Evaluation of exercises designed to increase children's use of descriptive words.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Managing change for environmental sustainability: an international comparison of small and medium enterprises in the fabric and textile industry

As environmental sustainability (ES) efforts gain traction globally, pressure is mounting for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to also ‘go green’. Literature pertaining to change management in SMEs in a variety of geographical regions is available; however very little is known regarding ES intentions, initiatives, change management and outcomes in SMEs, especially within the specific context of the Fabric and Textile (FT) Industry. This study uses in-depth interviews to gather rich data from 12 ES ‘champions’ in the FT industries of Canada, the US and Australia. The results help to fill theoretical gaps relating to attitudes, motivations, barriers, change management, and outcomes of ES change in SMEs. Furthermore, an international comparison is completed. The research contributes to motivational and change management theory for both small and medium enterprises and sustainability change. The findings indicate that by far the most important factors that influence ES change include attitudes such as seeing social, economic and emotional value in ES, perceived behavioural control as in SME owner/managers believing they have control for the most part to make the change, subjective norms including books, people, timing, culture, government, and motivations, which were to inspire and promote change, internal values, to educate others, business success, environmental impact, personal health, and to prove others wrong. However, often intentions and motivations can be present without any ensuing action. Barriers such as price, consumers, cost, infrastructure and government, and expectations as in to make change, job satisfaction, buy-in, financial success, and nothing, help or hinder the conversion of the influential factors into actions. Once an SME in the FT industry begins its change journey, the ES actions including fibre choice, recycling, decrease in fossil fuel use, dyes and printing choices, alternative energy, design and modality are determined to be much more important than having a strategic or written plan, which was identified as being primarily in the DNA of the owner-manager, creating an ES culture either through leading by example or communicating well, or leadership style - either hands off or hands on. Lastly, the results of this study provide a lengthy list of positive organisational outcomes, including happier and harder working staff, cost savings, helping communities through local economies, employment and awareness, adapting a competitive strategy, helping, and personal pride. The dissertation concludes with commentary on both theoretical and methodological implications for researchers, practical implications for SME managers and policy makers, and implications for further research

A Dose of Reality: Overcoming Usability Challenges in VR Head-Mounted Displays

We identify usability challenges facing consumers adopting Virtual Reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) in a survey of 108 VR HMD users. Users reported significant issues in interacting with, and being aware of their real-world context when using a HMD. Building upon existing work on blending real and virtual environments, we performed three design studies to address these usability concerns. In a typing study, we show that augmenting VR with a view of reality significantly corrected the performance impairment of typing in VR. We then investigated how much reality should be incorporated and when, so as to preserve users’ sense of presence in VR. For interaction with objects and peripherals, we found that selectively presenting reality as users engaged with it was optimal in terms of performance and users’ sense of presence. Finally, we investigated how this selective, engagement-dependent approach could be applied in social environments, to support the user’s awareness of the proximity and presence of others

Calmodulin-like proteins localized to the conoid regulate motility and cell invasion by Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii contains an expanded number of calmodulin (CaM)-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and a plant-like auxin-induced degron (AID) system, we examined the roles of three apically localized CaMs. CaM1 and CaM2 were individually dispensable, but loss of both resulted in a synthetic lethal phenotype. CaM3 was refractory to deletion, suggesting it is essential. Consistent with this prediction auxin-induced degradation of CaM3 blocked growth. Phenotypic analysis revealed that all three CaMs contribute to parasite motility, invasion, and egress from host cells, and that they act downstream of microneme and rhoptry secretion. Super-resolution microscopy localized all three CaMs to the conoid where they overlap with myosin H (MyoH), a motor protein that is required for invasion. Biotinylation using BirA fusions with the CaMs labeled a number of apical proteins including MyoH and its light chain MLC7, suggesting they may interact. Consistent with this hypothesis, disruption of MyoH led to degradation of CaM3, or redistribution of CaM1 and CaM2. Collectively, our findings suggest these CaMs may interact with MyoH to control motility and cell invasion

Cyber-security internals of a Skoda Octavia vRS:a hands on approach

The convergence of information technology and vehicular technologies are a growing paradigm, allowing information to be sent by and to vehicles. This information can further be processed by the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Controller Area Network (CAN) for in-vehicle communications or through a mobile phone or server for out-vehicle communication. Information sent by or to the vehicle can be life-critical (e.g. breaking, acceleration, cruise control, emergency communication, etc. . . ). As vehicular technology advances, in-vehicle networks are connected to external networks through 3 and 4G mobile networks, enabling manufacturer and customer monitoring of different aspects of the car. While these services provide valuable information, they also increase the attack surface of the vehicle, and can enable long and short range attacks. In this manuscript, we evaluate the security of the 2017 Skoda Octavia vRS 4x4. Both physical and remote attacks are considered, the key fob rolling code is successfully compromised, privacy attacks are demonstrated through the infotainment system, the Volkswagen Transport Protocol 2.0 is reverse engineered. Additionally, in-car attacks are highlighted and described, providing an overlook of potentially deadly threats by modifying ECU parameters and components enabling digital forensics investigation are identified

A starch edible surface coating delays banana fruit ripening

A rice starch edible coating blended with sucrose esters was developed for controlling the postharvest physiological activity of Cavendish banana to extend postharvest quality during ripening at 20 ± 2 °C. Coating effectiveness was assessed against changes in fruit physiochemical parameters such as weight loss, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, flesh fruit firmness, ion leakage, colour change, respiration, ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation and starch conversion were determined. The topography of coating material on the fruit surface was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Surface morphology studies highlighted the binding compatibility of the coating matrix with the fruit peel character and formed a continuous uniform layer over the fruit surface. The results showed that the coating was effective in delaying ethylene biosynthesis and reducing respiration rate. Other factors impacting included delayed chlorophyll degradation, reduced weight loss and retention of fruit firmness for the first six days, all of which improved the commercial value of the fruit. The shelf life of coated fruit was prolonged for 12 days in comparison with the untreated control which ripened within seven days and lost marketability after Day 6. The pilot study demonstrates the effectiveness of a starch-based edible coating formulation for improving the ambient storage capacity of banana fruit

Affordable interactive virtual reality system for the Dynamic Hip Screw surgery training in vitro

Interactive virtual reality systems provide safe and cost-effective training environment to improve the technical skills and competence of surgeons. The trainees can have as many practice sessions, without need to the trainer all the time, before even start carrying out the procedure on any real patient. In this paper, we present an affordable interactive virtual reality system for the Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) surgery training in vitro, through 3D tracking. The system facilitates a safe (in vitro / off patient) training to improve the cognitive coordination of trainees and junior surgeons, in particular the Hands, Eyes and Brain coordination. The system is based on very cheap commercial off-the-shelf (COT) components, which are very affordable, and needs minimum setup effort and knowledge. It also provides a range of visual and quantitative feedback information and measures, such as position, orientation, insertion point, and depth of drilling. It is envisaged that improving this level of coordination, through the training system, will contribute to reducing the failure rate of the DHS procedure. This means better treatment for patients and less costs for the Health services systems (e.g. UK's NHS system)