A Study of Student and Instructor Perceptions of Tablet PCs in Higher Education Contexts

The advent of the tablet device has fundamentally changed the instructor’s ability to mobilize the student’s learning environment, freeing them from the limitations of laptop based features, to expanding interactions and collaboration with other students. While other smart devices have enhanced mobility, the tablet computer with its true portability, long-battery life and haptic capabilities has made the mobile classroom practical in functionality and versatility. Despite their popularity with students and faculty, usability studies concerning mobile tablet devices in post-secondary environments are lacking. This study is aimed at determining user perceptions and usability of Microsoft Surface Pro tablets in the classrooms of a Canadian university by both students and faculty. The use of the tablet was examined as a tool to move students from the typical technology infused classroom using laptops into a mobile, engaging, learning environment. Overall, participants found the general computing capabilities and portability of tablets impressive, particularly for note taking and classroom engagement. This paper will discuss the benefits, problems, and possible solutions to teaching and learning utilizing tablets in the classroom. This study represents an initial starting point to understand the impact of tablet devices in higher education learning environments

Structure-based design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of isoquinolone and pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine inhibitors of fascin 1 as potential anti-metastatic agents

Fascin is an actin binding and bundling protein that is not expressed in normal epithelial tissues but overexpressed in a variety of invasive epithelial tumors. It has a critical role in cancer cell metastasis by promoting cell migration and invasion. Here we report the crystal structures of fascin in complex with a series of novel and potent inhibitors. Structure-based elaboration of these compounds enabled the development of a series with nanomolar affinities for fascin, good physicochemical properties and the ability to inhibit fascin-mediated bundling of filamentous actin. These compounds provide promising starting points for fascin-targeted anti-metastatic therapies

"Through the looking glass" : an epidemiological look at the ethnic differences in maternal risk factors and infant outcomes in Canadian neonatal intensive care units

Objective: Identifying that there is a lack of Canadian evidence surrounding the interaction between ethnicity and reproductive risk factors and neonatal outcomes, this study sought to report on risk factors and outcomes amongst high-risk newborns requiring intensive neonatal care. Study Design: The data source for this project was the Canadian Neonatal Network™ (CNN) Database. The CNN maintains a national standardized database that collects information on selected neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) practices and outcomes on every neonate admitted to a Canadian NICU. Results: Mothers at risk of delivering newborns requiring intensive care showed differing perinatal priorities on the basis of ethnic origin. Furthermore, there were differences in the risk of mortality and major morbidity among newborns born of different ethnic backgrounds. The risks of poor infant outcome associated with ethnicity were observed over and above the presence of other well known risk factors for adverse outcome. Conclusions: Increasing our understanding of ethnically-related differences in reproductive health issues is important in order to be able to minimize disparities in health delivery on the basis of ethnicity and to improve health outcomes for all.Medicine, Faculty ofMedicine, Department ofExperimental Medicine, Division ofGraduat

Innovation in Higher Education: The Influence of Classroom Design and Instructional Technology

The current work seeks to explore University professors\u27 perspectives on teaching and learning in an innovative classroom characterized by flexible design of space, furniture and technology. The study took place during the 2015-2016 academic year at Fairfield University, a Masters comprehensive university in the Northeastern United States. Qualitative research methods for data collection and analysis were used to gather and summarize professors\u27 perspectives, with specific attention to their integration of technology for instruction and use of teaching strategies. Emergent themes revealed that professors redesigned course work and class time to utilize the innovative technology and space effectively. Results further demonstrated that professors actively integrated multiple types of technology into classroom instruction and used a variety of pedagogies to engage students. Additionally, professors expressed increased satisfaction and motivation for teaching related to ease of instructional technology and flexibility of classroom furniture. Future research is needed to examine how such changes in instructor perspectives might influence paradigm shifts in higher education and impact college student learning

Noble gases and halogens in Graves Nunataks 06129:the complex thermal history of a felsic asteroid crust

AbstractThe meteorite Graves Nunataks 06128/06129 is a rare example of felsic asteroidal crust. Knowledge of its history can help shed light on the evolution processes of planetesimals. The noble gases can be used to constrain both the chronology of meteorites and the processes that result in movements of volatile elements on asteroidal bodies. We have examined the I–Xe and Ar–Ar systems of the plagioclase-rich achondrite, Graves Nunataks 06129 by high-resolution laser step-heating of irradiated samples. Iodine and 129Xe∗ are both present but are released at different temperatures and do not show a correlation, therefore the I–Xe system in GRA 06129 has no chronological significance. We propose that radiogenic 129Xe∗ was lost from primary phases and parentless 129Xe∗ was later introduced into the rock by interaction with a fluid sourced from a reservoir that evolved with a high I/Xe ratio. This could have been the same halogen-rich fluid that induced the conversion of merrillite and pyroxene into chlorapatite. Inherited 40Ar (i.e. not generated by in situ decay of 40K) is also present in one of three fragments studied here and may have been introduced at the same time as parentless 129Xe∗

Employers' perspectives of competencies and attributes of physiotherapy graduates: an exploratory qualitative study

Undergraduate physiotherapy programmes aim to equip graduates with basic skills, knowledge and behaviours to allow them to enter the profession. The aim of this study was to explore employers’ perceptions of key factors in work place preparedness of novice physiotherapists. Four employers of recent graduates participated in a focus group interview. The analysis resulted in three themes: professionalism, perspective and confidence. Professionalism related to the importance of generic skills and attitudes, including enthusiasm, work-ethics, flexibility, empathy and energy. Employers assumed a level of competence in novice physiotherapists as all had met the professional registration criteria. Perspective related to the employers’ perceptions that the graduates had difficulties changing from a focus on their personal and professional needs to an external focus, such as on the needs of patients, colleagues and the workplace. Confidence was seen to be low in new entrants with regard to how they saw the profession and their own skills and knowledge. These results highlight the importance of facilitating these generic skills in the undergraduate programmes to improve the work place preparedness of new physiotherapy graduates. However, time and experience in work will still be needed by graduates to gain broader perspectives and confidence, and situated mentorship could facilitate the required professional formation

Optimizing dual threshold shocks with right- and left-ventricular electrodes: Simulating Defibrillation with a human thorax model

This research focuses on developing new implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) dual lead configurations that reduce the defibrillation threshold (DFT) energy by delivering a second threshold shock in the area where the conventional shock\u27s electric field is weakest. The objective of this study is to optimize electrode placements for lead systems including left-ventricular (LV) electrodes. A physiologically realistic 3D finite element model of the human thorax is employed to compute DFTs. The lead configurations investigated consist of a conventional lead system (TRIADTM, Guidant Corporation) and additional LV shocking electrodes placed in the apical and basal portion of the posteriolateral coronary vein or directly within the TRIAD system\u27s weak field region. The LV electrodes measure 50 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter. The computed DFT energy for the TRIAD is 6.2 J, falling within one standard deviation of the mean DFT reported in clinical studies using the TRIAD leads. LV leads located in the apical and basal portion of the posteriolateral coronary vein result in a DFT of 3.1 J, a 50% reduction from the TRIAD alone. LV leads placed in the anterior, middle, and posterior TRIAD weak field result in a DFT of 2.9 J, 2.7 J., and 3.5 J, respectively, corresponding to a 44-56% reduction in DFT from the TRIAD. The results indicate that an additional electrode placed in the proximity of the TRIAD weak field is just as effective in reducing DFTs as one placed directly within the weak field