Robotics as a tool to stem learning

Much has been written on the shortfalls in fully realizing the benefits of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. STEM is important, because it pervades every aspect of our lives. Nevertheless, STEM education is considered as hard, dull, and without emotional meaning. This article examines how the use of robotics in education benefits STEM learning and how teachers can get started with a robotics program in schools. In this study, students develop their building and programming skills teamwork, and presentation skills, as well as touch on STEM subjects school students using the LEGO NXT Mindstorm programmable reconfigurable robot, to observe and learn abstract physics concepts and to perform different designed activities. Students work in teams toward the common goal of developing logical and creative solutions to problems. The results of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in overall perceptions of assessments in STEM Semantics Perception Data, STEM Career Interest Scales and in the interview sessions. It is hoped that this program may set the stage for the transformation of the Malaysian education system which aspires to ensure that every student in every school in every state achieves their full potential, as stated in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025

Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Return Saham dengan Harga Saham sebagai Variabel Moderasi (Studi Kasus pada Perusahan Perbankan yang Terdaftar di BEI)

This study aims to know the factors that impact stock return with Market Price as the moderating variable of the banking company listed on the IDX from 2015 to 2020. The data is retrieved from idx.co.id. The population of this article is 43 banking companies, and to select the sample for this article has used purposive sampling and has selected 11 companies. The analysis method of this article has used descriptive statistics. The data has gone through BLUE (best linear unbiased estimator) test, such as normality test, autocorrelation test, multicollinearity test, and heteroscedasticity test before doing the hypothesis test. Further, the analysis data has used F-test, t-test, the equation of multiple linear regression, determination coefficient, and moderation. The study's findings are that, partially, LDR does not affect SR, ROA does not affect SR, and BOPO does not affect SR. PBV can not moderate the effect of LDR, ROA, and BOPO on stock return. The determination coefficient is 0.048 (4.8%), which means that the LDR, ROA, and BOPO have impacted SR as much as 4.8%, and the remaining is affected by other factors. The contribution of the research is to help the investors select the right stock

Investigation of conditional statistics in premixed combustion and the transition to flameless oxidation in turbulent opposed jets

The current work focuses on extracting useful statistical information from Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements, complemented by Hot Wire Anemometry (HWA) measurements. Experiments were conducted in the turbulent opposed jet geometry, which is a canonical configuration for understanding the fundamentals of flow and combustion. Novel fractal grids were used to generate turbulence in the flow, and turbulent characteristics of the flow field were extracted to ascertain the relative effects of flow configuration on the flow characteristics, including lengthscale and energy information, using energy spectra and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). Lean premixed flames were measured using PIV, and novel techniques used to extract unconditional velocity statistics, bulk motion and rotation effects, conditional statistics, turbulent burning velocities, flame surface density (FSD), thickness of turbulent flame brush and instantaneous reaction zone, flame surface area, conditional dissipation, as well as conditional POD (CPOD). These were made accessible via density segregation, a multi-step image processing algorithm, used to detect flame isocontours directly from PIV images. Relative effects of flow and chemistry were investigated for lean premixed twin opposed jet flames, using methane, propane, ethylene, cyclopentane and JP-10 as fuels. In addition, the transition to flameless oxidation from conventional premixed flames was also characterised using methane, cyclopentane, cyclopentene and JP-10, via a Damkohler number analysis.Open Acces

Multiple system atrophy

This is a practical guide to diagnosing and managing multiple system atrophy (MSA). We explain the newly published Movement Disorders Society Consensus Diagnostic Criteria, which include new ‘Clinically Established MSA’ and ‘Possible Prodromal MSA’ categories, hopefully reducing time to diagnosis. We then highlight the key clinical features of MSA to aid diagnosis. We include a list of MSA mimics with suggested methods of differentiation from MSA. Lastly, we discuss practical symptom management in people living with MSA, including balancing side effects, with the ultimate aim of improving quality of life

Aging, lifestyle factors, hormones and bone health in Singaporean men

Purpose. The present study examined how age, bodyweight, body fat, regular exercise and some endocrine factors are associated with osteoporosis, spine bone mineral density (Sbmd) and femoral neck bone mineral density (Fnbmd) in Singaporean men. Methods. Body composition and bone scans of lumbar spine at L2-L4 and hip were carried out with duel-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Anthropometric parameters were measured and demographic data, medical history and exercise schedule were collected via a questionnaire. Results. Osteoporosis prevalence was higher and Sbmd and Fnbmd were lower in men with high percent body fat (PBF) and conversely osteoporosis prevalence was lower and Sbmd and Fnbmd were higher in men with higher body mass index (BMI). Age was negatively associated with Fnbmd but not Sbmd. On the other hand, PBF and insulin levels were negatively associated with both Sbmd and Fnbmd. Body mass index and exercise intensity were positively associated with both Sbmd and Fnbmd. Sex hormones were significantly associated with only Sbmd but not Fnbmd. Both estradiol and DHEAS were positively, while testosterone was negatively associated with Sbmd. Conclusion. The study shows that the prevalence of osteoporosis and some of the determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) in Singaporean men was site-specific. Further, BMI and PBF are opposing predictors of BMD. Therefore, any strategy for improving bone health should include modalities that increase lean and bone mass and decrease fat mass. The bone health of Singaporean men is comparable to non-Hispanic whites and better than some other Asian men

Development of Finger Clubbing Meter

Finger clubbing, also known as drumstick finger, is the medical symptom that is indicated by the development of the sponginess or swelling in the nail beds of nails and toes. The higher grade of clubbing on the patients can be easily identified with the presence of drumstick finger. The existing available measurement device to identify the early stage of clubbing required much time which is impractical for a busy clinic practice. This paper explains the determination of the finger clubbing by using the Digital Index (DI) measurement, which was deployed by implementing and developing the Portable Finger Clubbing Meter hardware and the Microsoft Visual Basic (VB) Graphical User Interface (GUI). Finger circumference values of nail-fold (NF) and distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) of twenty participants were measured using the developed hardware. Data analysis was then performed using the GUI for DI computation, and the presence of finger clubbing could be determined

Mapping gene associations in human mitochondria using clinical disease phenotypes

Nuclear genes encode most mitochondrial proteins, and their mutations cause diverse and debilitating clinical disorders. To date, 1,200 of these mitochondrial genes have been recorded, while no standardized catalog exists of the associated clinical phenotypes. Such a catalog would be useful to develop methods to analyze human phenotypic data, to determine genotype-phenotype relations among many genes and diseases, and to support the clinical diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders. Here we establish a clinical phenotype catalog of 174 mitochondrial disease genes and study associations of diseases and genes. Phenotypic features such as clinical signs and symptoms were manually annotated from full-text medical articles and classified based on the hierarchical MeSH ontology. This classification of phenotypic features of each gene allowed for the comparison of diseases between different genes. In turn, we were then able to measure the phenotypic associations of disease genes for which we calculated a quantitative value that is based on their shared phenotypic features. The results showed that genes sharing more similar phenotypes have a stronger tendency for functional interactions, proving the usefulness of phenotype similarity values in disease gene network analysis. We then constructed a functional network of mitochondrial genes and discovered a higher connectivity for non-disease than for disease genes, and a tendency of disease genes to interact with each other. Utilizing these differences, we propose 168 candidate genes that resemble the characteristic interaction patterns of mitochondrial disease genes. Through their network associations, the candidates are further prioritized for the study of specific disorders such as optic neuropathies and Parkinson disease. Most mitochondrial disease phenotypes involve several clinical categories including neurologic, metabolic, and gastrointestinal disorders, which might indicate the effects of gene defects within the mitochondrial system. The accompanying knowledgebase (http://www.mitophenome.org/) supports the study of clinical diseases and associated genes