Student Evaluations Of Online Classes Versus On-Campus Classes

Some schools have reported that student evaluations of teaching for online/Internet classes are significantly lower that the evaluations given for traditional/on-campus classes.  While many institutions appear to use the same (or similar) rating forms for online and on-campus classes, some people question the validity of using forms designed for on-campus classes to evaluate online classes.   The authors of this paper contend that the same general characteristics of effective teaching apply equally to online and on-campus courses.  However, students in online classes interpret these factors differently when evaluating the instructor (e.g., the relative importance of the instructor's oral versus written communication skills is different in online versus on-campus courses).   Specifically, this paper identifies ten factors that are frequently measured by student evaluation forms: (1) Knowledge of the Subject, (2) Communication Skills/Ability, (3) Enthusiasm for the Subject, (4) Encouragement of Student Participation, (5) Rapport with Students, (6) Fairness in Grading, (7) Timeliness in Providing Feedback, (8) Organization of Class, (9) Adequacy of Textbook and Other Learning Materials, and (10) Instructor's Preparation for Class.  The paper then discusses the differences between how online and on-campus students may interpret these factors when completing student evaluations.  The paper concludes with suggestions for improving student evaluations of online classes

Neutron-rich rare isotope production from projectile fission of heavy beams in the energy range of 20 MeV/nucleon

We investigate the possibilities of producing neutron-rich nuclides in projectile fission of heavy beams in the energy range of 20 MeV/nucleon expected from low-energy facilities. We report our efforts to theoretically describe the reaction mechanism of projectile fission following a multinucleon transfer collision at this energy range. Our calculations are mainly based on a two-step approach: the dynamical stage of the collision is described with either the phenomenological Deep-Inelastic Transfer model (DIT), or with the microscopic Constrained Molecular Dynamics model (CoMD). The deexcitation/fission of the hot heavy projectile fragments is performed with the Statistical Mul- tifragmentation Model (SMM). We compared our model calculations with our previous experimental projectile-fission data of 238U (20 MeV/nucleon)+208Pb and 197Au (20 MeV/nucleon)+197Au and found an overall reasonable agreement. Our study suggests that projectile fission following periph- eral heavy-ion collisions at this energy range offers an effective route to access very neutron-rich rare isotopes toward and beyond the astrophysical r-process path

Factors determining clinical outcomes in intussusception in the developing world: Experience from Johannesburg, South Africa

Background. Rates of open reduction of intussusception were noted to be unacceptably high during an institutional internal audit.Objectives. To determine the impact of revised protocols to better select patients for pneumatic reduction (PR), and document associated morbidity and mortality, and the factors that affect the above.Methods. Medical records of patients between 3 months and 3 years of age presenting to the Department of Paediatric Surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2007 to 2010 were reviewed. Determining factors, including duration of symptoms, admission C reactive protein (CRP) level and weight, were analysed against clinical outcomes, notably PR, bowel resection, relook laparotomy and death.Results. A total of 97 cases were suitable for inclusion. In 62 of these (63.9%), PR was attempted; this was successful in 32 cases (51.6%), giving an overall successful PR rate of 33.0%. In 7 of the 62 patients, a pneumoperitoneum was documented during the reduction attempt. Of the 65 patients who underwent surgery, 53 required intestinal resection and 12 had spontaneous or manual reduction. Ileostomy was necessary in 9 patients, and 7 required relook laparotomy. The overall mortality rate was 9.1%. Averages of ‘determining factors’ assessed against clinical outcome were as follows: mean weight (standard deviation (SD)) 7.4 (4.3) kg, mean duration of symptoms (DOS) 3.0 (SD 2.2) days, and admission CRP level 50.9 mg/L (range 1 - 249.3). Prolonged DOS and a raised CRP level predicted a poor outcome.Conclusions. Despite marked improvements in management and PR outcomes, intussusception remains associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prolonged DOS and an elevated CRP predict worse outcomes. The use of these markers in association with clinical factors may assist management decisions, specifically with regard to operative or non-operative management. Awareness and education are key to prompt presentation and early diagnosis. Well-defined protocols introduced at all points of contact ensure early recognition and resuscitation as well as prompt referral for definitive management

Projected Surface Raidiative Forcing Due to 2000-2050 Land-cover Land-use Albedo Change Over the Eastern United States

Satellite-derived contemporary land-cover land-use (LCLU) and albedo data and modeled future LCLU are used to study the impact of LCLU change from 2000 to 2050 on surface albedo and radiative forcing for 19 ecoregions in the eastern United States. The modeled 2000–2050 LCLU changes indicate a future decrease in both agriculture and forested land and an increase in developed land that induces ecoregion radiative forcings ranging from −0.175 to 0.432 W m−2 driven predominately by differences in the area and type of LCLU change. At the regional scale, these projected LCLU changes induce a net negative albedo decrease (−0.001) and a regional positive radiative forcing of 0.112Wm−2. This overall positive forcing (i.e., warming) is almost 4 times greater than that estimated for documented 1973–2000 LCLU albedo change published in a previous study using the same methods