Teachers as designers of GBL scenarios: Fostering creativity in the educational settings

This paper presents a research started in 2010 with the aim of fostering the creativity of teachers through the design of Game-Based Learning scenarios. The research has been carried out involving teachers and trainers in the co-design and implementation of digital games as educational resources. Based on the results grained from the research, this paper highlights successful factors of GBL, as well as constraints and boundaries that the introduction of innovative teaching and learning practices faces within educational settings

A Neyman-Scott phenomenon in model discrimination.

The aim of this paper is to show through simulation that a Neyman-Scott phenomenon may occur in discriminating among separate stratified models. We focus on models which are scale families in each stratum. We consider traditional model selection procedures, such as the Akaike and Takeuchi information criteria, together with procedures based on the marginal likelihood and its Laplace approximation. We perform two simulation studies. Results indicate that, when the sample size in each stratum is fixed and the number of strata increases, correct selection probabilities for traditional model selection criteria may approach zero. On the other hand, model selection based on exact or approximate marginal likelihoods, that exploit invariance, can behave far better

On a likelihood interpretation of adjusted profile likelihoods through refined predictive densities.

In this paper a second-order link between adjusted profile likelihoods and refinements of the estimative predictive density is shown. The result provides a new straightforward interpretation for modified profile likelihoods, that complements results in Severini (1998a) and in Pace and Salvan (2006). Moreover, it outlines a form of consistency to second order between likelihood theory and prediction in frequentist inference

On the use of pseudo-likelihoods in Bayesian variable selection.

In the presence of nuisance parameters, we discuss a one-parameter Bayesian analysis based on a pseudo-likelihood assuming a default prior distribution for the parameter of interest only. Although this way to proceed cannot always be considered as orthodox in the Bayesian perspective, it is of interest to evaluate whether the use of suitable pseudo-likelihoods may be proposed for Bayesian inference. Attention is focused in the context of regression models, in particular on inference about a scalar regression coefficient in various multiple regression models, i.e. scale and regression models with non-normal errors, non-linear normal heteroscedastic regression models, and log-linear models for count data with overdispersion. Some interesting conclusions emerge

Likelihood theory, prediction, model selection: asymptotic connections.

Plug-in estimation and corresponding refinements involving penalisation have been considered in various areas of parametric statistical inference. One major example is adjustment of the profile likelihood for inference in the presence of nuisance parameters. Another important setting is prediction, where improved estimative predictive densities have been recently developed. A third related setting is model selection, where information criteria based on penalisation of maximised likelihood have been proposed starting from the pioneering contribution of Akaike. The seminal contributions in the last setting predate those introducing the former two classes of procedures, and pertinent portions of literature seem to have evolved quite independently. The aim of this paper is to establish some simple asymptotic connections among these classes of procedures. In particular, all the three kinds of penalisations involved can be viewed as bias corrections of plug-in estimates of theoretical target criteria which are shown to be very closely connected. As a by-product, we obtain adjusted profile likelihoods from optimal predictive densities. Links between adjusted procedures in likelihood theory and model selection procedures are also briefly enquired throuh some simulation studies

Growth factors and experimental arterial grafts

Background: The production of growth factors from several experimental arterial conduits was determined. Methods: We implanted 105 experimental arterial grafts that were 1 cm long in the abdominal aorta of Lewis rats (average weight, 250 g). Five different types of grafts were analyzed: arterial isografts, vein grafts, arterial allografts, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts with normal or decreased compliance. Animals were killed humanely 4 weeks after surgery and the production of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-b, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukin-1 was analyzed. Results: Myointimal hyperplasia (MH) was evident in vein grafts, arterial allografts, and PTFE grafts, but not in arterial isografts. Growth factor production was increased for grafts prone to develop MH like vein, PTFE grafts, and arterial allografts. PDGF and bFGF were increased significantly for PTFE and vein grafts, but not for arterial allografts. The importance of bFGF and PGDF was confirmed by the capability of antibody to PDGF and to bFGF to reduce the mitogenic activity of smooth muscle cells, in vivo and in vitro, for PTFE and vein grafts, but not for arterial allografts, in which a predominant role was played by interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-a. Conclusions: Agents able to neutralize this increased production of growth factors, either directly or by competition with their receptors, can prevent MH formation. (J Vasc Surg 2016;64:1444-9.) Clinical Relevance: Arterial grafts release growth factors, which can lead to myointimal hyperplasia formation and atherosclerosis progression in the arterial tree. Both phenomena can cause graft occlusion. Inhibition of growth factor release by arterial grafts can improve their clinical effectiveness

Relationships between grandparents and their teenage grandchildren: an integrative review

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a relação entre avós e seus netos adolescentes, e descrever suas diferentes representações no cotidiano de seus netos por meio de revisão integrativa. Realizou-se a busca de artigos e resumos publicados no período de janeiro 2002 a junho de 2012, nas bases de dados LILACS e MEDLINE, por meio dos seguintes descritores: avós, netos adolescentes, relações entre avós e netos. Seguindo as estratégias definidas para o estudo, a busca resultou em seis artigos na íntegra. Foram incluídos dois artigos da base de dados LILACS e quatro da MEDLINE. Concluiu-se que as relações entre avós e netos adolescentes se diferenciaram de acordo com a proximidade entre os sujeitos, sendo esta derivada de diversos fatores, como corresidência, trabalho e estado civil dos netos, opções sexuais GLBT, origem e doenças crônicas dos avós. Pesquisas futuras que estudem essa temática são importantes para contribuir com um melhor entendimento da relação entre avós e seus netos na perspectiva de ambos os sujeitos.This study aimed to analyze the relationship between grandparents and their teenage grandchildren, and describe different representations in everyday of their grandchildren through an integrative review. A search for articles and abstracts published from January 2002 to June 2012, was conducted in MEDLINE and LILACS databases using the following descriptors: grandparents, grandchildren teenagers, relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. Following the strategies defined for the study, the search resulted in six full articles. Two articles from LILACS and four from MEDLINE were included. The conclusion was that the relationship between grandparents and teenage grandchildren differed according to the proximity of the subject, which is derived from several factors such as co-residence, work and marital status of the grandchildren, GLBT sexual choices, and chronic source of grandparents. Future research work assessing this issue are important to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren from the perspective of both subjects

La evasión de impuestos como delito antecedente al de lavado de dinero y activos en El Salvador

Los delitos tributarios como la evasión de impuestos y el de lavado de dinero y activos no deberían de generar ningún debate, considerando que en ambos se criminalizan comportamientos diametralmente opuestos, en la medida en que en el primero de ellos se trata de ocultar bienes o ingresos de origen legal mientras que en el segundo la finalidad es poder mostrar bienes o activos de origen ilícito. Sin embargo, la incorporación de los delitos tributarios como conductas previas al lavado no está exenta de discusión tanto a nivel doctrinario como jurisprudencial, sobre todo porque en muchos ilícitos tributarios se sancionan conductas omisivas lo que genera una serie de dificultades prácticas para dilucidar en qué momento se acaban estos y se da paso al de lavado de dinero y activos. Además, existen cuestionamientos relativos a la factibilidad de que la cuota tributaria evadida sea a su vez objeto de lavado, la posibilidad de sancionar al autor de ambas conductas sin vulnerar la prohibición de doble juzgamiento, la determinación de la existencia de un concurso de normas o delitos y la forma de abordar los casos en que se haya regularizado la situación tributaria o prescrito el delito de evasión antecedente. De allí que se haya decidido realizar el presente trabajo de investigación denominado “La evasión fiscal como delito antecedente al de lavado de dinero y activos” a efectos de obtener el grado académico de maestra en derecho penal económico y a su vez dilucidar las interiores interrogantes, sobre la base del problema de investigación planteado que consiste en determinar “en qué ocasiones las conductas relativas al delito de la evasión de impuestos serán aplicadas a la figura del delito de lavado de dinero y activos”

Classificação de estilos de avós : adaptação e validação de instrumento para avaliar responsividade e exigência percebidas na adolescência

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ceilândia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, 2015.O conceito de Estilos de avós vai além das práticas dos avós. O estilo é na verdade, o contexto dentro do qual operam esforços dos avós em socializar seus netos de acordo com suas crenças e valores. A temática da avosidade é definida como laço de parentesco entre avós e netos, estando os últimos no período da infância ou adolescência. Assim, avosidade cria um elo entre a Pediatria e a Gerontologia. Não há consenso na literatura sobre quais componentes fazem parte da classificação de estilos de avós de netos adolescentes e há ainda, ausência de uniformização nos estudos realizados, evidenciados nas diversas abordagens metodológicas descritas na literatura. Diante desses fatos, o objetivo deste estudo é adaptar instrumento de medida das dimensões Responsividade e exigência parentais para a relação entre avós e netos adolescentes, visando propor uma classificação para os estilos de avós com netos adolescentes, a partir da classificação proposta por Maccoby e Martin para estilos parentais. Com essa finalidade, foi realizado estudo exploratório e descritivo do tipo métodos mistos, em duas fases em que os pesquisadores inicialmente coletam e analisam os dados qualitativos e usam, em uma segunda fase, estas informações para coleta e análise de dados quantitativos. Na primeira fase foi realizada uma exploração qualitativa, na literatura, dos referenciais teóricos, para descrever as relações entre avós e netos adolescentes, quanto às dimensões Responsividade e Exigência. Na sequência, foi adaptado o instrumento de avaliação das dimensões Responsividade e Exigência parentais refinado por Teixeira, Bardagi & Gomes (2004) que possibilitasse classificar os estilos de avós com netos adolescentes: autoritário, autoritativo, indulgente e negligente. Através de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática da literatura analisou-se a relação entre avós e netos adolescentes com foco nas diferentes formas de apoio oferecido pelos avós. Foram identificadas as relações em que o apoio financeiro assumiu papel importante na relação entre ambos os sujeitos, sugerindo compor um estilo de exercer avosidade. Na revisão integrativa mostrou-se que as relações entre avós e netos adolescentes se diferenciaram de acordo com a proximidade entre os sujeitos, sendo esta derivada de diversos fatores, como corresidência, trabalho e estado civil dos netos, opções sexuais GLBT, origem e doenças crônicas dos avós. Os instrumentos para avaliar as dimensões Responsividade e Exigência parentais para avós com netos adolescentes, indicaram propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias à sua utilização na prática clínica tanto pediátrica quanto Gerontológica. As análises dos componentes principais indicaram a existência de dois componentes mais relevantes que correspondem às dimensões teóricas de Exigência e Responsividade. Os índices de consistência interna (entre 0,88 e 0,91) e as correlações item-total corrigidas (entre 0,74 e 0,87) observadas para as escalas de Exigência e Responsividade, mostraram que não foram extensas, mas ferramentas fidedignas podendo ser usadas em futuros estudos com netos adolescentes. As diferenças observadas nas dimensões Responsividade e Exigência, direcionadas a avós e avôs, sugeriram que a presença das avós é percebida como mais marcante no ambiente familiar no que diz respeito às práticas educativas dos netos do que a presença dos avôs. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que a classificação dos estilos de avós derivados dos escores altos ou baixos das dimensões Responsividade e Exigência são: autoritário, autoritativo, indulgente e negligente. O instrumento adaptado para a avaliação das dimensões Responsividade e Exigência pode ser utilizado em estudos futuros.The grandparents style concept goes beyond to the practice of being grandparents. The style is actually the way they use to do to socialize their grandchildren in accordance with their beliefs and values. The thematic of “avosidade” is defined as Family ties between grandparents and grandchildren, being the last in the period of childhood or adolescence. This way, the “avosidade” creates a link between pediatrics and gerontology. In the literature, there is no consence about which componentes are part of the classification of teenagers grandparents styles and still heve absence of uniformity in studies, showed through the various approaches described in the literature. On these facts, the aim of this study, is to adapt measuring instrument of responsiveness and parental requirements dimensions to relation between grandparents and teenagers grandchildren, trying to purpose a classification for the style of grandparents with teenagers grandchildren, from Maccoby and Martin`s classification for parental style. For this purpose, an exploratory and descriptive study was prepared, about the mixed methods in two phases where, in the beginning, the researches collet and analyse qualitative informations and use, in a second moment, those informations, to collet and analyse quantitative informations. In the first moment, was done, in the literature, a qualitative exploration, about the theoretical references to describe the relations between grandparents and grandchildren, on the size of responsiveness and requirements.In sequence, the instrumento f avaliation of the responsiveness and parental requirements dimensions was adapted and refined for Teixeira, Bardagi & Gomes (2004), that could classify the styles of grandparents and teenagers grandchildren highlighting the diferente kind of help had a special importance into both parts relations, suggesting composing na style top ratice “avosidade”. In the integrative revision, it was shown that the relation between grandparents and teenagers grandchildren are diferente according to the proximity between the subjects, so that, it derives from several factors as housing, work, the grandchildren marital status, sexual options GLBT, origin and grandparents chronic deseases. The instrument used to assess the responsiveness and requirement dimensions from grandparents to grandchildren show a satisfactory psychometric property in using it both in pediatrics and gerontology. The analyse of the main componentes, show the existence of two more importants components that correspond to the theoretical dimensions of requeriment and responsiveness.The index of internal consistency (between 0,88 and 0,91) and the correct total item correlation (between 0,74 and 0,87), observe for scaly of requeriment and responsiveness , showed that tools were not extensive, however, reliable, and they can be used in a future studies with teenagers grandchildren. The diferences observed in those dimensions, directed to grandparents , suggested that the grandparents presence is most striking in the Family environment with regard educational practices with grandchildren than with the grandparents presence. The results of this study show that the grandparennts styles derived from high or low scores of responsiveness and requirements dimensions are: authoritarian, authoritative, indulgente and negligente. The instrument adapted to avalue the responsivness and requirements dimensions can be used in future studies