Program Update Research Articles

Socialization of the General Election Commission's Continuous Voter Data Update Program

The purpose of this study was to determine, analyze the socialization of the continuous voter data updating program of the General Election Commission of Sidoarjo Regency. Qualitative descriptive research methods and data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. Determination of informants is done by purposive sampling method. Data analysis techniques through data collection, data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions. The results of this study indicate that the socialization of the continuous voter data updating program of the General Election Commission of Sidoarjo Regency is by direct and indirect socialization. Direct socialization was carried out with the OPD regarding the ongoing voter data updating program of the General Election Commission of Sidoarjo Regency and carried out socialization in high schools (SMA) in Sidoarjo Regency. Meanwhile, indirect socialization is carried out using social media owned by the General Election Commission of Sidoarjo Regency.

EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS: A RESEARCH ON THE CASE OF ATATURK UNIVERSITY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Yükseköğretimde program akreditasyonu, bir akreditasyon kuruluşu tarafından belirli bir alanda akademik ve mesleğe ilişkin standartların bir yükseköğretim programınca hangi ölçüde karşılandığını belirleyen; ölçme, değerlendirme ve dış kalite güvence sürecidir. Yükseköğretim programlarının akreditasyon süreçlerinde değerlendirmede kullanılan bazı ölçütler bulunmaktadır. Bu ölçütlerden biri, program çıktılarıdır. Program çıktıları yükseköğretim programlarının öğrencilerine öğrenim süresi boyunca kazandırdıkları bilgi, beceri ve davranışlardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Atatürk Üniversitesi Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi Peyzaj Mimarlığı Bölümü’nün akreditasyon çalışmalarının bir parçası olarak gerçekleştirdiği program çıktıları belirleme, güncelleme ve ölçme-değerlendirme süreçlerini incelemektir. Çalışma kapsamında bölüme ait akreditasyon öz değerlendirme raporu, bölüm kalite komisyonu raporları ve paydaş toplantısı raporları incelenerek, program çıktılarına ulaşma anketi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma ile akreditasyon süreçlerinin peyzaj mimarlığı eğitimine yönelik belirli standartların oluşturulması ve eğitim kalitesinin ölçme ve değerlendirme metotlarıyla sürekli izlenerek tedbir geliştirilmesi konusunda öncü bir rol oynayabileceği değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca program çıktılarına hangi düzeyde ulaşıldığını değerlendirmede sadece öğretim üyesi ve mezuniyet aşamasındaki öğrencilerin görüşlerine dayanarak yapılan bir değerlendirmenin yetersiz olacağı, programdan mezun olarak en az 1-2 yıl sektörde çalışma deneyimine ulaşmış mezunların da görüşlerine başvurulmasının daha doğru bir değerlendirme verisi sağlayacağı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Postdiagnosis body fatness, recreational physical activity, dietary factors and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) summary of evidence grading.

Based on the Global Cancer Update Programme, formally known as the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Continuous Update Project, we performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses to investigate the association of postdiagnosis body fatness, physical activity and dietary factors with breast cancer prognosis. We searched PubMed and Embase for randomised controlled trials and longitudinal observational studies from inception to 31 October 2021. We calculated summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects meta-analyses. An independent Expert Panel graded the quality of evidence according to predefined criteria. The evidence on postdiagnosis body fatness and higher all-cause mortality (RR per 5kg/m2 in body mass index: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10), breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14) and second primary breast cancer (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.26) was graded as strong (likelihood of causality: probable). The evidence for body fatness and breast cancer recurrence and other nonbreast cancer-related mortality was graded as limited (likelihood of causality: limited-suggestive). The evidence on recreational physical activity and lower risk of all-cause (RR per 10 metabolic equivalent of task-hour/week: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92) and breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.96) was judged as limited-suggestive. Data on dietary factors was limited, and no conclusions could be reached except for healthy dietary patterns, isoflavone and dietary fibre intake and serum 25(OH)D concentrations that were graded with limited-suggestive evidence for lower risk of the examined outcomes. Our results encourage the development of lifestyle recommendations for breast cancer patients to avoid obesity and be physically active.

Suboptimal Control of Asthma Among Diverse Patients: A US Mixed Methods Focus Group Study.

PurposeThe US National Asthma Education and Prevention Program updates and Global Initiative for Asthma report encourage considering the patient perspective to improve asthma control. The objective of the present study was to collect data about the perceptions, experiences, and concerns of adult patients and caregivers of children with asthma regarding rescue, maintenance, and oral corticosteroid treatments.Patients and MethodsIn-person focus groups were conducted in three cities across the US. Participants also completed patient-reported outcome measures assessing asthma control and experiences.ResultsFocus groups were conducted in demographically and clinically diverse adults with asthma (five groups, n=34), caregivers of children with asthma (five groups, n=35), and adults with a dual diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (one group, n=5). Only 28% of patients were well-controlled by Asthma Control Test/Asthma Control Test-Caregiver Report and 18% by Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire. Forty-four percent of participants reported not following their prescribed medical plan. Four key themes emerged from the focus groups: (1) asthma symptom control and monitoring are often inadequate; (2) treatments are often used incorrectly; (3) communication between health care professionals and patients or caregivers is often ineffective; and (4) concerns related to treatment and desires to improve treatment.ConclusionControl of asthma symptoms is suboptimal in the vast majority of patients and both patients and caregivers do not feel sufficiently informed about asthma. Health care providers should be encouraged to engage patients and caregivers in shared decision making for managing asthma and selecting treatments that integrate patient values, preferences, and lifestyles.

Corporate health culture and employee behaviour-changing wellness practices

Introduction. Public health experts recognize that an environment that supports a culture of health best serves health goals. Therefore, some companies are creating a culture that supports health and builds healthy lifestyles for employees.
 Objective. A description of the key elements for creating a workplace health culture and the international experience of employers in applying corporate health practices to change employee behavior.
 Materials and methods. A content analysis of corporate health publications from the Scopus and PubMed bibliographic databases and public Internet sources.
 Discussion. Behavioral change programs aim to encourage workers to quit unhealthy habits, change-eating habits, increase physical activity, and manage stress and depression. Usually these programs implemented using a comprehensive approach. These interventions can be personal or mass-based. The former include individual counseling, food stamps or discounted fitness club memberships, systems of contracts that encourage behavioral changes in employees, rewards for quitting tobacco, free provision of anti-nicotine products, closure of company parking lots for those who live near the workplace, etc. The latter involve the introduction of a ban on smoking on the territory of the organization, reducing the cost of a healthy meal in the corporate canteen, etc.
 Conclusion. There is an ongoing discussion in the scientific community about the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs. Many experts agree that a comprehensive strategic approach that includes measures to create a culture of health and a supportive work environment, along with regularly updated programs to promote health and change employee behavior is beneficial to both workers and businesses.

Updated program translation dataset

Updated program translation dataset

Can a corporate well-being programme maintain the strengths of the healthy employee in times of COVID-19 and extensive remote working? An empirical case study.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the increase of working-from-home have drastically changed many aspects of work life, causing very negative effects on employees' physical and psycho-social well-being. Healthy organisations have healthy employees, who have at least five psycho-social strengths of engagement, self-efficacy, resilience, optimism and hope, which are reinforced by physical activity, relating to each other in a positive way and leading to numerous benefits for the company. These strengths are being weakened by the pandemic, and the aim of this empirical study is to analyse through a case study the effects of an updated corporate wellness programme in times of pandemic on these strengths of the healthy employee. The sample was of 251 employees, 91 women and 160 men. The instruments used were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the adaptation of the Healthy and Resilient Organization questionnaire. The results indicated that workers with high physical activity, higher seniority, well guided by supervisors, as well as a comprehensive (multi-component) well-being programme, not only physical but also psycho-social, and with the use of different digital tools (an App is not enough), can mitigate these negative effects. Whereas companies are grappling with reduced employee engagement among other harmful psychosocial and physical effects, this case study suggests that a good corporate well-being programme could help mitigate these detrimental consequences for their workforce and be helpful for the company to adapt to this rapidly changing workplace. This study considers the impact of immigration and ethnic diversity on government spending in 31 OECD countries over 25 years and compares the marginal effects for expenditures and revenues to approximate the fiscal burden. Results suggest that ethnic fractionalization, not immigration itself, has a negative impact on spending in the OECD. On the whole, immigrants tend to contribute more in taxes than they cause in expenditures, at least relative to the averages for the population as a whole, but this effect is reversed for immigrants from poorer countries.

STEM centre as a factor in the development of formal and non-formal STEM education

The article is devoted to the study of STEM education. It is one of the important directions of educational reform of the XXI century and can be implemented through the integration of formal and non-formal education. The authors of the paper study the ecosystem of formal and non-formal STEM education. Researchers have identified the main characteristics of this ecosystem such as the harmonious combination of formal and informal components of STEM learning, increasing the motivation of students to STEM sciences, constant updating of educational programs and professional development programs for teachers; use of non-formal education approaches; constant connection with external communities of STEM professionals; building partnerships between schools and non-formal institutions. The authors have developed the main components of the model of functioning of the educational STEM centre as an education ecosystem. In particular, they are educational research, assessment (evaluation), research projects, innovative teaching methods, programs for training, undergraduate education, teacher training, mentoring, services, communications, cooperation, infrastructure, connection, networking. To assess the extent of the impact of various forms of formal and non-formal learning activities on the results of the implementation of STEM education, an expert survey was conducted. The results of the survey are systematized, illustrated with the help of infographics, statistically significant relationships between individual parameters of the proposed model are established. To test this model in practice, an experiment was conducted. It lasted from 2016 to 2020. Researchers have confirmed the hypothesis that STEM education gives the best results due to a combination of formal and non-formal levels. Therefore, their STEM centre promotes STEM education among the general public, training and retraining of educators involved in STEM, development of STEM competencies of pupils and students.

Освітня складова проблем кадрового забезпечення рику інформаційних технологій

The problems of insufficient supply of qualified personnel for Ukrainian IT enterprises and the industry as a whole have been studied. The interrelation of regional indicators of specialists in the field of training and the quality of graduates of IT specialties of formal higher education is analyzed. The studied problem in the coming years will be exacerbated by: reducing the quality of mathematical training in secondary education, in particular related to quarantine measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the destruction of a significant part of the infrastructure, including an educational infrastructure in a number of regions of Ukraine caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as the forced emigration of school-age youth. The connection between the availability of a sufficient number of specialists in the specialty and the number of high-quality institutions of higher education that provide specialized educational services in the reagion is analyzed. The proposals to the heads of IT enterprises and institutions of higher education, which train future IT specialists, unite projects, are substantiated, namely: to create joint centers for the development and updating of curricula and programs; to conduct free refresher courses for scientific and pedagogical workers; to create laboratories for high-quality information support of the educational process; to provide financial support to the technical base of the institutions of higher education. These measures can enhance the provision of quality educational services through integration, rather than coexistence, of formal and non-formal education. Reforming specialized higher education is becoming an urgent need. Success requires the involvement of practitioners in the educational process on the one hand and the involvement of research and teaching staff in the development of projects occupied by IT companies in the region. The top management of the companies with the highest qualification for staffing all age categories of the IT market of Ukraine needs to monitor the feasibility of investments in the development of non-formal "post-academic" education and pay attention to the need to involve educators from the basic level. The results of the study indicate low labor mobility. The vast majority of graduates of IT specialties are looking for a job in the regions where they received higher education, or move to the capital Kyiv. The only exception among all regional centers in the city of Ternopil. Based on the analysis, recommendations for the top management of Ukrainian IT companies are formulated. In case you need to quickly increase the size, the most attractive is Kyiv and Lviv. However, the location in Kyiv is a competitive environment that affects the high cost of doing business. As a result of the large-scale invasion and destruction by the Russian occupiers of KhNU. Karazin and a number of other educational institutions, in the coming years the widespread development of IT business in the Kharkiv region is becoming unpromising. The authors of the study suggest that IT business management should pay special attention to Ternopil. In Ternopil, due to the activities of the IT cluster and its cooperation with the Free Economic Zone, the number of IT specialists is quickly increasing and low competition between companies leads to a lower cost of doing business

МЕТОДИКА ФОРМУВАННЯ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТЕЙ ТА РЕЗУЛЬТАТІВ НАВЧАННЯ БАКАЛАВРІВ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ МЕДИЧНОЇ ДІАГНОСТИКИ ТА ЛІКУВАННЯ У ПРОЦЕСІ ВИВЧЕННЯ ТЕМИ «РОЗРАХУНКИ ТА ПРИГОТУВАННЯ РОЗЧИНІВ ПРИБЛИЗНИХ КОНЦЕНТРАЦІЙ»

The article substantiates the professional significance of the formation of competencies in chemistry and learning outcomes of higher education in the specialty "Technologies of medical diagnostics and treatment" in the process of studying the discipline "Technique of laboratory work". It is proved that this discipline integrates knowledge of the technique of chemical experiment, in particular – the preparation of solutions of certain concentrations, which is of immense importance for the professional activities of laboratory assistants of clinical diagnostic laboratories. Thus, this problem requires special methodological attention. It is determined that the formation of competencies in chemistry and learning outcomes of higher education in the specialty "Technologies of medical diagnostics and treatment" should take place in the conditions of creating a specially organized student-centered educational environment in higher education institutions (HEIs). It enables students to use organizational, intellectual-communicative, educational, methodological, logistical, informational-technological resources of HEIs, as well as to influence the systematic updating of educational programs, thus determining the goals, structure, methods and professional orientation of their education. A list of general and special competencies as well as learning outcomes of higher education seekers, which will be formed in the specified topic of the course "Technique of laboratory work" has been composed. On the example of conducting a practical lesson on the corresponding topic, the author's method of forming and evaluating the learning outcomes of applicants for higher education is given. It is shown that the formation of these learning outcomes begins with the acquaintance of applicants with their content. Algorithms for solving computational problems of preparation of tinctures by methods of sample and dilution solutions are given. Detailed instructions for the preparation of solutions of salts, alkalis and acids and determination of their concentrations using a hydrometer are given. The place of group educational activity in the process of formation of students' learning outcomes is outlined. Methods of control and assessment of students' academic achievements are indicated, namely: online testing using modern educational platforms, self-evaluation, evaluation by group members and assessment based on the results of their experimental work.

1158-P: The Effect of Surgical Weight Loss on Diabetic Complications in the Severely Obese

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of surgical weight loss on chronic kidney disease (CKD) , retinopathy, and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in people with severe obesity. We completed a prospective cohort study of participants with severe obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. At baseline and at 2 years following bariatric surgery, participants had outcome measurements and underwent metabolic phenotyping. The updated National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria were used to define the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components. The primary outcome for CKD was the estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) , retinopathy was mean deviation on frequency doubling technology testing, and CAN was the expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio. Among 138 baseline participants, 80 (mean (standard deviation) age: 45.6 (11.2) years, 72.5% female) completed 2 years of follow-up. Participants lost 31.9 (17.5) kg. All metabolic syndrome components improved with the exception of blood pressure. CKD worsened (eGFR: baseline: 85.6 (19.7) , 2-year: 82.6 (23.1) , p=0.04) , retinopathy was stable (mean deviation: baseline: −1.2 (4.3) , 2-year: −1.6 (4.2) , p=0.53) , and CAN was stable (E/I ratio: baseline: 1.18 (0.12) , 2-year: 1.18 (0.11) , p=0.95) following bariatric surgery. Greater reduction in fasting glucose was associated with significant improvements to primary CKD (eGFR: point estimate (PE) : -0.22, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) : −0.38, −0.06) and retinopathy (mean deviation: PE: -0.04, 95%CI: −0.08, −0.004) , after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline BMI. Surgical weight loss was associated with improvements in all metabolic parameters except blood pressure. Despite the improvement to metabolic risk factors, CKD significantly worsened during follow-up, whereas retinopathy and CAN outcomes remained stable. This stability may be an improvement compared to the natural progression of these conditions, however controlled trials are needed to confirm. Disclosure E.L.Reynolds: None. M.Watanabe: None. M.Elafros: None. E.L.Feldman: None. B.C.Callaghan: None. Funding The project described was supported by Grant Number P30DK020572 (MDRC) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) . Dr. Callaghan is currently funded by a NIH NIDDK R-award (DK115687) . Dr. Reynolds was supported by NIH T32 (NS0007222) . Dr. Feldman was supported by an NIH NIDDK DP3 award (DK094292) and is currently funded by NIH NIDDK (R24082841 and R21 NS102924) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (NNF14°C0011633) . Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Callaghan, and Dr. Feldman receive support from the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies and the A. Alfred Taubman Research Institute at the University of Michigan.

Local Attitudes towards Postgraduate Psychiatry Training: A Maltese Perspective

IntroductionThe updated programme for postgraduate psychiatry training in Malta was implemented in 2017. The trainees’ perspective was identified as an important and untapped resource in implementing positive change.Objectives1. Identification of lacunae within the training programme 2. Acquire ideas regarding new initiatives 3. Identify what is particularly good. 4. Present a comprehensive report to the relevant stakeholders 5. Use of findings to work on concrete changes, with re-audit in 1 year.MethodsData from a national online survey of 12 Maltese Psychiatric Trainees from a total of 19 (63%% response rate) were examined. Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered by making use of Likert scales as well as open ended questions. Various areas were surveyed, including 1. Ease of accessibility and quality of Clinical Supervision & Educational Supervision 2. Lectures and Teaching Seminars 3. After hours Duties 4. Psychotherapy Module 5. Preparation for MRCpsych ExaminationsResultsA noticeable difficulty in accessing clinical supervision (66%), the lack of research presentation opportunities (75%), as well as difficulties in the psychotherapy module (66.7%) were noted.ConclusionsAll results were collated into a six-page report. This report was presented to both the Maltese Postgraduate Training Committee as well as the Executive committee of the Maltese Association of Psychiatry and the Chairman of the Psychiatry Department. Various suggestions were flagged for Implementation including: 1. Rotation specific teaching 2. Restructure of the Psychotherapy module including training 3. Annual Research Day 4. Complex Case Discussions Follow up plans include reaudit in one year following the implemented changes.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Motor skill training programs for children with developmental coordination disorder: Does gender matter?

As a section of composing an update of the motor skill training programs in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) according to gender, a systematic review of intervention studies in this domain, emphasizing gender differences, was made. This study aimed to (i) systematically review the available literature on the effect of a motor intervention program in children with DCD with a focus on gender differences; (ii) to find clues that possibly explain the observed outcomes according to gender. An electronic search in 4-four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed) was conducted for studies that evaluated motor-based interventions in participants of both genders with DCD assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. The systematic review followed the guidelines defined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Meta-analysis (PRISMA) and Systematic Reviews and comprised articles published from January 2000 to January 2021. Each study extracted information about methodology, participant characteristics, intervention program (characteristics, duration, and frequency), outcomes, and differences according to gender. Outcomes indicated that although activity-oriented and body function-oriented interventions can effectively affect motor function and skills in children with DCD, only a few studies indicated equal outcomes of the effectiveness of programs on both girls and boys. However, those studies did not describe the gender effect in sufficient detail to help researchers and clinicians understand what it was about the treatment that made it equivalent. Future studies need to address this.

A New Challenge: The Reconstruction of Online Language Laboratory on Distance Learning

The Covid-19 wide spread constrained numerous schools and colleges to stay closed briefly. This phenomenon brings a challeging in teaching learning process. The aim of this paper is to explain the learning process using new language laboratory format. There can be several formats of online learning process: Knowledge base, online support, asynchronous training, synchronous training, and hybrid training. This study employed a descriptive design with a qualitative approach to examine the language laboratory strategis and challenges through the pandemic in the University. A questionnaire and interview were used in this study to elicit the responses of English Lecturer in Language Center, Sebelas Maret University. The findings reveal that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reformed the Language Laboratory significantly. Both lecturers and students in are faced with multiple challenges in conducting teaching and learning process. In other hand, the new format and content of Online language laboratory helps teachers and students in teaching learning process. Covid-9 also opens an opportunity to reconstruct the teaching learning system in laboratory and establish updated programs and assessments.

A Brief History of Updates of Answer-Set Programs

AbstractOver the last couple of decades, there has been a considerable effort devoted to the problem of updating logic programs under the stable model semantics (a.k.a. answer-set programs) or, in other words, the problem of characterising the result of bringing up-to-date a logic program when the world it describes changes. Whereas the state-of-the-art approaches are guided by the same basic intuitions and aspirations as belief updates in the context of classical logic, they build upon fundamentally different principles and methods, which have prevented a unifying framework that could embrace both belief and rule updates. In this paper, we will overview some of the main approaches and results related to answer-set programming updates, while pointing out some of the main challenges that research in this topic has faced.

User Experiences With an SMS Text Messaging Program for Smoking Cessation: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundMobile health strategies for smoking cessation (eg, SMS text messaging–based interventions) have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit. However, further research is needed to better understand user experiences with these platforms.ObjectiveThis qualitative study aims to explore the experiences of real-world users of a publicly available smoking cessation program (SmokefreeTXT).MethodsSemistructured phone interviews were conducted with 36 SmokefreeTXT users between March and July 2014. Of these 36 participants, 50% (18/36) of participants completed the SmokefreeTXT program (ie, did not opt out of the program before the 6- to 8-week completion period), and 50% (18/36) did not complete the program (ie, requested to opt out of the program before the completion period). Interview questions focused on smoking behaviors, quitting history, opinions on the program’s content and structure, answering assessment questions, using keywords, reasons for opting out, and perceived usefulness of the program for quitting smoking. A thematic content analysis was conducted, with a focus on themes to increase program engagement and optimization.ResultsThe findings highlighted features of the program that participants found beneficial, as well as some elements that showed opportunities for improvement to boost program retention and successful cessation. Specifically, most participants found the SmokefreeTXT program to be convenient and supportive of cessation; however, some found the messages to be repetitive and reported a desire for more flexibility based on their readiness to quit and cessation progress. We also found that program completion did not necessarily indicate successful smoking cessation and that program opt out, which might be interpreted as a less positive outcome, may occur because of successful cessation. Finally, several participants reported using SmokefreeTXT together with other evidence-based cessation methods or non–evidence-based strategies.ConclusionsQualitative interviews with real-world SmokefreeTXT users showed high program acceptability, engagement with program features, and perceived utility for smoking cessation. Our findings directly informed several program updates, such as adding an adaptive quit date feature and offering supplemental information on live support services for users who prefer human interaction during the cessation process. The study has implications for other digital tobacco cessation interventions and highlights important topics that warrant future research, such as the relationship between program engagement (eg, opt out and retention) and successful cessation.

Hospitality Management Specialization Practical Courses Evaluation and Development

Students registered in the Tourism Department undergraduate program at the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) study 12 specialization requirements courses (36 credit hours) in one of the department specializations (Tourism Management - Hospitality Management) for 4 semesters. The Hospitality Management specialization study plan comprises two practical courses “Food Production” and “Service in Hospitality”. Both courses have a weekly 50-minute theoretical (In-class) foundation part complemented by a weekly 4-hour practical application part. Over the years, the location for the two courses practical application part has been a major concern, commercial properties as a training location or catering facilities on SQU premises? many questions were posed seeking to determine which location better enhances students learning experience and helps the accomplishment of courses objectives and learning outcomes. The current study aims to evaluate the teaching and learning experience of the two practical Hospitality Management Specialization courses: “Food Production” and “Service in Hospitality”. End of practical application reports of students enrolled in the “Food Production” course in Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 were analyzed. A survey was distributed to Spring 2020 “Service in Hospitality” course students. Then finally, interviews with the two courses instructors were conducted in Spring 2020. Students’ evaluations and responses were straight forward while instructors’ comments were thorough, correlating the investigated courses to the other study plan courses showing their wholistic effect on the program sustainability. The study outcomes are important in evaluating the practical courses status leading to an enhanced teaching and learning experience and is a step towards the undergraduate program study plan reformulation and update. Keywords: tourism, hospitality, practical courses, study plan, education, training, Oman

Privacy preserving dynamic data release against synonymous linkage based on microaggregation

The rapid development of the mobile Internet coupled with the widespread use of intelligent terminals have intensified the digitization of personal information and accelerated the evolution of the era of big data. The sharing and publishing of various big data brings convenience and also increases the risk of personal privacy leakage. In order to reduce users’ privacy leakage that may be caused by data release, many privacy preserving data publishing methods have been proposed by scientists in both academia and industry in the recent years. However, non-numerical sensitive information has natural semantic relevance, and therefore, synonymous linkages may still exist and cause serious privacy disclosures in privacy protection methods based on an anonymous model. To address this issue, this paper proposes a privacy preserving dynamic data publishing method based on microaggregation. A series of indicators are accordingly designed to evaluate the synonymous linkages between the non-numerical sensitive values which in turn facilitate in improving the clustering effect of the microaggregation anonymous method. The dynamic update program is introduced into the proposed microaggregation method to realize the dynamic release and update of data. Experimental analysis suggests that the proposed method provides better privacy protection effect and availability of published data in contrast to the state-of-the-art methods.

Survey of semen analysis practices in India and need for standardization and improvement.

Infertility is a sensitive subject carrying with it economic, social, and psychological implications. Work up of male infertility is often hampered by a lack of infrastructure and facilities, as well as inadequate training of pathology residents. The purpose of this research survey was to evaluate the current status of semen analysis practices and compare them to the standards laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO). A web-based questionnaire was designed consisting of questions related to semen analysis practices and procedures being followed currently by pathologists in India. A total of 194 pathologists responded. Questions regarding the procedures followed for semen collection, sperm count, volume, normal range, lower normal limit of sperm count, morphology, etc., were included in the survey. These data were recorded. The differences and gaps in the practice with respect to the WHO standards were analyzed. The survey revealed that the printed instructions for semen analysis were available with 38.7% of the respondents; 58.8% of the respondents had a separate room for semen collection; 95.9% performed the analysis manually, and; only 4.1% used automated analyzers. Only 53.6 and 52.6% of the respondents were correctly reporting the normal range of semen volume and sperm counts, respectively. Only 19.6% stated as having read the WHO manual and were also practicing its guidelines, while 14.4% had not read the WHO manual even once. The present study showed a large gap between the practice of semen analysis by respondents from various parts of India and standard procedures as laid down by the WHO. Many laboratories do not follow the standard instructions. There is a need to improve the quality of practice related to semen analysis in this country through appropriate teaching and training in medical institutions as well as through Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) or regular update programs.

A 30-Year Radiation Safety Prospectus Describing Organizational Drivers, Program Activities, and Outcomes.

In 1992, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Radiation Safety Program began assembling data on a monthly basis that described various program drivers and associated activities. A summary of the data was assembled on an annual basis and shared with the professional health physics community at the 10-y and 20-y intervals. With the inclusion of 1991 data points, three decades (1991 to 2020) of data have now been collected and summarized into an updated program prospectus. The prospectus models a commercial enterprise prospectus provided to potential investors and displays various program indicator parameters. The consistent formatting of the data affords an easily digestible and succinct snapshot of program activities and trends. Various program stakeholder's feedback regarding this data continues to be well received. Additionally, UTHealth provides increasing support for UT Physicians clinics throughout the greater Houston, Texas area. The prospectus allows succinct description of the drivers of the program, revealed interesting trends, and has identified training needs for both existing personnel and academic programs that support the radiation protection sciences.