A Nation-wide ePortfolio:Reflections on Ambitions and Experiences in the Netherlands

Janssen, J., Brouns, F., Vaessen, H., Weijnen, G., Huveneers, E., & Hodzelmans, R. (2011). A Nation-wide ePortfolio: Reflections on Ambitions and Experiences in the Netherlands. In Proceedings of the ePortfolio and Identity Conference (ePIC) 2011 (pp. 191-196). July, 10-12, 2011, London, UK. For the presentation, please see also: http://hdl.handle.net/1820/3436In the Netherlands 2008 stands out as a year of significant boosts for nation wide adoption of e-portfolios. In that year the Netherlands Institute for Normalisation (NEN) published the first version of a National Technical Agreement (NTA 2035) for the exchange of e-portfolios using an application profile based on (among others) the IMS ePortfolio specification. In that same year two important government advisory committees on employment and the labour market recommended nationwide adoption of e-portfolios as an instrument to assess and stimulate personal professional development and to increase mobility. In this paper we reflect on the current state of affairs from three different perspectives: a recent study investigating means to accelerate adoption of the NTA 2035, the Service Centre for Lifelong Learning Limburg project which aims to deploy the NTA, and current provision of software supporting the NTA.Service Center Leven Lang Leren Limbur

Blackboard portfolio en E-portfolio NL:een poging tot afstemming

Janssen, J., Brouns, F., Vaessen, H., Weijnen, G., & Huveneers, E. (2011). Blackboard portfolio en E-portfolio NL: een poging tot afstemming. Heerlen, Nederland: Project Leven Lang Leren Limburg.Dit document beschrijft de inspanningen die binnen het Service Centrum Leven Lang Leren Limburg (Werkpakket 5: E-Portfolio) zijn gedaan om een portfolio in Blackboard te ontwerpen op zo'n manier dat een export van het portfolio relatief eenvoudig te vertalen is naar de E-portfolio NL standaard. Het rapport beschrijft de impact van ontwerpkeuzes binnen het Blackboard portfolio op het exportresultaat.Provincie Limburg, Hogeschool Zuyd, ARCUS College, Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen, Open Universiteit - Project Service Centrum Leven Lang Leren Limbur

A Nation-wide ePortfolio: Reflections on Ambitions and Experiences in the Netherlands

Janssen, J., Brouns, F., Vaessen, H., Weijnen, G., Huveneers, E., & R. Hodzelmans (2011). A Nation-wide E-portfolio: Reflections on Ambitions and Experiences in the Netherlands. Presentation given at the e-Portfolio and Identity Conference (ePIC), July 11-13, London, United Kingdom. For the paper, please see also: http://hdl.handle.net/1820/3435In the Netherlands 2008 stands out as a year of significant boosts for nation wide adoption of e-portfolios. In that year the Netherlands Institute for Normalisation (NEN) published the first version of a National Technical Agreement (NTA 2035) for the exchange of e-portfolios using an application profile based on (among others) the IMS ePortfolio specification. In that same year two important government advisory committees on employment and the labour market recommended nationwide adoption of e-portfolios as an instrument to assess and stimulate personal professional development and to increase mobility. This presentation reflects on the current state of affairs from three different perspectives: a recent study investigating means to accelerate adoption of the NTA 2035, the Service Centre for Lifelong Learning Limburg project which aims to deploy the NTA, and current provision of software supporting the NTA.Service Center Leven Lang Leren Limbur

The Rotterdam Study: 2010 objectives and design update

The Rotterdam Study is a prospective cohort study ongoing since 1990 in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The study targets cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric and respiratory diseases. As of 2008, 14,926 subjects aged 45 years or over comprise the Rotterdam Study cohort. The findings of the Rotterdam Study have been presented in close to a 1,000 research articles and reports (see www.epib.nl/rotterdamstudy). This article gives the rationale of the study and its design. It also presents a summary of the major findings and an update of the objectives and methods

The Rotterdam Study: 2012 objectives and design update

The Rotterdam Study is a prospective cohort study ongoing since 1990 in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The study targets cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric, dermatological, oncological, and respiratory diseases. As of 2008, 14,926 subjects aged 45 years or over comprise the Rotterdam Study cohort. The findings of the Rotterdam Study have been presented in over a 1,000 research articles and reports (see www.erasmus-epidemiology.nl/rotterdamstudy). This article gives the rationale of the study and its design. It also presents a summary of the major findings and an update of the objectives and methods

Long-term corticosterone exposure decreases insulin sensitivity and induces depressive-like behaviour in the C57BL/6NCrl mouse.

Chronic stress or long-term administration of glucocorticoids disrupts the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system leading to continuous high levels of glucocorticoids and insulin resistance (IR). This pre-diabetic state can eventually develop into type 2 diabetes mellitus and has been associated with a higher risk to develop depressive disorders. The mechanisms underlying the link between chronic stress, IR and depression remains unclear. The present study aimed to establish a stress-depression model in mice to further study the effects of stress-induced changes upon insulin sensitivity and behavioural consequences. A pilot study was conducted to establish the optimal administration route and a pragmatic measurement of IR. Subsequently, 6-month-old C57BL/6NCrl mice were exposed to long-term oral corticosterone treatment via the drinking water. To evaluate insulin sensitivity changes, blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured at different time-points throughout treatment and mice were behaviourally assessed in the elevated zero maze (EZM), forced swimming test (FST) and open field test to reveal behavioural changes. Long-term corticosterone treatment increased body weight and decreased insulin sensitivity. The latter was revealed by a higher IR index and increased insulin in the plasma, whereas blood glucose levels remained unchanged. Corticosterone treatment induced longer immobility times in the FST, reflecting depressive-like behaviour. No effects were observed upon anxiety as measured in the EZM. The effect of the higher body weight of the CORT treated animals at time of testing did not influence behaviour in the EZM or FST, as no differences were found in general locomotor activity. Long-term corticosterone treatment via the drinking water reduces insulin sensitivity and induces depressive-like behaviour in the C57BL/6 mouse. This mouse model could thus be used to further explore the underlying mechanisms of chronic stress-induced T2DM and its association with increased prevalence of major depressive disorder on the short-term and other behavioural adaptations on the longer term

Effect of corticosterone (CORT) administration via the drinking water (mean+S.E.M.) upon total distance moved, body weight at time of testing and fecal boli production in the open field test (OF).

<p>*Significant difference between CORT and vehicle treatment (<i>P</i><0.01).</p

Effects of CORT treatment orally via the drinking water or by daily s.c. injection upon body weight (mean % change compared to body weight prior to start of treatment+S.E.M.) during the 4 week treatment period and 1 and 2 weeks after treatment cessation (week 5 and 6).

<p>The figure shows significant increased body weights in the group receiving CORT via the drinking water compared to the vehicle drinking water group (^#) or CORT injection group (*). ^#/*<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Effect of corticosterone (CORT) administration via the drinking water (mean+S.E.M.) upon total distance moved, body weight at time of testing and total immobility time in the forced swim test (FST).

<p>*Significant difference between CORT and vehicle treatment (<i>P</i><0.01).</p