It can’t be a farce: Teachers’ perceptions of restorative practices in an urban charter school

The purpose of this research was to understand teacher perceptions of restorative practices in an urban charter school. This study sought to illustrate how teachers conceptualize restorative practices and use it in their classrooms. This research study utilized a single-case study design. The study examined teacher perceptions of restorative practices through the lenses of five urban charter school teachers. The findings suggest that restorative practices have shown promising results in terms of building a collaborative school culture that embraces staff and students for who they are, helps build lasting relationships between students and teachers, and above all, encourages a more effective way in dealing with discipline so students understand what they have done wrong and how they can make better choices. Themes that emerged from the participants highlighted the significance of social emotional learning, building relationships, empathy, the physical classroom environment, and the importance of keeping teachers in urban schools

Concordance of Genotyping and Phenotyping in the Classification of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have spread in Saudi Arabia, increasing morbidity, mortality, and financial burdens. Recent studies have suggested the phenotyping methods typically used to classify MRSA as either health care MRSA (HA-MRSA) or community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) cases are unreliable, because they lack concordance with the results of genotyping. Yet the expense associated with genotyping precludes its use in the Saudi Aramco population in Saudi Arabia. The absence of a standardized and affordable method to classify MRSA into CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA has been a challenge for infection control programs in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this quantitative, secondary data analysis was to determine the most reliable phenotyping approach to strain identification using John Hopkins Aramco hospital data. The ecological and antibiotics selection pressure theories framed this research. The results of concordance, and sensitivity and specificity tests, suggested hospital admission profiles and susceptibility pattern were the most reliable phenotypic predictors of genotype-based classifications. Multiple logistic regression for susceptibility pattern (OR = 15.47, p \u3c .001) and hospital admission profile (OR = 2.87, p = .008) confirmed those results, whereas all other variables were not found to be statistically significant. These results can be used to clarify the epidemiological and molecular factors that affect the transition of MRSA from health care facilities to the Saudi Aramco community. Implications for positive social change include faster and more reliable classification of MRSA to aid in disease surveillance and the selection of appropriate treatments to reduce MRSA-related morbidity and mortality

Molecular aspects of MERS-CoV

This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a betacoronavirus which can cause acute respiratory distress in humans and is associated with a relatively high mortality rate. Since it was first identified in a patient who died in a Jeddah hospital in 2012, the World Health Organization has been notified of 1735 laboratory-confirmed cases from 27 countries, including 628 deaths. Most cases have occurred in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoVancestors may be found in OldWorld bats of the Vespertilionidae family. After a proposed bat to camel switching event, transmission of MERS-CoV to humans is likely to have been the result of multiple zoonotic transfers from dromedary camels. Human-to-human transmission appears to require close contact with infected persons, with outbreaks mainly occurring in hospital environments. Outbreaks have been associated with inadequate infection prevention and control implementation, resulting in recommendations on basic and more advanced infection prevention and control measures by the World Health Organization, and issuing of government guidelines based on these recommendations in affected countries including Saudi Arabia. Evolutionary changes in the virus, particularly in the viral spike protein which mediates virus-host cell contact may potentially increase transmission of this virus. Efforts are on-going to identify specific evidence-based therapies or vaccines. The broad-spectrum antiviral nitazoxanide has been shown to have in vitro activity against MERS-CoV. Synthetic peptides and candidate vaccines based on regions of the spike protein have shown promise in rodent and non-human primate models. GLS-5300, a prophylactic DNA-plasmid vaccine encoding S protein, is the first MERS-CoV vaccine to be tested in humans, while monoclonal antibody, m336 has given promising results in animal models and has potential for use in outbreak situations

CUSTOMERS LOYALTY: DOES VALUE CO-CREATION BECOME INDISPENSABLE FOR UNIVERSITIES?

This paper investigates the direct and indirect relationships between customers` participation in value co-creation activities (CPVCA) and their loyalty. Quantitative research approach is adopted, while the population consists of all the Lebanese private universities` students. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 403 students, nominated according to convenience sampling technique. The study proposed scale validity and the relationships between variables were examined depending on PLS-SEM. The findings reveal a direct significant relationship between CPVCA and customers` loyalty; in addition, to indirect relationship, through the partial mediating role for customers` satisfaction and relationship strength. Research implications and limitations are presented

STUDENTS’ LOYALTY: DOES VALUE CO-CREATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MATTER?

This study investigates the influence for intrinsic and extrinsic motives on customers` participation in value co-creation activities (CPVCA), beside examining the direct and indirect impact for CPVCA on customers` loyalty. Quantitative research approach is used, while the study population encompasses all Lebanese private universities students. A questionnaire was developed to gather data from 403 universities` students who were chosen using the convenience sampling technique. PLS-SEM was adopted to examine the study proposed scale validity and the relationships between its latent variables. The current study results indicate a positive influence for both intrinsic and extrinsic motives on CPVCA. Also, the findings reveal a significant direct relationship among CPVCA and customer loyalty, as well as an indirect relationship via mediating brand experience

Comparison of Effectiveness of Germania Honey Compared to Manuka Honey in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Killing

Purpose: Manuka honey is currently used in medical-grade sterile wound treatment products and has been shown to be effective in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) killing in vitro and in wound healing in a number of case studies and series. Locally produced honey in Pakistan and Chile have been proposed to be as effective as Manuka honey in bacterial killing in vitro, presenting potentially more accessible and affordable alternatives. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of a local Germania honey from Saudi Arabia to Manuka honey MGO 550 for in vitro killing of MRSA. Methodology: Overnight Muller Hinton broth cultures of 50 wound culture isolates of MRSA from 50 patients were incubated with a series of dilutions of Manuka honey MGO 550 and corresponding Germania honey dilutions for 24 h. Turbidity was assessed to determine whether bacterial growth had occurred, and no growth was confirmed by a further 24 h sub-culture on blood agar. Results/Key findings: Manuka honey MGO 550 was significantly more effective than Germania honey at MRSA killing at 100% v/v, 50% v/v and 25% v/v (p=0.025, 0.000265, and 0.000112 respectively) Conclusion: Manuka honey MGO 550 is significantly more effective in killing MRSA in vitro than Germania honey. Germania honey does not appear to be a promising locally produced alternative to Manuka honey for the development of honey-based wound dressings. Further experiments could determine if Germania honey is effective against other bacterial species

Evaluating a low-fidelity inguinal canal model

Purpose: The inguinal canal anatomy is of paramount clinical significance due to the common occurrence of direct and indirect inguinal hernias. However, the inguinal canal is often an area of great difficulty for medical students to understand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a low-cost, low-fidelity inguinal canal model as a teaching and learning aid. Methods: A low-fidelity inguinal canal model was introduced as a learning aid in an anatomy tutorial on the inguinal region. Students were randomised into intervention (n=66) and control (n=40) groups. Following the tutorial, all students completed a multiple-choice question quiz on the inguinal canal. The intervention group also completed a questionnaire evaluating the positive and negative aspects of the model. Results: Students taught with the inguinal canal model achieved higher scores (mean: 88.31% vs 81.7%, p=0.087). Positive aspects of the model as described by the students included its simplicity and ability to improve their three-dimensional understanding of the inguinal canal. Students requested more hands-on time with the model during the tutorial. Conclusion: The present study supports current literature in that low-fidelity anatomy models are a useful adjunct to aid students’ learning of complex anatomical concepts. Students may benefit from creating their own inguinal canal model to retain as a personal study tool

Mindfulness and related factors among Iranian nursing students: A cross-sectional study

Nursing students experience a number of emotional challenges during their educations, leading to high levels of stress among them. One of the strategies of stress management in nursing students is the use of mindfulness. This study aimed to assess mindfulness and related factors among Iranian nursing students. In a cross-sectional study, 100 nursing students studying at Nasibeh Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran was enrolled. Data were collected via census sampling from May to June 2018. Data were collected using a three-part questionnaire including demographic characteristics, Kentucky Mindfulness Skills scale, and Spielberger State Anxiety scale. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Chi-squared, and ANOVA tests. The mean score of mindfulness of nursing students was 117.35 ± 12.89. The mean scores of mindfulness in the dimensions of observation, description, act with awareness, and acceptance without Judgment was 36.33 ± 6.0, 25.68 ± 4.91, 28.17 ± 4.49, and 27.17 ± 3.80, respectively. The mean score of anxiety in nursing students was 14.17 ± 3.78. There was a significant relationship between age and dimension "description" of mindfulness (r = 0.22, p = 0.029). There was a significant relationship between dimension "observation" of mindfulness and experience stressful events during the last six months (t = 2.327, df = 96, p = 0.022). Therefore, due to the importance of mindfulness among nursing students, it is possible to reduce the risk factor by creating the necessary conditions such as continuing education

Radars FMCW pour l'aide à la conduite automobile

Radars FMCW pour l'aide à la conduite automobileDans cet article, on analyse deux stratégies de choix de forme d'onde pour un radar FMCW d'aide à la conduite automobile. La présence potentielle de plusieurs cibles nécessite l'utilisation de formes d'onde spécifiques en vue d'associer correctement les fréquences de battement sur chaque rampe. On étudie ici les performances obtenues en termes de variance de position et de vitesse relative pour deux stratégies possibles d'un point de vue pratique et on présente également les bornes théoriques correspondantes. On trouve que les formes d'onde proposées permettent de gérer la présence de cibles multiples et donnent de bonnes performances pour un seuil de détection de l'ordre de 15 dB

Dual-Mode Time Domain Multiplexed Chirp Spread Spectrum

We propose a dual-mode (DM) time domain multiplexed (TDM) chirp spread spectrum (CSS) modulation for spectral and energy-efficient low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs). DM-CSS modulation that uses both the even and odd cyclic time shifts has been proposed for LPWANs to achieve noteworthy performance improvement over classical counterparts. However, its spectral efficiency (SE) is half of the in-phase and quadrature (IQ)-TDM-CSS scheme that employs IQ components with both up and down chirps, resulting in a SE that is four times relative to Long Range (LoRa) modulation. Nevertheless, the IQ-TDM-CSS scheme only allows coherent detection. Furthermore, it is also sensitive to carrier frequency and phase offsets, making it less practical for low-cost battery-powered LPWANs for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications. DM-CSS uses either an up-chirp or a down-chirp. DM-TDM-CSS consists of two chirped symbols that are multiplexed in the time domain. One of these symbols consisting of even and odd frequency shifts (FSs) is chirped using an up-chirp. The second chirped symbol also consists of even and odd FSs, but they are chirped using a down-chirp. It shall be demonstrated that DM-TDM-CSS attains a maximum achievable SE close to IQ-TDM-CSS while also allowing both coherent and non-coherent detection. Additionally, unlike IQ-TDM-CSS, DM-TDM-CSS is robust against carrier frequency and phase offsets