What Does it Take to Deliver an Active Hands-on Course?

Distance Education has been implemented widely in different curricula at many institutions; different means have been used to ensure the delivery. This article introduces unique combination of different mechanisms in implementing the active/synchronous distance delivery of hands-on course(s) that is compatible and similar to the face-to-face on-campus course(s).There are three major developmental stages of these online courses - curriculum design, methodologies, and assessment to ensure the effectiveness of distance delivery of technical courses in engineering technology. The processes of curriculum design for the Embedded System Designs are discussed: (a) The development of course and labs modules for hands-on technical courses. (b) The methodologies used in the delivery processes that include unique combinations of different teaching strategies when implementing these online courses. The web portal is used as a means to deliver general rules and course information and content, and the implementations of Learning Management Systems (LMS) for course module organizations. In addition, the limitations and problems encountered during the delivery processes, and the solution of the problems will be addressed. (c) The assessment of the distance course(s) on data gathered in a preliminary study and the comparison of methodologies used in this distance course will be presented to set as a proof of concept of these effective distance delivery practices. Engineering technology focuses on both hands-on and mind-on design work. This article discussed the integration of existing technology products into real world applications. Through the implementation of the distance delivery or cyber-enabled learning environment, the effectiveness of the delivery is compatible to traditional face-to-face on-campus courses. This does not only benefit the interested faculty/teachers in better teaching technical courses online, but it also supports the students who are interested in learning more advanced technical concepts that are needed in the work environment requiring higher technical literacy for today and in the future. Highlights of the presentation will address the following: (1) Research and development of the virtual classrooms and open source service server. (2) Curriculum design and development of the supported material. (3) Implementation of teaching strategies and methodologies for the real-time distance hands-on approach. (4) Preliminary assessment of the teaching and learning. (5) Recommendations of potential adoption of the development. (6) Continuous improvement of teaching and learning in academic community

Collaborated Efforts in TI ARM M4/32Bits Microcontroller Curricula Developments and Assessments

The disappearing and lack technical supports in hardware and software of 68XXX and 80XXX microcontrollers have made the finding of the replacement an urgent issue in the academic communities. There are many new comers such as Microchip PIC, Arduino ATMEL, and Texas Instruments ARM M series to choose from, but obstacles and learning curve for the faculty to adopt the new environment with these new microcontrollers have issues to slow the process. There were efforts made with grant supports to disseminate the curricula development on PIC and Arduino microcontrollers. But, industries have suggested and expressed the needs and desire of 32 bits ARM microcontroller’s skills from engineer and technology programs graduates to fill the job markets. This article presents a preliminary study and comparison that introduce a concept of collaborated efforts among different institutions to develop the ARM curricula that aimed to fit the industry’s call for duties. These curricula development efforts are not only aim at on-campus face-to-face teaching and learning strategy but also distance hands-on learning through delivering course modules using both synchronous and asynchronous. An assessment of this jointed efforts are also part of the studies. Engineering technology focuses on both hands-on and mind-on design work and the article is to demonstrate the collaborated efforts in advanced curriculum development such as the ARM microcontroller which is the key ingredient for success. Through the development efforts and online Learning Management System (LMS) designs that make the distance delivery and cyber-enabled learning possible. These efforts not only benefit the interested faculty/teachers in better teaching and learning, but also support the students who can learn more advanced technical concepts that are needed for emerging high-tech jobs for today and in the future. Highlights of the presentation will address the following: • Research and development of the virtual classrooms and open source service server. • Design and development of the supported material. • Implementation strategies and planning for the distance hands-on approach. • Preliminary assessment of the teaching and learning. • Recommendations of potential adoption of the development. • Continuous improvement of teaching and learning in academic community

Delivery of Hands-On Technical Courses Through Real-Time Distance Learning

It is generally believed that it is too challenging to deliver technical laboratory courses using distance learning technologies. The focus of this research was to develop strategies that may be used to address these challenges. A research team composed of faculty from several universities and community colleges explored what might be needed to make these types of technical laboratory course instruction possible using distance learning technologies. The team explored delivering a microcontroller embedded systems design course through audio-visual distance learning technologies. The team\u27s research and development activities are discussed. These include focuses on the technical training equipment that had to be designed to support the course\u27s microcontroller technologies curriculum and laboratory modules, instructional support videos, and the design of an electronic server system to support this instruction. Also discussed will be the findings from the faculty of other colleges and universities who received professional development training from the research team on teaching microcontroller technology courses using distance learning technologies

Continued Efforts in TI ARM M4 Microcontroller Curricula Developments and Assessments Between Three Different Institutions and Programs

This project is a continuation in efforts to upgrade the curricula in microcontroller related courses that are facing difficulties in the disappearing and lack technical supports in hardware and software of 68XXX and 80XXX microcontrollers. Through the study of a NSF supported project Transform the Innovated Design and Development of an Embedded Design Training System and Associated Support Curricula into a Commercial Available Product that interviewed 130 faculty/teachers/students across the U.S. has revealed on finding newly available microcontrollers is an urgent issue in the academic communities. Based on the supports on hardware and software and function libraries, the TI ARM M4 core is the choice for the join efforts in the new curriculum development and assessment between Old Dominion University, Farmingdale State College, Prairie View A&M University, and Ohio Northern University within the programs of CET, ECE, EET, and Tech Studies. The efforts were also a direct response to the industries suggestions and the needs of 32 bits ARM microcontroller’s skills from engineer and technology programs graduates to fill the job markets. This article presents a study and comparison that introduce a concept of collaborated efforts among different institutions and programs can work together to develop the comprehensive ARM curricula that fit the industry’s needs. These curricula development efforts are not only aim at on-campus face-to-face teaching and learning but also distance hands-on learning through delivering course modules using both synchronous and asynchronous. The assessment of this jointed efforts are part of the studies. Engineering and technology programs focus on both hands-on and mind-on design work and this article demonstrates the collaborated efforts in advanced curriculum development in the ARM microcontroller which is the key ingredient for success. Through the development efforts and online Learning Management System (LMS) designs that make the distance collaboration, delivery, and cyber-enabled learning possible. These efforts not only benefit the interested faculty/teachers in better teaching and learning, but also support the students who can learn more advanced technical concepts that are needed for emerging high-tech job skills. Highlights of the presentation will address the following: • Research and development of the virtual classrooms and open source service server. • Design and development of the supported material. • Implementation strategies and planning for the distance hands-on approach. • Assessment of the teaching and learning. • Recommendations of potential adoption of the development. • Continuous improvement of teaching and learning in academic community

Structural elucidation of phosphoglycolipids from strains of the bacterial thermophiles Thermus and Meiothermus.

The structures of two major phosphoglycolipids from the thermophilic bacteria Thermus oshimai NTU-063, Thermus thermophilus NTU-077, Meiothermus ruber NTU-124, and Meiothermus taiwanensis NTU-220 were determined using spectroscopic and chemical analyses to be 2'-O-(1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho) -3'-O-(alpha-N-acetyl-glucosaminyl)-N-glyceroyl alkylamine [PGL1 (1)] and the novel structure 2'-O-(2-acylalkyldio-1-O-phospho)-3'-O-(alpha-N-acetylglucosaminyl)-N-glyceroyl alkylamine [PGL2 (2)]. PGL2 (2) is the first phosphoglycolipid identified with a 2-acylalkyldio-1-O-phosphate moiety. The fatty acids of the phosphoglycolipids are mainly iso-C(15:0), -C(16:0), and -C(17:0) and anteiso-C(15:0) and -C(17:0). The ratios of PGL2 (2) to PGL1 (1) are significantly altered when grown at different temperatures for three strains, T. thermophilus NTU-077, M. ruber NTU-124, and M. taiwanensis NTU-220, but not for T. oshimai NTU-063. Accordingly, the ratios of iso- to anteiso-branched fatty acids increase when grown at the higher temperature

Design and Research of Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating and Current Dive System on HL-2M Tokamak

A research has been conducted to develop an 8MW electron cyclotron resonance heating and current drive (ECRH/ECCD) system on HL-2M tokamak. The ECRH system compromise eight 1MW gyrotrons, eight evacuated transmission lines and three launchers. The main purpose of the ECRH system was to suppress the neo-classical tearing modes and control the plasma profile. This paper presents an overview of the design and studies performed in this framework. Some primary test results of the critical components have been released in this paper, e.g. polarizers, power monitor and fast steering launchers

Impaired Efficiency and Resilience of Structural Network in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3

Background: Recent studies have shown that the patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) may not only have disease involvement in the cerebellum and brainstem but also in the cerebral regions. However, the relations between the widespread degenerated brain regions remains incompletely explored.Methods: In the present study, we investigate the topological properties of the brain networks of SCA3 patients (n = 40) constructed based on the correlation of three-dimensional fractal dimension values. Random and targeted attacks were applied to measure the network resilience of normal and SCA3 groups.Results: The SCA3 networks had significantly smaller clustering coefficients (P < 0.05) and global efficiency (P < 0.05) but larger characteristic path length (P < 0.05) than the normal controls networks, implying loss of small-world features. Furthermore, the SCA3 patients were associated with reduced nodal betweenness (P < 0.001) in the left supplementary motor area, bilateral paracentral lobules, and right thalamus, indicating that the motor control circuit might be compromised.Conclusions: The SCA3 networks were more vulnerable to targeted attacks than the normal controls networks because of the effects of pathological topological organization. The SCA3 revealed a more sparsity and disrupted structural network with decreased values in the largest component size, mean degree, mean density, clustering coefficient, and global efficiency and increased value in characteristic path length. The cortico-cerebral circuits in SCA3 were disrupted and segregated into occipital-parietal (visual-spatial cognition) and frontal-pre-frontal (motor control) clusters. The cerebellum of SCA3 were segregated from cerebellum-temporal-frontal circuits and clustered into a frontal-temporal cluster (cognitive control). Therefore, the disrupted structural network presented in this study might reflect the clinical characteristics of SCA3

Post‐translationally‐modified structures in the autophagy machinery: an integrative perspective

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113777/1/febs13356_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113777/2/febs13356.pd

Potential of Genome Editing to Improve Aquaculture Breeding and Production

Aquaculture is an increasingly important component of global food security, and there is major potential for genetic improvement to contribute to sustainable production. The high fecundity and external fertilisation of most aquaculture species are amenable to the application of genetic improvement technologies, including genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. Disease resistance is a major target trait for improvement, and CRISPR/Cas9 offers new opportunities to fix existing alleles, to perform introgression-by-editing of alleles from wild populations or related species, and to create de novo alleles. Combining in vivo and in vitro screening approaches has the potential to identify functional disease resistance alleles for downstream functional testing and application. Using genome editing to achieve 100% sterility of production animals is a promising avenue to prevent interbreeding of escapees with wild stocks

Applications of CRISPR–Cas systems in neuroscience

Genome-editing tools, and in particular those based on CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein) systems, are accelerating the pace of biological research and enabling targeted genetic interrogation in almost any organism and cell type. These tools have opened the door to the development of new model systems for studying the complexity of the nervous system, including animal models and stem cell-derived in vitro models. Precise and efficient gene editing using CRISPR-Cas systems has the potential to advance both basic and translational neuroscience research.National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant 5DP1-MH100706)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant 1R01-MH110049)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.) (Grant 5R01DK097768-03