Reflecting on Scientists’ Activity Based on Science Fiction Stories Written by Secondary Students

In this article the authors resort to a qualitative analysis of the plot of science fiction stories about a group of scientists, written by two 11th‐grade Earth and Life Science students (aged 17), and to semi‐structured interviews, with the double purpose of diagnosing their conceptions of the nature of science (namely, as regards scientists’ activity), and discussing the potentialities of this methodology in terms of research and education in science. The adopted methodology proved particularly effective in diagnosing the students’ conceptions of scientists’ characteristics, scientific activity, and science–technology–society interactions. The limited content of certain conceptions and a certain lack of knowledge on the part of the students concerning the processes and the epistemology of science highlight the need to pay explicit attention in science classes to the nature of scientific activity. Some of the ideas brought up by the students clearly show the influence of stereotypes and catastrophic scenarios depicted in films, television programs, and books, revealing media’s limitations when divulging scientific and technological themes to the general public and stressing the need for the school to promote a critical debate about science and technology images conveyed by the media.     

Learning styles and approaches to learning in excellent and average first-year university students

We assessed the learning approaches and learning styles of a sample of 148 excellent students selected from 11 degrees from nine centers of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain), and we compared the results with those of a sample of 133 average students from the same centers. We found that excellent students took deeper approach than average students and that they preferred reflective and theoretical learning styles. Average students adopted a more surface approach, and they preferred active and pragmatic learning styles. Greater academic achievement was related to the deep approach and to the reflective and theoretical learning styles. Poorer academic achievement was related to the surface approach and an active style. University professors may reinforce the deep approach by placing high aims for students which go well beyond reproducing knowledge but use other complementary methods other than expository teaching: problem solving, case studies, designing projects, raising questions, discussion and negotiation in the classroom, etc. To accomplish this, teachers must encourage students to be committed, and these methods help do that. It also helps to introduce more demanding evaluation procedures which do not merely involve repeating what has been learnt, but include training guidance that offers students feedback.     

Web 2.0 Technologies in Music Education in Portugal: Using Podcasts for Learning

This article presents a report of a pedagogic experience carried out in a Portuguese 6th-grade music education class during the 2008–2009 school year. A podcast was created (www.podomatic.com) and several activities were developed, in classroom context, taking advantage of the tool's potential for teaching and learning. Although the podcast was managed by the teacher, the published contents were developed mostly by the students, therefore becoming themselves producers of the information on the Web and having an active role in the construction of the global society of the 21st century. The informal learning activity was evaluated at the end of the year, using both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Results show that the podcast activity involved students in the learning process, making them aware of the new roles they will play in the global information society.     

Effects of different percentages of body weight support on spatiotemporal step characteristics during running

This study aimed to determine the effect of different percentages of body weight support (BWS) on spatiotemporal step characteristics during running. 26 endurance runners (age: 37 ± 9 years) completed a running treadmill protocol consisting of 6 different conditions (BWS combinations: 0–50%), with velocity maintained at 12 km/h. Each condition lasted 1 minute. Step angle, ground contact time (CT), flight time (FT), step length (SL) and frequency (SF), and duration of phases during stance time (phase1: initial contact; phase2: midstance; phase3: propulsion) were measured for every step during the test using a photoelectric cell system. Compared with the baseline condition (100% BW), FT was longer, CT was shorter, SL was longer, SF was lower, and the step angle was higher with each increase in BWS (p < 0.05). Also, some changes were observed in the duration of phases during stance time: phase1 did not experience changes across experimental conditions (p = 0.096), phase2 decreased and phase3 increased as BW was supported (p < 0.05). These results indicate that as BW was supported, runners showed longer FT and SL, shorter CT, lower SF, and greater step angle as well as some changes in the phases during the ground contact. Therefore, this study highlights the effect of different percentages of BWS on spatiotemporal parameters.     

Determinants for the commitment relationship maintenance between the alumni and the alma mater

This study aims to find determinants for the commitment relationship between alumni and alma mater. Based on the literature, satisfaction and image are proposed as drivers of commitment. A survey applied to 2544 alumni in a Portuguese university provides data analyzed through a structural equation modeling technique. The results present ‘image of education’, ‘image of communication’ and ‘satisfaction with social and academic environment’ as determinants of the commitment relationship, which provide important clues for the marketers’ decision-making process when developing activities geared towards alumni. This process should emphasize aspects relating to their willingness to give back, academic and relationship quality, and institutional values. Within the Higher Education market, this study underscores the need to maintain and reinforce the relationship with alumni, and contributes to the scarce Portuguese literature on alumni matters.     

Effects of medium- and long-distance running on cardiac damage markers in amateur runners: a systematic review,meta-analysis,and metaregression

BackgroundTo finish an endurance race, athletes perform a vigorous effort that induces the release of cardiac damage markers. There are several factors that can affect the total number of these markers, so the aim of this review was to analyze the effect of endurance running races on cardiac damage markers and to identify the factors that modify the levels of segregation of these cardiac damage markers.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed. This analysis included studies where the acute effects of running races on cardiac damage markers (troponin I and troponin T) were analyzed, assessing the levels of these markers before and after the races.ResultsThe effects of running races on troponin I (mean difference = 0.0381 ng/mL) and troponin T (mean difference = 0.0256 ng/mL) levels were significant. The ages (R² = 14.4%, p = 0.033) and body mass indexes (R² = 14.5%, p = 0.045) of the athletes had a significant interaction with troponin I. In addition, gender, mean speed, time to finish the race, and type of race can affect the level of cardiac damage markers.ConclusionEndurance running races induce the release of cardiac-damage markers that remain elevated for at least 24 h after the races. In addition, young male athletes with high body mass indexes who perform races combining long duration and moderate intensity (i.e., marathons) release the highest levels of cardiac damage markers. Physicians should take into consideration these results in the diagnosis and treatment of patients admitted to the hospital days after finishing endurance running races.     

Performance evaluation of the high sensitive troponin I assay on the Atellica IM analyser

IntroductionThe Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction Global Taskforce recommends the use of high sensitive troponin (hs-Tn) assays in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. We evaluated the analytical performance of the Atellica IM High-sensitivity Troponin I Assay (hs-TnI) (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, USA) and compared its performance to other hs-TnI assays (Siemens Advia Centaur, Dimension Vista, Dimension EXL, and Abbott Architect (Wiesbaden, Germany)) at one or more sites across Europe.Materials and methodsPrecision, detection limit, linearity, method comparison, and interference studies were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Values in 40 healthy individuals were compared to the manufacturer’s cut-offs. Sample turnaround time (TAT) was examined.ResultsImprecision repeatability CVs were 1.1–4.7% and within-lab imprecision were 1.8–7.6% (10.0–25,000 ng/L). The limit of blank (LoB), detection (LoD), and quantitation (LoQ) aligned with the manufacturer’s values of 0.5 ng/L, 1.6 ng/L, and 2.5 ng/L, respectively. Passing-Bablok regression demonstrated good correlations between Atellica IM analyser with other systems; some minor deviations were observed. All results in healthy volunteers fell below the 99th percentile URL, and greater than 50% of each sex demonstrated values above the LoD. No interference was observed for biotin (≤ 1500 µg/L), but a slight bias at 5.0 g/L haemoglobin and 50 ng/L Tn was observed. TAT from was fast (mean time = 10.9 minutes) and reproducible (6%CV).ConclusionsReal-world analytical and TAT performance of the hs-TnI assay on the Atellica IM analyser make this assay fit for routine use in clinical laboratories.     

Postural control quantification in minimally and moderately impaired persons with multiple sclerosis: The reliability of a posturographic test and its relationships with functional ability

BackgroundPostural control has been associated with the functional impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, there is a need for reliable methods to assess postural control in early stages of the disease, when subtle changes can be difficult to detect. The aims of this study were to assess the absolute and relative reliability of a standing and a sitting posturographic protocol in minimally (Expanded Disability Status Scale ≤ 2) and moderately (2.5 ≤ Expanded Disability Status Scale ≤ 4) impaired pwMS, and to analyze relationships among postural control and functional mobility and gait performance.MethodsTo assess postural control in an upright stance, 14 minimally and 16 moderately impaired pwMS performed six 70 s trials in tandem stance, 3 with their weaker leg behind (TS_WL) and 3 with their stronger leg behind (TS_SL). Additionally, participants completed five 70 s trials using an unstable sitting protocol (US) to assess trunk stability. The mean radial errors of TS_WL, TS_SL, and US trials were calculated as postural control indexes. Furthermore, participants performed the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the Timed 25-foot Walk test (T25FW) to measure their functional mobility and gait speed, respectively. Reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_3,1) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). Analyses of variances were carried out to assess between-group differences. Hedges’ g index (d_g) was used to estimate the effect size of differences. Pearson correlation analyses (r) were performed to examine the relationships among the postural control and the functional tests.ResultsPosturographic tests showed a high reliability in both minimally (0.87 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.92; 9.32% ≤ SEM ≤ 11.76%) and moderately (0.80 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.92; 10.33% ≤ SEM ≤ 15.33%) impaired pwMS. Similarly, T25FW and TUG displayed a high consistency in minimally (0.89 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.94; 3.43% ≤ SEM ≤ 5.17%) and moderately (0.85 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.93; 5.57% ≤ SEM ≤ 6.56%) impaired individuals. Minimally impaired pwMS showed a better performance on the TUG, T25FW, and TS_WL than moderately impaired individuals (p < 0.05; d_g ≥ 0.8). The TS_WL, TS_SL, and US variables correlated with TUG scores (0.419 ≤ r ≤ 0.604; p < 0.05), but TS_WL also correlated with T25FW scores (r = 0.53; p < 0.01). Furthermore, US scores correlated with both tandem stance parameters (TS_WL: r = 0.54, p < 0.01; TS_SL: r = 0.43, p < 0.05).ConclusionTandem and sitting posturographic tests provide reliable measures of postural control in pwMS, even in individuals with a homogeneous disease profile. Gait speed, functional mobility, and weaker leg status seem decisive in assessing the degree of physical activity limitation in pwMS. Finally, although trunk stability does not seem to be so affected by the course of the disease, it remains relevant for postural control and functional capacity.     

Assessing Quality and Evaluating Performance in Higher Education: Worlds Apart or Complementary Views?

This paper reflects on quality assessment and performance evaluation in higher education, namely by analysing the insufficient link between those two aspects. We start by reviewing the current state of the art regarding different processes and mechanisms of quality assessment and performance evaluation and discuss some of the major issues regarding the implementation of some of them. In particular, we analyse the current limitations regarding data collected, available and publicised on the performance of HEIs and the problems those limitations bring to a fair evaluation of higher education. Through this analysis we intend to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of evaluation in higher education and the way these may lead to the promotion of better quality assessment practices and institutional management.     

A practical approach to making accurate 3D layouts of interesting cultural heritage sites through digital models

On many occasions, the graphic information handled by people working in the cultural heritage sector is still bidimensional. Layouts showing elevations and cross sections are the most widespread tools. However, there is an increased need for carefully detailing the complexity of valuable sites with an improved accuracy. This implies the measuring and handling of three-dimensional data, using both commercial and turn-key hardware and software solutions. Taking the usual traditional process as a reference, in the present paper a new effective methodology for carrying out computer assisted delineation of layouts from cultural heritage sites, using 3D digital models, is described. The proposed procedure has been tested in five intervention projects on representative churches within the “Merindad de Aguilar de Campoo” medieval area, in the north of Spain.¹ This area has the largest collection of Romanesque art in the world, and is currently under European Heritage Site and World Heritage Site declaration process by the UNESCO.