Bayesian Belief Networks provide a principled, mathematically sound, and logically rational mecha... more Bayesian Belief Networks provide a principled, mathematically sound, and logically rational mechanism to represent student models. The belief net backbone structure proposed by Reye [14,15] offers a practical way to represent and update Bayesian student models describing both cognitive and social aspects of the learner. Considering students as active participants in the modelling process, this paper explores visualization and inspectability issues of Bayesian student modelling. This paper also presents ViSMod an integrated tool to visualize and inspect distributed Bayesian student models.
Research on inspectable learner models involves the study of representational aspects of the prof... more Research on inspectable learner models involves the study of representational aspects of the profile that systems maintain about learners. When learners and teachers interact with inspectable learner models several questions arise, such as: What kind of representation is most appropriate for learners and teachers?; How will students and teachers react to different representations?; How should learners and teachers interact with the model?; In order to answer these and other questions, we have developed ViSMod, an interactive visualization tool for Bayesian learner models and ConceptLab, a knowledge construction and navigation system that uses XML-based conceptual maps to represent the learner's view of the domain.
Supporting student reflection is one of the goals of inspectable student models (ISMs). Several r... more Supporting student reflection is one of the goals of inspectable student models (ISMs). Several researchers have studied student reflection using a variety of strategies to support interaction with the student model. We explore student reflection using a general educational computer game environment called The Learning Game. The Learning Game provides tools to interact with the student model, mechanisms to integrate and propagate evidence, and feedback of different sorts. A taxonomy of reflective actions has been defined and used to examine evidence of student reflection in The Learning Game. Results show the existence of student reflection. Different learning activities can be used to support different degrees of student reflection. High degrees of student reflection are associated with students revisiting concepts and receiving appropriate feedback.
A retrospective analysis of the plain abdominal films of 53 “ body packer ” drug smugglers was pe... more A retrospective analysis of the plain abdominal films of 53 “ body packer ” drug smugglers was performed to ascertain the importance of radiographic studies in the diagnosis and management of these patients. Eighty-nine percent had studies diagnostic for foreign body ingestion. Multiple, well-defined, homogeneous oval or oblong densities, especially if surrounded by a crescent of air (double-condom sign), are key findings. If these densities were found in the proximal ascending colon or upper gastrointestinal tract, the diagnosis was almost assured. Six percent of patients exhibited complications suggested on serial radiographs, proving the necessity for follow-up studies until complete expulsion or removal of the foreign body. Radiologic evaluation is essential in the diagnosis and management of the cocaine smuggler.
Concepts like marginal probability, changes in probability, probability propagation and cause-eff... more Concepts like marginal probability, changes in probability, probability propagation and cause-effect relationships are important when reasoning about causality and uncertainty.
This paper defines Bayesian network models and examines their applications to IRT-based cognitive... more This paper defines Bayesian network models and examines their applications to IRT-based cognitive diagnostic modeling. These models are especially suited to building inference engines designed to be synchronous with the finer grained student models that arise in skills diagnostic assessment. Aspects of the theory and use of Bayesian network models are reviewed, as they affect applications to diagnostic assessment. The paper discusses how Bayesian network models are set up with expert information, improved and calibrated from data, and deployed as evidence-based inference engines. Aimed at a general educational measurement audience, the paper illustrates the flexibility and capabilities of Bayesian networks through a series of concrete examples, and without extensive technical detail. Examples are provided of proficiency spaces with direct dependencies among proficiency nodes, and of customized evidence models for complex tasks. This paper is intended to motivate educational measurement practitioners to learn more about Bayesian networks from the research literature, to acquire readily available Bayesian network software, to perform studies with real and simulated data sets, and to look for opportunities in educational settings that may benefit from diagnostic assessment fueled by Bayesian network modeling.
Open or inspectable learner models have been used to support reflection, knowledge awareness, lea... more Open or inspectable learner models have been used to support reflection, knowledge awareness, learner model accuracy, and negotiated assessment. Current systems employ many different mechanisms to present and to support human interaction with the learner model. This paper explores the interactions between learners and inspectable learner models using various guidance mechanisms (i.e. following a protocol, interacting with human peers and artificial guiding agents, interacting with the teacher, and exploring the model as part of a group). We report on a study carried out with fifth grade students who interacted with different configurations of inspectable learner modelling environments.
Three-lobed sage is here claimed as being, most likely, a part in the sage of the ancient and med... more Three-lobed sage is here claimed as being, most likely, a part in the sage of the ancient and medieval texts not a mere substitute for S. officinalis. The traditional uses recently discovered in Spain and Madeira are here published for the first time and compared with the data available from the Eastern Mediterranean region. La salvia trilobulada es reivindicada como una muy probable parte de la salvia de los textos antiguos y medievales, y no como un mero sustituyente de Salvia officinalis. Los usos tradicionales recientemente descubiertos en España sepresentan aquí por primera vez y se comparan con los datos disponibles de la Región Mediterránea Oriental.
In Unani system of medicine, drugs consist of complex formulae with more than three components, f... more In Unani system of medicine, drugs consist of complex formulae with more than three components, for which, literature analysing these mixtures as they are sold in the market is scarce. In this paper, the main botanical components of the herbal tea known as "Zahraa" in Damascus, which contains between 6 and 14 species components is elucidated: Alcea damascena (Mout.) Mout. (Malvaceae), Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit.) Britt. (Malvaceae), Astragalus cf. amalecitanus Boiss., Cercis siliquastrum L. subsp. hebecarpa (Bornm.) Yalt. and subsp. siliquastrum. (Leguminosae), Colutea cilicica Boiss. et Bal. in Boiss. (Leguminosae), Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc. ex DC. (Rosaceae), Cytisopsis pseudocytisus (Boiss.) Fertig. (Leguminosae), Eleagnus angustifolia L. (Eleagnaceae), Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. (Equisetaceae), Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench. subsp. barrelieri (Ten.) Nyman. (Compositae), Matricaria recutita L. (Compositae), Mentha longifolia L. subsp. noeana (Boiss. ex. Briq.) Briq. (Labiatae), Mentha spicata L. subsp. condensata (Briq.) Greuter and Burdet (Labiatae), Micromeria myrtifolia
We studied medicinal and food plant species, recording an extraordinary number of species and use... more We studied medicinal and food plant species, recording an extraordinary number of species and uses in Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia and Valencia in Spain. Focusing on two demographically distinct regions -Castilla-La Mancha and Lower Segura Valley. A high proportion of the flora (20 to 30 %) is known for its medicinal properties, and, interestingly, a high number of medicinal-food plants (5 to 7 %) is recorded. The concept of "Local Food" involves the whole repertory of species that characterises the local diet (incl. local cultivars and non-cultivated gathered food plants). The number of food plant species varies between 15 and 25 % of the vascular flora, and for the gathered food plants (GFP) this decreases to a 3 to 8 %. Those GFP that are also used for medicinal purposes are only 2 to 4 % of the total vascular flora. The relevant plant families are very similar in relative numbers along the different areas: Compositae, Rosaceae and Umbelliferae, followed of Boraginaceae, Liliaceae, Cruciferae, and Caryophyllaceae. Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae and Gramineae are less unifomly represented or in lesser numbers. The high species diversity does not imply a general dietary relevance of this particular plant family. For instance Caryophyllaceae with a relatively low number of species comprises the "collejas" (Silene vulgaris) that have shown to be the more widely consumed species. Information regarding 145 species has been recorded. Among the Gathered Food Plant Species 81 are used in medicine, in double proportion than the cultivated food plants. 61 are orally administered, in the same form as food.
Three-lobed sage is here claimed as being, most likely, a part in the sage of the ancient and med... more Three-lobed sage is here claimed as being, most likely, a part in the sage of the ancient and medieval texts not a mere substitute for S. officinalis. The traditional uses recently discovered in Spain and Madeira are here published for the first time and compared with the data available from the Eastern Mediterranean region. La salvia trilobulada es reivindicada como una muy probable parte de la salvia de los textos antiguos y medievales, y no como un mero sustituyente de Salvia officinalis. Los usos tradicionales recientemente descubiertos en España sepresentan aquí por primera vez y se comparan con los datos disponibles de la Región Mediterránea Oriental.
In Unani system of medicine, drugs consist of complex formulae with more than three components, f... more In Unani system of medicine, drugs consist of complex formulae with more than three components, for which, literature analysing these mixtures as they are sold in the market is scarce. In this paper, the main botanical components of the herbal tea known as "Zahraa" in Damascus, which contains between 6 and 14 species components is elucidated: Alcea damascena (Mout.) Mout. (Malvaceae), Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit.) Britt. (Malvaceae), Astragalus cf. amalecitanus Boiss., Cercis siliquastrum L. subsp. hebecarpa (Bornm.) Yalt. and subsp. siliquastrum. (Leguminosae), Colutea cilicica Boiss. et Bal. in Boiss. (Leguminosae), Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc. ex DC. (Rosaceae), Cytisopsis pseudocytisus (Boiss.) Fertig. (Leguminosae), Eleagnus angustifolia L. (Eleagnaceae), Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. (Equisetaceae), Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench. subsp. barrelieri (Ten.) Nyman. (Compositae), Matricaria recutita L. (Compositae), Mentha longifolia L. subsp. noeana (Boiss. ex. Briq.) Briq. (Labiatae), Mentha spicata L. subsp. condensata (Briq.) Greuter and Burdet (Labiatae), Micromeria myrtifolia
We studied medicinal and food plant species, recording an extraordinary number of species and use... more We studied medicinal and food plant species, recording an extraordinary number of species and uses in Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia and Valencia in Spain. Focusing on two demographically distinct regions -Castilla-La Mancha and Lower Segura Valley. A high proportion of the flora (20 to 30 %) is known for its medicinal properties, and, interestingly, a high number of medicinal-food plants (5 to 7 %) is recorded. The concept of "Local Food" involves the whole repertory of species that characterises the local diet (incl. local cultivars and non-cultivated gathered food plants). The number of food plant species varies between 15 and 25 % of the vascular flora, and for the gathered food plants (GFP) this decreases to a 3 to 8 %. Those GFP that are also used for medicinal purposes are only 2 to 4 % of the total vascular flora. The relevant plant families are very similar in relative numbers along the different areas: Compositae, Rosaceae and Umbelliferae, followed of Boraginaceae, Liliaceae, Cruciferae, and Caryophyllaceae. Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae and Gramineae are less unifomly represented or in lesser numbers. The high species diversity does not imply a general dietary relevance of this particular plant family. For instance Caryophyllaceae with a relatively low number of species comprises the "collejas" (Silene vulgaris) that have shown to be the more widely consumed species. Information regarding 145 species has been recorded. Among the Gathered Food Plant Species 81 are used in medicine, in double proportion than the cultivated food plants. 61 are orally administered, in the same form as food.
The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodivers... more The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodiversity. Epidemiological studies have drawn attention to certain traditional Mediterranean diets. However, wild gathered food species, which are an important, but fast disappearing element of these diets, so far have been largely neglected in scientific studies. In this study we compare ethnobotanical data obtained from field studies conducted in Southern Italy, Southern Spain, mainland Greece, and Crete resulting in the identification of a core group of 18 culinary used wild gathered plant species. This group comprises species likePapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L.,S. oleraceus L., andSilene vulgaris L. We argue that the culinary use of wild gathered weedy greens evolved together with the neolithization process, since this offered the necessary ecological niches for them to thrive, thereby enriching and securing the diets of European agriculturalists. Especially wild gathered Asteraceae species seem to form a sort of proto-nutraceutical, which accounts for a significant input of biologically active compounds in the diet. II bacino Mediterraneo ha vissuto una lunga e multisfaccettata storia culturale e gode di una ricca biodiversita. Studi epidemiologici hanno attirato attenzione su certe diete] mediterranee. Attualmente I’ uso culinario di piante selvagge e commestibili, elemento importante di queste diete, si sta perdendo e ha ricevuto poca attenzione dai punto di vista scientifico. In questo lavoro mettiamo a paragone una serie di dati etnobotanici ottenuti da ricerche di campo nel sud dell’Italia, nel sud della Spagna, nella Grecia e a Creta risultanti nell’identificazione di un gruppo principale di 18 specie selvatiche ad uso culinario. Questo gruppo comprende specie come ilPapaver rhoeas L., ilSonchus asper L., ilS. oleraceus L. e ilSilene vulgaris L. Mettiamo in evidenza che l’evoluzione dell’uso culinario delle verdure selvatiche è avvenuto durante il processo di neolitizazzione poiché questo ha fornito le nicchie ecologiche necessarie. Attraverso il loro uso gli agricoltori europei hanno arricchito e assicurato la loro dieta. In modo particolare le specie raccolte selvatiche appartenenti alle Astaraceae sembrano formare un protointegratore rappresentando una fonte significativa di composti biologicamente attivi nella dieta. La Cuenca Mediterránea tiene una historia cultural larga y polifacetica y alberga una biodiversidad extraordinaria. Diversos estudios epidemiologicos han atraido atencion sobre algunas dietas mediterraneas tradicionales. Sin embargo, las especies silvestres comestibles recolectadas, un elemento importante de estas dietas que va desapareciendo rápidamente, han sido hasta ahora casie olvidadas en los estudios científicos. En este artículo comparamos datos etnobotánicos obtenidos de estudios de campo realizados en el sur de Italia, de España y de la Grecia continental y en Creta, que conducen a la identificatión de un grupo central de 18 especies de plantas recolectadas, silvestres, usadas en alimentatión. Este grupo comprende especies comoPapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L., 5.oleraceus L. ySilene vulgaris L. Sostenemos que el uso culinario de verduras silvestres y de hierbas de los campos de cultivo evolucionó asociado al proceso del neolitización, que ofreció los nichos ecológicos necesarios para el desarrollo de estas especies, enriqueciendo y afianzando las dietas de los primeros agricultores europeos. Especialmente las especies silvestres recolectadas de [la familia] Asteraceae, parecen constituir un tipo de proto-nutracéutico que aporta significativamente compuestos biológicamente activos a la dieta.
Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the... more Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the transcriptional activity induced by PMA or TNFa of an NF-kB-controlled reporter gene. Western blot experiments indicated that the phenylpropanoids did not prevent IkBa degradation, suggesting that their molecular target is at a post-IKB degradation level. Both compounds prevented cytokine (IL-1, IL-6, TNF, IL-8) release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis.
Botany 57(4): [515][516][517][518][519][520][521][522][523][524][525][526][527][528][529][530][53... more Botany 57(4): [515][516][517][518][519][520][521][522][523][524][525][526][527][528][529][530][531][532][533][534] 2003. Capers of commerce are immature flower buds which have been pickled either in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits and young shoots with small leaves may also be pickled for use as a condiment. The use of capers can be traced to the prehistory. Although Capparis spinosa from the western Mediterranean is the most widely used species, the subgenus comprises 23 species and subspecies occupying large territories from the Atlantic coasts to the Pacific in the Old World. We have recorded medicinal and food uses for 19 species. REVISION DE LOS Usos ALIMENTARIOS Y MEDICINALES DE CAPPARIS SUBGF.NERO CAPPARIS (CAP-PARIDACEAE). I_ZIS alcaparras del comercio son botones florales encurtidos en vinagre o preservados en sal gruesa. Los frutos inmaduros y los brotes tiernos provistos de hojitas tambidn se utilizan encurtidos como condimento. El uso de las alcaparras se remonta hasta la prehistoria. Aunque la especie Capparis spinosa, que habita la regi6n mediterrdnea occidental es la mds utilizada, el subgFnero comprende 23 especies y subespecies que se extienden desde las costas Atldnticas hasta el Pacffico en Africa, Asia, Europa y Oceanfa. Se han registrado usos para 19 especies y subespecies, que son de interds alimentario y medicinal. Capers and caper plants, wild or cultivated, are used in almost all of the range of Capparis subgenus Capparis, extending from West Africa to the Norfolk Islands in the Pacific. Most of the species are of alimentary or medicinal interest.
The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula... more The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula Veill. in Duham. and C. orientalis Veill. in Duham.) produced in different Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Morocco) has been analysed. The content of quercetin 3-rutinoside, kaempferol 3-rutinoside; and kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside as well as the aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol) were evaluated by HPLC coupled with a diode-array detector. The free aglycones were not detected in the original flower buds, indicating that they were produced during the brining process. In addition, brining extracted most of the kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl rutinoside present in the original buds, this being a minor constituent in pickled capers. The average content of flavonoid glycosides in commercial capers was 5.18 mg/g fresh weight. When this value is converted to the corresponding aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol), capers provide an average of 3.86 mg/g fresh weight. A serving of capers (10 g) will provide 65 mg of flavonoid glycosides or the equivalent 40 mg of quercetin as aglycone.
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