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How common oral and nasal rinses might reduce COVID risk in the dental…
R.V. Scheide Oral & Dental HealthcareThe results of two recent peer-reviewed studies that found Listerine and an array of cosmetic and therapeutic mouthwashes kill the novel coronavirus in the laboratory should be approached cautiously. The studies are in vitro, in glass, in the test tube, in the petri dish, and we won’t know if these compounds work on actual living organisms, in this case human beings, until in vivo studies are done. Nevertheless, for dentists, dental hygienists and other dental healthcare providers, there’s plenty to celebrate in the studies, since they both validate some practices already put in place by dental offices when the pandemic took off in the United States last March and point the way forward for future research.
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Study: Tracking the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareCOVID-19 can go in two different directions once it has infected someone. The immune response can remain stable and regain control over the virus, eventually clearing it through T cell and antibody activity. Or the immune system can freak out and start to overrespond, churning out more and more inflammatory cytokines, in a frantic attempt to wipe out the virus. The second path causes substantial cell death in the lungs, resulting in the most severe infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even death. However, in a new study, University of Illinois researchers and students found that the virus is honing the tactics that may make it more successful and more stable.
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How key performance indicators can help boost your brand during COVID-19
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingAs a marketer, you know the importance of monitoring your brand's progress as the pandemic continues. Some great ways to achieve this are by using key performance indicators (KPIs) in brand-new and highly effective ways. Freshen up your goal-hitting strategy by looking at your KPIs through a brand-new lens — or put them to use for the very first time. Whichever way you choose to use them, it's crucial to recognize that KPIs can be an amazing growth tool for your brand. How should you be using them right now and after COVID-19? Take these essential, profit-building steps.
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The pros and cons of lean manufacturing: A 2020 perspective
Bambi Majumdar ManufacturingThere is a reason why manufacturers are turning towards lean during these uncertain times. Lean manufacturing became popular during World War II when hardship and uncertainty ruled the world economy. Companies were forced to reduce costs during a time of radical change and yet had meet their customers' quality and delivery needs. So, they learned to optimize their systems and innovate, giving birth to modern-day lean manufacturing technologies. Flash forward to 2020 when an unexpected virus brought the whole world to its knees. Manufacturers have to drive efficiencies and agility in new ways by adjusting, adapting, and persevering in this environment.
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Putting on the best virtual conference — Part 2: Learning to be more…
Linda Popky Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe recent virtual annual meeting for my association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, was a great success. We had 34 Zoom sessions and more than 50 speakers over a two-day period. More than three times the number of people attended as the previous in-person event. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Not everything was perfect, of course. But the event ran smoothly, even in spite of a few behind-the-scenes glitches. Here are our key learnings — of both what went well and areas for improvement.
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How web development and UX can improve ROI
Indiana Lee MarketingUser experience (UX) is all the rage these days — and with good reason. The $3.5 trillion e-commerce world is booming, and businesses small and large want to get in on the action. However, running an e-commerce storefront is a completely different animal from a brick-and-mortar operation, and the struggle to provide a good experience for your online customers can be profound. Before you lift a finger to improve your site’s user experience (UX), it’s important to sit down, weigh your options, and do the math. Only once all of this has been taken into account can you properly execute a UX strategy that addresses your users’ experience and your bottom line at the same time.
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Putting on the best virtual conference — Part 1: A successful pandemic…
Linda Popky Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementApril seems like about a thousand years ago, but even back then, we realized the chances were slim to none that we’d be able to hold the 17th annual meeting of our association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, in New York City this fall as planned. We correctly surmised that there would be insurmountable issues, so we pivoted to producing an online meeting instead. We knew we’d miss the engagement and camaraderie of an in-person event, but we also realized we had new opportunities. How do you plan and pull off an outstanding online event? Here’s where to start.
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Study: A substantial number of patients have deferred care during the COVID-19…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareRoutine patient care received a devastating blow earlier this year as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged healthcare facilities, countless communities across the country and shut down elective procedures. According to a new study on patient care's impact during the pandemic, almost half of all U.S. employees deferred care because of the pandemic, Willis Towers Watson said. The global advisory firm surveyed a statistically valid 4,898 workers reporting that as many as 44% deferred medical care at some point during the pandemic.
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Infographic: What is Industry 4.0, and what are the technologies that power…
Maggie Kimberl ManufacturingA new Industrial Revolution is quietly changing the way products are made. By combining big data, machine learning, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), manufacturing companies can make immediate production changes based on real-time data intelligence. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, will introduce better products to the market at a lower cost and in less time.
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Fiction and fact: The undermining of science and society
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareIn these days of a tumultuous and politically divided country and a raging pandemic taking scores of lives each day, research is a cornerstone of the bedrock of public health, evidence-based science, and healthcare delivery. However, when determined efforts are made to undermine the importance of the truth of scientific inquiry and discovery, our society itself is lamentably and powerfully undermined. The very notion of how we as humans accept or reject the concept of facts has changed remarkably in the course of the first two decades of the 21st century.
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