Teaching and Learning in Interdisciplinary Higher Education: A Systematic Review

Interdisciplinary higher education aims to develop boundary-crossing skills, such as interdisciplinary thinking. In the present review study, interdisciplinary thinking was defined as the capacity to integrate knowledge of two or more disciplines to produce a cognitive advancement in ways that would have been impossible or unlikely through single disciplinary means. It was considered as a complex cognitive skill that constituted of a number of subskills. The review was accomplished by means of a systematic search within four scientific literature databases followed by a critical analysis. The review showed that, to date, scientific research into teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education has remained limited and explorative. The research advanced the understanding of the necessary subskills of interdisciplinary thinking and typical conditions for enabling the development of interdisciplinary thinking. This understanding provides a platform from which the theory and practice of interdisciplinary higher education can move forwar

Interdisciplinary thinking in agricultural and life sciences higher education

Interdisciplinary thinking as a skill appears to be of value to higher education students and those in employment. This idea is explored with reference to the agricultural and life sciences. The need for further understanding of the development of interdisciplinary thinking is acknowledged. This is closely related to the requirement for well-founded curriculum and course design. This publication presents a brief introduction to a systematic review of scientific research into teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education. While tentative, the understanding arising from the review findings is considered to be of potential value to educational practice. A selection of the review findings is presented by way of illustration. The selection is believed to be of relevance to the agricultural and life sciences. The review findings presented here take the form of interdisciplinary thinking sub skills and enabling condition

Ultrasound markers for prediction of complex gastroschisis and adverse outcome:longitudinal prospective nationwide cohort study

Contains fulltext : 220734.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)OBJECTIVES: To identify antenatal ultrasound markers that can differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis and assess their predictive value. METHODS: This was a prospective nationwide study of pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis that underwent serial longitudinal ultrasound examination at regular specified intervals between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation. The primary outcome was simple or complex (i.e. involving bowel atresia, volvulus, perforation or necrosis) gastroschisis at birth. Fetal biometry (abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight), the occurrence of polyhydramnios, intra- and extra-abdominal bowel diameters and the pulsatility index (PI) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were assessed. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare the individual trajectories of cases with simple and those with complex gastroschisis, and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the strength of association between the ultrasound parameters and outcome. RESULTS: Of 104 pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis included, four ended in intrauterine death. Eighty-one (81%) liveborn infants with simple and 19 (19%) with complex gastroschisis were included in the analysis. We found no relationship between fetal biometric variables and complex gastroschisis. The SMA-PI was significantly lower in fetuses with gastroschisis than in healthy controls, but did not differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis. Both intra- and extra-abdominal bowel diameters were larger in cases with complex, compared to those with simple, gastroschisis (P /= 97.7(th) percentile on at least three occasions, not necessarily on successive examinations, was associated with an increased risk of the fetus having complex gastroschisis (relative risk, 1.56 (95% CI, 1.02-2.10); P = 0.006; positive predictive value, 50.0%; negative predictive value, 81.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This large prospective longitudinal study found that intra-abdominal bowel dilatation when present repeatedly during fetal development can differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis; however, the positive predictive value is low, and therefore the clinical usefulness of this marker is limited. (c) 2019 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Ultrasound markers for prediction of complex gastroschisis and adverse outcome: longitudinal prospective nationwide cohort study

Objectives: To identify antenatal ultrasound markers that can differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis and assess their predictive value. Methods: This was a prospective nationwide study of pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis that underwent serial longitudinal ultrasound examination at regular specified intervals between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation. The primary outcome was simple or complex (i.e. involving bowel atresia, volvulus, perforation or necrosis) gastroschisis at birth. Fetal biometry (abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight), the occurrence of polyhydramnios, intra- and extra-abdominal bowel diameters and the pulsatility index (PI) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were assessed. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare the individual trajectories of cases with simple and those with complex gastroschisis, and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the strength of association between the ultrasound parameters and outcome. Results: Of 104 pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis included, four ended in intrauterine death. Eighty-one (81%) liveborn infants with simple and 19 (19%) with complex gastroschisis were included in the analysis. We found no relationship between fetal biometric variables and complex gastroschisis. The SMA-PI was significantly lower in fetuses with gastroschisis than in healthy controls, but did not differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis. Both intra- and extra-abdominal bowel diameters were larger in cases with complex, compared to those with simple, gastroschisis (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively). The presence of intra-abdominal bowel diameter ≥ 97.7th percentile on at least three occasions, not necessarily on successive examinations, was associated with an increased risk of the fetus having complex gastroschisis (relative risk, 1.56 (95% CI, 1.02–2.10); P = 0.006; positive predictive value, 50.0%; negative predictive value, 81.4%). Conclusions: This large prospective longitudinal study found that intra-abdominal bowel dilatation when present repeatedly during fetal development can differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis; however, the positive predictive value is low, and therefore the clinical usefulness of this marker is limited

Computersimulatie voor een multipurpose terminal

Na een vooronderzoek naar de situatie van de konventionele stukgoedbedrijven in het oude Rotterdamse havengebied is als hoofdontwerp gekozen voor een terminal-layout van een konventioneel stukgoedbedrijf of een eventueel samenwerkingsverband tussen een aantal van hen. Om iets te kunnen zeggen over de layout cq. de buffergrootte van een dergelijke terminal zijn gegevens nodig omtrent de hoeveelheden lading die over de terminal heen gaan en over de verblijf tijden van die hoeveelheden. Deze gegevens zijn gehaald uit een nagespeelde situatie van zo'n terminal, ofwel een simulatiemodel. Het model is geschreven in prosim, een afgeleide taal van PLI, waarin de processen van de afzonderlijke componenten stapsgewijs beschreven worden. Hierin zijn componenten, elementen van het systeem, eventueel met eigenschappen, waarvan de werking beschreven kan worden. Als lokatie voor het onderzoek is gekozen voor het IJssel-Lekhaven gebied. Door het vertrek van Rotterdam Terminal kwam de pier tussen de IJssel- en de Lekhaven vrij. Deze ruimte zal worden opgevuld door een aantal stuwadoors uit het Spoorweg- en Binnenhavengebied, die moeten wijken voor stadsvernieuwing.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Prenatal programming of behavior, physiology and cognition.

Contains fulltext : 47899.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

Vooronderzoek herinrichting en herwaardering oude havengebieden in Rotterdam

In het bijzonder in de oude havengebieden van Rotterdam, waar veelal de konventionele stukgoedoverslagbedrijven zijn gevestigd, doen zich de laatste jaren problemen voor. Deze problemen zijn ontstaan door snelle veranderingen in de verschijningsvorm van het ladingpakket, door het ontstaan van gespecialiseerde scheepstypen voor bepaalde goederenstromen en door schaalvergroting. Door de grotere hoeveelheid produkten die tegenwoordig per keer, per schip worden aangevoerd, ontstaat congestie op de stuwadoorsterreinen. Deze terreinen zijn in het algemeen te ondiep om deze grotere hoeveelheid efficient te kunnen overslaan. Ook ontstaat er door de schaalvergroting een frequentieafname, wat een overvloed aan kadelengte tot gevolg heeft. Een derde gevolg van de schaalvergroting is een opbloei van de funktie van de haven als distributiecentrum, vooral als het gaat om de distributie in Europa. Hiervoor is opslagruimte vereist. Voorts is de uitrusting in de oude havengebieden niet meer geschikt om de steeds meer gespecialiseerde scheepstypen en veranderende ladingsvorm efficient te kunnen verwerken. De klassieke verschijningsvorm van het stukgoed (kisten, kratten, dozen en zakken) gaat namelijk over naar moderne verschijningsvormen als containers, pallets en units. Het onderzoek zal zich hoofdzakelijk beperken tot de stukgoedsektor in de oude havengebieden. Tot deze stukgoedsektor behoren alle goederen die niet behoren tot de massagoederen (bulk). Massagoederen zijn o.a. kolen, graan, ertsen, olie, vloeibare chemicalien, gassen etc., ofwel niet verpakte of gebundelde goederen. In dit rapport zal worden getracht een bijdrage te leveren om tot een oplossing te komen voor de problemen die zich voordoen in de konventionele stukgoedsektor van de Rotterdamse haven.Rivier en verkeerswaterbouwkundeHydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Constructively aligned teaching and learning in higher education in engineering: what do students perceive as contributing to the learning of interdisciplinary thinking?

Increased attention to the need for constructively aligned teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education in engineering is observed. By contrast, little research has been conducted on the implementation of the outcome-based pedagogical approach to interdisciplinary higher education in engineering. Therefore, the present design-based research was undertaken to develop, implement, and evaluate a constructively aligned learning environment in the interdisciplinary field of food quality management. The practical aims were to reduce the perception held by the students of choppiness and to prevent them floundering in the disciplines; the theoretical aim was to accumulate theory on learning environment aspects that would help students to learn interdisciplinary thinking. The design-focused evaluation among 26 students showed that the practical aims were met, and concerning the theoretical aim, eight learning environment aspects were identified such as learning within an interdisciplinary framework. Further research should validate these aspects to continue with tackling teacher challenges on teaching interdisciplinary thinking.’ (Spelt et al, op cit)

Constructively aligned teaching and learning in higher education in engineering: what do students perceive as contributing to the learning of interdisciplinary thinking?

Increased attention to the need for constructively aligned teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education in engineering is observed. By contrast, little research has been conducted on the implementation of the outcome-based pedagogical approach to interdisciplinary higher education in engineering. Therefore, the present design-based research was undertaken to develop, implement, and evaluate a constructively aligned learning environment in the interdisciplinary field of food quality management. The practical aims were to reduce the perception held by the students of choppiness and to prevent them floundering in the disciplines; the theoretical aim was to accumulate theory on learning environment aspects that would help students to learn interdisciplinary thinking. The design-focused evaluation among 26 students showed that the practical aims were met, and concerning the theoretical aim, eight learning environment aspects were identified such as learning within an interdisciplinary framework. Further research should validate these aspects to continue with tackling teacher challenges on teaching interdisciplinary thinking.’ (Spelt et al, op cit)