Exploring the impact of global agricultural production and trade on infectious disease risks

Agriculture is considered a nexus issue on which the future of global sustainability, health and the environment depend. Although, the environmental impact of agriculture is well established, the potential human health impacts of agriculture are less well understood and quantified, despite their potential to hinder or undermine global health and development efforts. In this thesis, using gold standard methods from the medical sciences, epidemiology, and industrial ecology, I explore the impacts of agricultural land use and trade on infectious diseases risks. Through conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis, I quantify the association between occupational or residential exposure to agricultural land uses and being infected with a pathogen using Southeast Asia as a focal model system (Chapter 2). I further extend these evidence synthesis methods to other geographical regions and integrate meta-analytic estimates with burden estimation methods and input-output analysis to calculate the global human infectious disease impacts of agricultural production and trade (Chapter 3). To address the possibility of spatial autocorrelation and confounding within agriculture-disease relationships, I focus on childhood malaria in sub-Saharan Africa as a case study. Here, I assess the relationships between agricultural land use and malaria whilst controlling for socio-economic and environmental confounders using hierarchical modelling (Chapter 4). Finally, I summarise the main findings of my research, synthesise the added value of the research conducted and highlight future research opportunities (Chapter 5). To combat agricultural land use and trade induced infectious disease risks, governments must acknowledge and address the human health impacts involved with the production of agricultural commodities. The findings from this thesis provide decision makers with a number of impactful recommendations on how public health, development, economic and environmental practitioners can jointly respond to mitigate the negative health impacts of agricultural production and trade. This can aid governments in securing co-benefits and mitigating trade-offs when trying to achieve multiple sustainable development goals simultaneously.Open Acces

Exploratory role of protein kinase CK2 synergy in treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women. The serine-threonine protein kinase CK2 is overexpressed in many cancers, including lung, prostate, hematologic cancers, and breast (Pinna, 2013). Here, we examined the potential of CK2 inhibition alone and in combination with chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. We performed cell viability assays on five breast cancer cell lines treated with CK2 chemical inhibitors or small interfering RNAs, and chemotherapeutic drugs, to test if a synergistic effect could be attained. We also tested if CK2 inhibition would change the stem-like phenotype, epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) marker expression, and CK2 subunit gene expression in the HS578T cell line. We concluded that in the five cell lines utilized, CK2 inhibition had no synergistic effect with chemotherapeutic drugs. CK2 inhibition had no effect on the stem-like phenotype of HS578T cells. However, CK2 inhibition did show a pattern of inhibition of EMT marker expression. Finally, we found that CK2 inhibition appears to activate a compensatory feedback loop for the transcription of the alpha subunit. This may explain the lack of synergy, and bears further investigation in future studies

Mathematical Identity Formation: Preparing Students with Learning Disorders for Post-Secondary Education and Careers

Formation of identity for individuals engaging in mathematical study influences the utilization and value of the subject matter. In curricular studies surrounding mathematics, a need for research pertaining to the development of mathematical identity for students with learning disorders continues to exist. In this transformative design study, a questionnaire-style instrument created for quantitative data collection provides detailed information about students with learning disorders and their identity formation related to achievement in mathematics. The quantitative aspect of this study helps to understand mathematical identity formation by analyzing levels of Confidence, Motivation, Anxiety, and Career Interest. The results show a statistically significant correlation between all four of these categories. Further investigation of the data presents differences between male and female gender groups when comparing levels of Confidence and Anxiety. The quantitative data analysis procedures inform the qualitative narrative and thematic data analysis of journal entries that were completed by the same sample of students with learning disorders. This secondary analysis shows a correlation between Confidence and both Career Interest and Anxiety. The results of this transformative design study, involving both quantitative and qualitative sources of data, positively contribute to scholarship surrounding mathematical identity formation for students with learning disorders, and how this identity can influence plans for post-secondary education and careers related to mathematics. The results of this study implicate the importance of positive mathematical identity development to create overall access and equity for students with learning disorders. Keywords: mathematics curriculum, mathematical identity, learning disorders, gender, post-secondary education, careers, equit

Moving Forward by Looking Backward: Embracing Pedagogical Principles to Develop an Innovative MSIS Program

Program design is a challenging task that requires significant effort and resources. When a proposed program is being designed for both face-to-face and online delivery, the challenges are compounded. If done right, this task offers an opportunity to leverage pedagogical theory and principles in designinga curriculum for the program. Our research shares findings from program development effort at a Midwestern university using the Backward Design approach. The Backward Design approach entails working in reverse and involves identification of objectives, creating assessments, and learning activities. This approachwas used to design a graduate Masters of Science program in Information Systems (MSIS). Alignment of objectives, faculty involvement, mutual accountability, and developing a learning Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for students emerged as keylessons that can be used by other institutions as they undergo efforts to developor revise curriculum. Further, using Backward Design helped to integrate Assurance of Learning (AOL) processes recommended by AACSB into the curriculum design

Intelligent Controller Based on Artificial Neural Network and INC Based MPPT for Grid Integrated Solar PV System

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have become an integral part of today's advanced energy infrastructure due to its low kinetic energy, its abundance availability, and its freedom from human interference. Solar PV systems have the potential to greatly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but their intermittent nature means they cannot provide a constant source of electricity. The system's security should be well thought out, and it should be able to withstand a lot of abuse. The current energy system faces a significant difficulty in ensuring continuous supply. In this study, a three-phase, two-stage photovoltaic system that is managed by artificial neural networks (ANN). A DC-DC boost converter with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) based on the incremental conductance (INC) method is incorporated in the first stage. In the next step, an ANN-based controller optimizes the performance of a three-phase switching PWM inverter that is connected to the grid by controlling currents along the d-q axis. Comprehensive simulations were carried out using MATLAB or Simulink to evaluate the system's performance under various illumination and temperature conditions. Results show that the suggested approach outperforms the baseline in a number of areas. Better dynamic reactions, accurate tracking of reference currents within permissible bounds, and quick settling periods after startup are all displayed by it. These findings show that our method has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency and dependability of solar PV systems. The results of this study have implications for renewable energy in general and present a viable path toward enhancing the resilience and sustainability of energy infrastructure

Outcome of mock embryo transfer before the first IVF cycle: A randomized control trial

Background: There is a lack of agreement among fertility specialists with regard to the routine use of mock embryo transfer (MET) before each in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle. While MET may be beneficial with previous difficult embryo transfer cases, its routine use before first IVF cycle has not been evaluated. Objective: To find out the effect of MET before the first IVF cycle on clinical pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: This is a single-centre randomized controlled trial with a balanced randomization (1:1), carried out between November 2015 and October 2017, with 200 subjects at Homerton university hospital, London, randomized into either MET or control. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (detection of heart activity on the ultrasound scan), the secondary outcome measures were live birth rate, miscarriage and multiple pregnancy rates, difficult ETs, rate of blood or mucus on the catheter tip. Results: No significant differences were observed in the baseline or cycle characteristics between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate was similar between the MET and control groups based on both intension to treat and per protocol analyses (p = 0.98, p = 0.92, respectively). Additionally, no significant difference was seen in the live birth rate in both groups on intension to treat and per protocol analyses (p = 0.67, p = 0.47), respectively. Conclusion: Our study concludes that MET prior to first IVF cycle may not improve the success rate in young women without risk factors for a difficult embryo transfer. Key words: IVF, Mock embryo transfer, Pregnancy outcomes, Live birth

Integrating AI into Business Schools: An Inquiry-Based Approach

Given the current and anticipated use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business (Wagner, 2018), one would expect relevant coverage in business school curriculum. After all, AI promises to impact fields as diverse as human resources, accounting, and logistics (Webb, 2020). Graduating students will confront AI and how to integrate it with their work throughout their careers. Yet AI concepts do not seem to have permeated general business curricula, as evidenced in several ways: 1) most business textbooks address AI only at the surface level, 2) an internal search of master course syllabi of a business school at a medium-sized R2 university revealed little to no explicit addressing of AI); and 3) AI content is not prominent in a survey of business school curriculum. Information systems as a discipline is in a unique position to support the integration of AI into business curricula. Unlike computer science, IS maintains an intellectual and practical connection to all other business functions. And, unlike these individual business functions and their disciplines, IS offers a strong technical base, combined with systems thinking and practical application. But how can AI be better integrated into curricula at colleges of businesses? We would argue against simply adding a standalone course here or there, as that would ignore the overall terrain into which graduate students will be stepping. Instead, we propose that business schools integrate the following questions throughout the business curricula, which can help both students and faculty understand how AI impacts individual disciplines as well as specific organizations and society: 1. Why should I learn about AI?; 2. What is AI?; 3. What are specific skills I need to develop to understand AI?; 4. How does AI create new possibilities for me in my professional career?; 5. How does AI impact society and what can I do to make a meaningful contribution? In this talk, we explore the approach of posing questions to help students develop the practice of inquiry, which is essential as AI and its applications continue to evolve. In doing so, students can come to understand AI in theory and practice (Smith, 2018), including exploring ethical questions (McGrath & Gupta, 2018). We recommend general pedagogical strategies that can be followed in posing these questions and describe possibilities for future research

Psychometric properties of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in patients diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Background The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-3 L, the SF-12 v2 and its preference based derivative the SF-6D, and the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), in patients diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Methods Data from the Oscillation in ARDS (OSCAR) randomised unblinded clinical trial of 795 patients diagnosed with ARDS provided the foundation of this secondary psychometric analysis. The three source patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) (EQ-5D-3 L, SF-12 and SGRQ) were collected at both 6 and 12 months post randomisation. All measures were tested for acceptability, reliability, internal consistency, validity and responsiveness. Data from responders at 6 months was used to test for acceptability, reliability, known groups validity and internal responsiveness. Data from patients who responded at both 6 and 12 months was used to test for convergent validity and external responsiveness. Results Rates of response at both 6 and 12 months post randomisation were 89.88 % for the EQ-5D-3 L, 77.38 % for the SF-6D, 71.43 % for both the physical and mental components of the SF-12 and 38.10 % for the SGRQ. All measures had a Cronbach’s Alpha statistic higher than 0.7. For known group’s validity, there was no difference in mean summary or utility scores between known groups for all PROMs with minimal effect sizes. All three source measures showed strong convergent and discriminant validity. There was consistent evidence that the SF-6D is an empirically valid and efficient alternative to the EQ-5D-3 L. The EQ-5D-3 L and SGRQ were more responsive compared to the SF-12 and SF-6D with the EQ-5D-3 L generating greater effect sizes than the SGRQ. Conclusion The PROMs explored in this study displayed varying psychometric properties in the context of ARDS. Further research should focus on shortening the SGRQ whilst still maintaining its psychometric properties and mapping between the SGRQ and preference-based measures for future application within economic evaluations of respiratory focused interventions. The selection ofa preferred PROM for evaluative studies within the ARDS context should ultimately depend on the relative importance placed on individual psychometric properties and the importance placed on generation of health utilities for economic evaluation purposes