20 Questions Toward Better Thinking: A Look at Internet Based Learning

New technology and good teaching practices must be combined to produce the most up-to-date and effective Internet-based learning. Critical and creative thinking techniques incorporated with technological enhancements will stimulate better comprehension of a variety of resources including in Internet-based learning. Two key concepts of critical and creative thinking that I focus on are Metacognition and Frame of Reference. Metacognition is the self-awareness of one’s thought process. It includes knowing why one makes decisions, what factors contribute to a choice, and why the opposite decision was not chosen. While most people disregard or ignore metacognition it can have numerous positive effects on one’s thought process. Understanding one’s Frame of Reference is understanding oneself. Frame of Reference factors include identifying one’s personal goals, values, ideals and personal experiences. It is influenced by experiences taught directly or indirectly. To illustrate the integration of technology with critical and creative thinking in Internet based learning; I have created a computer simulation game based on the classic game of twenty questions. The computer will choose a topic from a random list of topics. The students will complete a form by selecting questions from a list of keywords. After selecting a question the computer will respond whether the question is true or false in relation to the topic. The game will stimulate thinking by incorporating prompts, called stimuli, which assist the student in understanding their biases and frame of reference when choosing a question. The stimuli will incorporate the critical and creative thinking concepts of Metacognition and Frame of Reference. They will be open-ended to provoke introspective thought. The game runs on the teacher’s Internet server and utilizes the TCP/IP protocol to connect one or many students to the computer. It will dynamically store the student’s questions, answers and comments in the computer’s database. The computer uses the Web function of hypertext links to enable both student and teacher to view his and other student’s work. The links also provide connections to related subject matter Web-sites

Utility-Scale Concentrating Solar Power and Photovoltaic Projects: A Technology and Market Overview

Over the last several years, solar energy technologies have been, or are in the process of being, deployed at unprecedented levels. A critical recent development, resulting from the massive scale of projects in progress or recently completed, is having the power sold directly to electric utilities. Such 'utility-scale' systems offer the opportunity to deploy solar technologies far faster than the traditional 'behind-the-meter' projects designed to offset retail load. Moreover, these systems have employed significant economies of scale during construction and operation, attracting financial capital, which in turn can reduce the delivered cost of power. This report is a summary of the current U.S. utility-scale solar state-of-the-market and development pipeline. Utility-scale solar energy systems are generally categorized as one of two basic designs: concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV). CSP systems can be further delineated into four commercially available technologies: parabolic trough, central receiver (CR), parabolic dish, and linear Fresnel reflector. CSP systems can also be categorized as hybrid, which combine a solar-based system (generally parabolic trough, CR, or linear Fresnel) and a fossil fuel energy system to produce electric power or steam

Pyocele of the middle turbinate

Pneumatization of the middle turbinate bone is a result of migration of ethmoid air cells. The accumulation of mucus when the ostium is blocked results in the formation of -a mucocele or, if superadded infection is present, a pyocele (empyema)

The Effect of Micro-Gravity on in vitro Calcification

The experiment focuses on mineral deposition or calcification of cartilage. The experiments were used to compare the mineral formed in the microgravity of space with that formed on earth. Results of these experiments were anticipated to provide direct insight into how calcification in cartridge and bone may be controlled in space. In the C-2 experiment (STS 66), we found that mineralization started later in the cartridges (both on the ground and in hypo-gravity) than in plastic, and that mineralization appeared to be retarded in hypo-gravity. The flight experiments also showed that the cells differentiated normally, but more slowly than the ground controls, and that the matrix produced was not different from that made on the ground. The purpose of the C-5 experiment was to confirm these findings. The C-5 experiment was flown on STS-72. Because of a computer problem, cells received no gases and no nutrition. The C-7 was flown on STS-77. Ground controls were repeated a week later, however, because there was a problem with the temperature control during the flight, the concurrent ground controls were performed at a different temperature. Despite these problems, the results of the C-2 experiment were confirmed. The cells in the flight cultures did not mature, formed few cartilage nodules, and showed no evidence of mineral deposition up to a culture age of 28 days. Ground controls showed the presence of mineral (based on chemical, spectroscopic, and histochemical analyses) by 21 days. The mineral in these cultures was analogous to that found in calcifying cartilage of young chicks

Applications of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Microscopy to the Study of Mineralization in Bone and Cartilage

Knowledge of the phase, composition, and crystallite size and perfection of the mineral in normal and abnormally calcified tissues provides insight into the mechanism by which this mineral was deposited. These data also can be used to develop rational therapies for pathological conditions characterized by abnormal mineral deposition. As illustrated in this review, coupling of an optical microscope with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer permits the mapping at 20 μm spatial resolution of changes in mineral characteristics (content, particle size, composition) in the growth plate, in bone biopsies, in mineralizing cell culture systems, and in soft tissue calcifications. Based on the infrared properties of apatitic compounds, and comparisons with x-ray diffraction data, correlations have been established from which mineral parameters can be determined. The validity of these spectral correlations has been demonstrated by independent measurements of mineral content (ash weight), and crystal particle size (dark field electron microscopy)

Public health insurance: An approach to mitigate the burden of diabetes in low resource settings

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant public health concern globally as well as in Owerri, Nigeria. The deleterious effects of diabetes have been linked to poor glycemic control. According to the International Diabetes Federation, poor glycemic control is reflected in glycosylated hemoglobin levels greater than 7.0%, which are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Studies have shown a dramatic rise in diabetic complications in Nigeria, particularly in Owerri. However, evidence is lacking on specific risk factors associated with poor glycemic control among diabetes mellitus patients in Owerri. There is a gap in the literature regarding the association between health insurance and glycemic control in diabetic patients in Owerri. With health insurance assuming a significant position in healthcare service delivery in Nigeria, addressing this gap is valuable. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of health insurance as a determinant of glycemic control among 160 type 2 diabetic patients attending the family medicine clinic at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, formerly the Federal Medical Center, Owerri. Participants were measured as not insured, insured-private, and insured-public/National Health Insurance Scheme. The dependent variable was glycemic control measured using glycosylated hemoglobin. We used ecosocial theory as the theoretical framework of this research. SPSS was used for data analysis; multiple logistic regression was applied to assess the association between insurance status and glycemic control in the participants. Results:In the patients without health insurance coverage, the prevalence of poor glycemic control was 93.8% whereas in those with health insurance coverage, the prevalence was 60.0%. Logistic regression analysis showed that lack of access to health insurance was a determinant of glycemic control, with uninsured subjects at 28 times and 6 times increased risk of poor glycemic control compared with insured-private and insured-public subjects, respectively. Conclusion: We have shown in our study that insured enrollees have an increased likelihood of good glycemic control relative to uninsured subjects. This finding has the potential to promote positive social change through optimization of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Enabling regulations and designing policies to explicitly cover diabetes preventive and control services in the scheme could lead to improved glycemic control, and, thus, reduce the burden of the disease

Giant complex odontoma of the maxillary antrum

Complex odontomas are rare benign jaw neoplasms. generally small and asymptomatic. We present an unusual case of a giant complex odontoma which completely filled the maxillary antrum, resulting in elevation of the orbit and facial asymmetry

Antiretroviral therapy for refugees and internally displaced persons: a call for equity.

Available evidence suggests that refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in stable settings can sustain high levels of adherence and viral suppression. Moral, legal, and public health principles and recent evidence strongly suggest that refugees and IDPs should have equitable access to HIV treatment and support. Exclusion of refugees and IDPs from HIV National Strategic Plans suggests that they may not be included in future national funding proposals to major donors. Levels of viral suppression among refugees and nationals documented in a stable refugee camp suggest that some settings require more intensive support for all population groups. Detailed recommendations are provided for refugees and IDPs accessing antiretroviral therapy in stable settings

Challenges and recommendations for high quality research using electronic health records

Harnessing Real World Data is vital to improve health care in the 21st Century. Data from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a rich source of patient centred data, including information on the patient's clinical condition, laboratory results, diagnoses and treatments. They thus reflect the true state of health systems. However, access and utilisation of EHR data for research presents specific challenges. We assert that using data from EHRs effectively is dependent on synergy between researchers, clinicians and health informaticians, and only this will allow state of the art methods to be used to answer urgent and vital questions for patient care. We propose that there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way this research is conducted - appreciating that the research process is iterative rather than linear. We also make specific recommendations for organisations, based on our experience of developing and using EHR data in trusted research environments

Design and implementation of a sexual health intervention for migrant construction workers situated in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: China's growing population of internal migrants has exceeded 236 million. Driven by rapid development and urbanization, this extreme population mobility creates opportunities for transmission of HIV and sexually-transmitted infections (STI). Large numbers of rural migrants flock to megacities such as Shanghai in search of employment. Although migrants constitute a key population at heightened risk of acquiring HIV or an STI, there is a lack of easily accessible sexual health services available for them. In response, we designed a short, inexpensive sexual health intervention that sought to improve HIV and STI knowledge, while reducing stigma, risky sexual behaviour, and sexual transmission of HIV and STI among migrant construction workers (MCW) situated in Shanghai, China. RESULTS: We implemented a three-armed, community-randomized trial spread across three administrative districts of Shanghai. The low-intensity intervention included educational pamphlets. The medium-intensity intervention included pamphlets, posters, and videos. The high-intensity intervention added group and individual counselling sessions. Across 18 construction sites, 1871 MCW were allocated at baseline to receive one intervention condition. Among baseline participants, 1304 workers were retained at 3-months, and 1013 workers were retained at 6-months, representing a total of 579 person-years of follow-up. All workers, regardless of participation, had access to informational materials even if they did not participate in the evaluation. Overall outputs included: 2284 pamphlets distributed, 720 posters displayed, 672 h of video shown, 376 participants accessed group counselling, and 61 participants attended individual counselling sessions. A multivariable analysis of participation found that men (aOR = 2.2; 95 % CI 1.1, 4.1; p = 0.036), workers situated in Huangpu district (aOR = 5.0; 95 % CI 2.6, 9.5; p < 0.001), and those with a middle school education (aOR = 1.9; 95 % CI 1.2, 3.0; p = 0.01) were more likely to have participated in intervention activities. CONCLUSION: A brief educational intervention that prioritized ease of delivery to a highly mobile workforce was feasible and easily accessed by participants. Routine implementation of sexual health interventions in workplaces that employ migrant labour have the potential to make important contributions toward improving HIV and STI outcomes among migrant workers in China's largest cities