Characterization of colorectal adenocarcinoma sections by spatially resolved FT-IR microspectroscopy

A combination of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and microscopy, FT-IR microspectroscopy, has been used to characterize sections of human colorectal adenocarcinoma. In this report, a database of 2601 high quality FT-IR point spectra from 26 patient samples and seven different histological structures was recorded and analyzed. The computer-based analysis of the IR spectra was carried out in four steps: (1) an initial test for spectral quality, (2) data pre-processing, (3) data reduction and feature selection, and (4) classification of the tissue spectra by multivariate pattern recognition techniques such as hierarchical clustering and artificial neural network analysis. Furthermore, an example of how spectral databases can be utilized to reassemble false color images of tissue samples is presented. The overall classification accuracy attained by optimized artificial neural networks reached 95%, highlighting the great potential of FT-IR microspectroscopy as a potentially valuable, reagent-free technique for the characterization of tissue specimens. However, technical improvements and the compilation of validated spectral databases are essential prerequisites to make the infrared technique applicable to routine and experimental clinical analysis

Perceptions of academic quality and approaches to studying among disabled students and nondisabled students in distance education

There is little systematic evidence on the experience of disabled students in higher education. In this study, equal numbers of disabled and nondisabled students taking courses with the UK Open University were surveyed with regard to their approaches to studying and perceptions of the academic quality of their courses. Students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, students with mental health difficulties and students with fatigue were more likely to exhibit a surface approach and less likely to exhibit organised studying than were nondisabled students. In the first two groups, this was associated with lower ratings of the quality of their courses. Nevertheless, the differences were not large, either in absolute terms or in the proportion of variance in the students' scores that they explained. The impact of disability on students' perceptions of the academic quality of their courses and on their approaches to studying appears to be relatively slight

Student and tutor perceptions of effective tutoring in distance education

Questionnaire responses of 457 students and 602 tutors were used to investigate conceptions of a 'good tutor.' In each case, factor analysis identified scales that reflected key constructs; cluster analysis identified subgroups with different patterns of scale scores; and discriminant analysis determined the scales that contributed the most to differences among the clusters. Both sets of data yielded conceptions of tutoring that were described as task-oriented and student-oriented, respectively. The students' data yielded an additional, career-oriented conception. The tutors' data yielded two additional conceptions that were described as knowledge-oriented and impersonal, respectively. The distribution of the tutors' conceptions (but not that of the students' conceptions) varied across different faculties, suggesting that tutors from different disciplines have different beliefs about effective tutoring. The study suggests that both tutors and students would benefit from having a better appreciation of the importance of support in facilitating learnin

Features of the Z-scoring method in graphical two-dimensional web surveys: the case of ZEF

Survey, Web survey, Two-dimensionality, Standardization, Comparing,

Listening, interpretative cycles and dialogue: process design for collaborative research and development.

This paper describes the design of a process to initiate collaborative research and development (R&D) between pastoralists, researchers and advisors. The design was developed in the semi-arid rangelands of New South Wales, Australia using an action research approach. Past communication between researchers/advisors and pastoralists had been based on a polarised debate about the state of the rangeland. Conflictual, debate-based communication had become embodied in extension approaches and constrained the development of research relationships between pastoralists and researchers. An alternative theoretical framework was developed based on constructivist epistemology. The resultant design was a process in three phases: active listening, interpretative cycles, and dialogue meetings. Important considerations in realising the design were active participation, relationship building, creating mutual respect and fostering a non-threatening environment. When combined they provide an incipient methodology for developing partnerships in R&D (collaborative research) between parties trapped in debate. Careful process design is needed for research partnerships to emerge and for working together towards socially and ecologically sustainable land use