Structuring institutions to exploit learning technologies: A cybernetic model

The adoption of learning technologies has not fulfilled expectation in any sector of education. Arguably, it is the structure of educational institutions which is the main obstacle. Schools, colleges and universities were designed to allow the delivery of education by the few to the many at a time when the key technology was the printed page, and many of the organizational instruments that facilitated this are still with us today: timetables, classrooms, syllabuses and so on. These permit a particular style of education to take place, but result in a system where the complexity of learning needs is ignored New technologies can provide new organizational devices that recognize this complexity. These require careful design and imply a significant restructuring of institutional organization. This paper addresses how the tools provided by management cybernetics, in particular Stafford Beer's Viable System Model, allow the analysis of structural mechanisms and how they impact on organizational complexity. It describes how these tools can be used to redesign educational organizations, including identifying key points where technologies can be used to create structures that permit a more flexible exploitation of the opportunities offered by learning technologies. The current JTAP project Toolkit for the Management of Learning is offered as an example of a set of software tools that emerge from such a cybernetic analysis

Lamination residual stresses in fiber composites

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the magnitude of lamination residual stresses in angle-ply composites and to evaluate their effects on composite structural integrity. The materials investigated were boron/epoxy, boron/polyimide, graphite/low modulus epoxy, graphite/high modulus epoxy, graphite/polyimide and s-glass/epoxy. These materials were fully characterized. Static properties of laminates were also determined. Experimental techniques using embedded strain gages were developed and used to measure residual strains during curing. The extent of relaxation of lamination residual stresses was investigated. It was concluded that the degree of such relaxation is low. The behavior of angle-ply laminates subjected to thermal cycling, tensile load cycling, and combined thermal cycling with tensile load was investigated. In most cases these cycling programs did not have any measurable influence on residual strength and stiffness of the laminates. In the tensile load cycling tests, the graphite/polyimide shows the highest endurance with 10 million cycle runouts at loads up to 90 percent of the static strength

Lamination residual stresses in hybrid composites, part 1

An experimental investigation was conducted to study lamination residual stresses for various material and loading parameters. The effects of hybridization on residual stresses and residual properties after thermal cycling under load were determined in angle-ply graphite/Kevlar/epoxy and graphite/S-glass/epoxy laminates. Residual strains in the graphite plies are not appreciably affected by the type and number of hybridizing plies. Computed residual stresses at room temperature in the S-glass plies reach values up to seventy-five percent of the transverse strength of the material. Computed residual stresses in the graphite plies exceed the static strength by approximately ten percent. In the case of Kevlar plies, computed residual stresses far exceed the static strength indicating possible early failure of these plies. Static testing of the hybrids above indicates that failure is governed by the ultimate strain of the graphite plies. In thermally cycled hybrids, in general, residual moduli were somewhat lower and residual strengths were higher than initial values

Mechanisms for establishing transcriptional competence of tissue-specific genes in pluripotent stem cells

Tissue-specific genes have been found to be epigenetically marked in embryonic stem cells by different combination of histone modifications. These marks are believed to prime genes for activation at later stages of development. Previous work has revealed the presence of one such signature on one enhancer of the mouse λ5-VpreB1 locus, which is expressed at the pro- and pre-B cell stage of B lymphocyte development. This element, which has been called Early- Transcriptional Competence Mark (ETCM), is characterised by the presence of tightly localised peaks of histone H3K4 methylation and H3K9 acetylation. However, the ETCM lacks the trimethylation of H3K27 that defines bivalent domains at many tissue-specific genes in ES cells. The results described in this thesis show that that two ES cell transcription factors, Sox2 and Foxd3, bind to the λ5-VpreB1 ETCM in ES cells. Analysis of factor binding to the λ5-VpreB1 locus at the proB cell stage of B-cell development showed that the same sequences are occupied by the B-cell specific factors Sox4 and Foxp1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis (ChIP-on-Chip) showed that Sox2 and Foxd3 are bound to a number of ETCM-like elements in ES cells, as well as bivalent domains, suggesting that they are involved in the establishment and maintenance of these epigenetic marks in ES cells. Knockdown of Sox2 by siRNA confirmed its involvement in the methylation of H3K4 on these DNA regions. Based on these data, I propose a factor-relay model in which embryonic stem cell transcription factors generate epigenetic signatures at key regulatory elements of tissue-specific genes. During differentiation these proteins are replaced by related factors, which share their DNA-binding profile, and play an important role in activating tissue-specific transcription

Wave propagation in fiber composite laminates, part 2

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the wave propagation characteristics, transient strains and residual properties in unidirectional and angle-ply boron/epoxy and graphite/epoxy laminates impacted with silicone rubber projectiles at velocities up to 250 MS-1. The predominant wave is flexural, propagating at different velocities in different directions. In general, measured wave velocities were higher than theoretically predicted values. The amplitude of the in-plane wave is less than ten percent of that of the flexural wave. Peak strains and strain rates in the transverse to the (outer) fiber direction are much higher than those in the direction of the fibers. The dynamics of impact were also studied with high speed photography

Instituciones y principios matrices del derecho de aguas: contradicciones entre teoría y práctica

El artículo identifica y describe los cuatro principios matrices que informan el derecho de aguas de países como Argentina, Chile, España y EEUU: el agua como bien público, el establecimiento de sistemas de permisos o concesiones para su uso, los derechos de aprovechamiento definidos como derechos de propiedad y la consideración del interés público como una exigencia legal. El paper analiza de manera crítica cómo estas premisas que se presentan teóricamente como complementarias y coherentes, cuando se las analiza en perspectiva comparada y se contrasta teoría y práctica entran en conflicto y colisionan fuertemente llegando a la contradicción. Se concluye que bajo similares principios se pueden configurar regímenes jurídicos muy diversos sin perjuicio de lo cual todo conflicto puede finalmente reconducirse conceptualmente a la tensión entre interés público y propiedad privada cuya dinámica no es estática sino que evoluciona a través del tiempo y volver a equilibrarlos, en un sentido más sustentable y democrático, constituye uno de los principales problemas y desafíos de nuestro tiempo.(Latindex)Fil: Martin, Liber Alexis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Derecho; Argentin

Les eaux en dispute. Transformations de l’intérêt public (et privé) autour des usages de l’eau publique

El artículo comienza demostrando la estructura dialéctica que articula la regulación de los derechos de uso especial o privativo de las aguas públicas en Argentina. Luego de constatar la centralidad que el concepto de interés público tiene en la vida de los derechos de aguas (otorgamiento, modificación y extinción), se indaga crítica e históricamente en su funcionalidad y utilización, para concluir propiciando una reducción del margen de discrecionalidad estatal en su determinación con fundamento en la transformación de elementos sustanciales (dimensión ambiental y social) y procedimentales (incremento de información, participación, planificación, igualdad, libre concurrencia y control judicial) acaecida luego de su sistematización en la década del 40.O artigo começa demonstrando a estrutura dialética que articula a regulação dos direitos de uso especial ou privativo das águas públicas na Argentina. Após constatar a centralidade que o conceito de interesse público tem na vida dos direitos de águas (outorga, modificação e extinção), indaga-se crítica e historicamente acerca da sua funcionalidade e utilização, para concluir propiciando uma redução da margem de discricionariedade estatal em sua determinação com fundamento na transformação de elementos substanciais (dimensão ambiental e social) y procedimentais (incremento de informação, participação, planificação, igualdade, livre concorrência e controle judicial) ocorrida após sua sistematização na década de 1940.This article begins by outlining the dialectic structure in the regulation of rights to special or private use of public water in Argentina. After examining the centrality that the concept of public interest assumes in terms of water rights (granting, modification and termination), a critical and historical analysis is developed on its functionality and use, to conclude by favouring a reduction in the exercise of discretion by the state in its determination based on the transformation of elements which are both substantial (socially and environmentally) and procedural (increase in information, participation, planning, equality, free competition and judicial control) occurring after systemisation in the 1940s.Le présent article commence par l’analyse la structure dialectique qui articule la régulation des droits d’usage spéciaux ou privés des eaux publiques argentines. Après avoir constaté la centralité qu’occupe le concept d’intérêt public dans le droit des eaux (concession, modification et extinction), l’on analysera de manière critique et historique la fonctionnalité et l’usage des eaux. L’on en conclura une réduction du pouvoir discrétionnaire de l’État quant à ces usages sur la base de la transformation d’éléments substantiels (dimension environnementale et sociale) et procéduraux (amélioration de l’accès à l’information, participation, planification, égalité, libre concurrence et contrôle judiciaire) ayant eu lieu dans les années 1940.Fil: Martin, Liber Alexis. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza; Argentin

Coaching, a pedagogical strategy to impact practice in the classroom

El coaching, como estrategia de evolución personal, brinda una manera distinta para relacionarse, su aplicación no consiste en enseñar, sino en crear las condiciones necesarias para aprender, crecer, y verse a sí mismo como un ser en constante aprendizaje, capitaliza los ejercicios pedagógicos y educativos de los maestros para su uso en las aulas. Modela actitudes preocupadas ante la enseñanza de acciones que ejemplifican los aciertos que produce al involucrar y responsabilizar a las personas. Este artículo pretende exponer desde una praxis con sentido y compromiso, cómo se capitaliza el interés por aprender del estudiante y la decisión de reformularse el modelo de enseñanza del docente como estrategia de cambio en los centros educativos. Las respuestas dadas por los jóvenes reflejaron un alto nivel de satisfacción con las prácticas coaching.Coaching, as a strategy of personal growth, provides a distinct way of relating itself, its application does not consist of teaching, but rather of creating the necessary conditions to learn, grow, and see itself as a being in constant learning, capitalizes on the pedagogical and educational exercises of teachers for their application in classrooms. It shapes carefree attitudes towards the teaching of actions of involvement and personal responsibility that exemplify the successes it produces. This article intends to expose from a praxis with meaning and commitment how the interest in learning from the student is capitalized and the decision to reformulate the teaching model of the teacher as a strategy of change in the educational centers. The responses given by the young people to the strategies proposed by the teacher reflected a high level of satisfaction with coaching practices

Áreas de restricción y zonas de prohibición para la explotación de aguas subterráneas. El caso de Mendoza, Argentina

El artículo aborda el crucial tema de creciente importancia del régimen jurídico de las áreas de restricción y prohibición para la explotación de aguas subterráneas en Argentina centrándose en el análisis de tres problemas jurídicos principales. Primero, la cuestión del establecimiento, declaración y creación de esas áreas y los efectos jurídicos con respecto a terceros y los requisitos de fondo y forma vinculados a la razonabilidad tanto como a la legalidad. El segundo problema analizado es la aplicación de la nueva reglamentación a situaciones jurídicas existentes donde se enfrentan principio medulares como el de irretroactividad de la ley, buena fe y confianza legítima, con el aplicación de la ley a situaciones no consolidadas o no consumadas y la inexistencia de derecho adquiridos ante la ausencia de acto administrativo. El tercer núcleo es el relativo a la determinación del ámbito espacial de la restricción, con el seccionamiento de acuíferos, sectorización o definición de áreas de manejo de aguas subterráneas dentro de un mismo acuífero, donde se invoca a veces el principio precautorio, pero al mismo tiempo la certidumbre al fijar el seccionamiento o la disponibilidad exacta en ciertos puntos para el otorgamiento de nuevos derechos. El campo analizado es especialmente problemático por la confluencia de aspectos e intereses técnicos, políticos, económicos y jurídicos, el nivel reglamentario y marco de excepcionalidad en que suele moverse y la inconsistencia, contradicción y opacidad demostrada en su accionar tanto por los particulares como por la administración y la jurisprudencia.Fil: Martin, Liber Alexis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentin

Household Smoking Bans in Ohio

Background: Clean indoor air ordinances are being rapidly adopted across the United States to protect persons in public places from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The private sphere can be partially protected by adopting a household smoking ban. Objective: To analyze the prevalence and adoption patterns of household smoking bans in Ohio. Design: The 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey collected data using random-digit-dialing methodology and cell phone sampling from more than 50,000 Ohio households that provided sociodemographic and health behavior data for analysis. Respondent, household, neighborhood and regional level data were examined to determine the prevalence of adopting a total household smoking ban. Basic descriptive statistics and chi square analyses were used to determine if there were differences in ban adoption by select characteristics. Results: The variables most closely associated with the adoption of household smoking bans included higher respondent education level, and the presence of children and other adults in a household. Being a current smoker was most negatively related to the adoption of a household smoking ban. Conclusions: Public health officials have done an excellent job promoting the adoption of household smoking bans. It may now be necessary to refocus future campaigns to target those populations that have lower household smoking ban adoption rates, namely those in rural Appalachia, blacks, and smokers.No embarg