Using CSCW Technology to Connect Classrooms

This paper describes the details and results of a pilot study in which students at two geographically dispersed institutions of higher education were linked together using communication technologies and the Internet. Experiments were designed to require student groups at both universities to collaborate locally and with their remote partners using electronic mail, the Internet, and other computing technologies to output Joint solutions to class assignments. The successful results of these Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) experiments suggest future Implementations of similar inter- and Intra-university projects will enhance the quality of IS education, benefiting both students and prospective employers

Role of dual biomarkers and uterine artery doppler study in predicting PIH and IUGR in antenatal patients registered in a tertiary care centre

Background: The incidence of IUGR is between 3 to 7%, whereas that of Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is about 10% of pregnant women around the world. These conditions are associated with a high rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality, posing a need for the detection of the potential causes of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality and for the prediction of these conditions early during pregnancy.Methods: Patients with first antenatal visit before 10 weeks gestation underwent routine NT scan between 11–13 weeks with bilateral UAD-RI of the maternal uterine arteries. The placental volume was assessed. Serum dual biomarker test (β hCG and PAPP-A) was performed after this scan and analysed as multiples of median (MoM). Blood pressure was recorded at every ANC visit till 2 weeks after delivery. Neonatal head and chest circumference, birth length and weight were recorded.Results: The mean values of PAPP-A levels of Non-PIH and PIH groups were 1.32±0.91 MoM and 0.68±0.39 MoM respectively, showing statistically significant difference.  The serum PAPP-A levels showed statistically significant difference between Non-IUGR and IUGR groups (1.24±0.87 MoM and 0.46±0.20 MoM respectively).Conclusions: In our study, PAPP-A level is observed as a good indicator for possible prediction of PIH and IUGR whereas levels of β hCG and UAD-RI were not good predictors. The role of Placental volume in prediction of IUGR needs to be explored further with larger sample size. Future studies are needed with a larger group with inclusion of measurement of PI values

Natural History of Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease in North America: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The incidence of very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEOIBD) is increasing, yet the phenotype and natural history of VEOIBD are not well described. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with VEOIBD (6 years of age and younger) between 2008 and 2013 at 25 North American centers. Eligible patients at each center were randomly selected for chart review. We abstracted data at diagnosis and at 1, 3, and 5 years after diagnosis. We compared the clinical features and outcomes with VEOIBD diagnosed younger than 3 years of age with children diagnosed with VEOIBD at age 3 to 6 years. Results: The study population included 269 children (105 [39%] Crohn\u27s disease, 106 [39%] ulcerative colitis, and 58 [22%] IBD unclassified). The median age of diagnosis was 4.2 years (interquartile range 2.9-5.2). Most (94%) Crohn\u27s disease patients had inflammatory disease behavior (B1). Isolated colitis (L2) was the most common disease location (70% of children diagnosed younger than 3 years vs 43% of children diagnosed 3 years and older; P = 0.10). By the end of follow-up, stricturing/penetrating occurred in 7 (6.6%) children. The risk of any bowel surgery in Crohn\u27s disease was 3% by 1 year, 12% by 3 years, and 15% by 5 years and did not differ by age at diagnosis. Most ulcerative colitis patients had pancolitis (57% of children diagnosed younger than 3 years vs 45% of children diagnosed 3 years and older; P = 0.18). The risk of colectomy in ulcerative colitis/IBD unclassified was 0% by 1 year, 3% by 3 years, and 14% by 5 years and did not differ by age of diagnosis. Conclusions: Very early onset inflammatory bowel disease has a distinct phenotype with predominantly colonic involvement and infrequent stricturing/penetrating disease. The cumulative risk of bowel surgery in children with VEOIBD was approximately 14%-15% by 5 years. These data can be used to provide anticipatory guidance in this emerging patient population

Treatment of Fistulizing Crohn's Disease in Children.

Patients with Crohn’s disease are at risk for developing both internal and external fistulae. These can be asymptomatic incidental radiologic findings or causes of incontinence, chronic pain, abscesses, and sepsis. They can have a devastating impact on quality of life. Careful prospective studies of therapy are few in adult medicine and entirely lacking in the pediatric age group. Assessment and management require a coordinated effort between gastroenterologist, radiologist, and surgeon. Principles of management include surgical drainage of infection combined with medical therapy. Only infliximab has been studied in prospective, double-blinded fashion and clearly shown to be of use in the short term. There is good evidence that metronidazole may be useful acutely and that 6-mercaptopurine azathioprine may help to maintain closure. Diverting ostomies are of very limited value and corticosteroids seem to make matters worse. There are many other therapies that have been reported to be helpful in small, uncontrolled studies

Effects of the Sonas program on anxiety and depression in nursing home residents with dementia: A 6-month randomized controlled trial

Introduction: There is a dearth of evidence about the effects of Sonas, a multisensory stimulation on people with dementia (PWD). The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of the Sonas program on anxiety and depression in nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. Methods: In all, 120 PWD ≥65 years of age from 6 NHs were included in a randomized control trial and were allocated to 1 of 3 groups for 24 weeks: a Sonas program group (n = 48), a reading group (n = 32), and a control group (n = 40). One hundred and five participants completed follow-up assessments. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Rating Anxiety in Dementia (RAID) scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), respectively. Generalized linear mixed models were estimated to assess trends in the proportion of participants with anxiety (a RAID score ≥11) and depression (a CSDD score ≥10). Results: No significant reduction in anxiety from baseline to follow-up was observed in any of the groups. Participants in the Sonas group showed a significant reduction in depression from baseline to 12 weeks (p = 0.001) and from baseline to 24 weeks (p = 0.009). Conclusion: The Sonas program had no effect on severity of anxiety but a reduction in depressive symptoms was found in PWD

Trajectories of quality of life and their association with anxiety in people with dementia in nursing homes: A 12-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to identify possible groups of people with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes with different trajectories of proxy-rated quality of life (QoL), and to explore how anxiety (along with other characteristics) was associated with these trajectories of QoL of PWD in nursing homes at a 12-month follow-up. METHODS:We included 298 PWD aged 65 years and older from 17 Norwegian nursing homes. The Norwegian version of the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale (RAID-N) was used to assess anxiety, defined as RAID-N score ≥12; proxy-rated QoL was assessed by Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID). The assessments were made at baseline and after a mean follow-up period of 350 days (SD 12.3). A growth mixture model identified two distinct trajectories of QUALID scores. Association between the QUALID score trajectories and demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed with logistic regression models. RESULTS:Trajectory group 1 (206 participants) had a lower proportion of participants with anxiety, and a more stable and better QoL, compared to trajectory group 2 (92 participants) at a 12-month follow-up. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, more severe impairment in activities of daily living, along with presence of anxiety, depression, agitation, and use of antipsychotics at baseline, were associated with belonging to the trajectory group with proxy-rated poor QoL. SIGNIFICANCES:This study reveals that anxiety is associated with proxy-rated poor QoL of PWD at a 12-month follow-up. Efforts should be made to identify anxiety among nursing home residents with dementia to initiate treatment

Online Progress Monitoring of Agricultural Scientists: e Initiative.

Not AvailableA web based system for Half-Yearly Progress Monitoring (HYPM) of the agricultural scientists working in ICAR institutes has been developed and hosted (http://www.hypm.iasri.res.in) at Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IASRI), New Delhi. The system has been developed using three-tier web architecture on the ASP.NET technology platform. Authenticated secured access has been given to all concerned users; Scientists, Reporting Officers, Reviewing Officers, Nodal Officers and Research Managers involved in the monitoring process of the scientists. Nodal officer at each Institute is responsible for Institute level customization of HYPM and has the right to assign different roles for monitoring, issue password to scientific personnel and allocation of Scientists for reporting and reviewing under Reporting and Reviewing Officers of their respective institutes. Scientists have facility for online submitting their research targets and achievements under different heads of teaching, training, extension and other prioritized activities. Research Manager Personnel (RMPA's) of ICAR have the flexibility to view reports at all levels, i.e. Institutional, Subject Matter Division (SMD) and consolidated for the entire ICAR institutes on different parameters.Not Availabl