Trends in the AMS Education Symposium and Highlights from 2012

The Department of Meteorology (now Atmospheric Sciences) at the University of Utah faced reductions in state funding in 2008 that reduced support for nontenured instructors at the same time that the faculty were becoming increasingly successful obtaining federally supported research grants. A faculty retreat and subsequent discussions led to substantive curriculum changes to modernize the curriculum, enhance course offerings for undergraduate and graduate students, and improve the overall efficiency of the academic program. Maintaining discipline standards and existing teaching loads were important constraints on these changes. Key features of the curriculum revisions for undergraduate majors included eliminating a very rigid course progression; shifting the emphasis from required courses to elective courses; offering many courses only every other year; and relying on half-semester short courses to survey subject areas rather than focusing in depth on fewer ones. The curriculum changes were evaluated through surveys and individual and focus group discussions of students and faculty. While the feedback suggests that the changes overall were beneficial, the transitional period during which the changes were implemented was difficult for faculty and students alike. Faculty members have opportunities now to adjust courses based on their experiences gained teaching these courses in their new format. The feedback from students and faculty suggests that building improved relationships and interactions among co-enrolled undergraduate and graduate students is the greatest need in order to improve the classroom learning environment

A catalogue of Locus Algorithm pointings for optimal differential photometry for 23 779 quasars

ABSTRACT This paper presents a catalogue of optimized pointings for differential photometry of 23 779 quasars extracted from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Catalogue and a Score for each indicating the quality of the Field of View (FoV) associated with that pointing. Observation of millimagnitude variability on a time-scale of minutes typically requires differential observations with reference to an ensemble of reference stars. For optimal performance, these reference stars should have similar colour and magnitude to the target quasar. In addition, the greatest quantity and quality of suitable reference stars may be found by using a telescope pointing which offsets the target object from the centre of the FoV. By comparing each quasar with the stars which appear close to it on the sky in the SDSS Catalogue, an optimum pointing can be calculated, and a figure of merit, referred to as the ‘Score’ is calculated for that pointing. Highly flexible software has been developed to enable this process to be automated and implemented in a distributed computing paradigm, which enables the creation of catalogues of pointings given a set of input targets. Applying this technique to a sample of 40 000 targets from the fourth SDSS quasar catalogue resulted in the production of pointings and Scores for 23 779 quasars based on their magnitudes in the SDSS r-band. This catalogue is a useful resource for observers planning differential photometry studies and surveys of quasars to select those which have many suitable celestial neighbours for differential photometry

Development of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuated Mechanisms for Spacecraft Release Applications

Current methods of deploying spacecraft payloads typically employ explosive-type separation devices which do not address shock concerns and are not resettable without disassembly from the spacecraft or significant refurbishment of parts. Other separation mechanisms exist which eliminate explosives, but also do not offer reduced shock or the advantages of insitu resettability. Several new, shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuated release mechanisms have been developed for satellite release applications for loads of 500 lbf and greater. These mechanisms all offer fast, non-pyro releases and are completely testable and reusable while mounted on the spacecraft. The Qwknut and the Low-Force Nut (LFN) are suitable for release applications up to 3000 lbf, while the Fast-Acting, Shockless Separation Nut (FASSN) is suitable for higher load releases above 5000 lbf. FASSNs have been successfully prototyped for release applications of 80,000 lbf. Shawn H. Smith Applications for SMA mechanisms include satellite hold-down and release from the launch vehicle, hold-down and release of solar panels, and hold-down and release of cover panels and satellite appendages

Teaching and learning intuition: Some implications for HRD and coaching practice

Purpose: examine conceptual and theoretical links between intuition and coaching; investigate accomplished coaches’ practical experiences of intuition; identify skill set of an intuitive coach; discuss implications of findings for coaches’, HRD professionals and line managers’ learning and development. Method and Sample: in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews with 14 accomplished experienced executive coaches (eight males and six females) averaging 14.5 years as a coach. Findings: outline of core attributes of an intuitive coach. Implications: immersion in experience, a reflective approach to practice, effective feedback and supervision, and attending to personal well-being are likely to enable coaches, HRD practitioners and line managers to take a more informed and intelligent approach to ‘going with their gut’ in coaching situations

Effect of Oral Iron Repletion on Exercise Capacity in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Iron Deficiency: The IRONOUT HF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Iron deficiency is present in approximately 50% of patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is an independent predictor of reduced functional capacity and mortality. However, the efficacy of inexpensive readily available oral iron supplementation in heart failure is unknown. Objective: To test whether therapy with oral iron improves peak exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF and iron deficiency. Design, Setting, and Participants: Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of patients with HFrEF ( Interventions: Oral iron polysaccharide (n = 111) or placebo (n = 114), 150 mg twice daily for 16 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was a change in peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2) from baseline to 16 weeks. Secondary end points were change in 6-minute walk distance, plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and health status as assessed by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ, range 0-100, higher scores reflect better quality of life). Results: Among 225 randomized participants (median age, 63 years; 36% women) 203 completed the study. The median baseline peak V̇o2 was 1196 mL/min (interquartile range [IQR], 887-1448 mL/min) in the oral iron group and 1167 mL/min (IQR, 887-1449 mL/min) in the placebo group. The primary end point, change in peak V̇o2 at 16 weeks, did not significantly differ between the oral iron and placebo groups (+23 mL/min vs -2 mL/min; difference, 21 mL/min [95% CI, -34 to +76 mL/min]; P = .46). Similarly, at 16 weeks, there were no significant differences between treatment groups in changes in 6-minute walk distance (-13 m; 95% CI, -32 to 6 m), NT-proBNP levels (159; 95% CI, -280 to 599 pg/mL), or KCCQ score (1; 95% CI, -2.4 to 4.4), all P \u3e .05. Conclusions and Relevance: Among participants with HFrEF with iron deficiency, high-dose oral iron did not improve exercise capacity over 16 weeks. These results do not support use of oral iron supplementation in patients with HFrEF. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02188784

Ursinus College Alumni Journal, Spring 1947

It\u27s time to vote • President\u27s page • News from the campus: Club meetings; Debating; Forum Committee; Curtain Club; YM and YW; Men\u27s sports; Women\u27s sports; New coach appointed; May Day; Alumni Day • Christian education in China • Around town • Ursinus professor honored • Tribute to Dean Kline • News about ourselves • Function of an alumni association • Reunion abroad • Necrology • War Memorial Committee requests expression of opinion from alumni • Alumni Association nomineeshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1030/thumbnail.jp