Effects of multimedia computer-assisted instruction (MCAI) on academic achievement in physical education of Greek primary students

Computer technology has become an integral part of physical education, yet there have been few studies exploring the use of multimedia technology in the instruction of Physical Education. The purpose of this study was to investigate if Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) in Physical Education is functional in the school environment. An interactive multimedia CD-ROM program was developed, especially for the needs of the study, titled «The tree of Health». This intervention trial involved 12 fifth- and sixthgrade classes (N = 248 students), randomized into 3 groups: Multimedia Computer Assisted Instruction, Traditional Approach to teaching (TA), and Control. Students were tested using pre and post-tests that measured knowledge of «Health related fitness» subjects. The experiment lasted 12 class hours, two classes per week over six weeks. The results of an analysis of covariance indicated that there was a significant increase in achievement post-test for the (MCAI) group when compared to either the (TA) or control groups, F(1, 238) = 13.486, p < .0167; F(1, 238) = 53.872, p < .0167. These results indicate that this new educational tool is an effective way to introduce health-related physical education programs for young students in typical classroom settings.Computer technology has become an integral part of physical education, yet there have been few studies exploring the use of multimedia technology in the instruction of Physical Education. The purpose of this study was to investigate if Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) in Physical Education is functional in the school environment. An interactive multimedia CD-ROM program was developed, especially for the needs of the study, titled «The tree of Health». This intervention trial involved 12 fifth- and sixthgrade classes (N = 248 students), randomized into 3 groups: Multimedia Computer Assisted Instruction, Traditional Approach to teaching (TA), and Control. Students were tested using pre and post-tests that measured knowledge of «Health related fitness» subjects. The experiment lasted 12 class hours, two classes per week over six weeks. The results of an analysis of covariance indicated that there was a significant increase in achievement post-test for the (MCAI) group when compared to either the (TA) or control groups, F(1, 238) = 13.486, p < .0167; F(1, 238) = 53.872, p < .0167. These results indicate that this new educational tool is an effective way to introduce health-related physical education programs for young students in typical classroom settings

Novel Charge Sensitive Amplifier Design Methodology suitable for Large Detector Capacitance Applications

Current mode charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) topology and related methodology for use as pre-amplification block in radiation detection read out front end IC systems is proposed1. It is based on the use of a suitably configured current conveyor topology providing advantageous noise performance characteristics in comparison to the typical used CSA structures. In the proposed architecture the noise at the output of the CSA is independent of the detector capacitance value, allowing the use of large area detectors without affecting the system noise performance. Theoretical analysis and simulation analysis are performed concerning the operation – performance of the proposed topology. Measurement results on a current mode CSA prototype fabricated with a 0.35 μm CMOS process by Austriamicrosystems are provided supporting the theoretical and simulation results and confirming the performance mainly in terms of the noise performance dependency on the detector capacitance value

A system architecture, processor, and communication protocol for secure implants

Secure and energy-efficient communication between Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) and authorized external users is attracting increasing attention these days. However, there currently exists no systematic approach to the problem, while solutions from neighboring fields, such as wireless sensor networks, are not directly transferable due to the peculiarities of the IMD domain. This work describes an original, efficient solution for secure IMD communication. A new implant system architecture is proposed, where security and main-implant functionality are made completely decoupled by running the tasks onto two separate cores. Wireless communication goes through a custom security ASIP, called SISC (Smart-Implant Security Core), which runs an energy-efficient security protocol. The security core is powered by RF-harvested energy until it performs external-reader authentication, providing an elegant defense mechanism agai

Leptin, acylcarnitine metabolites and development of adiposity in the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate relations of serum leptin at age 4 with development of adiposity and linear growth during 3 years of follow-up among 75 Greek children and to identify serum metabolites associated with leptin at age 4 and to characterize their associations with adiposity gain and linear growth. METHODS: Linear regression models that accounted for maternal age, education and gestational weight gain and child's age and sex were used to examine associations of leptin and leptin-associated metabolites measured at age 4 with indicators of adiposity and linear growth at age 7. RESULTS: Each 1-unit increment in natural log-(ln)-transformed leptin corresponded with 0.33 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.55) units greater body mass index-for-age z-score gain during follow-up. Likewise, higher levels of the leptin-associated metabolites methylmalonyl-carnitine and glutaconyl-carnitine corresponded with 0.14 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.27) and 0.07 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.16) units higher body mass index-for-age z-score gain, respectively. These relationships did not differ by sex or baseline weight status and were independent of linear growth. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that leptin, methylmalonyl-carnitine and possibly glutaconyl-carnitine are associated with weight gain during early childhood. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings in other populations

Indoor Air Pollutants and the Impact on Human Health

Non

Career Recommendations Using Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation

Die Arbeitssuche ist für die meisten Menschen bestenfalls lästig. Die Auswahl eines beruflichen Werdegangs ist ebenfalls eine Herausforderung. Wir stellen ein Modell vor, das bei diesen Problemen Abhilfe schaffen soll. Mithilfe der geschätzten Parameter des Modells sind wir in der Lage den wichtigsten Skill zu identifizieren der eine gewünschte Laufbahn am effektivsten vorantreibt. Des Weiteren erlaubt das Modell ein automatisches Zuordnen von Skills zu Kursen. Wir beschreiben die Schritte eines Bayesianischen Variational Inference Algorithmus und testen unsere Implementation mithilfe simulierter Daten. Wir können zeigen, dass der Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation Algorithmus in der Lage ist die innere Struktur der Simulationen im Wesentlichen zu extrahieren. Abschließend zeigen wir, dass es möglich ist, die gewonnenen latenten Variablen adäquat als eine Grundlage zur Erstellung von Online-Trainings Kursen zu nutzen.For most people, looking for a new job is a chore at best. Picking a career is also a challenge. And even if one has a job she wishes to pursue, it is often not clear which skills should be acquired next. To facilitate these problems we propose a model that is capable of predicting a person's occupation based on their provided set of skills. Using the estimated parameters of this model we can suggest the next skill a user may acquire in order to pursue a given career. Finally, the model allows for an automated grouping of skills into courses. We derive the steps of a Bayesian Variational Inference algorithm called Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation which extends original Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm in order to predict a multi-class label and implement it. We compare our implementation against multiple out-of-the-box algorithms for multi-class prediction using simulated data in various simulation settings. We are able to show that Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation is capable of extracting the innate structure in most of the simulation settings. Finally, we demonstrate that the latent factors of Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation form logically coherent clusters of skills that are closely related to their respective profession and thus may lend themselves to the automatic collection of online training videos for online courses

Thinking Finance - The Comic Book

Thinking financially results in the best possible outcome and establishes a secure foundation for the future as an independent man. In contrast, thinking emotionally leads to short-sighted financial decisions and usually, deep regrets. However, thinking financially is not pleasant for the people around us. This comic book presents a guy, whose dream is to become an accountant. When he finally succeeds in this, he realizes that thinking financially may be effective for his boss but it is irritating for everyone else, even for his family