An Assessment Framework for First-Year Introduction to Engineering Courses

In this evidence-based practice paper, we describe an assessment framework that applies to first-year introductory engineering courses. First-year engineering courses cover a variety of learning objectives that address both technical and professional outcomes outlined in ABET. These courses also often involve open-ended design and modeling projects. The assessment of multiple competencies along with open-ended design can be a challenging task for educators. In this paper, we describe a framework that guides instructional processes for effective assessment for student learning. This assessment-centered teaching and learning framework helps connect specific learning objectives to broader learning goals or competencies and on-going formative feedback targeting student progression on specific learning objectives. Our plan is to refine the framework using a design-based research approach. Following the description of the model and its development, we present results from the first cycle of implementation. We conclude by discussing hybrid ways for combining traditional methods of assessment with the ability to highlight performance expectations and the appropriate uses of the framework in the classroom

Consistent Nest Site Selection by Turtles Across Habitats With Varying Levels of Human Disturbance

Human disturbance impacts the breeding behavior of many species, and it is particularly important to understand how these human-caused changes affect vulnerable taxa, such as turtles. Habitat alteration can change the amount and quality of suitable nesting habitat, while human presence during nesting may influence nesting behavior. Consequently, both habitat alteration and human presence can influence the microhabitat that females choose for nesting. In the summer of 2019, we located emydid turtle nests in east-central Alabama, USA, in areas with varying levels of human disturbance (high, intermediate, low). We aimed to determine whether turtles selected nest sites based on a range of microhabitat variables comparing maternally selected natural nests to randomly chosen artificial nests. We also compared nest site choice across areas with different levels of human disturbance. Natural nests had less variance in canopy openness and average daily mean and minimum temperature than artificial nests, but microhabitat variables were similar across differing levels of disturbance. Additionally, we experimentally quantified nest predation across a natural to human-disturbed gradient. Nest predation rates were higher in areas with low and intermediate levels of disturbance than in areas with high human disturbance. Overall, these results show that turtles are not adjusting their choices of nest microhabitat when faced with anthropogenic change, suggesting that preserving certain natural microhabitat features will be critical for populations in human-disturbed areas

Влияние размера частиц горной породы на параметры пневмотранспортирования

Приведені результати досліджень впливу розміру часток гірської породи, що транспортується, на параметри пневмотранспортування. Отримані залежності для визначення швидкості пневмотранспортування та витрат стислого повітря від розміру часток матеріалу, що транспортується, з урахуванням параметрів пневмотранспортної системи.The brought results over of researches of influence of size of parts of mountain breed that is transported, on the parameters of pneumatic portage. The got dependences are for determination of speed of pneumatic portage and charges of the compressed air from the size of parts of material that is transported, taking into account the parameters of the pneumatic portage system

Interactions of Ar(9+) and metastable Ar(8+) with a Si(100) surface at velocities near the image acceleration limit

Auger LMM spectra and preliminary model simulations of Ar(9+) and metastable Ar(8+) ions interacting with a clean monocrystalline n-doped Si(100) surface are presented. By varying the experimental parameters, several yet undiscovered spectroscopic features have been observed providing valuable hints for the development of an adequate interaction model. On our apparatus the ion beam energy can be lowered to almost mere image charge attraction. High data acquisition rates could still be maintained yielding an unprecedented statistical quality of the Auger spectra.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, http://pikp28.uni-muenster.de/~ducree

До питання про походження імені язичеської богині Мокоша

Приводяться екстралінгвістичні та лінгвістичні докази, що Мокоша пов’язана з водою. Виявлено лексична спорідненість цього ім’я не тільки з індоєвропейськими, але й семітськими мовами. На основі аналізу структурних компонентів слів, які мають спільну сему “вода” та подібність у звучанні, у досліджуваному слові виділено етимологічний корінь о-(а), префікс м- і суфікси -к - і -ош(а). Ключові слова: глубинна етимологія, Мокоша, загальна сема, подібні структурні компоненти, індоєвропейські, семітські мови.Приводятся экстралингвистические и лингвистические доказательства, что Мокоша связана с водой. Обнаружено лексическое родство этого имени не только с индоевропейскими, но и семитскими языками. На основе анализа структурных компонентов слов, которые имеют общую сему “вода” и сходство в звучании, в исследуемом слове выделено этимологический корень о-(а-), префикс м- и суффиксы -к - и -ош(а). Ключевые слова: глубинная этимология, Мокоша, общая сема, похожие структурные компоненты, индоевропейские, семитские языки.Extra-linguistic and linguistic arguments are adduced that Mokosha is connected with water. The lexical affinity of this name was established both with Indo-European and Semitic languages. On the basis of the analysis of structural components of the words which have the common seme “water” and show resemblance in sounding, the etymological root o-(a-), prefix m- and suffixes -k- and -osh(a) were singled out in the investigated word. Keywords: deep etymology, Mokosha, common seme, similar structural components, Indо- European, Semitic languages

Chlamydophila pneumoniae induces a sustained airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in mice

Background: It has been reported that Chlamydophila (C.) pneumoniae is involved in the initiation and promotion of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Surprisingly, the effect of C. pneumoniae on airway function has never been investigated.Methods: In this study, mice were inoculated intranasally with C. pneumoniae (strain AR39) on day 0 and experiments were performed on day 2, 7, 14 and 21.Results: We found that from day 7, C. pneumoniae infection causes both a sustained airway hyperresponsiveness and an inflammation. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and macrophage inflammatory chemokine-2 (MIP-2) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-fluid were increased on all experimental days with exception of day 7 where MIP-2 concentrations dropped to control levels. In contrast, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were only increased on day 7. From day 7 to 21 epithelial damage and secretory cell hypertrophy was observed. It is suggested that, the inflammatory cells/mediators, the epithelial damage and secretory cell hypertrophy contribute to initiation of airway hyperresponsiveness.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates for the first time that C. pneumoniae infection can modify bronchial responsiveness. This has clinical implications, since additional changes in airway responsiveness and inflammation-status induced by this bacterium may worsen and/or provoke breathlessness in asthma and COPD

Возможности использования ксеноселезенки в клинической практике

Рассмотрена проблема применения ксеноселезенки в клинике. Показана целесообразность применения криобиологических технологий для получения биологически активных экстрактов из фрагментов ксеноселезенки. Разработан такой экстракт, определены его биофармацевтические свойства и клиническая эффективность при эндобронхиальном введении больным с абсцессами легких.The problem of xenospleen use in clinical practice is discussed. Reasonability of application of cryobiological technologies to obtain biologically active extracts from xenospleen fragments is shown. The extract has been developed, its biopharmaceutical properties and clinical efficacy at endobronchial administration in patients with lung abscess is shown

Itinerant ferromagnetism in half-metallic CoS_2

We have investigated electronic and magnetic properties of the pyrite-type CoS_2 using the linearized muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band method. We have obtained the ferromagnetic ground state with nearly half-metallic nature. The half-metallic stability is studied by using the fixed spin moment method. The non-negligible orbital magnetic moment of Co 3d electrons is obtained as $\mu_L = 0.06 \mu_B$ in the local spin density approximation (LSDA). The calculated ratio of the orbital to spin angular momenta / = 0.15 is consistent with experiment. The effect of the Coulomb correlation between Co 3d electrons is also explored with the LSDA + U method. The Coulomb correlation at Co sites is not so large, $U \lesssim 1$ eV, and so CoS_2 is possibly categorized as an itinerant ferromagnet. It is found that the observed electronic and magnetic behaviors of CoS_2 can be described better by the LSDA than by the LSDA + U.Comment: 4 pages, 3 postscript figure