Evaluation of the Learning Path Specification

Janssen, J., Berlanga, A. J., & Koper, R. (2011). Evaluation of the Learning Path Specification. International Journal of Educational Technology and Society, 14(3), 218–230.Flexible lifelong learning requires that learners can compare and select learning paths that best meet individual needs, not just in terms of learning goals, but also in terms of planning, costs etc. To this end a learning path specification was developed, which enables to describe both the contents and the structure of any learning path, be it formal, non-formal, informal, or indeed a combination of these. This paper briefly explains the learning path specification and its purpose to then present a framework for the evaluation of the specification based on theories of model quality. A study of learner choice processes (n=15) was carried out to investigate the specification’s semantic and pragmatic quality (clarity, completeness and parsimony) with respect to the selection of a learning path. Results indicate that the specification does not contain any redundant information. Instead, the study has led to improvement of the specification’s (feasible) completeness by further refinement of scheduling information.The work on this publication has been sponsored by the TENCompetence Integrated Project that is funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme, priority IST/Technology Enhanced Learning. Contract 027087 [http://www.tencompetence.org

Arterial complications, venous thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review

AIM To summarize the current knowledge on vascular complications and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed publisher, and Google scholar medical literature databases were searched up to November 10, 2015. Any arthroscopic surgical method of primary or revision intra-articular ACL reconstruction of all graft types in humans was included. A risk of bias assessment was determined. RESULTS Fourty-seven studies were included in the review. Pseudaneurysms were the most frequently reported arterial complication after ACL reconstruction, irrespective of graft type or method of graft fixation with an incidence of 0.3%. The time to diagnosis of arterial complications after ACL reconstruction varied from days to mostly weeks but even years. After ACL reconstruction without thromboprophylaxis, the incidence of DVT was 9.7%, of which 2.1% was symptomatic. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was 0.1%. Tourniquet time > 2 h was related to venous thromboembolism. Thromboprophylaxis is indicated in patients with risk factors for venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSION After ACL reconstruction, the incidence of arterial complications, symptomatic DVT and pulmonary embolism was 0.3%, 2.1% and 0.1% respectively. Arterial complications may occur with all types of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, methods of graft fixation as well as any type of graft. Patients considered to be at moderate or high risk of venous thromboembolism should routinely receive thromboprophylaxis after ACL reconstruction

Environmental toxicants in breast milk of Norwegian mothers and gut bacteria composition and metabolites in their infants at 1 month.

BACKGROUND:Early disruption of the microbial community may influence life-long health. Environmental toxicants can contaminate breast milk and the developing infant gut microbiome is directly exposed. We investigated whether environmental toxicants in breastmilk affect the composition and function of the infant gut microbiome at 1 month. We measured environmental toxicants in breastmilk, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gut microbial composition from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using samples from 267 mother-child pairs in the Norwegian Microbiota Cohort (NoMIC). We tested 28 chemical exposures: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated flame retardants (PBDEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and organochlorine pesticides. We assessed chemical exposure and alpha diversity/SCFAs using elastic net regression modeling and generalized linear models, adjusting for confounders, and variation in beta diversity (UniFrac), taxa abundance (ANCOM), and predicted metagenomes (PiCRUSt) in low, medium, and high exposed groups. RESULTS:PBDE-28 and the surfactant perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were associated with less microbiome diversity. Some sub-OTUs of Lactobacillus, an important genus in early life, were lower in abundance in samples from infants with relative "high" (> 80th percentile) vs. "low" (< 20th percentile) toxicant exposure in this cohort. Moreover, breast milk toxicants were associated with microbiome functionality, explaining up to 34% of variance in acetic and propionic SCFAs, essential signaling molecules. Per one standard deviation of exposure, PBDE-28 was associated with less propionic acid (- 24% [95% CI - 35% to - 14%] relative to the mean), and PCB-209 with less acetic acid (- 15% [95% CI - 29% to - 0.4%]). Conversely, PFOA and dioxin-like PCB-167 were associated with 61% (95% CI 35% to 87%) and 22% (95% CI 8% to 35%) more propionic and acetic acid, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Environmental toxicant exposure may influence infant gut microbial function during a critical developmental window. Future studies are needed to replicate these novel findings and investigate whether this has any impact on child health

Towards a learning path specification

Janssen, J., Berlanga, A., Vogten, H. and Koper, R. (2007). Towards a learning path specification. Proceedings of the ePortfolio 2007 Conference. October, 17-19, 2007, Maastricht, The Netherlands. [See also http://hdl.handle.net/1820/1680 ]Flexible lifelong learning requires comparability and exchangeability of courses, programmes and other types of learning actions both in a national and international context. To this end a uniform and meaningful way to describe learning paths is needed. This paper identifies the requirements for a learning path specification drawing on a study of literature in the field of curriculum design and lifelong learning, and on recent initiatives aimed to enhance comparability and exchangeability of learning actions. Mapping these requirements on two existing specifications designed to describe learning programmes, XCRI and IMS-LD, leads to the conclusion that IMS-LD more broadly fulfils the requirements because it has a generic way to define completion of learning paths as well as an expression language to describe all kinds of conditions. A learning path model is presented identifying the main elements of a learning path specification.The work on this publication has been sponsored by the TENCompetence Integrated Project that is funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme, priority IST/Technology Enhanced Learning. Contract 027087 [http://www.tencompetence.org

Modelling routes towards learning goals

Citation: Tattersall, C., Janssen, J., van den Berg, B., & Koper, R. (2006). Modelling routes towards learning goals. Campus Wide Information Systems, 23(5), 312-324.The traditional notion of the curriculum as a fixed list of topics to be studied sequentially is undergoing change informed by constructivist theories. However, abandoning the notion of the curriculum as a study plan raises the need to help learners in understanding both where they stand with respect to their desired competences and how these competences can be attained. This article presents a formal model for the description of routes to learning goals, designed to underpin guidance support systems for learners. The article compares the model to other work in the area, illustrates its application with a number of case studies and concludes with a discussion of the broader e-learning infrastructure required in implementing the approach

Simultaneous amplicon sequencing to explore co- occurrence patterns of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic microorganisms in rumen microbial communities

Ruminants rely on a complex rumen microbial community to convert dietary plant material to energy-yielding products. Here we developed a method to simultaneously analyze the community's bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes, ciliate 18S rRNA genes and anaerobic fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 genes using 12 DNA samples derived from 11 different rumen samples from three host species (Ovis aries, Bos taurus, Cervus elephas) and multiplex 454 Titanium pyrosequencing. We show that the mixing ratio of the group-specific DNA templates before emulsion PCR is crucial to compensate for differences in amplicon length. This method, in contrast to using a non-specific universal primer pair, avoids sequencing non-targeted DNA, such as plant- or endophyte-derived rRNA genes, and allows increased or decreased levels of community structure resolution for each microbial group as needed. Communities analyzed with different primers always grouped by sample origin rather than by the primers used. However, primer choice had a greater impact on apparent archaeal community structure than on bacterial community structure, and biases for certain methanogen groups were detected. Co-occurrence analysis of microbial taxa from all three domains of life suggested strong within- and between-domain correlations between different groups of microorganisms within the rumen. The approach used to simultaneously characterize bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic components of a microbiota should be applicable to other communities occupying diverse habitats

Studieadvies op basis van zelforganisatie: Dynamische wegwijzers in een veranderend onderwijslandschap

Van den Berg, B., Tattersall, C., Janssen, J., Van Es, R., & Koper, R. (2006). Studieadvies op basis van zelforganisatie: Dynamische wegwijzers in een veranderend onderwijslandschap. Unpublished manuscriptStudenten kunnen tegenwoordig kiezen uit een steeds groter aanbod van cursussen en trainingen, die vaak in de vorm van losse modules op verschillende manieren aan elkaar geschakeld kunnen worden. Dit biedt veel voordelen maar vormt ook de basis voor een keuzeprobleem: wat is de meest effectieve weg naar mijn doel? Dit artikel beschrijft de software architectuur die is ontworpen om Life-Long-Learners te ondersteunen bij het kiezen van hun leerpad in een leernetwerk. Deze architectuur sluit aan bij theorieën over zelforganisatie en indirecte sociale communicatie. De architectuur omvat de opslag, verwerking en presentatie van collectief studiegedrag en verschaft informatie over succesvolle leerpaden van medestudenten aan studenten die een vervolgkeuze voor hun studie maken. Er wordt een implementatie beschreven van een leernetwerk en verslag gedaan van de uitkomsten van een experiment met dit prototype. De resultaten leiden tot de conclusie dat er door het geven van een advies convergentie van leerpaden optreedt en dat de studenten die een studieadvies krijgen effectiever zijn

Совместная обработка траекторно измерительной информации при испытаниях сложных информационно-управляющих систем

Рассмотрен метод траекторных измерений, использующий совместную обработку измерительной информации, полученной от полигонных средств внешнетраекторных измерений и специальной бортовой измерительной аппаратуры при натурных испытаниях сложных информационно-управляющих систем на местах их постоянной дислокации.A method of trajectory measurements, which uses a joint processing of the measuring data, obtained from the proving ground means of external trajectory measurements and special onboard measuring equipment with the full-scale tests of the complex information-control systems at their constant disposition is considered