Interactive student engagement using wireless handheld devices

This paper presents an initial design of a pilot wireless Classroom Communication System (CCS) used for continuous and interactive engagement of students aiming at enhancing student critical thinking, extending attention span and enabling better student assessment. The system was designed mostly for engineering students and is intended to be used in lectures, tutorials or laboratories. The design should ultimately enable students to use, amongst other software, standard engineering packages such as MATLAB, PSpice, or Electronic WorkBench to construct designs, perform simulations and obtain answers to design problems using just wireless handheld pocket PCs. The system is based upon a CSCW system originally designed to be used anytime during lectures or tutorials and may involve the guidance and personal intervention of a lecturer or tutor. It is intended to support several modes and allows group or one-to-one personal tutoring. The system may also serve as a means of assessing individual student performance and in assisting lecturing staff with other task

A review of the mallet impact test for small scale explosive formulations

Presented at 19th Seminar on New Trends of Energetic Materials (NTREM 2016); 20-22/04/2016, Pardubice Czech RepublicDevelopment of new explosive formulations begins with the generation of only a few milligrams of material which is investigated using a number of small scale tests such as DSC, TGA, response to flame, mallet impact (mallet friction either glancing or direct blow) to determine whether the formulation is safe to scale up to 10 g. The latter of these tests, mallet impact, can be particularly subjective as the result is directly influenced by the operator carrying out the assessment. Not only can there be a change from one operator to another but there can also be a change in the force applied during each strike potentially leading to inconsistent results. This study highlights this encountered variation and assesses the load applied by a variety of operators with varying levels of explosive experience. This paper also proposes the use of a small scale laboratory based impact test which would provide improved confidence in the assessment of impact sensitiveness of explosive formulations and assist in justifying whether a formulation can be taken to the next scale. A small scale version of the BAM impact test (EMTAP Test 43) has been devised that allows the comparison of the sensitiveness of small scale formulations relative to RDX (8.7 J, EMTAP Test 43B) whilst also ensuring a reproducible result

Interactive Whiteboards: Implications for K-2 Literacy Instruction

The purpose of my study was to describe the implications whiteboards have on literacy instruction in K-2 literacy environments through examining the following questions. How do interactive whiteboards support the literacy development of K-2 students? What strategies do teachers use with interactive whiteboards during literacy lessons? What are the perceptions of teachers\u27 and students\u27 regarding interactive whiteboards during literacy lessons in K-2 classrooms

The UP AMIGOS project: Testing the predictive validity of the 2007 Pediatric Expert Committee Recommendations in Latinos

Background. Mexicans are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease and there is mounting evidence that Mexicans may be genetically prone to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Objective. There were three aims of study. The first aim was to identify the prevalence of three CVD risk factors in Mexican young adults: (1) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), (2) dyslipidemia, and (2) impaired fasting glucose. The second aim was to test the sensitivity and specificity of the Pediatric Expert Committee Recommendations (PECR) in identifying Mexicans with these three cardiovascular disease risk factors. Finally, the third aim was to explore ways to improve the clinical screening algorithm. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, data for UP AMIGOS were collected from 9,974 participants (age 18- to 21-years-old) living in Central Mexico. Participants underwent a health screen that included: a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (i.e. height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure), a physician-conducted history and physical, and venipuncture for blood biomarkers. Analysis. In order to determine prevalence of CVD risk factors, descriptive statistics were run making comparisons in prevalence by sex and weight category: normal weight, overweight, or obese. The value of the PECR was measured with sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, with additional tests for significant associations. Alternative algorithms were explored using classification and regression tree analysis. Results. NALFD (17.1 to 45.5%) and dyslipidemia (44.8%) were fairly prevalent. In contrast, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was rare (4.0%). Each CVD risk factor increased with increasing levels of adiposity. The PECR provided a reasonable clinical screen for NALFD, but was fairly insensitive in detecting those with dyslipidemia or IFG. Multiple exploratory analyses revealed more sensitive screening solutions for each individual CVD disease risk factor, but at the cost of having a less parsimonious clinical screen. Significance. Mexican adolescents and young adults already have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors. These risk factors may go unnoticed and eventually convert to irreversible disease, unless a valid, predictive screening protocol is established. Based on this analysis, screening recommendations are three-fold: (1) Universal screening for dyslipidemia is recommended for Mexican young adults, (2) IFG screening is not recommended in adolescents or young adults, (3) the PECR may be a reasonable clinical screen for NALFD, but more data is needed

Midazolam use for dental conscious sedation: how safe are we?

Aim: To explore the safety awareness of midazolam use amongst dentist in the UK. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study on 203 dentists was undertaken, 146 of whom currently practice conscious sedation using intravenous midazolam. Use of high strength midazolam; awareness of the Rapid Response Report (RRR) and the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS); and midazolam related incidents were explored. Results: Formal training in conscious sedation was variable with 35.6% holding a postgraduate sedation qualification. Flumazenil administration was common practice (63%) although used very selectively. Use to reverse respiratory depression was minimal (4%). Awareness of the RRR and the NRLS was generally low but higher among those working in general dental practice (p<0.05). Comparative analysis showed that high dose midazolam was administered more frequently in gastroenterology than in dentistry (p<0.001) with higher incidences of overdose (12.4% Vs 4.8%) and death (8.3% Vs 0%) within a 3 year period. Conclusions: High strength midazolam administration remains prevalent in dentistry, despite recommendations by the DoH. Use of flumazenil for reasons other than respiratory depression in dentistry should warrant little concern. The low incidence of reported harm is positive but may be due to a lack of uptake of national reporting systems

High efficiency thermal to electric energy conversion using selective emitters and spectrally tuned solar cells

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems are attractive possibilities for direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion, but have typically required the use of black body radiators operating at high temperatures. Recent advances in both the understanding and performance of solid rare-earth oxide selective emitters make possible the use of TPV at temperatures as low as 1500 K. Depending on the nature of parasitic losses, overall thermal-to-electric conversion efficiencies greater than 20 percent are feasible

NASA advanced space photovoltaic technology-status, potential and future mission applications

The NASA program in space photovoltaic research and development encompasses a wide range of emerging options for future space power systems, and includes both cell and array technology development. The long range goals are to develop technology capable of achieving 300 W/kg for planar arrays, and 300 W/sq m for concentrator arrays. InP and GaAs planar and concentrator cell technologies are under investigation for their potential high efficiency and good radiation resistance. The Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array (APSA) program is a near term effort aimed at demonstrating 130 W/kg beginning of life specific power using thin (62 micrometer) silicon cells. It is intended to be technology transparent to future high efficiency cells and provides the baseline for development of the 300 W/kg array

Engine inlet distortion in a 9.2 percent scale vectored thrust STOVL model in ground effect

Advanced Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft which can operate from remote locations, damaged runways, and small air capable ships are being pursued for deployment around the turn of the century. To achieve this goal, NASA Lewis Research Center, McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, and DARPA defined a cooperative program for testing in the NASA Lewis 9- by 15-foot low speed wind tunnel (LSWT) to establish a database for hot gas ingestion, one of the technologies critical to STOVL. Results are presented which show the engine inlet distortions (both temperature and pressure) in a 9.2 percent scale vectored thrust STOVL model in ground effects. Results are shown for the forward nozzle splay angles of 0 degrees, -6 degrees, and 18 degrees. The model support system had 4 degrees of freedom, heated high pressure air for nozzle flow, and a suction system exhaust for inlet flow. The headwind (freestream) velocity was varied from 8 to 23 knots

Dietary intake and food sources of added sugar in the Australian population

Previous studies in Australian children/adolescents and adults examining added sugar (AS) intake were based on now out-of-date national surveys. We aimed to examine the AS and free sugar (FS) intakes and the main food sources of AS among Australians, using plausible dietary data collected by a multiple-pass, 24-h recall, from the 2011-12 Australian Health Survey respondents (n 8202). AS and FS intakes were estimated using a previously published method, and as defined by the WHO, respectively. Food groups contributing to the AS intake were described and compared by age group and sex by one-way ANOVA. Linear regression was used to test for trends across age groups. Usual intake of FS (as percentage energy (%EFS)) was computed using a published method and compared with the WHO cut-off of <10 %EFS. The mean AS intake of the participants was 60·3 (sd 52·6) g/d. Sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for the greatest proportion of the AS intake of the Australian population (21·4 (sd 30·1) %), followed by sugar and sweet spreads (16·3 (sd 24·5) %) and cakes, biscuits, pastries and batter-based products (15·7 (sd 24·4) %). More than half of the study population exceeded the WHO's cut-off for FS, especially children and adolescents. Overall, 80-90 % of the daily AS intake came from high-sugar energy-dense and/or nutrient-poor foods. To conclude, the majority of Australian adults and children exceed the WHO recommendation for FS intake. Efforts to reduce AS intake should focus on energy-dense and/or nutrient-poor foods.postprin

Applicability of ERTS-1 to Montana geology

The author has identified the following significant results. Late autumn imagery provides the advantages of topographic shadow enhancement and low cloud cover. Mapping of rock units was done locally with good results for alluvium, basin fill, volcanics, inclined Paleozoic and Mesozoic beds, and host strata of bentonite beds. Folds, intrusive domes, and even dip directions were mapped where differential erosion was significant. However, mapping was not possible for belt strata, was difficult for granite, and was hindered by conifers compared to grass cover. Expansion of local mapping required geologic control and encountered significant areas unmappable from ERTS imagery. Annotation of lineaments provided much new geologic data. By extrapolating test site comparisons, it is inferred that 27 percent of some 1200 lineaments mapped from western Montana represent unknown faults. The remainder appear to be localized mainly by undiscovered faults and sets of minor faults or joints