Deliverable 4.4 - Review effective feedback and formative assessment in e-learning

This systematic review is written in the frame of a European Union funded project called Supporting Lifelong learning with ICT Inquiry-Based Education (LIBE). Through this project, an e-learning environment will be developed for young low educational achievers (aged 16-24). A crucial part in every educational intervention is assessment and feedback. Hence, to contribute to this project, this study aims to review literature regarding computer based feedback and formative assessment in e-learning. Three different approaches are considered as formative assessment, namely: ‘diagnostic testing’ (DT), ‘data based decision making’ (DBDM) and ‘assessment for learning’ (AFL). The search and selection procedure for this review resulted in 19 studies about the effects of feedback and formative assessment in elearning. Four interrelated themes emerged within this body of literature: (1) the effect on achievement, (2) the effect on motivation, (3) self-regulated learning and (4) the effect of learner characteristics. Results are elaborated around those themes and implications for the LIBE project are drawn

Premating behavioral tactics of Columbian ground squirrels

In polygynous and polygynandrous mating systems males possess a variety of behavioral tactics that increase their access to reproductive females. In addition to overt combat or defending resources that attract mates, males use premating tactics that provide them with subsequent opportunities to copulate with receptive females. For Columbian ground squirrels, Urocitellus columbianus, we report that co-occupation of a burrow system by a reproductive male and a female on the night before the female exhibits diurnal estrus is an example of such a tactic. Our hypothesis was that nocturnal underground association results in successful consortships and therefore constitutes a mating tactic that is complementary to other mating behaviors exhibited during a female's estrus. Under this hypothesis appropriate predictions are that: males co-occupying a burrow system with a female at night should mate first with that female; males co-occupying a burrow system with a female overnight should sire more of her offspring than her subsequent mates; and the reproductive success of males co-occupying a burrow system with females should be higher than the reproductive success of mates that do not. To test our predictions we used a combination of field observations on nocturnal underground consortships (NUCs) and microsatellite DNA analyses of paternity. Males copulated with females during NUCs, as evidenced by inseminations. These males sired more offspring than males that did not participate in NUCs. Males ≥3 years old participated in more NUCs than sexually mature 2-year-old males. Our results supported the hypothesis that entrance into NUCs with a female before she exhibits estrus was a premating tactic that increased male reproductive success when exhibited in concert with other mating tactics such as territorial defens

Chronic Changes In Serum IL-6 And TNF-α Following 12 Weeks of Concurrent Resistance And Aerobic Exercise Are Dependent On Exercise Mode And May Affect Adaptation

PURPOSE: To examine physiological responses to concurrent resistance and land treadmill training (RT-LTM) compared to concurrent resistance and aquatic treadmill training (RT-ATM) and the chronic effect of each on serum TNF-α and IL-6 (cytokines associated with chronic inflammation, CVD, and skeletal muscle metabolism). METHODS: Twenty-six untrained subjects (M: n=13, 98.6±17.1kg, 182.2±6.2cm, 34±11yrs, F: n=13, 78.9±14.0kg, 165.1±5.1cm, 38±11yrs) were screened to assess VO2max, body composition (DEXA), and strength (Lifts: leg press, chest press, leg curl, lat pull, leg ext, triceps push-down, biceps curl). Subjects were then randomized into 2 groups: RT-LTM (M=6, F=7), RT-ATM (M=7, F=6). Each performed progressive RT (2/wk, 3 x 8-12 @ 60%à~80% 1RM) for 12 wks. Both groups also performed 12 wks of aerobic LTM or ATM (60à85%VO2max) respectively. ATM or LTM occurred immediately following RT sessions and in isolation on a 3rd day during the wk. Kcal/session: Wk 1-6 = 250à500 kcal/session, Wk 6-12 = 500 kcal/session. Blood samples were obtained in the rested state (\u3e72h after last exercise bout) before and after training. Serum TNF-α and IL-6 was analyzed using a multiplex assay kit (Luminex®, Millipore®). A 2x2 Mixed Model ANOVA w/ repeated measures was used to examine absolute and relative changes in the independent variables listed in the table. RESULTS: INDEP. VAR. Lean Mass (kg) Fat Mass (kg) %Body Fat (%) VO2max (ml/kg/min) Total Strength (lbs) IL-6 (pg/dl) TNF-α (pg/dl) BASELINE MEASUREMENTS RT-LTM 49.9 ± 3.7 35.9 ± 3.1 42.1 ± 2.5 29.9 ± 2.0 1457.4 ± 135.1 4.6 ± 1.6 7.1 ± 1.9 RT-ATM 53.1 ± 4.0 31.1 ± 2.8 37.0 ± 2.3 32.1 ± 1.6 1552.8 ± 145.9 4.6 ± 1.5 7.9 ± 1.5 POST TRAINING MEASUREMENTS RT-LTM 51.0 ± 4.7† 34.1 ± 2.7† 40.1 ± 3.6† 35.8 ± 2.9† 1843.4 ± 201.1† 7.1 ± 1.6† 6.8 ± 0.5 RT-ATM 55.8 ± 4.6† 30.3 ± 3.1 35.6 ± 2.4† 35.8 ± 2.3† 2193.6 ± 251.3† 5.1 ± 2.7 6.6 ± 1.0† %∆ = Calculated From Each Individual Subjects Change From Baseline RT-LTM 2.6% ± 1.4†,a -6.5% ± 2.4†,a -5.8% ± 1.8†,a 14.1% ± 2.3†,a 21.3% ± 1.1†,a 125.9% ± 36.6†,a -1.8% ± 6.0a RT-ATM 4.2% ± 0.9†,b -2.1% ± 1.6b -4.1% ± 1.5†,a 4.5% ± 3.0†,b 27.1% ± 1.7†,b 28.1% ± 34.7b -13.0% ± 5.4†,b Values are means ± SE. %Δ = Individual change from baseline. Like letters = not significantly different between groups, †=Significant change from baseline within group (α ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic RT-LTM and RT-ATM training elicit different effects on markers of chronic inflammation which may be related to differing health and fitness outcomes observed between our groups

Marine Metagenomics: New Tools for the Study and Exploitation of Marine Microbial Metabolism

The marine environment is extremely diverse, with huge variations in pressure and temperature. Nevertheless, life, especially microbial life, thrives throughout the marine biosphere and microbes have adapted to all the divergent environments present. Large scale DNA sequence based approaches have recently been used to investigate the marine environment and these studies have revealed that the oceans harbor unprecedented microbial diversity. Novel gene families with representatives only within such metagenomic datasets represent a large proportion of the ocean metagenome. The presence of so many new gene families from these uncultured and highly diverse microbial populations represents a challenge for the understanding of and exploitation of the biology and biochemistry of the ocean environment. The application of new metagenomic and single cell genomics tools offers new ways to explore the complete metabolic diversity of the marine biome

Disease dynamics in wild populations: modeling and estimation: a review

Abstract Models of infectious disease dynamics focus on describing the temporal and spatial variations in disease prevalence, and on understanding the factors that affect how many cases will occur in each time period and which individuals are likely to become infected. Classical methods for selecting and fitting models, mostly motivated by human diseases, are almost always based solely on raw counts of infected and uninfected individuals. We begin by reviewing the main classical approaches to parameter estimation, and some of their applications. We then review recently developed methods which enable representation of component processes such as infection and recovery, with observation models that acknowledge the complexities of the sampling and detection processes. We demonstrate the need to account for detectability in modeling disease dynamics, and explore a number of mark-recapture and occupancy study designs for estimating disease parameters while simultaneously accounting for variation in detectability. We highlight the utility of different modeling approaches and also consider the typically strong assumptions that may actually serve to limit their utility in general application to the study of disease dynamics (e.g., assignment of individuals to discrete disease states when underlying state space is more generally continuous; transitions assumed to be simple firstorder Markov; temporal separation of hazard and transition events)

Interspecific Hybridization Yields Strategy for South Pacific Filariasis Vector Elimination

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a global health problem, with over 120 million people affected annually. The current LF elimination program is focused on administering anti-filarial drugs to the entire at-risk population via annual mass drug administration (MDA). While the MDA program is proving effective in many areas, other areas may require augmentative measures such as vector control. An example of the latter is provided by some regions of the South Pacific where Aedes polynesiensis is the primary vector. Here, we describe a novel vector control approach based upon naturally occurring Wolbachia bacterial infections. Wolbachia are endosymbiotic intracellular bacteria that cause a form of sterility known as cytoplasmic incompatibility. We show that introgression crosses with mosquitoes that are infected with a different Wolbachia type results in an A. polynesiensis strain (designated ‘CP’) that is incompatible with naturally infected mosquitoes. No difference in mating competitiveness is observed between CP males and wild type males in laboratory assays. The results support continued development of the strategy as a tool to improve public health

Comparative genomic analysis of Leishmania (Viannia) peruviana and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

BACKGROUND: The Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis complex is responsible for most cases of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis. This complex includes two closely related species but with different geographic distribution and disease phenotypes, L. (V.) peruviana and L. (V.) braziliensis. However, the genetic basis of these differences is not well understood and the status of L. (V.) peruviana as distinct species has been questioned by some. Here we sequenced the genomes of two L. (V.) peruviana isolates (LEM1537 and PAB-4377) using Illumina high throughput sequencing and performed comparative analyses against the L. (V.) braziliensis M2904 reference genome. Comparisons were focused on the detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions and deletions (INDELs), aneuploidy and gene copy number variations. RESULTS: We found 94,070 variants shared by both L. (V.) peruviana isolates (144,079 in PAB-4377 and 136,946 in LEM1537) against the L. (V.) braziliensis M2904 reference genome while only 26,853 variants separated both L. (V.) peruviana genomes. Analysis in coding sequences detected 26,750 SNPs and 1,513 indels shared by both L. (V.) peruviana isolates against L. (V.) braziliensis M2904 and revealed two L. (V.) braziliensis pseudogenes that are likely to have coding potential in L. (V.) peruviana. Chromosomal read density and allele frequency profiling showed a heterogeneous pattern of aneuploidy with an overall disomic tendency in both L. (V.) peruviana isolates, in contrast with a trisomic pattern in the L. (V.) braziliensis M2904 reference. Read depth analysis allowed us to detect more than 368 gene expansions and 14 expanded gene arrays in L. (V.) peruviana, and the likely absence of expanded amastin gene arrays. CONCLUSIONS: The greater numbers of interspecific SNP/indel differences between L. (V.) peruviana and L. (V.) braziliensis and the presence of different gene and chromosome copy number variations support the classification of both organisms as closely related but distinct species. The extensive nucleotide polymorphisms and differences in gene and chromosome copy numbers in L. (V.) peruviana suggests the possibility that these may contribute to some of the unique features of its biology, including a lower pathology and lack of mucosal development. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1928-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Activity of the DNA minor groove cross-linking agent SG2000 (SJG-136) against canine tumours

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs and its prevalence is increasing. There is clearly a need to develop more effective anti-cancer drugs in dogs. SG2000 (SJG-136) is a sequence selective DNA minor groove cross-linking agent. Based on its in vitro potency, the spectrum of in vivo and clinical activity against human tumours, and its tolerability in human patients, SG2000 has potential as a novel therapeutic against spontaneously occurring canine malignancies. RESULTS: In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using SRB and MTT assays, and in vivo activity was assessed using canine tumour xenografts. DNA interstrand cross-linking (ICL) was determined using a modification of the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Effects on cell cycle distribution were assessed by flow cytometry and measurement of γ-H2AX by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. SG2000 had a multi-log differential cytotoxic profile against a panel of 12 canine tumour cell lines representing a range of common tumour types in dogs. In the CMeC-1 melanoma cell line, DNA ICLs increased linearly with dose following a 1 h treatment. Peak ICL was achieved within 1 h and no removal was observed over 48 h. A relationship between DNA ICL formation and cytotoxicity was observed across cell lines. The formation of γ-H2AX foci was slow, becoming evident after 4 h and reaching a peak at 24 h. SG2000 exhibited significant anti-tumour activity against two canine melanoma tumour models in vivo. Anti-tumour activity was observed at 0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg given i.v. either once, or weekly x 3. Dose-dependent DNA ICL was observed in tumours (and to a lower level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells) at 2 h and persisted at 24 h. ICL increased following the second and third doses in a repeated dose schedule. At 24 h, dose dependent γ-H2AX foci were more numerous than at 2 h, and greater in tumours than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. SG2000-induced H2AX phosphorylation measured by immunohistochemistry showed good correspondence, but less sensitivity, than measurement of foci. CONCLUSIONS: SG2000 displayed potent activity in vitro against canine cancer cell lines as a result of the formation and persistence of DNA ICLs. SG2000 also had significant in vivo antitumour activity against canine melanoma xenografts, and the comet and γ-H2AX foci methods were relevant pharmacodynamic assays. The clinical testing of SG2000 against spontaneous canine cancer is warranted. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0534-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Genome mining coupled with OSMAC-based cultivation reveal differential production of surugamide A by the marine sponge isolate Streptomyces sp. SM17 when compared to its terrestrial relative S. albidoflavus J1074

Much recent interest has arisen in investigating Streptomyces isolates derived from the marine environment in the search for new bioactive compounds, particularly those found in association with marine invertebrates, such as sponges. Among these new compounds recently identified from marine Streptomyces isolates are the octapeptidic surugamides, which have been shown to possess anticancer and antifungal activities. By employing genome mining followed by an one strain many compounds (OSMAC)-based approach, we have identified the previously unreported capability of a marine sponge-derived isolate, namely Streptomyces sp. SM17, to produce surugamide A. Phylogenomics analyses provided novel insights on the distribution and conservation of the surugamides biosynthetic gene cluster (sur BGC) and suggested a closer relatedness between marine-derived sur BGCs than their terrestrially derived counterparts. Subsequent analysis showed differential production of surugamide A when comparing the closely related marine and terrestrial isolates, namely Streptomyces sp. SM17 and Streptomyces albidoflavus J1074. SM17 produced higher levels of surugamide A than S. albidoflavus J1074 under all conditions tested, and in particular producing >13-fold higher levels when grown in YD and 3-fold higher levels in SYP-NaCl medium. In addition, surugamide A production was repressed in TSB and YD medium, suggesting that carbon catabolite repression (CCR) may influence the production of surugamides in these strains