Design principles for integrating authentic activities in an online community of foreign language learners

Actively encouraging foreign language learners to establish a meaningful connection with the target language culture - by engaging in authentic activities with other learners and native speakers in real-world communicative contexts - is a critical goal of foreign language education. This paper describes a design-based research study that investigated how students of Italian at an Australian university engaged with and responded to a web-based learning environment which integrated authentic learning tasks to facilitate social interaction and meaningful collaborative language practice with native speakers of the target language. The findings suggest that the use of the critical elements of authentic activities actively supported student learning across different domains. A major outcome of this research was the development of a set of design principles and guidelines for the design and development of authentic foreign language learning environments that could inform and guide other language educators within their specific educational context

The influence of age, strength and stiffness on proprioception in knee osteoarthritis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identification of candida clinical isolates by PCR fingerprinting : a contribution to the study of molecular epidemiology of candidiasis in portugal

PCR fingerprinting with a single non-specific primer (T3B) was used to type yeast clinical isolates obtained from two Medical Institutions in north Portugal. Of the 177 strains isolated, 112 were obtained from vaginal swabs, 24 from urine, 23 from the upper respiratory system, seven from the anal mucosa and 11 were isolated from various sources including blood, pus, catheter and peritoneal fluid. All the isolates belonged to the genus Candida being the profiles obtained highly similar within a species and clearly distinct among species. Seven different species were identified: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C.lusitaniae. This methodology also allowed the distinction of C. dubliniensis which is very closely related to C. albicans. Cluster analysis of the global fingerprints obtained originated, in general, groups corresponding to each species analysed except for five strains which were submitted to 26S and ITS rDNA sequencing to confirm their identity. We demonstrate that although C. albicans is the predominant species found, other Candida species were present accounting for over 20% of the strains isolated. The most common non albicans species were C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis. Due to its predominance over the other species C. albicans was present in all types of clinical material except in blood samples. C. tropicalis was mainly recovered from the urine and respiratory tract. This study represents the first large-scale approach to the knowledge of Candida species present in hospital settings in Portugal.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) Ciências do Ambiente da Universidade do Minho (CCA

First Simultaneous Optical and EUV Observations of the Quasi-Coherent Oscillations of SS Cygni

Using EUV photometry obtained with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite and UBVR optical photometry obtained with the 2.7-m telescope at McDonald Observatory, we have detected quasi-coherent oscillations (so-called ``dwarf nova oscillations'') in the EUV and optical flux of the dwarf nova SS Cygni during its 1996 October outburst. There are two new results from these observations. First, we have for the first time observed ``frequency doubling:'' during the rising branch of the outburst, the period of the EUV oscillation was observed to jump from 6.59 s to 2.91 s. Second, we have for the first time observed quasi-coherent oscillations simultaneously in the optical and EUV. We find that the period and phase of the oscillations are the same in the two wavebands, finally confirming the long-held assumption that the periods of the optical and EUV/soft X-ray oscillations of dwarf novae are equal. The UBV oscillations can be simply the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of the EUV oscillations if the boundary layer temperature kT_bb <~ 15 eV and hence the luminosity L_bb >~ 1.2e34 (d/75 pc)^2 erg/s (comparable to that of the accretion disk). Otherwise, the lack of a phase delay between the EUV and optical oscillations requires that the optical reprocessing site lies within the inner third of the accretion disk. This is strikingly different from other cataclysmic variables, where much or all of the disk contributes to the optical oscillations.Comment: 16 pages including 3 tables and 4 encapsulated postscript figures; LaTeX format, uses aastex.cls; accepted on 2001 August 2 for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Paleolítico médio e superior em Portugal : datas 14C, estado actual dos conhecimentos, síntese e discussão

No âmbito des pesquisas do CEPUNL sobre o Paleolítico médio e superior foram obtidas novas datas de radiocarbono em situações bem definidas do ponto de vista estratigráfico; com outras, permitem uma visão cronológica global aproximada. As datas não parecem distribuir-se ao longo dos tempos de modo aleatório. No estado actual dos conhecimentos, parecem corresponder a vários conjuntos: (a) 14000 a 15000 anos BP, Solutrense superior; (b) cerca de 20 000 BP, Solutrense; (c) com datas cerca de 25000 BP, já Solutrense, e, a pouco mais de 26000 BP, ainda Musrierense; (d) entre 29 000 e 31 000 BP, Mustierense. Demonstra-se a persistência de Mustierense muito após o limite admitido; cerca de 34 000 BP - e, por conseguinte, a dos seus autores neandertalianos. Pela primeira vez, foi possível a datação do limite cronológico superior do terraço marinho de 5-8 mettos (Tirreniano III) da Arrábida, bem como de jazidas sem indústrias ou com indústrias incaracterísticas. As datas obtidas permitem correlacionar jazidas e depósitos com episódios da última glaciação. Parece haver nítida correlação entre a ocupação de grutas e abrigos pelo Homem e episódios de clima mais desfavorável.New radiocarbon measuremenrs were obtained from middle and upper Paleolithic sites currenrly under research by the CEPUNL, in well defined stratigraphical situations. Wirh other dates, they yield an approximarive chronological global view. Measurement distriburion in function of time does not seem to be an hazardous one. ln rhe actual status of our knowledge, rhis disrriburion seems ro fit in some assemblages: (a) 14000 to 15000 BP, Solurrean; (b) about 20 000 BP, Solucrean; (c) árca 25 000 BP, already Solutrean, and slighdy older than 26 000 BP, still Moust~rian; (d) berween 29 000 and 31 000 BP, Mousterian. The persistance of Mousterian much later than its acknowledged upper limit ar about 34 000 BP (and hence the survival of its neanderrhalian authors) is demonstrated. For the first time ir has been possible ro ascercain rhe upper time limit of the marine 5-8 metres raised beach (Tyrrhenian III) at Serra da Arrábida, and also rhe age of archaeological sires wirhour stone arrifacrs, or wirh uncharacteristic ones. The obtained measurements allow us to correlate localities and sedimencary units wirh lasr glaciation events. There seems to have been a distinct correlation berween cave and shelter human occupation and events marked by rhe worsening of climare.Dans le cadre des recherches du CEPUNL sur le Paléolithique moyen et supérieur ont été· obtenues de nouvelles dares 14C correspondant à des situarions bien définies du point de vue srrarigraphique; avec d'autres, elles permeccent une vision globale apptoximative de la chronologie. La discribution des dates en fonction des temps ne parait pas alléatoire. Dans I' état aCtuei des connaissances, certe discribution semble correspondre à quelques ensembles: (a) 14000 à 15 000 ans BP, Solutréen supérieur; (b) environ 20000 BP, Solutréen; (c) árca 25000 BP, Solurréen déjà, er avec un peu plus de 26 000 BP, Moustérien (encore); (d) enrre 29 000 et 31 000 BP, Moustérien. La persistance de Moustérien bien apres la date limite admise (34 000 BP environ) - et donc celle de ses auteurs neanderthaliens - est démontrée. Pour la premiere fois ii a éré possible de darer la limite chronologique supérieure de la terrasse marine de 5-8 merres (Tyrrhénien III) dans la Serra da Arrábida, ainsi que des sites dépourvus d'indusrries ou ayant livré des industries incaractéristiques. Les dates obtenues permettenr de corréler des gisements er dépôts avec des épisodes de la derniere glaciation. II semble avoir eu une nette correspondance enrre I'occupation de grottes et abris par I'Homme et des épisodes à climar plus défavorable

Validation of the Portuguese version of impulsive-premeditated aggression scale in an inmate population

Aggression is one of the core symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) with therapeutic and prognostic relevance. ASPD is highly prevalent among inmates, being responsible for adverse events and elevated direct and indirect economic costs for the criminal justice system. The Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale (IPAS) is a self-report instrument that characterizes aggression as either predominately impulsive or premeditated. This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the IPAS in a sample of Portuguese inmates. A total of 240 inmates were included in the study. A principal component factor analysis was performed so as to obtain the construct validity of the IPAS impulsive aggression (IA) and premeditated aggression (PM) subscales; internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient; convergent and divergent validity of the subscales were determined analyzing correlations with the Barratt Impulsiveness scale, 11th version (BIS-11), and the Psychopathic Checklist Revised (PCL-R). The rotated matrix with two factors accounted for 49.9% of total variance. IA subscale had 11 items and PM subscale had 10 items. The IA and PM subscales had a good Cronbach's alpha values of 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. The IA subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with PCL-R interpersonal, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions (p < 0.05). The IA subscale is not correlated with PCL-R. The Portuguese translated version of IPAS has adequate psychometric properties, allowing the measurement of impulsive and premeditated dimensions of aggression