On forward pruning in game-tree search

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

What Types of Feedback do Undergraduate Chemistry Students Give Each Other? A Case Study from Singapore

This study was part of a larger project to improve learning of undergraduate chemistry in Singapore through the use of self-authored three-tier multiple-choice questions (3TMCQs) and the giving/receiving of peer feedback. Specifically, we examined the quality of written feedback based on the classification by Hattie and Timperley (2007) that year 2 to 4 learners (N=31) gave each other on responses in their 3TMCQs (N=466 administered). It was found that the most common type of voluntary feedback given by test-makers was task (& self), followed by process (& self), self alone, and lastly regulation (& self) levels over seven chemistry courses. In addition, question type (based on revised Bloom’s Taxonomy) had a marginal effect on the quality of feedback received; instead, items answered incorrectly garnered higher quality feedback and were four times more important than the cognitive level of questions. Feedback quality given by more experienced students was also no better than those given by less experienced ones. While there is growing evidence supporting the self-authoring of questions and giving/receiving peer feedback to enhance learning at undergraduate levels, further research is warranted into the types of peer feedback that learners may receive when attempting different question formats

Using Fresh Web Content To Generate Subscribable Search Notifications

Content subscriptions are a useful way for a search engine to maintain user engagement. However, generating and providing content updates regarding topics of interest based on knowledge repositories can be expensive. Further, updates generated in this manner can be too infrequent, providing an unsatisfactory user experience. This disclosure describes the automated analysis and use of fresh web content related to topics of interest to generate and deliver updates to subscribers. Fresh web content is analyzed, e.g., using a natural language classifier, to determine the topic and type of content. Updates are generated based on specific content types known to be of user interest and are provided to the user. The use of fresh content and filtering to certain content types ensures that the updates are timely, relevant, and interesting to the user

Effects Of Post-Deposition Annealing Time In Forming Gas Ambient On Y2O3 Films Deposited On Silicon Substrate

The effects of post-deposition annealing (PDA) time (15, 30, and 45 min) at 800˚C in forming gas (95% N2-5% H2) ambient was systematically studied for RF-magnetron sputtered Y2O3 films on n-type Si(100) substrate. X-ray diffraction characterization has revealed the detection of Y2O3 phase oriented in (400), (440), (541), and (543) planes for all of the investigated samples. Atomic force microscopy was utilized to acquire 2-dimensional surface topograpy of Y2O3 films subjected to different PDA time. An increment in rootmean-square roughness was perceived as PDA time was prolonged. In addition, currentvoltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics of the investigated Al/Y2O3/Si-based metaloxide-semiconductor capacitors were also presented in this work

High-K LaCeO For Passivation Of Si Substrate

High dielectric constant rare earth lanthanum cerium oxide (LaCeO) films have been studied as the passivation layers for silicon substrate. Effects of post-deposition annealing time (15, 30, and 45 min) was carried out at 700ºC towards structural and morphological characteristics of the films. As the annealing time was increased from 15 to 45 min, a shift in the diffraction angles, peak intensity, and peak width obtained from high resolution X-ray diffraction happened and resulted in changes in term of crystallite size and lattice strain present in the films. Corresponding influence on the film roughness has been also explored. A functional metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) based capacitor using the LaCeO film was fabricated in order to study current-voltage characteristics of the sampl

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Evaluation of biological processing of manure

Growth in large-scale animal protein production systems result in the proportionate increase of animal manure production per unit land area, which is challenging to manage using conventional methods. Manure in the United States are typically land applied onto adjacent croplands, but new technologies must be employed to overcome cost constraints on hauling large amounts of manure onto land relatively far away from animal farms. While there are numerous manure management strategies, this thesis evaluates and builds on existing research of solid manure composting and liquid manure anaerobic digestion. Composting has historically been proven to be a simple and effective method of waste treatment. A techno-economic analysis of solid manure composting is conducted to identify cost constraints and get an idea on what it takes to make composting feasible. We found that a relatively large farm (>6000 beef and dairy cows) is required to make composting economically feasible with the mass loss percentage of compost pile being the most critical factor in successful deployment of such technologies. Anaerobic digestion has gained tremendous interest in recent years due to heighten government incentives. Many manure anaerobic digestion research and experiments have been conducted on a lab-scale with many promising results mainly attributed to increased methane yield by introducing treatments on substrate or manipulating process parameters. However, success in lab results do not directly translate into successful and increased deployment of digesters on a farm scale. A sub-pilot scale plug-flow anaerobic digesters is designed, built, tested and validated to overcome this knowledge gap in hope to support future research on manure anaerobic co-digestion with different substrates concentrations, hydraulic retention times, and biochar addition

Evaluation of biological processing of manure

Growth in large-scale animal protein production systems result in the proportionate increase of animal manure production per unit land area, which is challenging to manage using conventional methods. Manure in the United States are typically land applied onto adjacent croplands, but new technologies must be employed to overcome cost constraints on hauling large amounts of manure onto land relatively far away from animal farms. While there are numerous manure management strategies, this thesis evaluates and builds on existing research of solid manure composting and liquid manure anaerobic digestion. Composting has historically been proven to be a simple and effective method of waste treatment. A techno-economic analysis of solid manure composting is conducted to identify cost constraints and get an idea on what it takes to make composting feasible. We found that a relatively large farm (>6000 beef and dairy cows) is required to make composting economically feasible with the mass loss percentage of compost pile being the most critical factor in successful deployment of such technologies. Anaerobic digestion has gained tremendous interest in recent years due to heighten government incentives. Many manure anaerobic digestion research and experiments have been conducted on a lab-scale with many promising results mainly attributed to increased methane yield by introducing treatments on substrate or manipulating process parameters. However, success in lab results do not directly translate into successful and increased deployment of digesters on a farm scale. A sub-pilot scale plug-flow anaerobic digesters is designed, built, tested and validated to overcome this knowledge gap in hope to support future research on manure anaerobic co-digestion with different substrates concentrations, hydraulic retention times, and biochar addition