An Evaluation Study of e-Learning Course at the Duhok Polytechnic University A Case Study

In last decade, there has been a growing awareness in E-Learning which is the most recent type of distance education, and becomes a highly significant model of educational technology. Today e-Learning studies indicate that there is an increasing use of this educational scheme for students, trainers and instructors which improve the learning capability of the students and trainee by depending on student-centered learning (SCL) scheme rather than using the traditional teacher or trainer centered teaching mechanism.However, students’ awareness for the advantage of using e-Learning has not been significantly investigated, especially in Iraq. The aim of this article is to inspect students’ awareness of the using of e-Learning at the Dohuk Polytechnic University. Participants involved in this study were 100 students studying the C++ programming language course during 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 academic years and 210 students studying computer application course during 2018-2019.

An Evaluation Study of an E-Learning Course at the Duhok Polytechnic University

In last decade, there has been a growing awareness in E-Learning which is the most recent type of distance education, and becomes a highly significant model of educational technology. Today e-Learning studies indicate that there is an increasing use of this educational scheme for students, trainers and instructors which improve the learning capability of the students and trainee by depending on student-centered learning (SCL) scheme rather than using the traditional teacher or trainer centered teaching mechanism.However, students’ awareness for the advantage of using e-Learning has not been significantly investigated, especially in Iraq. The aim of this article is to inspect students’ awareness of the using of e-Learning at the Dohuk Polytechnic University. Participants involved in this study were 100 students studying the C++ programming language course during 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 academic years and 210 students studying computer application course during 2018-2019.

Design and Evaluation of Accessible Collaborative Writing Techniques for People with Vision Impairments

Collaborative writing tools have been used widely in professional and academic organizations for many years. Yet, there has not been much work to improve screen reader access in mainstream collaborative writing tools. This severely affects the way people with vision impairments collaborate in ability-diverse teams. As a step toward addressing this issue, the present article aims at improving screen reader representation of collaborative features such as comments and track changes (i.e., suggested edits). Building on our formative interviews with 20 academics and professionals with vision impairments, we developed auditory representations that indicate comments and edits using non-speech audio (e.g., earcons, tone overlay), multiple text-to-speech voices, and contextual presentation techniques. We then performed a systematic evaluation study with 48 screen reader users that indicated that non-speech audio, changing voices, and contextual presentation can potentially improve writers’ collaboration awareness. We discuss implications of these results for the design of accessible collaborative systems.

Correction: Medication Adherence Reminder System for Virtual Home Assistants: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study (Preprint)

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Recent Advances in Design and Implementation of Satellite Gateways for Massive Uncoordinated Access Networks

This paper provides an overview of recent results of a design, development and performance evaluation study of satellite gateways to receive and manage the traffic from a large population of uncoordinated user terminals. In particular, direct satellite access scenarios for machine-to-machine communications and the Internet of Things have been targeted. Tests were carried out in a representative laboratory environment emulating realistic system scenarios. Performance results, as presented in this paper indicate that the proposed gateway architecture, based on an efficient access protocol, is capable of managing a very high number of uncoordinated terminals transmitting short messages with a low duty cycle. The applicability of the proposed solution to both geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems has also been examined. The key concept of the gateway is based on a novel receiver architecture that implements the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) spread spectrum signal detection and successive interference cancellation techniques. The receiver uses features such as a multi-stage detector together with a robust preamble detection. The end-to-end solution includes also the use of a new waveform with a quasi-constant envelope at the terminal to modulate and transmit data packets to be received and detected by the gateway via a satellite link.

CORONA (COre ultRasOund of covid in iNtensive care and Acute medicine) study: National service evaluation of lung and heart ultrasound in intensive care patients with suspected or proven COVID-19

Background Combined Lung Ultrasound (LUS) and Focused UltraSound for Intensive Care heart (FUSIC Heart - formerly Focused Intensive Care Echocardiography, FICE) can aid diagnosis, risk stratification and management in COVID-19. However, data on its application and results are limited to small studies in varying countries and hospitals. This United Kingdom (UK) national service evaluation study assessed how combined LUS and FUSIC Heart were used in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients during the first wave of the pandemic. Method Twelve trusts across the UK registered for this prospective study. LUS and FUSIC Heart data were obtained, using a standardised data set including scoring of abnormalities, between 1st February 2020 to 30th July 2020. The scans were performed by intensivists with FUSIC Lung and Heart competency as a minimum standard. Data was anonymised locally prior to transfer to a central database. Results 372 studies were performed on 265 patients. There was a small but significant relationship between LUS score >8 and 30-day mortality (OR 1.8). Progression of score was associated with an increase in 30-day mortality (OR 1.2). 30-day mortality was increased in patients with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (49.4% vs 29.2%). Severity of LUS score correlated with RV dysfunction ( p < 0.05). Change in management occurred in 65% of patients following a combined scan. Conclusions In COVID-19 patients, there is an association between lung ultrasound score severity, RV dysfunction and mortality identifiable by combined LUS and FUSIC Heart. The use of 12-point LUS scanning resulted in similar risk score to 6-point imaging in the majority of cases. Our findings suggest that serial combined LUS and FUSIC Heart on COVID-19 ICU patients may aid in clinical decision making and prognostication.

Learning in one minute: survey of the One Minute Wonder Network

Background Continuous education of clinicians improves quality of care. One Minute Wonder (OMW) summarize best practice knowledge on one page that can be hung on a wall and can be read during waiting times of just one minute. OMW are a fast, efficient and easy-to-adapt educational method and can easily be shared. Since 2018, an interprofessional network has been set up for OMW in German-speaking countries, but the benefits have not been evaluated yet. Aim The primary objective of this evaluation study was to examine whether and to what extent the members of the OMW network used OMW for training in different settings. Secondary objectives were subjective educational gain, OMW as a training method, and OMW-related structures and processes. Methods An online survey within the OMW network with 301 members over a period of 3 weeks in 2020 was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results Response rate was 62.8% (n = 191). Most participants have used OMW for < 6 months (32.5%, n = 62), developed 1–10 OMW (42.4%, n = 81) by themselves and changed them infrequently (43.5%, n = 74). Topics were most often nursing interventions (79.6%, n = 152), diseases (71.2%, n = 136), drugs (64.4%, n = 123) and others. Participants reported that OMW extended professional knowledge, stimulated them to reflect on their work and are useful for sharing best practice knowledge. Authors of OMW were most often nurses (53.9%, n = 103), who were inspired by the OMW network or by questions of the team. Conclusion Participants use OMW in practice to share best practice knowledge.

Evaluation of two AI software for the diagnosis of TB infection : A study protocol (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) profile in Malaysia showed an average annual growth rate of 2.23%, with an estimated 92 cases per 100,000 people reported in 2018. CXR remains the best conventional method for the early detection of pulmonary TB infection. The intervention of AI in TB diagnosis could efficiently aid human interpreters and reduce health professionals' work burden. To date, no evaluation of AI studies has been carried out in Malaysia. OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine the diagnostic accuracy and evaluate the performance of Qure.ai and Putra Analytica AI software. METHODS We will conduct a retrospective case-control study in Respiratory Medicine Institute (IPR), Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic and Bandar Botanik Klang Health Clinic. Patients' medical reports on TB investigation will be retrieved by accessing electronic and hardcopy medical records and collecting demographic data. Prior to conducting the study, patients' PTB status will be obtained by identifying MTB culture (reference standard) results in order to create a case and a control group. A total of 2000 CXR images will be retrieved, of which 1000 images will be the case (abnormality). Normal and abnormal CXR will be categorized into film and digital CXR, which will be screened onto the said AI software (index tests). RESULTS Results obtained from the AI software will be compared with the reference standard, and significant statistical analysis will be computed CONCLUSIONS We hope that the findings of this evaluation study will provide sufficient information for stakeholders and to implement AI technology in the medical imaging field for better management of TB in hospital and clinic settings.