A content validity approach to creating an end-user computer skill assessment tool

Practical assessment instruments are commonly used in the workplace and educational environments to assess a person's level of digital literacy and end-user computer skill. However, it is often difficult to find statistical evidence of the actual validity of instruments being used. To ensure that the correct factors are being assessed for a particular purpose it is necessary to undertake some type of psychometric testing, and the first step is to study the content relevance of the measure. The purpose of this paper is to report on the rigorous judgment quantification process using panels of experts in order to establish inter-rater reliability and agreement in the development of end-user instruments developed to measure workplace skills using spreadsheet and word-processing applications

Are workplace end-user computing skills at a desirable level? A New Zealand perspective

End-user computing is part of many occupations. The most requested end-user computing skills are experience with word-processing and spreadsheet applications. Often an employee’s skill level may not be good enough to be deemed effective. Frequently this occurs because employers expect that employees will have the requisite skill level without formally assessing this. This paper presents a study involving the testing of people who, in their jobs, use word-processing and spreadsheet software. Two instruments were created to assess skill in common work place computing tasks. The results showed that the majority of participants could only manage very basic spreadsheet tasks, even though the use of spreadsheets was part of their employment. Results for word-processing skill was more positive, with most participants completing all of the basic and some moderately advanced tasks. These results confirm that end-user computer skill, while required, is not at a level that could be deemed proficient

Oseltamivir-Resistant Pandemic A/H1N1 Virus Is as Virulent as Its Wild-Type Counterpart in Mice and Ferrets

The neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is currently used for treatment of patients infected with the pandemic A/H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza virus, although drug-resistant mutants can emerge rapidly and possibly be transmitted. We describe the characteristics of a pair of oseltamivir-resistant and oseltamivir-susceptible pH1N1 clinical isolates that differed by a single change (H274Y) in the neuraminidase protein. Viral fitness of pH1N1 isolates was assessed in vitro by determining replication kinetics in MDCK α2,6 cells and in vivo by performing experimental infections of BALB/c mice and ferrets. Despite slightly reduced propagation of the mutant isolate in vitro during the first 24 h, the wild-type (WT) and mutant resistant viruses induced similar maximum weight loss in mice and ferrets with an identical pyrexic response in ferrets (AUC of 233.9 and 233.2, P = 0.5156). Similarly, comparable titers were obtained for the WT and the mutant strains on days 1, 3, 6 and 9 post-infection in mouse lungs and on days 1–7 in ferret nasal washes. A more important perivascular (day 6) and pleural (days 6 and 12) inflammation was noted in the lungs of mice infected with the H274Y mutant, which correlated with increased pulmonary levels of IL-6 and KC. Such increased levels of IL-6 were also observed in lymph nodes of ferrets infected with the mutant strain. Furthermore, the H274Y mutant strain was transmitted to ferrets. In conclusion, viral fitness of the H274Y pH1N1 isolate is not substantially altered and has the potential to induce severe disease and to disseminate

Nasal Delivery of an Adenovirus-Based Vaccine Bypasses Pre-Existing Immunity to the Vaccine Carrier and Improves the Immune Response in Mice

Pre-existing immunity to human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is common in the general population. Bypassing pre-existing immunity could maximize Ad5 vaccine efficacy. Vaccination by the intramuscular (I.M.), nasal (I.N.) or oral (P.O.) route with Ad5 expressing Ebola Zaire glycoprotein (Ad5-ZGP) fully protected naïve mice against lethal challenge with Ebola. In the presence of pre-existing immunity, only mice vaccinated I.N. survived. The frequency of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells was reduced by 80% and by 15% in animals vaccinated by the I.M. and P.O. routes respectively. Neutralizing antibodies could not be detected in serum from either treatment group. Pre-existing immunity did not compromise the frequency of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells (3.9±1% naïve vs. 3.6±1% pre-existing immunity, PEI) nor anti-Ebola neutralizing antibody (NAB, 40±10 reciprocal dilution, both groups). The number of INF-γ+ CD8+ cells detected in bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) after I.N. immunization was not compromised by pre-existing immunity to Ad5 (146±14, naïve vs. 120±16 SFC/million MNCs, PEI). However, pre-existing immunity reduced NAB levels in BAL by ∼25% in this group. To improve the immune response after oral vaccination, the Ad5-based vaccine was PEGylated. Mice given the modified vaccine did not survive challenge and had reduced levels of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells 10 days after administration (0.3±0.3% PEG vs. 1.7±0.5% unmodified). PEGylation did increase NAB levels 2-fold. These results provide some insight about the degree of T and B cell mediated immunity necessary for protection against Ebola virus and suggest that modification of the virus capsid can influence the type of immune response elicited by an Ad5-based vaccine

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Principles that guide innovation: predicting the Global Innovation Index score with dimensions of human values

It is, perhaps, a truism that there is value in innovation. This belief is the reason so many governments and private businesses encourage and, more critically, support invention and the marketing of those inventions. However, it is also likely true that there is value behind innovation. More accurately, one could say that there are values driving the innovation process. This paper examines the human values that, at a national level, may be associated with greater innovation. We start with a brief overview of definitions of human values, and then discuss two models that have multinational data available. The theoretical links between these models and innovation are presented, then we go on to suggest hypotheses that can be derived from these links and from the relevant empirical work to date. These hypotheses are next tested with extant data sets. The paper ends with a discussion of the implications of the findings of those tests

Extreme and unusual: Psychology in Antarctica

The title for this chapter is taken from Suedfeld’s (1987) influential chapter in the Handbook of Environmental Psychology. Suedfeld used two dimensions to classify environments. The first dimension, extremeness, is most often associated with Antarctica and can be defined by assessing how much technology is needed to keep one alive. The second dimension is unusualness. This describes the degree to which an environment is different from the one a person normally experiences. This aspect of the polar environment does not capture as much attention as extremeness but it can have a great influence on polar sojourners’ thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Taken together, these simple two dimensions have had a long-standing impact on the manner in which psychological research is conducted in the polar regions. The principal focus of this chapter is the psychology of polar personnel. We begin with some historical examples of polar psychology, then move on to examine the results of more current scientific studies of human psychological adaptation in the southern continent. Next, we consider the question of who goes to Antarctica. This takes us into a description of one of the more robust findings of polar psychology, the ‘three abilities’, which is followed by an overview of what is known about the connection between personality and work performance on the Ice. The pathogenic aspect of Antarctic work includes a discussion of two other areas of research: the third-quarter phenomenon and winter-over (or T3) syndrome. The chapter concludes on a more positive note as we move into a discussion of the salutogenic effects (Antonovsky A, Unraveling the mystery of health: how people manage stress and stay well. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1987) of a polar deployment