Re-envisioning Maritime Education and Training - Technology facilitated lifelong learning for future ship operators

The increasing introduction of novel and digital technologies on-board ships is changing the landscape of work and the seafaring skill and competencies required to perform the job. The maritime industry currently finds itself in a dynamic evolutionary continuum culminating in the techno-saturated realm of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) of the future. This ongoing transition to future ships foregrounds the continuous and lifelong learning for seafarers to remain relevant as the industry irrevocably progresses and evolves. Meanwhile, the imperative incorporation of new technologies in Maritime Education and Training (MET) during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the traditional classroom-based teaching-learning process. Even though this accelerated technology adoption in MET was not free from challenges, it cemented the trend of technologically facilitated maritime blended learning and e-learning. This paper notes the need for lifelong learning in an industry in a flux and the maritime education system undergoing a transition. Seafarer training as we know today cannot serve the needs of future operators who would not be physically present on-board autonomous ships. This paper suggests that the proliferation of on-board technology needs to be complemented by technology in education and training. Furthermore, technology facilitated lifelong learning is imperative for current seafarers to remain relevant. © 2022 IAMUC. All Rights Reserved.

COVID-19 among a population of predominantly American Indian and Hispanic American kidney transplant recipients

Background: COVID-19 leads to higher mortality among organ transplant recipients when compared to the general population. Methods: In this study, 52 renal transplant recipients with COVID-19 were followed through 60 days from the date of initial diagnosis. We analyzed basic demographics, therapeutics used, and clinical outcomes among patients who survived and those who did not. Results: Of the entire cohort, 53.8% were Hispanic Whites, 38.5% American Indian, and 5.8% were non-Hispanic Whites. 48% required hospital admission and 17% died, with 15% of deaths attributed to complications secondary to COVID-19. All those who died were either American Indian or Hispanic. Comorbidities among the non-survivors included hypertension (100%), chronic kidney disease (67%), diabetes (78%), and either being overweight or obese (100%). 89% had acute kidney injury and 56% required renal replacement therapy. Gender, blood type, and panel reactive antibody prior to transplant did not correlate with disease severity. There was no improvement in mortality during the fall/winter surge compared to the spring/summer surge, though therapies improved during the pandemic. None of the patients who received monoclonal antibody progressed to severe disease or died. Conclusions: In conclusion, mortality with SARS-CoV-2 infection remains high among kidney transplant recipients, especially from ethnic minority groups. However, therapy with monoclonal antibody was associated with a reduced progression to severe disease and better outcomes. Therefore, it should be considered as a therapy in this highrisk group of patients if they satisfy the eligibility criteria listed by the Food and Drug Administration. Finally, further studies are needed to corroborate the findings from our study.

The mediating role of work-life balance on the relationship between job resources and job satisfaction: perspectives from Indian nursing professionals

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the mediating effect of work-life balance (WLB) in the relationship between three significant job resources (namely, job autonomy, supervisor support and co-worker support) and job satisfaction experienced by frontline nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Indian setting using the theoretical foundation of job demands-resources theory. Design/methodology/approach: Structured questionnaire survey has been used to get the responses from 452 nursing professionals in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. To carry out data analysis structural equation modeling has been used. Findings: The results reveal the relationship between the framed hypotheses. Surprisingly, the relationship between all three job resources and WLB was found to be positive, and also WLB was positively associated with nursing professionals’ job satisfaction during pandemic situations. However, WLB partially mediated the relationship only between two job resources (namely, job autonomy and supervisor support) and job satisfaction. Originality/value: The research paper addresses Indian nursing professionals’ perceptions of job resources, WLB and job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper seeks to examine such a relationship when nursing professionals’ worked round the clock with intuitive expertise and cautiousness to provide quality care and responded more efficiently to scarce resource situations. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.