bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Simultaneous Occurrence of Acute Appendicitis and Bowel Perforation in Taenia Infection: A Case Report
Authors: Farhat Mohammad , Ibrahim Firas , Jamoul Kassem , Bdeir Rama , Moussawi Zahra , Rida Khaled
Published: August 2022

Background: Appendicitis is most likely due to obstruction of the appendiceal lumen. Parasitosis is an unusual cause of obstruction and in specific, Taenia Saginata is a very rare cause of appendicitis, even more so of small bowel perforation. Teiniosis is usually an asymptomatic process but a greater load or migration of the adult form may complicate some cases. The simultaneous occurrence of acute appendicitis and ileal perforation in the same setting has not been reported in the literature.
Case Presentation: A 60-year-old Lebanese female patient presented to the emergency department with right lower quadrant pain radiating to the left lower abdomen. The patient reported associated fever, chills, and anorexia prior to presentation. On physical examination, she was afebrile and normotensive, abdominal examination revealed diffuse lower abdominal tenderness. A blood workup revealed an elevated c-reactive protein (CRP) value with a normal white blood count (WBC). Computed tomography (CT) scan done with intravenous (IV) and per os (PO) contrast disclosed a leak of PO contrast in the absence of pneumoperitoneum implying a contained perforated appendicitis or colitis. The patient underwent urgent laparoscopic exploration. Intraoperatively patient had gangrenous appendicitis and an inflamed right fallopian tube, as well as small bowel perforation and the presence of a tapeworm. The tapeworm was removed and the patient ended up having an appendectomy, right salpingectomy, and oophorectomy, with the closure of ileal perforation. Her hospital stay was uneventful and she was discharged on ciprofloxacin, mebendazole, and metronidazole. Soon after her discharge from the hospital, the patient resumed her normal daily activities. Histopathological studies revealed mixed inflammatory infiltrates and the worm to be Taenia Saginata.
Conclusion: Patients with teniosis are mostly asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients, the course is usually mild except for some rare occasions including appendicitis or bowel perforation. The diagnosis of Taenia Saginata infection in such cases should be considered in endemic areas such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region where eating raw meat is habitual.
Does Japanese ODA really contribute to economic growth for ASEAN countries?
Authors: Nguyen Phuc Phuc Hien , Huynh Anh Ngoc Quang , Reisach Ulrike , Le Xuyen Thi Kim
Published: August 2022

Japan has provided ODA funding for promoting economic development in ASEAN countries for long time. However the percentage of the fund has been descending for over a decade. This paper therefore aims to verify how Japan's ODA contributes to economic growth, proxy by GDP, for the ASEAN region in the period 2008-2020. Based on the Cobb-Douglas production function, we build our model to estimate the effects of the ODA factor. We employed a wide range of quantitative econometrics models to properly determine the link between financing assistance and the economic expansion of those Southeast Asian nations. The results suggest that ODA exhibits a significantly positive relationship with economic growth for this region over 13 years. A 1% increase in the ODA inflow contributes to the economic growth of 0.226%. In addition, both determinants, such as capital and labor, become important factors driving the growth in GDP while the FDI has a negligible impact. Finally, ODA is seen as a complement to the recipient's efforts as well as a driving force for the giver. From this point, some policies are drawn to harmonize the official development assistance and economic growth.
Determinants of bilateral trade flows of Vietnam: evidence from panel fixed effects estimation approaches
Authors: Lê Trung Ngọc Phát , Nguyen Kim Hanh
Published: August 2022

This study aims to investigate the determinants of bilateral trade flows of Vietnam. The panel fixed effects estimation using Driscoll and Kraay standard errors and panel fixed effects two-stage least squares approach are employed to analyze a balanced panel data, which includes fifty-three countries that have been continuously trading with Vietnam from 1997 to 2019. The estimated results reveal that free trade agreements have a positive effect on the bilateral trade flows whether in case of trading with the developed or developing countries. Additionally, the bilateral trade flows between Vietnam and the developed countries are enhanced by the difference in income level. They are, however, impeded by the institutional distance and transportation cost. In case of trading with the developing countries, transportation cost and exchange rate have a positive impact on the bilateral trade flows. Our study provides some crucial policy implications for policymakers involving international trading activities in the developing countries such as Vietnam.
Improvements to Pan-STARRS1 Astrometry. II. Corrections for Differential Chromatic Refraction
Authors: White Richard L. , Lubow Stephen H. , Shiao Bernie
Published: August 2022

In a previous paper, we applied the Gaia DR2 catalog to improve the astrometric accuracy of about 1.7 billion objects in Pan-STARRS1 Data Release 2 (PS1 DR2). We report here on further improvements made by utilizing Gaia EDR3 and correcting for the effects of differential chromatic refraction (DCR) in decl. We extend the correction algorithm in Paper I by iteratively subtracting color- and decl.-dependent PS1/Gaia EDR3 decl. residuals. We determine the astrometric improvement for ∼440 million reference objects that are point-like and cross-match to Gaia EDR3. For this set of objects, Gaia EDR3 provides a ∼3% improvement in PS1 astrometry over Gaia DR2, and DCR corrections provide an additional ∼5% improvement. DCR corrections increase substantially for objects observed away from the zenith. DCR corrections lead to an astrometric improvement of ∼30% for blue objects (0 < g − i < 1) that are 50° away from the zenith. The amplitude of systematic astrometric errors from these effects is substantially reduced to less than 1 mas for objects with PS1 colors in the range 0 < g − i < 4.5, which makes this a useful astrometric reference catalog in fields where there are few Gaia stars. The improved astrometric data will be available through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes PS1 catalog interfaces.
Perspectives pour la formation des maîtres en Francophonie
Authors: Kanouté Fasal , Ndibnu-Messina Éthé Julia , Guennouni Hassani Rajae
Published: August 2022

Résumé Nous nous intéressons aux interactions entre trois catégories de protagonistes de la formation IFADEM au Sénégal, c’est-à-dire des instituteurs en cours de formation, les tuteurs et les superviseurs qui les accompagnent dans les académies scolaires de Fatick et de Kaolack. Notre analyse porte plus spécifiquement sur la dynamique de supervision tissée autour de 373 instituteurs dans ces académies. Pour ce faire, nous avons exploité des données issues de la compilation effectuée en 2017 à partir des rapports mensuels de vingt tuteurs et de onze superviseurs, rapports balisés sous la forme de questionnaires mixtes générant des données quantitatives et qualitatives. Ce chapitre est présenté en quatre parties. La première aborde les défis généraux de la formation des enseignants en Afrique subsaharienne et l’action d’IFADEM. La deuxième est consacrée à des considérations générales sur les notions de supervision et de formation à distance. La troisième présente la synthèse des rapports des superviseurs et des tuteurs. La quatrième porte sur les pistes d’amélioration de la chaîne de supervision.
How to Engage in Productive Disagreements at Work
Authors: Trepanier Sylvain
Published: August 2022

Many of us can likely relate to experiencing discomfort when disagreeing with a colleague, our supervisor, or perhaps the chief executive officer of our organization. The concept of disagreement continues to carry significant negative connotations. Although a growing body of knowledge promotes speaking up, we often notice colleagues withdrawing from conversations when disagreement is detected. It takes courage to speak up and lean into a live disagreement. This column offers guidelines and suggestions to promote and support healthy and productive disagreements.

[
J Contin Educ Nurs
. 2022;53(8):344–345.]
Factors Associated With Caregivers' Preference for Digital Technologies to Support Older Adults
Authors: Hwang Yu Seong , Jung Su Mi , Dronina Yuliya , Jo Heui Sug
Published: August 2022

Family members often serve as primary caregivers to their parents and relatives. Information and communication technology (ICT) plays an important role in facilitating this caregiving role through using Internet of Things (IoTs) caregiving services. However, there is limited evidence regarding factors influencing caregivers' acceptance of new technologies. The current study investigated factors affecting caregivers' intentions to use ICT-based IoTs. Chi-square test was used to contrast differences in distributions between categorical variables. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with increased intention to use ICT-based IoTs. Male caregivers showed increased intentions of using these products and considered the psychological burden as well as the diverse factors associated with adopting IoTs. On the other hand, female caregivers considered relieving their care burdens and social influences. As such, findings indicated that female caregivers demonstrated increased intention, which is associated with their care burdens, and relieving a similar experience would be a significant motivation. Further studies are needed not only for specific measures to reduce psychological burden but also for physical burden. Marketing strategies for spreading awareness of IoT technologies require more investment and initiatives. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48
(8), 33–41.]
A fixed point result of weakly contractive operators in generalized metric spaces
Authors: Shagari Mohammed Shehu , Ali Faryad , Alotaibi Trad , Kanwal Shazia , Azam Akbar
Published: August 2022

In this note, by using basic properties of the recently introduced concepts of generalized metric spaces, new conditions for the existence of a fixed point for weakly type contractive operator which sends a closed subset into the ambient space under consideration are examined. Our obtained result extends and unifies its corresponding ideas in metric and modular spaces. A comparative non-trivial example is provided to show the novelty and preeminence of our proposed notion.
A new detailed explanation of the Tacoma collapse and some optimization problems to improve the stability of suspension bridges
Authors: Gazzola Filippo , Jleli Mohamed , Samet Bessem
Published: August 2022

We give a new full explanation of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse, occurred on November 7, 1940. Our explanation involves both structural phenomena, such as parametric resonances, and sophisticated mathematical tools, such as the Floquet theory. Contrary to all previous attempts, our explanation perfectly fits, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with what was observed that day. With this explanation at hand, we set up and partially solve some optimal control and shape optimization problems (both analytically and numerically) aiming to improve the stability of bridges. The control parameter to be optimized is the strength of a partial damping term whose role is to decrease the energy within the deck. Shape optimization intends to give suggestions for the design of future bridges.
Validating the Civic-Minded Graduate Scale in Engineering Education Using Mixed Methods
Authors: Lin Athena , Hess Justin L
Published: August 2022

Civic-mindedness is a central aim of higher education, but strategies for assessing civic-mindedness in engineering education are limited. Thus, engineering educators must build on strategies employed across higher education while ensuring these strategies are transferable to the engineering context. This study continues ongoing validation work of the Civic-Minded Graduate Scale in engineering by using mixed methods to pursue multiple forms of validity evidence. We collected, analyzed, and triangulated findings from first-year engineering students using 419 survey responses and 11 semi-structured interviews. We integrated quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate how the five constructs of the Civic-Minded Graduate Scale represent engineering students’ civic-mindedness and manifest in engineering students’ perceptions of the engineering profession. We align our data with existing engineering education research, particularly in the domains of ethics, humanitarian engineering, and professional skills development. We close with implications for teaching and assessing civic-mindedness within and outside of engineering education.
Automation and Platform Capitalism
Authors: Faludi Julianna
Published: August 2022

The morphology of the current transformation of the 21st century can be examined with the tools of Polanyi's analysis of the great transformation (TGT). The previous profound socio-economic transformation was connected to the Industrial Revolution that created industrial-urban societies. The first Industrial Revolution was localized as the most eloquent example in England 1750-1850, overarching only a century and followed by further waves of industrial revolutions stretching the new socio-economic system toward a globalized order. There is no doubt that the changes of the 21st century are unprecedented and far-reaching. The considerations about which changes exactly are transforming our global realities are manifold but can be grouped at least into two main strands: those concerned about the transformation of socio-economic systems to preserve and to redefine ecological systems and those that focus on the impact of the digital or platform economy reformulating fundamental institutions, such as markets, governance, and ownership.
Organizational Governance, Individual Wellbeing, and Needs Theory
Authors: Tortia Ermanno C. , Sacchetti Silvia
Published: August 2022

A needs theory of governance is introduced and discussed, in which the new institutionalist economics, which consider selfishness and opportunism as the main behavioral principles, are confronted with a new theory in which the organization, as a social system, is embedded in the broader social and cultural context and in a network of social relations. It develops symbiotically with the needs expressed by its internal stakeholders and must seek to increase their welfare through the adaptation of governance rules to both needs and production goals. Institutional solutions informed by the goal of sustainably meeting needs are discovered and developed. Comparison of the two theories leads to theorizing a new layered model, reminiscent in part of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, in which different institutional layers satisfy different types of needs, from the most basic ones of survival and security to the highest ones of belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization.
Unpacking the Behavioral Dimensions of Promotions and Sales Performance
Authors: Porto Rafael Barreiros , Walter Mônica Cruz
Published: August 2022

Monetary and non-monetary promotions can be effective in different sales performance metrics but may not last after the post-promotional period. Breaking down promotions into their typologies, dimensions, and performance metrics can clear up the cloudiness of promotional effectiveness. The study investigates the dynamic effect (immediate and short-term) of the behavioral dimensions of promotions (presence, duration, simultaneity, and removal) on sales performance metrics (revenue, number of transactions, and average billing size). The authors conducted longitudinal research at a retailer. The results show that non-monetary and monetary promotions generate immediate and short-term positive effects on revenue and the number of transactions with a positive balance after their ending. Nevertheless, the monetary one harms the average billing size after the promotional period, and the mixed one has opposite effects to the results above. The operant behavioral economics framework helps explain the results by proposing mutually reinforced relationships between consumers and companies.
Omni-Channel Challenges and Opportunities for Profitable Customer Relationship
Authors: Lima Ana , Santos José Duarte , Anjos Israel
Published: August 2022

With the market increasingly competitive, the search for new sources of revenue becomes increasingly challenging, especially when promoting new products, services, and providing experiences that are perceived as having high value. As the integration between online and physical channels becomes necessary, an approach that is continuously evolving, called omnichannel retail, emerges. The strategies that configure the omnichannel imply a great challenge for companies. It consists of providing different alternatives to consumers so that all points of contact are integrated and, at the same time, make sense for both companies and consumers. This contribution portrays this complex and holistic way in which the fashion industry continually reinvents itself, given the perception of consumers. Meeting this challenge by unifying the operations of physical and virtual stores, omnichannel strategy aims to add more value to the experience of consumers and, at the same time, establish a competitive edge in the market.
Film-Induced Tourism and Selling Storytelling in Destination Marketing
Authors: Vieira Jéssica Simões , Araújo Carlos Alberto Correia , Sousa Bruno Barbosa
Published: August 2022

Film-induced tourism is a kind of business that profits from attracting visitors inspired by beautiful sceneries of locations exposed in movie or drama and stories linked to the locations, through merchandising of filming sets or locations as a tour program. This chapter presents the case study “A Lenda do Galo de Barcelos” as an example of a film and photographic record enhancing the tourist destination in northern Portugal (i.e., Barcelos). The film recovers the history, culture, photography, and images of one of the most important legends of Portuguese territory and representative of the popular culture of Barcelos. Film tourism is a useful tool for promoting and selling tourist destinations. It is also an important differentiating factor in the marketing of territories at the level of marketing of places. In an interdisciplinary perspective, this chapter presents inputs from tourism (film-induced tourism), marketing (tourism and territorial marketing), and local development.
Technological Variants and Invariants
Authors: Luciani Luca
Published: August 2022

This scientific contribution aims to propose a qualitative analysis of a good teaching practice conducted personally by the authors. The results of the research were obtained thanks to a longitudinal textual analysis with manual coding of all the written conversational exchanges that took place on the platform between tutors and students in five of the six overall academic years of delivery of this training module in e-learning mode. This idiographic research is part of the methodology of observational research. This training module was initially proposed in the presence for seven years within the Image Didactics Training Unit in the master's degree course in Primary Education Sciences. Then it was proposed for six years as a training module delivered in e-learning mode. Subsequently, in presence, the contents of the module were proposed until last year in the university teaching of technologies of teaching and learning and for the current year in the Laboratory of Didactic Technologies, both belonging to the master's degree course in Primary Education Sciences of the University of L'Aquila.
A Comprehensive Review of Data Mining Usage in Education
Authors: Kilicer Seda , Samli Ruya
Published: August 2022

In this chapter, the data mining method in the field of education will be examined, an emerging technology. In this study, studies conducted since 2011 using data mining method, one of the developing technologies, and the results obtained from these studies will be examined in order to increase the success in the field of education. What kind of data has been used in data mining application in the field of education, which algorithms have been used to analyze these data and the success cases obtained from these algorithms will be examined. By examining the results obtained from these studies, it will be examined which algorithms are more successful in the analysis to be obtained. It is aimed to identify the deficiencies that affect the success in the field of education. This study is aimed to be a guide in determining the work to be done to increase the success in the education sector and in determining the algorithms that can be preferred in order to achieve more successful results in these studies.
Assistive Technology to Promote the Independence and Quality of Life of People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Ciarmoli Donatella , Stasolla Fabrizio
Published: August 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that selectively affects motor neurons. To date, there is no cure for ALS. It has been widely demonstrated how the use of AT can increase the independence and safety of patients improving their quality of life. Interventions based on the use of AT consist of aids to support residual capacities, increased autonomy and control of oneself and one's life, increased interactivity with the surrounding environment, increased participation in family and social life, maintaining a dignified standard of living, and at the same time decreasing the workload of the caregiver. The aim of the chapter is to provide an overview of the latest empirical evidence available on the use of AT-based programs for ALS people. Empirical data have demonstrated the effectiveness and adequacy of AT interventions. In conclusion, AT-based rehabilitation programs can be useful to promote the independence and quality of life of individuals with ALS.
Earthquake Risk Prediction With Artificial Intelligence Methods
Authors: Varol Malkoçoğlu Ayşe Berika , Orman Zeynep , Samli Ruya
Published: August 2022

Earthquakes are one of the most difficult natural phenomena in human history to predict. Today, despite very advanced technologies, earthquake predictions still have not been conclusive. It is especially known that the trilogy of location, time, and magnitude is quite difficult to predict at the same time. In order to discover this powerful natural phenomenon, scientists are trying to collect and make sense of the parameters affecting the earthquake and the earthquake results. In general, their goal is to determine the characteristics that have an impact on earthquakes, to perform classifications thanks to various artificial intelligence algorithms, and to predict future earthquakes. The aim of this study is to compile, examine, and analyze earthquake risk prediction researches or applications carried out using artificial intelligence methods. The studies obtained as a result of the literature review were grouped according to the metrics used, data sets, features, and models used and evaluated according to the success rates obtained.
Active Institutional Investors
Authors: Cossu Monica
Published: August 2022

This chapter, moving from some brief general considerations on different types (or models) of “active” (or “activist”) institutional investors, analyses the birth of the “impact investing” phenomenon and the role of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in accelerating the rise of sustainable finance. Within this framework are identified those institutional investors that effectively invest their assets according to the “ESG” criteria, highlighting that the post millennials, or Generation Z, are—at least apparently—the chosen beneficiaries of this new financial investment model.
Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Merchan Murillo Antonio
Published: August 2022

As the internet becomes part of everyday life, the need arises to study the adaptation of private international law systems to the new requirements. One of them is blockchain, as a decentralized technology, which carries with it some legal uncertainties, such as the legal nature of blockchains and shared digital records, including issues of jurisdiction and applicable law. In view of this, there is a need to reflect on whether the legal criteria currently applicable, from the point of view of private international law, are sufficiently clear.
Leveraging AI Technologies for Preventing and Detecting Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Death
Authors: Kommadi Bhagvan
Published: August 2022

AI is used for alerting people who are suffering from heart problems. The patient's language, sound, accent, voice, and other patterns are analyzed in an audio call for heart problems. The CPR and defibrillation treatment is used. Delay in sudden cardiac arrest can create problems in the brain, and fatal implications might be there. Biosensors are recommended for heart patients, and they can be worn on the wrist to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This condition or disease occurs because of cardiac muscle thickening. This is the reason for heart failure, stroke, and fatality in heart patients. The other observation is outflow tract obstruction in the heart patients who had sudden cardiac deaths. This happens in patients who have high blood pressure and can be identified using blood pressure and echocardiography instruments.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Detection by Feature Learning and Classification Using Deep Learning Architecture
Authors: Ponnuramu Veeralakshmi , J. Vijayaraj , B. Satheesh Kumar , Ramachandran Manikandan
Published: August 2022

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are known ventricular cardiac arrhythmias (VCA) that promote fast defibrillation treatment for the survival of patients and are defined as shock-oriented signals, perhaps the most common source of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The majority of existing VCA classifiers confront a difficult challenge of accuracy rate, which has generated the issue of continuous detection and classification approaches. In light of this, the authors present a feature learning strategy that uses the improved variational mode decomposition technique to detect VCA on ECG signals. The following SCA consists of a deep convolutional neural network (deep CNN) as a feature extractor and bat-rider optimization algorithm (BROA) as an optimized classifier. The MIT-BIH arrhythmia database is used to examine the approaches, and the analysis depends on performance indicators such as accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, recall, and F1-score.
Computer-Assistive Techniques for Monitoring and Tracking Patient Healthcare and Engagement
Authors: Tripathi Ankita , Shukla Meenu , Ziya Fatima
Published: August 2022

Assistive devices and technology reduce a person's dependency on others while also improving the overall quality. Wheelchairs, visual aids, hearing aids, and specialist computer software and hardware systems help the elderly and disabled improve their hearing, vision, mobility, and communication. Assistive technology, for example, provides enormous opportunity to improve the effectiveness of both health and social care delivery. 'Low-tech' products like memory aides and digital calendars, as well as 'high-tech' items like health tracking gadgets and wearables, are examples of assistive technologies. Assistive devices can be used to improve quality of life, improve lifestyle, and boost independence, depending on the type of device. Patient and caregiver acceptance of technology is influenced by a variety of factors, including perceived skills and competencies in utilizing the device, expectancies, trust, and reliability.
A Machine Learning Approach Towards Heart Attack Prediction
Authors: Ghosh Ahona , Seth Sharma Moutushi , Saha Sriparna
Published: August 2022

Various types of heart diseases and conditions leading to increasing chance of heart attack have been a serious concern all over the world. Several factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity can affect the heart, and thus, those should be monitored regularly to prevent the chance of heart attack in people of different age groups. This chapter at first has analyzed different existing benchmarks of heart attack analysis. Being motivated by the shortcomings of the state-of-the-art literature and to address the challenges, it has introduced support vector machine, the most popular supervised machine learning algorithm to classify the chance of heart attack using a dataset downloaded from Kaggle. The experimental result has been evaluated using different performance metrics, including accuracy, error rate, precision, recall, F1 score. Finally, the performance has been compared with the existing related works also to validate its effectiveness and efficiency in real-time heart attack prediction.
Smart Technology For Addressing Pandemic Disruption
Authors: Masoom Kaneez
Published: August 2022

Social media's emergence as a communication platform for consumers to interact with or about brands has significantly altered brand-consumer relationships. Companies are increasingly investing in influencer marketing, or hiring digital influencers to endorse their brands, as social media marketing becomes more advantageous. Influencers are changing the way brands create content, as well as how users consume and share it. The role of social media influencers in raising brand awareness, particularly during extraordinary times such as pandemics, is still in its early stages. Despite technological advancements and an increase in the number of online influencers, many challenges remain for businesses to connect with consumers during pandemics. The impact of social media influencers on brand awareness during a global pandemic is discussed in this chapter.
How Can Advancement in Information Technology Help College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Ahangar Reza Gharoie
Published: August 2022

A revolution in information technology advancements has been started in recent years. A part of these technology advancements is happening in the video gaming industry. This study investigates the effect of video games on college students' performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors examined the impact of video games on students' academic performance from the lens of time spent on video games and their effects on students' well-being and personal life during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study proposed a conceptual framework that highlights the positive impact of video games on students' mental health and academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply Chain and Warehouse Management Systems
Authors: Zambujal-Oliveira J. , Rodrigues Carolina , Pereira Maria , Freitas Martinho , Freitas Daniela
Published: August 2022

The underperformance of an international company was based on the following major problems: the information technology and the inventory management system used in the group (several distinct channels that did not interact with each other) and the company's external environment (devaluation of the Russian ruble and decrease in purchasing power). To approach these issues, the chapter presents solutions to implement a new retail system, a redesign of the technology system used by the company, and some recommendations on external factors. Recently, the company has focused on a closer relationship with consumers, making available several services that simplifies the whole process of buying a product.
Technological Growth in Religious Organisations
Authors: Matobobo Courage , Bankole Felix
Published: August 2022

Membership growth is an important aspect in religious organisations. Yet, the manner in which several religious organisations attract their membership has changed due to the adoption and use of social media. This study explores how technological factors influence the growth of religious organisations during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Using the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) membership data, the research employed system dynamics. The findings from the quantitative data showed that the commitment of church members, good computer skills, age, and availability of resources contributed to the successful use of social media towards church membership growth. In addition, the qualitative data reveals that online evangelism is key to the growth of religious organisations. The results of the findings conclude that the growth of religious organisations can be improved by intensifying the level of online evangelism, improving commitment from members and utilisation of multichannel social media.
Sustainable Quality Education During the Pandemic and Beyond
Authors: Islamoglu Hakan
Published: August 2022

Information technologies are an indispensable part of modern business, education, and personal lives. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown everybody around the world the insufficiency of available information technology infrastructures and the importance of establishing strong infrastructures for citizens from all backgrounds and geographic locations. The challenge has been especially hard for educational institutions because very few were truly prepared for an emergency transition to distance education. This chapter aims to explain the main components of a modern university information technology infrastructure and offer guidance in establishing a strong infrastructure for sustainable quality education.
Teleworking
Authors: Breda Leigh Nathan , Kyobe Michael
Published: August 2022

This chapter intends to understand how telework pre-adoption perceptions differ from post-adoption realized benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether an organization will continue the use of telework once the pandemic subsides. Literature was examined and a hybrid framework incorporating components of the perceived value theory and expectation confirmation model (ECM) was used. The perceived value theory focuses on the perceived business value of Telework pre-adoption and ECM focuses on continued use post-adoption. Resistance by managers to allow employees to telework is evident in surveys conducted as recent as 2019. While surveys conducted initially in 2020 during the pandemic indicated that at least 74% of CFOs intend to implement more telework in their organization and 60% of employees would opt to remain teleworking after the pandemic despite possible health implications, later surveys suggest that after continued use of telework, 59% of the employees now no longer prefer to telework into the future due to constraining factors such as isolation and blurred work lines.
Are we there yet? Mixed methods research in the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
Authors: Ngulube Patrick , Ngulube Beatrice
Published: August 2022

Orientation: In 2015, a study was conducted to explore the prevalence of mixed methods research (MMR) in the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences (SAJEMS) between 2003 and 2011. This study builds upon that study to establish the extent to which the use of MMR has developed in SAJEMS.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore and compare the levels of adoption of MMR in the present study to the one reported in the study of 2015.Motivation for the study: This study goes beyond the one of 2015 by exploring methodological transparency in the use of MMR by contributors to the Journal and answers the question: are we there yet?Research design, approach and method: The study analysed the methodology used by articles published in SAJEMS from 2012 to 2019. Content analysis was conducted on a total of 362 articles published in SAJEMS. Each of the nine articles identified as utilising MMR was analysed based on the indicators of use of MMR in the extant literature.Main findings: The findings show that studies neither stated the appropriateness of mixed methods nor specified the designs. Integration was done by a few articles in a limited way. The passing of 8 years has not brought about any difference in the results of the use of MMR in SAJEMS. The use of MMR remains underrepresented. It is evident that SAJEMS is not there yet.Practical/managerial implications: This article raises the need for methodological pluralism as an alternative to quantitative and qualitative methodologies.Contribution/value-add: Researchers are informed of the advantages of using MMR and incorporating the third methodological movement to obtain superior results.
Psychosocial challenges of children with disabilities in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo province of South Africa: Towards a responsive integrated disability strategy
Authors: Makwela Matthews M. , Smit Elizabeth I.
Published: August 2022

Background: Disability, and everything it encompasses, presents major challenges to individuals, families and communities worldwide. Children with disabilities (CWD) are marginalised and excluded in most societies. Discrimination and prejudice towards CWD are compounded by poverty, lack of essential services and support and sometimes a hostile and inaccessible environment.Objectives: The study sought to examine the psychosocial challenges experienced by CWD in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo province, South Africa. Based on the identified, articulated and expressed challenges, the study sought to recommend improvement of the existing Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) for greater responsiveness to the needs of CWD at both provincial and local levels.Method: The interpretivist qualitative mode of enquiry was the chosen methodology for this study. Phenomenology and descriptive research designs guided the study. Purposive sampling was employed, and data were collected from 36 participants using three triangulated methods: individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse data.Results: The findings revealed that CWD in Sekhukhune experienced numerous challenges which affected their social functioning, development and general well-being. Aggravating factors included stigma, labelling and discrimination; disability-specific discrimination and bullying; exclusive education; sexual exploitation; lack of governmental support and poor implementation of disability-specific policies, amongst others.Conclusion: The provisions of the INDS to promote inclusion, integration, mainstreaming and equitable access to resources and services remained an ideal rather than a reality for CWD in Sekhukhune.
Self-leadership of nurses in a critical care outreach service: The development of a conceptual framework
Authors: Prinsloo Carine , Jooste Karien
Published: August 2022

Background: Globally, critical care outreach services (CCOS) were implemented in health care facilities; however, compliance with guidelines is poor. The authors have noticed that a gap exists in the literature on how self-leadership might influence nurses’ implementation of CCOS. Self-leadership is about leadership applied to oneself. Critical care outreach services assist nurses with the nursing care of a patient whose health is declining. Leadership is needed for the successful implementation of CCOS.Aim: This article aims to outline the method the authors followed for developing the conceptual framework for how self-leadership amongst nurses influenced the functioning of CCOS.Setting: The research was conducted at a private hospital in Pretoria.Methods: A qualitative approach was followed to provide an accurate description of nurses’ experiences on their self-leadership in a CCOS. The practice-oriented theory of Dickoff (1968) was the reasoning map for developing and constructing the conceptual framework.Results: Bedside nurses experienced the following self-leadership strategies: constructive thought patterns, natural rewards and behaviours focused on their implementation of CCOS.Conclusion: The conceptual framework was part of another study and provided the authors with a rationale that guided the authors with the development of self-leadership strategies in a CCOS.Contribution: The conceptual framework provided the authors with an understanding of how nurses’ self-leadership influenced the implementation of CCOS. The conceptual framework can also assist in developing training programmes for nurses to improve their self-leadership and ultimately improve nurses’ competence in providing quality nursing care to patients.
Feeding practices in public hospitals’ neonatal intensive care units: An exploration into the ways in which COVID-19 affected the best practice in Gauteng
Authors: Coutts Kim A. , Neille Joanne , Louw Nicole
Published: August 2022

Background: South Africa’s healthcare system has a multitude of pre-existing challenges prior to the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ranging from reduced number of staff, lack of resources and units being at overcapacity both in the adult and paediatric populations. The neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) require a team approach to ensure best practice with vulnerable infants, but little is known about how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown restrictions impacted the feeding practices within the NICU.Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact that COVID-19 had on the feeding practices within the NICU settings in public hospitals in Gauteng.Methods: A qualitative design was employed with data collected in two NICUs in Gauteng. Data were collected in the form of observations and semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers (HCWs) in the NICU. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.Results: Although the sample size of participants was limited, social distancing proved to be a challenge resulting in mothers and healthcare workers being given restricted access. This had effects on the ability to provide adequate feeding practices and resulted in anxiety for the mothers and mental health challenges for the HCWs when feeding these at-risk infants. A limitation of this study was the use of only two sites.Conclusion: COVID-19 amplified the existing challenges in the NICU. A multidisciplinary and family-centred approach to address feeding challenges is required to offset the challenges resulting from the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
Teachers’ experiences of using the screening, identification, assessment and support strategy to support learners who present with characteristics of dyslexia
Authors: Karimupfumbi Faith , Dwarika Veronica M.
Published: August 2022

Background: Education White Paper 6 (EWP6) and screening, identification, assessment and support (SIAS) promote inclusive education for all learners, including those who present with learning difficulties and are vulnerable to exclusion. The article reports on the experiences of teachers using the SIAS strategy to support learners who present with characteristics of dyslexia at a primary school in Gauteng.Aim: The study sought to explore the experiences of teachers using the SIAS tool to support learners who present with characteristics of dyslexia at a primary school in Gauteng, South Africa.Setting: Three foundation, four intermediate, and two learning support educators participated in the study. The full service primary school has learners with mild learning difficulties.Method: Three foundation, four intermediate, and two learning support educators participated in the study. The full service primary school has learners with mild learning difficulties.Results: Teachers experienced limited success in the implementation of the SIAS tool requiring further professional development.Conclusion: The need for teacher training in the use of effective support strategies to assist learners who present with characteristics of dyslexia, is advocated for Teacher development for the effective implementation of the SIAS tool is recommended.
Teachers’ perceptions about collaboration as a strategy to address key concepts in mathematics
Authors: Tachie Simon A.
Published: August 2022

Background: The aim of the study is to investigate teachers’ perceptions about peer collaborative work in designing lessons as a team helped them to identify threshold concepts in the teaching and learning of foundation phase mathematics in Motheo District of Education.Methods: A qualitative approach, with a case study design, was used to combine data from observation and focus group discussions, interviews and group task sheets.Classroom observation was conducted during a workshop conducted by a subject advisor from the Motheo District of Education in collaboration with the researcher. Teachers were purposively selected from seven schools in the Motheo District of Education based on cluster sampling as a way of reviving their professional development through acquisition of mathematical teaching skills involving innovative approaches to teaching and learning of early childhood mathematics. Seven mathematics teachers, one from each school, were interviewed during the workshop.Results: Underpinned by a collaborative theory, the findings of the study revealed that peer collaboration in mathematics teaching was key to helping them (participant teachers) identify threshold concepts in mathematics that they had initially found difficult as individual teachers. This assisted them in teaching the subject effectively at the foundation phase level. The study, furthermore, established that collaboration by mathematics teachers was necessary in order to overcome the paucity of global mathematics teaching skills for early childhood mathematics, to foster learners’ knowledge of mathematical concepts and to stimulate their interest in the subject.Conclusion: It is recommended that more structured collaborative work amongst teachers in general should be encouraged to enable teachers overcome the problem of content gap in their area of specialisation.
Descriptive analysis of infections due to New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in children at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
Authors: Greybe Leonore , Nuttall James J.C. , Brink Adrian J. , Tootla Hafsah D.
Published: August 2022

The increased incidence and absence of antibiotic treatment options for New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infection are concerning. Recent reports have highlighted NDM-producing Serratia marcescens, as a specific concern, as it is an organism which is intrinsically resistant to colistin. In this study, a descriptive analysis of NDM-producing CRE infections was performed at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.