Teaching effective communication through e-Learning

To meet the needs of a globalized world, a university curriculum needs to address theoretical and practical skills which emphasise versatility, adaptability and flexibility for a more creative workforce, adaptive in knowledge and well-equipped with a range of skills to actively contribute to the new economy. These skills include people management, problem analysis, communication skills, as well as technical skills for presentation, aspects of delivery and modes of enquiry. The greatest challenge faced by SIM University (UniSIM), Singapore’s only university for working adults, is how to respond innovatively to the demand for new and dynamic skills competencies,lifelong learning and e-technologies. In recognition of this demand, UniSIM employs an eclectic pedagogical approach in delivering its courses such as the university core module entitled Effective Communication which uses the “blended learning” model, defined as "the effective combination of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning" (Procter, 2003). This paper examines the development process of this course and its blended learning approach which combines modern technology using interactive learning on e-platforms such as Blackboard with traditional methods using textbooks, face-to-face lectures and tutorials to enable working adults to optimize their learning experience at the tertiary level

Evaluación de desempeño de dos controles básicos sobre el regulador de potencia Boost: Controladores PID y difuso

The Boost converter is a DC-to-DC step-up converter that uses the characteristics of an inductive choke and a capacitor as energy storage to boost the current of the power supply and use it to inject it into the load, producing higher voltage levels at the output. This DC transformer has nonlinear dynamics due to its switching, which makes its controller design complex. In this paper, two control schemes are designed, implemented and evaluated for this power converter, a linear PID controller and a fuzzy controller. For the first case, the frequency response of the converter is considered, while the fuzzy controller is based on the converter’s behaviour with trial-and-error tuning. The results show a better performance in the fuzzy scheme, both in steady state and against transient changes.  El convertidor elevador o tipo Boost es un convertidor DC a DC elevador de tensión que usa las características de un choque inductivo y un capacitor como almacenadores de energía para elevar la corriente de la fuente de alimentación, y usarla para inyectarla a la carga, produciendo niveles de voltaje mayores en la salida. Este transformador DC tiene una dinámica no lineal debido a su conmutación, lo que hace complejo el diseño de su controlador. En este artículo se diseñan, implementan y evalúan dos esquemas de control para este convertidor de potencia, un controlador PID lineal y un controlador difuso. Para el primer caso se considera la respuesta en frecuencia del convertidor, mientras que el controlador difuso se soporta en el comportamiento del convertidor con sintonización por ensayo y error. Los resultados muestran un mejor desempeño en el esquema difuso, tanto en estado estacionario como frente a cambios transitorios. &nbsp

Genes and type 2 diabetes: polymorphisms of the EIF2AK3 gene and its relationship to type 2 diabetes mellitus

MDAims/ Hypothesis: Wolcott- Rallison syndrome (WRS) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited Mendelian disorder. It is characterised by a short trunk compared to arm span, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, multiple fractures, hepatosplenomegaly and renal insufficiency in addition to insulin dependent diabetes. The onset of diabetes in WRS families is mainly below the age of 6 months and is characterised by permanent severe non-autoimmune insulin deficiency. Mutations of the gene encoding eukaryotic translational initiation factor 2 - alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3) were found to account for diabetes in WRS. The aim of our study was to determine whether common polymorphisms in the EIF2AK3 gene (Candidate gene association study) could be associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Direct sequencing was performed on all 17 exons/coding regions and intron/exon boundaries of EIF2AK3 gene in 48 diabetes and control subjects. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) tagging the common haplotypes (tag SNPs) were identified and 11 SNPs were genotyped initially in 2,835 subjects with type 2 diabetes, 3,538 control subjects in the British Irish, Bangladeshi and South Indian Populations and 522 families (n= 1,722) in the British Irish and South Indian Populations. Results: We identified 19 SNPs by direct sequencing. There was no association (all p>0.05) between the SNPs and type 2 diabetes in the case–control study and in the family study. In the one marker, rs7605713, that showed a nominal significance in Warren 2 European samples, further replication studies in the Dundee samples (3,334 diabetes cases and 3,456 controls) proved to be negative thereby avoiding a false positive result. The results also showed several of the SNPs had different minor allele frequencies between the British/Irish Caucasians as compared to the South Asians. Conclusions/interpretation: Common variations in the EIF2AK3 gene were not associated with type 2 diabetes in the British Irish and the South Asian population

HOME MEDICINE REVIEW ELDERLY BASED ASSESSMENT OF MEDICATION RELATED PROBLEMS IN MYSURU CITY

Objective: To assess the medication related problems among chronically ill patients. Methods: Patients who met study criteria were enrolled in this research study, followed by standard operating procedure of home medicine review was applied to carry out this research study. Drug related problems of enrolled patients were evaluated by applying Hepler and Strand drug related problem scale. Results: The pharmacist intervention rate in this research study was found 58%. The medication related problems identified in this study were drug given without indication which was accountable for 32 % followed by drug duplication 5.21%, drug interactions 11% and adverse drug reactions 6.52 %. Conclusion: This research study concludes that prevalence of drug related problems among elderly patients were accountable for 40.49 % among Home Medicine Review in Mysore city due to more comorbidity which had resulted more number of medications with respect to individual medical case. Elderly patients will have lot of confusion which makes difficult to follow strict directions of medications prescribed by concerned consultant

ASSESSMENT OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS IN MYSURU CITY

Objective: To assess medication adherence among patients with chronic diseases. Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out over period of one year in mysuru city. The subjects who meet study criteria were enrolled in this research study. The enrolled subjects were administered with simplified medication adherence questionnaire. The criteria to establish adherent and non-adherent were calculated as per simplified medication adherence questionnaire directions. Results: The gender distribution of this research study was reflected with male accountable for 45.63 % followed by female 54.36%. Asper simplified medication adherence questionnaire88% were adherent and remaining 12% were non-adherent in this research study. Conclusion: Patients with good adherence in this research study showed that they have good literacy status as well as better awareness about the existing medical condition and more consciousness may be there among these patients, what will be going to happen if their medical condition is left untreated.46.29 % males and 59.58 % females were adherent in this research study followed by 59.24% were adherent in the age range of 60-70 y as they were more conscious and less forgetfulness about medications as per the directions given by patient consultant which was oral feedback taken by research investigators during medication review in subjects home

Gender based differences in lipid profile and other novel atherogenic risk factors in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Utilization of lipids and lipoproteins gets altered in diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to atherogenic dyslipidemia. This study evaluates cardiovascular risk profile of diabetic men and women, including conventional lipid profile and novel risk factors namely lipid ratios, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index.Methods: In all 200 diabetic patients (100 males and 100 females) aged 18-65 years who were under treatment were randomly sampled for the study. Socio-demographic data were collected. Glycated hemoglobin levels, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, were estimated using standard procedures. Anthropometric variables such body mass index (BMI) was measured, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also taken. There was no difference between men and women with respect to duration of DM and type of treatment.Results: Lipid profile estimates showed that diabetic females had higher level of total cholesterol (TC) (198.07 vs 169.5 mg/dl) and higher level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C (43.99 vs. 41 mg/dl) as compared to males. All the parameters that are raised total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were observed in significantly higher proportion of females as compared to males. The values of atherogenic indices [CR1, CR2, AC and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP)] for both genders were higher than the baseline value. In this study females had higher mean non-HDL 154 mg/dl as compared to males mean non-HDL 129 mg/dl and this study showed that female participants held on in high-risk AIP category and so they were at a higher risk of developing coronary heart condition.Conclusions: Dyslipidemia was observed in a greater proportion of female diabetic patients than male diabetic patients

REVIEW ON MALNUTRITION HEALTH HAZARDS IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION AND ITS AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT

Objectives: The study was designed with the objectives: To study the role of Brimhana therapy in Karshya and to review the clinical research works on Karshya (malnutrition) in the Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT and RA), Jamnagar, and reach a final conclusion.Methods: This study was done by compiling the classical Ayurvedic literature, pediatric magazines, and research journals as well as PubMed and MedLine database for the search of the relevant literature. The review has been done from previous years of clinical research work in IPGT and RA, Jamnagar.Discussion: Brumhana and Vrushya Yoga have resulted in obtaining the phenomena of ideal anabolism. Brumhana Yoga has Kapikachhu, Shweta musli, and Shatavari are Brumhana and Vrushya both properties in it, that's why it shows a better result. Basti is better in Vatahara Guna and fruitful in microcirculation that is why it produces a better result.Conclusion: In the present study, it has been concluded that Brumhana is the line of treatment in Karshya (malnutrition) and gives a fruitful result. Ayurvedic medication and procedures are very efficacious to overcome this malnutrition named, a great burden on society. Assimilation has also a very big role for the absorption of Brumhana Yoga, and for this, regulation of Agni is very important. Basti procedure is more efficacious than drug administration. Overall Ayurveda is very efficacious in Karshya

RealmDreamer: Text-Driven 3D Scene Generation with Inpainting and Depth Diffusion

We introduce RealmDreamer, a technique for generation of general forward-facing 3D scenes from text descriptions. Our technique optimizes a 3D Gaussian Splatting representation to match complex text prompts. We initialize these splats by utilizing the state-of-the-art text-to-image generators, lifting their samples into 3D, and computing the occlusion volume. We then optimize this representation across multiple views as a 3D inpainting task with image-conditional diffusion models. To learn correct geometric structure, we incorporate a depth diffusion model by conditioning on the samples from the inpainting model, giving rich geometric structure. Finally, we finetune the model using sharpened samples from image generators. Notably, our technique does not require video or multi-view data and can synthesize a variety of high-quality 3D scenes in different styles, consisting of multiple objects. Its generality additionally allows 3D synthesis from a single image.Comment: Project Page: https://realmdreamer.github.io

A mixed-methods exploration of primary care as a setting for delivering secondhand smoke harm reduction interventions

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Many non-smokers in the UK remain at risk of exposure to SHS and the associated consequences. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in UK primary care settings are considered well placed to deliver interventions which would promote (and support) reductions in SHS exposure for non-smokers. This thesis adopts a mixed-methods approach to explore the potential for using primary care settings to deliver SHS harm reduction interventions. Firstly, a systematic review highlights the need to conduct further research to explore primary care-based SHS harm reduction approaches. Subsequently presented are the results of: a national survey of HCPs (n=172); qualitative interviews with HCPs (n=25) and smokers (n=9); and a mixed-methods integration of these study findings. The COM-B Model of behaviour change underpins these studies. Motivation favouring SHS intervention delivery was evidenced by HCPs and smokers; both understood the negative consequences of SHS exposure. However, HCPs lacked the opportunities and capability to intervene in practice. Overall, this thesis highlights a need to improve the educational training and physical opportunities available to primary care-based HCPs; thereby helping them to better deliver SHS harm reduction interventions to smokers in the future. Intervention considerations are suggested herein

Simulation of power distribution management system using OMACS metamodel

Master of ScienceDepartment of Computing and Information SciencesScott A. DeLoachDesigning and implementing large, complex and distributed systems using semi-autonomous agents that can reorganize and adapt themselves by cooperating with one another represents the future of software systems. This project concentrates on analyzing, designing and simulating such a system using the Organization Model for Adaptive Computational Systems (OMACS) metamodel. OMACS provides a framework for developing multiagent based systems that can adapt themselves to changes in the environment. Design of OMACS ensures the system will be highly robust and adaptive. In this project, we implement a simulator that models the adaptability of agents in a Power Distribution Management (PDM) system. The project specifies a top-down approach to break down the goals of the PDM system and to design the functional role of each agent involved in the system. It defines the different roles in the organization and the various capabilities possessed by the agents. All the assignments in PDM system are based on these factors. The project gives two different approaches for assigning the agents to the goals they are capable of achieving. It also analyzes the time complexity and the efficiency of agent assignments in various scenarios to understand the effectiveness of agent reorganization