bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pour l’établissement de systèmes de gestion de crise résilients
Authors: de Vittoris Raphaël , Cros Sophie , Lebrument Norbert
Published: September 2021

La nature des crises nous conduit à proposer une conception de la résilience basée sur l’adaptation à la complexité des organisations. La capacité de disposer d’une vision centralisée et complexe de la gestion de crise et d’être en mesure de la déployer dans les différents organes de l’organisation est un levier fort pour augmenter la résilience d’une entreprise. À travers l’étude d’une monographie de la multinationale française Michelin, nous montrons que cette homogénéité est cruciale pour faire face de manière appropriée à une crise multicouches. Les organisations étant amenées à évoluer en mode dégradé, se reposer sur des fondamentaux tout en conservant une grande flexibilité est une garantie de survie. Notre recherche prouve qu’une telle organisation peut être mise en œuvre au niveau de la région, du pays mais aussi de l’usine.
La diversité commence au sommet
Authors: Venne Jean-François
Published: September 2021

Si la parité des genres progresse au sein des conseils d’administration, plusieurs groupes de la population y restent largement sous-représentés. Pourtant, la diversité des administrateurs apporte de nombreux bienfaits aux entreprises.
Sortir plus fort de la pandémie en misant sur l’analytique RH
Authors: Grenier Simon , Barrette Geneviève , Houle Lucie , Labrie Sylvain
Published: September 2021

La gestion des ressources humaines en entreprise consiste plus que jamais à mettre en œuvre une intelligence d’affaires reposant sur une vision, sur une stratégie et sur une équipe d’analytique bien informée 1 . Au début de la pandémie de COVID-19, la Banque Nationale du Canada (BNC) a mis au point et déployé une stratégie originale afin de favoriser la résilience des équipes. Retour sur cette expérience.
Dix conseils pour élaborer une politique de télétravail efficace
Authors: Bouiss Ousama , Azéma Guillaume
Published: September 2021

La pandémie de coronavirus a mis en lumière non seulement les avantages mais aussi les limites d’un nouveau fonctionnement organisationnel fondé sur le télétravail. Plusieurs gestionnaires se sont rendu compte que l’instauration massive et soudaine de cette mesure était complexe à gérer. Comment concevoir et mettre en œuvre une politique de télétravail qui respecte la singularité des organisations ?
YouTube fandom names in channel communities and branding
Authors: Tarvin Emily
Published: September 2021

The YouTube channels Good Mythical Morning, grav3yardgirl, and the Vlogbrothers are analyzed to understand the function of fandom names on the platform. The selected YouTubers explain that their named fandoms create a sense of community on their channels. However, YouTube celebrities attempt to assert control over the narrative of their fan groups and encourage viewers to perceive them in a particular way. This control often relates to how content creators use the names to brand their channels and sell merchandise. Names of fan groups emphasize communal relationships but also perform a prominent business function. Understanding how the demonyms try to balance these different motivations reveals that the commercialization of fandom is embedded in everyday social media practices and the relationship between online celebrities and fans.
Zankie, queerbaiting, and performative rhetorics of bisexuality
Authors: Publius Xavia Andromeda
Published: September 2021

In 2014, two contestants on Big Brother (CBS), Frankie Grande and Zach Rance, began a showmance (ship name: Zankie). The presence of two men in a showmance, only one of whom was openly queer before filming, created ample conversation among fans and contestants about Rance's sexual orientation, as he seemed to be undergoing a personal bi-awakening narrative on live TV. The rhetorics of reality TV paint this both as a sincere struggle and as a joking game strategy, which occasions an overdetermined scrutiny of whether Rance is really bisexual or if he is queerbaiting the audience. Rance's performance of self on the show relies on queerbaiting, but he also deploys rhetoric surrounding bisexuality that allows him to participate in a same-sex showmance while still claiming heterosexuality outside the context of the show. His contradictory articulations of identity and desire reinforce stereotypes about bisexuals while also calling into question the heteronormative assumptions behind the showmance label.
Bullet chats in China: Bilibili, language, and interaction
Authors: Mei Feixue
Published: September 2021

Bullet chats have grown in popularity in East Asia since 2006, when the Japanese animation website Niconico originated overlaying flying texts on video displays and synchronizing them to the video timeline. This bullet chat function has now gained popularity on Bilibili, a popular Chinese video-sharing social media site with a focus on East Asian pop culture. Bilibili users mix Chinese with foreign languages to create a cyberpidgin vocabulary, adding visual language to express their feelings in a mode that reflects the social norms learned from other East Asian fandoms. Analysis of Bilibili bullet chats provides insight into how social media and online platforms influence user interactions from both linguistic and visual perspectives.
Reflecting on Japan-Korea relations through the Korean wave: Fan desires, nationalist fears, and transcultural fandom
Authors: Baudinette Thomas
Published: September 2021

The reception of K-pop in Japan must be contextualized within the postcolonial relationship between Japan and Korea. Studying fan discourse and discourse about fans reveals that the Korean Wave (that is, fandom around Korean popular culture) has produced various desires and fears among the Japanese public, suggesting that persistent Korea-phobia among conservatives stymies K-pop's soft-power potential. A longitudinal study of K-pop fans in Japan and an ethnographic investigation of Tokyo's Koreatown, Shin-Ōkubo, indicate that these fans' activities reflect the current state of Japan-Korea relations. Consuming K-pop instills attraction among fans, but this must be weighed against the potential dismissal of Korean Wave fandom by conservatives as being too feminized. This case study shows the usefulness of transcultural approaches to analyses of fans.
Victorian penny press plagiarisms as transmedia storytelling
Authors: Haugtvedt Erica
Published: September 2021

The Victorian period saw the proliferation of penny press plagiarisms—that is, transformations of middle-class narratives, typically for a lower-class audience. Authors of these often anonymous transformations performed labor by expanding existing narratives in ways that resonate with today's understanding of fan fiction and transmedia storyworlds. Penny press plagiarisms illustrate the methodological challenges of studying the historical reception of literary and popular culture events that might be characterized as fannish, as the constitutive elements that describe a fan must be traced backward in the absence of living communities and with ephemeral evidence of engagement with popular culture texts. Application of insights from media and periodical studies shows that the penny press contributes to the long history of fandom. The Victorian period's literary markets, social class politics, and copyright paradigms defamiliarize these concepts in the field of studies of fans and fandoms, revealing how a history of Victorian fandom is also a history of for-profit transmedia storytelling.
Pro-wrestling fandom and digital archives of wrestling event merchandise
Authors: Sutton Francine N.
Published: September 2021

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has dominated the sports entertainment industry for nearly three decades. Its merchandise has become a part of wrestling history, with fans using social media to share images that document their attendance at live events and their engagement with wrestling-related artifacts, such as event merchandise. Social media platforms such as Instagram provide a digital repository where fans can document their experiences while interacting with other fans.
Cold-pressed cactus pear seed oil: Quality and stability
Authors: De Wit M. , Motsamai V.K. , Hugo A.
Published: September 2021

Cold-pressed seed oil from twelve commercially produced cactus pear cultivars was assessed for oil yield, fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, quality and stability. Large differences in oil content, fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties (IV, PV, RI, tocopherols, ORAC, % FFA, OSI and induction time) were observed. Oil content ranged between 2.51% and 5.96% (Meyers and American Giant). The important fatty acids detected were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1c9 and C18:2c9,12, with C18:2c9,12, the dominating fatty acid, ranging from 58.56-65.73%, followed by C18:1c9, ranging between 13.18-16.07%, C16:0, which ranged between 10.97 - 15.07% and C18:0, which ranged between 2.62-3.18%. Other fatty acids such as C14:0, C16:1c9, C17:0, C17:1c10, C20:0, C18:3c9,12,15 and C20:3c8,11,14 were detected in small amounts. The quality parameters of the oils were strongly influenced by oil content, fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties. Oil content, PV, % FFA, RI, IV, tocopherols, ORAC and ρ-anisidine value were negatively correlated with OSI. C18:0; C18:1c9; C18:2c9,12; MUFA; PUFA; n-6 and PUFA/SFA were also negatively correlated with OSI. Among all the cultivars, American Giant was identified as the paramount cultivar with good quality traits (oil content and oxidative stability).
Improving biodiesel yield from pre-esterified inedible olive oil using microwave-assisted transesterification method
Authors: Dehghan L. , Golmakani M.-T. , Hosseini S.M.H.
Published: September 2021

In the present research, biodiesel production from olive oils with different initial free fatty acid concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0%) was evaluated. A two-stage acid-catalyzed esterification and alkaline-catalyzed transesterification (ACT) process using the microwave heating method was compared with the traditional heating method. Free fatty acid was reduced to less than 2.0% in the first stage. Although no significant difference was observed between microwave and traditional esterification methods in terms of fatty acid reduction, the microwave treatment significantly decreased reaction time by 92.5%. Comparing microwave ACT results with those of the traditional heating method showed that the microwave can significantly increase methyl ester yield and purity, and simultaneously decrease reaction time. Physical constants of methyl esters were also improved using the microwave heating method. Therefore, the microwave heating method can be regarded as an efficient method instead of the two-stage method for biodiesel production. This method is capable of using inedible olive oil with high concentrations of free fatty acids.
Batoko plum (Flacourtia inermis) peel extract attenuates deteriorative oxidation of selected edible oils
Authors: Wedamulla N.E. , Wijesinghe W.A.J.P.
Published: September 2021

The oxidation of oils has an adverse effect on the organoleptic properties and shelf-life of stored oils. Flacourtia inermis is one of the underutilized fruits grown in Sri Lanka with promising antioxidant properties. F. inermis peel extract (FIPE) was used to retard rancidity in edible oils. The efficacy of added FIPE (500, 1000, 2000 ppm) on sunflower oil (SO) and virgin coconut oil (VCO) was monitored at 3-day intervals at 65 ± 5 °C against a positive control (α-tocopherol at 500 ppm level) using Free Fatty Acid (FFA) and Peroxide Value (PV). Oils without FIPE were used as the control. Antioxidant efficacy (IC50) and Total Phenol Content (TPC) of FIPE were determined by DPPH assay and the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the oxidative stability. The IC50 value and TPC of FIPE were 227.14 ± 4.12 µg·mL-1 and 4.87 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g extract, respectively. After 21 days, VCO (control) sample exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher FFA and PV than the treatments. FIPE exhibited comparable results with α-tocopherol. Conclusively, FIPE had strong antioxidant properties and thus, could be used as an alternative to α-tocopherol to improve the oxidative stability of virgin coconut oil and sunflower oil. However, only minor differences in the FTIR spectra were detected in treated and untreated virgin coconut and sunflower oil samples after 21 days storage at 65 ± 5 °C.
Library-faculty collaboration using Wikipedia for learning and civic engagement
Authors: Bekbalaeva Jyldyz , Namasbek kyzy Aisuluu , Tumenbaeva Shirin , Askhatbekova Zhuzumkan
Published: September 2021

Wikipedia uses collaborative models of content creation and fosters a culture of collaboration. Understanding how it works and mastering editing skills often calls for partnerships between different members of the university community. Library-faculty Wikipedia-centered collaboration can open new opportunities to develop information and media literacy, student agency, and civic participation. This chapter shares faculty and librarians’ experience with using Wikipedia as a teaching tool as part of an initial pilot project aimed at using open educational resources. The library-faculty team from the American University of Central Asia worked together to use Wikipedia as a tool for collaborative learning and civic participation among students in sociology classes.
BIBLIOWIKIS: L’ESTUDI DEL CAS CATALÀ DE LES BIBLIOTEQUES COM A PUNT DE REFERÈNCIA PER A NOUS VIQUIPEDISTES I FONTS D’ALTA QUALITAT, DIRIGIT PER VOLUNTARIS
Authors: Dengra i Grau Francesc Xavier , Fenoll i Clarabuch Carme , Allué Blanch Vicenç , Fort i Silvestre Francesc , García Grimau Francesc , Pons Cortell Amparo
Published: September 2021

La Viquipèdia en català és una exitosa plataforma de coneixement lliure amb una forta comunitat d'editors que ha contribuït significativament a normalitzar aquesta llengua minoritzada a Internet. El 2012 l'Associació Amical Wikimedia i el Servei de Biblioteques Públiques del Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya impulsà #Bibliowikis, una iniciativa que ha implicat diversos centenars de bibliotecaris i biblioteques públiques en la millora d'aquesta versió de l'enciclopèdia en línia. Aquest model únic i reeixit es va presentar a l'Organització de les Nacions Unides per a l'Educació, la Ciència i la Cultura (UNESCO) i ha estat destacat com un cas pràctic per la Federació Internacional d'Associacions i Institucions de Biblioteques (IFLA). El projecte consisteix en l'anomenat model Amical, en què la formació en cascada, l'autogestió a llarg termini i la xarxa de voluntaris viquipedistes distribuïts geogràficament constitueixen els tres pilars fonamentals de treball. L'èxit de #Bibliowikis ha experimentat diferents nivells d'aplicabilitat i regularitat als territoris de parla catalana –especialment al País Valencià i a Andorra– i corre perill per les dinàmiques en línia globals, la pèrdua dels principis de voluntariat i la priorització de recursos econòmics a l'entorn de canvi constant del moviment Wikimedia. Malgrat això, les característiques de #Bibliowikis estan totalment alineades amb les de l'accés obert, de manera que es combina fàcilment amb el món acadèmic i la transferència de coneixement públic a les universitats. El seu robust discurs ètic sobre contribució social, infraestructura negligible i protecció del patrimoni lingüístic ha permès implementar #Bibliowikis en el context creixent del teletreball i de la necessitat de digitalització social dels dipòsits bibliogràfics.
Hong Kong Literary Landscape: A MediaWiki for literary reading and writing
Authors: Ma Leo F. H. , Mak L. M.
Published: September 2021

For almost three decades, literary walk has been used by various education and public institutions in Hong Kong as an effective way to promote reading and writing to secondary school students. Funded by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2013, the Hong Kong Literature Research Centre (HKLRC) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library (CUHK Library) jointly kicked off a two-year proposal entitled “Fun with Learning Chinese Language through Literary Walk” aimed at promoting literary reading and writing skills to junior secondary school students in Hong Kong. In this paper, the authors discuss a key deliverable of this project, the Hong Kong Literary Landscape MediaWiki, jointly developed by the HKLRC and the CUHK Library, which provides literary walk materials on the wiki platform including video clips, critically selected literary works, literary maps, creative writings of the student participants, and so on. Apart from the project participants, the Hong Kong Literary Landscape MediaWiki is also a useful tool for other secondary school teachers, students, and a wider group of audience in the Hong Kong community.
Wikisource as a tool for OCR transcription correction: The National Library of Scotland’s response to COVID-19
Authors: Willshaw Gavin
Published: September 2021

This chapter focuses on the National Library of Scotland’s Wikisource transcription correction project, an organization-wide effort during lockdown that generated 1,000 fully accurate transcriptions of 3,000 Scottish chapbooks, which the Library had uploaded to Wikisource, Wikimedia’s online library of digitized, out of copyright works. The project, which contributed to the Library being awarded Partnership of the Year 2020 at the Wikimedia UK AGM, is thought to be the largest ever staff engagement with Wikimedia, and has had significant benefits to the Library and staff well beyond the original aims of the project. Initially set up to improve the quality of optical character recognition (OCR) transcriptions in order to make the chapbooks more discoverable and searchable, the project gave staff a purpose and sense of belonging during lockdown, provided an opportunity to work with a varied and fascinating collection, and enabled them to develop new skills in editing Wikisource, drafting guidance documentation, and managing projects. Further to this, the initiative greatly increased library staff engagement with Wikimedia, led to the formation of a Wikimedia Community of Interest, and resulted in the embedding of Wikimedia activity in staff work.
African academic libraries partnering with Wikimedia projects: Values and benefits
Authors: Obuezie Adaora C. , Horsfall Millie N.
Published: September 2021

Wikimedia as a foundation is the mother of all Wikis. “It supports hundreds of people around the world in creating the largest free knowledge projects in history” (Wikimedia foundation, https://wikimediafoundation.org). Its resources give benefits that can emerge from the collaboration of librarians and Wikimedia. However, despite the rich contents and vast availability of information on Wikimedia, many scholars refute the credibility of Wikimedia contents. This chapter addresses the benefits and values of African academic libraries partnering with Wikimedia projects and gives a brief definition on the concepts of Wikimedia and Wikipedia. How academic libraries directly improve Wikimedia resources for a reliable information; particularly, it highlights the need to rightly posit librarians as custodians of knowledge, relating the campaigns of 1Lib1Ref and other related projects where librarians in Africa through the African Library and Information Associations and Institution (AfLIA) collaborated with Wikipedia to add reliable sources, edit articles, and write stories to promote the quality, authority, and reliability of intellectual contents in Wikipedia. It demonstrates the engagement of academic libraries in the development of information resources to aid access to information for all citizens through linking of institutional repository materials to wiki articles in line with the UNESCO policy of ensuring public access to information (UNESCO, 2017). It also discusses challenges associated with the use of Wikimedia resources in some institutions and draws conclusion that Wikipedia promotes discoverability of library resources, librarians improve the reliability of its contents as an important tool to leverage on, in pursuit of academic endeavors, thus providing an interception between Wikipedia and academic libraries.
The Problem of Intuitive Presence
Authors: Egler Miguel
Published: September 2021

The historically-influential perceptual analogy states that intuitions and perceptual experiences are alike in many important respects. Phenomenalists defend a particular reading of this analogy according to which intuitions and perceptual experiences share a common phenomenal character. The phenomenalist thesis has proven highly influential in recent years. However, insufficient attention has been given to the challenges that the phenomenalist thesis raises for theories of intuitions. In this paper, I first develop one such challenge. I argue that if we take seriously the idea that intuitions and perceptual experiences have a common phenomenal character, then an analogous version of the familiar problem of perceptual presence arises for intuitions. I call this the 'problem of intuitive presence'. In the second part of the paper I sketch a novel enactivist solution to this problem.
Anxiety Detection Using Physiological Data and Wearable IoT Devices
Authors: Ramani Bhupendra , Solanki Kamini , Patel Warish
Published: September 2021

Anxiety has been the primary cause of multiple illnesses in society. Gadgets, smartwatches, and wristbands have become an integral part of our daily lives and are widely used. This shows whether wearable sensors and technologies can be used to prevent anxiety and stress. The authors look at recent research on recognizing anxiety in everyday life in this chapter. There are few studies that examine the detection of stress in daily life, as there are few studies that examine a variety of tasks involving the recognition of anxiety in regulated laboratory settings. In this analysis, the authors isolate and examine tasks based on the physiological modality used and their intended areas, such as the workplace, education, automobiles, and the uncontrolled conditions of everyday life. In addition, they explore promising technologies, prevention, and research issues.
Applied Intelligence for Mental Health Detection
Authors: Desai Kartik Pinakin , Shah Mihir Akshay , Lapasia Mansi Chetan , Patil Sonali Atulkumar , Pathak Sujata P.
Published: September 2021

Mental health is a major healthcare issue around the world, and it must be made a priority in the healthcare sector. That being said, it seems that progress in this area is moving at a slow rate. These conditions aren't always difficult to live with, but they also put you at risk for heart failure, severe anxiety, and depression, leading to serious stress and physical disability. In middle and upper nations, a majority of people deal with at least one of these psychiatric disorders at a certain stage in their lives. Artificial intelligence techniques have recently received a lot of attention in a variety of areas, including psychological health. A personalized therapy that aims to deliver emotional support to a particular person has to be enabled with the help of specialized artificial intelligence methods and ML algorithms. The aim of this chapter is to evaluate and create a system that assists a person in predicting and curing his or her psychiatric disorder using various artificial intelligence concepts and strategies, thus assisting people in curing their problems.
Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Multiple Classifier Techniques in Machine Learning
Authors: Patil Umesh Anandrao , Wagh Sanjeev J.
Published: September 2021

The medical industry has advanced in a manner where high end technologies are used for early detection and analysis of diseases that are hard to encounter with normal procedures of the medical field. One such disease is diabetic retinopathy (DR) further classified as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) conditions. Early detection of NPDR is a challenging task, and it requires examination of fundus images in an amplified manner. To overcome these early detection of DR, the authors propose an automated system that will be using machine learning classifier techniques with combination of convolutional neural network (CNN) to self-train the system and detect the early stages of retinal scans by feature extraction and use of existing retinal scan databases. Hence, the system will eliminate the human flaw of inability to detect early DR in diagnosis and will help us treat the patient in early stages.
Machine Learning-Aided Automatic Detection of Breast Cancer
Authors: Jawad M. Abdul , Khursheed Farida
Published: September 2021

The expeditious progress of machine learning, especially the deep learning techniques, keep propelling the medical imaging community's heed in applying these techniques in improving the accuracy of cancer screening. Among various types of cancers, breast cancer is the most detrimental disease affecting women today. The prognosis of such types of disease becomes a very challenging task for radiologists due the huge number of cases together with careful and thorough examination it demands. The constraints of present CAD open up a need for new and accurate detection procedures. Deep learning approaches have gained a tremendous recognition in the areas of object detection, segmentation, image recognition, and computer vision. Precise and premature detection and classification of lesions is very critical for increasing the survival rates of patients. Recent CNN models are designed to enhance radiologists' understandings to identify even the least possible lesions at the very early stage.
ML-Enabled Informed Intervention for Crowdsourcing-Based Optimization of Medical Resources
Authors: Siddavatam Irfan , Dalvi Ashwini , Patel Abhishek , Panchal Aditya , Vedpathak Aditya S. , Thakkar Viraj
Published: September 2021

It is said that every adversity presents the opportunity to grow. The current pandemic is a lesson to all healthcare infrastructure stakeholders to look at existing setups with an open mind. This chapter's proposed solution offers technology assistance to manage patient data effectively and extends the hospital data management system's capability to predict the upcoming need for healthcare resources. Further, the authors intend to supplement the proposed solution with crowdsourcing to meet hospital demand and supply for unprecedented medical emergencies. The proposed approach would demonstrate its need in the current pandemic scenario and prepare the healthcare infrastructure with a more streamlined and cooperative approach than before.
Exploring Quality Assurances
Authors: Mahlangu Vimbi Petrus , Sedio Mpipo Zipporah
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to argue that higher education institutions (HEIs) in doing quality assurance (QA) must focus on the critical aspects of quality assurance, the need to look at the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges facing HEIs regarding quality assurance. It is assumed that institutions should carry out quality assurance and accreditation processes for stakeholders to have confidence in them. It also explains in detail what quality assurance and accreditation must entail in higher education institutions (HEIs). The need to maintain high-quality education standards becomes a critical requirement for HEIs to remain competitive in the education sector market. This chapter follows a qualitative approach in exploring quality assurance and accreditation in HEIs. Data will be collected through literature review. Quality assurance and accreditation in HEIs must aim to maintain and raise the quality of education and to guarantee the improvement of its standards.
The Strategic Imperative of Quality Assurance
Authors: Abdel-Meguid Ahmed M.
Published: September 2021

This chapter focuses on the fundamental question: What is the strategic importance of quality assurance (QA) for higher education institutions (HEIs)? Divided into four main segments, the chapter begins by defining QA within the context of a continuum, ranging from entirely voluntarily QA—as a part of the HEI internal standard procedures—to more ‘prescriptive' models, as mandated by ranking and accreditation bodies. Secondly, the chapter engages in identifying specific strategic functions of QA in light of two inherent objectives of HEIs: competitiveness and sustainable impact. Next, the chapter showcases the role of QA played in advancing the American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Business to the renowned triple-crown accreditation status (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), while highlighting both challenges encountered and implementable solutions. Last of all, the chapter discusses potential future changes to QA, given the ‘new normal' of the higher education landscape.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Strategizing the Higher Education Policies of Public Universities of Ethiopia
Authors: Dereso Chala Wata , Meher Kishor Chandra , Shobe Abebe Asfawu
Published: September 2021

The purpose of the research is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on higher education policies and their effect on students' academic performance at public universities in Ethiopia. The study adopts a quantitative approach followed by causal analysis by applying structural equation modeling. A sample of 384 has been selected through simple random sampling out of a large population of academic staff spread homogeneously across Ethiopia. The study variables are COVID-19, higher education policies, digital learning, teacher preparedness, and student academic performance. The findings reveal that the hypothesized model becomes a perfect fit. Based on the standardized coefficient, the most influencing path is the effect of higher education policy on digital learning, followed by the impact of COVID-19 on higher education policy, academic performance, and teacher preparedness, respectively. The study has further observed the partial effect of teacher preparedness on the students' academic performance.
Exploring the Need of Social Change Leadership Concerning Health Communication and Health Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Springs Delores , Burrell Darrell Norman , Shufutinsky Anton , Shipman Kristine E. , McCargo Tracie E. , Brown-Jackson Kim L.
Published: September 2021

In March of 2020, the United States activated nationwide pandemic response protocols due to the swift spread of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019, also known as COVID-19. Amidst the domestic response, urgency surrounded the need to build collective awareness of the signs, symptoms, and preventive measures of the virus. As the virus spread and historically marginalized communities were disproportionately impacted with rates of infection, the need to explore the presence of disparities in health communication, health education, and personal health literacy surfaced. The research contained within this study examines the root cause of the gap in health literacy for communities of color and presents actionable next steps to increase positive healthcare outcomes for all.
Inter-Orthodox controversies between Romania and Yugoslavia in the interwar period
Authors: Brusanowski Paul
Published: September 2021

This article examines the disputes that existed in the interwar period over the recognition of a Romanian Orthodox bishopric in Yugoslavia (The official name ‘Yugoslavia’ was only adopted in 1929. From 1918 to 1929, the state was officially called the Serbo-Croatian-Slovenian Kingdom. For the sake of simplicity, I will use the name Yugoslavia throughout this article.) and a Serbian Orthodox bishopric in Romania. The reason for this was the existence of two ethnically distinct Orthodox Churches (Serbian and Romanian) on the territory of the dualistic Hungarian monarchy before 1918, but both with de facto autocephalous status and territorial overlap. They came into being after the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Hungarian Orthodox Metropolis to separate the existing parishes and dioceses along ethnic lines. After the break-up of the dualistic monarchy at the end of the First World War, one of the Serbian Orthodox dioceses landed on the territory of Yugoslavia (Vršac) and the second on the territory of Romania (Timișoara). However, both Romanian bishoprics (Arad and Caransebeș) ended up in Romania. Under these circumstances, several Romanian parishes in the Yugoslav Banat remained without a direct episcopal hierarchy. As a result, diplomatic negotiations began between the Romanian and Yugoslav governments and between the hierarchs of the Orthodox Churches of Romania and Yugoslavia on the establishment of a Romanian diocese on Yugoslav territory.Contribution: This article deals with a lesser-known topic on the history of the Orthodox Churches in South Eastern Europe. Because there is no extensive literature on this subject, I have made use of unpublished documents from the archives of the Metropolitanate of Sibiu (Transylvania, Romania).
Multiple mini-interview for undergraduate allied health programs in Singapore
Authors: Yeung Meredith T
Published: September 2021

Aims:

To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of a four-station multiple mini-interview (MMI) model for admission selection into the four allied health undergraduate programs in Singapore.

Methods:

From 2015 to 2017, applicants to the four allied health undergraduate programs (physical therapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic radiography, and radiation therapy) at a university in Singapore underwent a four-station MMI. In 2017, interviewers of the MMI were polled using a 7-point Likert scale survey. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the quantitative portion of the survey, while content analysis and thematic description were applied to the qualitative data.

Results:

Data was collected from 79 interviewers. The majority agreed that the MMI was a fair process for applicants (83.5%), a good way of assessing interest and potential to become healthcare professionals (78.5%), and tested more aspects of the applicants than the traditional interviews (72%). They concluded that the MMI format was structured, objective, rigorous, unbiased, and assessed a valid range of competencies (67%).

Conclusion:

This study assessed and established the acceptability and feasibility of the MMI for undergraduate admissions to the allied health programs in Singapore.
Tracheostomy
Authors: Nagendra Sneha , Trehan Sandeep , Kaul Ridhima
Published: September 2021

Introduction:

Tracheostomy is defined as the creation of stoma at the skin surface that leads into the tracheal lumen. Tracheostomy in critically ill patients is usually performed in order to assist in weaning of prolonged ventilation.

Objective:

This article outlines the necessary changes to be adapted during the procedure of tracheostomy in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

The methods suggested in the present study were obtained by performing a detailed observation of the many cases which were performed in a Tertiary Government Hospital in India.

Results:

The methods presented in this study were followed for every tracheostomy procedure performed since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in reduced exposure to a great extent, the involved healthcare workers did not contact with COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion:

Modifications are necessary for the protection of healthcare workers in the absence of healthcare infrastructure like negative pressure/laminar flow operation theaters.
COVID Bedfellows
Authors: Malone Erin D , Brown Abby L , Spence Susan J
Published: September 2021

Background:

Prior to the fall of 2020, clinical skills and anatomy were considered separate courses with minimal overlap other than being offered to the same cohort of students. We had included clinical skills practice in anatomy labs on an intermittent and variable basis. Many of the skills were included only if time and faculty or staff availability permitted. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic made us think differently, particularly as the anatomy space was one of our largest rooms.

Methods:

Anatomy and clinical skills shared space and content during the 2020–2021 school year in an effort to meet physical distancing and other biosafety requirements required by the state and University.

Results:

Students were maintained in a single space and were engaged for a longer period of time, making their commute and biosafety steps worthwhile while simultaneously opening up other spaces for distanced teaching needs. The goal of one skill/day for motor skill learning was maintained despite a challenging laboratory teaching schedule. Certified veterinary technicians taught both the anatomy and the skills portion, showcasing the value of their training and freeing faculty for other responsibilities.

Conclusion:

This teaching and learning combination led to an enhanced understanding of procedure-related anatomy; direct anatomy application to veterinary work; opportunities for recall, transfer, and supervised practice; and optimized staff and space utilization.
Limited condylar mobility by ultrasonography predicts difficult direct laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients
Authors: Bindu Harika M , Dogra Neeti , Makkar Jeetinder K , Bhatia Nidhi , Meena Shyam , Gupta Rajesh
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims:

Unpredictable difficult laryngoscopy remains a challenge for anaesthesiologists, especially in morbidly obese patients. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of different sonographic measures as predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients undergoing elective surgery.

Methods:

This observational study evaluated 70 morbidly obese adult patients (body mass index >35 kg/m2) undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation. Pre-operative clinical and ultrasonographic variables (anterior condylar translation, tongue thickness, hyomental distance and oral cavity height) associated with difficult direct laryngoscopy ([Cormack Lehane (CL) grade>2]) were analysed. The primary outcome was to determine the efficacy of the above-mentioned sonographic measures as predictors of difficult laryngoscopy (CL grade >2). The secondary outcome compared ultrasonographic predictors with clinical predictors in morbidly obese patients for determining difficult direct laryngoscopy.

Results:

Amongst the primary outcome measures, limited condylar mobility (anterior condylar translation <9.25 mm) [odds ratio (OR) 0.3, confidence interval (CI):1.04-1.22;P<0.001;area under curve (AUC):0.8] and increased tongue thickness >5.85 cm [OR: 3.2, CI: 1.05–10; P < 0.04; AUC:0.73] were two independent sonographic predictors for difficult direct laryngoscopy by multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses in morbidly obese patients. The secondary outcome suggested that as compared to clinical predictors such as Mallampati grade and thyromental distance, ultrasonographic variables such as tongue thickness and limited condylar mobility (sensitivity: 56.4%, 70.9%, 66.7% and 93.3%, respectively) better predicted difficult direct laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients.

Conclusion:

Limited condylar mobility and increased tongue thickness are independent sonographic predictors of difficult direct laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients.
Prospective analysis of goal-directed fluid therapy vs conventional fluid therapy in perioperative outcome of composite resections of head and neck malignancy with free tissue transfer
Authors: Gupta Pushplata , Chaudhari Soumi H. , Nagar Vaibhav , Jain Deepshikha , Bansal Anita , Dutt Akanksha
Published: September 2021

Background and Aim:

Head and neck cancer surgeries with free tissue transfer are complex procedures, and fluid management can grossly affect the microvascular anastomosis. We hypothesise that intra-operative goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) is the key to administer fluid individualised to a patient’s requirement. The aim of this study was to observe the role of GDFT in perioperative flap outcome and length of hospital stay.

Methods:

A randomised prospective controlled study was performed in 106 patients undergoing composite resection of head and neck cancer with free tissue transfer. Patients in Group A received GDFT based on stroke volume variation whereas Group B received conventional fluid therapy intra-operatively. The endpoints of this study were total perioperative fluid, fluid boluses, vasopressor requirement, flap outcome and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test.

Results:

The total intra-operative fluid given to both the groups was comparable but patients in Group A received more boluses and vasopressors compared to Group B during intra-operative period. The amount of fluid given in the first 24 hours post-operatively was significantly less in Group A (1807 + 476 ml) compared to Group B (2205 + 382 ml). Incidence of hypotension with tachycardia was observed in three patients in Group B and none in Group A. Poor flap outcome was observed in one patient in Group A versus four in Group B due to thrombosis.

Conclusion:

GDFT helps in early detection of fluid deficit and may avoid complications arising due to inadequate microvascular perfusion during the peri-operative period.
Comparison of norepinephrine and phenylephrine infusions for maintenance of haemodynamics following subarachnoid block in lower segment caeserean section
Authors: Goel Kanika , Luthra Neeru , Goyal Namrata , Grewal Anju , Taneja Ashima
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims:

Phenylephrine is the vasopressor of choice in spinal anaesthesia–induced maternal hypotension. However, it results in reflex bradycardia and decrease in cardiac output (CO), an effect that is perhaps less evident with the use of norepinephrine. We sought to evaluate the effect of phenylephrine and norepinephrine infusion on maternal systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), intraoperative nausea vomiting (IONV) and fatal Apgar scores.

Methods:

A randomised double-blind study was conducted on 200 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II–III parturients undergoing caesarean section under subarachnoid block (SAB) who were randomised to two groups A and B to receive variable rate, manually controlled infusions of phenylephrine and norepinephrine targeting maintenance of SBP to 100% of the baseline value. Maternal haemodynamics especially episodes of hypotension, IONV and vasopressor consumption were observed and recorded.

Results:

A statistically significant trend of lower SBP was observed during the first 6 min following intrathecal injection in group A (P value – 0.000). Though a greater number of parturients experienced ≥1 episode of hypotension in Group A vs Group B (13% vs 9%), the difference was, however, statistically insignificant. The incidence of bradycardia was higher in group A than in group B (16% vs 1%) and was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The episodes of hypertension, IONV, maternal vasopressor consumption and neonatal Apgar score were comparable among both the groups.

Conclusion:

A dilute solution of norepinephrine infusion is comparably efficacious to the current gold standard vasopressor phenylephrine in maintaining blood pressure following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery, with a significantly lower incidence of bradycardia.
Videolaryngoscopic versus direct laryngoscopic paraglossal intubation for cleft lip/palate reconstructive surgeries
Authors: Ray Ananya , Sen Indu Mohini , Bhardwaj Neerja , Yaddanapudi Sandhya , Mathews Preethy
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims:

In the cleft lip and palate, the laryngoscope blade often tends to lodge inside midline clefts, causing reduced manoeuvrability and tissue trauma. The paraglossal technique avoids the midline and offers better Cormack Lehane (CL) grades. We aimed to assess the first-pass intubation rate in performing the left paraglossal laryngoscopy with a curved-blade videolaryngoscope (VLS) versus direct laryngoscope (DLS) in children with cleft palate and evaluate the time taken for successful endotracheal intubation (TTI) and Intubation Difficulty Score (IDS) with both devices.

Methods:

This randomised controlled trial included 60 patients with cleft palate, between 3 months and 6 years. Patients were randomised into group V (VLS) (n = 30) and group D (DLS) (n = 30). Left paraglossal laryngoscopy was done with VLS or DLS, and the first-pass intubation, TTI, CL grade and IDS were recorded.

Results:

First-pass intubation (primary outcome) was successful in all cases in group V and in 29 (96%) cases in group D (P = 0.923). Amongst the secondary outcomes, the IDS of the majority in both groups was 1–4 (slight difficulty) (P = 0.98) and the mean TTI In group D was 34.6 s (SD = 19.0) (95% CI: 27.5–41.7) versus 39.8 s (SD = 5.2) (95% CI: 37.8–41.7) in group V (P = 0.151).

Conclusions:

There was no significant difference in the use of a VLS over a DLS in performing the left paraglossal laryngoscopy in terms of first-pass intubation rate, CL Grade, IDS and TTI. Further studies with different VLS may be done to improve the ease of this technique.
Chronic grief experiences of nurses caring for the end-stage cancer patients: A mixed-method research
Authors: Paul Nidhina , Pinto Cleeta Anline , Paul Netthu
Published: September 2021

Background:

Caring patients with terminal illness is one of the most challenging and difficult experiences encountered by nurses. Though they face immense grief while preparing these patients and their families to accept the illness, the grief experienced by the nurse is reported to be an insignificant entity due to their professional role and commitment to duty. On the other hand, ignoring this caring relationship can foster emotional burden and physical exhaustion among nurses leading to ineffective quality care. The present study aimed to capture the chronic grief experiences and the coping strategies of nurses caring for patients with advanced cancers.

Methods:

A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was adopted for the study. From September 2016 till March 2017, 50 nurses from three oncology care hospitals in Mangalore were selected using purposive sampling (homogeneous sampling). Modified grief experience inventory followed with in-depth interviews with the oncology nurses to identify their grief, work-related challenges, bereavement, and coping strategies was carried out. Quantitative analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. Interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of qualitative analysis, and a meta-matrix was developed to merge the results.

Results:

The mean numbers of nurses who experienced moderate level of grief are 83.24 (standard deviation: ± 17.4, range: 51-125). Six themes emerged from the interviews were grief over circumstances, sense of powerlessness, physical and emotional exhaustion, engaging in self-controlling behaviors, self-nurturance, and compassion satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Nurses face unique challenges while caring for patients with end-stage cancer, but timely debriefing strategies could be further explored to improve these experiences and improve nurse’s efficiency in providing quality care to these patients.