City University Research Articles

HE4 as a Biomarker for Diagnosis of Malignant Ovarian Masses in Bangladeshi Population

Ovarian cancer is one of the commonest cancers in gynecology with very high fatality to case ratio. In approximately 70% of all cases of ovarian cancers, the disease is not diagnosed before reaching an advanced stage. Thus early diagnosis of ovarian malignant tumor becomes a key factor in improving the survival rate of patients. This study was aimed to evaluate HE4 (Human Epididymis 4) biomarker for the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy in admitted patients with pelvic mass of ovarian origin scheduled for surgery from Obstetrics and Gynecology department of different medical colleges of Dhaka city and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). It was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out by non-probability sampling. For this study, 110 admitted patients with ovarian tumor scheduled for surgery were selected.Purpose and procedure of the study was explained in details and informed written consent was taken from all the study subjects before collection of blood sample. Clinical information was taken from the patients’ hospital notes. Before surgery serum HE4 was measured and after surgery, histopathology reports were collected for each patient.Depending on histopathology reports, patients were categorized as benign and malignant. Diagnostic efficacy of HE4 was evaluated with respect to sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratios considering histopathology report as gold standard. To evaluate the performance of HE4 based on optimal cut-off (34.3 pmol/L), we found better sensitivity, NPV and satisfactory likelihood ratios but low specificity and PPV compared to suggested cut-off. The findings of this study shows that HE4 is not a useful biomarker to help in the assessment and management of patients with suspected ovarian cancer.
 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2019; 12(1): 11-15

The Clinical Anatomy Fellowship: Revolutionizing curricular experiences for faculty and students.

Fellows completing the Clinical Anatomy Fellowship at Kansas City University assist Anatomy faculty in the Gross Anatomy laboratory, complete robust research projects, and support other departments. The program's positive impact on participants has been reported; however, the impact on individuals interfacing with Fellows has not been investigated. A follow-up, survey-based (Likert scale, multiple-choice, open-ended) study was conducted to evaluate faculty, staff, and student perceptions of the program. Ninety-five percent of surveyed faculty and staff (n = 22) perceived the Fellows as beneficial to students, faculty, and the university (p < 0.05) by acting as role models (95%) and mentors (90%), contributing to educational processes (90%), and reducing faculty work burden (81%) (p < 0.05). Student responses (n = 95) were also positive: 97% perceived interactions with Fellows as beneficial (p < 0.05). A passion for Anatomy (mean, 4.6; p < 0.05) and the opportunity to increase competitiveness for residency (mean, 4.5; p < 0.05) were the most important factors driving interest in the Fellowship (Cronbach's alpha, 0.766). In contrast, diverting a year from the school's curriculum (mean, 4.4; p < 0.05) and delaying clinical experiences (mean, 4.3; p < 0.05) were the most important deterrents (Cronbach's alpha, 0.505). Additionally, the financial investment required by the program is lower than that associated with hiring full-time faculty. Analysis comparing employment of Fellows versus associate-level faculty identified annual net savings of $370,000. Not only does the Fellowship augment faculty and student experiences at the university, but it also allows for substantial cost savings. Collectively, these data are evidence for other health professional institutions to consider adopting a similar program.

Challenges for Successful Transfer From Community to Bachelor’s Colleges: Views of Staff and Faculty With Transfer Responsibilities

Staff and faculty have influential roles in the success of students transferring from associate’s- to bachelor’s-degree programs (vertical transfer students). Our survey compared the reported views on transfer of 607 staff and faculty with transfer responsibilities in associate’s or bachelor’s programs at 19 City University of New York colleges. The findings included: (1) Staff reported feeling more confident in their responsibilities than did faculty. (2) Participants working with associate’s-degree students were more likely to report their colleges had sufficient transfer-service resources. (3) Associate’s-degree faculty were the least likely participant group to respond that the biggest barrier to the transfer process was GPA decline (transfer shock), and the most likely that it was credit transfer, whereas for bachelor’s-degree faculty, it was the reverse. These findings can inform policy and practice. For example, to work together towards a common goal of transfer student success and higher education equity, faculty may need more support in performing transfer-related duties and bridging their differing views across college sectors.

3D-Printed Aluminium Alloy with Unprecedented Fatigue Resistance

Joint research by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has created an aluminium alloy with unprecedented fatigue resistance using advanced 3D printing techniques.

Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Pregnancy to Reduce Group B Streptococcus Colonisation (OPSiP trial): study protocol for a double-blind parallel group randomised placebo trial

IntroductionGroup B streptococcus (GBS), or Streptococcus agalactiae, remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Canadian guidelines advise universal maternal screening for GBS colonisation in pregnancy in conjunction with...

AN ALTERNATIVE INTERNSHIP MODEL TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING OF TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS AT THE HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION.

This study examines the organization of internship for students majoring in translation and interpreting at the Department of French, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education with a goal to enhance the training quality and better prepare students for new demands from the profession and the labour market. On the basis of the ‘configuration’ proposed by Norbert Elias (1970), this study analyzes the multidimensionality and complexity of internship situations. The findings attained from organizations that provide internship opportunities serve as the basis for improvements to the internship module and the training quality at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.

Do Entrepreneurial Competence and Psychological Well-Being Affect Entrepreneurial Interest among Young Entrepreneurs?

This study aims to determine whether entrepreneurial competence affects entrepreneurial interest among young entrepreneurs and whether psychological well-being affects the entrepreneurial interest of young entrepreneurs in Makassar City universities. This research uses a quantitative approach. The population in this study is Makassar State University students who have a business at a young age. The sampling technique to be used in this study is nonprobability sampling. By taking a saturated sample type, the sample obtained is 30 people. The data collection techniques used were observation, questionnaires, and documentation. Analysis of research data using descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS version 26 program. The results showed that the entrepreneurial competence variable partially had a negative and non-significant effect on the entrepreneurial interest of young entrepreneurs at Makassar State University and the psychological welfare variable partially had a positive and significant effect on the entrepreneurial interest of young entrepreneurs at Makassar State University. Simultaneously (together) entrepreneurial competence and psychological well-being have a positive and significant effect on the entrepreneurial interest of young entrepreneurs.

EFL Students' Perceptions of E-learning Tools’ Effects on Students’ Engagement in English Speaking Skill Online Classes

This paper aims to explore Vietnamese students' perceptions of the effects of e-learning tools on student engagement in English-speaking skills online classes. With a survey design and a mixed-method approach, the study investigated 100 participants, including sophomores and juniors, at the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City. Descriptive statistics and qualitative data gleaned from a questionnaire and 10 semi-structured interviews were analyzed using SPSS and thematic analysis. Findings show e-learning tools enhance student engagement by facilitating speaking discussion, evoking comfort, and contributing to students’ investment in the tasks. On the contrary, e-learning tools hinder student engagement by causing boredom, stress, and distraction. The study results suggest pedagogical implications for teachers in the design of more engaging English-speaking online lessons. Further, faculty and school leaders can consider the research findings when revising and updating their curriculum to meet the increasing demands of online learning and teaching, with learners' engagement as the centrality. Future research can delve more into inferential statistics on the effects of online classes on students' engagement in English speaking, listening, reading, or writing skills.

First documentation of diversity of the Heteroptera of Cotton University Campus, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Assam, India

Cotton University, a developing university in Guwahati city of Kamrup district from Assam is undergoing a lot of developmental changes leading to a change in land use pattern which will have an impact on insect distribution. Heteroptera studies being severely lacking from this region needs attention for their documentation. A survey conducted on the campus from July 2018 to July 2019 every week between 0700–0900 h on all types of vegetation documented a total of 163 bugs of 20 different species under 10 families of Heteroptera. Pentatomidae was found to be the most dominant family with eight recorded species. Wild vegetation supported more diverse bug forms than the other garden plants. This survey is the first record of these insects from the Cotton University campus and such data forms an important database of available bugs from this region in the wake of the developmental changes the university is going through. Any change in their distribution, if found in the future, will reflect the impact of anthropogenic activities on their existence and distribution. Studies of this kind may be minuscule in level, but it forms an important record of their presence before we lose them to time.

Diaspora as an ethno-cultural digital communication subject of foreign students in Russia

The article is devoted to the diaspora study as an ethnocultural communication subject of foreign students in the university educational environment, including the development conditions of interaction digital forms (social networks, messengers, the Internet). The main study purpose is to identify the key functions of the ethnic community, the specifics of the diaspora not only as a socio-cultural phenomenon, but also as an active and influential subject which can play a decisive role in communication processes. The authors turn to the analysis of the accumulated theoretical material, cite as an example the results of a sociological study conducted with a questionnaire survey. The results of the sociological study showed that for foreign students who study at universities in a provincial city (Kursk) and a million-plus city (St. Petersburg), the diaspora, as well as the opportunity to be part of it, plays a fundamental role. For students who have come to study in a small town, the diaspora is significant. There they can find help and support, new forms of leisure, obtain enough information about rules and regulations of the new community. Students who arrive to study in a big city experience cultural shock, may be lost and need special support due to a long period of adaptation. The novelty of the sociological research lies in the fact that a comparative analysis of the diasporic significance for foreign students studying in Kursk and in St. Petersburg is given. The obtained data are used to analyse the current situation in the educational environment. In the future it is planned to conduct periodic wave studies to identify changes in the student environment.

Factors Affecting The Employee Motivation at Non-Public Universities in Ho Chi Minh City

The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting the motivation of white-collar workers at non-public universities and to propose some solutions and human management perspectives with the aim of boosting employees' work motivation, productivity, and quality. This research used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Raw data was collected through a survey of 359 employees working at non-public universities in Ho Chi Minh City. The results of the study indicated 07 factors influencing employees' motivation, as listed statistically from the most crucial to the least influential: i) Salary, Bonus, and Welfare Policies (beta = 0,295); ii) Training activities and promotion (beta = 0,273); iii) Relationship with colleges (beta = 0,186); iv) Relationship with superior (beta = 0,185); v) Working condition (beta = 0,130); vi) Achievement Recognition (beta = 0,104); and vii) Working features (beta = 0,099).

Orofacial complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective analysis from two academic medical centers.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are FDA-approved for various cancers, yet their orofacial immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remain poorly understood. Our two-center retrospective study aims to better understand the prevalence and nature of these orofacial irAEs. We retrospectively collected demographics, ICI details, and onset of orofacial irAEs in ICI-treated patients at University of California San Francisco and City of Hope (2013-2021). Orofacial irAEs were identified by ICD-10 codes and data categorized as dry mouth/xerostomia, oral mucosal lesions, and orofacial neuropathies. Patients with pre-existing orofacial conditions resembling the reported irAEs were excluded. Among 3768 ICI-treated patients, 408 (10.8%) developed 467 orofacial irAEs: oral mucosal diseases (41.4%), dry mouth/xerostomia (41.0%), and orofacial neuropathies (17.6%). Notably, head and neck cancers had the highest incidence of orofacial irAEs. Orofacial irAEs are relatively common in patients receiving ICIs, necessitating careful monitoring and management of these complications during and after the treatment.

Evaluating the Economic Sustainability of Two Selected Urban Centers—A Focus on Amherst and Braintree, MA, USA

While the topic of sustainable development has been extensively explored, there is a lack of quantitative assessment of economic sustainability in the scientific literature; moreover, the term is often interpreted with excessive attention to the environment but not socio-economic inequality. In addition, university cities are often considered the most sustainable, although the higher education system in the United States is often criticized for the inequality of access to it among different racial and other groups of the population. This paper adds to the debate about how the concepts of sustainability and economic development relate. Many researchers have noted that they come into conflict with each other because their ultimate goals are fundamentally different: a voluntary limitation of production and consumption in the interests of future generations and, conversely, the pursuit of well-being during our lives. We would like to explore the issue of economic sustainability, which, at first glance, may become a compromise between the two approaches outlined above. So, our study is devoted to exploring the ambiguous concept of economic sustainability, which can add some new knowledge to the understanding of how social, economic, and ecological factors relate to each other in the broader framework of sustainability. For this objective, we analyzed the economic sustainability of the town of Amherst, MA. The city’s top employer and core enterprise is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with over 32,000 students and almost 2000 staff members. Based on a literature review, a hypothesis was put forward that a university city should have a high level of economic sustainability. To assess economic sustainability, the original methodology based on the US Cities Economic Sustainability Index (USCESI) was developed. It evaluates sustainability in three groups of parameters: society, economy, and ecology. The first group includes the level of racial diversity, the level of education of the population, and the access to medical services. The second group consists of the Gini coefficient by income level, the median cost of housing, and the unemployment rate. The environmental situation is assessed according to the Air Quality Index developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. For comparison, the town of Braintree, MA, was chosen. As a result of the study, the USCESI was calculated for both locations. The analysis showed that both Amherst and Braintree have a high degree of economic sustainability. However, it was revealed that proximity to a significant economic center has a more powerful positive impact on economic sustainability than the location of a large university. In our paper, we proposed a new methodology for measuring economic sustainability with a special focus on inequality as a major problem in American society. The findings provide new knowledge about university cities and debunk the myth that they represent an exception to the general logic of urban development in the United States. A similar approach, with clarification of statistical indicators and a different emphasis, can be applied to other countries where inequality may be the main threat to economic sustainability, not in terms of access to higher education but in other areas.

Determinants of young adults' slow fashion attitudes and idea adoption intentions in Canada, China and South Africa

Purpose Large, influential and profitable young adults are being targeted for fast fashion that negatively impacts the environment. The transition from a fast to an environmentally friendly slow fashion is a challenging process and culturally dependent. The process starts with slow fashion idea adoption. Thus, the authors modified an information acceptance model (IACM) to examine information characteristics (idea/information quality, credibility, usefulness, source credibility) and consumer factors (need for idea and attitudes) impacting intentions to adopt the slow fashion idea in Canada, South Africa (individualists) and China (collectivists).Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional data were collected from South African (n = 197), Chinese (n = 304) and Canadian (n = 227) young adults (18–35 years old) at universities in metropolitan cities. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results show that while most information characteristics and consumer factors are vital for slow fashion attitudes and intention formation, information quality and trust in the sources were a problem in individualistic cultures as opposed to the collectivist culture. This finding confirms the greater tendency of collectivists to trust disseminated information on environmental issues. In all cultures, attitudes impacted idea adoption intentions. On testing IACM, the multigroup analyses showed no significant differences between young adults in the individualistic cultures. Attitudes mediated most relationships and were highly explained by IACM (South Africa, 49.6%; China, 74.5%; and Canada, 64.5%).Originality/valueIn emerging and developed markets, this study informs environmentalists and green fashion brands of information characteristics that can create positive attitudes and slow fashion idea adoption intentions among influential young adults.

Effectiveness of Maitland Manual Therapy Approach Mobilization with Aerobic Exercise in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Background: Low back pain is the most common type of musculoskeletal pain and various treatments are given totreat it. Mobilization and aerobic exercise has very good effect in relieving pain and disability. This study focusesto evaluate the combined effect of mobilization and aerobic exercise program in patient with chronic LBP.Methods: The study designed used was a pretest and post test experimental study. Samples are taken withconvenient sample method. N=10 with a duration of 12 weeks. Posterioanterior mobilization and high intensityexercises where given and data’s were calculated and the results were obtained by two outcome tools –VAS andOSW questionnaire. the data colected from (12/01/2023 to 10/03/2023) with gardern city university physiotherapyout patient department.Results: The pre test mean value of VAS is 7.1 and the post test mean value is 5.8.The mean difference of pre testand post test value of VAS measurement is 1.9.The pre test mean value of OSW questionnaire is 41% and the posttest mean value is 21%. The mean difference of pre test and post test value of OSW questionnaire is 20%.Conclusion: Maitland mobilization with high intensity aerobic exercise was effective in reducing pain anddisability and also in the improvement of range of motion for low back pain. This study can be used as treatmentprotocol in the field of physiotherapy to treat the patient with chronic low back pain.

National or Regional Recruitment: “Market Area” of University Cities

The depopulation of eastern Portugal and concentration on the coast has been a longstanding process. Since 1973 new HEIs has been disseminated around the country, and nowadays, every Portuguese region holds a set of HEIs. However, those closer to the coast tend to have a higher demand than those more distant. It is not clear if each one has a kind of restricted market area, such as a spatial monopoly in its neighbouring area or a national recruitment for some of them. This paper is the first exercise of determination of these areas for the Portuguese public network of HEIs. We use a database from the Ministry of Education (DGEEC-Ministry of Education) with information of the pair, place of residence (municipality level) and respective HEI, for enrolled students. Through techniques of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), we will look for clusters of municipalities that could be market areas for each “university city” considered. We also use fractional regression models that confirm the positive correlation between the chosen university city and the distance to the family home and belonging to the market area. Despite some overlaps, the market areas of the university cities look to be well defined.

THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION READINESS TOWARDS THE NEW NORMALCY IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Due to digital technology advancements and the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities have evolved their interest in integrating new communication technologies into the classroom, strengthening the institution’s digital transformation. As a result, having mechanisms to depict these technologies in higher education has become indispensable. This investigation aimed to see if the university was inclined to digitally transform its procedures using technical skills, equipment capabilities, and a freeware learning platform. There were 121 professors and 3,069 scholars from various colleges who took part in the examination. An analysis model was designed and utilized at Taguig City University (TCU) as a case study to support the research. In Academic Year 2020-2021, the researchers collected data by disseminating an online questionnaire to professors and scholars. According to the statistical analysis of the collected data, professors and scholars agreed that they are moderately competent at using technical resources with higher operating systems. Participants are comfortable with and prefer to communicate with their professors and scholars using a freeware learning platform. With these findings, the university should experience even more dramatic changes, driven by the necessity to digitalize education and training procedures with professors who lack inherent technological talents for online instruction. In a world of digital transformation, disruptive technologies, and accelerated change, the university system must work hard to confound this circumstance to remain competitive and deliver high-quality teaching and learning approach. The debate and conclusion incorporate significant understandings that academic scholars can use to digitalize education at the earliest.

DAMPAK KONTEN PEMASARAN DI MEDIA SOSIAL TERHADAP CITRA DAN PENGARUHNYA PADA KEPUTUSAN MENDAFTAR DI PERGURUAN TINGGI

This research was conducted to determine and analyze the impact of marketing on social media on image and its influence on the decision to enroll in college. This research conducted a survey of students at private universities with b and excellent accreditation. The sample in this research was 100 people using a quota sampling method and this research used a quantitative approach with an inductive descriptive method, namely collecting, presenting, analyzing and testing hypotheses and compiling marketing content, institutional image and students' decisions to enroll in higher education according to their perceptions. first year student at a private university in Pekanbaru City. Quantitative analysis includes: validity and reliability tests and SEM analysis. Qualitative analysis is an interpretation of the data obtained in research as well as the results of data processing that has been carried out by providing information and explanations. The research results found that marketing content had a positive and significant influence on the decision to register, marketing content had a positive and significant influence on the institutional image, institutional image had a positive and significant influence on the decision to register, and institutional image was able to mediate the influence of marketing content on the decision to register at a private university in Pekanbaru city Keywords: Content Marketing, Institution Image, Student Decisions

On the self-assessment of ocular status and of visual functions by senior students at Russian medical universities (anonymous survey results)

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment is a worldwide problem for the humanity in general, including students.&#x0D; AIM: to conduct a rough estimate of the visual system status in senior medical students at Russian universities taking a training according to General Medicine educational program 31.05.01 (specialty) and having completed the ophthalmology course.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: an online anonymous survey of students from five universities in various cities of the country was conducted using an original interactive questionnaire. Answers were received from 549 respondents, predominantly women (n = 425, 77.4%), mean age 22.4 ± 0,06 years.&#x0D; RESULTS: Only 42.7% of students rated their vision as “excellent” or “good.” The most common refractive error according to the survey participants’ self-assessment was myopia, which was reported by 56.1% of them, while 21.9% of respondents reported that they did not know their clinical refraction; 25.5% of students confirmed the presence of astigmatism. 56.9% of respondents use optical correction, glasses being the most popular option. 76.7% of the respondents had their vision testing, and 64.5% visited an ophthalmologist within the last year. Any other concomitant ocular condition (refractive errors excluded) was reported by 4.9% of students (most frequently various types of vitreoretinal pathology, dry eye syndrome, and strabismus were mentioned). 57.9% of respondents believe their vision to have worsened over the past few years, and excessive visual stress was considered the leading cause, reported by 57.2% of the study participants. The respondents rated the importance of having a good vision at 9.25 ± 0.06 points on an arbitrary scale from 1 (minimum) to 10 (maximum) points.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: Senior students at Russian medical universities highly appreciate the importance of good vision, while more than half of respondents have visual impairments, use optical correction, and also believe that their vision continues to deteriorate. Insufficient awareness of some students about their vision and gaps in ophthalmological knowledge were revealed.

Low-dose fluconazole as a useful and safe prophylactic option in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) represent a potentially fatal complication in patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) if the initiation of therapy is delayed. Some guidelines recommend antifungal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy for these patients depending on the risk of IFIs following allogeneic HSCT. This retrospective study aimed to identify the group of patients who safely undergo allogeneic HSCT with low-dose fluconazole (FLCZ) prophylaxis (100 mg/day). We retrospectively reviewed 107 patients who underwent their first allogeneic HSCT at Nagoya City University Hospital from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. We analyzed the efficacy of low-dose FLCZ prophylaxis and investigated the relationship between major risk factors and antifungal prophylaxis failure (APF) within 100 days post-transplant. Of the 107 patients, 70 received low-dose FLCZ prophylaxis, showing a cumulative incidence of APF of 37.1% and a proven/probable IFI rate of 4.3%. There were no fungal infection-related deaths, including Aspergillus infections, in the FLCZ prophylaxis group. In a multivariable analysis, cord blood transplantation (CBT) (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR), 3.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-8.77; p = 0.006) and abnormal findings on lung CT before transplantation (SHR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.02-4.92; p = 0.044) were independent risk factors for APF in the FLCZ prophylaxis group. Low-dose FLCZ prophylaxis is a useful and safe option for patients receiving allogeneic HSCT, except in those undergoing CBT or having any fungal risk features including history of fungal infections, positive fungal markers, and abnormal findings on lung CT before transplantation.