Global Challenges After a Global Challenge: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected not only individual lives but also the world and global systems, both natural and human-made. Besides millions of deaths and environmental challenges, the rapid spread of the infection and its very high socioeconomic impact have affected healthcare, economic status and wealth, and mental health across the globe. To better appreciate the pandemic's influence, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are needed. In this chapter, world-leading scientists from different backgrounds share collectively their views about the pandemic's footprint and discuss challenges that face the international community.Peer reviewe

Exploring the relationship between institutional commitment to diversity and Latino alumni giving

The changing U.S. demographics signal a growing change in student demographics on our college and university campuses. Today’s underrepresented students will become tomorrow’s alumni, a growing source of financial support to higher education. As the Latino population grows, it is important to understand how to best engage this group to encourage institutional giving by Latino alumni. This study was designed to explore any relationship between institutional commitment to diversity and Latino alumni giving, and what institutions can do to create a culture which promotes minority alumni giving. Through a qualitative case study of Loyola Marymount University (LMU)—a private, non-profit university —this research explored historical and current commitment to diversity, along with perspectives on giving among constituents. LMU was selected based on its status as an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, along with its healthy alumni participation in the annual fund. Data for this study were compiled through on-site and phone interviews of faculty, staff, and alumni, along with extensive website, brochure, and archival review of materials. The data demonstrate that LMU exhibits a long-standing commitment to diversity, broadly defined. Despite increasing support of the Latino population in recent decades, giving levels of Latino alumni pale in comparison to those of the greater LMU alumni population. While Latino alumni donors interviewed choose to direct gifts toward the needs of Latino students through the Latino Alumni Association (LAA), a greater number of Latino alumni make gifts to activities outside of LAA. Furthermore, the study revealed that the university actively promotes diversity education through formal and informal practices and, in keeping with its Jesuit traditions, educates its students in the promotion of social justice. The university, however, has not established a culture of philanthropy to encourage financial support by its constituents. Such teachings could be instrumental in increasing future alumni participation in giving. Based on the results of this study, institutions might incorporate elements of diversity and philanthropic education into their programming and culture to increase the likelihood that their Latino alumni—and possibly other minority alumni—will feel grateful and connected to their alma mater such that they will give back financially

Exploring the relationship between institutional commitment to diversity and Latino alumni giving

The changing U.S. demographics signal a growing change in student demographics on our college and university campuses. Today’s underrepresented students will become tomorrow’s alumni, a growing source of financial support to higher education. As the Latino population grows, it is important to understand how to best engage this group to encourage institutional giving by Latino alumni. This study was designed to explore any relationship between institutional commitment to diversity and Latino alumni giving, and what institutions can do to create a culture which promotes minority alumni giving. Through a qualitative case study of Loyola Marymount University (LMU)—a private, non-profit university —this research explored historical and current commitment to diversity, along with perspectives on giving among constituents. LMU was selected based on its status as an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, along with its healthy alumni participation in the annual fund. Data for this study were compiled through on-site and phone interviews of faculty, staff, and alumni, along with extensive website, brochure, and archival review of materials. The data demonstrate that LMU exhibits a long-standing commitment to diversity, broadly defined. Despite increasing support of the Latino population in recent decades, giving levels of Latino alumni pale in comparison to those of the greater LMU alumni population. While Latino alumni donors interviewed choose to direct gifts toward the needs of Latino students through the Latino Alumni Association (LAA), a greater number of Latino alumni make gifts to activities outside of LAA. Furthermore, the study revealed that the university actively promotes diversity education through formal and informal practices and, in keeping with its Jesuit traditions, educates its students in the promotion of social justice. The university, however, has not established a culture of philanthropy to encourage financial support by its constituents. Such teachings could be instrumental in increasing future alumni participation in giving. Based on the results of this study, institutions might incorporate elements of diversity and philanthropic education into their programming and culture to increase the likelihood that their Latino alumni—and possibly other minority alumni—will feel grateful and connected to their alma mater such that they will give back financially

Categorisation of complications and validation of the Clavien score for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: Although widely used, the validity and reliability of the Clavien classification of postoperative complications have not been tested in urologic procedures, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). OBJECTIVE: To validate the Clavien score and categorise complications of PCNL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data for 528 patients with complications after PCNL were used to create a set of 70 unique complication-management combinations. Clinical case summaries for each complication-management combination were compiled in a survey distributed to 98 urologists, who rated each combination using the Clavien classification. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Interrater agreement for Clavien scores was estimated using Fleiss' kappa (κ). The relationship between Clavien score and the duration of postoperative hospital stay was analysed using multivariate nonlinear regression models that adjusted for operating time, preoperative urine microbial culture, presence of staghorn stone, and use of postoperative nephrostomy tube. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall interrater agreement in grading postoperative complications was moderate (κ=0.457; p<0.001). Agreement was highest for Clavien score 5 and decreased with lower Clavien scores. Higher agreement was found for Clavien scores 3 and 4 than in subcategories of these scores. Postoperative stay increased with higher Clavien scores and was unaffected by inherent differences between study centres. A standard list of post-PCNL complications and their corresponding Clavien scores was created. CONCLUSIONS: Although the Clavien classification demonstrates high validity, interrater reliability is low for minor complications. To improve the reliability and consistency of reporting adverse outcomes of PCNL, we have assigned Clavien scores to complications of PCN