The Effects of a Collaborative Problem-based Learning Experience on Students’ Motivation in Engineering Capstone Courses

We identified and examined how the instructional elements of problem-based learning capstone engineering courses affected students’ motivation to engage in the courses. We employed a two-phase, sequential, explanatory, mixed methods research design. For the quantitative phase, 47 undergraduate students at a large public university completed a questionnaire that measured the components of the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation (Jones, 2009): empowerment, usefulness, success, situational interest, individual interest, academic caring, and personal caring. For the qualitative phase that followed, 10 students answered questions related to the MUSIC components. We identified several instructional elements that led to motivating opportunities that affected students’ motivation to engage in the courses. We discuss how these motivating opportunities can foster or hinder students’ engagement and provide implications for instruction

Cohomology of skew-holomorphic Lie algebroids

We introduce the notion of skew-holomorphic Lie algebroid on a complex manifold, and explore some cohomologies theories that one can associate to it. Examples are given in terms of holomorphic Poisson structures of various sorts.Comment: 16 pages. v2: Final version to be published in Theor. Math. Phys. (incorporates only very minor changes

Optimised combinatorial control strategy for active anti-roll bar system for ground vehicle

The objective of this paper is to optimise the proposed control strategy for an active anti-roll bar system using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) tuning method. By using an active anti-roll control strategy, the controller can adapt to current road conditions and manoeuvres unlike a passive anti-roll bar. The optimisation solution offers a rather noticeable improvement results compared to the manually-tuned method. From the application point of view, both tuning process can be used. However, using optimisation method gives a multiple choice of solutions and provides the optimal parameters compared to manual tuning method

Vertebral artery dissection presenting as a Brown-Séquard syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Vertebral artery dissection has become increasingly recognized as an important cause of stroke. It usually presents with posterior headache or neck pain followed within hours or days by signs of posterior circulation stroke. To the best of our knowledge, the clinical presentation of a Brown-Séquard syndrome with a vertebral artery dissection has been reported only once before.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>An otherwise healthy 35-year-old man presented with acute left-sided weakness. He had experienced left-sided posterior neck pain after a 4-hour flight 4 weeks previously. Physical examination was consistent with a left Brown-Séquard syndrome. Magnetic resonance angiography showed evidence of left vertebral artery dissection. He improved after therapy with anticoagulants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report a case of an unusual presentation of a relatively uncommon condition. This diagnosis should be considered early in relatively young patients with stroke-like symptoms or unexplained neck pain, because missing a dissection can result in adverse outcomes.</p

From Atiyah Classes to Homotopy Leibniz Algebras

A celebrated theorem of Kapranov states that the Atiyah class of the tangent bundle of a complex manifold $X$ makes $T_X[-1]$ into a Lie algebra object in $D^+(X)$, the bounded below derived category of coherent sheaves on $X$. Furthermore Kapranov proved that, for a K\"ahler manifold $X$, the Dolbeault resolution $\Omega^{\bullet-1}(T_X^{1,0})$ of $T_X[-1]$ is an $L_\infty$ algebra. In this paper, we prove that Kapranov's theorem holds in much wider generality for vector bundles over Lie pairs. Given a Lie pair $(L,A)$, i.e. a Lie algebroid $L$ together with a Lie subalgebroid $A$, we define the Atiyah class $\alpha_E$ of an $A$-module $E$ (relative to $L$) as the obstruction to the existence of an $A$-compatible $L$-connection on $E$. We prove that the Atiyah classes $\alpha_{L/A}$ and $\alpha_E$ respectively make $L/A[-1]$ and $E[-1]$ into a Lie algebra and a Lie algebra module in the bounded below derived category $D^+(\mathcal{A})$, where $\mathcal{A}$ is the abelian category of left $\mathcal{U}(A)$-modules and $\mathcal{U}(A)$ is the universal enveloping algebra of $A$. Moreover, we produce a homotopy Leibniz algebra and a homotopy Leibniz module stemming from the Atiyah classes of $L/A$ and $E$, and inducing the aforesaid Lie structures in $D^+(\mathcal{A})$.Comment: 36 page

Spontaneous dural tear leading to intracranial hypotension and tonsillar herniation in Marfan syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We describe the case of a 38 year old male with Marfan syndrome who presented with orthostatic headaches and seizures.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>The patient was diagnosed with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension secondary to CSF leaks, objectively demonstrated by MR Myelogram with intrathecal contrast. Epidural autologus blood patch was administered at the leakage site leading to significant improvement.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our literature search shows that this is the second reported case of a Marfan patient presenting with symptomatic spontaneous CSF leaks along with tonsillar herniation.</p

Lie algebroid foliations and E1(M){\cal E}^1(M)-Dirac structures

We prove some general results about the relation between the 1-cocycles of an arbitrary Lie algebroid $A$ over $M$ and the leaves of the Lie algebroid foliation on $M$ associated with $A$. Using these results, we show that a ${\cal E}^1(M)$-Dirac structure $L$ induces on every leaf $F$ of its characteristic foliation a ${\cal E}^1(F)$-Dirac structure $L_F$, which comes from a precontact structure or from a locally conformal presymplectic structure on $F$. In addition, we prove that a Dirac structure $\tilde{L}$ on $M\times \R$ can be obtained from $L$ and we discuss the relation between the leaves of the characteristic foliations of $L$ and $\tilde{L}$.Comment: 25 page