The need to embrace e-learning programs in institutions of higher learning was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the closure of learning institutions and the need to use a variety of different digital platforms and technologies to ensure continuity of learning. Consequently, in many universities, there is increasing pressure to adapt to the teaching of online or blended programs, leading to heightened digital anxiety in both students and faculty. While there is general consensus on the inevitability of e-learning, the need to implement tangible usersupport systemsto address the resultant digital anxiety in both staff and faculty, and ensure quality in e-learning programs, has not been emphasized. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) proposed by Davis (1989), as cited by Lin & Yu (2023), underscores user acceptance and support as a critical component for success in the acceptance to use any technology. Thus, students and faculty must be adequately supported to embrace the paradigm shift to the digital classroom; without which there will be continuous resistance to e-learning programs in institutions of higher learning. This resistance will result in ineffective e-learning programs with the release of graduates who are not adequately trained and skilled for the labor market. This paper will present the practical implementation of user support in key areas of e-learning aimed at addressing digital anxiety for both staff and students in Mount Kenya University, Kenya. Specific reference will be made to user support in online content design and development; user support in online teaching and learning; and user support in online assessment and examinations. The information on the implemented user support systems is presented based on an analysis of the actual support mechanisms adopted by the university, from an administrative point of view; and empirical data from students and faculty on their perception of the effectiveness of the implemented user support mechanisms. The empirical data from students and faculty was collected using a concurrent mixed method design; based on quantitative and qualitative responses from an end-user survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with the sampled students and faculty at the university. The discussion of findings and recommendations presented should aid other higher learning institutions in conceptualizing the implementation of user support systems for effective elearning; with the ultimate aim of addressing the digital anxiety in staff and students that may impact on the quality of e-learning programs. The data presented can also form a baseline for more extensive studies on user support mechanisms adopted by other higher learning institutions; for comparative analysis and adoption of best practices in e-learning.
In this article, we present a new solution for the\nconvex hull problem. The convex hull is a widely\nknown problem in computational geometry. Our\nsolution has been inspired by nature. A tight elastic\nband is modeled using agents and also nails as points\nof the problem. By simulating an elastic band with\nnails in an environment, we will be able to solve the\nconvex hull problem. The algorithm runs in O(t) in\nwhich t is the time that an elastic band will get fixed.
Introduction\nSudden unexpected cardiac arrest and death accounts as an important common cause of all deaths from cardiovascular causes of death. All Basic life support (BLS) practitioners are required to receive training in order to perform effective and qualified interventions. We have investigated the effectiveness of curriculum based BLS training. The performance levels of the students before and after training and their skill retentions after a time period were measured. \nMethods:\nA total of 70 students were selected as the study population. Participants were asked to perform BLS with 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths on a simulation manikin before emergency medicine clerkship program (Measurement 1). Within the first week after the clerkship the early post-training skill levels of the participants were measured again (Measurement 2). In order to evaluate the retention of skills, their BLS performances were measured after 9 months (Measurement 3). All measurements were performed by a single observer and with the same simulation manikin.\nResults \nThe overall CPR score, ventilation score and compression score were found to be statistically significant. A statistically significant difference was found between the pre-training, post-training measurements and the measurements that took place 9 months later, in the parameters of overall CPR and compression scores (p<0.001 and p<0.001). A significant difference was found between measurements of the mean compression depth, percentage of compression with sufficient depth to relaxation ratio (p<0.001, p = 0.009 and p<0.001).\nConclusion \nIn conclusion, BLS training provided to medical faculty Year 5 students in the Emergency Medicine clerkship program, increased the effectiveness of chest compression, and this skill did not regress within 9 months.
Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Pipeline embolization device (PED) in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA), as well as the effects on parent artery and branch vessels. \nMethods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with IA treated with PED in our department and the short-term efficacy after surgery. 57 patients with IA treated with PED were reviewed. \nResults: 60 PED were used in 63 aneurysms in 57 patients. Two patients had perioperative technical complications. Immediately after surgery, the parent artery was kept open. In all cases, the branches (collateral branches) covered by the PED showed patency and no occlusion confirmed by immediate postoperative angiography (IPA). IPA showed complete aneurysm occlusion in 5 cases (5/63, 8%), near complete occlusion in 22 cases (22/63, 35%), partial occlusion in 7 cases (7/63, 11%), and contrast stasis in 29 cases (29/63, 46%)(χ2=2.346, P=0.672). Twenty-three patients with aneurysms were treated with PED alone and 40 patients with aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE). \nConclusion: PED is safe for the treatment of aneurysms with and without stent assisted coiling. It is safer for parent arteries and collateral vessels. It has a low incidence of permanent dysfunction and is effective in the treatment of IA.
Cyprus is a small island that is home to two separate communities: Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The history of malarial fevers in Cyprus has been long and tragic, and over the centuries, these fevers have cost many lives on the island and have been the major cause of chronic ill-health and invalidism. As a result of the eradication project, Cyprus went down in history as the first country in the world where malaria was eradicated and malaria infection has not been observed in Cyprus since 1950. However, due to foreign students and workers coming to the island in recent years, there is an increase in import malaria cases. Nowadays, it is clear that the immigration to the island, especially in the regions where malaria is endemic, poses a risk for the emergence of domestic malaria cases. In this review, the historical importance of malaria in Cyprus is discussed.
At any deregulated distribution network, of modern power systems, the prime goal is ensuring stability and uninterrupted quality power supply. In order to supply sensitive loads even under dynamic changes, reactive power compensation and real power flow control are mandatory. In this case, the Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) a converter-based FACTS controller can emulate either inductive or capacitive reactance in the transmission lines. Hence it can eliminate the rigidness of the transmission lines and hence improved control over instantaneous power flow. The objective of the integration of SSSC in the power system is to improve the system performance during steady-state and transient states. In this work, SSSC in Power Injection Model (PIM) is incorporated with the SMIB test power system. The overall study is carried out in MATLAB software and proven simulation test results are obtained.
The study was carried out to understand the farmer’s perception and current management practices against insect and disease pests and profitability analysis of five winter vegetables grown in the Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. Results revealed the highest occurrences of fungal diseases – curd rot of cauliflower and early blight of tomato. Wilt, caused by both fungus and bacterial, was one of the most damaging diseases of brinjal and tomato. Farmers took appropriate measures to control aphid (threshold level 40-150 insect population m–2 or 20-50 infected shoot m–2) and brinjal shoot and fruit borer (threshold level 10-50 insect population 10m–2 or 20-60 infected shoot or fruit 10m–2). They used physical, chemical and IPM practices to control the disease and insect pests, the highest number of insecticide sprays (35-45 times) were done to control shoot and fruit borer insects of brinjal. The total cost of production followed the trend Tomato>Brinjal>Bean >Cauliflower>Bottle gourd. The highest return, gross margin and net return (Tk. 987,000.00, 800,572.00 and 763,117.00 ha–1, respectively; US$ 1 = Tk. Bangladesh currency 85.27 on 24 September 2021) was found from brinjal cultivation. On contrary, the lowest return was (Tk. 700,000.00 ha–1) from bottle gourd cultivation, and the lowest gross margin and net return were Tk. 539,152.00 and 507,322.00 from tomato cultivation. The highest profitability index, benefit-cost ratio (both variable and total cost basis) and rate of return on investment were also found from brinjal cultivation and the lowest from tomato cultivation. Rot and blight disease, as well as shoot and fruit borer or fruit borer and aphid, were the most recurrent insect of the winter vegetable in the surveyed area; and brinjal is the more profitable vegetable compare to others.
Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of the ratio of peripheral blood CD45+CXCR4+Collagen-1+fibroblasts to monocytes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). \nMethods: The study subjects included 22 patients with IPF (IPF group) and 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD (COPD group) who were hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital from January 2017 to June 2019, and 20 healthy controls (control group). Flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of CD45+CXCR4+Collagen 1+ fibroblasts to monocytes in peripheral blood of these individuals, and the differences in peripheral values between IPF, COPD group and control group were compared. \nResults: The proportion of CD45+CXCR4+Collagen 1+ cells/fibroblasts in the peripheral blood of patients in the IPF group was 29.08±15.24%, 5.0±2.63% in the COPD group, and 0.98±0.68% in the control group. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.01). \nConclusion: Peripheral blood CD45+CXCR4+Collagen 1+ cell/fibroblast ratio can be used as an important serum marker for the diagnosis of IPF.