The Effects of Gender On The Adoption of Social Media: An Empirical Investigation

This study develops a research model to gain a deeper understanding on gender comparison relating to social media continuance/usage. The theoretical background for our research model is based on the diffusion of innovation and the technology acceptance models. We collected 290 datasets from college students that are enrolled in a large university located in North America. The statistical techniques to analyze our datasets are confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results of our data analysis show that females have stronger and significant perception of ease of use, compatibility, relative advantage, and risk when using social media compared to males. Also, our results show that males have a stronger perception of satisfaction and information quality when using social media compared to females

Microbiological Safety Evaluation of Ready to Eat Shrimps and Snails Sold Along Lagos-Shagamu Expressway, Nigeria

Vending of ready-to-eat foods (RTFs) along the high ways is a common practice associated to youth unemployment in Nigeria as in some other countries of the world. RTFs sold  on  streets  have  been  implicated  in  foodborne  illnesses  and  its  attendant  economic loses.  The  microbial  quality  of  ready  to  eat  shrimps  (Penaeus  monodon)  and  snails (Achatina  maginata)  was  investigated  in  three  vending  sites  along  Lagos  –  Shagamu express road. Sixty samples (30 each of shrimps and snails) were analyzed for microbial counts  and for organisms of public health importance. The mean total aerobic plate count cfu/g samples ranged from 1.3 x 104 -  3.5 x 104and 3.8 x 104 -  5.6 x 105in abdomen and capitulum of shrimps and 5.6 x 105-  7.5 x 105 in snails. The samples were contaminated with coliforms and fungi at counts ranging from 1.0 x 102 –  2.3 x 102 and 2.0 x 102 –  8.3 x 103. The microbial isolates identified included species of  Bacillus  (31%),  Staphylococcus aureus  (18%),  Klebsiella  (13%),  Escherichia coli  (6%),  Salmonellae  (2%).  Fungal species included  Aspergillus,  Mucor,  Geotrichum,  Fusarium,  Paecilomyces,  Rhizopus  and Cladosporium.  The  presence  of  coliforms  which  are  indicator  organisms  of  feacal contamination and  Salmonellae  which are enteric pathogens is a reflection of the sanitary quality of the processing of these food products. This result is informative with respect to public  health  hazard  and  calls  for  urgent  improvement  in  hygiene  practices  by  food processors and vendors. Adoption of hazard analysis and critical control  point (HACCP) principles  in  seafood  preparation  should  be  encouraged  to  prevent  possible  foodborne illnesses and outbreaks

Toward the widespread application of low-cost technologies in coastal ocean observing (Internet of Things for the Ocean)

The ability to access user-friendly, low-cost instrumentation remains a limiting factor in coastal ocean observing. The majority of currently available marine observation equipment is difficult to deploy, costly to operate, and requires specific technical skills. Moreover, a harmonized observation program for the world’s coastal waters has not yet been established despite the efforts of the global ocean organizations. Global observational systems are mainly focused on open ocean waters and do not include coastal and shelf areas, where models and satellites require large data sets for their calibration and validation. Fortunately, recent technological advances have created opportunities to improve sensors, platforms, and communications that will enable a step-change in coastal ocean observing, which will be driven by a decreasing cost of the components, the availability of cheap housing, low-cost controller/data loggers based on embedded systems, and low/no subscription costs for LPWAN communication systems. Considering the above necessities and opportunities, POGO’s OpenMODs project identified a series of general needs/requirements to be met in an Open science development framework. In order to satisfy monitoring and research necessities, the sensors to be implemented must be easily interfaced with the data acquisition and transmission system, as well as compliant with accuracy and stability requirements. Here we propose an approach to co-design a cost-effective observing modular instrument architecture based on available low-cost measurement and data transmission technologies, able to be mounted/operated on various platforms. This instrument can fit the needs of a large community that includes scientific research (including those in developing countries), non-scientific stakeholders, and educato

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

Background Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC). Findings In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683–0·717]). Interpretation In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required. Funding British Journal of Surgery Society