LORI (learning object review instrument) is an evaluation framework designed to support collaborative critique of multimedia learning resources. In this chapter, the interactions among reviewers using LORI are framed as a form of collaborative argumentation. Research on collaborative evaluation of learning resources has found that reviewers’ quality ratings tend to converge as a result of their...

This article presents the structure and theoretical foundations of the Learning Object Review Instrument (LORI), an evaluation aid available through the E-Learning Research and Assessment Network at http://www.elera.net. A primary goal of LORI is to balance assessment validity with efficiency of the evaluation process. The instrument enables learning object users to create reviews consisting of...

Thirty-two Afshari lambs were used in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate a nutritional supplement designed to provide multiple gluconeogenic precursors during heat stress (HS). Lambs were housed in thermal neutral (TN) conditions and fed ad libitum for 8 d to obtain covariate data (period 1 [P1]) for the subsequent experimental period (pe...

A study was conducted to evaluate the relative resistance to a natural or induced gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infection in hair and wool breeds of lambs. In Experiment 1, natural GI nematode infection was evaluated among fall born Dorper crossbred (DO; n = 17) or St. Croix (SC; n = 17) lambs. Ewe and wether lambs were weaned at 84 ± 1.1 days of age and dewormed. Fecal egg counts (FECs) and b...

Carcasses of Churro Galego Bragançano purebred and Suffolk and Merino Precoce crossbred lambs reared under three different conventional production system of northeast of Portugal were evaluated. Carcasses of male lambs had larger muscle longissimus width (P < 0.05) and smaller subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.05) than the female lambs. Carcasses of crossbred lambs had higher (P < 0.05) compact...

Lori Uscher-Pines, PhD, MSc; Jessica Sousa, MSW, MPH; Maggie Jones, Christopher Whaley, PhD; Perrone, MPP; Colleen McCullough, MPA; Allison J. Ober, PhD

Tannins may bind to alkaloids in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue and attenuate fescue toxicosis. To test this hypothesis, thirty-two 4-mo-old lambs were randomly assigned to 4 treatments (8 lambs/treatment) in a 2 by 2 factorial design that included a basal diet of tall fescue hay [E+ or endophyte-free (E-)] supplemented with (TS) or without (CS) bioactive Quebracho tannins. The concentrati...

Infections by protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are prevalent worldwide in animals and human. T. gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic infections to humans and domestic animals. If first be during pregnancy, T. gondii may be transferred vertically by tachyzoites that are passed to the embryo via the placenta. T. gondii may be transmitted horizont...

Background Genetic factors are candidates for about 30% of male infertility with sperm production-related abnormalities. Y chromosome microdeletions are responsible for around 10% of male infertility. These microdeletions generally occur in azoospermia factor on the Yq. That is often associated with the quantitative reduction of sperm. Objective The aim of this cross-sectional study was to de...