The GREAT Reading Project (Gifted Readers Enhance Academic Talent): a gifted-on-gifted, cross-age tutoring and mentoring intervention

The GREAT (Gifted Readers Enhance Academic Talent) Reading Project is a quasi-experimental, between-group study that evaluated a 13-week before-school student tutoring/mentoring reading and literacy program. The study examined the effects of the intervention on reading achievement for each group involved, including high-ability gifted fifth grade mentors, high-ability gifted first grade protégés, and above-average first grade “Scholastic Academy” protégés. Its primary goal was to improve academic achievement for above-average students in order to help them formally qualify for gifted services. The secondary goal was to promote and assess academic growth for high-ability students already in the gifted program. Mentor/protégé pairs met 3-4 times per week under the monitoring and supervision of certified elementary school teachers. Student pairs interacted as necessary to accomplish learning tasks such as decoding, fluency, and critical reading skills that promote reading comprehension. Pairs read and discussed picture books, chapter books, children’s magazines, and/or assigned books or stories. Some flexibility existed in the program, based on student interest and materials available. Control groups received traditional reading instruction instead of tutoring. The subjects included above-average and high-ability first and fifth grade students. The treatment group consisted of approximately 20 first graders and 20 fifth graders. First graders and fifth graders were paired for compatibility. A similar sized control group was chosen from other gifted sites. Criterion sampling (qualification to participate in the gifted/talented program in the local public school system) was used to select the treatment and control groups. The Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, Fourth Edition, a standardized, norm-referenced instrument used to assess reading achievement, was used as a pre- and posttest to assess growth in reading. One-way (for the fifth graders) and Two-way ANOVA (for the 1st graders) was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention for each group of participants. Surveys were administered to each grade level of the treatment group to evaluate the social validity of the intervention, in an attempt to determine the social significance or importance of the goals, the social appropriateness of the procedures, and the social importance of the effects or outcomes (the personal benefit) for the participants

Application of CFD to sonic boom near and mid flow-field prediction

A 3-D parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code was used to calculate the supersonic overpressures from three different geometries at near- and mid-flow fields. Wind tunnel data is used for code validation. Comparison of the computed results with different grid refinements is shown. It is observed that a large number of grid points is needed to resolve the tail shock/expansion fan interaction. Therefore, an adaptive grid approach is employed to calculate the flow field. The agreement between the numerical results and the wind tunnel data confirms that computational fluid dynamics can be applied to the problem of sonic boom prediction

A Multiparameter Degeneracy in Microlensing Events with Extreme Finite Source Effects

For microlenses with sufficiently low mass, the angular radius of the source star can be much larger than the angular Einstein ring radius of the lens. For such extreme finite source effect (EFSE) events, finite source effects dominate throughout the duration of the event. Here, we demonstrate and explore a continuous degeneracy between multiple parameters of such EFSE events. The first component in the degeneracy arises from the fact that the directly observable peak change of the flux depends on both the ratio of the angular source radius to the angular Einstein ring radius and the fraction of the baseline flux that is attributable to the lensed source star. The second component arises because the directly observable duration of the event depends on both the impact parameter of the event and the relative lens-source proper motion. These two pairwise degeneracies become coupled when the detailed morphology of the light curve is considered, especially when including a limb-darkening profile of the source star. We derive these degeneracies mathematically through analytic approximations and investigate them further numerically with no approximations. We explore the likely physical situations in which these mathematical degeneracies may be realized and potentially broken. As more and more low-mass lensing events (with ever decreasing Einstein ring radii) are detected with improving precision and increasing cadence from microlensing surveys, one can expect that more of these EFSE events will be discovered. In particular, the detection of EFSE microlensing events could increase dramatically with the Roman Space Telescope Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey

A tetracycline hydrochloride-loaded SiO2/ polycaprolactone composite from bamboo stem for controlled drug release study

A controlled drug delivery system is preferable to traditional drug administration because it can supply the drug continuously and ensure on-demand bioavailability. The production of silica/polymer composite delivery material is expensive due to the use of alkoxysilane silica precursors. As bamboo is an abundant plant in Africa, we investigated the use of bamboo stems as an alternative silica starting material. The ash from the bamboo stem was mixed with polycaprolactone (PCL) solution to produce a (SiO2/PCL) composite, which was then loaded with the drug, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), to test in vitro degradability and controlled-release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the structure, phase composition, and chemical bond properties of the material. The TCH release profile was determined using an ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer. The SiO2/PCL composite showed a high capacity for drug loading. The composite released TCH in a consistent and sustained way, and showed regulated degradability in PBS. As a result, the use of bamboo stem-derived silica in the formulation of SiO2/PCL for continuous TCH delivery shows considerable cost-benefit potential for a safe, regulated drug delivery strategy. Significance: This study shows the benefit of using bamboo stem as an alternative silica source to alkoxysilanes. SiO2/PCL composites can be employed for the sustained delivery of drugs while providing congruent degradation. This study can serve as a benchmark for further utilisation of bamboo stem as a low-cost silica precurso

A Weft Knit Data Glove

Rehabilitation of stoke survivors can be expedited by employing an exoskeleton. The exercises are designed such that both hands move in synergy. In this regard often motion capture data from the healthy hand is used to derive control behaviour for the exoskeleton. Therefore, data gloves can provide a low-cost solution for the motion capture of the joints in the hand. However, current data gloves are bulky, inaccurate or inconsistent. These disadvantages are inherited because the conventional design of a glove involves an external attachment that degrades overtime and causes inaccuracies. This paper presents a weft knit data glove whose sensors and support structure are manufactured in the same fabrication process thus removing the need for an external attachment. The glove is made by knitting multifilament conductive yarn and an elastomeric yarn using WholeGarment technology. Furthermore, we present a detailed electromechanical model of the sensors alongside its experimental validation. Additionally, the reliability of the glove is verified experimentally. Lastly, machine learning algorithms are implemented for classifying the posture of hand on the basis of sensor data histograms

In-Service Monitoring of Steam Pipe Systems at High Temperatures

A system and method for monitoring the properties of a fluid, such as water, in a steam pipe without mechanically penetrating the wall of the pipe. The system uses a piezoelectric transducer to launch an ultrasonic probe signal into the pipe. Reflected ultrasonic signals are captured in a transducer, which can be the same transducer that launched the probe signal. The reflected signals are subjected to data processing, which can include filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and autocorrelation analysis. A result is extracted which is indicative of a property of the fluid, such as a height of the condensed fluid, a cavitation of the condensed fluid, and a surface perturbation of the condensed fluid. The result can be recorded, displayed, and/or transmitted to another location. One embodiment of the system has been constructed and tested based on a general purpose programmable computer using instructions recorded in machine-readable non-volatile memory

On the variability of simulated source-receptor relationships for sulfur deposition

The use of Lagrangian models to estimate source-receptor relationships for ambient SO 4 = concentrations and S deposition has become fairly widespread over the past several years. This paper addresses the sensitivity of long-term simulations of a Lagrangian S transport and deposition model to actual variations in SO 2 emissions and meteorological conditions. The variations of predicted source-receptor relationships due to (1) the inclusion of day to day variations in emissions strength as opposed to the use of the annual average daily emission rate and (2) year-to-year variations in meteorological conditions were studied to identify causes of uncertainty in a Lagrangian model. The results suggested that adding information on day to day emission variations for a specific point source resulted in variations in estimated S wet deposition of the order of only 20% within 500 km of the source.Year-to-year variations in meteorological conditions, on the other hand, resulted in variations in predicted S wet deposition of the order of 50% for some receptors. The variation in estimated source-receptor relationships for a given source/receptor combination was found to range as high as 70% over a 5-yr modeling period.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43900/1/11270_2004_Article_BF00303346.pd

Percussive Augmenter of Rotary Drills for Operating as a Rotary-Hammer Drill

A percussive augmenter bit includes a connection shaft for mounting the bit onto a rotary drill. In a first modality, an actuator percussively drives the bit, and an electric slip-ring provides power to the actuator while being rotated by the drill. Hammering action from the actuator and rotation from the drill are applied directly to material being drilled. In a second modality, a percussive augmenter includes an actuator that operates as a hammering mechanism that drives a free mass into the bit creating stress pulses that fracture material that is in contact with the bit

Intentional weight loss and dose reductions of anti-diabtetic medications: A retrospective cohort study

Background and Aim Intentional weight loss, primarily by improving insulin resistance, is known to decrease the need for anti-diabetic medications. In this study, we assess the magnitude of weight loss that resulted in dose reductions or discontinuation of anti-diabetic medications in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes (DM) undergoing weight loss treatment. Methods Case records of 50 overweight or obese patients with DM who successfully decreased dosage or discontinued diabetes medications after losing weight via attendance at two University-based, outpatient weight management centers were analyzed. Follow-up visits, weight reduction interventions, and decisions for dose reductions or discontinuation of medications were individualized to patient needs by the treating physician. Results Mean starting BMI was 35 kg/m2, mean age 53.4 years, and 58% were male. All 50 used at least one anti-diabetic medication (30 metformin, 39 sulfonylureas, 31 insulin, 21 sitagliptin) to manage blood sugar. Mean duration of follow-up was 30.2 months. Mean weight loss was 10.8±4.1 kgs (11.1% of initial body weight ±4.7%). 22/50 patients (44%) discontinued anti-diabetes medications (14 sulfonylureas [36%], 7 insulin [23%], 4 sitagliptin [19%]). The mean percentage weight loss achieved at the point of successful discontinuation of medication was 11.2%±3.5% (14% for sulphonylureas, 11% for insulin, and 7.1% for sitagliptin). Mean percentage weight loss of 5.6%±2.8% (5.1% for sulphonylureas, 4.3% for insulin, and 7.1% for sitagliptin) was required for initial dose reduction. For every 5% weight loss, predicted dose reductions were sulphonylureas, 39%; insulin, 42%; and any anti-diabetic medications, 49%. Conclusion Among overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, intentional weight loss of 7–14% was typically required for full discontinuation of at least one anti-diabetic medication. Discontinuation of insulin was achieved at a mean weight reduction of 11% of initial body weight