scholarly journals Information behavior during the Covid-19 crisis in German-speaking countries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Dreisiebner ◽  
Sophie März ◽  
Thomas Mandl
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Information Behavior ◽  
Public Organizations ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the Covid-19 crisis at the level of individual information behavior among citizens from the German-speaking countries, Austria, Germany and Switzerland.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted among 308 participants gathered through convenience sampling in April and May 2020, focusing on how citizens changed their mix and usage intensity of information sources and according to which criteria they chose them during the Covid-19 crisis. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for testing central tendencies. Effect sizes were considered to support the interpretation.FindingsThe results show first that the Covid-19 crisis has led to an increased demand for reliable information. This goes alongside a significant increased use of public broadcasting, newspapers and information provided by public organizations. Second, the majority (84%) of the participants reported being satisfied with the information supply during the Covid-19 crisis. Participants who were less satisfied with the information supply used reliable sources significantly less frequently, specifically public television, national newspapers and information provided by public organizations. Third, the amount of Covid-19-related information led some participants to a feeling of information overload, which resulted in a reduction of information seeking and media use.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to analyze changes of information behavior patterns of individuals during crises in the current information environment, considering the diversity of resources used by individuals.

Impact of ISO 9001 certification on firms financial operating performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli Kofi Aba ◽  
M. Affan Badar ◽  
Michael Allen Hayden
Keyword(s):  
Matched Control ◽  
Operating Performance ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operating Income ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of ISO 9001 certification on US firms’ financial operating performance for a period of five years including one-year prior to certification, year of certification, and three fiscal years after certification. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an examination of a sample of 397 firms that had received ISO 9001 certification from 1991 to 2002. Certified-firm, non-certified-firm, and matched-control-firm operating performances were examined over the same period based on the ratio of pre-tax operating income to total assets (EBITA/TA). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for significant differences in operating performance among the certified, non-certified, and matched-control firms. Findings – The paper concludes that there was significant improvement performance from prior year to year of certification. The certified firms performed better than the non-certified firms. The certified firms also performed better than the matched-control firms. Research limitations/implications – Based on the research approach and the findings, the paper recommends the use of newer ISO data; any additional certifications; and further research into the lack of significant operating values by the certified firms in the post-certification years. Practical implications – The paper shows that ISO 9001 certification is statistically related to operating performance. Certified firms have better operating performance. The positive significance in decile operating performance from prior year to certification year is an important finding for the implementation of ISO 9001. Originality/value – The paper satisfies the need to study when ISO 9001 certification impacts firms’ financial operating performance.

scholarly journals In VitroSusceptibility ofMycobacterium tuberculosisto Amikacin, Kanamycin, and Capreomycin

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Dijkstra ◽  
T. van der Laan ◽  
O. W. Akkerman ◽  
M. S. Bolhuis ◽  
W. C. M. de Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Practice ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Concentration Method ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTAmikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin are among the most important second-line drugs for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Although amikacin and kanamycin are administered at the same dose and show the same pharmacokinetics, they have different WHO breakpoints, suggesting that the two drugs have different MICs. The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in MICs between the aminoglycosides and capreomycin. Using the direct concentration method, a range of concentrations of amikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin (0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 16.0, 32.0, and 64.0 mg/liter) were tested against 57 clinicalMycobacterium tuberculosisstrains. The 7H10 agar plates were examined for mycobacterial growth after 14 days. At 2 mg/liter, 48 strains (84%) were inhibited by amikacin and only 5 strains (9%) were inhibited by kanamycin (P< 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The median MICs of amikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin were 2, 4, and 8 mg/liter, respectively. No difference in amikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin MIC distributions was observed between multidrug-resistant strains and fully susceptible strains. The results indicate that amikacin is more active than kanamycin and capreomycin againstM. tuberculosiswith the absolute concentration method. Determination of the impact of this difference on clinical outcomes in daily practice requires a prospective study, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations.

scholarly journals Information Seeking Behaviour among Millennial Students in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan ◽  
Wan Aida Wan Yahya ◽  
Azma Asnawishah Abd Hakim ◽  
Husain Hashim ◽  
Shuhaida Mohamed Shuhidan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Millennial Students ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates various information seeking behaviour demonstrated by millennial students in higher education. The impact of disruptive technology changes the students' information seeking behaviour as millennial students nowadays depend on the Internet too much to locate the information for their academic purposes. Studies also found that millennial students have difficulty in learning and were marked by uncertainty because they are facing information overload, inability to obtain and evaluate the information. Identifying and recognising appropriate information seeking processes is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the information-seeking behaviour and the quality of the information gathered in order to support their learning process and experience. Therefore, this paper focuses on the behaviour applied by these students to fulfil demands of academic compliance especially in efforts to seek research-based information. About 328 students took part in this online survey. Findings of this research use quantitative descriptive analysis. From the findings, respondents claim that they are familiar with information seeking processes with mean value is 3.63, however 30.5% respondents claim they still lacking in information seeking skills. This research provides a valuable insight regarding the information seeking behaviour of millennial students and make a recommendation that role of modern libraries should facilitated this demand by ensuring that services such as online library resources are accessible and set-up for use by the millennial students.

Uncertainty management in organizational crisis communication: the impact of crisis responsibility uncertainty and attribution-based emotions on publics' further crisis information seeking

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-I Lee ◽  
Xuerong Lu ◽  
Yan Jin
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Uncertainty Management ◽  
Organizational Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
External Attribution ◽  
Crisis Responses ◽  
The Impact

PurposeAlthough uncertainty has been identified as a key crisis characteristic and a multi-faceted construct essential to effective crisis management research and practice, only a few studies examined publics' perceived uncertainty with a focus on crisis severity uncertainty, leaving crisis responsibility uncertainty uninvestigated in organizational crisis settings.Design/methodology/approachTo close this research gap empirically, this study employed data from an online survey of a total of 817 US adults to examine how participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their attribution-based crisis emotions might impact their crisis responses such as further crisis information seeking.FindingsFirst, findings show that participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty was negatively associated with their attribution-independent (AI) crisis emotions (i.e. anxiety, fear, apprehension and sympathy) and external-attribution-dependent (EAD) crisis emotions (i.e. disgust, contempt, anger and sadness), but positively associated with internal-attribution-dependent (IAD) crisis emotions (i.e. guilt, embarrassment and shame). Second, crisis responsibility uncertainty and AI crisis emotions were positive predictors for participants' further crisis information seeking. Third, AI crisis emotions and IAD crisis emotions were parallel mediators for the relationship between participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their further crisis information seeking.Practical implicationsOrganizations need to pay attention to the perceived uncertainty about crisis responsibility and attribution-based crisis emotions since they can impact the decision of seeking crisis information during an ongoing organizational crisis.Originality/valueThis study improves uncertainty management in organizational crisis communication research and practice, connecting crisis responsibility uncertainty, attribution-based crisis emotions and publics' crisis information seeking.

scholarly journals Impact of Tocilizumab on Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19-Associated Cytokine Release Syndrome: A Single-Center Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110282
Author(s):  
Karan Raja ◽  
Nicole Daniel ◽  
Susan Morrison ◽  
Ruben Patel ◽  
Jessica Gerges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Cytokine Release ◽  
Cytokine Release Syndrome ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Post Dose ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact

Background: Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist hypothesized to blunt the uncontrolled immune response, cytokine release syndrome, in severe COVID-19 and prevent attributable morbidity and mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of tocilizumab on clinical outcomes in COVID-19-associated cytokine release syndrome. Methods: Single-center, retrospective cohort study assessing sixty-nine adult patients receiving tocilizumab for suspected COVID-19 cytokine release syndrome. The primary outcome was change in WHO clinical status scale on day seven post-dose analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Secondary outcomes assessed impact of timing of administration on clinical outcome. Safety analyses included development of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, transaminitis, and sepsis within 7 days post-dose. Statistical analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel. Results: No aggregate clinical change was found between day 0 and day 7. Eleven patients improved, twenty-seven worsened, and thirty-one showed no change. Clinical outcomes were weakly correlated with time from symptom onset (rs = 0.21; p = 0.08) or hospital admission (rs = -0.08; p = 0.49) to dose. In-hospital mortality was 63%. Sepsis was diagnosed in 21 patients, five of which were post-dose. Transaminitis, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in seven, one, and six patients, respectively. Conclusion: Tocilizumab did not appear to influence clinical outcomes in our study population, irrespective of timing of administration. Adverse events were not considered drug-related.

E-participation decision across different channels

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yurong Yao ◽  
Peng Xu
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interaction Quality ◽  
Channel Interaction ◽  
Participation Decision ◽  
Electronic Channel ◽  
Intention To Continue ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study focuses on understanding how channel features can affect people's intention to continue to use an electronic channel in public affairs and their recommendation behaviors. Specifically, three different channels are focused on: email, microblogs and online meetings.Design/methodology/approachA research model on an e-participation channel based on the channel-disposition framework was developed and an online survey was conducted to collect data from 397 individuals who used three e-participation channels to validate seven hypotheses.FindingsThe study found that information quality, channel interaction quality and the social appearance of other citizens all had a significant impact on users' intention to continue to use an electronic channel, which, in turn, affected their recommendation behaviors. However, the impact differed across the three e-participation channels. Information quality had a stronger impact on microblog and online meeting users' intention to continue to use these channels than on email users' intention to continue using email to participate in public affairs. Channel interaction quality had a stronger impact on email users' intention to continue to use email than on microblog and online meeting users' intention to continue to use these channels in public affairs.Originality/valueThis study helps better explain how various channels and their features can affect participants' use intentions and behaviors in e-participation. It also provides practical guidance for government to better manage e-participation channels and effectively engage citizens in public affairs.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic adults – a survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor James Davidson ◽  
Keri Lodge ◽  
Alwyn Kam
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Impact

Purpose To date there has been limited research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic people. This study aims to present the results of a survey of autistic people (n = 51) conducted by a UK specialist autism team. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey. Findings A total of 72% respondents reported either some or significant deterioration in mental health during the pandemic. The issues that caused most negative impact were uncertainty over what will happen next and disruption of normal routine. Respondents reported a variety of coping strategies to help them through the pandemic. Originality/value To date there has been little research looking specifically at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic people. This paper adds weight to the evidence that the pandemic has had a particularly severe impact on autistic adults and includes useful information on potential coping strategies for this population.

scholarly journals Improving indicators of tuberculosis program cascades by leveraging HIV program strategies

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-195
Author(s):  
S. C. Meribe ◽  
E. Harausz ◽  
I. Lawal ◽  
A. Ogundeji ◽  
C. Mbanefo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Military Hospitals ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Army Medical Research ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Background: To improve rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) case detection and treatment, the Nigerian Ministry of Defense Health Implementation Program and the US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa/Nigeria introduced a HIV standard of care (SOC) package. Given the integration of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV programs and evolving policies, we evaluated the impact of this strategy on TB program indicators.Methods: Routine, de-identified program data from 27 Nigerian military hospitals were analyzed. Using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, bivariate analyses were performed to compare data from 12 months before and after implementation of the SOC package.Results: Our data showed improvements post-implementation as follows: the number of individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) screened for TB increased from 14 530 to 29 467 (P < 0.001); the number of individuals with presumptive TB identified increased from 803 to 1800 (P < 0.001); the number of ART clients bacteriologically tested for TB increased from 746 to 1717 (P < 0.001); and the number of ART clients treated for TB increased from 152 to 282 (P < 0.001). Newly registered or relapsed TB cases increased from 436 to 906 (P < 0.001), the number of TB cases with known HIV status increased from 437 to 837 (P < 0.001), the number of TB-HIV co-infected cases increased from 182 to 301 (P = 0.006), and the number of TB-HIV co-infected clients who started ART increased from 101 to 176 (P = 0.003).Conclusion: The implementation of the updated HIV SOC package led to the improvement in key TB diagnosis and treatment indicators. When emulated, this could help improve the performance of other TB programs in countries other than Nigeria.

scholarly journals The Impact of Short-term Integrated Yoga practice on Psychological wellbeing in special educators of individual with special needs

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (04) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Vijayakumar PS ◽  
Sahana AU ◽  
Anusha Rajanna
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Yoga Practice ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact

Background: Special educators face unprecedented work conditions and expectations that affect their psychological wellbeing and professional outcome as well. This study examines the growing evidence that even a short-term Integrated yoga practice enhance psychological wellbeing among special educators by reducing their stress, anxiety and depression levels. Materials and Methods: Special educators were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria (n=20) age ranging between 25-50 years (Mean35±6.3) for a single group interventional pre-post study design: Integrated yoga module (included postures, breathing practices, relaxation and mediation) was given for a period of 8 weeks. The subjects were assessed on day 1 pre and post intervention on day 60 on perceived stress scale (PSS), Beck’s depression inventory (BDI-II) and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: After 8 weeks of Integrated yoga practice there was asignificant reduction in anxiety scores (P less than 0.000), depression scores (P less than 0.000) and perceived stress levels (P less than 0.000) respectively compared to baseline by wilcoxon signed rank test. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that even a short-term integrated yoga intervention that can enhance psychological wellbeing of the special educators.

scholarly journals Objective Behavioral Measures in Children before, during, and after the COVID-19 Lockdown in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8732
Author(s):  
Einat Shneor ◽  
Ravid Doron ◽  
Jonathan Levine ◽  
Deena Rachel Zimmerman ◽  
Julia S. Benoit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Wake Time ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Social Restriction ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
The Impact

Studies using questionnaires report that COVID-19 restrictions resulted in children spending significantly less time outdoors. This study used objective measures to assess the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on children’s behavior. A total of 19 healthy 8–12-year-old boys were observed before and during social restriction periods. Of these, 11 boys were reassessed after restrictions were lifted. For each session, Actiwatches were dispensed for measures of time outdoors, activity, and sleep. Changes overall and by school status were assessed using signed-rank test and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. During restrictions, children spent significantly less time outdoors (p = 0.001), were less active (p = 0.001), and spent less time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = 0.004). Sleep duration was not significantly different between sessions (p > 0.99), but bedtime and wake time shifted to a later time during restrictions (p < 0.05 for both). Time outdoors and activity returned close to pre-pandemic levels after restrictions were lifted (p > 0.05 for both). Children’s behaviors significantly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in outdoor light exposure is of importance due to the role of light in the etiology of myopia and vitamin D production. The reduction in physical activity may have negative health effects in terms of obesity and depression, although further research is required to ascertain the long-term effects.

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