Case Studies for the Research Triangle Foundation’s Global Convergence Center

As the Research Triangle Foundation proceeds to implement its 2011 Master Plan for the Research Triangle Park (RTP), the Global Convergence Center will likely play an important role as a centerpiece and symbol for the park. The Foundation envisions the Convergence Center as a campus for cutting-edge, collaborative research that serves as a common ground where Triangle university researchers can work together. In addition to building RTP’s reputation as a premier research hub in both the United States and the world, the Convergence Center could contribute to local economic development by leading to entrepreneurial spin-offs from the research conducted at the center. This paper seeks to help answer what the Research Triangle Foundation can do to develop a center that is cutting-edge, collaborative, and draws on local talent. We explore three case studies: the MIT Media Lab, multi-university teams, and RTI International. The MIT Media Lab serves as an example of cutting-edge research. The study of multi-university teams provides insight on effective collaboration, and RTI International serves as an example of how an organization attracted local talent. These case studies point to some best practices that may guide the Foundation’s design of the Convergence Center. Best Practices: 1. Select a leader for the Convergence Center that has deep relationships with the Triangle universities and has worked across academia and industry. 2. Develop a unifying vision for research that the Convergence Center will host. 3. Ensure researchers and administrators have ample opportunity to develop relationships with industry. 4. Reduce faculty concern about working with industry by creating processes that match faculty interests with market or industry needs. 5. Reduce and eliminate the organizational boundaries that researchers must work across. 6. Recruit diverse teams from uncommonly grouped areas of research. 7. Recruit prestigious researchers and leverage their reputation to attract more talent and research dollars. 8. Ensure that the Global Convergence Center offers a unique research opportunity that cannot be found at local universities

Egyptian Students' Experience of E-Maternity Course

Background: Egypt is facing a massive shortage in health care providers including nurses.  One of the Egyptian government strategies to overcome this problem is to increase students' intake at the existing nursing faculties as well as building additional nursing faculties in different governorates.  In such situation, there is an urgent need for e-learning, which is a means of alleviating the educational and health problems in Egypt. Responding to the rabid changes in the field of Information Technologies, an increasing interest in E-learning has emerged. In Egypt, little is known about the experience of introducing e learning in nursing education. Aim: This study aims to explore the Egyptian students' experience of E-maternity course. Methods: A Qualitative exploratory descriptive design was utilized using a phenomenological approach during the academic year 2012-2013.  Forty nine male and female students were selected through purposive sampling technique based o the following criteria: was having had a personal computer or laptop with an internet access and was agreed to share their views and experiences of the electronic course. Student feedback and focus group interviews were coded to develop an in-depth narrative data about students' experiences. Findings: E-learning was supported by positive students' feedback and reflections but still some students experienced some difficulties and challenges during their experiences of E-learning.  Indeed, as this study has shown, the main positive emerged themes were: convenience and sense of control, new teaching and learning method and self learning and interaction.  The second emerged theme was challenges and obstacles faced students who taught the online course.  Students' reflections were related to lack of electronic environment such as limited number of computers available, network problems, electronic management system, lack of technical support, and lack of computer skills.  Conclusion: Moving from teaching to learning is one of the policy makers' strategic objectives.  The use of e-learning would help students to acquire the learning outcomes.  E learning experience in nursing education can be improved; if the factors affecting the use of it were addressed in a correct manner. Recommendation: Corporation of e learning in nursing education should be guided both by governmental and institutional support. Key wards: E-learning, education, student's feedback.

The efficacy of Dexamethasone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

This study was carried out in the department of anesthesia at Tishreen university hospital , Lattakia , Syria , during the year 2016-2017  . A total of 120 patients , aged between 30 and 50 years old , posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia belonging to the American society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status ǀ-ǀǀ were included in the study . Patients were divided into three groups : patients in the first group received 2 ml normal saline ( group A ) . Patients in the second group D1 received 8 mg Dexamethasone preoperatively . Patients in the third group D2  received 8 mg immediately after removing the gallbladder from her place. The gall of the study was to show the efficacy of Dexamethasone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting . the result was better in the second group and the conclusion is that Dexamethasone is effective in prevention of PONV and it is better when we use dexamethasone preoperatively . فعالية الديكساميتازون في الوقاية من الغثيان والإقياء في فترة ما بعد جراحة استئصال المرارة بالتنظير أجريت هذه الدراسة في قسم التخدير والإنعاش في مشفى تشرين الجامعي في اللاذقية خلال العامين 2016-2017 . تضمنت هذه الدراسة 120 مريض أجري لهم استئصال مرارة بالتنظير تحت التخدير العام وينتمون إلى تصنيف الجمعية الأمريكية للتخدير ASA ǀ-ǀǀ . قسم المرضى إلى ثلاثة مجموعات : المجموعة الأولى أعطيوا 2 مل سيروم مالح سوي التوتر (المجموعة A ) ، المرضى في المجموعة الثانية D1  أعطيوا 8 ملغ ديكساميتازون كتحضير دوائي . المرضى في المجموعة الثالثة D2 أعطيوا 8 ملغ ديكساميتازون بعد تسليخ المرارة من كامل مسكنها . هدف البحث هو لإظهار فعالية الديكساميتازون في الوقاية من الغثيان و الإقياء بعد العمل الجراحي . كانت النتائج أفضل في المجموعة الثانية ، والخلاصة هي أن الديكساميتازون فعال في الوقاية من الغثيان و الإقياء بعد العمل الجراحي و من الأفضل إعطاءه كتحضير دوائي

Hormonal dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AbstractBackgroundSystemic response to chronic disease in COPD patients might cause hormonal imbalance which in turn affects the severity of the disease. The severity of hypoxia in COPD patients causes alterations in thyroid function tests and IGF-1 levels.MethodsThis work was carried on 50 COPD patients diagnosed and classified according to GOLD criteria and 20 healthy controlled subjects. All subjected to full clinical history, examination, chest X-ray and spirometry. Levels of TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4, IGF-1 and insulin were measured.ResultsTT4, FT3, FT4, TSH, and insulin levels were normal in all COPD. Despite the TT3 hormone level were normal in all stages of COPD, there is reduction in hormone levels in stage III and stage IV than control subjects. There is also reduction in TT3/TT4 ratio in severe COPD and there is correlation between TT3/TT4 ratio and PaO2 in stage III and stage IV but no correlation between TT3/TT4 ratio and PaO2 in stage I and stage II. IGF-1 hormone levels were variable among different stages of COPD.ConclusionThere is was no significant difference between some hormonal levels in COPD and in controls, accordingly hormonal replacement therapy in these patients is doubtful

The efficacy of Dexamethasone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

This study was carried out in the department of anesthesia at Tishreen university hospital , Lattakia , Syria , during the year 2016-2017  . A total of 120 patients , aged between 30 and 50 years old , posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia belonging to the American society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status ǀ-ǀǀ were included in the study . Patients were divided into three groups : patients in the first group received 2 ml normal saline ( group A ) . Patients in the second group D1 received 8 mg Dexamethasone preoperatively . Patients in the third group D2  received 8 mg immediately after removing the gallbladder from her place. The gall of the study was to show the efficacy of Dexamethasone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting . the result was better in the second group and the conclusion is that Dexamethasone is effective in prevention of PONV and it is better when we use dexamethasone preoperatively . فعالية الديكساميتازون في الوقاية من الغثيان والإقياء في فترة ما بعد جراحة استئصال المرارة بالتنظير أجريت هذه الدراسة في قسم التخدير و الإنعاش في مشفى تشرين الجامعي في اللاذقية خلال العامين 2016-2017 . تضمنت هذه الدراسة 120 مريض أجري لهم استئصال مرارة بالتنظير تحت التخدير العام وينتمون إلى تصنيف الجمعية الأمريكية للتخدير ASA ǀ-ǀǀ . قسم المرضى إلى ثلاثة مجموعات : المجموعة الأولى أعطيوا 2 مل سيروم مالح سوي التوتر (المجموعة A ) ، المرضى في المجموعة الثانية D1  أعطيوا 8 ملغ ديكساميتازون كتحضير دوائي . المرضى في المجموعة الثالثة D2 أعطيوا 8 ملغ ديكساميتازون بعد تسليخ المرارة من كامل مسكنها . هدف البحث هو لإظهار فعالية الديكساميتازون في الوقاية من الغثيان و الإقياء بعد العمل الجراحي . كانت النتائج أفضل في المجموعة الثانية ، والخلاصة هي أن الديكساميتازون فعال في الوقاية من الغثيان و الإقياء بعد العمل الجراحي و من الأفضل إعطاءه كتحضير دوائي

High resolution gas chromatographic analysis of cytochrome P-448 inducing polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in hazardous waste

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25011/1/0000438.pd

Molecular detection of Epstein-Barr virus among Sudanese patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Objectives: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The exact mechanism initiating the development of HT is not yet clear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between HT and the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a Sudanese population. Results: EBV-LMP1 was detected in 11.1% of HT cases, which is consistent with previous studies. Studies have reported a wide range of frequencies indicating the presence of EBV in HT, and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have increased titers of anti-EBV antibodies in their sera compared to healthy subjects. Intrathyroidal EBV-infected B cells may be responsible for the increased risk of development of B-cell lymphoma in the thyroid gland in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Our study suggests that regular follow-up is necessary for patients diagnosed with HT and are positive for EBV, as antiviral therapy is not applicable due to the risk of thyroid dysfunction. The study suggests an association between EBV and HT, but causation cannot be determined. The study also highlights the need for further research to determine the viral role and correlate it with the severity and progression of HT.</p

Molecular detection of Epstein-Barr virus among Sudanese patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Objectives: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The exact mechanism initiating the development of HT is not yet clear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between HT and the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a Sudanese population. Results: EBV-LMP1 was detected in 11.1% of HT cases, which is consistent with previous studies. Studies have reported a wide range of frequencies indicating the presence of EBV in HT, and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have increased titers of anti-EBV antibodies in their sera compared to healthy subjects. Intrathyroidal EBV-infected B cells may be responsible for the increased risk of development of B-cell lymphoma in the thyroid gland in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Our study suggests that regular follow-up is necessary for patients diagnosed with HT and are positive for EBV, as antiviral therapy is not applicable due to the risk of thyroid dysfunction. The study suggests an association between EBV and HT, but causation cannot be determined. The study also highlights the need for further research to determine the viral role and correlate it with the severity and progression of HT.</p

Time-Domain Convolutive Blind Source Separation Employing Selective-Tap Adaptive Algorithms

<p/> <p>We investigate novel algorithms to improve the convergence and reduce the complexity of time-domain convolutive blind source separation (BSS) algorithms. First, we propose MMax partial update time-domain convolutive BSS (MMax BSS) algorithm. We demonstrate that the partial update scheme applied in the MMax LMS algorithm for single channel can be extended to multichannel time-domain convolutive BSS with little deterioration in performance and possible computational complexity saving. Next, we propose an exclusive maximum selective-tap time-domain convolutive BSS algorithm (XM BSS) that reduces the interchannel coherence of the tap-input vectors and improves the conditioning of the autocorrelation matrix resulting in improved convergence rate and reduced misalignment. Moreover, the computational complexity is reduced since only half of the tap inputs are selected for updating. Simulation results have shown a significant improvement in convergence rate compared to existing techniques.</p