Learning Mechanics and Game Mechanics Under the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory to Foster Motivation in Digital Game Based Learning

Background: Using digital games for educational purposes has been associated with higher levels of motivation among learners of different educational levels. However, the underlying psychological factors involved in digital game based learning (DGBL) have been rarely analyzed considering self-determination theory (SDT, Ryan \& Deci, 2000b); the relation of SDT with the flow experience (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) has neither been evaluated in the context of DGBL

Metodologia multicritério de apoio à decisão para avaliar sistemas de produção de batata orgânica na região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul.

A crescente demanda por batata (Solanun tuberosum L.) e outras hortaliças cultivadas organicamente, representa uma importante oportunidade para alcançar mercados diferenciados e, ao mesmo tempo um desafio para os produtores. Os agricultores, ainda carecem de informações tecnológicas e mercadológicas para a obtenção de índices técnicos e econômicos satisfatórios. Por estes e outros motivos, em geral, a produção de batata no sistema orgânico é menor em comparação com a obtida no sistema convencional, devido à cultura estar sujeita a inúmeros fatores que poderão reduzir a produtividade. O estudo teve por objetivo avaliar sistemas de produção de batata orgânica, desenvolvidos por agricultores familiares na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul, tendo o município de São Lourenço do Sul como base das informações técnicas e organizacionais. Os agricultores relataram as principais dificuldades tecnológicas e as potencialidades que o sistema oferece. De uma maneira geral, pode-se perceber que os agricultores prezam pela produção de uma batata de qualidade, com boa aparência e tamanho e, procuram minimizar os riscos inerentes ao processo de produção de batata orgânica

Introdução à seção temática: Estratégias e práticas alimentares de famílias agrícolas multilocalizadas e os papéis das políticas públicas

Equacionar o desenvolvimento territorial, as políticas públicas diferenciadas e a emergência de novas ruralidades no ambiente agrário brasileiro, tendo por basea experiência observada nas últimas décadas, é o objetivo central desse artigo para refletir sobre os “estilos” ou “modelos” de desenvolvimento que caracterizaram as transformações sociais, econômicas e político-institucionais no campo. Para tanto, o trabalho aborda, à luz da literatura internacional, o significado e o impacto que o emprego das novas ruralidades para caracterizar o meio rural trouxe sobre um conjunto importante de indicadores e de políticas governamentais. Tomando o caso brasileiro, o artigo busca retratar brevemente alguns processos recentes que influenciaram o desenho de distintas “radiografias” possíveis da agricultura nacional, exemplificada no trabalho a partir dos movimentos de estrangeirização e financeirização da terra e da constituição de territórios rurais, ambos processos amparados em políticas governamentais não menos desprezíveis, como aquela do crédito rural e do programa de desenvolvimento territorial. A recente crise das políticas agrárias brasileiras traz novos desafios à compreensão desse contexto mais amplo, gerando novas questões, sistematizadas ao final do artigo

Layout, design and new technology: a documentation and analysis of the impact of new technologies on the design and layout of The Star.

ABSTRACT A documentation and analysis of the impact of new technologies on the design and layout of The Star, particularly desktop publishing hardware and software, digital photography and the Internet. A broad outline of the production and editorial technology employed prior to the introduction of fourth wave in 1995 is provided to contextualise the research. A systematic visual analysis of selected pages from the 1920s to present as well as interviews with key members of staff from The Star, who have experienced the evolution of the paper first-hand, provide the primary source of information for the study. To prevent the paper from becoming too anecdotal, the organisational approach to the study of the media and theory of visual culture provide the theoretical framework. The research concludes that new technology itself has not drastically affected the design and layout of The Star over the past decade, but rather stimulated change within the organisational environment, which gradually did affected the visual appearance of the paper

New Information Technology and Organizational Culture

Predictions of the effects of office automation on organizations vary widely. This article focuses on changes in individual work patterns, management control, and organizational structure that may occur as a result of implementation of office technology. The most significant change predicted is that organizations will no longer be limited by a central office work environment operating between the traditional office work hours of nine and five. Computer and communications technology will facilitate the relaxing of those physical constraints as necessitated by social and economic pressures. Relevant research to date regarding the effects of the new technology on organizational behavior is reviewed. Management guidelines for preparing for the coming changes are included.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Timely and reliable evaluation of the effects of interventions: a framework for adaptive meta-analysis (FAME)

Most systematic reviews are retrospective and use aggregate data AD) from publications, meaning they can be unreliable, lag behind therapeutic developments and fail to influence ongoing or new trials. Commonly, the potential influence of unpublished or ongoing trials is overlooked when interpreting results, or determining the value of updating the meta-analysis or need to collect individual participant data (IPD). Therefore, we developed a Framework for Adaptive Metaanalysis (FAME) to determine prospectively the earliest opportunity for reliable AD meta-analysis. We illustrate FAME using two systematic reviews in men with metastatic (M1) and non-metastatic (M0)hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC)

Muscle activation patterns in shoulder impingement patients

Introduction: Shoulder impingement is one of the most common presentations of shoulder joint problems 1. It appears to be caused by a reduction in the sub-acromial space as the humerus abducts between 60o -120o – the 'painful arc'. Structures between the humeral head and the acromion are thus pinched causing pain and further pathology 2. Shoulder muscle activity can influence this joint space but it is unclear whether this is a cause or effect in impingement patients. This study aimed to observe muscle activation patterns in normal and impingement shoulder patients and determine if there were any significant differences. Method: 19 adult subjects were asked to perform shoulder abduction in their symptomatic arm and non-symptomatic. 10 of these subjects (age 47.9 ± 11.2) were screened for shoulder impingement, and 9 subjects (age 38.9 ± 14.3) had no history of shoulder pathology. Surface EMG was used to collect data for 6 shoulder muscles (Upper, middle and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus, middle deltoids) which was then filtered and fully rectified. Subjects performed 3 smooth unilateral abduction movements at a cadence of 16 beats of a metronome set at 60bpm, and the mean of their results was recorded. T-tests were used to indicate any statistical significance in the data sets. Significance was set at P<0.05. Results: There was a significant difference in muscle activation with serratus anterior in particular showing a very low level of activation throughout the range when compared to normal shoulder activation patterns (<30%). Middle deltoid recruitment was significantly reduced between 60-90o in the impingement group (30:58%).Trends were noted in other muscles with upper trapezius and infraspinatus activating more rapidly and erratically (63:25%; 60:27% respectively), and lower trapezius with less recruitment (13:30%) in the patient group, although these did not quite reach significance. Conclusion: There appears to be some interesting alterations in muscle recruitment patterns in impingement shoulder patients when compared against their own unaffected shoulders and the control group. In particular changes in scapula control (serratus anterior and trapezius) and lateral rotation (infraspinatus), which have direct influence on the sub-acromial space, should be noted. It is still not clear whether these alterations are causative or reactionary, but this finding gives a clear indication to the importance of addressing muscle reeducation as part of a rehabilitation programme in shoulder impingement patients