Les intentions et le degré de mobilisation des enseignants d'école primaire à l'éveil aux langues

Cette recherche empirique a été conduite dans le cadre d’un mémoire de bachelor permettant de comprendre les intentions et le degré de mobilisation des enseignants neuchâtelois lorsqu’ils utilisent le moyen d’enseignement EOLE. EOLE est un moyen d’enseignement inspiré du projet Evlang. Le but principal de ces projets est d’offrir aux élèves une sensibilisation aux langues et une ouverture aux cultures. Le côté novateur est d’offrir un cadre où les élèves travaillent plusieurs langues sans pour autant avoir l’obligation de les apprendre. L’utilisation de ce moyen d’enseignement n’est pas obligatoire dans les classes suisses romandes. En revanche, son utilisation est vivement recommandée par le Plan d’étude romand (PER). Au travers de ce travail, les témoignages des enseignantes utilisant EOLE sont comparés. Il est alors envisageable d’observer les différents degrés de mobilisation. Les enseignantes ayant pris part à cette étude sont six au total, seulement quatre d’entre elles utilisent EOLE. D’après les analyses de données, il est possible de constater que les intentions principales sont la sensibilisation aux langues, le développement de l’interdisciplinarité et le développement d’une culture générale chez les élèves

Do cleaner fish learn to feed against their preference in a reverse reward contingency task?

The ability to control impulsive behaviour has been studied in animals with a standard test in which subjects need to choose the smaller of two food items in order to receive the larger one (reverse reward contingency). As a variety of mammals that have been tested so far (mostly primates) have great difficulties to solve the task, it has been proposed that it is generally cognitively demanding. However, according to an ecological approach to cognition, a species' ability to solve the task should not depend on its general cognitive abilities but on whether its ecology causes selective pressure on the ability to restrain foraging behaviour. We tested this hypothesis using the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), a fish species that feeds against its preference in nature when engaging in cleaning interactions with so called ‘client fish'. None of the eight tested individuals learned to choose a non-preferred item after 200 trials. In a subsequent test, one subject learned to respond correctly in a large or none contingency task (only the choice of the small food was rewarded). After a short re-experience treatment, this individual learned to solve the reverse reward task after 30 trials. In conclusion, we did not find support for the general idea that interactions with clients prepared cleaners to quickly solve a reverse reward test. However, the results suggest that the potential to solve a reverse reward contingency may not be restricted to mammals but could be present also in a fish species in which the problem of choosing a non-preferred food over a preferred one is an ever present challenge in natur

a simple tool for the analysis of periodic cotyledon and leaf movement in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background The analysis of circadian leaf movement rhythms is a simple yet effective method to study effects of treatments or gene mutations on the circadian clock of plants. Currently, leaf movements are analysed using time lapse photography and subsequent bioinformatics analyses of leaf movements. Programs that are used for this purpose either are able to perform one function (i.e. leaf tip detection or rhythm analysis) or their function is limited to specific computational environments. We developed a leaf movement analysis tool—PALMA—that works in command line and combines image extraction with rhythm analysis using Fast Fourier transformation and non-linear least squares fitting. Results We validated PALMA in both simulated time series and in experiments using the known short period mutant sensitivity to red light reduced 1 (srr1-1). We compared PALMA with two established leaf movement analysis tools and found it to perform equally well. Finally, we tested the effect of reduced iron conditions on the leaf movement rhythms of wild type plants. Here, we found that PALMA successfully detected period lengthening under reduced iron conditions. Conclusions PALMA correctly estimated the period of both simulated and real-life leaf movement experiments. As a platform-independent console-program that unites both functions needed for the analysis of circadian leaf movements it is a valid alternative to existing leaf movement analysis tools

The impact of metabolic risk management on recurrence of urinary stones

Introduction: Urinary stone disease is a common urologic problem and recurrence in stone formation is a very familiar issue to urologists. Although recurrence in stone formation has been linked to metabolic abnormalities, it can be accessible by metabolic risk analysis studies.Methods: Herein, we present our experience in metabolic risk management on recurrence of urinary stones for 10 years in Akdeniz University School of Medicine department of Urology. We retrospectively analyzed Akdeniz University Urinary Stone Database between dates of January 2000 and December 2010. We found over 3500 patients who were managed by SWL (shock wave lithotripsy) or PCNL (percutaneus nephrolithotripsy) or URS (Ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy) or open surgery.Results: 525 patients’ metabolic risk analysis was ordered due to recurrent urinary stone disease. Only 134 (25.5 %) current metabolic analysis were returned. Mean patient age was 32.2 years (range: 19-82 years).Patients were 103 male and 31 female. Stone analysis results were CaOx monohydrate in 48 (35.8 %), CaOx dihydrate in 8 (5.9 %), CaOx mono and dihydrate in 70 (52.2 %), uric acid in 3, CaOx monohydrate and uricacid in 2, cystine in 2, and struvite in 1 patient, respectively. The  metabolic risk analysis showed some abnormality in 54 (40.2 %) patients.Conclusion: Although compliance to metabolic risk analysis studies is low among recurrent urinary stone formers, some significant metabolic abnormalities could be detected in those who are effectively screened.Recurrence of urinary stones in patients who are started on appropriate metabolic management can be prevented

Predicting students' emotions using machine learning techniques

Detecting students' real-time emotions has numerous benefits, such as helping lecturers understand their students' learning behaviour and to address problems like confusion and boredom, which undermine students' engagement. One way to detect students' emotions is through their feedback about a lecture. Detecting students' emotions from their feedback, however, is both demanding and time-consuming. For this purpose, we looked at several models that could be used for detecting emotions from students' feedback by training seven different machine learning techniques using real students' feedback. The models with a single emotion performed better than those with multiple emotions. Overall, the best three models were obtained with the CNB classiffier for three emotions: amused, bored and excitement

Moguća povezanost gestacijskog dijabetesa s upalom

The aim of this study was to investigate whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with inflammation by comparing serum levels of human chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR). This case control study included 29 pregnant women with GDM and 29 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance matched for age (±2 years) and pre-pregnancy body mass index (±2 kg/m2). The YKL-40/CHI3L1 levels were measured, and NLR and PLR investigated. There were no statistically significant differences in maternal age, gestational age, gravidity and parity. Higher YKL-40 levels were recorded in pregnant women with GDM compared to control subjects (203 (65-300) ng/mL vs. 159.2 (14-290) ng/mL, p=0.007). NLR and PLR were significantly higher in GDM compared with control group. In conclusion, GDM is associated with high levels of YKL-40, NLR and PLR, which indicate inflammatory status.Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je procijeniti je li gestacijski dijabetes melitus (GDM) udružen s upalom i to usporedbom serumskih razina humanog hitinazi-3-sličnog proteina 1 (YKL-40) te omjera neutrofila/limfocita (NLR) i omjera trombocita/limfocita (PLR). U ovo istraživanje parova bilo je uključeno 29 trudnica s GDM i 29 trudnica s normalnom tolerancijom glukoze. Dob (± 2 godine) i indeks tjelesne mase prije trudnoće bili su podjednaki u obje skupine. Mjerene su razine humanog hitinazi-3-sličnog proteina 1 (YKL-40/CHI3L1) te ispitani omjeri NLR i PLR. Nije bilo statistički značajnih razlika u dobi, gestacijskoj dobi i gravidnosti. Zabilježene su više razine YKL-40 u trudnica s GDM u usporedbi s kontrolnim trudnicama (203 (65-300) ng/mL prema 159,2 (14-290) ng/mL, p=0,007). NLR i PLR bili su značajno viši u skupini s GDM nego u kontrolnoj skupini. U zaključku, GDM je udružen s visokim razinama YKL-40, NLR i PLR koji ukazuju na upalno stanje

Hazardous waste minimization practices in Tennessee

The minimization of hazardous waste generation as well as the proper treatment and disposal of generated waste has great importance for the protection of present and future human health and the environment. The purpose of this study was to identify the extent of waste minimization practices carried out by Tennessee waste generators since September 1985 and to determine the importance of waste minimization factors as perceived by Tennessee waste generators. This was accomplished methodologically through survey research of large Tennessee waste generators. During the period between August 12, 1987, and October 7, 1987, two mailings and telephone reminders produced a 68.4% response rate from 266 waste generators. The population was categorized in three stratified groupings, based on the quantity of hazardous waste produced: Group One, produced more than 1 million kg per year; Group Two, produced between 100,000 and 1 million kg per year; and Group Three, produced less than 100,000 kg per year but more than 1,000 kg per year. Data analyses included nonparametric statistical analysis of ordinal level data. Three nonparametric tests were employed: Kruskal-Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance, Kendall\u27s Coefficient of Concordance, and Somers\u27 d test. Overall, Tennessee generators, differentiated by the quantity of waste generated, did not differ in their survey responses. However, on individual questions or statements there were some differences. In order to minimize waste, Tennessee generators claimed considerable involvement in process equipment or technology change, company awareness, and housekeeping changes. Changes involving the final products were the least applicable or least desirable area for waste minimization. Tennessee generators demonstrated positive response to voluntary waste minimization regulations and showed concern for the environment as well. In terms of economics, although cost was an important issue to waste generators, they indicated willingness to adopt some waste minimization practices, even if these were not cost effective. Waste generators consider their present efforts in waste minimization moderate relative to their overall operations. Hence, there is still room for additional waste minimization