The value of writing-to-learn when using question prompts to support web-based learning in ill-structured domains

This study investigates the effectiveness of two variants of a prompting strategy that guides students to focus on important issues when learning in an ill-structured domain. Students in three groups studied individually Software Project Management (SPM) cases for a week, using a web-based learning environment designed especially for this purpose. The first group (control) studied the cases without any prompting. The second group (“writing mode”) studied the same cases, while prompted to provide written answers to a set of knowledge integration prompts meant to engage students in deeper processing of the material. The third group (“thinking mode”) studied the cases, while prompted only to think of possible answers to the same question prompts. Results indicated that students in the writing condition group outperformed the others in both domain knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer post-test items. Several students in the thinking condition group skipped the question prompts, while those that reported having reflected on the material were unable to achieve high performance comparable to the writing condition group. Overall, the study provides evidence that the implementation of prompting techniques in technology-enhanced learning environments may lead to improved outcomes, when combined with the requirement that students provide their answers in writing.     

Rapid magnetic heating treatment by highly charged maghemite nanoparticles on Wistar rats exocranial glioma tumors at microliter volume

One of the most significant challenges implementing colloidal magnetic nanoparticles in medicine is the efficient heating of microliter quantities by applying a low frequency alternating magnetic field. The ultimate goal is to accomplish nonsurgically the treatment of millimeter size tumors. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis, characterization, and the in vitro as well as in vivo efficiency of a dextran coated maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) ferrofluid with an exceptional response to magnetic heating. The difference to previous synthetic attempts is the high charge of the dextran coating, which according to our study maintains the colloidal stability and good dispersion of the ferrofluid during the magnetic heating stage. Specifically, in vitro 2 μl of the ferrofluid gives an outstanding temperature rise of 33 °C within 10 min, while in vivo treatment, by infusing 150 μl of the ferrofluid in animal model (rat) glioma tumors, causes an impressive cancer tissue dissolution.     

Theories,methods and current research on emotions in library and information science,information retrieval and human–computer interaction

Emotions are an integral component of all human activities, including human–computer interactions. This article reviews literature on the theories of emotions, methods for studying emotions, and their role in human information behaviour. It also examines current research on emotions in library and information science, information retrieval and human–computer interaction, and outlines some of the challenges and directions for future work.     

Interdisciplinarity and the Two Cultures in Φ νσικóς Kóσμoς – Approaches in a Greek Science Magazine in the 1970s

The contents of the Greek magazine ‘Physicos Cosmos’ include science popularization, teaching proposals, and issues of educational concern. The magazine is addressed to teachers of physics and, consequently, to grammar-school pupils/students. Its articles ranged, in general, from short texts taken from physical sciences to more specialized articles. During the period under consideration (1975–1977), i.e., after the fall (1974) of the military government (1967–1974) and the outset of the educational reform, the magazine’s subjects changed, comprising interdisciplinary proposals in relation to the philosophy of physical and natural sciences, their history, their social usefulness, and their connections with non-scientific culture. Some new approaches concerned particularly school geography as a multidisciplinary field.     

Enhancing software engineering education through open source projects: Four years of students’ perspectives

This paper presents the results after four years of running of an instructional method that utilizes free/libre open source software (FLOSS) projects as tools for teaching software engineering in formal education. In the last four academic years, a total of 408 juniors majoring in Informatics (in a 4-year program) participated in the study, assuming the roles of requirements engineers, testers, developers, and designers/analysts. Students appreciated the benefits gained by the method and identified aspects that require further improvement. In the paper, we present (a) the details of our method, (b) students’ opinions as recorded through a questionnaire including both closed and open ended questions, and (c) conclusions on how the use of FLOSS projects can be applied, and be beneficial for the students.     

Paper-based colorimetric enzyme linked immunosorbent assay fabricated by laser induced forward transfer

We report the Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) of antibodies from a liquid donor film onto paper receivers for application as point-of-care diagnostic sensors. To minimise the loss of functionality of the active biomolecules during transfer, a dynamic release layer was employed to shield the biomaterial from direct exposure to the pulsed laser source. Cellulose paper was chosen as the ideal receiver because of its inherent bio-compatibility, liquid transport properties, wide availability and low cost, all of which make it an efficient and suitable platform for point-of-care diagnostic sensors. Both enzyme-tagged and untagged IgG antibodies were LIFT-printed and their functionality was confirmed via a colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Localisation of the printed antibodies was exhibited, which can allow the creation of complex 2-d patterns such as QR codes or letters for use in a final working device. Finally, a calibration curve was determined that related the intensity of the colour obtained to the concentration of active antibodies to enable quantitative assessment of the device performance. The motivation for this work was to implement a laser-based procedure for manufacturing low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic devices on paper.     

Quadriceps muscle blood flow and oxygen availability during repetitive bouts of isometric exercise in simulated sailing

Abstract

In this study, we wished to determine whether the observed reduction in quadriceps muscle oxygen availability, reported during repetitive bouts of isometric exercise in simulated sailing efforts (i.e. hiking), is because of restricted muscle blood flow. Six national-squad Laser sailors initially performed three successive 3-min hiking bouts followed by three successive 3-min cycling tests sustained at constant intensities reproducing the cardiac output recorded during each of the three hiking bouts. The blood flow index (BFI) was determined from assessment of the vastus lateralis using near-infrared spectroscopy in association with the light-absorbing tracer indocyanine green dye, while cardiac output was determined from impedance cardiography. At equivalent cardiac outputs (ranging from 10.3±0.5 to 14.8±0.86 L · min^?1), the increase from baseline in vastus lateralis BFI across the three hiking bouts (from 1.1±0.2 to 3.1±0.6 nM · s^?1) was lower (P = 0.036) than that seen during the three cycling bouts (from 1.1±0.2 to 7.2±1.4 nM · s^?1) (Cohen's d: 3.80 nM · s^?1), whereas the increase from baseline in deoxygenated haemoglobin (by ～17.0±2.9 μM) (an index of tissue oxygen extraction) was greater (P = 0.006) during hiking than cycling (by ～5.3±2.7 μM) (Cohen's d: 4.17 μM). The results suggest that reduced vastus lateralis muscle oxygen availability during hiking arises from restricted muscle blood flow in the isometrically acting quadriceps muscles.     

Social Media Followership as a Predictor of News Website Traffic

ABSTRACT

News organizations increasingly focus their efforts to boost traffic on their websites to grow their share of online advertising. We investigated the relationship between news websites’ traffic ranking and their social media tools of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus. For a year we monitored the followers of all Greek regional newspapers in relation to the traffic on their websites. We continued monitoring for a second year to validate the robustness of the findings and we hereby present results for 86 weeks. Statistical analysis leads to the conclusion that the number of social media subscribers can predict the competitive position of a newspaper in the market based on its website traffic. The effect lasts for a limited period of time, one to three weeks, depending on the specific medium. Importantly, results indicate the potential of developing a prediction model of the website’s traffic, based on the social media metrics of the organization, as a useful tool to increase traffic and revenues from online advertising.     

A response to Padeliadu: can student attitudes exist outside the school climate?

The present study explored typically developing children’s understanding of, and attitudes towards, the inclusion of children with physical disabilities (PD) in mainstream settings. The 60 children who participated in the study attended sixth grade in two mainstream primary schools (30 in contact with a child with PD and 30 without such contact). They filled in a questionnaire to measure understanding of disabilities and one to explore attitudes towards inclusion. Analyses revealed that children in contact with a child with PD had a better understanding of the emotional and social problems associated with the presence of PD than the comparison group. Moreover, children in contact with a child with PD expressed more positive attitudes towards the inclusion of children with PD in relation to children without such contact. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of contact in the formation of more positive attitudes towards the inclusion of children with PD.