Information Systems Undergraduate Degree Project: Gaining a Better Understanding of the Final Year Project Module

The place of an individual project in the final year of Information Systems (IS) undergraduate degrees at UK universities is well established. In this paper we compare the final year project modules at four UK universities: the University of Brighton, the University of South Wales, University of West London and the University of Westminster. We find that the aims of the projects are similar, emphasising the application of the knowledge and skills from the taught element of their course in a complex development project, often including interactions with a real client. Although we show in this analysis that projects serve a similar purpose in the IS degree courses, the associated learning outcomes and the assessment practice varies across the institutions. We identify some gaps in the skills and abilities that are not being assessed. In further work we are planning to consult final year students undertaking their projects and their supervisors, in order to gain an understanding of how project assessment criteria are actually put to use

Clinical vignette: An atypical case of Sweet\u27s syndrome presenting as facial cellulitis

A 73 year old female presented with acute onset fever and right -sided facial swelling, erythema and pain. She was initially diagnosed with facial cellulitis. The patient was placed on a course of cephalexin; however, her symptoms worsened, and she developed bilateral facial edema. Routine laboratory data was not indicative of leukocytosis. An incision and drainage was performed and minimal aspirate was retrieved; aspirate cultures were negative for bacterial and fungal growth. The patients facial swelling continued to progress; she developed bilateral peri-orbital edema, and she was intubated for airway protection. The patient\u27s antibiotics were then broadened to vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam, but after Infectious disease consultation, they were changed to ampicillin-sulbactam and fluconazole. Repeat cultures performed were again negative for any microorganisms. However, her symptoms did not improve with antimicrobial therapy, so it was discontinued and a non-infectious etiology was considered more likely. Rheumatology was consulted, but the rheumatologic workup was negative. Then, Dermatology was consulted; they performed a left cheek biopsy which showed perivascular and interstitial acute and chronic inflammation of the dermis, and a diagnosis of febrile neutrophilic dermatosis was made. Consequently, she was started on high-dose corticosteroids, and her symptoms dramatically and rapidly improved.\u2

Fetomaternal outcome in sickle cell disease in a tertiary care centre

Background: Sickle cell disease is a hereditary haematological disorder prevalent in tribal regions of India. Sickle cell disease can increase complications during pregnancy and in turn negatively influence pregnancy outcomes. This study reports the analysis of tribal maternal admissions in the tertiary centre S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda, Gujarat. Hence this study was conducted to assess complications in pregnancy and maternal and perinatal outcome among women with Sickle cell disease.Methods: It was a retrospective observational study including all pregnant women with sickle cell disease after 20 weeks of gestation who delivered at S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda from August 2019 to August 2020.Results: There were 43 antenatal women with Sickle cell disease during the study period. There was increased risk of obstetric complications like gestational hypertension (11.62%), preeclampsia (9.3%), eclampsia (6.97%), HELLP syndrome (4.65%), intrauterine growth retardation (23.25%), and oligohydramnios (11.62%). Medical complications observed were mainly anaemia (53.48%), vaso-occlusive crisis (18.16%), acute chest syndrome (4.65%) and infections like urinary tract infection (6.97%) and pneumonia (4.65%). The incidence of low birth weight babies (56.94%), low APGAR score (11.62%) and neonatal ICU admissions (23.25%) was high. 6.5% cases of maternal mortality and 4.65% cases of perinatal mortality was observed.Conclusions: Pregnancy in Sickle cell disease is associated with an increased maternal morbidity and high perinatal mortality due to obstetric and medical complications

Statistical Mechanics of DNA Rupture: Theory and Simulations

We study the effects of the shear force on the rupture mechanism on a double stranded DNA. Motivated by recent experiments, we perform the atomistic simulations with explicit solvent to obtain the distributions of extension in hydrogen and covalent bonds below the rupture force. We obtain a significant difference between the atomistic simulations and the existing results in the iterature based on the coarse-grained models (theory and simulations). We discuss the possible reasons and improve the coarse-grained model by incorporating the consequences of semi-microscopic details of the nucleotides in its description. The distributions obtained by the modified model (simulations and theoretical) are qualitatively similar to the one obtained using atomistic simulations.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures. Accepted in J. Chem. Phys. (2013). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1104.305

Clinical vignette: An unusual cause of cerebral venous thrombosis

Case Presentation: An 18-year-old woman without previous medical history on oral contraceptives (OCP) presented to the emergency department with headache and vomiting. The headache first appeared 4 days ago; it was moderate in intensity, bitemporal and occipital, and resolved on its own. The headache reappeared 1 day before, waking the patient out of sleep. It was 10/10 in intensity and associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia and severe fatigue. Outside hospital CT and MRI showed a right transverse sinus thrombosis extending into the right internal jugular vein. Lab abnormailities included platelets of 21 x 103/mm3, mild transaminitis, and CD4 count of 184/mm3. The patient was transferred to our hospital. While hospitalized, the patient revealed that she had a viral-like illness with cough, fever, and pharyngitis 1 week prior. She was started on heparin drip with close monitoring. The nadir of her platelets was 9 x 103/mm3. Hematology was consulted for possible immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). She received 5 days of dexamethasone 40 mg and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Hypercoagulable workup was negative for Factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A mutations and antiphospholipid antibodies. Flow cytometry for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria was negative. HIV testing and blood cultures were negative; serologies for parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus, and mycoplasma were consistent with previous exposure, while serologies for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were consistent with acute infection. The patients platelets began to rise 9 days after admission, and she was transitioned to warfarin. At discharge 11 days after presentation her nausea had resolved and her headache had improved. A month later her platelets were normal, and she was asymptomatic. Discussion: Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) is uncommon, with an incidence of 3-13 cases per million. The disease is more common in women (~75% of cases) and in the young (78% occurred in patients \u3c50 years old). The most common etiologies are antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S deficiencies; factor V Leiden; OCP; elevated homocysteine; and infection. The most common presenting symptom is headache (90%). The superior sagittal sinus is most often involved (62%). While somewhat controversial, major guidelines recommend treatment with anticoagulation, although the optimal duration is uncertain. At first glance our patient\u27s CVT seems attributable to OCP use, but the presence of mild transaminitis, hepatomegaly, thrombocytopenia and decreased CD4 count with recent upper respiratory illness and fatigue raised the possibility this was due to EBV infection. There are rare case reports of EBV causing CVT. Conclusions: Cerebral venous thrombosis is an uncommon cause of headache. Although hypercoagulable states and oral contraceptives are the most commonly identified risk factors, infectious etiologies such as EBV are also in the differential.\u2

Fetomaternal outcome in pregnancy with oligohydramnios: a prospective study

Background: Oligohydramnios is defined as amniotic fluid index 30 weeks.Results: The most common risk factor associated with oligohydramnios was hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (35%) followed by intra uterine growth restriction (31%), preterm rupture of membranes (17%), post-datism (5%) and about 12% were due to idiopathic causes. Among cases majority were primigravida (43%). Lower segment caesarean section was done in 86 cases (43%), and main indication was fetal distress. There was no maternal mortality in the study. NICU admission for low birth weight (26%), pre-maturity (20%), meconium aspiration syndrome (8%), congenital anomalies (8%). Among congenital anomalies, posterior urethral valve had highest incidence (50%) followed by renal agenesis (25%). The neonatal mortality was 5%.Conclusions: Oligohydramnios adversely affects the perinatal outcome. Therefore, it requires meticulous assessment, prompt detection, timely management and treating underlying condition. However, a favourable outcome can be expected by good antenatal and intrapartum surveillance and neonatal care

Interaction of thiocyanate with horseradish peroxidase. <SUP>1</SUP>H and <SUP>15</SUP>N nuclear magnetic resonance studies

Interaction of thiocyanate with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was investigated by relaxation rate measurements (at 50.68 MHz) of the 15N resonance of thiocyanate nitrogen and by following the hyperfine shifted ring methyl proton resonances (at 500 MHz) of the heme group of SCN-.HRP solutions. At pH 4.0, the apparent dissociation constant (KD) for thiocyanate binding to HRP was deduced to be 158 mM from the relaxation rate measurements. Chemical shift changes of 1- and 8-ring methyl proton resonances in the presence of various amounts of thiocyanate at pH 4.0 yielded KD values of 166 and 136 mM, respectively. From the pH dependence of KD and the 15N resonance line width, it was observed that thiocyanate binds to HRP only under acidic conditions (pH &lt; 6). The binding was found to be facilitated by protonation of an acid group on the enzyme with pKa 4.0. The pH dependence of the 15N line width as well as the apparent dissociation constant were quantitatively analyzed on the basis of a reaction scheme in which thiocyanate in deprotonated ionic form binds to the enzyme in protonated acidic form. The KD for thiocyanate binding to HRP was also evaluated in the presence of an excess of exogenous substrates such as resorcinol, cyanide, and iodide ions. It was found that the presence of cyanide (which binds to heme iron at the sixth coordination position) and resorcinol did not have any effect on the binding of thiocyanate, indicating that the binding site of the thiocyanate ion is located away from the ferric center as well as from the aromatic donor binding site. The KD in the presence of iodide, however, showed that iodide competes with thiocyanate for binding at the same site. The distance of the bound thiocyanate ion from the ferric center was deduced from the 15N relaxation time measurements and was found to be a 6.8 &#197;. From the distance as well as the change in the chemical shifts and line width of 1- and 8-methyl proton resonances, it is suggested that the binding site of thiocyanate may be located near heme, placed symmetrically with respect to 1- and 8-methyl groups of the heme of HRP. Similarity in the modes of binding of iodide and thiocyanate suggests that the oxidation of thiocyanate ion by H2O2 may also proceed via the two-electron transfer pathway under acidic conditions, as is the case for iodide