An Exploratory Investigation of Comparisons of Student Evaluations of Learning Pre and Post COVID-19 at Private and Public Universities

Although universities attempted to provide as little disruption to student learning as possible, problems arose with their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current literature is rich with studies reporting experiences with the transition to the virtual learning of the pandemic era. In pursuit of the most effective learning and instructional modes to transition to in times of crisis, university administrators and faculty members need to know more regarding what worked and did not work in the initial response to the COVID- 19 crisis. Questions remain. Given the pre-COVID-19 dominance of face-to-face instruction did student opinion of online learning change based on their experiences with the mandated transitions to virtual learning? Are the perceptions different for students at private versus public and small versus large institutions? This paper reports the results of an exploratory study of these bifurcations based on an online survey of student opinion conducted in Spring 2021. The findings provide some insight to student perceptions of the efficacy of the changed learning environment experienced by the subject populations

Vancomycin-resistant vanB-type Enterococcus faecium isolates expressing varying levels of vancomycin resistance and being highly prevalent among neonatal patients in a single ICU

Background: Vancomycin-resistant isolates of E. faecalis and E. faecium are of special concern and patients at risk of acquiring a VRE colonization/infection include also intensively-cared neonates. We describe here an ongoing high prevalence of VanB type E. faecium in a neonatal ICU hardly to identify by routine diagnostics. Methods: During a 10 months’ key period 71 E. faecium isolates including 67 vanB-type isolates from 61 patients were collected non-selectively. Vancomycin resistance was determined by different MIC methods (broth microdilution, Vitek® 2) including two Etest® protocols (McFarland 0.5/2.0. on Mueller-Hinton/Brain Heart Infusion agars). Performance of three chromogenic VRE agars to identify the vanB type outbreak VRE was evaluated (BrillianceTM VRE agar, chromIDTM VRE agar, CHROMagarTM VRE). Isolates were genotyped by SmaI- and CeuI-macrorestriction analysis in PFGE, plasmid profiling, vanB Southern hybridisations as well as MLST typing. Results: Majority of vanB isolates (n = 56, 79%) belonged to a single ST192 outbreak strain type showing an identical PFGE pattern and analyzed representative isolates revealed a chromosomal localization of a vanB2-Tn5382 cluster type. Vancomycin MICs in cation-adjusted MH broth revealed a susceptible value of ≤4 mg/L for 31 (55%) of the 56 outbreak VRE isolates. Etest® vancomycin on MH and BHI agars revealed only two vanB VRE isolates with a susceptible result; in general Etest® MIC results were about 1 to 2 doubling dilutions higher than MICs assessed in broth and values after the 48 h readout were 0.5 to 1 doubling dilutions higher for vanB VRE. Of all vanB type VRE only three, three and two isolates did not grow on BrillianceTM VRE agar, chromIDTM VRE agar and CHROMagarTM VRE, respectively. Permanent cross contamination via the patients’ surrounding appeared as a possible risk factor for permanent VRE colonization/infection. Conclusions: Low level expression of vanB resistance may complicate a proper routine diagnostics of vanB VRE and mask an ongoing high VRE prevalence. A high inoculum and growth on rich solid media showed the highest sensitivity in identifying vanB type resistance

Criteria for Selecting Joint Venture Partners

A brief discussion is presented of the variables present in the construction of a joint venture that may affect the eventual outcome

A Model of the Joint Venture Partner Selection Process

The steps in the process of selecting a joint venture partner are conceptualized and feedback mechanisms are discussed

Velitatio De Septem Sacr. Rom. Imperii Officialibus : In qua de Electoribus Imperii Germanici materici fundamentum breviter & dilucide monstratur

Autore Aemilio Chreggrene Saxon

Selecting Joint Venture Partners is Easy ... Almost

Interviews with over 100 executives previously involved in joint ventures were used to study the criteria and outcomes of partnering. The study suggests that successful joint ventures depend on more than complementary resources and require committment to the venture\u27s objectives beyond the short term. Consideration of management styles, strategies, and culture should be part of the venture formation process