IT infrastructure for an undergraduate studio-based IT degree

The implementation of a studio-based approach to teaching and learning in the Bachelor of Information Management and Systems (BIMS) at Monash University has instituted a new teaching model in which the traditional lecture theatre/tutorial environment is replaced by a model based around the development of collaborative learning and professional environments. Students are learning and practicing the skills and techniques required in the discipline in an environment that simulates the working environments they will encounter subsequently in their professional careers. The information technology infrastructure required for this model of teaching and learning requires just as much re-thinking as does the curriculum and pedagogy. The paper describes the network, hardware and software requirements, and the peripherals required to support the studio-based model underpinning the BIMS degree. A number of the pitfalls and lessons learnt during this development are also included in the paper

Designing IS Curriculum to Meet Industry Requirements

Curriculum development does not just happen, it needs to be carefully designed; to be effective it needs to be written and implemented for the time and the society that it is intended; that is, it needs to be developed for the present and at the same time move towards the future rather than as a leftover from the past (Bobbitt 1918:1972; Eisner 1992; Peddiwell, Benjamin and Benjamin 1939). There are a number of facets to curriculum development, including determining the underpinning ideology or philosophy, context, its conceptual framework, and the content to be learned. This paper presents the process undertaken in developing a curriculum framework that could be used as the basis for designing undergraduate curriculum regardless of the discipline. However, the discipline used in this study is Information Systems, in particular the learning of collaborative work skills. The framework is underpinned by sound educational theories and current content requirements as specified by accredited bodies, literature, and industry and graduate feedback

Once IS Enough: Single Sign-On

For eons, passwords have been the gatekeepers to information and data located that is behind a ‘locked door’ or stored in a secret location. It is no different today, as passwords are a key to secrets, however, what is different today is the number of passwords that one needs to construct, recall and keep safe. This multiplicity has created a memory overload for the user, less secure passwords, and often, a strain on computer help-desk staff. Password technologies that reduce the need for multiple passwords are evolving; their developers claim that the technologies lessen the security risk to a system due to a reduction in the number of passwords required to get through the day-to-day work of a 21st century citizen. Smart cards, biometric devices, and Single Sign-On (SSO) systems are the most promoted alternatives. Specifically, Single Sign-On password systems are of interest to the study presented here. Single Sign-On allows end users to access multiple services and systems with a single username and password, therefore reducing the cognitive load on the end user and thus supposedly, reducing end user frustration which is turn reduces password-related security risks. This paper presents the results of a study conducted within two businesses that explored the influence SSO password systems have on system security

Casualties of Schooling? 18 to 22 Year Old Students in a Tertiary Bridging Programs

A sample of 81 students between the ages of 18 and 22 years in a tertiary bridging program at a regional university completed a questionnaire examining how demographics, social context, academic engagement and the ability to cope with the curriculum complexity influenced academic success in high school and adversely affected their preparedness for tertiary study. The demographics of the study participants, including socio-economic status, private/public school attendance and first in family to attend university were such that the study participants could not be considered to be members of a disadvantaged group. The study supports the hypothesis that a number of the study participants are casualties of their schooling and their poor long term academic performance at high school occurred due to poor student-teacher relationships with associated poor academic engagement. The implications for educational pedagogy for educators in tertiary bridging programs are discussed

Overview of Australian Indigenous health status, 2014

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It has been prepared by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet as a part of our contribution to ‘closing the gap’ in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, other health professionals including Health workers, program managers, clinicians, researchers, students and the general community. The initial sections of this Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, and various measures of population health status. Most of the subsequent sections about specific health conditions comprise an introduction about the condition and evidence of the current burden of the condition among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Information is provided for state and territories and for demographics such as gender and age when it is available and appropriate. While the Overview provides a comprehensive review of key indicators across a range of health topics, it is beyond the scope to provide detailed information on other aspects, such as the availability and use of services (including barriers to their use) and strategies and policies related to specific health topics. Interested readers should refer to the topic-specific reviews that are available on the HealthInfoNet’s website. Additional, more in depth, information about the topics summarised in this Overview is included in the corresponding sections of the HealthInfoNet’s website (www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au). There are a number of additions to this Overview. We have included a recognition statement, a note on the use of appropriate terminology that introduces our guidelines on the matter, and a statement of commitment to enhancing our strengths based approach to reporting

Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2015

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people. It has been prepared by Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff as part of our contribution to supporting those who work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. The Overview is a key element of the HealthInfoNet commitment to authentic and engaged knowledge development and exchange. The initial sections of this Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population, and various measures of population health status. Most of the subsequent sections about specific health conditions comprise an introduction about the condition and evidence of the current burden of the condition among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Information is provided for state and territories and for demographics such as sex and age when it is available and appropriate

Overview of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2016

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent indicators of the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Information focuses on: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health various measures of population health status selected health conditions health risk and protective factors. The Overview shows that the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues to improve slowly and there has been a decline in the death rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and also a significant closing of the gap in death rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people. The infant mortality rate has declined significantly. There have also been improvements in a number of areas contributing to health status such as the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers who smoked during pregnancy has decreased. There has been a slight decrease in the proportion of low birth weight babies born to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers between 2004 and 2014. Age-standardised death rates for respiratory disease in NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT declined by 26% over the period 1998-2012 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Two new sections are featured in this edition of the Overview. With the 20th anniversary of the Bringing them home report, a section has been dedicated to Healing which highlights the contribution of healing workers and organisations to supporting people, families and communities impacted by the Stolen Generations. Environmental health with its important link to the social determinants of health is also included for the first time in the Overview 2016

Rapid targeted mutational analysis of human tumours: a clinical platform to guide personalized cancer medicine

Targeted cancer therapy requires the rapid and accurate identification of genetic abnormalities predictive of therapeutic response. We sought to develop a high-throughput genotyping platform that would allow prospective patient selection to the best available therapies, and that could readily and inexpensively be adopted by most clinical laboratories. We developed a highly sensitive multiplexed clinical assay that performs very well with nucleic acid derived from formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) tissue, and tests for 120 previously described mutations in 13 cancer genes. Genetic profiling of 250 primary tumours was consistent with the documented oncogene mutational spectrum and identified rare events in some cancer types. The assay is currently being used for clinical testing of tumour samples and contributing to cancer patient management. This work therefore establishes a platform for real-time targeted genotyping that can be widely adopted. We expect that efforts like this one will play an increasingly important role in cancer management

Lynch syndrome: barriers to and facilitators of screening and disease management

Background Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer with confirmed carriers at high risk for colorectal (CRC) and extracolonic cancers. The purpose of the current study was to develop a greater understanding of the factors influencing decisions about disease management post-genetic testing. Methods The study used a grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis as part of a multiphase project examining the psychosocial and behavioral impact of predictive DNA testing for Lynch syndrome. Individual and small group interviews were conducted with individuals from 10 families with the MSH2 intron 5 splice site mutation or exon 8 deletion. The data from confirmed carriers (n = 23) were subjected to re-analysis to identify key barriers to and/or facilitators of screening and disease management. Results Thematic analysis identified personal, health care provider and health care system factors as dominant barriers to and/or facilitators of managing Lynch syndrome. Person-centered factors reflect risk perceptions and decision-making, and enduring screening/disease management. The perceived knowledge and clinical management skills of health care providers also influenced participation in recommended protocols. The health care system barriers/facilitators are defined in terms of continuity of care and coordination of services among providers. Conclusions Individuals with Lynch syndrome often encounter multiple barriers to and facilitators of disease management that go beyond the individual to the provider and health care system levels. The current organization and implementation of health care services are inadequate. A coordinated system of local services capable of providing integrated, efficient health care and follow-up, populated by providers with knowledge of hereditary cancer, is necessary to maintain optimal health

Alpha kinase 3 signaling at the M-band maintains sarcomere integrity and proteostasis in striated muscle

Muscle contraction is driven by the molecular machinery of the sarcomere. As phosphorylation is a critical regulator of muscle function, the identification of regulatory kinases is important for understanding sarcomere biology. Pathogenic variants in alpha kinase 3 (ALPK3) cause cardiomyopathy and musculoskeletal disease, but little is known about this atypical kinase. Here we show that ALPK3 is an essential component of the M-band of the sarcomere and define the ALPK3-dependent phosphoproteome. ALPK3 deficiency impaired contractility both in human cardiac organoids and in the hearts of mice harboring a pathogenic truncating Alpk3 variant. ALPK3-dependent phosphopeptides were enriched for sarcomeric components of the M-band and the ubiquitin-binding protein sequestosome-1 (SQSTM1) (also known as p62). Analysis of the ALPK3 interactome confirmed binding to M-band proteins including SQSTM1. In human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes modeling cardiomyopathic ALPK3 mutations, sarcomeric organization and M-band localization of SQSTM1 were abnormal suggesting that this mechanism may underly disease pathogenesis