September 26, 2006, 6:41 PM CT

Technology-enhanced Collaboration

While new technologies have made information more accessible, they have yet to live up to their full potential when it comes to knowledge sharing. Two European projects in the field of collaborative learning are looking to change that.

The IST-funded COOPER and TENCompetence initiatives, which began in December 2005 and will run for two and four years respectively, are creating new tools and techniques for technology-enhanced collaborative learning. Part of the Professional Learning Cluster of IST research projects, the two initiatives are complementary in the way they are applying technology to the realm of collaborative learning, in which groups of teachers and pupils cooperate to share expertise and solve complex problems.

"Collaborative learning is already being used with important educational benefits in companies and universities, instead of the more traditional top-down approach of teachers instructing students what to do," explains Xuan Zhou, the COOPER project manager at the L3S Research Center in Hannover, Gera number of. "Our goal is to create an online environment that allows people to learn through collaboration no matter where they are."

The tools to underpin lifelong learning.

That is necessary if collaborative learning is to be paired with lifelong learning, which allows people to learn throughout their careers, constantly picking up new skills and expertise. Lifelong learning is viewed as essential if the European Union is to meet its goal of becoming a dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

September 25, 2006, 7:23 PM CT

Nintendo T-shirts!

Jean Snow blogged about the Nintendo T-shirts about a fortnight ago, then Kotaku and Game Set Watch picked up on it and then I guess the interest in the T-shirts from The King Of Games must have skyrocketed in Western countries because the website has spawned an English section where it will accept Paypal payments and ship overseas.

I've mentioned before that Japan is famous for it's T-shirt designs. This is another example of it. Plus it has the Nintendo video game bent so I like it twice as much!

By the way, for those who believe that the US$50 is a bit much, my message is: don't be surprised. There's plenty of cool cheap T-shirts in Japan but most of the designer stuff is about this price.........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source

September 25, 2006, 7:11 PM CT

Prince Edward Island

AND SO BEGINS Your Guide to Familiar Birds of Prince Edward Island, a pocket-sized, colour guide to some of the most sought out birds in the province. The book was compiled and written by legendary Island naturalist, the late Geoff Hogan, and published in 1991 by Ragweed Press, 222 Grafton St., Charlottetown.

In this handy, take-along paperback, Mr. Hogan has included 90 colour photos of everything from Eastern Kingbirds to Greater Yellowlegs. Accompanying text for each of these species and about 100 others outlines such details as habitat, when to find them and unique characteristics that will aid in identification.

Prince Edward Islanders have always enjoyed a unique relationship with nature. In a province where agriculture, fishing and tourism are the driving forces behind the economy, Islanders take very seriously the responsibility of being the guardians of one of Mother Nature's most glorious works of art.

In all, there are about 333 species of birds found in this rolling tapestry we here are so proud to call home. Therefore, from birders who have just bought their first set of binoculars to those who have travelled the world in order to add to their lists of lifetime sightings, there is something on PEI for everyone.

Considering the abundance of bird life in the province, it is not surprising that Prince Edward Island has become a bird-watching hot spot over the last several years, says Kate MacQuarrie, Executive Director of Island Nature Trust, a non-profit organization devoted to the protection and management of natural areas.........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source

September 25, 2006, 6:38 PM CT

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands (or Colon Archipelago) are a group of islands about 1000 km off the western coast of South America, belonging to Ecuador. The group consists of 13 large and several hundred small islands lying near the equator. In this image can be seen the islands of Isabela and Fernandina. The Galapagos are volcanic in origin, with active eruptions ongoing. The group is noted for its animal life, including 6 unique species of giant tortoise, and 85 different species of birds. In 1835 the British naturalist Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle visited the island. His observations provided data for his famous book Origin of Species. This ASTER simulated natural color mosaic of 4 scenes covers an area of 105 x 128 km, and the scenes were acquired in May and June, 2003. The image is centered at 91.2 degrees west longitude and 0 degrees latitude.

The following section gives you parameters based on allowed activities for visitors to the Galapagos Islands.

Tourism:

The Galapagos is one of the few sites in the world where tourism is orientated distinctly around the nature, constituting a educational activity.

Tourism in the Galapagos was started in 1969 with the arrival of the first tourist boat the "Lina A", and today it is the principal force of the economy of the region and responsible for the principal changes in structure of the insular space.........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source

September 24, 2006, 10:11 PM CT

Alcoholics With Coexisting Personality Disorders

People make decisions all the time: they form preferences, take action, and evaluate outcomes, whether rewarding or aversive. Impaired decision making is regarded as one of the neurobehavioral hallmarks of addiction. New research has observed that alcoholics with certain coexisting personality disorders (PDs) have decision-making abilities that are especially impaired.

Results are reported in the recent issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

"Normally, we make choices by weighing immediate benefits of different options relative to possible negative consequences in the longer term," said Geert Dom, head of therapy at the Alexian Brothers Psychiatric Centre in Boechout, Belgium. "When these abilities are impaired, people are less able to cognitively evaluate the longer-term consequences of their choices. This is reflected in real life by choices that are socially inadequate and/or correlation to overtly negative outcomes. Substance or polydrug use/abuse is one example".

On a neuronal level, added Dom, decision making is believed to involve multiple brain structures in the limbic region. "These brain regions are very important in the processing of emotions, motivational processes and the processing of rewards and punishments," he said. "Earlier studies have indicated that individuals with lesions in these regions lose the ability to make advantageous decisions, reflected by severe social behavioral problems and impaired performance on decision-making tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task, which was originally designed to study decision-making in neurological patients with brain lesions."........

Posted by: Sean      Permalink         Source

September 24, 2006, 11:27 AM CT

Discovering A Gem Of A Deal

Prepare to spend at least an hour leisurely exploring Dandelion Vintage. It's just like discovering a secret antique boutique with room after room crammed with delicious finds. Best of all most prices are under $50 (we found plenty at $20 to $30) and the variety is endless.

Carol Baker has been running her online vintage business since 1997 and is very picky about the fashions she sells. Each item has a large photo with detailed descriptions including condition, fabric and measurements and Carol will glady answer any questions about the garments.........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source

September 24, 2006, 10:31 AM CT

Bentley Azure Convertible 2006

The luxurious four-seater Bentley Azure, which goes on sale in Spring 2006, is the latest in a portfolio of wonderfully desirable 'dropheads' stretching back a number of decades and reaffirms Bentley's reputation as creator of the world's most elegant convertibles.

Bentley first hinted that a new Bentley Azure might be in the pipeline when it unveiled the glamorous Arnage Drophead Coupé show car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2005. The show car stimulated such interest among Bentley aficionados that the decision was quickly taken to continue its extensive development programme in time for delivery of the first customer cars in Spring 2006. Last month, Bentley announced that the production version of the show car would carry the evocative Azure name. Like its iconic predecessor, which was in production from 1995 to 2002, the new Azure becomes the flagship of the Bentley model range.

The design of the new Bentley Azure is, first and foremost, unmistakeably Bentley. It shares its face with the current Arnage range and its platform ensures it seats four adults in supreme comfort. But it is also unmistakeably unique. The entire cabin and rear section of the car are newly designed, with a stunning bespoke interior; the objective being to create an opulent and inviting seating area that reflects its status as a car that is at home in Palm Springs or the Riviera. The complex folding roof on the convertible is operated hydraulically at the touch of a switch: the impressive, three-layer fabric assembly being elegantly stowed beneath the hide-trimmed tonneau in under 30 seconds.........

Posted by: Jim      Permalink         Source

September 24, 2006, 10:24 AM CT

2007 BMW X5

ts predecessor paved the way for a brand-new type of vehicle. Now the new 2007 BMW X5 raises the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) driving experience to an even higher standard. Powerful eight and six-cylinder engines, unique suspension, enhanced BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, as well as a weight-optimized bodyshell with extreme torsional stiffness all interact to ensure excellent agility and dynamic performance.

The new 2007 BMW X5 is the only vehicle in its segment available with both Active Steering, developed by BMW, and AdaptiveDrive (a combination of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control). It is also the first SAV fitted with runflat tires as standard equipment.

The powerful elegance of the exterior design, just like the flexible and elegant interior, clearly underlines the dynamic character of the new 2007 BMW X5.

The new 2007 BMW X5 will be available in the U.S. with either a 4.8-liter V8 capable of 350 horsepower or a 3.0-liter inline-six with 260 horsepower.

The all-new X5 has all the attributes that made the original Sports Activity Vehicle such an innovative concept, and elevates them to new standards.

The interior of the original X5 was one of its hallmarks. The interior in the new BMW X5 combines the most sophisticated materials with numerous innovative options, thus a first-class ambience.........

Posted by: Jim      Permalink         Source

September 22, 2006, 4:47 PM CT

Household levels of mold following Hurricane Katrina

In a study assessing flood clean-up procedures in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, a team of scientists led by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, report that household levels of mold and bacterial endotoxins in three single-family homes were so considerable that they equaled or surpassed those in waste- water treatment plants, cotton mills, and agricultural environments. The study is the first comprehensive report documenting levels of mold and bacteria in homes that received sustained flooding.

Following Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans homes remained flooded for weeks, promoting heavy mold growth. These three New Orleans homes were selected for the study based on their levels of flood water, whether they previously were structurally sound, and if they were located in an area likely to be rebuilt. The study examined the extent to which homes that experienced significant and prolonged exposure to flood waters could be satisfactorily cleaned to enable reconstruction. Homes were inspected for roof leakage, standing water and the extent of mold throughout their interiors, as well as heating ventilation and air conditioning.

"From our data, it is clear that levels of mold were so high that we strongly recommend that those entering, cleaning, and repairing flood-damaged homes wear respirators that are more protective than plain dust masks," said Ginger Chew, ScD, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health. "While our assessments of the data are based on a small demonstration project, the results give a clear picture of what is acceptable in flood clean-up procedures." ........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source

September 20, 2006, 8:31 PM CT

Cancer Scientist Animal Rights Activist Jailed

A cancer research specialist described as "brilliant" was today jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to leading a double life as an animal rights saboteur.

Joseph Harris, 26, a doctor of molecular biology who has been working on a therapy for pancreas cancer at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, waged a campaign of vandalism against three companies which carried out work for Huntingdon Life Sciences, an animal testing firm.

His girlfriend had threatened to dump him because his research was leading him to the point where he was going to have to test his findings on animals, his defence lawyer claimed.........

Posted by: Tom      Permalink         Source