Faculty Exchanges as a Way to Increase Globalization in the IS Curriculum

Companies are becoming more and more global, in large part because of the impact of Information Systems (IS). IS faculty exchanges can be a way for IS faculty to broaden their experiences and education in this flat world. This article presents the views of four scholars on faculty exchanges and experiences. These views are based on their faculty exchange experiences and were presented during a panel session at the America’s Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) 2010 in Lima, Peru. The panelists described their individual exchanges, how they impacted their areas of research and teaching, and their lives

Development and Construct Validity of Scores on the Community Service Attitudes Scale

This study reports the multistage development of the Community Service Attitudes Scale (CSAS), an instrument for measuring college students\u27 attitudes about community service. The CSAS was developed based on Schwartz\u27s helping behavior model. Scores on the scales of the CSAS yielded strong reliability evidence (coefficient alphas ranging from .72 to .93). Principal components analysis yielded results consistent with the Schwartz model. In addition, the CSAS scale scores were positively correlated with gender, college major, community service experience, and intentions to engage in community service. The CSAS will be useful to researchers for conducting further research on the effects of service learning and community service experiences for students

Be a Fulbright Scholar—Lessons and Experiences of AIS Fulbright Scholars

To achieve a truly global perspective in information systems (IS) that enhances education and research, IS academics can do more than study and teach global IS topics. We encourage IS academics to engage in an international immersion experience themselves. The article describes experiences of Fulbright Scholars, and argues for the need of more global education for IS academics. These views were presented during a panel session at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) 2012. The panelists touched on logistical issues such as grant application, living conditions, working with a host institution’s faculty and students, and receiving support from their home university. Participants shared their experiences in India, Poland, Portugal, the Azores, Mongolia, and Nepal. The article concludes with lessons learned

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism 677C>T is associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the manifestation of extensive atherosclerosis throughout the lower extremities. One putative determinant of PAD is the 677C>T polymorphism in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which has previously been found to associate with various diabetic complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible role for the MTHFR 677C>T gene polymorphism with PAD in subjects with type 2 diabetes from an isolated aboriginal Canadian population. METHODS: The 677C>T MTHFR gene polymorphism was genotyped in 138 subjects of Oji-Cree descent. Participants were selected from a community-wide survey that included PAD assessment by ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and also intermittent claudication assessment by the Rose questionnaire. RESULTS: MTHFR 677T allele carriers had an increased risk of PAD with an odds ratio of 3.54 (95% CI 1.01, 12.4), P = 0.049, after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, hypertension, current smoking habits, and use of insulin or oral treatment for diabetes. None of these additional co-variables was significantly associated with PAD. No association was found between MTHFR genotype and intermittent claudication. CONCLUSION: The genetic influence of the MTHFR 677C>T genotype on diabetic PAD is modest, yet for the Oji-Cree it is a major risk factor in comparison to other traditional risk factors

Lymphovascular Invasion in Colorectal Cancer: An Interobserver Variability Study

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered a strong stage-independent prognostic factor and influences decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with Stage II tumors. However, the degree of interobserver agreement among pathologists for LVI in CRC is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to examine such interobserver variability, and we hypothesized that the use of immunohistochemical markers for vascular and lymphatic channels could improve interobserver agreement. Design: Fifty cases of AJCC stage II moderately differentiated CRC from 1990 to 2005 from the pathology archives were selected; mucinous, medullary, and other recognized special subtypes were excluded. Fifty H&E slides (one from each case) were circulated to 6 GI pathologists, who independently assessed small and large vessel invasion. No diagnostic guidelines were given to the participating pathologists; each was instructed to apply the criteria for LVI that he or she used in daily practice. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for D2-40 and CD31 was performed on corresponding paraffin blocks. The IHC slides were randomized, recirculated, and rescored for LVI. Results were analyzed by kappa (κ)statistics, which correct for agreement by chance, and for percent agreement. Results: The average κ values were determined for the H&E slides (large and small vessel), CD31 (small vessel), and D2-40 (small vessel) (Figure 1). Agreement was fair for H&E small vessel invasion (κ = 0.28; 95%CI 0.22–0.34). The least agreement was seen in interpretation of H&E large vessel invasion (κ = 0.18; 95%CI 0.11–0.26). Agreement was not improved by use of immunohistochemical stains: CD31 (large vessel, κ = 0.42, 95%CI 0.20–0.63, small vessel, κ = 0.26, 95%CI 0.10–0.42) and D2-40 (κ = 0.32, 95%CI 0.21–0.42). Conclusions: Interobserver variability in diagnosis of LVI was substantial on H&E slides and did not improve upon use of IHC. Agreement in evaluation of large vessel invasion was only slightly higher than would be seen by chance alone. This study highlights the need for criteria in evaluation of lymphovascular invasion, as this assessment may impact patient prognosis and thus change the course of clinical treatment

Impact of a physician intervention program to increase breast cancer screening

In order to improve compliance with the National Cancer Institute\u27s breast cancer screening guidelines, we developed a multifaceted intervention designed to alter physician screening practice. A pre-post test, two-community design was used. Primary care physicians in one community served as the control. Data were collected by two mailed surveys (1987 and 1990). Response rates were 61% and 64%, respectively. The physician intervention program consisted of a hospital-based continuing medical education program and an outreach component which focused on implementing a reminder system. Outcome measures were self-reported attitudinal, knowledge, and screening practices changes. In spite of an impressive change in comparison community physicians\u27 practice, the difference in change over time in the intervention community physicians\u27 ordering of annual mammography compared to the change in the comparison community physicians\u27 ordering was significant (P = 0.04). The adjusted odds ratio is nearly 8. We conclude that our in-service continuing medical education program was successful in improving breast cancer screening practices among primary care physicians

Eccentric and concentric muscle performance following 7 days of simulated weightlessness

Changes in skeletal muscle strength occur in response to chronic disuse or insufficient functional loading. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in muscle performance of the lower extremity and torso prior to and immediately after 7 days of simulated weightlessness (horizontal bed rest). A Biodex was used to determine concentric and eccentric peak torque and angle at peak torque for the back, abdomen, quadriceps, hamstring, soleus, and tibialis anterior. A reference angle of 0 degrees was set at full extension. Data were analyzed by ANOVA

Methane emissions from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea

Since 1850 the concentration of atmospheric methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas, has more than doubled. Recent studies suggest that emission inventories may be missing sources and underestimating emissions. To investigate whether offshore oil and gas platforms leak CH4 during normal operation, we measured CH4 mole fractions around eight oil and gas production platforms in the North Sea which were neither flaring gas nor offloading oil. We use the measurements from summer 2017, along with meteorological data, in a Gaussian plume model to estimate CH4 emissions from each platform. We find CH4 mole fractions of between 11 and 370 ppb above background concentrations downwind of the platforms measured, corresponding to a median CH4 emission of 6.8 g CH4 s−1 for each platform, with a range of 2.9 to 22.3 g CH4 s−1. When matched to production records, during our measurements individual platforms lost between 0.04 % and 1.4 % of gas produced with a median loss of 0.23 %. When the measured platforms are considered collectively (i.e. the sum of platforms' emission fluxes weighted by the sum of the platforms' production), we estimate the CH4 loss to be 0.19 % of gas production. These estimates are substantially higher than the emissions most recently reported to the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory (NAEI) for total CH4 loss from United Kingdom platforms in the North Sea. The NAEI reports CH4 losses from the offshore oil and gas platforms we measured to be 0.13 % of gas production, with most of their emissions coming from gas flaring and offshore oil loading, neither of which was taking place at the time of our measurements. All oil and gas platforms we observed were found to leak CH4 during normal operation, and much of this leakage has not been included in UK emission inventories. Further research is required to accurately determine total CH4 leakage from all offshore oil and gas operations and to properly include the leakage in national and international emission inventories

Deposition of SnS Thin Films from Sn(II) Thioamidate Precursors

Two thioamide pro-ligands, R¹N­(H)­C­(S)­R² (R¹ = <i>t</i>-Bu, R² = i-Pr and R¹ = i-Pr, R² = i-Pr), were synthesized by treatment of the corresponding amides with Lawesson’s reagent. Reactions of [Sn­{N­(SiMe₃)₂}₂] with two molar equivalents of each thioamide pro-ligand yielded the tin­(II) thioamidate species, bis­(2-methyl-<i>N</i>-(1-methylethyl)-propanethioamide)­tin­(II) and Bis­[<i>N</i>-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methylpropanethioamide]­tin­(II). Both of the new tin compounds have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C­{¹H}, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. In addition, the solid-state structure of bis­(2-methyl-<i>N</i>-(1-methylethyl)-propanethioamide)­tin­(II) has been determined through a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and shown to display a monomeric constitution in which the tin­(II) center occupies a distorted <i>pseudo</i> square pyramidal geometry defined by the N₂S₂ donors and the stereochemically active lone pair. Both tin­(II) derivatives have been assessed for their potential as single source precursors to SnS by TGA and by NMR spectroscopic analysis of the volatile organic products produced during their thermolysis. Both compounds have been utilized in the growth of thin films by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). These latter studies provided film growth at temperatures as low as 200 °C. The films have been analyzed by PXRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, AFM, and SEM and are shown to comprise primarily the orthorhombic (Herzenbergite) phase of SnS, which is contaminated by only low levels of residual carbon (<5 at %). Although further films deposited onto Mo-coated substrates produced only limited photocurrents when illuminated, these results demonstrate the potential of such simple thioamidate derivatives to act as single source precursors to useful metal sulfide thin film materials