Shaking Up Traditional Training With Lynda.com

Supporting the diverse technology training needs on campus while resources continue to dwindle is a challenge many of us continue to tackle. Institutions from small liberal arts campuses to large research universities are providing individualized training and application support 24/7 by subscribing to the lynda.com Online Training Library(r) and marketing the service to various combinations of faculty, staff and students. As a supplemental service on most of our campuses, lynda.com has allowed us to extend support to those unable to attend live lab-based training, those who want advanced level training, those who want training on specialized applications, and those who want to learn applications that are not in high demand. The service also provides cost effective professional development opportunities for everyone on campus, from our own trainers and technology staff who are developing new workshops, learning new software versions or picking up new areas of expertise from project management to programming, to administrative and support staff who are trying to improve their skills in an ever-tighter economic environment. On this panel discussion, you will hear about different licensing approaches, ways of raising awareness about lynda.com on our campuses, lessons learned through implementation, reporting capabilities, and advice we would give for other campuses looking to offer this service

A blocking ELISA for the detection of specific antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus

A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been adapted to detect specific antibodies in bovine sera to respiratory syncytial virus using a horseradish peroxidase-labeled monclonal antibody to the fusion protein of the virus. This assay plus an indirect blocking ELISA and indirect ELISA were used to detect antibodies to the bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) in 159 field-origin bovine sera. Results of these assays were compared with serum antibody titers measured by the serum neutralization (SN) test. Over a 56-day period, the mean neutralization titers and the mean delta absorbance values for the blocking ELISA, on the same sera, showed similar declines. However, the calculated correlation coefficients between mean SN titer and mean absorbance value for the blocking ELISA of the individual sera ranged from -0.2 to -0.5 depending on the source of sera. Similar values were obtained whether using crude or purified viral antigen in the assays. Corresponding calculated correlation coefficients were generally higher for the indirect blocking ELISA or indirect ELISA than for the blocking ELISA. The blocking ELISA was between 70 and 64% as sensitive as the serum neutralization test with a specificity of 100 or 90% using the crude and purified viral antigen, respectively. The indirect blocking ELISA and indirect ELISA had similar calculated sensitivities and specificities. The blocking ELISA was faster to run than either of the other ELISA’s or the neutralization test. Further, nonspecific background absorbance was obviated because the blocking ELISA detects antibodies to 1 specific viral protein, the fusion protein. These studies suggest that the blocking ELISA should be useful as a serological test for BRSV antibodies

A community-led intervention to support elementary social-emotional skill development: An exploratory study

School-based social-emotional learning programs have shown promising results for student academic and social achievement; however, it is recommended that more studies be implemented in the afterschool setting. Afterschool programs are out-of-school time strategies that allow students opportunities to reinforce academic and other skills learned during the school day. An afterschool program of a rural, Midwest US school district had no formal, elementary-level, social-emotional learning curriculum. A community-based, youth-serving organization, therefore, implemented a traditional school-based social-emotional learning intervention with full curricular units into the district’s afterschool program. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine elementary student participant social-emotional knowledge and observed social-emotional behaviors before and after the community-led intervention in this school district’s afterschool program. Once each week for six weeks, student participants were instructed in 45 minute-long interactive social-emotional learning lessons that used streaming video to teach pro-social knowledge and skills. Student participants’ social-emotional knowledge (measured by Knowledge Assessment accompanying the program) as well as frequency of observed sharing and befriending pro-social behaviors (measured by Child Social Behavior Questionnaire/Teacher-Rating Version) significantly increased pre-post program. However, frequency of observed physical and psychological abuse (negative social behaviors) as well bullying victimization were not significantly decreased. If results of this exploratory study are confirmed in future, larger studies, social-emotional learning programs can be effective additions to afterschool programs to enhance school-based outcomes

Transportation Planning in a Growing Community

The Town of Red Cross - Past and Present: Red Cross was founded in the late 1700s and for nearly two hundred years life changed very little. Originally called “Red Crossing,” the Town owes its name to the rich red dirt of the Piedmont and the crossroads of what would eventually become N.C. 24/27 and N.C. 205. N.C. 24/27 remained unpaved until 1925, and N.C. 205 was not paved until 1941. Rolling farmland dotted by farmhouses dominated the landscape. A few small-scale farming-related businesses and industries served the area, and by the early 1900s, several small stores operated at the crossroads. Life and land use remained fairly constant until the latter part of the Twentieth Century

Financial incentives improve recognition but not treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in severe mental illness

Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with premature cardiovascular disease, prompting the UK primary care payment-for-performance system (Quality and Outcomes Framework, QOF) to incentivise annual physical health reviews. This study aimed to assess the QOF's impact on detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in people with SMI.A retrospective open cohort study of UK general practice was conducted between 1996 and 2014, using segmented logistic regression with 2004 and 2011 as break points, reflecting the introduction of relevant QOF incentives in these years. 67239 SMI cases and 359951 randomly-selected unmatched controls were extracted from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).There was strong evidence (p≤0.015) the 2004 QOF indicator (general health) resulted in an immediate increase in recording of elevated cholesterol (odds ratio 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1.24 to 1.51)); obesity (OR 1.21 (1.06 to 1.38)); and hypertension (OR 1.19 (1.04 to 1.38)) in the SMI group compared with the control group, which was sustained in subsequent years. Similar findings were found for diabetes, although the evidence was weaker (p = 0.059; OR 1.21 (0.99 to 1.49)). There was evidence (p<0.001) of a further, but unsustained, increase in recording of elevated cholesterol and obesity in the SMI group following the 2011 QOF indicator (cardiovascular specific). There was no clear evidence that the QOF indicators affected the prescribing of lipid modifying medications or anti-diabetic medications.Incentivising general physical health review for SMI improves identification of cardiovascular risk factors, although the additional value of specifically incentivising cardiovascular risk factor assessment is unclear. However, incentives do not affect pharmacological management of these risks

Patient and health professions student team perceptions of patient-centeredness in an inter-professional education home-visit program: An exploratory study

The purpose of this study was to compare patient and health professions student team perceptions of patient-centeredness in an inter-professional clinical education home-visit program. Following an inter-professional clinical education home-visit program, patient and health professions student team perceptions of patient-centeredness were compared using a modified version of the Patient Perception of Patient Centeredness Questionnaire. The results showed both patient and student team participants perceived that student teams focused on how much they cared about the patient as a person and the opportunity to discuss any questions. Patients, however, reported significantly higher levels of patient-centered clinical method used during the visits than did health professions and osteopathic medical/dental student participants. The study reveals more practice and focus on patient feedback and the patient’s central role in their healthcare decisions is recommended for this inter-professional clinical education program as well as for any program that includes team-based care. Patient-centeredness also requires instruction to the patient about their role in their own healthcare. Health and medical professions educators need to continue to motivate students through inter-professional education programs and activities to adopt a more patient-centered practice. For future research as a follow-up study, adding independent observations of the home visit interactions may allow for a better understanding of which specific behaviors contribute the most to the experienced patient-centeredness

Better Health While You Wait: A Controlled Trial of a Computer-Based Intervention for Screening and Health Promotion in the Emergency Department

Study objective: We evaluate a computer-based intervention for screening and health promotion in the emergency department and determine its effect on patient recall of health advice. Methods: This controlled clinical trial, with alternating assignment of patients to a computer intervention (prevention group) or usual care, was conducted in a university hospital ED. The study group consisted of 542 adult patients with nonurgent conditions. The study intervention was a self-administered computer survey generating individualized health information. Outcome measures were (1) patient willingness to take a computerized health risk assessment, (2) disclosure of behavioral risk factors, (3) requests for health information, and (4) remembered health advice. Results: Eighty-nine percent (470/542) of eligible patients participated. Ninety percent were black. Eighty-five percent (210/248) of patients in the prevention group disclosed 1 or more major behavioral risk factors including current smoking (79/248; 32%), untreated hypertension (28/248; 13%), problem drinking (46/248; 19%), use of street drugs (33/248; 13%), major depression (87/248; 35%), unsafe sexual behavior (84/248; 33%), and several other injury-prone behaviors. Ninety-five percent of patients in the prevention group requested health information. On follow-up at 1 week, 62% (133/216) of the prevention group patients compared with 27% (48/180) of the control subjects remembered receiving advice on what they could do to improve their health (relative risk 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.77 to 3.01). Conclusion: Using a self-administered computer-based health risk assessment, the majority of patients in our urban ED disclosed important health risks and requested information. They were more likely than a control group to remember receiving advice on what they could do to improve their health. Computer methodology may enable physicians to use patient waiting time for health promotion and to target at-risk patients for specific interventions

Translocation of Crohn's disease Escherichia coli across M-cells: contrasting effects of soluble plant fibres and emulsifiers

Background Crohns disease is common in developed nations where the typical diet is low in fibre and high in processed food. Primary lesions overlie Peyers patches and colonic lymphoid follicles where bacterial invasion through M-cells occurs. We have assessed the effect of soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) and food emulsifiers on translocation of Escherichia coli across M-cells. Methods To assess effects of soluble plant fibres and food emulsifiers on translocation of mucosa-associated E coli isolates from Crohns disease patients and from non-Crohns controls, we used M-cell monolayers, generated by co-culture of Caco2-cl1 and Raji B cells, and human Peyers patches mounted in Ussing chambers. Results E coli translocation increased across M-cells compared to parent Caco2-cl1 monocultures; 15.8-fold (IQR 6.2-32.0) for Crohns disease E coli (N=8) and 6.7-fold (IQR 3.7-21.0) for control isolates (N=5). Electronmicroscopy confirmed E coli within M-cells. Plantain and broccoli NSP markedly reduced E coli translocation across M-cells at 5 mg/ml (range 45.3-82.6% inhibition, pandlt;0.01); apple and leek NSP had no significant effect. Polysorbate-80, 0.01% vol/vol, increased E coli translocation through Caco2-cl1 monolayers 59-fold (pandlt;0.05) and, at higher concentrations, increased translocation across M-cells. Similarly, E coli translocation across human Peyers patches was reduced 45+/-7% by soluble plantain NSP (5 mg/ml) and increased 2-fold by polysorbate-80 (0.1% vol/vol). Conclusions Translocation of E coli across M-cells is reduced by soluble plant fibres, particularly plantain and broccoli, but increased by the emulsifier Polysorbate-80. These effects occur at relevant concentrations and may contribute to the impact of dietary factors on Crohns disease pathogenesis

The extent, quality and impact of patient and public involvement in primary care research: a mixed methods study

Background: To improve the lives of patients in primary care requires the involvement of service users in primary care research. We aimed to explore the extent, quality and impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) in primary care research. Methods: We extracted information about PPI from grant applications, reports and an electronic survey of researchers of studies funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR). We applied recognised quality indicators to assess the quality of PPI and assessed its impact on research. Results: We examined 200 grant applications and reports of 181 projects. PPI was evident in the development of 47 (24%) grant applications. 113 (57%) grant applications included plans for PPI during the study, mostly in study design, oversight, and dissemination. PPI during projects was reported for 83 (46%) projects, including designing study materials and managing the research. We identified inconsistencies between planned and reported PPI. PPI varied by study design, health condition and study population. Of 46 (24%) of 191 questionnaires completed, 15 reported PPI activity. Several projects showed best practice according to guidelines, in terms of having a PPI budget, supporting PPI contributors, and PPI informing recruitment issues. However few projects offered PPI contributors training, used PPI to develop information for participants about study progress, and had PPI in advising on dissemination. Beneficial impacts of PPI in designing studies and writing participant information was frequently reported. Less impact was reported on developing funding applications, managing or carrying out the research. The main cost of PPI for researchers was their time. Many researchers found it difficult to provide information about PPI activities. Our findings informed: - a new Cost and Consequences Framework for PPI in primary care research highlighting financial and non-financial costs, plus the benefits and harms of PPI - Fifteen co-produced recommendations to improve PPI in research and within the SPCR. Conclusions: The extent, quality and impact of PPI in primary care research is inconsistent across research design and topics. Pockets of good practice were identified making a positive impact on research. The new Cost and Consequences Framework may help others assess the impact of PPI

Local and Regional North Carolina Collaborations: Case Studies from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association

Carolina Planning regularly publishes a feature highlighting projects from members of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC). This year’s submissions range from multi-county visioning efforts to small-town transportation planning, demonstrating that planning at any scale can benefit from innovative collaboration. Includes the following case studies: Innovative Partnerships (Introduction); Opt-In Project Explores Uncharted Planning Territory in Southwestern NC; Transportation Planning in a Growing Community; Playing Around with Civic Engagement Strategies in the Triad; Simple Changes and Collaboration: NCDOT and the Town of West Jefferson Partner to Revitalize Downtow