A new method for the inversion of atmospheric parameters of A/Am stars

We present an automated procedure that derives simultaneously the effective temperature $T_{eff}$, the surface gravity logg, the metallicity [Fe/H], and the equatorial projected rotational velocity vsini for "normal" A and Am stars. The procedure is based on the principal component analysis inversion method of Paletou et al. (2015a). A sample of 322 high resolution spectra of F0-B9 stars, retrieved from the Polarbase, SOPHIE, and ELODIE databases, were used to test this technique with real data. We have selected the spectral region from 4400-5000\AA\ as it contains many metallic lines and the Balmer H$\beta$ line. Using 3 datasets at resolving powers of R=42000, 65000 and 76000, about 6.6x$10^6$ synthetic spectra were calculated to build a large learning database. The Online Power Iteration algorithm was applied to these learning datasets to estimate the principal components (PC). The projection of spectra onto the few PCs offered an efficient comparison metric in a low dimensional space. The spectra of the well known A0- and A1-type stars, Vega and Sirius A, were used as control spectra in the three databases. Spectra of other well known A-type stars were also employed in order to characterize the accuracy of the inversion technique. All observational spectra were inverted and atmospheric parameters derived. After removal of a few outliers, the PCA-inversion method appears to be very efficient in determining $T_{eff}$, [Fe/H], and vsini for A/Am stars. The derived parameters agree very well with previous determinations. Using a statistical approach, deviations of around 150 K, 0.35 dex, 0.15 dex, and 2 km/s were found for $T_{eff}$, logg, [Fe/H], and vsini with respect to literature values for A-type stars. The PCA-inversion proves to be a very fast, practical, and reliable tool for estimating stellar parameters of FGK and A stars, and deriving effective temperatures of M stars.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Accepted in A&

A content, pedagogy and technology [CPT] approach to TPACK

TPACK is a framework for the learning process in which educators combine Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge to deliver the learning experience. Therefore, TPACK can be defined as a complex interaction between the technology, pedagogy and content. TPACK expresses the overlap between these factors in a two-dimensional space, placing TPACK at the centre. Educators can place their teaching episode within this space and ask, if I place my delivery at this point is it the best point in the TPACK space? Secondly educators may ask how can the best point within the space be determined? The CPT model proposes an attempt to address these questions by recasting TPACK as a three-dimensional pseudo-vector space allowing expected outcomes and observed outcomes to be analysed. For the study presented here our null hypothesis is: H0 = there is no significant difference between the observed and expected outcomes

Developing a predictive model for the enhanced learning outcomes by the use of technology

This paper reports on the initial outcomes of a study to develop a model to identify the relationship between technological facilities such as iPad, MacBook, Apps and software etc., pedagogy (that can be defined as any conscious activity by one person designed to enhance learning in another (Watkins and Mortimore, 1999 [1])), curriculum and learning. The new model can be called CPT Model. This is a new area of study. The model will test the difference between the observed learning outcomes and the learning outcomes predicted. This model can predict the outcomes for assessing the students’ progress. Using a three-dimensional vector space in the form of 3D equations, after the integration between the ICT and the education, students’ observed and predicted progress (that was calculated using the CPT model) were compared. These rates were very close to each other. Therefore the null hypothesis, "there is not a significant difference between the observed (actual) and expected outcomes"

Severe B Cell Deficiency in Mice Lacking the Tec Kinase Family Members Tec and Btk

The cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase Tec has been proposed to have important functions in hematopoiesis and lymphocyte signal transduction. Here we show that Tec-deficient mice developed normally and had no major phenotypic alterations of the immune system. To reveal potential compensatory roles of other Tec kinases such as Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), Tec/Btk double-deficient mice were generated. These mice exhibited a block at the B220+CD43+ stage of B cell development and displayed a severe reduction of peripheral B cell numbers, particularly immunoglobulin (Ig)MloIgDhi B cells. Although Tec/Btknull mice were able to form germinal centers, the response to T cell–dependent antigens was impaired. Thus, Tec and Btk together have an important role both during B cell development and in the generation and/or function of the peripheral B cell pool. The ability of Tec to compensate for Btk may also explain phenotypic differences in X-linked immunodeficiency (xid) mice compared with human X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) patients

Preparation and consumer acceptability tests of fermented camel milk in Kenya

There are estimated to be 600000 camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kenya (Wandera, 1985). Almost 80% of these are kept by pastoral tribes living in arid areas in eastern and north-eastern parts of the country. In these regions, camels are important dairy animals. A camel in north-east Kenya can be expected to yield about 4 kg milk daily as compared with 0·5-1·5 kg for a cow in the same area. Most of the camel milk is consumed in the form of fermented milk. The milk is allowed to ferment naturally at ambient temperature and without prior heat treatment until it turns sour. The resulting fermented camel milk is known as Susa. Due to the spontaneous nature of the fermentation, this traditional method results in a product with varying taste and flavour and is often of poor hygienic quality, in addition, because of the limited scale of production, the product can be sold only in the immediate vicinity of the herd. For production of fermented milk under controlled conditions, thermophilic or mesophilic lactic acid cultures are normally used. In warm countries, mesophilic lactic cultured milk offers some advantages, as it can be incubated at ambient temperature (20-30 °C) and the fermentation stops at 1-1·2% lactic acid, eliminating the need for cooling to stop further souring as occurs in the case of yoghurt (Kurwijila, 1980

Hubungan Antara Kematangan Karir Dan Psychological Well-being Pada Siswa Kelas XII SMA Negeri 5 Semarang

Psychological well-being (PWB) adalah penilaian individu terhadap dirinya yang menunjukkan bahwa dirinya berada pada kondisi sehat mental, yang meliputi sikap positif terhadap dirinya dan orang lain, kemampuan menciptakan lingkungan yang sesuai dengan kebutuhannya dan dimilikinya tujuan yang jelas untuk hidupnya. PWB dipengaruhi seberapa jauh individu mampu memenuhi tugas-tugas perkembangannya. Pada saat yang sama, remaja khususnya yang berada pada kelas XII SMA memiliki beberapa tugas perkembangan yang harus dilaluinya, dan salah satu tugas perkembangan yang mengemuka adalah mempersiapkan karir untuk masa depannya. Remaja yang mampu mempersiapkan karir dan mampu menguasai tugas karir sesuai tahap perkembangan karirnya maka memiliki kematangan karir. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji apakah ada hubungan positif antara kematangan karir dan psychological well-being pada siswa kelas XII SMA Negeri 5 Semarang. Hipotesis awal yang diajukan adalah ada hubungan yang positif antara kematangan karir dan psychological well-being. Artinya, semakin tinggi kematangan karir pada individu maka semakin tinggi pula psychological well-being pada individu tersebut. Subyek dalam penelitian ini adalah kelas XII SMA Negeri 5 Semarang. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan metode cluster random sampling, sehingga sampel yang didapat berjumlah 118 siswa. Skala yang digunakan adalah skala psychological well being berjumlah 32 aitem dan skala kematangan karir berjumlah 37 aitem. Metode analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini analisis regresi yang menunjukkan angka sebesar .55 dengan p = .000 (p < .05) yang artinya ada hubungan yang positif dan signifikan antara kematangan karir dan psychological well-being pada siswa kelas XII di SMA Negeri 5 Semarang