Strategies for Developing a Culturally Inclusive Online Learning Environment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australian Universities: A Case Study

This chapter presents a qualitative case study in Australian universities on the effective strategies for creating a culturally inclusive online learning environment with the use of IT governance. While examining the online learning experiences of the university students, the researchers identified features in synchronous and asynchronous online learning platforms, such as language support and meaningful and structured online activities, are the effective strategies to cater for the learning needs of the linguistically and culturally diverse students and let their voices be heard. The findings of this study are useful for university management, teaching and learning unit, and IT resources auditing and steering committees to utilise IT resources to attain the learning goals of university students and the organisational goals of the universities in maintaining academic excellence and embracing cultural diversity. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Refusing the Implementation of Information Technology Governance and Information Technology Development in Higher Education Institutions: Voices from Senior Leaders

Information Technology (IT) governance has become one of the important topics for many higher education institutions to reform and upgrade their technology management, computer systems, and effectiveness in teaching and learning. Although many studies have indicated that the development of IT governance plans could offer benefits to higher education institutions, many higher education institutions and their senior leaders refuse to upgrade their IT systems. There are two purposes of this study. First, this study aims to investigate and understand the obstacles to proper IT governance in the South Korean university environment, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, the study intends to understand university leaders' motivations and reasons for not wanting to enhance IT governance plans and IT development in their universities. The study collected qualitative data from two groups of participants at three South Korean universities, namely professionals in the IT department and senior leaders. The results of this study may provide a point of reference for IT department leaders, university administrators, and government leaders to understand the challenges and problems facing South Korean universities at the practical level. Although the study only focused on the opinions from the senior leaders, the outcomes of this study will fill the research and practical gaps in the fields, particularly the reasons why rural South Korean colleges and universities refuse the implementation of IT governance. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19)-Positive Patients as Susceptible Hosts to Severe Fungal Coinfections

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on March 11th, 2020, the world has faced a health crisis that includes challenges such as its diagnosis, treatment and prevention, resulting in more than 595 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 6.4 million deaths (August 25th, 2022). The infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) leads to the suppression of the immune system, particularly due to the storm of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-2 and IL-1) and the reduction of anti-inflammatory cells (e.g., CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes). These factors, when associated with the use of steroids, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), older age, diabetes, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases as well as inherited and acquired immunodeficiency, contribute to the colonization of other infectious agents, such as respiratory viruses, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections has increased significantly in patients with COVID-19, especially in individuals with critical medical conditions and presenting comorbidities, such as the ones cited above. The main fungal agents causing coinfections in these particular patients are Aspergillus spp., Candida spp. and fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. The similarity of clinical symptoms between COVID-19 and fungal infections, such as fever, dry cough, dyspnea, myalgia and headache, makes it harder to get a conclusive laboratory identification and diagnosis, which represents a challenge for treatment. To worsen this bad scenario, the available antifungals are substantially limited and some fungal species are intrinsically resistant to classical chemotherapeutic drugs used in the clinical settings. In parallel, the antifungals can also present drug interactions besides serious and severe side effects, such as hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which can greatly aggravate the patients' clinical condition. All these facts highlight the urgent need for early diagnosis of the fungal pathogens for the proper choice of antifungal treatment in order to combat these relevant yet still neglected diseases on a global scale. The present chapter focused on summarizing the main fungal infections reported in COVID-19-positive patients. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Identifying Large Scale Conformational Changes in Proteins Through Distance Maps and Convolutional Networks

Conformational changes in protein structures are strongly correlated with functional changes. Some conformational modifications may be easily noticeable, others are more subtle. In this work, we model the problem of protein conformation classification through its representation as images that illustrate the interatomic distance matrices. We aim then to discover if a convolutional neural network would be able to identify these conformational changes only from the distance patterns in these maps. Hence, this work presents the development of a model based on convolutional neural networks, capable of identifying large scale conformational changes in proteins. As a case study, we used the S protein from SARS-CoV-2, a protein known for its function in the infection of human cells through a conformational change to binding to the human cell receptor. Initially, we intend to identify large-scale conformations, such as states where the S protein trimers are closer together (closed) or further away (open). The proposed classifier achieved a satisfactory performance after cross validation, reaching an average accuracy in validation of 90.58%, with an error of 22.31%. The model was also able to successfully distinguish both classes (open and closed states for S protein) achieving a precision of 84.32% and a recall of 89%. In the test, the accuracy of the model reached 71.79%, with an error rate of 28.2%. Precision and recall reached 68.18% and 78.94%, respectively. For future work, we want to evaluate the ability of such model to identify even more subtle conformational changes, as well as those caused by point mutations that occur in virus variants. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

"I want to learn English after retirement”: The blended learning experiences of senior citizens

Life-long learning is one of the educational topics in countries and regions in the East Asia region. Currently, many senior citizens decide to gain their English language proficiencies and skills after their retirement in Hong Kong SAR. Although Chinese and English are the official languages in Hong Kong SAR, many senior citizens cannot handle both languages due to their previous education and background. The purpose of this study is to understand the learning motivations and experiences of a group of senior citizens in Hong Kong, particularly with regard to using the blended learning mode as the means for instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the coordination of adult learning centre, 40 participants who were taking a blended English-as-an-Additional Language course were joined the study. The online-based semi-structured interview and focus group activities were employed. In line with the social cognitive career and motivation theory and self-efficacy theory, the results indicated that: (1) achieve my personal goals, (2) I want to speak English as my additional language, and (3) life-long learning as my development, were the main themes. The results of this study provided some suggestions to programme managers, course leaders, school heads, and human resources planners for the directions in life-long learning and foreign language or additional language learning to senior citizens in the metropolitan regions. Copyright © 2022 Dos Santos and Kwee.

Assement of the behavior of the transgender population in the face of social isolation due to COVID-19

Introduction: During the pandemic caused by SARS-COVID-19, the transgender population faced difficulties in accessing health care. Proposal: The objective of this study was to understand the health condition of the transgender population. Justification: From the literature review, it was noted that there are few studies about the transsexual population in general and regarding their behavior during social isolation. For this reason, it was proposed to carry out a study capable of identifying the profile of the transsexual population and its main challenges during social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the profile and its main difficulties, more effective actions with 'individualized care' can be suggested for this specific audience in order to improve the confrontation during social isolation. In addition, new studies on this population may emerge, this being a future contributor to comparisons, increasing the visibility of the transsexual public. Kind of study: Cross-sectional, exploratory, quantitative study. Study Population: The population of this study will be composed of people who consider themselves Brazilian transgender. The sample will be defined by convenience, according to the participants’ availability to be part of the research, according to the following inclusion criteria: self-declared transgender, living during the pandemic period in Brazil and voluntarily accepting to participate. Methods: To characterize the behavior of this population, we conducted an online questionnaire, with the approval of the ethics committee number 36186620.1. 0000. 0062. Data analysis: The information obtained will be stored in the Microsoft Excel 2010® application software and, later, will be analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSSR)® software for Windows, Chicago, United States, considering a significance level of 5% (p< 0). . 05) for the statistical tests. Descriptive analysis will be performed by calculating absolute and relative frequencies. Results: We have 54 participants. 66% are transgender men and 30% are transgender women. The average age was between 25 and 40 years. 43% did not undergo gender surgery and do not want to. During the pandemic, 83% of those undergoing hormone treatments continued even during the isolation phase, of those who did not continue, the majority was due not having access to appointments or medication. Of those, their mood was observed to worsen during the period of social isolation. 48% had a diagnosis of altered mental health prior to the pandemic. Only 22% managed to maintain psychological monitoring in this period. 18% had suicidal ideation before and during the pandemic. Everyone who answered the questionnaire took at least 1 dose of vaccine. 18% did not keep studying or working and 57% reported a decrease in family income. Conclusion: In this population sample of transgender people in Brazil, the majority maintained hormonal treatment, but not mental health monitoring. Family income declined during the pandemic period.Presentation: No date and time listed

Online learning after the COVID-19 pandemic: Learners’ motivations

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a focus on reforming teaching, learning models and strategies, particularly in online teaching and learning tools. Based on the social cognitive career theory and the constructivist learning theory, the purpose of this study was to understand and explore the learning preference and experience of students’ online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the management after the COVID-19 pandemic from the students’ perspective. The study was guided by the following two research questions: (1) After the COVID-19 pandemic, why do the students want to continue their foreign language courses via an online platform and model? What are the motivations and reasons? (2) How would the students describe their experience of a foreign language course via an online platform and model? With the general inductive approach and sharing from 80 participants, the participants indicated that flexibilities and convenience, same outcomes and learning rigorousness, and interactive experiences with classmates from different parts of the world were the three main key points. The results of this study may provide recommendations to university leaders, department heads, and teachers to reform and upgrade their online teaching curriculum and course delivery options after the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright © 2022 Dos Santos.

“Switching to the Online MA TESOL Program”: Experiences and Decision-Making Processes of International Learners

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the curricula and mode of instruction for many postgraduate taught and research programs. Before the pandemic, many MA TESOL programs included on-campus tutorials as requirements, as the curricula were designed based on on-campus activities. However, as the United Kingdom restricted face-to-face teaching due to social distancing, most of the courses were switched to online learning platforms during the pandemic. Although most courses returned to on-campus teaching during the 2021/2022 academic year, a group of East Asian international students decided to continue their MA TESOL program online as an alternative option. The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences and decision-making processes about this group of MA TESOL students and their decisions to finish their degrees via the online completion option. In line with social cognitive career and motivation theory, the results indicated that flexibility, career development through online learning options, and concerns about job security were the main three themes that arose within this group of students. The outcomes provide suggestions to university leaders and program directors in regard to developing additional online courses and programs to meet the needs of adult and postgraduate students who cannot attend on-campus courses, particularly MA TESOL learners. © 2022 Sciedu Press. All rights reserved.

Can I Teach Abroad? Motivations and Decision-Making Processes of Teachers to the International Locations

Over the past few decades, South Korea has become a popular education and teaching destination for native English teachers, international school teachers, and university lecturers. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the requirements, offshore teachers need to complete the self-funded quarantine before they can join the workforce in South Korea. This study aims to understand the motivations, career decisions, and decision-making processes of a group of native English teachers who decided to come to South Korea to develop their English language teaching career, particularly those who came during the COVID-19 pandemic. The phenomenological approach with interview session, focus group activity, and member checking interview were employed. Based on the social cognitive career and motivation theory and qualitative data from 38 participants, three themes were categorized: special life pathways, easy employment, and attractive cultural environment. The results of this study may provide some recommendations to school leaders, employers, and policymakers for native English teachers who would like to provide teaching services in their countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic and traveling restrictions will eventually eliminate, the human resources management and school leaders should continue to reform and improve the management to meet the needs of the long-term human resources shortage. © 2022 The authors.

Motivation of Taking Distance-Learning and Online Programmes: A Case Study in a TAFE Institution in Australia

The distance-learning and online courses and programmes are popular during the COVID-19 Pandemic due to the recommendation of social distancing and closure of borders in Australia. The purpose of this study is to explore and understand the motivation and decision-making processes of international students who continue their academic courses and programmes using online distance-learning platforms under the COVID-19 Pandemic. With the case study design, the researcher recruited 20 international students who are currently completing their academic courses and programmes through distance-learning from a Technical and Future Education (TAFE) institution in Australia. Based on the Social Cognitive Career and Motivation Theory, the researcher categorised that the educational achievements and career goals, the achievements of education and career goals, and interests in career development drove the factors of their motivation and career-decision-making process. The results of this study will provide a blueprint for school leaders, department heads, government agencies, policymakers, and researchers to reform and upgrade the current curriculum for technologically-assisted teaching and learning strategies and international students’ experiences. © 2021 Sciendo. All rights reserved.

The flipped classroom approach in undergraduate engineering courses: Students' perceptions

The flipped classroom approach is useful in many educational environments, including on-line, blended and face-to-face, and especially during challenging times, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on constructivist learning theory [1], and social cognitive career and motivation theory [2], this study was guided by two research questions: 1) how can the flipped classroom approach activate learners' previous knowledge with the use of new materials in the form of recorded videos and other materials in a virtual engineering classroom?;and 2) how do engineering students describe their satisfaction and experience after a semester-long course based on a flipped classroom? An experimental classroom environment was created for four second-year engineering courses with the same instructor at a South Korean university. The results indicate that students enjoyed the flipped classroom approach due to student autonomy and student-to-student interactions. The study results may assist to improve and upgrade the current on-line, blended, and face-to-face courses and programmes with technologically-assisted teaching and learning tools. © 2021 World Institute for Engineering and Technology Education. All rights reserved.

Psychological stress, job satisfaction, and career decisions of taxi drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of male senior taxi drivers

Background and objective: The purpose of this study aims to understand and explore the relationships of stress, job satisfaction, and the career decisions of taxi drivers in South Korea, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Based on the self-efficacy approach and social cognitive career and motivation theory, this study was guided by two research questions, as follows: (1) What are the stress factors for senior taxi drivers? How do senior taxi drivers describe the relationship between stress and job satisfaction, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea? Does age play a role? (2) Did senior taxi drivers leave or retire from the taxi driving profession due to stress and job satisfaction during or after the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea? Why? Does age play a role? Materials and methods: The purposive and snowball sampling strategies were employed to recruit 62 male senior taxi drivers all across South Korea. The in-depth, semi-structured, and private interview session was employed. Results: The results indicated that the surrounding environment and individuals, personal considerations with health and body condition, and financial consideration with insufficient pension from the government policy were three key elements for motivations and career decisions. Contributions and conclusion: Government leaders and policymakers should take the results from this study as a blueprint to reform and polish human resources planning and working rights for senior citizens who continue to work in the professions. Although the government has encouraged senior citizens to be part of the workforce until the age of 65, many senior citizens in late adulthood still suffer from negative workplace conditions and stress. Immediate solutions are needed as senior citizens deserve a manageable retirement.

Completing engineering degree programmes on-line during the Covid-19 pandemic: Australian international students' perspectives

Engineering programmes require intensive mentor-peer interactions and industry-based internships. Engineering students traditionally need to receive their training on-campus to become skilled professionals. However, due to the Australian government's border policy and the recommendations of social distancing, international students outside Australia could not return for their university education. This study aims to understand the motivations and reasons why international engineering students decided to continue their degrees with Australian universities through the distance learning option. Based on 200 interview sessions with students from the Far East and South-East Asia, the researcher concluded that the participants enjoyed the flexibility and agreed with the trend to distance learning in engineering education. The results provide the blueprint for potential students to understand the advantages and challenges of distance learning. Also, university leaders and heads may take this study as a guide to reform and develop potential distance learning programmes and courses in order to meet the demands of international students. © 2021 World Institute for Engineering and Technology Education. All rights reserved.

Quality evaluation of masks marketed in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic for the presence of silver and silver nanoparticles

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus is a disease without specific treatment and has become one of the great challenges of the current century. One of the alternatives to minimize the direct transmission rate of the virus is the use of face masks. Currently, there is a diversity of masks on the market, both in the textile composition and in the presence or absence of the silver (Ag) element, in the form of ions or silver nanoparticles (AgNP), which have biocidal activity. Objective: To evaluate the presence of total Ag and AgNP in masks produced to protect the population from COVID-19 being sold in Brazil during the pandemic. Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive observational study with convenience sampling. The samples were analyzed by ICP-MS in the standard mode and in the single particle mode. Results: The concentrations of total Ag in the studied samples varied from 14 to 72 mu gg(-1). It was observed that 50% of the evaluated samples that claim to have AgNP had a size distribution between 17 and 57 nm. When subjected to the washing cycles, there was a reduction in the concentration of Ag, which raises the question as to its real biocidal effectiveness over time. Conclusions: The data generated can provide the current scenario of the concentration of silver in the masks and thus assess the potential benefit or risk of use for human and environmental health. In addition, this knowledge can provide technical-scientific support for the sanitary inspection of quality control and implementation of regulatory standards in this field of activity.

Clinical study of China officinalis in the view of classical systemic homeopathy during COVID-19 epidemic in São Paulo

Background: Brazilian Ministry of Health has reported 5.273.954 cases and 154.837 deaths from COVID-19 on October 20th, 2020. The first case of COVID-19 in Brazil occurred on February 26th, in São Paulo state. A total of 351.877 cases and 13.331 deaths were reported only in the city of São Paulo on October 20th. This scenario has severe health, economic, and social impact, as in other countries. Therefore, treatment strategies are urgently needed, such as Homeopathy that has shown excellent results in several epidemics. Aims: This study aims to describe the health signs and symptoms of some healthcare and essential professionals during the use of China officinalis. Methodology: Participants were professionals of the Server Public Municipal Hospital of São Paulo (HSPM), the Nossa Senhora Rainha da Paz Association (RP), and The Padre Bento Hospital (HPB). The homeopathic intervention was C. officinalis 6CH and a dosage of six drops per day. The study design was a time series with analysis by questionnaire before and after using homeopathic medicine. Statistical analyses were done by the McNemar test to compare qualitative data paired with a significance level of 5%. Ethical approval is CAAE 31802720.0.0000.5442. Results and discussion: Among the HSPM and RP participants, 83,1% did not develop symptoms while using C. officinalis and 16,9% developed symptoms while using C. officinalis. Among the HPB participants, 87,8 % did not develop symptoms while using C. officinalis and 12,2 % developed symptoms while using C. officinalis.. During the usage of C. officinalis, covid19-like symptoms were reduced with a significant difference (p<0.05). Among the symptomatic, none of the participants needed intensive care hospitalization, supplemental oxygen, or intubation. Conclusion: C. officinalis was very acceptability by participants, and its use during the coronavirus pandemic contributed to health promotion. © International Journal of High Dilution Research. Not for commercial purposes.