Improvement of the Quality of Question Papers for Online Examinations Toward Simultaneous Enhancement of Students', Learning

The present study is related to the problem associated with student assessment with online examinations at higher educational institutes (HEIs). With the current COVID-19 outbreak, the majority of educational institutes are conducting online examinations to assess their students, where there would always be a chance that the students go for malpractice. It is difficult to set a question paper for any technical course with great novelty. Under these circumstances, safeguarding academic integrity has become a challenge for HEIs. This study is aimed at improving the quality of questions for online exams to increase the accountability of HEIs by proper evaluation of their students. A detailed procedure with suggestions for setting the questions for technical courses, in the format of assertion and reason, matching, multiple select types, etc., has been discussed with adequate examples. It deals with a strategy for ensuring that all the students are held to the standards that are reflected in their grades. The proposed evaluation method has been implemented on a test batch and presented the results along with a comparison with that of traditional question papers. It is witnessed that there is a simultaneous enhancement of students'learning as an additional benefit of implementing the proposed learning-oriented assessment method. IEEE

What Makes Some Workplaces More Favorable to Remote Work? Unpacking Employee Experiences During COVID-19 Via Glassdoor

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the working culture at various organizations;what began as a public health safety measure, remote work is continuing to reshape work in America and beyond. However, remote work has fared differently for different workers and for different organizations, contributing to better work-life balance for some, while increased burnout for others. What aspects of an organization's culture make it less or more favorable to remote work? We answer this question by creating, analyzing, and subsequently releasing a large dataset of employee reviews shared anonymously on Glassdoor. Adopting a worker-centered approach grounded in organizational culture theory, we extract organizational cultural factors salient in the language of employee reviews of 52 Fortune 500 companies. Through a prediction task, we identify what distinguishes companies perceived to be desirable for remote work versus others, noted in company rankings following the pandemic. Our dataset and findings can serve to be valuable evidence-base and resources for efforts to define a new future of work post-pandemic. © 2023 Owner/Author.

Factors Affecting Outcome in Diabetic Patients with COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease and often found as a comorbid in COVID-19. Poor glycemic control might play a role in worsening of clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients who lead to increase morbidity and mortality. AIM: We conducted a study to evaluate relationship between T2DM with or without macrovascular and microvascular complications and cigarette smoking habit with COVID-19 outcomes. METHOD(S): A cross-sectional study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was conducted in Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar from May 2020 to August 2020. COVID-19 status was obtained using real-time polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2, T2DM status was obtained using blood glucose or HbA1c, and other characteristic data were obtained. Mortality was the clinical outcome in our study. RESULT(S): One hundred and six subjects data were enrolled. Most subjects were male (n = 55;51.9%), and 55-65 year-old (n = 40;37.7%). Eighty subjects were survived (75.5%) and 26 subjects did not survive (24.5%). Onset of T2DM >= 5 years had a higher mortality rate compared to onset < 5 years (34.9% vs. 17.5%;p = 0.041). Other factors such as gender, age, nutritional status, hypertension, heart disease, smoking habit, and HbA1c did not show significant difference in terms of mortality. CONCLUSION(S): COVID-19 patients with onset of T2DM for more than 5 years had a worse outcome compared to the onset of T2DM <5 years.Copyright © 2023 Malik Chandra, Andi Makbul Aman, Himawan Sanusi, Husaini Umar.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Impacts Host Transcriptomic Response in Severe Coronavirus

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that critically ill COVID-19 patients have a dysregulated host immune response that contributes to end-organ damage. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been utilized in this population with varying degrees of success. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of ECMO on the host immunotranscriptomic response in these patients. METHODS Eleven critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring ECMO underwent an analysis of cytokines and immunotranscriptomic pathways pre-ECMO (T1), after ECMO for 24 hours (T2), and 2 hours after ECMO decannulation (T3). A Multiplex Human Cytokine panel was used to identify cytokine changes and immunotranscriptomic changes in peripheral leukocytes were evaluated by PAXgene and NanoString nCounter. RESULTS Differential gene expression (DGE) of 11 host immune genes was noted at T2 compared to T1. The most significant genes were MD2 and MRC1, which are binding ligands for the activation of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4. Reactome analyses of DGE demonstrated an impact on many of the body's most important immune inflammatory pathways. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a temporal impact of ECMO on the host immunotranscriptomic response in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

International survey of ophthalmic anaesthesia service provision, protection of anaesthesia providers and patients during COVID-19 pandemic: a wake-up call.

AIMS: This international survey was conducted to study the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the provision and practices of ophthalmic anaesthesia, evaluate the methods employed by parent ophthalmic units for safeguarding their anaesthesia providers and patients during lockdown, and to assess pandemic's effect on anaesthesia providers as individuals. The study was done with the hope that the results will help in protecting patients and safeguarding precious human resource by better management if this pandemic was to continue or there was to be another pandemic. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was distributed electronically between December 2020-January 2021 to the practicing ophthalmic anaesthesia providers in different parts of the world. RESULTS: The survey identified that apart from reducing elective operating services, the ophthalmic units were ill prepared for the pandemic and the overall management was lacklustre. There was a definite lack of effective peri-operative patient screening, and, streaming processes. Measures for personal protection of staff were not optimal especially during regional/local ophthalmic anaesthesia. Severity of the pandemic, sudden job plan changes, and redeployment to intensive care units/acute covid wards had an adverse psychological impact on the affected staff. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmic anaesthesia services worldwide have had poor attentiveness to the life-threatening menace and reality of Covid-19 pandemic. A review of the institutional practices to address correctible deficiencies is urgently required. Robust, mandatory, elective, timely preventative strategies need to be implemented to protect patients, and, the precious ophthalmic workforce from potential adverse physical and psychological injuries.

Socio-Demographic Profile of Victims of Hanging Cases: An Autopsy Based Cross-Sectional Study Done in Police Morgue of a Medical College of West Bengal

Background: The word asphyxia is of Greek derivation and means "a stopping of the pulse". Any death is asphyxial in nature. But forensic pathology understands asphyxia as the interference with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. Hanging and strangulation constitute asphyxia by compressing vital structures within the neck. Hanging is one of the ten leading causes of death in the world accounting for more than a million deaths annually. In India, hanging is one of the common methods of committing suicide. 2021 NCRB report also depicts the alarming rate of increase of suicide in the country. Over the past 30 years specially during and after the COVID-era the incidence of suicide by hanging is on increase, especially among young adults. 2021 NCRB report also depicts the alarming rate of increase of suicide in the country. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted following the complete enumeration method over the body of deceased died due to hanging and came for medico-legal autopsy in Burdwan police morgue of West Bengal with specific Inclusion and Exclusion criteria. Study done on total 129 (N= 129) bodies of hanging cases Detailed information regarding the deceased, circumstances of death, its different sociodemographic parameters hanging were collected from the inquest, investigating officer and relatives. Result(s): Results showed that most of the victims of hanging were males. Highest incidence was in the age group of 21 to 30 years. Most of the victims were Hindus by faith. Conclusion(s): In Covid and Post-Covid era number of hanging cases has been increased mostly due to familial and socio-economical constrains. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the Effect of Wages and Reduction of Working Hours on Poverty in Indonesia with Gross Regional Domestic Product as Moderator

Poverty is an absolute or relative condition that causes a person or society in an area not to have the ability to meet their basic needs following certain values or norms that apply in society due to natural, cultural, or structural causes (Nugroho, 2004). [...]along with the times, the causal factors, indicators, and problems related to poverty have become increasingly complex. A country said to be poor is usually characterized by low per capita income, high population growth rates, and most of the workforce engaged in agriculture and shackled in a vicious cycle of poverty. (2000) identified the causes of poverty from an economic perspective, such as (1) unequal patterns of resource ownership that lead to unequal income distribution, (2) poverty arises due to differences in the quality of human resources, and (3) based on the vicious circle of poverty theory. If this happens continuously, the GRDP will show a regional economic growth decline. [...]there is an increase in poverty in the community. 2.2.Wages According to Law Number 13 of 2013 concerning Employment, wages are the rights of workers received in the form of money as a reward from the employer, which are determined and paid according to an employment agreement or statutory regulations, including allowances for workers and their families for a job and/or service that has been or will be performed.

A Critical Review on Sudarshan Churna

Sudarshan Churna is one of the valuable polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations used to treat all kinds of acute and chronic fevers, fever of unknown aetiology, malaria, typhoid, loss of appetite, jaundice, respiratory infections, cough, debility and breathing difficulties linked with fever. Sudarshan Churna helps to ameliorate digestion and appetite;eliminates harmful toxins from the blood;improves immunity and preserves the body against various infections;promotes diaphoresis and urination. In Sudarshan Churna, Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Flem.) Karst. is 50% of the total quantity of the remaining other ingredients. It is an esteemed Ayurvedic preparation well known for its antipyretic, antimalarial, antiviral and antidiabetic activity. Various renowned Acharyas have mentioned it in their different classical texts. Acharyas have mentioned its other therapeutic uses, but mainly it has been used in curing different types of Jwara Vikara (fever). Various pharmacological studies have proved antipyretic activity, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, antihistamine activity, analgesic activity and docking study against the SARS CoV-2 of Sudarshan Churna. This article compile review of Ayurvedic literature, an analytical study and pharmacological study of Sudarshan Churna. Copyright © 2022 International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

Validation of app-based hearing assessment (H3 hearing test) through smart phone: preliminary trends

Objective: To promote tele-audiology, the smartphone online applications (APP) for assessment of hearing function need to be validated. We present our preliminary report of one such APP that we adapted during the active COVID phase of 2021. Methodology: A total of 44 patients underwent both pure tone audiometry (PTA) and APP-based hearing assessment. The air conduction thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 6000 Hz and 8000 Hz were noted. Results: A significant correlation was seen between the thresholds and paired differences. However, air-conduction (AC) thresholds of either PTA or APP were shown to overshoot each other and right side values were more consistent. Conclusions: While suggestions have been made to overcome these inconsistencies, the APP-based hearing assessment is likely to improve tele-audiology as relevant modifications by the manufacturer are incorporated to improve its efficacy.

Alteration of certain biochemical and hematological parameters in COVID -19 patients

Background: Covid 19 is a newly emergent contagious infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) - Cov-2 virus that was not found previously in human which belongs to a large family of corona virus. The severity of the disease is altered by alteration of biochemical parameters. This study aims to evaluate somehematological and biochemical parameters in Covid 19 patients admitted at dedicated Covid 19 hospital. To determines hematological and biochemical parameters in Covid 19 patients. Material and Methods: Present study comprised of 70 Covid 19 patients who admitted at dedicated Covid 19 ward during second wave. They include 22 female and 48 male subjects aged between 15 - 75 years. The data was entered in MS EXCEL spreadsheet and analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0.

Enhancement of Manpower for Management of COVID-19 Crisis in India

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic overwhelmed not just the resources in terms of infrastructure but also manpower. With many healthcare workers turning COVID-19 positive themselves, and the healthcare system being overburdened, we were short-staffed in most health institutions across India. In anticipation of a similar crisis, at our tertiary care centre, we came up with certain measures to enhance the manpower should the need arise for not just hospitals, but also the society at large.

Gross hematuria is associated with more severe disease and poorer clinical outcomes in covid-19 patients

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in 2.5 million deaths globally. Previous studies have suggested the virus may affect the kidneys, resulting in hematuria, proteinuria and acute kidney injury;however, the studies did not differentiate microscopic hematuria (MH) from gross hematuria (GH). In this study, we investigated the clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with GH compared to MH in COVID patients. METHODS: Following IRB approval, 250 consecutive medical records of COVID patients admitted to a tertiary care university hospital from 3/15/20 were analyzed. Patients without a urinalysis during the admission were excluded, the remaining 157 patients were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into three categories based on the presence of hematuria during the admission: none, microscopic hematuria (MH) and gross hematuria (GH). Outcomes including length of hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation, and lab values were compared amongst the categories. Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables, while ANOVA and t-test were used for the parametric variables. RESULTS: Of the 157 patients, 66 (42%) did not have hematuria, 36 (22.9%) had MH and 55 (35%) had GH. As seen in Fig.1, GH was associated with worse clinical outcomes such as higher intubation rate at 49.1%, compared to 27.8% in MH (p <0.05). In those with no hematuria, the intubation rate was 7.6%, significantly lower than patients with GH and MH (p <0.05). Mortality rate was also higher in those with GH compared to MH, at 30.9% and 22.2% respectively (p <0.05). Regarding kidney function, patients with GH, MH and no hematuria had acute kidney injury (AKI) at a rate of 67.3%, 58.3% and 39.4%, respectively (p <0.05). Peak C-reactive protein (CRP) values were higher in patients with GH and MH compared to those with no hematuria, at 24.04, 18.07 and 15.36, respectively (p <0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Gross hematuria was associated with poor kidney function, higher intubation rate and mortality compared to those with microscopic or no hematuria. Gross hematuria was linked to elevated biomarkers linked to inflammation and disease severity, such CRP and D-dimer, indicating possible direct effect of the virus on the kidneys. More studies are needed to further delineate the etiology behind hematuria in COVID patients.

Mhealth based mental health support counselling service for covid-19 suspect and positive patients in isolation facilities

Introduction: Psychological issues of COVID-19 suspect and positive patients in isolation and quarantine facilities can be addressed using mHealth. Methodology: mHealth telecounselling framework for COVID-19 inpatients was established using existing manpower and standardised operating procedures. Separate WhatsApp groups were used to obtain contact data of consenting patients, allocate patients to counsellors, and clinical discussion. Telecounselling was documented in real-time in a Google form database and remotely monitored for adherence to the standard of care. Pilot anonymised scale based client satisfaction feedback was obtained from discharged patients using a Google form link shared on WhatsApp. Results: 2918 telecounselling sessions were conducted between 21 March and 25 June 2020 for 643 inpatients (280 COVID-19 positive and 363 COVID suspect but later determined negative;mean age 49.57 years ± 15.23;male: female = 404: 239). Psychological issues included anxiety (43.54%), low mood (9.79%), irritability (9.33%), insomnia (8.39%) boredom (8.24%), frustration (7.46%), fearfulness (3.57%) anger (1.24%) and Delusion of pregnancy in one non-compliant psychotic patient. Interventions provided were supportive psychotherapy (57.69%), psychoeducation (52.72%), counselling regarding testing protocol (41.21%), sleep hygiene (20.06%), relaxation techniques (14.61%), activity scheduling (6.22%). Only 9 (1.39%) patients needed pharmacotherapy. Most respondents expressed satisfaction on pilot anonymised feedback (n = 115: M: F = 73: 42) with 83% recommending the programme for other COVID-19 settings despite concerns for possible lack of privacy and confidentiality (31.1%). Conclusion: Telemental Health Counselling Programme is a low cost, feasible, culturally acceptable, and sustainable mHealth initiative which can be easily transposed in other COVID-19 settings. © 2021, Indian Academy of Clinical Medicine. All rights reserved.

"a Virus Has No Religion": Analyzing Islamophobia on Twitter during the COVID-19 Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people's lives driving them to act in fear, anxiety, and anger, leading to worldwide racist events in the physical world and online social networks. Though there are works focusing on Sinophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic, less attention has been given to the recent surge in Islamophobia. A large number of positive cases arising out of the religious Tablighi Jamaat gathering has driven people towards forming anti-Muslim communities around hashtags like #coronajihad, #tablighijamaatvirus on Twitter. In addition to the online spaces, the rise in Islamophobia has also resulted in increased hate crimes in the real world. Hence, an investigation is required to create interventions. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first large-scale quantitative study linking Islamophobia with COVID-19. In this paper, we present CoronaBias dataset which focuses on anti-Muslim hate spanning four months, with over 410,990 tweets from 244,229 unique users. We use this dataset to perform longitudinal analysis. We find the relation between the trend on Twitter with the offline events that happened over time, measure the qualitative changes in the context associated with the Muslim community, and perform macro and micro topic analysis to find prevalent topics. We also explore the nature of the content, focusing on the toxicity of the URLs shared within the tweets present in the CoronaBias dataset. Apart from the content-based analysis, we focus on user analysis, revealing that the portrayal of religion as a symbol of patriotism played a crucial role in deciding how the Muslim community was perceived during the pandemic. Through these experiments, we reveal the existence of anti-Muslim rhetoric around COVID-19 in the Indian sub-continent. © 2021 ACM.

Knowledge assessment and outcomes of otolaryngology practice amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a busy ENT department.

INTRODUCTION: Otolaryngology health personnel are at high risk of acquiring COVID-19 disease and, hence, are likely to have high stress levels. This study was designed to evaluate the feedback of otolaryngology healthcare workers in ENT departments who are managing patients in the coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: A questionnaire focused on all aspects of healthcare delivery was completed by otolaryngology healthcare workers. RESULTS: The findings, based on statistical analyses, included high stress levels and inadequate disease-related information in these workers. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare authorities need to take care of issues related to mental health in healthcare professionals in addition to spreading awareness about safe practices. Further studies are needed to continuously monitor feedback from personnel as the coronavirus pandemic unravels in the future.

Quantitative pleural line characterization outperforms traditional lung texture ultrasound features in detection of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung ultrasound is an inherently user-dependent modality that could benefit from quantitative image analysis. In this pilot study we evaluate the use of computer-based pleural line (p-line) ultrasound features in comparison to traditional lung texture (TLT) features to test the hypothesis that p-line thickening and irregularity are highly suggestive of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and can be used to improve the disease diagnosis on lung ultrasound. METHODS: Twenty lung ultrasound images, including normal and COVID-19 cases, were used for quantitative analysis. P-lines were detected by a semiautomated segmentation method. Seven quantitative features describing thickness, margin morphology, and echo intensity were extracted. TLT lines were outlined, and texture features based on run-length and gray-level co-occurrence matrix were extracted. The diagnostic performance of the 2 feature sets was measured and compared using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Observer agreements were evaluated by measuring interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for each feature. RESULTS: Six of 7 p-line features showed a significant difference between normal and COVID-19 cases. Thickness of p-lines was larger in COVID-19 cases (6.27 ± 1.45 mm) compared to normal (1.00 ± 0.19 mm), P < 0.001. Among features describing p-line margin morphology, projected intensity deviation showed the largest difference between COVID-19 cases (4.08 ± 0.32) and normal (0.43 ± 0.06), P < 0.001. From the TLT line features, only 2 features, gray-level non-uniformity and run-length non-uniformity, showed a significant difference between normal cases (0.32 ± 0.06, 0.59 ± 0.06) and COVID-19 (0.22 ± 0.02, 0.39 ± 0.05), P = 0.04, respectively. All features together for p-line showed perfect sensitivity and specificity of 100; whereas, TLT features had a sensitivity of 90 and specificity of 70. Observer agreement for p-lines (ICC = 0.65-0.85) was higher than for TLT features (ICC = 0.42-0.72). CONCLUSION: P-line features characterize COVID-19 changes with high accuracy and outperform TLT features. Quantitative p-line features are promising diagnostic tools in the interpretation of lung ultrasound images in the context of COVID-19.

The case for a 3rd generation supraglottic airway device facilitating direct vision placement.

Although 1st and 2nd generation supraglottic airway devices (SADs) have many desirable features, they are nevertheless inserted in a similar 'blind' way as their 1st generation predecessors. Clinicians mostly still rely entirely on subjective indirect assessments to estimate correct placement which supposedly ensures a tight seal. Malpositioning and potential airway compromise occurs in more than half of placements. Vision-guided insertion can improve placement. In this article we propose the development of a 3rd generation supraglottic airway device, equipped with cameras and fiberoptic illumination, to visualise insertion of the device, enable immediate manoeuvres to optimise SAD position, verify whether correct 1st and 2nd seals are achieved and check whether size selected is appropriate. We do not provide technical details of such a '3rd generation' device, but rather present a theoretical analysis of its desirable properties, which are essential to overcome the remaining limitations of current 1st and 2nd generation devices. We also recommend that this further milestone improvement, i.e. ability to place the SAD accurately under direct vision, be eligible for the moniker '3rd generation'. Blind insertion of SADs should become the exception and we anticipate, as in other domains such as central venous cannulation and nerve block insertions, vision-guided placement becoming the gold standard.

A Review of Early Experience in Lung Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Management of COVID-19.

A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. Since then more than eight million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported around the globe. The current gold standard for etiologic diagnosis is reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of respiratory-tract specimens, but the test has a high false-negative rate owing to both nasopharyngeal swab sampling error and viral burden. Hence diagnostic imaging has emerged as a fundamental component of current management of COVID-19. Currently, high-resolution computed tomography is the main imaging tool for primary diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity in patients. Lung ultrasound (LUS) imaging has become a safe bedside imaging alternative that does not expose the patient to radiation and minimizes the risk of contamination. Although the number of studies to date is limited, LUS findings have demonstrated high diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, comparable with those of chest computed tomography scans. In this note we review the current state of the art of LUS in evaluating pulmonary changes induced by COVID-19. The goal is to identify characteristic sonographic findings most suited for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia infections.