Instructional technology in education. What are districts in a southern U.S. state acquiring and how is it being managed?

In the United States, K-12 public schools are collectively investing around $13 billion annually on educational technology. One of the central aims of integrating technology into K-12 schools is to improve or sustain school performance. Student outcomes have long been a chosen indicator of a school’s success and the existence educational technology should positively influence this indicator, but studies demonstrate an often-tenuous relationship between technology, technology use, and student performance. Recent empirical research seems to fall short of demonstrating a clear, comprehensive understanding of what instructional technology schools are acquiring, and how they manage and/or use it according to educational technology industry best practices. Moreover, research still does not fully understand the reasons why districts and/or schools want to adopt said instructional technology, as these reasons may be related to their use. Since different types of technology serve different purposes, having a strong understanding of a school or district’s underlying rationale for technology selection and its management and/or use of technology may help link technology to performance. To address this gap, this qualitative study identifies which instructional technology software systems are commonly used, why they were adopted, and how these systems are being managed by the district. Qualitative data was collected through a series of interviews (n = 6) and surveys (n = 6) of key district leaders from two urban, two suburban, and two rural school districts in a Southern U.S. state. Findings from the study indicate that there are many kinds of instructional technologies – some of which have existed over time and some of which have been recently adopted - that the focal districts intended to serve one or more stakeholder groups. According to the district leaders who participated in this study, recent adoptions in instructional technology include the technologies themselves as well as the adoption of many new strategies for utilization. Furthermore, district leaders indicated that the majority of instructional technology in their schools were adopted to serve primarily students and that adoptions have been made largely to enhance many existing aspects of teaching and learning. Responses to surveys and interviews by the district leaders included in this study indicate that utilization and tracking of instructional technology is not always being done in alignment with education and technology standards and best practices

Study of slip in high purity single crystal niobium for accelerator cavities

One of the ultimate goals in particle accelerator cavity design is to establish a model that integrates the grain orientations of an ingot slice, slip activity during deep drawing, and dislocation substructure evolution because of slip system interactions, which governs subsequent recrystallization. In order to understand the slip behavior during deep drawing of large grain Nb, it is first necessary to know how slip occurs in the uniaxial tension of single crystal Nb. In this study, the slip behavior of Nb samples taken from an ingot slice before and after an 800ºC/2h anneal is compared. The as-cut specimens were deformed monotonically to 40% engineering strain using a tensile tester (Instron 4302). The heat treated specimens were deformed in an SEM in situ using an Ernest Fullam stage, with strain increments of ~10%, and held in a loaded condition while microscopy measurements were made. After the heat treatment, the yield strengths decreased significantly for almost all specimens, and there was no longer a slight drop of flow stress between yield and 15% strain which is present in several of the as-received specimens. This implies that the dislocations initially present in the ingot play an important role in deformation, and that the heat treatment effectively removed many dislocations. In most cases, the deformation paths for corresponding specimens exhibit a different sense of rotation, even though the specimens have nearly identical starting orientations. This implies that pre-existing dislocations affected which slip systems were activated during deformation. Although the initial orientation differences were small, the pre-existing dislocations led to final orientations that differed by more than 10? after 40% strain. There is a noticeable prevalence of {110} slip in the heat treated specimens as compared to a dominance of {112} slip for the as-received specimens. This provides evidence that existing dislocations lead to conditions that favor operation of slip on {112} planes. Very linear slip traces were observed on the heat treated specimens, while there was a range of slip trace inclinations observed in the as-received group, which suggests that pre-existing dislocation entanglements may have led to bursts of slip on different planes in the same Burgers vector direction

Understanding print stability in material extrusion additive manufacturing of thermoset composites

Over the last several years, rapid progress has been made in 3D printing of thermoset polymer resins. Such materials offer desirable thermal and chemical stability, attractive strength and stiffness, and excellent compatibility with many existing high-performance fibers. Material extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) is an ideal technology to print thermoset-based composites because fibers align during extrusion through the deposition nozzle, thereby enabling the engineer to design fiber orientation into the printed component. Current efforts to scale thermoset AM up to large-scale have shown promise, but have also highlighted issues with print stability. To-date, very little research has focused on understanding how rheological properties of the feedstock dictate the mechanical stability of printed objects. This talk will describe our first efforts in this area by printing tall, thin walls to characterize buckling and yielding due to self-weight. The talk will begin with an overview of thermoset material extrusion AM, including a brief history and the current state of the art in small and large-scale printing. The talk will then describe simple thin-walled test geometry and experimental setup that enable quantitative assessment and monitoring of geometric stability during the printing process using machine vision. Two feed stocks are investigated, each having different rheological properties, and the height at which buckling begins and the height at which full collapse occurs are identified as a function of wall thickness. Complementary rheological characterization shows that collapse of thin printed walls is well predicted by the classical self-weight, elastic buckling model, provided the recovery behavior of the feedstock is accounted for. These tests highlight the importance of understanding recovery in material extrusion AM feedstocks and could lead to the design of better resins and fillers, and could provide guidelines for the selection of successful print parameters for both small and large-scale thermoset AM. The talk will conclude with a brief discussion of next steps and outlook on the future of material extrusion AM of thermoset materials

Telomere dysfunction accurately predicts clinical outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, even in patients with early stage disease

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Defining the prognosis of individual cancer sufferers remains a significant clinical challenge. Here we assessed the ability of high-resolution single telomere length analysis (STELA), combined with an experimentally derived definition of telomere dysfunction, to predict the clinical outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We defined the upper telomere length threshold at which telomere fusions occur and then used the mean of the telomere 'fusogenic' range as a prognostic tool. Patients with telomeres within the fusogenic range had a significantly shorter overall survival (P  <  0·0001; Hazard ratio [HR] = 13·2, 95% confidence interval [CI]  = 11·6-106·4) and this was preserved in early-stage disease patients (P  <  0·0001, HR=19·3, 95% CI = 17·8-802·5). Indeed, our assay allowed the accurate stratification of Binet stage A patients into those with indolent disease (91% survival at 10 years) and those with poor prognosis (13% survival at 10 years). Furthermore, patients with telomeres above the fusogenic mean showed superior prognosis regardless of their IGHV mutation status or cytogenetic risk group. In keeping with this finding, telomere dysfunction was the dominant variable in multivariate analysis. Taken together, this study provides compelling evidence for the use of high-resolution telomere length analysis coupled with a definition of telomere dysfunction in the prognostic assessment of CLL

Mobility and connection among the Early Bronze Age Syrian elite

The archaeological site of Umm el-Marra (in the Jabbul plain, western Syria), is a large, fortified urban center. Excavations have uncovered ten tomb structures built during the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2600–2150 BCE) that possibly contain royalty as evidenced by lavish grave goods and paleopathological evidence suggesting sociocultural buffering from the harsh social and physical environments of agricultural urban centers in the Bronze Age Near East. Inside adjacent brick installations are animal (primarily equid) skeletons interpreted as interments, possibly sacrifices in some instances, as part of ceremonies honoring the entombed. The burial site was eventually re-used as evidenced by a monumental platform above the tombs, interpreted as use for ritual activities of ancestor veneration. This study analyzed 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O values from enamel of 13 individuals interred in these tombs, along with enamel and bone samples from animals found in and around the tomb structures. Six of 13 (43 %) individuals analyzed in these tombs are identified as non-locals. Although contemporaneous data in the northern Levant is scarce, we see much higher evidence of human movement at Umm el-Marra compared to others. Only elites are included in this study, but their relative mobility might imply that the ancient city established its position as a secondary center along major trade routes through intermarriage and connectivity. The concept of ‘social memory’ is evident, as the lives and deaths of these elites are integrated into this site where ancestor veneration is evidenced in centuries following interment

What are the characteristics of a professional teacher educator? A think piece

This question - ‘What are the characteristics of a professional teacher educator?’ - was simply sent out as a survey to all teacher educators who engage with the Teacher Education Advancement Network (TEAN). The aim was to give respondents the opportunity to comment from their own perspectives, whatever they were, thus adding their voices to our search for the characteristics of professional teacher educators. The resulting data were collated and refined by the authors of this paper who then worked together to write the think piece. As a think piece it sets out to provoke a response from its readers and hopes that readers will ‘think’ and use it to share in dialogue with colleagues and continue to add their voices to this debate

INTREPID:single- versus multiple-inhaler triple therapy for COPD in usual clinical practice

INTRODUCTION: Real-world trial data comparing single- with multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT) in COPD patients are currently lacking. The effectiveness of once-daily single-inhaler fluticasone furoate (FF)/umeclidinium (UMEC)/vilanterol (VI) and MITT were compared in usual clinical care. METHODS: INTREPID was a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase IV effectiveness study comparing FF/UMEC/VI 100/62.5/25 µg via the ELLIPTA inhaler with a clinician's choice of any approved non-ELLIPTA MITT in usual COPD clinical practice in five European countries. Primary end-point was proportion of COPD Assessment Test (CAT) responders (≥2-unit decrease in CAT score from baseline) at week 24. Secondary end-points in a subpopulation included change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and percentage of patients making at least one critical error in inhalation technique at week 24. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: 3092 patients were included (FF/UMEC/VI n=1545; MITT n=1547). The proportion of CAT responders at week 24 was significantly greater with FF/UMEC/VI versus non-ELLIPTA MITT (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13–1.51; p<0.001) and mean change from baseline in FEV(1) was significantly greater with FF/UMEC/VI (77 mL versus 28 mL; treatment difference 50 mL, 95% CI 26–73 mL; p<0.001). The percentage of patients with at least one critical error in inhalation technique was low in both groups (FF/UMEC/VI 6%; non-ELLIPTA MITT 3%). Safety profiles, including incidence of pneumonia serious adverse events, were similar between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In a usual clinical care setting, treatment with once-daily single-inhaler FF/UMEC/VI resulted in significantly more patients gaining health status improvement and greater lung function improvement versus non-ELLIPTA MITT

The Grizzly, November 13, 1990

Clergy Assembly Meets Ninth Consecutive Year • Career Day: An Information Session for Students • U.S. Energy Policy Anti-American? • The Ursinus Tutoring Program • Being British Without Being English • Election Results • Students React to Reimert Security Doors • Greeks Sponsor Halloween Party • F.W. Olin Foundation • Wilk 3 Protest • The History of Olin Grant • The Changeling • INXS • Television: Whose Reality is it Anyway? • Swimmers Wash Out Washington • Cross-Country Team Pleased with Regionals • Steimy Starts Club • Men\u27s Basketball Looks for Improvement in 1991 Season • Football Finishes Season with a Loss • Letters: No Defense for Personal Abuse; Zeta Chi Missed the Point! • Uncle Sam Wants Everyone • Pre-Med Prognosis Improving • Ursinus Grad in Sticky Situation • Brownback-Anders Meetinghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1264/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 26, 1991

The Gulf War: How Will It Affect the Economy? • Airband Competition Enters Its Eighth Year • Sears-Roebuck Award, A Boon for Faculty • How Will the War End? • My First College Field Trip • McCabe Wins Contest • John Lionarons Performs • Dan Pasquale • Steel Magnolias • L.A Story • Peter Benchley\u27s Rummies • Flatliners • Former Monsters of Rock • City Art: Pop Art Prints • Angelos Resigns as Head Basketball Coach at Ursinus • Swimmers Place High at MAC Championships • Lady Bears Look to ECAC Play-off • Track Women Improve at Invitational • Wrestlers Place Fourth at MAC\u27s • Letter: Schafer Bashes Harley\u27s Haven • I Cannot Accept it • Most Selective - Bio/Pre-Med at Ursinus • Feeling lazy? -Could be CFS • Science Careershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1272/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 16, 1991

Alcohol Policy Changes Discussed • Reimert Fire Breaks Up Sorority Rush: Deliberate or Accidental Still Unknown • Faculty Evaluates Frat Pledges Performance • Economics Conference Held • U.S.G.A. Minutes • Conflict and Creativity: ProTheatre Does it Again • Is Rock and Roll Really Dead? • REM: Out of Time • The Cider House Rules, Revisited • Religious Significance of David • Plaza Suite in Wismer • Jack Spinella Named New Basketball Coach • Men\u27s Track Falls to Hopkins • Men\u27s Lax Goes 1 and 1 This Week • Women Run Over Muhlenberg • Softball Splits • Golf Below Par • Student Input on Alcohol Policy Inadequate • Schafer Demands Opinion • Hold on to Your Key Money? • Letters: Apathy Dialog Proposed; Sorry, Harley; Thanks, Judd!; Weakly not Weekly • The Cutting Edge of Surgery • Electron Microscope to be Purchased With Kresge Grant • Help for Chronic Fatigue Sufferershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1276/thumbnail.jp