Design and Implementation of a Virtual Team Collaboration System

This paper analyzes a newly developed virtual team collaboration site and compares this application with the currently in use team collaboration tool created using a Google site. Various tests that are essential for a web service to function properly are performed to compare the applications. The tests are aimed to find any issues with the applications and identify if Teamboard ODU, the newly developed application, can perform better than the Google site. We test for speed, performance, usability, functionality and also explore the methodology used to develop the application. These test results allow us to make an informed assumption about the effectiveness of Teamboard ODU and help us understand whether this can be a replacement for the Google site. The study hypothesizes that Teamboard ODU performs better in terms of the HTTP transaction, site availability and load time. It also has functionalities comparable to the Google site. Future enhancement and maintenance can also be performed if needed. Several scenarios are developed to test the hypotheses, and the results will be used to compare the two sites and identify whether Teamboard ODU can be an effective replacement

Increase in Teachers\u27 Knowledge About ADHD After a Week-Long Training Program A Pilot Study

Objectives: ADHD affects 3% to 5% of school-age children. Clinical and community based epidemiological studies in Pakistan have shown a high prevalence of ADHD among school going children. A thorough review of literature shows that no studies of teachers\u27 training programs regarding ADHD have been published in Pakistani research literature. The aim of the present study is the development and evaluation of an ADHD training program for teachers. Methods: A teachers\u27 training program for ADHD was designed and a pilot run in 3 schools of Karachi, Pakistan. Teachers knowledge regarding signs and symptoms of ADHD was tested before and after the workshop and then again after 6 months using an ADHD knowledge questionnaire. Results: Forty-nine teachers, all of them women, completed the questionnaires before and after the training program, and 35 of them filled it out at the 6-month interval. Mean scores of these tests were compared using a paired t test. The authors found the difference of mean score of 1.48 +/- 2.95, and this was statistically significant (p \u3c .005). Conclusion: The authors conclude that the workshop improved the knowledge of the school teachers regarding ADHD symptomatology, and it remained significant even after 6 months of training

Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Trea ting Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Recent literature has identified links between vitamin B12 deficiency and depression. We compared the clinical response of SSRI-monotherapy with that of B12-augmentation in a sample of depressed patients with low normal B12 levels who responded inadequately to the first trial with the SSRIs. Methods: Patients with depression and low normal B12 levels were randomized to a control arm (antidepressant only) or treatment arm (antidepressants and injectable vitamin B12 supplementation). Results: A total of 199 depressed patients were screened. Out of 73 patients with low normal B12 levels 34 (47%) were randomized to the treatment group while 39 (53%) were randomized to the control arm. At three months follow up 100% of the treatment group showed at least a 20% reduction in HAM-D score, while only 69% in the control arm showed at least a 20% reduction in HAM-D score (p\u3c0.001). The findings remained significant after adjusting for baseline HAM-D score (p=0.001). Conclusion: Vitamin B12 supplementation with antidepressants significantly improved depressive symptoms in our cohort

The Impact of Dynamic Capabilities and Information System on Organizational Effectiveness in Cellular Communication Companies in Jordon: Mediating Role of Organizational Ambidexterity

The goal of the ongoing research is to examine the impact of dynamic capabilities such as exploitation capability, exploration capability and information system on the organizational effectiveness of cellular communication firms in Jordan. The examination of the mediating role of organizational ambidexterity among the nexus of dynamic capabilities such as exploitation capability and exploration capability and organizational effectiveness is also included in the goals of the ongoing research. The quantitative method of data gathering has been utilized by the researchers to collect the data from the employees of the cellular communication firms currently operating in Jordan while AMOS has been used for the purpose of analysis. The results exposed that the positive nexus has been found among the nexus of dynamic capabilities, organizational ambidexterity, and organizational effectiveness. The results also revealed that the organizational ambidexterity has positive mediating among the links of dynamic capabilities such as exploitation capability and exploration capability on organizational effectiveness. These findings are suitable for the regulation developing authorities that they should develop and implement the effective regulation related to the dynamic capabilities and organizational ambidexterity that enhance the organizational effectiveness of the firm

Comparison of Urdu version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) amongst primary school children in Karachi

OBJECTIVE: To compare CBCL (Child Behaviour Check Llist) Urdu, with the validated Urdu version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) used as gold standard among school children in Karachi, Pakistan, and to develop local cutoffs for CBCL using SDQ as a gold standard. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Schools of Karachi metropolitan area from January to December 2006. METHODOLOGY: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) was completed by parents of 5-11 years old primary school children in Karachi. Appropriate cutoff points for total problem, internalizing and externalizing scales were obtained for CBCL. RESULTS: A total of 556 parents filled out both the SDQ Urdu version as well as CBCL. Scores from the parent rated total SDQ scores were highly correlated with the total CBCL scores (r=0.589). The local cutoffs derived for CBCL were considerably lower than USA norms. Slightly higher cutoff for males was found as compared to females for the total CBCL scores. CONCLUSION: Like the original English version, the Urdu version of CBCL and SDQ are both equally valid assessment tools to be used for both clinical and research purpose in Pakistani settings, where Urdu is widely spoken and understood

Arteriovenous malformation with associated multiple flow-related distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: A case report with poor outcomes

Background: Low-grade arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) associated with multiple flow-related distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms are rare occurrences. Here, we present a case of a frontal AVM with three associated DACA aneurysms arising from a single feeder.Case description: A 36-year-old male presented to us in the ER with acute-onset dysphasia and altered mental status. Head computed tomography and angiogram showed a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with intraventricular extension and revealed a Spetzler Martin Grade II AVM, being fed by two feeders, with the major feeder from the DACA bearing three flow-related aneurysms. As the patient awaited digital subtraction angiography, his Glasgow Coma Scale dropped and he underwent emergency embolization with Onyx. This was followed by external ventricular drainage. The patient\u27s neurological status did not improve, and he died following a complicated clinical course.Conclusion: Multiple DACA aneurysms are a case of both clinical and anatomical rarity and to avoid complications in the clinical course, one must be judicious about the time spent between symptom onset and embolization

Carotid cavernous fistula in a patient with coronary artery disease

Carotid cavernous fistulas are abnormal communications between the carotid and cavernous vasculature, with potential for serious neurological and ocular sequelae. There is considerable literature on the neuro-radiological management of carotico-cavernous fistula depending upon their flow status. The coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for coronary artery disease (CAD) is a well established method of revascularization. However, the association of carotid cavernous fistula in presence of CAD is an infrequent occurrence. We present a case of coronary artery disease scheduled for bypass surgery, developed spontaneous bilateral carotid cavernous fistulas, highlighting a unique aspect of association between coronary and carotid disease

Association of depression with treatment outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan

Background: To assess the associations of depression with glycemic control and compliance to self-care activities in adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in Karachi (Aga Khan University Hospital). Equal numbers of depressed and non-depressed Patients were consecutively recruited from the diabetic clinic. Information on demographic and clinical characteristics was collected in face-to-face interviews and from medical records. Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure depression. Associations of depressed status (HADS \u3e= 8) with poor glycemic control (Hemoglobin A1c level \u3e= 7%) and compliance to self-care activities were assessed by logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 286 Patients were included in this study with a male-female ratio of 1.2:1. Mean age was 52 years and in 64.7% of them, the duration of diabetes was more than 3 years. Depressed Patients were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.07-3.31), had a family history of diabetes (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.26-5.55), and poor glycemic control (OR = 5.57, 95% CI = 2.88-10.76) compared with non-depressed Patients. Depression was also associated with low compliance to self-care activities such as taking dose as advised (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14-0.73), dietary restrictions (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.26-0.79) and foot care (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.18-0.83). Conclusions: Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes who have depression were more likely to have poor glycemic control and lower compliance to self-care activities, and they might need particular attention during follow-up visits

Essays in corporate finance

This thesis comprises three essays in corporate finance, with a focus on corporate risk management and debt diversity. The first chapter examines the impact of derivatives use on the cost of equity for German non-financial firms. Using hand-collected data on derivatives use for a sample of German non-financial firms, I find that user firms have a 306 basis point lower cost of equity than non-users. This reduction in the cost of equity of users is attributable to their lower market, size, and value risk factor exposures. The observed negative relation between derivatives use and the cost of equity remains robust to specifications that account for potential endogeneity arising from a firm's derivatives hedging and capital structure decisions. I find that the reduction in the cost of equity is largest for smaller firms and for firms making use of foreign currency and interest rate derivatives. Moreover, new derivatives users experience a significant reduction in the cost of equity capital in the first year of adoption. In the second chapter, I empirically examine the impact of derivatives use on firms' distress risk using hand-collected data from the annual reports of German non-financial firms. The time period of this empirical analysis spans from 1999 to 2010. I find that derivatives using firms have lower distress risk. I use Heckman's two-stage treatment effect model to account for the unobservable factors that could affect the decision of the firm to use derivatives. Even after accounting for the unobservable factor bias, the results confirm that hedging reduces financial distress risk significantly. Moreover, I find that firms using foreign currency and interest rate derivatives can benefit via the reduction in financial distress risk. Using a comprehensive data for 46 countries firm's choice of the debt instrument, I find that firms use debt from many sources. Firms those sources debt from only one source or more specifically from the Bank, significantly lower their investment during the financial crisis. However, the firms those source debt from public market shows insignificant negative impact during the financial crisis. Later, I find that during the financial crisis time firms with higher financial distress exhibit negative impact on the bank debt. Whereas, firms with higher financial distress during the financial crisis shows a positive association with public debt. Findings of this study suggest that during the crisis period firms with access to the bond market issue bonds to substitute bank debt. However, this substitution is not one-for-one, so the firms experience deleveraging and consequently underinvestment