researcher tries to approach Alvi's poetry "The Sari"from the perspective of stylistics. The paper also analyses the poems using linguistic methods in order to elucidate their meaning. It is significant to emphasize that many who teach and research the English language and literature find stylistics to be a very helpful scientific field. Whether English is your first language, second language, or third, stylistics can help native English speakers as well as overseas students.Both linguistic and literary talents can be acquired.
Educators' Perceptions Towards Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL)
Authors: Halepoto Aqsa , Bhutto Niaz Ahmed , Kakepoto Inayatullah
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the findings of a case study about university teachers' perceptions regarding Mobile assisted language learning (MALL) and the fences associated with it. Five English language teachers from public sector universities were surveyed respondents for this study project. Researchers used the purposive technique for data collection. This technique is the fittest research method since participants were drawn on specific criteria of only English language educators. The research mode was qualitative, and the data collection instrument was semi-structured interviews. The content analysis approach was employed for data analysis purposes.Miles and Huber man's (1994) qualitative data analysis method was employed. Results exhibited that mobile-assisted language learning played an indispensable role in English language learning. Nonetheless, a few barriers influenced it, i.e., 'teachers' inadequate knowledge, absence of devices, expensive internet packages, electricity load shedding, poor network coverage, de-motivation, boredom, small screen,sluggish internet speed, and data storage deficiency.
The Impact of the Rotation Model of Blended Learning on Creative Writing Skills of the EFL Learners in Pakistan
Authors: Farooqi Ahsan-ul-Haq , Ahmad Masood , Hussain Ijaz
Published: September 2022

The study was conducted to investigate the impact of the rotation model of BL on the creative writing skills of EFL learners in the Pakistani context.The main purpose of this experimental research is to enhance the English writing skill of the learners and the instructional approaches used by the teaching faculty members. The paper offers experimental research on EFL learners of four Federal Government Secondary Schools, including male and female. The researcher used pre-test, post-test, lesson plan and scoring rubrics as a tool. The paper discovers that the rotation model of blended learning is more suitable for the English writing skills of EFL learners than the conventional method. The results suggest that the application of the rotation model of blended learning in writing skills helps the learners produce significant and better performance compared to the conventional method of instruction. The findings also indicate that female EFL learners performed better than male EFL learners in the experimental group.
A Lexico-Syntactic Analysis of Urdu Riddles
Authors: Kazmi Syeda Sarah Ali , Khalique Shahida , Kazmi Syeda Afifa Hassan
Published: September 2022

This study aims to identify the Lexi-co-Syntactic patterns along with their functions in Urdu riddles in the framework of Alabi (2007) for stylistic analysis. In order to achieve this aim, a qualitative and descriptive method was adopted for the study. The data were randomly selected from the weekly magazine ‘Jagmag moti', the Urdu riddles book 'Paheliyon ki dunia' and the internet.Forty-five Urdu riddles were analyzed under stylistic levels mentioned by Alabi (2007). In lexicon-Syntactic analysis of Urdu riddles, findings showed that language in Urdu riddles is skillfully manipulated through several lexicon-syntactic devices, including anastrophe, ellipsis, asyndeton,anaphora, epizeuxis, hyperbole, personification,synecdoche, simile, metaphor and archaic. It was found that Urdu riddles use these Lexi-co-Syntactic devices in order to confuse the listeners and to create an impact on them.
Thematic Analysis of the Editorials of Pakistani Print Media during the General Election, 2018
Authors: Ahmad Riaz , Khan Bin Yamin , Hadi Widad Mustafa El
Published: September 2022

Print media has been a major source of information for people across the globe. It has played a vital role in every field of life by highlighting issues and promoting positive images. Likewise, its role in the elections cannot be ignored. The current study investigates the topic of discussion in the editorials. Public issues were discussed, the frequency of supported political parties and the differences in the editorials among the newspapers during the general election 2018. The data analysis revealed marginalized importance of public issues for the editorial writers. The analysis also indicated a strong heedlessness towards public issues and welfare. Thus, it is concluded that both priming and framing of international issues are overemphasizes the financial situation. Theeditorials have been found focused on Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League (N) while, public issues such as poverty, childlabour, education, and others remained highly underrepresented
Impact of Social Media Coverage of Taliban's Takeover on the Mental Health of Afghan Scholars in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Bin Yamin , Naseer Fakhruddin , Khan Abobakar
Published: September 2022

Taliban re-controlled Afghanistan on August 15 2021, for the second time in its history. This rapid takeover left immense effects on the lives of Afghans globally. It also affected the economy, politics and routine affairs of the country. Some of the Afghans lost their lives while others lost their jobs. Using thematic analysis, the current study probes the frequency and priority of social media use for information about the Taliban takeover (TTO). This study majorly investigates the effects of social media's coverage of the TTO on the mental of Afghan scholars in Pakistan. The findings of the study show that the majority of respondents spend 3.7 hrs on social media sites daily. They spent more time on social media during the TTO than on normal days, resulting in a range of mental health issues. However, the majority of them rely on Facebook as the primary source of information, followed by Twitter and YouTube.
Impact of English Language on Career Opportunities in the Private Sector of Pakistan: A Case Study of Jazz Digital House Multan
Authors: Ali Rana Imran , Nawaz Muhammad Shah , Imran Muhammad
Published: September 2022

The present study investigated the impact of English language on career opportunities of employees of Jazz Digital House Multan Pakistan,working in various domains. A quantitative approach was applied to obtain the employees' perceptions as an individual’s perspective. Data were collected through a four-point Likert scale questionnaire from 111 Jazz employees. A survey form was circulated through Google form, and the respondents’ responses were collected online. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the respondents’ responses. The results revealed that the English language skills of hiring candidates make an impact on the interviewers’ committee, mandatory for finding a suitable candidate for the employer. The results also showed that English language skills increase the chances of one’s career success, break the barriers for jobseekers to find good jobs, and have a very significant impact on career-boosting opportunities in the private sector. Inferential statistics results showed that there is no significant variance at gender level in scores on English language impact on career opportunities. It is recommended that there must be training sessions for the new employees to enhance their English language skills like these (skills) play a significant role to the working environment.
Use of balloon-assisted nasal access to augment endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach: illustrative case
Authors: Winslow Nolan , Garst Jonathan , Klemens James J. , Tsung Andrew J.
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND

Pituitary adenoma is a neurosurgical pathology commonly resected via endoscopic endonasal approach. Septal and nasal passage anatomy can affect the surgical corridor and may require septoplasty or other techniques for expansion.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors presented a case of pituitary macroadenoma with septal deviation with use of balloon-assisted nasal access for surgery.

LESSONS

This technique enhanced surgical width of field and instrument maneuverability via septal medialization for successful tumor resection.
Intraoperative ultrasound evidence of accidental simultaneous cannulation of the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein: illustrative case
Authors: Mittal Aditya M. , Nowicki Kamil W. , Fernández-de Thomas Ricardo J. , Mayor Jessica , McEnaney Ryan M. , Gerszten Peter C.
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND

Establishing central venous access is important to provide fluid resuscitation or medications intravenously to patients.

OBSERVATIONS

Although accidental cannulation of the internal carotid artery has been reported in the literature, to our knowledge this report is the first documented intraoperative ultrasound video demonstrating accidental and simultaneous common carotid artery and internal jugular cannulation during central line placement in the internal jugular vein.

LESSONS

Ultrasound use minimizes accidental carotid cannulation during central line placement in the internal jugular vein. Carotid artery puncture can be managed by external application of pressure or surgical reexploration.
Evaluation of different ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) germplasm under rainfed vertisols of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: RAJADURAI K. R. , RAJKUMAR J. , RAJABABU C.
Published: September 2022

Underutilized waste lands of vertisols can be successfully utilized for cultivation of ber for which identification of suitable germplasm plays a significant role to achieve maximum returns. An experiment was conducted during 2017 to 2020 at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Aruppukottai under the dry vertisols of Tamil Nadu, India. This experiment was carried out under ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits (ICAR-AICRP-AZF). Twenty-six (26) ber genotypes were evaluated to assess the growth, yield and quality performances. Among the genotypes evaluated, the ber variety Kaithali (ZM-3) registered higher individual fruit weight (24.3 g), pulp weight (22.5 g), fruit yield per tree (18. 9 kg) and yield per ha (5.10 tonnes/ha). Next to Kaithali, Gola (ZM-4) recorded more individual fruit weight of 22.55 g, pulp weight of 20.46 g, Fruit yield per tree of 17.05 kg and fruit yield per ha of 4.6 tonnes. The variety Kakadia I (ZM8) showed reduced fruit yield per tree of 13.8 kg and fruit yield per ha of 3.7 tonnes. All genotypes recorded TSS values ranging from 10.3 to 16.2oBrix. Based on this it could be concluded that the ber germplasm Kaithali is suitable for dry vertisols tracts of Tamil Nadu to enhance the overall output for the farming community.
A Case Developing Bigemina Ventricular Extrasystole After Moxifloxacin-Induced Anaphylaxis
Authors: HASGÜL Burak , AKDOĞAN Halil İbrahim , KARAMAN Serhat , ÇATAK Arif İsmet
Published: September 2022

Anaphylaxis is a multisystemic hypersensitivity reaction that develops suddenly after exposure to an allergenic substance, and causes life-threatening circulatory and respiratory problems if the intervention is delayed. Anaphylaxis is often caused by drugs, insect bites, and food. In case of anaphylaxis, dysrhythmias may be observed as a result of cardiac side effects. In our case, we presented a patient who developed anaphylaxis and concomitant ventricular dysrhythmia after the sixth dose of moxifloxacin tablet, a quinolone antibiotic for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection.
Generation and Dissemination of African Languages and Tradition of Library
Authors: Mahwasane N.P.
Published: September 2022

The objective of the study was to establish the factors that affect the creation and distribution of African languages and tradition in the library. Libraries can effectively participate in several ways in the oral history such as: collection development of published material, performing as a storehouse/repository for the main resource materials, as well as sustaining a programme which note down oral history. A systematic literature review by making use of a mixture of both the contextual and conceptual review methods were utilised for this study. The findings revealed that the library has a crucial role to play in the creation and distribution of African languages as well as culture. Culture is a vehicle of communication in a community. The challenges encountered by the libraries in creating, preserving and disseminating African languages and tradition were also stressed by librarians. The study recommended that the library collections should be composed by incorporating the print, automated and oral forms that accommodate for indigenous knowledge. The cultural heritage resources should also be preserved in a way that equally maintain their attractiveness to visitors as well as the principles for which they were preserved
State of Art and Perspectives of Universal Design: The Libyan Approach
Authors: El Rida Al Sharif Ahmed
Published: September 2022

Through this paper, we have highlighted the importance of a Universal Design orientation within the architectural community in Libya; it attempts to shed light on some of the different initiatives, experiences, applications, and projects in the field of accessibility and Universal Design to provide a hospitable urban environment that can accommodate all segments of Libyan society. The paper discusses the difficulties of architectural integration and the need for comprehensive education, training, and proof of concept applications by reviewing some inspiring projects undertaken in Libya to encounter this issue. The paper concludes by looking forward to practicing the design orientation for all in Libya by discussing the opportunities available after the tremendous political and economic change in Libya post-2011 and the need for reconstruction programs that adopt the Universal Design doctrine on suspended and future urban projects, furthermore the need to establish a national strategy, and law binding commitment in this context.
Making Research More Inclusive: Is Universal Design of Research the Answer?
Authors: Berget Gerd , Kvikne Birgit
Published: September 2022

Researchers typically declare in the methods section of scientific papers that the study included a representative sample. A closer look at the composition of participant groups, however, reveal that these samples are typically based on criteria such as age, educational background, and a binary gender division. Nothing is mentioned about other characteristics e.g., functional, or neurocognitive variations. Consequently, many “representative samples” do not really represent the whole population, but rather the majority. In this perspective paper, we argue that there is a need for more inclusive research considering the broad diversity of people. We discuss whether Universal Design of Research (UDR) is a purposeful approach. We go through the proposed definition of UDR and apply three topics as examples, namely participant characteristics, communication, and study design. The overall conclusion is that UDR might be purposeful for many studies but is not ethical or purposeful in all types of research. There is, however, a need for a more precise and comprehensive definition of UDR to comply with ethical requirements and to be purposeful for researchers. We therefore conclude by suggesting a revised definition.
Adaptive Refurbishment for Aging in Place: Design Scenarios of Case Studies in Turin, Italy
Authors: Montacchini Elena , Tedesco Silvia , Savio Lorenzo
Published: September 2022

The “aging” world implies a rethinking of housing models, to meet the needs of the elderly for physical and mental well-being, independence, social interaction, safety, and accessibility. “Aging in place” is recognized by experts and international literature as a fundamental strategy for maintaining conditions of well-being and reducing public spending on health care. However, often the houses do not have the requirements to easily adapt to the needs that change with aging and possible downsizing of the family unit. For the elderly, maintaining their own home can become unsustainable due to problems of costs, oversizing, physical and perceptual accessibility, and safety. The contribution, taking as a case study the residential building heritage of Turin (Italy), illustrates and critically compares scenarios of adaptive recovery of homes to make them suitable for the needs of the elderly, intending to promote “aging in place” and housing adaptive refurbishment as a sustainable strategy.
Accessible-to-All Cities. A Project of Networking Italian Experiences to Raise Awareness and Promote Universal Design
Authors: Alberti Francesco , Chiarelli Barbara
Published: September 2022

In 2016 the Italian National Institute of Urban Planning (INU) launched the project Accessible-to-all Cities, aimed at fostering the creation of an inclusive environment for improving universal accessibility to places and services at both scales of the city and the territory, by networking accessibility good practices and stakeholders from all corners of the country. Since then, a community of public and private subjects gathered by INU has been established and growing, sharing experiences, problems and solutions. Through the organization of dozens of meetings, seminars, workshops, conference sessions and webinars, more than 200 experiences developed in Italy have been collected, including studies and research, public policies, projects and actions, both material and immaterial, concerning the overcoming of different kind of barriers: physical, sensory, perceptive, intellectual, cultural, social, economic, health and gender. On these bases, in 2019, the INU Accessible-to-all Cities Community launched an open web archive, an initiative that intends to contribute to increasing awareness and knowledge, as well as to facilitate the implementation and development of actions and policies, by leveraging the good practices widespread, but often little known, in Italy.
Communities, Sport, Inclusion. Strategies for Parish Complexes Social Reactivation Through Sport Practice Promotion
Authors: Daprà Francesca , Mosca Erica Isa , Gola Marco , Rebecchi Andrea , Buffoli Maddalena , Fior Marika , Vettori Maria Pilar , Capolongo Stefano
Published: September 2022

The following contribution presents some findings deriving from the research project “Sport is Society” by Politecnico di Milano. The research reflects on the built heritage and its ability to be accessible and usable for different users with different needs in its structures and offer of services, focusing on sports activities and spaces. The study refers to collective ecclesiastical structures in the contemporary city. The research in this area demonstrates the possible degrees of innovation regarding the increase in the inclusiveness of private facilities with a public vocation, where sport represents a driver of social inclusion for the community. The research proposes advice to guarantee inclusive sports facilities for the community, highlighting the strict relationship between the inclusive city and the ecclesiastical heritage, as an emerging issue to be investigated and solved. Starting from its relevance and the potential of the structures to become a truly “accessible patrimony”, the tool suggests strategies for policymakers and ecclesiastical administrations to make them become “open services” – usable and accessible by all – for and inside the urban community.
Healthcare Facilities and Dementia Development of a Framework to Assess Design Quality
Authors: Mangili Silvia , Capolongo Stefano
Published: September 2022

In recent years, thanks to advances in medicine and the role of prevention, life expectancy has experienced rapid growth (from 77.6 to 81.3 years), resulting in an increase in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and years lived with disability. One of these is dementia, with about 7 million people currently affected in Europe while the number is set to double by 2050. These patients are complex due to the serious changes in their cognitive sphere, altering perceptions of their physical space. Because of age and multimorbidity, they are the most frequent users of healthcare facilities, but these structures often are not suitable to them. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare facilities demonstrated criticalities in structural and social issues. To this end, a rethinking of these spaces is urgent, and the use of Evidence-Based Design (EBD, the design based on findings from scientific research) can be a method to create safe and suitable environments. This study aims to develop an evaluation framework to assess the design quality of healthcare facilities for people with dementia. A systematic literature review was conducted to define a set of requirements that the space must have to be prosthetic for the patient. The framework consists of three macro areas (i.e., physical, social, and cognitive aspects), seven criteria, and 24 sub criteria. The proposed framework is a starting point for the development of inclusive projects for people with dementia and cognitive disabilities. Architecture has recently begun to approach the topic of dementia, especially in Italy. Therefore, it is urgent to investigate which are the main aspects to be considered in the design and renovations of facilities to make them as therapeutic and prosthetic as possible, creating places where the wellbeing of patients is the priority, both physical and psychological. To this end, EBD needs to become a habit for designers to create facilities suitable for people with both cognitive impairments and for every user, in line with the principles of Universal Design.
Designing Hospitals Through the Lens of Universal Design. An Evaluation Tool to Enhance Inclusive Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Mosca Erica Isa , White Jonathan , Steinfeld Edward , Capolongo Stefano
Published: September 2022

Various studies highlight a gap on reliable methods to measure the quality of projects and environments in terms of Universal Design (UD) and Design for All (DfA). In particular, healthcare facilities need decision support systems to improve the well-being of as many users as possible through a systematic approach. The present research proposes an evaluation tool to support designers and decision makers in the adoption of UD to develop healthcare facilities suitable for a wide range of users. Several methodologies have been adopted: an in-depth literature review on the current state of knowledge on UD evaluation, workshops and focus groups with both users and experts, and the analysis of four hospital case studies. The result was an evaluation framework built by using a Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA) methodology. The first version of the tool was applied to an American hospital and validated d in an Italian pilot case study. The research outlines a tool called Design for All A.U.D.I.T., able to evaluate Physical, Sensory-cognitive, and Social qualities based on a hierarchical framework with criteria and indicators based on UD and DfA. The framework evaluates the different areas of the hospital from outdoor to indoor spaces, allowing hospital administrators to act to improve the well-being of users according to the critical aspects of UD identified by the tool. The analysis provides a report of the facility status and design strategies to support designers for new projects or buildings renovations. The application shows that DfA A.U.D.I.T. can assess hospitals by examining both spatial qualities and DfA criteria. The tool could represent a decision support system in the national and international context, where many hospitals are not newly built. Further research will include application in different facilities and building typologies, aided by the flexible structure of the tool, which allows measurement of the environment’s quality in terms of DfA and UD.
Developing Innovative Solutions for Universal Design in Healthcare and Other Sectors
Authors: White Jonathan , Mosca Erica Isa
Published: September 2022

For over half a century, researchers have sought to better understand the needs of people with disabilities in the built environment, and for more than a quarter century, they have sought to understand the effectiveness of universal design (UD) on a wide range of people and populations. This research led to the creation of the innovative solutions for Universal Design (isUD) building certification program, which addresses knowledge gaps in the practitioner’s field with UD criteria. The isUD focuses on commercial buildings but aims to expand to other sectors including healthcare and residential settings. The research and outcomes used in the development and evaluation of the isUD combined with lessons learned from implementation of the isUD program suggest a path forward to improve and expand the program. Several research studies have evaluated the effectiveness of UD standards. One study compared university residence halls, one of which was built using a draft version of UD standards using a guided tour and online surveys among other methods.[1] Another study used online surveys to compare a workplace built using the isUD with the former workspace.[2] Another study used in-person surveys to compare public right-of-way features pre- and post- design intervention.[3] Lastly, an innovative doctoral dissertation that proposes a new methodological tool to evaluate UD in healthcare settings [4-5] has been analyzed to inform the isUD’s expansion into the healthcare sector. The results indicate there is value in using UD to address equal access to and use of facilities for people with and without disabilities, and people of diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Facilities built using UD standards and tools are more usable, comfortable, and satisfying for users. However, the results also indicate there is room for improvement to make the isUD tool more effective. These improvements will better enable expansion of the tool to be usable in settings with more specialized requirements. While UD is often effective at improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation across some measures, and while tools that assist with UD implementation may further help achieve these outcomes, to gain widespread adoption across multiple sectors, such tools must be shown to be consistently effective in achieving UD outcomes across all measures. These improvements can help expand availability of UD to a wider, more diverse audience.
Technology Use and Familiarity as an Indicator of Its Adoption in Museum by People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Mastrogiuseppe Marilina , Soares Guedes Leandro , Landoni Monica , Span Stefania , Bortolotti Elena
Published: September 2022

This paper describes the process of co-design of technological products to increase museum accessibility and engagement in visitors with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs). By using an Inclusive Research approach, a multidisciplinary team of experts, including researchers in Users Experience (UX), psychology, and education, museum curators and a group of participants with IDs (n=9) have participated as the research team. Participants with IDs were involved in two rounds of interviews. The first-round interview aimed to explore participants’ use and familiarity with technologies and to understand their interest in using technological tools in different contexts. The second-round interview aimed at exploring participants’ spontaneous choice between different tools classified as low (easy-to-read vs Augmentative and Alternative Communication) or high-tech (Augmented Reality) aids for acquiring new knowledge within a museum space. The analysis of the interviews revealed that there was a general consistency between previous technology use/experience/interest and the choice of ICT-based products by participants with IDs. These results highlight the importance of emphasizing a multidisciplinary dialogue and the active participation of IDs users to outline methodologies, programs, procedures, and international standards to foster inclusive access to cultural heritage.
Usability of Visiting Routes in Heritage: The Case Study of Mercati di Traiano
Authors: Biocca Luigi , Villani Teresa , Romagnoli Federica
Published: September 2022

Large museums as services to the community, can be considered strategic facilities needing exploitation after the health emergency. Through optimising usability, some methodologies and tools taken from other building uses (hospitals, airports) for analysing users and flows seem effective in testing new spaces’ uses. The case study of Mercati Traianei–Museo dei Fori Imperiali was investigated in two different periods and methods for comparing the impacting factors on usability and orientation of visiting routes. A direct analysis in 2015 detected crucial issues for walking through museum routes and connections, while a more recent indirect analysis went deeper through configurational methodologies included in the Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS). This methodology empowers analysis of the space syntax, and the factors affecting the visitors’ satisfaction. The two methods were found to be effective for a deeper knowledge of the museum and its priorities. Tools of direct on-site observation are essential to promptly identify obstacles for upgrading usability. Instead, the configurational analysis allows a much faster application and supports a more global and dynamic vision of more inclusive visiting routes, avoiding visitors’ stigmatisation.
Higher Education and Universal Design in Tanzania. A New Model of Inclusion and Sustainable Development
Authors: Bonetti Mariachiara , Noel Martin
Published: September 2022

The need to create a more inclusive society in Tanzania is confronted with a discrepancy between the aims of a regulatory framework, aimed at making Higher Education spaces inclusive, and the question of the right of access to built environments, particularly in universities. The study presents the pilot case of the RUCU’s Learning Center for Disabilities to demonstrate that the combination of UDL, architectural accessibility and international cooperation can give impetus to new research and application themes, creating innovative models and good practices to be disseminated for a new shared awareness.
Evaluation Methodology for Inclusive Schools Environments. A Comparative Analysis Towards Goals and Strategies for Urban Design
Authors: Buffoli Maddalena , Fior Marika , Delogu Federica , Donato Chiara , Mosca Erica Isa
Published: September 2022

The paper deals with the issue of social inclusion in the scholastic environment where children begin to learn the set of rules that manage social life. The design of the spaces impact on people and becomes crucial to address a community behavioural change in terms of social inclusion. In line with Universal Design strategy, the paper presents a method developed for evaluating the degree of inclusion of primary schools’ spaces, which consists of the definition of an evaluation matrix. The matrix makes possible to analyse quantitative-qualitative characteristics for each school and compare them objectively. It asses the level of accessibility and inclusion of the schools through four main categories (Outdoor space, Orientation, Movement, Spatial quality) and related criteria and indicators. The reliability of the evaluation matrix has been verified through its application in seven case studies (Italian and EU), and the analysis of one of them is described in the results. The present study proposes a basis to introduce a method able to support designing educational spaces that satisfy the needs of a wide range of users according to Universal Design strategy.
Accredited Informatics Skills Development Opportunities for the NHS Knowledge and Library Specialist Workforce in England
Authors: Gilroy Dominic , Smith Susan
Published: September 2022

NHS knowledge and library specialists have been shown to save the time of busy healthcare professionals through the range of services they provide. To ensure continued effectiveness it is vital that appropriate learning and development opportunities are provided to maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills of this highly specialist staff group. This paper outlines recent progress in developing accredited continuing professional development opportunities for NHS knowledge and library specialists with a focus on the development of digital and data skills.
Wales Institute of Digital Information (WIDI): A Model of Collaborative Health Education, CPD, Research and Innovation
Authors: Wells Ian , Ware Andrew , Dearing Wendy
Published: September 2022

The Wales Institute of Digital Information has developed a flexible model of education, CPD, research and innovation for the Welsh health and care sectors, in the digital arena. The co-produced model had produced significant benefits for both health employers and the Universities involved in the partnership. The model is continuing to develop collaborative educational provision from level 2 to level 8 and is concentrating on expanding its digital research and innovation offering to the health and care sector in a similar co-developed collaborative way.
Exploiting Augmented Reality and Computer Vision for Healthcare Education: The Case of Pharmaceutical Substances Visualization and Information Retrieval
Authors: Koulouris Dionysios , Gallos Parisis , Menychtas Andreas , Maglogiannis Ilias
Published: September 2022

Augmented Reality (AR) is already used as the primary visualization and user interaction tool in several scientific and business areas. At the same time new AR technologies and frameworks considerably facilitate both the development of innovative applications and also their wide adoption in different domains of everyday life. In the area of healthcare AR solutions make use of mobile or wearable devices and glasses to support, among others, education and healthcare professionals training. The aim of this paper is to present a prototype mHealth app for education, which uses AR and computer vision technologies for pharmaceutical substances recognition on drug packaging. The conceptual design of the system includes three main components which are responsible for a) Text recognition, b) Drug identification and c) AR operations for interactivity. The prototype application is available in Android or iOS platforms and has been evaluated in real-world scenarios. Camera and screen of the mobile phones fulfill the text recognition and AR operations, which eliminates the need for special equipment, while PubChem and 3D Model databases provide assets required for the drug identification and AR visualizations. The results highlight the value of AR for educational purposes, especially when combined with advanced image recognition technologies to build interactive AR encyclopedias.
Goodbye Electronic Health Record?
Authors: Hammond W. Ed , Bent Brinnae , West Vivian L.
Published: September 2022

The Electronic Health Record has failed to meet its intended purpose. We propose a new approach focusing on the use of data for health and health care. The first step is to create a repository of all patient data with data storage independent of data use. All use functionality is external to data storage. We propose the development of a common data model in which data elements have a rich set of attributes including actionable knowledge. Finally, functionality is provided through a series of application program interfaces (API). New APIs will address directly new methods for using data to increase the effectiveness of data application to improve management of the health and care of a patient. Together these components will open a pathway to finally accomplish the goals of a better future health system.
Strategies and Recommendation for Data Loading of FHIR-Based Data Marts with Focus on GDPR Compliance
Authors: Anywar Michael , Schreiweis Björn , Ulrich Hannes
Published: September 2022

Interoperability and portability of healthcare data to enable research in the healthcare sector is an important factor towards precision medicine and a learning health system. With many safety-nets put in place like the European General Data Protection Regulation, and local standards like the broad consent set up by the German Medical Informatics Initiative, management and compliance to these standards across all systems and clinical data repositories becomes a daunting task. An appropriate process needs to be established especially when patient data is transferred to and from different systems and standards. On extraction and transforming, an appropriate method of loading the modified data to a destination where it can be read and accessed needs to be established besides functional compliance by the repository systems. This paper makes recommendations in relation to data load strategies while working with FHIR server-based data marts.
Interdisciplinary Informatics to Support Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance of Respiratory Infectious Disease Including COVID-19: Donabedian Evaluation
Authors: Aspden Carole , Anand Sneha , Ferreira Filipa , Jamie Gavin , Byford Rachel , Joy Mark , De Lusignan Simon
Published: September 2022

The Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) is one of Europe’s oldest sentinel systems, providing sentinel surveillance since 1967. We report the interdisciplinary informatics required to run such a system. We used the Donabedian framework to describe the interdisciplinary informatics roles that support the structures, processes and outcomes of the RSC. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic University, RCGP, information technology specialists, SQL developers, analysts, practice liaison team, network member primary care providers, and their registered patients have nearly quadrupled the size of the RSC from working with 5 million to 19 million peoples pseudonymised health data. We have produced outputs used by the UK Health Security Agency to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 and report vaccine effectiveness. We have also supported a trial of community-based therapies for COVID-19 and other observational studies. The home of the primary care sentinel surveillance network is with a clinical informatics research group. Interdisciplinary informatics teamwork was required to support primary care sentinel surveillance; such teams can accelerate the scale, scope and digital maturity of surveillance systems as demonstrated by the RSC across the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Business Analytics Framework for Primary Care
Authors: Ettefaghian Alireza , Krause Paul , De Lusignan Simon , Stergioulas Lampros K.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present a Business Analytics (BA) framework, which addresses the challenge of analysing primary care outcomes for both patients and clinicians from multiple data sources in an accurate manner. A review of the process monitoring literature has been conducted in the context of healthcare management and decision making and its findings have informed the formulation of a BA conceptual framework for process monitoring and decision support in primary care. Furthermore, a real case study is conducted to demonstrate the application of the BA framework to implement a BA dashboard tool within one of the largest primary care providers in England. Findings: The main contributions of the presented work are the development of a conceptual BA framework and a BA dashboard tool to support management and decision making in primary care. This was evaluated through a case study of the implementation of the BA dashboard tool in London’s largest primary care provider. This BA tool provides real-time information to enable simpler decision-making processes and to inform business transformation in a number of areas. The resulting increased efficiency has led to significant cost savings and improved delivery of patient care.