Reuse as heuristic : from transmission to nurture in learning activity design

In recent years a combination of ever more flexible and sophisticated Web technologies and an explosion in the quantity of online content has sparked learning technologists around the world to pursue the promise of the 'reusable learning object' or RLO with the idea that RLOs could be reused in different educational contexts, thereby providing greater overall flexibility and return on investment. In 2002 the ACETS Project undertook a three-year study in the UK to investigate whether RLOs worked in practice and how the pursuit of reuse affected the teacher and their teaching. Teachers working in healthcare-related subjects in Higher and Further Education were asked to create an original learning design or activity from third-party digital resources and to reflect both on the process and its outcomes. The expectation was that teachers would be the ones selecting and reusing third-party materials. This paper describes how one of the ACETS exemplifiers reinterpreted this remit, challenged the anticipated transmissive model of learning, and instead, gave their students an opportunity to create their own original learning designs and learning activities from third-party digital resources. By describing the educational enhancements, the resulting heightened levels of critical thinking, and sensitivity to patient needs, 'reuse' will be shown to be an effective heuristic for student self-direction and professional development

Studying and Constructing Concept Maps: A Meta-Analysis

A concept map is a node-link diagram in which each node represents a concept and each link identifies the relationship between the two concepts it connects. We investigated how using concept maps influences learning by synthesizing the results of 142 independent effect sizes (n = 11,814). A random-effects model meta-analysis revealed that learning with concept and knowledge maps produced a moderate, statistically significant effect (g =.58, p < .001). A moderator analysis revealed that creating concept maps (g =.72, p < .001) was associated with greater benefit relative to respective comparison conditions than studying concept maps (g = .43, p <.001). Additional moderator analyses indicated learning with concept maps was superior to other instructional comparison conditions, and was effective across science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and non-STEM knowledge domains. Further moderator analyses, as well as implications for theory and practice, are provided

Perform a gyro test of general relativity in a satellite and develop associated control technology

The progress accomplished in the Stanford Gyro Relativity program during the period November 1974 to October 1975 was described. Gyro developments were continued in the main laboratory dewar, concentrating on the operation of a three axis gyro readout and on improvements to the methods of canceling trapped fields in the rotor; these efforts culminated in the first successful observation of the London moment in the spinning gyro rotor in March 1975. Following a review meeting at that time, a new goal was formulated for the next 12 to 18 months, namely to operate a gyroscope in the new ultra-low field facility with readout resolution approaching 1 arc-second. The following other tasks were also completed: (1) sputtering work, (2) magnetometry, (3) construction and installation of the North Star simulator, (4) analysis of torques on the gyro, especially in inclined orbits, (5) equivalence principle accelerometer, and (6) analysis of a twin-satellite test of relativity

Post-LASIK exacerbation of granular corneal dystrophy type 2 in members of a chinese family

PurposeThe post-LASIK exacerbation of corneal dystrophy, otherwise asymptomatic, is almost exclusively associated with the TGFBI gene mutations at codon 124 in exon 4 and codon 555 in exon 12. It is our intention to demonstrate that the pre-operative genetic screening for TGFBI mutations should be mandatory for refractive surgery candidates.Patients and MethodsIn this study, we reviewed the proband's post-LASIK slit-lamp and in vivo confocal microscopy images and genetic testing results, and performed genetic testing on eleven additional members of the family to investigate the penetrance of corneal dystrophy in asymptomatic members who carry the mutation.ResultsThe proband demonstrated a post-LASIK exacerbation of Granular Corneal Dystrophy type 2 (GCD2), identified as a TGFBI R124H mutation. Three of the 11 family members tested positive for the same R124H mutation as the proband.ConclusionThe lesson learned from this case is that the genetic screening of TGFBI mutations must be incorporated into the pre-operative screening procedures to prevent exacerbation and recurrence, which eventually could lead to the need for a corneal transplant.Eye advance online publication, 1 December 2017; doi:10.1038/eye.2017.265

Multicore resource management

Current resource management mechanisms and policies are inadequate for future multicore systems. Instead, a hardware/software interface based on the virtual private machine abstraction would allow software policies to explicitly manage microarchitecture resources. VPM policies, implemented primarily in software, translate application and system objectives into VPM resource assignments. Then, VPM mechanisms securely multiplex, arbitrate, or distribute hardware resources to satisfy the VPM assignments.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Acute leukemia in association with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and malignancy occurring in the same individual is unusual and has generally been the subject of isolated case reports. To better define the occurrence of these events a registry of cases with synchronous or asynchronous LCH and malignancy was developed with the cooperation of the Histiocyte Society. In 1991 the Histiocyte Society surveyed its members requesting information on cases in which LCH was associated with malignancy. The questionnaire was mailed to all members of the society and specifically requested information on the clinical and laboratory features of the cases, disease evolution, and response to therapy. Retrospective reporting was allowed. With this initial data, an ongoing registry of LCH patients with associated malignancy was begun of such cases, including evolution and response to therapy. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled during the first year of the registry, of whom 4 patients had the association of LCH with a malignant lymphoma and 10 cases had an association of LCH with other types of solid tumor. The remaining 13 patients had the association of LCH with acute leukemia. In five cases, LCH was associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia FAB L1 (ALL). In four cases the ALL preceded the LCH by 6 months to 1 year. In four of five patients the LCH was localized; in two instances the LCH was treated with chemotherapy. In all cases the leukemia was treated according to local standard ALL protocols and in one case autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) was performed at relapse. Three patients are free of leukemia, one of whom has persistent localized LCH of the skin. Two patients died of the ALL, one of whom was free of the LCH at the time of death. In eight instances LCH was reported in association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Six of these patients had a generalized form of LCH. In seven the diagnosis of LCH preceded the diagnosis of leukemia by more than 2 years (median 4 years). In the remaining patient both diagnoses were made concurrently. In all seven cases in whom LCH was the initial diagnosis the treatment consisted of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Seven patients died from the AML, five without evidence of LCH. The temporal patterns of the LCH-ALL and LCH-AML associations are distinct with ALL usually preceding the diagnosis of LCH and AML succeeding it. Such a pattern is suggestive that in cases of ALL the LCH may be a reactive process while in cases of AML occurring after LCH the primary LCH therapy may play an inductive role in the leukemia. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Hemoperitoneum identified by focused assessment with sonography for trauma following cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

It is generally recognized that lives are saved by administering high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to patients in cardiac arrest. A focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination is an effective and non-invasive method for detecting rare complications of CPR, such as hemorrhage from abdominal visceral injury. We report the case of a 56-year-old female suffering from intra-abdominal hemorrhage caused by a liver laceration following CPR. The hemoperitoneum was diagnosed by a FAST examination. Although severe complications of CPR are rare, they can be easily detected with the use of a FAST examination. A FAST examination should be considered as a post-resuscitation approach to assess for life-threatening complications in all patients following cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Crossing Boundaries with Web-Based Tools for Learning Object Evaluation

Abstract. Learning object repositories and evaluation tools have the potential to serve as sites for interaction among different cultures and communities of prac-tice. This paper outlines the web-based learning object evaluation tools we have developed, describes our current efforts to extend those tools to a wider range of user communities, and considers methods for fostering interaction among user communities. The approaches considered include establishing shared but differentiated learning object evaluation standards, mapping between local lan-guages, ontologies and practices, and recommending objects across community boundaries

Evaluation of the performance of a lateral flow device for quantitative detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG

Introduction: The AbC-19™ lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) performance was evaluated on plasma samples from a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination cohort, WHO international standards for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (human), individuals ≥2 weeks from infection of RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants, as well as microorganism serology. Methods: Pre-vaccination to three weeks post-booster samples were collected from a cohort of 111 patients (including clinically extremely vulnerable patients) from Northern Ireland. All patients received Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination for the first and second dose, and Pfizer-BioNTech for the third (first booster). WHO international standards, 15 samples from 2 variants of concern (Delta and Omicron) and cross-reactivity with plasma samples from other microorganism infections were also assessed on AbC-19™. Results: All 80 (100%) participants sampled post-booster had high positive IgG responses, compared to 38/95 (40%) participants at 6 months post-first vaccination. WHO standard results correlated with information from corresponding biological data sheets, and antibodies to all genetic variants were detected by LFIA. No cross-reactivity was found with exception of one (of five) Dengue virus samples. Conclusion: These findings suggest BNT162b2 booster vaccination enhanced humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 from pre-booster levels, and that this antibody response was detectable by the LFIA. In combination with cross-reactivity, standards and genetic variant results would suggest LFIA may be a cost-effective measure to assess SARS-CoV-2 antibody status

Development and evaluation of a new measure of children’s play: the Children’s Play Scale (CPS)

Abstract: Background: There is increasing recognition of the importance of children’s play from a public health perspective, given the links between play and children’s physical and mental health. The present research aimed to develop and evaluate a new parent-report questionnaire that measures the time children spend playing across a range of places and includes a supplement to evaluate how adventurously children play. Methods: The questionnaire was developed with input from a diverse group of parents and experts in children’s play. It was designed to yield a range of metrics including time spent playing per year, time spent playing outside, time spent playing in nature and level of adventurous play. The reliability of the questionnaire was then evaluated with 245 parents (149 mothers, 96 fathers) of 154 children aged 5–11 years. All participants completed the measure at time 1. At time 2, an average of 20 days later, 184 parents (111 mothers and 73 fathers) of 99 children completed the measure again. Results: Cross-informant agreement, evaluated using Concordance Correlation Coefficients (CCCs), ranged from 0.36 to 0.51. These fall in the poor to moderate range and are largely comparable to cross-informant agreement on other measures. Test-retest reliability for mothers was good (range 0.67–0.76) for time spent playing metrics. For fathers, test-retest reliability was lower (range 0.39–0.63). For both parents the average level of adventurous play variable had relatively poor test retest reliability (mothers = 0.49, fathers = 0.42). This variable also showed a significant increase from time 1 to time 2. This instability over time may be due to the timing of the research in relation to the Covid-19 lockdown and associated shifts in risk perception. Conclusions: The measure will be of value in future research focusing on the public health benefits and correlates of children’s play as well as researchers interested in children’s outdoor play and play in nature specifically. The development of the measure in collaboration with parents and experts in children’s play is a significant strength. It will be of value for future research to further validate the measure against play diaries or activity monitors