Reengineering Undergraduate Teaching by Introducing Internet Based Learning Information Systems

This paper illustrates how internet-based learning information systems can be used to reengineer undergraduate teaching in the age of mass higher education. We describe current problems of undergraduate teaching by using an example of an introductory course in information technology at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. We argue that an internet-based learning information system supports specialisation, quality assurance and knowledge management. This paper also shows how internet-based learning information systems in combination with a re-organised teaching process leads to a more effective organisation. Obstacles to reengineering undergraduate teaching resulting from the legal framework are examined

Trans laws and constitutional rulings in Belgium : the ambiguous relations between sex and gender

In this article we reflect upon the evolution from the Belgian trans law of 2007 to those of 2017 and beyond, giving adult citizens the possibility to have their self-determined gender legally recognised. The 2019 ruling of the Belgian Constitutional Court, condemning the Belgian State for being discriminatory against gender fluid and gender non-binary persons regarding their legal gender recognition, requires the Belgian government to either add a third legal option or to abolish gender registration altogether. We analyse the definitions of sex and gender that underlie the two trans laws of 2007 and 2017 and the Constitutional Court ruling of 2019 and then confront them with the experiences of trans people based on a national transgender survey (Motmans, Wyverkens, & Defreyne, 2017). The confrontation between legal texts and lived experiences clearly shows the promises and pitfalls states face when striving for gender recognition procedures

Detoxification in rehabilitation in England: effective continuity of care or unhappy bedfellows?

There is evidence that residential detoxification alone does not provide satisfactory treatment outcomes and that outcomes are significantly enhanced when clients completing residential detoxification attend rehabilitation services (Gossop, Marsden, Stewart, & Rolfe, 1999; Ghodse, Reynolds, Baldacchino, et al., 2002). One way of increasing the likelihood of this continuity of treatment is by providing detoxification and rehabilitation within the same treatment facility to prevent drop-out, while the client awaits a rehabilitation bed or in the transition process. However, there is little research evidence available on the facilities that offer both medical detoxification and residential rehabilitation. The current study compares self-reported treatment provision in 87 residential rehabilitation services in England, 34 of whom (39.1%) reported that they offered detoxification services within their treatment programmes. Although there were no differences in self-reported treatment philosophies, residential rehabilitation services that offered detoxification were typically of shorter duration overall, had significantly more beds and reported offering more group work than residential rehabilitation services that did not offer detoxification. Outcomes were also different, with twice as many clients discharged on disciplinary grounds from residential rehabilitation services without detoxification facilities. The paper questions the UK classification of residential drug treatment services as either detoxification or rehabilitation and suggests the need for greater research focus on the aims, processes and outcomes of this group of treatment providers

Polarized drinking patterns and alcohol deregulation

This paper sets out to chart key trends in alcohol consumption and harm, and of related policy activity in the UK between 1990 and 2010. As a journal paper cannot provide a comprehensive picture, the focus will be on England as the most populous region, with comments on salient developments in the other regions where these are different. The paper draws on a variety of data sources, especially general population surveys, government reports, industry figures, National Statistics products, and recent reviews of data trends. It is structured around the themes: 1) trends in volume and patterns of consumption in adults and children; 2) trends in major alcohol-related harms; 3) changes in the affordability and availability of alcohol; 4) influences of major players including policy makers, media and industry and 5) the current (mid-2010) status of policy efforts. The reviewed data show that the UK has seen significant changes in the patterns and contexts of consumption during the 1990s and 2000s. Major consumption changes include falling per capita consumption, a rise in heavy episodic drinking, increasing preference of higher alcohol content beverages and a polarisation of the distribution of consumption in the population where heavy drinkers consume even higher volumes whilst moderate drinkers appearing to decrease their average intake. Context changes include rising availability and affordability of alcohol, with few alcohol control policy efforts, and a switch from predominantly on-trade to off-trade drinking. Such trends help explain the current rapid increase in alcohol-related admissions and other heavy end consequences in the context of falling per capita consumption

NEURAL NETWORK MODELING IN SPORT BIOMECHANICS BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF SHOT-PUT FLIGHT

In this study, a modeling method based on Multi-Layer-Perceptron neural networks (MLP) is presented, using the example of shot-put flight. This method can be used for rapid construction of models. For performance of shot-put, a physical model based on the shots’ equations of motion is easily designed. In this way, an analysis of the shot-put projectory can be used to illustrate the effectiveness of the neural network modeling method. Using the physical model, release data has been determined and altered with random errors such as those introduced by video analysis. A technique for optimal learning with the neural networks has been developed. The resulting MLP models the shot-put flight successfully. The difference between the model’s predicted distance and the distance reached by the physical model are within 2.5%. In conclusion, this method allows rapid creation of models to solve biomechanical problems and can serve as a useful tool for coaches and athletes