bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Kneading Technique on Joint Pain Among Old Age People Residing in Selected Village at Panipat
Authors: Ms. Kajal Brar  , Ms Kalpana Mohan
Published: August 2022

Kneading is a form of massage that involves a gradual circular compression of the soft tissues under the bones.Great pressure is applied as the hands move closer, although the contact continues. Stirring stimulates the flowof tissue fluids and causes reflex vasodilatation. This reduces inflammation and helps resolve inflammation.Exercising vigorously reduces muscle cramps and can stretch the muscles shortened by injury and stimulatesthe nervous system which can produce calm and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Objectives of the study:To assess the level of joint pain among the elderly prior to the initiation of the mixing procedure in the studygroup. To evaluate the effectiveness of the mixing procedures at the level of joint pain among the elderly in thestudy group. Comparison of post-test pain scores reported between older adults between the study group andthe control group. Finding a link between the level of joint pain between older people and their chosen variables.The scientist has developed a method of multidisciplinary research research and experimental style for sixtyseniors living in the Panipat valley in a way that is easily accessible. The Modified Extremities Functional Scaleis designed to measure a patient’s joint pain. Results: In the evaluation group the pain assessment rate showedthat (56.67%) the subject had minimal pain, (43.33%) the subject had moderate joint pain and none of the subjects(0%) had significant pain, severe pain and no pain. respectively while the control group (43.33%) the subject hadsevere pain, (39%) the subject had severe pain, (26.67%) the subject had moderate pain and none of the subjectshad minor or no pain. the mixing method is effective in relieving the level of joint pain.
Clinical Reasoning Process of Novice and Expert using Consensual Qualitative Research in Observational Situations of Postpartum mothers and Newborns
Authors: Yuko Uemura  , Kumiko Kido
Published: August 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the process of clinical reasoning in novice level nursing students and expert level midwives using the Dreyfus model in the setting of an observational situations of subjects (postpartum mothers and newborns) as nursing practice.Methods: Consensual Qualitative Research used for qualitative research. The study used the Vignettes Method to compare the behaviors of novices and experts in the same situation, setting up an observation scene of a postpartum woman on the third day and a newborn on the third day after birth. The novices in the study were two fourth-year nursing students at the A university, and the experts were two midwives with more than10 years of experience.Results: Eighteen core ideas were identified as clinical reasoning processes in the two domains of ‘pre-information gathering’ and ‘participants’ observation situations’ for novices and experts.Conclusions: Novices functioned mainly on analytic reasoning only and were likely to make errors in definitive diagnosis, while the experts used empirical knowledge intuitively and combined narrative reasoning to ensure the accuracy of their clinical reasoning.
What makes domain knowledge difficult? Word usage frequency from SUBTLEX and dlexDB explains knowledge item difficulty
Authors: Ludewig Ulrich , Alscher Pascal , Chen Xiaobin , McElvany Nele
Published: August 2022

The quality of tests in psychological and educational assessment is of great scholarly and public interest. Item difficulty models are vital to generating test result interpretations based on evidence. A major determining factor of item difficulty in knowledge tests is the opportunity to learn about the facts and concepts in question. Knowledge is mainly conveyed through language. Exposure to language associated with facts and concepts might be an indicator of the opportunity to learn. Thus, we hypothesize that item difficulty in knowledge tests should be related to the probability of exposure to the item content in everyday life and/or academic settings and therefore also to word frequency. Results from a study with 99 political knowledge test items administered to N = 250 German seventh (age: 11–14 years) and tenth (age: 15–18 years) graders showed that word frequencies in everyday settings (SUBTLEX-DE) explain variance in item difficulty, while word frequencies in academic settings (dlexDB) alone do not. However, both types of word frequency combined explain a considerable amount of the variance in item difficulty. Items with words that are more frequent in both settings and, in particular, relatively frequent in everyday settings are easier. High word frequencies and relatively higher word frequency in everyday settings could be associated with higher probability of exposure, conceptual complexity, and better readability of item content. Examining word frequency from different language settings can help researchers investigate test score interpretations and is a useful tool for predicting item difficulty and refining knowledge test items.
Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Mekargalih Kec. Jatiluhur Melalui Sedekah Minyak Jelantah
Authors: Jalaludin Jalaludin
Published: August 2022

Most of the waste in Mekargalih village is still not managed properly so it becomes a phenomenon that is quite complicated to solve. So that waste that is not managed properly becomes a hotbed for the spread of disease and causes environmental pollution. The Used Cooking Oil Alms Program is carried out so that the community can care about the environment, as well as a creative program that tackles the problem of B3 waste. The purpose of PKM is to empower the village community in Mekargalih Kec. Jatiluhur through the alms of used cooking oil trains the community and provides knowledge to develop their potential, both natural potential and the potential that exists within the community to lead to awareness and concern for both the community and village government towards environmental cleanliness which is implemented in the example of using waste and oil. used. Conclusion of PKM on Community Empowerment in Mekargalih Village, Kec. Jatiluhur Through this Waste Cooking Oil Alms, the community has the knowledge that used cooking oil can become waste that is harmful to the environment because it can pollute clean water and soil. In addition, the people of Mekargalih village are more concerned about the environment not to throw used cooking oil carelessly, many people are even aware that used cooking oil can produce various products that are useful in their daily lives, when compared to throwing it directly on the ground. Furthermore, from the PKM support program, the community feels helped by the community service program, on the other hand as a means to get closer to the community, on the other hand community service can strengthen brotherhood among the residents of the Mekargalih village, Jatiluhur Purwakarta.
Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways for patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy- a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors:   Ibra Hospital, Oman, Nair Abhijit , Al Aamri Hamed Humayid Mohammed
Published: August 2022

Review question / Objective: Does implementing enhanced recovery after surgery pathways improve outcomes in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy when compared to conventional pathways? Condition being studied: Adult patients (more than 18 years) with acute appendicitis undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy. Information sources: We will search all electronic databases. In published articles were outcome details appear incomplete, the corresponding author will be contacted the details will be sought. If not available, that outcome will be excluded from analysis.
Identification of ARX Model for Thermoelectric Cooling on Glass Windows
Authors: Mohd Saifizi Saidon  , Nasrul Amri Mohd Amin  , ‘Aqilah Che Sulaiman  , Mohd Rizal Manan  , Siti Marhainis Othman  , Wan Azani Mustafa  , Faiz Arith
Published: August 2022

Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) is a solid-state heat pump that uses the Peltier effect to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic packaging system. TECs are widely used in aerospace, military, scientific work and industry due to small size, lack of moving parts, and ease of integration. In this study, a cooling system integrated with TEC is developed in a testing area (lecturer’s office) with the aim to reduce the temperature of the hot glass window area due to solar radiation that passes through it. This cooling system used direct TEC, for keeping the cooling temperature on the window to about 26 °C which is equivalent to an air conditioning setting temperature of 26 °C set during the experiment. This work includes experimental and modelling studies conducted on cooling systems integrated with TEC. The main target of this study is to develop a dynamic model of a cooling system integrated with TEC. The black box modelling approach in producing a mathematical model was selected based on the ARX model that corresponds to the actual dynamic state of the cooling system. The best model was finalized based on the best match on curve patterns when comparing the real and estimated models using the system identification tools in MATLAB, and also had the least error. The accuracy of the models was compared and analysed. The results showed that the 4th order of the ARX model produced a higher best fitting and standard deviation values of 78.14% and 0.030769. This system accuracy is almost within the acceptable range for most error calculations in the validation method. In addition, the ARX model is found incapable of achieving the highest fitting due to the losses from the dynamic environment and losses from the TEC itself. Still, the use of this black box model used in this study is a significant variation where system parameters can be identified even offline.
Analysis of Recuperation Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Cycle for Heat Recovery of an Aircraft Engine
Authors: Chong Zhi Ken  , Syamimi Saadon
Published: August 2022

Reducing fuel consumption and maximizing thrust power are both critical factors for aircraft engine. Various technologies have been discovered and developed to achieve these goals. One of them is perhaps by integrating a waste heat recovery system to the engine. Therefore, this study will focus on waste heat recovery technology for aircraft engine, by applying a recuperation-supercritical carbon dioxide cycle in order to reduce jet engines’ fuel consumption and minimizing fuel expenses. The analysis will be conducted by modeling and simulation using Aspen Plus software. A quantitative analysis is done in order to compare the new modified recuperation cycle with the conventional basic Brayton- cycle in terms of their performance. The results stated that for both thermal efficiency and network done, recuperation- cycle performs much better with 42.46% of efficiency and network done at 2197.67 kW, than basic Brayton cycle at only 18.53 % of thermal efficiency and 2555.84 kW of network done. When integrating both cycles to aircraft engine, each of the cycle exhibits greater Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption (TSFC) savings, with up to 13.91 % and improved value of 1.7474 kg/s/kN for basic Brayton- cycle, and savings of 7.06 % and improved value of 1.8865 kg/s/kN for recuperation- cycle.
Thermal Properties of Wood Dust Fibre and Recycled Polypropylene (r-WoPPc) for Development of Thermoplastic Composites Filaments of Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Nafis Syahmi Zainal Azali  , Nuzaimah Mustafa  , Ridhwan Jumaidin  , Syahibudil Ikhwan Abdul Kudus  , Nadlene Razali  , Mastura Mohammad Taha  , Yusliza Yusuf  , Mohd Radzi Ali
Published: August 2022

The thermal behaviour of filament materials is one of the most important characteristics to study to produce quality filament since the FDM process strongly relies on heating operations such as mixing and printing. To develop composite filament FDM using recycled polypropylene and wood dust fibre (r-WoPPc), the thermal properties of these recycled materials were investigated. Wood dust and recycled PP are by-products of the furniture and plastics industries, and their thermal characteristics may change during manufacturing. Furthermore, wood dust is typically subjected to several cleaning and treatment processes to have a cleaner and impurity-free dust as well as better adhesion with the recycled PP matrix, which both processes may affect its thermal properties. Therefore, TGA and DSC analyses are conducted to ensure its thermal properties before developing the filament. Untreated, NaOH and silane treated wood dust and recycled PP was subjected to TGA and DSC analyses. Wood dust treated with silane had the highest combustion resistance at 372°C compared to untreated wood dust at 360°C and NaOH treated at 320°C. Meanwhile, DSC analysis of recycled PP indicated that it melted at 167°C, which was used to establish the filament extrusion and printing temperatures. In a conclusion, these studies provided a point of reference for determining filament extrusion and printing temperatures.
The Asteroseismology Analysis of 14 Solar-like Stars Based on TESS and LAMOST Observations
Authors: Gai Ning , Tang Yanke , Li Zhikai , Huang Yang , Dong Wenhui , Zhou Xiaoshuang
Published: August 2022

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is performing a near all-sky survey for planets that transit bright stars. It provides excellent photometric data for asteroseismology of solar-like stars that exhibit oscillation by a convection-driven mechanism. In this paper, we analyze the light curves of 14 stars that are observed by TESS. These stars mainly focus on Sector 21 and the other Sectors intersecting with Sector 21. Through crossmatching with the LAMOST surveys, 14 stars with signals of solar-like oscillations are selected, and asteroseismic analysis is present. The frequency of maximum power

ν

max

and the large frequency separation Δν are extracted from its frequency power spectrum using the pySYD pipeline. Scaling relations are an attractive method that can easily and immediately be applied to observations to derive the stellar properties. To validate the different calibrated scaling relations for 14 TESS stars, the fundamental stellar properties are estimated by the relations and compared with grid-based modeling results, which use the constraints of global asteroseismic parameters and nonasteroseismic parameters. The new red-giant branch (RGB) scaling relations are found to overestimate the radius and mass when compared to the grid results, while the f
Δν
scaling relations lead to overall lower radius and mass estimates. The average uncertainties of these stars from grid modeling are within 2% in the radius and 3% in the mass. Regardless of the method, we can get almost equally good results of log g for all the stars. Besides the grid method, the new RGB scaling relations for ages provide a simple and accurate method to determine the stellar ages.
A new Arthrinium-like genus of Amphisphaeriales in China
Authors: Jiang Ning , Voglmayr Hermann , Ma Chun-Yan , Xue Han , Piao Chun-Gen , Li Yong
Published: August 2022

Species of Arthriniums. l. are usually known as endophytes, pathogens or saprobes occurring on various hosts and substrates and are characterised by globose to subglobose, sometimes irregular, dark brown and smooth-walled or finely verruculose conidia, always with a truncate basal scar. Currently, Arthriniums. l. contains two phylogenetically distinct clades, namely, Apiospora and Arthriniums. s. However, Arthrinium trachycarpi and Ar. urticae have still not been properly classified. With new isolates from diseased leaves of Lithocarpus glaber collected in China, we propose the new Arthrinium-like genus Neoarthrinium in Amphisphaeriales. Based on the morphology and phylogeny of multiple loci, the new genus is established with the type species, N. lithocarpicola and three new combinations, N. moseri (syn. Wardomyces moseri), N. trachycarpi (syn. Ar. trachycarpi) and N. urticae (syn. Ar. urticae) are added to this genus.
Morphological, molecular, and life cycle study of a new species of Oligogonotylus Watson, 1976 (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae) from Colombia
Authors: Vélez-Sampedro Verónica , Uruburu Mónica , Lenis Carolina
Published: August 2022

The present study describesOligogonotylus andinussp. nov.and its life cycle from a rural fish farm in Sopetrán, Antioquia, Colombia. The endemic species of snailAroapyrgus colombiensisand the fishesPoecilia caucanaandAndinoacara latifronsare identified as the first intermediate host, the second intermediate host and the definitive host, respectively. The new species was defined through an integrative approach, combining the traditional morphology of its developmental stages with molecular analyses of the markers ITS2 from ribosomal DNA and COI from mitochondrial DNA. This new species can be distinguished from its congeners by genetic divergence, the position of the vitelline fields, and the number of gonotyls. This work represents the first report of a species of this genus in South America.
The Sensitivity to Change of the ASAS Health Index in an Observational Real-Life Cohort Study
Authors: Regierer Anne C. , Weiß Anja , Kiltz Uta , Sieper Joachim , Schwarze Ilka , Bohl-Bühler Martin , Kellner Herbert , Poddubnyy Denis , Zink Angela , Braun Jürgen , Listing Joachim , Strangfeld Anja
Published: August 2022

Objective

The Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS HI) measures global functioning and health in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) covering domains of physical, emotional, and social functioning. The main aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity to change of ASAS HI in comparison with established variables of disease activity, function, and mental health.

Methods

Patients with axSpA from the disease register RABBIT-SpA with follow-up time of at least 12 months and available ASAS HI questionnaires were included. Patients received questionnaires addressing disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI], Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS]), physical function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index [BASFI]), mental health (5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index [WHO-5]), and global functioning (ASAS HI). Standardized response means (SRMs) were calculated to compare the sensitivity to change of different variables.

Results

Six hundred and sixty-seven patients were included, 552 treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and 115 with conventional synthetic DMARDs and/or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (control group). Between baseline and month 12, the mean ASAS HI declined from 6.9 to 5.1 in the bDMARD group and from 5.9 to 5.6 in the conventionally treated group. In the bDMARD group, the SRM of ASAS HI was 0.52, compared to 0.59 for BASFI, 0.65 for WHO-5, 0.73 for BASDAI, and 0.90 for ASDAS. The following ASAS HI domains were most frequently affected: pain (78% agreed), maintaining body position (75%), and energy/drive (73%). In the patients receiving bDMARDs, there was an improvement in all items. In the control group, the largest improvement was seen in pain.

Conclusion

As expected, ASDAS and BASDAI as disease activity scores showed high sensitivity to change, whereas changes in physical function (BASFI), mental health (WHO-5), and the broader concept of functioning and health (ASAS HI) were moderate.
Chilblains After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Coincidence or Real Association?
Authors: Karamanakos Anastasios , Evangelatos Gerasimos , Pappa Maria , Fragiadaki Kalliopi , Fanouriakis Antonis , Fragoulis George E.
Published: August 2022

We read with great interest the article of Meara et al1 in your journal describing a case of chilblain-like lesions after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of vaccine doses have been administered and their safety has been generally confirmed.
Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Adolescents
Authors: Hermosillo Danielle , Cygan Heide R. , Lemke Sally , McIntosh Erik , Vail Matthew
Published: August 2022

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) adolescent population experiences health disparities due to barriers to care, including lack of access to culturally competent health care providers. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase access to culturally competent care through continuing education, a physical makeover of clinic space, and a social marketing campaign. The impact of the project on the number of LGBTQ+ adolescent patients at the clinic and the rate of documentation of sexual orientation and gender identity data was evaluated via a chart audit. Changes in nurses' and health care providers' knowledge as a result of the continuing education were evaluated with a pretest and a posttest. The number of LGBTQ+ patients and provider knowledge increased following the continuing education. Sexual orientation and gender identity data were documented during 87.5% of visits. The participants' knowledge increased by 4.7% following the continuing education. Further, five physical changes to the clinic were completed and a social marketing campaign was launched. This quality improvement project demonstrates that continuing education can be an effective way to increase cultural competence for the care of LGBTQ+ individuals.

[
J Contin Educ Nurs
. 2022;53(8):348–354.]
The Effect of Education and Follow-up Provided via Tele-nursing on the Quality of Life of Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Ökten Çiğdem , Gündoğan Seher
Published: August 2022

Background

Patient education and follow-up can be accomplished without time or space constraints via tele-nursing. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of education and follow-up provided via tele-nursing on the quality of life of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.

Method

This semi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design in a single group. It was conducted between April 1, 2021, and October 1, 2021, with 63 patients who presented to a state hospital. The Patient Information Form and the Duke Health Profile were administered to the patients prior to the education. Then, the patients completed the COVID-19 education program. Next, follow-up and counseling occurred via tele-nursing every other day for 14 days. At the end of the 14th day, the Duke Health Profile was once again administered to the patients.

Results

The patients had decreased physical, mental, and social health scores after the intervention. In addition, their pain, anxiety, and depression scores decreased.

Conclusion

Nurses should assume a more active role in patient education and include tele-nursing in nursing care.

[
J Contin Educ Nurs
. 2022;53(8):365–371.]
Facilitating Organizational Learning in Nursing Teams
Authors: Lyman Bret , George Kaitlyn C. , Frandsen Sara N.
Published: August 2022

Organizational learning is an effective strategy professional development educators and other nurse leaders can use to improve individual, team, and organizational outcomes. Professional development educators can foster organizational learning by implementing certain actions, called mechanisms, associated with organizational learning. This article highlights five such mechanisms, presents practical examples of each, and suggests evidence-based recommendations professional development educators and nurse leaders can use to better facilitate organizational learning.

[
J Contin Educ Nurs
. 2022;53(8):379–384.]
“Finding Common Ground:” Experiences of Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Students in a Community Engaged Learning Course
Authors: Schell Emily Petruzzelli , Padilla Amado M. , Houts Paitra
Published: August 2022

Research on community engaged learning (CEL) courses predominantly focuses on the learning experiences of white students or the quality of student-community partner relationship(s). Studies that account for underrepresented students often reveal negative learning experiences wherein students’ learning goals are overlooked or subordinated to their role as educators for their peers. Our study, consisting of interviews with 13 students in a university CEL course on well-being for immigrant youth, paints a more promising picture. We found distinct learning goals for immigrant versus nonimmigrant students. We also found distinct “hidden curricula” for both student groups, with immigrant students gaining empowerment and nonimmigrant students gaining deeper understanding of immigrant communities. Despite these differences, students described similar levels of commitment to their community partners. Many students also felt that their shared service helped them find “common ground” across their diverse experiences, highlighting the promise of CEL for teaching humility and understanding of difference.
Bringing the Metaverse to Higher Education
Authors: Burnett Gary E. , Harvey Catherine , Kay Rebekah
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides a case study on the use of a virtual world as the predominant mechanism for interacting with university students. In the Autumn Semester 2020, 49 engineering students partook in weekly seminars with teachers and each other on a fantastical virtual teaching island, known as Nottopia. The majority of students accessed the virtual world on desktop computers, although four routinely used their own VR headsets. Survey data indicated that the student experience was extremely positive and motivation to learn was very high. Interviews, together with video observations, established that five themes dictated the positive outcome, namely the design of the space, the nature of the integral content, the prevailing group dynamics, the role of avatars, and the magical interactions possible. These themes are realised in an initial design framework.
The Importance of Social Competence for 21st Century Citizens
Authors: Wang Xining , Quirke Mary , McGuckin Conor
Published: August 2022

This chapter presents the results of a systematic review that investigated the use of mixed reality (MR) technology to assist social competence learning in mainstream education. Social competence represents our ability to interact with others and, therefore, is a key determinant for many of the possibilities that are presented to us across the lifespan. In today's digital world, MR technology has been widely used in special and inclusive education for social competence training purposes but has not yet been generally applied to mainstream education. This systematic review bridges this research gap. Findings support (1) the potential for MR technology as a medium for social competence learning activities and (2) how the MR approach can contribute to a universally designed (UD) learning environment.
Relationship Selling as a Strategic Weapon for Sustainable Performance
Authors: Denga Edna Mngusughun , Vajjhala Narasimha R. , Rakshit Sandip
Published: August 2022

Relationship selling is a strategy of attracting suitable consumers and then establishing, sustaining, and strengthening relationships with them to achieve long-term satisfaction through mutually beneficial partnerships. For a firm to remain competitive over time, it must ensure its strategies are difficult for competitors to duplicate. Thus, relationship selling is leveraged as a tool for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In today's competitive environment, customer relationships are expected; hence, the establishment and development of relationship metrics is not an anomaly within successful sales organizations. With product quality becoming a universal standard and no longer a major source of competitive advantage, firms are striving to escape the quagmire of the “commodity mentality” that has pervaded the market today. To differentiate themselves, a number of these companies are resorting to relationship selling. This chapter focuses on understanding relationship selling, its components, and processes, as well as how it contributes to sustainable competitive advantage.
Communicating Images
Authors: Karabıyık H. Çağatay
Published: August 2022

In the postmodern world, marketing has become a phenomenon that cannot be reduced to the sales management and customer relations because brands are individuals of the society. As a result, brands need to create an image and a holistic structure. The aim of this study, which is based on this reality, is to criticize the marketing strategy of Volvo Cars in accordance with practice, then to develop a model that is compatible with the brand's image and develop a marketing mix for it. In this study, the current marketing policy of Volvo Cars and especially the R Design and Polestar models were examined in comparison with the top models of its competing brands. As a result of these examinations, it was determined that Volvo Cars' R Design and Polestar models are not compatible with the image and positioning strategy of the brand. As a solution, the SS (Super Safe) model was proposed as the top model for Volvo Cars' S90 and XC90 models, and a marketing mix was developed for this model.
An Australian Narrative Coordinating an Economic English Course During COVID-19
Authors: Chan Chun Chuen Billy , Toth Russell
Published: August 2022

A flu-like virus, COVID-19, has changed the course of tertiary education teaching and learning overnight. Universities globally, such as those in Australia, have been pushed to revise syllabi for face-to-face classroom teaching suited for online remote learning. This study adapts Connelly and Clandinin's narrative inquiry method to retrace the experience of an Economic English course coordinator's effort to quickly adapt to online education. It retells the coordinator's stories of engaging in the process under certain constraints and discusses the impact of COVID-19 in higher education. Implications and recommendations are given to conclude the chapter.
How Can I Help You Today?
Authors: Vieru Dragos , Bourdeau Simon , Ringeval Mickaël , Jung Tobias
Published: August 2022

The pandemic context has fast-tracked the digital transformation of many organizations that pursued to dramatically change their organizational processes to survive in a global digital economy. While virtual assistants (VA), a specialized artificial intelligence-based chatbot, such as Alexa or Siri, have penetrated our private lives, many organizations are still trying to understand and evaluate why and how to integrate these technologies into their employees' workday. The study explores whether VAs can be used to support human resources (HR) trainee management software in a German organization and how it can be done. Four key HR areas of self-service, onboarding, training, and knowledge management were explored. Interviews were conducted to analyze which VAs' functions can be reused to support trainee management software in these four areas. The technology affordances and constraints theory were used to analyze data collected. The results showed that a VA's functions can support trainee management software especially in the areas of self-service, onboarding, and training.
Using Nurse-Driven Protocols to Eliminate Routine Gastric Residual Volume Measurements: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Smith Marshall , Smith Millie , Robinson Katie N.
Published: August 2022

Background

Multiple critical care guidelines support the elimination of routine gastric residual volume monitoring in patients receiving enteral nutrition. However, transitioning nursing practice away from routine gastric residual volume assessments has proved challenging.

Objective

To evaluate outcomes after the elimination of routine gastric residual volume monitoring in a 14-bed adult intensive care unit at a large teaching hospital in the southeastern United States.

Methods

Practice change was accomplished through in-service training and implementation of a validated protocol. Data were collected for 30 days before and 30 days after protocol implementation to determine effects on the total volume of enteral nutrition received as well as the rate of adverse events after elimination of routine gastric residual volume assessments (n = 22) as compared with previous standard practice (n = 25).

Results

When gastric residual volume was not measured, the mean (SD) percentage of enteral nutrition delivery was 81% (12%) of the ordered volume, compared with 60% (18%) in the historic control group (P = .002). Eliminating gastric residual volume monitoring was not associated with an increased rate of adverse events (emesis, aspiration pneumonia) or a change in length of stay. Nursing staff demonstrated a high degree of compliance with this protocol change.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that the elimination of routine gastric residual volume assessment does not increase the rate of adverse events and results in increased nutrition provision. Use of a protocol for practice change as well as mandatory in-service training may effect changes in nursing practice.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy or arthroscopic surgery on repair of anterior cruciate ligament rupture
Authors: Eslami Sepehr , Fattah Shamim , Taher Soosan Alimohammadzade , Rezasoltani Zahra
Published: August 2022

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture reduces knee stability. In old patients with ACL rupture, surgery is not recommended due to the person's low level of activity and knee osteoarthritis. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a good treatment option in inflammatory cases in orthopedics. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess and comparison of the effect of PRP and arthroscopic surgery on anterior cruciate ligament rupture. This is a clinical trial that was performed in 2020-2021 in Tehran. 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group of patients underwent ACL tendon repair surgery by arthroscopy and tendon graft. The second group were treated by PRP injection. Both groups of patients were visited from 3 months to 14 months after surgery or PRP treatments. The pain was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), we also used Knee Score by the Oxford Score Knee Outcome Scale (OKS) to assess patient’s functions. The mean VAS score was 3.05 ± 2.47 in patients in surgery group and mean VAS score was 4.39± 2.66 in patients in the PRP group (p = 0.03). These data showed significant improvements in VAS score in both groups with higher improvements in surgical group. After procedures, the ROM was 120.33 ± 19.60º in surgery group and 109.31 ± 17.22º in PRP group (p = 0.03). Patients in both groups had significantly decreased pain severity after 14 months, but the patients in the surgical treatment group had significantly lower pain and higher ROM compared to PRP group.
Ramped versus sniffing position in the videolaryngoscopy-guided tracheal intubation of morbidly obese patients: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Lee Seongheon , Jang Eun-A , Hong Minjae , Bae Hong-Beom , Kim Joungmin
Published: August 2022

Background: Ramped positioning is recommended for intubating obese patients undergoing direct laryngoscopy. However, whether the use of the ramped position can provide any benefit in videolaryngoscopy-guided intubation remains unclear. This study assessed intubation time using videolaryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients in the ramped versus sniffing positions.Methods: This is a prospective randomized study in patients with morbid obesity (n = 82; body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m2). Patients were randomly allocated to either the ramped or the standard sniffing position groups. During the induction of general anesthesia, difficulty in mask ventilation was assessed using the Warters scale. Tracheal intubation was performed using a C-MAC® D-Blade videolaryngoscope, and intubation difficulty was assessed using the intubation difficulty scale (IDS). The primary endpoint was the total intubation time calculated as the sum of the laryngoscopy and tube insertion times.Results: The percentage of difficult mask ventilation (Warters scale ≥ 4) was significantly lower in the ramped (n = 40) than in the sniffing group (n = 41) (2.5% vs. 34.1%, P < 0.001). The percentage of easy intubation (IDS = 0) was significantly higher in the ramped than in the sniffing group (70.0% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.001). The total intubation time was significantly shorter in the ramped than in the sniffing group (22.5 ± 6.2 vs. 40.9 ± 9.0, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Compared with the sniffing position, the ramped position reduced intubation time in morbidly obese patients and effectively facilitated both mask ventilation and tracheal intubation using videolaryngoscopy.
The role of district municipalities in service provision in South Africa: Dissecting challenges faced by Ehlanzeni District Municipality
Authors: Magagula Douglas N. , Mukonza Ricky M. , Manyaka Rasodi K. , Moeti Kabelo
Published: August 2022

Background: District municipalities are faced with numerous challenges that hinder their ability to execute the legal mandate of assisting local municipalities to deliver services to their communities.Aim: This article explored two critical issues: political challenges faced by districts in the recruitment of personnel in key positions and the financial status of districts in relation to their role in local government.Setting: The study is based in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The study also included local municipalities within Ehlanzeni District (City of Mbombela, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge local municipalities); South African Local Government Association; and the Mpumalanga Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.Methods: The study adopted a qualitative research method, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews.Results: Literature and the study findings revealed that cadre deployment in key positions has contributed to the shortage of skilled personnel in municipalities. The findings also showed that Ehlanzeni District Municipality is not adequately financed to be able to execute its legal mandate.Conclusion: The study recommended that cadre deployment in key municipal positions should be aligned with legislated recruitment policies. Moreover, communities need to start paying for services that they receive so that municipalities may have more revenue to maintain infrastructure, to ensure continued service delivery.
Character focalisation and its function in the story of Susanna
Authors: Hobyane Risimati S.
Published: August 2022

The characters in a story can function as vehicles that carry the message(s) that the implied author intends to convey to the implied readers as they read the story. Characterisation is, as it were, the artistry the implied author uses to shift the intended reader’s worldview. Whilst there have been many insightful scholarly contributions on Susanna, the use of character focalisation and its possible function have never been explored. It remains open for investigation. This article examines the way in which characters are focalised in Susanna and how their role contributes to the implied reader’s ability to grasp the possible intended message of the story. The article concludes that focalisation offers a useful interpretive angle from which Susanna can be studied.Contribution: The article proves that characterisation and the narrator’s role in the story are not a literary decoration to the text but a well-intended process that aims at inviting participation and decision-making from the implied reader.
African Public Theology? A conceptual engagement to keep the conversation alive
Authors: Forster Dion A.
Published: August 2022

Interest in Public Theology is growing across the African continent. However, there are some important critiques of Public Theology and public theologians in Africa and from Africa. This article outlines three important critiques of Public Theology within the variety of African contexts. Having done so, it seeks to engage in a process of critical reflection on the two constituent concepts related to an ‘African Public Theology’. First, it considers what we might mean when we speak of ‘Africa’ or ‘African?’ It does so by engaging relevant literature on the subjects of decolonisation and Africanisation as they relate to knowledge production and African theological reflection. Second, we ask, what do we mean when we speak of ‘Public Theology?’ Two broad approaches are presented and critically considered. First, we discuss a descriptive approach to Public Theology. Then we consider a more prescriptive understanding of Public Theology. In each instance we relate to both the critiques of Public Theologies in African contexts, and to the principles of decolonisation and Africanisation, as presented in relevant literature related to the debates and the context. The intention of this article is to take the three identified critiques of ‘African Public Theology’ seriously, and by means of critical conceptual engagement, to keep an important conversation on Public Theology in and from Africa alive.Contribution: This article contributes towards contemporary debates on the relationship between faith and public life in South Africa. South Africa remains a deeply religious society. Religion plays an important role in the formation of moral values, social norms, and dominant practices in public life. Gaining a clearer understanding of what Public Theology is and how it is practiced, helps to further our critical academic understanding of the concept and its practice in contemporary life.
Financial mismanagement and efficiency trade-off in local municipalities: Lessons from Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Mishi Syden , Mbaleki Nwabisa , Mushonga Farai B.
Published: August 2022

Background: Local governments are considered an essential part of interpreting and integrating laws and policies at the local level. There is a growing realisation that the success of local government is vital to alleviating poverty and delivering services to communities. However, financial mismanagement as per audit reports has affected a number of local authorities and continues to be a hindrance to progress.Aim: This study was set to investigate the level of efficiency in each municipality and how financial mismanagement (unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure) influences that efficiency.Setting: The study considered all local municipalities within the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, using publicly available data on each municipality’s performance and financial management. The data available and utilised are for the financial years 2012–2015.Methods: The study used a non-parametric linear programming-based technique to compute efficiencies, with the local municipality being the decision-making unit. The implications of financial mismanagement on efficiency are determined in a second-stage regression model with the use of panel tobit regression.Results: We found that the mean efficiency ranges between 0.407 (moderate) and 0.724 (high) in general, however, with greater variation across municipalities. Fruitless and wasteful expenditure and unauthorised expenditure negatively affect the total effciency scores. Irregular expenditure has no statistical effect on efficiency, arguably because of the nature of this financial mismanagement being expenditure that may be for a good cause but not approved procedurally.Conclusion: There is room to increase efficiency in studied municipalities, especially by reducing wasteful expenditure and unauthorised expenditure. The Public Finance Management Act provides astute guidelines that will bring efficiencies in municipalities; however, a review may be necessary to be progressive. The South African Local Government Association and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department must capacitate municipalities and work with the auditor general to implement audit recommendations.
The nexus between effectual actions and small business performance
Authors: Osuigwe Ubochioma U.S. , Eresia-Eke Chukuakadibia
Published: August 2022

Purpose: This study interrogates the interrelatedness of effectual actions and small business performance. It provides fresh insights about effectual heuristics and small business performance, as evinced in a study with data drawn from a variety of sectors.Design/methodology/approach: Based on primary data from 685 small businesses, the study examines hypothesised relationships using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique.Findings/results: The findings reveal the varied effects of composite effectuation and its dimensions on small business performance. Composite effectuation, affordable loss and flexibility are positively related to small business performance, whilst experimentation and precommitment have negative relationships with small business performance. The study concludes that the application of effectual actions has diverse implications for small business performance.Research implications: The generalisation of findings can be limited, given that this is a single country study. Limitations notwithstanding, this article provides new empirical data, knowledge and insight about the relationship between effectual actions and small business performance. This provides a strong base for future multicountry research into effectual actions and small business performance.Practical implications: The findings of this article have implications for small businesses navigating uncertainties occasioned by resource constraints. Essentially, the findings of this study can enhance the development of a learning curriculum to improve the ability of small businesses to apply effectual heuristics in managing resource challenges.Originality/value: This article addresses the research gap in the field of entrepreneurship arising from the limited empirical studies on the relationships between effectual actions and small business performance.
Exploring the online learning experience of first-year speech–language pathology students in a Johannesburg-based university
Authors: Barber Nancy , Sher Jenna
Published: August 2022

Background: Understanding the learning experiences of first-year speech–language pathology (SLP) students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is essential to ensure that academic staff are able to support and enhance the transition from secondary to tertiary education. An understanding of the student experience could lead to improved support strategies that could be beneficial for the blended learning environment that the University of the Witwatersrand will be entering from 2022.Objectives: This research explored the experiences of first-year SLP students in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.Method: An exploratory mixed-method concurrent triangulation design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from likert scales. Qualitative data were collected from critical incident timelines. Themes were identified from both the Likert scales as well as the critical incident timelines using bottom-up thematic analysis.Results: The majority of participants reflected that their online learning through the pandemic in 2021 was successful. The themes that emerged from this year pertain to 2021 and the specific participants however, it provides an important insight that the students’ needs change during a year. As a lecturer, one needs to consider these evolving needs to ensure students have the support that they require to be successful in their learning.Conclusion: This research provided insights into the evolving nature of the support first-year SLP students require in the online learning space during the COVID-19 pandemic.