Programmes in transition - between closure and start. Review of programme developments: Winter-Summer 2007

The past six months have seen a shift in emphasis from the 2000-2006 to the 2007-2013 programmes. Programme managers and other implementing organisations have not only been negotiating draft programmes for 2007-2013 with European Commission staff, but have also been undertaking a range of tasks to prepare for implementing these programmes. A number of initiatives have also occurred at EU level, which direct policymakers’ attention forward to the EU budget review of 2008-2009 and beyond. In addition, ongoing efforts have been needed to ensure that the remaining funds under the 2000-2006 programmes are effectively absorbed, and that all technical preparations for programme closure are underway

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Perspicacity Relation between Educators and Students

Artificial intelligence is a system with the nature of human intelligence that can automatically provide knowledge and information to create intelligent applications to make it easier to solve problems such as problem-solving, speech recognition, and learning. This research was investigated to find out and understand the relationship of intelligence between educators and students in applying artificial intelligence in universities. The method used is a phenomenological type of qualitative method. This research was conducted at Nurul Jadid University (UNUJA), with the subject of research being PAI lecturers and students in semester V. This research phase was carried out by preliminary studies, observation, data collection (interviews), data verification, and drawing conclusions. As for the results of this study, in its application, artificial intelligence in universities has a positive and negative impact on the relationship of intelligence to learning when it is carried out outside conventional learning. The intelligence relationship between educators and students, which includes Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), and Spiritual Quotient (SQ) contained in it, is also a positive thing that coexists and is directed

Model tests on single batter piles subjected to lateral soil movement

A series of laboratory tests have been carried out to investigate the lateral response of battered piles under lateral soil movement. Model tests were carried out using instrumented rigid aluminium piles. The piles were embedded in homogeneous sand soil at batter angles &beta = 0°, ±10° and ±20° were subjected to two types of lateral soil movement profile. The results obtained from the study are presented in terms of the bending moment, shear force, soil reaction, pile rotation and lateral deflections along the length of the batter pile. The results of model tests on single vertical and batter piles under horizontal loads showed that the batter angle (&beta) significantly influenced the response of the batter piles. Regardless of the value of sand density, bending moment and deflection with batter angles &beta = +10° or positive batter piles were higher compared then vertical piles and negative batter piles

The end of the formal programming period for 2000-2006. Review of programme developments : Summer-Autumn2006

Although the 2000-06 programming period is drawing to a close, significant work still remains for the authorities responsible for ensuring that funds are fully spent and that programme closure activities are completed successfully. The main concern for many partners in relation to the 2000-06 programmes is financial absorption, but some have also introduced new strategic changes in recent months, or have faced new operational challenges. A range of tasks is also being undertaken in relation to programme closure. Data at the level of the EU-25 show satisfactory levels of financial absorption across Member States. The highest rates of absorption are seen in Austria and Ireland, and the lowest levels in the new Member States, whose programmes did not start until July 2004. Spending levels in the new Member States have increased strongly in the past year, particularly in Malta, Hungary and Poland. In the case of the EU-15, Greece, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have the lowest absorption rates

An Adaptive Approach for Processing Evoked Potentials From Human Auditory Cortex

Presents an adaptive approach for the processing of evoked potentials from the an auditory association cortex in humans. The approach can be conceptualized as a bank of least mean square adaptive signal enhancers. The recording data of each trial is then divided into several segments and each segment of data is input to corresponding adaptive signal enhancers. This approach allows the temporal variations of the evoked potential signal to be estimated across individual trials. This is a powerful tool for both clinical and research neurosciences. Two illustrative cases are shown.published_or_final_versio

Evaluasi Pelaksanaan K3 Pada Proyek Konstruksi di Kabupaten Bireuen

Pekerjaan konstruksi merupakan kegiatan industri yang mempunyai tingkat resiko kecelakaan kerja yang tinggi dibanding dengan industri lainnya.Adapun salah satu tindakan yang dapat dilakukan untuk pencegahan terjadinya kecelakaan kerja dengan menerapkan  program keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja.Keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja adalah upaya perlindungan yang ditujukan agar tenaga kerja dan orang lain ditempat kerja atau perusahaan selalu dalam keadaan selamat dan sehat, serta agar setiap produksi digunakan secara aman dan efisien. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sampai sejauh mana programkeselamatan dan kesehatan kerjayang diterapkan pada proyek konstruksi di Kabupaten Bireuen.Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui penyebaran kuisioner.Analisis data menggunakan analisis validitas, analisis reliabilitas dan analisis frekuensi dengan menggunakan perangkat lunak SPSS versi 20 dan Microsoft Excel 2007.Hasil analisis diperoleh sebanyak 47,84%responden menyatakan bahwa penerapan program keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja pada proyek konstruksi di Kabupaten Bireuen berada pada kualifikasi kurang baik

Chewing analysis in subjects aged between 07 to 12 years with unilateral cross bite

PURPOSE: to analyze the function of chewing, related to the posterior unilateral crossbite in children aged between 07 to 12 years. METHODS: 10 samples of both genders with posterior unilateral crossbite, with no orthodontic treatment history. During the speech language pathology evaluation the examined items were: food cutting, side of the chewing, rhythm, lips position, food escape, jaw movement, exaggerated participation of the perioral muscles, food accumulation in the vestibule of the mouth, position and size of the alimentary cake. RESULTS: from the 10 evaluated samples, 80% demonstrated unilateral chewing of the same side of the posterior unilateral crossbite and 20% bilateral chewing. From the 08 analyzed samples, the results were: previous cut, without escape of food and rotatory movements 100%; slow rhythm 50% and fast rhythm 50%; closed lips 75%; exaggerated participation of perioral muscles 62,5%; without accumulation of food 87,5%; alimentary cake cente-red 62,5%; small cale size 62,5%. CONCLUSION: from the evaluated cases, it was observed that 80% confirmed the relation between unilateral chewing and unilateral posterior crossbite, corroborating the literature s reporting. In the chewing, no any alterations related to the posterior unilateral crossbite and unilateral chewing have been noted.OBJETIVO: analisar a função de mastigação relacionada à mordida cruzada posterior unilateral em crianças na faixa etária de sete a doze anos. MÉTODOS: dez indivíduos de ambos os sexos com mordida cruzada unilateral posterior sem intervenção ortodôntica. Na avaliação fonoaudiológica os itens considerados foram: corte do alimento, lado da mastigação, ritmo, postura labial, escape de alimentos, movimento de mandíbula, participação exagerada da musculatura perioral, acúmulo de alimento no vestíbulo da boca, posição e tamanho do bolo alimentar. RESULTADOS: dos dez indivíduos avaliados, 80% apresentaram mastigação unilateral do mesmo lado da mordida cruzada posterior unilateral e 20% mastigação bilateral. Dos oito indivíduos analisados com mastigação unilateral, os resultados encontrados foram: corte anterior, sem escape de alimentos e movimentos rotatórios 100%; ritmo lento 50% e rápido 50%; lábios fechados 75%; participação exagerada da musculatura perioral 62,5%; sem acúmulo de alimentos 87,5%; bolo alimentar centralizado 75%; tamanho do bolo pequeno 62,5%. CONCLUSÃO: dos casos avaliados, observou-se que 80% confirmam a relação entre mastigação unilateral e mordida cruzada posterior unilateral. Na mastigação, não foram evidenciadas quaisquer outras alterações que possam estar relacionadas à mordida cruzada posterior unilateral e mastigação unilateral.Prefeitura do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroCEFAC - Saúde e EducaçãoHospital Estadual Adão Pereira NunesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Setor de Investigação em Doenças NeuromuscularesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, Setor de Investigação em Doenças NeuromuscularesUNIFESPSciEL

PENGEMBANGAN LEMBAR KEGIATAN SISWA (LKS) BERBASIS SCIENTIFIC APPROACH PADA MATERI EKOLOGI KELAS X SMA

Kurikulum 2013 yang berlaku di Indonesia menggunakan pendekatan scientific approach. Lembar kegiatan siswa merupakan salah satu perangkat yang penting dalam pembelajaran. Dari hasil wawancara terhadap 14 siswa SMA kelas X , lembar kegiatan siswa belum terintegrasi scientific approach, khususnya pada materi ekologi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan LKS berbasis Scientific Approach materi ekologi kelas X SMA yang layak secara teoritis berdasarkan hasil validasi para ahli. Model penelitian yang digunakan adalah 3D yakni design, define, dan develop. Lembar penilaian kelayakan LKS mengacu pada skala Likert. LKS yang yang dikembangkan kemudian divalidasi oleh dosen ahli materi dan ahli pendidikan menggunakan instrumen lembar validasi. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan meliputi metode validasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan rata-rata validitas LKS sebesar 91,03% dengan rincian aspek penyajian sebesar 89,06%, aspek isi sebesar 88,75%, dan aspek kebahasaan sebesar 95,20%. Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa LKS yang dikembangkan termasuk dalam kriteria interpretasi sangat valid. Kata kunci: lembar kegiatan siswa, scientific approach, materi ekolog

Low-frequency cortical activity is a neuromodulatory target that tracks recovery after stroke.

Recent work has highlighted the importance of transient low-frequency oscillatory (LFO; <4 Hz) activity in the healthy primary motor cortex during skilled upper-limb tasks. These brief bouts of oscillatory activity may establish the timing or sequencing of motor actions. Here, we show that LFOs track motor recovery post-stroke and can be a physiological target for neuromodulation. In rodents, we found that reach-related LFOs, as measured in both the local field potential and the related spiking activity, were diminished after stroke and that spontaneous recovery was closely correlated with their restoration in the perilesional cortex. Sensorimotor LFOs were also diminished in a human subject with chronic disability after stroke in contrast to two non-stroke subjects who demonstrated robust LFOs. Therapeutic delivery of electrical stimulation time-locked to the expected onset of LFOs was found to significantly improve skilled reaching in stroke animals. Together, our results suggest that restoration or modulation of cortical oscillatory dynamics is important for the recovery of upper-limb function and that they may serve as a novel target for clinical neuromodulation

Prolonged dopamine signalling in striatum signals proximity and value of distant rewards

Predictions about future rewarding events have a powerful influence on behaviour. The phasic spike activity of dopamine-containing neurons, and corresponding dopamine transients in the striatum, are thought to underlie these predictions, encoding positive and negative reward prediction errors. However, many behaviours are directed towards distant goals, for which transient signals may fail to provide sustained drive. Here we report an extended mode of reward-predictive dopamine signalling in the striatum that emerged as rats moved towards distant goals. These dopamine signals, which were detected with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), gradually increased or—in rare instances—decreased as the animals navigated mazes to reach remote rewards, rather than having phasic or steady tonic profiles. These dopamine increases (ramps) scaled flexibly with both the distance and size of the rewards. During learning, these dopamine signals showed spatial preferences for goals in different locations and readily changed in magnitude to reflect changing values of the distant rewards. Such prolonged dopamine signalling could provide sustained motivational drive, a control mechanism that may be important for normal behaviour and that can be impaired in a range of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01 MH060379)National Parkinson Foundation (U.S.)Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative, Inc. (Grant A-5552)Stanley H. and Sheila G. Sydney Fun