Informatics Network Research Articles

Antinuclear Positivity and Malignant Transformation Potential of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder.

This multicenter cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity on the malignant transformation potential of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) using the Observational Health Sciences and Informatics network tools for the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM). Retrospective cohort data from five medical centers were analyzed. Cox regression and 1:4 propensity score matching followed by aggregated meta-analysis were used to evaluate association between ANA positivity and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The index date was defined as the first day of diagnosis of OPMD. The target and comparator cohorts comprised patients who tested positive and negative for ANA within 180 days before or after the index date, respectively. Among 27,984 OPMD patients, 1302 patients (4.65%) confirmed malignant transformation. Among these, 3035 patients had ANA laboratory data. After 1:4 PS matching, 523 and 1598 patients with positive and negative for ANA were analyzed. Meta-analysis of the hazard ratios demonstrated that ANA positivity significantly increased the risk of malignant transformation compared to ANA negativity. ANA positivity is a significant prognostic marker for predicting malignant transformation in patients with OPMD.

Education Informatics Network-Based Blended Learning in High School English as a Foreign Language Context

The primary purpose of the present study is to ascertain high school students' perceptions of the efficacy of blended learning in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes based on the Education Informatics Network (EIN) which is used as a learning management system in Turkish K-12 schools. The sample of the study was composed of 122 EFL students studying at a state high school. The study was designed with a convergent research design, one of the mixed-methods research designs. Quantitative findings showed that students' general views on EIN-based blended learning were neutral, yet positive about face-to-face lessons. The obtained qualitative findings mostly converged with the quantitative data results, and they also clarified that students had both positive and negative opinions about the impact of blended learning on the development of language skills, assessment, learner autonomy, and classroom atmosphere. On the other hand, interview findings indicated that students expected the EIN portal to be free of technical problems, easily accessible and to include more enjoyable and various activities for a better implementation of the EIN-based blended learning. Lastly, several suggestions for further research were put forward as well as some educational implications for teaching EFL in an EIN-based blended learning environment.

Examination of Mathematics Course Contents Related to Proof in the Educational Informatics Network

This research aims to examine the mathematics course contents related to proof in the Educational Informatics Network. The document analysis method was used in this qualitative research. The data of the study consisted of 35-course contents related to proof in the Educational Informatics Network. These contents were subjected to content analysis. According to analysis results, it has been determined that there isn’t enough proof in the contents of the Educational Informatics Network for all grade levels and in all learning domains. Although not in sufficient numbers, the proofs in these contents mostly consist of proofs belonging to the “Geometry” learning domain. The number of proofs in the “Numbers and Algebra” learning domain is limited. It is seen that no proof of the “Data, Counting, and Probability” learning domain is included. In line with the results of this research, it can be suggested to produce more content related to proof suitable for cognitive developments and grade levels by making the most of the potential of technology for all grade levels and all learning domains.

Similar Risk of Kidney Failure among Patients with Blinding Diseases Who Receive Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, and Bevacizumab: An Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics Network Study

Objective or PurposeA) To characterize the incidence of kidney failure associated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exposure, and B) compare the risk of kidney failure in patients treated with ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab. DesignRetrospective cohort study across 12 databases in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network. Subjects, Participants, and/or ControlsSubjects aged ≥18 years with ≥3 monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF medications for a blinding disease (diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, exudative age-related macular degeneration, or retinal vein occlusion). Methods, Intervention, or TestingA) The standardized incidence proportions and rates of kidney failure while on treatment with anti-VEGF were calculated. B) For each comparison (e.g., aflibercept versus ranibizumab), patients from each group were matched 1:1 using propensity scores. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of kidney failure while on treatment. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to combine each database’s hazard ratio (HR) estimate into a single network-wide estimate. Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of kidney failure while on anti-VEGF treatment, and time from cohort entry to kidney failure. ResultsOf the 6.1 million patients with blinding diseases, 37,189 who received ranibizumab, 39,447 aflibercept, and 163,611 bevacizumab were included; the total treatment exposure time was 161,724 person-years. The average standardized incidence proportion of kidney failure was 678 per 100,000 persons (range 0 to 2389), and incidence rate 743 per 100,000 person-years (0 to 2661). The meta-analysis HR of kidney failure comparing aflibercept to ranibizumab was 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70, 1.47, p=0.45), ranibizumab to bevacizumab 0.95 (95% CI 0.68, 1.32, p=0.62), and aflibercept to bevacizumab 0.95 (95% CI 0.65, 1.39, p=0.60). ConclusionsThere was no substantially different relative risk for kidney failure between those who received ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or aflibercept. Practicing ophthalmologists and nephrologists should be aware of the risk for kidney failure among patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF medications and that there is little empirical evidence to preferentially choose among the specific intravitreal anti-VEGF agents.

Evaluation of the Usability of the Education Informatics Network Platform in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Period: Perspectives of Middle School Students

Evaluation of the Usability of the Education Informatics Network Platform in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Period: Perspectives of Middle School Students

Science Teachers' Attitudes toward Education Informatics Network (EIN)

Bu araştırmanın amacı, fen bilimleri öğretmenlerinin Eğitim Bilişim Ağı’na (EBA) yönelik tutumlarını cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu ve hizmet yılı değişkenlerine göre incelenmesidir. Araştırmada nicel araştırma yönteminden tarama yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2021-2022 eğitim öğretim yılında Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Millî Eğitim Bakanlığına bağlı ortaokullarda görev yapan 172 fen bilimleri öğretmeni oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Kişisel Bilgi Formu ve “Eğitim Bilişim Ağı Tutum Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın elde edilen verilerin analizinde verilerin normal dağılım göstermemesi sebebiyle parametrik olmayan testler kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesinde Mann-Whitney U testi ve Kruskal - Wallis testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, fen bilimleri öğretmenlerinin EBA’ya yönelik olumlu bir tutuma sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. Fen bilimleri öğretmenlerinin EBA’ya yönelik tutumlarının cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu ve hizmet yılı değişkenliklerine göre EBA tutum ölçeği genel puanında ve alt gruplar arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda, daha büyük çalışma grupları ile farklı değişkenlere göre ve nitel araştırma yöntemleri ile desteklenerek daha kapsamlı çalışmalar yapılması düşünülebilir.

Examination of the Interactive Digital Mathematics Games According to NCTM Standards

This study aimed to examine the interactive digital games that are open to access at the secondary education level on the Education Informatics Network [EIN] platform according to NCTM standards. 20 interactive mathematics games that are open to access on the EIN platform have been reached. Accessed games were analysed descriptively with a code book developed by Joung and Byun (2021) based on the NCTM Content and Process Standards. According to the results of the study, it was determined that the majority of the games are focused on the Numbers and Operations. All of the games targeted fifth and sixth graders, and no games were included for probability domain. Geometry has the highest mean scores for content standards while algebra has the lowest. Games related to geometry, measurement, and numbers exhibit a moderate degree of alignment with the underlying content domains, whereas games centered on data and algebra show a relatively weaker correspondence between the content and the contextual aspects of the game. On the other hand, as for the process standards, algebra has the highest mean scores while geometry and numbers have the lowest mean scores. Highest mean scores for process standards belong to problem solving for data, reasoning and proof for measurement, connections for data and algebra, representations and communication for algebra. Among the process standards, reasoning and proof, and communication were represented with the lowest means for all domains. Considering the results it is advisable to revise digital interactive mathematics games to meet the content and process standards.

Multinational patterns of second line antihyperglycaemic drug initiation across cardiovascular risk groups: federated pharmacoepidemiological evaluation in LEGEND-T2DM

ObjectiveTo assess the uptake of second line antihyperglycaemic drugs among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are receiving metformin.DesignFederated pharmacoepidemiological evaluation in LEGEND-T2DM.Setting10 US and seven non-US electronic health...

Investigation of Secondary Education Students' Views and Purposes of Use of EBA

With this research, it was aimed to determine the educational Informatics Network (EBA) [Eğitim Bilişim Ağı] usage purposes of 12th grade students in secondary education institutions and their views on EBA. 452 students attending the 12th grade at six secondary schools randomly selected in the city center of Kars in the 2015–2016 academic year participated in this research. The questionnaire "Students' Purposes of Using Educational Information Network (EBA) and Their Views on EBA" was used to collect the research data using the scanning model. According to the research, it is seen that the general views of the students about EBA are not very positive. However, it was determined that the scores for using EBA were lower than the scores for opinions about EBA. It has been determined that the students' purposes for using EBA are mostly to learn the lessons and subjects that they have the most difficulty with.

Öğretmenlerin Teknolojik Pedagojik Alan Bilgisi ve Eğitim Bilişim Ağı’nı (EBA) Kullanma Öz-Yeterlikleri

This study attempted to explore teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions of Education Informatics Network (EIN) use and identify whether their self-efficacy perception of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) was a predictor of their self-efficacy perceptions levels of Education Informatics Network use. This study also sought to whether teachers’ TPACK self-efficacy perception levels and self-efficacy perceptions of the EIN use differ according to age, professional experience, school type, level of computer use, and in-service training for EIN use. This study was conducted with 228 teachers from different departments, who worked in high schools in Hatay/ Antakya during the 2016-2017 education year. The correlational survey model was employed in the study, and the TPACK self-efficacy and the EIN self-efficacy scales were implemented as data collection tools. The collected data was analyzed on SPSS statistical program using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA and simple regression analysis. According to the results of the study, teachers' TPACK self-efficacy perceptions differed statistically according to age, occupational experience, and the level of use of the computer, while using EIN self-efficacy perceptions do not differ statistically. However, teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions levels EIN use showed a significant difference in terms of the school type and in-service training for EIN use. A striking result of the study was that the TPACK self-efficacy perception levels of the teachers did not predict their self-efficacy perception levels of the EIN use.

Using Data to Improve the Management of Diabetes: The Tayside Experience.

Tayside is a region in the East of Scotland and forms one of nine local government regions in the country. It is home to approximately 416,000 individuals who fall under the National Health Service (NHS) Tayside health board, which provides health care services to the population. In Tayside, Scotland, a comprehensive informatics network for diabetes care and research has been established for over 25 years. This has expanded more recently to a comprehensive Scotland-wide clinical care system, Scottish Care Information - Diabetes (SCI-Diabetes). This has enabled improved diabetes screening and integrated management of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular health, and other comorbidities. The regional health informatics network links all of these specialized services with comprehensive laboratory testing, prescribing records, general practitioner records, and hospitalization records. Not only do patients benefit from the seamless interconnectedness of these data, but also the Tayside bioresource has enabled considerable research opportunities and the creation of biobanks. In this article we describe how health informatics has been used to improve care of people with diabetes in Tayside and Scotland and, through anonymized data linkage, our understanding of the phenotypic and genotypic etiology of diabetes and associated complications and comorbidities.

An Investigation of the Quality of Grammar Instruction: Case of Education Informatics Network

Teaching grammar topics is a difficult and complex process. This process needs to be structured with functional activities that are appropriate for the objectives of the instruction, be it face-to-face or distance education. This study aims to investigate and evaluate the quality of grammar instruction in the Turkish lessons on the Education Informatics Network (EBA) used by the Ministry of National Education as a distance education tool. For this purpose, the data of the research were obtained through the investigation of 29 Turkish lessons at the elementary school level (5th-8th grades) between the dates 23.03.2020 and 19.06.2020 during which formal education was in a three-month hiatus. In designating these lessons, the criterion sampling technique was used and all lessons that included grammar topics were investigated by taking grammar topics as the criterion. The research used the case study as one of the qualitative research designs. The data obtained after the investigation were analyzed through the content analysis method. In the research, the analysis category was determined to be “Grammar Teaching” while the sub-categories were coded as “The State of Using the Sense and Induction Methods in Grammar Teaching”, “Structure of the Examples Used in Grammar Teaching”, and “The State of Supporting Grammar Teaching Activities with Comprehension and Expression Skills”. It was found that induction and intuition methods that have a vital place in teaching grammar in elementary school Turkish lessons were seldom used. On top of this, it was revealed that grammar was taught in a way far from text-based grammar teaching and was not associated with receptive and productive skills.

521 Supporting research through the development of self-service tools and operational transparency.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Informatics Program in the Wake Forest CTSI is experiencing rapid growth. To accommodate an influx of both staff and clinical investigators this program Invests resources in self-service tools to increase researcher capabilities Automates resource intensive activities Creates transparency of operational processes for researchers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Self-service tools (immediate/automated) The i2b2 tool queries clinical data for feasibility numbers and cohort identification; and provides demographic breakdowns of patient sets The Data Puller tool pulls identified patient data (with IRB approval) The SKAN NLP tool pulls aggregate numbers from over 3 million clinical notes Automation A custom-built tracking system automates parts of tracking requests for data and checking IRB protocols Operational transparency The Data Request Dashboard shows requesters information about their request and where it is in the process of being fulfilled The Data Quote tool was constructed leveraging the integrated CTSA informatics network and uses details of the request to estimate how long it will take to complete. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: i2b2 has had over 300 unique users each year; 80% are faculty or research staff, 20% are clinicians or students. From 2017-2021 there have been an average of 300 i2b2 queries and 45 Data Puller pulls each month. SKAN has had 58 unique users since its implementation in late 2020, averaging 5 new users per month. The automated data request tracking system took approximately 30 staff hours to create and saves an average of 4 hours of staff time per week. It also decreases human error by pulling/pushing information directly between systems. The Informatics program has received positive feedback from researchers who use the Data Request Dashboard. The Data Quote Tool is being used to give standardized quotes to researchers. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Investing resources in developing and implementing self-service tools and operational transparency ultimately reduces overall resource consumption, saving staff and investigator time and effort. This enables the Informatics program to maintain a high standard of service while experiencing rapid growth.

Examination of Teachers’ Educational Information Network (EBA) Awareness In Terms of Some Variables

Purpose: In Turkey, in order to ensure equal opportunities in education and to ensure the integration of technology into education, the Action to Increase Opportunities and Improve Technology Project (FATIH) is carried out by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). One of the five basic pillars of this project is an online social education platform “The Educational Informatics Network (EBA) which is presented free to students, teachers and parents and provides access to tens of thousands of educational contents. Although there are many opportunities and benefits that EBA provides to all its stakeholders, it is not known whether teachers who are the planners and practitioners of the teaching process are aware of what they can do with this platform. With this research, it is aimed to reveal the EBA awareness of the teachers working in MEB schools and to examine these awareness in terms of many variables such as the province they work, branch, school type, the professional experience, the education level, the situation of receiving EBA education or not. Design/Methodology/Approach: 244 teachers participated in the study. In order to collect data, a survey model was used., The data was collected through the Personal Data Form and the “Teacher EBA Awareness Scale " developed by the researchers. Findings: As a result of descriptive analysis and comparisons, teachers' awareness of EBA was found to be “medium” and it was determined that this awareness differed from significantly according to the variables of branch, school type, number of technological tools owned, the ability of using technology, the status of training related to EBA, the status of being aware of the update made in EBA, number of EBA modules used and frequency of EBA use. However, it was determined that the status of having BTR teachers in schools were found to be unaffected by the variables. Highlights: Since it is important to be informed about the platform in the use of the EBA, it is thought that new applications and features published on the platform should be announced to the teachers, measures should be taken to share them and more effective methods should be used for promotion.

Attitudes of Religious Culture and Ethics Teachers Towards Education Informatics Network (EBA)

Son yıllarda öğrencilerin öğretim ortamına aktif bir şekilde katıldığı, görsel ve işitsel e-içeriklerle bireysel öğrenmelerin desteklendiği çevrimiçi platformlar yaygınlaşmaya başlamıştır. Bu çerçevede ülkemizde “Fırsatları Artırma ve Teknolojiyi İyileştirme Hareketi” (FATİH) projesi kapsamında 2012’de “Eğitim Bilişim Ağı” (EBA) kurulmuştur. EBA’da örgün eğitimde yer alan tüm derslerle ilgili, her sınıf seviyesinde doğru ve güvenilir e-içerikler sunulmakta ve öğretmenlere içerik hazırlama imkânı tanınmaktadır. EBA’da din öğretimine yönelik olarak Din Kültürü ve Ahlak Bilgisi öğretmenlerinin kullanabileceği içeriklere de yer verilmektedir. Bu çalışmada Din Kültürü ve Ahlak Bilgisi öğretmenlerinin EBA’ya ilişkin tutumlarının cinsiyet, yaş, hizmet yılı, çalışılan okul türü ve mezun olunan yükseköğretim programı değişkenlerine göre incelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Nicel araştırma türünde olan çalışmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırma verileri ülke genelinde görev yapan Din Kültürü ve Ahlak Bilgisi öğretmenlerinden basit seçkisiz örnekleme yöntemiyle ve anket tekniğiyle toplanmıştır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Uğurlu ve Gürsoy tarafından geliştirilen “Eğitim Bilişim Ağı Tutum Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırma verileri SPSS 25 programıyla analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada ulaşılan sonuçlara göre Din Kültürü ve Ahlak Bilgisi öğretmenlerinin EBA’ya ilişkin tutumları olumludur. Öğretmenlerin tutumlarında cinsiyet, yaş, çalışılan okul türü ve mezun olunan yükseköğretim programı değişkenlerine göre anlamlı bir farklılık oluşmamıştır. Hizmet yılı düşük olan öğretmenlerin daha olumlu tutuma sahip olduğu görülmüştür.

Predictors of diagnostic transition from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder: a retrospective observational network study

Many patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are initially misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and are treated with antidepressants, whose potential iatrogenic effects are widely discussed. It is unknown whether MDD is a comorbidity of BD or its earlier stage, and no consensus exists on individual conversion predictors, delaying BD’s timely recognition and treatment. We aimed to build a predictive model of MDD to BD conversion and to validate it across a multi-national network of patient databases using the standardization afforded by the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model. Five “training” US databases were retrospectively analyzed: IBM MarketScan CCAE, MDCR, MDCD, Optum EHR, and Optum Claims. Cyclops regularized logistic regression models were developed on one-year MDD-BD conversion with all standard covariates from the HADES PatientLevelPrediction package. Time-to-conversion Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed up to a decade after MDD, stratified by model-estimated risk. External validation of the final prediction model was performed across 9 patient record databases within the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network internationally. The model’s area under the curve (AUC) varied 0.633–0.745 (µ = 0.689) across the five US training databases. Nine variables predicted one-year MDD-BD transition. Factors that increased risk were: younger age, severe depression, psychosis, anxiety, substance misuse, self-harm thoughts/actions, and prior mental disorder. AUCs of the validation datasets ranged 0.570–0.785 (µ = 0.664). An assessment algorithm was built for MDD to BD conversion that allows distinguishing as much as 100-fold risk differences among patients and validates well across multiple international data sources.

Promoting health equity for deaf patients through the electronic health record.

Language status can be conceptualized as an equity-relevant variable, particularly for non-English-speaking populations. Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate comprise one such group and are understudied in health services research. DHH individuals are at high-risk of receiving lower-quality care due to ineffective patient-provider communication. This perspective outlines barriers to health equity research serving DHH ASL-users due to systems developed by large-scale informatics networks (eg, the Patient-Centered Clinical Outcomes Research Network), and institutional policies on self-serve cohort discovery tools. We list potential to help adequate capture of language status of DHH ASL-users to promote health equity for this population.

Teachers' Attitudes toward Turkey Education Informatics Network during the Distance Education Period in the Covid-19 Pandemic

In this research, teachers' attitudes toward Turkey Education Informatics Network (EIN) during the distance education period in the Covid-19 Pandemic are examined. The participants of the study, which was carried out in the descriptive survey model, consisting of 789 teachers, most of whom are primary school teachers, who provide distance education in the Covid-19 pandemic. "Educational Informatics Network Attitude Scale" was used as a data collection tool in the study. As a result of the research, it is seen that most of the teachers use EIN and the EIN Live Lesson application, and they access EIN mostly with their personal computers and smartphones. However, teachers stated that they used messaging applications effectively in the distance education process. Besides, when the attitudes of teachers towards EIN were examined according to the levels they worked at, it was seen that secondary school teachers showed a more positive attitude towards EIN than primary and high school teachers, and they found EIN more necessary. When the attitudes of teachers towards EIN were examined according to their branches, it was seen that foreign language teachers showed a more positive attitude towards EIN compared to primary school teachers and teachers in other branches, and found EIN more necessary. It has been observed that young and junior teachers have increased positive attitudes towards EIN and they think EIN is necessary. The results of the research show that teachers use the EIN. However, there was not enough opinion among teachers about the applicability of EIN.

Biological Mechanisms of S-Nitrosothiol Formation and Degradation: How Is Specificity of S-Nitrosylation Achieved?

The modification of protein cysteine residues underlies some of the diverse biological functions of nitric oxide (NO) in physiology and disease. The formation of stable nitrosothiols occurs under biologically relevant conditions and time scales. However, the factors that determine the selective nature of this modification remain poorly understood, making it difficult to predict thiol targets and thus construct informatics networks. In this review, the biological chemistry of NO will be considered within the context of nitrosothiol formation and degradation whilst considering how specificity is achieved in this important post-translational modification. Since nitrosothiol formation requires a formal one-electron oxidation, a classification of reaction mechanisms is proposed regarding which species undergoes electron abstraction: NO, thiol or S-NO radical intermediate. Relevant kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanistic considerations will be examined and the impact of sources of NO and the chemical nature of potential reaction targets is also discussed.

352 Dermatology research with the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network

352 Dermatology research with the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network