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Introduction This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from blood cultures in a tertiary-care hospital and the multiplex PCR assay's ability to detect resistance genes. Methods A total of 388 GNB isolates obtained from hospitalized patients between November 2019 and November 2021 were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by VITEK 2 system and broth microdilution method. Beta-lactamase-encoding genes were detected by multiplex PCR assays, BioFire-Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) panel (bioMerieux, France). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were detected phenotypically with VITEK AST-GN71 card (bioMerieux, France). The isolates of GNB were classified into multidrug-resistant, extensively-drug-resistant, and pandrug-resistant categories, and their prevalence and distribution in different wards, including coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) intensive care units (ICU), were calculated. Results Results revealed that all isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were multidrug-resistant as well as 91.6% of Enterobacter cloacae, 80.6% of Proteus mirabilis, and 76.1% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. In fermentative bacteria, blaOXA-48-like (58.1%), blaNDM (16.1%), blaKPC (9.7%) and blaVIM (6.5%) genes were detected. More than half of Enterobacter cloacae (58.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (53.7%) produced ESBLs. Among non-fermenters, the blaNDM gene was carried by 55% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 19.5% of Acinetobacter baumannii. In the COVID-19 ICU, Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common isolate (86.1%). Conclusions This study revealed high proportions of multidrug-resistant blood isolates and various underlying resistance genes in Gram-negative strains. The BCID2 panel seems to be helpful for the detection of the most prevalent resistance genes of fermentative bacteria.Copyright © GERMS 2022.
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Cultures responded to the COVID-19 pandemic differently. We investigated cultural differences in mental health during the pandemic. We found regional differences in people's reports of anxiety in China over two years from 2020 to 2021 (N = 1186). People in areas with a history of rice farming reported more anxiety than people in wheat-farming areas. Next, we explored more proximal mechanisms that could help link the distal, historical factor of rice farming to people's modern experience of anxiety. Rice areas scored higher on collectivism and tight social norms than wheat areas, and collectivism, rather than norm tightness, mediated the rice-anxiety relationship. These findings advance our understanding of the distal sources of cultural differences, the proximal mechanisms, and mental health problems during the pandemics.
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Using the Chinese Discourse Studies (CNDS) as a theoretical framework, this study seeks to challenge the cultural essentialism and uncritical roots of existing literature, with an aim to expose long-standing patterns of Western totalizing discourse in the field of international education research. This exploratory article explores how Chinese international students as cultural agents respond to the global pandemic and pandemic-related stereotypes. Through a critical analysis of 21 Chinese students' narratives, this article identifies three culturally specific characteristics that pervade Chinese normative dialogues: (1) Chinese dialectics, (2) Chinese harmony, and (3) Chinese self-criticism. They are often employed to emphasize Chinese optimistic attitudes in times of crisis, avoidance of confrontation for harmonious communication, and moral character of self-introspection to conform to the social norm. This article offers new empirical evidence for the reconstruction of the Chinese paradigm of discourse studies and reveals the inappropriateness of Western scholarship for understanding non-Western linguistic and communicative events and practices. In sum, this article demonstrates that Chinese discourse studies can be a potential decolonial option to depart from deep-seated scholarship in Western intellectual supremacy and a visionary framework to advance multicultural discourses about international education against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and anti-Asian racism.
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The multi-generational workforce presents challenges for organizations, as the needs and expectations of employees vary greatly between different age groups. To address this, organizations need to adapt their development and learning principles to better suit the changing workforce. The DDMT Teaching Model of Tsing Hua STEAM School, which integrates design thinking methodology, aims to address this challenge. DDMT stands for Discover, Define, Model & Modeling, and Transfer. The main aim of this study is to identify the organization development practices (OD) and gaps through interdisciplinary models such as DDMT and design thinking. In collaboration with a healthcare nursing home service provider, a proof of concept using the DDMT-DT model was conducted to understand the challenges in employment and retention of support employees between nursing homes under the healthcare organization. The paper highlights the rapid change in human experiences and mindsets in the work culture and the need for a design curriculum that is more relevant to the current and future workforce. The DDMT-DT approach can help organizations address these challenges by providing a framework for HR personnel to design training curricula that are more effective in addressing the issues of hiring and employee retention. By applying the DDMT-DT model, HR personnel can better understand the needs and motivations of the workforce and design training programs that are more relevant to their needs. The proof-of-concept research pilot project conducted with the healthcare nursing home service provider demonstrated the effectiveness of the DDMT-DT model in addressing the issues of hiring and employee retention. The project provides a valuable case study for other organizations looking to implement the DDMT-DT model in their HR practices. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of adapting HR practices to better suit the changing workforce. The DDMT-DT model provides a useful framework for organizations looking to improve their HR practices and better address the needs of their workforce.
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COVID-19 triggered a monumental shift to remote work. The challenge of connecting and relating among knowledge employees emerged globally, and research about remote work in this unique circumstance surged. However, we know more about the impact of remote work on knowledge employees in low-context cultures than in high-context. Given that Brazil is high context, we explored how remote work impacted relating and connecting among knowledge employees in Brazil. First, employees lost the informality of work-life;instead of informal, fluid communication and collaboration, participants had to book appointments and schedule time to discuss simple issues. Second, good-humoured behaviours diminished, implicating connectedness. Third, non-verbal communication ceased, and employees lost facial expressions, eye contact, and other prevalent signs necessary for context. Fourth, the loss of unstructured exchange of experiences and ideas lessened tacit knowledge sharing. Fifth, workspace inequalities emerged as the employees' homes were unequipped for remote work. Lastly, the most significant win was work-life balance. Therefore, remote work in high-context cultures is not without peril;culture and socioeconomics underline remote work's self-generating, self-organizing mechanisms. Thus, corporate leaders and human resource professionals should address remote work as a layered phenomenon and, carefully, with employees, co-construct the notion of connecting and relating. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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Aquaculture production in Bulgaria has increased over the last decade, reaching 16 442 tonnes in 2019. Fish production has doubled in comparison with 2007, while that of mussels has increased tenfold. The Bulgarian contribution to EU aquaculture production has been increasing significantly in both volume and value over the years, making up 1.15% of the volume and 1.0% of the value of EU production in 2019. Freshwater aquaculture accounts for 78% of total production. Common carp dominates with about 29.4% (4836 t), followed by rainbow trout with 29.2% (4820 t) in 2019. The cultivation of sturgeon species and caviar production are among the most dynamically developing aquaculture segments. Mariculture in the Black Sea has increased in recent years, with the production of Mediterranean mussel reaching 2932 tonnes in 2019. An average of 405 farms operated during the period 2010-2019. Four regions (Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Burgas and Montana) account for 50% of the total fish production. Pond aquaculture is the dominant technology used in Bulgaria, and it serves as the basis for numerous other activities, including management of fish stocks in various water bodies mainly for recreational fishing. Approximately 35 net-cage farms currently operate in bigger dams. Recirculating fish farms output made up only 0.15% of the total amount of aquaculture for the period 2010-2019. The aquaculture sector exhibited difficulties in recovering from the financial crisis of 2007-2008, manifested by a slow growth for the period 2010-2014. From 2015 to 2019 there has been a significant growth, manifested in a sharp increase of total revenue and profitability, especially among the larger enterprises in the sector, as well as an increase in the number of employees, and the labour productivity. As a result, in 2019 the registered total revenue per enterprise and total revenue per employee were more than double the respective figures for 2010. The profits of larger enterprises increased more than three times on average, but smaller entities, micro-enterprises with less than 5 employees, operated at the border line between profit and loss. The COVID-19 crisis could have lasting consequences. Despite EUR 1.2 million direct payments in the sector in 2020, there has been a significant drop in the export of aquaculture products. Consumption of fish and other aquaculture products remains low compared to those in the other EU countries.
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Objective: Immunohistochemistry of post-mortem lung tissue from Covid-19 patients with diffuse alveolar damage demonstrated marked increases in chondroitin sulfate and CHST15 and decline in N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. Studies were undertaken to identify the mechanisms involved in these effects. Method(s): Human primary small airway epithelial cells (PCS 301-010;ATCC) were cultured and exposed to the SARSCoV- 2 spike protein receptor binding domain (SPRBD;AA: Lys310-Leu560;Amsbio). Expression of the spike protein receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), was enhanced by treatment with Interferon-beta. Promoter activation, DNA-binding, RNA silencing, QPCR, Western blots, ELISAs, and specific enzyme inhibitors were used to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Result(s): Treatment of the cultured cells by the SPRBD led to increased CHST15 and CHST11 expression and decline in ARSB expression. Sulfotransferase activity, total chondroitin sulfate, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content were increased. Phospho-T180/T182-p38-MAPK and phospho- S423/S425-Smad3 were required for the activation of the CHST15 and CHST11 promoters. Inhibition by SB203580, a phospho-p38 MAPK inhibitor, and by SIS3, a Smad3 inhibitor, blocked the CHST15 and CHST11 promoter activation. SB203580 reversed the SPRBD-induced decline in ARSB expression, but SIS3 had no effect on ARSB expression or promoter activation. Phospho-p38 MAPK was shown to reduce retinoblastoma protein (RB) S807/S811 phosphorylation and increase RB S249/T252 phosphorylation. E2F-DNA binding declined following exposure to SPRBD, and SB203580 reversed this effect. This indicates a mechanism by which SPRBD, phospho-p38 MAPK, E2F, and RB can regulate ARSB expression and thereby impact on chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate and molecules that bind to these sulfated GAGs, including Interleukin-8, bone morphogenetic protein-4, galectin-3 and SHP-2 (Src homology region 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2). Conclusion(s): The enzyme ARSB is required for the degradation of chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate, and accumulation of these sulfated GAGs can contribute to lung pathophysiology, as evident in Covid-19. Some effects of the SPRBD may be attributable to unopposed Angiotensin II, when Ang1-7 counter effects are diminished due to binding of ACE2 with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and reduced production of Ang1-7. Aberrant cell signaling and activation of the phospho-p38 MAPK and Smad3 pathways increase CHST15 and CHST11 production, which can contribute to increased chondroitin sulfate in infected cells. Decline in ARSB may occur as a consequence of effects of phospho-p38 MAPK on RB phosphorylation and E2F1 availability. Decline in ARSB and the resulting impaired degradation of sulfated GAGs have profound consequences on cellular metabolic, signaling, and transcriptional events. Funding is VA Merit Award.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
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Background: Since patients admitted to the intensive care unit have a compromised im-mune system and are more prone to infection than other patients, timely diagnosis and treatment of corneal ulcers among this group of patients can prevent vision loss. Therefore, it is necessary to treat eye infections and corneal ulcers promptly and economize prohibitive costs. Objective(s): Appropriate treatment with the most effective antibiotic before the answer is available to prevent corneal ulcer complications and blindness. Method(s): This study was conducted from November 2019 to November 2020 and after approval by the ethics committee of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences with the code of ethics: IR.UMSHA.REC.1398.716. First, the corneal secretions of 121 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of Sina Hospital are prepared by an ophthalmologist (after anesthetizing the cornea with tetra-caine drops and sterile swabs) and culture in four growth mediums (blood agar, chocolate agar, thio-glycolate, and EMB). Microbial cultures are examined after 48 hours and a fungal culture is examined one week later. Disc diffusions are placed in positive microbial cultures. Antibiotic susceptibility or resistance of the antibiogram was recorded. Other demographic data, including patients' age and sex, are extracted from ICU files. Also, test results and patient identifications are recorded in a checklist designed for this purpose. Result(s): Of all the antibiotics used against common bacteria, vancomycin (84%), colistin (80.43%), cefazolin (80%), and levofloxacin (60%) had the highest sensitivity and gentamicin (93.75%), ceftazidime (86.42%) Erythromycin (85%) had the highest resistance against isolated bacteria. Conclusion(s): The data obtained from this study showed that the most common microorganisms in the age group under the age of 30 years were Acinetobacter Baumannii, in the group of 30-60 years old was Klebsiella pneumonia, and age group over 61 years old was Staphylococcus aureus, and the most sensitive antibiotics in the age group under 30 years were vancomycin and levofloxacin and the age group30-60 were colistin and vancomycin and in the age group over 61 years were vancomycin and cefazolin.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Preventive vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection is currently receiving close attention in the Russian Federation. Improving public confidence in immunisation with new vaccines largely depends on a guarantee of the absence of side effects caused by contamination. A high risk of contamination is inherent to biological products, including coronavirus prevention vaccines, due to their properties and the nature of raw materials used. This risk adds to the need for using effective contaminant detection approaches. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility to improve sterility testing of preventive vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This article presents an analysis of the procedures proposed by pharmaceutical developers for sterility testing of ten Russian vaccines approved in the country for COVID-19 prevention. The authors considered specific characteristics of these vaccines, including their physical and chemical properties, the presence of antimicrobial components, and other critical factors affecting the correctness of the experimental setup. The results suggest that it is possible to improve sterility testing. According to the authors, the main directions for its improvement are the proposal to develop an alternative procedure based on compendial method 2 (OFS.1.2.4.0003.15, Ph. Rus. XIV), as well as the use of a universal culture medium. If used for refining the established procedures and developing new ones, the authors' recommendations will improve the reliability and applicability of sterility testing during both manufacturing and pre-approval regulatory assessment of updated coronavirus vaccines for subsequent release to the market. The proposed approaches can be applied to testing other medicinal products for sterility.Copyright © 2023 National Electronic-Information Consortium (NEICON). All rights reserved.
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Over the past century, synthetic polymers have had a transformative impact on human life, replacing nature-derived materials in many areas. Yet, despite their many advantages, the structure and function of synthetic polymers still appear rudimentary compared to biological matter: cells use dynamic self-assembly to construct complex materials and operate sophisticated macromolecular devices. The field of DNA nanotechnology has demonstrated that synthetic DNA molecules can be programmed to undergo predictable self-assembly, offering unparalleled control over the formation and dynamic properties of artificial nanostructures. Intriguingly, the principles of DNA nanotechnology can be applied to the engineering of soft programmable materials, bringing the abilities of synthetic polymers closer to their biological counterparts. In this perspective, we discuss the unique features of DNA-functionalized polymer materials. We describe design principles that allow researchers to build complex supramolecular architectures with predictable and dynamically adjustable material properties. Finally, we highlight two key application areas where this biologically inspired material class offers particularly promising opportunities: (1) as dynamic matrices for 3D cell and organoid culture and (2) as smart materials for nucleic acid sequencing and pathogen detection.
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Aims: The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions impacted both health outcomes and clinical practice. We explored the impact on the diabetes antenatal clinic (DANC) attendance and outcomes. Method(s): Pre and during pandemic periods were defined as January 2019 to February 2020 and March 2020 to March 2022, respectively. DANC attendance, maternal and perinatal data were analysed. Adverse neonatal outcomes included stillbirth, neonatal hypoglycaemia, jaundice, shoulder dystocia and respiratory distress. Result(s): DANC attendance increased in the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (297 (Interquartile range (IQR) 269-358) vs 196 (IQR 176-211) monthly, p < 0.001) with 36.7% (IQR 33-49) virtual appointments, representing a 34% overall increase. Body mass index (BMI) increased (29.7 kg/m2 (IQR 26.4-32.2) vs 31.4 kg/ m2 (IQR 26.5-34.2)) during the pandemic (p = 0.007), but maternal age and parity remained unchanged. There was no difference in gestational age at delivery;however, induction rates reduced from 58.5% to 37.5% (p = 0.0009) and spontaneous vaginal deliveries increased from 13.7% to 34.5% during the pandemic (p = 0.0004). Instrumental deliveries reduced from 21.5% to 11.3% (p = 0.03) but there was no change in number of caesarean sections including emergency ones. There was no difference in the rates of macrosomia or neonatal admissions. There was an overall reduction in adverse neonatal outcomes (37/102 (36.2%) vs 33/142 (23.2%) p = 0.03). Conclusion(s): Clinic numbers and maternal BMI increased during the pandemic. However, delivery and perinatal outcomes improved. Out data are reassuring and align with other studies indicating maternity outcomes did not deteriorate during the pandemic, possibly explained by improved care provision and organisation culture under crisis.
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Following the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many congregational leaders had to scramble to set up streaming or recording systems in order to continue their worship services without putting congregants at risk, but some congregations had already set up such systems in the years leading up to the pandemic. Previous research has found that these capabilities were not evenly distributed throughout the population of congregations, but this work has primarily focused on how technological divides are the result of a lack of economic resources. However, economic resources were not the only factor associated with whether congregations had streaming options or not. Using Wave 4 of the National Congregations Study (NCS) conducted in 2018-2019, I find that, prior to the pandemic, Catholic congregations and Protestant congregations with more enthusiastic worship services were more likely to have streaming or recording systems even after controlling for economic resources, technological knowledge, and other organizational features. The elective affinities between certain worship practices and online streaming meant that some congregations were in a better position to meet the unexpected challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. These findings highlight the important role congregations' cultural beliefs and practices can play in shaping their activities.
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With the adoption of the new Common Core Visual and Performing Arts Standards by the California Department of Education in 2019, there was an emphasis on creating a more inclusive and equitable arts educational experience for students through their arts educators. Unfortunately, with the majority of educators in the Visual and Performing Arts departments within California with an average of more than five years teaching experience, they obtained their knowledge of mandatory California teacher standards before the adoption took place for new common core state standards. Therefore, how are current students enrolled in these courses, specifically Historically Marginalized Students, obtaining an arts education that emphasizes inclusivity and equity? Professional development has not been provided that emphasizes equity and inclusive as well as a shift with the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the educational system. How are students interacting with curriculum, and how arts educators looking to increase student engagement? This three-part qualitative action research study builds on a collaboratively developed lesson plan to engage a diverse art class consisting of historically marginalized students. Within this secondary visual arts classroom setting the implementation of culturally sustaining pedagogical practices consistently occurs. Second, the study explores the effectiveness of this implementation through student self-expression in the form of media influenced, design concept analysis. Third, through the analysis of completed student artifacts and reflections, understand the effect of culturally sustaining pedagogical practices through artistic self-expression. The concluding recommendations support the implementation of culturally sustaining pedagogical practices to increase authentic student self-expression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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Until recent decades, labour-intensive subsistence farming was a way of life and livelihood in the hill communities of Uttarakhand, India. However, the nature of agriculture falls far short of the expectations of the main labour force, the rural youth, leading to their mass migration to non-agricultural occupations. The large-scale youth migration has left many hill farming landscapes depopulated and farmlands abandoned. As youth have special stakes in food systems, they must be included in the sustainable transformation of food systems. By doing so, the migration-prone hill region may be transformed into a place where rural youth have more options for work and income. Therefore, the agriculture sector needs to change and develop into a more engaging and youthful workplace. There are opportunities to explore and barriers to be removed. Besides identifying priority research areas on local food systems, in this exploratory research, we investigate opportunities to involve rural young people in the transformation of the food system. We document information by conducting focus group discussion (FGD) meetings in about 100 villages in the Uttarakhand hills, representing all major farming landscapes. This study mainly focuses on improving the production and consumption aspects of local food, which not only benefits the health and wellbeing of local communities but also has many positive economic, social, and environmental effects. In addition, we explore opportunities for reviving mountain agriculture through agri-ecotourism, which is a symbiotic relationship between tourism and agriculture. Making home- or farm stays in agri-ecotourism a subsistence strategy for local youth will contribute to a more prosperous rural economy. Recognising Uttarakhand's rich culture and heritage while exploring the culinary travel opportunities in homestays will provide opportunities to focus more on traditional food systems, exposing various tangible and intangible aspects of the host region's food culture to tourists. The findings of this study will aid in identifying specific policy issues for consideration by planners and policymakers at the local and state levels. Additionally, this exploratory study will assist young, motivated researchers in conducting follow-up, in-depth investigations and producing empirical data in their specialised fields.
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Burkholderia pseudomallei is soil saprophytic Gram-negative bacilli that cause a fatal disease called melioidosis. Melioidosis is capable of causing cutaneous infection and systemic infections in the respiratory tract, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, skin and soft tissue, and musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. Here, we report rare forms of pulmonary, cerebral, and splenic abscess case series of melioidosis caused by B. pseudomallei. Imported cases have been reported among tourists, immigrants, and soldiers who returned from endemic areas. The acquisition of infection is through percutaneous, inhalation, and ingestion of contaminated water;person-to-person transmission is very rare. Melioidosis cases are primarily found in the rainfall season and are usually associated with risk factors such as diabetes, alcoholism, and chronic renal diseases. However, 20-26% of cases were not associated with predisposing conditions. The identification is based on colony morphology, Gram stain, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and other supportive automated and molecular assays when we suspect B. pseudomallei. There are two phases, the intensive and eradication phases, in managing melioidosis. In the intensive phase, ceftazidime for 2 weeks showed efficacy in almost 50% of cases, and the eradication phase treatment with co-trimoxazole and doxycycline or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for 3-6 months showed an excellent response. The improper clinical diagnosis and management of B. pseudomallei can lead to complications. Hence, early diagnosis with microbiological approaches such as culture, biochemical reactions, or automated systems available and antimicrobial sensitivity testing will cure the patient quickly without mortality.Copyright © 2023 The Authors.
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This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of formal and informal messages transmitted to urban and rural communities in Ecuador, on the knowledge of prevention and control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Six focus groups were carried out with six to eight people per group through Zoom platform, from August 2020 to April 2021;NVivo 12 software was used for the thematic analysis of the data. Thirtynine people, including male and female, participated in the study with mean age 39 years. Main outcomes included: use of alternative medicine for prevention and control of COVID-19;religious acceptance;impact of COVID-19 on mental health;lack of understanding and knowledge of the disease;and the mixed messages shared through official and unofficial channels about virus prevention and control. The study demonstrates the importance of using formal channels of communication to transmit accurate information, to reach people regardless of their geographical location. © 2023 Author(s).
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Grandparents who were separated from their infant grandchildren during COVID-19 sought other ways to connect, including video chat. Video chat supports learning, and its features (e.g., contingent responsiveness) may allow for cultural exchange. However, technological problems may disrupt these exchanges. In a seminaturalistic, longitudinal study, 47 families submitted up to three video chats and surveys. Families were predominantly White/Caucasian, highly educated, and lived between 1 and 2,700 miles apart. Multilevel models were used to predict the proportion of the sessions devoted to exchanging culture (e.g., holidays, parenting advice) and managing tech problems. Culture exchange did not change as a function of infant age, video chat experience, or when encountering tech problems. Although only marginally statistically significant, culture exchange increased as distance increased. Tech problems changed as a function of tech talk. Qualitative analysis revealed that cultural transmission occurred via a culture of care and sharing of information across video chat, that families adapted their behaviors to the new technology, and that technology disruptions rarely interfered with the flow of information. These findings demonstrate the ability to share culture when physically separated and in the presence of tech disruptions. Further, this study supports previous work on the emerging culture of video chat. Families adapted to being separated, and grandparents and infants successfully communicated through a new modality. Because video chat supports family relationships, equitable access to high-speed internet should be a priority to enable more families to use it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study demonstrates that video chat allowed for familial culture exchanges to be maintained through a separation during COVID-19. Examining what and how cultural exchanges took place suggests that supports for using video chat, including access to high-speed internet, are necessary for families separated by other circumstances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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This study focuses on measuring the relationship between organizational learning culture (OLC) and turnover intentions of telecommuting call center agents. Although many studies involve the call center industry from different perspectives, the literature is scant in studies that have assessed the relationship between OLC and turnover intent in telecommuting call center agents. Call centers exist in almost every organization worldwide. Organizations have centralized their customer service process through computerbased technologies allowing call center agents to work from home. In addition, in the post-COVID-19 era, telecommuting has become a permanent option for many call center employees. Indeed, in the call center industry, telecommuting has become an essential part of the business strategy that seeks to attract new and maintain current employees. In the call center industry, learning is a factor that influences job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Specifically, OLC increases job satisfaction and performance in telecommuting call center agents, influencing employees' turnover intentions. The study 's findings indicate that OLC is a needed factor that helps lower turnover intentions of telecommuting call center agents in the United States.
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Is there an increased incidence of bacteraemia among COVID-19 patients requiring critical care admission who have received IL-6 inhibitors? Introduction: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors have been shown to reduce mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. There is, however, concern that induced immunosuppression may increase the risk of secondary nosocomial infection. Objective(s): Our primary aim was to determine if there was increased incidence of bacteraemia in COVID-19 patients requiring critical care admission who had received IL-6 inhibitors compared to those who had not. Method(s): A retrospective review of all COVID-19 admissions to two critical care units in Liverpool from 4th March 2020 to 31st October 2021. Patients were divided into those who received an IL-6 inhibitor (sarilumab or tociluzimab) and those who did not. Hospital antimicrobial policy was to administer a five day prophylactic course of co-amoxiclav and clarithromycin for patients with severe COVID-19 during the study period. Blood culture results from 14 days before admission to critical care and 90 days after admission were included. The blood culture results comprised cultures taken in both critical care and on the wards. Data were linked and analysed using Stata V15.1 (StataCorp, Stata Statistical Software: Release 15, College Station, Texas, USA). Result(s): 894 patients were included in the study. 134 patients had at least one positive blood culture result. The most commonly identified pathogens were Coliforms (23/134, 17.2%), Enterobacter (22/134, 16.4%) and Escherichia coli (16/134, 11.9%). Of patients administered an IL-6 antagonist, 16.8% (114/565) developed a positive blood culture compared to 11.6% (20/172) who did not, p=0.096. We did not observe an increased frequency of antimicrobial resistant culture in the IL-6 administered group 22.8% (26/114) vs. 20.0% (4/20) in this cohort, p=0.781. Data have not been adjusted for demographic and clinical factors in this preliminary analysis. Conclusion(s): We observed a trend toward increased frequency of blood culture positivity in patients administered an IL-6 antagonist within this COVID-19 positive cohort but this was not statistically significant. Further analysis is required to adjust for relevant demographic and clinical factors.
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The emergence of COVID-19 has entered into and re(dis)arranged every aspect of human life. The pandemic has not only raised concerns about the extent to which hitherto-taken-for-granted human activities are no longer viable, and in some cases have become the enemies of humans, but have also created serious crises in values. There are also new fears, disarranged mental attitude and the need to develop the appropriate critical response that can be applied in helping humanity come to terms with the pandemic and its post-era. This is where Ubuntu comes in, and my interest is premised on three considerations: First, to position the defining concern of our time as the recognition that all nations of the world should contribute, should have a say in issues of global concern. Second, embedded in Ubuntu is a worldview that focuses humanity on their human-humane-essence. Third, Ubuntu will provide the needed anchor if all human activities will not fall prey to a techno-centric world. Highlighting the essential values embodied in Ubuntu is not just to register a philosophical enquiry;it is crucial to a renewed appreciation of philosophy itself as a constant, critical exploration into whatever issues confronting humanity. Certainly, a novel pandemic that is redefining human activities needs philosophy, given its foundational role in addressing fundamental human concerns, wherever they arise. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.