Aspectos importantes de los proyectos ict4d, hacia un modelo para la evaluación de calidad

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) is an approach adopted to improve the socio-economic situation in poor countries. It includes e-learning,open and free software, e-democracy, digital media, e-government, capacity building and infrastructure development. Billions of dollars are invested in such programs financed by international aid organizations, state funded aid agencies and multinational private companies. Well known problems are poor infrastructure, crime and poor adaptations to the socio-cultural context. It is a complex multidisciplinary, multi stakeholder and multimedia field with an emerging theoretical framework. This paper identifies and examines important quality aspects of ICT4D projects and provides empirical ICT4D examples illustrating each aspect. The overall research question in this study is: What makes some ICT4D projects more successful than others? Based on the authors own experience of projects in Sri Lanka, Uganda and Vietnam as well as analysis of other projects, the following quality aspects are considered as crucial for successful implementation of ICT in development projects: 1) Authentic local needs, 2) Local ownership, 3) Realistic limitations, 4) Competence network, 5) Communication strategy, 6) Planning horizon, 7) Documentation/measurable results, 8) Resources and sustainability and 9) Fun/Motivation.The relevance of these aspects are discussed and exemplified in the article. The thematic areas identified provide a basis for an emerging model, intended to be useful inLa Tecnología de Comunicación e Información para el Desarrollo [Information and Communications Technology (ict4d)] es un enfoque adoptado para mejorar las condiciones socioeconómicas en países pobres. Esta incluye e-learning, software abiertos y cerrados, e-democracia, medios digitales, e-gobierno, capacidad de construcción y desarrollo de infraestructura. Billones de dólares son invertidos en dichos programas, financiados por organizaciones internacionales de beneficencia, agencias financiadas por el Estado, y compañías multinacionales privadas. Algunos problemas bien conocidos son la falta de infraestructura, el crimen, y la falta de adaptación a los contextos socioculturales. Es un campo multidisciplinario, con múltiples acreedores, y un campo multimedia complejo, con un marco teórico emergente.Este ensayo identifica y examina aspectos de calidad importantes de los proyectos ict4d y provee ejemplos empíricos para ilustrar cada aspecto. La pregunta general de este estudio es: ¿Qué hace que algunos proyectos ict4d sean más exitosos que otros? Basados en la experiencia personal del autor, con proyectos en Sri Lanka, Uganda y Vietnam, así como en análisis de otros proyectos, los siguientes aspectos de calidad son considerados como cruciales para la implementación exitosa de la ict (Tecnología de Comunicación e Información) en proyectos de desarrollo: 1) Necesidades locales auténticas; 2) Propiedad local; 3) Limitaciones reales; 4) Redes de aptitudes; 5) Estrategia de comunicación; 6) Horizonte de planeación; 7) Documentación/resultados medibles; 8) Recursos y sustentabilidad; 9) Diversión/Motivación. La importancia de los aspectos mencionados es discutida y explicada en este artículo.Las áreas temáticas identificadas proveen una base para un modelo emergente, previsto para ser útil en la fase de diseño y planeación, y para la evaluación y monitoreo de los proyectos ict4d

Disease control tools to secure animal and public health in a densely populated world

Animal health is a prerequisite for global health, economic development, food security, food quality, and poverty reduction, while mitigating against climate change and biodiversity loss. We did a qualitative review of 53 infectious diseases in terrestrial animals with data from DISCONTOOLS, a specialist database and prioritisation model focusing on research gaps for improving infectious disease control in animals. Many diseases do not have any appropriate control tools, but the prioritisation model suggests that we should focus international efforts on Nipah virus infection, African swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, peste des petits ruminants, sheeppox and goatpox, avian influenza, Rift Valley fever, foot and mouth disease, and bovine tuberculosis, for the greatest impact on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Easy to use and accurate diagnostics are available for many animal diseases. However, there is an urgent need for the development of stable and durable diagnostics that can differentiate infected animals from vaccinated animals, to exploit rapid technological advances, and to make diagnostics widely available and affordable. Veterinary vaccines are important for dealing with endemic, new, and emerging diseases. However, fundamental research is needed to improve the convenience of use and duration of immunity, and to establish performant marker vaccines. The largest gap in animal pharmaceuticals is the threat of pathogens developing resistance to available drugs, in particular for bacterial and parasitic (protozoal, helminth, and arthropod) pathogens. We propose and discuss five research priorities for animal health that will help to deliver a sustainable and healthy planet: vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, climate mitigation and adaptation, digital health, and epidemic preparedness

Science Outside the Classroom - Science Strand

The data are findings from a participatory study that investigated if, and how, an international outdoor science pedagogic programme co-produced by teachers and science teacher-educators supported primary and early years students (n=711) to develop scientific skills in five schools and settings across four European countries

Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often display symptoms from other diagnostic categories. Studies of clinical and psychosocial outcome in adult patients with ASDs without concomitant intellectual disability are few. The objective of this paper is to describe the clinical psychiatric presentation and important outcome measures of a large group of normal-intelligence adult patients with ASDs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Autistic symptomatology according to the DSM-IV-criteria and the Gillberg & Gillberg research criteria, patterns of comorbid psychopathology and psychosocial outcome were assessed in 122 consecutively referred adults with normal intelligence ASDs. The subjects consisted of 5 patients with autistic disorder (AD), 67 with Asperger's disorder (AS) and 50 with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD NOS). This study group consists of subjects pooled from two studies with highly similar protocols, all seen on an outpatient basis by one of three clinicians.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Core autistic symptoms were highly prevalent in all ASD subgroups. Though AD subjects had the most pervasive problems, restrictions in non-verbal communication were common across all three subgroups and, contrary to current DSM criteria, so were verbal communication deficits. Lifetime psychiatric axis I comorbidity was very common, most notably mood and anxiety disorders, but also ADHD and psychotic disorders. The frequency of these diagnoses did not differ between the ASD subgroups or between males and females. Antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse were more common in the PDD NOS group. Of all subjects, few led an independent life and very few had ever had a long-term relationship. Female subjects more often reported having been bullied at school than male subjects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ASDs are clinical syndromes characterized by impaired social interaction and non-verbal communication in adulthood as well as in childhood. They also carry a high risk for co-existing mental health problems from a broad spectrum of disorders and for unfavourable psychosocial life circumstances. For the next revision of DSM, our findings especially stress the importance of careful examination of the exclusion criterion for adult patients with ASDs.</p

Disease control tools to secure animal and public health in a densely populated world

Animal health is a prerequisite for global health, economic development, food security, food quality, and poverty reduction, while mitigating against climate change and biodiversity loss. We did a qualitative review of 53 infectious diseases in terrestrial animals with data from DISCONTOOLS, a specialist database and prioritisation model focusing on research gaps for improving infectious disease control in animals. Many diseases do not have any appropriate control tools, but the prioritisation model suggests that we should focus international efforts on Nipah virus infection, African swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, peste des petits ruminants, sheeppox and goatpox, avian influenza, Rift Valley fever, foot and mouth disease, and bovine tuberculosis, for the greatest impact on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Easy to use and accurate diagnostics are available for many animal diseases. However, there is an urgent need for the development of stable and durable diagnostics that can differentiate infected animals from vaccinated animals, to exploit rapid technological advances, and to make diagnostics widely available and affordable. Veterinary vaccines are important for dealing with endemic, new, and emerging diseases. However, fundamental research is needed to improve the convenience of use and duration of immunity, and to establish performant marker vaccines. The largest gap in animal pharmaceuticals is the threat of pathogens developing resistance to available drugs, in particular for bacterial and parasitic (protozoal, helminth, and arthropod) pathogens. We propose and discuss five research priorities for animal health that will help to deliver a sustainable and healthy planet: vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, climate mitigation and adaptation, digital health, and epidemic preparedness

Caveolin-1 Influences Vascular Protease Activity and Is a Potential Stabilizing Factor in Human Atherosclerotic Disease

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a regulatory protein of the arterial wall, but its role in human atherosclerosis remains unknown. We have studied the relationships between Cav-1 abundance, atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and clinical manisfestations of atherosclerotic disease.We determined Cav-1 expression by western blotting in atherosclerotic plaques harvested from 378 subjects that underwent carotid endarterectomy. Cav-1 levels were significantly lower in carotid plaques than non-atherosclerotic vascular specimens. Low Cav-1 expression was associated with features of plaque instability such as large lipid core, thrombus formation, macrophage infiltration, high IL-6, IL-8 levels and elevated MMP-9 activity. Clinically, a down-regulation of Cav-1 was observed in plaques obtained from men, patients with a history of myocardial infarction and restenotic lesions. Cav-1 levels above the median were associated with absence of new vascular events within 30 days after surgery [0% vs. 4%] and a trend towards lower incidence of new cardiovascular events during longer follow-up. Consistent with these clinical data, Cav-1 null mice revealed elevated intimal hyperplasia response following arterial injury that was significantly attenuated after MMP inhibition. Recombinant peptides mimicking Cav-1 scaffolding domain (Cavtratin) reduced gelatinase activity in cultured porcine arteries and impaired MMP-9 activity and COX-2 in LPS-challenged macrophages. Administration of Cavtratin strongly impaired flow-induced expansive remodeling in mice.This is the first study that identifies Cav-1 as a novel potential stabilizing factor in human atherosclerosis. Our findings support the hypothesis that local down-regulation of Cav-1 in atherosclerotic lesions contributes to plaque formation and/or instability accelerating the occurrence of adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, given the large number of patients studied, we believe that Cav-1 may be considered as a novel target in the prevention of human atherosclerotic disease and the loss of Cav-1 may be a novel biomarker of vulnerable plaque with prognostic value

Effect of Intranasal Administration of Neuropeptide Y and Single pProlonged Stress on Food Consumption and Body Weight in Male Rats

Emerging evidence indicates that intranasal delivery of neuropeptide Y (NPY) to the brain has therapeutic potential for management of stress-triggered neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we aimed to determine how intranasal administration of NPY, either before or immediately after, traumatic stress in single prolonged stress (SPS) rodent model of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts food consumption and body weight. SPS stressors suppressed food consumption for at least two days in the vehicle-treated animals. When given prior to SPS stressors, intranasal NPY prevented the SPS-elicited reduction in food intake only for several hours afterwards. When given after the SPS stressors, under conditions shown to prevent behavioral and biochemical impairments, intranasal NPY had no effect on food intake. Although all groups showed circadian variation, the SPS-exposed rats ate less than unstressed animals during the dark (active) phase. Seven days after exposure to SPS stressors, there were no differences in food intake, although body weight was still lower than unstressed controls in all the experimental groups. Thus, traumatic stress has pronounced effect on food consumption during the rodent\u27s active phase, and a prolonged effect on body weight. Single intranasal infusion of NPY, which was previously shown to prevent development of several PTSD associated behavioral and neuroendocrine impairments, did not elicit prolonged changes in stress triggered food consumption nor regulation of body weight

Peer Assignment Review Process for Collaborative E-learning : Is the Student Learning Process Changing?

In recent years collaborative e-learning has been emphasized as a learning method that has facilitated knowledge construction and supported student learning. However some universities especially in developing country contexts are struggling to attain minimal educational benefits from its adoption and use. This paper investigates the application of a peer assignment review process for collaborative e-learning to third year undergraduate students. The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of the peer assignment review process on the student learning process. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire and analysed using SPSS Version 16.0. While the student reported positive impact of the peer assignment review process in terms of facilitating students to put more effort and improve their work; quick feedback on their assignments; effective sharing and development of knowledge and information and the need of computer competence to manipulate the peer assignment review system, analysis of the quantitative data indicated that the process had limited effect on the learning process. This is attributed to lack of review skills, absence of lecturer scaffolding, low ICT literacy levels and change management

Collaborative E-learning in a Developing Country : A University Case Study in Uganda

Universities in developing countries are increasingly adopting and using eLearning in their teaching and learning processes as one of the means for leapfrogging into the knowledge driven world. However, despite the recognition eLearning has received, it has not fulfilled the expectations in terms of impact on the delivery and quality of learning, pointing to the need for improved or new approaches. This paper explores the collaborative eLearning approach as one of the strategies for effective adoption and use of eLearning. Using the first stage of development research this paper presents an empirical study that aimed to explore and understand the current practices of collaborative eLearning in a developing country context. The study was carried out with university students in Uganda and placed focus on the value derived from and challenges encountered in adopting and using collaborative eLearning. From a general perspective, it was evident that learning and teaching methods are predominantly traditional, with limited/no integration of eLearning and there were inconsistencies in understanding the integration of technology into teaching and learning processes. The findings obtained indicated that students through collaborative eLearning were able to share and gain knowledge, understand course concepts and access various views and learning material. Factors such as inadequate bandwidth, inadequate Internet/computer access, conflict resolution, adequate ICT skills and face to face interaction challenged the adoption and use of collaborative eLearning in this context