Missing paternal demographics: A novel indicator for identifying high risk population of adverse pregnancy outcomes

BACKGROUND: One of every 6 United Status birth certificates contains no information on fathers. There might be important differences in the pregnancy outcomes between mothers with versus those without partner information. The object of this study was to assess whether and to what extent outcomes in pregnant women who did not have partner information differ from those who had. METHODS: We carried out a population-based retrospective cohort study based on the registry data in the United States for the period of 1995–1997, which was a matched multiple birth file (only twins were included in the current analysis). We divided the study subjects into three groups according to the availability of partner information: available, partly missing, and totally missing. We compared the distribution of maternal characteristics, maternal morbidity, labor and delivery complications, obstetric interventions, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, fetal death, neonatal death, post-neonatal death, and neonatal morbidity among three study groups. RESULTS: There were 304466 twins included in our study. Mothers whose partner's information was partly missing and (especially) totally missing tended to be younger, of black race, unmarried, with less education, smoking cigarette during pregnancy, and with inadequate prenatal care. The rates of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, Apgar score <7, fetal mortality, neonatal mortality, and post-neonatal mortality were significantly increased in mothers whose partner's information was partly or (especially) totally missing. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers whose partner's information was partly and (especially) totally missing are at higher risk of adverse pregnant outcomes, and clinicians and public health workers should be alerted to this important social factor

The Google online marketing challenge: A transnational comparison of classroom learning with real clients, real money, and real advertising campaigns

In 2008, a collaborative partnership between Google and academia launched the Google Online Marketing Challenge (hereinafter Google Challenge), perhaps the world’s largest in-class competition for higher education students. In just two years, almost 20,000 students from 58 countries participated in the Google Challenge. The Challenge gives undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience with the world’s fastest growing advertising mechanism, search engine advertising. Funded by Google, students develop an advertising campaign for a small to medium sized enterprise and manage the campaign over three consecutive weeks using the Google AdWords platform. This article explores the Challenge as an innovative pedagogical tool for marketing educators. Based on the experiences of three instructors in Australia, Canada and the United States, this case study discusses the opportunities and challenges of integrating this dynamic problem-based learning approach into the classroom

Online Shopping and Human Factors

The purpose of advertising on the Internet is to promote and sell products, services and information around the world. This media is considered a quick access to information and is luring customers away from queues at shopping malls and turning them to the conveniences of the Internet. However, the online market can bring various drawbacks, which make the consumers hesitate about buying products online. This study is restricted to investigating two drawbacks of online shopping: the lack of face-to-face human interaction and lack of physical touch. These factors need to be addressed by online retailer in order to avoid the possible frustration experienced by consumers who are using online media. These problems can be prevented by addressing three factors in the user interface design of a website. Firstly, Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and usability evaluation need to be considered in user interface design to increase the efficiency of the staff, thereby increasing profits, and to address the issue of safety. Secondly, navigation, interaction and feedback need to be taken into consideration by the website developer as they provide easy access, friendly interface, and human interaction. Thirdly, in order to improve consumer satisfaction, reduce operational costs and increase revenue, several methods and tools can be adopted such as 3DCart, NetSuite, and SensAble Technologies. Results from this study show that when these factors have been taken into consideration, a big difference is made to customer support services as most consumers are motivated and encouraged to revisit the Web business more often. On the other hand, this study points out that more research needs to be done in website design, especially in relation to the end-user who has disabilities

Supplementary Material for: New Insights into the Genetics of Fetal Megacystis: ACTG2 Mutations, Encoding γ-2 Smooth Muscle Actin in Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome (Berdon Syndrome)

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To identify the molecular basis for prenatally suspected cases of megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) (MIM 249210) in 3 independent families with clinical and radiographic evidence of MMIHS. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing of the ACTG2 gene. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We identified a novel heterozygous de novo missense variant in <i>ACTG2</i> c.770G>A (p.Arg257His) encoding γ-2 smooth muscle actin (ACTG2) in 2 siblings with MMIHS, suggesting gonadal mosaicism of one of the parents. Two additional de novo missense variants (p.Arg257Cys and p.Arg178His) in ACTG2 were identified in 2 additional MMHIS patients. All of our patients had evidence of fetal megacystis and a normal or slightly increased amniotic fluid volume. Additional findings included bilateral renal hydronephrosis, an enlarged fetal stomach, and transient dilated bowel loops. <i>ACTG2</i> immunostaining of the intestinal tissue showed an altered muscularis propria, a markedly thinned longitudinal muscle layer, and a reduced amount and abnormal distribution of ACTG2. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our study demonstrates that de novo mutations in <i>ACTG2</i> are a cause of fetal megacystis in MMIHS and that gonadal mosaicism may be present in a subset of cases. These findings have implications for the counseling of families with a diagnosis of fetal megacystis with a preserved amniotic fluid volume and associated gastrointestinal findings