Mobile Peer-to-Peer Technology used to Promote Spontaneous Collaboration

Mobile devices have in the recent years been able to form peer-to-peer networks making it possible for people to share information and interact. This technology makes it possible to create new tools that initiate and improve human collaboration. The paper presents experiences from creating a prototype for spontaneous collaboration, supported through the appliance of peer-to-peer applications on wireless mobile devices with the ability to form ad-hoc wireless networks. The paper gives an example of an application that promotes human collaboration by using peer-to-peer technology, and describes the technological challenges faced when implementing such applications. The paper reflects on some user tests that were carried out using this prototype

ChickScope: An Interactive MRI Classroom Curriculum Innovation for K-12

Researchers from several departments of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign initiated ChickScope, a 21-day chick embryonic development project, to demonstrate the remote control of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument through the World Wide Web. For 21 days, students and teachers from ten kindergarten to high school classrooms participated in this innovative project using an interactive Web lab book. From classroom computers with access to the Internet, students were able to login to the computers at the university that controlled the MRI system, manipulate experimental conditions through a simple on-line form to generate their own data, and then view resulting images of the chick embryo in real-time. Researchers answered students' questions about their MR images and other related issues. ChickScope made extraordinary hardware, software, and human resources available to the classrooms. However, it left to teachers the tasks of integrating these resources into the classroom and adapting them to the needs and abilities of the students. Thus, the implementation was teacher-based, and its meaning was realized in different ways in each setting. This paper describes the planning, implementation, and the impact of ChickScope in classrooms for facilitating learning and teaching. We provide examples from various grade levels?primary to high school. We conclude with lessons learned and the implications of advanced technologies for K-12 outreach.Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Beckman Institute Visualization Facility, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and several other units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign County Extension Unitpublished or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Team interactions in specialized palliative care teams : a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Teamwork is a standard of care in palliative care and that is emphasized by leading organizations. When interdisciplinary teams communicate their varied assessments, outcomes may be more than additive due to the synthesis of information. Interprofessionality does not guarantee multidimensionality in health care interventions, however, and that interprofessional teams promote collaboration may be questioned. AIM: The aim was to explore team interaction among team members in specialized palliative care teams. DESIGN: Semistructured interviews were conducted with health professionals working in specialized palliative home care teams. The interviews were analyzed by content analysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited from specialized palliative care units in Sweden. The 15 interviewees included 4 men and 11 women. Physcians, nurses, paramedical staff, and social workers were included. RESULTS: Organizational issues like resources and leadership have a great impact on delivery of care. Competence was mirrored in education, collaboration, approach, and support within the team; while communication was described as key to being a team, resolving conflict, and executing palliative care. CONCLUSION: Communication and communication patterns within the team create the feeling of being a team. Team climate and team performance are significantly impacted by knowledge and trust of competence in colleagues, with other professions, and by the available leadership. Proportions of different health professionals in the team have an impact on the focus and delivery of care. Interprofessional education giving clarity on one's own professional role and knowledge of other professions would most likely benefit patients and family caregivers

Translation and cultural adaptation of research instruments - guidelines and challenges: an example in FAMCARE-2 for use in Sweden

Background: Assessing and evaluating health care is important, and an abundance of instruments are developed in different languages. Translating existing, validated instruments is demanding and calls for adherence to protocol. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the FAMCARE-2 scale for use in Sweden. Methods: Traditional back-translation and the decentering stance were utilized and assessed. Experts in palliative care clinic and research were involved; the FAMCARE-2 instrument was discussed with family caregivers and content validity was assessed by experienced health professionals. Results: Significant discrepancies were not revealed by back-translation. Using the decentering stance gave reliable structure and opportunities for reflection throughout the translation process. Discussion: Translating an existing instrument into a second language requires interpretation and adaptation more than a naive translation. The back-translation process may be enhanced if the decentering stance is adopted

Investigating Structure-Dynamics-Function Differences Among Various Species of Proyl-tRNA Synthetase Using a Hybrid QM/MM Computational Technique

Color poster with text, images, charts, maps, photographs, and graphs.All living organisms contain amino-acyl tRNA synthetases (AARSs) ‒ a family of enzymes critical for protein synthesis. They are responsible for the covalent ligation of proline to its specific tRNA molecule, called tRNAPro, using ATP. The structures of prolyl-tRNA synthetases (ProRSs) have been found to contain a number of domains. The “eukaryote-like” species of ProRS consist of a zinc-binding domain instead of the insertion domain (INS domain) present in “prokaryote-like” proteins. These domains are in constant motion and work in a concerted manner to facilitate the catalytic reaction step. Coupled domain dynamics have been found to be necessary for the catalysis. This calls into question the differences in structure and dynamics between the two non-catalytic domains and how it influences the catalytic steps. A comparative study of the structure-dynamic-function relationship among various species of ProRS is being investigated using molecular simulations. In parallel, a computational study of the sequence homology amongst various species of ProRS using the Dali server for the comparison of proteins is being performed. In order to further investigate the evolution of the ProRS protein family, the similarities and differences of different ProRS species are being studied. The preliminary results for this investigation will be presented.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

Exploring the Effects of Monomer and Polymer Cosolutes on the Conformation of Escherichia coli Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase Using Intrinsic Tryptophan Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Color poster with text, images, charts, and graphs.National Institute of Health (Grant #:1R15GM117510-0); University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

Team type, team maturity and team effectiveness in specialist palliative home care : an exploratory questionnaire study

To meet complex needs in persons and families within specialist palliative care, care team members are expected to work together in performing a comprehensive assessment of patient needs. Team type (how integrated team members work) and team maturity (group development) have been identified as components in team effectiveness and productivity. The aim of the study reported in this paper was to identify team types in specialist palliative care in Sweden, and to explore associations between team type, team maturity and team effectiveness in home care teams. A national web-based survey of team types, based on Thylefors questionnaire, and a survey of healthcare professionals using the Group Development Questionnaire (GDQ-SE3) to assess team developmental phase, effectiveness and productivity were used in an exploratory cross-sectional design. The participants were: Specialist palliative care teams in Sweden registered in the Palliative Care Directory (n = 77), and members of 11 specialist palliative home care teams. Teams comprised physicians, registered nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists, full-or part-time. Our national web survey results showed that the 77 investigated teams had existed from 7 to 21 years, were foremost of medium size and functioned as inter- or transprofessional teams. Results from the 61 HCPs, representing 11 teams, indicated that more mature teams tended to work in an integrated manner, rather than in parallel. The effectiveness ratio varied from 52% to 86% in teams. Recommendations arising from our findings include the need for clarification of team goals and professional roles together with prioritizing the development of desirable psychosocial traits and team processes in clinical settings

Leadership in specialist palliative home care teams : A qualitative study

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe team leaders' experiences of facilitators and barriers of leadership in specialist palliative home care teams. Background: For effective teamwork in specialist palliative care, leadership is crucial; however, defining and agreeing on what leadership comprises may be challenging. In palliative care, teamwork is recognized as imperative for multiprofessional perspectives to meet dying patients' and families' needs. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 13 team leaders in specialist palliative home care were performed, using the Pettigrew and Whipp framework, and analysed with directed content analysis. Results: Team leaders' experiences of conditions influencing the organisation and delivery of specialist palliative home care is multifaceted and leaders seem conflicted in their approach to the multiple levels of leadership, vision and responsibilities. Conclusion: Team leaders in specialist palliative home care described goals of care on differing levels and, for some, fiscal restraints and external pressures influenced their vision and leadership. Team leaders experienced challenges of leadership in relation to organisational issues, feeling burdened by responsibilities, budget restraints and team size. Implications for Nursing Management: Team leadership is demanding and complex. In specialist palliative home care, affirming values and enabling vision during times of fiscal strain and external pressures, is challenging. For successful leadership that develops both individuals and the health care team, leaders are recommended to adapt the leadership style to the present situation surrounding the team

Experiences of security and continuity of care : patients' and families' narratives about the work of specialized palliative home care teams

BACKGROUND: Those who are seriously ill and facing death are often li ing with physical, emotional, social, and spiritual suffering. Teamwork is considered to be necessary to holistically meet the diverse needs of patients in palliative care. Reviews of studies regarding palliative care team outcomes have concluded that teams provide benefits, especially regarding pain and symptom management. Much of the research concerning palliative care teams has been performed from the perspective of the service providers and has less often focused on patients' and families' experiences of care. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate how the team's work is manifested in care episodes narrated by patients and families in specialized palliative home care (SPHC). METHOD: A total of 13 interviews were conducted with patients and families receiving specialized home care. Six patients and seven family members were recruited through SPHC team leaders. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and the transcripts qualitatively analyzed into themes. RESULTS: Two themes were constructed through thematic analysis: (1) security ("They are always available," "I get the help I need quickly"); and (2) continuity of care ("They know me/us, our whole situation and they really care"). Of the 74 care episodes, 50 were descriptions of regularly scheduled visits, while 24 related to acute care visits and/or interventions. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Patients' and family members' descriptions of the work of SPHC teams are conceptualized through experiences of security and continuity of care. Experiences of security are fostered through the 24/7 availability of the team, sensitivity and flexibility in meeting patients' and families' needs, and practical adjustments to enable care at home. Experiences of continuity of care are fostered through the team's collective approach, where the individual team member knows the patients and family members, including their whole situation, and cares about the little things in life as well as caring for the family unit