Is there value of learning analytics in MOOCs?

This paper discusses if and how learning analytics might add value to MOOCs.The EMMA and ECO projects have received funding from the European Union’s Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. EMMA under grant agreement no 621030; ECO project under grant agreement n° 21127. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the authors and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Digital terrain modelling using triangulated irregular networks (poster)

Many marine scientists and users of the sea consider knowledge of the sea bottom as basic data, a mere context to carry out research or deploy activities. Some disciplines do need more accurate bathymetric data than others, depending on depth values being background information or crucial information for their research or activities. In bathymetry, the representation of the sea bottom surface is the main objective and hence, this discipline will try to render the sea bottom relief as accurate as possible. The latest bathymetric sounding equipment that is available nowadays, especially the multibeam echosounder, yield a very dense bottom sampling. When compared to the common singlebeam echosounder, an enormous amount of data is produced that needs to be processed in a correct and fast way. Grid-overlay (by local linear or more sophisticated interpolation and attributing values to individual grid cells) is not an option here as this method uses an interpolation of the measured values and hence will either cause accuracy loss or generate a still larger amount of data. A triangular irregular network (TIN for short), especially the Delaunay triangulation (Dt), does respect the actual measurements and will not generate new data. In literature, a number of algorithms have been developed that determine the Dt of a set of points (vertices) given in the plane.A performant divide-and-conquer algorithm for Delaunay triangulations was implemented to triangulate large quantities of data in minimum time. Comparison with other implemented algorithms demonstrates its excellent performance.In some cases, it will be necessary to adapt the terrain model. Theoretical terrain models (for instance design models for marine contractors) require manual interventions, while new surveys partially overlapping old data will have to replace the latter. Therefore, the incremental algorithm has been adapted to allow insertion of individual points. When eliminating individual vertices, the hole thus created has to be retriangulated. Vertices belonging to a triangulation that is (partially) covered by a new surveyed area can be eliminated and using a very keen adaptation of the divide-and-conquer principle, the overlapping triangulations can be stitched together. This is a novel technique with the big advantage of quickly and seamlessly joining two large triangulations, without the need for retriangulation of the entire area.Part of the immense amount of data generated by a multibeam echosounder will unavoidably be redundant. An important issue therefore will be: filtering these data, keeping those points that still assure an optimal accuracy. This accuracy can be expressed as a function of the topography or as a function of the volume. For the latter, not the height difference determines whether or not a vertex is allowed in the triangulation, the criterion is rather the change in volume caused by this one vertex. For marine contractors, it is mainly the latter that is important. A hybrid model would be most adequate

Sampling and Analysis Plan Waste Treatment Plant Seismic Boreholes Project.

This sampling and analysis plan (SAP) describes planned data collection activities for four entry boreholes through the sediment overlying the Saddle Mountains Basalt, up to three new deep rotary boreholes through the Saddle Mountains Basalt and sedimentary interbeds, and one corehole through the Saddle Mountains Basalt and sedimentary interbeds at the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) site. The SAP will be used in concert with the quality assurance plan for the project to guide the procedure development and data collection activities needed to support borehole drilling, geophysical measurements, and sampling. This SAP identifies the American Society of Testing Materials standards, Hanford Site procedures, and other guidance to be followed for data collection activities. Revision 3 incorporates all interim change notices (ICN) that were issued to Revision 2 prior to completion of sampling and analysis activities for the WTP Seismic Boreholes Project. This revision also incorporates changes to the exact number of samples submitted for dynamic testing as directed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Revision 3 represents the final version of the SAP

Studying in a Virtual Mobility Context:An International Pilot in the Domain of Educational Science

nonPeerReviewe

Site-Specific Velocity and Density Model for the Waste Treatment Plant, Hanford, Washington.

This report documents the work conducted under the SBP to develop a shear wave and compressional wave velocity and density model specific to the WTP site. Section 2 provides detailed background information on the WTP site and its underlying geology as well as on the Seismic Boreholes Project activities leading up to the Vs and Vp measurements. In Section 3, methods employed and results obtained are documented for measurements of Vs and Vp velocities in basalts and interbeds. Section 4 provides details on velocity measurements in the sediments underlying the WTP. Borehole gravity measurements of density of the subsurface basalt and sediments are described in Section 5. Section 6 describes the analysis of data presented in section 3-5, and presents the overall velocity and density model for the WTP site

An embedded approach to plagiarism detection using the TeSLA e-authentication system

Plagiarism continues to remain an ever-present issue throughout academia. It is an anathema to scholarly enterprise, where the proper attribution of the work of others is of fundamental importance. Teaching students the importance of citing and referencing the work of others, and how to correctly do so, is therefore an important role for academic institutions. It is insufficient to teach these things without assessing students’ learning. Effective and accessible tools that can assist in teaching and assessment are sought and are increasingly being developed. This paper describes a new tool designed to assess levels of plagiarism in students’ submitted work and considers its affordances alongside other established tools. TeSLA is an EU funded project that brings eighteen partners together for the development of an embedded suite of tools to deliver the seamless e-authentication of students as they complete online assessments. Within the suite is a plagiarism detection tool that analyses documents and text on submission and provides immediate output. We show that the TeSLA plagiarism detection tool highlights potential collusion, a form of plagiarism. Also, we discuss whether the embedded nature of the TeSLA system could be used to improve constructive alignment between teaching and assessment within modules

U1/U2 crib groundwater biological treatment demonstration project

The primary objective of the biological treatment project is to develop and demonstrate a process for Hanford groundwater remediation. Biodenitrification using facultative anaerobic microorganisms is a promising technology for the simultaneous removal of nitrates and organics from contaminated aqueous streams. During FY 1988, a consortium of Hanford groundwater microorganisms was shown to degrade both nitrates and carbon tetrachloride (CC1{sub 4}). A pilot-scale treatment system was designed and constructed based on the results of laboratory-and-bench-scale testing. This report summarizes the results of biological groundwater treatment studies performed during FY 1989 at the pilot-scale. These tests were conducted using a simulated Hanford groundwater with a continuous stirred-tank bioreactor, and a fluidized-bed bioreactor that was added to the pilot-scale treatment system in FY 1989. The pilot-scale system demonstrated continuous degradation of nitrates and CC1{sub 4} in a simulated groundwater. 4 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab

A rare missense mutation in <i>GJB3</i> (Cx31G45E) is associated with a unique cellular phenotype resulting in necrotic cell death

Erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva (EKV-P) is caused by mutations in either the GJB3 (Cx31) or GJB4 genes (Cx30.3). We identified a rare GJB3 missense mutation, c.134G>A (p.G45E), in two unrelated patients and investigated its cellular characteristics. Expression of Cx31G45E-GFP caused previously undescribed changes within HeLa cells and HaCaT cells, a model human keratinocyte cell line. Cx31WT-GFP localised to the plasma membrane, but expression of Cx31G45E-GFP caused vacuolar expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the mutant protein accumulated within the ER membrane and disassembly of the microtubular network occurred. No ER stress responses were evoked. Cx31WT-myc-myc-6xHis and Cx31G45E-GFP co-immunoprecipitated, indicative of heteromeric interaction, but co-expression with Cx31WT-mCherry, Cx26 or Cx30.3 did not mitigate the phenotype. Cx31 and Cx31G45E both co-immunoprecipitated with Cx43, indicating the ability to form heteromeric connexons. WT-Cx31 and Cx43 assembled into large gap junction plaques at points of cell-to-cell contact; Cx31G45E restricted the ability of Cx43 to reach the plasma membrane in both HaCaT cells and HeLa cells stably expressing Cx43 where the proteins strongly co-localised with the vacolourised ER. Cell viability assays identified an increase in cell death in cells expressing Cx31G45E-GFP, which FACS analysis determined was necrotic. Blocking connexin channel function with 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid did not completely rescue necrosis or prevent propidium iodide uptake, suggesting that expression of Cx31G45E-GFP damages the cellular membrane independent of its channel function. Our data suggest that entrapment of Cx43 and necrotic cell death in the epidermis could underlie the EKV skin phenotype

Small CRISPR RNAs guide antiviral defense in prokaryotes

Prokaryotes acquire virus resistance by integrating short fragments of viral nucleic acid into clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). Here we show how virus-derived sequences contained in CRISPRs are used by CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins from the host to mediate an antiviral response that counteracts infection. After transcription of the CRISPR, a complex of Cas proteins termed Cascade cleaves a CRISPR RNA precursor in each repeat and retains the cleavage products containing the virus-derived sequence. Assisted by the helicase Cas3, these mature CRISPR RNAs then serve as small guide RNAs that enable Cascade to interfere with virus proliferation. Our results demonstrate that the formation of mature guide RNAs by the CRISPR RNA endonuclease subunit of Cascade is a mechanistic requirement for antiviral defense