493 research outputs found
Scientists and the Science Educators: Collaborating to Develop Conceptual Change Teaching Strategies
Research in science education has identiļ¬ed conceptual change teaching strategies that may enhance pre-service teachersā understanding of scientiļ¬c concepts and processes. These strategies, supported by constructivist learning theory in the social and cognitive sciences, include the use of discrepant events to engage studentsā prior knowledge, the learning cycle, and collaborative learning. Science educators have used these strategies to challenge alternative conceptions of pre-service K-8 teachers in methods courses in an effort to facilitate learning scientiļ¬c concepts. Pre-service K-8 teachers, motivated to explore scientiļ¬c phenomena and clarify their own understandings, gain conļ¬dence in their ability to learn science and are better prepared to use similar strategies with children. In redesigning innovative courses for pre-service teachers in university science departments, scientists and science educators would beneļ¬t from a mutual collaboration to develop instructional strategies informed by constructivist learning theory. In this partnership, scientists, experts in content and scientiļ¬c research, would work with science educators to develop curriculum in both science and science methods courses that challenges pre-service teachersā existing knowledge and facilitates more authentic understandings of science. A more seamless transition would thus be possible between science courses and science methods courses
Trapping electrons in electrostatic traps over the surface of helium
We have observed trapping of electrons in an electrostatic trap formed over
the surface of liquid helium-4. These electrons are detected by a Single
Electron Transistor located at the centre of the trap. We can trap any desired
number of electrons between 1 and . By repeatedly (
times) putting a single electron into the trap and lowering the electrostatic
barrier of the trap, we can measure the effective temperature of the electron
and the time of its thermalisation after heating up by incoherent radiation.Comment: Presented at QFS06 - Kyoto, to be published in J. Low Temp. Phys., 6
pages, 3 figure
āOver time it just becomes easierā¦ā: parents of people with Angelman syndrome and PraderāWilli syndrome speak about their carer role
Purpose: This study investigated two of the stresses experienced by parents caring for offspring with Angelman syndrome (AS) and PraderāWilli syndrome (PWS) in Western Australia, and identified their coping strategies. Methods: Parents of 19 offspring with AS and PWS participated in the Family Stress and Coping Interview which provides a stress level score, and a discussion of stressors and coping methods associated with 24 life situations, two of which are reported. All text was examined using directed content analysis. Results: Family carers (14/19) reported high stress associated with the initial diagnosis of AS or PWS in their offspring; and finding time for themselves. Stressors identified included lack of quality information about the disorder, time constraints and physical and emotional tiredness. Parents adopted a variety of coping strategies, including learning about the disorder, accepting the situation, seeking instrumental and social supports and dealing with problems. Conclusions: No specific coping strategy was associated with reduced stress. However, parents felt that accurate and timely information during the diagnostic period helped. Parents used family and community support although there were difficulties accessing respite care. It is advised that government agencies, service providers, family members and peer support associations should provide practical and emotional support to assist the parents of offspring with AS and PWS, and indeed any form of intellectual disability, across the lifespan. Implications for Rehabilitation: Long-term caring for offspring with AS or PWS can involve considerable stress for parents. Stress has been associated with poorer health outcomes for parental carers. Parents need a variety of practical and emotional supports to cope with stress, including timely access to information
Effectiveness of the ADEC as a level 2 screening test for young children with suspected autism spectrum disorders in a clinical setting
Background The Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) is a clinician-administered, Level 2 screening tool. A retrospective file audit was used to investigate its clinical effectiveness.
Method Toddlers referred to an Australian child development service between 2008 and 2010 (N?=?53, M age?=?32.2 months) were screened with the ADEC. Their medical records were reviewed in 2013 when their mean age was 74.5 months, and the original ADEC screening results were compared with later diagnostic outcomes.
Results The ADEC had good sensitivity (87.5%) and moderate specificity (62%). Three behaviours predicted autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): response to name, gaze switching, and gaze monitoring (p???.001).
Conclusions The ADEC shows promise as a screening tool that can discriminate between young children with ASDs and those who have specific communication disorders or developmental delays that persist into middle childhood but who do not meet the criteria for ASDs
089 SELECTIVE AGGRECANASE INHIBITION IS DISEASE MODIFYING AND PAIN ALLEVIATING IN A RAT MENISCAL TEAR MODEL OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
Microwave saturation of the Rydberg states of electrons on helium
We present measurements of the resonant microwave excitation of the Rydberg
energy levels of surface state electrons on superfluid helium. The temperature
dependent linewidth agrees well with theoretical predictions and is very small
below 300 mK. Absorption saturation and power broadening were observed as the
fraction of electrons in the first excited state was increased to 0.49, close
to the thermal excitation limit of 0.5. The Rabi frequency was determined as a
function of microwave power. The high values of the ratio of the Rabi frequency
to linewidth confirm this system as an excellent candidate for creating qubits.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Counting Individual Electrons on Liquid Helium
We show that small numbers of electrons, including a single electron, can be
held in a novel electrostatic trap above the surface of superfluid helium. A
potential well is created using microfabricated electrodes in a 5 micron
diameter pool of helium. Electrons are injected into the trap from an electron
reservoir on a helium microchannel. They are individually detected using a
superconducting single-electron transistor (SET) as an electrometer. A Coulomb
staircase is observed as electrons leave the trap one-by-one until the trap is
empty. A design for a scalable quantum information processor using arrays of
electron traps is presentedComment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Reducing green tape or rolling back IA in Australia: What are found jurisdictions up to?
EIA has been practiced in Australia and the rest of the world for over 40 years, but despite its successes, EIA may now be facing its biggest challenge since it came into being in 1970 with the US National Environmental Policy Act. As Morgan (2012, 11) notes:
āAs governments look to stimulate economic growth and create employment in response to the current financial crisis, many are promoting a major expansion of physical infrastructure, encouraging resource development projects, and generally seeking to speed decision-making about development projects. Both EIA and SEA should be even more important in such circumstances, yet the moves taken in some countries to speed up decision-making may weaken the provisions for environmental protection, including impact assessment.ā
In this political and economic environment, EIA is under scrutiny. Proposed changes to the EU directive on EIA released in October 2012 contain ten changes to the Articles of the Directive, with six of these referring to either āstreamliningā EIA or introducing specific timeframes for parts of the EIA process (European Commission 2012). This scrutiny has not been restricted to economies in recession, but includes those that have avoided recession because of strong resources sectors.
The same appears to be happening in Australia, and this paper reports on these and other possible āefficiencyā changes to EIA in Australia at both national and sub-national levels. We attempt to critically examine the nature of such changes and the risks that may be associated with their implementation. Changes to three of the sub-national EIA processes are reviewed in detail, as well as the proposed changes to the national EIA process.
There is always room for more timely assessments, but a critical examination of the potential consequences of these āreformsā on the conduct of EIAs is needed, including whether these efficiency changes will deliver sound environmental management and sustainability-oriented decision-making
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