At the start of 2020, no one had predicted the challenging effects that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to have on higher education institutions. Research indicates that leaders in higher education institutions were ill-prepared to lead during the pandemic. This study explored U.S. higher education institutions officials’ servant leadership behavior and the level of readiness for the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed a cross-sectional study design with a quantitative approach. The results show that all institution officials lacked in the ‘Leading the Way’ measure of Crisis Leadership, and the overall measure of crisis leadership did not show a significant difference between institutions. Furthermore, all servant leadership behaviors (altruistic calling, emotional healing, wisdom, persuasive mapping, and organizational stewardship) significantly predict the officials’ level of readiness to the pandemic. This line of inquiry informs a new direction in the theory related to servant leadership and crisis leadership readiness.

The mechanism by which Ethiopians adapt to altitude is quite unique compared to other Highlanders with respect to increased oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. Although the effects of altitude on cardiorespiratory and hematological quantities on athletics performances are well known, but there is little information about its underlying effect on chronotype orientations. In this cross-sectional study 60 male college students with mean age 20±1.3 years from high and low altitude regions living in a tropical setting in Ethiopia were included. The participants’ chronotype was determined using the self-administered Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaires (MEQ). Measurements and estimations of hematological and cardiorespiratory parameters were performed from 7:00–9:00 AM, East African time zone, in order to minimize any variations that might occur in the course of the day. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was fitted to analyze the underlying chronotype predictors. 28 (93.9%) of participants from high altitude were mainly intermediate type (I-type) dominant with (MEQ = 42–58). While, 16 (55.2%) of participants from low altitudes were morning type (M-type) dominant chronotype with (MEQ = 59–69). Our main finding confirmed that altitude is an independent predictor of chronotype orientations of the participants (p 0.05). Our finding, reported for the first time that, the human chronotype varies according to the altitude, with no underlying effect of cardiorespiratory and hematological quantities.

Background and Study Aim. Cerebral palsy is a broad term for a variety of non-progressive, resulting in physical impairment, movement dysfunction, and poor posture. The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness in the Halliwick aquatic exercise versus conventional land-based therapy on gross motor function of children aged from 3 to 5 years with spastic cerebral palsy. Material and Methods. In this randomized controlled trial, (n=34) children diagnosed with spastic Cerebral palsy were randomly assigned into either the Halliwick concept group (n=17) or active control (conventional exercising group) (n=17). A physiotherapist performed the sessions with participants three times a week, 45 minutes duration over 12 weeks. An independent pediatric rehabilitation specialist assessed the children’s gross motor function using the gross motor function measures (sitting, crawling and kneeling, standing, walking, running, and jumping). Results. After the intervention, both Halliwick concept group and conventional exercising group significantly improved activities of sitting, crawling & kneeling, standing and walking, running and jumping. Besides, the estimate of the effect of the Halliwick exercises on sitting, standing and walking, running & jumping activities was more clinically significant than conventional exercises, with sitting; MD = -0.06 [95%, CI; -0.19 to 0.32], standing; MD = 0.14 [95%, CI; -0.15-0.31], and walking, running & jumping activities; MD = -0.09 [95%, CI; -0.11 to 0.20]. None of the between-group differences for any remaining outcomes was significant. Conclusion. Aquatic exercises based on the Halliwick concept are better than conventional exercises to improve sitting, standing and walking, running and jumping activities in children aged 3 to 5 years with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective: Transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive, nonpharmacological, and least expensive technique to improve sensitivity and reduce pain in patients with neuropathy. Evidence reported on the effectiveness of TENS on neuropathy was inconclusive. This study was aimed at providing recent evidence on the effectiveness of TENS for neuropathic pain, using data from randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials (CENTRAL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (Pedro), and Google Scholar from January 1, 1999, to May 5, 2024. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies on TENS for neuropathic pain, without restrictions based on language or country. Key inclusion criteria were studies on TENS for neuropathic pain, while exclusion criteria included studies on neuropathic pain due to cancer, HIV infection, or stroke. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the GRADE tool. Results: Thirty articles met the eligibility criteria, and 25 were included in the meta‐analysis. Overall, TENS slightly reduced neuropathic pain compared to placebo, but this was not clinically significant (SMD = −0.35; 95% CI: −0.90 to 0.10, p = 0.13). For patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, TENS was similar to placebo and other electrotherapies. However, it was better than placebo and other interventions for reducing neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients (SMD = −1.14; 95% CI: −2.22 to −0.06, p = 0.04). Conclusions: TENS generally seems to provide a small reduction in neuropathic pain compared with a placebo, other electrotherapies, or other interventions.

The purpose of this study was to compare chronotype preferences of college students from high- and low-altitude backgrounds living in a tropical setting of Ethiopia. Chronotype (morningness–eveningness) is a preference for a given time of day for physical or mental activities. The present cross-sectional study employed Horne and Osteberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaires to evaluate chronotype preferences. The chronotype preference of 264 male college students from varied altitude backgrounds indicated significant differences (p < 0.001). Our findings confirm our hypothesis, of the prevalence of M-types dominant chronotype among college students at low than high altitude. However, we did not confirm our second hypothesis, since students from high-altitude backgrounds were generally I-type dominant chronotype. Similarly, students’ academic performances from low- compared to high-altitudes backgrounds also indicated significant differences (p < 0.003). Better academic performances were seen in students with I-type chronotype orientations from high altitudes.

The purpose of this study was to assess the chronotype orientations of the ninth all African university game players hosted by Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2–6 July 2018. The present cross-sectional study employed a self-reported demographic, training time, and Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaires (MEQ). Training time and chronotype orientations of 174 (126 males and 48 females) participants, mean age 21.65 ± 2.05 y were assessed. Some 72% (126) of the African University game players were males. Overall, 92 (53%) of the male and female participants’ were I-type and, 82 (47%) of them were M-type; none were E-type. Chronotype preferences did not vary by sex (p = .962). However, a significant difference in chronotype was observed between those experts in skill, concentration, and mixed sports events (p < .001). Players who participated in mixed sports, like football and athletics, were more likely to be M-type. Surprisingly, the habitual training time was misaligned with chronotype orientation in all sports events with the exception of athletics in mixed groups.