Use and Mastery of Virtual Learning Environment in Brazilian Open University

This paper describes and analyses the dynamics of the use and/or mastery of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) by educators and students Open University, important part of the Brazilian Educational System. A questionnaire with 32 items was answered by 174 students/instructors/coordinators of the Media in Education and Physics courses, of two federal universities, between 2011 and early 2012. The interview with a coordinator was transcribed and related to the data systematised in tables and graphs. Interpretative analysis, in an open dialogue with the references and with the data from the Universidade Aberta do Brasil (UAB - Open University of Brazil) site resulted in the final considerations. These suggest that the use and/or mastery of VLEs by students are important, and the specificities of these uses subsidise studies and publications, still in a small number in the literature in this area of knowledge. The work reflects the development of the Open Distance Education System, conducted with strong popular participation, as a response to the challenge posed to the educational policies for expanding the public provision of higher education, also using VLEs for this purpose

The Writer’s Grit Guide: Practical Methods for Effective Writing

Successful writing practices involve confidence, idea generation, and productivity habits. Writers can lack confidence about their abilities or about the quality of their writing when pitted against the creative and technical challenges that come with writing. Fear—which leads to both insecurity and egotism—is often what drives confidence issues in writing. True confidence emerges from the middle ground—or balance—between insecurity and ego. Writers can also struggle to develop new ideas when the competition to come up with original material results in writer’s block. Writers must improve their productivity and follow through on their goals by developing grit. This thesis will reveal how to increase the quality of writing by following biblical guidance and advice from successful and productive writers, thus optimizing writing practices

Landscapes as Living Laboratories for Sustainable Campus Planning and Stewardship: A Scoping Review of Approaches and Practices

Living laboratories are increasingly employed to support campus sustainability and student learning. This research explored how living labs are defined in relation to the biophysical landscape, how they are integrated into teaching and learning, how students are engaged, and how they connect to university sustainability goals. Previous reviews focus on living laboratories or learning landscapes, but no prior review has explored the application of these concepts specifically to the biophysical landscape of university campuses. We employed a scoping review which resulted in 28 articles for analysis. Projects most consistently employed the terms “learning landscapes,” “sustainable campus landscape,” and “adaptive co-management” as articulations of living laboratories that integrate campus physical landscapes. Students have been engaged in design, planning, installation, stewardship, monitoring, and management of campus landscapes through courses, research, and co-curricular activities. The majority of projects engaged with landscapes as living laboratories through environmental science, design, and other allied disciplines. Other disciplines could also engage with landscapes as living laboratories to promote sustainability. Projects also could more explicitly connect faculty and student engagement with broader campus sustainability goals and plans. More consistent application of terms may help other universities to determine the best actions for their campus when incorporating landscapes into living laboratories

3D Segmentation Method for Natural Environments based on a Geometric-Featured Voxel Map

This work proposes a new segmentation algorithm for three-dimensional dense point clouds and has been specially designed for natural environments where the ground is unstructured and may include big slopes, non-flat areas and isolated areas. This technique is based on a Geometric-Featured Voxel map (GFV) where the scene is discretized in constant size cubes or voxels which are classified in flat surface, linear or tubular structures and scattered or undefined shapes, usually corresponding to vegetation. Since this is not a point-based technique the computational cost is significantly reduced, hence it may be compatible with Real-Time applications. The ground is extracted in order to obtain more accurate results in the posterior segmentation process. The scene is split into objects and a second segmentation in regions inside each object is performed based on the voxel’s geometric class. The work here evaluates the proposed algorithm in various versions and several voxel sizes and compares the results with other methods from the literature. For the segmentation evaluation the algorithms are tested on several differently challenging hand-labeled data sets using two metrics, one of which is novel.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Relationship between carbohydrate composition and fungal deterioration of functional strawberry juices preserved using non-thermal treatments

BACKGROUND: The quantification of the main carbohydrates present in strawberry juices enriched with inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and preserved by non-thermal techniques (vanillin and ultrasound) were studied, as well as the evolution of these compounds and their relationship with fungal deterioration during 14 days of refrigerated storage. RESULTS: A simple and environmentally friendly analytical approach based on high performance liquid chromatography with reflection index detector was developed for simultaneous determination of inulin, FOS and mono and disaccharides present in the juices. When analyzing the evolution of carbohydrates during storage, a direct relationship between the consumption of sucrose and the growth of yeasts and molds (main spoilage flora in strawberry) was observed, especially in untreated samples (control). On the contrary, no sucrose consumption was observed during storage of treated sample, thus demonstrating the efficiency of the non-thermal treatments to control yeasts and molds growth. In turn, inulin and FOS added to juices were not degraded during storage. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that non-thermal treatments are adequate to prevent the growth of deteriorative flora in strawberry juices and adding inulin and FOS can be a good strategy to functionalize them, improving their nutritional properties.Fil: Cassani, Lucía Victoria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Cientifíca y Tecnológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Gabriel Sebastian. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Moreira, Maria del Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

Sustainable food systems in fruits and vegetables food supply chains

Fruits and vegetables wastes (e.g., peel fractions, pulps, pomace, and seeds) represent ~16% of total food waste and contribute ~6% to global greenhouse gas emissions. The diversity of the fruit-horticultural production in several developing countries and the excess of certain fruits or vegetables in the months of greatest production offer unique opportunities for adding value to these wastes (co-products). Within the scope of the Circular Economy, valorization of such wastes for the production of innovative bio-ingredients can open great market opportunities if efficiently exploited. In this context, this review deals with the current situation of wastes arising from fruits and vegetables (availability, characterization) as sources of valuable ingredients (fiber, polyphenols, pigments) suitable to be incorporated into food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products. In addition, an integral and systematic approach including the sustainable technologies generally used at both lab and industrial scale for efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from fruits and vegetables wastes are addressed. Overall, this review provides a general updated overview regarding the situation of fruits and vegetables chain supplies in the post-pandemic era, offering an integrative perspective that goes beyond the recovery of fiber and phytochemicals from the previous mentioned wastes and focuses on whole processes and in their social and economic impacts.Fil: Cassani, Lucía Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica y En Alimentos. Unidad de Capacitacion En Gestion de Produccion de Alimentos.; ArgentinaFil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

Urban ageing, gender and the value of the local environment: The experience of older women in a central neighbourhood of Madrid, Spain

This article belongs to the Special Issue Land, Ageing, Gender and Environment: Problems and Challenges from Different Disciplines.Urban ageing is an emerging domain that mixes two challenges of current societies: the ageing of the population and the increasing urbanisation. While ageing in place has demonstrated numerous benefits, some social sectors question whether the city is the right environment for ageing, since cities are home to many of the social problems that characterise contemporary societies. Urban environments are widely described as rootless in most academic articles, with a focus on the impersonality, transience, and segmentation of links between city dwellers. However, this portrayal coexists with contrasting views of urban life that instead emphasise the importance of the local setting and other experiences of attachment to the place of residence. From the age and gender perspectives, in some urban areas, the neighbourhood plays a fundamental role in the lives of many older women, as a natural setting for interaction and an area conducive to collaborative relationships and practical and emotional support in times of need. This article analyses the role that the local space plays in the lives of older women, the value they attach to it and the meaning they attribute to neighbourhood relations in the local urban environment. In order to analyse this reality, the Universidad (Malasaña) neighbourhood, has been selected as a case study, a central area in Madrid (Spain) exposed to numerous processes of transformation, which shows the highest rate of residential mobility in the area. Despite this reality, in a context marked by new difficulties, the conclusion shows that elderly women have a strong attachment to their neighbourhood. This attachment is not necessarily characterised by deep friendships, but by the existence of a significant social network that responds in case of need

Flipped classroom based on objective structured clinical examinations analysis by undergraduate students of Pharmacology course from the Podiatry Degree improve their learning and assessment communication skills about medicines

Comunicación cartel con defensa oralWe aim to evaluate the impact of the individual and in-group analysis of OSCEs (filmed by other students) looking for correct and incorrect behaviours and contents in their learning of pharmacology. Summary of work and outcomes: A 5-year prospective study in which students of Pharmacology course from the Podiatry Degree analysed filmed OSCEs individually and in a group in a flipped classroom. Each group (max 5 students) analysed along 1 week a filmed OSCE, prepare a summary of correct and incorrect items related to clinical events, medicines uses, and people behaviours. The students presented their analysis results to the rest of the class. After each presentation, the other students of the class were encouraged to ask questions and after that, the students voluntarily answered a satisfaction survey. Result and Discussion: 405 students, 65.2% female, 20±5.3 years old were included. Students spend 13.4±5.4 h on making the filmed-OSCE analysis. The percentage of students satisfied with this way of studying pharmacology was 96.5%. OSCEs analysis by students increased their percentage of success in the final assessment in both OSCEs-related and OSCEs-non-related questions (+18.5% and +10.1%). Conclusion: Filmed Objective Structured Clinical Examinations analysis by undergraduate students on the Pharmacology course of Podiatry Degree improved their knowledge about medicines use and their communication skills during the assessment.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A simply method for the addition of rotenone in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

A simple and reproducible method for the treatment of Arabidopsis thalianaleaves with rotenone is presented. Rosette leaves were incubated with rotenone andTriton X-100 for at least 15 h. Treated leaves showed increased expression of COX19 and BCS1a, two genes known to be induced in Arabidopsis cell cultures afterrotenone treatment. Moreover, rotenone/Triton X-100 incubated leaves presented aninhibition of oxygen uptake. The simplicity of the procedure shows this methodology useful for studying the effect of the addition of rotenone to a photosynthetic tissue in situ.Fil: Maliandi, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Rius, Sebastian Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Busi, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Gomez Casati, Diego Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentin