Are all net generation students the same? The frequency of technology use at university

This paper looks at the results of a longitudinal study on how frequently the Net Generation students (i.e. those born in the 1980s) use technologies in their first year of university. Eight technology groupings were explored including web 2.0, social networking and computer software. The research investigated whether older Net Generation students (21-25 years) used technologies differently to the younger Net Generation students (≤20 years). Additional factors such as gender, university type (distance-learning or place-based) and nationality (UK or International) were accounted for during the study. The research found that nationality and university type were influential factors in determining the frequency of use across all technologies at the beginning of the academic year and continued to be influencing factors along with gender at the end of the academic year. Age only seemed to be an important factor for the use of Web 2.0 and social networking sites but these uses of technology were also dependent on students’ university type, gender and nationality. Thus these demographic and social factors have to be considered when analysing technology use or designing educational tools. The findings of this study have implications for research into age-related differences in students’ use of digital technologies and universities’ digital technologies training provision

Электропривод постоянного тока с автономным источником питания

The paper examines a circuit of an impulse DC electric drive with one controlled-rectifier that is a thyristor. Regulation of an average voltage value on an engine is carried out by changing frequency of controlling impulses applied to the thyristor. Calculation of commutating capacitance and inductance is given in the paper.Рассматривается схема импульсного электропривода постоянного тока с одним управляемым вентилем – тиристором. Регулирование среднего значения напряжения на электродвигателе осуществляется путем изменения частоты управляющих импульсов, подводимых на тиристор. Приводится расчет коммутирующих емкостей и индуктивности

Электропривод с вентиляторной нагрузкой

The paper considers a problem of saving electric power in the case when non-regulated electric drive with ventilator load is replaced for regulated one. Shaft power dependences for regulated and non-regulated electric drives of external refrigerating plant on ambient temperature are shown in the paper.Рассматривается вопрос экономии электроэнергии в результате замены нерегулируемого электропривода с вентиляторной нагрузкой на регулируемый. Приводятся зависимости мощностей на валу для регулируемого и нерегулируемого электроприводов наружной хо-лодильной установки от температуры окружающей среды

Vitamin D Status in Central Europe

Little published information is available regarding epidemiological data on vitamin D status in the large geographical region of Central Europe (CE). We searched the journal literature with regard to 25(OH)D concentrations among community-dwelling or healthy people living in CE. 25(OH)D concentrations varied by age, season, study sample size, and methodological approach [i.e., 25(OH)D assay used]. Concentrations of 25(OH)D in CE appeared lower than 30 ng/mL, and the magnitude of hypovitaminosis D was similar to that reported in Western Europe. While most of the studies reviewed were cross-sectional studies, a longitudinal study was also included to obtain information on seasonal variability. The longitudinal study reported wintertime 25(OH)D values close to 21-23 ng/mL for all studied age groups, with a significant increase of 25(OH)D in August reaching 42 ng/mL for those aged 0-9 years, but only 21 ng/mL for the elderly aged 80-89 years. The decrease in 25(OH)D with respect to age was attributed to decreased time spent in the sun and decreased vitamin D production efficiency. Based on the literature review on vitamin D status in the CE populations, it can be concluded that 25(OH)vitamin D levels are on average below the 30 ng/mL level

Electric Drive with Ventilator Load

The paper considers a problem of saving electric power in the case when non-regulated electric drive with ventilator load is replaced for regulated one. Shaft power dependences for regulated and non-regulated electric drives of external refrigerating plant on ambient temperature are shown in the paper

DC Electric Drive with Autonomous Power Supply

The paper examines a circuit of an impulse DC electric drive with one controlled-rectifier that is a thyristor. Regulation of an average voltage value on an engine is carried out by changing frequency of controlling impulses applied to the thyristor. Calculation of commutating capacitance and inductance is given in the paper

Learning and living technologies: a longitudinal study of first year students' frequency and competence in the use of ICT

This article presents results from a longitudinal survey of first‐year students’ time spent on living and learning technologies at university, their frequency of using specific learning technologies and their competence with these tools. Data were analysed from two similar surveys at the start and at the end of the academic year for students studying 14 different courses in five different universities (four place‐based and one distance‐learning) in England. The younger students used information and communication technologies (ICT) for social and leisure purposes more frequently than older students. The older students were more likely to use it for study. The frequency of using ICT was related to students’ perceived competence in the tool. University mode of study also influenced how students appropriated their ICT time. These results might have an impact on the repurposing of living technologies for use as learning technologies

Exploring cross-disciplinary differences in course mode, instructional tools and teaching methods in online courses in business & management

Building on research from past decades, this paper explores cross-disciplinary curricular and teaching differences in online, blended and web-facilitated business and management courses. Based on an online survey of 240 USA, Canadian and European university instructors, the authors examine if faculty differ in their preferred course mode (the degree of online delivery), instructional tools used, and teaching methods, by discipline types (hard or soft) and five subject groups. The research found cross-disciplinary differences in the use of some of the 29 instructional tools surveyed (e.g. online group projects, group tools like wikis, and specialized software) and in teaching methods (didactic, dialectic dialogic, dialectic collaborative and heuristic). No significant disciplinary differences were found in the instructor's choice of course mode perhaps pointing to wider engagement in online learning in all business and management disciplines