10 research outputs found
Creating Businesses by Students, Challenges and Prospects: Insights from the University of Cape Coast
No full textThe goal of this study was to look into and explore the challenges (impacts) and opportunities that University of Cape Coast students encounter. To determine the characteristics impacting student entrepreneurship, the researcher used diffusion of innovation theory, McClelland theory, Abraham Maslow\u27s hierarchy, and Keller\u27s arcs model. The study\u27s objectives included analyzing the academic obstacles or impact of student entrepreneurship, social problems or impact of student entrepreneurship, economic challenges or impact of student entrepreneurship, and the possibilities of entrepreneur ventures. The principal research technique was a self-administered questionnaire in this quantitative study. Descriptive statistics were employed to acquire a broad idea of the data distribution. To get a general understanding of the data distribution, descriptive statistics were used. Frequency distribution and percentages were utilized as descriptive statistical techniques. Students feel entrepreneurship has a negative impact on their academics, but they also believe it has major economic, social, and career benefits, according to the research. As a result, most students believe that entrepreneurship is a worthy concept to pursue while at university, but the largest barrier preventing them from doing so is their concern of compromising their academic standing. A new entrepreneurship program has recently been launched at the University of Cape Coast, which is a positive move in the right direction. Students should also be better aware of the many government and non-government groups financial help options accessible to them. The author suggests that future studies use a bigger sample size to address these issues. Larger sample sizes are necessary for each of the components
IASB'S Recent Update on the Extractive Activities Project: A Comment
Get PDFIn January 2022, the IASB published an article on the Extractive Activities project where Tadeu Cendon explains the IASB's decision on the project. Although the IASB acknowledges the existence of the problem of diversity in accounting practices in the EI, they have decided to tentatively remove the temporary status of IFRS 6 and also limit the scope of the extractive project to exclude some aspects stakeholders find important. This comment is a reaction to the Board's decision and personal reflections of the author. We find that the IASB's decision may not be based on available empirical evidence but other unexplained factors. Based on existing literature we are tempted to believe; the Board might be subject to significant political pressure which is influencing their decision, or they have decided to choose an easier route to avoid fierce opposition or lobbying that is likely to come from powerful players in the industry. We recommend the Board rescinds its decision and address the issue of diversity of accounting practices in the EI in a more holistic fashion
Ghana Accountability For Learning Outcomes Projects (Galop) and its Impact On Academic Progression In Abuakwa North Municipality
No full textThis study assesses Ghana's Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) role in students' academic progress in Abuakwa North Municipality. The respondents of this research are the GALOP teachers from nineteen (19) GALOP schools totalling 140 teachers. But the responding rate was 120 teachers. The study employed census sampling methods, and a questionnaire to gather information from respondents. A quantitative research approach was adopted using a descriptive cross-sectional design. The main analytical tools used in the study include frequency, distribution, percentages and linear regression. The findings revealed that GALOP positively impacted the quality of education in low-performing basic education schools. Again, GALOP was found to significantly predict learners' academic progression, indicating that the model (GALOP) activities explained 14.2% of the variance in learners' academic progress. Based on these results, it is recommended that teachers should be given adequate teachers professional development programs to enhance their abilities and improve their teaching competencies, which will enable them to implement the GALOP activities effectively. Effective implementation of GALOP positively impacts the learners’ academic progress. The study further recommends that GES should always give incentives or motivation to teachers to attract effective teaching
Association of cardiovascular risk factors and troponin elevation after generalized tonic-clonic seizures
No full textPurpose Troponins are very sensitive biomarkers of myocardial injury. Conflicting data regarding elevation of troponin levels following a generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure have been reported. In this study we hypothesized that troponin elevation after a GTC seizure occurs more frequently in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Methods Patients who presented to the ER after a single GTC seizure with troponin levels assessed by cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and drawn within 12 h of the GTC seizure were included. Patients with cardiac symptoms, elevated CPK levels or renal insufficiency were excluded. The frequency and risk factors for elevated cTnT levels were analyzed. Results Fourteen patients with a mean age of 54 years (range: 19-87 years) were included. Four patients (28.6percent) had elevated cTnT levels (mean = 0.06 μg-L; range: 0.035-0.076 μg-L). Patients with elevated cTnT levels were significantly older than those with normal levels (77.5 years vs. 45.5 years; P = 0.03). Of the eight patients 60 years of age and older, four (50percent) had elevated cTnT levels. The coronary heart disease (CHD) score was significantly higher in patients with elevated cTnT levels compared to those with normal levels (13.5 vs. 9.75, P = 0.012). Conclusions Elevated troponin levels can occur after a GTC seizure. Patients at risk are the elderly and those with cardiovascular risk factors. Our results suggest that elevation of troponin levels after a GTC seizure reflects a minor ischemic cardiac injury related to the demand ischemia during the sympathetic overactivity that accompanies a GTC seizure. © 2013 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ADAMS JE, 1993, CIRCULATION, V88, P101; Alehan F, 2009, EPILEPSIA, V50, P755, DOI 10.1111-j.1528-1167.2008.01793.x; Alpert JS, 2000, J AM COLL CARDIOL, V36, P959; Apple FS, 2002, AM HEART J, V144, P981, DOI 10.1067-mhj.2002.124048; Braun SL, 1996, CLIN CHEM, V42, P2039; Brobbey A, 2004, AM J MED SCI, V328, P189, DOI 10.1097-00000441-200409000-00012; Chin PS, 2004, NEUROLOGY, V63, P2453; Di Angelantonio E, 2005, J NEUROL NEUROSUR PS, V76, P76, DOI 10.1136-jnnp.2004.041491; Dixit S, 2000, ARCH INTERN MED, V160, P3153, DOI 10.1001-archinte.160.20.3153; Eskandarian R, 2011, ARCH MED RES, V42, P439, DOI 10.1016-j.arcmed.2011.09.002; Hajsadeghi S, 2009, ARCH MED RES, V40, P24, DOI 10.1016-j.arcmed.2008.10.002; James P, 2000, BRIT MED J, V320, P1502, DOI 10.1136-bmj.320.7248.1502; LI D, 1995, CLIN BIOCHEM, V28, P474, DOI 10.1016-0009-9120(95)00027-7; Li SF, 2005, AM J EMERG MED, V23, P860, DOI 10.1016-j.ajem.2005.05.008; Lofberg M, 1996, CLIN CHEM, V42, P1120; Montepietra S, 2009, SEIZURE-EUR J EPILEP, V18, P379, DOI [10.1016-j.seizure.2008.11.004, 10.1016-j.seizttre.2008.11.004]; MullerBardorff M, 1997, CLIN CHEM, V43, P458; Park Jinkyu, 2011, Korean Circ J, V41, P681, DOI 10.4070-kcj.2011.41.11.681; Sieweke N, 2012, BMC NEUROL, V12, DOI 10.1186-1471-2377-12-58; Surges R, 2009, NAT REV NEUROL, V5, P492, DOI 10.1038-nrneurol.2009.118; Thygesen K, 2012, CIRCULATION, V126, P2020, DOI 10.1161-CIR.0b013e31826e1058; Tsai SH, 2008, AM J EMERG MED, V26, P331, DOI [10.1016-j.ajem.2007.05.031, 10.1016-j.ajem.2007.05.03]; Twig G, 2007, ISR MED ASSOC J, V9, P889; Wagner A, 2003, LANCET, V361, P374, DOI 10.1016-S0140-6736(03)12389-6; Wilson PWF, 1998, CIRCULATION, V97, P1837; Woodruff BK, 2003, NEUROLOGY, V60, P16900
La actuación responsable de los niños más allá de los derechos y deberes de la ciudadanía
Get PDFA responsabilidade se tornou um conceito-chave na discussão acerca da balança entre os direitos e deveres de cidadania das crianças. Se, tradicionalmente, as crianças não eram consideradas sujeitos de direitos, atualmente, mais do que reconhecê-los, também se tem reivindicado pelos seus deveres. Este trabalho visa discutir e problematizar a noção de responsabilidade como um cumprimento de dever/obrigação universal pelos indivíduos e seus atributos e apresenta o agir responsável por uma perspectiva relacional como uma forma de contemplar o exercício da cidadania das crianças em seu cotidiano. Para tal, o artigo apresenta resultados de um trabalho de campo com crianças de 11 e 12 anos de idade, moradoras de uma comunidade da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, acerca de suas compreensões sobre a noção responsabilidade e a teatralização de cenas em que elas puderem expor situações que envolvessem essa noção. Os resultados problematizam o discurso da responsabilidade como ideia de obrigação individual e revelam que as encenações realizadas pelas crianças contemplam dilemas morais e relações de interdependência mais complexos do que apenas o discurso retórico aponta.Responsibility has become a key concept in the balance between the rights and duties of children's citizenship. If, traditionally, children were not considered as subjects of rights, nowadays, more than to recognize them as such, governments are also asserting their duties. This paper aims to discuss and to question the notion of responsibility understood as a fulfillment of individual universal duties/obligations and its attributes, and presents the responsible action from a relational perspective as a way of contemplating the exercise of children's citizenship in their daily lives. To this end, the article presents the results from a field work undertaken with 11 and 12 year old children living in a community in the city of Rio de Janeiro, about their understanding of the responsibility and the dramatization of scenes in which they stage situations involving this notion. The results problematize the discourse of responsibility as an idea of individual obligation and reveal that the scenarios performed by the children contemplate moral dilemmas and relations of interdependence more complex than the ones that the rhetorical discourse points out.La responsabilidad se ha convertido en un concepto clave en la discusión sobre el equilibrio entre los derechos y deberes de la ciudadanía de los niños y niñas. Si, tradicionalmente, los niños y las niñas no eran considerados sujetos de derechos, actualmente, más que reconocerlos como tales, muchos gobiernos reivindican sus deberes. Este trabajo pretende discutir y problematizar la noción de responsabilidad, entendida como el cumplimiento de un deber/obligación universal por los individuos, y sus atributos, y presenta la actuación responsable desde una perspectiva relacional como forma de contemplar el ejercicio de la ciudadanía de los niños en su vida cotidiana. El artículo presenta los resultados de un trabajo de campo realizado con niños y niñas de 11 y 12 años de edad, que residen en una comunidad de la ciudad de Río de Janeiro, acerca de la forma en que comprenden la noción de responsabilidad y la teatralización de escenas por medio de las cuales pudieran exponer situaciones que incorporan esa noción. Los resultados problematizan el discurso de la responsabilidad como idea de obligación individual y revelan que las escenificaciones realizadas por los niños y niñas plantean dilemas morales y relaciones de interdependencia más complejos que los que apunta sólo el discurso retórico
Accuracy of the Wound Healing Questionnaire in the diagnosis of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery in low- and middle-income countries
Get PDFIntroductionTelemedicine is being adopted for postoperative surveillance but requires evaluation for efficacy. This study tested a telephone Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) to diagnose surgical site infection (SSI) after abdominal surgery in low- and middle-income countries.MethodA multi-centre, international, prospective study was embedded in the FALCON trial; a factorial RCT testing measures to reduce SSI in seven low- and middle-income countries (NCT03700749). It was conducted according to a pre-registered protocol (SWAT126) and reported according to STARD guidelines. The reference test was in-person review by a trained clinician at 30 postoperative days according to US Centres for Disease Control criteria. The index test was telephone administration of an adapted WHQ at 27 to 30 postoperative days by a researcher blinded to the outcome of in-person review. The sum of item response scores generated an overall score between 0 and 29. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of the WHQ, defined as the proportion of SSI correctly identified by the telephone WHQ, and summarized using the area under the receiving operator characteristic curve (AUROC) and diagnostic test accuracy statistics.ResultsPatients were included from three upper-middle income (396 patients, 13 hospitals), three lower-middle income (746 patients, 19 hospitals), and one low-income country (54 patients, 4 hospitals). 90.3% (1088 of 1196) patients were successfully contacted. Those with non-midline incisions (adjusted odds ratio: 0.36, 95% c.i. 0.17 to 0.73, P=0.005) or a confirmed diagnosis of SSI on in-person assessment (odds ratio: 0.42, 95% c.i. 0.20 to 0.92, P=0.006) were harder to reach. The questionnaire correctly discriminated between most patients with and without SSI (AUROC 0.869, 95% c.i. 0.824 to 0.914), which was consistent across subgroups. A representative cut-off score of ≥4 displayed a sensitivity of 0.701 (0.610-0.792), specificity of 0.911 (0.878-0.943), positive predictive value of 0.723 (0.633-0.814) and negative predictive value of 0.901 (0.867-0.935).ConclusionSSI can be diagnosed using a telephone questionnaire (obviating in-person assessment) in low resource settings
Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis
No full textBackground: The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model. Results: In the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever). Conclusion: This study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways
Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. RESULTS: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). DISCUSSION: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability
Neurociencia y comportamiento del consumidor: análisis estadístico de su evolución y tendencias en su investigación
No full textConsumer neuroscience examines the behavior of the brain in response to the different stimuli that brands carry out to determine the main factors that lead a person to consume a product. The present study performs a bibliometric analysis of neuroscience and consumer behavior literature. The most influential countries, authors, journals, and institutions, their structure, and future lines of research were identified. The review was carried out based on a bibliometric and network analysis of documents published in the Scopus database between 2007 and 2021. A scientific mapping was carried out on 178 documents. From the network analysis, three perspectives or clusters of information were identified: Advertising and its emotional impact, Brands, and their search to persuade the consumer, and Emotions and their influence on the brain and consumer behavior. Finally, the agenda for future research are presented.La neurociencia del consumidor examina el comportamiento del cerebro ante los diferentes estímulos que producen las marcas con el fin de poder determinar cuáles son los principales factores que llevan a una persona a consumir un producto. El presente estudio realiza un análisis bibliométrico de la literatura de la neurociencia y el comportamiento del consumidor en el que se identificaron los países, autores, revistas e instituciones más influyentes, su estructura y las líneas futuras de investigación. La revisión se efectuó a partir de un análisis bibliométrico y de redes de documentos publicados en la base de datos Scopus entre los años 2007 y 2021. Se realizó un mapeo científico a 178 documentos y a partir del análisis de redes se identificaron tres perspectivas o clústeres de investigación: la publicidad y su impacto emocional; las marcas y su persuasión al consumidor; y las emociones y su influencia en el cerebro y el comportamiento del consumidor. Por último, se presenta la agenda para futuras investigaciones
Neurociencia y comportamiento del consumidor: análisis estadístico de su evolución y tendencias en su investigación
Get PDFConsumer neuroscience examines the behavior of the brain in response to the different stimuli that brands carry out to determine the main factors that lead a person to consume a product. The present study performs a bibliometric analysis of neuroscience and consumer behavior literature. The most influential countries, authors, journals, and institutions, their structure, and future lines of research were identified. The review was carried out based on a bibliometric and network analysis of documents published in the Scopus database between 2007 and 2021. A scientific mapping was carried out on 178 documents. From the network analysis, three perspectives or clusters of information were identified: Advertising and its emotional impact, Brands, and their search to persuade the consumer, and Emotions and their influence on the brain and consumer behavior. Finally, the agenda for future research are presented.La neurociencia del consumidor examina el comportamiento del cerebro ante los diferentes estímulos que producen las marcas con el fin de poder determinar cuáles son los principales factores que llevan a una persona a consumir un producto. El presente estudio realiza un análisis bibliométrico de la literatura de la neurociencia y el comportamiento del consumidor en el que se identificaron los países, autores, revistas e instituciones más influyentes, su estructura y las líneas futuras de investigación. La revisión se efectuó a partir de un análisis bibliométrico y de redes de documentos publicados en la base de datos Scopus entre los años 2007 y 2021. Se realizó un mapeo científico a 178 documentos y a partir del análisis de redes se identificaron tres perspectivas o clústeres de investigación: la publicidad y su impacto emocional; las marcas y su persuasión al consumidor; y las emociones y su influencia en el cerebro y el comportamiento del consumidor. Por último, se presenta la agenda para futuras investigaciones
