53,332 results
Search Results
152. Computer versus paper--does it make any difference in test performance?
- Author
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Karay Y, Schauber SK, Stosch C, and Schüttpelz-Brauns K
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Computers, Educational Measurement methods, Paper, Students, Medical psychology
- Abstract
Unlabelled: CONSTRUCT: In this study, we examine the differences in test performance between the paper-based and the computer-based version of the Berlin formative Progress Test. In this context it is the first study that allows controlling for students' prior performance., Background: Computer-based tests make possible a more efficient examination procedure for test administration and review. Although university staff will benefit largely from computer-based tests, the question arises if computer-based tests influence students' test performance., Approach: A total of 266 German students from the 9th and 10th semester of medicine (comparable with the 4th-year North American medical school schedule) participated in the study (paper = 132, computer = 134). The allocation of the test format was conducted as a randomized matched-pair design in which students were first sorted according to their prior test results. The organizational procedure, the examination conditions, the room, and seating arrangements, as well as the order of questions and answers, were identical in both groups., Results: The sociodemographic variables and pretest scores of both groups were comparable. The test results from the paper and computer versions did not differ. The groups remained within the allotted time, but students using the computer version (particularly the high performers) needed significantly less time to complete the test. In addition, we found significant differences in guessing behavior. Low performers using the computer version guess significantly more than low-performing students in the paper-pencil version., Conclusions: Participants in computer-based tests are not at a disadvantage in terms of their test results. The computer-based test required less processing time. The reason for the longer processing time when using the paper-pencil version might be due to the time needed to write the answer down, controlling for transferring the answer correctly. It is still not known why students using the computer version (particularly low-performing students) guess at a higher rate. Further studies are necessary to understand this finding.
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
153. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: a position paper and registry outline.
- Author
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Bayas, Antonios, Berthele, Achim, Blank, Norbert, Dreger, Peter, Faissner, Simon, Friese, Manuel A., Gerdes, Lisa-Ann, Grauer, Oliver Martin, Häussler, Vivien, Heesen, Christoph, Janson, Dietlinde, Korporal-Kuhnke, Mirjam, Kowarik, Markus, Kröger, Nikolaus, Lünemann, Jan D., Martin, Roland, Meier, Uwe, Meuth, Sven, Muraro, Paolo, and Platten, Michael
- Subjects
STEM cells ,MULTIPLE sclerosis ,DISEASE progression ,MAGNETIC resonance imaging - Abstract
Background: While substantial progress has been made in the development of disease-modifying medications for multiple sclerosis (MS), a high percentage of treated patients still show progression and persistent inflammatory activity. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) aims at eliminating a pathogenic immune repertoire through intense short-term immunosuppression that enables subsequent regeneration of a new and healthy immune system to re-establish immune tolerance for a long period of time. A number of mostly open-label, uncontrolled studies conducted over the past 20 years collected about 4000 cases. They uniformly reported high efficacy of AHSCT in controlling MS inflammatory disease activity, more markedly beneficial in relapsing-remitting MS. Immunological studies provided evidence for qualitative immune resetting following AHSCT. These data and improved safety profiles of transplantation procedures spurred interest in using AHSCT as a treatment option for MS. Objective: To develop expert consensus recommendations on AHSCT in Germany and outline a registry study project. Methods: An open call among MS neurologists as well as among experts in stem cell transplantation in Germany started in December 2021 to join a series of virtual meetings. Results: We provide a consensus-based opinion paper authored by 25 experts on the up-to-date optimal use of AHSCT in managing MS based on the Swiss criteria. Current data indicate that patients who are most likely to benefit from AHSCT have relapsing-remitting MS and are young, ambulatory and have high disease activity. Treatment data with AHSCT will be collected within the German REgistry Cohort of autologous haematopoietic stem CeLl trAnsplantation In MS (RECLAIM). Conclusion: Further clinical trials, including registry-based analyses, are urgently needed to better define the patient characteristics, efficacy and safety profile of AHSCT compared with other high-efficacy therapies and to optimally position it as a treatment option in different MS disease stages. Plain language summary: Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis Substantial progress has been made in the development of disease-modifying medications for multiple sclerosis (MS) during the last 20 years. However, in a relevant percentage of patients, the disease cannot completely be contained. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) enables rebuilding of a new and healthy immune system and to potentially stop the autoimmune disease process for a long time. A number of studies documenting 4000 cases cumulatively over the past 20 years reported high efficacy of AHSCT in controlling MS inflammatory disease activity. These data and improved safety profiles of the treatment procedures spurred interest in using AHSCT as a treatment option for MS. An open call among MS neurologists as well as among experts in stem cell transplantation in Germany started in December 2021 to join a series of video calls to develop recommendations and outline a registry study project. We provide a consensus-based opinion paper authored by 25 experts on the up-to-date optimal use of AHSCT in managing MS. Current data indicate that patients are most likely to benefit from AHSCT if they are young, ambulatory, with high disease activity, that is, relapses or new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions. Treatment data with AHSCT will be collected within the German REgistry Cohort of autoLogous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation MS (RECLAIM). Further clinical trials including registry-based analyses and systematic follow-up are urgently needed to better define the optimal patient characteristics as well as the efficacy and safety profile of AHSCT compared with other high-efficacy therapies. These will help to position AHSCT as a treatment option in different MS disease stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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154. Factors influencing purchase intention for recycled products: A comparative analysis of Germany and South Africa.
- Author
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Dobbelstein, Thomas and Lochner, Carina
- Subjects
RECYCLED products ,CONSUMER behavior ,INTENTION ,COMPARATIVE studies ,TOILET paper - Abstract
Due to an increasing demand, companies have started producing recycled products. However, little is known about the specific purchase behavior. Hence, this study analyses the factors influencing purchase intention for recycled products including differences related to different types of products and between Germany and South Africa. A quantitative study in Germany (n = 603) and South Africa (n = 692). shows that purchase intention is significantly higher in South Africa. The influencing factors (individual, product, and context related constructs) are the same in both countries, but they differ regarding their strength. Thus, the factor "attitude/environmental concern" has the strongest influence in South Africa, while it is "value/accessibility" in Germany. Furthermore, purchase intention for mobile phones is generally smaller than for t‐shirts and toilet paper. Purchase intention for recycled t‐shirts is significantly higher in South Africa than in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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155. Paper Packaging Industry Profile: Germany.
- Subjects
PAPER industry ,PAPER products ,INDUSTRIES ,INDUSTRIAL statistics ,STATISTICS - Abstract
Presents a profile of the Paper Packaging industry in Germany. Executive summary of the industry; Market overview; Market value; Market segmentation; Competitive landscape; Leading companies in the industry; Market forecasts; Demographics; Further reading.
- Published
- 2006
156. The Evolution of University-Based Knowledge Transfer Structures. The EUIMA Collaborative Research Project Papers
- Author
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European University Association (EUA) (Belgium), Trueman, Stephen, Borrell-Damian, Lidia, and Smith, John H.
- Abstract
The modernisation process of universities has historically highlighted the necessity of providing support structures to facilitate contacts and relationships between research groups and the outside environment, with the objective of increasing the quantity and improving the quality of collaborative research activity. The first steps in this direction have been the internal Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs). Universities have created these internal technostructures within a typically administrative culture. Whilst the benefit of such structures has been undeniable, a number of cultural issues have emerged which need to be considered within the overall picture of how to develop a KTO system. On the one hand, the existence of a technostructure within a highly traditional administrative culture such as the university administration has created a series of acceptability issues with administrative colleagues. On the other hand, research staff who are not used to accessing expert support from their internal administration have not immediately been prepared to profit from the new opportunities made available. The activities carried out by these structures were initially aimed at pioneering communication with external players. However, as the collaborative culture of research has undergone incremental growth and the quantity of relationships and contracts has increased, so these internal offices have adapted their activities to the immediate requirements of their internal clients (researchers) by providing more routine support such as standard procedures and methodologies. At the same time, the growth of external collaboration has motivated in particular the more active universities to extend their KTO activities and take them closer to the market, as well as to create "Innovation Ecosystems." The authors have found a wide variety of models across the case studies that they have examined and herein provide an overview of these solutions in relation to their regional contexts. These ecosystems range from externalised offices fully owned by the university or, more often, by local institutional partners (including in some cases private partners), to science parks or joint laboratories which all maintain elements of the original university KTO services. Findings also showed that in the case of well-established KTO strategies, many universities had clear mission statements linking their research objectives to economic regional development. Finally, it was found that the development of KTO activity as a whole is linked to: (1) the internal "research culture" of universities and their ability to converse with companies; (2) the external "technology and innovation culture" and its level of confidence in research structures; (3) the KTO's own capacity to invest; and (4) the level of development of the regional KT ecosystem. Where external KTOs (external to universities, science parks, and other joint facilities) were created, these new organisations were generally planned as complementary to existing KTOs, not as a substitute. Examples of this trend are Chalmers University of Technology: Innovation Office and Chalmers Innovation; Hamburg University of Technology: Innovation Office and TuTech Innovation; and Ruhr University Bochum: Internal KTO and Rubitec.
- Published
- 2014
157. Evolution of research topics on the Tibetan Plateau environment and ecology from 2000 to 2020: a paper mining.
- Author
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Chang K, Tao J, Fang C, Li J, Zhou W, Wang X, Yan B, Zeng D, and Chen G
- Subjects
- China, Germany, Tibet, Climate Change, Lakes
- Abstract
The Tibetan Plateau works as an important environmental and ecological barrier for the Asian continent. The researches on Tibetan environment and ecology are becoming extensive, but there is no systematic summary of research hotspots and trends in this field. Here, we analyzed 9180 publications retrieved from the WOS and CNKI during 2000 ~ 2020. The characteristics of publication, keywords with a 5-year interval and co-occurrence analysis were carried out so as to reveal the evolution and development trends of topics. The results show that articles increase dramatically since 2012. Except for common concerns like evolution, climate change, and precipitation, diversity was been studied more by Chinese scholars, while the USA, Germany, UK, and Australia researchers focused more on adaptability, basin western Tibet, lake, barley, and ore-related themes, respectively. Besides, China closely collaborated with the USA, Australia, and Germany in topics of evolution, climate change and degradation, precipitation, and diversity. The institutions located in Chinese different economic regions focused on different research keywords, such as vegetation, growth, trace elements, and geochemistry. The CAS contributed the most articles with 4254, showed advantages both in quantity and quality. Few articles were published by researchers affiliated to Free University of Berlin but with higher citations. It is the only one institute outside of China in the top 20. Main research hotspots include climate change, geology, and diversity. In future researches, ecological management and rehabilitation of mining area and tailings ponds, waste disposal, and changes of soil and water quality are worthy of attention and funding., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2022
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158. The invisible hard work of retrieving papers: Syrians and the paradoxes of integration in Germany.
- Author
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Ferreri, Veronica
- Subjects
- *
KINSHIP , *RIGHT of asylum , *CITIZENSHIP , *SYRIAN refugees - Abstract
Seemingly mundane bureaucratic papers – such as birth and marriage certificates – are official proof of legal identities and relations to kin, usually issued by the state of origin. For Syrians who have sought asylum in Germany, these documents are necessary during the asylum procedure and beyond, for certain bureaucratic procedures and the recording of crucial life events. Retracing the crafting of these documents in Syria, and their encounter with German bureaucracy, captures the depth of the entanglement between the Syrian and German citizenship regimes, as well as their discrepancies in relation to paperwork and legality. Drawing on ethnographic research with Syrians in Lebanon and in Germany, this article argues that the legal production of legality in Germany can only be achieved through legally ambiguous, if not so-called illegal, practices in Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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159. Hemp Paper: 2000 Years On.
- Author
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Gibson, Kenyon
- Subjects
PAPER ,HEMP ,WOOD ,PULPWOOD ,PLANT fibers - Abstract
Hemp is a primary substance for papermaking, having been used for 2,000 years in this capacity. In the 20th century wood pulp came to replace hemp and other long fibres, and this has been an environmental disaster. Recent efforts to re-introduce hemp fibres into paper pulp are under way, with a number of writing papers having been manufactured in Europe and North America. However, most of these were done in small batches. Most papermills in southeast Asia produce 500,000 tons or more annually, whilst mills in the West tend to be small, specialty paper mills. Hemp is used rather consistently for fine papers, including cigarette paper and cosmetic tissue paper, but writing paper may continue to be made from trees until we run out and are forced to use other material. One large papermill in Germany, Gmund (which is distributed in the UK by The Hemp Shop) is starting to catch up, with a number of different papers including writing paper now being made in increasingly larger batches. A number of other companies are also offering hemp papers, ranging from writing paper to wallpaper. Part of the issue is the fact that the hurd, which is lower in cellulose content that the bast, can be used for paper, as demonstrated by the US government in the early 20th century. doi:10.1300/J237v12n02_08 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2007
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160. Is the Male Advantage in Mental-Rotation Performance Task Independent? On the Usability of Chronometric Tests and Paper-and-Pencil Tests in Children
- Author
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Quaiser-Pohl, Claudia, Neuburger, Sarah, Heil, Martin, Jansen, Petra, and Schmelter, Andrea
- Abstract
This article presents a reanalysis of the data of 862 second and fourth graders collected in two previous studies, focusing on the influence of method (psychometric vs. chronometric) and stimulus type on the gender difference in mental-rotation accuracy. The children had to solve mental-rotation tasks with animal pictures, letters, or cube figures, either in a chronometric condition (computerized) or in a psychometric condition (paper-and-pencil). Results show a slight male advantage in mental-rotation accuracy, which is neither influenced by method nor by stimulus type. However, mental-rotation accuracy differed between the stimulus types, with the highest accuracy in animal pictures and the lowest accuracy in cube figures, and between age groups, with better performance in fourth graders than in second graders in both conditions. Results show that psychometric and chronometric mental-rotation tests with all the stimulus types are more or less similarly usable with children of that age.
- Published
- 2014
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161. Redundancies in 'H' Index Variants and the Proposal of the Number of Top-Cited Papers as an Attractive Indicator
- Author
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Bornmann, Lutz
- Abstract
Ruscio, Seaman, D'Oriano, Stremlo, and Mahalchik (this issue) evaluate 22 bibliometric indicators, including conventional measures, like the number of publications, the "h" index, and many "h" index variants. To assess the quality of the indicators, their well-justified criteria encompass conceptual, empirical, and practical issues: ease of understanding, accuracy of calculation, effects on incentives, influence of extreme scores, and validity. Although they found that some indicators are more attractive for research evaluation purposes than others, the correlation between most of the indicators is (very) high. A generally high correlation between the indicators points out a redundant contribution each to each other. Calculating a comprehensive metaanalysis, Bornmann and colleagues (Bornmann, Mutz, Hug, & Daniel, 2011) came to a very similar result: Only a few "h" index variants make a nonredundant contribution to the "h" index; most of the variants correlate very highly with the "h" index. They presented the first metaanalysis of studies that computed correlations between the "h" index and variants of the "h" index that have been proposed and discussed in the literature. Thus, the study was not about the added value of the "h" index or "h" index variants to other bibliometric indices, e.g., total number of citations. They tested whether there is a generally high (or low) correlation between the "h" index and the variants. The metaanalysis included a total of 135 different bivariate correlation coefficients between the "h" index and an "h" index variant (such as the "g" index). In total, they analyzed 37 different "h" variants. Their results show, with an overall mean value between 0.8 and 0.9, there is a high correlation between the "h" index and the "h" index variants. According to Navon (2009), "high correlations indicate that despite the differences in how the metrics are calculated, there is too much redundancy in the information they yield." Even if the "actual" correlations might be higher than those claimed in the original papers introducing the new "h"-type indices due to systematic sampling selection effects, a mean correlation coefficient of between 0.8 and 0.9 is still high and might not justify the development of more and more "h" index variants. However, not all "h" index variants have a high correlation with the "h" index. Their results indicate that some "h" index variants have been developed that have a relatively low correlation with the "h" index, and it can be assumed that they can make a nonredundant contribution to the "h" index. These variants are mainly the MII (Sypsa & Hatzakis, 2009) and the "m" index (Bornmann, Mutz, & Daniel, 2008). For evaluative purposes, then, the "h" index could be combined with these "h" index variants to better depict research performance bibliometrically. (Contains 1 table.)
- Published
- 2012
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162. Printing ink and paper recycling sources of TMDD in wastewater and rivers.
- Author
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Guedez AA and Püttmann W
- Subjects
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Germany, Recycling methods, Solid Phase Extraction, Fatty Alcohols analysis, Ink, Paper, Rivers chemistry, Waste Disposal, Fluid methods, Wastewater chemistry, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
2,4,7,9-Tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol (TMDD) is a non-ionic surfactant which is preferentially used as defoamer in paints and printing ink and for the treatment of surfaces. Effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as the domination point sources for TMDD in rivers since the removal rate of the compound in the WWTPs is in general less than 70%. However, the dominating entry pathways of TMDD into the sewage were unknown so far. In this study effluents from both, municipal WWTPs with and without treatment of indirect industrial dischargers and from industrial WWTPs with direct discharge of wastewater into receiving rivers were analyzed for the first time to identify the proportions of TMDD coming from domestic wastewater and from various industrial sources. Moreover, rivers were samples before and after the influent of sewage water from WWTPs. The TMDD concentrations in the water samples were measured using solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). High TMDD concentrations were found in rivers (up to 63.5 μg/L), and in effluents of WWTPs (up to 310 μg/L) affected by wastewater from paper recycling industry and factories producing paint and printing ink. Concentrations of TMDD revealed to be far higher in wastewater from factories processing recycled paper (up to 113 μg/L) compared to wastewater from factories not processing recycled paper (0.066 μg/L). The results indicate that the use of recycling paper in the paper production process is the dominating reason for increased TMDD concentrations in wastewaters and receiving rivers due to the wash out of TMDD from the paper impregnated with printing ink. Very high TMDD concentrations (up to 3300 μg/L) were also detected in wastewater from a printing ink factory and a paint factory., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2014
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163. Damit Papier bleibt... Erfahrungen mit der Massenentsäuerung.
- Author
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Stöcklein, Ellen
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,BOOK deacidification ,PRESERVATION of paper ,LIBRARIES ,PAPER deacidification ,ACADEMIC libraries - Abstract
The article discusses a November 2008 further education conference at the Carl von Ossietzky Provincial and University Library in Hamburg, Germany on the theme "So That Paper Persists... Experiences With Mass Deacidification." The rationale, methodology, scope, and evaluated results of paper deacidification projects in various German libraries were reviewed.
- Published
- 2009
164. Assessing Students' Abilities in Processes of Scientific Inquiry in Biology Using a Paper-and-Pencil Test
- Author
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Nowak, Kathrin Helena, Nehring, Andreas, Tiemann, Rüdiger, and Upmeier zu Belzen, Annette
- Abstract
The aim of the study was to describe, categorise and analyse students' (aged 14-16) processes of scientific inquiry in biology and chemistry education. Therefore, a theoretical structure for scientific inquiry for both biology and chemistry, the VerE model, was developed. This model consists of nine epistemological acts, which combine processes of scientific thinking and inquiry methods. Based on the theoretical structure, a paper-and-pencil test was developed to investigate the students' abilities in the acts of scientific inquiry. Each of the nine acts was operationalised to generate multiple-choice items. For each act, ten items were constructed. In total, ninety items per subject were tested in a field study to evaluate their psychometric quality. The article focuses on the outcomes for testing in biology. In biology, 537 students were tested with a paper-and-pencil test, following a multi-matrix design in which each student solved twenty-seven items. Data from 260 students have been analysed so far. Seventy-five items showed satisfactory item characteristics. The distribution of the items' difficulties fits the students' abilities appropriately. We conclude that theory-driven epistemological acts can be operationalised in tasks that assess students' abilities in scientific inquiry.
- Published
- 2013
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165. Transforming Governance of German Higher Education Institutions
- Author
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Sziegat, Hongmei
- Abstract
Since the implementation of the Excellence Initiative and the Excellence Strategy, German higher education institutions have been restructuring university governance, especially those selected as Universities of Excellence. This study uses a holistic and mission-related integrated governance approach to conduct a qualitative analysis of the governance transformation of German Universities of Excellence, aiming to provoke discussion on transforming governance to optimize organizational effectiveness and sustainable development of German higher education institutions. Transforming governance of German Universities of Excellence involves mission statements, strategic goals, institutional strategies, research, teaching, the third mission, internationalization, global engagement, governance relationships and structures, institutional leadership, funding, autonomy, innovation, digital transformation, quality assurance, and sustainable development, aiming to enhance accountability, performativity, transparency, openness and organizational effectiveness with efficient administrative management in alignment with institutional missions, vision, core values, and strategic goals.
- Published
- 2022
166. Bringing about Curriculum Innovations. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 82
- Author
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Karkkainen, Kiira
- Abstract
Innovation is essential for the education sector. The ways in which curriculum decision making is organised reflects different implicit approaches on how educational systems pertain to promote innovation in education. Curriculum holds an outstanding place when seeking to promote innovation in education, as it reflects the vision for education by indicating knowledge, skills and values to be taught to students. It may express not only "what" should be taught to students, but also "how" the students should be taught. Curriculum innovations can include new subjects, combinations of old subjects or cross-cutting learning objectives. They may also take a form of new content, concepts, sequencing, time allocation or pedagogy. This paper characterises two contrasted approaches to curriculum decision making and bringing about innovations in education. At one extreme, a prescriptive central curriculum implicitly places the initiative for educational innovations at the level of the central administration. This approach provides strong incentives for schools and teachers to adapt innovations that would not otherwise take place. Innovations, supported by policy measures and informed by research, are brought within the reach of all schools and teachers in an equitable manner. The challenge is then to accommodate local needs and ensure the commitment to and implementation of innovations by schools and teachers. At the other extreme, decentralised curriculum decision making provides schools--and perhaps even teachers--with room to create their own educational innovations. This approach allows for experimentation relevant to individual students and local communities. Innovations are meant to spread through horizontal networks of schools and teachers. The challenge is then to provide incentives for individual schools and teachers to innovate or adapt innovations and ensure that they have equal capacity to do so. The paper provides an overview of various possible approaches linking curriculum policy to educational innovation, it shows that OECD countries can mix these approaches and it discusses elements that can affect those innovations in reality. Focusing on public lower-secondary education, it draws on various OECD and UNESCO data. First, the paper suggests that OECD education systems differ clearly when looking at formal curriculum decision making, although no system relies on a purely central or school-based approach to curriculum innovations. Second, several elements can reduce the "innovation power" of the central curriculum and the "innovation flexibility" of the decentralised curriculum. Third, stakeholders--such as experts, teachers and parents--are able to influence curriculum innovations differently at central and school levels. Innovations in central-level curriculum appear to have widespread possibilities to rely on expert knowledge with consultation with practitioners, parents and the wider public. School level curriculum innovations appear to build mainly on principals and teachers' knowledge with an indirect influence from experts and parents. Annexed are: (1) Emerging Curriculum Themes in OECD Countries; (2) Approaches to Bringing About Competence-Based Curriculum; (3) Central Level Curriculum in OECD Countries; (4) Details on the Implicit Approaches to Curriculum Innovations; and (5) Roles of Parents in Decision Making on Education Policy. (Contains 13 tables, 4 charts, 5 boxes and 20 notes.)
- Published
- 2012
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167. Geographic Distribution, Number, and Types of Papers Published in International Cytopathology Journals in the Last 5.5 Years: A Preliminary Study.
- Author
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Yaprak Bayrak B and Paksoy N
- Subjects
- China, Germany, Humans, Italy, Spain, Periodicals as Topic
- Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the geographic distribution and number of papers published in international and Science Citation Index (SCI)-indexed cytology journals based on their country of origin., Materials and Methods: A country-based geographic analysis of studies published over a 5.5-year period from January 2016 to June 2021 in 5 cytopathology journals indexed as SCI and SCI-E with an impact factor higher than 1 (Cancer Cytopathology, Cytopathology, Diagnostic Cytopathology, Acta Cytologica, and CytoJournal) and papers categorized as "original" and "other" was performed., Results: A total of 3,063 papers were found, with 1,466 (47.8%) categorized as "original" papers and 1,597 (52.1%) designated as "other" papers. These papers were submitted from 62 different countries. The five countries with the greatest number of papers were the USA (38.4%), India (16.8%), Japan (7.4%), Italy (5.5%), and Brazil (3.1%). A general subgroup analysis was also performed on the original studies without a country breakdown. Cytomorphological, cytomorphological-immunohistochemical, and molecular assessments compose 38.5%, 45.7%, and 15% of the subgroups, respectively., Conclusion: The number of academic papers originating from developing countries in the field of cytopathology has increased in recent years. Although most scientific papers are produced in developed countries, the rate in these countries is much lower than that in some developing countries as the rate of academic growth in developed countries has stabilized. Despite the widespread and sophisticated implementation of cytology in daily practice in Western European countries outside the UK, such as Germany and the Netherlands, and in Scandinavian countries and other developed countries, such as Australia and Canada, these countries rank in the middle to lower end of countries producing cytology papers. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the number of cytology papers published by authors from Southern European countries, such as Italy (ranked 4th) and Spain (ranked 6th), and Turkey (ranked 8th). There is a remarkable increase in cytology papers originating from Asia, particularly India, Japan, and China., Summary: We aimed to present a basic survey of the geographic distribution of manuscript submissions to high-impact cytopathology journals and to point out emerging trends in cytology utilization and basic research. However, our results show that the landscape of cytology is changing and suggest geographic regions that are ripe for the production of novel "points of view" and new research findings., (© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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168. Empfehlungen zur Sonographieausbildung in der prähospitalen Notfallmedizin (pPOCUS): Konsensuspapier von DGINA, DGAI, BAND, BV-ÄLRD, DGU, DIVI und DGIIN.
- Author
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Michels, G., Greim, C.-A., Krohn, A., Ott, M., Feuerstein, D., Möckel, M., Fuchs, N., Friemert, B., Wolfrum, S., Kiefl, D., Bernhard, M., Reifferscheid, F., Bathe, J., Walcher, F., Dietrich, C. F., Lechleuthner, A., Busch, H.-J., and Sauer, D.
- Subjects
CONSENSUS (Social sciences) ,ULTRASONIC imaging ,POINT-of-care testing ,CRITICALLY ill ,PATIENTS ,MEDICAL protocols ,EMERGENCY medical services education ,CRITICAL care medicine ,QUALITY assurance ,MEDICAL societies ,EMERGENCY medicine ,MEDICAL education ,DIAGNOSTIC ultrasonic imaging - Abstract
Copyright of Anaesthesiologie & Intensivmedizin is the property of DGAI e.V. - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Anasthesiologie und Intensivmedizin e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
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169. Naturopathy, complementary and integrative medicine in medical education - position paper by the GMA Committee Integrative Medicine and Perspective Pluralism.
- Author
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Homberg A, Scheffer C, Brinkhaus B, Fröhlich U, Huber R, Joos S, Klose P, Kramer K, Ortiz M, Rostock M, Valentini J, and Stock-Schröer B
- Subjects
- Cultural Diversity, Curriculum, Faculty, Medical, Germany, Humans, Education, Medical, Integrative Medicine, Naturopathy
- Abstract
Background: A large part of the population in Germany makes use of naturopathic, complementary and integrative medical treatments. There are now numerous scientific studies that provide evidence of efficacy for certain indications. At German medical faculties, selected procedures and their application are taught within the cross-sectoral unit called QB 12 and some elective courses, with a focus on specific aspects are offered. So far, however, there has been no structured curriculum that longitudinally anchors teaching across medical studies and enables all students to consider naturopathic and complementary medical options for patient care later on and to integrate them effectively into the diagnostic and treatment process., Objective: The aim of this position paper is to show the relevance of this topic for medical education, to clarify terminology and to present core competencies and possible implementation options for training., Method: The Integrative Medicine and Perspective Pluralism Committee of the German Association for Medical Education developed this position paper in a multi-stage consensual process, in cooperation with the Forum of University Work Groups on Naturopathic Treatment and Complementary Medicine., Results: First, different umbrella terms were discussed and an existing definition of integrative medicine and health was chosen for subsequent use. Building on this step, the status of education and its scientific foundation in Germany was considered in an international context. In the next step, a competency profile for medical training, consisting of seven areas of competency, was developed and described in detail with regard to naturopathic, complementary and integrative medicine. Implementation options were identified using possible starting points in the curriculum and using established examples of best practice., Conclusion: Despite different priorities at each faculty, it was possible to find an agreement on the development of competencies and anchoring them in medical education on the basis of a common definition of terms. Currently, the implementation in the mandatory and elective areas is very heterogeneous. As part of the current revision of the Medical Licensure Act, there are many possible starting points for the integration of naturopathic and complementary medical teaching content, especially in interprofessional and general practice courses. The implementation and accompanying research of targeted teaching settings should lay the foundations for a long-term and binding integration into medical education. Overall, it is clear that medical education in the field of naturopathy and complementary and integrative medicine has the potential to develop comprehensive core medical competencies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Homberg et al.)
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- 2022
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170. [Position paper on stroke aftercare of the German Stroke Society-Part 3: structural concepts for future forms of care of stroke aftercare].
- Author
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Schwarzbach CJ, Michalski D, Wagner M, Winkler T, Kaendler S, Elstner M, Dreßing A, Claßen J, Meisel A, and Grau A
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- Aftercare, Ambulatory Care, Germany, Humans, Stroke diagnosis, Stroke therapy, Stroke Rehabilitation
- Abstract
Background: Irrespective of the great impact stroke exerts on the society as a whole and far-reaching advances in acute treatment and rehabilitation of stroke, so far outpatient services for post-stroke care have not been established on a national level in Germany., Objective and Methods: Against the background of this contemporary lack of care, in May 2020 the German Stroke Society (DSG) established the stroke aftercare commission. This position paper discusses structural models of future services addressing outpatient post-stroke care., Results and Discussion: The specialized care by a neurologist should be central to a multidisciplinary, interprofessional and transsectoral treatment. Structural concepts of post-stroke care must take regional differences but also effective strategies for quality control into account. Certification processes and appropriate financing of follow-up registries at state and federal levels may pave the way for improvement over the medium term. Structured outpatient post-stroke care services should be open to all subgroups of stroke patients. Additionally, innovative technologies can make an important contribution to post-stroke care; however, the implementation of specialized services demands adequate funding as well as separate financial incentives for the providers. The solution must carefully balance the advantages and disadvantages of the specific care and financing models. Currently the discussion of new models of post-stroke care is gaining new momentum, which opens up perspectives for the advancement of the otherwise still insufficient contemporary care structures., (© 2021. The Author(s).)
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- 2022
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171. [Position paper on stroke aftercare of the German Stroke Society-Part 1: long-term care after stroke: status quo of the reality and deficits of care in Germany].
- Author
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Kaendler S, Ritter M, Sander D, Elstner M, Schwarzbach C, Wagner M, and Meisel A
- Subjects
- Germany, Humans, Long-Term Care, Aftercare, Stroke diagnosis, Stroke therapy
- Abstract
The acute treatment of stroke patients in Germany is of a very high standard, guaranteed by its system of stroke units. Stroke as a disease has an acute phase followed by a chronic phase that requires a high level of qualified aftercare given by multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams. In 2020, the German Stroke Society (DSG) founded a commission for long-term stroke care. The aim is to evaluate the current situation of long-term aftercare and suggest improvements for its structure. In this paper the status quo of aftercare is presented and possible deficits are identified. Contributions of various stakeholders from the German healthcare system are analyzed and different projects for post-acute care are presented. Germany has no acknowledged structured aftercare concepts for patients after stroke. The general practitioner-based care is currently the focus of patient management but without a greater, more coordinated integration of neurologists, guideline-led and quality-controlled aftercare will be harder to implement in the future. The assignment of duties and the necessary training standards for the specialist groups in order to comply with the guidelines do not exist. Besides medical health, the needs of physical, social and emotional domains are too seldom considered by a multiprofessional care team. Further developments of a regional care management concept are discussed. The results and costs of any aftercare concepts must be evaluated before widespread implementation., (© 2021. The Author(s).)
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- 2022
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172. Position paper of the GMA Committee Interprofessional Education in the Health Professions – current status and outlook.
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Kaap-Fröhlich, Sylvia, Ulrich, Gert, Wershofen, Birgit, Ahles, Jonathan, Behrend, Ronja, Handgraaf, Marietta, Herinek, Doreen, Mitzkat, Anika, Oberhauser, Heidi, Scherer, Theresa, Schlicker, Andrea, Straub, Christine, Waury Eichler, Regina, Wesselborg, Bärbel, Witti, Matthias, Huber, Marion, and Bode, Sebastin F. N.
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- *
INTERPROFESSIONAL education , *MEDICAL personnel , *TEACHER development , *INTERPROFESSIONAL collaboration , *DEVELOPMENTAL programs - Abstract
In the wake of local initiatives and developmental funding programs, interprofessionality is now included in national curricula in the German-speaking countries. Based on the 3P model (presage, process, product), this position paper presents the development of interprofessional education in recent years in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and places it in an international context. Core aspects as legal frameworks, including amendments to occupational regulations as well as the formation of networks and faculty development are basic requirements for interprofessional education. New topics and educational settings take shape in the process of interprofessional education: patient perspectives and teaching formats, such as online courses, become more important or are newly established. The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on interprofessional education is explored as well. Among many new interprofessional courses, particularly the implementation of interprofessional training wards in Germany and Switzerland are positive examples of successful interprofessional education. The objective of interprofessional education continues to be the acquisition of interprofessional competencies. The main focus is now centered on evaluating this educational format and testing for the corresponding competencies. In the future, more capacities will be required for interprofessional continuing education and post-graduate education. Structured research programs are essential to ascertain the effects of interprofessional education in the German-speaking countries. In this position paper the GMA committee on interprofessional education encourages further advancement of this topic and expresses the aim to continue cooperating with other networks to strengthen and intensify interprofessional education and collaboration in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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173. Integration of Immigrants in OECD Countries: Do Policies Matter? OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 564
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Causa, Orsetta, and Jean, Sebastien
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This working paper assesses the ease of immigrants' integration in OECD labour markets by estimating how an immigration background influences the probability of being active or employed and the expected hourly earnings, for given individual characteristics. Applying the same methodology to comparable data across twelve OECD countries, immigrants are shown to significantly lag behind natives in terms of employment and/or wages. The differences narrow as years since settlement elapse, especially as regards wages, reflecting progressive assimilation. Strong differences in immigrant-to-native gaps are also observed across countries, and the paper shows that they may, to a significant extent, be explained by differences in labour market policies, in particular unemployment benefits, the tax wedge and the minimum wage. In addition, immigrants are shown to be overrepresented among outsiders in the labour market and, as such, highly sensitive to the difference in employment protection legislation between temporary and permanent contracts. (Contains 36 footnotes, 1 figure and 10 tables.)
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- 2007
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174. Labour Market Characteristics and International Mobility of Doctorate Holders: Results for Seven Countries. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers, 2007/2
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Auriol, Laudeline
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This paper presents the first results of a project initiated in 2004 by the OECD in collaboration with Eurostat and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and aimed at developing a regular and internationally comparable production system of indicators on the careers and mobility of doctorate holders. A first data collection was launched in September 2005, from which the results for seven countries are presented here. These data shed light on the main demographic, educational, labour market and mobility patterns of doctoral graduates. They also mark some progress in the understanding of both the measurement issues and patterns of international mobility, notably by the use of qualitative indicators such as the intentions or reasons for mobility. The results show in particular that the share of doctorate holders in the population or labour force is two or three times larger in Germany and Switzerland than in Australia, Canada and the United States. In these five countries, women represent only one-quarter to one-third of doctorate holders. The United States has an older population of doctorate holders than the other countries analysed in the paper and this population is still aging, as is also the case in Canada. Unemployment rates of doctorate holders remain low, but are relatively higher in natural sciences and in engineering. There are important salary differences between men and women and across sectors, especially in the United States. In the United States, as well as in Portugal and Argentina, salary is one of the main reasons why doctoral graduates are dissatisfied with their employment situation. There is a high share of foreign doctorate holders in Switzerland and also a higher share of foreign-born doctorate holders in Canada and Australia than in the United States. Many foreigners, however, come to work to the United States having been trained for research abroad and this trend has grown stronger in recent years. On the other hand, very few doctorate holders from the United States are internationally mobile. Among mobile young Canadian citizens, three-quarters choose the United States as their next destination. (Data tables are annexed. Contains 4 footnotes, 13 figures, 1 chart and 35 tables.)
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- 2007
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175. COAP 2022 Best Paper Prize.
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PERIODICAL awards ,SYSTEMS theory ,GERMAN military ,DATA science ,POSTDOCTORAL researchers - Abstract
The article discusses the Best Paper Prize awarded by the journal Computational Optimization and Applications. The winning paper, written by Alberto De Marchi, focuses on a numerical method for convex quadratic programs (QPs), which are optimization problems with quadratic objective functions and polyhedral constraints. De Marchi's method, called QPDO, combines the proximal point algorithm and a globalized Newton-type method to solve QPs efficiently and robustly. The paper's findings have influenced the development of methods for more general problem classes and have potential applications in various fields, including control systems and data science. Alberto De Marchi is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Germany, with expertise in computational optimization. [Extracted from the article]
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- 2023
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176. The Top 100 Most-Cited Papers in Erosive Tooth Wear: A Bibliometric Analysis.
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Rocha AO, Santos PS, Machado BA, Bolan M, Cardoso M, Martins-Júnior PA, and Santana CM
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- England, Germany, Humans, Research Design, Bibliometrics, Tooth Wear
- Abstract
Citation rates can be used as an indicator of the influence and relevance of scientific papers. The present study analyzed the 100 most-cited articles related to erosive tooth wear (ETW). The top 100 most-cited papers focusing on ETW topics were collected from the Web of Science database on November 11, 2020. The following bibliometric data were extracted from papers: title, authorship, institutions, countries, number of citations, year of publication, journal title, study design, topic, and keywords. Scopus and Google Scholar were searched to compare the number of citations. The VOSviewer software was used to generate collaborative network maps for the authors and keywords. The number of citations of the 100 most-cited papers ranged from 71 to 330 (average: 97.44). The papers were published between 1949 and 2015. Caries Research (28%) and The Journal of Dentistry (16%) presented the majority of papers. Laboratorial (44%) and observational studies (33%) were the most common study designs. The most studied topics were epidemiology (31%) and the erosive potential of substances (drinks, foods, or medicines) (22%). The countries with the highest number of most-cited papers were England (32%), Germany (18%), and Switzerland (10%). The University of Bern was the institution with the most papers (10%). Lussi A was the author with the highest number of papers in the top 100 (14%). The most common keyword was "dental erosion" with 64 occurrences. The top 100 most-cited papers related to ETW were composed mainly of laboratorial and observational studies focusing on epidemiology and the erosive potential of substances., (© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.)
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- 2022
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177. Teacher Evaluation: Current Practices in OECD Countries and a Literature Review. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 23
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Isore, Marlene
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This paper discusses the most relevant issues concerning teacher evaluation in primary and secondary education by reviewing the recent literature and analysing current practices within the OECD countries. First, it provides a conceptual framework highlighting key features of teacher evaluation schemes. In particular, it emphasises the importance of clarifying the purposes of teacher appraisal, whether summative when designed to assure that the practices enhancing student learning are undertaken or formative when conducted for further professional development objectives. It also encompasses the diverse criteria and instruments commonly used to assess teachers as well as the actors generally involved in the process and potential consequences for teachers' professional life. Second, it deals with a number of contentious points, including the question of the use of student outcomes to measure teaching performance, the advantages and drawbacks of different approaches given the purpose emphasised and resource restrictions, the implementation difficulties resulting from different stakeholders' interests and possible ways to overcome these obstacles. Finally, it provides an account of current empirical evidence, pointing out mixed results stemming from difficulties in assessing the effects of such evaluation schemes on teaching quality, teachers' motivation and student learning. It concludes by considering the circumstances under which teacher evaluation systems seem to be more effective, fair and reliable. Developing a comprehensive approach to evaluate teachers is critical to make demands for educational best practice compatible with teachers' appropriation of the process as well as to enhance the decisive attractiveness and recognition of the teaching profession. (Contains 1 table.)
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- 2009
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178. What Works in Migrant Education? A Review of Evidence and Policy Options. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 22
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Nusche, Deborah
- Abstract
Education plays an essential role in preparing the children of immigrants for participation in the labour market and society. Giving these children opportunities to fully develop their potential is vital for future economic growth and social cohesion in OECD countries. But migrant students in most OECD countries tend to have lower education outcomes than their native peers. Extensive previous research has described the system level, school level and individual level factors that influence the education outcomes of migrant students. Building on such previous research, this paper looks at the ways in which "education policies" can influence these factors to help provide better educational opportunities for migrant students. (Contains 7 footnotes.) [This review was prepared for the OECD Thematic Review on Migrant Education. It was presented and discussed at the Second Meeting of the Group of National Experts on the Education of Migrants in Paris on 13-14 October 2008.]
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- 2009
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179. Measuring User-Created Content: Implications for the ICT Access and Use by Households and Individuals Surveys. OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 139
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and van Beuzekom, Brigitte
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This paper reviews recent measurement work on User-Created Content (UCC) undertaken in OECD countries. It shows that UCC is emerging as a significant area of economic and social activity worthy of consideration for official measurement and discusses the implications for the OECD Model Survey on ICT Access and Use by Households and Individuals. (Study summary and questionnaires are annexed. Contains 10 footnotes, 6 figures and 1 table.)
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- 2008
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180. Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education: Where Do We Strand? OECD Education Working Papers, No. 70
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Vincent-Lancrin, Stephan, and Pfotenhauer, Sebastian
- Abstract
The "Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education" were developed and adopted to support and encourage international cooperation and enhance the understanding of the importance of quality provision in cross-border higher education. The purposes of the "Guidelines" are to protect students and other stakeholders from low-quality provision and disreputable providers (that is, degree and accreditation mills) as well as to encourage the development of quality cross-border higher education that meets human, social, economic and cultural needs. The "Guidelines" are not legally binding and member countries are expected to implement them as appropriate in their national context. Based on a survey about the main recommendations of the "Guidelines", this report monitors the extent to which Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and a few non-member countries comply with its recommendations. The Survey was sent out in June 2010 to all OECD countries. The main conclusion of the survey is that (responding) countries report a high level of compliance with the Guidelines recommendations. On average, responding OECD countries conform to 72% of the main recommendations made to governments, tertiary education institutions, and quality assurance and accreditation agencies. The level of compliance decreases to 67% when recommendations to student bodies are included, but the level of missing information, and thus uncertainty about actual compliance, increases significantly. Appended are: (1) Country Overview of Compliance Levels with the Guidelines for Different Stakeholders; (2) Country Overview of Compliance Levels with Six Key Objectives of the Guidelines; (3) Methodology; (4) Country Answers to the Survey; (5) Overview of National Contact Points; and (6) Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education. (Contains 2 tables, 12 figures and 1 footnote.)
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- 2012
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181. School Choice and Equity: Current Policies in OECD Countries and a Literature Review. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 66
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Musset, Pauline
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This literature review on school choice analyses the impact of choice schemes on students and on school systems focusing on equity. Reviewing the evidence can be difficult, as the literature is often fragmented and inconclusive, and the political importance of this research often results in high-profile attention given to individual studies rather than systemically understanding collected from a larger empirical base (Berends, Cannata and Goldring, 2011). Different political groups use evidence that supports their positions in favour or against school choice, and their positions relative to school choice are largely based on their ideologies, rather than on empirical work and evidence of effectiveness (Levin and Belfield, 2004). This report steps away from the ideological debate and provides research-based evidence on the impact of choice on disadvantaged students and schools. As "only with data on the consequences of different plans for school choice will we be able to reach sensible judgements rooted in experience (Fuller and Elmore, 1996, p. 8)". It uses analysis and statements that are supported empirically and attempts to cover the widest possible scope of research, and provide responses to the key question of how to balance choice with equity considerations. (Contains 7 tables, 4 figures, 5 boxes and 13 footnotes.)
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- 2012
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182. Cost analysis for computer supported multiple-choice paper examinations.
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Mandel A, Hörnlein A, Ifland M, Lüneburg E, Deckert J, and Puppe F
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- Costs and Cost Analysis, Efficiency, Germany, Humans, Word Processing economics, Education, Medical economics, Educational Measurement economics, Internet economics, Paper, Self-Evaluation Programs economics, Software economics
- Abstract
Introduction: Multiple-choice-examinations are still fundamental for assessment in medical degree programs. In addition to content related research, the optimization of the technical procedure is an important question. Medical examiners face three options: paper-based examinations with or without computer support or completely electronic examinations. Critical aspects are the effort for formatting, the logistic effort during the actual examination, quality, promptness and effort of the correction, the time for making the documents available for inspection by the students, and the statistical analysis of the examination results., Methods: Since three semesters a computer program for input and formatting of MC-questions in medical and other paper-based examinations is used and continuously improved at Wuerzburg University. In the winter semester (WS) 2009/10 eleven, in the summer semester (SS) 2010 twelve and in WS 2010/11 thirteen medical examinations were accomplished with the program and automatically evaluated. For the last two semesters the remaining manual workload was recorded., Results: The cost of the formatting and the subsequent analysis including adjustments of the analysis of an average examination with about 140 participants and about 35 questions was 5-7 hours for exams without complications in the winter semester 2009/2010, about 2 hours in SS 2010 and about 1.5 hours in the winter semester 2010/11. Including exams with complications, the average time was about 3 hours per exam in SS 2010 and 2.67 hours for the WS 10/11., Discussion: For conventional multiple-choice exams the computer-based formatting and evaluation of paper-based exams offers a significant time reduction for lecturers in comparison with the manual correction of paper-based exams and compared to purely electronically conducted exams it needs a much simpler technological infrastructure and fewer staff during the exam.
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- 2011
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183. Digitization of neuropsychological diagnostics: a pilot study to compare three paper-based and digitized cognitive assessments.
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Latendorf, Antje, Runde, Lina Marie, Salminen, Tiina, and Steinert, Anika
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DIAGNOSIS of dementia ,PILOT projects ,COMPUTERS ,TIME ,NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests ,RANDOMIZED controlled trials ,PRE-tests & post-tests ,STATISTICAL sampling ,CROSSOVER trials - Abstract
Background and objective: The number of people suffering from dementia is increasing worldwide and so is the need for reliable and economical diagnostic instruments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the processing times of the neuropsychological tests Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT-A/B) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT), which were performed in both digital and paper versions. Methods: The pilot study was conducted among 50 healthy participants (age 65–83 years) using a randomized crossover design. The correlations and differences in the individual processing times of the two test versions were statistically analyzed. Further research questions concerned the influence of the individual usage of technology and the technology commitment of participants as well as the influence of the assessed usability on participants' performance. Results: Between the two versions (paper-based vs. digital) statistically significant correlations were found in all tests, e.g., TMT-A r(48) = 0.63, p < 0.01; TMT-B r
s (48) = 0.77, p < 0.001). The mean value comparison showed statistically significant differences, e.g., interference table (CWIT) t(49) = 11.24, p < 0.01). Correlations with medium effect were found between the differences in processing times and the individual usage of computer (e.g., rs (48) = − 0.31) and smartphone (rs (48) = − 0.29) and between the processing times of the TMT-B and the usability (rs (48) = 0.29). Conclusions: The high correlations between the test procedures appear promising. However, the differences found in the processing times of the two test versions require validation and standardization of digitized test procedures before they can be used in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
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184. Positionspapier zum bibliothekarischen Umgang mit umstrittenen Werken: Eine Initiative des Landesverbandes Niedersachsen im Deutschen Bibliotheksverband, herausgegeben von Bibliothek & Information Deutschland (BID).
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ACCESS to information ,PROFESSIONAL ethics of librarians ,LIBRARIES - Abstract
A position paper on the topic of freedom of expression and the right to access political, ideological, and religious literature in libraries is presented.
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- 2018
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185. Whole effluent assessment of industrial wastewater for determination of bat compliance: Part 1: Paper manufacturing industry.
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Gartiser S, Hafner C, Hercher C, Kronenberger-Schäfer K, and Paschke A
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- Animals, Araceae drug effects, Bacteria drug effects, Daphnia drug effects, Eukaryota drug effects, Fishes metabolism, Germany, Ovum drug effects, Toxicity Tests, Waste Disposal, Fluid legislation & jurisprudence, Environmental Monitoring methods, Industrial Waste legislation & jurisprudence, Industrial Waste prevention & control, Paper, Water Pollutants, Chemical toxicity
- Abstract
Background, Aim and Scope: The applicability of the Whole Effluent Assessment concept for the proof of compliance with the "best available techniques" has been analysed with paper mill wastewater from Germany by considering its persistency (P), potentially bio-accumulative substances (B) and toxicity (T)., Materials and Methods: Twenty wastewater samples from 13 paper mills using different types of cellulose fibres as raw materials have been tested in DIN or ISO standardised bioassays: the algae, daphnia, luminescent bacteria, duckweed (Lemna), fish-egg and umu tests with lowest ineffective dilution (LID) as test result. The potentially bio-accumulative substances (PBS) were determined by solid-phase microextraction and referred to the reference compound 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene. Usually, a primary chemical-physical treatment of the wastewater was followed by a single or multi-stage biological treatment. One indirectly discharged wastewater sample was pre-treated biologically in the Zahn-Wellens test before determining its ecotoxicity., Results: No toxicity or genotoxicity at all was detected in the acute daphnia and fish egg as well as the umu assay. In the luminescent bacteria test, moderate toxicity (up to LIDlb=6) was observed. Wastewater of four paper mills demonstrated elevated or high algae toxicity (up to LIDA=128), which was in line with the results of the Lemna test, which mostly was less sensitive than the algae test (up to LIDDW=8). One indirectly discharged wastewater sample was biodegraded in the Zahn-Wellens test by 96% and was not toxic after this treatment. Low levels of PBS have been detected (median 3.27 mmol L(-1)). The colouration of the wastewater samples in the visible band did not correlate with algae toxicity and thus is not considered as its primary origin. Further analysis with a partial wastewater stream from thermomechanically produced groundwood pulp (TMP) revealed no algae or luminescent bacteria toxicity after pre-treatment of the sample in the Zahn-Wellens test (chemical oxygen demand elimination 85% in 7 days). Thus, the algae toxicity of the respective paper mill cannot be explained with the TMP partial stream; presumably other raw materials such as biocides might be the source of algae toxicity., Discussion: Comparative data from wastewater surveillance of authorities confirmed the range of ecotoxicity observed in the study. Wastewater from paper mills generally has no or a moderate ecotoxicity (median LID 1 and 2) while the maximum LID values, especially for the algae and daphnia tests, are considerably elevated (LIDA up to 128, LIDD up to 48)., Conclusions: Wastewater from paper mills generally is low to moderately ecotoxic to aquatic organisms in acute toxicity tests. Some samples show effects in the chronic algae growth inhibition test which cannot be explained exclusively with colouration of the samples. The origin of elevated algae ecotoxicity could not be determined. In the algae test, often flat dose-response relationships and growth promotion at higher dilution factors have been observed, indicating that several effects are overlapping., Recommendations and Perspectives: At least one bioassay should be included in routine wastewater control of paper mills because the paper manufacturing industry is among the most water consuming. Although the algae test was the most sensitive test, it might not be the most appropriate test because of the complex relationship of colouration and inhibition and the smooth dose-effect relationship or even promotion of algae growth often observed. The Lemna test would be a suitable method which also detects inhibitors of photosynthesis and is not disturbed by wastewater colouration.
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- 2010
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186. Assessment and Innovation in Education. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 24
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Looney, Janet W.
- Abstract
Do some forms of student (and school) assessment hinder the introduction of innovative educational practices and the development of innovation skills in education systems? This report focuses on the impact of high-stake summative assessment on innovation and argues that it is possible to reconcile high-stakes assessments and examinations through innovative approaches to testing. While necessary, assessment based on high-stake examinations often acts as an incentive to teach or study "to the test". It may thus limit risk-taking by teachers, students and parents, for instance. The problem may be amplified if a system of accountability and incentives uses the results of these examinations and tests to assess teachers and schools. What should be done to ensure that the systems used to assess education systems do not stifle the risk-taking inherent to innovation--and that they foster innovation skills in students? This study proposes three main ways of combining assessment and innovation: 1) developing a wide range of performance measurements for both students and schools; 2) rethinking the alignment of standards and assessment; 3) measuring the impact of assessments on teaching and learning. One way of influencing teaching and learning might be to modify high-stake testing. Systems will adapt to this, and both teaching and learning will focus on acquiring the right skills. Rather than testing the content of learning, standards could relate to cognitive skills such as problem-solving, communicating and reasoning--with test/examination developers adapting those skills to subjects such as mathematics, science or literary analysis. Similarly, more use might be made of innovative assessment methods based on information and communication technologies, inasmuch as these may feature simulation or interactivity, for instance, at a reasonable cost. Focusing the assessment on cognitive processes rather than content would leave more scope for teachers to put in place innovative teaching/learning strategies. This does, however, assume a high standard of professionalism in teachers and an adequate system of continuing training and knowledge management. As a single type of assessment cannot fully capture student learning, one effective strategy might also be to multiply the number of measurements and thus relieve the pressure on students and teachers to perform well in a single, high-visibility, high-stake test. At the same time, this larger number of measurements could provide the necessary input for systems based on accountability, diagnosis and assessment of the effectiveness of innovative practice. Finally, assessing the technical standard of tests and examinations is an integral part of their development, but it is less common to address the impact they have on teaching/learning or the validity of how their results are used. Since assessment is an integral part of the education process, it is just as important to assess tests and examinations as it is other educational practices in order to achieve improvements and innovation in educational assessment, but also in educational practice. (Contains 12 notes.)
- Published
- 2009
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187. Three overlooked photosynthesis papers of Otto Warburg (1883-1970), published in the 1940s in German and in Russian, on light-driven water oxidation coupled to benzoquinone reduction.
- Author
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Dau H, Ivanov B, Shevela D, Armstrong WH, and Govindjee G
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- Germany, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century, Humans, Male, Russia, Benzoquinones metabolism, Carbon Dioxide metabolism, Oxidation-Reduction, Photosynthesis physiology, Research Report history, Water metabolism
- Abstract
After a brief background on Otto Heinrich Warburg (1883-1970), and some of his selected research, we provide highlights, in English, of three of his papers in the 1940s-unknown to many as they were not originally published in English. They are: two brief reports on Photosynthesis, with Wilhelm Lüttgens, originally published in German, in 1944: 'Experiment on assimilation of carbonic acid'; and 'Further experiments on carbon dioxide assimilation'. This is followed by a regular paper, originally published in Russian, in 1946: 'The photochemical reduction of quinone in green granules'. Since the 1944 reports discussed here are very short, their translations are included in the Appendix, but that of the 1946 paper is provided in the Supplementary Material. In all three reports, Warburg provides the first evidence for and elaborates on light-driven water oxidation coupled to reduction of added benzoquinone. These largely overlooked studies of Warburg are in stark contrast to Warburg's well-known error in assigning the origin of the photosynthetically formed dioxygen to carbonate., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)
- Published
- 2021
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188. [Implementation of the principle of supported employment in Germany : Position paper of a task force of the DGPPN].
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Stengler K, Bechdolf A, Becker T, Döring A, Höhl W, Jäckel D, Kilian H, Theißing A, Torhorst A, Wirtz G, Zeidler R, and Riedel-Heller S
- Subjects
- Advisory Committees, Germany, Humans, Rehabilitation, Vocational, Employment, Supported, Mental Disorders, Mentally Ill Persons
- Abstract
The effects of mental diseases on the employment and working situation can be substantial. They are one of the main reasons for inability to work and reduced earning capacity. Against this background the question arises about suitable occupational reintegration measures for people with severe mental illnesses. In recent years, the principle of supported employment has been internationally shown to be increasingly more successful. In this context mentally ill people are primarily placed at a position of the first employment market and supported on-site by a job coach. This concept is inclusive, individual and evidence based. Despite proven effectiveness, it has so far been insufficiently implemented in German-speaking regions. In the future it will be a matter of considering the individual needs for assistance of mentally ill people more intensively than previously and to respond with functional and in a best-case scenario, multiprofessional and flexible offers., (© 2021. Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2021
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189. [Recommendations for use of topical inhalant budesonide in COVID-19 : A position paper of the German Society for Applied Allergology (AeDA) and the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO). German version].
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Klimek L, Buhl R, Deitmer T, Plontke S, Wehrmann W, Merk H, Ring J, and Becker S
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- Germany, Humans, Societies, Medical, Budesonide therapeutic use, COVID-19, Otolaryngology
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- 2021
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190. Minorities in Germany after 1945. Discussion Papers.
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Bundeswehr Univ. of Hamburg (West Germany). and Reuter, Lutz R.
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Members of minority groups in Germany were subjected to extreme forms of repression and in some cases extermination at the hands of the Nazis. Today, for many different reasons, members of minority groups are living in West Germany again. This paper presents the experience of minorities in West Germany since 1945 in light of the following factors: German history, living conditions, language skills, educational situation, political organizations, cultural activities and contributions, and the way minorities see themselves within the society. Minority-majority relations are especially considered as they constitute significant indicators for the political culture of West Germany or any other country. Four different minority groups are examined: Jews, Sinti and Roma (gypsies), Danish, and labor immigrants. The increasing ethic and cultural diversity of West Germany, and, indeed, all of Europe, is already a fact, but its consequences will depend on the attitudes of the citizens and the public policies pursued. Major policy areas include: the legal status and political rights of minorities, the equality of opportunities in terms of equal access to public goods, and the promotion of minority cultural activities. A 121-item bibliography is included. (DB)
- Published
- 1989
191. Improving Education Outcomes in Germany. OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 611
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Carey, David
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Improving education outcomes is important for Germany's long-term economic performance and social cohesion. While student achievement is above the OECD average in science and at the OECD average in reading and mathematics according to the 2006 OECD PISA study, weaker students tend to do badly by international comparison and socio-economic and/or immigrant backgrounds have a large impact. Another problem is that the proportion of younger people that completes tertiary education is relatively low. The authorities are undertaking wide ranging reforms touching all levels of education to tackle these problems. Nevertheless, there is scope to go further by: increasing participation in early childhood education and care of children from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds and improving the quality of such education; improving teaching quality; reducing stratification in the school system; and making tertiary education more attractive and responsive to labour-market requirements. With the reforms underway or suggested, Germany would be able to look forward to higher education achievement and attainment and, especially, greater equality of education opportunity. Appended are: (1) Basic structure of the educational system in the Federal Republic of Germany; and (2) The structure of the Supply of Tertiary Education indicator. (Contains 1 table, 11 figures, 2 boxes and 15 notes.)
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- 2008
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192. Media, Multimedia, Omnimedia: Selected Papers from the CETaLL Symposium on the Occasion of the AILA World Congress (11th, Jyvaskyla, Finland, August 4-9, 1996) and Man and Media Symposium (5th, Nancy, France, June 5-7, 1997). Bayreuth Contributions to Glottodidactics, Vol. 7.
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Hogan-Brun, Gabrielle, Jung, Udo O. H., Hogan-Brun, Gabrielle, and Jung, Udo O. H.
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This volume presents a collection of 14 selected papers on the theme of how to use media technology to enhance language learning and teaching. Papers explore innovative ways to use existing technologies in broadband networks, the telemedia, and multimedia, while others focus on the use of the Internet. It is hoped that exploring the use of these emerging technologies will allow for the development of more flexible learning and add multidimensionality and authenticity to foreign language teaching. In order to be effective, the teacher and student must be able to successfully integrate old and new media or "omnimedia." In the first section, "The Overall Picture," the chapters are: "Effective Language Learning and the Media: A Study of Current Theories for the Exploration of Media Technology (Marie-Madeleine Kenning); "Computers as Cognitive Tools in the Language Classroom" (Dieter Wolff); "Will the Real Ed Tech Please Stand Up?" (Udo O.H. Jung). In the second section, "At the Creating End," the chapters are: "TELOS Language Learning: User Needs and Telemedia Answers" (Kurt Kohn and Angelika Rieder); "Learner Interaction and Broadband Network" (Edith Esch and R.-Liisa Cleary); "The Engima of Kaspar Hauser: A Multimedia Approach" (Gabriele Wittig-Davis and Robert Davis); "Language Comprehension and Staged Increase of Audio-Visual Support" (Joseph Boyle); and "Integrating the Internet: A Report of Work Always in Progress" (Norman Davies). In the third section, "At the User End," the chapters are: "Specialist Foreign Language Learning with Multimedia: New Learning and Teaching Dynamics" (Gabrielle Hogan-Brun and Ruth Whittle); "The WWW and Its Contribution to Foreign Language Learning" (Alison Piper and Vicky Wright); "Authority and the ESP Teacher in a Technological Age" (Peter Roe); and "Who Is in the Learning Zone: Evaluating the Impact of Italia 2000" (Robert Vanderplank and Peter Dyson). In the fourth section, "Food for Thought," the chapters are: "New Technologies: The Quest for Appropriateness" (Evelyne Namenwirth); and "Language Lab--Multimedia Lab--Future Lab" (Jurgen Froehlich). The fifth section contains as an appendix, "An International Bibliography of Computer-Assisted Language Learning: Fourth Installment" (Udo O.H. Jung). (KFT)
- Published
- 1999
193. Language and Literacies. Selected Papers from the Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (University of Manchester, England, United Kingdom, September 1998). British Studies in Applied Linguistics 14.
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British Association for Applied Linguistics., O'Brien, Teresa, O'Brien, Teresa, and British Association for Applied Linguistics.
- Abstract
This monograph offers papers presented at the 1998 annual meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics. After an introduction entitled "The Pluralisation of Literacy" (Teresa O'Brien), the papers are: (1) "National Literacy Strategies: A Debate" (Jill Bourne, Gunther Kress, Brian Street, and Alison Sealey); (2) "Literacy and Oracy Assessment in an Early Years Intervention Project" (Sheena Gardner and Pauline Rea-Dickins); (3) "The Role of Social Class and Home Literacy Practices in Literacy Proficiency in a Group of Chilean Adolescents" (John Gibbons, Elizabeth Lascar, and Maria Isabel Mizon Morales); (4) "'How Many Bumps Does a Dromedary Have?': Literacies in the EFL Classroom" (Paula Kalaja and Ann Pitkanen-Huhta); (5) "Critical Literacy as Classroom Interaction" (Catherine Wallace); (6) "Authoring in Student Academic Writing: Regulation and Desire" (Theresa Lissis); (7) "Contrastive Rhetoric: New Research Avenues" (Ulla Connor); (8) "The 1998 Reform of German Orthography" (Sally Johnson); (9) "Women's Literacy in a Rural Pakistani Community" (Shirini Zubair); (10) "Issues for a Working Agenda in Literacy" (Gunther Kress); and (11) "Label Literacy: Factors Affecting the Understanding and Assessment of Baby Food Labels" (Guy Cook and Kieran O'Halloran). (Papers contain references.) (SM)
- Published
- 1999
194. School Accountability, Autonomy, Choice, and the Equity of Student Achievement: International Evidence from PISA 2003. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 14
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Schutz, Gabriela, West, Martin R., and Wobmann, Ludger
- Abstract
School systems aspire to provide equal opportunity for all, irrespective of socio-economic status (SES). Much of the criticism of recent school reforms that introduce accountability, autonomy, and choice emphasizes their potentially negative consequences for equity. This report provides new evidence on how national features of accountability, autonomy, and choice are related to the equality of opportunity across countries. We estimate whether student achievement depends more or less on SES in school systems employing these institutional features. The rigorous micro-econometric analyses are based on the PISA 2003 data for more than 180,000 students from 27 OECD countries. The main empirical result is that rather than harming disadvantaged students, accountability, autonomy, and choice appear to be tides that lift all boats. The additional choice created by public funding for private schools in particular is associated with a strong reduction in the dependence of student achievement on SES. External exit exams have a strong positive effect for all students that is slightly smaller for low-SES students. The positive effect of regularly using subjective teacher ratings to assess students is substantially larger for low-SES students. The effect of many other accountability devices does not differ significantly by student SES. School autonomy in determining course content is associated with higher equality of opportunity, while equality of opportunity is lower in countries where more schools have autonomy in hiring teachers. Autonomy in formulating the budget and in establishing starting salaries is not associated with the equity of student outcomes. Inequality of opportunity is substantially higher in school systems that track students at early ages. (Contains 19 footnotes, 6 figures and 9 tables.)
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- 2007
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195. On the Edge: Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 7
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
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As higher education has grown and state funding has been constrained, the financial sustainability of institutions of higher education (HE) has become an issue for policy makers and for those who govern and manage these institutions. The challenge for governments is to ensure that increasingly autonomous institutions respond to public interest agendas while taking a greater responsibility for their own financial sustainability. The challenge for institutions is to manage an increasingly complex portfolio of aims and funding. This report examines the conditions needed to secure financial sustainability for the future from the national (policy) and institutional (management) perspectives. (Two appendices are included: (1) Key Features of the HE Systems in Participating Countries; and (2) Characteristics of National Systems of Governance. Contains 4 footnotes and 3 tables.)
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- 2007
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196. Funding Systems and their Effects on Higher Education Systems. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 6
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Strehl, Franz, Reisinger, Sabine, and Kalatschan, Michael
- Abstract
This international study focuses on the funding systems in the area of higher education in the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Portugal and Slovak Republic. Each individual country study was designed and conducted within an overall common framework by a project partner from the respective country. By using the stakeholder approach, this study addresses and analyses the effects of funding systems on the higher education system and its institutions. In order to present a comprehensive overview, the study explicitly takes into account the stakeholders' diversity and explores the effects of how funding systems are perceived and assessed differently. The overall results, as well as a summary report of each country, are presented in this publication. Information regarding the main features of higher education funding systems, the formal, explicitly stated interrelationships between the funding system and national higher education policies is provided. Furthermore, the intended and unintended effects of funding systems on higher education in general and on the basic core tasks teaching and research are described and discussed. Institutional strategic responses to the respective funding systems are outlined. The various stakeholders' points of view concerning strengths and weaknesses of funding systems are explored by the researchers. This comprehensive report presents an overview of the most important results and conclusions thus far, but cannot presently provide details. The detailed results and stakeholder views have been focused on in each country's individual report. In addition, the main theoretical foundations related to the study results have been briefly described. The full documentation of this study--including all country reports--is available at the Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) of the OECD: http://www.oecd.org/edu/higher. (Contains 2 notes, 1 figures and 19 tables.)
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- 2007
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197. A Sorting Hat That Fails?: The Transition from Primary to Secondary School in Germany. Innocenti Working Papers.
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United Nations Children's Fund, Florence (Italy). Innocenti Research Centre. and Schnepf, Sylke Viola
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Noting that Germany ranks lowest among the OECD countries for educational equalities, this paper examines whether it is the tracking of children into different types of school environments at a particularly early stages of their intellectual development (at the transition from primary to secondary school) which contributes to such inequalities. The analysis is based on data taken from two surveys of learning achievement: the Third International Mathematics and Science Study and the Programme of International Student Assessment. The data consistently reveal that although ability is a key selection criterion, childrens educational achievement varies greatly within the respective school tracks to which they are allocated. Although migrants are predominately selected to lower academic school tracks, they do not face educational inequalities if their socioeconomic background and measured ability is similar to that of German nationals. Children from rural areas, pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and boys in general have a significantly lower probability of being selected to the most academic school rack even when their educational ability is similar to that of their urban and better socially placed counterparts. Since the outcome of tracking is difficult to correct and school choice shapes career options, there is a high likelihood that such educational inequalities in secondary schooling will have an impact on pupils lives and career opportunities long after they have completed compulsory education. (Contains 48 references.) (Author/KB)
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- 2002
198. Changes in Institutional Research in Germany. AIR 1991 Annual Forum Paper.
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Schultz-Gerstein, Hans-G
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This paper recounts the legal, political, and educational changes in former East Germany as the nation has become reunified, and considers the implications of reunification for institutional research at East German universities. After a brief sketch of legal, geographic, and demographic highlights, the decrepit conditions of East German university buildings are noted. The paper then offers observations of East Germans streaming across the border when it was first opened in November 1989. The educational experience of a typical East German student is reviewed, noting that a file was kept documenting the student's political attitudes to ensure the power of the Communist Party bureaucracy in determining the student's access to higher education. Problems that institutions of higher education now face are noted, including identifying whom to fire, what to do with educators trained to teach Marxism-Leninism and the Communist infused humanities, social sciences, and especially, economics and jurisprudence. Efforts by the West to help East German universities are mentioned. (DB)
- Published
- 1991
199. Longitudinal change in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in 3-to 16-year-old children: The Augsburg Plus study.
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Leone, Vincenza, Meisinger, Christa, Temizel, Selin, Kling, Elisabeth, Gerstlauer, Michael, Frühwald, Michael C., and Burkhardt, Katrin
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SARS-CoV-2 ,VIRAL antibodies ,SEROPREVALENCE ,SERODIAGNOSIS ,GERMANS ,FILTER paper ,ADOPTED children - Abstract
Background: Currently, more than 30,200,000 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Germany alone. However, data regarding prevalence of COVID-19 in children, both in Germany and internationally, are sparse. We sought to evaluate the number of infected children by measuring IgG antibodies. Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs were collected between December 2020 and August 2021 to measure SARS-CoV-2, and capillary blood for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (by rapid test NADAL® and filter paper test Euroimmun® ELISA); venous blood was taken for validation (Roche® ECLIA and recomLine Blot) in 365 German children aged 3–16 years from 30 schools and preschools. We used multiple serological tests because the filter paper test Euroimmun® ELISA performs better in terms of sensitivity and specificity than the rapid test NADAL®. The Roche® ECLIA test is used to detect SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and the recomLine Blot test is used to rule out the possibility of infection by seasonal SARS-viruses and to test for specific SARS-CoV-2 proteins (NP, RBD and S1). In addition, one parent each (n = 336), and 4–5 teachers/caregivers (n = 90) per institution were tested for IgG antibodies from capillary blood samples. The total study duration was 4 months per child, including the first follow-up after 2 months and the second after 4 months. Results: Of 364 children tested at baseline, 3.6% (n = 13) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using Euroimmun® ELISA. Seven children reported previously testing positive for SARS-CoV-2; each of these was confirmed by the Roche® Anti-SARS-CoV-2-ECLIA (antibody to spike protein 1) test. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies persisted over a 4-month period, but levels decreased significantly (p = 0.004) within this timeframe. The median IgG values were 192.0 BAU/ml [127.2; 288.2], 123.6 BAU/ml [76.6; 187.7] and 89.9 BAU/ml [57.4; 144.2] at baseline, 2 months and 4 months after baseline, respectively. During the study period, no child tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by oropharyngeal swab. A total of 4.3% of all parents and 3.7% of teachers/caregivers tested positive for IgG antibodies by Euroimmun® ELISA at baseline. Conclusion: We noted a rather low seroprevalence in children despite an under-reporting of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Measurement of IgG antibodies derived from capillary blood appears to be a valid tool to detect asymptomatic infections in children. However, no asymptomatic active infection was detected during the study period of 4 months in the whole cohort. Further data on SARS-CoV-2 infections in children are needed, especially in the group of <5-year-olds, as there is currently no licensed vaccine for this age group in Germany. The Robert Koch Institute's Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) recommended COVID-19 vaccination for 12–17 and 5–11 year olds in August 2021 and May 2022 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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200. Scandinavian Conference of Linguistics, Volumes I [and] II (17th, Nyborg, Denmark, August 20-22, 1998). Odense Working Papers in Language and Communication.
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Odense Univ. (Denmark). Inst. of Language and Communication., Lindberg, Carl-Erik, and Lund, Steffen Nordahl
- Abstract
The two volumes of these working papers include articles by linguists from Scandinavia and other parts of the world. Under the heading, "The Use of IT in Grammatical Analysis/Parsing" are five articles: "Creating Inflecting Electronic Thesauri"; "Tagging Speech Data--Constraint Grammar Analysis of Spoken Portuguese"; "A Constraint-Based Tagger for Norwegian"; "Swedish Constraint Grammar"; and "Two Two-Level Models of Norwegian." Under the heading "Functional/Cognitive Linguistics" are 12 articles: "The Subject is Nominative! On Obsolete Axioms and Their Deep Rootedness"; "Negation: A Cognitive Hurdle in Interpreting"; "Inflection Classes, Norwegian Verbs, and Cognitive Grammar"; "Conditionals in Institutional Settings"; "Different Competencies? A Comparison of the Productive and Receptive Languages of a Danish Agrammatic Patient"; "Some Reflections on Syntactic Structure and the Acquisition Process"; "Placement and Scope of Mainland Scandinavian Modal Adverbs"; "On Grammaticalization of Body-Part Nouns: 'Hand' in Finnish and Estonian"; "Some Pragmatic Properties of French Cleft Constructions"; "The Construal of the Scene: Selected Existential Constructions"; and one article each in German and Danish. Under the heading "Language in Interaction" are eight articles: "Overlap Management and Interactional Competence"; "Stereotypes in Action"; "Danish in Greenland -- a new Dialect? Preliminary Results From a Pilot Project"; "Meanings of the Word 'Work' in a Danish Unemployment Office"; "Codeswitching between Persian and Swedish"; and three articles in Danish. Under the heading "Endangered languages" are four articles: "How Fast Will a Language Die When It Is Officially No Longer Spoken?"; "Komi, an Endangered Language?"; "Phonetic Salience and Language Change: Verb Paradigms in Inari Sami"; and "Linguistic and Political Aspects of Alphabet-Making for a Threatened Language." All articles include a brief abstract in English. References appear throughout the articles. (KFT)
- Published
- 2000
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