bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploration of the journey to diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) for women living in Australia
Authors: Trudgian Rachel , Flood Terri
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) is an umbrella term for a group of hereditary connective tissue disorders usually featuring hyperextensible skin, easy bruising, poor healing, and joint hypermobility. According to international Ehlers-Danlos support groups, the average time to diagnosis of this rare genetic condition is 10–12 years. Consequently, the journey to diagnosis can potentially be traumatic. This pilot study aims to explore female patients’ journey to a diagnosis of EDS while living in Australia.

Materials and methods

Over six weeks, from January to February 2023, a survey was distributed on EDS social media platforms including Facebook and LinkedIn. Ethical approval was obtained through the Ulster University Institute of Nursing and Health Research Ethics Filter Committee (FCNUR). Thematic and statistical analysis of the anonymous data was completed during March 2023.

Results

152 women completed the survey. More than half of the respondents first noticed symptoms of EDS more than 15 years prior to diagnosis and more than three quarters of respondents received other diagnoses prior to their EDS diagnosis. Most respondents saw their general practitioner, a physiotherapist and/or a rheumatologist prior to being correctly diagnosed with the condition. While some respondents had positive experiences with these health professionals, many felt that they were not listened to and, after doing their own research, had to educate their health professional/s about EDS.

Conclusion

This pilot survey demonstrated that the journey to diagnosis of EDS for women in Australia is frequently long and traumatic. Participants indicated that more EDS education and training is needed for health professionals, especially GPs, to improve the diagnostic process.

Implications for practice

Participants called for their self-reported symptoms to be listened to by health professionals and to be met with empathy and an open mind instead of being dismissed. Additional education and training to health professionals about connective tissue disorders including EDS may aid earlier diagnosis in Australia.
Definitive radio(chemo)therapy versus upfront surgery in the treatment of HPV-related localized or locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Baude Jérémy , Guigou Caroline , Thibouw David , Vulquin Noémie , Folia Mireille , Constantin Guillaume , Boustani Jihane , Duvillard Christian , Ladoire Sylvain , Truc Gilles , Bertaut Aurélie , Chevalier Cédric
Published: July 2024

Background

The treatment of stage I-III HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) is based on either surgery ± adjuvant therapy or exclusive radio±chemotherapy. We sought to compare these two therapeutic strategies in terms of efficacy, tolerance and quality of life (QoL).

Methods

Patients treated for stage I-III HPV-OPSCC from 2010 to 2021 in 3 academic centers were included and sorted according to the treatment strategy: surgery or exclusive radio±chemotherapy. Efficacy and tolerance were retrospectively assessed, and a transversal exploratory QoL assessment was performed using QoL instruments.

Results

A total of 83 patients were included, with 21 undergoing non-minimally invasive surgery and 62 receiving definitive radio-±chemotherapy. 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were respectively 80% and 86% in the surgical group and 92% and 95% in the non-surgical group, with no significant difference. At the end of treatment, 64.5% of patients presented with a grade III toxicity, without significant difference between the two groups. No patient had late grade III toxicity at 24 months. Forty-five patients (11 in the surgical group, 34 in the non-surgical group) participated in an exploratory quality-of-life analysis. Patients reported significantly more fatigue and loss of appetite after surgery, whereas patients in the radio±chemotherapy group described significantly more salivary and oral problems and difficulty swallowing, but the median time between treatment completion and the response to the questionnaires.

Conclusion

There was no significant difference in efficacy, physician-reported toxicity and overall patient-reported quality of life was found between non-minimally invasive surgery and radio±chemotherapy in the treatment of stage I-III HPV-OPSCC.
The role of supplier-induced demand on the occurrence of information overload in managerial reporting environments
Authors: Gordon Rötzel Peter
Published: July 2024

This article develops a model showing how information reporters influence information load among decision makers and generate supplier-induced information demand (SID). The intra-corporate information-providing process is an expert market with information asymmetry. I show that information overload occurs as an SID and is the result of informational overconsumption deliberately caused by the supplying reporter. My analysis highlights that the information overload depends on the specificity of information. It also shows that the decision maker may face a hold-up situation in light of switching costs. The more specific the information needed, the higher the threat of information overload. The strategic content of information tempts reporting managers to overload the decision maker for the purpose of increasing their reporting transfer price and to discourage the decision maker from getting the information from another reporting manager. Although the decision maker knows a part of the information demand, information overload involves the cost of using unnecessary inputs, information overload occurs as an SID of information, even if other competing reporting managers exist. My analysis demonstrates that information overload can occur due to uncertainty and opportunism of both the decision maker and reporting managers.
Publicidade personalizada em plataformas digitais: análises sobre percepção e aceitação de usuários
Authors: Moreira Cristielly Borges , Rosa Simone Carvalho da , Barth Maurício
Published: July 2024

A publicidade personalizada tem se tornado uma parte intrínseca das plataformas digitais, influenciando significativamente a experiência do usuário. Sendo assim, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a percepção e aceitação dos usuários sobre a publicidade personalizada em ambientes online. Para atender aos objetivos propostos, adotou-se o método Exploratório e Descritivo e como procedimento técnico optou-se pela realização de uma pesquisa Bibliográfica e um questionário para a coleta de dados. Foi possível verificar que a percepção da publicidade personalizada é uma interação complexa entre os usuários, os anunciantes e as plataformas digitais. Compreender essas nuances é fundamental para melhorar a experiência do usuário e garantir práticas de publicidade éticas e eficazes em ambientes online. Este estudo fornece, portanto, uma visão inicial dessas dinâmicas, abrindo caminho para pesquisas adicionais que possam aprofundar conhecimentos nessa área em constante evolução.
Editorial do Jornal Nacional das 500 mil mortes por Covid no Brasil como vetor para outras performances:
Authors: Negrini Michele
Published: July 2024

O artigo reflete sobre fluxos midiáticos mobilizados pelo editorial do Jornal Nacional sobre as 500 mil mortes por covid no Brasil, buscando entender como tal performance reverbera no Twitter e aciona sensibilidades sobre a morte e o luto pandêmico em rede. Partimos da perspectiva de que as produções audiovisuais são fluídas, reverberam em diversas plataformas e se expandem de forma rizomática (GUTMANN, 2021). As escrituras sobre a morte e o luto, mobilizadas em rede, a partir do editorial, podem ser vistas como tecnicidades. Serão convocados, para fins analíticos, o olhar de performance como incorporação (TAYLOR, 2013) e as perspectiva de vetor e de audiovisual em rede (GUTMANN, 2021).
Nas águas do passado: a nostalgia nas utopias da série Electric dreams
Authors: Borges Felipe
Published: July 2024

Este artigo analisa os episódios The hook maker e Impossible planet, da série de TV Philip K. Dick’s Electric dreams, a fim de observar o papel utópico da memória nostálgica em narrativas nas quais o futuro não oferece perspectivas de mudança. A nostalgia, nesse sentido, se aproximaria da utopia, ao projetar imagens de felicidade em lugares específicos. A partir do estudo de cenas nas quais os personagens sonham acordados, analisamos as possibilidades e limitações oferecidas pelo sentimento de nostalgia como elemento transformador. Na conclusão, debatemos a tensão envolvendo projetos utópicos que transitam entre impulsos individuais e coletivos e as resoluções propostas pelas narrativas.
Combination of Sonochemical Synthesis and Calcination of Graphene-TiO2 Nanocomposite for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye
Authors: Priya S. Laxmi , Manoj N. , Prasanth K. Leon , Nissam E. , Sugunan S. , Rajesh K.M.
Published: July 2024

In this work, a nanostructured graphene-TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by modified sonochemical method followed by calcination process at 400 ºC and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared sample was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye. On analysis, visible light absorption was found to be increased for the nanocomposite rather than pure TiO2. About 75% degradation efficiency was exhibited by the prepared GT2 composite under sunlight irradiation.
Estimation of Ground State and Excited State Dipole Moments of (5-Amino-1-phenylindolizin-3-yl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methanone
Authors: Lalasangi Dayanand , Hanagodimath S.M. , Jadhav Mangesh S. , Khanadal Tairabi , Padmashali Basavaraj
Published: July 2024

The fluorescence and absorption properties of (5-amino-1-phenylindolizin-3-yl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methanone were studied at room temperature in 15 solvents with dissimilar polarities. The impacts of solvent and GCRD parameters on the properties of the spectra are discussed. By utilizing the Gaussian 09 program, the ground-state dipole moments (µg) were have been measured experimentally and compared with theoretical values. After determining the ground-state dipole moments, the Kawski-Chamma-Viallet, Bakhshiev and Lippert equations were utilized to calculate the exciterted-state dipole moments (µe). It was observed that µe has been greater than the ground state for the dye. In this work, the impact of solvent on the absorption and emission spectra of (5-amino-1-phenylindolizin-3-yl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methanone was computed and estimated their dipole moments. For every molecule studied, there was a substantial change in the Stokes shift values increasing polarity.
Gold Nanoparticles for Targeting of Biomedical Applications: A Review
Authors: Nguyen Tan Tai
Published: July 2024

The advancement of techniques for synthesizing nanoparticles is an important step in the field of nanotechnology. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are increasing popular for detection of a multitude of biomolecules, proteins and nucleic acids. Incorporating AuNPs onto the sensing surface of biosensors to identify molecules with improved signals has been the subject of extensive research in the past ten years. This brief review describes the methods of AuNPs synthesis and their applications. It also describes a recent method to enhance surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection capabilities using AuNPs.
Kinetic Modeling of Sodium Bicarbonate Pre-treatment of Corn Stalks for Increased Biogas Generation during Anaerobic Digestion: Viability and Fertilizer Potential
Authors: Siddique Md. Nurul Islam , Khalid Zaied Bin , Ibrahim Mohd. Zamri Bin , Ali Nora'aini Binti , Rasit Nazaitulshila , Yahya Muhammad Syarifuddin , Adhikary Sajal Kumar
Published: July 2024

Sustainability in terms of the economy and the environment is severely hampered by poor waste management in the industrial sectors and a lack of renewable energy sources to meet expanding energy demands. To address this issue, the influences of sodium bicarbonate treatment on biogas generation during the anaerobic fermentation of corn stalks were analyzed. The application of sodium bicarbonate (9%, w/w) resulted in a significantly higher generation of 14692 mL biogas with a production of 223 mL/g, which was 30% higher than the untreated sample biogas generation. Surprisingly, chemical oxygen demand elimination was boosted by a factor of ten. In addition, sodium bicarbonate stabilized the pH of fermented corn stalks. The Gompertz modeling, according to the findings, had a significant correlation coefficient (> 0.995) and fit the accumulative biogas production trends well. Sludge recapture from the fermented effluent was 0.08 m3 sludge/m3 wastewater. Sodium bicarbonate added to corn stalks may increased the cumulative methane production while lowering chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels.
Sequestration of Heavy Metals from Water by Aegle marmelos (Bael) Leaves as Promising Biomaterial: Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies
Authors: Rani Indu , Kumari Sachin , Singh Sushila , Shree Bhagya , Muskan  , Manju
Published: July 2024

Heavy metals abatement from polluted water through the use of green biosorbents is a growing research area due to its renewability and inexpensive. This study investigates the idea of utilizing Aegle marmelos (Bael) leaves as a biosorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cr(VI) from simulated wastewater. The surface area, functionality, surface morphology and elemental analysis of biosorbent were analyzed by BET, FTIR, FE-SEM with EDX, respectively. Batch studies were done for biosorption of heavy metal ions. The maximum biosorption capacity of heavy metal ions were optimized by varying the pH (2-9), metal ions concentration (20-80 mg/L), biosorbent dose (0.02-0.2 g/L) and contact time (30-210 min). The Langmuir adsorption isotherms and pseudo-second order kinetics models were the most suitable for the biosorption of heavy metal ions and the maximum adsorption capacity was 11.85, 10.35 and 8.55 mg/g for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) heavy metals, respectively at optimized time 120 min. Thermodynamics studies revealed that biosorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) on A. marmelos biosorbent was exothermic and spontaneous in nature. Finally, the removal efficiency of A. marmelos biosorbent against the all three metals were found maximum for Pb(II) followed by Cd(II) and Cr(VI) due to the variations in hydration energy of these heavy metals.
Molecular Interaction in Ternary Systems of Tri-n-octylamine/Tri-n-butyl Phosphate/Octanoic Acid with n-Hexane and 1-Hexanol at Different Temperatures
Authors: Sahu R.K. , Pradhan S. , Mishra S.
Published: July 2024

Density, dielectric constant and refractive index were measured for three ternary systems viz. tri-n-octylamine/tri-n-butyl phosphate/octanoic acid (TOA/TBP/OA), with n-hexane and 1-hexanol at T = 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K. Derived properties like molar volume, molar polarization, molar refraction and excess parameters were calculated from the measured density, dielectric constant and refractive index values, respectively. The excess values were also calculated with the Redlich-Kister polynomial and the fitting coefficients and standard deviations are reported. The density of the ternary mixtures increased with the increase in the mole fraction of the solute and decreased with the rise of temperature. The negative dielectric constant values for all the systems indicate a reduction in effective dipoles due to the dipolar self-association of the polar molecules. The FT-IR spectra of all the systems indicate a feeble interaction among the extractants, diluent and modifier.
Severe Cholestasis Predicts Recurrent Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Aziz Bishoi , Kok Beverley , Cheah Matthew , Lytvyak Ellina , Moctezuma-Velazquez Carlos , Wasilenko Shawn , Tsochatzis Emmanuel , Ravikumar Reena , Jose Sophie , Allison Michael , Gunson Bridget , Manas Derek , Monaco Andrea , Mirza Darius , Fusai Giuseppe , Owen Nicola , Thorburn Douglas , Roberts Keith , Srinivasan Parthi , Wigmore Stephen , Athale Anuja , Creamer Felicity , Fernando Bimbi , Iyer Vikram , Madanur Mansoor , Sen Gourab , Montano-Loza Aldo J. , Hansen Bettina , Mason Andrew L.
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) may reoccur following liver transplantation (LT), and the diagnosis established once imaging studies demonstrate the diagnostic cholangiographic appearance. To evaluate whether the development of recurrent PSC (rPSC) is associated with cholestasis soon after LT, we studied whether changes in hepatic biochemistry within the first 12 months were linked with the development of rPSC and graft loss.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 158 transplant recipients with PSC in Canada and 549 PSC transplant recipients from the United Kingdom. We evaluated serum liver tests within 12 months after LT and the subsequent development of a cholangiographic diagnosis of rPSC as a time-dependent covariate using Cox regression. Severe cholestasis was defined as either alkaline phosphatase > 3× upper limit of normal or total bilirubin > 100 μmol/L.

RESULTS:

Patients who developed rPSC were more likely to have severe cholestasis vs those without at 3 months (20.5% vs 8.2%, P = 0.011), at 6 months (17.9% vs 10.0%, P = 0.026), and 12 months (15.4% vs 7.8%, P = 0.051) in the Canadian cohort and at 12 months in the UK cohort (27.9% vs 12.6%, P < 0.0001). By multivariable analysis, development of severe cholestasis in the Canadian cohort at 3 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.41, P = 0.046) and in the UK cohort at 12 months (HR = 3.141, P < 0.0001) was both associated with rPSC. Severe cholestasis at 3 months in the Canadian cohort was predictive of graft loss (HR = 3.88, P = 0.0001).

DISCUSSION:

The development of cholestasis within 3–12 months following LT was predictive of rPSC and graft loss.
Delivery of Outpatient Cirrhosis Care Through Tele-Visit Is Not Associated With Increased Mortality as Compared With Traditional In-Person Visits
Authors: Shenoy Abhishek , Valicevic Autumn N. , Lin Allison , Su Grace L. , Saini Sameer D. , Kim Hyungjin Myra , Adams Megan A.
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Providers and patients have expressed concern that care provided through telehealth results in poorer outcomes than traditional in-person care. On the contrary, we hypothesized that patients with cirrhosis engaging in video/phone-based outpatient gastroenterology/hepatology tele-visits do not differ in mortality from those receiving in-person outpatient clinic visits.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective, case-control study using Veterans Health Administration administrative data of veterans with a cirrhosis diagnosis. Cases were patients who died between April 2021 and July 2022 and had a cirrhosis diagnosis for ≥1 year before death. For each case, a control was randomly selected from the pool of patients alive on the date of death of the case (index date) and matched on age, average Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, and number of gastroenterology/hepatology clinic visits in the prior year. Primary exposure variable was % tele-visits (video/phone) out of total visits in the year before the index date, scaled in 10% increments. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between mortality and % tele-visits. A secondary analysis matched on electronic Child-Turcotte-Pugh score rather than Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.

RESULTS:

Two thousand nine hundred thirty-three cases were identified and matched with 2,933 controls. After adjusting for covariates, tele-visit-based outpatient care was associated with a small reduction in mortality (odds ratioTH = 0.95, 95% confidence interval = 0.94–0.97). Matching on electronic Child-Turcotte-Pugh score did not change the results.

DISCUSSION:

Our findings suggest that outpatient cirrhosis care by tele-visit is associated with outcomes no worse than traditional in-person visits. This should reassure providers who hesitate to provide virtual care to patients with cirrhosis due to concerns for poorer outcomes.
Interacciones y vínculos para la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológicoen industrias de alimentos procesados
Authors: Dueñas Quintero Diana María , Cruz Silva Laura Alejandra , Uribe Serrano Sandra Liliana
Published: July 2024

Esta investigación aborda el análisis del sector de alimentos procesados en Boyacá (Colombia), a partir de las interacciones y vínculos entre las partes interesadas que posibilitan procesos de innovación y desarrollo tecnológico. Se fundamenta en los constructos teóricos con el enfoque de las partes interesadas, redes y construcción y creación de valor. El enfoque metodológico es de orden cualitativo, soportado con la teoría fundamentada de Corbin y Strauss. El análisis se abordó desde cinco dimensiones: Beneficios, Necesidades Empresariales, restricciones, resultados y Trayectoria Empresarial. Los resultados refieren a la promoción de una actitud proactiva en el ejercicio de la articulación soportado en procesos de cooperación, con resultados pertinentes a las necesidades empresariales y la disposición al diálogo, el conocimiento compartido especializado, el trabajo en equipo mediante la promoción de redes empresariales de innovación con apoyo de entidades de entidades de investigación y desarrollo tecnológico.
Procedimiento de evaluación del riesgo financiero en empresas importadoras de motores para vehículos
Authors: De la Hoz Suárez Aminta , Santamaria Escobar Alvaro , Cadrazco Parra Wilson
Published: July 2024

Las empresas se enfrentan a diferentes tipos de riesgos, especialmente financieros. Debido a que estos son los más temidos por el efecto que tienen en la operación comercial, este estudio se enfoca en describir el procedimiento de evaluación del riesgo financiero en las empresas importadoras. Metodológicamente, se trata de un estudio de campo descriptivo de empresas importadoras y comercializadoras de vehículos automotores en el municipio de Maracaibo (Venezuela). Estadísticamente se realizó el análisis de varianza ANOVA y las pruebas Hoc de Tukey. La finalidad del mismo es conocer el posicionamiento de la dimensión con sus respectivos indicadores. Se constató que las empresas observadas aplicaron erróneamente el proceso de evaluación del riesgo financiero, ya que hacen seguimiento a las inversiones y posteriormente identifican los errores administrativos para luego aplicar acciones correctivas. Por tanto, se deben mitigar las incertidumbres originadas y supervisar la forma de obtención de fondos para lograr la inversión operativa.
Analisis Wacana Kritis Sara Mills terhadap Novel Perempuan Yang Menangis Kepada Bulan Hitam Karya Dian Purnomo
Authors: Savitri Karina , Suyanto Suyanto
Published: July 2024

Savitri, Karina. 2022. “Analisis Wacana Kritis Sara Mills Terhadap Novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam Karya Dian Purnomo”. Skripsi ini ditulis di bawah bimbingan Dr. Suyanto, M.Si. Prodi S1 Sastra Indonesia, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Diponegoro. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mendeskripsikan wacana perempuan dalam tradisi kawin tangkap pada novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo, berdasarkan (1) representasi perempuan dalam tradisi kawin tangkap pada novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo pada tataran kata/frasa; (2) representasi perempuan dalam tradisi kawin tangkap pada novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo pada tataran kalimat; (3) representasi perempuan dalam tradisi kawin kawin tangkap pada novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo pada tataran wacana. Subjek dari penelitian ini adalah kutipan-kutipan novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo yang berkaitan dengan relasi gender dan merepresentasikan kedudukan perempuan dalam teks. Pengumpulan data menggunakan metode simak dengan teknik lanjutan yaitu teknik catat. Data yang diperoleh kemudian dianalisis dengan metode Miles dan Huberman. Lalu, hasil analisis disajikan secara informal.Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pemilihan kata/frasa dan kalimat dalam novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo telah berhasil mewacanakan perlawanan tokoh Magi Diela untuk keluar dari jeratan adat istiadat yang merenggut kemerdekaannya serta mendapatkan kedudukan setara dalam kehidupan sosial. Kemudian dalam tataran wacana, kontruksi perempuan dalam tradisi kawin tangkap ditempatkan dalam posisi subordinat dan inferior terhadap laki-laki.
Caring dialogue
Authors: Swann Jennie , Albion Peter
Published: July 2024

Online educators dream of facilitating interpersonal interactions equivalent to those in face-to-face classrooms as an important factor for promoting learning in online classes. Many current university students are comfortable with online networks as social spaces where they interact with family and friends, but they need help in making them effective as places of learning. A design research study found that the caring dimension of Lipman's (2003) community of inquiry was fundamental to supporting the critical and creative dialogues necessary for development of higher order thinking. It developed and refined an interactive website that may support online educators in realizing the dream of building relationships that more effectively support learning.
Turn on the book
Authors: Smith Debborah , Brand Jeffrey E. , Kinash Shelley
Published: July 2024

Adoption of digital textbooks in higher education has been slower than was expected. This paper presents preliminary findings from a study conducted at a small Australian university looking into how lecturers use digital textbooks. The pilot research indicated that the slow uptake may be explained by academic perception; participants indicated a strong preference for printed books, particularly related to capacity for accessing content. This pointed to a definitional property in that they largely conceived of an eTextbook as a digital replica of a printed book. Not all lecturers were aware of enhanced digital textbooks, but generally agreed that it could be advantageous to have such content integrated into a central resource. Lecturers furthermore acknowledged the need to understand the affordances of educational technologies and their application to learning and teaching. Affordances theory is used to consider the knowledge required to effectively implement the full range of resources available in digital textbooks.
Using technology to enable flipped classrooms whilst sustaining sound pedagogy
Authors: Sankey Michael , Hunt Lynne
Published: July 2024

This paper initially provides an understanding of what constitutes a flipped classroom model. It then provides a series of four case studies that describe the application of some different flipped classroom approaches to university courses, largely mediated by the use of online learning technologies. It demonstrates that these flipped classrooms are informed by constructivist pedagogy and highlights the role university teachers can play in facilitating their students' engagement with learning. It also highlights that to be successful in this transition to a new mode of learning requires both a holistic institutional planning approach, one based within a coherent student learning journey model, and sustained development by a team of centralised support staff, including technology experts, librarians and learning designers. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications associated with adopting a flipped classroom approach.
Using Twitter in Higher Education
Authors: Prestridge Sarah
Published: July 2024

The use of the social networking tool Twitter was incorporated into a first year education studies course to support the Universities development of First Year students' academic culture, connectedness and resourcefulness. A hashtag was created using the course code where students were encouraged to paraphrase, question and provoke thinking during face to face and individual study time. Student tweets were analysed qualitatively using three types of interaction; learner- learner-instructor; leaner-content & learner-interface. The tweets offer insight into both the social and cognitive engagement of student during their first year of university study.
Enhancement of scientific research and communication skills using assessment and ePortfolio in a third year Pathology course
Authors: Polly Patsie , Thai Thuan , Flood Adele , Coleman Kathryn , Das Mita , Yang Jia Lin , Cox Julian
Published: July 2024

While science students are often aware of their gain in scientific knowledge through their degree, the same cannot be said for their understanding of their development of generic skills. Often, such development is tacit, both for the students and the staff teaching them. ePortfolios have been used to address the important issue of professional skills building and career preparedness for undergraduate science students in several courses across two degree programs. This report focuses on a third year Pathology course, PATH3205 Molecular Basis of Inflammation and Infection, taken by students who typically focus on pathology at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia). The overall teaching, learning and assessment strategy requires the students to engage in the use of an ePortfolio as part of their reflective learning process in developing life-long and life- wide skills in research thinking and writing which underpin research-intensive activities. The Mahara ePortfolio application was made available via Moodle and linked explicitly to a series of assessment tasks associated with current research activities in pathology. The study documented the responses of students to the use of ePortfolios and related learning activities, through both the recording of acquired skills and emerging understanding of the student perceptions of themselves as professionals from a generic skills perspective. These skills are ultimately transferable into professional scientific careers. This study was designed to further inform the development of reflective practice, enhancement of generic skills and career awareness and readiness in a program-wide implementation in Medical Science and Advanced Science. Through that implementation we hope students will better understand their present and imagine their future.
Mobile learning and professional development
Authors: Mitchell Maxine , Reushle Shirley
Published: July 2024

Educators use social media to enrich student learning experiences in the classroom and use personal mobile devices to extend their workplace and productivity across time and space. As learning becomes more mobile, social and informal, the divide between spaces, places and digital devices is merging. Given the disruptive effect learning mobility is having on the foundations of education, knowledge, learning and academic work, this exploratory paper investigates the possible relationship between mobile learning and professional development as potential enablers (or barriers) to academic motivation and engagement in transforming their professional practice. This paper holds the central tenet of 'educators are learners', adopts an 'as-lived' experiences approach which looks at the ways people experience, in this case, mobile learning in natural settings, and is fundamentally concerned with contributing to the body of knowledge on the changing nature of the higher education teacher's academic work in the modern academy. The principal questions guiding this exploratory paper are 'What alternatives are there to current professional development methods that support educators in ways of learning about mobile learning to transform professional practice?' and 'Why are some academics naturally motivated to engage, share and actively participate in alternatives?'
Arguing again for e-exams in high stakes examinations
Authors: Hillier Mathew , Fluck Andrew
Published: July 2024

This paper presents the argument that e-exams are needed and long overdue for use in high stakes examinations in the tertiary sector. Evidence is drawn from the educational and higher education literature to establish that the environment is ripe for the adoption of e-exams. A set of requirements for a suitable approach to exams is established that takes into consideration the needs of students, the pedagogical concerns of academics, while being sustainable and scalable. An outline of the features such a system will need in order to meet these requirements is discussed, along with a program to implement and trial such a system at a large university.
Accessible, reusable and participatory
Authors: Hannon John , Bisset Donna , Blackall Leigh , Huggard Simon , Jelley Ruth , Jones Mungo , Orchard Annabel , Sadler Roderick
Published: July 2024

How does a university get started with open educational resources (OER)? What institutional tensions and conflicts are likely to be brought into play during this process? The promise of OER for higher education offers more than unrestricted access to high quality knowledge, it implies open and transparent sharing and development of knowledge, that is, integrating the disparate parts of the university through the shared activities of open education practices (OEP). In this paper we investigate how a range of disparate participants organised to establish initial OEP processes in an Australian university in order to embed an open education agenda: setting up repositories and processes for open publishing of educational design, and negotiating agendas of marketing and openness. We attempt to identify the groundwork at the meso-level of the organisation in order to establish OEP; in other words, to identify what comes before any actual resources are produced or made available.
Action-based Learning Assessment Method (ALAM) in Virtual Training Environments
Authors: Fardinpour Ali , Reiners Torsten , Dreher Heinz
Published: July 2024

Specialised and high priced simulators for surgical training, chemical labs, and flight training can provide real-world simulation in a safe and risk-free environment, but they are not accessible for the broader community due to costs for technology and availability of experts. Thus, training scenarios shifted to virtual worlds providing access for everyone interested in acquiring skills and knowledge at educational or professional institutions. Even in this context, we still expect a detailed formative feedback as would have been provided by a human trainer during the face to face process. Whilst the literature is focusing on goal-oriented assessment, it neglects the performed actions. In this paper, we present the Action-based Learning Assessment Method (ALAM) that analyses the action-sequences of the learners according to reference solutions by experts and automated formative feedback.
Motivation and satisfaction for vocational education students using a video annotation tool
Authors: Colasante Meg , Leedham Michael
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the use of a specific contemporary technology in tertiary education that of a video annotation tool, MAT, in four vocational learning cohorts. These students, enrolled in property services and audiovisual technology courses, analysed representations of workplace issues in video. These videos included industry interviews, acted examples, and student-performed role-plays. Student analysis was evidenced-and shared with peers and/or teachers-via electronic annotations anchored to key points within the video media. The findings in this paper focus on the motivation and satisfaction of these vocational students in their video annotation activities using Bekele's (2010) conceptual framework of factors attributing to success in online learning. Overall, students' perceptions of this electronic learning method tended to indicate satisfaction across a range of factors, with clues for improvements in tool and/or learning design support, and that the innovation is worthy of ongoing trial and refining from lessons learnt.
The Introduction of an Advanced Class in Systems Administration at Otago Polytechnic
Authors: Clark Tom
Published: July 2024

Systems administration is a common career path for tertiary computing students, but it is difficult to take classes in the topic, especially at more advanced levels. Most of the classes that are available focus on specific tools and practices, often tied to particular vendors' systems. A set of topics around which to build a systems administration curriculum has not been clearly identified. At Otago Polytechnic we have developed a class that builds the specific knowledge and skills required to produce work-ready Systems Administrators.. The staff organised the class around a simulated workplace model rather than a more traditional lecture/lab model. This model emphasises having students perform tasks that are, as nearly as possible, identical to the tasks that they will eventually perform in a workplace. While the first instance of the class was generally successful, some issues, especially with assessment, were noted.
Working in Partnership
Authors: Carter Helen , Huber Elaine
Published: July 2024

This paper describes a program that reframes professional development through a partnership model underpinned by an authentic professional learning approach and incorporating elements of design-based research and communities of practice. A secondary underpinning of the program is the development of key skills by the educational design and development group in both project management and evaluation of learning and teaching projects as well as effective online learning design. The outcome sought from the partnership model is to promote sustainable curriculum change through the development of staff capabilities. Using curriculum design projects as the catalyst, the partnership program integrates faculty and centrally based approaches to design solutions to authentic teaching and learning problems. The collaborative nature of the program encourages scholarly dialogues between academic and professional support staff enabling increased output in scholarship of learning and teaching.
Implementing Timely Interventions to Improve Students' Learning Experience*
Authors: Whale Sue , Valenzuela Fredy-Roberto , Fisher Josie
Published: July 2024

This paper describes the development of an approach aimed at increasing student engagement and outcomes in online business studies. Personalised real-time interventions were used by lecturers to encourage online participation and enhance students' overall experience through engaging them in the online learning environment. This 'high touch' approach was developed using analytics from the learning management system (LMS) to determine key points for interaction and a series of interventions were implemented at these points during the teaching period. These interactions were evaluated through student reactions and surveys to assess students' perceptions of their value in enhancing learning, and the impact on retention and student success.
Metamorphosis and Adaptive Digital Publishing
Authors: Stone Rob , Haggith Roderick , Klapdor Tim , Slater Tyswan
Published: July 2024

This paper aims to explore the conceptual work being undertaken at Charles Sturt University to develop The Adaptive Digital Publishing Engine (TADPOLE). The aim of the project is to envision a distinct way of creating, structuring and publishing educational resources for delivery to a wide variety of platforms and media. The development of TADPOLE will allow us explore a 21st century approach to publishing that embraces digital affordances and uses metamorphosis, rather than translation or transcription, to convert content from one format to another.
A new mindset for a new world
Authors: Pedersen Annette Q.
Published: July 2024

The Internet has changed the world and it's business models, but how can universities take advantage of the new potentials for teaching, learning and research, we've only just begun to grasp the scope of? How can the traditional University of Copenhagen change our own mindset and get ready for the future? We created a vision of the university of the future as a "live university": being accessible anytime, anywhere, and open to participation and co-creation between students, faculty and staff. This is the account of how we aim to use this vision to change our perspective, raise awareness of what technology can do for us, increase our IT-literacy and get ready for the future university - when we don't yet know, what the future holds.
Enablers and Barriers to Academic's Acceptance of Technology
Authors: Musarrat Maimuna , Loch Birgit , Williams Benedict
Published: July 2024

With the advances in technology the higher education sector is rapidly evolving. While some researchers are predicting the University of the Future to be more virtual, many academics at the coal face are still struggling to embrace emerging technologies. This paper reports the first stage of a project aimed at identifying the enablers and barriers for adopting new technology among Australian Higher Education academics. In this pilot study, academics who have integrated Tablet PCs in their teaching were surveyed. For a richer understanding of the enablers and barriers of technology uptake, focus groups will follow. The next stages of this research will be a wider survey open to all academics across universities. The ultimate goal of this project is to generate recommendations for universities in better managing the technological change.
The introduction of an online portfolio system in a medical school
Authors: Mason Glenn , Langendyk Vicki , Wang Shaoyu
Published: July 2024

In this paper we discuss innovations in the personal and professional development (PPD) curriculum that were introduced at a medical school in a major metropolitan university in Sydney, Australia. The review of the PPD curriculum involved the development of new content as well as the exploration of technologies that could be used to underpin the various collaborative, self-directed and reflective learning activities of the new course. An online portfolio system (PebblePad) was selected as the technological platform to deliver the new curriculum. Student feedback relating to the new technology has been critical and activity theory (AT) is used to broaden our understanding of the wider cultural forces - what we call the 'negative discourse of PPD' - that can potentially shape attitudes to technology and learning in the PPD component of a medical degree.
An online professional network to support teachers' information and communication technology development
Authors: Maher Damian , Sanber Shukri , Cameron Leanne , Keys Phil , Vallance Roger
Published: July 2024

This paper reports on an evaluation undertaken of the potential impact of a Network for Educators: the Pathways for Learning, Anywhere, Anytime (PLANE) website. The evaluation was undertaken in New South Wales, Australia with teachers in Government, Catholic and Independent schools in both rural and suburban areas. The benefits and challenges associated with supporting teachers' information and communication technologies (ICT) skills via a professional learning network platform are highlighted. Results of the study indicate that a well-designed online platform could potentially provide a space for teachers to learn to integrate ICT in their teaching with and from each other within a learning community.
Moving from 'e' to 'd'
Authors: Johnston Bill , MacNeill Sheila
Published: July 2024

This paper is based on a series of blog posts entitled "A Conversation around what it means to be a Digital University" (MacNeill, Johnston, 2012), which set out the authors ideas about the nature of higher education, eLearning, social media etc. in terms of strategic development within universities. Through the development of a conceptual development framework, we suggest that the exploration of the overarching term "digital university" offers the potential to act as a catalyst for fundamental change throughout an institution from administration to teaching and learning. The aims of the paper are to explore the concept of the Digital University and share an analytical model of strategic change. The authors are currently working with Napier University, Edinburgh as they develop their new digital strategy.
Using a Glossary Random Entry Tool on Moodle online learning sites to improve students' engagement
Authors: Jin Ying , Thunders Michelle , Page Rachel
Published: July 2024

Making online learning material visually stimulating to students is vital for student learning. Engaging with interactive material that captures the students' attention and develops their interest can be particularly challenging for core 100-level papers. This paper reports an initiative to design a highly visual 'key-concepts' component for the Moodle online learning environment to stimulate students' interest and improve engagement. Key concepts were generated from the 100-level paper - Applied Sciences for Health Professionals - and then presented through a Glossary Random Entry function. The design of each key concept is short, highly visual and easy to understand. We report initial usage statistics of the component compared to other items on the learning site and conclude that the introduction of a highly visual 'key-concepts' does stimulate student interest and engagement with the online learning site.
Communicating with peers online
Authors: Forbes Dianne
Published: July 2024

This study looks at how students experience asynchronous online discussion (AOD) within initial teacher education. In particular, the study investigates what students expect of their peers when communicating online for the purpose of learning. Ascertained via an online focus group and interviews with students, findings indicate student preferences for academic netiquette. Student expectations can inform pedagogy for AOD if used as a basis for negotiation of guidelines for online communication.
Implementing Learning Design
Authors: Dalziel James
Published: July 2024

This paper offers reflections on developments in the field of Learning Design from 2003-2013. It considers evolving conceptual issues, technology developments and communities of practice, and concludes with reflections on the future. Areas considered include: the conceptual challenge of aligning the pedagogical metamodel of Learning Design with principles for effective teaching and learning; the impact of the wider educational landscape on Learning Design, particularly developments in Curriculum Design; whether learning really can be "designed"; technology developments and challenges, and sharing among different kinds of Learning Design communities. The paper draws on past and current research in Learning Design, particularly the recent Larnaca Declaration on Learning Design.
Retrofitting teaching spaces
Authors: Billany Trevor , Billany Ruth
Published: July 2024

Using Appreciative Inquiry an evaluation of newly retrofitted and upgraded centrally timetabled teaching spaces took place following the first semester of use. Survey instrument items and interview prompts were derived from a metasynthesis of relevant reviews, each informed by current 'learning spaces' literature. Teaching staff (N=28) completed an online questionnaire and/or attended interviews (N=4). Their experiences and opinions with regard to the technology; the fitness for teaching purposes; the room layout, decor and furniture; and the support offered is discussed. Implications and future directions are indicated.