Enabling constructive alignment in programming instruction

In this thesis, simple methods have been sought to lower the teacher’s threshold to start to apply constructive alignment in instruction. From the phases of the instructional process, aspects that can be improved with little effort by the teacher have been identified. Teachers have been interviewed in order to find out what students actually learn in computer science courses. A quantitative analysis of the structured interviews showed that in addition to subject specific skills and knowledge, students learn many other skills that should be mentioned in the learning outcomes of the course. The students’ background, such as their prior knowledge, learning style and culture, affects how they learn in a course. A survey was conducted to map the learning styles of computer science students and to see if their cultural background affected their learning style. A statistical analysis of the data indicated that computer science students are different learners than engineering students in general and that there is a connection between the student’s culture and learning style. In this thesis, a simple self-assessment scale that is based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy has been developed. A statistical analysis of the test results indicates that in general the scale is quite reliable, but single students still slightly overestimate or under-estimate their knowledge levels. For students, being able to follow their own progress is motivating, and for a teacher, self-assessment results give information about how the class is proceeding and what the level of the students’ knowledge is.

Computational modeling for irrigated agriculture planning. Part I: general description and linear programming

Linear programming models are effective tools to support initial or periodic planning of agricultural enterprises, requiring, however, technical coefficients that can be determined using computer simulation models. This paper, presented in two parts, deals with the development, application and tests of a methodology and of a computational modeling tool to support planning of irrigated agriculture activities. Part I aimed at the development and application, including sensitivity analysis, of a multiyear linear programming model to optimize the financial return and water use, at farm level for Jaíba irrigation scheme, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using data on crop irrigation requirement and yield, obtained from previous simulation with MCID model. The linear programming model outputted a crop pattern to which a maximum total net present value of R$ 372,723.00 for the four years period, was obtained. Constraints on monthly water availability, labor, land and production were critical in the optimal solution. In relation to the water use optimization, it was verified that an expressive reductions on the irrigation requirements may be achieved by small reductions on the maximum total net present value.

Tratamento cirúrgico da doença pilonidal: meta-análise dos principais procedimentos adotados mundialmente

OBJETIVO: Analisar e comparar os diversos procedimentos cirúrgicos descritos para o tratamento da doença pilonidal. MÉTODO: Foram selecionados 34 trabalhos publicados em revistas indexadas, totalizando 8698 doentes operados. Realizou-se meta-análise para comparação das sete principais técnicas cirúrgicas descritas na literatura, quanto aos resultados em relação à recidiva e ao tempo de cicatrização no pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Do total de doentes estudados, houve recidiva em 230 doentes (2,6%). O tempo de cicatrização no pós-operatório foi significantemente maior no grupo de excisão sem sutura. As recidivas foram estatisticamente semelhantes nos métodos: excisão sem sutura, marsupialização, incisão e curetagem, excisão e retalho e técnica de Karidakys. Os métodos que apresentaram maior índice de recidiva (estatisticamente significante - p<0,001) foram: excisão e sutura primária e o método de Bascom. CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se, por esse estudo, que os resultados em relação à recidiva são estatisticamente semelhantes em todos os métodos, com exceção da excisão e sutura primária e da técnica de Bascom, que apresentaram recidivas mais freqüentes. O tempo de cicatrização foi maior nos indivíduos operados pela técnica de excisão sem sutura primária.

A lei seca cumpriu sua meta em reduzir acidentes relacionados à ingestão excessiva de álcool?

OBJETIVO: avaliar se a Lei Seca cumpriu sua meta após três anos da promulgação. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo dos pacientes com fraturas craniofaciais submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico em um hospital universitário, em dois períodos: antes (2005 a 2008) e após a implantação da lei (2008 a 2011). RESULTADOS:foram operados 265 pacientes (220 homens e 45 mulheres) nesse período sendo, 149 (56%) antes da lei e 116 (44%) após a lei, indicando redução no número de traumatismos (p=0,04). Houve predomínio da faixa etária entre 19 e 40 anos, em ambos os períodos. As principais causas dos traumas foram os acidentes automobilísticos, as agressões físicas e as quedas. O abuso de álcool foi identificado em 15,4% dos pacientes antes e 19% após a lei. A mandíbula e o complexo maxilozigomático foram os ossos mais acometidos. CONCLUSÃO:a redução no número de politraumatizados operados ficou aquém do esperado e almejado.

Conservative Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that studied the conservative management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). There were 1058 results after the initial searches, from which 37 studies were eligible according to previously determined inclusion criteria. For the primary outcomes, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was more efficacious than no treatment in improving incontinence-specific quality of life (QoL) scales (SMD = [1]1.24SDs; CI 95% = [1]1.77 to [1]0.71SDs). However, its effect on pad tests was imprecise. Combining biofeedback with PFMT had an uncertain effect on QoL (MD = [1]4.4 points; CI 95% = [1]16.69 to 7.89 points), but better results on the pad test, although with elevated heterogeneity (MD = 0.9g; 95%CI = 0.71 to 1,10g); group PFMT was not less efficacious than individual treatment, and home PFMT was not consistently worse than supervised PFMT. Both intravaginal and superficial electrical stimulation (IES and SES) were better than no treatment for QoL and pad test. Vaginal cones had mixed results. The association of IES with PFMT may improve the efficacy of the latter for QoL and pad test, but the results of individual studies were not consistent. Thus, there is evidence of the use of PFMT on the treatment of SUI, with and without biofeedback.

Integration of existing military capability models into the Comprehensive Capability Meta-model

Abstract—This paper discusses existing military capability models and proposes a comprehensive capability meta-model (CCMM) which unites the existing capability models into an integrated and hierarchical whole. The Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture is used as a structure for the CCMM. The CCMM takes into account the abstraction level, the primary area of application, stakeholders, intrinsic process, and life cycle considerations of each existing capability model, and shows how the models relate to each other. The validity of the CCMM was verified through a survey of subject matter experts. The results suggest that the CCMM is of practical value to various capability stakeholders in many ways, such as helping to improve communication between the different capability communities.

Object-oriented Programming Applied to the Development of Structural Analysis and Optimization Software

This paper presents the development of a two-dimensional interactive software environment for structural analysis and optimization based on object-oriented programming using the C++ language. The main feature of the software is the effective integration of several computational tools into graphical user interfaces implemented in the Windows-98 and Windows-NT operating systems. The interfaces simplify data specification in the simulation and optimization of two-dimensional linear elastic problems. NURBS have been used in the software modules to represent geometric and graphical data. Extensions to the analysis of three-dimensional problems have been implemented and are also discussed in this paper.

Applying Qt to programming courses

Työn tavoitteena on sovittaa Qt opetussuunnitelmaan. Työ sisältää Qt:n lyhyen historian sekä katsauksen sen nykytilaan. Nykytilakatsaus sisältää kolme näkökulmaa: miten ja missä Qt:ta voidaan käyttää, sekä sen käyttötarkoitukset teollisuudessa ja opetuksessa. Työn tuloksena syntyy luentodemonstraatiota varten pieni ohjelma, joka on luotu C++:n ja Qt Designerin avulla ja käyttää olennaisia käyttöliittymäkirjaston olioita. Toisena tuotteena työssä syntyy luonnos Lappeenrannan Teknillisen Yliopiston ohjelmointikursseista, joissa Qt:ta voitaisiin käyttää avustamaan opiskelijoita näkemään, miten graafinen ohjelma luodaan sekä valmentaa heitä ymmärtämään viitekehyksien ja graafisten kirjastojen tuomat edut.

Abbozzo del mappamondo di F. Mauro Camaldolese : cosmografo incomparabile alla metà del sec. XV : esistente nella biblioteca di S. Michele di Murano presso Venezia

Julkaisussa: Il mappamundo di Fra Mauro Camaldolese

Carta particolare della meta inconita con la Gronlandia occidentale è dell' Estotiland scoporto dall' Inglesi : la longitudine comincia da l'isola di Pico d'Asores [i.e. Pico Azores] : di Europa carta LII

Julkaisussa: Dell' arcano del mare di Ruberto Dudleo ... parte seconda del tomo terzo contenente il libro sesto. Vol III

Nonconventional amide bond formation catalysis: programming enzyme specificity with substrate mimetics

This article reports on the design and characteristics of substrate mimetics in protease-catalyzed reactions. Firstly, the basis of protease-catalyzed peptide synthesis and the general advantages of substrate mimetics over common acyl donor components are described. The binding behavior of these artificial substrates and the mechanism of catalysis are further discussed on the basis of hydrolysis, acyl transfer, protein-ligand docking, and molecular dynamics studies on the trypsin model. The general validity of the substrate mimetic concept is illustrated by the expansion of this strategy to trypsin-like, glutamic acid-specific, and hydrophobic amino acid-specific proteases. Finally, opportunities for the combination of the substrate mimetic strategy with the chemical solid-phase peptide synthesis and the use of substrate mimetics for non-peptide organic amide synthesis are presented.

Developing an introductory object-oriented programming course

The state of the object-oriented programming course in Lappeenranta University of Technology had reached the point, where it required changes to provide better learning opportunities and thus the learning outcomes. Based on the student feedback the course was partially dated and ineffective. The components of the course were analysed and the ineffective elements were removed and new methods were introduced to improve the course. The major changes included the change from traditional teaching methods to reverse classroom method and the use of Java as the programming language. The changes were measured by the student feedback, lecturer’s observations and comparison to previous years. The feedback suggested that the changes were successful; the course received higher overall grade than before.