Pemanfaatan Internet sebagai Sumber Belajar pada Materi “Keragaman Suku Bangsa dan Budaya Indonesia” Mata Pelajaran IPS dalam Meningkatkan Prestasi Belajar Siswa Kelas V Sdn Lidah Wetan II Surabaya

Penelitian ini berangkat dari latar belakang perlunya dilakukan pembaharuan dalam peningkatan aktivitas dalam berkreasi mengajar guru sehingga pengelolaan proses pembelajaran tentang Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial di Sekolah Dasar dapat merespon siswa yang selama ini mengalami penurunan kualitas belajar, baik pada proses maupun produk belajarnya. Sebagian besar guru masih melaksanakan pembelajaran dengan pendekatan pembelajaran tradisional. Keadaan tersebut berpotensi menimbulkan kejenuhan, kebosanan serta menurunkan minat belajar siswa. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif untuk mendapatkan data dan analisisnya melalui kajian-kajian reflektif dan kolaboratif. Pengembangan program didasarkan pada data-data dan informasi dari siswa dan guru. Penerapan pembelajaran dengan memanfaatkan internet sebagai sumber belajar, dilakukan melalui PTK untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar, mata pelajaran Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial. Penelitian ini dilakukan di SDN Lidah Wetan II Surabaya melalui 2 siklus. Dari hasil pelaksanaan PTK menunjukkan adanya pengaruh yang signifikan (berarti). Hal ini dapat dilihat dari aktivitas siswa yang baik dalam pembelajaran dan guru telah menciptakan suasana pembelajaran yang menyenangkan bagi siswa. Serta terjadi peningkatan rata-rata dari hasil belajar siswa yakni dari sebelum penelitian sebesar 64,8 menjadi 76 pada siklus I dan 80, 6 pada siklus II. Dari hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa pembelajaran dengan memanfaatkan internet sebagai sumber belajar dapat meningkatkan prestasi belajar mata pelajaran Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial bagi siswa kelas V SDN Lidah Wetan II Surabaya

History in Your Hand: Design Elements to Enhance Adoption of Mobile Multimedia Historical Tour.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Modeling Vegetation-Erosion Dynamics using Differential Equations with Human Factors

The effects of soil erosion are often devastating. Plants can reduce erosion by slowing runoff and reinforcing soil using its roots. In this project, we investigate the dynamic relationship between vegetation and erosion processes. We assume an inverse relationship between vegetation density and soil erosion: that is, an increase in vegetation cover reverses soil degradation and a decrease in vegetation cover intensifies the problem of erosion. We also assume that human activities (like logging, road-building) affect both vegetation development and resilience against erosion. Our model for the vegetation-erosion dynamics is a two-dimensional nonlinear system of differential equations with logistic growth on both variables. Equilibrium and nullcline analysis methods are applied to determine all possible dynamic scenarios between vegetation and erosion. The resulting parameter conditions can be used to analyze bifurcations on the vegetation and erosion dynamics

Mechanical Properties of TiO2 Reinforced Polystyrene- Modified Unsaturated Polyester

The aim of current research is carrying out some modifications on the properties of resin material Unsaturated Polyester (UP) by adding thermoplastic material Polystyrene (PS) in different weight ratios included 4%, 8%, 12%,14%,16%,20% and 24% was used to prepare binary polymer blend. The best ratio was selected in terms of the homogeneity case between the two polymers and according to compression strength for all prepared specimens. The ratio 92/8 wt.% of UP/PS blend was selected and reinforced with different particle volume fractions of 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% using of TiO2 particles. The composite materials with unsaturated polyester-polystyrene matrix properties were evaluated by conducting the mechanical tests which included compression, hardness and impact resistance. Results of compression test showed that the compression strength decreases as polystyrene percentage (PS) increases. While the TiO2 an addition has helped in balancing the original compression strength reduction up to 3% vol. of TiO2 and then the strength decreases. The results confirmed that the best enhancement is of 3% vol. of TiO2 considering compression strength and impact. The SEM results indicate that the polystyrene particles have good distribution through UP, this distribution of smaller particles is responsible for lower crack growth. The SEM results of composites specimen show the TiO2 particles have good distribution through the matrix up to 3% vol., the mechanical properties beyond 3% vol. decreased due to the presence of particle agglomerations. Keywords: Unsaturated polyester, Polystyrene, Mechanical properties, SEM

Mechanical Properties of Carbon/Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Rubber-Modified Epoxy System

Epoxies as a thermoset polymer have gained a considerable attention in structural, electrical, and marine applications. To widen their usage and overcome their brittleness, many polymers were blended with it. The addition of Polysulfide rubber helps in increasing the impact resistance of Epoxy, while in the other hand; it reduces strength , modulus, hardness and creep resistance. That leads to the need for another material to compensate the reduction in these properties. Carbon, polypropylene as an inorganic and polymeric short fibers with their exceptional and different mechanical properties will compensate many drawbacks of polysulfide addition in enhancing mechanical properties. The composite material with Epoxy-Polysulfide matrix properties were evaluated by conducting the mechanical tests which include compression test, hardness test, impact resistance test. The fracture surface of composite impact specimens was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM on all designed experimental samples. Elongation and impact strength of epoxy- polysulfide blend were found to increase with increasing rubber content while compressive strength and modulus decrease. The influence of fiber adding on the mechanical properties of the composite was studied , the mechanical properties of the blend matrix were found to be better than those of the pure epoxy. The morphology of the fractured surfaces showed significant signs of plastic deformation such as shear bands, high deformation, and cavitations due to rubber addition, and this correlates well with mechanical properties which resulted in an increase in toughness of the composites when rubber content was increased. The results of this investigation clearly show the possibility of balancing strength and toughness of the material when adding rubber, fiber to epoxy. Results of compression test showed that the compressive strength decreases as Polysulfide percentage (PS) increase. While the carbon fiber addition helped in balance or overcomes the original compressive strength reduction up to 30 vol.%. of fiber. The results confirmed that the best modification is the addition of 6% polysulfide considering compressive strength, Impact and hardness. While 20% carbon fiber and 30% Polypropylene fiber gives the optimum mechanical properties in compression and Impact, respectively, for the composite samples. Keywords: Epoxy resin, Liquid rubber, Mechanical properties

Reliability of Differing Muscle Size and Quality Analysis Techniques

Brightness-mode (B-mode) ultrasonography is a popular tool to examine anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) and echo intensity (EI). Muscle ACSA and EI provide valuable insight into muscle function due to their unique mechanisms which influence performance. Manually analyzing ultrasound images potentially increases variability which may increase error, thus decreasing the reliability of manual image analysis. Recently an automated program was created to improve reliability and reduce the time of ultrasound image analysis. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of manual compared to automatic ultrasound analyses of muscle cross-sectional area and echo intensity. METHODS: Twenty-two participants (mean ± SD age = 24 ± 4 yrs; BMI = 24.19 ± 3.26 kg/m2) volunteered for this study. The participants completed one visit to the laboratory consisting of two data collection trials separated by 10 minutes. Ultrasound scans were taken with a B-mode ultrasound imaging device and image settings were held constant (i.e., depth = 6 cm, frequency = 12 MHz, gain = 52 dB). For each trial, participants remained supine while ACSA scans of the vastus lateralis (VL) were taken at 50% the length of the proximal to distal musculo-tendon junctions. The ACSA of the VL was manually analyzed by an experienced technician with ImageJ using the polygon tool and tracing the area of interest. Echo intensity was quantified as the mean pixel brightness of the traced portion of the image. Images were automatically analyzed with the Deep Anatomical Cross-Sectional Area (DeepACSA) program which is an algorithm that is designed to automatically trace the area of interest of an ultrasound image. Test-retest reliability statistics (i.e., intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] model 2,1, standard error of measure expressed as a percentage of the mean [SEM%], and the minimal differences [MD] values needed to be considered real) were calculated for trials 1 and 2. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance determined differences in trial 1 compared to trial 2. RESULTS: Manual analyses of ACSA (ICC2,1 = 0.98, SEM (%) = 3.39%, MD = 2.09 cm2, p = 0.046) were more reliable than automatic analyses (ICC2,1 = 0.87, SEM (%) = 12.33%, MD = 7.77 cm2, p = 0.216). Manual analyses of EI (ICC2,1 = 0.73, SEM (%) = 6.44%, MD = 10.83 cm2, p = 0.514) had similar reliability to the automatic analyses (ICC2,1 = 0.88, SEM (%) = 3.60%, MD = 6.30 cm2, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that this automated analysis program may be less reliable compared to the manual analysis of muscle ACSA of the VL. Conversely, DeepACSA displayed similar reliability for EI of the VL when compared to the manual analysis

Normative Percent Differences between Inter-day and Inter-Limb Upper Extremity Volume in Healthy Adult Females

Lymphedema is a frequent complication of breast cancer treatments and can become a chronic condition. Diagnosing lymphedema early is essential to reverse the condition and prevent future complications. Segmental circumferential measurements are the most efficient, reliable, and clinically relevant method to measure UE volume. Diagnosing pre-clinical lymphedema requires an understanding of normal inter-day and inter-limb volume differences among healthy women.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dpt_symposium/1016/thumbnail.jp

Test-Retest Reliability of Automatic and Manual Image Analyses of Muscle Size

Brightness-mode (B-mode) ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality that has risen in popularity. In research settings, B-mode ultrasound is often used to assess skeletal muscle size via the quantification of the anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA). Typically, these images are analyzed by an experienced investigator using open-source software, though it is a time-consuming process that may introduce implicit bias into the analysis. Recently, a novel, automatic ultrasound image analysis tool has been developed which may reduce bias and increase the reliability of ultrasound ACSA image analysis. PURPOSE: The purpose of the project was to compare the test-retest reliability of manual and automatic ACSA quantification techniques. METHODS: Nine participants (mean ± SD: age = 25 ± 3 years; BMI = 23.96 ± 2.62 kg/m2) completed one laboratory visit where each participant had non-invasive ultrasound imaging performed on their rectus femoris (i.e., RF) for two data collection trials separated by 10 minutes. For each participant, ultrasound image settings were held constant (i = 6 cm, frequency = 10 MHz, gain = 52 dB). All images were manually analyzed by an experienced technician using an open-source image analysis tool. The investigator would carefully select only the surrounding muscle fascia of the RF. Automatic analyses were performed using DeepACSA, a deep learning approach for the assessment of ACSA. Both manual and automatic analyses were conducted on all images. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare differences between trials and test-retest reliability (i.e., intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC] model 2,1, standard error of measure expressed as a percentage of the mean [SEM%], and the minimal differences [MD] values needed to be considered real) were calculated from the ANOVA output. RESULTS: The manual analyses of ACSA (p = 0.20, ICC2,1 = 0.84, SEM (%) = 11.67%, MD = 1.75 cm2) were more reliable than the DeepACSA analyses (p = 0.13, ICC2,1 = 0.47, SEM (%) = 30.28%, MD = 4.70 cm2). CONCLUSION: The results of the present investigation suggest that the DeepACSA approach may be less reliable compared to the manual quantification of RF muscle size. Future studies should investigate using a larger sample size and additional muscle groups

Lama1 mutations lead to vitreoretinal blood vessel formation, persistence of fetal vasculature, and epiretinal membrane formation in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Valuable insights into the complex process of retinal vascular development can be gained using models with abnormal retinal vasculature. Two such models are the recently described mouse lines with mutations in <it>Lama1</it>, an important component of the retinal internal limiting membrane (ILM). These mutants have a persistence of the fetal vasculature of vitreous (FVV) but lack a primary retinal vascular plexus. The present study provides a detailed analysis of astrocyte and vascular development in these <it>Lama1 </it>mutants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although astrocytes and blood vessels initially migrate into <it>Lama1 </it>mutant retinas, both traverse the peripapillary ILM into the vitreous by P3. Once in the vitreous, blood vessels anastomose with vessels of the vasa hyaloidea propria, part of the FVV, and eventually re-enter the retina where they dive to form the inner and outer retinal capillary networks. Astrocytes continue proliferating within the vitreous to form a dense mesh that resembles epiretinal membranes associated with persistent fetal vasculature and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Lama1 </it>and a fully intact ILM are required for normal retinal vascular development. Mutations in <it>Lama1 </it>allow developing retinal vessels to enter the vitreous where they anastomose with vessels of the hyaloid system which persist and expand. Together, these vessels branch into the retina to form fairly normal inner retinal vascular capillary plexi. The <it>Lama1 </it>mutants described in this report are potential models for studying the human conditions persistent fetal vasculature and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.</p

Bringing scientific rigor to community-developed programs in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND: This paper describes efforts to generate evidence for community-developed programs to enhance family relationships in the Chinese culture of Hong Kong, within the framework of community-based participatory research (CBPR). METHODS: The CBPR framework was applied to help maximize the development of the intervention and the public health impact of the studies, while enhancing the capabilities of the social service sector partners. RESULTS: Four academic-community research teams explored the process of designing and implementing randomized controlled trials in the community. In addition to the expected cultural barriers between teams of academics and community practitioners, with their different outlooks, concerns and languages, the team navigated issues in utilizing the principles of CBPR unique to this Chinese culture. Eventually the team developed tools for adaptation, such as an emphasis on building the relationship while respecting role delineation and an iterative process of defining the non-negotiable parameters of research design while maintaining scientific rigor. Lessons learned include the risk of underemphasizing the size of the operational and skills shift between usual agency practices and research studies, the importance of minimizing non-negotiable parameters in implementing rigorous research designs in the community, and the need to view community capacity enhancement as a long term process. CONCLUSIONS: The four pilot studies under the FAMILY Project demonstrated that nuanced design adaptations, such as wait list controls and shorter assessments, better served the needs of the community and led to the successful development and vigorous evaluation of a series of preventive, family-oriented interventions in the Chinese culture of Hong Kong