Lines Of Communication Research Articles

The role of an equine nutritionist in equine health, performance and wellbeing: Ideas stemming from an equine science society symposium workshop

In the United States, there is little clarity on the qualifications and availability of equine nutritionists. Currently, no regulatory body exists for formal credentialing outside of veterinary medicine. Most equine nutritionists are not veterinarians but do have advanced scientific degrees (Master of Science and/or Doctor of Philosophy) in the field of Animal Science. However, not all reporting to be equine nutritionists have formal education in the field of equine nutrition. To discuss this, a workshop was held at the 2023 Equine Science Society (ESS) meeting. The purpose of this discussion was to share ideas among equine nutrition professionals about how best to provide support for the inclusion of the specialty as part of a horse's health team, alongside the veterinarian, farrier and other equine health specialists. In human, small animal and livestock practices, the importance of nutrition as part of an overall health, production (livestock) and well-being plan has been documented. However, surveys of veterinarians, the top source of information for horse owners, reveal a lack of confidence in the area of nutrition after graduating from veterinary school and a lack of available continuing education opportunities to learn more. Further, it appears that many horse owners may unknowingly be obtaining nutrition information from unverified sources (such as the internet). The discussion included formal and informal education of equine nutritionists, as well as avenues to open lines of communication with the veterinary community to provide nutrition resources for horse owners, managers and veterinarians.

A Kingdom of Possibility

A Kingdom of Possibility

Perceptions of religious Israeli high school principals regarding school climate after the COVID-19 pandemic, and its connection to their management style

PurposeThe global COVID-19 crisis posed many managerial and leadership challenges for principals. More specifically, after the crisis passed noticeable changes in school climate manifested and affected principal management style. The present study examined perceptions of principals regarding school climate and its impact on management style. The research literature clearly affirms the profound impact of school climate in terms of the relationship between students and school leaders. The study focused solely on religious high schools because, in Israel, the negative impact of the pandemic was most marked there.Design/methodology/approachThe study was qualitative in nature, and included semi-structured interviews with 10 religious school principals in Israel. Study participants were asked about the existing school climate and their management style in light of the COVID-19 period.FindingsThis study indicated that positive school climate and interpersonal relationships between principals and students were affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Study participants reported that principals had to work arduously in the post-COVID-19 period to restore and improve positive school climate and consequently their management style also needed altering. Specifically, restoring open lines of communication and a sense of belonging as the main components of the school climate were the main foci of principal work. The principals' management style had to be more open and inclusive to restore a sense of belonging and security among students.Originality/valueThe study highlights the importance of an open and inclusive management style to restore positive school climate after crises.

Pengaruh ULTAJAS (Ular Tangga Jajanan Sehat) Terhadap Peningkatan Pengetahuan Anak Tentang PJAS (Pangan Jajanan Anak Sekolah)

Abstract Introduction: PHBS is very easy to say but is it easy to do if implemented? According to Diana 2013 PHBS is difficult to implement because it requires awareness and seriousness about the importance of maintaining health. PHBS is an effort to provide a learning experience that creates conditions for individuals, families and groups by opening lines of communication, providing information and conducting useful education to increase knowledge and attitudes regarding clean and healthy living behavior through approaches, atmosphere building and community empowerment. Health education is very important for children, especially school-age children because at that age children will learn directly from their school environment. Therefore, it is important for school children to know about clean and healthy living behaviors about consuming healthy snacks. Through snakes and ladders games, children are able to develop their motor skills, are able to know themselves, work together with friends, are able to recognize emotions and are more disciplined. Meanwhile, through healthy snacks, children's knowledge increases about healthy and unhealthy snacks, is able to save money not to snack on healthy snacks. not good, children will be more careful in snacking at school and children will focus more on bringing the provisions given by their parentsObjective : The purpose of this health education activity is to increase children’s knowledge about healthy and nutritioous snacks and to make efforts to reduce the poor nutritional status of healthy and unhealthy snacks in Karangpaningal Village, Bojongnangka Hamlet, Panawangan Ciamis. Method: Health education methodology that includes self-health. Participants in this consultation are expected to be able to implement a comprehensive strategy, especially in creating new behaviors, especially PHBS, in the school and community environment. Result: From the results of the study it can be concluded that before delivering the health consultation material as many as 2 people (0.3%) were able to answer questions before the material was delivered, 3 people (0.5%) did not know. Participants did not know about healthy snacks, 1 person (0.2%) participants did not know, participants did not know about healthy snacks. After health counseling, the knowledge of PHBS healthy snack participants increased 100% to 6 people. Conclusion: Expanding knowledge about healthy snacking is a great start for teaching clean and healthy living habits in everyday life. After knowing the characteristics of unhealthy snacks and the dangers of unhealthy snacks, it is hoped that children will stop buying unhealthy snacks.

Influence of Family Variables on Sexual Molestation of Secondary School Students in Aba Education Zone, Abia State

The study investigated the influence of family variables on sexual molestation of secondary school students in Aba Education Zone, Abia State. Two research questions were answered using descriptive statistics. Two null hypotheses were tested with inferential statistics at .05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised all senior secondary school students in Aba Education Zone, Abia State. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 272 students for the study. A researcher made instrument tagged: family variables and sexual molestation questionnaire (FVSMQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by an expert in measurement and evaluation while Cronbach alpha analysis was used for internal consistency of the instrument which yielded a coefficient of .80. The two hypothesis were tested using one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and F-value obtained were significant at .05 level. It was therefore concluded that family structure and parents’ level of education influenced senior secondary school students’ experience on sexual molestation in Aba Education Zone, Abia State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that parents should ensure that lines of communication are kept open at home and closed family ties maintained so that children will never shy away from discussing sexual concerns with their parents.

Pay Transparency Causing Major Impacts in Reward Strategies: New Research from Reward Leaders

This paper examines the results of a global Korn Ferry survey that assessed pay transparency-related market practices. Despite increased attention and pressure from internal and external stakeholders, organizations are still in the early stages of implementing pay transparency strategies. Organizations plan to overhaul their reward communication strategies, with manager training and employee education as the primary focus areas. Managers play a critical role as the first line of communication with employees on their team, and organizations recognize that a significant upskilling effort will be needed to enable them to communicate effectively about pay decisions and avoid unintended consequences. The authors provide considerations for organizations moving toward more transparent pay practices, including clarifying a pay transparency strategy, assessing their current practices, improving compensation programs, aligning their leaders and developing effective rewards communications strategies.

Teaching Teenagers: Mistaking Insecurity for Apathy

Returning to studios after COVID-19, student–teacher tensions seem to be higher than ever. Teenagers who spent the beginnings of their young adulthood in isolation clash with instructors who might mistake their stress and insecurity for apathy and laziness. In this article, I examine my personal experience with teaching teenagers and offer strategies for success in opening lines of communication between instructors and high-school-age students in the independent sector.

ICU Bridge Program: Working with staff towards no family members feeling like "the elephant in the room"

The intensive care unit (ICU) provides specialized care to critically ill patients. Given the traumatic nature of critical illness and its treatments, up to 75% of family members of ICU decedents and survivors experience long-term psychological consequences, termed post-intensive care syndrome family (PICS-F). Anxiety, PTSD, and depression are common manifestations that significantly impact families’ quality of life and the recovery of those dependent on their caregiving. Although PICS-F can be mitigated by engagement with ICU staff, critical care workers are at risk of burnout and requesting closer liaisons with families is unfeasible. Bridging visitors and the ICU health care team would ensure that family members never feel like “the elephant in the room”.The ICU Bridge Program (ICUBP) is a unique volunteering and shadowing initiative designed and run by university students. Bridge Program volunteers are assigned to hospital ICUs in Montreal to be the first point of contact for visitors. This program addresses PICS-F by humanizing the ICU experience through compassionate human contact, continuous support, and an open line of communication. The diverse applicants are carefully selected and trained to maximize soft skills, such as emotional intelligence and active listening, which ensures that families feel welcome and understood in this tense environment. Furthermore, the ICUBP’s self-sufficient structure off-loads administrative responsibilities from resource-constrained hospitals and makes its implementation feasible and cost-efficient. By continuously monitoring its effect on patients, families, and staff, the ICUBP aims to improve and expand its contribution to whole-person care in the ICU.

P372 Barriers and facilitators of the transition from paediatric to adult care in inflammatory bowel disease: A Western Canadian perspective

Abstract Background Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood/adolescence face additional challenges compared to those diagnosed in adulthood, including more extensive disease and higher risk of complications. The need to undergo transition from paediatric to adult care is associated with an increase in health care utilization and a decrease in adherence to medical appointments and medications. An effective transition may reduce these negative impacts, but there remains a need to engage the stakeholders involved in transition to identify ways to improve the transition process. This study aims to describe the perspectives of key stakeholders - patients, parents, and health care providers - on barriers and facilitators of a successful transition from paediatric to adult care. Methods We conducted a qualitative description study informed by naturalistic inquiry. Patients, parents, and providers from Western Canada were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling for a virtual semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed by latent content analysis. Results We interviewed 17 patients, 13 parents, and 15 providers. Preparedness as a facilitator was the only theme to emerge across all groups. Groups described preparedness as knowing disease history (patients & providers), expectations of adult care (providers), and having a peer support program (parents). A supportive adult care team was identified as a facilitator by patients (n=10) and parents (n=4) who described an adult care team as one with open lines of communication, and one that is welcoming and caring. Additional facilitator themes included patient characteristics (i.e., patients who were mature, organized, and independent), and supportive parents and home environment, where a patient’s self-confidence and ability to advocate for themselves was encouraged. A barrier theme of patient factors was characterized by providers (n=8) and parents (n=4) as patients in denial of their IBD or who had mental health comorbidities. In the theme of hovering parents and family factors, providers (n=12) described parents who were reluctant to transfer disease responsibility to their child, and families with economic and/or personal challenges. Additional barrier themes included the need to navigate a new health care system and travel to clinic. Conclusion The results suggest a uniform agreement is necessary amongst stakeholders to ensure the development of resources aimed at preparing patients. Our study found differences in how stakeholder groups characterize the barriers and facilitators of transition. Future research should engage multiple stakeholder groups in designing transition interventions and supports for patients with IBD.

ATP-independent assembly machinery of bacterial outer membranes: BAM complex structure and function set the stage for next-generation therapeutics.

Diderm bacteria employ β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) as their first line of communication with their environment. These OMPs are assembled efficiently in the asymmetric outer membrane by the β-Barrel Assembly Machinery (BAM). The multi-subunit BAM complex comprises the transmembrane OMP BamA as its functional subunit, with associated lipoproteins (e.g., BamB/C/D/E/F, RmpM) varying across phyla and performing different regulatory roles. The ability of BAM complex to recognize and fold OM β-barrels of diverse sizes, and reproducibly execute their membrane insertion, is independent of electrochemical energy. Recent atomic structures, which captured BAM-substrate complexes, show the assembly function of BamA can be tailored, with different substrate types exhibiting different folding mechanisms. Here, we highlight common and unique features of its interactome. We discuss how this conserved protein complex has evolved the ability to effectively achieve the directed assembly of diverse OMPs of wide-ranging sizes (8-36 β-stranded monomers). Additionally, we discuss how darobactin-the first natural membrane protein inhibitor of Gram-negative bacteria identified in over five decades-selectively targets and specifically inhibits BamA. We conclude by deliberating how a detailed deduction of BAM complex-associated regulation of OMP biogenesis and OM remodeling will open avenues for the identification and development of effective next-generation therapeutics against Gram-negative pathogens.

Influence of Organizational Structure on the Performance of Agencies Constituting the National Council on the Administration of Justice in Kenya

Strategy implementation drivers are elements that shape an organization's strategy and determine important success elements, long-term prosperity, and essential value propositions. The National Council on the Administration of Justice in Kenya comprises state and non-state actors in the administration of justice. They play a role in establishing and maintaining a favorable environment for the economic, social, and political development of the country as envisaged in the Kenya Vision 2030. Despite the existence of strategic plans, government agencies have been criticized for underperformance. Implementation of the strategic plan has been marred with challenges including: clogging up of the Justice system with petty offenses, systemic, structural, and agency challenges, a low rate of successful prosecution of serious offences, and that the justice system is skewed against the poor. This study sought to establish the influence of organizational structure on the performance of agencies constituting the National Council on the Administration of Justice in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the influence of power relations, communication flow, and people interactions on the performance of agencies constituting NCAJ and to assess the moderating role of the regulatory environment on the relationship. The study used a descriptive correlational survey research design and utilized both qualitative and quantitative data. The study's unit of analysis was the 36 institutions that comprise the NCAJ, while the unit of observation was 231 drawn from the top and middle-level managers, with a sample of 164 obtained using the Yamane formula. Primary data were collected using interviews and structured questionnaires administered by trained research assistants. Secondary data were collected from NCAJ reports. A pilot study of 10% of the sample frame was conducted, and those who participated in the pilot study were excluded from the final study. Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis were used to test the reliability and validity of the data collection instrument. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data with the help of the SPSS tool. Descriptive statistics was presented using measures of central tendency and measure of variability in tables, while inferential statistics was presented using a regression model. The study found that power relations, communication flow, and people interactions have a significant and positive relationship with the performance of agencies constituting the NCAJ. Thus, the study concluded that there is a strong, significant positive relationship between organizational structure (r=.225 and p<0.05) and the performance of agencies constituting the National Council on the Administration of Justice in Kenya. The study also concluded that the Regulatory environment has a moderating influence on the relationship between organizational structure and the performance of agencies constituting the National Council on the Administration of Justice in Kenya (r=.241 and p<0.05). From the findings, the study recommended that NCAJ should maintain a clear line of communication between the various management levels. This will assist firms in increasing productivity, increasing employee loyalty and morale, making operations run more smoothly, and, as a result, increasing customer satisfaction.

Building Your Dream Team: How Indie Teams Can Form, and Thrive Together.

The majority of indie game development teams are driven by the desire to produce a blockbuster game. But there are many obstacles on the way to realizing this desire, especially in the beginning. It is possible to create a game alone, but more often than not, something genuinely amazing involves a group of talented people working together toward a similar objective. Finding the correct stakeholders is one of the biggest problems with starting an independent game development team. People with the required technical talents, such as programmers and artists, as well as those with business acumen, like marketing and finance experts, are included in this. Success depends on being able to locate these people and manage them. But after the correct individuals have been identified, it is crucial to develop open lines of communication and a common comprehension of the project's objectives and expectations. Finding the perfect people to join their team is a problem that independent game development teams frequently encounter. Attracting talented individuals to a brand-new, unproven initiative might be difficult. The attention of skilled people interested in working on cutting-edge and intriguing initiatives might be attracted through networking. There are other things to consider as well since forming a team comes with the type of game one is making, finding skilled teammates, team chemistry, conflict resolution, communication, long-term relation maintenance and leadership aspects. In general, creating and leading an independent game team is a difficult process. There is no specific method for doing this, but with a little help from others' expertise, it is possible to assemble a team of creative people who can collaborate to produce a game that is genuinely enjoyable.

Safeguarding Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease From Climate-driven Extreme Heat and Hurricanes.

5wPatients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who receive in-center hemodialysis are disproportionately vulnerable to extreme weather events, including hurricanes and heat waves, that may disrupt access to healthcare providers, and life-sustaining treatments. This current era of climate-driven compounding disasters is progressively elevating the level of threat to the health and well-being of patients with ESKD. This analysis brings together multi-disciplinary expertise to explore the contours of this increasingly complex risk landscape. Despite the challenges, important advances have been made for safeguarding this medically high-risk patient population. Hemodialysis services providers have devised innovative systems for preparing their patients and sustaining, or rapidly reestablishing, hemodialysis services in the aftermath of a disaster, and maintaining open lines of communication with their caseloads of ESKD patients throughout all phases of the event. A description of lessons learned along the path towards improved patient support in disasters, is provided. The article concludes with a detailed case example, describing dialysis providers' effective response throughout Hurricane Ian's passage across the State of Florida in 2022. Based on lessons learned, this analysis outlines strategies for protecting patients with ESKD that may be adapted for future climate-potentiated disaster scenarios.

Building Cross-sectoral Collaborations to Address Perinatal Health Inequities: Insights From the Dutch Healthy Pregnancy 4 All-3 Program.

Addressing perinatal health inequities is the joint responsibility of professionals working for local governments, the medical, social, and public health sector. Cross-sectoral collaboration between these professionals is challenging. For such collaborations to succeed, a transition, ie, a fundamental shift in the dominant structure, culture, and practices at the systems level, is necessary. We investigated facilitators and barriers for cross-sectoral collaborations, when addressing perinatal health inequities in the Netherlands. Additionally, we studied how cross-sectoral collaborations can be facilitated by action research. We used interview and questionnaire data of the Healthy Pregnancy 4 All-3 (HP4All-3) program, which resulted from action research in six Dutch municipalities. All interviews were coded using open codes related to facilitators and barriers for cross-sectoral collaboration and categorized into three subgroups: structural, cultural, or practical. The answers to the questionnaire were analyzed and summarized quantitatively. We conducted 53 interviews with a total of 81 professionals. The most important ingredients for cross-sectoral collaborations mentioned by the interviewees were: (1) structural: having a solid network with a clear overview of professionals working in the different sectors, (2) cultural: having a joint vision/goal, and (3) practical: short lines of communication and timely sharing of information. A total of 85 professionals filled in (parts of) the questionnaire. Two-thirds to over 80 percent replied that the HP4All-3 program had an added value in building cross-sectoral collaborations. Our research shows that cross-sectoral collaborations in the context of perinatal health are hampered by structural, cultural, and practical barriers. Analyzing facilitators and barriers at these three levels helps to identify bottlenecks in cross-sectoral collaboration. Action researchers can be of great advantage in facilitating collaboration, as they can offer an open setting for reflection and instigate a sense of urgency for building collaborations.

Development of Smart Link Book as a Medium for Interaction Between Special School Institutions and Parents Through User Centered Design

By redesigning linking books, this study seeks to enhance the user-communication experience (UX) between school-aged children with special needs (SLB) and their parents. Understanding special education pupils’ growth, needs, and progress depends heavily on effective parent-school communication. Current link books, however, frequently fall short in terms of providing information in a user-friendly and inclusive manner. This research employs a user-oriented design approach to comprehend the requirements and preferences of parents and special education students. We found possible issues in the current bridge books through content analysis and engagement methods. The findings of this study will be used to guide the redesign of link books so that they are more user-friendly and available to everyone. The creation of a new linking book prototype involved the application of iterative design techniques. This prototype includes design components like inclusive language, understandable graphics, and improved accessibility features. Then, to gauge reactions and identify areas for development, this prototype was tested with the help of parents of SLB students and the students themselves. It is intended that the findings of this study would help those who create connecting books for special schools and other educational institutions that wish to enhance communication with special needs student groups. Better design will allow us to establish more efficient lines of communication between parents and schools, enhancing parental support for the academic growth of special education kids.

NUCLEARIZATION OF THE INDIAN OCEAN BY THE SOUTH ASIAN RIVALS

Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world, covering 20% of the Earth’s surface water, it provides ample opportunities for cooperation and contention. Where the Indian Ocean is desirous because of its location, regional climate, hydrology, marine life, sea lines of communications, chokepoints, major harbors, ports and blue economy potential, it is also quite dreaded as in addition to washing up on shores of two South Asian nuclear powers (India and Pakistan), it has also seduced powers like United States and China to dock in the IOR. The former combo, in its quest to achieve defense invincibility, has embarked on Indian Ocean nuclearization rampage while also being facilitated by the latter combo compelled by their own vested interests. This research is modelled to be descriptive in its design and qualitative in its nature. The data gathered to carry out this study has been collected through secondary sources including different articles, journals and websites etc. The study mainly focuses on the contributions and interests of the superpowers and regional powers in the Indian Ocean and points out that for a stable, secure and harmonious environment in the Indian Ocean, and concludes that to keep the nuclear frenzy of South Asian and regional rivals in check, the extra regional powers must rise to the occasion and refrain from playing favourites.

Provisioning the Requirement: Machine Gun Needs of the British Expeditionary Force in France, 1914-1916

At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Army was in the process of replacing its Maxim machine guns with the Vickers machine gun it had adopted in 1912. Although both weapons were of the same calibre and shared some common accessories, they were not wholly compatible. Furthermore, with the expansion of the British Expeditionary Force and the concomitant need to increase its automatic firepower, the introduction of more machine guns had to be managed with increased demand and complexity, with additional new models introduced as the war progressed. By analysing the war diaries of the lines of communication, this article evaluates the rollout of the Vickers and later models, and the implications their introduction had on logistics, personnel, and organisation across the Force. It is hoped this approach will offer an insight into the prioritisation and decision-making of this critical period, as well as an opportunity to understand the growing importance of the machine gun ahead of the formation of the Machine Gun Corps in October 1915.

Maritime Security in Southeast Asia: How has ASEAN been Talking About It So Far?

The maritime security dynamics in the Southeast Asian region demand focused attention from ASEAN. Southeast Asia holds significant strategic importance, as evidenced by its waters now serving as Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) for international shipping. However, this strategic value also exposes the region to various escalating security threats, particularly in the maritime domain, including piracy, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Trans National Crime (TNC), and maritime border conflicts. This study sheds light on the dynamics of maritime security issues in the region across various ASEAN meetings and assesses the extent to which ASEAN has prioritized maritime security as a focal point. Through data analysis employing query coding based on Buzzerword in Nvivo, examining formal legal documents, statements, discussions, and news in ASEAN meeting forums, it is evident that ASEAN consistently addresses maritime security issues in the region. This underscores that maritime security is not a widely discussed topic within ASEAN, indicating why minimizing maritime threats in this region proves challenging. The semiotic ideas of Cristian Bueger regarding maritime security further provide insight into additional findings in this research, specifically how ASEAN has historically interpreted the definition of maritime security threats.

Increasing Accessibility to Neuroscience through Translation: Going beyond the English Language.

Declaring the 1990s as The Decade of the Brain put the field of neuroscience at the forefront of public attention, with the nervous system becoming a subject of increasing interest in popular media. Although this has generally brought large swaths of the public closer to neuroscience, most current research is published and disseminated in a single language: English. This is unsurprising as English is indeed the lingua franca in scientific circles, but people around the world communicate in many other languages. To make neuroscience accessible to a larger audience, we share an initiative to translate the Knowing Neurons platform into a second language: Spanish. This collaborative project integrates humanities and STEM academic programs to make use of bilingual university students, in association with professional linguists and neuroscientists, to translate scientific content into a relatable format to Spanish speakers regardless of their country of origin. The translation effort was piloted within the framework of undergraduate outreach courses at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is coupled with outreach components targeting the Spanish-speaking community to promote this new resource. This project aims to foster an environment where the neuroscientific interests of the public, college students, instructors, and researchers coalesce in a unified space. We hope that opening new lines of communication with traditionally underrepresented communities might help combat the persistent lack of diversity in neuroscience (and STEM) that is currently seen in academia. We also provide an outline to inspire others to translate these, and similar resources, into other languages.

The Impact of Human Relations Practice on Organizational Performance: Evidence from Rural Banks in Ghana

Human relation is a definitive management function which help to establish and maintain a mutual line of communication, understanding, acceptance and cooperation between and organization and its human. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of human relations practices on organizational performance in selected Rural Banks in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study used a quantitative research approach and a non-probability sampling method. The demographic data was evaluated using frequencies and percentages, while the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for the analysis. The study found that effective human relation practices and policies have a significant positive impact on employee satisfaction and ultimately improve the overall organizational performance of banks in the rural areas. It was recommended that organizations should educate their employees on the importance of human relations and how it can improve productivity. Also, management of the selected rural banks should prioritize employ-ee engagement, by creating a positive work environment, providing job security and opportunities for training and development.