The effects of online courses with multimedia in learners\u27 perceived satisfaction and effectiveness of e-learning.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine how the use of multimedia components, such as graphics, audio and video, in online courses was related to perceived learner satisfaction and learning effectiveness. The use of retrospective data provided self reported perceived satisfaction measures and total score representing objective performance in an online course. Data represented employees of a large multinational, publicly traded healthcare company (N = 2401) during the 2012 calendar year. The independent variables were: (a) learner perceived satisfaction with the use of graphics, (b) learner perceived satisfaction with the use of audio, (c) learner perceived satisfaction with the use of narration properly synchronized with text animation, (d) learner perceived satisfaction with the use of video, and (e) reason for enrolling in the online course. The dependent variable was leamer\u27s objective performance score. Correlations and hierarchical logistic regression were performed on the data. Major findings include (a) a low relation between learners\u27 perceived satisfaction with the use of graphics and objective performance, (b) a relation between combined learners\u27 perceived satisfaction with the use of audio, learners\u27 perceived satisfaction with the use of narration properly synchronized with text animation, and learners\u27 perceived satisfaction with the use of video and learners\u27 objective performance (r2 = .001,p \u3c .05), and (c) reason for enrolling in the online course did not predict learners\u27 objective performance. The study presented additional conclusions and implications for theory, research, and practice

Holonomy and parallel transport for Abelian gerbes

In this paper we establish a one-to-one correspondence between $S^1$-gerbes with connections, on the one hand, and their holonomies, for simply connected manifolds, or their parallel transports, in the general case, on the other hand. This result is a higher-order analogue of the familiar equivalence between bundles with connections and their holonomies for connected manifolds. The holonomy of a gerbe with group $S^1$ on a simply connected manifold $M$ is a group morphism from the thin second homotopy group to $S^1$, satisfying a smoothness condition, where a homotopy between maps from $[0,1]^2$ to $M$ is thin when its derivative is of rank $\leq 2$. For the non-simply connected case, holonomy is replaced by a parallel transport functor between two monoidal Lie groupoids. The reconstruction of the gerbe and connection from its holonomy is carried out in detail for the simply connected case. Our approach to abelian gerbes with connections holds out prospects for generalizing to the non-abelian case via the theory of double Lie groupoids.Comment: Final version. Improved readibility (hopefully). LaTeX, 60 pages, 14 figures. To appear in Advances in Mathematic

Possible Microscopic Doping Mechanism in Tl-2201

X-ray absorption spectroscopy on oxygen-annealed, self-flux-grown single crystals of Tl-2201 suggests a microscopic doping mechanism whereby interstitial oxygens are attracted to copper substituted on the thallium site, contributing holes to both the planes and to these coppers, and typically promoting only one hole to the plane rather than two. These copper substituents would provide an intrinsic hole doping. The evidence for this is discussed, along with an alternative interpretation.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, submitted as conference proceedings for M2S-IX, Toky

Multimodal perioperative pain protocol for gynecologic oncology laparotomy is associated with reduced hospital length of stay and improved patient pain scores

The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of a multimodal perioperative pain regimen on length of hospital stay for patients undergoing laparotomy with a gynecologic oncologist

Postpartum contraception acceptance and readiness study

Determine the optimal time to discuss and formulate a plan for postpartum contraception. Determine factors associated with uptake of and adherence to chosen postpartum contraception plan

Risk assessment of the use of alternative animal and plant raw material resources in aquaculture feeds

A wide range of raw materials are now used routinely in aquaculture feeds throughout the world, primarily to supply protein and energy in the form of lipid from edible oils. Protein meals and oils used can generally be divided into those of plant or animal origin and many have considerable potential to supply the required dietary nutrients required by aquaculture species. However, the use of any raw material introduces a suite of risks that need to be considered to enable the production of safe, sustainable and functional feeds to underpin this sector. A lack of understanding of some of those risks can result in failure of dietary specifications being met and/or negative nutritional elements being introduced (e.g. antinutritional factors). Importantly, it is this feed that when fed to food‐producing animals is such an important element of food safety, and as such any undesirable aspects relating to feed production can also have a negative impact on the rest of the food chain. However, there is some disparity internationally among raw materials that are used and the perceptions surrounding the risk of their use. It is the scientific assessment of these risks that is the basis of this review

Encapsulated Single Crystal Growth and Annealing of the High-Temperature Superconductor Tl-2201

Highly-perfect platelet single crystals of Tl_2Ba_2CuO_{6+d} (Tl-2201) were grown by a self-flux technique. A novel encapsulation scheme allowed the precursors to react prior to the sealing required to contain volatile thallium oxides, and permitted the removal of melt at the conclusion of growth, reproducibly producing high yields of clean crystals. The crystals were annealed under well-controlled oxygen partial pressures, then characterised. They have sharp superconducting transitions, narrow X-ray rocking curves and a low 4% substitution of thallium by copper, all evidence of their high perfection and homogeneity. The crystals are orthorhombic at most dopings, and a previously unreported commensurate superlattice distortion is observed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Journal of Crystal Growt

Clear, rigorous and relevant: publishing quantitative research articles in work, employment and society

According to the recent benchmarking review of the discipline, UK sociological research is predominantly based around qualitative research methods (BSA/HaPS/ESRC 2010: 23). Further, evidence suggests that the overwhelming majority of empirical articles published in mainstream UK sociology journals are qualitative in their focus (Payne 2007: 903). In this context, WES has always been something of an outlier within UK sociology in that a relatively high proportion of articles published in the journal employ quantitative analysis (Rainbird and Rose 2007: 212; Stuart et al 2013:382). However, one consequence of the relative neglect of quantitative methods within UK sociology is that there is a lack of shared understanding about what constitutes appropriate ways of framing and presenting quantitative sociological analysis. This lack of shared understanding can then create problems for researchers seeking to publish articles based on quantitative research, because in contrast to social science disciplines where quantitative analysis is the norm, there is no clear, well established template or set of expectations for quantitative sociological research articles

An Analysis of Black Greek-letter Organization Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a significant component of the mission of many fraternities and sororities, especially Black Greek-letter organizations. We examine the role of philanthropy in these organizations, employing an approach infrequently used — archival data collection combined with quantitative methods. We first document the history of philanthropic activity among the nine members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Then, we use data from IRS tax returns to document quantitative patterns in these organizations’ income and spending. Though the analysis is merely exploratory, we find evidence that BGLOs have lower median revenues and expenditures than do other similar organizations, though a small number of outliers may fuel much of the difference in averages

Multimodal perioperative pain protocol for Gynecologic Oncology laparotomy reduces length of hospital stay

Our primary objective was to evaluate the impact of a multimodal perioperative pain regimen on length of hospital stay for patients undergoing laparotomy with a gynecologic oncologist