Rss-Based Information Delivery Model for Learning Management System

In modern education, e-learning or Internet enabled learning has been extensively used by teaching and learning institutions, especially by higher education for improving their educational services. Learning Management Systems (LMS) are one of the important parts of e-learning solutions for providing learning contents and learning information during the educational process. Information delivery as main functionality of these systems has a vital role in the success of these systems in achieving their goals. An LMS with growing number of users, courses, and frequently updated learning information resources needs a systematic, fast and easy to use information delivery service which can support personalization also. As a response to this need and with considering technical and pedagogical benefits of RSS (Really Simple Syndication), this research applied a combination of RSS 2.0 and RSS 1.0 to design a new RSS-based information delivery framework for LMSs. The proposed RSS based information delivery framework is implemented on e- SPRINT, an existing LMS at Universiti Putra Malaysia as object of experiment, and evaluated regarding to the impact of RSS-based information delivery framework in users satisfaction and usability of the LMS in information delivery. Based on the analysis of the results of experimental design there is positive changes in users satisfaction with information delivery after using the framework compared to before using the framework. According to usability evaluation of the RSS information delivery framework also, positive changes of user perception from the aspect of usability in information delivery has been gained. It is mentionable that the scope of the study was limited to the case study system. The contribution of this study was the design and development of an RSS-based information delivery model for LMSs to support systematic fast and easy to use information delivery

Hand skeletal maturity and its correlation with mandibular dental development

Objectives: Assessment of pubertal status and pubertal growth spurt in orthodontic patients has a considerable impact on the diagnosis, treatment plan and the outcome of orthodontic treatments. Hand-wrist radiography is routinely used to evaluate skeletal development. Some studies have shown that there is an association between bone development and different stages of dental calcification; therefore, the stages of dental calcification can be used as the first tool for diagnosis, in case there is an association. This study was performed with the aim to evaluate the association between the phases of dental development and the stages of skeletal maturity. Study design: In this study, a total of 52 patients (26 males and 26 females), referring to Mashhad School of Den - tistry for orthodontic treatment, were evaluated; the subjects were within the age range of 9-14 years. Hand-wrist radiographic evaluation of skeletal maturation was performed using Fishman method. Also, the Demirjian method was used to identify the stages of dental calcification by panoramic radiographs. Independent t-test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for data analyses. Results: The mean age of males and females was 11.05 ± 1.05 and 10.62 ± 1.12 years, respectively (p=0.156). The Spearman correlation coefficients between skeletal maturity indicators (SMIs) and developmental stages of mandi - bular left and right canines and second molars were significant in males only (p<0.05). Also, correlation coefficients were significant between adductor sesamoid ossification and mandibular right and left canines developmental sta - ges in males (p<0.05). Conclusions: Findings of this study showed that the correlation between dental developmental stages and skeletal maturity only were significant in males; thus, different skeletal maturity patterns in males and females might be perceptible

A model for continuous monitoring of patients with major depression in short and long term periods

The final publication is available at IOS Press through http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/THC-161289BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder causes more human suffering than any other disease affecting humankind. It has a high prevalence and it is predicted that it will be among the three leading causes of disease burden by 2030. The prevalence of depression, all of its social and personal costs, and its recurrent characteristics, put heavy constraints on the ability of the public healthcare system to provide sufficient support for patients with depression. In this research, a model for continuous monitoring and tracking of depression in both short-term and long-term periods is presented. This model is based on a new qualitative reasoning approach. METHOD: This paper describes the patient assessment unit of a major depression monitoring system that has three modules: a patient progress module, based on a qualitative reasoning model; an analysis module, based on expert knowledge and a rules-based system; and the communication module. These modules base their reasoning mainly on data of the patient's mood and life events that are obtained from the patient's responses to specific questionnaires (PHQ-9, M.I.N.I. and Brugha). The patient assessment unit provides synthetic and useful information for both patients and physicians, keeps them informed of the progress of patients, and alerts them in the case of necessity. RESULTS: A set of hypothetical patients has been defined based on clinically possible cases in order to perform a complete scenario evaluation. The results that have been verified by psychiatrists suggest the utility of the platform. CONCLUSION: The proposed major depression monitoring system takes advantage of current technologies and facilitates more frequent follow-up of the progress of patients during their home stay after being diagnosed with depression by a psychiatrist.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Are prescription opioids increasing the addictive behavior and death rate in the United States over the last 20 years?

The United States is in an opioid crisis. Of all the opioids that are marketed in the United States the most popular is Oxycontin, containing the active ingredient oxycodone, the chemical equiv-alent of heroin which is more powerful than morphine. Along with heroin and fentanyl, Oxy-contin has become one of the great killers of this era. It is estimated that in 2016 there were over 20,000 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, as opposed to 12,990 over-dose deaths related to heroin in 2015. The state of West Virginia has been the one that has suf-fered the most. The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in West Virginia, the state worst af-flicted, has gone from 1.8 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 43.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2016. For the sake of mathematical exactitude this is a rise of 2400% in the incidence of opioid-related death in a single state, while the rest of the country’s death rate has ‘only’ risen by 700%