An Update on the IS/IT Skills Gap

Information systems (IS) curriculums have been the subject of debate and discussion, as to their proper planning, design, and implementation. Despite all of the work which has been done in this area to date, there are still arguments whether skills gaps exist between what is being taught in IS curriculums, and what is really needed in the industry. This study examines IS/IT skills gaps from three perspectives: end-users, academia, and IS/IT employers. The goal is to see whether skills gaps exist, and to make specific recommendations in order to alleviate these skills gaps. A survey was administered in the northeastern U.S. to investigate the perceived importance of IS courses, information technologies, and critical IS/IT issues. The survey was analyzed and the results were compared with IS course offerings by AACSB-accredited business schools in the northeastern U.S. and IT staffing surveys and reports. One interesting finding is that project management is a subject area which is not being adequately covered in IS program curriculums, however is considered a highly important skill area by both IS and nonIS industry professionals. In terms of technologies, the most basic and widely used technologies (personal productivity and desktop operating systems) were given high importance. Results related to IS/IT issues showed that security is an issue which should be given greater emphasis in any consideration of IS curriculums. ERP, end-user computing, and the integration of soft skills have also been indicated as being important technologies, skills, and issues based on our findings

The Uniform grading tooL for flexIble ureterorenoscoPes (TULIP-tool): a Delphi consensus project on standardised evaluation of flexible ureterorenoscopes.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardised tool to evaluate flexible ureterorenoscopes (fURS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-stage consensus building approach based on the modified Delphi technique was performed under guidance of a steering group. First, scope- and user-related parameters used to evaluate fURS were identified through a systematic scoping review. Then, the main categories and subcategories were defined, and the expert panel was selected. Finally, a two-step modified Delphi consensus project was conducted to firstly obtain consensus on the relevance and exact definition of each (sub)category necessary to evaluate fURS, and secondly on the evaluation method (setting, used tools and unit of outcome) of those (sub)categories. Consensus was reached at a predefined threshold of 80% high agreement. RESULTS: The panel consisted of 30 experts in the field of endourology. The first step of the modified Delphi consensus project consisted of two questionnaires with a response rate of 97% (n = 29) for both. Consensus was reached for the relevance and definition of six main categories and 12 subcategories. The second step consisted of three questionnaires (response rate of 90%, 97% and 100%, respectively). Consensus was reached on the method of measurement for all (sub)categories. CONCLUSION: This modified Delphi consensus project reached consensus on a standardised grading tool for the evaluation of fURS - The Uniform grading tooL for flexIble ureterorenoscoPes (TULIP) tool. This is a first step in creating uniformity in this field of research to facilitate future comparison of outcomes of the functionality and handling of fURS

Common genetic variants in the CLDN2 and PRSS1-PRSS2 loci alter risk for alcohol-related and sporadic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a complex, progressively destructive inflammatory disorder. Alcohol was long thought to be the primary causative agent, but genetic contributions have been of interest since the discovery that rarePRSS1,CFTR, andSPINK1variants were associated with pancreatitis risk. We now report two significant genome-wide associations identified and replicated atPRSS1-PRSS2(1×10-12) and x-linkedCLDN2(p < 1×10-21) through a two-stage genome-wide study (Stage 1, 676 cases and 4507 controls; Stage 2, 910 cases and 4170 controls). ThePRSS1variant affects susceptibility by altering expression of the primary trypsinogen gene. TheCLDN2risk allele is associated with atypical localization of claudin-2 in pancreatic acinar cells. The homozygous (or hemizygous male)CLDN2genotype confers the greatest risk, and its alleles interact with alcohol consumption to amplify risk. These results could partially explain the high frequency of alcohol-related pancreatitis in men – male hemizygous frequency is 0.26, female homozygote is 0.07