R-D-L me this: A simple semi-directed learning approach to teaching first year physics students.

Students often enter physics courses at higher education with a background experience of “spoon fed” learning yet academic staff expect students to engage in self-directed learning. The Revise, Do, Learn method presented here provides a first intermediary step between “spoon fed” and independent learning. A small to moderate positive effect (d = 0.38) was found between subsequent cohorts that, when considered with the minimal time and effort required to implement the method, provides an easy win for improving student learning

Risk of Choking to Death on One’s Own Blood Is Not Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Missouri began executing inmates in 1810 by hanging Peter Johnson, a man accused of murder. Since Johnson’s execution, Missouri executed 374 inmates between 1810 and 2019. Hanging was the most common method of execution in Missouri until 1936. Lethal gas was first used in Missouri in 1937 and became the most common execution method until 1987, when lethal injection took over as the predominant method

“Alternative Method Required” and the Injection of Imaginary Language into the Missouri Constitution

Mike Kehoe was appointed to Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 2018 after Michael Parson became Governor of Missouri following the resignation of Eric Greitens.1 A lawsuit raising interesting questions about the constitutional process for filling public office vacancies quickly followed the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Kehoe.2 Article IV, Section 4 of the Missouri Constitution states: “The governor shall fill all vacancies in public offices unless otherwise provided by law, and his appointees shall serve until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.”3 First, what exactly does the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” mean in the context of filling vacancies? Second, what are the legal implications of allowing the governor to appoint a lieutenant governor when Missouri law expressly disallows it? Finally, what are some other methods of filling vacancies that would be constitutional and more democratic

Microstructure Enhanced Sinter Bonding of Metal Injection Molded Part to a Support Substrate

Composites that include a metal injection molded component bonded to a support substrate and methods for forming the composites are described. Methods include forming a metal injection molded green part that includes microstructures on a surface of the green part. The metal injection molded component is located adjacent to a support substrate with the microstructure ends contacting the support substrate at a contact surface. During sintering the metal injection molded component is bonded to the support substrate at the ends of the microstructures. The presence of the microstructures can allow for relative motion between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate during sintering. The large bonding surface area provided by the multiple points of contact between the ends of the microstructures and the support substrate can provide excellent bonding force between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate

The artificial leaf: An investigation into the sociotechnical integration of new solar energy innovations

Increasing global demand, combined with the volatility of fossil fuels, has called for a large-scale increase in renewable energy production. Photovoltaics hold significant potential, but by nature, solar energy is intermittent and lacks dispatchability. Researchers around the world are working to create innovative solutions that utilize semiconductors found in solar cell technologies in new ways. This project harnesses photoelectrochemical water-splitting, which uses light energy to dissociate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. When the water-splitting device is submerged in saltwater and illuminated by sunlight, oxygen and hydrogen gas are produced on opposite surfaces, and can be either released or stored for later use. This device imitates the light-driven catalysts found in the chloroplasts of photosynthesizing plants, which is why it is so aptly named the artificial leaf. Stored hydrogen can be burned in a fuel cell, producing electricity with a byproduct of pure water and no greenhouse gas emissions. In the lab, two strategies to improve artificial leaves were investigated: (1) introducing a transparent, electrically-conducting scaffold made from textured SnO2:Sb to support the BiVO4 photocatalyst, and (2) applying a thin FeOOH co-catalyst coating to the BiVO4 surface to enhance the efficiency of the water-splitting process. While this product has not yet achieved optimum efficiency, experimental efforts are continuing to improve the performance of JMU artificial leaf prototypes. Once fully integrated into society, hydrogen produced from artificial leaves can be burned in small fuel cells within hydrogen-powered vehicles, while large-scale fuel cells can be used to provide both electricity and fresh water to island and coastal communities. Studying the artificial leaf as an emerging technology allows researchers to identify sociotechnical considerations through scenario crosses, the STIR protocol, systems dynamics modeling, and comparative analyses. Insights collected from experts in the field will inform project characteristics as design fictions are implemented. Existing policies, cultural views, stakeholder analyses, ethical key questions, local job/revenue creation, and the co-production of technology and society are each thoroughly explored to hypothesize how artificial leaves will be integrated into coastal communities

The effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise compared with continuous exercise on voluntary water ingestion

Water intake occurs following a period of high intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) due to sensations of thirst yet this does not always appear to be caused by body water losses. Thus, the aim was to assess voluntary water intake following HIIE. Ten healthy males (22±2y, 75.6±6.9kg, V˙O2peak 57.3±11.4ml.kg-1.min-1) (mean±SD) completed two trials (7-14d apart). Subjects sat for 30min then completed an exercise period involving 2min of rest followed by 1min at 100%V˙O2peak repeated for 60min (HIIE) or 60min continuously at 33%V˙O2peak (LO). Subjects then sat for 60min and were allowed ad libitum water intake. Body mass was measured at start and end of trials. Serum osmolality, blood lactate and sodium concentrations, sensations of thirst and mouth dryness were measured at baseline, post-exercise and after 5, 15, 30 and 60min of recovery. Vasopressin concentration was measured at baseline, post-exercise, 5 and 30min. Body mass loss over the whole trial was similar (HIIE: 0.77±0.50; LO: 0.85±0.55%) (p=0.124). Sweat lost during exercise (0.78±0.22 v 0.66±0.26 l) and voluntary water intake during recovery (0.416±0.299 v 0.294±0.295 l) (p<0.05) were greater in HIIE. Serum osmolality (297±3 v 288±4mOsmol.kg-1), blood lactate (8.5±2.7 v 0.7±0.4mmol.l-1), serum sodium (146±1 v 143±1mmol.l-1) and vasopressin (9.91±3.36 v 4.43±0.86pg.ml-1) concentrations were higher after HIIE (p<0.05) and thirst (84±7 v 60±21) and mouth dryness (87±7 v 64±23) also tended to be higher (p=0.060). Greater voluntary water intake after HIIE was mainly caused by increased sweat loss and the consequences of increased serum osmolality mainly resulting from higher blood lactate concentrations

Assessing hydration status and reported beverage intake in the workplace

The aim was to examine the hydration status of adults working in different jobs at the beginning and end of a shift and their reported water intake. One hundred and fifty-six subjects (89 males, 67 females) were recruited from workplaces within the local area (students, teachers, security, office, firefighters, catering). A urine sample was obtained at the start and end of the shift and was analyzed for osmolality (Uosm), specific gravity (USG), and sodium and potassium concentrations. Euhydration was considered Uosm <700 mOsmol/kg or USG <1.020. At the end of the shift, subjects were asked to report all water intake from beverages during the shift. Females had lower Uosm than males at the start (656 [range, 85-970] vs 738 [range, 164-1090] mOsmol/kg) and end (461 [range, 105-1014] vs 642 [range, 130-1056] mOsmol/kg; P <.05) of their working day. Fifty-two percent of individuals who appeared hypohydrated at the start of the shift were also hypohydrated at the end. Reported water intake from beverages was greater in males compared with females (1.2 [range, 0.0-3.3] vs 0.7 [range, 0.0-2.0] L, respectively; P <.0001). In conclusion, a large proportion of subjects exhibited urine values indicating hypohydration, and many remained in a state of hypohydration at the end of the shift

Voluntary water intake during and following moderate exercise in the cold

Exercising in cold environments results in water losses, yet examination of resultant voluntary water intake has focussed on warm conditions. The purpose of the study was to assess voluntary water intake during and following exercise in a cold compared to a warm environment. Ten healthy males (22±2 years, 67.8±7.0 kg, 1.77±0.06 m, V˙O2peak 60.5±8.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) completed two trials (7-8d). In each trial subjects sat for 30 minutes before cycling at 70% V˙O2peak (162±27W) for 60 minutes in 25.0±0.1°C, 50.8±1.5% relative humidity (RH) (warm) or 0.4±1.0°C, 68.8±7.5% RH (cold). Subjects then sat for 120 minutes at 22.2±1.2°C, 50.5±8.0% RH. Ad libitum drinking was allowed during the exercise and recovery periods. Urine volume, body mass, serum osmolality and sensations of thirst were measured at baseline, post-exercise and after 60 and 120 minutes of the recovery period. Sweat loss was greater in the warm trial (0.96±0.18 l v 0.48±0.15 l) (p0.05). Ad libitum water intake adjusted so that similar body mass losses occurred in both trials. In the cold there appeared to a blunted thirst response

Population-level linkages between urban greenspace and health inequality : the case for using multiple indicators of neighbourhood greenspace

Exposure to greenspace in urban environments is associated with a range of improved health and well-being outcomes. There is a need to understand which aspects of greenspace influence which components of health. We investigate the relationship of indicators of greenspace quantity (total and specific types of greenspace), accessibility and quality with poor general health, depression, and severe mental illness, in the city of Sheffield, UK. We find complex relationships with multiple greenspace indicators that are different for each health measure, highlighting a need for future studies to include multiple, nuanced indicators of neighbourhood greenspace in order to produce results that can inform planning and policy guidance