Implementing online language exams within the Spanish National University Entrance Examination: The PAULEX Universitas Project

[EN] This paper describes the PAULEX Universitas Project, an online system to design, deliver and assess the foreign language exam that is an integral part of the Spanish national university entrance examination. The foreign language exam is compulsory for all students who wish to enrol in higher education. Students can choose to take one of the following language exams: English, French, German, Italian or Portuguese. Every year, approximately 27,000 students take the university exam simultaneously in the Valencian Community (comprised of 3 provinces: Alicante, Castellón and Valencia) and over 25,000 of these take the English language exam. The paper describes the context in which this university entrance exam takes place, with reference to the current changes in Spanish ministerial policies. Illustrations from the platform are included, as well as a discussion on issues relating to the system's management tools, data security and user interaction. The paper concludes by presenting some of the results obtained from a pilot experience conducted in Valencia with more than 200 students and by addressing a number of difficulties encountered concerning the implementation of the PAULEX online examination platform regionally.S687234

Large scale multimedia production management: from strategic planning to six sigma

[EN] Project portfolio management of large scale multimedia production emerges today as a challenge both for the enrichment of traditional classroom teaching and for distance education. Strategic planning of projects involves developing methodologies, reference models and processes while organising project management offices (PMOs) in the perspective of optimising the use of available resources in an organization. In this way, this paper presents a proposal of a project management model for digital content production for educational purposes named EduPMO, an abbreviation of "Educational Project Management Office". The paper includes a discussion on how to pair Six Sigma with project management best practices as a way to improve processes. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin UzunboyluAmorim, JA.; De-Siqueira, J.; Martínez Sáez, A. (2012). Large scale multimedia production management: from strategic planning to six sigma. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 46:1430-1434. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.315S143014344

Experimentación de las soluciones tecnológicas del proyecto Paulex para optimizar la prueba de inglés del examen de acceso a la universidad en España

[ES] Este trabajo gira en torno a la experimentación inicial de las soluciones propuestas por la Plataforma PAUER-PAULEX para la realización de las Pruebas de de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU) en España a través de Internet. PAUER es una plataforma dedicada a la evaluación de lenguas extranjeras que integra las tecnologías de la información y de las comunicaciones (TIC) en la enseñanza y en la evaluación de conocimientos. La plataforma es uno de los principales resultados del proyecto de investigación Paulex-Universitas, cuyo objetivo es analizar las diversas posibilidades que ofrecen las TIC para la creación, realización y corrección del examen de lengua extranjera de las PAU. En este artículo, se presentan los resultados de la experimentación de campo en la que se han utilizado técnicas de observación cualitativa. En este proceso han participado cerca de 280 estudiantes de segundo de bachillerato, profesores e investigadores. Esta experimentación ha concluido que las pruebas informatizadas pueden ser una alternativa válida al examen actual en papel y bolígrafo, pese a las dificultades que se han encontrado.[EN] This paper deals with the initial experimentation in search of technological solutions for the PAUER-PAULEX platform for the delivery of the University Entrance Examination (PAU) in Spain via the Internet. PAUER is a computer platform used for foreign language assessment that integrates the information and communications technologies (ICT). The platform is one of the main outcomes of the Paulex-Universitas research project of which the main goal is to analyse the feasibility of ICT in the creation, development and rating of the foreign language exam in PAU. The paper presents the results of the field study for which a qualitative approach has been used. 280 students in their last high school year, as well as teachers and researchers, have taken part in this process. The experimentation concludes that the computer-based tests can be a valid alternative to the current pen and paper test despite the constraints encountered.García Laborda, J.; Gimeno Sanz, A.; De-Siqueira, J. (2011). Experimentación de las soluciones tecnológicas del proyecto Paulex para optimizar la prueba de inglés del examen de acceso a la universidad en España. ETD - Educação Temática Digital. 12(2):1-11. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/29634S11112

Generating fuzzy rules by learning from olive tree transpiration measurement - An algorithm to automatize Granier sap flow data analysis

The present study aims at developing an intelligent system of automating data analysis and prediction embedded in a fuzzy logic algorithm (FAUSY) to capture the relationship between environmental variables and sap flow measurements (Granier method). Environmental thermal gradients often interfere with Granier sap flow measurements since this method uses heat as a tracer, thus introducing a bias in transpiration flux calculation. The FAUSY algorithm is applied to solve measurement problems and provides an approximate and yet effective way of finding the relationship between the environmental variables and the natural temperature gradient (NTG), which is too complex or too ill-defined for precise mathematical analysis. In the process, FAUSY extracts the relationships from a set of input–output environmental observations, thus general directions for algorithm-based machine learning in fuzzy systems are outlined. Through an iterative procedure, the algorithm plays with the learning or forecasting via a simulated model. After a series of error control iterations, the outcome of the algorithm may become highly refined and be able to evolve into a more formal structure of rules, facilitating the automation of Granier sap flow data analysis. The system presented herein simulates the occurrence of NTG with reasonable accuracy, with an average residual error of 2.53% for sap flux rate, when compared to data processing performed in the usual way. For practical applications, this is an acceptable margin of error given that FAUSY could correct NTG errors up to an average of 76% of the normal manual correction process. In this sense, FAUSY provides a powerful and flexible way of establishing the relationships between the environment and NTG occurrencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Regeneration Profile in Treated B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients:Association with MRD Status and Patient Outcome

SIMPLE SUMMARY: For the last 20 years, measurable residual disease (MRD) has proven to be a strong prognostic factor in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, the effects of therapy on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and their potential relationship with MRD and patient outcome still remain to be evaluated. Here, we show that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial cells (EC) are constantly present at relatively low frequencies in normal BM and in most follow-up BM samples from treated BCP-ALL patients. Of note, their levels are independent of the MRD status. From the prognostic point of view, an increased percentage of EC among stromal cells (EC plus MSC) at day +78 of therapy was associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS), independently of the MRD status both in childhood and in adult BCP-ALL. Thus, an abnormally high EC/MSC distribution at day +78 of therapy emerges as an adverse prognostic factor, independent of MRD in BCP-ALL. ABSTRACT: For the last two decades, measurable residual disease (MRD) has become one of the most powerful independent prognostic factors in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, the effect of therapy on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and its potential relationship with the MRD status and disease free survival (DFS) still remain to be investigated. Here we analyzed the distribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial cells (EC) in the BM of treated BCP-ALL patients, and its relationship with the BM MRD status and patient outcome. For this purpose, the BM MRD status and EC/MSC regeneration profile were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in 16 control BM (10 children; 6 adults) and 1204 BM samples from 347 children and 100 adult BCP-ALL patients studied at diagnosis (129 children; 100 adults) and follow-up (824 childhood samples; 151 adult samples). Patients were grouped into a discovery cohort (116 pediatric BCP-ALL patients; 338 samples) and two validation cohorts (74 pediatric BCP-ALL, 211 samples; and 74 adult BCP-ALL patients; 134 samples). Stromal cells (i.e., EC and MSC) were detected at relatively low frequencies in all control BM (16/16; 100%) and in most BCP-ALL follow-up samples (874/975; 90%), while they were undetected in BCP-ALL BM at diagnosis. In control BM samples, the overall percentage of EC plus MSC was higher in children than adults (p = 0.011), but with a similar EC/MSC ratio in both groups. According to the MRD status similar frequencies of both types of BM stromal cells were detected in BCP-ALL BM studied at different time points during the follow-up. Univariate analysis (including all relevant prognostic factors together with the percentage of stromal cells) performed in the discovery cohort was used to select covariates for a multivariate Cox regression model for predicting patient DFS. Of note, an increased percentage of EC (>32%) within the BCP-ALL BM stromal cell compartment at day +78 of therapy emerged as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for DFS in childhood BCP-ALL in the discovery cohort—hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.50 (1–9.66); p = 0.05—together with the BM MRD status (p = 0.031). Further investigation of the predictive value of the combination of these two variables (%EC within stromal cells and MRD status at day +78) allowed classification of BCP-ALL into three risk groups with median DFS of: 3.9, 3.1 and 1.1 years, respectively (p = 0.001). These results were confirmed in two validation cohorts of childhood BCP-ALL (n = 74) (p = 0.001) and adult BCP-ALL (n = 40) (p = 0.004) treated at different centers. In summary, our findings suggest that an imbalanced EC/MSC ratio in BM at day +78 of therapy is associated with a shorter DFS of BCP-ALL patients, independently of their MRD status. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved