Investigating the Relationship Between High School Technology Education and Test Scores for Algebra 1 and Geometry

The standards-based reform movement in education that began in the 1980s has evolved. In the 1990s, the focus was on producing subject-area content standards and modifying instruction. Today, the focus has shifted to assessment, and for technology education, demonstrating the impact on children and the efficacy of the discipline within general education. The purpose of this study was to compare the Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course mathematics performance of high school students who completed courses in illustration and design technology to students who have not completed an illustration and design technology course. The following research questions were developed for this study: (1) Did students who had taken illustration and design technology courses perform better on their mathematics SOL tests than students who did not take illustration and design technology courses?; and (2) Did students who had not passed the mathematics SOL tests do better on their retake examinations after they took an illustration and design course? The population for this study was composed of 996 students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades who had taken the Algebra I and/or the Geometry end-of-course SOL examinations during the 2002-2003 school year. A t test was used to validate the first research question, and a Chi-square test was used to validate the second research question. The means and standard deviations were used to show the quality of testing between the Non-Illustration and Design Technology group and the Illustration and Design Technology group. The Illustration and Design Technology group had a 78% passing rate, while the Non-Illustration and Design Technology group had a passing rate of 73%. The Illustration and Design Technology group scored 14 points higher on average than the Non-Illustration and Design Technology group. The researchers recommend that this study be replicated with a larger sample in order to include more students. Technology educators must insure that planning at all levels implements contextual practice and includes meaningful assessment. The profession\u27s long tradition of contextual practice is meaningless if it cannot delineate the impact it is having on students

The Early Stages of Pedaliodes poesia (Hewitson, 1862) in Eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae: Pronophilina)

We describe the immature stages Pedaliodes poesia Hewitson, 1862 from northeastern Ecuador. Chusquea scandens (Poaceae, Bambusoidea) is the larval food plant. Eggs are laid singly or in pairs on the bottom side of host plant leaves. The duration of the egg, larval, and pupal stages, combined, is 99–107 days

The dynamic elastic response to impulse synchronisation of composite prosthetic energy storing and returning feet

In this research, it is proven that perfect synchronisation between the input impulse (human effort) and the ground reaction impulse/impact can result in a phenomenon called the dynamic elastic response to impulse synchronisation with favourable consequences to the behaviour of the energy storing and returning foot. An energy storing and returning composite prosthetic foot was first used in elite competition at the 1988 Paralympic Games. Since its introduction, the prostheses have proven to be a source of controversy. In 2008, it was concluded that the athletes who use such technology when running are in advantageous position when compared to able-bodied athletes. However, these findings have since been disputed. There still remain unanswered questions regarding the level of contribution of energy storing and returning feet in the performance of amputee athletes. A series of investigations have previously been conducted to study the dynamic characteristics of a number of energy storing and returning composite prosthetic feet. It was found that if a sinusoidal input impulse, with a frequency close to one of the energy storing and returning feet’s natural frequencies, could be applied, it can make the energy storing and returning foot susceptible to resonance, which, in the case of bending mode, if sustained can lead to a gain in height or increased velocity

Corridor-based functional performance measures correlate better with physical activity during daily life than treadmill measures in persons with peripheral arterial disease

ObjectiveTo compare associations of physical activity during daily life with treadmill walking performance and corridor-based functional performance measures in persons with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Study DesignCross-sectional.SubjectsOne hundred fifty-six men and women with PAD who completed baseline measurements and were randomized into the study to improve leg circulation (SILC) exercise clinical trial.Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants completed a Gardner-Skinner treadmill protocol. Corridor-based functional performance measures were the 6-minute walk, walking velocity over four meters at usual and fastest pace, and the short physical performance battery (SPPB) (0-12 scale, 12 = best). Physical activity during daily life was measured continuously over 7 days with a Caltrac (Muscle Dynamics Fitness Network, Inc, Torrence, Calif) accelerometer.ResultsAdjusting for age, gender, and race, higher levels of physical activity during daily life were associated with greater distance achieved in the 6-minute walk (P trend = .001), faster fast-paced four-meter walking velocity (P trend < .001), faster usual-paced four-meter walking speed (P trend = .027) and a higher SPPB (P trend = .005). The association of physical activity level with maximum treadmill walking distance did not reach statistical significance (P trend = .083). There were no associations of physical activity with treadmill distance to onset of leg symptoms (P trend = .795).ConclusionFunctional performance measures are more strongly associated with physical activity levels during daily life than treadmill walking measures

Versatile, Cheap, Readily Modifiable Sample Delivery Method for Analysis of Air-/Moisture-Sensitive Samples Using Atmospheric Pressure Solids Analysis Probe Mass Spectrometry

A cheap, versatile, readily modified, and reusable glass probe system enabling delivery of solid air-/moisture-sensitive samples for mass spectrometric (MS) analysis using an Atmospheric pressure Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) is described. The simplicity of the design allows quick and easy ASAP MS analyses of sensitive solid and liquid samples without the need for any modifications to commercially available vertically loaded ASAP mass spectrometers. A comparison of ASAP mass spectra obtained for metal complexes under air and an inert atmosphere is given

Phosphine-alkene ligand-mediated alkyl-alkyl and alkyl-halide elimination processes from palladium(II)

N-Diphenylphosphino-7-aza-benzobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (2) behaves as a chelating phosphine–alkene ligand for Pd0 and PdII, promoting direct alkyl–alkyl and indirect alkyl–halide reductive elimination reactions due to the stabilisation of the resulting bis(phosphine–alkene)Pd0 complex

Computationally Assisted Identification of Functional Inorganic Materials

Modules of Desire Using computational methods to design materials with specific properties has found some limited success. Dyer et al. (p. 847 , published online 11 April) have devised a method, based on extended module materials assembly, that combines chemical intuition and ab initio calculations starting from fragments or modules of structure types that show the desired functionality. The method was tested by identifying materials suitable for a solid oxide fuel cell cathode. </jats:p

The Early Stages and Natural History of Antirrhea Adoptive Porphyrosticta (Watkins, 1928) in Eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Morphinae)

Here we describe the immature stages and ecological associations of Antirrhea adoptiva porphyrosticta Watkins, 1928 (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae:Morphinae). The cloud forest bamboo, Chusquea scandens Kunth (Bambusoidea: Poaceae), serves as the larval food plant for this butterfly in eastern Ecuador, the first hostplant record for Antirrhea outside the family Arecaceae. The larvae of A. adoptiva porphyrosticta are superficially similar to those of other Antirrhea species. We also provide observations on adult and larval behavior. Caterpillars of this butterfly species are parasitized by tachinid flies, as well as by Ichneumonidae and a newly described braconid wasp

A linear programming-based method for job shop scheduling

We present a decomposition heuristic for a large class of job shop scheduling problems. This heuristic utilizes information from the linear programming formulation of the associated optimal timing problem to solve subproblems, can be used for any objective function whose associated optimal timing problem can be expressed as a linear program (LP), and is particularly effective for objectives that include a component that is a function of individual operation completion times. Using the proposed heuristic framework, we address job shop scheduling problems with a variety of objectives where intermediate holding costs need to be explicitly considered. In computational testing, we demonstrate the performance of our proposed solution approach

DNA methylation at a nutritionally sensitive region of the PAX8 gene is associated with thyroid volume and function in Gambian children.

Funder: Wellcome TrustPAX8 is a key thyroid transcription factor implicated in thyroid gland differentiation and function, and PAX8 gene methylation is reported to be sensitive to the periconceptional environment. Using a novel recall-by-epigenotype study in Gambian children, we found that PAX8 hypomethylation at age 2 years is associated with a 21% increase in thyroid volume and an increase in free thyroxine (T4) at 5 to 8 years, the latter equivalent to 8.4% of the normal range. Free T4 was associated with a decrease in DXA-derived body fat and bone mineral density. Furthermore, offspring PAX8 methylation was associated with periconceptional maternal nutrition, and methylation variability was influenced by genotype, suggesting that sensitivity to environmental exposures may be under partial genetic control. Together, our results demonstrate a possible link between early environment, PAX8 gene methylation and thyroid gland development and function, with potential implications for early embryonic programming of thyroid-related health and disease