MOOCs in Higher Education magazines: A content analysis of internal stakeholder perspectives

Higher Education magazines have echoed the rapid spread of MOOCs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) since 2012. In their pages, MOOC related articles are proliferating. The focus of such articles has often been the disruptive nature as well as the survival of this new form of open online education, especially the first years. However, there is also a great deal of mentions of how internal stakeholders in HEIs perceive the advent of MOOCs. These perceptions are the object of analysis in this article. Using the Content Analysis (CA) method, MOOC related sources in three Higher Education magazines during 2014 have been analysed against a set of key themes. These themes have been established by combining data from two previous studies: a Content Analysis of MOOC related academic literature, and a set of interviews to internal stakeholders using grounded theory. As the findings indicate, in 2014 the main concerns of internal stakeholders have been the new teaching practices and new work dynamics resulting from the incorporation of MOOCs in their working routines. It is argued that educational media no longer focuses on the debate of the future of MOOCs. Rather, the debate is on how MOOCs should be best implemented from a practitioner’s perspective

Demonstration of Indoor Localization of Miniature Objects Using Wireless-PoweredUltra-Wideband Tags

Wireless localization of objects is useful for several applications that require the knowledge of position of objects or people. Additionally, power extraction from wireless signals eliminates the need for wires or any physical connections for charging. This project is based on system-level testing of an integrated circuit (IC) that combines these two concepts together to enable wireless systems capable of radio-frequency (RF) object tracking while wirelessly powering sensor nodes. The objective of this project was to highlight and test system function aspects which required knowledge of wireless signal propagation, link budgets, receiver sensitivity to incoming signals, and heterodyning and super heterodyne receivers. This project involved designing a single-transmitter, single-receiver setup to verify sensor charging and measure the sensor output signals and subsequently a 2D positioning example achieved by capturing signals using two receivers and interpreting resultant data in Matlab. While testing did affirm the feasibility of wireless tracking systems, factors such as ground connections and antenna orientation proved to be notable obstacles affecting system range. Key Words: electromagnetic waves, radio frequency, wireless propagation, receiver sensitivity, link budge

Should a fully covered self-expandable biliary metal stent be anchored with a double-pigtail plastic stent? A retrospective study

Background: The migration rate of fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) has been reported to be between 14% to 37%. Anchoring of FCSEMSs using a double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) may decrease migration. Aim: To compare stent migration rates between patients who received FCSEMS alone and those who received both an FCSEMS and anchoring DPS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of endoscopy reporting system and medical records of 1366 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with FCSEMS placement at the University of Kentucky health care. Between July 2015 and April 2017, 203 patients with FCSEMS insertion for the treatment of malignant biliary stricture, benign biliary stricture, post-sphincterotomy bleeding, bile leak, and cholangitis drainage were identified. The review and analysis were conducted through our endoscopy reporting system (ProVation® MD) and medical records. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-Square and Fischer exact test and continuous data using nonparametric tests. A regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with increased risk of stent migration. We determined an FCSEMS migration endoscopically if the stent was no longer visible in the major papilla. Results: 1366 patients had undergone ERCP by three advanced endoscopists over 21-mo period; among these, 203 patients had FCSEMSs placed. 65 patients had FCSEMSs with DPS, and 138 had FCSEMSs alone. 65 patients had FCSEMSs with DPS, and 138 had FCSEMSs alone. 95 patients had a malignant stricture, 82 patients had a benign stricture, 12 patients had bile leak, 12 patients had cholangitis, and nine patients had post-sphincterotomy bleeding. The migration rate in patients with anchored FCSEMSs with DPS was 6%, and those without anchoring DPS was 10% (P = 0.35). Overall, migration was reported in 18 patients with FCSEMSs placement out of 203 patients with an overall migration rate of 9.7%. There was no significant association between anchoring the FCSEMSs with DPS and the risk of stent migration. Only patients with the previous sphincterotomy and begin biliary stricture were found to have a statistically significant difference in the migration rate between patients who had FCSEMS with DPS and FCSEMS alone (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The risk of migration of biliary FCSEMS was 9.7 %. Anchoring an FCSEMS with DPS does not decrease the risk of stent migration

Should a Fully Covered Self-Expandable Biliary Metal Stent Be Anchored with a Double-Pigtail Plastic Stent? A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND The migration rate of fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) has been reported to be between 14% to 37%. Anchoring of FCSEMSs using a double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) may decrease migration. AIM To compare stent migration rates between patients who received FCSEMS alone and those who received both an FCSEMS and anchoring DPS. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of endoscopy reporting system and medical records of 1366 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with FCSEMS placement at the University of Kentucky health care. Between July 2015 and April 2017, 203 patients with FCSEMS insertion for the treatment of malignant biliary stricture, benign biliary stricture, post-sphincterotomy bleeding, bile leak, and cholangitis drainage were identified. The review and analysis were conducted through our endoscopy reporting system (ProVation® MD) and medical records. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-Square and Fischer exact test and continuous data using non-parametric tests. A regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with increased risk of stent migration. We determined an FCSEMS migration endoscopically if the stent was no longer visible in the major papilla. RESULTS 1366 patients had undergone ERCP by three advanced endoscopists over 21-mo period; among these, 203 patients had FCSEMSs placed. 65 patients had FCSEMSs with DPS, and 138 had FCSEMSs alone. 65 patients had FCSEMSs with DPS, and 138 had FCSEMSs alone. 95 patients had a malignant stricture, 82 patients had a benign stricture, 12 patients had bile leak, 12 patients had cholangitis, and nine patients had post-sphincterotomy bleeding. The migration rate in patients with anchored FCSEMSs with DPS was 6%, and those without anchoring DPS was 10% (P = 0.35). Overall, migration was reported in 18 patients with FCSEMSs placement out of 203 patients with an overall migration rate of 9.7%. There was no significant association between anchoring the FCSEMSs with DPS and the risk of stent migration. Only patients with the previous sphincterotomy and begin biliary stricture were found to have a statistically significant difference in the migration rate between patients who had FCSEMS with DPS and FCSEMS alone (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION The risk of migration of biliary FCSEMS was 9.7 %. Anchoring an FCSEMS with DPS does not decrease the risk of stent migration

Vitamin A Metabolism by Dendritic Cells Triggers an Antimicrobial Response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Epidemiological evidence correlates low serum vitamin A (retinol) levels with increased susceptibility to active tuberculosis (TB); however, retinol is biologically inactive and must be converted into its bioactive form, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Given that ATRA triggers a Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2)-dependent antimicrobial response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we investigated the mechanism by which the immune system converts retinol into ATRA at the site of infection. We demonstrate that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-derived dendritic cells (DCs), but not macrophages, express enzymes in the vitamin A metabolic pathway, including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member a2 (ALDH1A2) and short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family, member 9 (DHRS9), enzymes capable of the two-step conversion of retinol into ATRA, which is subsequently released from the cell. Additionally, mRNA and protein expression levels of ALDH1A2 and DC marker CD1B were lower in tuberculosis lung tissues than in normal lung. The conditioned medium from DCs cultured with retinol stimulated antimicrobial activity from M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages, as well as the expression of NPC2 in monocytes, which was blocked by specific inhibitors, including retinoic acid receptor inhibitor (RARi) or N,N-diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB), an ALDH1A2 inhibitor. These results indicate that metabolism of vitamin A by DCs transactivates macrophage antimicrobial responses.IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death by a single infectious agent worldwide. One factor that contributes to the success of the microbe is the deficiency in immunomodulatory nutrients, such as vitamin A (retinol), which are prevalent in areas where TB is endemic. Clinical trials show that restoration of systemic retinol levels in active TB patients is ineffective in mitigating the disease; however, laboratory studies demonstrate that activation of the vitamin A pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages triggers an antimicrobial response. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the link between host retinol levels and retinoic acid-mediated antimicrobial responses against M. tuberculosis By combining established in vitro models with in situ studies of lung tissue from TB patients, this study demonstrates that the innate immune system utilizes transcellular metabolism leading to activation between dendritic cells and macrophages as a means to combat the pathogen

Gene regulatory control in the sea urchin aboral ectoderm: Spatial initiation, signaling inputs,and cell fate lockdown

The regulation of oral–aboral ectoderm specification in the sea urchin embryo has been extensively studied in recent years. The oral–aboral polarity is initially imposed downstream of a redox gradient induced by asymmetric maternal distribution of mitochondria. Two TGF-β signaling pathways, Nodal and BMP, are then respectively utilized in the generation of oral and aboral regulatory states. However, a causal understanding of the regulation of aboral ectoderm specification has been lacking. In this work control of aboral ectoderm regulatory state specification was revealed by combining detailed regulatory gene expression studies, perturbation and cis-regulatory analyses. Our analysis illuminates a dynamic system where different factors dominate at different developmental times. We found that the initial activation of aboral genes depends directly on the redox sensitive transcription factor, hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Two BMP ligands, BMP2/4 and BMP5/8, then significantly enhance aboral regulatory gene transcription. Ultimately, encoded feedback wiring lockdown the aboral ectoderm regulatory state. Our study elucidates the different regulatory mechanisms that sequentially dominate the spatial localization of aboral regulatory states

The credit-card-services augmented Divisia monetary aggregates

While credit cards provide transactions services, credit cards have never been included in measures of the money supply. The reason is accounting conventions, which do not permit adding liabilities to assets. However, index number theory measures service flows and is based on aggregation theory, not accounting. We derive theory needed to measure the joint services of credit cards and money. We provide and evaluate two such aggregate measures having different objectives. We initially apply to NGDP nowcasting. Both aggregates are being implemented by the Center for Financial Stability, which will provide them to the public monthly, along with Bloomberg Terminals

Nowcasting nominal gdp with the credit-card augmented Divisia monetary aggregates

While credit cards provide transactions services, as do currency and demand deposits, credit cards have never been included in measures of the money supply. The reason is accounting conventions, which do not permit adding liabilities, such as credit card balances, to assets, such as money. However, economic aggregation theory and index number theory measure service flows and are based on microeconomic theory, not accounting. We derive theory needed to measure the joint services of credit cards and money. Carried forward rotating balances are not included in the current period weakly separable block, since they were used for transactions services in prior periods. The theory is developed for the representative consumer, who pays interest for the services of credit cards during the period used for transactions. This interest rate is reported by the Federal Reserve as the average over all credit card accounts, including those not paying interest. Based on our derived theory, we propose an empirical measurement of the joint services of credit cards and money. These new Divisia monetary aggregates are widely relevant to macroeconomic research. We evaluate the ability of our money aggregate measures to nowcast nominal GDP. This is currently topical, given proposals for nominal GDP targeting, which require monthly measures of nominal GDP. The nowcasts are estimated using only real time information, as available for policy makers at the time predictions are made. We use a multivariate state space model that takes into account asynchronous information inflow, as proposed in Barnett, Chauvet, and Leiva-Leon (2016). The model considers real time information that arrives at different frequencies and asynchronously, in addition to mixed frequencies, missing data, and ragged edges. The results indicate that the proposed parsimonious model, containing information on real economic activity, inflation, and the new augmented Divisia monetary aggregates, produces the most accurate real time nowcasts of nominal GDP growth. In particular, we find that inclusion of the new aggregate in our nowcasting model yields substantially smaller mean squared errors than inclusion of the previous Divisia monetary aggregates