Curriculum Transformation: Redesigning a Construction Management program to a Vertically and Horizontally Integrated Curriculum with Authentic Project-Based Learning

Short Abstract: The Construction Management program at Purdue University is redesigning their curriculum to a vertically and horizontally integrated program. The curriculum will utilize authentic projects from industry partners, providing a basis for project-based learning and instruction. All faculty will team-teach the large project based courses developed for the new curriculum. Full Abstract: Traditional higher education provides students with a variety of specialized courses, combined to create a curriculum, which then translates into a major area of study. While prerequisites and course numbers provide a road map to the students for the order of classes, there is no guarantee the concepts from one course are built upon by another course. Typically, a senior capstone is the first time students are required to synthesize accumulated skills and knowledge. For the past two years, the Construction Management program at Purdue University has been redesigning their curriculum to integrate construction concepts both vertically and horizontally throughout the entire 4-year program. The new curriculum will also utilize authentic projects obtained from industry partners, which will provide the basis of the project-based learning and instruction. Team teaching by all faculty within the department will be applied in the large project based courses. While the technical information presented will remain the same, it is the hope of the faculty this new curriculum will develop students who are better prepared for the construction industry by having a higher level of written and verbal communication, increased critical thinking and problem solving skills, and display greater professionalism and initiative

Proliferation Index: A Continuous Model to Predict Prognosis in Patients with Tumours of the Ewing's Sarcoma Family

The prognostic value of proliferation index (PI) and apoptotic index (AI), caspase-8, -9 and -10 expression have been investigated in primary Ewing's sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT). Proliferating cells, detected by immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, were identified in 91% (91/100) of tumours with a median PI of 14 (range 0–87). Apoptotic cells, identified using the TUNEL assay, were detected in 96% (76/79) of ESFT; the median AI was 3 (range 0–33). Caspase-8 protein expression was negative (0) in 14% (11/79), low (1) in 33% (26/79), medium (2) in 38% (30/79) and high (3) in 15% (12/79) of tumours, caspase-9 expression was low (1) in 66% (39/59) and high (3) in 34% (20/59), and caspase-10 protein was low (1) in 37% (23/62) and negative (0) in 63% (39/62) of primary ESFT. There was no apparent relationship between caspase-8, -9 and -10 expression, PI and AI. PI was predictive of relapse-free survival (RFS; p = 0.011) and overall survival (OS; p = <0.001) in a continuous model, whereas AI did not predict outcome. Patients with tumours expressing low levels of caspase-9 protein had a trend towards a worse RFS than patients with tumours expressing higher levels of caspase-9 protein (p = 0.054, log rank test), although expression of caspases-8, -9 and/or -10 did not significantly predict RFS or OS. In a multivariate analysis model that included tumour site, tumour volume, the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis, PI and AI, PI independently predicts OS (p = 0.003). Consistent with previous publications, patients with pelvic tumours had a significantly worse OS than patients with tumours at other sites (p = 0.028); patients with a pelvic tumour and a PI≥20 had a 6 fold-increased risk of death. These studies advocate the evaluation of PI in a risk model of outcome for patients with ESFT

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

Bildung der Aktiniden in bestrahlten HTGR-Brennelementen

Actinide nuclide concentrations of 11 spent AVR fuel elements were determined experimentally. The burnup of the spheres varied in the range between 10 % and 100 % fifa, the Th : U ratio was 5 : 1. The separation procedures for an actinide isolation were tested with highly irradiated ThO$_{2}$. Separation and decontamination factors are presented. Actinide nuclide formation can be described by exponential functions of the type In m$_{nuclide}$ = A + B $\cdot$ % fifa. The empirical factors A and B were calculated performing aleast square analysis. Build-up of $^{232}$U was discussed. According to the experimental results, $^ {232}$U is mainly produced from $^{230}$Th, a certain amount (e.g. about 20 % at a 10$^{5}$ MWd/t burnup) originates from a n, 2n reaction of $^{233}$U, a formation from $^{232}$Th by a n, 2n followed by a n, $\gamma$reaction was not observed. The AVR breeding rate was ascertained to be 0,5. The hazard potential of high activity waste was calculated. After a 1000 year storage time, the elements Pa, Am and Cm willnot infiuence any more the total hazard index. Actinide recovery factors were proposed in order to reduce the hazard potential of the waste by an actinide removal under consideration of the reprocessing technology which is available presently