The Online Evaluation of Courses: Impact on Participation Rates and Evaluation Scores

At one of Ontario’s largest universities, the University of Ottawa, course evaluations involve about 6,000 course sections and over 43,000 students every year. This paper-based format requires over 1,000,000 sheets of paper, 20,000 envelopes, and the support of dozens of administrative staff members. To examine the impact of a shift to an online system for the evaluation of courses, the following study sought to compare participation rates and evaluation scores of an online and paper-based course evaluation system. Results from a pilot group of 10,417 students registered in 318 courses suggest an average decrease in participation rate of 12–15% when using an online system. No significant differences in evaluation scores were observed. Instructors and students alike shared positive reviews about the online system; however, they suggested that an in-class period be maintained for the electronic completion of course evaluations.  À l’Université d’Ottawa, une des plus grandes universités de l’Ontario, les évaluations de cours impliquent quelques 6 000 cours et plus de 43 000 étudiants chaque année. Plus d’un million de feuilles de papier, 20 000 enveloppes et le soutien de quelques douzaines d’employés sont nécessaires à la tâche. Pour étudier les répercussions de la transition vers un système d’évaluation en ligne, l’étude présentée visait à comparer les taux de participation et les résultats d’évaluation d’un système en ligne et d’un système manuel (papier). Les résultats d’un groupe pilote composé de 10 417 étudiants, inscrits à 318 cours, suggèrent une diminution des taux de participation moyens de 12 à 15 % avec l’utilisation du système en ligne, mais aucune différence significative dans les résultats d’évaluation n’a été observée. Par ailleurs, professeurs et étudiants ont émis des commentaires positifs sur le système en ligne, mais ont suggéré de maintenir une courte période en classe pour que les étudiants remplissent l’évaluation de leur cours en ligne

Bridge deck runoff control trough drainage, treatment and irrigation system: The case study of the bridge Ostruznica over the Sava river

The paper presents main design project of the bridge Ostruznica deck drainage and runoff treatment. An integral solution of drainage and irrigation and/or discharge water into the Sava river of pre - treated runoff from the portion of highway Dobanovci – Bubanj Potok and the bridge The treated water is taken for irrigation into the groundwater as a recharge, along the series of wells for potable water within sanitary protection zone of the Belgrade Water supply system. The first flush of the criteria rainfall runoff volume is to be pre - treated using a StormwaterR barrels. Such a solution is considered as an additional water source at the aquifer by the rivers’ banks. Also, it is a measure of water cycle improvement. The project is completed by a SwermR preventing system for accidental situation, such as leakage or accidents of vehicles and potential pollution and risks of vulnerability for the potablewater wells

Tailored enrichment strategy detects low abundant small noncoding RNAs in HIV-1 infected cells

BACKGROUND: The various classes of small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression across divergent types of organisms. While a rapidly increasing number of sncRNAs has been identified over recent years, the isolation of sncRNAs of low abundance remains challenging. Virally encoded sncRNAs, particularly those of RNA viruses, can be expressed at very low levels. This is best illustrated by HIV-1 where virus encoded sncRNAs represent approximately 0.1-1.0% of all sncRNAs in HIV-1 infected cells or were found to be undetected. Thus, we applied a novel, sequence targeted enrichment strategy to capture HIV-1 derived sncRNAs in HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T-lymphocytes and macrophages that allows a greater than 100-fold enrichment of low abundant sncRNAs. RESULTS: Eight hundred and ninety-two individual HIV-1 sncRNAs were cloned and sequenced from nine different sncRNA libraries derived from five independent experiments. These clones represent up to 90% of all sncRNA clones in the generated libraries. Two hundred and sixteen HIV-1 sncRNAs were distinguishable as unique clones. They are spread throughout the HIV-1 genome, however, forming certain clusters, and almost 10% show an antisense orientation. The length of HIV-1 sncRNAs varies between 16 and 89 nucleotides with an unexpected peak at 31 to 50 nucleotides, thus, longer than cellular microRNAs or short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Exemplary HIV-1 sncRNAs were also generated in cells infected with different primary HIV-1 isolates and can inhibit HIV-1 replication. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 infected cells generate virally encoded sncRNAs, which might play a role in the HIV-1 life cycle. Furthermore, the enormous capacity to enrich low abundance sncRNAs in a sequence specific manner highly recommends our selection strategy for any type of investigation where origin or target sequences of the sought-after sncRNAs are known

Search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

A search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed in the mass range from 130 GeV to 3 TeV, and for various width scenarios. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Z boson pair decays are reconstructed using the 4ℓ, 2ℓ2q, and 2ℓ2ν final states, where ℓ = e or μ. Both gluon fusion and electroweak production of the scalar resonance are considered, with a free parameter describing their relative cross sections. A dedicated categorization of events, based on the kinematic properties of associated jets, and matrix element techniques are employed for an optimal signal and background separation. A description of the interference between signal and background amplitudes for a resonance of an arbitrary width is included. No significant excess of events with respect to the standard model expectation is observed and limits are set on the product of the cross section for a new scalar boson and the branching fraction for its decay to ZZ for a large range of masses and widths.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2018, The Author(s).Erratum notice: [https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP03(2019)128

Measurement of electroweak production of a W boson in association with two jets in proton–proton collisions at √s=13Te

A measurement is presented of electroweak (EW) production of a W boson in association with two jets in proton–proton collisions at s=13Te. The data sample was recorded by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9fb-1. The measurement is performed for the ℓνjj final state (with ℓν indicating a lepton–neutrino pair, and j representing the quarks produced in the hard interaction) in a kinematic region defined by invariant mass mjj>120Ge and transverse momenta pTj>25Ge. The cross section of the process is measured in the electron and muon channels yielding σEW(Wjj)=6.23±0.12(stat)±0.61(syst)pb per channel, in agreement with leading-order standard model predictions. The additional hadronic activity of events in a signal-enriched region is studied, and the measurements are compared with predictions. The final state is also used to perform a search for anomalous trilinear gauge couplings. Limits on anomalous trilinear gauge couplings associated with dimension-six operators are given in the framework of an effective field theory. The corresponding 95% confidence level intervals are -2.3<cWWW/Λ2<2.5Te-2, -8.8<cW/Λ2<16Te-2, and -45<cB/Λ2<46Te-2. These results are combined with the CMS EW Zjj analysis, yielding the constraint on the cW W W coupling: -1.8<cWWW/Λ2<2.0Te-2

Preparedness of SUCs in CALABARZON in the Implementation of Flexible Learning in the New Normal

The study was an attempt to provide an assessment on the level of preparedness of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in CALABARZON in the implementation of flexible learning in the new normal. The study also looked into the significant differences between the perceived assessment of the faculty members and students on the SUC’s level of preparedness on the implementation of flexible learning in the new normal; priority areas/skills which the SUCs should consider and strategies which may be proposed in the implementation of flexible learning. This study utilized mix-method of research design. Responses were obtained using a researcher-made questionnaire and were interpreted using statistical tools such as Mean and Mann-Whitney U Test. The findings revealed that the level of preparedness of SUCs in CALABARZON in the implementation of Flexible Learning in the New Normal was verbally interpreted as “Prepared” as perceived by both faculty and student respondents. It was further revealed that there is a significant difference between the assessment of the faculty members and students on the SUC’s level of preparedness on the implementation of flexible learning in the new normal.  The corpus of data revealed 10 themes that account for the priority areas/skills vis a vis strategies for the implementation of flexible learning in the new normal from the perspectives of the faculty and students of SUCs in the region. The themes could be summarized into 10 thematic areas that are crucial in the implementation of flexible learning in the new normal: 1) student competency; 2) health and well-being; 3) student support and information; 4) course design; 5) pedagogy; 6) professional development; 7) assessment; 8) organization; 9) resources, and 10) school-community partnerships and linkages. These themes led to a knowledge creation of Flexible Learning Framework in the context of higher education in the new normal.  There is need for SUCs to strengthen the implementation of flexible learning that entails opportunities to reshape education; learning delivery and the operation of educational institutions