Shortage Of Skilled Professionals Research Articles

The State of Telepathology in Africa in the Age of Digital Pathology Advancements: A Bibliometric Analysis and Literature Review.

Telepathology emerges as a vital tool, offering significant promise for enhancing pathology services in Africa, a region historically challenged by healthcare access and resource limitations. This review explores the development, adoption, and impacts of telepathology in Africa through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and literature review. A methodical search in PubMed for publications up to 2024 revealed 119 pertinent studies, out of which 47 met the inclusion criteria for a focused review on telepathology's role in African healthcare settings. This research has charted a clear trajectory of growing interest in telepathology, as evidenced by the annual increase in related publications and robust international collaboration. It underscores the expanding utility of telepathology in diagnostics, education, and research within Africa, particularly in domains like dermatopathology, neuropathology, and, notably, oncology. The integration of artificial intelligence into telepathology presents new frontiers for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. However, the review also identifies persistent challenges such as infrastructural inadequacies, a shortage of skilled professionals, and regulatory hurdles. The study highlights the indispensable role of international partnerships in advancing telepathology in the region. This review proposes a strategic pivot toward "leapfrogging," an approach that allows Africa to skip traditional developmental hurdles by directly adopting cutting-edge technologies and practices.

Demand for and training of Chinese translators in the context of the �One Belt, One Road� initiative

Relevance. The need to investigate the specifics of Chinese translator training within the framework of the global programme �One Belt, One Road� is primarily conditioned by the constant changes in various aspects, particularly in structural, semantic, and artistic aspects. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the global initiative �One Belt, One Road� in the context of training professional human resources to perform Chinese language translations. Methodology. This study analysed materials available on the websites of several higher education institutions. The analysis focused on specific parameters such as the distinct features of training students in Chinese studies, the education of translators working with Chinese, and the principles, methods, and techniques used in teaching the Chinese language. Results. Analyses of translator training have identified key skills for students: parallel language and culture study, adherence to translation norms like business etiquette, and mastery of technical translation tools. In Kyrgyz universities, methods include verbal (lectures, discussions), visual (audio and video materials), and practical (creative works, exhibitions, quizzes, conferences). For Chinese translators under the �One Belt, One Road� initiative, training spans multiple linguistic levels: phonetic (phrases, accents), grammatical (categories, meanings), lexical (vocabulary related to the initiative and various fields), syntactic (word order, links), and stylistic (business etiquette, unique vocabulary). Conclusions. The study found that the �One Belt, One Road� initiative's language policy focuses on planning Chinese language status, foreign languages, language structure, educational language use, and language services. The key challenges are the shortage of skilled professionals, intergovernmental cooperation, infrastructure standards, financial integration, and cultural exchange. In the future, this study can be used to develop technical improvements in Kyrgyz-Chinese translation, to improve the training of Chinese specialists within the framework of the global initiative �One Belt, One Road�. Keywords: lingua franca; linguistic levels; linguistic policy; linguistic parameters; terminological units

A comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence in orthopaedics within lower-middle-income countries: a narrative review.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in orthopaedic within lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) promises landmark improvement in patient care. Delving into specific use cases-fracture detection, spine imaging, bone tumour classification, and joint surgery optimisation-the review illuminates the areas where AI can significantly enhance orthopaedic practices. AI could play a pivotal role in improving diagnoses, enabling early detection, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes- crucial in regions with constrained healthcare services. Challenges to the integration of AI include financial constraints, shortage of skilled professionals, data limitations, and cultural and ethical considerations. Emphasising AI's collaborative role, it can act as a complementary tool working in tandem with physicians, aiming to address gaps in healthcare access and education. We need continued research and a conscientious approach, envisioning AI as a catalyst for equitable, efficient, and accessible orthopaedic healthcare for patients in LMICs.

Convolutional neural network-based analysis of pediatric chest X-ray images for pneumonia detection

Detection of pneumonia is generally done using chest X-ray images, traditionally assessed manually by radiologists. However, this method has limitations, including the potential for human error, variability in interpretation, and a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly in resource-limited settings. Prompted by these challenges and the increasing potential of machine learning in medical diagnostics, we investigated the efficacy of advanced computational models in distinguishing between normal and pneumonia-affected lung images. We hypothesized that an adapted version of the VGG16 model, a convolutional neural network (CNN), would outperform the standard VGG16 and simpler Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) in terms of accuracy and reliability. Utilizing a dataset from the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, we evaluated the performance of these three models on pediatric chest X-ray images. The MLP showed moderate effectiveness with 78.4% accuracy but struggled with complex image data. The standard VGG16 achieved better results with 90.9% accuracy but displayed overfitting tendencies. The adapted VGG16 model, with reduced filter sizes and dropout layers, demonstrated the highest accuracy at 95.6%, indicating superior performance and stability. These findings suggest that tailored deep learning models like the adapted VGG16 can significantly enhance pneumonia diagnosis from chest X-ray images, offering a balance of accuracy, efficiency, and generalizability. This advancement holds substantial implications for improving diagnostic processes in pediatric healthcare, particularly in settings with limited resources.

Evolution of Tourism through Travel Agencies: A Case Study on Bangladesh

The aim of this research paper is to examine the role of travel agencies in the advancement of tourism in Bangladesh. Travel agents are currently assuming a significant role in facilitating this relationship. The aforementioned entities engage in the production of various package tours, distribution of these packaged products, and promotion of tourism in Bangladesh to potential tourist clientele. However, the travel agents in Bangladesh are limited in their ability to fulfil their job to its fullest degree. This is mostly due to the small size of their organizations, insufficient money, a shortage of skilled professionals, a lack of government policy support, and several other restraints that they encounter. It is imperative to address these issues and promptly implement appropriate measures to enhance the performance of travel agencies and facilitate the desired growth of the tourism sector in Bangladesh.

ICVTest: A Practical Black-Box Penetration Testing Framework for Evaluating Cybersecurity of Intelligent Connected Vehicles

Intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) are equipped with extensive electronic control units which offer convenience but also pose significant cybersecurity risks. Penetration testing, recommended in ISO/SAE 21434 “Road vehicles—Cybersecurity engineering”, is an effective approach to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities in ICVs. However, there is limited research on vehicle penetration testing from a black-box perspective due to the complex architecture of ICVs. Additionally, no penetration testing framework has been proposed to guide security testers on conducting penetration testing for the whole vehicle. The lack of framework guidance results in the inexperienced security testers being uncertain about the processes to follow for conducting penetration testing. Moreover, the inexperienced security testers are unsure about which tests to perform in order to systematically evaluate the vehicle’s cybersecurity. To enhance the penetration testing efficiency of ICVs, this paper presents a black-box penetration testing framework, ICVTest. ICVTest proposes a standardized penetration testing process to facilitate step-by-step completion of the penetration testing, thereby addressing the issue of inexperienced testers lacking guidance on how to initiate work when confronted with ICV. Also, ICVTest includes 10 sets of test cases covering hardware and software security tests. Testers can select appropriate test cases based on the specific cybersecurity threats faced by the target object, thereby reducing the complexity of penetration testing tasks. Furthermore, we have developed a vehicle cybersecurity testing platform for ICVTest that seamlessly integrates various testing tools. The platform enables even novice testers to conduct vehicle black-box penetration testing in accordance with the given guidance which addresses the current industry’s challenge of an overwhelming number of testing tasks coupled with a shortage of skilled professionals. For the first time, we propose a comprehensive black-box penetration testing framework and implement the framework in the form of a cybersecurity testing platform. We apply ICVTest to evaluate an electric vehicle manufactured in 2021 for assessing the framework’s availability. With the aid of ICVTest, even testers with limited experience in automotive penetration can effectively evaluate the security risks of ICVs. In our experiments, numerous cybersecurity vulnerabilities were identified involving in-vehicle sensors, remote vehicle control systems, and in-vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus.

Maternal health outcomes in the context of fragility: a retrospective study from Lebanon

Background and aimsThe Lebanese healthcare system faces multiple challenges including limited capacities, shortage of skilled professionals, and inadequate supplies, in addition to hosting a significant number of refugees. While subsidized services are available for pregnant women, representing the majority of the refugee population in Lebanon, suboptimal access to antenatal care (ANC) and increased maternal mortality rates are still observed, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. This study aimed to review the maternal health outcomes of disadvantaged Lebanese and refugee pregnant women seeking ANC services at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Lebanon.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted at twenty PHCs in Lebanon, including Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) facilities. Data was collected from medical charts of pregnant women who visited the centers between August 2018 and August 2020. Statistical analysis was performed to explore outcomes such as the number of ANC visits, delivery type, and onset of delivery, using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsIn the study, 3977 medical charts were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis, revealed that suboptimal ANC visits were more common in the Beqaa region and among women with current abortion or C-section. Syrians had reduced odds of C-sections, and Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, and South Lebanon regions had reduced odds of abortion. Suboptimal ANC visits and history of C-section increased the odds of C-section and abortion in the current pregnancy. As for preterm onset, the study showed an increased likelihood for it to occur when being Palestinian, having current C-section delivery, experiencing previous preterm onset, and enduring complications at the time of delivery.ConclusionThis study suggests the need for low-cost interventions aiming at enhancing access to ANC services, especially among pregnant women in fragile settings.

Ethical issues in long-term care settings: Care workers' lived experiences.

Professional care workers face ethical issues in long-term care settings (LTCS) for older adults. They need to be independent and responsible, despite limited resources, a shortage of skilled professionals, global and societal changes, and the negative reputation of LTCS work. Our aim was to describe the care workers' lived experiences of ethical issues. The findings can be used to gain new perspectives and to guide decision-making to improve the quality of care, occupational well-being and nursing education. Focus group interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic-phenomenological method. The analysis comprised three steps: naïve reading, structural analysis, and comprehensive understanding. We randomly sampled LTCS service providers in Finland and 53 care workers with different educational backgrounds from seven organizations participated in focus group interviews in 2021. This was a sensitive study, which was connected to the participants' individual views of the world, professional ethics and social and health care legislation. The participants' provided informed consent and their anonymity was guaranteed. Care workers spoke about their lived experiences of ethical issues in an emotional way, using practical examples. They talked about how they were experts at caring and advocating for residents, balanced the responsibilities of their different roles, and defended their work to the wider society. The care workers said that ethical aspects of their work were too difficult to solve on their own. There were elements of their working environment and practices that caused unnecessary strain and they needed the commitment of managers, organizations, and society to solve ethical issues in LTCS. Ethical issues were related to the well-being of both residents and care workers and reflected both internal and external pressures. Some issues could not be resolved by individuals and needed input from managers, organizations, and society.

An Artificial Intelligence Cycle Model Against the Shortage of Skilled Professionals - An AI-based Holistic Solution Approach for Human Resources

In order to counter the impending shortage of skilled professionals in the aging societies of our time in many western countries such as Germany, solutions for business and society are urgently needed. Here, artificial intelligence (AI) can play an important role in mitigating the problem with the help of diverse applications. At the same time, it is important to consider both the needs of the respective employee and the company to ensure that the use of AI has a positive impact on the organization and finds social acceptance. In this article, we describe the newly developed OSQE model (Optimize, Secure, Qualify, Expand) shown in Figure 1 from Annex, which for the first time outlines an AI cycle against the shortage of skilled professionals in a holistic approach that focuses equally on people and companies. This can serve organizations as a guide for strategy development, decision-making for and implementation of AI-supported measures in an entire cycle of an employee's affiliation with a company. The model takes three driving forces into account: companies, professionals, and AI applications. In the model, the measures to be implemented are prioritized with ascending numbering based on what would be most urgent for a company to implement. All measures relate to areas of action that place people at the center and can be assigned to the classic cycle of belonging of an employee in the company. In this regard, the opportunities that AI offers to professionals and companies are highlighted.

Artificial Intelligence And Cyber Security

The rise of cyber threats has made it necessary for organizations to adopt more advanced and effective security solutions. AI-powered cybersecurity tools can help organizations detect and respond to potential cyber threats faster, more efficiently, and more accurately. These tools use machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data, including network traffic, user behavior, and security-related events, and can identify patterns and anomalies that could indicate potential threats. However, the use of AI in cybersecurity comes with challenges, including the potential for bias and errors in AI-based systems and a shortage of skilled professionals who can develop, deploy, and maintain these systems. Organizations must weigh the benefits and challenges of using AI in cybersecurity and develop a comprehensive strategy that incorporates the right mix of people, processes, and technology to ensure optimal cybersecurity posture

The perfect cyber storm – security budgets, skills shortages and automated attacks

A combination of economic pressures, sophisticated assaults that maximise returns and a shortage of skilled professionals now mean that businesses can expect to become increasingly vulnerable to attack as they enter 2023.

Assessing the psychosocial work environment of migrant and non-migrant workers in inpatient mental health centres: A feasibility study.

The number of migrant workers in Germany has increased over the last decades and will probably further increase in the context of a growing cultural diversity of the population and shortage of skilled professionals. Since migrant workers face different challenges, they may experience poorer psychosocial work environments than non-migrants. A negative psychosocial work environment can increase burnout and depression symptoms. To this date no study has investigated differences in the perceived psychosocial work environment in the mental health field. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a cross sectional study comparing the perceived psychosocial work environment of migrants and non-migrant workers in inpatient mental health centres in Germany. The study was conducted in four inpatient mental health centres in Germany using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. All staff members (N = 659) categorized in seven professional groups were invited to participate in the study. The feasibility of the study was determined by four criteria (1) Implementation of the study in inpatient mental health centres (2) Representativity of the sample (3) Reliability and usability of the questionnaire and (4) Variability of collected data. Three of four feasibility criteria were achieved. The study was successfully implemented in four mental health centres, the usability of the used questionnaire was confirmed as well as the variability of the data. The targeted response rate was partially met, and the total number of migrant workers could not be provided, which limits the representativity of the sample. In conclusion, a main study is feasible, but an effort must be put in an effective recruitment strategy to obtain valid results.

Challenges in Access to Support Resources for Diabetic Patients: A Qualitative Study in Deprived Areas of Iran.

This study aimed to identify the perceptions of challenges in access to diabetes-related support resources among patients with type 2 diabetes and their family caregivers. This qualitative study was conducted with 18 patients with type 2 diabetes and nine of their family caregivers, using the conventional content analysis method, in 2020 in Lorestan Province, Iran. The participants were selected through purposive sampling and the process continued until the data was saturated. Thirty semi-structured interviews, carried out from February to April 2020, were used to collect the data; they were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis (2004). The study showed two main categories of structural challenges (subcategories: shortage of skilled professionals and defects in executive processes) and destructive inefficiencies (subcategories: service bottlenecks, uncertain support, and irresponsibility of medical team), indicating the dimensions of the participants' perceptions of barriers to support. The findings of the study showed that barriers relating to the structure and function of healthcare organizations were among the most important challenges perceived by patients with diabetes when pursuing their care. However, there may be other barriers that have not been addressed due to the lack of support resources in deprived areas and the lack of awareness of patients.

Boot camp–style teacher workshops to incorporate hands‐on activities in agricultural sciences

AbstractFood security is one of the most pressing concerns of our times. Despite the vast opportunities, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the food, agriculture, and plant sciences. Although most programs focused on addressing this concern have targeted students, we have often overlooked another critical group—the teachers. To address this issue, we recruited high school teachers from the Pharr–San Juan–Alamo Independent School District (PSJA‐ISD) in South Texas to participate in a workshop at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and fostered their agricultural knowledge through boot camp–style intensive training by faculty members in food, agriculture, and plant sciences. Through this project, we seek to indirectly educate nearly 2,000 high school students and use these lesson plans as models for undergraduate education. Results from the teacher and student assistant evaluations show that our workshop structure and design is effective in serving the objectives and instigating interest among teachers who plan to incorporate these into their lesson plans. Student assistants involved in the project also describe it as an opportunity to improve their teaching and public speaking skills. Taken together, we suggest that in addition to planning student‐centered activities, the teacher‐centered activities should also take the center stage in our fight for better food security.

Management of educational innovations: effects of infusing “critical thinking” into Islamic finance curricula

Shortage of human capital has been identified in the Islamic financial industry. It is believed that the infusion of critical thinking would boost the students’ level of professional field-related knowledge and provide them with the necessary confidence, the key to professional performance measurement. This study incorporates critical thinking into the curriculum of BWSR2013 “Risk Management and Takaful Planning”. The class syllabus was divided into two sections, with each preliminary section followed by a quiz and pilot data collection, and final data collection. A SemPLS was run on SmartPLS. The results showed that lack of critical thinking in Islamic finance curricula might eventually result in a shortage of skilled professionals in the Islamic financial industry. The findings showed a great correlation between knowledge acquisition, competency and critical thinking. The students’ own perceptions also indicated that the infusion of critical thinking contributed to their increased confidence (self-assurance) in the subject matter learned in this course. The results of the analysis showed that investment in teaching Islamic Finance on part with critical thinking was of utmost importance for the success of the finance industry. Competent professionals are much needed in this field and will continue to remain an unfulfilled ideal if the current system of learning and teaching Islamic Finance continues as it is. The level of confidence and self-assurance of the students can only increase if students learn how to think critically and are capable of providing solutions to real-life problems. The findings showed that the regular graduates lacked expertise also lacked confidence in their own skills. However, no significant relationship between expectation and self-assurance could be ascertained. It is recommended that this study is replicated on a large scale to vindicate the wider positive implications of critical thinking in Islamic finance training curricula.

Guidelines to groundwater vulnerability mapping for Sub-Saharan Africa

An approach to solving the challenges encountered in groundwater vulnerability assessment in Sub-Saharan African countries is discussed in this paper. The aim of this review is to highlight the gaps and difficulties encountered and provide guidelines for groundwater protection measures in sub-Saharan African countries, particularly countries without specific regulations and methodology of carrying out aquifer vulnerability assessments. Highlighted difficulties in groundwater vulnerability mapping in Sub-Saharan Africa include limited data, shortage of skilled professionals, inapplicability of most existing vulnerability methods and non-availability of funds. The numerical, travel time and parametric vulnerability approaches were recommended for use in sub-Saharan Africa based on the unique geomorphological features of the African continent. The goal of outlining the challenges and providing a guideline was to minimise the impact of groundwater pollution and to prioritise groundwater mapping in an aquifer protection assessment.

Motivating Information Technology Professionals: The case of New Zealand

IT professionals play a critical role in organizations. Research indicates that they may be unique in their attitudes toward motivation and job satisfaction. In New Zealand, a shortage of skilled professionals may contribute to or impact on motivation. Using a modified model of Herzberg’s two-factor theory by Smerek and Peterson (2007), this research seeks to answer the question: what motivates New Zealand IT professionals? In response, an online questionnaire was distributed to a population of New Zealand IT professionals and the data analysed using Partial Least Squares to understand the relationship between the various dimensions of job satisfaction, the impact of personal and job characteristics, and turnover intention. The findings show that the New Zealand IT professional is primarily motivated by the nature of his or her work, followed by perceptions of responsibility, and how supervisors encourage an environment for such. Satisfaction with salary is a predictor to a lesser degree. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, professional growth opportunities, career advancement, and recognition do not have a statistically-significant positive association with motivation. We conclude that, to motivate their IT workforce, organizations should: 1) focus on the nature of the jobs that IT professionals undertake; 2) train supervisors to provide an empowering environment; 3) offer competitive salaries to retain top talent; 4) not hesitate to employ IT professionals born outside New Zealand; and 5) take account of the singularities of the New Zealand labour market in seeking to attract, recruit and retain IT professionals. Implications for policy, practice and theory are discussed.

Impact of Vedic Chants Intervention Programme on Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Background Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects the behavior and social communication of the child. In India, awareness about Autism coupled with shortage of skilled professionals poses severe constraints in management of children with ASD. There arises a need to explore the avenues of alternate therapy in the form of Group Therapy. A 44-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin receptor gene 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR) has been identified to modify the transcription rate of the gene (Lesch et al., 1996; Greenberg et al., 1999). The short allelic variant has been shown to reduce 5-HTT transcription resulting in diminished 5-HTT levels and reduced serotonin (5-HTT) reuptake into human platelets. We speculate the possibility of altered hormone levels (Melatonin and Serotonin) in individuals with ASD. As per earlier reports an association between 5-HTT gene polymorphism and autism has been indicated. Recent evidences from clinical and neuroscience research suggests an approach based on yogic principles and meditative tools is worth experimenting in children with autism. The same could be addressed in ASD individuals to ameliorate the drastic effect of these hormones on ASD individuals.

Management: Use of Real-Time Operations Growing Upstream

If a brand new oil field product or service becomes widely used in less than a decade, that is fast. It is no secret that the petroleum industry is conservative when it comes to adopting new technology. With the increasing pressure to maintain supplies from existing fields, however, that is changing. Today, technologies that improve production and reduce risk are more important than ever. You can see this in the growing range of tools and services that employ "real time" capabilities. But what are the benefits to those who adopt these technologies, and is real-time capability alone the key to unlocking additional value for operators? The meaning of "real time" depends on its use. Aircraft controls, for example, are real-time systems that must process data and respond instantaneously with 100% accuracy. If we are referring instead to the credit card reader at a gas pump, the transaction is not instantaneous, but nearly so. Within the upstream oil business, wireline tools provide data almost instantly, and today there are drilling systems that feed back downhole information quickly. Drillers use them to guide the bit, adjusting for the fact that the data they are getting is actually several minutes old. Real-time capability can be defined as the use of digital technology to rapidly transfer field data to individuals or control centers, and the ability of humans or intelligent control devices to respond with equal speed to the data they receive. The benefit is that more efficient systems let operators direct valuable resources to other areas. Incremental Changes Adopting real-time capability is a process of incremental change. In an oil field, the beginning of that journey might be a simple feedback device that tells production operators what they need to know without having to visit their wells every day. At the other end of the spectrum might be an automated system that responds to changing field conditions and makes adjustments on its own. But full automation will not happen overnight. And there is no right or wrong place to be along the journey. An operator's requirements for automation might depend on several things: a desire to improve efficiency, the benefits of the investment, availability of the technology itself, and access to expertise and processes to implement change most effectively. There are three main reasons for deploying systems with real-time capability. The first is the growing shortage of skilled professionals in the industry, fueled in part by the coming retirement of a large portion of the workforce. Systems in which one can collaborate remotely or receive and share information quickly allow one person or team to monitor several locations at once, thereby improving efficiency.

The Robert Walters salary survey

Examines the severe shortage of skilled professionals and looks at how business is suffering regarding global risk management remuneration. Looks at how until very recently, risk management has been widely regarded not as a specific resource requirement, but as a mere “add‐on” service to product control departments in financial institutions. Closes by saying that over the last year there has been a marked increase in the number of institutions seeking to recruit for their own risk management groups.