Intelligent tutoring system for distance education

This study aims to develop and implement a tool called intelligent tutoring system in an online course to help a formative evaluation in order to improve student learning. According to Bloom et al. (1971,117) formative evaluation is a systematic evaluation to improve the process of teaching and learning. The intelligent tutoring system may provide a timely and high quality feedback that not only informs the correctness of the solution to the problem, but also informs students about the accuracy of the response relative to their current knowledge about the solution. Constructive and supportive feedback should be given to students to reveal the right and wrong answers immediately after taking the test. Feedback about the right answers is a form to reinforce positive behaviors. Identifying possible errors and relating them to the instructional material may help student to strengthen the content under consideration. The remedial suggestion should be given in each answer with detaileddescription with regards the materials and instructional procedures before taking next step. The main idea is to inform students about what they have learned and what they still have to learn. The open-source LMS called Moodle was extended to accomplish the formative evaluation, high-quality feedback, and the communal knowledge presented here with a short online financial math course that is being offered at a large University in Brazil. The preliminary results shows that the intelligent tutoring system using high quality feedback helped students to improve their knowledge about the solution to the problems based on the errors of their past cohorts. The results and suggestion for future work are presented and discussed

Estilos Cognitivos: Uma Pequisa com Estudantes de Contabilidade

This study is mainly aimed at evaluating the relationship between the academic profiles and cognitive styles of undergraduate accounting students. GEFT was used as an instrument to identify cognitive styles, perceptual processes and particularly field-dependence and field-independence. A sample of two hundred and forty students participated in the study, corresponding to 82% of the population. The results show that only variables such as age, course grades, hours of extra studies outside the classroom and salary were significantly related to their cognitive styles. The study concludes that students within the higher age group, lower grades on the subjects, with more dedication to studies outside the classroom and with lower income in the labor market are more likely to be field-dependent. From the recognition of these cognitive differences, it is possible to implement new strategies for teaching and learning in a search of higher quality and greater effectiveness in the teaching-learning process.O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar se existem variações significativas nos estilos cognitivos em função do perfil acadêmico dos alunos de um curso de Ciências Contábeis. O instrumento utilizado para identificar os estilos cognitivos, especificamente os processos perceptivos dependência e independência de campo, foi o Group Embedded Figures (GEFT). Participaram da pesquisa 240 estudantes, que correspondem a 82% da população. Os resultadors indicaram que há diferença significativa na pontuação GEFT quando os estudantes são agrupados por idade, notas nas disciplinas, horas de estudos extra-sala e remuneração. O estudo conclui que estudantes com maior faixa etária, menores notas nas disciplinas, com maior dedicação aos estudos fora da sala de aula e com menor renda no mercado de trabalho possuem maior probabilidade de ser dependente de campo. A partir do reconhecimento dessas diferenças cognitivas, é possível implementar estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem na busca de maior efetividade e qualidade no processo ensino-aprendizagem

Reflections: innovation in distance education: the case of Brazil

O presente artigo tem o objetivo de investigar e apresentar temas que podem contribuir para a identificação da\ud inovação verificada na EAD (Educação a Distância) brasileira nos últimos sete anos. Propõe uma discussão teórica\ud orientada rumo às necessidades e trajetórias da inovação na Educação e do contexto da inovação na EAD\ud brasileira, bem como uma pesquisa de campo para conclusão da investigação. Para a obtenção dos resultados,\ud foram analisados cinquenta artigos apresentados em congressos organizados pela ABED – Associação Brasileira\ud de Educação a Distância nos anos de 2004 a 2010, seguindo os procedimentos metodológicos de uma pesquisa\ud exploratória descritiva, os quais proporcionaram a aquisição de visão global do tipo aproximativo em relação\ud ao fato determinado. Na análise, procurou-se identificar as inovações radicais e/ou incrementais dos processos\ud nessa modalidade de ensino-aprendizagem. E ainda buscou-se identificar os limites, as contribuições deste\ud trabalho e as propostas para pesquisas futuras. Os resultados apontaram as principais inovações e seus respectivos\ud percentuais de incidência, divididas em dezesseis áreas temáticas que variaram de inovações pedagógicas\ud e tecnológicas até administrativas, institucionais e políticas, bem como as características dessas inovações, as\ud quais têm se mostrado essencialmente incrementais. Finalmente, observa-se que a capacidade de aprender\ud com a análise reflexiva e com a experiência torna-se fundamental para as instituições de ensino brasileiras que\ud pretendem inovar em seus projetos de EAD. Seja como for, os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios, validando\ud a pesquisa apresentada.This article aims to investigate and present data\ud that may contribute to the identification of innovation\ud effectively over the last seven years, in\ud DL (distance learning) Brazilian. Therefore, they\ud propose a theoretical discussion about the needs\ud and trajectories of innovation in education and\ud innovation in the context of distance education in\ud Brazil, as well as a field research to complete the\ud investigation. To obtain the results were analyzed\ud fifty papers presented in congresses organized in\ud the years 2004 to 2010 by ABED - Brazilian Association\ud for Distance Education, following the\ud methodological procedures of an exploratory\ud descriptive, which provided the overview of the\ud acquisition of type approximation in relation to\ud particular fact. The analysis sought to identify the\ud radical innovations and/or incremental processes\ud of this mode of teaching and learning. In addition,\ud we sought to identify the limits, the contributions\ud of this work and proposals for future research.\ud The results showed the main innovations and\ud their respective percentages of incidence, divided\ud into sixteen thematic areas ranging pedagogical\ud and technological innovations, to administrative,\ud institutional and political as well as the characteristics\ud of these innovations, which have been\ud shown to be essentially incremental. Finally, it is\ud observed that the ability to learn from reflective\ud analysis and experience become vital to the Brazilian\ud educational institutions wishing to innovate\ud in their distance learning projects

Use of Demonstrably Effective Therapies in the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Comparison between Different Brazilian Regions. Analysis of the Brazilian Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes (BRACE)

Background: Little is known in our country about regional differences in the treatment of acute coronary disease. Objective: To analyze the behavior regarding the use of demonstrably effective regional therapies in acute coronary disease. Methods: A total of 71 hospitals were randomly selected, respecting the proportionality of the country in relation to geographic location, among other criteria. In the overall population was regionally analyzed the use of aspirin, clopidogrel, ACE inhibitors / AT1 blocker, beta-blockers and statins, separately and grouped by individual score ranging from 0 (no drug used) to 100 (all drugs used). In myocardial infarction with ST elevation (STEMI) regional differences were analyzed regarding the use of therapeutic recanalization (fibrinolytics and primary angioplasty). Results: In the overall population, within the first 24 hours of hospitalization, the mean score in the North-Northeast (70.5 +/- 22.1) was lower (p < 0.05) than in the Southeast (77.7 +/- 29.5), Midwest (82 +/- 22.1) and South (82.4 +/- 21) regions. At hospital discharge, the score of the North-Northeast region (61.4 +/- 32.9) was lower (p < 0.05) than in the Southeast (69.2 +/- 31.6), Midwest (65.3 +/- 33.6) and South (73.7 +/- 28.1) regions; additionally, the score of the Midwest was lower (p < 0.05) than the South region. In STEMI, the use of recanalization therapies was highest in the Southeast (75.4%, p = 0.001 compared to the rest of the country), and lowest in the North-Northeast (52.5%, p < 0.001 compared to the rest of the country). Conclusion: The use of demonstrably effective therapies in the treatment of acute coronary disease is much to be desired in the country, with important regional differences

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states

Updated cardiovascular prevention guideline of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology: 2019

Sem informação113478788

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK.

BACKGROUND: A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. METHODS: This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0-75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4-97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8-80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3-4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

Background A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. Methods This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. Findings Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0–75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4–97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8–80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3–4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. Interpretation ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials

Proposal of an instrument for measuring user satisfaction as an important component for the success of information systems, in the context of specific applications: a case applied to a sample of students from the lato sensu graduate courses at FEA-RP

O objetivo deste trabalho é mensurar, empiricamente, a satisfação do usuário de Sistemas de Informações e revelar sua importância para o sucesso do Sistema de Informação (SI). Foi desenvolvido um instrumento para medir a satisfação do usuário em relação a aplicativos específicos elegíveis pelo próprio pesquisado. Uma amostra de 143 respostas de usuários do MBA da FEA-RP (USP) foi utilizada e o resultado aponta um instrumento (de 5 pontos na escala tipo Likert) considerado fidedigno pelo alfa de Cronbach de 0.84 e validado pela análise fatorial em um conjunto variado de aplicativos. Foram identificados quatro componentes da satisfação do usuário: praticabilidade, disponibilidade, precisão e adequação da informação. Esta pesquisa procura mostrar a importância da satisfação do usuário para o sucesso de um sistema de informação. Sugere também que a satisfação do usuário, quando decomposta em seus quatro componentes, pode ser base para uma ferramenta de diagnóstico na implementação de sistema de informação, aumentando suas chances de sucesso.The objective of this study is to measure the end-user\'s satisfaction as a contribution to the success of Information systems. An instrument was developed to measure end-user\'s satisfaction related to specific computer application selected by the respondent. A sample of 143 responses from MBA end-users from FEA-RP (USP) - Brazil was used and the results points to a 16-item instrument (five-point Likert-type scale) considered reliable with alpha 0.84 and validated by factor analysis of a variety of applications, 4 components of end-user\'s satisfaction have been identified: practicability, availability, precision and information adequacy. This research highlights the importance of users satisfaction for the success of an Information System (IS). It also suggests that user\'s satisfaction , when decomposed into its 4 detailed components, could be the basis for a diagnostic tool in the implementation of the information system improving the chances of its success