Analysis Of A Global Online Debate And The Development Of An Interaction Analysis Model For Examining Social Construction Of Knowledge In Computer Conferencing

This study attempts to find appropriate interaction analysis/content analysis techniques that assist in examining the negotiation of meaning and co-construction of knowledge in collaborative learning environments facilitated by computer conferencing. The authors review strengths and shortcomings of existing interaction analysis techniques and propose a new model based on grounded theory building for analyzing the quality of CMC interactions and learning experiences. This new Interaction Analysis Model for Examining Social Construction of Knowledge in Computer Conferencing was developed after proposing a new definition of "interaction" for the CMC context and after analyzing interactions that occurred in a Global Online Debate. The application of the new model for analysis of collaborative construction of knowledge in the online debate and in a subsequent computer conference are discussed and future research suggested

Current distribution and abundance of slender lorises (Loris tardigradus and L. Iydekkerianus) in Sri Lanka

Two species of slender lorises are currently recognized in Sri Lanka. They are Sri Lanka red slenderloris (Loris tardigradusj and Grey slender loris (L. lydekkerianus i, with four currently recognizedsub-species; viz. Western red slender loris (L. t. tardigradus), Montane slender loris (L. t.nycticeboidesi, Northern grey slender loris (L. 1.nordicusi, and Highland slender loris (L. 1.grandis).The objective of this survey was to map the distribution and estimate the abundance of lorises in SriLanka. The study was initiated in 2002 and continues to date. Thus far forty-five sites across all ofthe ecological zones have been surveyed covering approximately 400 krn-. In six of these sites, loriseswere not recorded. Of the other 39 sites, 223 sightings of slender loris (L. t. tardigradus (n = 86), L.t. nycticeboides (n = 3), L. 1. nordicus (n = 122), and L. l. grandis (n = 12). Abundance estimates, 'base on sightings of animals krn', were: L. t. tardigradus (0.5-8), L. t. nycticeboides (0.03), L. I.nordicus (0.7-13). and L. 1. grandis (0.3-4) were recorded. The abundance of lorises varied indifferent habitat types with the highest abundance oflorises occurring in the dry zone monsoon forests.The least abundance of lorises was recorded in the cloud forest

EVALUATION OF URBAN AIR POLLUTION COST A CASE STUDY IN THE COLOMBO CITY

Air pollution is arguably the most important. in terms of economics cost, of thevarious types of pollution caused by transport and industrial activities and itseffects have been widely studied in other countries. However, direct studies havenot been undertaken to measure the economics cost of air pollution in Sri Lanka.Concern for air pollution in Sri Lanka is focused mainly in Colombo. AlthoughColombo air pollution level is less than many Asian countries, recent monitoringresults show that air pollution from particulate matter and Sulfur is well above theWHO recommended levelThe contingent valuation method was used to estimate the air pollution cost anddata was collected from a contingent valuation survey carried out in the Fort andPettah areas. Respondents' willingness to pay values were obtained for ahypothetical market presented. The results were consistent with the economictheory. Aggregated cost of air pollution for the country was Rs.55 million peryear. This value may help cost benefit analysis of air quality managementprogrammes and other related development policy and programs in Sri Lanka.

A discourse analysis of trainee teacher identity in online discussion forums

Teacher education involves an identity transformation for trainees from being a student to being a teacher. This discourse analysis examined the online discussion board communications of a cohort of trainee teachers to better understand the situated identities of the trainees and how they were presented online. Their discussion board posts were the primary method of communication during placement periods and, as such, provided insight into how the trainees situated their identities in terms of being a student or being a teacher. During the analysis, the community boundaries, language and culture were explored along with the tutor's power and role in the identity transformation process. This involved looking at the lexis used by the students, the use of pronouns to refer to themselves and others such as teachers and pupils, the types of messages allowed in the community and the effect of the tutor's messages on their communication. The research found that the trainees felt comfortable with teaching but did not feel like teachers during the course. Tutors and school teachers need to develop an awareness of the dual nature of trainees' identities and help promote the transition from student to teacher. In the beginning of the course, trainees should be familiarised with teacher vocabulary and practical concepts in addition to pedagogical theory. Towards the end of the course, trainee identity as teachers could be promoted through the use of authentic assessments that mirror real teacher tasks and requirements

Filling in the gaps: a road map to establish a model system to study developmental programmed cell death

Only a handful of model systems for studying programmed cell death (PCD) exist. The model Arabidopsis thaliana has generated a plethora of knowledge, but it is essential to introduce new models to broaden our understanding of the commonalities of PCD. This review focuses on Aponogeton madagascariensis (the lace plant) as a choice model to study PCD in vivo. PCD plays a key role in plant development and defence. Thus, identifying key regulators across plants is a priority in the field. The formation of perforations in lace plant leaves in areas called areoles is a striking example of PCD. Cells undergoing PCD within areoles can be easily identified from a loss of their anthocyanin pigmentation. In contrast, cells adjacent to veins, non-PCD cells, retain anthocyanins, creating a gradient of cell death. The spatiotemporal pattern of perforation formation, a gradient of cell death within areoles, and the availability of axenic cultures provide an excellent in vivo system to study mechanisms of developmental PCD. The priorities to further develop this model involve sequencing the genome, establishing transformation protocols, and identifying anthocyanin species to determine their medicinal properties. We discuss practical methodologies and challenges associated with developing the lace plant as a model to study PCD

EXTENDED COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SAMANALAWEWA HYDRO ELECTRIC PROJECT

The Samanalawewa Hydro Electric Project and its water commanding area is the subject ofthis study. This project is a single purpose hydropower project, which harnesses the watersof the Walawe Ganga by damming the river at the confluence of the Belihul Oya andWalawe Ganga at an elevation of 400m Mean Sea Level. The reservoir covers an extent of897 ha at normal high water level and its catchment covers an area of 341.7 km".As this was a single purpose project, much attention was not paid to other aspects such assupplying irrigation water for down stream and other environmental impacts. Thereforethis study sought to estimate the economic loss due to the reduction of land area and paddyyield at selected down stream areas. In addition, it aims to estimate the economic value oflost carbon sequestration function of the Samanalawewa reservoir submerged area and toincorporate the above values in an extended Cost/Benefit analysis for the Samanalawewaproject.Primary and secondary data were used for this study, which involved a farm householdsurvey. This research disclosed that the scarcity of water due to the dam has resulted in11.64% of yield reduction (equivalent to 36<;44.38 bushels or Rs. 10.5 million) and 24.89%of land become uncultivated (equivalent to 444.27 acres or RS.II. 7 million) annually. Theglobal warming damage costs due to .he lost carbon sequestration function of thesubmerged area is estimated to be Rs. 0.22 million annually. The estimated economic valueof surplus water in terms of foregone powe. generation from the leak at paddy harvestingperiods (April, September and October) is Rs. 95.33 million.The extended cost benefit Analysis showed that EIRR equals 6 %, NPY equals Rs. (-)1980.23 million, and BC Ratio equals 0 47. The implications of these results on futurepower-sector project planning are also discussed.

Geometric Path Integrals. A Language for Multiscale Biology and Systems Robustness

In this paper we suggest that, under suitable conditions, supervised learning can provide the basis to formulate at the microscopic level quantitative questions on the phenotype structure of multicellular organisms. The problem of explaining the robustness of the phenotype structure is rephrased as a real geometrical problem on a fixed domain. We further suggest a generalization of path integrals that reduces the problem of deciding whether a given molecular network can generate specific phenotypes to a numerical property of a robustness function with complex output, for which we give heuristic justification. Finally, we use our formalism to interpret a pointedly quantitative developmental biology problem on the allowed number of pairs of legs in centipedes

Social mobilisation, drug coverage and compliance and adverse reactions in a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Sri Lanka

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The Dynamics of Zeroth-Order Ultrasensitivity: A Critical Phenomenon in Cell Biology

It is well known since the pioneering work of Goldbeter and Koshland [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 78, pp. 6840-6844 (1981)] that cellular phosphorylation- dephosphorylation cycle (PdPC), catalyzed by kinase and phosphatase under saturated condition with zeroth order enzyme kinetics, exhibits ultrasensitivity, sharp transition. We analyse the dynamics aspects of the zeroth order PdPC kinetics and show a critical slowdown akin to the phase transition in condensed matter physics. We demonstrate that an extremely simple, though somewhat mathematically "singular" model is a faithful representation of the ultrasentivity phenomenon. The simplified mathematical model will be valuable, as a component, in developing complex cellular signaling network theory as well as having a pedagogic value.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure