Birds of a feather petition together? Characterizing e-petitioning through the lens of platform data

E-petitioning platforms are increasingly popular in Western democracies and considered by some lawmakers and scholars to enhance citizen participation in political decision-making. In addition to social media and other channels for informal political communication, online petitioning is regarded as both a useful instrument to afford citizens a more important role in the political process and allow them to express support for issues which they find relevant. Building on existing pre-internet systems, e-petitioning websites are increasingly implemented to make it easier and faster to set up and sign petitions. However, little attention has so far been given to the relationship between different styles of usage and the causes supported by different groups of users. The functional difference between signing paper-based petitions vs. doing so online is especially notable with regard to users who sign large numbers of petitions. To characterize this relationship, we examine the intensity of user participation in the German Bundestag’s online petitioning platform through the lens of platform data collected over a period of five years, and conduct an analysis of highly active users and their political preferences. We find that users who sign just a single petition favor different policy areas than those who sign many petitions on a variety of issues. We conclude our analysis with observations on the potential of behavioral data for assessing the dynamics of online participation, and suggest that quantity (the number of signed petitions) and quality (favored policy areas) need more systematic joint assessment

Low level of virological failure and drug resistance among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment under programme conditions in Maputo, Mozambique

Mexico AIDS Conference 200

Oxygen Transfer In The Solid-state Cultivation Of D. Monoceras On Polyurethane Foam As Na Inert Support

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest concerning solid-state cultivation processes due to a number of advantages over submerged cultivation. However, studies on oxygen transfer and the performance of bioreactors are lacking. Processes that use inert supports loaded with chemically-defined liquid media have several potential applications and offer numerous advantages, such as improved process control and monitoring and enhanced process consistency compared with cultivation on natural solid substrates. The aim of this research was to study the oxygen transfer for the production of allergenic proteins from a biomass of Drechslera (Helminthosporium) monoceras cultured in a packed-bed reactor filled with polyurethane foam. The results show that a high protein concentration can be produced on an inert support with a high overall oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a) during cultivation.33479379911th Latin American Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion (DAAL)2014Havana, CUB

Cancer diagnosis disclosure from Portuguese physicians

OBJECTIVE: Doctor-patient communication in oncology, particularly concerning diagnostic disclosure, is a crucial factor related to the quality of the doctor-patient relationship and the psychological state of the patient. The aims of our study were to investigate physicians' opinions and practice with respect to disclosure of a cancer diagnosis and to explore potential related factors. METHOD: A self-report questionnaire developed for our study was responded to by 120 physicians from Coimbra University Hospital Centre and its primary healthcare units. RESULTS: Some 91.7% of physician respondents generally disclosed a diagnosis, and 94.2% were of the opinion that the patient knowing the truth about a diagnosis had a positive effect on the doctor-patient relationship. A need for training about communicating with oncology patients was reported by 85.8% of participants. The main factors determining what information to provide to patients were: (1) patient intellectual and cultural level, (2) patient desire to know the truth, and (3) the existence of family. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Our results point to a paradigm shift in communication with cancer patients where disclosure of the diagnosis should be made part of general clinical practice. Nevertheless, physicians still experience difficulties in revealing cancer diagnoses to patients and often lack the skills to deal with a patient's emotional responses, which suggests that more attention needs to be focused on communication skills training programs

Former des professeurs de langues par et pour l’intercompréhension: une étude en situation de formation continue

L’intercompréhension, en tant que le processus et le résultat de l’engagement communicatif des sujets, ne peut pas être réduite au domaine des compétences, notamment à celles de compréhension. Elle est d’avantage reliée aux plusieurs axes de développement d’une éducation plurilingue et interculturelle, de plus en plus valorisée dans les orientations politiques et éducatives européennes, en particulier en ce qui concerne l’enseignement des langues. Par conséquent, ce concept ne peut que jouer un rôle central dans la formation des professeurs de langues. Dans ce texte, nous décrirons un programme de formation continue de professeurs de langues (Anglais, Français et Portugais) de la région d’Aveiro (Portugal), pendant l’année scolaire 2006/2007. Ce programme de formation a eu comme but central le développement de compétences professionnelles, notamment en ce qui concerne la conception, planification, exécution et évaluation d’activités pédagogiques orientées vers une Didactique de l’Intercompréhension. Nous commencerons par présenter le plan de formation, en nous focalisant sur l’atelier « Le Professeur de Langues Interculturel – du monde virtuel au contexte scolaire » (janvier à juin2007). Nous décrirons les activités proposées et les stratégies utilisées dans le cadre de deux axes de formation parallèles et complémentaires: - l’expérimentation de situations de communication plurilingue et interculturelle, grâce à la participation à une session de la plate-forme européenne Galanet, afin de développer des compétences plurilingues et interculturelles chez les professeurs en formation; - le développement collaboratif, l’implémentation et l’évaluation de petits projets de recherche-action encadrés par une Didactique de l’Intercompréhension, en ayant en vue le développement de compétences plurilingues et interculturels chez leurs élèves. Nous analyserons ensuite les données recueillies dans les réflexions autobiographiques des professeurs à propos des expériences de formation vécues. Nous essayerons de mettre en évidence les implications de nos stratégies de formation sur leur développement professionnel

O diálogo intercultural e o espaço curricular das línguas: uma experiência no contexto de formação contínua

A escola deve contribuir para a formação de cidadãos críticos e responsáveis, preparando os alunos para viver em sociedades cada vez mais plurilingues e interculturais. Dadas as características e natureza do objecto de ensino/aprendizagem das línguas, estas assumem-se como espaços privilegiados nesta preparação, pelo que os professores devem receber formação adequada a esse desafio. Com esta intenção, desenvolvemos uma oficina de formação2, colocando professores numa dupla situação formativa, enquanto profissionais e sujeitos de linguagem, participando em trocas plurilingues e interculturais na plataforma Galanet e desenvolvendo colaborativamente projectos de investigação-acção, com o intuito de proporcionar aos seus alunos a vivência de situações potenciadoras do desenvolvimento das competências plurilingue e intercultural. Partindo das vozes dos professores e dos seus projectos de acção, pretendemos reflectir acerca da forma como esta proposta de formação favoreceu o trabalho de competências plurilingues/interculturais em contexto de sala de aula

Diálogos, discursos e práticas curriculares em torno do conceito de interculturalidade

Tornar a interculturalidade presente na educação formal implica formar os professores dentro dos seus pressupostos. Assim, desenvolvemos uma acção de formação, colocando o professor numa dupla situação, profissional e sujeito de linguagem, acreditando que a intersecção entre as vivências experienciadas nas duas situações favorece o desenvolvimento profissional. Partindo das impressões dos formandos, reflectiremos sobre como esta proposta favoreceu práticas de interculturalidade na sala de aula.Rendre l’interculturel présent dans l’éducation formelle exige une formation des enseignants adéquate à ses présupposés. Ainsi, nous avons développé une action de formation en mettant le professeur dans une double situation, professionnel et sujet de langage, en croyant que l’interaction entre les expériences vécues dans ces deux situations favorise le développement professionnel. À partir des impressions des professeurs, nous réfléchirons sur la façon dont cette proposition a favorisé des pratiques professionnelles d’interculturalité.Having formal education based on intercultural assumptions requires training teachers accordingly. Therefore, since we believe that professional development can be fostered by the intersection between teachers’ experiences, we developed a training course that would allow them to experience two different contexts, teachers as professionals and as language agents. Based on the teachers’ impressions, we will explore in what way did this course enhanced the intercultural practices in the classroom

“Papagaio colorido”? “Bola saltitante”? “Construtor de pontes”?: como é que os professores de línguas descrevem o seu papel em contextos multilingues e multiculturais?

Na era pós-moderna, as sociedades são tendencialmente multilingues e multiculturais. Esta diversidade impulsionou um intenso esforço político e educativo para implementar uma educação plurilingue e intercultural, nomeadamente em contexto europeu, que se refletiu no crescente interesse da Didática de Línguas por conceitos como intercompreensão, interculturalidade e plurilinguismo. Neste quadro, coloca-se um desafio à escola, sobretudo aos professores de línguas: formar cidadãos responsáveis, críticos, capazes de assumir o papel de mediadores interculturais, fomentando o desenvolvimento de uma competência de comunicação plurilingue e intercultural. Uma das questões que se pode colocar, face a este desafio, é a seguinte: como encaram os professores de línguas o seu papel enquanto promotores desta educação plurilingue e intercultural? Nesta comunicação, analisamos as representações de um grupo de professores de línguas (materna e estrangeiras) portugueses relativamente ao perfil e papel do professor de línguas num contexto de educação para a diversidade linguística e cultural. Propomo-nos comparar os dados relativos aos professores de Português Língua Materna com os relativos aos professores de Línguas Estrangeiras, de forma a identificar divergências e/ou convergências, assim como fatores que lhes poderão estar subjacentes, com o intuito de problematizar potenciais possibilidades e/ou constrangimentos relativamente à implementação de uma didática integrada das línguas

Resposta do milho verde a lâminas de irrigação.

No Meio-Norte do Brasil, a cultura do milho irrigado direcionado para a comercialização de espigas verdes possui uma grande importância sócio-econômica, permitindo o uso de mão-de-obra familiar, movimentando o comércio e a indústria caseira. Nesse contexto, foi proposto este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes lâminas de irrigação sobre os componentes de produção e a produtividade de espiga verde do milho (híbrido simples) BRS 1030. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Meio-Norte, em Teresina, Piauí, de setembro a novembro de 2009. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas cinco lâminas de irrigação, com base em frações da evapotranspiração de referência (25, 50, 75, 100 e 125% da ETo), estimada pelo método de Penman-Monteith. As análises de regressão para as produtividades ajustaram-se a equações polinomiais quadráticas e lineares para os componentes de produção. As máximas produtividades de espigas verdes com palha (13.652,9 kg ha-1) e de espiga verde sem palha (7.709,4 kg ha-1) foram estimadas com a lâmina de irrigação 304,39 mm, respectivamente. Os maiores valores de comprimento (31,4 cm e 21,6 cm), diâmetro (5,62 cm e 4,37 cm) de espigas empalhadas e despalhadas e a melhor relação espiga sem palha/com palha (0,57) foram obtidos com a lâmina de irrigação 340,57 mm.CONBEA 2013

Oxygen transfer in the solid-state cultivation of D. Monoceras on polyurethane foam as an inert support

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest concerning solid-state cultivation processes due to a number of advantages over submerged cultivation. However, studies on oxygen transfer and the performance of bioreactors are lacking. Processes that use inert supports loaded with chemically-defined liquid media have several potential applications and offer numerous advantages, such as improved process control and monitoring and enhanced process consistency compared with cultivation on natural solid substrates. The aim of this research was to study the oxygen transfer for the production of allergenic proteins from a biomass of Drechslera (Helminthosporium) monoceras cultured in a packed-bed reactor filled with polyurethane foam. The results show that a high protein concentration can be produced on an inert support with a high overall oxygen transfer coefficient (KLa) during cultivation334793799CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESsem informaçã