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The United States, its Allies, and its partners can adapt to the demands of the emerging strategic context by learning lessons from the tumultuous past five years, i.e. the COVID pandemic and related challenges across Western society, deterioration of relations between China and the West, and Russia's illegal annexation and (re)-invasion of Ukraine. On the one hand, the bridging of alliances should reinforce existing frameworks by widening areas of cooperation across sectors, deepening collaboration in areas like technology transfer and industry, and lengthening the time horizon to plan and execute activities together – with the intent to insulate Western power against the combined strength of Russian and Chinese subversion and aggression. But on the other, policymakers must ruthlessly prioritize the allocation of scarce resources and development of partnerships with like-minded stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to develop the first Theory of Technological Response and Progress in Chaos (TRPC) and examine the case of technological development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research objectives of this study were to: identify the key technologies that act as a response mechanism during the chaos event, specifically in the case of COVID-19; examine how technologies evolve, develop and diffuse in an immediate crisis and a chaotic environment; theorise various types and periods of technological response and progress during the emergence of chaos and the stages that unfold; and develop policy-oriented recommendations and establish technological foundations to address subsequent chaos events. Design/methodology/approach: This study used the grounded theory as a methodology with a mixed-method approach that included quantitative and qualitative methods. The authors used the quantitative method to assist with the qualitative step to build the TRPC theory. Accordingly, this study integrated machine learning and text mining approaches to the qualitative data analysis following the steps of the grounded theory approach. Findings: As a result of the TRPC theory development process, the authors identified three types of technologies (survival, essential and enhancement technologies) and five types of periods (stable, initial, survival-dominant, essential-dominant and enhancement-dominant periods) that are specific to chaos-technology interactions. The policy implications of this study demonstrate that a required technological base and know-how must be established before a chaotic event emerges. Research limitations/implications: Concerning the limitations of this study, social media data has advantages over other data sources, such as the examination of dynamic areas and analyses of immediate responses to chaos. However, other researchers can examine publications and patent sources to augment the findings concerning scientific approaches and new inventions in relation to COVID-19 and other chaos-specific developments. The authors developed the TRPC theory by studying the COVID-19 pandemic, however, other researchers can utilise it to study other chaos-related conditions, such as chaotic events that are caused by natural disasters. Other scholars can investigate the technological response and progress pattern in other rapidly emerging chaotic events of an uncertain and complex nature to augment these findings. Practical implications: Following the indications of the OECD (2021a) and considering the study conducted by the European Parliamentary Research Service (Kritikos, 2020), the authors identified the key technologies that are significant for chaos and COVID-19 response using machine learning and text intelligence approach. Accordingly, the authors mapped all technological developments using clustering approaches, and examined the technological progress within the immediate chaos period using social media data. Social implications: The key policy implication of this study concerns the need for policymakers to develop policies that will help to establish the required technological base and know-how before chaos emerges. As a result, a rapid response can be implemented to mitigate the chaos and transform it into a competitive advantage. The authors also revealed that this recommendation overlaps with the model of dynamic capabilities in the literature (Teece and Pisano, 2003). Furthermore, this study recommends that nations and organisations establish a technological base that specifically includes technologies that bear 3A characteristics. These are the most crucial technologies for the survival- and essential-dominant stages. Moreover, the results of this study demonstrate that chaos accelerates technological progress through the rapid adoption and diffusion of technologies into different fields. Hence, nations and organisations should regard this rapid progress as an opportunity and establish the prior knowledge base and technologies before chaos emerges. Originality/value: The authors have contributed to the chaos studies and the relationship between chaos and technological development by establishing the first theoretical foundation using the grounded theory approach, hereafter referred to as the TRPC theory. As part of the TRPC theory, the authors present three periods of technological response in the following sequence: survival technology, essential technology and enhancement technology. Moreover, this study illustrates the evolving technological importance and priorities as the periods of technological progress proceed under rapidly developing chaos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rampant spread of the COVID-19 infection poses a grave and formidable challenge to global healthcare, with particular concern to the inhabitants of the African continent. In response to these pressing concerns, different strategies have been employed to combat the emergence of this insidious disease, encompassing crucial measures such as physical distancing, the utilization of face masks, meticulous hand hygiene, and widespread vaccination campaigns. Nevertheless, the economic realities faced by numerous African nations, characterized by their classification as "low-income countries (LICs)", present a formidable barrier to accessing and distributing approved vaccines to their populations. Moreover, it is essential to discuss the hesitancy of the European Union (EU) in releasing intellectual property rights associated with the transfer of vaccine technology to Africa. While the EU has been a key player in global efforts to combat the pandemic, there has been reluctance in sharing valuable knowledge and resources with African countries. This hesitancy raises concerns about equitable vaccine access and the potential for a prolonged health crisis in Africa. This review underscores the urgent imperative and need of establishing localized vaccine development and production facilities within Africa, necessitating the active involvement of governments and collaborative partnerships to achieve this crucial objective. Furthermore, this review advocates for the exploration of viable avenues for the transfer of vaccine technology as a means to facilitate equitable vaccine access across the African continent and also the cruciality and the need for the EU to reconsider its stance and actively engage in transferring vaccine technology to Africa through sharing intellectual property. The EU can contribute to the establishment of localized vaccine production facilities on the continent, which will not only increase vaccine availability but also promote self-sufficiency and resilience in the face of future health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- In this research work, emphasis is made on collecting society response and acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. Critical information on the technical and performance parameters of transferred technologies was received from many respondents who were closely associated with society. Design/methodology/approach -- The methodology included questionnaires based on 5-point Likert scale questionnaire with an objective to ascertain the acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. The questionnaire contained queries addressing variety of issues, like type of technologies developed and developing, manpower participating in technology development, problems associated with technology development and transfer. The methodology followed was based on the analysis of the response received on technical questionnaire that was designed and responses received from the people located in Addis Ababa city Practical Implications: COVID-19 has been rising and mutating in many countries since it was discovered by the end of 2019. Many countries, including Ethiopia has seen the spike and fall of COVID-19 regularly. This non-linear behavior of COVID-19 infection rate curves around the world has prompted many educational institutions like TVET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) institutions located in Addis Ababa to develop and transfer technologies like hand washing machines, face masks, sanitizers and other anti-covid technologies. These equipment's posse's characteristic simple operational and quality properties like usability, functionality, efficiency, etc. This research will help to gather the technical information pertaining to design, quality and performance of Hand washing equipment's, face masks, Hand sanitizers and other equipment's from the society. Findings - Divergent and constructive opinions were received from the society to improve and meet the ever-rising demand for anti-COVID-19 technologies. The user response on developed and transferred technology prove the usefulness to combat COVID-19 spread but also finds many applications with in the life of the public. Cronbach alpha reliability test value of 0.73 was obtained after analysis of the response data. The results prove the excellence and consistency of the responses received on the development and transferred technologies. Overall, the research findings help to build and transfer most robust, quality and cost-effective technologies that is a need of the hour to fight against COVID-19 transmission. Originality/value -- COVID-19 has posed many challenges to public and has resulted in many deaths in Addis Ababa and entire Ethiopia. This work is unique and would make valuable contribution and gather information from the society on the design and technical aspects of developed and transferred technologies by TVET Institutions used for combating COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose --The main purpose of this research work is to evaluate the efforts of TVET efforts' in developing and transferring useful technologies in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. TVET Institutions are engaged in developing and transferring technologies like hand washing devices, sanitizer sprayers, ventilators, beds, disinfection devices, sanitizers, antiviral finish fabrics, masks and hand-free devices that is used to prevent contamination of the human body while working with materials of different kinds. These equipment's posse's characteristic simple operational and quality properties like usability, functionality, efficiency, etc. The evaluation of these developed and transferred technologies help to prevent transmission of COVID-19 at community level. Design/methodology/approach -- The methodology used in this research was descriptive and purposive sampling type. The sample pool consisted of 5 TVET institutions. 40 respondents participated in this questionnaire study. The response was recorded through interview questionnaires based on the 5-point Likert Scale. Data analysis and Cronbach's alpha reliability tests were computed using SPSS and Minitab software. Practical Implications: The coronavirus is the deadly pandemic and highly contagious disease the human mankind has witnessed since 1918 flue pandemic. However, the coronavirus spread in Ethiopia at the community level has prompted many TVET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) institutions and universities to ramp up their efforts to develop and transfer technologies. Hence TVET organizations need therefore to develop and transfer technologies that are useful to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This research will help to gather the technical information pertaining to design, quality and performance of Hand washing equipment's, face masks, Hand sanitizers and other equipment's. Findings - The results prove TVET Institutions' efforts were successful in developing and transferring the technologies required to combating COVID-19. Cronbach's alpha (reliability test) value is 0.77 for the TVET colleges, indicating the data is excellent, unique and consistent. The position of the TVET institution is excellent as regards to the efforts put in developing and transferring technologies used for combating COVID-19 in and around Addis Ababa. The responses received were unique in nature. Originality/value -- COVID-19 has posed many challenges to public and has resulted in many deaths in Addis Ababa and entire Ethiopia. This work is unique and would make valuable contribution and gather information on the design and technical aspects of developed and transferred technologies by TVET Institutions used for combating COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The main purpose of this research work is to evaluate the efforts of TVET efforts' in developing and transferring useful technologies in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. TVET Institutions are engaged in developing and transferring technologies like hand washing devices, sanitizer sprayers, ventilators, beds, disinfection devices, sanitizers, antiviral finish fabrics, masks and hand-free devices that is used to prevent contamination of the human body while working with materials of different kinds. These equipment's posse's characteristic simple operational and quality properties like usability, functionality, efficiency, etc. The evaluation of these developed and transferred technologies help to prevent transmission of COVID-19 at community level. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology used in this research was descriptive and purposive sampling type. The sample pool consisted of 5 TVET institutions. 40 respondents participated in this questionnaire study. The response was recorded through interview questionnaires based on the 5-point Likert Scale. Data analysis and Cronbach's alpha reliability tests were computed using SPSS and Minitab software. Practical Implications: The coronavirus is the deadly pandemic and highly contagious disease the human mankind has witnessed since 1918 flue pandemic. However, the coronavirus spread in Ethiopia at the community level has prompted many TVET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) institutions and universities to ramp up their efforts to develop and transfer technologies. Hence TVET organizations need therefore to develop and transfer technologies that are useful to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This research will help to gather the technical information pertaining to design, quality and performance of Hand washing equipment's, face masks, Hand sanitizers and other equipment's. Findings - The results prove TVET Institutions' efforts were successful in developing and transferring the technologies required to combating COVID-19. Cronbach's alpha (reliability test) value is 0.77 for the TVET colleges, indicating the data is excellent, unique and consistent. The position of the TVET institution is excellent as regards to the efforts put in developing and transferring technologies used for combating COVID-19 in and around Addis Ababa. The responses received were unique in nature. Originality/value - COVID-19 has posed many challenges to public and has resulted in many deaths in Addis Ababa and entire Ethiopia. This work is unique and would make valuable contribution and gather information on the design and technical aspects of developed and transferred technologies by TVET Institutions used for combating COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - In this research work, emphasis is made on collecting society response and acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. Critical information on the technical and performance parameters of transferred technologies was received from many respondents who were closely associated with society. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology included questionnaires based on 5-point Likert scale questionnaire with an objective to ascertain the acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. The questionnaire contained queries addressing variety of issues, like type of technologies developed and developing, manpower participating in technology development, problems associated with technology development and transfer. The methodology followed was based on the analysis of the response received on technical questionnaire that was designed and responses received from the people located in Addis Ababa city Practical Implications: COVID-19 has been rising and mutating in many countries since it was discovered by the end of 2019. Many countries, including Ethiopia has seen the spike and fall of COVID-19 regularly. This non-linear behavior of COVID-19 infection rate curves around the world has prompted many educational institutions like TVET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) institutions located in Addis Ababa to develop and transfer technologies like hand washing machines, face masks, sanitizers and other anti-covid technologies. These equipment's posse's characteristic simple operational and quality properties like usability, functionality, efficiency, etc. This research will help to gather the technical information pertaining to design, quality and performance of Hand washing equipment's, face masks, Hand sanitizers and other equipment's from the society. Findings - Divergent and constructive opinions were received from the society to improve and meet the ever-rising demand for anti-COVID-19 technologies. The user response on developed and transferred technology prove the usefulness to combat COVID-19 spread but also finds many applications with in the life of the public. Cronbach alpha reliability test value of 0.73 was obtained after analysis of the response data. The results prove the excellence and consistency of the responses received on the development and transferred technologies. Overall, the research findings help to build and transfer most robust, quality and cost-effective technologies that is a need of the hour to fight against COVID-19 transmission. Originality/value - COVID-19 has posed many challenges to public and has resulted in many deaths in Addis Ababa and entire Ethiopia. This work is unique and would make valuable contribution and gather information from the society on the design and technical aspects of developed and transferred technologies by TVET Institutions used for combating COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a global threat affecting 210 countries, with 2,177,469 confirmed cases and 6.67% case fatality rate as of April 16, 2020. In Africa, 17,243 cases have been confirmed, but many remain undiagnosed due to limited laboratory-capacity, suboptimal performance of used molecular-assays (~30% false negative, Yu et al. and Zhao et al., 2020) and limited WHO-recommended rapid-tests. Objectives: We aim to implement measures to minimize risks for COVID-19 in Cameroon, putting together multidisciplinary highly-experienced virologists, immunologists, bioinformaticians and clinicians, to achieve the following objectives: (a) to integrate/improve available-infrastructure, methodologies, and expertise on COVID-19. For this purpose, we will create a platform enabling researchers/clinicians to better integrate and translate evidence into the COVID-19 clinical-practice; (b) to enhance capacities in Cameroon for screening/detecting individuals with high-risks of COVID-19, by setting-up effective core-facilities on-site; (c) to validate point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 molecular assays allowing same-day result delivery, thus permitting timely diagnosis, treatment, and retention in care of COVID-19 patients; (d) to implement SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis with innovative/highly sensitive ddPCR-based assays and viral genetic characterization; (e) to validate serological assays to identify COVID-19-exposed persons and follow-up of convalescents. Methods: This is a prospective, observational study conducted among COVID-19 suspects/contacts during 24 months in Cameroon. Following consecutive sampling of 1,536 individuals, oro/nasopharyngeal swabs and sera will be collected. Well characterised biorepositories will be established locally; molecular testing will be performed on conventional real-time qPCR, point-of-care GeneXpert, antigen-tests and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR); SARS-CoV2 amplicons will be sequenced; serological testing will be performed using ELISA, and antibody-based kits. Sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative-predictive values will be evaluated. Expected outcomes: These efforts will contribute in creating the technical and clinical environment to facilitate earlier detection of Sars-CoV-2 in Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular. Specifically, the goals will be: (a) to implement technology transfer for capacity-building on conventional and point-of-care molecular assays, achieving a desirable performance for clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV2; (b) to integrate/improve the available infrastructure, methodologies, and expertise on Sars-CoV2 detection; (c) to improve the turn-around-time for diagnosing COVID-19 infection with obvious advantage for patients/clinical management thanks to low-cost assays, thus permitting timely treatment and retention in care; (d) to assess the epidemiology of COVID-19 and circulating-variants in Cameroon as compared to strains found in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain is a systematic data registration mechanism that makes the system difficult or impossible to hack, change or cheat.A blockchain is a chain consisting of a complete ledger or database of all transactions that can be publicly distributed to all users. In dentistry, blockchain technology is protective and trustworthy to exchange data to preserve patient information and transactions. This helps to turn the bulkier paper records into a digital archive that can be accessed internationally and helps the dentist, patients, and colleagues. It is commonly used in different industries, such as the food industry, medical health care, forensics, banking, etc. This technology can integrate various workflows and allows patients to preserve good dental health and also enables patients or participants to make simple transactions without a third party. This paper discusses how this technology can be used in the management of patient records, holding appointments, cashless payment transactions, confidential transfer of patient reports to the specialized dentist during and after the pandemic situation of Covid 19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work identifies the innovations that made it possible for the Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz Immunobiological Technology Institute to engage in the entire production of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCov-19) in Brazil, just 1.8 years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The results were summarized in a case-based innovation model composed of 11 workstreams, 32 stages, 22 gates, 11 innovations, and 38 events. In terms of research contributions, three were found: (i) the identification of firm and government-level innovations allowing the substantial reduction in the COVID-19 vaccine time-to-market in Brazil; (ii) the presentation of empirical evidence supporting the new Outbreak Paradigm for vaccine research, development, and production; and (iii) the proposition of a conceptual model for describing innovations through the vaccine value chain in pandemic contexts, particularly when technology transfer is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies and systems that are aimed at the identification of the presence of people within an indoor environment and the monitoring of their activities and flows have been receiving more attention in recent years, specifically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper proposes an approach for people counting that is based on the use of cameras and Raspberry Pi platforms, together with an edge-based transfer learning framework that is enriched with specific image processing strategies, with the aim of this approach being adopted in different indoor environments without the need for tailored training phases. The system was deployed on a university campus, which was chosen as the case study. The proposed system was able to work in classrooms with different characteristics. This paper reports a proposed architecture that could make the system scalable and privacy compliant and the evaluation tests that were conducted in different types of classrooms, which demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Overall, the system was able to count the number of people in classrooms with a maximum mean absolute error of 1.23. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities' decisions during technology transfer may affect affordability, accessibility, and availability of COVID-19 health technologies downstream. We investigated measures taken by the top 35 publicly funded UK universities to ensure global equitable access to COVID-19 health technologies between January and end of October 2020. We sent Freedom Of Information (FOI) requests and analysed universities' websites, to (i) assess institutional strategies on the patenting and licensing of COVID-19-related health technologies, (ii) identify all COVID-19-related health technologies licensed or patented and (iii) record whether universities engaged with the Open COVID pledge, COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), or Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) COVID-19 licensing guidelines during the time period assessed. Except for the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, UK universities did not update their institutional strategies during the first year of the pandemic. Nine universities licensed 22 COVID-19 health technologies. Imperial College London disclosed ten patents relevant to COVID-19. No UK universities participated in the Open COVID Pledge or C-TAP, but discussions were ongoing in autumn 2020. The University of Bristol endorsed the AUTM guidelines. Despite important COVID-19 health technologies being developed by UK universities, our findings suggest minimal engagement with measures that may promote equitable access downstream. We suggest universities review their technology transfer policies and implement global equitable access strategies for COVID-19 health technologies. We furthermore propose that public and charitable funders can play a larger role in encouraging universities to adopt such practices by making access and transparency clauses a mandatory condition for receiving public funds for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, to identify and encapsulate the enablers that can facilitate technology integration in higher education and second, to understand and analyze the interplay between technology agility enablers. Design/methodology/approach: The study used the Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM) approach to construct a theoretical model of the technology agility enablers in higher education and MICMAC analysis for ranking and segregating the enablers based on their dependence power into four categories: Autonomous, Dependent, Linkage and Independent. Findings: The study helped identify eight technology agility enablers, with the Covid-19 pandemic as the most significant enabler. The Covid-19 pandemic has catalyzed the diffusion of technology across the education sector in India, including tertiary higher education. The study revealed government initiatives and institutional commitment as other enablers that can promote technology agility in higher education. Practical implications: The results of this study would assist the policymakers and management of universities and colleges in understanding the important enablers that can facilitate technology integration in higher education. Originality/value: Research in the past on technology adoption in higher education has looked into each enabler in isolation. This research provides a comprehensive view of the enablers and has attempted to establish a multidirectional interplay between the enablers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to ensuring the permanence of learning by transforming theoretical knowledge into practice, internship has an important place in university education in terms of familiarity with the business environment and professional experience before graduation. The main issue in internship practice is to see and experience the work and processes related to the discipline they study in. However, due to the Covid-19 epidemic of 2020, the institutions' refusal to accept interns has hampered the appropriateness of the practices. Some departments seeking to not deprive students of the achievements of internship practices, applied online internship programs for a solution, as in theoretical courses. In this study, it is aimed to measure the effects on students of online internship practice of Department of Information Management, Çankırı Karatekin University, which was carried out as a result of the cancellation of the internship, which has an important place in Information Management education, during the pandemic. In this practice, which is carried out in cooperation with the two leading professional associations of the discipline, University and Research Librarians Association and Turkish Librarians Association, in a 4-week period, online seminars were given to 114 students by 30 speakers in 22 sessions on 5 main topics, including the skills transferred to students in face-to-face internship practice. In the study, which was planned to determine the attitudes of the students about the seminars, the situations of the sessions, speakers and the department were evaluated. In the study using descriptive method, at the end of the internship application, the results of the questionnaire applied to the students were evaluated by the "surveey" tool and it was understood that the students generally benefited from the program. Although there is no alternative to face-to-face internship, it has emerged that they defend the opinion that participation in such practices carried out due to force majeure is necessary. The study will be successful to the extent that such programs serve the awareness that planned and systematic implementation and broad participation with both the student and the institution are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenovirus vectors offer a platform technology for vaccine development. The value of the platform has been proven during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although good stability at 2–8 °C is an advantage of the platform, non-cold-chain distribution would have substantial advantages, in particular in low-income countries. We have previously reported a novel, potentially less expensive thermostabilisation approach using a combination of simple sugars and glass micro-fibrous matrix, achieving excellent recovery of adenovirus-vectored vaccines after storage at temperatures as high as 45 °C. This matrix is, however, prone to fragmentation and so not suitable for clinical translation. Here, we report an investigation of alternative fibrous matrices which might be suitable for clinical use. A number of commercially-available matrices permitted good protein recovery, quality of sugar glass and moisture content of the dried product but did not achieve the thermostabilisation performance of the original glass fibre matrix. We therefore further investigated physical and chemical characteristics of the glass fibre matrix and its components, finding that the polyvinyl alcohol present in the glass fibre matrix assists vaccine stability. This finding enabled us to identify a potentially biocompatible matrix with encouraging performance. We discuss remaining challenges for transfer of the technology into clinical use, including reliability of process performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful implementation of medical technologies applied in life-threatening conditions, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires appropriate preparation and training of medical personnel. The pandemic has accelerated the creation of new ECMO centers and has highlighted continuous training in adapting to new pandemic standards. To reach high standards of patients' care, we created the first of its kind, National Education Centre for Artificial Life Support (NEC-ALS) in 40 million inhabitants' country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The role of the Center is to test and promote the novel or commonly used procedures as well as to develop staff skills on management of patients needing ECMO. Method: In 2020, nine approved and endorsed by ELSO courses of "Artificial Life Support with ECMO" were organized. Physicians participated in the three-day high-fidelity simulation-based training that was adapted to abide by the social distancing norms of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge as well as crucial cognitive, behavioral and technical aspects (on a 5-point Likert scale) of management on ECMO were assessed before and after course completion. Moreover, the results of training in mechanical chest compression were also evaluated. Results: There were 115 participants (60% men) predominantly in the age of 30–40 years. Majority of them (63%) were anesthesiologists or intensivists with more than 5-year clinical experience, but 54% had no previous ECMO experience. There was significant improvement after the course in all cognitive, behavioral, and technical self-assessments. Among aspects of management with ECMO that all increased significantly following the course, the most pronounced was related to the technical one (from approximately 1.0 to more 4.0 points). Knowledge scores significantly increased post-course from 11.4 ± SD to 13 ± SD (out of 15 points). The quality of manual chest compression relatively poor before course improved significantly after training. Conclusions: Our course confirmed that simulation as an educational approach is invaluable not only in training and testing of novel or commonly used procedures, skills upgrading, but also in practicing very rare cases. The implementation of the education program during COVID-19 pandemic may be helpful in founding specialized Advanced Life Support centers and teams including mobile ones. The dedicated R&D Innovation Ecosystem established in the "ECMO for Greater Poland" program, with developed National Education Center can play a crucial role in the knowledge and know-how transfer but future research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Abbot ID NOW COVID-19 assay and Quidel Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA are point-of-care assays that offer rapid testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral RNA and nucleocapsid protein, respectively. Given the utility of these devices in the field, we investigated the feasibility and safety of using the ID NOW and Sofia assays in the public health response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and in future public health emergencies.Methods: A combination of utilization and contamination testing in addition to a review of instrument workflows was conducted.Results: Utilization testing demonstrated that both tests are intuitive, associated with high user test success (85%) in our study, and could be implemented by staff after minimal training. Contamination tests revealed potential biosafety concerns due to the open design of the ID NOW instrument and the transfer mechanisms with the Sofia. When comparing the workflow of the ID NOW and the Sofia, we found that the ID NOW was more user-friendly and that the transfer technology reduces the chance of contamination.Conclusions: The ID NOW, Sofia, and other emerging point-of-care tests should be used only after careful consideration of testing workflow, biosafety risk mitigations, and appropriate staff training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Story of Responsible (Research and) Innovation in 36 Chapters The I International Handbook on Responsible Innovation - a Global Resource i does what it says on the tin: it is a true reference source that provides both facts about Responsible Innovation (RI) and examples of its implementation in a number of different cultural settings. The handbook is structured in five main parts: Part I outlines the different concepts underpinning R(R)I that stem from (a) responsibility and ethics, (b) governance and (c) responsible innovation in organisations: Concepts underpinning responsible innovation. And while observations generally seem to indicate that the pandemic did indeed spur some research and innovation activities of unprecedented speed and successful results thereof (not least in the form of vaccines), we should turn to the handbook for guidance on how to embark now on a new area of increased importance of research and innovation. ' In the handbook, Richard Owen and Mario Pansera describe the latter observation in their discussion of responsible innovation both in the context and as an object of "Process and Politics" (Chapter 3): 'To the first and second missions of universities (to teach and to do research) became added a third: to ensure impact from research and for this to be I useful i (economically and socially), often mediated through the construct of the triple helix of government-industry-university interactions. [Extracted from the article]

Over the last decades, there has been a proliferation of cash transfer programmes across the global South. Digital technologies have given this seeming countermovement a boost by promising to instantaneously transfer cash from the coffers of development agencies and national governments to the pockets of the poor, sidestepping the neo‐patrimonial state. With the COVID‐19 crisis, tech billionaires have teamed up with development institutions to fast‐track 'digital payment ecosystems' under the guise of financial inclusion and fiscal savings. Much has been written about how such initiatives accelerate the financialization of social welfare and collateralization of the poor by trapping cash transfer recipients in relations of credit and debt. Less has been written about grassroots strategies to claw back power from digital control. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Mozambique, this article explores three sites of contention at the interface of digital technologies and cash transfer administration: the development of an information management system, the application of a proxy means test and the outsourcing of cash transfer payments to private providers. While not always successful, the article concludes, counter‐hegemonic repertoires of action are critical to shaping the terms of cash transfer administration amidst a global 'war of position' in policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how to better distribute COVID-19 vaccines to all countries around the world to protect all people against the coronavirus disease as of May 2021. Also cited are the warning by World Health Organization's (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the uneven distribution of vaccines between rich and poor countries will result in high deaths and unemployment, and some proposals like increasing vaccine production and sharing knowledge or technology transfer to boost supply.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on the urgent need for integrated nucleic acid tests (NATs) for infectious diseases, especially those that can be used near patient ("point-of-care", POC), with rapid results and low cost, but without sacrificing sensitivity or specificity of gold standard PCR tests. In the US, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Certificate of Waiver (CLIA-waiver) is mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and designated to any laboratory testing with high simplicity and low risk for error, suitable for application in the POC. Since the first issuance of CLIA-waiver to Abbot's ID NOW Influenza A&B in 2015, many more NAT systems have been developed, received the CLIA-waiver in the US or World Health Organization (WHO)'s pre-qualification, and deployed to the front line of infectious disease detection. This review highlights the regulatory process for FDA and WHO in evaluating these NATs and the technology innovation of existing CLIA-waived systems. Understanding the technical advancement and challenges, unmet needs, and the trends of commercialization facilitated through the regulatory processes will help pave the foundation for future development and technology transfer from research to the market place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential to reverse progress towards global targets. This study examines the risks that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to equitable access to essential medicines and vaccines (EMV) for universal health coverage in Africa.Methods: We searched medical databases and grey literature up to 2 October 2020 for studies reporting data on prospective pathways and innovative strategies relevant for the assessment and management of the emerging risks in accessibility, safety, quality, and affordability of EMV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the resulting pool of evidence to support our analysis and to draw policy recommendations to mitigate the emerging risks and improve preparedness for future crises.Results: Of the 310 records screened, 134 were included in the analysis. We found that the disruption of the international system affects more immediately the capability of low- and middle-income countries to acquire the basket of EMV. The COVID-19 pandemic may facilitate dishonesty and fraud, increasing the propensity of patients to take substandard and falsified drugs. Strategic regional cooperation in the form of joint tenders and contract awarding, joint price negotiation and supplier selection, as well as joint market research, monitoring, and evaluation could improve the supply, affordability, quality, and safety of EMV. Sustainable health financing along with international technology transfer and substantial investment in research and development are needed to minimize the vulnerability of African countries arising from their dependence on imported EMV. To ensure equitable access, community-based strategies such as mobile clinics as well as fees exemptions for vulnerable and under-served segments of society might need to be considered. Strategies such as task delegation and telephone triage could help reduce physician workload. This coupled with payments of risk allowance to frontline healthcare workers and health-literate healthcare organization might improve the appropriate use of EMV.Conclusions: Innovative and sustainable strategies informed by comparative risk assessment are increasingly needed to ensure that local economic, social, demographic, and epidemiological risks and potentials are accounted for in the national COVID-19 responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims at investigating the commonalities and differences between cluster policies in selected East Asian and Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and China, to outline the Asian model of a cluster policy. Clusters play a significant role in the economic development of these countries, and some practical experiences from Asia may be used to shape the cluster policy in the recovery process after the COVID-19 pandemic. The conducted research contributes to a better understanding of the cluster formation process, cluster development, and policy aims in the analyzed countries. In Singapore and South Korea, which are among the most innovative countries in the global economy, cluster policy is to a great extent part of innovation policy, focusing on facilitating the networking and cooperation between science and business, the flow of knowledge, transfer of technology, and developing innovative technologies of key economic importance. In China and Thailand, which are developing countries, there is a much stronger role of foreign direct investments, which take the central place in the cluster structure. However, one common characteristic of cluster development patterns in all the analyzed countries is a top-down approach, where clusters are emerging and developing mostly as a result of governmental decisions and public programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Medical students suffer from a considerable level of stress, which can result in the deterioration of their mental health, including depression or suicidal ideation. They are afraid to seek help due to stigmatization and environmental ostracism. The goal of the study is to analyze the psychological support and stress management programs for students supported by medical schools in Poland. Material and Methods: The authors sent out e-mails with 9 questions regarding the issue being analyzed to all 19 medical schools in Poland. They obtained answers from 15 such schools, which corresponds to a response rate of 79%. The study was conducted in 2018-2019, before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Results: Due to the lack of central regulations, support is provided by medical schools individually. Those solutions focus on short-term, temporary therapy. If a longer therapy is needed, students are redirected to external health providers. Moreover, information about the support is not transferred by student-friendly communication channels. Conclusions: Support should be flexible, and it should quickly adapt to the emerging trends and consider students' feedback. A future model of psychological support could be a center organized as a transfer point between a university problem-solving facility and external health providers, concentrating on short-term activity. Quick support would eliminate potential complications and more serious mental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim/Purpose: This brief paper will provide preliminary insight into an institutions effort to help students understand the application of the scientific method as it applies to the business discipline through the creation of a dedicated, required course added to the curriculum of a mid-Atlantic minority-serving institution. In order to determine whether the under-consideration course satisfies designated student learning outcomes, an assessment regime was initiated that included examination of rubric data as well as the administration of a student perception survey. This paper summarizes the results of the early examination of the efficacy of the course under consideration. Background: A small, minority-serving, university located in the United States conducted an assessment and determined that students entering a department of business following completion of their general education science requirements had difficulties transferring their understanding of the scientific method to the business discipline. Accordingly, the department decided to create a unique course offered to sophomore standing students titled Principles of Scientific Methods in Business. The course was created by a group of faculty with input from a twenty person department. Methodology: Rubrics used to assess a course term project were collected and analyzed in Microsoft Excel to measure student satisfaction of learning goals and a student satisfaction survey was developed and administered to students enrolled in the course under consideration to measure perceived course value. Contribution: While the scientific method applies across the business and information disciplines, students often struggle to envision this application. This paper explores the implications of a course specifically purposed to engender the development and usage of logical and scientific reasoning skills in the business discipline by students in the lower level of an bachelors degree program. The information conveyed in this paper hopefully makes a contribution in an area where there is still an insufficient body of research and where additional exploration is needed. Findings: For two semesters rubrics were collected and analyzed representing the inclusion of 53 students. The target mean for the rubric was a 2.8 and the overall achieved mean was a 2.97, indicating that student performance met minimal expectations. Nevertheless, student deficiencies in three crucial areas were identified. According to the survey findings, as a result of the class students had a better understanding of the scientific method as it applies to the business discipline, are now better able to critically assess a problem, feel they can formulate a procedure to solve a problem, can test a problem-solving process, have a better understanding of how to formulate potential business solutions, understand how potential solutions are evaluated, and understand how business decisions are evaluated. Conclusion: Following careful consideration and discussion of the preliminary findings, the course under consideration was significantly enhanced. The changes were implemented in the fall of 2020 and initial data collected in the spring of 2021 is indicating measured improvement in student success as exhibited by higher rubric scores. Recommendations for Practitioners: These initial findings are promising and while considering student success, especially as we increasingly face a greater and greater portion of under-prepared students entering higher education, initiatives to build the higher order thinking skills of students via transdisciplinary courses may play an important role in the future of higher education. Recommendations for Researchers: Additional studies of transdisciplinary efforts to improve student outcomes need to be explored through collection and evaluation of rubrics used to assess student learning as well as by measuring student perception of the efficacy of these efforts. Impact on Society: Society needs more graduates who leave universities ready to solve problems critically, strategically, and with scientific reasoning. Future Research: This study was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is resuming in late 2021 and it is the hope that a robust and detailed paper, with more expansive findings will eventually be generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new phase of the international fight against the COVID-19 pandemic will require a period of coexistence with the virus and a careful contrast to the development of new outbreak. Thanks to advanced mobile technologies and their diffusion it is possible to think about the use of apps aimed at identifying and suppressing contagion chains before their own explosion, through the methodology of contact-tracing based on bluetooth technology. However, implementing that approch requires the solution of significant problems of a technical nature, but also of a legal nature, often different from country to country. The solution of the COVID-19 global problem would therefore require deep coordination between different nations, which will be the problem more difficult to solve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted the risks of shortages resulting from dependence on medicine imports. Today's situation where a few companies in the Global North control COVID-19 vaccine production is having dire consequences on African countries' access. However, the challenges surrounding local production of medical products in Africa are long-standing issues dating back to independence. Using Ghana as a case study, this paper looks primarily at how the dependence on medicine imports can be understood as the result of policies implemented since independence, as well as the changes that the Ghanaian State has undergone in reaction to international events and the evolution of the structure of global pharmaceutical capital. It examines the policies associated with the Ghanaian State's project to promote local pharmaceutical production, from independence to the present, and the role that non-state actors such as pharmaceutical companies have played. Based on an historical political economy approach, it highlights how the roles of the State and its forms of intervention have evolved over time, from planning (right after independence), to implementing (during the global crisis of the 1970s–1980s), and finally to regulating (from the 1990–2000s onward). This paper draws on 14 months of PhD research fieldwork (2014–2018). It consists of interviews (n = 50) with Ghanaian actors in the pharmaceutical sector, observations in a pharmaceutical plant in Accra, and research into archives at the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) of the Ministry of Industry. • Dependence on medicine imports in Africa increases the risks of drugs shortages. • Importation may not be sufficient to adjust quickly to local pharmaceutical needs. • Local production may be better at identifying and responding to local health needs. • The State is instrumental in aligning industrial and public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to compare the risk transfer structure in Central and Eastern European and Western European stock markets during the 2007–2009 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to the global financial crisis (GFC), the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) created a significant level of risk, causing investors to suffer losses in a very short period of time. We use a variety of methods, including nonstandard like mutual information and transfer entropy. The results that we obtained indicate that there are significant nonlinear correlations in the capital markets that can be practically applied for investment portfolio optimization. From an investor perspective, our findings suggest that in the wake of global crisis and pandemic outbreak, the benefits of diversification will be limited by the transfer of funds between developed and developing country markets. Our study provides an insight into the risk transfer theory in developed and emerging markets as well as a cutting-edge methodology designed for analyzing the connectedness of markets. We contribute to the studies which have examined the different stock markets' response to different turbulences. The study confirms that specific market effects can still play a significant role because of the interconnection of different sectors of the global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the COVID-19 pandemic will be brought under control through mass vaccination, the challenge of global climate change and related energy transition will return on top of policy agendas. To assess the perspectives of renewable energy technologies as a critical component of the energy transition, by investigating trends of wind and solar energies and their competitive strength in energy markets. In particular, to clarify the critical issue of the future role of gas in the competition i.e., whether it might play the role of a bridging technology or a lock-in. Diffusion models in a competing setting were used in 12 selected countries to analyze the dynamic relationship between renewables and natural gas, taken as critical prospective competitor. With only one notable exception, in the analyzed countries renewables appear to exert a strongly competitive effect on gas, while gas is found to have either a competitive and collaborative role towards renewables. The dynamic relationship between renewables and natural gas is investigated with a multivariate diffusion model, allowing to capture some key regularities with high interpretability. The results are then contextualized with each country's specific energy history. • Perspectives of renewable energy technologies for energy transition. • Critical issue of the future role of gas in the competition. • Diffusion models in a competing setting for 12 selected countries. • Renewables appear to exert a strongly competitive effect on gas. • Gas is found to have either a competitive and collaborative role towards renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenovirus vectors offer a platform technology for vaccine development. The value of the platform has been proven during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although good stability at 2–8 °C is an advantage of the platform, non-cold-chain distribution would have substantial advantages, in particular in low-income countries. We have previously reported a novel, potentially less expensive thermostabilisation approach using a combination of simple sugars and glass micro-fibrous matrix, achieving excellent recovery of adenovirus-vectored vaccines after storage at temperatures as high as 45 °C. This matrix is, however, prone to fragmentation and so not suitable for clinical translation. Here, we report an investigation of alternative fibrous matrices which might be suitable for clinical use. A number of commercially-available matrices permitted good protein recovery, quality of sugar glass and moisture content of the dried product but did not achieve the thermostabilisation performance of the original glass fibre matrix. We therefore further investigated physical and chemical characteristics of the glass fibre matrix and its components, finding that the polyvinyl alcohol present in the glass fibre matrix assists vaccine stability. This finding enabled us to identify a potentially biocompatible matrix with encouraging performance. We discuss remaining challenges for transfer of the technology into clinical use, including reliability of process performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]