Searching for the effect of multiple uncontrolled interventions in BRMS

We search for the effects of 8 different (uncontrolled) interventions (1intervention per school) on the sub-concepts of learner’s (4th to 8th grade)motivation, self-regulation, and ICT competency data over the past threeyears. Data marking for intervention (yes/no), ICT competence of teachersand the presence of specially trained teachers are added to the formulas.Assessment of ICT competency in 3rd grade can be used as prior. Smoothsillustrate if the (motivation or self-regulation) concepts grow over timegrouped by intervention, school or grade. Grades are nested within schoolsand data is grouped by student. Are we missing anything

Viewbrics, ‘spiegel’ je vaardig:Vakoverstijgende vaardigheden aanleren in het voortgezet onderwijs via een (online) formatieve evaluatie-methode met (video-verrijkte) rubrieken

Het probleem: De verwerving van vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden zoals samenwerken, presenteren en informatievaardigheden is cruciaal voor (onderbouw)leerlingen in het voortgezet onderwijs. Hierbij is het belangrijk dat leerlingen en leraren een concreet en consistent beeld krijgen van (aspecten van) deze zogenaamde 21ste -eeuwse vaardigheden om zowel de verwerving (door leerlingen) als de begeleiding (door leraren) te stroomlijnen. Kenmerkend voor elke vaardigheid is dat de leerling deze op verschillende niveaus kan beheersen. Als de leerling weet naar welk vaardigheidsniveau hij of zij toewerkt (feed-up) en waar hij of zij zelf staat ten opzichte van dit niveau (feedback), dan kan de leerling ook beter bepalen welke leeractiviteiten hij of zij moet ondernemen (feed forward) om de doelstelling te bereiken (Hattie&amp; Timperley, 2007). Een beoordelingsrubriek (‘rubric’) beschrijft vaardigheidsniveaus, meestal met tekst, via een set kwaliteitscriteria voor de samenstellende deelvaardigheden bij de vaardigheid. Tekstuele beoordelingsrubrieken zijn voor verbetering vatbaar; zo zijn veel aspecten van het gewenste gedrag nauwelijks in woorden te vatten, zoals de lichaamshouding of goed stemgebruik tijdens een presentatie (De Grez, Valcke &amp; Roozen, 2014). Tekstuele beoordelingsrubrieken zijn beperkt in het verduidelijken van het gewenste gedrag bij een vaardigheid en hoe dat gedrag er ineen bepaalde context uitziet (O’Donovan, Price &amp; Rust, 2004). We veronderstellen dat video-verrijkte beoordelingsrubrieken hiervoor een oplossing kunnen bieden. Bij een video-verrijkte beoordelingsrubriek wordt de tekstuele beoordelingsrubriek gecombineerd met videomodelvoorbeelden. Deze voorbeelden ondersteunen observationeel leren van gewenst gedrag van een rolmodel, een methode die eerder succesvol is gebleken (Rohbanfard &amp; Proteau, 2013; Van Gog&amp; Rummel, 2010).De onderwijspraktijk toont dat veel scholen in het voortgezet onderwijs worstelen met de begeleiding bij en beoordeling van vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden. Zowel scholen als leraren erkennen het belang van het aanleren van vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden, maar komen er in de dagelijkse praktijk slechts incidenteel aan toe (Thijs,Fisser &amp; van der Hoeven, 2014). Vaak is de uitwerking afhankelijk van de inzet van individuele leraren. Bovendien wijst het SLO-onderzoek erop dat de verwerving van vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden vaak niet methodisch en opeen gestructureerde, doelgerichte en onderbouwde manier verloopt (Thijs, Fisser &amp; van der Hoeven, 2014, p. 103). Als scholen al toekomen aan vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden, dan is het vaak in de vorm van projectonderwijs waarbij ze tekstuele beoordelingsrubrieken op een incidentele manier gebruiken. Dit gebeurt veelal op een tijdrovend een papier verslindende wijze.Alle betrokkenen in dit project wilden daarom graag weten in hoeverre video-verrijkte beoordelingsrubrieken binnen een online ondersteunde formatieve evaluatiemethodiek zowel een efficiënte als effectieve oplossing zouden kunnen bieden om vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden aan te leren en formatief te evalueren.We verwachtten dat gestructureerd en methodisch gebruik van beoordelingsrubrieken binnen een online formatieve evaluatiemethodiek in vergelijking met het reguliere onderwijs een verbeterde beeldvorming van de vaardigheid en een verbeterde feedbackkwaliteit (concreter en consistenter) zou opleveren, bij zowel leerlingen als leraren. Daardoor verwachtten we uiteindelijk ook een verbeterde beheersing van de vaardigheid. Daarnaast verwachtten we dat videoverrijkte beoordelingsrubrieken in vergelijking met tekstuele beoordelingsrubrieken binnen dezelfde online formatieve evaluatiemethodiek zouden leiden tot een verbeterde beeldvorming van de vaardigheid, verbeterde feedbackkwaliteit,en verbeterde beheersing van de vaardigheid. Dit leidde tot de volgende onderzoeksvraag, die voor drie vakoverstijgende complexe vaardigheden (samenwerken, presenteren, en informatievaardigheden) werd onderzocht.<br/

Measuring the Development of ICT Skills for Personalized Learning:Developing an Instrument for Dutch Primary Education

Our study investigates the development and validation of a questionnaire for competencies learners need to learn in a personalized way using ICT. 9 Dutch schools for primary education collaborate to make personalized learning with ICT evidence-informed. At these 9 iXperium schools, multidisciplinary design teams (consisting of primary school teachers and principals, teachers and students of the teacher-training program of a Dutch university of applied science, researchers from a Dutch university, and external ICT experts) design and research integrated interventions for PL with ICT. We defined personalized learning conditions before filtering the twenty-four learning objectives needed to measure development in personalized learning using ICT. The final questionnaire consists of thirty-three questions to cover the learning objectives. The validity and reliability of our questionary are analyzed in six steps. Cognitive validity (1) and a response model (2) are reported based on literature and a pilot with three iterative rounds of interviews (n=19). Internal constancy (3), confirmatory factor analysis (4), coefficient H (5) are reported after the first run of the questionnaire (n=800), and a test-retest alpha is reported after the second run of the questionnaire (n=800)

Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force-elongation relationship.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether there are different changes in Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical properties in middle-aged, compared to younger runners that might indicate that tendon fatigue, induced by long-distance running, is age-dependent. METHODS: 27 middle-aged (50-67 years) and 22 younger (21-29 years) participants ran a 21 km route at their own pace (mean and SD: old: 3.1 ± 0.3 m s(-1); young: 3.6 ± 0.5 m s(-1)). We tested for changes in the AT force-elongation relationship using dynamometry and ultrasonography during isometric voluntary ankle plantarflexion ramp contractions, conducted 20-28 h pre-run, immediately pre-run, immediately post-run and 20-28 h post-run. Stride frequency and number were examined to estimate cyclic tensile loading characteristics of the tendon during running. RESULTS: Muscle strength decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups immediately post-run (old: 17 %; young: 11 %) and recovered to baseline within 20-28 h post-run. AT stiffness did not change for the younger adults, whereas the middle-aged adults showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AT stiffness (22 %). However, tendon stiffness recovered to baseline 20-28 h post-run. Middle-aged, compared to young adults, demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) greater stride frequency and number, but no correlations with tendon fatigue changes were determined (R (2) ≤ 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the plasticity of the AT in response to short-term mechanical loading may be age dependent and that the AT length-tension properties of middle-aged runners may be more vulnerable to change following running compared to younger athletes. However, the observed AT changes in the middle-aged runners dissipated within 20-28 h post-run, suggesting that a tendon viscoelastic recovery mechanism may occur in vivo

Age-related differences in drop-jump performance are eliminated by matching triceps surae muscle strength and Achilles tendon stiffness.

INTRODUCTION Reduced leg-extensor muscle strength and tendon stiffness in old age have been associated with changes in locomotor performance and motor task execution strategy (Karamanidis and Arampatzis, 2005; Kulmala et al., 2014). However, if leg-extensor muscle-tendon unit (MTU) mechanical properties are the only primary drivers of these alterations seen with ageing remains unclear. Therefore, we examined if matching triceps surae (TS) muscle strength and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness eliminates potential age-related differences in drop jump (DJ) performance and motor task execution strategy in younger and middle-aged adults

Matching Participants for Triceps Surae Muscle Strength and Tendon Stiffness Does Not Eliminate Age-Related Differences in Mechanical Power Output During Jumping

Reductions in muscular power output and performance during multi-joint motor tasks with aging have often been associated with muscle weakness. This study aimed to examine if matching younger and middle-aged adults for triceps surae (TS) muscle strength and tendon stiffness eliminates age-related differences in muscular power production during drop jump. The maximal ankle plantar flexion moment and gastrocnemius medialis tendon stiffness of 29 middle-aged (40–67 years) and 26 younger (18–30 years) healthy physically active male adults were assessed during isometric voluntary ankle plantar flexion contractions using simultaneous dynamometry and ultrasonography. The elongation of the tendon during the loading phase was assessed by digitizing the myotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. Eight younger (23 ± 3 years) and eight middle-aged (54 ± 7 years) adults from the larger subject pool were matched for TS muscle strength and tendon stiffness (plantar flexion moment young: 3.1 ± 0.4 Nm/kg; middle-aged: 3.2 ± 0.5 Nm/kg; tendon stiffness: 553 ± 97 vs. 572 ± 100 N/mm) and then performed series of drop jumps from different box heights (13, 23, 33, and 39 cm) onto a force plate (sampling frequency 1000 Hz). The matched young and middle-aged adults showed similar drop jump heights for all conditions (from lowest to highest box height: 18.0 ± 3.7 vs. 19.7 ± 4.8 cm; 22.6 ± 4.2 vs. 22.9 ± 4.9 cm; 24.8 ± 3.8 vs. 23.5 ± 4.9 cm; 25.2 ± 6.2 vs. 22.7 ± 5.0 cm). However, middle-aged adults showed longer ground contact times (on average 36%), lower vertical ground reaction forces (36%) and hence lower average mechanical power (from lowest to highest box height: 2266 ± 563 vs. 1498 ± 545 W; 3563 ± 774 vs. 2222 ± 320 W; 4360 ± 658 vs. 2475 ± 528 W; 5008 ± 919 vs. 3034 ± 435 W) independent of box height. Further, leg stiffness was lower (48%) in middle-aged compared to younger adults for all jumping conditions and we found significant correlations between average mechanical power and leg stiffness (0.70 ≤ r ≤ 0.83; p < 0.01). Thus, while jumping performance appears to be unaffected when leg extensor muscle strength and tendon stiffness are maintained, the reduced muscular power output during lower limb multi-joint tasks seen with aging may be due to age-related changes in motor task execution strategy rather than due to muscle weakness

Matching triceps surae muscle strength and tendon stiffness eliminates age-related differences in drop-jump performance

INTRODUCTION: Age-related changes in locomotor performance and motor task execution strategy have been associated with reduced leg-extensor muscle-tendon unit capacities in old age (Karamanidis & Arampatzis, 2005; Kulmala et al., 2014). However, it remains unclear if leg-extensor muscle strength and tendon stiffness are the primary drivers of these alterations seen with ageing, or if other factors also play a role. We aimed to determine if potential age-related differences in drop jump (DJ) performance and motor task execution strategy would be eliminated in a group of younger and middle-aged adults when triceps surae (TS) muscle strength and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness were matched. METHODS: Ankle plantarflexion moments and AT stiffness of both legs were assessed in 12 younger (20-30y) and 12 middle-aged (50-65y) adults during isometric plantarflexion contractions using dynamometry and ultrasonography synchronously. Tendon elongation during the loading phase was assessed by visualising the myotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle and stiffness of the AT was determined in the linear region of the force-length relationship. There were no significant differences between the matched young and middle-aged adults in maximal ankle plantarflexion moment (young: 3.2±0.4; middle-aged: 3.1±0.5 Nm/kg) and AT stiffness (580.3±121.8 vs. 590.2±108.4 N/mm). On a second occasion, the matched participants performed a series of DJs from different starting heights (13, 23, 33 and 39 cm) onto a force plate. A two-way ANOVA (factors: age, starting height) was performed in order to detect any age or starting height effects on DJ height and motor task execution strategy. The effect of TS muscle strength and AT stiffness on DJ height was investigated by using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. RESULTS: There was no significant age effect for DJ performance, meaning that matched younger and middle-aged adults achieved similar DJ heights, independent of starting height (Fig. 1). Concerning DJ mechanics, there were significant age effects (p<.05) on ground contact time, maximum vertical ground reaction force and mechanical power, with the middle-aged adults showing higher ground contact times (Fig. 2A), but lower forces (Fig. 2B) and lower mechanical power (Fig. 2C) for all starting heights. Significant correlations were found between DJ performance and TS muscle strength and AT stiffness (.41≤r≤.81; p<.05) for all starting heights. DISCUSSION: The results of the current study demonstrate that matching younger and middle-aged adults for TS muscle strength and AT stiffness eliminates age-related differences in the performance of a jumping task, independent of starting height and hence, task demand. However, the age groups used different motor task execution strategies, as measured by ground contact time, ground reaction forces and mechanical power for all starting heights, indicating that while changes in leg extensor muscle strength and tendon stiffness may be the primary drivers of deteriorated locomotor performance in older age, they may not be major contributors to motor task execution strategy during jumping. CONCLUSION: Jumping performance appears to be unaffected when leg extensor muscle strength and tendon stiffness are maintained with age and therefore, countering the degeneration of these properties may help prevent the decline in locomotor performance seen with ageing. REFERENCES: Karamanidis, K., & Arampatzis, A. (2005). Mechanical and morphological properties of different muscle-tendon units in the lower extremity and running mechanics: effect of aging and physical activity. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 208, 3907–23. Kulmala, J.-P., Korhonen, M. T., Kuitunen, S., Suominen, H., Heinonen, A., Mikkola, A., & Avela, J. (2014). Which muscles compromise human locomotor performance with age? Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 11, 20140858

Matching participants for triceps surae mechanical properties eliminates age-related differences in drop jump performance

Introduction Age-related declines in locomotor performance have been associated with a degeneration of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit (MTU) capacities (Kulmala et al., 2014). However, to our knowledge, no studies have compared the motor task performance of young and older adults with similar triceps surae muscle strength and Achilles tendon stiffness. In the current study, we aimed to determine if differences in drop jump height or motor task execution strategy between young and middle-aged adults exist, when triceps surae MTU capacities (muscle strength and tendon stiffness) were matched. Methods The triceps surae MTU biomechanical properties of 29 middle-aged (50 - 65 years) and 26 younger (20 - 30 years) adults were assessed during isometric voluntary ankle plantarflexion contractions of the dominant leg using a custom-made dynamometer and ultrasonography (27 Hz; MyLabTMOne, Esaote; Genua, Italy) simultaneously. The resultant joint moments were calculated by means of inverse dynamics. The elongation of the tendon during contraction was assessed by digitizing the myotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle with a custom-made Matlab software (Matlab 2013b, MathWorks Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, USA) while taking into account the effect of potential ankle joint angular rotation during contraction (Muramatsu et al. 2001). Tendon stiffness was determined in the linear region of the force-length relationship. Following the MTU measurements, the 12 young adults with the lowest triceps surae muscle strength and the 12 middle-aged adults with the greatest muscle strength were compared. There were no significant differences between the matched young and middle-aged adults in muscle strength (young: 3.2 ± 0.4; middle-aged: 3.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg), tendon stiffness (580.3 ± 121.8; 590.2 ± 108.4 N/mm) or tendon energy storage capacity (217 ± 63.2; 187.5 ± 82.7 J). The matched participants then completed a series of drop jumps. The instructions given to the subjects were “jump as high as possible with as little knee flexion as possible”. In order to analyse drop jump performance and motor task execution strategy, ground contact time, average vertical ground reaction force, average mechanical power and jumping height were determined during drop jumps from different heights (13, 23, 33 and 39 cm) onto a force plate (90 x 60 cm, 1000 Hz; Kistler, Winterthur, CH). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA with age and drop height as factors was conducted in order to detect age-related differences in drop jump height and motor task execution strategy. The effect of muscle strength and tendon stiffness on drop jump height was investigated using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. Results Younger and middle-aged adults attained comparable jumping heights independent of the drop jump height (Fig. 1). There were significant age effects on ground contact time (p < .01) and average vertical ground reaction force during ground contact phase (p < .01) (Fig. 1), with the middle-aged adults showing higher ground contact times but lower forces than the younger adults, leading to a significant age effect on mechanical power (p < .05). Significant (p < .05) correlations were found between triceps surae MTU capacities and drop jump height (.41 ≤ r ≤ .81; p < .05). Discussion The results of the current study demonstrate that when triceps surae MTU capacities are matched, young and middle-aged adults show comparable performance (jump height) of a jumping task. However, the motor strategies used to achieve these similar performances differ, with the middle-aged adults demonstrating longer ground contact times, lower ground reaction forces and hence lower average mechanical power. Muscle strength and tendon stiffness appear to play an important role in jumping performance and countering the degeneration of these properties may help prevent the decline in locomotor function seen with ageing. Finally, the results suggest that neuromuscular factors other than maximum isometric strength and tendon stiffness may influence motor task execution strategy during jumping, such as the power generating capacity of the triceps surae muscle. References Kulmala, J. P., Korhonen, M. T., Kuitunen, S., Suominen, H., Heinonen, A., Mikkola, A. et al. (2014). Which muscles compromise human locomotor performance with age? Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 11, 20140858. Muramatsu, T., Muraoka, T., Takeshita, D., Kawakami, Y., Hirano, Y. & Fukunaga, T. (2001). Mechanical properties of tendon and aponeurosis of human gastrocnemius muscle in vivo. Journal of Applied Physiology (1985), 90, 1671-1678

Description, Host-specificity, and Strain Selectivity of the Dinoflagellate Parasite Parvilucifera sinerae sp.nov. (Perkinsozoa)

17 pages, 7 figures, 2 tablesA new species of parasite, Parvilucifera sinerae sp. nov., isolated froma bloomof the toxic Dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum in the harbor of Arenys de Mar (Mediterranean Sea, Spain), is described. This species is morphologically, behaviourally, and genetically (18S rDNA sequence) different from Parvilucifera infectans, until now the only species of the genus Parvilucifera to be genetically analyzed. Sequence análisis of the 18S ribosomal DNA supported P. Sinerae as a new species placed within the Perkinsozoa and close to P. infectans. Data on the seasonal occurrence of P. sinerae, its infective rates in natural and laboratory cultures, and intra-species strain-specific Resistance are presented. Life-cycle studies in field simples showed that the dinoflagellate resting zygote (restingcyst) was resistant to infection, but the mobile zygote (planozygote) orpelli clestage (temporary cyst) became infected. The effects of Light and salinity level son the growth of P. sinerae were examined, and the results showed that low salinity levels promote both sporangial germination and higher rates of infection. Our findings on this newly described parasite point to a complex host—parasite interaction and provide valuable information that leads to a reconsideration of the biological strategy to control dinoflagellate blooms by jeans of intentional parasitic infectionsThis research was funded by the EU Project SEED (GOCE-CT-2005-003875). R.I. Figueroa work is supported by a I3P contract and E. Garcés’ work is supported by a Ramon y Cajal grant, both from the Spanish Ministry of Education and SciencePeer reviewe