Tagging, Recognition, Acknowledgment of Informal Learning experiences (TRAILER)

[EN] Learners do not only learn in the institutions, they learn during their live in different contexts, with different resources and from the interaction with different persons. This kind of learning that is not always intentionally carried out is known as informal learning. The application of Information and Communication Technologies to learning and teaching processes facilitates making visible such kind of learning for the institutions. However the nature of formal and non-formal, coursebased, approaches to learning has made it hard to accommodate these informal processes satisfactorily. The project aims to facilitate first the identification by the learner (as the last responsible of the learning process), and then the recognition by the institution, in dialogue with the learner, of this learning. To do so a methodology and a technological framework to support it have been implemented and tested

Enhancing informal learning recognition through TRAILER project

Conde, M. A., García-Peñalvo, F. J., Zangrando, V., García-Holgado, A., Seoane-Pardo, A. M., Alier, M., Galanis, N., Griffiths, D., Johnson, M., Janssen, J., Brouns, F., Vogten, H., Finders, A., Sloep, P. B., Marques, M. A., Viegas, M. C., Alves, G. R., Waszkiewicz, E., Mykowska, A., Minovic, M., & Milovanovic, M. (2013). Enhancing informal learning recognition through TRAILER project. In F. J. García-Peñalvo, M. Á. Conde, & D. Griffiths (Eds.), Proceedings of the Workshop on Solutions that Enhance Informal Learning Recognition (WEILER 2013) (pp. 21-30). September, 18, 2013, Paphos, Cyprus. http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1039/The evolution of new technology and its increasing use, has for some years been making the existence of informal learning more and more transparent, especially among young and older adults in both Higher Education and workplace contexts. However, the nature of formal and non-formal, coursebased, approaches to learning has made it hard to accommodate these informal processes satisfactorily. The project aims to facilitate first the identification by the learner (as the last responsible of the learning process), and then the recognition by the institution, in dialogue with the learner, of this learning. To do so a methodology and a technological framework to support it have been implemented. This project has been tested in several contexts showing that an informal learning dialogue between learners and people in charge of the institutions is possible.Tagging, Recognition and Acknowledgment of Informal Learning ExpeRiences project (TRAILER) that is funded by the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme. Ref. 519141-LLP-1-2011-1-ES-KA3-KA3MP [http:// trailerproject.eu]. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Changes in grassland management and linear infrastructures associated to the decline of an endangered bird population

European grassland birds are experiencing major population declines, mainly due to changes in farmland management. We analyzed the role of habitat availability, grazing management and linear infrastructures (roads and power lines) in explaining spatial and temporal variation in the population density of little bustards (Tetrax tetrax) in Portugal, during a decade in which the species population size halved. We used data from 51 areas (totaling ca. 1,50,000 ha) that were sampled in two different periods (2003–2006 and 2016). In 2003–2006, when the species occurred at high densities, habitat availability was the only factor affecting spatial variation in bustard density. In the 2016 survey, variation in density was explained by habitat availability and livestock management, with reduced bird numbers in areas with higher proportions of cattle. Population declines across the study period were steeper in areas that initially held higher densities of bustards and in areas with a higher proportion of cattle in the total stocking rate. Areas with higher densities of power lines also registered greater density declines, probably due to avoidance behavior and to increased mortality. Overall, our results show little bustards are currently lacking high quality grassland habitat, whose persistence depends on extensive grazing regimes and low linear infrastructure densitiesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The PLATO 2.0 mission

PLATO 2.0 has recently been selected for ESA's M3 launch opportunity (2022/24). Providing accurate key planet parameters (radius, mass, density and age) in statistical numbers, it addresses fundamental questions such as: How do planetary systems form and evolve? Are there other systems with planets like ours, including potentially habitable planets? The PLATO 2.0 instrument consists of 34 small aperture telescopes (32 with 25 s readout cadence and 2 with 2.5 s candence) providing a wide field-of-view (2232 deg 2) and a large photometric magnitude range (4-16 mag). It focusses on bright (4-11 mag) stars in wide fields to detect and characterize planets down to Earth-size by photometric transits, whose masses can then be determined by ground-based radial-velocity follow-up measurements. Asteroseismology will be performed for these bright stars to obtain highly accurate stellar parameters, including masses and ages. The combination of bright targets and asteroseismology results in high accuracy for the bulk planet parameters: 2 %, 4-10 % and 10 % for planet radii, masses and ages, respectively. The planned baseline observing strategy includes two long pointings (2-3 years) to detect and bulk characterize planets reaching into the habitable zone (HZ) of solar-like stars and an additional step-and-stare phase to cover in total about 50 % of the sky. PLATO 2.0 will observe up to 1,000,000 stars and detect and characterize hundreds of small planets, and thousands of planets in the Neptune to gas giant regime out to the HZ. It will therefore provide the first large-scale catalogue of bulk characterized planets with accurate radii, masses, mean densities and ages. This catalogue will include terrestrial planets at intermediate orbital distances, where surface temperatures are moderate. Coverage of this parameter range with statistical numbers of bulk characterized planets is unique to PLATO 2.0. The PLATO 2.0 catalogue allows us to e.g.: - complete our knowledge of planet diversity for low-mass objects, - correlate the planet mean density-orbital distance distribution with predictions from planet formation theories,- constrain the influence of planet migration and scattering on the architecture of multiple systems, and - specify how planet and system parameters change with host star characteristics, such as type, metallicity and age. The catalogue will allow us to study planets and planetary systems at different evolutionary phases. It will further provide a census for small, low-mass planets. This will serve to identify objects which retained their primordial hydrogen atmosphere and in general the typical characteristics of planets in such low-mass, low-density range. Planets detected by PLATO 2.0 will orbit bright stars and many of them will be targets for future atmosphere spectroscopy exploring their atmosphere. Furthermore, the mission has the potential to detect exomoons, planetary rings, binary and Trojan planets. The planetary science possible with PLATO 2.0 is complemented by its impact on stellar and galactic science via asteroseismology as well as light curves of all kinds of variable stars, together with observations of stellar clusters of different ages. This will allow us to improve stellar models and study stellar activity. A large number of well-known ages from red giant stars will probe the structure and evolution of our Galaxy. Asteroseismic ages of bright stars for different phases of stellar evolution allow calibrating stellar age-rotation relationships. Together with the results of ESA's Gaia mission, the results of PLATO 2.0 will provide a huge legacy to planetary, stellar and galactic science

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Basquetebol feminino de excelencia: desenvolvimento de carreira de atletas brasileiras campeas mundiais e medalhistas olimpicas

[Abstract]: This study investigated the career of seven Brazilian athletes who hold the title of world champions and Olympic medalists in basketball. The aim was to identify individual´s multiple factors that influenced them to reach the excellence level throughout their sport career. The data was collected through semi-structured retrospective interviews and was analyzed using Thematic Analysis, having the Personal Assets Framework as the main supporting theory. The results suggest that autonomous and diversified practice was essential for players’ development on the early years of their sport careers, as well as financial support on the specializing years. During the investment and maintenance years, intrapersonal skills have become more important, training time has increased and there was a disregard with social living; historically significant achievements and financial recognition provided a sense of reward and worth.[Resumen]: Esta investigacion trata de la carrera de siete brasilenas que ostentan el titulo de campeonas de mundo y medallistas olimpicas en baloncesto. El objetivo fue identificar los multiples factores individuales para alcanzar el nivel de excelencia a lo largo de la carrera. Los datos se recolectaron a traves de entrevistas retrospectivas semiestructuradas y se analizaron mediante Analisis Tematica, teniendo el Marco Teorico de Activos Personales como la principal teoria de soporte. Los resultados sugieren que la practica diversificada fue primordial durante los primeros anos de sus carreras deportivas, asi como el apoyo financiero durante los anos de especializacion. Durante los anos de inversion y mantenimiento, las habilidades intrapersonales se han vuelto mas importantes, con dificultad de desarrollar la vida social; los logros históricamente significativos y el reconocimiento financiero proporcionaron un sentido de recompensa y valor.[Resumo]: Esta pesquisa aborda a carreira de seta brasileiras campeas do mundo e medalhistas olimpicas de basquetebol. O objetivo foi identificar os multiplos fatores individuais para alcancar o nivel de excelencia ao longo da carreira. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas de carater retrospectivo e analisadas por Analise Tematica, tendo a teoría dos Los datos se recolectaron a traves de entrevistas retrospectivas semiestructuradas y se analizaron mediante Analisis Tematica, tendo o Quadro Teorico Para o Desenvolvimento de Valores Pessoais como a principal teoria de suporte. Os resultados sugerem que a pratica diversificada e autonoma foi primordial durante os primeros anos de pratica, assim como o apoio financiero durante os anos de especializacao, correspondente ao inicio da carreira esportiva. Durante os anos de investimento e manutencao, as habilidades intrapersonais se tornaram mais importantes, se somando a dificultades de desenvolvimento da vida social; as conquistas historicas e o reconhecimento finaceiros proporcionarm um setimento de recompensa e valor

Excellence in Women Basketball : Sport Career Development of World Champions and Olympic Medalists Brazilian Athletes

This study investigated the career of seven Brazilian athletes who hold the title of world champions and Olympic medalists in basketball. The aim was to identify individual's multiple factors that influenced them to reach the excellence level throughout their sport career. The data was collected through semi-structured retrospective interviews and was analysed using Thematic Analysis, having the Personal Assets Framework as the main supporting theory. The results suggest that autonomous and diversified practice was essential for players' development on the early years of their sport careers, as well as financial support on the specializing years. During the investment and maintenance years, intrapersonal skills have become more important, training time has increased and there was a disregard with social living; historically significant achievements and financial recognition provided a sense of reward and worth.Esta investigación trata de la carrera de siete brasileñas que ostentan el título de campeonas de mundo y medallistas olímpicas en baloncesto. El objetivo fue identificar los múltiples factores individuales para alcanzar el nivel de excelencia a lo largo de la carrera. Los datos se recolectaron a través de entrevistas retrospectivas semiestructuradas y se analizaron mediante Análisis Temática, teniendo el Marco Teórico de Activos Personales como la principal teoría de soporte. Los resultados sugieren que la práctica diversificada fue primordial durante los primeros años de sus carreras deportivas, así como el apoyo financiero durante los años de especialización. Durante los años de inversión y mantenimiento, las habilidades intrapersonales se han vuelto más importantes, con dificultad de desarrollar la vida social; los logros históricamente significativos y el reconocimiento financiero proporcionaron un sentido de recompensa y valor.Esta pesquisa aborda a carreira de seta brasileiras campeãs do mundo e medalhistas olímpicas de basquetebol. O objetivo foi identificar os múltiplos fatores individuais para alcançar o nível de excelência ao longo da carreira. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas de caráter retrospectivo e analisadas por Análise Temática, tendo a teoria dos Los datos se recolectaron a través de entrevistas retrospectivas semiestructuradas y se analizaron mediante Análisis Temática, tendo o Quadro Teórico Para o Desenvolvimento de Valores Pessoais como a principal teoria de suporte. Os resultados sugerem que a prática diversificada e autônoma foi primordial durante os primeros anos de prática, assim como o apoio financiero durante os anos de especialização, correspondente ao início da carreira esportiva. Durante os anos de investimento e manutenção, as habilidades intrapersonais se tornaram mais importantes, se somando a dificultades de desenvolvimento da vida social; as conquistas historicas e o reconhecimento finaceiros proporcionarm um setimento de recompensa e valor