La Carta forestale della Basilicata.

A comment is made on the Forest Map of Regione Basilicata (Southern Italy)

The digital library : current perspectives and future directions

This paper begins with an overview of present services relevant to the Digital Library, followed by near-future projects, some already in progress, others only potential; we then discuss some of the significant trends, opportunities and barriers facing the Digital Library; and we conclude with some recommendations for integrating the various services into a cohesive whole that will mark the beginnings of a true Digital Library

O future problem solving program internacional (FPSPI) como um possível instrumento interventivo na sobredotação: caracterização do programa

O FPSPI- Future Problem Solving Program International é um programa educativo, internacionalmente validado, visando o desenvolvimento de competências de resolução de problemas (em crianças, jovens e nos aplicadores do programa), tais como o pensamento criativo, pensamento crítico e analítico, comunicação oral e escrita, trabalho em equipa, gestão emocional e tomada de decisão. Paralelamente, promove no contexto escolar a motivação para a aprendizagem, o rendimento escolar, o papel ativo do aluno e o envolvimento da (e na) comunidade. Em termos práticos, o desenvolvimento acontece dando aos participantes oportunidades de exercitar tais competências enquanto exploram temas relacionados com o futuro. Apesar de não ser um programa de intervenção especificamente dirigido a sobredotados, internacionalmente tem vindo a ser adotado como um dos instrumentos que vão ao encontro da necessidade formativa deste grupo. Pretende-se então contextualizar e apresentar tal programa, sumariamente, sensibilizando ainda para resultados positivos da sua aplicação.Abstract The FPSPI-­‐Future Problem Solving Program International is an educational program with international validation and oriented to the development of creative problem solving skills in participants (pre-­‐adolescents and adolescents) and mentors (adults). These skills include creative, critical and analytical thought, communication, emotions and decision making. FPSP also promotes learning motivation and scholarly achievement through the active role of the pupils and their engagement in the community. This development of skills results from a problem solving process that challenges participants to face problems creatively and with a futuristic approach. It is not a specific program oriented to gifted people, but it has been adopted internationally as an useful tool in order to address psychological characteristics frequently related to this population. This paper will present some guidelines about foundations, goals and methodology inherent to the program and will underline some positive results of its applicatio

The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI): a challenge for creative citizens

Series: Research papers on knowledge, innovation and enterprise, vol. 4The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is an educational program for the development of creative skills, especially in children and young people (Future Problem Solving Program International, FPSPI, n.d). At the same time, it promotes critical, analytical and futuristic thinking, oral and written communication, teamwork, as well as emotional and decision making skills (FPSPI, n.d.). It is thus an educational tool that can be applied in many contexts, formal and informal, in order to promote creative problem solving skills. The stated mission of the FPSPI is “to develop the ability of young people globally to design and promote positive futures through problem solving using critical & creative thinking” (FPSPI, n.d.). It is designed to involve young people in thinking about the future and its challenges and unpredictability in all domains, including arts, technology and sciences. This program, based on futuristic thinking and the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving method (Osborn, 1953; Parnes, 1967; Parnes, Noller, & Biondi, 1977), begins with problem finding and definition and ends with a proposal for an effective and original solution. Begun by Torrance in the U.S. in 1974, the program is currently applied in countries from every continent. This chapter will present this program in detail, illustrating its goals, application methodology and agents. It will also share results obtained in several studies about the program and its effectiveness, thereby, raising awareness of the potential of its application for creative problem solutions in various contexts

An Approach to Azimuth Angle Refraction Corrections

In the past, analyses of tropospheric reactions of electromagnetic waves propagating in the atmosphere have been based on spherically symmetric medium. However, this applies only to ray bending in a vertical plane (elevation angles). Numerous methods have been developed to correct for elevation angle errors. In 1961, the presentation of a new method for use in a nonsymmetric atmosphere revived interest in horizontal (azimuth angle) bending. In order to use this method to test significance of azimuth angle errors, the spacial distribution of index of refraction must be known. The primary objective of this paper is to propose a model which utilizes meteorological profiles to describe the lower troposphere. Since meteorological data are necessarily limited, plane surfaces are selected as the basic component of the model. The different combinations of planes are discussed and a model using parallel planes tilted with respect to a plane tangent to the earth becomes the fundamental part of a representation to be used with the nonsymmetric bending correction technique

The future problem solving program international: an intervention to promote creative skills in portuguese adolescents

The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is an internationally applied educational program that involves young people. Its theoretical foundation is both the Creative Problem Solving Model and the Futurist Thinking. It aims to promote creative and critical thinking through a futurist approach to problems. This study intended to analyze the effects of the program on creative skills evaluated by the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Figural Version). The participants’ perceptions of the efficacy of the program were also assessed. This intervention was carried out with 131 adolescents over a period of 7 months in an extra-curricular context. The evaluation of the program takes into account periods both before and after interventions, using similar experimental and control groups. The results showed significant statistical differences for the all skills studied and very positive perceptions of the efficacy of FPSPI. Two significant gender differences in creative performance were also found. The results are described and discussed in order to promote awareness for future research concerning this program(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Animal models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy:a machine-assisted systematic review and meta-analysis

<div><p>We report a systematic review and meta-analysis of research using animal models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). We systematically searched 5 online databases in September 2012 and updated the search in November 2015 using machine learning and text mining to reduce the screening for inclusion workload and improve accuracy. For each comparison, we calculated a standardised mean difference (SMD) effect size, and then combined effects in a random-effects meta-analysis. We assessed the impact of study design factors and reporting of measures to reduce risks of bias. We present power analyses for the most frequently reported behavioural tests; 337 publications were included. Most studies (84%) used male animals only. The most frequently reported outcome measure was evoked limb withdrawal in response to mechanical monofilaments. There was modest reporting of measures to reduce risks of bias. The number of animals required to obtain 80% power with a significance level of 0.05 varied substantially across behavioural tests. In this comprehensive summary of the use of animal models of CIPN, we have identified areas in which the value of preclinical CIPN studies might be increased. Using both sexes of animals in the modelling of CIPN, ensuring that outcome measures align with those most relevant in the clinic, and the animal’s pain contextualised ethology will likely improve external validity. Measures to reduce risk of bias should be employed to increase the internal validity of studies. Different outcome measures have different statistical power, and this can refine our approaches in the modelling of CIPN.</p></div

The constitution of glucose diacetone

The reaction which takes place between acetone and sugars or polyhydric alcohols, first described by Fischer, produced several beautiful crystalline compounds of greater interest. Their value, however, to the study of carbohydrate chemistry, was only appreciated when Irvine, in 1908, applied to their investigation the process of methylation. It is through this reaction that most light has been thrown on the structure of carbohydrate derivatives and once again, in the present work, the methylation method has been applied to the study of the glucose acetones. A detailed account of the general type of reaction involved is unnecessary, since, owing to the success which has attended this method of investigation in many other important problems in sugar chemistry, it is now well known

Teachers’ and students’ experiences of positive relationships in secondary education

D. App. Ed. Psy. ThesisThis thesis explores experiences of positive Teacher-Student Relationships (TSRs) in secondary education from both teachers’ and adolescents’ perspectives. It is comprised of four chapters: a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), methodological and ethical considerations, an empirical research project and a reflective synthesis. The Systematic Literature Review (Chapter 1) explores teachers’ and students’ experiences of TSRs in secondary education settings. Meta-ethnography was used to synthesise five research papers that were identified as relevant to the review. Findings suggest that teachers and students experience positive relationships as being characterised by kind and friendly interactions, informality and humour and communications that are respectful and equal. Teacher responsivity and sensitivity were identified as important and the concept of going above and beyond for students was discussed. This chapter may support the development of positive TSRs in settings within proximal processes and may also support the development of relational policies in schools. Chapter 2 aims to act as a link between the meta-ethnography and empirical research. Philosophical assumptions are discussed leading to a rationale for the methodology employed. Key ethical considerations are discussed, paying particular attention to the changes to research design and subsequent ethical decisions due to the coronavirus pandemic. The empirical research report (Chapter 3) explores TSRs in upper secondary school in one mainstream secondary setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two teachers and two students from Years 10 and 11 and data was transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Perceptions of the culture of relationships in school were found to be important. Findings also suggest that reciprocal interactions filled with human responses, playfulness and care were important. Agency, availability, recognition of responsibility, authenticity and consistency were found to be important elements of positive relationships from teachers towards their students. These findings have implications for teachers, school leaders and for Educational Psychologists. Chapter 4 consists of a reflective synthesis detailing the professional and academic learning acquired through the research journey. In this chapter, what the work means for research and practice is discussed, as well as the next steps for this enquiry. Chapters 1 and 3 have been prepared for publication and are presented in the style of papers typically published by the British Educational Research Journal

Programa de intervención en representaciones de creatividad y motivación académica de adolescentes

Creativity and its promotion are widespread concerns in education. However, few efforts have been made to implement intervention programs designed to promote creativity and other related aspects (e.g., academic motivation). The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), aimed for training creativity representations and creative problem solving skills in young people, has been one of the most implemented programs. This intervention’s materials and activities were adapted for Portuguese students, and a longitudinal study was conducted. The program was implemented during four months, in weekly sessions, by thirteen teachers. Teachers received previous training for the program and during the program’s implementation. Intervention participants included 77 Basic and Secondary Education students, and control participants included 78 equivalent students. Pretest-posttest measures of academic motivation and creativity representations were collected. Results suggest a significant increase, in the intervention group, in motivation and the appropriate representations of creativity. Practical implications and future research perspectives are presented.A criatividade e sua promoção geram grande preocupação em educação. Contudo, poucos esforços têm existido para implementar programas destinados a sua promoção e de outros aspetos relacionados (e.g., motivação acadêmica). O Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), criado para melhorar as representações de criatividade e a resolução criativa de problemas em jovens, tem sido um dos mais implementados. Os seus materiais e atividades foram adaptados para estudantes portugueses, efetuando-se um estudo longitudinal. O programa foi implementado durante quatro meses, semanalmente, por treze professores, que receberam formação antes e durante a implementação. O grupo experimental incluiu 77 estudantes do Ensino Básico e Secundário, apresentando o grupo de controlo 78 estudantes com características equivalentes. Os dados sobre a motivação e criatividade foram recolhidos num pré e pós-teste. Os resultados sugerem um aumento significativo na motivação e crenças apropriadas de criatividade no grupo experimental. Implicações práticas e perspectivas para investigações futuras são apresentadas.La creatividad y su promoción generan gran preocupación en educación. Sin embargo, han sido llevados a cabo pocos esfuerzos para implementar programas de promoción de la creatividad y otros aspectos (e.g., motivación académica). El Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), creado para mejorar las representaciones de creatividad y la solución creativa de problemas en jóvenes, ha sido bastante implementado. Se adaptaron sus materiales y actividades para estudiantes portugueses, y se desarrolló un estudio longitudinal. El programa se implementó semanalmente durante cuatro meses por trece profesores, que recibieron formación antes y durante la implementación. El grupo experimental incluyó 77 estudiantes de Educación Primaria y Secundaria y el grupo de control incluyó 78 estudiantes con características semejantes. Los datos de motivación y creatividad fueron recogidos en un pre y post-test, sugiriendo un aumento significativo de motivación y creencias apropiadas sobre la creatividad en el grupo experimental. Se presentan implicaciones prácticas y perspectivas para futuras investigaciones.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BPD/80825/201