Teaching and Learning in Interdisciplinary Higher Education: A Systematic Review

Interdisciplinary higher education aims to develop boundary-crossing skills, such as interdisciplinary thinking. In the present review study, interdisciplinary thinking was defined as the capacity to integrate knowledge of two or more disciplines to produce a cognitive advancement in ways that would have been impossible or unlikely through single disciplinary means. It was considered as a complex cognitive skill that constituted of a number of subskills. The review was accomplished by means of a systematic search within four scientific literature databases followed by a critical analysis. The review showed that, to date, scientific research into teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education has remained limited and explorative. The research advanced the understanding of the necessary subskills of interdisciplinary thinking and typical conditions for enabling the development of interdisciplinary thinking. This understanding provides a platform from which the theory and practice of interdisciplinary higher education can move forwar

Populations of Pear Thrips, \u3ci\u3eTaeniothrips Inconsequens\u3c/i\u3e (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Sugar Maple Stands in Vermont: 1989-2005

Development of an effective IPM strategy for pear thrips, Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a pest of sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marshall, demands an understanding of their population fluctuations over time. Pear thrips populations were monitored using a standardized soil sampling method every fall from 1989 – 2005 in 14 counties of Vermont (U.S.). Data from individual sites were combined into north, central and south regions. High numbers of thrips emerged from soil sampled in 1989, 1990, 1993 and 2001, particularly in the north region (Washington, Lamoille, and Franklin counties). The central and south regions had lower pear thrips populations over all years. These results provide, for the first time, fundamental knowledge of pear thrips populations across a wide geographical area of Vermont and will assist in the design of suitable control strategies for pear thrips in the future

Fatigue performance of thermal spray coatings on carbon steel: a review

This paper contributes to a review of the research of the fatigue behaviour of thermal spray coatings on carbon steel. Previous studies provide the experimental characterization of the fatigue resistance of coated carbon steel. Different coating powders were deposited to a different type of carbon steels. Also, S-N curves were drawn from axial- and rotating bending fatigue test to determine the fatigue strength or fatigue limit of the samples. Thermal spray coatings showed great improvement to the work hardening effect but worsen the fatigue life due to the inclusion of oxide and pores, the presence of stress concentrators, and high microcrack density. Moreover, the effects of the surrounding environment have also resulted in pros and cons towards the fatigue strength. An improvement, however, can be done with the shot peening treatment, which significantly increases the compressive residual stress at interfaces of coating/substrate. The high compressive residual stress could delay the crack nucleation, thus increasing the fatigue life of the coated part

Interdisciplinary thinking in agricultural and life sciences higher education

Interdisciplinary thinking as a skill appears to be of value to higher education students and those in employment. This idea is explored with reference to the agricultural and life sciences. The need for further understanding of the development of interdisciplinary thinking is acknowledged. This is closely related to the requirement for well-founded curriculum and course design. This publication presents a brief introduction to a systematic review of scientific research into teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education. While tentative, the understanding arising from the review findings is considered to be of potential value to educational practice. A selection of the review findings is presented by way of illustration. The selection is believed to be of relevance to the agricultural and life sciences. The review findings presented here take the form of interdisciplinary thinking sub skills and enabling condition

Pengaruh Optimasi Transformator Daya terhadap Perkembangan Beban Feeder untuk Meminimalisasi Gangguan dan Defisit Beban Listrik di Wilayah Sorong-provinsi Papua Barat

Efisiensi suatu transformator antara lain ditentukan oleh besarnya beban yang meningkat baik dari bulan ke bulan maupun dari tahun ke tahun. Beban tersebut memberikan masukan kepada gardu induk sehubungan dengan kapasitasnya, sehingga akan dapat ditentukan apakah gardu induk tersebut masih mampu menanggung beban yang meningkat tersebut. Oleh karena itu diperlukan suatu penelitian mengenai optimalisasi efisiensi transformator yang ada di gardu induk Sorong, sehingga hasil dari penelitian ini dapat menentukan efisiensi transformator yang optimal sesuai dengan perkembangan beban yang akan datang. Dengan cara mengestimasi beban yang akan datang yang berupa arus (Ampere) di sisi sekunder, maka arus (Ampere) di sisi primer dapat diketahui, sehingga daya masukan (Watt) di sisi primer dan daya keluaran (Watt) di sisi sekunder dapat ditentukan.Jadi rugi-rugi transformator dapat diketahui. Dengan diketahui daya masukan, daya keluaran, rugi-rugi transformator, maka efisiensi transformator dapat ditentukan. Dari hasil estimasi beban diperoleh juga beberapa efisiensi, sehingga dapat ditentukan kapan optimal efisiensi tersebut akan terjadi terhadap perkembangan beban yang akan datang

Studi Perencanaan Pembangunan Pltmh di Kampung Sasnek Distrik Sawiat Kabupaten Sorong Selatan Provinsi Papua Barat

Listrik sangat dibutuhkan oleh seluruh lapisan masyarakat. Kampung Sasnek merupakan salah satu kampung yang terletak di Distrik Sawiat Kabupaten Sorong Selatan Provinsi Papua Barat. Kampung sasnek letaknya sangat terpencil dan dihuni sekitar 100KK. Kampung ini belum terlayani listrik oleh PLN hingga saat ini. Pembangkit listrik mikro hidro adalah pembangkit listrik skala kecil yang kapasitasnya berkisar antara 100 W sampai dengan 100 kW. Studi perencanaan ini bertujuan merencanakan dan nantinya akan ke tahap implementasi Pembangkit Listrik mikro hidro dengan kapasitas daya 12 Volt DC, karena merupakan salah satu cara pembangkit listrik yang paling ekonomis, muda dan aman. pengukuran debit air, didapat debit sebesar 2 liter/detik dari luas area pengukuran 5 m2 dan kecepatan air rata-rata 00.65 m/d. Namun karena kondisi air sungai yang mengalir sepanjang tahun dalam arti tidak pernah kering, maka digunakan faktor koreksi 0.75. Dengan demikian debit yang bisa dimanfaatkan adalah sebesar 0.65 m3/d. Berdasarkan hasil analisa terhadap potensi PLTMH yang terdapat di Sasnek, maka dapat dikalkulasikan Distribusi Jaringan Listrik yang bersumber dari PLTMH Sasnek adalah 10 KW. Dengan adanya perencanaan yang matang sehingga hasil implementasinya akan memberikan dampak yang postif akan pemenuhan kebutuhan listrik di kampung sasnek dan juga kampung sekitarnya

Online discussion compensates for suboptimal timing of supportive information presentation in a digitally supported learning environment

This study used a sequential set-up to investigate the consecutive effects of timing of supportive information presentation (information before vs. information during the learning task clusters) in interactive digital learning materials (IDLMs) and type of collaboration (personal discussion vs. online discussion) in computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) on student knowledge construction. Students (N = 87) were first randomly assigned to the two information presentation conditions to work individually on a case-based assignment in IDLM. Students who received information during learning task clusters tended to show better results on knowledge construction than those who received information only before each cluster. The students within the two separate information presentation conditions were then randomly assigned to pairs to discuss the outcomes of their assignments under either the personal discussion or online discussion condition in CSCL. When supportive information had been presented before each learning task cluster, online discussion led to better results than personal discussion. When supportive information had been presented during the learning task clusters, however, the online and personal discussion conditions had no differential effect on knowledge construction. Online discussion in CSCL appeared to compensate for suboptimal timing of presentation of supportive information before the learning task clusters in IDLM

Microstructure analysis of tungsten carbide hardfacing on carbon steel blade

Tungsten carbide (WC) hardfacing coating is commonly used to enhance carbon steel blade performance which works in acidic and abrasive condition during production process. This paper deals with tungsten carbide (WC) hardfacing microstructure analysis on a carbon steel blade. Mixing of ilmenite ore with sulphuric acid is performed by the carbon steel blade as part of a production process. Tungsten carbide hardfacing is deposited on the carbon steel blade to enhance its wear resistance. The carbide distribution along with elemental composition analysis of the hardfaced carbon steel blade specimens is examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) respectively. Microstructure analysis revealed that different sizes of carbides with non-uniform distribution are found around the coating region. The carbide region is contains high percentage of tungsten (W) meanwhile, non-carbide region rich in tungsten (W) and iron (Fe)

AER Building Blocks for Multi-Layer Multi-Chip Neuromorphic Vision Systems

A 5-layer neuromorphic vision processor whose components communicate spike events asychronously using the address-eventrepresentation (AER) is demonstrated. The system includes a retina chip, two convolution chips, a 2D winner-take-all chip, a delay line chip, a learning classifier chip, and a set of PCBs for computer interfacing and address space remappings. The components use a mixture of analog and digital computation and will learn to classify trajectories of a moving object. A complete experimental setup and measurements results are shown.Unión Europea IST-2001-34124 (CAVIAR)Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC-2003-08164-C0

Acceptability of HIV self-sampling kits (TINY vial) among people of black African ethnicity in the UK: a qualitative study

Background: Increasing routine HIV testing among key populations is a public health imperative, so improving access to acceptable testing options for those in need is a priority. Despite increasing targeted distribution and uptake of HIV self-sampling kits (SSKs) among men who have sex with men in the UK, little is known about why targeted SSK interventions for black African users are not as wide-spread or well-used. This paper addresses this key gap, offering insight into why some groups may be less likely than others to adopt certain types of SSK interventions in particular contexts. These data were collected during the development phase of a larger study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of targeted distribution of SSKs to black African people. Methods: We undertook 6 focus groups with members of the public who self-identified as black African (n = 48), 6 groups with specialists providing HIV and social services to black African people (n = 53), and interviews with HIV specialist consultants and policy-makers (n = 9). Framework analysis was undertaken, using inductive and deductive analysis to develop and check themes. Results: We found three valuable components of targeted SSK interventions for this population: the use of settings and technologies that increase choice and autonomy; targeted offers of HIV testing that preserve privacy and do not exacerbate HIV stigma; and ensuring that the specific kit being used (in this case, the TINY vial) is perceived as simple and reliable. Conclusions: This unique and rigorous research offers insights into participants’ views on SSK interventions, offering key considerations when targeting this population.. Given the plethora of HIV testing options, our work demonstrates that those commissioning and delivering SSK interventions will need to clarify (for users and providers) how each kit type and intervention design adds value. Most significantly, these findings demonstrate that without a strong locus of control over their own circumstances and personal information, black African people are less likely to feel that they can pursue an HIV test that is safe and secure. Thus, where profound social inequalities persist, so will inequalities in HIV testing uptake – by any means