Equity of Access: Adaptive Technology

In this age of information technology, it is morally imperative that equal access to information via computer systems be afforded to people with disabilities. This paper addresses the problems that computer technology poses for students with disabilities and discusses what is needed to ensure equity of access, particularly in a university environment

Computer Access for Students with Disabilities: An Adaptive Technology Laboratory

Adaptive technology, which permits equity of access, has helped to reassure people with disabilities that they can attempt a university education with minimal accommodation

The Practitioner From Within: Revisiting the Virtues

Traditionally the study of computer ethics involves taking students who are not philosophically trained, exposing them to action-guiding theories, presenting them with the codes of ethics of several companies and professional organizations and asking them to make ethical decisions in scenario-based cases. This approach is deliberately action-based and focuses on doing. What would you do? is the traditional question we ask our students. While this pedagogical methodology forces them to examine situations and argue from a particular point of view, it does little to influence their character. They see the utilitarian or deontologist as someone other than themselves. There seems to be very little internalization of these action-based theories.Virtue Ethics offers character-forming theory that has been more successful with my students than the action-based theories of computer ethics texts. Why? Virtue Ethics is directed toward character development. The focus is on being rather than doing. It presents a good heuristic or approach to the problem of moral agency. Virtue ethics offers a way of teaching self-reflection through narratives that focus on core values, heroes and moral exemplars. It is grounded in practical wisdom. It is experiential, learning to care about the self, others, the community, living the good life, flourishing and striving for moral excellence. It offers a model for the development of character and personal ethics which will lead to professional ethics. Yet, the strict Virtue Ethics espoused by Aristotle has its limitations. This paper will explore the need for a more integrative approach to contemporary moral theory, one that may be found by revisiting the virtues through the works of Aristotle and Kant. It will offer insight into translating theory into practice for students of computer science and information technology

The Development of the \u27Ethical\u27 ICT Professional and the Vision of an Ethical On-Line Society: How Far Have We Come and Where Are We Going?

It has been a decade since Computer Ethics came into prominence within the field of computer science and engineering, changing not only the profession but the classroom as well. The commercialization and globalization of the World Wide Web has impacted us all, both producers and consumers alike. What was once the province of the few has become the virtual society of the multitudes. Ethical issues concerning security, privacy, information, identity, community and equity of access once contained and localized, have assumed additional complexity in the global environment. Every day, the front pages of our newspapers and magazines report violations of one sort or another.This paper will address two questions: As we move into the 21st century, how can we shape \u27ethical\u27 information communication technology (ICT) professionals? And, is our vision of an \u27ethical\u27 global on-line society a realistic one

Bleeding Risk Following Percutaneous Intervention in Patients with Diabetes Prescribed Dual Anti Platelet Therapy

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on July 28, 2015Thesis advisor: Kim SmolderenVitaIncludes bibliographic references (pages 36-38)Thesis (M.S.)--School of Medicine. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2015Patients with diabetes (DM) experience higher rates of in-stent restenosis and therefore greater benefit from drug eluting stent (DES) implant at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). DES stent implantation necessitates prolonged dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT). While DAPT reduces the risk of ischemic events post-PCI, it also increases the risk for bleeding. Whether long-term rates of bleeding differ among patients with and without DM receiving DAPT in real-world practice is unknown. Among patients who underwent PCI and were maintained on DAPT for 1 year in a multicenter US PCI registry, OPS/PRISM, we assessed patient-reported bleeding (defined according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium, BARC) over the year following PCI in patients with and without DM. Bleeding assessments were conducted by a study coordinator at index hospitalization (baseline) and at 1, 6 and 12 months following discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of DM with bleeding during follow-up. In a sensitivity analysis, we excluded bruising from BARC-defined bleeding events. Covariates included in the model were selected a priori and were abstracted from the medical record by study coordinators. Covariates included demographic (e.g. age, insurance status) and clinical (e.g. medical history, procedural indication) variables. Among 2270 PCI patients (mean age 64, 72% male, 54% ACS), 32.6% had DM. In unadjusted analyses, patients with DM had fewer BARC ≥1 bleeding events over the year following PCI (DM vs no DM: BARC ≥1: 77.7% vs 87.6%, p<0.001; BARC ≥ 2: 4.5% vs 5.3%, p=0.41). After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, patients with DM had lower odds of BARC ≥1 bleeding during follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 0.52, 95% CI 0.39-0.68, p<0.001 vs. no DM). This decreased odds of bleeding persisted after removing bruising from the endpoint definition (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.96). In a real-world PCI registry, patients with DM experienced lower bleeding on DAPT than those without DM. As patients with DM also derive greater ischemic benefit from DES, which requires prolonged DAPT, our findings suggest that the balance between benefit and risk of this therapeutic approach is even more favorable in patients with DM than previously considered.Introduction -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Appendi

A case of repetitive myocardial infarction with unobstructed coronaries due to Churg-Strauss syndrome

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.BackgroundMyocardial infarction is most commonly caused by thrombosis occurring on a background of coronary atherosclerosis, resulting in reduced coronary flow. Less often, myocardial infarction can occur in the absence of coronary disease. The pathomechanism of myocardial infarction in such patients is heterogeneous and more challenging to diagnose and treat. European Society of Cardiology published a position paper on myocardial infarction in patients with non-obstructive coronary disease, with definitions and recommendations for investigations, in what has hitherto been an under-recognized and under-investigated Cinderella-like condition. However, the importance of obtaining a diagnosis is all the more important, since one treatment approach with revascularization and antithrombotic treatment does not ‘fit all’.Case summaryA 70-year-old male patient presented with chest pain at rest, associated with rise in troponin and without ECG changes. A diagnosis of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction was made. Coronary angiography showed a smooth stenosis which resolved with administration of intracoronary nitrate. A diagnosis of coronary artery spasm was made, and treatment initiated. After 18 months, the patient had recurrent chest pains at rest, unresponsive to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Cardiac magnetic resonance revealed extension of subendocardial infarction, without inducible ischaemia. CT coronary angiogram (CTCA) showed non-obstructive coronaries. Blood tests showed significant eosinophilia, raised troponin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) that fluctuated without correlation with symptoms or any ECG changes. A diagnosis of Churg–Strauss syndrome was made, and immunosuppression commenced.DiscussionChurg–Strauss syndrome is an autoimmune vasculitis in patients with history of atopy or late-onset asthma which when involving coronary arteries can lead to myocardial injury mimicking acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Identification is important to allow initiation of immunosuppression which can prevent development or progression.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Ethical and Managerial Implications of Internet Monitoring

As Internet use pervades our personal and professional lives, organizations have become increasingly concerned about employee use of the Internet for personal reasons while at work. This has prompted the restriction of the Internet or the limitation of the Internet during work hours. Monitoring of employee Internet and email is another result of this trend. Legitimate business functions such as employee performance appraisal and progress toward goals are served by monitoring. However, poorly designed and communicated monitoring practices can be negative and have perverse effects on employee morale and productivity. Monitoring of employees erodes trust and may be considered an invasion of privacy. In this paper ethical issues surrounding Internet monitoring are explored from two perspectives: university and business use. Survey results from the university perspective are compared with computer monitoring in a business setting. Students feel an invasion of privacy when a university setting monitors computer use, however they consider the practice of monitoring the workplace an acceptable invasion of privacy. Reasons cited for unethical monitoring at a university or business setting include: payment for the computer, personal property and possession by the student, and limitations of personal freedom, rights, trust and privacy. Reasons cited for the ethical use of monitoring include: academic use of the Internet, workplace requirements and payment for work, discouragement of hate crimes and terrorism, and university or employer property

Can the meniscus affect the nature of a chondrocyte?

It is well understood that proper joint kinematics and loading are important factors in maintaining the health of the articular cartilage of the knee. This state of normal, physiologic loading facilitates a balance between anabolic and catabolic processes resulting in low level, homeostatic cartilage matrix turn-over and remodeling. In this way articular cartilage can function throughout an entire lifetime without loss of its load bearing or lubricating characteristics. However, situations that dramatically alter knee joint biomechanics, such as chronic disuse or overuse[superscript 1-4], anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury[superscript 5,6], or damage to the fibrocartilaginous menisci[superscript 7-11], can result in progressive cartilage degradation and strongly correlate with the onset of osteoarthritis (OA)