Development and initial testing of a computer-based patient decision aid to promote colorectal cancer screening for primary care practice

BACKGROUND: Although colorectal cancer screening is recommended by major policy-making organizations, rates of screening remain low. Our aim was to develop a patient-directed, computer-based decision aid about colorectal cancer screening and investigate whether it could increase patient interest in screening. METHODS: We used content from evidence-based literature reviews and our previous decision aid research to develop a prototype. We performed two rounds of usability testing with representative patients to revise the content and format. The final decision aid consisted of an introductory segment, four test-specific segments, and information to allow comparison of the tests across several key parameters. We then conducted a before-after uncontrolled trial of 80 patients 50–75 years old recruited from an academic internal medicine practice. RESULTS: Mean viewing time was 19 minutes. The decision aid improved patients' intent to ask providers for screening from a mean score of 2.8 (1 = not at all likely to ask, 4 = very likely to ask) before viewing the decision aid to 3.2 afterwards (difference, 0.4; p < 0.0001, paired t-test). Most found the aid useful and reported that it improved their knowledge about screening. Sixty percent said they were ready to be tested, 18% needed more information, and 22% were not ready to be screened. Within 6 months of viewing, 43% of patients had completed screening tests. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a computer-based decision aid can increase patient intent to be screened and increase interest in screening. Practice Implications: This decision aid can be viewed by patients prior to provider appointments to increase motivation to be screened and to help them decide about which modality to use for screening. Further work is required to integrate the decision aid with other practice change strategies to raise screening rates to target levels

Exploring the Natural Connection of Mathematical and Musical Concepts Using Mathematica

Math and music share one very common property; they are both universal languages of the world. Their scientific relationship represents another powerful tie. The harmonious, unique, and enjoyable tunes we hear are surrounded by scientific and mathematical concepts that make music possible. Exploring this natural connection between math and music allows for a more complete understanding of both these subjects. By analyzing the formulas used to create musical notes, examining how to apply matrices to music, and implementing an inter-disciplinary unit of math and music into the classroom, the reader of this thesis will discover the multitude of similarities that math and music share

Digging deep: Unpacking student success stories in relation to working across collaborative partnerships.

This presentation explores student volunteering, upskilling, and links between civic participation and classed barriers. Through the partnership of the Centre for Graduate Prospects and the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme (NLAAS), this session showcases and identifies partnership working between two services to evidence the importance of collaborative working relationships for students and staff. Themes include inclusive learning, partnership, collaboration, and digging beneath the surfaces of two services to build and strengthen graduate development. The Centre for Graduate Prospects works to support students develop an awareness of employability and enterprise opportunities that will support in the acquisition of future employment. The Sunderland Professional Awards provide an opportunity for students to reflect on the experiences they have developed and the subsequent skills they have enhanced as a result. There are two awards that students can participate in; SuPA Experience where students log the time they have spent on a variety of activities and SuPA Skills where students use the STAR technique to write about the skills that they have developed. The awards encourage students to participate in a number of opportunities during their time at university that can help build confidence and better prepare them for the expectations of future employment. NLAAS provides students the unique opportunity to train and act as appropriate adults within their local area in a bid to safeguard vulnerable adults (18+). Students are trained in alignment with the national standards to develop sector awareness, practice knowledge, and personal skillsets (National Appropriate Adult Network, N.D). Using case studies and an interwoven approach to introducing both services as a combined opportunity, this session aims to demonstrate how current partnership work using the SuPA award and volunteering in criminal justice can support students within a widening participation setting to develop and thrive

N-glycosylation-dependent control of functional expression of background potassium channels K2P3.1 and K2P9.1

Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels play fundamental roles in cellular processes by enabling a constitutive leak of potassium from cells in which they are expressed, thus influencing cellular membrane potential and activity. Hence, regulation of these channels is of critical importance to cellular function. A key regulatory mechanism of K2P channels is the control of their cell surface expression. Membrane protein delivery to and retrieval from the cell surface is controlled by their passage through the secretory and endocytic pathways and post-translational modifications regulate their progression through these pathways. All but one of the K2P channels possess consensus N-linked glycosylation sites and here we demonstrate that the conserved putative N-glycosylation site in K2P3.1 and K2P9.1 is a glycan acceptor site. Patch-clamp analysis revealed that disruption of channel glycosylation reduced K2P3.1 current, and flow cytometry was instrumental in attributing this to a decreased number of channels on the cell surface. Similar findings were observed when cells were cultured in reduced glucose concentrations. Disruption of N-linked glycosylation has less effect on K2P9.1, with a small reduction in number of channels on the surface observed, but no functional implications detected. As non-glycosylated channels appear to pass through the secretory pathway in a manner comparable to glycosylated channels, evidence presented here suggests that the decreased number of non-glycosylated K2P3.1 channels on the cell surface may be due to their decreased stability

Coastal Ecosystem Investigations with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and Bottom Reflectance: Lake Superior Reef Threatened by Migrating Tailings

Where light penetration is excellent, the combination of LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) and passive bottom reflectance (multispectral, hyperspectral) greatly aids environmental studies. Over a century ago, two stamp mills (Mohawk and Wolverine) released 22.7 million metric tons of copper-rich tailings into Grand Traverse Bay (Lake Superior). The tailings are crushed basalt, with low albedo and spectral signatures different from natural bedrock (Jacobsville Sandstone) and bedrock-derived quartz sands. Multiple Lidar (CHARTS and CZMIL) over-flights between 2008–2016—complemented by ground-truth (Ponar sediment sampling, ROV photography) and passive bottom reflectance studies (3-band NAIP; 13-band Sentinal-2 orbital satellite; 48 and 288-band CASI)—clarified shoreline and underwater details of tailings migrations. Underwater, the tailings are moving onto Buffalo Reef, a major breeding site important for commercial and recreational lake trout and lake whitefish production (32% of the commercial catch in Keweenaw Bay, 22% in southern Lake Superior). If nothing is done, LiDAR-assisted hydrodynamic modeling predicts 60% tailings cover of Buffalo Reef within 10 years. Bottom reflectance studies confirmed stamp sand encroachment into cobble beds in shallow (0-5m) water but had difficulties in deeper waters (&gt;8 m). Two substrate end-members (sand particles) showed extensive mixing but were handled by CASI hyperspectral imaging. Bottom reflectance studies suggested 25-35% tailings cover of Buffalo Reef, comparable to estimates from independent counts of mixed sand particles (ca. 35% cover of Buffalo Reef by &gt;20% stamp sand mixtures)

Development and initial testing of a computer-based patient decision aid to promote colorectal cancer screening for primary care practice-3

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Development and initial testing of a computer-based patient decision aid to promote colorectal cancer screening for primary care practice"</p><p>BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2005;5():36-36.</p><p>Published online 28 Nov 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1318488.</p><p>Copyright © 2005 Kim et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.</p>ed on 4-point Likert scale, 1 = not at all likely to ask, 4 = very likely to as