Solar thermal component activation

Wall and roof components made of steel sandwich elements are firmly established in industrial and commercial construction. They are cost-effective and characterized by excellent physical properties. Here, hybrid approaches from heating- and cooling ceiling construction were examined for the solar thermal activation of sandwich elements. Besides the implementation of the solar components, the connection to and the optimization of the system technology was focused. In addition, alternative piping materials were investigated numerically and experimentally. The performance as well as the static and thermo-hydraulic behavior of the new active components were simulatively and experimentally examined, and the economic viability of the variants was also checked. With the newly developed solar sandwich elements, an overall energy concept was developed with connection variants to the building services system, control and storage technology. Steel sandwich elements with mineral fiber core are well suited for the hidden integration of component parts such as pipe registers and heat conducting plates. The functionality of the component has been proven, the implementation of heat exchanger leads to considerable heat gains. In combination with a brine-to-water heat pump system, the solar panel can provide for a more sustainable operation and a significant size reduction of the geothermal source

Quest to Learn

The design for Quest to Learn, an innovative school in New York City that offers a “game-like” approach to learning. Quest to Learn, an innovative school for grades 6 to 12 in New York City, grew out of the idea that gaming and game design offer a promising new paradigm for curriculum and learning. The designers of Quest to Learn developed an approach to learning that draws from what games do best: drop kids into inquiry-based, complex problem spaces that are built to help players understand how they are doing, what they need to work on, and where to go next. Content is not treated as dry information but as a living resource; students are encouraged to interact with the larger world in ways that feel relevant, exciting, and empowering. Quest to Learn opened in the fall of 2009 with 76 sixth graders. In their first semester, these students learned—among other things—to convert fractions into decimals in order to break a piece of code found in a library book; to use atlases and read maps to create a location guide for a reality television series; and to create video tutorials for a hapless group of fictional inventors. This research and development document outlines the learning framework for the school, making the original design available to others in the field. Elements in development include a detailed curriculum map, a budget, and samples of student and teacher handbooks

Hydatid cyst disease of the lung as an unusual cause of massive hemoptysis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Echinococcosis and/or hydatidosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in the world. In Turkey, echinococcosis is an endemic disease, however, hydatid disease of the lung is uncommon and usually caused by <it>Echinococcus granulosus</it>.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this report we describe a 17-year-old male patient who presented with massive hemoptysis due to hydatid disease of the lung.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although it is one of the less common causes of massive hemoptysis, hydatid disease of the lung requires greater attention in countries, such as Turkey, in which hydatid cyst disease is common.</p