Weblogs in Higher Education - Why Do Students (Not) Blog?

Positive impacts on learning through blogging, such as active knowledge construction and reflective writing, have been reported. However, not many students use weblogs in informal contexts, even when appropriate facilities are offered by their universities. While motivations for blogging have been subject to empirical studies, little research has addressed the issue of why students choose not to blog. This paper presents an empirical study undertaken to gain insights into the decision making process of students when deciding whether to keep a blog or not. A better understanding of students' motivations for (not) blogging may help decision makers at universities in the process of selecting, introducing, and maintaining similar services. As informal learning gains increased recognition, results of this study can help to advance appropriate designs of informal learning contexts in Higher Education. The method of ethnographic decision tree modelling was applied in an empirical study conducted at the Vienna University of Technology, Austria. Since 2004, the university has been offering free weblog accounts for all students and staff members upon entering school, not bound to any course or exam. Qualitative, open interviews were held with 3 active bloggers, 3 former bloggers, and 3 non‑ bloggers to elicit their decision criteria. Decision tree models were developed out of the interviews. It turned out that the modelling worked best when splitting the decision process into two parts: one model representing decisions on whether to start a weblog at all, and a second model representing criteria on whether to continue with a weblog once it was set up. The models were tested for their validity through questionnaires developed out of the decision tree models. 30 questionnaires have been distributed to bloggers, former bloggers and non‑ bloggers. Results show that the main reasons for students not to keep a weblog include a preference for direct (online) communication, and concerns about the loss of privacy through blogging. Furthermore, the results indicate that intrinsic motivation factors keep students blogging, whereas stopping a weblog is mostly attributable to external factors

Pontos-chave patológicos e ecocardiográficos da displasia da válvula atrioventricular direita

Congenital insufficiency of the right atrioventricular valve is defined as tricuspid dysplasia. The alteration occurs in septal and mural valve leaflets, in chordae tendineae or in papillary muscles. The malformation causes tricuspid regurgitation and presentation of clinical signs associated with congestive right heart failure. Macroscopic lesions include localized or diffuse nodulation or thickening of valves leaflets, short or elongated chordae tendineae, with incomplete development and partial fusion or union, papillary muscles with abnormal attachment or incomplete separation to the right ventricular wall, or absence of one or more muscles. The aim of this work is to provide information and casuistry for diagnostic purposes of a pathology of low prevalence in companion animals. Between 2011 and 2021, 24 canines with a definitive diagnosis of tricuspid dysplasia were treated. The pathology was more frequent in dogs of small to medium size, Poodle (4), Dachshund (3), French Bulldog (3), Yorkshire terrier (2), Bull terrier (1), Boxer (1) and 10 mongrels, 3 under 12 kg and 7 between 12 and 30 kg in weight, medium to large size. The findings are different, race and size, to those observed by other authors. Nodular thickening associated with short chordae tendineae was the most common valve malformation. Tricuspid dysplasia was associated with half (13 of 24) of the cases with pulmonary stenosis. Other congenital anomalies, interventricular and atrial septal defect, were also related. The precise diagnosis of the congenital abnormality of the tricuspid valve apparatus can only be made by echocardiography. Valve alterations, septal leaflet, characterized by nodulation, thickening and union to theinterventricular septum, were the most common. The continuous spectral Doppler exploration allowed determining severity, pressures in the atrial and right ventricular chambers and establishing hemodynamic effects of the process and its implication in the prognosis and treatment of the patient.La insuficiencia congénita de la válvula auriculoventricular derecha se define como displasia tricuspídea. La alteración se presenta en hojuelas valvares septal y mural, en cuerdas tendinosas o en músculos papilares. La malformación provoca regurgitación tricuspídea y presentación de signos clínicos asociados a insuficiencia cardíaca derecha congestiva. Las lesiones macroscópicas incluyen nodulación o engrosamiento localizado o difuso de hojuelas valvares, cuerdas tendinosas cortas o alargadas, con desarrollo incompleto y fusión o unión parcial, músculos papilares con inserción anormal o separación incompleta a la pared ventricular derecha o ausencia de uno o más músculos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es aportar información y casuística con fines diagnósticos de una patología de baja prevalencia en animales de compañía. Entre 2011 y 2021 se atendieron 24 caninos con diagnóstico definitivo de displasia tricuspídea. La patología fue más frecuente en perros de talla pequeña a mediana, Caniche (4), Dachshund (3), Bulldog francés (3), Yorkshire terrier (2), Bull terrier (1), Bóxer (1) y 10 mestizos, 3 menores a 12 kg y 7 entre 12 y 30 kg de peso, de talla mediana a grande. Los hallazgos son distintos, raza y talla, a los observados por otros autores. El engrosamiento nodular asociado a cuerdas tendinosas cortas fue la malformación valvar más común. La displasia tricuspídea se asoció con la mitad (13 de 24) de los casos con estenosis pulmonar. Otras anomalías congénitas, comunicación interventricular e interauricular, también se presentaron relacionadas. El diagnóstico preciso de la anormalidad congénita sobre el aparato valvular tricuspídeo sólo puede ser realizado por ecocardiografía. Las alteraciones valvares, hojuela septal, caracterizados por nodulación, engrosamiento y unión al septum interventricular, fueron las más habituales. La exploración doppler espectral continuo permitió determinar gravedad, presiones en cámaras atrial y ventricular derecha y establecer efectos hemodinámicos del proceso y su implicancia en el pronóstico y tratamiento del paciente.A regurgitação congênita da valva atrioventricular direita é definida como displasia tricúspide. A alteração ocorre nos folhetos valvares septais e murais, nas cordas tendíneas ou nos músculos papilares. A malformação causa regurgitação tricúspide e apresentação de sinais clínicos associados à insuficiência cardíaca direita congestiva. As lesões macroscópicas incluem nodulação localizada ou difusa ou espessamento dos folhetos valvares, cordas tendíneas curtas ou alongadas, com desenvolvimento incompleto e fusão ou união parcial, músculos papilares com inserção anormal ou separação incompleta da parede do ventrículo direito ou ausência de um ou mais músculos. O objetivo deste trabalho é fornecer informações e casuística para fins de diagnóstico de uma patologia de baixa prevalência em animais de companhia. Entre 2011 e 2021, foram tratados 24 cães com diagnóstico definitivo de displasia tricúspide. A patologia foi mais frequente em cães de pequeno a médio porte, Poodle (4), Dachshund (3), Bulldog Francês (3), Yorkshire Terrier (2), Bull Terrier (1), Boxer (1) e 10 mestiços , 3 com menos de 12 kg e 7 entre 12 e 30 kg de peso, de tamanho médio a grande. Os achados são diferentes, raça e estatura, aos observados por outros autores. Espessamento nodular associado a cordoalhas tendíneas curtas foi a malformação valvar mais comum. A displasia tricúspide esteve associada a metade (13 de 24) dos casos com estenose pulmonar. Outras anomalias congênitas, defeitos do septo interventricular e interatrial, também foram relatadas. O diagnóstico preciso da anormalidade congênita no aparelho da valva tricúspide só pode ser feito pela ecocardiografia. As alterações valvares, do folheto septal, caracterizadas por nodulação, espessamento e união ao septo interventricular, foram as mais comuns. A exploração contínua com Doppler espectral permitiu determinar a gravidade, as pressões nas câmaras atriais e ventriculares direitas e estabelecer os efeitos hemodinâmicos do processo e suas implicações no prognóstico e tratamento do paciente.patologia de baixa prevalência em animais de companhia. Entr

Effects of substratum on the diversity and stability of ammonia-oxidising communities in a constructed wetland used for wastewater treatment

Aim: To study the relationship between the nature of the substratum and the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing microbial community in a constructed wetland for the treatment of wastewaters. Methods and Results: Samples have been taken the year around from sections of the wetland filled with different substrata. When present, the root zones of the helophyte Phragmites australis were also sampled. The diversity of the ammonia-oxidizing community was established by a coupled PCR–DGGE method based on the 16s rRNA gene. Averaged over the seasons, no large differences in community composition were observed between the different substrata, although the section with zeolite always showed t Conclusions: Although the ammonia-oxidizing communities did not differ significantly between the different sections of the constructed wetland, the characteristics of zeolite were most appropriate to accommodate a stable and active community of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The presence of the helophyte had no effect on the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing community. Significance and Impact of the Study: It has been shown that substrata used in constructed wetlands made no distinction between ammonia-oxidizing strains in relation to attachment. However, zeolite had the best performance with respect to activity over the season

Effects of substratum on the diversity and stability of ammonia-oxidising communities in a constructed wetland used for wastewater treatment

Aim: To study the relationship between the nature of the substratum and the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing microbial community in a constructed wetland for the treatment of wastewaters. Methods and Results: Samples have been taken the year around from sections of the wetland filled with different substrata. When present, the root zones of the helophyte Phragmites australis were also sampled. The diversity of the ammonia-oxidizing community was established by a coupled PCR–DGGE method based on the 16s rRNA gene. Averaged over the seasons, no large differences in community composition were observed between the different substrata, although the section with zeolite always showed t Conclusions: Although the ammonia-oxidizing communities did not differ significantly between the different sections of the constructed wetland, the characteristics of zeolite were most appropriate to accommodate a stable and active community of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The presence of the helophyte had no effect on the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing community. Significance and Impact of the Study: It has been shown that substrata used in constructed wetlands made no distinction between ammonia-oxidizing strains in relation to attachment. However, zeolite had the best performance with respect to activity over the seasons

Mountain dairy wastewater treatment with the use of a \u2018irregularly shaped\u2019 constructed wetland (Aosta Valley, Italy)

In mountain areas, economical activities related to milk processing represent both a key source of income and job opportunities. One of the main characteristics of cheese production is the seasonal variability in the volume of milk processed and wastewater production that tend to limit the capacity of ecosystems to absorb their inputs. In alpine environment, the scarcity of plain surfaces and the climatic conditions results in the need for high CW performances of variable nutrient inputs in different seasons. By evaluating a CW seasonal efficiency for dairy wastewaters in a mountain region (Aosta Valley-NW Italy), this research was aimed to understand how performances of nutrient removal could be affected by seasonal shift in temperature and loadings. Results indicate that the \u201cirregularly shaped\u201d CW, designed to fit the natural landscape, shows best organic removal efficiency in winter (93 and 96% mass removal for BOD5 in summer and winter respectively), in presence of high organic loadings and low temperatures. Even if nitrate removal is more variable during seasons (71 and 33% mass removal in summer and winter respectively) and differently affected by environmental conditions, overall performance meet the need of high removal efficiency