The SEE Box: Creating new learning opportunities across STEM disciplines in developing countries

The Internet is loaded with high quality resources that can make a difference to how students develop conceptual connections across STEM disciplines. However, connectivity is a major challenge for many users throughout the world. In many cases even after connectivity is achieved, the quality of the connection dictates how the technology is used. Connectivity in developing countries is even more significant as a problem. This paper specifically focuses on the SEE Box as a tool for addressing the problem of connectivity and the progress that has been made. The SEE Box device has evolved from the Rachel Pi, which is an offline resources library. The SEE Box has almost 35 gigabytes of resources that are suitable for STEM and other disciplines. The ongoing development of the SEE Box has primarily been driven by the engagement of staff and students from an Australian university in outreach service learning projects in Fijian and Malaysian schools

The SEE Box: Creating new learning opportunities across STEM\ud disciplines in developing countries

The Internet is loaded with high quality resources that can make a difference to how students develop\ud conceptual connections across STEM disciplines. However, connectivity is a major challenge for many users\ud throughout the world. In many cases even after connectivity is achieved, the quality of the connection dictates\ud how the technology is used. Connectivity in developing countries is even more significant as a problem. This\ud paper specifically focuses on the SEE Box as a tool for addressing the problem of connectivity and the progress\ud that has been made. The SEE Box device has evolved from the Rachel Pi, which is an offline resources library.\ud The SEE Box has almost 35 gigabytes of resources that are suitable for STEM and other disciplines. The\ud ongoing development of the SEE Box has primarily been driven by the engagement of staff and students from an\ud Australian university in outreach service learning projects in Fijian and Malaysian schools

Effect of differing levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in cigarette smoke on the levels of biomarkers in smokers

Background: Smokers are exposed to significant doses of carcinogens, including tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA). Previous studies have shown significant global differences in the levels of TSNAs in cigarette smoke because of the variation in tobacco blending and curing practices around the world.Methods: Mouth-level exposure to 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) measured in cigarette butts and urinary concentrations of its major metabolite 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) were examined among 126 daily smokers in four countries over a 24-hour study period.Results: As mouth-level exposure of NNK increased, the urinary NNAL increased even after adjustment for other covariates (beta = 0.46, P = 0.004). The relationship between mouth-level exposure to nicotine and its salivary metabolite, cotinine, was not statistically significant (beta = 0.29, P = 0.057), likely because of the very limited range of differences in mouth-level nicotine exposure in this population.Conclusions: We have shown a direct association between the 24-hour mouth-level exposure of NNK resulting from cigarette smoking and the concentration of its primary metabolite, NNAL, in the urine of smokers. Internal dose concentrations of urinary NNAL are significantly lower in smokers in countries that have lower TSNA levels in cigarettes such as Canada and Australia in contrast to countries that have high levels of these carcinogens in cigarettes, such as the United States.Impact: Lowering the levels of NNK in the mainstream smoke of cigarettes through the use of specific tobacco types and known curing practices can significantly affect the exposure of smokers to this known carcinogen. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(6); 1389-98. (C) 2010 AACR