Touch Points Research Articles

Reopening Collegiate Recreation During COVID-19: A Case Study of Plans and Policies

The COVID-19 pandemic caused most collegiate recreation facilities and programs to shut down to slow the spread of the virus. Public health guidelines from the state/province, federal, and global level have inundated recreation professionals with messaging to inform reopening strategies. Rasmussen’s risk management framework served as a guide to explore the stakeholders, decisions, and environmental conditions influencing COVID-19 reopening plans and policies in collegiate recreation. A case study of four collegiate recreation departments was conducted, with document analysis employed to examine and interpret reopening plans. The findings highlight campus offices and leadership as major stakeholders in reopening guidelines; risk management decisions utilizing a phased reopening approach that emphasized screening, mask mandates, social distancing and touch points, equipment and floor plans, and cleaning; and communication as a critical environmental condition. Implications for collegiate recreation practitioners include strategies for decision making, dissemination of information, staff training, risk mitigation, and policy enforcement.

A Real-World Data Study on the Healthcare Resource Use for Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Secondary Care in the United Kingdom Prior to the Introduction of Biologic Treatment.

BackgroundWhilst there is international evidence around the high healthcare resource utilization (HRU) associated with atopic dermatitis (AD), there is a lack of published data from the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsA retrospective, descriptive, observational study was conducted to evaluate the burden of moderate-to-severe AD on the National Health Service (NHS) in an adult UK population treated with traditional standard of care prior to the introduction of biologics. Patients (n=59) were recruited from 6 UK NHS Hospital Trusts and observed over three years.Results707 dermatology clinic visits were recorded over the observation period, amounting to 6.6 visits per patient-year, most commonly for routine check-ups most of which involved dermatology consultants (n=469, 66%). Physicians were the most consulted healthcare professional (n=652, 92%); emollients were the most common treatment (n=80 courses). 174 flares requiring additional medical advice were recorded in total (1.6 per patient-year).Discussion/ConclusionsComplex treatment pathways for adult patients in the UK with moderate-to-severe AD incur considerable HRU, particularly for those patients non-responsive to systemic therapies with broad immunosuppressant action. Recent advances in biologics-based AD management could possibly have a significant positive impact on HRU through significant reduction in the number of NHS touch points identified in this study.

Triboresistive Touch Sensing: Grid-Free Touch-Point Recognition Based on Monolayered Ionic Power Generators.

Recent growing pursuit of skin-mountable devices has been impeded by the complicated structures of most sensing systems, containing electrode grids, stacked multilayers, and even external power sources. Here, a type of touch sensing, termed "triboresistive touch sensing", is introduced for gridless touch recognition based on monolayered ionic power generators. A homogeneous monolayer, i.e., ionic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), generates electricity based on the electric field generated by touch. Voltages generated at each corner of the ionic PDMS rely on resistance between touch points and each corner, ensuring recognition of the touch positions without the need for electrode grid layers and external power sources. With notable advantages of high transparency (96.5%), stretchability (539.1%), and resilience (99.0%) of the ionic PDMS, epidermal triboresistive sensing is demonstrated to express touch position and readily play a musical instrument. A gridless system of triboresistive sensing allows rearrangement of the touch sections according to a given situation without any physical modification, and thus easily completes consecutive missions of controlling position, orientation, and gripping functions of a robot.

PEEPS: A Relational Framework for Incorporating Resilience Into Community-Based Programming for Youth

Youth in communities across the world are exposed to adversity and trauma at high levels. In this article, we describe a research-informed, resilience-promoting framework that can be incorporated into a variety of touch points for youth (e.g., school, family, community, extra-curricular activities). The PEEPS Framework is relational in nature and includes the following five interconnected components: (a) positive adult relationships, (b) esteem, (c) empathy, (d) peer relationships, and (e) strengths-based approach. We outline the research that supports each component, describe how we are currently implementing the PEEPS framework in the form of a volunteer training, and offer research-based suggestions for implementation and tools that other professionals can utilize.

Nonadiabatic transition at a band-touching point

Low-energy Hamiltonians with a linear crossing in their energy dispersion (dubbed Dirac Hamiltonians) have recently been the subject of intense investigations. The linear dispersion is often the result of an approximation in the energy dispersion at the band-touching point in which higher order terms are discarded. In this paper, we show that, in terms of nonadiabatic transitions, by passing through a touching point, certain types of quadratic terms could not be omitted, even in the arbitrary vicinity of it, ie, quadratic terms could significantly affect the transition probability, hence the Hamiltonian is not reducible to a linear one. We further show that the presence of terms with exponents larger than two only affects the transition probability away from the touching point. In the end, we discuss conditions that may lead to the appearance of oscillations in the transition probability profile.

Environmental surveillance of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria in a Ghanaian Tertiary Hospital

BackgroundThe burden of antibiotic resistant infection is mainly felt in low-to-middle income countries, where the rate of antimicrobial resistance is largely under-surveyed and under huge pressure from unregulated, disparate and often self-guided access to antimicrobials. Nosocomial infections from hospital environments have been shown to be a particularly prevalent source of multi-drug resistant strains, yet surveillance of hospital environmental contamination is often not investigated.MethodsThe study was prospective, observational and cross-sectional, sampling 231 high and low touch surfaces from 15th March to 13th April 2021, from five wards in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Microbial growth in the presence of vancomycin and either meropenem or cefotaxime was examined and bacterial species were identified by MALDI-TOF. The presence of common extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) were identified through PCR screening, which were confirmed by phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility determination. Isolates positive for carbapenem resistance genes were sequenced using a multi-platform approach.ResultsWe recovered microbial growth from 99% of swabs (n = 229/231) plated on agar in the absence of antimicrobials. Multiple sites were found to be colonised with resistant bacteria throughout the hospital setting. Bacteria with multi-drug resistance and ARG of concern were isolated from high and low touch points with evidence of strain dissemination throughout the environment. A total of 21 differing species of bacteria carrying ARG were isolated. The high prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii carrying blaNDM-1 observed was further characterised by whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to determine the relationship between resistant strains found in different wards.ConclusionEvidence of multiple clonal incursions of MDR bacteria of high sepsis risk were found in two separate wards for a regional hospital in Ghana. The prevalence of multiple blaNDM carrying species in combination with combinations of ESBLs was particularly concerning and unexpected in Africa. We also identify strains carrying tet(X3), blaVIM-5 or blaDIM-1 showing a high diversity of carbapenamases present as a reservoir in a hospital setting. Findings of multi-drug resistant bacteria from multiple environmental sites throughout the hospital will inform future IPC practices and aid research prioritisation for AMR in Ghana.

Webroomer customer experience in the multichannel retail purchase journey

This study aims an analysis of webroomer customer experience investigating the stages of the purchase journey and decision making, as well as customer touch points and emotions experienced. This study is based on a qualitative approach and used electronic diaries produced by participants during their purchase journey, and by subsequent in-depth interviews. Data were collected from a sample of eight webroomers who purchased furniture or home decoration items. Thematic analysis revealed that negative experiences were mainly reported at brand-owned touch points. Negative emotions prevailed during the “evaluation of alternatives” stage, due to perceived contrasts between information obtained online and from physical stores. This study analyzed the factors underlying webrooming from a customer experience perspective, as well as holistically by combining cognitive and often neglected affective elements at the different touch points of real purchase journeys. We investigated (to our knowledge for the first time) the webroomer customer experience during the purchase journey in the multichannel context both from a rational (decision- making process stages) and emotional perspectives.

Personalized Touch-Based Exergame System for Unilateral and Bilateral Rehabilitation Training.

Background: Natural and intuitive interfaces that monitor and promote upper limb task-specific training need to be developed. This article presents the development and testing of a touch-based game system for training and assessment of unilateral (ULR) and bilateral (BLR) reaching movements. Interaction becomes intuitive and simple by introducing in-game touch and pressure onto virtual targets projected on a custom-made large touch panel. Materials and Methods: A custom-made App integrates exergames and a biomechanical model with advanced algorithms for movement analysis. It processes and manages data from a motion-tracking sensor and a large touch panel equipped with 1222 (26 × 47) piezoresistive sensors, including high-speed readout electronics and algorithms to measure touch points and contact forces during fingertip interaction. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the experience, motivation, and movements of healthy and stroke subjects when interacting with the proposed system. The panel height, dispersion of virtual targets, and required contact force were customized based on motor skills of each group of subjects. Results: Both groups of subjects showed high level of motivation and user experience when interacting with the virtual environments. Stroke subjects performed the task slower and traveled a similar path length than healthy subjects, but with shorter range of motion. The mechanical work and potential energy profiles of both groups are consistent with those achieved when reaching real objects. Conclusions: The proposed contact-based exergames are a feasible solution for performing natural and intuitive therapeutic ULR and BLR exercises. They elicit appropriate reaching movements and contact forces in healthy and stroke subjects. The spatial and temporal attributes of the proposed solution can be customized to influence the movement and energy expenditure of specific joints.

Social Media as Effective Tool for Understanding Customer Experience: A Systematized Review

THE AIMS OF THE PAPER
 Social media play an indispensable role in utilizing, building, and promoting companies' brands and communicating customer's experience in the current digital age. However, literature has not sufficiently addressed how social media could be utilized to understand customer experience. This paper, hence, aims to describe the roles and importance of social media in knowing about customers experience and offers tips for companies on how to select, target, and deliver the right content for the social media platforms at all touch points along their purchasing journey.
 METHODOLOGY 
 The systematized review (SR) method was followed to trace out & analyze the data. The EBSCO discovery of science was utilized to search for articles. Among the databases in it, emphasis was given to academic search complete, business source premium & science direct. Out of the total (289) search query results, over forty-five articles were synthesized after imposing limiters, removing duplicates, and imposing none-business settings.
 MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS
 Social media is a multi-purpose tool that offers services ranging from brand awareness creation, advertisement, product sales information, to soliciting post-purchase customers' experience and then catalyzes two-way communication between marketers and users. Its effectiveness depends not only on selecting social media and posting at the right time but also on designing the right content based on the nature of a product: hedonic or functional. The social media content of hedonic products, consumed for enjoyment and luxury purposes, has more customer reactions than functional products consumed as common goods. Besides, as customers rely more on other customers' reviews, user-generated content is more valuable than firm-generated content, especially for hedonic products. Thus, the content-product-media match must find its proper place. Additionally, the authors elaborated on the relationship between 4 touching points (brand-owned, partner-owned, customer-owned, social/independent, based on (Verhoef and Lemon 2016) and 3 stages of the purchase process (pre-purchase, during purchase, post-purchase).
 RECOMMENDATIONS
 Customer experience analysis should include all affective, physical, cognitive, sensorial, emotional, and social responses of customers towards brands. A company also needs to identify and, thoroughly, keep tracing customers' reactions at all touchpoints in all purchase journey phases using tools like 'SentiStrength' and 'Weka software'. It should be a top priority for management. They should place a responsible person or team to utilize social media and collect data on customer's experience in a separate IT-supported office.

Adaptive slip engagement control of a wet clutch in vehicle powertrain based on transmitted torque estimation

In the slip engagement of a wet clutch, the solenoid current-to-actuator piston pressure model (CPM) and the piston pressure-to-clutch transmitted torque model (PTM) are utilized for the clutch torque control. However, the CPM is changed depending on the amount of hysteresis, which is influenced by the hydraulic fluid temperature, and the PTM is changed due to the variation of the clutch friction coefficient and the touch point. Thus, the CPM and PTM should be adapted using the measurement information of the solenoid current and piston pressure for precise control of the clutch torque. In this study, an adaptive control method of the clutch torque in the slip engagement of a wet clutch is proposed which. The purpose of this study is to propose a clutch torque control method that does not use a piston pressure sensor when controlling the clutch torque of a wet clutch, so the suggested method does not require measurement of the piston pressure. In the method, the adaptation of the target piston pressure-to-clutch torque model (TPTM) is performed instead of the adaptation of the CPM and PTM, and the clutch torque is controlled using the compensated TPTM and nominal CPM instead of the compensated CPM and PTM. The proposed control method is verified experimentally by applying it to the slip engagement control of an engine clutch equipped in a production parallel hybrid vehicle.

Managing customer satisfaction: digital applications for insurance companies

Customer satisfaction management is increasing in importance within the insurance industry. In particular, to define a customer-oriented strategy, installing digital applications based on technologies, e.g. including artificial intelligence or cloud computing, ranks among the major strategic challenges. Against this background, the aim of this paper is to take an integrated perspective on managing customer satisfaction and the digital transformation. Towards this end, we identify and assess a set of digital applications, as a result of a comprehensive review of 106 academic papers and publications of the industry and supervisory authorities. We illustrate the opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and emphasise their impact on insurers at four major customer touch points: contract conclusion, contract modifications, the event of damage and further contacts. Our results are strategic measures to strengthen the position for sales and marketing, to simplify standard processes and to increase efficiency and interaction with the customer.

Tackling Health Disparities in Radiology: A Practical Conceptual Framework.

Tackling Health Disparities in Radiology: A Practical Conceptual Framework.

Feasibility of an automated interview grounded in multiple mini interview (MMI) methodology for selection into the health professions: an international multimethod evaluation

ObjectivesGlobal, COVID-driven restrictions around face-to-face interviews for healthcare student selection have forced admission staff to rapidly adopt adapted online systems before supporting evidence is available. We have developed, what we...

Mobile payment apps filling value gaps: Integrating consumption values with initial trust and customer involvement

This study aims to understand the consumption values that positively influence the adoption of mobile payment apps (MPAs). The theory of consumption values and two more constructs, initial trust (INT) and customer involvement (COI) are used to create a model tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 880 Indian consumers. The results obtained from the analysis identified functional (FUV), conditional (COV), epistemic (EPV), and emotional (EMV) values having a significant positive impact on MPA adoption intention. While INT mediated all consumption values, COI positively moderated the relationship of FUV, EPV, and EMV with adoption intention. The critical contribution is using INT and COI to test the mediating and moderating effect utilizing the theory of consumption values. It explains factors contributing directly and indirectly to MPA adoption intention. The study results demonstrate that all consumption values except social value (SOV) positively influence MPA adoption intention. The cross-sectional data was collected during the pandemic from the urban population, which may not be generalizable with other developed nations. The study suggests that promoters of MPAs must focus more on FUV, COV, EPV, and EMV. Governments can promote MPAs with an increased focus on building trust through policy measures and special drives to increase trustworthiness in MPAs. Businesses could increase efforts to involve customers when introducing MPAs and collate critical information from customer touch points for improved consumer involvement. Through greater usage of MPAs, governments can substantially reduce the cost of printing and handling currency bills, saving taxpayers’ money and diverting it to social spending.

Utilization of next generation sequencing (NGS) in stage IV gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients (pts) and efficacy of electronic reminder notification (ERN) in improving utilization of NGS in the private practice community-based setting.

73 Background: NGS testing allows for identification of genetic mutations/alterations that can be important in determining treatment options for advanced cancer pts. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) includes NGS testing as part of standard of care for many tumor types including stage IV pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer and all other GI solid tumor types. Previous reports have described the utilization of NGS in clinical practice at academic centers. To our knowledge this is the first report in the private practice setting. Methods: For the historical portion, we established baseline data to quantify NGS testing frequency in stage IV GI tumor pts in our community based oncology practice by performing a retrospective chart review. In the prospective portion, the intervention of an ERN was used to alert treating physicians if NGS had not been done. Primary endpoint is the percent (%) of pts with NGS sent compared to historical control. Secondary endpoint is the % of pts with targeted therapy options made available to them. Results: In a private practice multi-office setting, 200 charts of pts with stage IV GI cancer using Flatiron’s OncoEMR software were reviewed for the retrospective cohort between July 1 to December 31, 2020. Of the 200, 44.5% (89 pts) had colon cancer, 17.5% (35 pts) had pancreatic cancer, 15% (30 pts) had rectal cancer, and 23% (46 pts) had other types of GI cancer. Of these, 87 (43.5%) pts had NGS testing; of which 41 of 89 (46.0%) are colon pts, 13 of 35 (37.1%) are pancreatic pts and 16 of 30 (53.3%) are rectal pts. For the prospective portion, between July 1 and August 15, 2021 each physician’s schedule was evaluated and an ERN was sent shortly before each Stage IV GI pt was to be seen. A total of 114 pts were reviewed, and 92 (79%) had NGS sent. Of these, 47 pts of 54 (87%) are colon pts, 12 of 15 (80%) are pancreatic pts, 16 of 21(76%) are rectal pts, and 17 of 24 (70%) are pts with other GI cancer. 2% of pts with NGS testing had a potentially actionable mutation identified. Conclusions: NGS testing is standard of care for pts with stage IV GI cancer that wish to pursue therapy. ERN was minimally helpful in increasing NGS testing. This may be in part due to the effect of the practice's emphasis on NGS testing, which increased its baseline prospective testing rate. Increased use of a team based approach in the office would be a key element to increasing compliance with the current workflow as well as use of pathways which embed the NGS testing into the treatment plan. A more robust EMR would also be vital in increasing NGS testing rates by the use of automatic reminders or order sets. Better support of the physician and use of multiple touch points is necessary until full automation is utilized for NGS testing.

Abstract TP35: Stroke Nurse Navigation-Evolving Care Delivery To Effectively Meet The Needs Of Stroke Patients And Families

Background: Research indicates the importance of life-style modification, risk factor management, and medication and physician follow-up compliance in the prevention of stroke. Nurse navigators are in a unique position to influence this care. The pandemic changed post-acute management of stroke by requiring increased virtual care as opposed to in-person care. A known disparity existed in the number of touch points between the patients utilizing the patient portal versus those reached only by phone. We aimed to evaluate how changes in navigator workflow influenced the frequency of touchpoints, operating under the assumption that increased touchpoints will improve post-hospital care. Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed for acute stroke patients discharged from January 2020 - March 2021 for 4 certified stroke centers. We implemented standardized time intervals for patient outreach, regardless of modality. Initial outreach was completed within 48 hours to avoid potential gaps in care. Motivational interview calls were focused on education that included life-style changes, compliance, risk factor control and follow-up, which mirrored the mobile application’s education. Branded individualized education materials were created and sent to patients using US Mail or via the patient portal. New flowsheets were developed in the EMR for future data collection and reporting. Hand written notes and cards of encouragement were also sent reinforcing the counseling received. Linear regression analysis evaluated our primary outcome: the relationship between monthly touchpoints over time. Results: A total of 1935 patients were diagnosed with acute stroke, discharged and managed post-hospitalization for 90 days. During the 90 day episode, navigators interacted with patients for M = 4.64 SD = 2.46. Regression analysis demonstrated a linear relationship between time and touchpoints ( p <0.001). Navigators also reported intangible results from patient and family feedback related to support and care received. Conclusions: Stroke care is complex and requires ongoing patient and caregiver support. Increasing availability to stroke experts, such as nurse navigators, provides support and tools to improve post-hospital care.

Diabolical touching point in the magnetic energy levels of topological nodal-line metals

For three-dimensional metals, Landau levels disperse as a function of the magnetic field and the momentum wave number parallel to the field. In this two-dimensional parameter space, it is shown that two conically dispersing Landau levels can touch at a diabolical point---a Landau-Dirac point. The conditions giving rise to Landau-Dirac points are shown to be magnetic breakdown (field-driven quantum tunneling) and certain crystallographic spacetime symmetry. Both conditions are realizable in topological nodal-line metals, as we exemplify with the material candidates $\mathrm{Ca}{X}_{3}$ $(X=\mathrm{As},\mathrm{P})$. The experimental fingerprints of a Landau-Dirac point include (a) anomalous ``batman''-like peaks in the magnetoresistance, (b) circular Landau-Fermi surfaces revealed by angle-dependent ultrasonic attenuation, and (c) the tunability of the frequency onset of optical absorption to zero.

Food and carcerality: From confinement to abolition

Carceral spaces—such as neighborhood zones of police surveillance and plantation prisons that exploit incarcerated labor—reflect and reproduce systems of oppression that are also present in the food system. The state regularly polices poverty instead of addressing how racial capitalism perpetuates the lack of access to basic needs like healthy food. Conversely, the food system relies on carceral practices to secure sdisciplined labor by weaponizing the possibility of deportation and wielding the threat of violence to maintain control over racialized undocumented workers. But there are also seeds of struggle for the abolition of penal logics and institutions by incarcerated people and their allies on the outside. These include efforts to transform eating and food work in prison, reimagine food justice as an anti-carceral social movement, and use resistance tactics like hunger strikes. In this special issue introduction, we address these connections and set the stage for all the articles by asking: What does carcerality offer to theorizing and understanding the food system, food cultures, and food relations? And, what does a critical look at food offer toward understanding—and eventually abolishing—carceral systems? We offer theoretical touch points that connect food justice work to long-standing prison abolition organizing while introducing the major themes and contributions of each article included in the issue. We end with a reflection on our aspirations for the future of food studies.

Impact of COVID-19 on Radiology Trainee Safety, Education, and Wellness: Challenges Experienced and Proposed Solutions for the Future.

Impact of COVID-19 on Radiology Trainee Safety, Education, and Wellness: Challenges Experienced and Proposed Solutions for the Future.

Service design touch point failure model and effect analysis based on the triangular fuzzy number evaluation method

How to improve employees' satisfaction in the remote office mode while working together has become a challenge for enterprises to deal with the new office management mode. The concept of service design touch point is introduced into the remote office management system to improve employees' office experience and help enterprises complete the remote office service design. From the perspective of virtuous circle, the cost of failure analysis and preventive measures for service design touch point in the process of service design is lower than that of dealing with failure after service failure. Therefore, this paper made a risk assessment on the failure mode of service design touch point loss analysis method based on the triangular fuzzy number evaluation method. In the failure risk assessment, the fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis theory and the failure mode of service design touch point are analyzed first, and the expert scoring method is used to evaluate and determine the fuzzy level of severity, occurrence and detection of each failure mode; Then, aiming at the ability difference of different experts in evaluating different objects, the expert importance matrix, which is based on attribute difference, is determined; On this basis, the risk priority value of each failure mode is analyzed and determined by fuzzy calculation method. The risk evaluation ranking results of touch point failure modes are obtained according to the risk priority value. Finally, taking the failure analysis of Y company's remote collaborative office service as an example, the feasibility of the method is verified by the case of protection during COVID-19.