Culture and COVID-19: Impact of Cross-Cultural Dimensions on Behavioral Responses

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted every sphere of human life across all nations of the world. Countries adapted and responded to the crisis in different ways with varied outcomes and different degrees of success in mitigation efforts. Studies have examined institutional and policy-based responses to the pandemic. However, to gain a holistic understanding of the pandemic response strategy and its effectiveness, it is also important to understand the cultural foundations of a society driving its response behavior. Towards that end, this entry focuses on a few key cultural dimensions of difference across countries and proposes that national culture is related to the protective behavior adopted by societies during COVID-19. The cultural dimensions examined in relation to COVID-19 include the dimensions of individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and femininity, and future orientation. Inferences are drawn from academic research, published data, and discernible indicators of social behavior. The entry provides pointers for each dimension of culture and proposes that cultural awareness be made an important element of policy making while responding to crises such as COVID-19

Charophytes of Insular Newfoundland II: Chara evoluta and Chara canescens

The rare Newfoundland disjuncts Chara evoluta and Chara canescens are compared morphologically, ecologically, and geographically. Although very similar morphologically, they can readily be distinguished by their monoecious/dioecious nature, cortical cell features and coronula size. Ecological differences are more subtle and difficult to quantify. In Newfoundland the two species are restricted to coastal saline lagoons in the southwest region of the Island, with C. evoluta exhibiting an association with Chara aspera. The flora and fauna of these unique habitats are poorly documented even though it is known that they are associated with other rare species including the Piping Plover and the Banded Killifish. Consideration of some degree of protection as special habitats within the provincial ecological reserve strategy is suggested. An updated key to all species of charophytes known to inhabit Newfoundland and Labrador is included, and a brief overview of their ecological distributions is provided

Defining the Photosystem II Repair Regulon in Synechocystis sp.PCC6803

Light is the primary source of photosynthesis but one of draw backs of high light is the formation of reactive oxygen species. This potentially damages the D1 protein, this proteins forms the core of PSII. DI protein is capable of undergoing rapid turnover in high light and this turnover mechanism involves various factors such as FtsH proteases (slr0228) are involved in the removal of damaged D1, transcription regulators, including the sigma factors such as SigD that are involved in the regulation psbA genes under high light, and chaperones. The project was aimed to investigate the role of SigD in regulation of the hypothesized PSII repair regulon which includes psbA2, psbA3, ftsH(slr0228), ftsH(slr1604) and groEL-2. The findings suggest that ftsH(slr1604) also plays a role in the repair mechanism. But apart from these set of genes which seem to be coordinately regulated by SigD, there are other genes such as hli (high light inducible polypeptides) and genes that involved in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll and heme proteins. All these factors play an important role in the PSII repair mechanism.Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Impact of medical scribes on dermatology trainee and attending experience

Background: Medical scribe integration into academic dermatology practices results in decreased attending documentation time, improved physician efficiency, and positive patient satisfaction. However, scribes' impact on dermatology education has not been explored. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the Brigham and Women's Hospital Dermatology Department and its associated residency program assessing trainee and attending perceptions of scribe impact on documentation time, teaching time, and quality of teaching. Results: Thirty-nine surveys (67% of eligible population) were analyzed. The majority of faculty and trainees perceived that scribes decreased documentation time (92% attendings, 88% trainees), increased attendings' direct teaching time (57% attendings, 76% trainees), increased attending availability to answer questions (57% attendings, 68% trainees), and improved overall education (57% attendings, 80% trainees). Trainees generally perceived educational benefits of scribes more strongly than attendings. Trainees and attendings had discordant views regarding number of patients that the trainee sees (29% attendings, 72% trainees, P<0.05) and the amount of supervision provided for procedures (43% attendings, 56% trainees). Conclusions: The positive impact of scribes on dermatology education is consistent with results in other disciplines. Although hospitals typically invest in scribes to increase physician efficiency, this study suggests that scribes can also improve the educational experience

E.G. Silas: A Phenomenon in Fisheries Arena Reminisces over his Professional encounters — In an Interview by D.D. Nambudiri

Eric Godwin Silas, world renowned fisheries scientist lives in Ambady Retreat, in a quiet villa situated in the suburbs of Cochin City. At 82 he keeps him self busy. He is now the Chairman, Research Advisory Committee of Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee o f Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (MPEDA, Ministry of Commerce). He is a guiding force behind fisheries research in the country. For Dr. Silas, the interview was one of travellin g into the past. As an youngster, he evinced a deep love for nature and living organisms. He drifted from following his father’s profession. His father was an estate manager. Instead of following his father’s footsteps, he chose to become a fisheries scientist and administrator. He nurtures fond and respectful memories of his association in the 1950s with Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, doyen of Fishery Scientists in USA and with Dr. Sunder Lai Hora and Dr Salim Ali, who were mentors of his professional life. Silas is deeply conscious about the enormous quantum of effort and achievement needed in the fisheries sector, especially in the present deteriorating environmental conditions set in motion by global warming, over fishing etc. He expressed his concern over the present scenario of many of the predatory fishes high up in the food chain are conspicuous by their rarity. They are replaced by fishes of lesser value. He expressed disappointment at the perfunctory interest of the scientific community at the alarming situation and their casual approach to the problem. Silas continues to entertain immense faith in the capabilities of the younger generation of fisheries scientists and hopes that they will rise to the occasion in solving the problems confronting the fisheries sector. Silas is confident that the fisheries research institutions would conform to the mandate given to them and would support scientific fisheries research in solving all challenging issues. Silas loves to be engaged in hard and purposeful work and by nature, and he takes heavy load of work upon himsel

Epidemiology

R01 OH009471/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States2018-05-01T00:00:00Z28151743PMC5378634vault:2220

Third World Firms in Third World Countries

The emergence of trans-national firms based in third world countries operating in other developing countries is a growing phenomenon of late. The literature on multinationals which usually focuses on investment from the developed countries, is yet to catch up on this new trend. The few studies to date indicate that this new category of multinationals has several distinct characteristics which distinguish them from the trans-national firms based in developed countrie

Using Medical Students to Enhance Curricular Integration of Cross-Cultural Content

We hypothesized that an interested medical student group would be helpful in reviewing tutorial cases and giving relevant feedback on the curricular integration of cross-cultural content using case triggers in a preclinical gastrointestinal pathophysiology course. Self-selected student leaders (n = 9) reviewed pre-existing problem-based learning tutorial cases (n = 3) with cross-cultural triggers, and provided narrative feedback to course faculty. The cases were modified and used for the entire class in the following 2 years. Participating course students' comments and teaching faculty feedback were also noted. Outcomes were a change in case content, student global evaluations of the course, and self-reported faculty comfort with teaching the cases. All three tutorial cases were reviewed by a separate group of 2–3 students. Major and minor revisions were made to each case based on the student feedback. These cases were used in 2007 and 2008 and were the major change to the course during that time. Overall course evaluation scores improved significantly from 2006 to 2008 (p = 0.000). Tutors (n = 22 in 2007; n = 23 in 2008) expressed relief during tutor meetings that students had reviewed the cases. A general framework for eliciting student feedback on problem-based cases was developed. Student feedback, consisting of self-selected students' case reviews and solicited course and tutor comments, added value to a curricular reform to improve the integration of cross-cultural content into a problem-based learning curriculum. Our study underscores the fundamental link between teachers and students as partners in curricular development