Assessment of Students’ Learning and Perceptions of Task Value of a Physical Pharmacy Laboratory Course

Objective: To assess student learning and perceived task value of physical pharmacy wet laboratory sessions conducted at two separate campuses within a school of pharmacy. Methods: Anonymous archival course evaluation and assessment data from 130 students enrolled in a pharmaceutics course were used. The evaluation surveyed students about the task value of five wet laboratory sessions, and assessment data were of pre- and post lab knowledge. Campuses differed in lecture delivery (in-person vs. video-conferencing), but labs were the same. Results: Most students felt that the quality and organization of the lab sessions were good, that the lab sessions allowed them to better understand pharmaceutics concepts, and that the time spent in lab was worthwhile. Most students also indicated that they preferred wet labs over virtual labs or no labs. The proportion of students achieving mastery on knowledge assessments increased significantly from prelab to postlab. No meaningful differences were found between locations. Conclusion: Wet laboratory exercises are a useful supplement for learning physical pharmacy concepts

Compact 20-pass thin-disk amplifier insensitive to thermal lensing

We present a multi-pass amplifier which passively compensates for distortions of the spherical phase front occurring in the active medium. The design is based on the Fourier transform propagation which makes the output beam parameters insensitive to variation of thermal lens effects in the active medium. The realized system allows for 20 reflections on the active medium and delivers a small signal gain of 30 with M$^2$ = 1.16. Its novel geometry combining Fourier transform propagations with 4f-imaging stages as well as a compact array of adjustable mirrors allows for a layout with a footprint of 400 mm x 1000 mm.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Distortion or Clarification: Defining Highly Qualified Teachers and the Relationship between Certification and Achievement

Recent studies of the relationship between teacher preparation pathways and student achievement have resulted in similar statistics but contradictory conclusions. These studies as a group have several limits: they sometimes focus on student-level indicators when many policy decisions are made with indicators at the school-level or above, are limited to specific urban locations or grade levels, or neglect the potential influence of building type, as defined as the grade-levels serviced. Using statewide data from the 2004-2005 school year, we examined the relationships between school-level indicators of student achievement on nationally-normed tests and proportions of alternatively certified teachers, while controlling for building type and other relevant covariates. Our findings indicate that the relationship between teacher preparation and student achievement at the school level depends on whether the building mixes multiple grade levels (e.g., elementary and middle). The implications of Missouri's policy change for research and school improvement are discussed with respect to the current high-stakes testing environment

Effect of CORONA treatment on finishing processes of linen fabrics

Application of CORONA technology for finishing processes of cellulosic fabric is an innovation in European textile industry. A CORONA discharge is created between two electrodes with high voltage and a frequency of 20 – 40 kHz affecting the surface of a fabric running continuously at ambience pressure and temperature. The paper presents the newest results of research refer to linen fabrics properties without and after CORONA treatment. Fabrics after Corona get new better properties, what makes finishing processes much easier. Quality of fabrics after Corona can be highly improved in important aspects concerning safety of users. Corona treatment improves significantly wettability of cellulosic fabrics. New stage – CORONA treatment – apply in finishing process in line allows for eliminating initial washing without detriment to quality of finished fabric. Instead of washing applied, CORONA ensures good results in bleaching and evenness of dyeing by some kinds of dyes. Corona gives a chance to get better end properties at lower costs and less environmental aggressio