Blogs in Higher Education : encouraging self-reflective learning in group assessments for Business Students

This article analyses and assesses the inclusion of blogs in higher education learning and teaching, and its use as an enabler for reflective learning, particularly in the context of group work. The research reports on findings from existing literature and from an isolated ob-servation of a class of 130 business students at undergraduate level. Two main areas for discussion have been defined: the impact of blogs on group work and the impact of blogs on student engagement. It has been found that the use of blogs in teaching and assessment deepens students’ individual learning experience and increases group performance through the application of Kolb’s Learning Cycle. Kolb’s theory has been used as guidance in tailoring blog tasks and activities. Overall, blog activities have minimised issues between group members and allowed for a more flexible and positive learning experience throughout the duration of group work; it was also found that students engaged in blog writing were able to motivate their peers to write on their own blogs too. Moreover, a relation between blog writing and better overall achievement in learning has been found.Peer reviewe

Theory of Nonequilibrium Spin Transport and Spin Transfer Torque in Superconducting-Ferromagnetic Nanostructures

Spin transport currents and the spin-transfer torques in voltage-biased superconducting-ferromagnetic nanopillars (SFNFS point contacts) are computed. We develop and implement an algorithm based on the Ricatti formulation of the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity to solve the time-dependent boundary conditions for the nonequilibrium Green's functions for spin transport through the ferromagnetic interfaces. A signature of the nonequilibrium torque is a component perpendicular to the plane spanned by the two ferromagnetic moments. The perpendicular component is absent in normal-metal-ferromagnetic nanopillars (NFNFN) contacts, but is shown to have the same order of magnitude as the in-plane torque for non-equilibrium SFNFS contacts. The out-of-plane torque is due to the rotation of quasiparticle spin by the exchange fields of the ferromagnetic layers. In the ballistic limit the equilibrium torque is related to the spectrum of spin-polarized Andreev bound states, while the {\sl ac} component, for small bias voltages, is determined by the nearly adiabatic dynamics of the Andreev bound states. The nonlinear voltage dependence of the non-equilibrium torque, including the subharmonic gap structure and the high-voltage asymptotics, is attributed to the interplay between multiple Andreev reflections, spin filtering and spin mixing. These properties of spin angular momentum transport may be exploited to control the state of nanomagnets.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

Comportamento do consumidor em cadeias agroalimentares curtas na região do Corede Rio da Várzea/RS/Brasil

Purpose – To analyze consumer purchase intentions at open fairs in the region of Regional Development Council (COREDE) Rio da Várzea/Rio Grande do Sul in the light of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the influencing factors in the decision-making process. Design/methodology/approach - The scope of the research requires an analysis involving the interaction of TPB, the decision-making process and the factors that influence consumer behavior, making it possible, based on statistical inferences, to analyze multiple variables simultaneously through the use of the Modeling technique of Structural Equations. The questionnaire was applied to 195 consumers of open markets using the non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique. Findings – The model of causal relationships of the three beliefs and four influencing factors allowed testing whether the seven constructs are correlated. The correlation between all indicators was significant and positive and the model that obtained greater significance was the construct model referring to Personal Factors. In this model, the concern with health and quality of life were the most relevant variables, allowing us to conclude that the search for a healthy life makes consumers worry about looking for natural foods, which are found in open markets. Originality/value – Studies that address this entire context have not been carried out in the region of the COREDE Rio da Várzea.Uma demanda por produtos comprovada como cadeias agroalimentares curtas, especificamente como feiras livres, está relacionada ao aumento da exigência dos consumidores no que tange a preocupação com a qualidade dos ali Objetivo – Analisar as intenções de compra do consumidor em feiras livres na região do Conselho Regional de Desenvolvimento (COREDE) Rio da Várzea/Rio Grande do Sul à luz da Teoria do Comportamento Planejado e dos fatores influenciadores no processo decisório. Design/metodologia/abordagem – O escopo da pesquisa requer uma análise envolvendo a interação da TPB, do processo de tomada de decisão e dos fatores que influenciam o comportamento do consumidor, possibilitando a partir das inferências estatísticas analisar simultaneamente múltiplas variáveis através do uso da técnica de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais. O questionário foi aplicado a 195 consumidores das feiras livres utilizando a técnica de amostragem não-probabilística por conveniência. Resultados – O modelo das relações causais das três crenças e dos quatro fatores influenciadores permitiu testar se os sete constructos se correlacionam. A correlação entre todos os indicadores foi significativa e positiva e o modelo que obteve maior significância foi o modelo do constructo referente aos Fatores Pessoais. Nesse modelo a preocupação com a saúde e a qualidade de vida foram as variáveis mais relevantes, permitindo concluir que a busca por uma vida saudável faz com que os consumidores se preocupem em procurar alimentos naturais, que são encontrados nas feiras livres. Originalidade/valor – Estudos que abordam todo este contexto não foram realizados na região do COREDE Rio da Várzea. s

Padrões Eletroforéticos de Marcadores Proteicos de Lobos-guarás (chrysocyon brachyurus).

bitstream/item/54269/1/98-621-1BP27.pd

Bourgin-Yang versions of the Borsuk-Ulam theorem for pp-toral groups

Let $V$ and $W$ be orthogonal representations of $G$ with $V^G= W^G=\{0\}$. Let $S(V )$ be the sphere of $V$ and $f : S(V ) \to W$ be a $G$-equivariant mapping. We give an estimate for the dimension of the set $Z_f=f^{-1}\{0\}$ in terms of $\dim V$ and $\dim W$, if $G$ is the torus $\mathbb T^k$, or the $p$-torus $\mathbb Z_p^k$. This extends the classical Bourgin-Yang theorem onto this class of groups. Finally, we show that for any $p$-toral group $G$ and a $G$-map $f:S(V) \to W$, with $\dim V=\infty$ and $\dim W<\infty$, we have $\dim Z_f= \infty$.Comment: Major revisio

An unpublished interview with Paulo Freire: radical pedagogy & social transformation

Pulling together the inedited works by Paulo Freire in the XXI century shows us how his works are up-to-date with current issues in the field. Most of his works have been disseminated all over the World, as those of the greatest educator of all times; however, his simplicity and outspoken voice is unique and cannot be reproduce in a simple manner. This is possibly why many writers use his citations, instead of paraphrasing his writings. Therefore, this paper represents another attempt to focus on his own voice and perspective on some of the questions raised by students three decades ago, that had never reach a broad audience but are nevertheless still in the minds of many students who are today interested in his work. The paper presents a short unpublished interview with Freire in 1988, when he talks about theoretical affiliation, critiques and the objectives of his works. In a conversation format the interview is a re-encounter between Paulo Freire and his former student Carmen de Mattos

Contribution to a better understanding of different behaviour patterns observed with organic coatings evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

In the present paper, three different coatings (epoxy, alkyd, polyurethane paints) were characterized by electrochemical impedance measurements, permeability tests, free-standing film impedance and local impedance measurements. The increase in resistance with immersion time of alkyd paint was linked to the nature of the polymeric network and not to phenomena occurring at the metal/paint interface. For polyurethane paint, local impedance was not able to detect defects in the paint, which was attributed to the fact that the defects are smaller than those observed in alkyd paint and also that they are less active and homogeneously distributed through the coating. Although electrochemical impedance methods (global and local) are excellent tools to monitor the behaviour of organic coatings, these techniques alone are not sufficient to screen different paints

Crescimento econômico e grau de desigualdade no Rio Grande do Sul: uma lição a partir dos anos noventa

<div align="justify">Empregando uma base de dados municipal, o principal objetivo do estudo foi investigar se houve diferenças significativas no crescimento econômico e no grau de desigualdade entre as regiões Norte, Nordeste e Sul do Estado do Rio Grande do Sulna década de 1990. Os resultados indicam a existência de diferenças significativas no crescimento e no grau de desigualdade entre a região Nordeste e as duas demais regiões do Estado. É possível, com esses resultados, identificar certa hierarquia interregionalpara o crescimento econômico e para o grau de desigualdade. A correlação negativa entre crescimento e grau de desigualdade é significativa e foi detectada pela estimação da matriz de correlação e pelo teste de correlação de Spearman.<br><br>Abstract The main task of this paper is to investigate whether there were significantdifferences between the three regions of Rio Grande do Sul state – North, South, and Northeast – relating the economic growth and the degree of inequality during 1990 decade. It was employed the ANOVA one way and Kruskal-Wallis test. The results suggest that significant differences between the Northeast and the other two regions studied taking economic growth and the degree of inequality took place. The significant inverse correlation between economic growth and inequality was detected by the correlation matrix and Spearman’s correlation coefficient estimates.</div

The influence of family origin and socioeconomic variables on land use and deforestation of family lots in the Brazilian Amazon basin.

This article examines the influence of eleven independent variables (family origin, time of lot occupation, couple?s schooling, generational index, gender index, size of lot, land title, annual family income, access to rural credit, access to transportation to market the production, and access to electricity to benefit the production) on land use and deforestation of 2,555 family lots selected by the Brazilian federal policy denominated ?Social and Environmental Development of Rural Family Production Program? (Proambiente). The paper discusses six independent variables that demonstrated significant statistical influence on the deforestation of legal reserves of family lots: family origin, time of lot occupation, size of lot, annual family income, access to rural credit, access to transportation and access to electricity. This paper aims to provide data to the literature about land use and to collaborate with the improvement of governmental programs those combines agroecological transition and supply of environmental services to the global society