scholarly journals 170 Effectiveness of On-line Webinars for Delivering Extension Education to Beef Producers Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 92-93
Author(s):  
Katherine VanValin ◽  
Darrh Bullock ◽  
Leslie Anderson ◽  
Kevin Laurent ◽  
Jeffrey W Lehmkuhler

Abstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person Extension programs in Kentucky were canceled in March 2020. In order to continue reaching beef producers, a webinar series was developed. The initial series was eight weekly evening sessions. Sessions were streamed live on a video meeting and social media platform and were recorded for future viewing. Programs consisted of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, covering multi-disciplinary topics related to beef management. Following each session, participants were asked to complete a survey to gauge the effectiveness of the programs using a series of questions with responses on a 5-point Likert scale. The average number of responses was 17 and ranged from 4–31 respondents per session. Knowledge level before and after the presentation was asked for a given topic to assess the increase in subject awareness/understanding (1: not very knowledgeable; 5: very knowledgeable). The average response across all respondents (n = 138) for pre-program knowledge was 2.98, and the average response post-program was 4.37. This represented a 46.6% change across all topics covered in the post-attendance surveys. The most common age demographic represented by survey respondents was 50–59 years of age, and 84% of respondents reported previously participating in a webinar. Participants were asked to evaluate the webinar technology in terms of its ease of access (1: not very easy; 5: very easy), and the average response was 4.64. Participants were asked to evaluate the material presented in each session for its usefulness (1: not very useful; 5- very useful), and the average response was 4.71. When asked if the webinar was an effective use of time (1: not very useful; 5: very useful), the average response was 4.8. Overall, webinars were an effective means of delivering Extension education related to beef cattle management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3011
Author(s):  
Antonio Robles-Gómez ◽  
Llanos Tobarra ◽  
Rafael Pastor-Vargas ◽  
Roberto Hernández ◽  
Jesús Cano

Our society is nowadays evolving towards a digital era, due to the extensive use of computer technologies and their interconnection mechanisms, i.e., social networks, Internet resources, IoT services, etc. This way, new threats and vulnerabilities appear. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity of training students in the topic of cybersecurity, in which practical skills have to be acquired. In distance education, the inclusion of on-line resources for hands-on activities in its curricula is a key step in meeting that need. This work presents several contributions. First, the fundamentals of a virtual remote laboratory hosted in the cloud are detailed. This laboratory is a step forward since the laboratory combines both virtualization and cloud paradigms to dynamically create emulated environments. Second, this laboratory has also been integrated into the practical curricula of a cybersecurity subject, as an additional on-line resource. Third, the students’ traceability, in terms of their interactions with the laboratory, is also analyzed. Psychological TAM/UTAUT factors (perceived usefulness, estimated effort, social influence, attitude, ease of access) that may affect the intention of using the laboratory are analyzed. Fourth, the degree of satisfaction is analyzed with a great impact, since the mean values of these factors are most of them higher than 4 points out of 5. In addition to this, the students’ acceptance of the presented technology is exhaustively studied. Two structural equation models have been hypothesized and validated. Finally, the acceptance of the technology can be concluded as very good in order to be used in other Engineering contexts. In this sense, the calculated statistical values for the improved proposed model are within the expected ranges of reliability (X2 = 0.6, X2/DF = 0.3, GFI = 0.985, CIF = 0.985, RMSEA = 0) by considering the literature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 168 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Piotr BOGUŚ ◽  
Mateusz CIESZYŃSKI ◽  
Jerzy MERKISZ

The paper presents a method of classification of locomotive Diesel engine states basing on vibration signals taken from an engine body and using chosen statistical parameters calculated for the original signal and it wavelet multiresolution components. The researches presented in the paper concern estimation of an engine states before and after a general repair. The target application of the presented researches is an on-line diagnostic system which can complement standard OBD systems. To this purpose the applied methods should not base on complex analysis of some spectral, time-frequency or scalogram plots but rather on choosing single diagnostic parameters which are suitable for the fast on-line diagnostic. The results have showed the significant difference in distinguishing of engine work before and after a general repair using some chosen statistical parameters applied to vibration signals.


EAD em FOCO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Roda Cassundé ◽  
Edson Gomes Silva ◽  
Laís da Silva Santos ◽  
Adler Henrique Santos Souza ◽  
Graça Suely Gomes Souza ◽  
...  

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar as expectativas e experiências dos estudantes em relação à disciplina O Estado e os problemas contemporâneos, do Curso de Especialização em Gestão Pública da Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (Univasf). Para isso, foi realizada a aplicação do questionário de autoavaliação Colles (Constructivist Online Learning Environment Survey) verificando-se as possíveis mudanças na percepção e comparando-se os resultados do antes e do depois referente a seis dimensões: relevância, reflexão, interação, apoio dos tutores, apoio dos colegas e compreensão. Participaram da pesquisa 97 alunos, em dois momentos diferentes: no início das aulas, para conhecer as expectativas dos estudantes e no final delas, para se ter uma compreensão da realidade vivenciada. Os resultados revelaram que a análise da experiência sempre foi inferior quando comparada à análise da expectativa em todos os aspectos apresentados, evidenciando que alguns participantes sentenciaram não ter alcançado os objetivos pretendidos.Palavras-chave: Colles, Educação a distância, Avaliação, Pós-graduação, PNAP.  Social Constructivist Evaluation of an Experience in Distance Education: the use of Colles as Data Collection InstrumentAbstract This study aims to evaluate the students expectations and experiences regarding the subject "The State and the contemporary problems", in Public Management post-graduation from the Federal University of São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF). For this, the application carried out the self-assessment questionnaire COLLES (Constructivist On-line Learning Environment Survey) checking for possible changes in perception and comparing the results before and after referring to the six dimensions: relevance, reflection, interaction, support tutors, peer support and understanding. The participants were 97 students in two different times at the beginning of classes, to meet the expectations of students and at the end of these, to have an understanding of experienced reality. The results showed that the students' experience overcame the negative assessment in all aspects presented, showing that some participants sentenced not have achieved the intended objectives.Keywords: COLLES, Distance education, Evaluation, Postgraduate studies, PNAP. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia I. Martínez-Alcalá ◽  
Alejandra Rosales-Lagarde ◽  
Yonal M. Pérez-Pérez ◽  
Jose S. Lopez-Noguerola ◽  
María L. Bautista-Díaz ◽  
...  

The current sanitary crisis due to COVID-19 has further evidenced the enormous digital exclusion of older adults. Furthermore, the crisis has urged older adults to adopt new technologies to facilitate their tasks, as well as to provide them with an effective means against loneliness and social isolation caused by the confinement. In light of this, Digital Literacy is necessary for all those excluded from the digital era, who are characterized mainly by little or no ability to effectively use technologies. Nevertheless, detailed studies showing the leap from mixed (Blended Learning, BL) to digital literacy in the elderly have not been published. The objective of the present research was to analyze the level of Digital Literacy with the Digital Literacy Evaluation (DILE) of two groups of elderly adults with different levels of literacy (Group 1: G1, and Group 2: G2) during three stages: BL (Aug–Dec 2019); Transition (Feb–Jun 2020); and Digital (Aug–Dec 2020). Comparisons were made before each educational level (pre-pre-pre) and after each educational level (post-post-post) and during consecutive periods before and after each semester (pre vs post) and throughout different educational levels (G1: Basic 1, B1; Basic 2, B2; and intermediate 1, I1; and G2: Intermediate 1 to 3, I1, I2, and I3). Subsequently, considering all the elderly who had passed at least one of the literacy levels, we worked with a total sample of 176 older adults. The comparisons showed that, before the pandemic, G1’s pre digital literacy levels increased between B1 and B2 and that the differences continued with that increasing trend between the B1 level and the I1 completely digital treatment, and the same was observed for post measurements. On the other hand, for the G2, the differences in the DILE were statistically significant between the pre-condition of I2 (before the pandemic) and the I3 (completely digital treatment); and between the pre-conditions of I1 and I3; the same results were obtained for post treatments. Also, pre vs post scores on the DILE were statistically significant and older adults increased progressively their digital literacy despite the COVID-19 pandemic and jumped to the digital age.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Li ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
Sang-Bing Tsai

A firm’s capability of raising funding is closely related to its sustainable development. With a more efficient allocation of funding among the whole society, social resources will be better utilized. Initial Public Offering (IPO) can indeed be an effective means of raising capital for corporate ventures. Using 1069 firms which completed IPOs on Chinese stock exchanges between 1st January 2004 and 1st January 2013, we investigate the difference in IPO underpricing before and after the 2008 financial crisis. Based on OLS regression models, we find that the IPOs are less underpriced in the post-crisis period. We examine the moderating effects of firm size on the difference in IPO underpricing between pre- and post-crisis periods, finding that small firms experienced less IPO underpricing than large firms after the financial crisis. After applying different model specifications such as Robust and OProbit regressions, the results remain consistent. Our study contributes to understanding the dynamics and influences of the financial crisis on firms’ IPO cost from the perspective of information asymmetry.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Giraldi ◽  
Ramón Ruiz-Maldonado ◽  
Lourdes Tamayo ◽  
Cristina Sosa-de-Martínez

Papular urticaria (PU) is among the commonest skin ailments in children. Induced specific desensitization to insect bites is theoretically an effective means of prevention of PU. In this double blind placebo controlled study, an oral vaccine prepared from insect saliva was compared with placebo (stable vaccine solvent). Vaccine and placebo effectiveness were tested by counting active PU lesions, serum eosinophils, and IgE, before and after 4 months of treatment. Statistically significant differences between oral vaccine and placebo were not found in the clinical or the immunological variables tested. We conclude that, although a lack of oral vaccine efficacy was suspected, larger study samples are needed to strengthen our conclusion.


2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-360
Author(s):  
J. L. Aalhus ◽  
R. D. Thacker ◽  
I. L. Larsen ◽  
J. C. Roberts ◽  
M. A. Price ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Consumption of central nervous system tissue (CNST) from cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is thought to cause the human neurological disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. To identify points of cross-contamination of beef carcasses with CNST, 55 young beef cattle were slaughtered and processed through a federally inspected multispecies abattoir. The objectives of this study were to evaluate CNST spread following the placement of a plug in the penetration site of the skull after captive bolt stunning, to evaluate cross-contamination of carcasses before and after splitting, to compare the effects of hot water pasteurization (84°C for 10 s) versus cold water wash (10°C for 30 s) for reducing CNST on the carcass, and to examine other possible sources of cross-contamination in the abattoir. Results indicated that the use of a plastic plug reduced CNST contamination near the bolt penetration site. This study also confirmed that carcass splitting resulted in an increase in CNST contamination at various areas of the carcass. Hot water pasteurization appeared to be an effective means of removing CNST contamination from carcasses in most of the areas sampled.


1986 ◽  
Vol 250 (6) ◽  
pp. R1074-R1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. Bell ◽  
J. L. Seagard ◽  
E. J. Zuperku ◽  
J. P. Kampine

Carotid sinus diameter (CSD) is influenced by changes in sympathetic tone and vasoactive agents. This study was designed to determine which mechanical properties of the carotid sinus region were influenced by infusing vasoconstrictors (epinephrine, 4.56 X 10(-6) M, and phenylephrine, 9.85 X 10(-5) M) and a vasodilator (nitroprusside, 1.68 X 10(-4) M). CSD, carotid sinus length (CSL), pressure (CSP), and compliance (CSC), and arterial pressure were all recorded simultaneously from the isolated constant-flow-perfused carotid sinus region of 11 anesthetized dogs (35 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium) before and after drug perfusion. CSC was measured by a method previously described in which 13 microliters of perfusate is injected into the segment in a step-like manner and the resultant step change in pressure recorded. The compliance of the vessel segment is read on-line after a calibration procedure. CSD and CSL were measured using sonomicrometer length gauges positioned across and along the length of the carotid sinus segment. At a CSP of 99.9 +/- 0.6 (SE) mmHg, CSD, CSL, and CSC were 8.50 +/- 0.44 mm, 9.44 +/- 0.84 mm, and 0.46 +/- 0.05 microliter/mmHg, respectively. Decreasing CSP to 50 mmHg significantly reduced CSD and CSL and increased CSC. Increasing CSP to 150 mmHg produced opposite results. Vasoconstrictor drug infusion significantly decreased and vasodilator drug infusion significantly increased both CSD and CSL, producing parallel shifts in the CSP-CSD and -CSL curves toward and away from the pressure axis. The shift to new pressure-volume curves resulted in no change in CSC in response to the vasoactive agents.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Peterson ◽  
Martin E.P. Seligman

Did Americans change following the September 11 terrorist attacks? We provide a tentative answer with respect to the positive traits included in the Values in Action Classification of Strengths and measured with a self-report questionnaire available on-line and completed by 4,817 respondents. When scores for individuals completing the survey in the 2 months immediately after September 11 were compared with scores for those individuals who completed the survey before September 11, seven character strengths showed increases: gratitude, hope, kindness, leadership, love, spirituality, and teamwork. Ten months after September 11, these character strengths were still elevated, although to a somewhat lesser degree than immediately following the attacks.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-79
Author(s):  
Jenny Fleming ◽  
Grahame Simpson

This year is a year of significant steps in the evolution of Brain Impairment. As outlined in the Editorial for Issue 16.1, a new team has been handed the baton from foundation editors Dr Jacinta Douglas and Dr Robyn Tate. The second major development occurring in 2015 is the move from hard copy to an exclusively on-line journal. From the beginning of this year, Brain Impairment will only be available on-line. This development reflects broader moves in academic publishing to an ever increasing footprint within the on-line universe. Many new journals have been launched as purely on-line publications. Established rehabilitation journals that pre-existed the on-line revolution are also joining the trend, adopting hybrid models, with a mix of hard copy and e-articles, all documented in the Issue Contents. Furthermore, most journals have now created e-archives of all past issues, increasing the ease of access for practitioners and scholars alike, and reducing even further, the need for hard copy.


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