Procyon LLC: From Music Recommendations to Preference Mapping

Procyon LLC had re-launched and renamed their music discovery site, Electra, to Capella, in 2008. Its core strength had originated from Electra’s proprietary technology, which used music libraries from real people, its members, to generating “automated word-of-mouth” recommendations, targeted advertising and editorial content. With the re-launch, Capella’s focus changed from a business-to-consumer destination site to a demonstration site for Procyon as it pursued a new business-to-business strategy. What led Procyon to make this strategic change? What products and services should it market, and to whom? This case describes the transition from music recommendation to preference mapping, and provides students with a variety of alternative partnering options to consider as they move forward

Using Web 2.0 to Support the Active Learning Experience

Increased attention to student engagement and active learning strategies have become particularly relevant in today’s classroom environments. These approaches are also considered to be meaningful when teaching “net generation” students who have different styles and expectations. This study attempts to address these challenges through the development of an interdisciplinary, active learning experience that increases information technology literacy of business students through the use of Web 2.0 tools. The research questions under consideration are: Can information technology literacy skills be effectively developed in an interdisciplinary setting? How does the development of an experiential learning activity enhance student engagement and learning outcomes? A discussion of the active learning literature and the appropriateness of such strategies with net generation learners is provided. The study also details the implementation of this experience within the curriculum, and assesses the benefits and challenges related to enhanced student learning and engagement as well as literacy outcomes. Increased student engagement was noted in both instructor and student evaluations of the assignment. Furthermore, assignment design features such as opportunities for exploration, analysis and feedback contributed to the level of connectivity

A Temporal Expert System for Engineering Design Change Workflow

Workflow management, which is concerned with the coordination and control of business processes using information technology, has grown from its origins in document routing to include the automation of process logic in business process engineering. Workflow also has a strong temporal aspect. Activity sequencing, deadlines, routing conditions,and scheduling all involve the element of time. Temporal expert systems, which use knowledge-based constructs to represent and reason about time, can be used to enhance the capabilities of workflow software. This paper presents a temporal expert system workflow component for tracking engineering design changes. We use Allen\u27s theory of temporal intervals in our model to enhance the decision-making, timing, and routing activities in a workflow application. We test the model using information from a real-world engineering design situation and suggest further research opportunitie

Emotional Responses to Computer-Based Training Materials in Education

This paper discusses the results of an experiment that examines how emotional responses influence student satisfaction ratings with computer-based training materials. A comparison between tutorial-based and a simulation-based training showed significant differences in student emotional responses, satisfaction and continuance. The authors caution educators to consider the benefits and limitations of more automated assessment and learning simulation tools versus traditional application-embedded tutorials, as additional layers of training automation may lower student ease-of-use and satisfaction ratings, and ultimately, their interest in the subject

Contemporary Usage of CASE Tools in U. S. Colleges and Universities

CASE tools have been incorporated into Information Systems curriculums for years. Curriculum guidelines in both disciplines call for the use of CASE tools. This paper describes the findings of a study of U.S. college and university information technology programs to determine in which classes CASE was taught, the extent to which the tools were being used, the degree of coverage of tools\u27 functional aspects, and reasons why some academics were not using CASE. The results, which confirm continued CASE usage in academia in accordance with the guidelines, present implications for both the quality of the tools as perceived by academics, as well as their continued use. We note that, at present, there is no academic consensus on choice of a CASE tool, and that the drawing features of CASE tools seem to be used more heavily than other more complex and powerful capabilities. Based on the survey results we conclude that schools should reevaluate their teaching curricula and model curriculum guidelines to justify the importance of teaching and using CASE tools

Changes in body weight and food choice in those attempting smoking cessation: a cluster randomised controlled trial

<p><b>Background:</b> Fear of weight gain is a barrier to smoking cessation and significant cause of relapse for many people. The provision of nutritional advice as part of a smoking cessation programme may assist some in smoking cessation and perhaps limit weight gain. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a structured programme of dietary advice on weight change and food choice, in adults attempting smoking cessation.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Cluster randomised controlled design. Classes randomised to intervention commenced a 24-week intervention, focussed on improving food choice and minimising weight gain. Classes randomised to control received "usual care".</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Twenty-seven classes in Greater Glasgow were randomised between January and August 2008. Analysis, including those who continued to smoke, showed that actual weight gain and percentage weight gain was similar in both groups. Examination of data for those successful at giving up smoking showed greater mean weight gain in intervention subjects (3.9 (SD 3.1) vs. 2.7 (SD 3.7) kg). Between group differences were not significant (p=0.23, 95% CI -0.9 to 3.5). In comparison to baseline improved consumption of fruit and vegetables and breakfast cereal were reported in the intervention group. A higher percentage of control participants continued smoking (74% vs. 66%).</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> The intervention was not successful at minimising weight gain in comparison to control but was successful in facilitating some sustained improvements in the dietary habits of intervention participants. Improved quit rates in the intervention group suggest that continued contact with advisors may have reduced anxieties regarding weight gain and encouraged cessation despite weight gain. Research should continue in this area as evidence suggests that the negative effects of obesity could outweigh the health benefits achieved through reductions in smoking prevalence.</p&gt

Mutational profiles of persistent/recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundWe sought to describe targeted DNA sequencing data of persistent/recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and to compare gene‐specific alteration frequencies with that of primary, untreated LSCC specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).MethodsThe tumors of 21 patients with persistent/recurrent LSCC were subjected to targeted DNA sequencing using the Ion AmpliSeq Comprehensive Cancer Panel. Gene‐specific alteration frequencies were compared (Chi‐Square test) to primary, untreated LSCC sequencing data from TCGA using the cBioPortal platform.ResultsPersistent/recurrent LSCC was characterized by a high rate of inactivating alterations in TP53 (38.1%) and CDKN2A (33%), amplification events of CCND1 (19.1%), and ERBB2 (14.3%), and NOTCH1 (19.1%) mutations. Comparison of primary vs persistent/recurrent LSCC revealed significant differences in alteration frequencies of eight critical genes: BAP1, CDKN2A, DCUN1D1, MSH2, MTOR, PIK3CA, TET2, and TP53.ConclusionsOur results provide preliminary support for a distinct mutational profile of persistent/recurrent LSCC that requires validation in larger cohorts.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147873/1/hed25444.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147873/2/hed25444_am.pd

Genetic Variants in Nuclear-Encoded Mitochondrial Genes Influence AIDS Progression

Background: The human mitochondrial genome includes only 13 coding genes while nuclear-encoded genes account for 99% of proteins responsible for mitochondrial morphology, redox regulation, and energetics. Mitochondrial pathogenesis occurs in HIV patients and genetically, mitochondrial DNA haplogroups with presumed functional differences have been associated with differential AIDS progression. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we explore whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 904 of the estimated 1,500 genes that specify nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins (NEMPs) influence AIDS progression among HIV-1 infected patients. We examined NEMPs for association with the rate of AIDS progression using genotypes generated by an Affymetrix 6.0 genotyping array of 1,455 European American patients from five US AIDS cohorts. Successfully genotyped SNPs gave 50% or better haplotype coverage for 679 of known NEMP genes. With a Bonferroni adjustment for the number of genes and tests examined, multiple SNPs within two NEMP genes showed significant association with AIDS progression: acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member 4 (ACSM4) on chromosome 12 and peroxisomal D3,D2-enoyl- CoA isomerase (PECI) on chromosome 6. Conclusions: Our previous studies on mitochondrial DNA showed that European haplogroups with presumed functional differences were associated with AIDS progression and HAART mediated adverse events. The modest influences of nuclearencoded mitochondrial genes found in the current study add support to the idea that mitochondrial function plays a role in AIDS pathogenesis