A framework for research on technology-enhanced special education

Based on results from the Technologies for Childrenwith Individual Needs Project and two case projects,we propose a new multidisciplinary framework forresearch between computer science, educationaltechnology, and special education. The frameworkpresents a way to conduct research that aims atdeveloping new methods for technology-enhancedspecial education and for developing adaptablesoftware and hardware tools for individual needs ineducational settings.Peer reviewe

Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) responses to high UV-B radiation

Responses of European silver birch seedlings to highly enhanced levels of UV-B radiation (14.4 or 22.5 kJ m–2 d–1 UV-BBE) were studied in a glasshouse experiment. Visible symptoms, membrane lipid composition, secondary metabolites, mRNA levels of chalcone synthase (Chs), localisation of Chs mRNA and leaf structure were analysed. Interveinal chlorosis and asymmetric leaves were induced by UV-B. A significant UV-B -induced increase in 18:2 fatty acid of both glycolipids and phospholipids was detected. UV-B dependent increase in accumulation of a quercetin-3-glycoside and three other compounds, as well as a transient increase in Chs mRNA levels are indicative of induced biosynthesis of flavonoids. In situ experiments showed that mRNA of Chs was mainly found in the upper mesophyll and vascular bundle tissues. Structural observations showed injuries caused by high irradiances. At the light microscopy level there was first a reduction in palisade parenchyma and later a more dense structure of spongy parenchyma cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated an increase in vacuolar membrane whorls and dark bodies, occurrence of lipid material and darkened chloroplast stroma in mesophyll cells. However, results also indicated that Betula pendula is capable of inducing defence reactions such as biosynthesis of flavonoids even at very high UV-B radiation

The snow must go on: Ground ice encasement, snow compaction and absence of snow differently cause soil hypoxia, CO2 accumulation and tree seedling damage in boreal forest

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The symple choice algorythm for estimating of parametersof network protetion prioroties in analitical hierarchic process

Humans depend on services provided by ecosystems, and how services are affected by climate change is increasingly studied. Few studies, however, address changes likely to affect services from seminatural ecosystems. We analyzed ecosystem goods and services in natural and seminatural systems, specifically how they are expected to change as a result of projected climate change during the 21st century. We selected terrestrial and freshwater systems in northernmost Europe, where climate is anticipated to change more than the global average, and identified likely changes in ecosystem services and their societal consequences. We did this by assembling experts from ecology, social science, and cultural geography in workshops, and we also performed a literature review. Results show that most ecosystem services are affected by multiple factors, often acting in opposite directions. Out of 14 services considered, 8 are expected to increase or remain relatively unchanged in supply, and 6 are expected to decrease. Although we do not predict collapse or disappearance of any of the investigated services, the effects of climate change in conjunction with potential economical and societal changes may exceed the adaptive capacity of societies. This may result in societal reorganization and changes in ways that ecosystems are used. Significant uncertainties and knowledge gaps in the forecast make specific conclusions about societal responses to safeguard human well-being questionable. Adapting to changes in ecosystem services will therefore require consideration of uncertainties and complexities in both social and ecological responses. The scenarios presented here provide a framework for future studies exploring such issues

European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) guidelines on the prevention and management of metabolic diseases in HIV.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic diseases are frequently observed in HIV-infected persons and, as the risk of contracting these diseases is age-related, their prevalence will increase in the future as a consequence of the benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART). SUMMARY OF GUIDELINES: All HIV-infected persons should be screened at regular intervals for a history of metabolic disease, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and alteration of body composition; cardiovascular risk and renal function should also be assessed. Efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease will vary in intensity depending on an individual's absolute risk of ischaemic heart disease and should be comprehensive in nature. Lifestyle interventions should focus on counselling to stop smoking, modify diet and take regular exercise. A healthy diet, exercise and maintaining normal body weight tend to reduce dyslipidaemia; if not effective, a change of ART should be considered, followed by use of lipid-lowering medication in high-risk patients. A pre-emptive switch from thymidine analogues is recommended to reduce the risk of development or progression of lipoatrophy. Intra-abdominal fat accumulation is best managed by exercise and diet. Prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension follow guidelines used in the general population. When using medical interventions to prevent and/or treat metabolic disease(s), impairment of the efficacy of ART should be avoided by considering the possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions and compromised adherence. Specialists in HIV and specialists in metabolic diseases should consult each other, in particular in difficult-to-treat cases. CONCLUSION: Multiple and relatively simple approaches exist to prevent metabolic diseases in HIV-infected persons; priority should be given to patients at high risk of contracting these diseases

Kerrostalo Kempeleen Vihiluotoon

Tiivistelmä. Kandidaatintyönäni toimii yhdyskuntasuunnittelun, asuntosuunnittelun sekä rakennusopin kurssin muodostama yhteisprojekti, jossa painotan asuntosuunnittelun osuutta. Kantavana teemana kurssien läpi on toiminut viihtyisä eläminen ja asuminen sekä erilaisten ihmisryhmien ja toimintojen huomioiminen. Aloitimme kurssikokonaisuuden yhdyskuntasuunnittelulla, joka sijoittuu Vihiluotoon. Vihiluoto on ympäristönä uniikki, sillä sieltä löytyy meren suistoalueen lintuvesien lisäksi kerrostunut ja värikäs asutuskanta. Kempeleen kaupunki toivoi vihiluotoon yrityskeskusta sen Lentokentän läheisen sijainnin vuoksi. Tämän lisäksi toiveena oli asuinalueen yhteisöllisyyden ja viihtyisyyden vaaliminen. Näiden lähtökohtien pohjalta sijoitin Lentokentäntien varteen tiiviit yrityskorttelit, joiden korkeat massat toimivat porttina alueelle ja vaimentavat samalla tieltä päin tulevaa melua. Yrityskorttelit ottavat mittakaavassaan mallia alueella jo olevista yritysrakennuksista. Rakennusten mittakaava pienenee kohti Vihiluodon kärkeä luoden luontevan siirtymisen yleisistä yrityskortteleista kohti yksityisempää asumista. Alueen omakotitalokannan halusin säilyttää, ja sitä on tuettu täydentämisrakentamisella. Asuinkerros- ja rivitalokortteleissa rakennukset rajaavat sisäänsä yhteisölliset pihat, joissa on tilaa elämiselle. Lisäksi lisäsin suunnittelualueelle virkistyskäyttöön soveltuvia polkuja ja kevyen liikenteen väyliä suiston luonnosta nauttimista varten. Polut päättyvät Vihiluodon kärjessä sijaitsevaan puistoon, josta löytyy kahvilan lisäksi eri liikunta-aktiviteetteja aina leikkipuistosta ja uimarannasta pallopelikenttään ja ulkoliikuntasaliin. Valitsin jatkokäsittelyyn Professorintien ja Vihiluodon välisen risteyksen korttelin suistoon suuntaavan rakennuksen. Piha tarjoaa kohtaamispaikkoja eri ikäisille ihmisille: leikkipaikan, oleiluportaiden, kesäkeittiön ja kaupunkipuutarhan tuovat ihmisiä yhteen. Pihan alla sijaitsee paikoitus, joten sen pintaa on nostettu hieman. Käynti pihalle tapahtuu portaiden tai huoltoreitin kautta. Näen Vihiluodon asujaprofiilin koostuvan pääosin perheistä, vanhemmasta väestä ja yrityskorttelien työssäkäyvistä. Asuntojakauma, erikokoiset yksiöt, kaksiot ja kolmiot, sekä ylimmän kerroksen neliö syntyivät tämän pohjalta. Asunnoissa on huomioitu arjen toimivuus vaatehuoneiden, toimivien eteisten, työpisteiden ja muiden toimintojen sijoittelulla. Luksusta tuovat monissa asunnoissa omat saunat. Alimmasta kerroksesta on käynti paikotushalliin, ja sinne sijoittuvat myös varastot ja yhteistiloja. Rakennuksen erikoisuutena ovat sen viisto seinä, joka tarjoaa näkymälinjan pihalta suistoon, sekä ylimmän kerroksen kattoterassi, joka avautuu kohti merta. Useat asunnot avautuvat useampaan ilmansuuntaan, jolloin ne saavat parhaat puolet sekä pohjoisen maisemista että etelän ja lännen auringosta. Julkisivumateriaalina toimii tiililaatta. Rakennusopin vaiheessa pyrin viemään ideani detaljitasolle tavoitteenani tasokkaat työ- ja rakennusosapiirustukset. Terassidetaljin käännetyn rakenteen tutkiminen, detaljien ja mitoituksen tarkentaminen sekä julkisivuverhouksen detaljit täydensivät alkuperäisiä suunnittelutavoitteitani

Marked deterioration in the quality of life of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis during the last two years of life

BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease with a high symptom burden and poor survival that influences patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to evaluate IPF patients' symptoms and HRQOL in a well-documented clinical cohort during their last two years of life.MethodsIn April 2015, we sent the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MMRC), the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and a self-rating HRQOL questionnaire (RAND-36) to 300 IPF patients, of which 247 (82%) responded. Thereafter, follow-up questionnaires were sent every six months for two years.ResultsNinety-two patients died by August 2017. Among these patients, HRQOL was found to be considerably low already two years before death. The most prominent declines in HRQOL occurred in physical function, vitality, emotional role and social functioning (pPeer reviewe

Quantitizing Affective Data as Project Evaluation on the Use of a Mathematics Mobile Game and Intelligent Tutoring System

Technology-echnology-enhanced learning generally focuses on the cognitive rather than the affective domain of learning. This multi-method evaluation of the INBECOM project (Integrating Behaviourism and Constructivism in Mathematics) was conducted from the point of view of affective learning levels of Krathwohl et al. (1964). The research questions of the study were: (i) to explore the affective learning experiences of the three groups of participants (researchers, teachers and students) during the use of a mobile game UFractions and an intelligent tutoring system Active Math to enhance the learning of fractions in mathematics; and (ii) to determine the significance of the relationships among the affective learning experiences of the three groups of participants (researchers, teachers and students) in the INBECOM project.This research followed a sequential, equal status, multi-mode research design and methodology where the qualitative data were derived from the interviews with researchers, teachers and students, as well as from learning diaries, feelings blogs, and observations (311 documents) across three contexts (South Africa, Finland, and Mozambique). The qualitative data was quantitized (Saldana, 2009), i.e. analysed deductively in an objective and quantifiable way as instances on an Excel (TM) spreadsheet for statistical analyses. All the data was explored from the affective perspective by labelling the feelings participants experienced according to the affective levels of the Krathwohl et al. (1964) framework.The researchers concluded that: (i) the research participants not only received information, but actively participated in the learning process; responded to what they learned; associated value to their acquired knowledge; organised their values; elaborated on their learning; built abstract knowledge; and adopted a belief system and a personal worldview; and (ii) affirmation of affective learning at all five levels was recognised among the three groups of participants. The study raised a number of issues which could be addressed in future, like how affective levels of learning are intertwined with cognitive levels of learning while learning mathematics in a technology-enhanced learning environment; and how pedagogical models which take into account both cognitive and affective aspects of learning support deep learning

Affordances of music composing software for learning mathematics at primary schools

Music composing is associated with various positive learning outcomes, but in several countries, such as Finland, it is not part of the primary school music curriculum. There are several issues as to why music composing is not taught at schools, such as beliefs that composing requires extensive knowledge of music theory, lack of teachers' confidence, lack of evidence on the method's effectiveness and difficulty of assessment. Composing software has the potential of solving some of these issues, as they are connected to mathematics via music theory and technology, and with practical opportunities arising from adopting phenomenon-based learning at schools, the affordances of music composing technologies for learning mathematics are investigated in this study. For this purpose, 57 music composing software were categorised and reviewed. Our analysis identified eight types of music visualisations and five types of note input methods. The music visualisations were compared to the mathematics content in the Finnish primary school curriculum and the note input methods were evaluated based on their relationship to the music visualisations. The coordinate grid-based piano roll was the most common visualisation and the tracker visualisation had the most affordances for learning primary school math. Music composing software were found to have affordances for teaching mathematical concepts, notations and basic calculus skills, among others. Composing methods involving direct interaction with visualisations support the experiential learning of music theory, and consequently, the learning of mathematics. Based on the findings of this study, we concluded that music composing is a promising activity through which mathematics and music theory can be learned at primary schools