Intelligent pigments and plastics for CO2 detection

A novel CO2 intelligent pigment is incorporated into a thermoplastic polymer to create a long-lived CO2-sensitive plastic film which is characterised and then compared to a traditional solvent-based CO2 indicator film

Detoxification of water by semiconductor photocatalysis

An overview of the use of semiconductor photocatalysis for water purification is given. The basic principles of semiconductor photocatalysis are described along with the current understanding of the underlying reaction mechanism(s) and how it fits in with the major features of the observed Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type kinetics of pollutant destruction. These features are illustrated based on literature on the destruction of aqueous solutions of 4-chlorophenol as a pollutant, using titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst. The range of organic and inorganic pollutants that can be destroyed by semiconductor photocatalysis are reported and discussed. The basic considerations that need to be made when designing a reactor for semiconductor photocatalysis are considered. These include: the nature of the reactor glass, the type of illumination source, and the nature and type of semiconductor photocatalyst. The key basic photoreactor designs are reported and discussed, including external illumination, annular, and circular photoreactors. Actual designs that have been used for fixed and thin falling film semiconductor photocatalyst reactors are illustrated and their different features discussed. Basic non-concentrating and concentrating solar photoreactors for semiconductor photocatalysis are also reported. The design features of the major commercial photocatalytic reactor systems for water purification are reported and illustrated. Several case studies involving commercial photocatalytic reactors for water purification are reported. An attempt is made briefly to compare the efficacy of semiconductor photocatalysis for water purification with that of other, more popular and prevalent water purification processes. The future of semiconductor photocatalysis as a method of purifying water is considered

MiniBooNE: Status of the Booster Neutrino Experiment

MiniBooNE is preparing to search for nu_mu to nu_e oscillations at Fermilab. The experiment is designed to make a conclusive statement about LSND's neutrino oscillation evidence. We give a status report on the preparation of the experiment and outline the experimental prospects.Comment: 6 pages, To appear in Proceedings of the XIX International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics (Neutrino 2000), Sudbury. Canada, 16-21 June 200

Substance Abuse Therapeutics

This chapter provides a broad overview of therapies for substance abuse. These therapies are understood in the context of the history of drug use in the United States and factors that influenced the expansion and regulation of substance use. This is followed by a discussion of how the complexity of these factors was associated with difficulties in understanding substance misuse and created challenges to the creation of effective treatment systems. The chapter reviews the moral and disease models of addiction before discussing the diagnosis of substance-related disorders. The chapter describes major treatment approaches and their efficacy

Genetic analysis of strain differences in pre-laying behaviour in the fowl: an ethological and genetic analysis of differences in the pre-laying behaviour of two strains of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) confined in battery cages: a study pertaining to the evolution and adaptiveness of behaviour under conditions of natural and artificial selection

This thesis deals with the description and analysis of the pre-laying behaviour of two strains of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domestlcus) in battery cages. Hens from one of these strains, known as the S line, showed stereotyped pacing behaviour before laying. Hens from the other strain, known as the T line, showed little or no pacing behaviour and tended to sit.Selection over two generations, for pacing in the S line and for sitting in the T line, consistently increased both variables: indicating genetic variation in the expression of the two traits.Crosses between the two lines, extending to backcross and Fl generations, indicated that the tendencies to pace and to sit during the pre-laying period were inherited separately. The tendency to sit appeared to be inherited additively, whereas the tendency topace (as opposed to not pacing) appeared to be inherited in adichotomous fashion, controlled by a single gene or a polygenic threshold system. Neither trait was sex-linked.It is suggested that the differences in the pre-laying behaviour of the two strains are due to differences in responsiveness to releasers for sitting behaviour. The T line generalise to sub-obtimal stimuli from the cage associated with the release of sitting behaviour; whilst the S line fail to do so,become frustrated, and in response to this frustration exhibit stereotyped pacing behaviour.The differences in the pre-laying behaviour of the two strains did not appear to be related to their responses to aversive stimuli or the frustration of feeding behaviour, or to their ability togeneralise to sub-optimal stimuli other than those associated with the release of sitting during the period before laying.Theoretical aspects of the study relelated to the genetics of behaviour and its evolution are relevant to Tinbergen's "derived" activities hypothesis, which postulates that some visual displays have been derived from the behaviour shown in response to motivational conflict or thwarting.Practical aspects of the study relate to the improvement of the welfare of domestic animals kept under intensive husbandry conditions by breeding domestic animals better adapted to life under such conditions than present day livestock

ONE DISTRICT’S STAKEHOLDERS’ DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SUPPORTS AND BARRIERS IMPACTING THE USE OF A DIGITAL MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM

Digital Curriculum Resources are a new, fast-growing educational technology for learning mathematics that can allow today’s classroom to be transformed instantaneously. More efficient technology, however, does not necessarily equate to increased student achievement. To ensure that these technologies benefit their learners, it will become critical for schools to identify potential barriers and develop plans for addressing these barriers during implementation. This qualitative case study sought to better understand the experiences of various stakeholder groups at a suburban middle school that has used a digital mathematics curriculum for the last two school years. Using an interview protocol, two administrators, five teachers, 10 students, and 15 parents were interviewed about their experience using a digital curriculum. Data were electronically transcribed, coded, and categorized for analysis. Overall, responses were more negative than positive regarding their experience using a digital curriculum. Administrators identified numerous barriers with teachers and students negatively impacting use of a digital curriculum. Teachers were more critical than supportive of the curriculum and suggested the curriculum may not fit the needs of the community. Students expressed mixed feelings regarding the curriculum identifying multiple benefits and barriers. Parents reported a lack of connection to the digital curriculum. Additionally, teachers and students identified the digital device as a significant distraction to the learning process and multiple groups identified significant training needs for staff, students, and parents

Identity to be determined: The development of the American ideal in the Early Republic

Late victories in the War of 1812, like General Andrew Jackson’s triumph in the Battle of New Orleans rekindled the growing sense of nationalistic fervor that had appeared after the American Revolution. Americans saw themselves as a people with a unique destiny granted by God. Between the 1780s and the 1820s, different political party visions of American identity competed. The Jeffersonians were agrarian-focused. They envisioned a nation based on the morality of citizens. Federalists saw a more hierarchical, European-like society as the best hope for the American cause. These competing visions of identity led to continued attacks by the leading party factions against one another. After the War of 1812, Jeffersonian driven accusations of treason decimated pro-British Federalists. Jeffersonians painted Federalists as conspirators seeking to abandon the United States. Federalists lost what power they had, and all but dissolved. The Jeffersonian vision of identity proved triumphant, but it had evolved over the course of the Early Republic, no longer calling for a small agrarian Republic. The Jeffersonians, or Republicans, had created a more pronounced American identity that fused elements of the Jeffersonian and Federalist Parties. By Andrew Jackson’s Presidency in 1828, American identity continued to evolve into a populist vision, showcasing the molding of Americanism in the Early Republic

EMERGENT THEMES SURROUNDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICS FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN MATHEMATICS

As the nation transitions into a new national curriculum, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), educators face the challenge of meeting the needs of a diverse student population coupled with a change in standards. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand educators’ perceptions surrounding the implementation of these standards specific to students with learning disabilities in mathematics. Five rural, middle school educators were interviewed using a series of questions that investigated their experiences related to implementation of the CCSSM. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Coding was used to identify emergent themes surrounding the phenomenon. Six emergent themes were identified: 1) disconnect between the focus on depth of knowledge and the unique learning characteristics of students with learning disabilities in math, 2) uncertainty surrounding teaching multiple strategies for problem-solving, 3) benefits from a streamlined set of standards 4) teacher and student challenges in transitioning to the CCSSM, 5) lack of professional development, and 6) acknowledgement of the cyclical nature of standards in education. The implication of this study suggests teachers acknowledge the benefits and limitations for implementing the CCSSM with students with learning disabilities in mathematics