Structural equation modelling approach in multiplatform e-learning system evaluation

A multiplatform e-learning system is an e-learning system that can deliver learning content to different accessing devices such as PCs, PDAs and mobile phones. The main objective of this paper is to present an evaluation of such a system from the end user (learner) perspective. The evaluation investigates the relationships among the dimensions that influence learner satisfaction while engaged in a multiplatform e-learning system. A total of 36 participants took part in a comparative evaluation. A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to fit the data. This model indicated that there was a good fit for the resulting model. The SEM identified two groups of factors. Primary factors dominated in the non adaptive e-learning system while secondary factors emerged from the multiplatform e-learning system. The SEM also revealed a suppressor within the system that could possibly negate the contributions from other dimensions

Teaching Social Media Analytics: An Assessment Based on Natural Disaster Postings

Unstructured data in social media is as part of the “big data” spectrum. Unstructured data in Social media can provide useful insights into social phenomena and citizen opinions, both of which are critical to government policy and businesses decisions. Teachers of business intelligence and analytics commonly use quantitative data from sales, marketing, finance and manufacturing to demonstrate various analytics concepts in a business context. However, researchers have seldom used social media data to analyze social behavior and communication. In this study we aim to demonstrate an assessment structure for teaching social media analytics concepts with the goal of analyzing and interpreting social media content. We base this assessment on forum postings regarding two recent events: the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The aim of the assessment is to discover social insights. We base the assessment structure on Cooper’s Analytics Framework to cover such concepts as term frequency (TF), term frequency–inverse document frequency (TFIDF), data visualization, sentiments and opinions analysis, the Nearest Neighbor K-NN classification algorithm, and Information Diffusion theory. We review how the students performed on the assignment that used this assessment, and we make recommendations for future studies

Solving initial-Value Problem of the First-Order Differential Equation by Euler’s Method using Casio fx 570EX Classwiz Scientific Calculator

Solving numerical methods manually without using a scientific calculator or using scientific calculator traditionally without input the iterative formula into the calculator can be quite tedious and boring due to its repetitive calculations. There is a series of studies discussing the implementation of numerical methods using Excel spread sheet as well as Casio scientific calculators, such as Casio fx-570 MS scientific calculator, Casio fx-570 ES scientific calculator and Casio fx-570 ES plus scientific calculator. Even though Excel spreadsheet made the implementation of numerical methods easier to be understood by the learner of numerical methods, but it is not port classrooms (teaching and learning purposes) and examination hall (evaluation purpose). All the three mentioned models of scientific calculators allow the input of iterative formula but users still need to rein put the new inputs then press CALC bu iterative solutions. The new model of Casio fx FX classwiz scientific calculator offers a spreadsheet ability of 45 rows and 5 columns which made the implementation of the numerical methods much easier if compared to previous models. Hence, in this paper, we solved the initial-value problem (IVP) of the first order ordinary differential equations by the Euler’s method using Casio fx-570 FX class calculator for the classroom and examination purposes

Characterization and population dynamics of Toluene-degrading bacteria in a contaminated freshwater stream

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1998.Includes bibliographical references.Stephen T.-L. Tay.Ph.D

Predictors of hospital surface contamination with Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: patient and organism factors

BACKGROUND: The role of the hospital environment in transmission of ESBL-Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) and ESBL-Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) is poorly defined. Recent data however suggest that in the hospital setting, ESBL-KP is more transmissible than ESBL-EC. We sought therefore to measure the difference in hospital contamination rates between the two species and to identify key risk factors for contamination of the hospital environment with these organisms. METHODS: We systematically sampled 8 surfaces in the rooms and bathrooms of adult patients colonized or infected with ESBL-EC or ESBL-KP throughout their hospital stay. Data were collected on factors potentially affecting contamination rates. Environmental contamination was defined as recovery of an ESBL-producing organism matching the source patient’s isolate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed at the level of the patient visit using generalized estimating equations to identify independent predictors of environmental contamination. RESULTS: 24 patients (11 with ESBL-KP, 11 ESBL-EC and 2 with both organisms) had 1104 swabs collected during 138 visits. The overall contamination rate was 3.4% (38/1104) and was significantly higher for ESBL-KP than ESBL-EC (5.4% versus 0.4%; p < 0.0001). After multivariate analysis, environmental contamination was found to be negatively associated with carbapenem exposure (OR 0.06 [95% CI 0.01-0.61]; p = 0.017) and positively associated with the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter (OR 6.12 [95% CI 1.23-30.37]; p = 0.027) and ESBL-KP in the source patient (OR 26.23 [95% CI 2.70-254.67]; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Contamination of the hospital environment with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) is inversely associated with carbapenem exposure. Predictors of hospital contamination with ESBL-E include: indwelling urinary catheters and ESBL-KP. Rooms of patients with ESBL-KP have substantially higher contamination rates than those with ESBL-EC. This finding may help explain the apparently higher transmissibility of ESBL-KP in the hospital setting

Numerical Simulation of undular bore evolution with chezy friction, 2015

This paper studies and simulates numerically the evolution of undular bore under the effect of damping in the framework of the perturbed extended Korteweg-de Vries equation. Here, we consider Chezy frictional term to be the damping term in the perturbed extended Korteweg-de Vries equation. Numerical simulations show that under the influence of the friction, the undular bore with thick leading wave will transform into KdV-like solitary wave as the leading wave of the undular bore. The amplitude of the "thick" leading wave will remain the same for some time even though there is dissipation effect