Education on neuromuscular electrodiagnosis and neurological symptomatology

Neurological symptomatology is a crucial component of neurological expertise. The committee for fostering board-certified neurologists in the Japanese Society of Neurology (JSN) has hosted an educational activity for residents before the board examination, "The seminar for fostering board-certified neurologists" since 2004. In particular, the autumn seminar has been characterized by small group hands-on of neurological examinations and the evaluations of higher brain function. Besides this, hands-on seminar of neurological examinations by regional branches has been promoted by the JSN. In the Kanto Ko-shin-etsu branch, "The first hands-on seminar of neurological examinations" started in 2023 after a 3-year-suspension due to COVID-19. The most important educational activities in neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDx) is the "Neuromuscular diagnostics seminar" hosted since 2004 by the Japanese Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (JSCN). The majority of tutors and participants are neurologists. This seminar is also characterized by small-group, hands-on workshops. We have also run the overseas seminar, "Tokyo Super EMG hands-on," since 2013. These have undoubtedly contributed to enhancing the level of neuromuscular electrodiagnosis not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries. I have conducted studies on neurological symptomatology and neuromuscular electrodiagnosis, which are directly linked to enhancing clinical practice of neurologists through educational activities such as review articles or lectures. Due to the fact that symptomatology is crucial in neurological expertise, neurology is a basic specialty around the world except in Japan. In 2018, the JSN decided to aim to make neurology a basic specialty and continues to make efforts to attain this goal.Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society of Neurology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Online Courses of Mathematics for Entrance Exams

This paper deals with the results of students during the preparing courses of mathematics for entrance exams at an university. These courses take place every year and since the Covid-19 period, they are not only face-to-face, but also online. The study involves students of secondary schools who apply to the university of economics. This report compares results of tests of two different classes of these students and from different parts of mathematics. These tests are in the form of online quizzes. We do not prove if there are differences between the scores of students of short-time or long-time courses. In addition, we compare the results with the students from the year before. We also emphasize the more problematic topics of mathematics.

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

Medical Knowledge Acquisition during a Pandemic: Pediatric Subspecialty in-Training Examination and Board Certification Exam Passing Rate.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in training programs restructuring their curricula. Fellowship programs are required to monitor each fellow's training progress through a combination of formal evaluations, competency tracking, and measures of knowledge acquisition. The American Board of Pediatrics administers subspecialty in-training examinations (SITE) to pediatric fellowship trainees annually and board certification exams at the completion of the fellowship. The objective of this study was to compare SITE scores and certification exam passing rates before and during the pandemic. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, we collected summative data on SITE scores and certification exam passing rates for all pediatric subspecialties from 2018 to 2022. Trends over time were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis to test for trends across years within one group and t-test analysis to compare groups before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 14 pediatric subspecialties. Comparing prepandemic to pandemic scores, Infectious Diseases, Cardiology, and Critical Care Medicine saw statistically significant decreases in SITE scores. Conversely, Child Abuse and Emergency Medicine saw increases in SITE scores. Emergency Medicine saw a statistically significant increase in certification exam passing rates, while Gastroenterology and Pulmonology saw decreases in exam passing rates. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in restructuring didactics and clinical care based on the needs of the hospital. There were also societal changes affecting patients and trainees. Subspecialty programs with declining scores and certification exam passing rates may need to assess their educational and clinical programs and adapt to the needs of trainees' learning edges.

Baseline Estimation in Face Detection for AI Proctored Examinations through Convoluted Neural Networks

The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, and everything came to a halt. The education sector had to adjust accordingly by shifting to online learning. If the online delivery experience was overall successful, assessment integrity becomes questionable as examinees still manage to circumvent the anti-plagiarism mechanism put in place. In this paper, we propose an artificial intelligence solution using face and head pose detection to estimate the neutral position of the examinee which will form the basis to detect any suspicious behavior. The resulting implementation achieved a 97% accuracy when detecting the examinee in the frame and a 98% accuracy when there are multiple faces detected. © 2023 IEEE.

The E-OSCE and social work education: Creating authentic, high-impact practice learning opportunities for students

Advances in technology, non-traditional students, and a new generation of e-learners all challenge institutions of higher learning to support innovations that create relevant distance education opportunities for their students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic dramatic shifts to education occurred, requiring schools of social work to consider new ways to prepare students for the field and new evaluation methods of students' practice skills. Smoyer and colleagues explored this further in their study on BSW students' experiences in distance education during the pandemic and found when students were unexpectedly thrust into online learning platforms most were able to learn online;however, substantive interactivity and synchronous engagement were factors that were necessary to maintain student overall satisfaction in the distance learning environment. In addition, they point out the need for interactive technology in online social work classrooms to simulate the human interaction that is essential to student learning and practice. The online objective, structured clinical examination (e-OSCE) is one form of online simulation-based learning that offers highly interactive and engaging HIP learning opportunities for social work students. The OSCE is a standardized, valid, and reliable assessment method that social work education programs use to ensure successful practice skills development. This study used a qualitative, exploratory embedded single-case method to investigate online MSW students' experiences participating in an e-OSCE, their perspectives on the use of an e-OSCE in online social work education, and future practice considerations students identify upon completing the e-OSCE. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Special Isue: Virtual anatomy, histology and embryology in research and education. (Special Isue: Virtual anatomy, histology and embryology in research and education.)

This issue contains 13 articles on the use of virtual anatomy, histology and embryology in research and education;digital histological morphometry of the human pineal gland in a postmortem study, with endocrine and neurological clinical implications;an international collaborative approach to learning histology using a virtual microscope;delivery anatomy kits to help keep practical veterinary classes during the COVID-19 pandemic;how virtual animal anatomy facilitated a successful transition to online instruction and supported student learning during the coronavirus pandemic;using videos in active learning in veterinary anatomy;dissection videos as a virtual veterinary anatomy peer learning tool at the University of Tehran during the COVID-19 pandemic;a new virtual platform for teaching comparative animal neuroanatomy based on metameric slices of the central nervous system;application of student remote and distance research in neuroanatomy by mapping Dscaml1 expression with a LacZ gene trap in mouse brain;implementing a multi-colour genetic marker analysis technique for embryology education;impact of COVID-19 on student attainment and pedagogical needs when undertaking independent scientific research;extended reality veterinary medicine case studies for diagnostic veterinary imaging instruction and assessing student perceptions and examination performance and students' performance in teaching neuroanatomy using traditional and technology-based methods. 16 proceedings from the Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomy Research Group (TEPARG) Hybrid Meeting entitled "Hybrid Anatomy Education: Barriers and Enablers for Students and Educators" held in Barcelona, Spain, during 5 March 2022, are also included.

Tropical infections as occupational diseases among young volunteers in social projects.

PURPOSE: The trend of volunteering overseas has increased tremendously over the last decade. Volunteers often go to regions where they are exposed to the risk of tropical infections like malaria, dengue, typhoid fever and schistosomiasis. Health assessments have shown a high occurrence of tropical infections among young volunteers. Such tropical infections are notifiable in Germany, as they are covered by a separate branch of the social insurance system. However, there is still limited data on systematical improvement of medical prevention and health care for volunteers. METHODS: This retrospective study included 457 cases with a diagnosis for a tropical infection or typhoid fever from January 2016 to December 2019. Data sets were anonymised and then analysed with descriptive statistics first. Cases of volunteers sent abroad by "Weltwärts" were compared to cases of aid workers sent to non-industrial countries. RESULTS: A high occurrence of tropical infections as occupational diseases has been shown for volunteers compared to other (mostly older) aid workers being sent to tropical regions. The risk of acquiring a tropical infection was significantly higher in Africa compared to other tropical regions. Cases of malaria were reported significantly more often among the group of volunteers than among aid workers during the period under review. Medical check-ups after travel were rare among volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Data imply a disproportionate risk for malaria in Africa with a higher risk of acquiring malaria tropica in Sub-Saharan regions. Region-specific risks need to be addressed in training seminars in order to raise awareness among young volunteers before travel. Medical examinations after travel should be mandatory and specific to a particular region.

SIGNIFICANCE, MIDTERM RESULTS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE BUDAPEST ONCOLOGY CT AND MR WAITING LISTS REDUCTION PROGRAM

BACKGROUND – High-value medical imaging diagnostic procedures are key elements of the diagnostic process of patients with suspected oncological disease and in determining the effectiveness of the initiated therapy. In Hungary, due to the high diagnostic demands, diagnostic waiting lists for computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MR) are usually long and result in less transparent reporting times, even in the case of individuals who are potentially suspected of having a malignant disease, or in the case of the follow-up of effectiveness of treatment of diagnosed cancer patients. THE AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY – Midterm analysis of the onco-diagnostic Program in Budapest implemented within the framework of the Healthy Budapest Program (HBP), gain experiences and presentation of underlying health policy processes. RESULTS – From November 2020 till 31st of December 2022 within the framework of the Program, the Municipality of Budapest has reimbursed 5437 contrast-enhanced CT and 2948 MR examinations with "C” or "D” disease diagnosis. Examinations has been financed in a sector-neutral manner to public and private healthcare providers in the so-called ‘BP' reimbursement category. The report undertaken by Semmelweis University has found, that in Budapest Municipality funded patients, radiological examinations were performed on average 15.2 days sooner (16.1 vs. 31.1 days), than in the case of the National Health Insurance Fund funded patients, the mean waiting time for CT/MR examination was shortened by 13.0 days (4.2 vs. 17.2 days, respectively). In 86% of cases, patients used the Program once, in 14% twice or more. Utilization of the Program shows a significant difference by the different districts of the Capital: the number of cases – originally planned based on demographic, prevalence and incidence data, broken down by district – was utilized between 3-45% for CT, and 8-37% for MR cases, respectively, by district residents mainly referred by district outpatient clinic specialists, between the period of November 2020 and August 2022. CONCLUSION – The Program has been utilised in a smaller scale, than it was originally planned before COVID, in terms of its cases. The program has achieved its aim through the reduction of CT and MR diagnostic waiting times and waiting lists, and it has an indirect effect in generally reducing waiting times at medical imaging. However, this is not sufficient to speed up and provide more efficient service for the entire oncology diagnostic process. Therefore, we wish to further develop the Program in the direction of adding additional diagnostic examinations and developing a patient pathway management module. © 2023 Literatura Medica Publishing House. All rights reserved.

CONDUCTING REMOTE ELECTRONIC EXAMINATIONS IN DISTANCE HIGHER EDUCATION: STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to adopt alternative approaches to the delivery of their learning activities, including examinations. Many HEIs choose Remote Electronic Examinations (REEs) as a one-way solution due to physical presence restriction measures imposed by governments around the world. The present study aimed to record and analyze students' perceptions of the implementation of remote electronic examinations by the Hellenic Open University (HOU). A number of 5412 students participated voluntarily and filled out a questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were employed. Results revealed that students were satisfied in general with the examination process. Regarding integrity assurance issues, students were also satisfied. Furthermore, they expressed their desire to be examined remotely again. Avoiding traveling and saving money were the main benefits of remote electronic examinations. Regarding the examination topics and the duration of the examination sessions, some issues were reported. Finally, students suggested the provision of more time length. © 2023,Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. All Rights Reserved.

A type-2 fuzzy rule-based model for diagnosis of COVID-19

In this study, a type-2 fuzzy logic-based decision support system comprising clinical examination and blood test results that health professionals can use in addition to existing methods in the diagnosis of COVID-19 has been developed. The developed system consists of three fuzzy units. The first fuzzy unit produces COVID-19 positivity as a percentage according to the respiratory rate, loss of smell, and body temperature values, and the second fuzzy unit according to the C-reactive protein, lymphocyte, and D-dimer values obtained as a result of the blood tests. In the third fuzzy unit, the COVID-19 positivity risks according to the clinical examination and blood analysis results, which are the outputs of the first and second fuzzy units, are evaluated together and the result is obtained. As a result of the evaluation of the trials with 60 different scenarios by physicians, it has been revealed that the system can detect COVID-19 risk with 86.6% accuracy. © 2023 TÜBÍTAK.

Orthopaedic Specialty Committee Exit Examination Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia- Experiences and Reflections from the Candidates

Introduction: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the Orthopaedic Specialty Committee (OSC) Exit Examination candidates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of this pandemic on the candidates' teaching and learning, mental well-being, and personal experience during the examinations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st to 31st January 2021. 103 candidates for the OSC Exit Examination November 2020 were asked to answer a questionnaire. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare differences in the frequencies before and during the pandemic. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: There was a significant reduction in the number of classes (P-value < 0.001) and examination preparatory courses conducted, reduced number and variety of patients attended and limited exposure in the operation theatre. Most candidates had virtual and physical classes, and agreed virtual clinical teaching was less effective. A majority had increased caffeine intake and smoking habits, decreased time spent with family and sports activities and no impact on sleeping hours, alcohol and analgesic usage. During the examinations, most candidates felt disturbed by the COVID-19 safety protocol and worried about the risk of contracting the infections. Conclusion: The effect of this pandemic on the post-graduate Orthopaedics students teaching and learning is massive. Virtual teaching programmes or applications that can replace the traditional clinical teaching methods should be explored and developed for the benefit of our education system. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.

Making progress: A national study on the development and use of progression assessments in United States pharmacy curricula.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to determine the utilization, frequency, characteristics, and standard-setting methods of progression assessments in pharmacy education. METHODS: A survey was sent to 139 United States schools/colleges of pharmacy having an identifiable assessment lead and students enrolled in the doctor of pharmacy program. The survey examined programs' use, frequency, and characteristics of progression assessments within their curriculum. Respondents also reported any changes made due to the COVID-19 pandemic and which, if any, would be maintained in future years. Analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and thematic coding. This research was deemed exempt by the university's institutional review board. RESULTS: Seventy-eight programs responded to the survey (response rate = 56%). Sixty-seven percent of programs administered at least one progression assessment in 2019-2020. There was some variability in assessment practice, including professional year(s) administered, course(s) involved, and content. Approximately 75% of programs used assessments to ensure student competency in the programs' learning outcomes and to identify individual student learning deficiencies. Diversity was seen in validity and reliability practices, and most programs used pre-determined cut scores without formal standard setting. Because of the pandemic, 75% of programs changed the assessment delivery mode and 20 programs planned to maintain at least one pandemic-related change in future iterations. CONCLUSIONS: Most pharmacy programs utilize some type of progression assessment within their curriculum. While many schools administer progression assessments, there is little agreement on their purpose, development, and use. The pandemic changed the mode of delivery, which numerous programs will continue with in the future.

Stress Testing of Banks in the USA

Банкивська система будь-яко'1' держсви с склсдовою ii економгчно'1 системи, тому eid ii безперебийного тс ефективного функционування залежить стсбiльнiсть всШ национально'1' економики. З огляду нс глобализацию економичних вiдносин, сьогоднi eid стсбiльностi банювського сектору США зслежить стсбiльнiсть банювських систем инших крат з видкритою ринковою економикою, як мсють мж собою тисни фiнснсовi зв 'язки. Мета стсттi - розкрити особливостi здшснення стрес-тестування банюв у США та оцинити динамику стсбiльностi банювсько'1' системи цШ крати протягом остантх 20 рокив. Стрестестування банюв у США здийснюсться задля виявлення i вимирювання вразливости банювського сектору щодо шокових макроекономичних подий у нацюнальнш i свитовий економици. Дане дослидження побудовано на аналз динамики чотирьох показниюв: коефициснта чутливости капиталу, индексу чутливости до вимушеного швидкого продажу активив, коефициснта ликвидности для стрес-сценарив, показника чутливости до втрати ликвидности та платоспроможности. Виявлено, що найбильш нестабильною банювська система США була у кризови 2008-2009 роки, коли банки зазнали значних втрат через ризикову кредитну политику. Посткризове регулювання капиталу та ликвидности, завдяки виважений полтици Федерально'1'резервно'1' системи, призвело до багатьох наступних роюв стабильности. Банкам довелося також застосовувати антикризови заходи регулювання у «ковидний» 2020 рик i ци заходи принесли позитивни результати. Шокови поди не вплинули на стабильнисть банювсько'1' системи США, але видобразилися на обсязи готивкових коштив. Послаблення антикризових заходив у 2021 роци спричинило деяке зростання показниюв, що розраховуються при стрестестувант, однак, це не призвело до дестабшзацп банювсько'1' системи.Alternate abstract:The banking system of any state is a component of its economic system. Therefore the stability of the entire national economy depends on its smooth and effective functioning. Given the globalization of economic relations today, the stability of the banking systems of other countries with open market economies, which have close financial ties, depends on the stability of the US banking sector. The purpose of the article is to reveal the features of stress testing of banks in the USA and to assess the dynamics of the stability of the banking system of this country over the past 20 years. Stress testing of banks in the USA is carried out to identify and measure the banking sector's vulnerability to shock macroeconomic events in the national and global economy. This study is based on the analysis of the dynamics of four indicators: the capital sensitivity coefficient, he sensitivity index to the forced quick sale of assets, the liquidity coefficient for stress scenarios, and the sensitivity index to the loss of liquidity and solvency. It was revealed that the US banking system was most unstable during the 2008-2009 crisis when banks suffered significant losses due to risky credit policies. Post-crisis regulation of capital and liquidity, thanks to the balanced policy of the Federal Reserve System, led to many subsequent years of stability. Banks also had to apply anti-crisis regulatory measures in the "covid" 2020 year, and these measures brought positive results. The shock events did not affect the stability of the US banking system but were reflected in the amount of cash. The loosening of anti-crisis measures in 2021 caused some growth in the indicators calculated during stress testing. However, it did not lead to the destabilization of the banking system.

Intelligent Remote Online Proctoring in Learning Management Systems

An essential component of the learning phase is the administration of assessments using online testing platforms. It is the responsibility of the platforms used for online education to guarantee that every student successfully completes the evaluation procedure without cheating. Because of the widespread COVID-19 epidemic, all educational institutions are required to alter the process by which they administer online examinations and to take measures to reduce the amount of cheating that takes place during online examinations. In this paper, we create a proctoring system that is integrated with a learning management system. It has the following features: user verification, browser lockdown, face counter, and automatic cheating counter. The goal of this proposed system is to solve the problem that was presented. On the client side, there is no need for any extra software or programs to support any of these functions. System experiment is done under actual exam situations in order to gauge the dependability of the proctoring system. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Teaching interventions in occupational health and safety during COVID19 pandemic in a small exporter and processor company of hydrobiological products in Piura, Peru

IntroductionIn Peru there are many companies dedicated to fishing and exporting hydrobiological products that carry out their work informally. Most companies in this sector do not have occupational health and safety (OHS) systems. Accidents at work occur frequently but are not registered in the statistics of the Ministry of Labor. Workers also suffer from diseases such as musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory and skin infections, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Interventions of education and training workers and employers in OHS are becoming more important in small workplaces in developing countries as Peru, especially since the covid19 pandemic started. The purpose of the present study was to describe the implementation and its progressive improvement of teaching interventions during 3 years in a small exporter and processor company of hydrobiological products in Peru, including the covid19 pandemic, and to show its impact in the OHS system.Matherials & MethodsThe unit of this case report study was the indicators of teaching interventions as number of participants, professions, time working in OHS, education methods used and a knowledge assessment at the end of intervention. Besides, it was analyzed the impact of the intervention on the frequency of accidents and illnesses in workers, on absenteeism and the indicators of workers ‘health (such as frequency of diseases, workers under treatment, etc). The instrument used was Data collection sheet.ResultsDuring 3 years, the teaching intervention implemented included ‘In Person' and online sessions and tools. Some of the methods included Cases discussion, Role games, Performance-feedback, Video analysis and interactive games. The frequency of accidents was reduced in 20%. Absenteeism was reduced in 33%. Workers with diseases could follow medical exams and start their treatment.ConclusionTeaching interventions had goods results in OHS system reducing accidents and absenteeism at this small company and improving medical surveillance in workers.

Online Examination System with Measures for Prevention of Cheating along with Rapid Assessment and Automatic Grading

The requirement for remote examination had emerged along with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic as the unprecedented situation had brought the world to halt. The pandemic had forced many educational institutions to move towards the online mode of assessment to assess the caliber of the students. This paper focuses on the ways that an online examination system can be prepared and can be used for conducting exams remotely in a secure way. It also emphasizes on various test cases that are essential for an efficient and useful examination system that can benefit both students and faculty by saving them time and effort. Due to the challenges in the existing mode of online assessment such as the use of digital forms that are usually used for conducting surveys, scanning and uploading answer sheets using phone with poor camera quality, the problem of engaging in the different kinds of misconduct, it was important to understand the user requirements at an examiner and examinee level and prepare a web application that addresses them and makes it convenient to conduct and attempt. We propose different methodologies that can be implemented in a Python based web application with the help of JavaScript such as switching the browser window to full-screen in order to restrict access to other applications, limited exits from full-screen, easy management of examiner and candidate data along with visualization of exam data that help to better understand and draw quick conclusions at the time of exam. It is also focused on the continuously evolving distance education system and finding the best software solution possible for online examinations. Additionally, an automated grading system may help to reduce human error and declare results easily reducing fatigue. © 2022 IEEE.

Why ethnic minority groups' online-startups are booming in China's tight cultural ecosystem?

PurposeAlthough most Chinese ethnic minority groups (EMGs) hold conservative thinking to online-startups, the new entrepreneurial model is booming on live streaming platforms. In China's tight cultural ecosystem, the tight cultural control would lead EMG entrepreneurs to keep conservative thinking and avoid challenging careers. Still, it would be helpful for Chinese Governments to issue systematical entrepreneurial policies and improve online-startup environment for EMGs. To discover the relationships among influencing factors and EMGs' online-startup motivation, this paper aims to draw on the tight and loose cultural theory and the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour (COM-B) behaviour changing theory and establishes the research model based on China's tight cultural ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachThrough analysing 617 questionnaires from 37 EMGs based on the partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling method, the study proves that environmental opportunity factors and personal capability factors have positive impacts on EMGs' online-startup motivation and EMGs' conservative thinking negatively moderates the relationship between their online-startup motivation and entrepreneurial development behaviour. In addition to testing the hypotheses, the paper also measures the importance-performance map analysis to explore additional findings of influencing factors and provide suitable suggestions for EMG entrepreneurs and related departments.FindingsRegarding the environmental opportunity unit, both policy support and platform support significantly impact Chinese EMGs' motivation to promote online-startups. For the personal capability unit, a platform using skills positively influences Chinese EMGs to develop online-startups. Meanwhile, EMG cultural knowledge is also necessary for EMG entrepreneurs because abundant cultural resources can be applied to live content and attract online consumers' watching interests. Furthermore, influenced by the tight cultural control, Chinese EMGs tend to hold conservative thinking to new careers and it negatively moderates the relationship between Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation and their final entrepreneurial behaviours. Finally, Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation positively affects them to develop online-startups on live streaming platforms.Originality/valueThis study uses the tight and loose cultural theory to analyse the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and discover influencing factors based on the tight cultural ecosystem. Meanwhile, based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory, this paper divides influencing factors into three different units, including the environmental opportunity unit, the personal capability unit and the Tight cultural control unit. Considering the inter-relationships among these units, the research model is established based on the tight cultural ecosystem to discover Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation.

Differences in interleukin-6 and interleukin-17 expression in COVID-19 post-mortem lung tissue biopsy compared with noncovid- 19

Background: COVID-19 has spread rapidly around the world. It is necessary to study lung tissue of postmortem COVID19 patients to determine the molecular alteration particularly the role of IL-6 and IL-17 in causing fatality. Background: This study aims to determine the differences in the expressions of IL-6 and IL-17 in lung tissue of post-mortem COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients. This study also aimed to analyze the correlation between the expressions of IL-6 and IL-17 in lung tissue of post-mortem COVID-19 patients. Methods: This research is an observational analytic study with crosssectional approach. The samples were 15 paraffin blocks of post-mortem lung tissue biopsy of COVID-19 patients, and 15 paraffin blocks of inflammatory lung tissue biopsy or surgery of non-COVID-19 patients. IL-6 and IL-17 expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemical procedure. Result: There was a significant difference in the expression of IL-6 in the COVID-19 group and the non-COVID-19 group with a p-value = 0.001 (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the expression of IL-17 in the COVID-19 group and the non-COVID-19 group with p-value = 0.001 (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the expressions of IL-6 and IL-17 in the COVID-19 group, with the Spearman coefficient value (rs) of 0.548 with p = 0.034 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There are differences in the expression of IL-6 and IL-17 between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 lung tissue. There is a significant correlation between the expressions of IL-6 and IL-17 in post-mortem lung tissue of COVID-19 patients.