Planned Behavior Typologies of Agricultural Education Teacher Educators Regarding Service Learning as a Method of Instruction: A National Mixed Methods Study

This study sought to understand the service-learning beliefs and intentions of agricultural education teacher educators. We collected quantitative data through a web-based survey instrument and course syllabi. Variables yielding statistically significant relationships were analyzed using cluster analysis, which produced three unique clusters operationalized as typologies representing the planned behaviors of teacher educators regarding service learning. For example, the Optimistically Unaware expressed positive beliefs about the method, but did not understand how to integrate service learning in their teaching methods courses. Meanwhile, the Policy-Focused Decision Makers used established education policy as anchors when navigating decisions, such as whether to feature service learning in their courses. Service-Learning Implementers espoused strong beliefs about the method’s potential while also emphasizing how it could be used to enrich the preparation of agriculture teachers. Results point to the potential service learning holds if integrated as a complement to teacher preparation rather than an addition to current practice

Guidelines for the monitoring of Lucanus cervus

Lucanus cervus is one of the most charismatic saproxylic beetles, widely distributed in Europe. The species is typical of mature deciduous forests, especially oak woodlands. Loss and fragmentation of suitable habitats is one of the major threats for this species which is included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Despite several studies carried out in the last years for the monitoring methods of the species, an analytical comparison between them is still lacking. The aims of this paper are (i) to review the current knowledge about systematics, ecology and conservation practices on L. cervus and (ii) to present the research carried out during the Life MIPP project, in order to define a standard monitoring method with a suitable protocol to be used for addressing the obligations of the Habitats Directive. Overall, five methods were tested during three years in two different study areas. Based on these results, a suitable standard method for L. cervus is proposed in this paper and, in order to assess the conservation status of populations and to compare them over time, a simple method for the calculation of a reference value is provided

Bringing Space Science Down to Earth for Preservice Elementary Teachers

This article reports on a collaborative enterprise between Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) NASA Education Projects and OSU’s College of Education preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) to engage approximately 400 middle school students for a 20-minute live downlink with Commander Kevin Ford from the International Space Station (ISS). NASA supports this opportunity through a competitive proposal process (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2014). The project’s theme, Pioneers in Space: STEM Careers on the Space Frontier, engaged both PSTs and middle school students in discussing the benefits of space research, while drawing on themes relevant to students’ regional history. PSTs prepared Pioneers in Space instructional units and led classroom activities linking 6th grade state science standards. The desired outcome was to promote a greater understanding of how space exploration benefits society and contributes to STEM innovations. This paper reports on how curriculum design and leadership experiences in space education and outreach impacted the PST participants

Assessing the Value Provided by ERP Applications Through Organizational Activities

When managers and stockholders consider making an investment in information technology (IT), as with any other investment, a major concern is whether this investment will add to the performance of their organization. However, it is difficult to identify the nature of the linkage between an investment in IT in general, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), in particular, to an organization\u27s performance. In this study we extend the work of Barua et al. , Lerch and Mangal, and Tallon et al. We develop a model to identify the value ERP applications add to Porter\u27s organizational primary activities and the information systems (IS) applications related to ERP that help deliver added value through organizational characteristics. This new model should help in assessing the potential value of an ERP investment. We examine the relationship of ERP applications and organizational characteristics to an organization\u27s primary activities by a path analysis of more than 200 medium and large sized manufacturing firms. The results of this investigation indicate that organizational characteristics mediate the relationship between IS applications and the value ERP can add to the organizational primary activities. Consequently, organizations with different characteristics may add different value to their primary activities by using ERP applications. We found that each primary activity was supported by some, though not necessarily all, IS applications included in most ERP packages. We conclude that, an organization\u27s characteristics are related to the return that may be gained from the use of ERP systems. We offer recommendations on how organizations can use ERP to add value to their primary activities, based on their organizational characteristics

Spontaneous Chelation-Driven Reduction of the Neptunyl Cation in Aqueous Solution.

Octadentate hydroxypyridinone (HOPO) and catecholamide (CAM) siderophore analogues are known to be efficacious chelators of the actinide cations, and these ligands are also capable of facilitating both activation and reduction of actinyl species. Utilizing X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies, as well as cyclic voltammetry measurements, herein, we elucidate chelation-based mechanisms for driving reactivity and initiating redox processes in a family of neptunyl-HOPO and CAM complexes. Based on the selected chelator, the ability to control the oxidation state of neptunium and the speed of reduction and concurrent oxo group activation was demonstrated. Most notably, reduction kinetics for the NpV O2 +/ /NpIV redox couple upon chelation by the ligands 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 3,4,3-LI(CAM)2 (1,2-HOPO)2 was observed to be faster than ever reported, and in fact quicker than we could measure using either X-ray absorption spectroscopy or electrochemical techniques

Development of a Disposable Gold Electrodes-Based Sensor for Electrochemical Measurements of cDNA Hybridization

AbstractThis work deals with the development of a disposable electrochemical biosensor for the specific detection of short DNA sequences. The sensor is an amperometric transducer with three planar electrodes, comprising a working, a counter and a pseudo-reference electrode, all made of a gold layer over a polycarbonate substrate. For the development of the genosensor, the working electrode was modified using thiol-tethered 33-mer DNA probe by chemisorptions, in a concentration range from 0.1 μM to 5 μM. Immobilization of ssDNA on gold surface was monitored with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in Fe(CN)64−/13− and Ruthenium(II)/(III) solutions. The time dependence of ssDNA probe immobilization was also studied. The hybridization detection is then compared with EIS and DPV measurements

Optimasi Gripper Dua Lengan Dengan Menggunakan Metode Genetic Algorithm Pada Simulator Arm Robot 5 DOF (Degree of Freedom)

An arm robot simulator 5dof (degree of freedom) which is equipped with a two-finger gripper is designed to determine the movement of the robot manipulator. To make an arm robot simulator, we used acrylic as a base material, servomotor as a driver and an Arduino Uno SMD as microcontroller. Acrylic was chosen because it is light, strong and durable. Arduino Uno SMD was chosen because it can interact with LabVIEW that will be able to control the movement angle of servomotor manually. The purpose of this final project is to make an arm robot simulator 5 dof which equipped a gripper and optimization of two finger gripper configuration use one of optimization techniques, the genetic algorithm optimization. For making the link of simulator, we use the acrylic laser cutting machine to be more precision cutting. Servomotor\u27s movement is controlled by using a program that was created using LabVIEW. Servomotor\u27s angle position error was corrected by using program functions of numerical multiply and numerical divided on LabVIEW. Optimization of gripper configuration using MATLAB software as a tool for the calculation. A genetic algorithm optimization used the default parameters, then the calculation result are always different. All the results of these calculations are correct and it affects the shape of the gripper configuration at zmax. Then the torque of gripper before optimized and after optimized can be obtained

Iterative approach to computational enzyme design

A general approach for the computational design of enzymes to catalyze arbitrary reactions is a goal at the forefront of the field of protein design. Recently, computationally designed enzymes have been produced for three chemical reactions through the synthesis and screening of a large number of variants. Here, we present an iterative approach that has led to the development of the most catalytically efficient computationally designed enzyme for the Kemp elimination to date. Previously established computational techniques were used to generate an initial design, HG-1, which was catalytically inactive. Analysis of HG-1 with molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and X-ray crystallography indicated that the inactivity might be due to bound waters and high flexibility of residues within the active site. This analysis guided changes to our design procedure, moved the design deeper into the interior of the protein, and resulted in an active Kemp eliminase, HG-2. The cocrystal structure of this enzyme with a transition state analog (TSA) revealed that the TSA was bound in the active site, interacted with the intended catalytic base in a catalytically relevant manner, but was flipped relative to the design model. MD analysis of HG-2 led to an additional point mutation, HG-3, that produced a further threefold improvement in activity. This iterative approach to computational enzyme design, including detailed MD and structural analysis of both active and inactive designs, promises a more complete understanding of the underlying principles of enzymatic catalysis and furthers progress toward reliably producing active enzymes