159 research outputs found
A Virtual Classroom Via Dataconferencing: A Multi-Institutional Experience
This paper presents the experience of five faculty from four universities who are co-developing and team teaching courses using the world-wide web (WWW). In particular two novel power engineering courses, Flexible Control of Transmission Systems and Flexible Control of Distribuction Systems, introduce the student to the application of power electronic-based controllers, known specifically as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) controllers, to enhance the performance of the transmission and distribution systems in an electric power system. In order to leverage faculty expertise in the various topics included in each course, a unique partnership was formed among five faculty from the following universities: University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri--Rolla and Purdue University. In order to achieve the most effective presentation, in the presence of geographical, cost, time and technology constraints, the co-developers decided to pursue various distance learning strategies to link the four universities together in a live interactive virtual classroom utilizing dataconferencing software and the WWW. In this paper we address the trials and tribulations of our experience. In particular, we discuss the use of video tape technology by mail, the use of live audio and video via an integrated service digital network (ISDN) approach, and lastly, dataconferencing software in conjunction with telephone conferencing. Each of these alternative methodologies are examined in detail and are compared and contrasted from a cost and pedagogical point of view based on our experience
Collaborative Distance Education in Power Engineering
This paper presents a perspective on offering shared-courses, or courses simultaneously offered at two or more universities via various distance educational frameworks. Over a three year duration, two senior/graduate level courses were jointly developed and offered to the students at the University of Missouri--Rolla, the University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, and Purdue University. This paper discusses the various distance educational technologies including two-way audio/visual via ISDN line, video-tapes, and web-based conferencing. Both instructor and student reactions to these mediums are included. Pedagogical methods appropriate for these mediums are outlined. The paper concludes with recommendations and strategies for engineering institutions who would like to course-share with other universities and industry
A Multi-Institutional Cooperative Approach to Power Engineering Education
This paper describes the multi-institutional cooperative effort between the University of Missouri--Rolla, Kansas State University, and the University of Arkansas to develop two new courses in flexible power system control
Bias spectroscopy and simultaneous SET charge state detection of Si:P double dots
We report a detailed study of low-temperature (mK) transport properties of a
silicon double-dot system fabricated by phosphorous ion implantation. The
device under study consists of two phosphorous nanoscale islands doped to above
the metal-insulator transition, separated from each other and the source and
drain reservoirs by nominally undoped (intrinsic) silicon tunnel barriers.
Metallic control gates, together with an Al-AlOx single-electron transistor,
were positioned on the substrate surface, capacitively coupled to the buried
dots. The individual double-dot charge states were probed using source-drain
bias spectroscopy combined with non-invasive SET charge sensing. The system was
measured in linear (VSD = 0) and non-linear (VSD 0) regimes allowing
calculations of the relevant capacitances. Simultaneous detection using both
SET sensing and source-drain current measurements was demonstrated, providing a
valuable combination for the analysis of the system. Evolution of the triple
points with applied bias was observed using both charge and current sensing.
Coulomb diamonds, showing the interplay between the Coulomb charging effects of
the two dots, were measured using simultaneous detection and compared with
numerical simulations.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Complete Break Up of Ortho Positronium (Ps)- Hydrogenic ion System
The dynamics of the complete breakup process in an Ortho Ps - He+ system
including electron loss to the continuum (ELC) is studied where both the
projectile and the target get ionized. The process is essentially a four body
problem and the present model takes account of the two centre effect on the
electron ejected from the Ps atom which is crucial for a proper description of
the ELC phenomena. The calculations are performed in the framework of Coulomb
Distorted Eikonal Approximation. The exchange effect between the target and the
projectile electron is taken into account in a consistent manner. The proper
asymptotic 3-body boundary condition for this ionization process is also
satisfied in the present model. A distinct broad ELC peak is noted in the fully
differential cross sections (5DCS) for the Ps electron corroborating
qualitatively the experiment for the Ps - He system. Both the dynamics of the
ELC from the Ps and the ejected electron from the target He+ in the FDCS are
studied using coplanar geometry. Interesting features are noted in the FDCS for
both the electrons belonging to the target and the projectile.Comment: 14 pages,7 figure
Magneto-oscillations in the high-magnetic-field state of (TMTSF)(2)ClO4
We report a systematic study of the anomalous rapid oscillation (RO) phenomena in the quasi-one-dimensional organic metal (TMTSF)(2)ClO4 in pulsed magnetic fields up to 51 T. We argue that the temperature and magnetic-field dependence of the RO amplitudes in the high-field state result from the reconstructed, nested Fermi surface topology at low temperatures in high magnetic fields. In this topology, the RO amplitudes depend on competing magnetic breakdown and Bragg reflection probabilities, along with Lifshitz-Kosevich reduction factors
Experimental determination of B-T phase diagram of YBa_2Cu_3O_7-d to 150T for B perpendicular to c
The B-T phase diagram for thin film YBa_2Cu_3O_7-d with B parallel to the
superconducting layers has been constructed from GHz transport measurements to
150T. Evidence for a transition from a high T regime dominated by orbital
effects, to a low T regime where paramagnetic limiting drives the quenching of
superconductivity, is seen. Up to 110T the upper critical field is found to be
linear in T and in remarkable agreement with extrapolation of the longstanding
result of Welp et al arising from magnetisation measurements to 6T. Beyond this
a departure from linear behaviour occurs at T=74K, where a 3D-2D crossover is
expected to occur.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Transposing tirtha: Understanding religious reforms and locative piety in early modern Hinduism
The paper deals with a historical and hitherto obscure case of de-commercialisation of sacred geography of India. Sahajanand Swami, an eighteenth century religious leader from Gujarat who became popular as Bhagwan Swaminarayan took an initiative to eliminate corruption in Dwarka, one of the most sacred destination in Hindu imagination. He also attempted to transpose the piety of Dwarka and recreate a parallel religious experience at Vadtal, an important site in Swaminarayan Hinduism. This process of making sacred sites more egalitarian is classified here as a 'religious reform'. The paper assesses this bivalent pursuit as an institutional reform within religion as well as a religious process in the context of piety, authority and orthodoxy. Through the example of Sahajanand Swami, it is argued to calibrate the colonial paradigm of reform that was largely contextual to social issues and western thought and failed to appreciate the religious reforms of that era. By constructing a nuanced typology of 'religious reform' distinct from 'social reforms', the paper eventually calls for a reassessment of religious figures who have significantly contributed in reforming the Hindu tradition in the medieval and modern era
HIV-1 competition experiments in humanized mice show that APOBEC3H imposes selective pressure and promotes virus adaptation
APOBEC3 (A3) family proteins are DNA cytosine deaminases recognized for contributing to
HIV-1 restriction and mutation. Prior studies have demonstrated that A3D, A3F, and A3G
enzymes elicit a robust anti-HIV-1 effect in cell cultures and in humanized mouse models.
Human A3H is polymorphic and can be categorized into three phenotypes: stable, intermediate,
and unstable. However, the anti-viral effect of endogenous A3H in vivo has yet to be
examined. Here we utilize a hematopoietic stem cell-transplanted humanized mouse model
and demonstrate that stable A3H robustly affects HIV-1 fitness in vivo. In contrast, the selection
pressure mediated by intermediate A3H is relaxed. Intriguingly, viral genomic RNA
sequencing reveled that HIV-1 frequently adapts to better counteract stable A3H during replication
in humanized mice. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and mathematical modeling
suggest that stable A3H may be a critical factor in human-to-human viral transmission.
Taken together, this study provides evidence that stable variants of A3H impose selective
pressure on HIV-1
Sulforaphane restores cellular glutathione levels and reduces chronic periodontitis neutrophil hyperactivity in vitro
The production of high levels of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils is associated with the local and systemic destructive phenotype found in the chronic inflammatory disease periodontitis. In the present study, we investigated the ability of sulforaphane (SFN) to restore cellular glutathione levels and reduce the hyperactivity of circulating neutrophils associated with chronic periodontitis. Using differentiated HL60 cells as a neutrophil model, here we show that generation of extracellular O2 . - by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) oxidase complex is increased by intracellular glutathione depletion. This may be attributed to the upregulation of thiol regulated acid sphingomyelinase driven lipid raft formation. Intracellular glutathione was also lower in primary neutrophils from periodontitis patients and, consistent with our previous findings, patients neutrophils were hyper-reactive to stimuli. The activity of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of the antioxidant response, is impaired in circulating neutrophils from chronic periodontitis patients. Although patients' neutrophils exhibit a low reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratio and a higher total Nrf2 level, the DNA-binding activity of nuclear Nrf2 remained unchanged relative to healthy controls and had reduced expression of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic (GCLC), and modifier (GCLM) subunit mRNAs, compared to periodontally healthy subjects neutrophils. Pre-treatment with SFN increased expression of GCLC and GCM, improved intracellular GSH/GSSG ratios and reduced agonist-activated extracellular O2 . - production in both dHL60 and primary neutrophils from patients with periodontitis and controls. These findings suggest that a deficiency in Nrf2-dependent pathways may underpin susceptibility to hyper-reactivity in circulating primary neutrophils during chronic periodontitis. © 2013 Dias et al
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