Local Field Potentials in the Gustatory Cortex Carry Taste Information

It has been recently shownthat localfield potentials (LFPs)fromthe auditory and visual cortices carry information about sensory stimuli, but whether this is a universal property of sensory cortices remains to be determined. Moreover, little is known about the temporal dynamics of sensory information contained in LFPs following stimulus onset. Here we investigated the time course of the amount of stimulus information in LFPs and spikes from the gustatory cortex of awake rats subjected to tastants and water delivery on the tongue. We found that the phase and amplitude of multiple LFP frequencies carry information about stimuli, which have specific time courses after stimulus delivery. The information carried by LFP phase and amplitude was independent within frequency bands, since the joint information exhibited neither synergy nor redundancy. Tastant information in LFPs was also independent and had a different time course from the information carried by spikes. These findings support the hypothesis that the brain uses different frequency channels to dynamically code for multiple features of a stimulus.

The Effect of using online homework exercises on student achievement in a Quantitative methods course

Abstract: Quantitative Methods (QM) is a compulsory course in the Social Science program in CEGEP. Many QM instructors assign a number of homework exercises to give students the opportunity to practice the statistical methods, which enhances their learning. However, traditional written exercises have two significant disadvantages. The first is that the feedback process is often very slow. The second disadvantage is that written exercises can generate a large amount of correcting for the instructor. WeBWorK is an open-source system that allows instructors to write exercises which students answer online. Although originally designed to write exercises for math and science students, WeBWorK programming allows for the creation of a variety of questions which can be used in the Quantitative Methods course. Because many statistical exercises generate objective and quantitative answers, the system is able to instantly assess students’ responses and tell them whether they are right or wrong. This immediate feedback has been shown to be theoretically conducive to positive learning outcomes. In addition, the system can be set up to allow students to re-try the problem if they got it wrong. This has benefits both in terms of student motivation and reinforcing learning. Through the use of a quasi-experiment, this research project measured and analysed the effects of using WeBWorK exercises in the Quantitative Methods course at Vanier College. Three specific research questions were addressed. First, we looked at whether students who did the WeBWorK exercises got better grades than students who did written exercises. Second, we looked at whether students who completed more of the WeBWorK exercises got better grades than students who completed fewer of the WeBWorK exercises. Finally, we used a self-report survey to find out what students’ perceptions and opinions were of the WeBWorK and the written exercises. For the first research question, a crossover design was used in order to compare whether the group that did WeBWorK problems during one unit would score significantly higher on that unit test than the other group that did the written problems. We found no significant difference in grades between students who did the WeBWorK exercises and students who did the written exercises. The second research question looked at whether students who completed more of the WeBWorK exercises would get significantly higher grades than students who completed fewer of the WeBWorK exercises. The straight-line relationship between number of WeBWorK exercises completed and grades was positive in both groups. However, the correlation coefficients for these two variables showed no real pattern. Our third research question was investigated by using a survey to elicit students’ perceptions and opinions regarding the WeBWorK and written exercises. Students reported no difference in the amount of effort put into completing each type of exercise. Students were also asked to rate each type of exercise along six dimensions and a composite score was calculated. Overall, students gave a significantly higher score to the written exercises, and reported that they found the written exercises were better for understanding the basic statistical concepts and for learning the basic statistical methods. However, when presented with the choice of having only written or only WeBWorK exercises, slightly more students preferred or strongly preferred having only WeBWorK exercises. The results of this research suggest that the advantages of using WeBWorK to teach Quantitative Methods are variable. The WeBWorK system offers immediate feedback, which often seems to motivate students to try again if they do not have the correct answer. However, this does not necessarily translate into better performance on the written tests and on the final exam. What has been learned is that the WeBWorK system can be used by interested instructors to enhance student learning in the Quantitative Methods course. Further research may examine more specifically how this system can be used more effectively.

Sobre a possibilidade da explicação pessoal diante de explicações científicas e intencionais

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília,Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Filosofia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Filosofia, 2015.

Fez-se Luz na VOTS Intervenção psicossocial num lar e residência de idosos

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o desenvolvimento de um projeto de intervenção psicossocial num Lar e Residência de idosos. Foi um projeto sustentado na metodologia de Investigação-Ação Participativa, com a finalidade de promover o bem-estar e o desenvolvimento pessoal e social dos idosos, melhorando as relações interpessoais e aumentando a participação ativa em atividades. Após utilizadas diversas técnicas e métodos para analisar a realidade percebeu-se a existência de alguns problemas. Os problemas e as necessidades foram priorizados pelos participantes face ao grau de importância e urgência. Assim, foi desenhado e desenvolvido o projeto intitulado pelos idosos “Fez-se luz na VOTS”, com três ações que incorporaram conversas intencionais frequentes e regulares, encontros nos quais se desenvolveram atividades diversas e exercícios de dinâmica de grupo. Cada ação visava combater ou atenuar os problemas existentes, de acordo com os objetivos gerais e específicos desenhados. Ao longo de todo o processo de análise da realidade, desenho e desenvolvimento do projeto, incluindo a sua avaliação, tentou-se dar sempre voz aos idosos desde a consciencialização acerca dos problemas à participação ativa na sua resolução. Este projeto alcançou resultados positivos, na medida em que possibilitou o envolvimento ativo dos idosos, a melhoria de relações interpessoais e a consciencialização dos participantes para o processo de mudança, contribuindo para o seu bem-estar, desenvolvimento e empoderamento.

Pedagogika porównawcza jako obszar budowania podmiotowości sprawczej przyszłych pedagogów

The article includes the development of the thesis that the analysis carried out in the framework of comparative education, as a discipline dealing with the phenomenon of education in the broad context, showing the "entanglement education" 1, often they provide students an important source of reflection and a kind of "discovery" of what they experience, but can not be called. Knowledge and understanding of the impact of a number of conditions for the development of education, in particular the political and economic although it is only a precondition, may encourage the development of a sense of agency and taking intentional actions aimed positive bottom-up change in the environment of human life.

Fatores críticos de sucesso das empresas familiares: uma abordagem competitiva

The present objective study to inside identify the critical factors of success of the local family companies of a competitive boarding. For in such a way the same it understands the culture and the management of the family companies of success, identifies the essential areas of performance, it establishes the restrictive factors of the success, and analyzes the level of influence of the critical factors of success in the competitiveness of this type of company. In function of the subject little to be explored, and of this study to provide a general vision concerning the factors that take the family companies to get success, this research is explorer. On the other hand, for describing characteristic of the familiar companies in prominence in the local scene and for being worried about the practical performance, the same one also is descriptive. The sample in turn is the not-probabilist one of the intentional type, for accessibility. For operacionalization of the collection of data, the direct contact was used, being the composed instrument of research for variable as management, culture, critical factors of success and competitiveness. The study it evidences that in regards to the management and the culture of the family companies of success, some variable are turned aside from the standard of the conventional family companies cited by literature. Of general form in the familiar companies of success it has a bigger level of professionalization of the management. As for the value given to the knowledge, the study sample that the conventional family companies give little importance to it, in contrast of the family companies in prominence, who value of significant form the search for the knowledge. He is demonstrated despite the family companies of success, even so total are not professionalized, possess a bigger level of professionalization of the management, ratifying of certain forms the reason for which the majority develops the Strategical Planning formal periodically. In short, the results point 17 critical factors of success with respect to the family companies, in special factors as the product quality and services, and the use of the technology

A utilização da tecnologia na sala de aula como instrumento de visualização e algebrização dos objetos matemáticos

No presente relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada são referidas opções de ensino, procedimentos e reações dos alunos ao processo de ensino. É dada uma grande ênfase ao ambiente de aprendizagem baseado na tecnologia e suportado por uma comunidade de aprendizagem, que tem lugar na própria sala de aula ou na sala de informática. A tecnologia é assumida como um recurso constante na maior parte das aulas através do recurso a tarefas escolhidas intencionalmente tendo em vista a possibilidade de introdução da tecnologia na sua resolução. Esta implementação assumiu várias formas, tais como a exploração de calculadoras, a manipulação do GeoGebra ou simplesmente através da apresentação de ficheiros acabados, o que constitui uma forma de obter uma boa visualização dos objetos matemáticos. A aplicação dos recursos tecnológicos foi progressivamente tornada mais intensiva, atingindo o seu culminar no Projeto de Estágio, designação atribuída a duas aulas concebidas explicitamente para a exploração da temática: “Estabelecimento de um Paralelismo entre a Geometria Tridimensional Dinâmica e as Funções”; Abstract: The Use of Technology in the Classroom as an Instrument of Visualization and Algebrization of the Mathematical Objects In this paper we refer to teaching options, procedures, and to students’ reactions to the teaching processes. We give a lot of reinforcement in the learning environment based on technology and supported by a community of learners, which take place in their own classroom or in the Informatics Class. Technology is assumed as a constant resource in most part of the classes through the intentional tasks’ choosing taking into account the possibility of technology introduction in their resolution. This implementation has assumed several forms, like calculators’ exploration, GeoGebra manipulation or simply by presenting finished files, which is a way of getting a great visualization of mathematical objects. The technological resources’ application turned itself progressively more intensive, presenting its center point on Practice Project, name who was gave to two classes conceived explicitly for the thematic exploration: “The establishment of a parallelism between Dynamic Tridimensional Geometry and the Functions”.

Ograniczona względami ekonomicznymi dostępność świadczeń zdrowotnych a naruszenie przez lekarza reguł ostrożności

Odpowiedzialność karną lekarza łączy się powszechnie z problematyką błędu medycznego, choć właściwie odpowiada on nie za sam błąd medyczny, jako że prawo karne nie zna przestępstwa polegającego na popełnieniu błędu medycznego, ale za ewentualne jego skutki, które mogą być kwalifikowane jako nieumyślne spowodowanie śmierci, nieumyślne spowodowanie ciężkiego, średniego albo lekkiego uszczerbku na zdrowiu bądź nieumyślne narażenie na niebezpieczeństwo utraty życia albo ciężkiego uszczerbku na zdrowiu. Nie można oczywiście wykluczyć wystąpienia sytuacji, w której lekarz swoim zachowaniem zrealizowałby znamiona typu umyślnego, jednakże na potrzeby niniejszej publikacji przyjęto, że co do zasady lekarz działa w celu ratowania dóbr prawnych, jakimi są życie i zdrowie pacjenta, nie zaś z zamiarem narażenia ich na niebezpieczeństwo bądź naruszenia, a ewentualne negatywne skutki dla życia i pacjenta, powstałe w miejsce lub obok zamierzonego stanu rzeczy, nie są przez niego objęte umyślnością. Kluczowym warunkiem uznania, że czyn popełniony został nieumyślnie jest ustalenie, że sprawca naruszył reguły ostrożnego postępowania, wymagane w danych okolicznościach. W odniesieniu do zawodu lekarza na pierwszy plan wysuwa się wśród nich wymóg stosowania się do wskazań aktualnej wiedzy medycznej. Autorka przekłada ten obowiązek na grunt realiów systemu ochrony zdrowia i rozważa, jaki wpływ na jego niedopełnienie mają okoliczności ograniczonej względami ekonomicznymi dostępności świadczeń zdrowotnych oraz w jaki sposób niedostatek środków finansowych może rzutować na naruszenie przez lekarza reguł ostrożnego postępowania, o których mowa w art. 9 § 2 Kodeksu karnego.

A test method for analysing disturbed ethernet data streams

Ethernet connections, which are widely used in many computer networks, can suffer from electromagnetic interference. Typically, a degradation of the data transmission rate can be perceived as electromagnetic disturbances lead to corruption of data frames on the network media. In this paper a software-based measuring method is presented, which allows a direct assessment of the effects on the link layer. The results can directly be linked to the physical interaction without the influence of software related effects on higher protocol layers. This gives a simple tool for a quantitative analysis of the disturbance of an Ethernet connection based on time domain data. An example is shown, how the data can be used for further investigation of mechanisms and detection of intentional electromagnetic attacks. © 2015 Author(s).

States' Responding Behavior in Conflict: Asymmetric Response and Strategic Conflict Avoidance

State responses to external threats and aggression are studied with focus on two different rationales: (1) to make credible deterrent threats to avoid being exploited, and (2) to minimize the risk of escalation to unwanted war. Given external aggression, the target state's responding behavior has three possibilities: concession (under-response), reciprocation, and escalation. This study focuses on the first two possibilities and investigates how the strategic nature of crisis interaction can explain the intentional choice of concession or avoidance of retaliation. I build a two-level bargaining model that accounts for the domestic bargaining situation between the leader and the challenger for each state. The model's equilibrium shows that the responding behavior is determined not only by inter-state level variables (e.g. balance of power between two states, or cost of war that each state is supposed to pay), but also the domestic variables of both states. Next, the strategic interaction is rationally explained by the model: as the responding state believes that the initiating state has strong domestic challenges and, hence, the aggression is believed to be initiated for domestic political purposes (a rally-around-the-flag effect), the response tends to decrease. The concession is also predicted if the target state leader has strong bargaining power against her domestic challengers \emph{and} she believes that the initiating leader suffers from weak domestic standing. To test the model's prediction, I conduct a lab experiment and case studies. The experimental result shows that under an incentivized bargaining situation, individual actors are observed to react to hostile action as the model predicts: if the opponent is believed to suffer from internally driven difficulties, the subject will not punish hostile behavior of the other player as severely as she would without such a belief. The experiment also provides supporting evidence for the choice of concession: when the player finds herself in a favorable situation while the other has disadvantages, the player is more likely to make concessions in the controlled dictator game. Two cases are examined to discuss how the model can explain the choice of either reciprocation or concession. From personal interviews and fieldwork in South Korea, I find that South Korea's reciprocating behavior during the 2010 Yeonpyeong Island incident is explained by a combination of `low domestic power of initiating leader (Kim Jong-il)' and `low domestic power of responding leader (Lee Myung-bak).' On the other hand, the case of EC-121 is understood as a non-response or concession outcome. Declassified documents show that Nixon and his key advisors interpreted the attack as a result of North Korea's domestic political instabilities (low domestic power of initiating leader) and that Nixon did not have difficulties at domestic politics during the first few months of his presidency (high domestic power of responding leader).

Os critérios de gatekeeping que evitam que uma lovebrand se transforme numa hatebrand

A relação marca/consumidor é importante e, atualmente, com a evolução tecnológica e com a disseminação das redes sociais, a sua importância subiu de nível pois o meio online permite que os consumidores estejam mais informados e tenham mais consciência das diversas opções que existem no mercado. Como tal, as marcas aproveitam as redes sociais, tais como o Facebook, para se fazerem notar, para mostrarem o seu lado mais humano e assim estabelecer comunicação com os utilizadores de forma a criar ou manter uma relação mais íntima com o mesmo. Contudo, a liberdade de expressão que existe nas redes sociais nem sempre é favorável às marcas, o que faz com que estas optem por utilizar critérios de gatekeeping para filtrar alguns conteúdos. O que se pretende deste estudo não experimental de tipo exploratório e de método qualitativo, é aferir que critérios de gatekeeping é que são mais suscetíveis de serem utilizados pelas marcas, de forma a evitarem que a relação forte que detêm com o consumidor fique comprometida e manchada pelo ódio e, consequentemente, perceber como é feita a gestão das próprias páginas de Facebook. O objeto do estudo em causa envolve, assim, duas empresas do setor eletrónico que são concorrentes diretas e que têm consumidores muito dedicados e que foram selecionadas através de um método de amostragem não aleatório intencional.

Responsabilidad civil de la persona mayor incapaz y de sus guardadores por los daños causados a terceros: especial referencia a la responsabilidad del incapaz en el sistema del Common Law

Un número considerable de personas mayores padece alguna enfermedad neurodegenerativa que limita sus facultades intelectivas y volitivas, lo que en la práctica suele traducirse en alteraciones de la personalidad con conservación de consciencia, pérdidas de memoria, desorientación, inquietud, confusión o agresividad. Este deterioro progresivo de capacidad que puede afectar a nuestros mayores no sólo los convierte en fácil objetivo de agresiones sino también en potenciales creadores de riesgos y daños a terceros. Es precisamente la responsabilidad que puede derivarse de tales daños la que será analizada en primer lugar en esta sede, exponiendo el estado de la cuestión tanto en el civil como en el common law. Por otro lado, cuando una persona que tiene sus funciones cognitivas mermadas causa un daño a otro, no sólo se debe analizar la responsabilidad civil del propio agente del daño frente al perjudicado, sino también aquélla en que podría incurrir la persona encargada de su cuidado en caso de haberla. Dicha cuestión ocupará la segunda parte del presente trabajo.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em educação pré-escolar e 1º ciclo do ensino básico: ensinar para aprender - gerindo a heterogeneidade, o currículo e rumando à diferenciação pedagógica

O presente relatório surge no âmbito do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e visa a obtenção do grau de mestre nos níveis de escolaridade referidos. Neste descrevo o projeto de investigação-ação desenvolvido nos contextos da Prática de Ensino Supervisionado (PES) em Educação Pré-escolar e 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB). A investigação-ação realizada visava, sobretudo, ajudar-me a compreender quais as condições que deveria reunir de modo a responder de forma adequada às necessidades das crianças e a perceber como poderia melhorar a minha ação e intervenção promovendo aprendizagens significativas e de qualidade, salientando que o propósito não era fornecer o mesmo a todas as crianças, mas sim, a cada uma aquilo de que necessitava. A minha aposta na Diferenciação Pedagógica e numa gestão flexível do currículo surge orientada pelo princípio do direito de todos à aprendizagem e como resposta intencional à heterogeneidade dos grupos de crianças que frequentam atualmente as instituições. Assim, de modo a atingir os objetivos propostos, planeei algumas sugestões de interação que permitiam a utilização de estratégias diversificadas e a observação das crianças durante a utilização das mesmas. A metodologia utilizada contemplou uma pesquisa bibliográfica com base em vários referenciais teóricos e a recolha e análise de dados. Esta investigação possibilitou constatar que a Diferenciação Pedagógica subjacente às propostas apresentadas proporciona o desenvolvimento das crianças tanto a nível social como cognitivo; ABSTRACT: The present report reflects the research develop in the context of the Master Degree in Preschool Education and Teaching of the Primary School at University of Évora, and aims to obtain the degree of master in the levels mention above. This research was held in two different contexts, the first one in a pre-school classroom, and later in a classroom of fourth year of Primary School. The research performed aimed mainly to help me to understand what conditions must be gathered in order to respond appropriately to children's needs and to see how it could improve my actions and intervention by promoting meaningful and quality learnings, stressing that the purpose was not to provide the same for all children, but to each one what they needed. My bet on Pedagogical Differentiation and a flexible management of the curriculum comes to the principle of the right of all to learning and as an intentional response to the heterogeneity of the groups of children who currently attend institutions. Thus, in order to achieve the proposed objectives, I planned some suggestions for interacting with groups of children’s which allowed me to use multiple strategies and to do observation of the individuals while they were being applied. The methodology included a literature search based on various theoretical frameworks and data collection and the respective analysis. This research led us to confirm that the proposals based on pedagogical differentiation provide children's development both socially and cognitive and it is essential to ensure it since the earliest years of school, in order to build a rich differentiated pedagogical action and to promote learning for all students in pre-school and 1st cycle contexts by using diverse strategies.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em educação pré-escolar: promoção de sustentabilidade em educação de infância

O presente relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) visa descrever e explicitar o trabalho desenvolvido no âmbito das Unidades Curriculares Prática de Ensino Supervisionada em Creche e em Jardim-de-Infância do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar da Universidade de Évora, com o objetivo de promover a sustentabilidade ambiental, económica, cultural e social, nestes dois contextos. Tendo como ponto de partida o interesse pessoal pela temática que considero fundamental ser promovida e trabalhada precocemente (em creche e jardim de infância), com vista ao desenvolvimento de uma literacia ambiental, acresceu a constatação de práticas de sustentabilidade ambiental, económica cultural e social pouco consolidadas na instituição onde decorreu a PES. O recurso à escala ERS-SDEC, num processo de investigação ação, onde a análise, reflexão e avaliação conduziu a um planeamento intencional e a uma ação educativa que envolveu crianças, famílias, equipa educativa e comunidade, promovendo aprendizagens e produzindo mudanças ao nível da adoção de hábitos e práticas mais sustentáveis. Foram essenciais para a concretização dos objetivos da PES, a inscrição da instituição no Programa Eco Escolas, os princípios pedagógicos do Movimento da Escola Moderna e as Orientações Curriculares para a Educação Pré-escolar; ABSTRACT: This report of Supervised Teaching Practice (STP) aims to describe and explain the work carried out within the framework of the courses Supervised Teaching Practice in Creche and Preschool of the Masters degree in Preschool Education of the University of Évora, in order to promote environmental, economic, cultural and social sustainability in these two contexts. The starting point was my personal interest on the theme, which I consider fundamental promoting early on (in creche and Preschool), to develop an environmental literacy, as well as the realization that environmental sustainability practices were poorly consolidated in the institution where I developed the STP. The use of the ERS-SDEC scale, in a process of research-action, where the analysis, reflection and evaluation led to an intentional planning and an educational activity involving children, families, educational staff and community, promoting learning, changing habits and developing more sustainable practices. It was essential the enrollment in the Eco-Schools Program, the adoption of the pedagogic principles of the Modern School Movement and of the Portuguese Curricular Guidelines for Preschool Education.

EL ANÁLISIS DE COYUNTURA DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA DE UNA ECONOMÍA PARA LA VIDA

Resumen Analizar la coyuntura económica, social y ambiental desde la perspectiva de una economía para la vida exige objetividad científica y un compromiso político con el bien común. Además, no es un análisis desde “lo económico” o desde “lo social”. Se trata de un análisis desde los efectos (directos e indirectos, intencionales y no intencionales) que las tendencias hacia la irracionalidad del sistema capitalista provocan sobre el ser humano y el medio ambiente. Hablamos de estos efectos como “desequilibrios”. Desequilibrios en las relaciones humanas, el empleo, la distribución, el consumo, la personalidad, la sustentabilidad ambiental, las amenazas globales o planetarias, etc. En resumen, un análisis que se centra en los efectos de la dinámica socioeconómica en el ser humano y la naturaleza.   Abstract Monitoring the economic, social and environmental conjuncture from a Life Economics perspective requires both, scientific objectivity and a political commitment with the common good. Moreover, it is not an analysis from a particular economic or social view. It is an analysis from the effects (direct, indirect, intentional and non-intentional) that irrationality trends of capitalism cause on human being and nature. We talk about these effects as “disequilibriums”. These are disequilibriums in human relationships, employment, income distribution, consumption, personality, development, environment, and global or planetary threats, and so on. As a summary, we suggest an analysis focused on the social dynamic effects upon human being and nature.