A Brief Review of Recent Literature on Authentic Materials

Exploiting authentic materials in education is not a recent practice, however recently research has been increasing as to how to use them in classroom situations. This literature review summarizes recent research and also explains certain instructional methods that are being used currently. The review begins with accepted definitions of what authentic materials consist of and then moves on to explore both advantages and disadvantages of the uses of those materials

Reductive Alkylation of Proteins Towards Structural and Biological Applications

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a proven technique for protein structure and dynamic studies, typically requiring the incorporation of stable magnetic isotopes to improve sensitivity and assign resonances. Degenerate levels of 13C-incorporation have been the biggest obstacle for mass spectrometry-assisted assignment of 13C-dimethylamine resonances in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Reductive 13C-methylation is an alternative labeling method for proteins not amenable to bacterial host overexpression. Because reductive 13C-methylation adds sparse, isotopic labels, traditional methods of assigning the NMR signals are not applicable. The research presented in the first part of this dissertation explores several methods used to break the degeneracy in 13C-labeling of lysozyme. To overcome the degeneracy in labeling lysozyme with the reductive methylation reaction, we investigated two methods: 1) reductive methylation in the presence of 18-crown-6-ether (18C6) and 2) reductive methylation using multiple reducing agents. To assign the - and -dimethylamine resonances of the N-terminal lysine residue of lysozyme, a non-destructive Edman degradation method was explored. The second part of this research discusses an alternative assignment method based on mass spectrometry to aid in the assignment of the NMR signals from reductively 13C-methylated proteins. Because assignment is increasingly difficult when lysine is the N-terminal residue of the protein, one method is described to identify the NMR resonance of the 13C-methyls associated with both the N-terminal α-amine and the side chain ε-amine. The NMR signals of the N-terminal α-dimethylamine and the side chain ε-dimethylamine of hen egg white lysozyme Lys1 are identified in 1H-13C heteronuclear single-quantum correlation spectra. Protein chemical modification is a well-established field that continues to impact leading research today including glycomimetics and cross-linking of proteins. Current protein chemical modifications like polyethylene glycol are proven useful for increasing the lifetime of several therapeutic enzymes but are also toxic to the body. In the last chapter, we present the use of sugar derivatives as a possible less toxic alternative for synthetic glycoproteins. The synthesis of a protein modifier is described and preliminary data of its application as a glycomimetic and cross-linking agent is presented

"Just Teach Them Some English"

This paper chronicles the experiences of a native English-speaking teacher in an EFL situation at a Japanese kindergarten. The paper discusses how the author coped with certain problems that arose over a twenty-year period, and then explains what measures were taken in order to remedy some of those issues. Also, suggestions for others that may be in the same type of situation are made based on steps that were taken over the years to enhance the students’ learning and motivation during the lessons

The XMM-Newton Optical Monitor Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud

The Optical Monitor (OM) on-board XMM-Newton obtained optical/ultraviolet data for the XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST), simultaneously with the X-ray detectors. With the XEST OM data, we aim to study the optical and ultraviolet properties of TMC members, and to do correlative studies between the X-ray and OM light curves. In particular, we aim to determine whether accretion plays a significant role in the optical/ultraviolet and X-ray emissions. The Neupert effect in stellar flares is also investigated. Coordinates, average count rates and magnitudes were extracted from OM images, together with light curves with low time resolution (a few kiloseconds). For a few sources, OM FAST mode data were also available, and we extracted OM light curves with high time resolution. The OM data were correlated with Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) data and with the XEST catalogue in the X-rays. The XEST OM catalogue contains 2,148 entries of which 1,893 have 2MASS counterparts. However, only 98 entries have X-ray counterparts, of which 51 of them are known TMC members and 12 additional are TMC candidates. The OM data indicate that accreting stars are statistically brighter in the U band than non-accreting stars after correction for extinction, and have U-band excesses, most likely due to accretion. The OM emission of accreting stars is variable, probably due to accretion spots, but it does not correlate with the X-ray light curve, suggesting that accretion does not contribute significantly to the X-ray emission of most accreting stars. In some cases, flares were detected in both X-ray and OM light curves and followed a Neupert effect pattern, in which the optical/ultraviolet emission precedes the X-ray emission of a flare, whereas the X-ray flux is proportional to the integral of the optical flux.Comment: Accepted by A&A, to appear in a special section/issue dedicated to the XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST). Version with higher resolution figures available at this http://www.issibern.ch/teams/Taurus/papers.htm

An International Validation of the Bolton Unistride Scale (BUSS) of Tenacity

Academic success at University is increasingly believed to be a combination of personal characteristics like grit, resilience, strength-use, self-control, mind-set and wellbeing. The authors have developed a short 12-item measure of academic tenacity, the Bolton Uni-Stride Scale (BUSS) which incorporates these elements. Previous work in the UK had established the reliability and validity of the BUSS. The present paper reports the findings of an International validation of BUSS across 30 countries (n = 1043). Participants completed the BUSS alongside other recognised scales. Factor analysis revealed an almost identical two-factor solution to previous work and the reliability and validity of the scale were supported using an international sample. The authors recommend however that the scale be used as a single score combining all 12 items. In the light of this, the authors suggest that the BUSS will be a useful measure to incorporate in studies of academic attainment

A review of tidal energy - Resource, feedbacks, and environmental interactions

International audienceThe ocean contains a variety of renewable energy resources, little of which has been exploited. Here, we review both tidal range and tidal stream energy, with a focus on the resource, feedbacks, and environmental interactions. The review covers a wide range of timescales of relevance to tidal energy, from fortnightly (spring-neap) and semi-diurnal variability, down to array, and device-scale turbulence. When simulating the regional tidal energy resource, and to assess environmental impacts, it is necessary to account for feedbacks between the tidal array and the resource itself. We critically review various methods for simulating energy extraction, from insights gained through theoretical studies of “tidal fences” in idealized channels, to realistic three-dimensional model studies with complex geometry and arrays of turbines represented by momentum sinks and additional turbulence due to the presence of rotors and support structures. We discuss how variability can be reduced by developing multiple (aggregated) sites with a consideration of the enhanced phase diversity offered by exploiting less energetic tidal currents. This leads to future research questions that have not yet been explored in depth at first-generation tidal sites in relatively sheltered channels (e.g., the interaction of waves with currents). Such enhanced understanding of real sea conditions, including the effects of wind and waves, leads to our other identified primary future research direction—reduced uncertainties in turbulence predictions, including the development of realistic models that simulate the interaction between ambient turbulence and the turbulence resulting from multiple wakes, and changes to system-wide hydrodynamics, water quality, and sedimentation

The Development of Layered Photonic Band Gap Structures Using a Micro-Transfer Molding Technique

Over the last ten years, photonic band gap (PBG) theory and technology have become an important area of research because of the numerous possible applications ranging from high-efficiency laser diodes to optical circuitry. This research concentrates on reducing the length scale in the fabrication of layered photonic band gap structures and developing procedures to improve processing consistency. Various procedures and materials have been used in the fabrication of layered PBG structures. This research focused on an economical micro transfer molding approach to create the final PBG structure. A poly dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber mold was created from a silicon substrate. It was filled with epoxy and built layer-by-layer to create a 3-D epoxy structure. This structure was infiltrated with nanoparticle titania or a titania sol-gel, then fired to remove the polymer mold, leaving a monolithic ceramic inverse of the epoxy structure. The final result was a lattice of titania rolds that resembles a face-centered tetragonal structure. The original intent of this research was to miniaturize this process to a bar size small enough to create a photonic band gap for wavelengths of visible electro-magnetic radiation. The factor limiting progress was the absence of a silicon master mold of small enough dimensions. The Iowa State Microelectronics Research Center fabricated samples with periodicities of 2.5 and 1.0 microns with the existing technology, but a sample was needed on the order of 0.3 microns or less. A 0.4 micron sample was received from Sandia National Laboratory, which was made through an electron beam lithography process, but it contained several defects. The results of the work are primarily from the 2.5 and 1.0 micron samples. Most of the work focused on changing processing variables in order to optimize the infiltration procedure for the best results. Several critical parameters were identified, ranging from the ambient conditions to the specifics of the procedure. It is believed that most critical for fabrication of high quality samples is control of the temperature of the sample during and after infiltration, and the rate and amount of time spent applying epoxy to the PDMS

Compilation for heterogeneous SoCs : bridging the gap between software and target-specific mechanisms

International audienceCurrent applications constraints are pushing for higher computation power while reducing energy consumption, driving the development of increasingly specialized socs. In the mean time, these socs are still programmed in assembly language to make use of their specific hardware mechanisms. The constraints on hardware development bringing specialization, hence heterogeneity, it is essential to support these new mechanisms using high-level programming. In this work, we use a parametric data flow formalism to abstract the application from any hardware platform. From this premise, we propose to contribute to the compilation of target independent programs on heterogeneous platforms. These developments are threefold, with 1) the support of hardware accelerators for computation using actor fusion, 2) the automatic generation of communications on complex memory layouts and 3) the synchronization of distributed cores using hardware mechanisms for scheduling. The code generation is illustrated on a telecommunication dedicated heterogeneous soc

iHabiMap: habitat mapping, monitoring and assessment using high-resolution imagery

Despite the ecological importance of natural habitats, they are facing threats of loss and degradation. The Habitats Directive requires EU countries to accurately map and monitor the condition of Annex I habitats. Ireland must report, map and monitor the conservation status of its Annex 1 habitats based on ecological field data every six years. This field-based mapping and assessment methodology, while desirable, is time-consuming and expensive. Thus, more efficient mapping approaches should be considered to supplement these traditional field-based methods. The use of remote sensing techniques to map, monitor and evaluate Irish habitats enables repeatable and cost-effective surveys. The advent of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) delivers new developments in the field of remote sensing by providing multi-sensor images with centimeter-level resolution. UAVs also offer flexible data acquisition suited for monitoring and change detection applications due to their independence from weather and cloud cover. The “Habitat Mapping, Assessment and Monitoring using High-Resolution Imagery” Project or iHabiMap is a part of Ireland’s initiative to produce detailed assessment of its habitats using ultra-high resolution images acquired from UAVs. Analytical approaches will be developed to map, assess, and monitor three habitats - upland, grasslands, and coastal zones, by utilizing UAV data and machine learning algorithms. This poster presentation will give an overview of the project. Multispectral data will be acquired and tested for each habitat. The methodology will provide a reproducible automated technique to enable frequent habitat mapping in Ireland. Field surveys will be conducted alongside the acquisition of UAV data at each study site. Overall, this study aims to develop and test a methodology that integrates remote sensing data and machine learning technologies to map and monitor these three Annex I habitats