Online learning support in constructivist environments

Academic learning can essentially be seen as a constructivist process. This of course, is an alternative approach to traditional university teaching, insofar as learning is facilitated rather than taught. In consequence, learning in online constructivist environments has to be supported by appropriate resources and requires a number of specific skills from both tutor and learners, that is, online tutor skills, online learning skills and specifically designed online learning facilities

An Action Research Model for the Management of Change in Continuing Professional Distance Education

This paper proposes an action research model as basis for the management of change in continuing professional distance education (CPDE). The model proposed emerged from the need to manage a complex change process from traditional paper-based distance education to e-learning. In order to illustrate and support the model proposed, this paper describes and discusses such a change process in a CPDE Masters programme. The Educational Management Action Research (EMAR) model conjugates pedagogical thinking, curriculum design and organisational context. This model facilitates dialogue of all parties engaged in the design and delivery of CPDE. This enables educational managers to effectively lead change in their courses

No lectures on-campus: can e-learning provide a better learning experience?

This paper presents an alternative use of eLearning to support on-campus post-graduate teaching and learning. The case-study presented and described, is based on a Information Systems Project Management module taught using a flexible learning mode. This approach was adopted from lessons learned in eLearning-based distance education and adapted to the specific needs and advantages of on-campus learning. The paper establishes a pedagogical rationale and describes the use of eLearning to implement and support it. Preliminary evaluation results are then presented and discussed

INFLUENCE OF CELL WALL CALCIUM CONTENT IN FRUIT FIRMNESS DURING THE RIPENING OF PLUMS (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.).

‘Rainha Claudia Verde’ is a regional cultivar of Prunus domestica L. well adapted to a specific region in the south of Portugal. In order to understand the postharvest behavior of this cultivar produced in different orchards, cell wall poly-saccharides and cell wall calcium fruit content were studied during ripening in two consecutive years. During harvest period pectic fractions soluble in water, carbonate and KOH were prepared from alcohol-insoluble residue (AIR) of plums. Galacturonic and neutral sugars contents were measured during fruit ripening and fruit firmness was also evaluated. The calcium fruit level was determined in the AIR during harvest season as well as in dry matter. Fruit firmness was significantly higher in the second year and was probably related with calcium fruit content and pectic polysaccharides. There was a significant difference in calcium fruit content between orchards, and this might influence the overall fruit texture during the postharvest period. During fruit ripening water soluble pectic polysaccharides did not change significantly, which corresponded with the small decrease in tissue firmness. The occurrence in the supernatant of the cellulosic residue of highly branched polysaccharides might be the consequence of matrix material associated with microfibrilar phase. Depolymerization of the hemicellulosic fraction was not evident during plum ripening. The loss of fruit firmness is a consequence of many cellular events which are influenced by external factors. The knowledge of calcium content in the cell wall and the pectic poly¬saccharides could be of great importance to local farmers to predict fruit texture

The validity and 4-year test-retest reliability of the Brazilian version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26

In a cross-sectional study conducted four years ago to assess the validity of the Brazilian version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) for the identification of abnormal eating behaviors in a population of young females in Southern Brazil, 56 women presented abnormal eating behavior as indicated by the EAT-26 and the Edinburgh Bulimic Investigation Test. They were each matched for age and neighborhood to two normal controls (N = 112) and were re-assessed four years later with the two screening questionnaires plus the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The EAT results were then compared to diagnoses originating from the CIDI. To evaluate the temporal stability of the two screening questionnaires, a test-retest design was applied to estimate kappa coefficients for individual items. Given the prevalence of eating disorders of 6.2%, the CIDI psychiatry interview was applied to 161 women. Of these, 0.6% exhibited anorexia nervosa and 5.6%, bulimia nervosa (10 positive cases). The validity coefficients of the EAT were: 40% sensitivity, 84% specificity, and 14% positive predictive value. Cronbach's coefficient was 0.75. For each EAT item, the kappa index was not higher than 0.344 and the correlation coefficient was lower than 0.488. We conclude that the EAT-26 exhibited low validity coefficients for sensitivity and positive predictive value, and showed a poor temporal stability. It is reasonable to assume that these results were not influenced by the low prevalence of eating disorders in the community. Thus, the results cast doubts on the ability of the EAT-26 test to identify cases of abnormal eating behaviors in this population.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsiquiatriaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Departamento de EstatísticaUniversidade Vale do Rio dos Sinos Centro de Ciências da SaúdeUNIFESP, Depto. de PsiquiatriaSciEL

Draft Genome Sequence Of 11399, A Transformable Citrus-pathogenic Strain Of Xylella Fastidiosa

The draft genome of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca strain 11399, a transformable citrus-pathogenic strain, is reported here. The 11399 genome size is 2,690,704 bp and has a G+C content of 52.7%. The draft genome of 11399 reveals the absence of four type I restriction-modification system genes. © 2016 Niza et al.4

Isobutyl acetate: electronic state spectroscopy by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption, He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectrum of isobutyl acetate, C6H12O2, is presented here and was measured over the energy range 4.3–10.8 eV (290–115 nm). Valence and Rydberg transitions with their associated vibronic series have been observed in the photoabsorption spectrum and are assigned in accordance with new ab initio calculations of the vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths. The measured photoabsorption cross sections have been used to calculate the photolysis lifetime of this ester in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (20–50 km). Calculations have also been carried out to determine the ionization energies and fine structure of the lowest ionic state of isobutyl acetate and are compared with a photoelectron spectrum (from 9.5 to 16.7 eV), recorded for the first time. Vibrational structure is observed in the first photoelectron band of this molecule

Choosing summary statistics by least angle regression for approximate Bayesian computation

YesBayesian statistical inference relies on the posterior distribution. Depending on the model, the posterior can be more or less difficult to derive. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in complex settings where the likelihood is analytically intractable. In such situations, approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) provides an attractive way of carrying out Bayesian inference. For obtaining reliable posterior estimates however, it is important to keep the approximation errors small in ABC. The choice of an appropriate set of summary statistics plays a crucial role in this effort. Here, we report the development of a new algorithm that is based on least angle regression for choosing summary statistics. In two population genetic examples, the performance of the new algorithm is better than a previously proposed approach that uses partial least squares.Higher Education Commission (HEC), College Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh Saudi Arabia - research group project RGP-VPP-280

Impact of food eviction on the nutritional status and adequacy of nutritional intake on children with food allergy

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