Re-Operationalizing Established Groups in Brainstorming: Validating Osborn's Claims
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Levine, Kenneth J.; Heuett, Kyle B.; Reno, Katie M.
2017-01-01
Since the introduction of brainstorming as an idea-generation technique to address organizational problems, researchers have struggled to replicate some of the claims around the technique. One major concern has been the differences in the number of ideas generated between established groups as found in industry versus the non-established groups…
Fourth Graders Make Inventions Using SCAMPER and Animal Adaptation Ideas
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hussain, Mahjabeen; Carignan, Anastasia
2016-01-01
This study explores to what extent the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange) technique combined with animal adaptation ideas learned through form and function analogy activities can help fourth graders generate creative ideas while augmenting their inventiveness. The sample consisted of 24…
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yuizono, Takaya; Munemori, Jun
GUNGEN-DXII, a new version of the GUNGEN groupware, allows the users to process hundreds of qualitative data segments (phrases and sentences) and compose a coherent piece of text containing a number of emergent ideas. The idea generation process is guided by the KJ method, a leading idea generation technique in Japan. This paper describes functions of GUNGEN supporting three major sub-activities of idea generation, namely, brainstorming, idea clustering, and text composition, and also summarizes the results obtained from a few hundred trial sessions with the old and new GUNGEN systems in terms of some qualitative and quantitative measures. The results show that the sessions with GUNGEN yield intermediate and final products at least as good as those from the original paper-and-pencil KJ method sessions, in addition to the advantages of the online system, such as distance collaboration and digital storage of the products. Moreover, results from the new GUNGEN-DXII raises hope for enabling the users to handle an extremely large number of qualitative data segments in the near future.
How minimal executive feedback influences creative idea generation
Camarda, Anaëlle; Agogué, Marine; Houdé, Olivier; Weil, Benoît; Le Masson, Pascal
2017-01-01
The fixation effect is known as one of the most dominant of the cognitive biases against creativity and limits individuals’ creative capacities in contexts of idea generation. Numerous techniques and tools have been established to help overcome these cognitive biases in various disciplines ranging from neuroscience to design sciences. Several works in the developmental cognitive sciences have discussed the importance of inhibitory control and have argued that individuals must first inhibit the spontaneous ideas that come to their mind so that they can generate creative solutions to problems. In line with the above discussions, in the present study, we performed an experiment on one hundred undergraduates from the Faculty of Psychology at Paris Descartes University, in which we investigated a minimal executive feedback-based learning process that helps individuals inhibit intuitive paths to solutions and then gradually drive their ideation paths toward creativity. Our results provide new insights into novel forms of creative leadership for idea generation. PMID:28662154
How minimal executive feedback influences creative idea generation.
Ezzat, Hicham; Camarda, Anaëlle; Cassotti, Mathieu; Agogué, Marine; Houdé, Olivier; Weil, Benoît; Le Masson, Pascal
2017-01-01
The fixation effect is known as one of the most dominant of the cognitive biases against creativity and limits individuals' creative capacities in contexts of idea generation. Numerous techniques and tools have been established to help overcome these cognitive biases in various disciplines ranging from neuroscience to design sciences. Several works in the developmental cognitive sciences have discussed the importance of inhibitory control and have argued that individuals must first inhibit the spontaneous ideas that come to their mind so that they can generate creative solutions to problems. In line with the above discussions, in the present study, we performed an experiment on one hundred undergraduates from the Faculty of Psychology at Paris Descartes University, in which we investigated a minimal executive feedback-based learning process that helps individuals inhibit intuitive paths to solutions and then gradually drive their ideation paths toward creativity. Our results provide new insights into novel forms of creative leadership for idea generation.
Creater-cizes: Creativity Exercises.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rule, Michael
1998-01-01
Creativity exercises, or creater-cizes, can help camp staff generate ideas and solve problems. Common techniques are brainstorming, story-boarding, analogies and metaphors, association and free association, spinning, and lists. Defines and gives examples of each technique. (SAS)
SCAMPER and Creative Problem Solving in Political Science: Insights from Classroom Observation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Radziszewski, Elizabeth
2017-01-01
This article describes the author's experience using SCAMPER, a creativity-building technique, in a creative problem-solving session that was conducted in an environmental conflict course to generate ideas for managing postconflict stability. SCAMPER relies on cues to help students connect ideas from different domains of knowledge, explore random…
Idea Bank: Using Apps That Support Scientific Practices
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Mills, Kelly; Seligman, Eileen; Ketelhut, Diane Jass
2017-01-01
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. For this article, the authors analyzed 93 educational applications (apps) that have the potential to help students meaningfully engage in the science practices outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards. Some of the ways teachers can use these apps in…
Overcoming Fear and Loathing in Advertising Copywriting Courses.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Pearce, R. Charles
Writing techniques espoused by Peter Elbow, applied to the teaching of writing in advertising copywriting classes can help students develop into better writers, generating better copy ideas. The shift of focus from writing a finished piece the first time to concentrating on the process of writing allows for a freer flow of ideas and creativity.…
Using Stories in Elementary School Counseling: Brief, Narrative Techniques
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Eppler, Christie; Olsen, Jacob A.; Hidano, Lory
2009-01-01
This article describes using stories and story-telling techniques so that elementary professional school counselors can facilitate brief, narrative counseling. These approaches help counselors and students build rapport while assisting in understanding and externalizing the problem. Additionally, these interventions may help generate ideas for…
The Use of Nominal Group Technique: Case Study in Vietnam
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Dang, Vi Hoang
2015-01-01
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a structured process to gather information from a group. The technique was first described in early 1970s and has since become a widely-used standard to facilitate working groups. The NGT is effective for generating large numbers of creative new ideas and for group priority setting. This article reports on a…
How to use the nominal group and Delphi techniques.
McMillan, Sara S; King, Michelle; Tully, Mary P
2016-06-01
Introduction The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and Delphi Technique are consensus methods used in research that is directed at problem-solving, idea-generation, or determining priorities. While consensus methods are commonly used in health services literature, few studies in pharmacy practice use these methods. This paper provides an overview of the NGT and Delphi technique, including the steps involved and the types of research questions best suited to each method, with examples from the pharmacy literature. Methodology The NGT entails face-to-face discussion in small groups, and provides a prompt result for researchers. The classic NGT involves four key stages: silent generation, round robin, clarification and voting (ranking). Variations have occurred in relation to generating ideas, and how 'consensus' is obtained from participants. The Delphi technique uses a multistage self-completed questionnaire with individual feedback, to determine consensus from a larger group of 'experts.' Questionnaires have been mailed, or more recently, e-mailed to participants. When to use The NGT has been used to explore consumer and stakeholder views, while the Delphi technique is commonly used to develop guidelines with health professionals. Method choice is influenced by various factors, including the research question, the perception of consensus required, and associated practicalities such as time and geography. Limitations The NGT requires participants to personally attend a meeting. This may prove difficult to organise and geography may limit attendance. The Delphi technique can take weeks or months to conclude, especially if multiple rounds are required, and may be complex for lay people to complete.
Procedure for Adapting Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Meshes
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Woronowicz, Michael S.; Wilmoth, Richard G.; Carlson, Ann B.; Rault, Didier F. G.
1992-01-01
A technique is presented for adapting computational meshes used in the G2 version of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The physical ideas underlying the technique are discussed, and adaptation formulas are developed for use on solutions generated from an initial mesh. The effect of statistical scatter on adaptation is addressed, and results demonstrate the ability of this technique to achieve more accurate results without increasing necessary computational resources.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bailey, Anthony
2013-01-01
The nominal group technique (NGT) is a structured process to gather information from a group. The technique was first described in 1975 and has since become a widely-used standard to facilitate working groups. The NGT is effective for generating large numbers of creative new ideas and for group priority setting. This paper describes the process of…
Reflection enhances creativity: Beneficial effects of idea evaluation on idea generation.
Hao, Ning; Ku, Yixuan; Liu, Meigui; Hu, Yi; Bodner, Mark; Grabner, Roland H; Fink, Andreas
2016-03-01
The present study aimed to explore the neural correlates underlying the effects of idea evaluation on idea generation in creative thinking. Participants were required to generate original uses of conventional objects (alternative uses task) during EEG recording. A reflection task (mentally evaluating the generated ideas) or a distraction task (object characteristics task) was inserted into the course of idea generation. Behavioral results revealed that participants generated ideas with higher originality after evaluating the generated ideas than after performing the distraction task. The EEG results revealed that idea evaluation was accompanied with upper alpha (10-13 Hz) synchronization, most prominent at frontal cortical sites. Moreover, upper alpha activity in frontal cortices during idea generation was enhanced after idea evaluation. These findings indicate that idea evaluation may elicit a state of heightened internal attention or top-down activity that facilitates efficient retrieval and integration of internal memory representations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Hitch-Hiking" on Creativity in Nature.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Offner, David
1990-01-01
An "Introduction to Bionics" course is described, focusing on objectives, the case study method used in the course, a sample case involving the design of a self-locking spine positioner for a catfish, course coverage, idea-generating techniques, and course benefits. (JDD)
Idea Generation in Student Writing: Computational Assessments and Links to Successful Writing
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Crossley, Scott A.; Muldner, Kasia; McNamara, Danielle S.
2016-01-01
Idea generation is an important component of most major theories of writing. However, few studies have linked idea generation in writing samples to assessments of writing quality or examined links between linguistic features in a text and idea generation. This study uses human ratings of idea generation, such as "idea fluency, idea…
Does quantity generate quality? Testing the fundamental principle of brainstorming.
Muñoz Adánez, Alfredo
2005-11-01
The purpose of this work is to test the chief principle of brainstorming, formulated as "quantity generates quality." The study is included within a broad program whose goal is to detect the strong and weak points of creative techniques. In a sample of 69 groups, containing between 3 and 8 members, the concurrence of two commonly accepted criteria was established as a quality rule: originality and utility or value. The results fully support the quantity-quality relation (r = .893): the more ideas produced to solve a problem, the better quality of the ideas. The importance of this finding, which supports Osborn's theory, is discussed, and the use of brainstorming is recommended to solve the many open problems faced by our society.
Storyboarding: A Concrete Way to Generate Effective Visuals.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Larkin, Greg
1996-01-01
Advances the idea that storyboarding, long associated with scriptwriting, advertising, and more recently with technical manuals, can be successfully applied to an even broader variety of technical documents. Applies storyboarding techniques to designing technical proposals to suggest methods of incorporating more visuals into documents, as well as…
Design by Analogy: Achieving More Patentable Ideas from One Creative Design
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jia, Li-Zhen; Wu, Chun-Long; Zhu, Xue-Hong; Tan, Run-Hua
2018-12-01
A patent is a kind of technical document to protect intellectual property for individuals or enterprises. Patentable idea generation is a crucial step for patent application and analogy is confirmed to be an effective technique to inspire creative ideas. Analogy-based design usually starts from representation of an analogy source and is followed by the retrieval of appropriate analogs, mapping of design knowledge and adaptation of target solution. To diffuse one core idea into other new contexts and achieve more patentable ideas, this paper mainly centered on the first two stages of analogy-based design and proposed a patentable ideation framework. The analogical information of the source system, including source design problems and solution, was mined comprehensively through International Patent Classification analysis and represented in the form of function, behavior and structure. Three heuristics were suggested for searching the set of candidate target systems with a similar design problem, where the source design could be transferred. To systematize the process of source representation, analogs retrieval, idea transfer, and solution generation, an ideation model was put forward. Finally, the bladeless fan was selected as a source design to illustrate the application of this work. The design output shows that the representation and heuristics are beneficial, and this systematic ideation method can help the engineer or designer enhance creativity and discover more patentable opportunities.
Why do I always have the best ideas? The role of idea quality in unconscious plagiarism.
Perfect, Timothy J; Stark, Louisa-Jayne
2008-05-01
Groups of individuals often work together to generate solutions to a problem. Subsequently, one member of the group can plagiarise another either by recalling that person's idea as their own (recall-own plagiarism), or by generating a novel solution that duplicates a previous idea (generate-new plagiarism). The current study examines the extent to which these forms of plagiarism are influenced by the quality of the ideas. Groups of participants initially generated ideas, prior to an elaboration phase in which idea quality was manipulated in two ways: participants received feedback on the quality of the ideas as rated by independent judges, and they generated improvements to a subset of the ideas. Unconscious plagiarism was measured in recall-own and generate-new tasks. For recall, idea improvement led to increased plagiarism, while for the generate-new task, the independent ratings influenced plagiarism. These data indicate that different source-judgement processes underlie the two forms of plagiarism, neither of which can be reduced simply to memory strength.
Generating Models of Infinite-State Communication Protocols Using Regular Inference with Abstraction
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Aarts, Fides; Jonsson, Bengt; Uijen, Johan
In order to facilitate model-based verification and validation, effort is underway to develop techniques for generating models of communication system components from observations of their external behavior. Most previous such work has employed regular inference techniques which generate modest-size finite-state models. They typically suppress parameters of messages, although these have a significant impact on control flow in many communication protocols. We present a framework, which adapts regular inference to include data parameters in messages and states for generating components with large or infinite message alphabets. A main idea is to adapt the framework of predicate abstraction, successfully used in formal verification. Since we are in a black-box setting, the abstraction must be supplied externally, using information about how the component manages data parameters. We have implemented our techniques by connecting the LearnLib tool for regular inference with the protocol simulator ns-2, and generated a model of the SIP component as implemented in ns-2.
Fuel Effective Photonic Propulsion
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rajalakshmi, N.; Srivarshini, S.
2017-09-01
With the entry of miniaturization in electronics and ultra-small light-weight materials, energy efficient propulsion techniques for space travel can soon be possible. We need to go for such high speeds so that the generation’s time long interstellar missions can be done in incredibly short time. Also renewable energy like sunlight, nuclear energy can be used for propulsion instead of fuel. These propulsion techniques are being worked on currently. The recently proposed photon propulsion concepts are reviewed, that utilize momentum of photons generated by sunlight or onboard photon generators, such as blackbody radiation or lasers, powered by nuclear or solar power. With the understanding of nuclear photonic propulsion, in this paper, a rough estimate of nuclear fuel required to achieve the escape velocity of Earth is done. An overview of the IKAROS space mission for interplanetary travel by JAXA, that was successful in demonstrating that photonic propulsion works and also generated additional solar power on board, is provided; which can be used as a case study. An extension of this idea for interstellar travel, termed as ‘Star Shot’, aims to send a nanocraft to an exoplanet in the nearest star system, which could be potentially habitable. A brief overview of the idea is presented.
Engineering Encounters: An Engineering Design Process for Early Childhood
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lottero-Perdue, Pamela; Bowditch, Michelle; Kagan, Michelle; Robinson-Cheek, Linda; Webb, Tedra; Meller, Megan; Nosek, Theresa
2016-01-01
This column presents ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month's issue shares information about trying (again) to engineer an egg package. Engineering is an essential part of science education, as emphasized in the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013). Engineering practices and performance…
Postreading Questioning and Middle School Students' Understanding of Literature
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Liang, Lauren Aimonette; Watkins, Naomi M.; Graves, Michael F.; Hosp, John
2010-01-01
The study examined the effectiveness of a "story map," a questioning technique (Beck & McKeown, 1981) for improving students' understanding of literature. Though the story map idea was widely adopted as a student-initiated strategy, the original story map--a teacher-generated, postreading questioning framework--was never empirically tested. This…
Life Review: Implementation, Theory, Research, and Therapy
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Haber, David
2006-01-01
A selective literature review of publications on life review generated ideas on implementation, theory, research, and therapy. The review begins by differentiating life review from reminiscence, and summarizing ways to conduct a life review. A dozen theories that have been influenced by the life review technique are presented, with a focus placed…
Effects of Problem Scope and Creativity Instructions on Idea Generation and Selection
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rietzschel, Eric F.; Nijstad, Bernard A.; Stroebe, Wolfgang
2014-01-01
The basic assumption of brainstorming is that increased quantity of ideas results in increased generation as well as selection of creative ideas. Although previous research suggests that idea quantity correlates strongly with the number of good ideas generated, quantity has been found to be unrelated to the quality of selected ideas. This article…
Three-dimensional hybrid grid generation using advancing front techniques
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Steinbrenner, John P.; Noack, Ralph W.
1995-01-01
A new 3-dimensional hybrid grid generation technique has been developed, based on ideas of advancing fronts for both structured and unstructured grids. In this approach, structured grids are first generate independently around individual components of the geometry. Fronts are initialized on these structure grids, and advanced outward so that new cells are extracted directly from the structured grids. Employing typical advancing front techniques, cells are rejected if they intersect the existing front or fail other criteria When no more viable structured cells exist further cells are advanced in an unstructured manner to close off the overall domain, resulting in a grid of 'hybrid' form. There are two primary advantages to the hybrid formulation. First, generating blocks with limited regard to topology eliminates the bottleneck encountered when a multiple block system is used to fully encapsulate a domain. Individual blocks may be generated free of external constraints, which will significantly reduce the generation time. Secondly, grid points near the body (presumably with high aspect ratio) will still maintain a structured (non-triangular or tetrahedral) character, thereby maximizing grid quality and solution accuracy near the surface.
Quality, Conformity, and Conflict: Questioning the Assumptions of Osborn's Brainstorming Technique
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Goldenberg, Olga; Wiley, Jennifer
2011-01-01
Divergent thinking tasks are a popular basis for research on group creative problem solving, or brainstorming. The brainstorming literature has been dominated by research that investigates group performance by measuring the total number of generated ideas using the original rules put forth by Osborn (1953). This review of empirical literature on…
Sharing Teaching Ideas: Active Participation in the Classroom through Creative Problem Generation.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Gonzales, Nancy A.; And Others
1996-01-01
Presents an activity to involve students in mathematical communication and creative thinking. The activity is similar to the "pass it along" gossip game in which each person in a chain adds a piece of information. The class analyzes the resulting mathematics problem using George Polya's problem-solving techniques. (MKR)
Engineering Encounters: Building Technological Literacy with Philosophy and Nature of Technology
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kruse, Jerrid; Wilcox, Jesse
2017-01-01
This column presents ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. In this issue the authors discuss a design project they have used with upper elementary students (grades 4-6). They note ways to engage students in thinking philosophically about technology to meet engineering design outcomes in the "Next Generation Science…
Six Thinking Hats and Social Workers' Innovative Competence: An Experimental Study
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Azeez, Razaq Olugbenga
2016-01-01
Employees, no doubt, are the main force in organizations, and their innovative behaviours are vital for outcome efficacy. Innovative organisations, therefore, need creative employees who generate new ideas for product or process of innovation. This study investigated the effect of six thinking hats creativity technique on innovative competence of…
Generative technique for dynamic infrared image sequences
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhang, Qian; Cao, Zhiguo; Zhang, Tianxu
2001-09-01
The generative technique of the dynamic infrared image was discussed in this paper. Because infrared sensor differs from CCD camera in imaging mechanism, it generates the infrared image by incepting the infrared radiation of scene (including target and background). The infrared imaging sensor is affected deeply by the atmospheric radiation, the environmental radiation and the attenuation of atmospheric radiation transfers. Therefore at first in this paper the imaging influence of all kinds of the radiations was analyzed and the calculation formula of radiation was provided, in addition, the passive scene and the active scene were analyzed separately. Then the methods of calculation in the passive scene were provided, and the functions of the scene model, the atmospheric transmission model and the material physical attribute databases were explained. Secondly based on the infrared imaging model, the design idea, the achievable way and the software frame for the simulation software of the infrared image sequence were introduced in SGI workstation. Under the guidance of the idea above, in the third segment of the paper an example of simulative infrared image sequences was presented, which used the sea and sky as background and used the warship as target and used the aircraft as eye point. At last the simulation synthetically was evaluated and the betterment scheme was presented.
Perfect, Timothy J; Field, Ian; Jones, Robert
2009-01-01
Unconscious plagiarism occurs when people try to generate new ideas or when they try to recall their own ideas from among a set generated by a group. In this study, the factors that independently influence these two forms of plagiarism error were examined. Participants initially generated solutions to real-world problems in 2 domains of knowledge in collaboration with a confederate presented as an expert in 1 domain. Subsequently, the participant generated improvements to half of the ideas from each person. Participants returned 1 day later to recall either their own ideas or their partner's ideas and to complete a generate-new task. A double dissociation was observed. Generate-new plagiarism was driven by partner expertise but not by idea improvement, whereas recall plagiarism was driven by improvement but not expertise. This improvement effect on recall plagiarism was seen for the recall-own but not the recall-partner task, suggesting that the increase in recall-own plagiarism is due to mistaken idea ownership, not source confusion.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fikri, P. M.; Sinaga, P.; Hasanah, L.; Solehat, D.
2018-05-01
This study aims to determine profile of students’ generated representations and creative thinking skill on problem solving in vocational school. This research is a descriptive research to get an idea of comprehend students’ generated representations and creative thinking skill on problem solving of vocational school in Bandung. Technique of collecting data is done by test method, observation, and interview. Representation is something that represents, describes or symbolizes an object or process. To evaluate the multi-representation skill used essay test with rubric of scoring was used to assess multi-depressant student skills. While creative thinking skill on problem solving used essay test which contains the components of skills in finding facts, problem finding skills, idea finding skills and solution finding skills. The results showed generated representations is still relatively low, this is proven by average student answers explanation is mathematically correct but there is no explanation verbally or graphically. While creative thinking skill on problem solving is still relatively low, this is proven by average score for skill indicator in finding the student problem is 1.52 including the non-creative category, average score for the skill indicator in finding the student idea is 1.23 including the non-creative category, and the average score of the students skill in finding this solution is 0.72 belongs to a very uncreative category.
Adopting Employees' Ideas: Moderators of the Idea Generation-Idea Implementation Link
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Da Silva, Nancy; Oldham, Greg R.
2012-01-01
This study examined the possibility that the relationship between the number of ideas an employee generated and the number of those ideas that were adopted by the organization was moderated by the general radicalness of the employee's ideas (i.e., the extent to which the ideas were breakthrough or groundbreaking), the employee's intention to stay,…
Guiding New Product Idea Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Park, Y.
2003-01-01
The creation of innovative ideas is the initial step in entrepreneurial practice and venture management. As the management of technology is now on the priority agenda of higher education institutions, there is a need to develop pedagogic schemes for idea generation. Despite its importance, the idea generation process is hard to systematize or to…
Idea Generation and Exploration: Benefits and Limitations of the Policy Delphi Research Method
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Franklin, Kathy K.; Hart, Jan K.
2007-01-01
Researchers use the policy Delphi method to explore a complex topic with little historical context that requires expert opinion to fully understand underlying issues. The benefit of this research technique is the use of experts who have more timely information than can be gleamed from extant literature. Additionally, those experts place…
Peña, Adolfo; Estrada, Carlos A; Soniat, Debbie; Taylor, Benjamin; Burton, Michael
2012-01-01
Pain management in hospitalized patients remains a priority area for improvement; effective strategies for consensus development are needed to prioritize interventions. To identify challenges, barriers, and perspectives of healthcare providers in managing pain among hospitalized patients. Qualitative and quantitative group consensus using a brainstorming technique for quality improvement-the nominal group technique (NGT). One medical, 1 medical-surgical, and 1 surgical hospital unit at a large academic medical center. Nurses, resident physicians, patient care technicians, and unit clerks. Responses and ranking to the NGT question: "What causes uncontrolled pain in your unit?" Twenty-seven health workers generated a total of 94 ideas. The ideas perceived contributing to a suboptimal pain control were grouped as system factors (timeliness, n = 18 ideas; communication, n = 11; pain assessment, n = 8), human factors (knowledge and experience, n = 16; provider bias, n = 8; patient factors, n = 19), and interface of system and human factors (standardization, n = 14). Knowledge, timeliness, provider bias, and patient factors were the top ranked themes. Knowledge and timeliness are considered main priorities to improve pain control. NGT is an efficient tool for identifying general and context-specific priority areas for quality improvement; teams of healthcare providers should consider using NGT to address their own challenges and barriers. Copyright © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
To create or to recall? Neural mechanisms underlying the generation of creative new ideas☆
Benedek, Mathias; Jauk, Emanuel; Fink, Andreas; Koschutnig, Karl; Reishofer, Gernot; Ebner, Franz; Neubauer, Aljoscha C.
2014-01-01
This fMRI study investigated brain activation during creative idea generation using a novel approach allowing spontaneous self-paced generation and expression of ideas. Specifically, we addressed the fundamental question of what brain processes are relevant for the generation of genuinely new creative ideas, in contrast to the mere recollection of old ideas from memory. In general, creative idea generation (i.e., divergent thinking) was associated with extended activations in the left prefrontal cortex and the right medial temporal lobe, and with deactivation of the right temporoparietal junction. The generation of new ideas, as opposed to the retrieval of old ideas, was associated with stronger activation in the left inferior parietal cortex which is known to be involved in mental simulation, imagining, and future thought. Moreover, brain activation in the orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus was found to increase as a function of the creativity (i.e., originality and appropriateness) of ideas pointing to the role of executive processes for overcoming dominant but uncreative responses. We conclude that the process of idea generation can be generally understood as a state of focused internally-directed attention involving controlled semantic retrieval. Moreover, left inferior parietal cortex and left prefrontal regions may subserve the flexible integration of previous knowledge for the construction of new and creative ideas. PMID:24269573
More mind wandering, fewer original ideas: be not distracted during creative idea generation.
Hao, Ning; Wu, Mengxia; Runco, Mark A; Pina, Jeremy
2015-10-01
Several studies suggest that mind wandering (MW) benefits creativity when the MW occurs in the incubation period of creative problem solving. The aim of present study was to examine the effects of MW that occurs in the course of creative idea generation. Participants received an Alternative Uses Task (AUT) and were asked to generate ideas for 20min. Their MW frequencies as time passed were measured by means of probe-caught MW. Comparisons of the AUT performances of high and low MW groups revealed that greater MW was associated with lower fluency and originality scores on the AUT. Furthermore, the high MW group showed greater MW as time passed, while the low MW group's MW was steady during the course of idea generation. Accordingly, the originality of idea generation decreased with time passing for the high MW group but was steady for the low MW group. The findings suggest that the MW during the course of creative idea generation is negatively related to creativity, perhaps because the control processes involved in idea generation are impaired by the mind wandering. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Impact of Text on Idea Generation: An Electroencephalography Study
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sun, Lingyun; Xiang, Wei; Chai, Chunlei; Wang, Changlu; Liu, Zheng
2013-01-01
Sketching is widely used as a creative tool, playing a significant role in industrial design. Designers commonly use sketching to generate and evaluate ideas, leading to subsequent development of the most promising ideas. The current study examined the use of text in the idea generation sketching process among novices and experts. The…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hutchinson, Alisa; Tracey, Monica W.
2015-01-01
Within design thinking, designers are responsible for generating, testing, and refining design ideas as a means to refine the design problem and arrive at an effective solution. Thus, understanding one's individual idea generation experiences and processes can be seen as a component of professional identity for designers, which involves the…
An Overview of NASA's Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis (IDEA) Environment
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Robinson, Jeffrey S.
2011-01-01
Historically, the design of subsonic and supersonic aircraft has been divided into separate technical disciplines (such as propulsion, aerodynamics and structures), each of which performs design and analysis in relative isolation from others. This is possible, in most cases, either because the amount of interdisciplinary coupling is minimal, or because the interactions can be treated as linear. The design of hypersonic airbreathing vehicles, like NASA's X-43, is quite the opposite. Such systems are dominated by strong non-linear interactions between disciplines. The design of these systems demands that a multi-disciplinary approach be taken. Furthermore, increased analytical fidelity at the conceptual design phase is highly desirable, as many of the non-linearities are not captured by lower fidelity tools. Only when these systems are designed from a true multi-disciplinary perspective, can the real performance benefits be achieved and complete vehicle systems be fielded. Toward this end, the Vehicle Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center has been developing the Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis (IDEA) Environment. IDEA is a collaborative environment for parametrically modeling conceptual and preliminary designs for launch vehicle and high speed atmospheric flight configurations using the Adaptive Modeling Language (AML) as the underlying framework. The environment integrates geometry, packaging, propulsion, trajectory, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, engine and airframe subsystem design, thermal and structural analysis, and vehicle closure into a generative, parametric, unified computational model where data is shared seamlessly between the different disciplines. Plans are also in place to incorporate life cycle analysis tools into the environment which will estimate vehicle operability, reliability and cost. IDEA is currently being funded by NASA?s Hypersonics Project, a part of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. The environment is currently focused around a two-stage-to-orbit configuration with a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) first stage and a reusable rocket second stage. IDEA will be rolled out in generations, with each successive generation providing a significant increase in capability, either through increased analytic fidelity, expansion of vehicle classes considered, or by the inclusion of advanced modeling techniques. This paper provides the motivation behind the current effort, an overview of the development of the IDEA environment (including the contents and capabilities to be included in Generation 1 and Generation 2), and a description of the current status and detail of future plans.
Sparse Gaussian elimination with controlled fill-in on a shared memory multiprocessor
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Alaghband, Gita; Jordan, Harry F.
1989-01-01
It is shown that in sparse matrices arising from electronic circuits, it is possible to do computations on many diagonal elements simultaneously. A technique for obtaining an ordered compatible set directly from the ordered incompatible table is given. The ordering is based on the Markowitz number of the pivot candidates. This technique generates a set of compatible pivots with the property of generating few fills. A novel heuristic algorithm is presented that combines the idea of an order-compatible set with a limited binary tree search to generate several sets of compatible pivots in linear time. An elimination set for reducing the matrix is generated and selected on the basis of a minimum Markowitz sum number. The parallel pivoting technique presented is a stepwise algorithm and can be applied to any submatrix of the original matrix. Thus, it is not a preordering of the sparse matrix and is applied dynamically as the decomposition proceeds. Parameters are suggested to obtain a balance between parallelism and fill-ins. Results of applying the proposed algorithms on several large application matrices using the HEP multiprocessor (Kowalik, 1985) are presented and analyzed.
Effects of Process and Outcome Accountability on Idea Generation.
Häusser, Jan Alexander; Frisch, Johanna Ute; Wanzel, Stella; Schulz-Hardt, Stefan
2017-07-01
Previous research on the effects of outcome and process accountability on decision making has neglected the preceding phase of idea generation. We conducted a 2 (outcome accountability: yes vs. no) × 2 (process accountability: yes vs. no) experiment (N = 147) to test the effects of accountability on quantity and quality of generated ideas in a product design task. Furthermore, we examined potential negative side effects of accountability (i.e., stress and lengthened decision making). We found that (a) outcome accountability had a negative effect on quantity of ideas and (b) process accountability extended the idea generation process. Furthermore, any type of accountability (c) had a negative effect on uniqueness of ideas, (d) did not affect the quality of the idea that was selected, and (e) increased stress. Moreover, the negative effect of accountability on uniqueness of ideas was mediated by stress.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Effinger, M.; Ellingson, B.; Spohnholtz, T.; Koenig, J.
2001-01-01
An idea is put forth for a nondestructive characterization (NDC) generated algorithm-N curve to replace a S-N curve. A scenario for NDC life determination has been proposed. There are many challenges for the NDC life determination and prediction, but it could yield a grand payoff. The justification for NDC life determination and prediction is documented.
Teaching Creative Problem Solving Methods to Undergraduate Economics and Business Students
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cancer, Vesna
2014-01-01
This paper seeks to explore the need for and possibility of teaching current and potential problem solvers--undergraduate students in the economic and business field to define problems, to generate and choose creative and useful ideas and to verify them. It aims to select an array of quick and easy-to-use creative problem solving (CPS) techniques.…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Fang, Ning
2013-01-01
Brainstorming is a creativity technique in which a group of people (or an individual person) spontaneously generates a set of ideas to find the solution to a particular problem. This paper describes an innovative approach called "brainstorming with yo-yos," which was implemented in an outreach to high school event to increase high school…
Rominger, Christian; Papousek, Ilona; Perchtold, Corinna M; Weber, Bernhard; Weiss, Elisabeth M; Fink, Andreas
2018-02-13
This study investigated EEG activity in the upper alpha band during the well-known Picture Completion Task of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT), a widely used creative ideation task in the figural domain. The application of a sophisticated computerized version of the TTCT facilitating the online assessment and digitalizing of participant's drawings allowed to separate two central stages of the creative ideation process (i.e., idea generation and idea elaboration). During idea generation, the participants' task was to generate an initial draft of an original and creative completion of the presented abstract lines and figures of the TTCT. During idea elaboration, the participants were required to mentally improve the originality of the initially generated idea/draft. Creative ideation in this figural task was generally associated with comparatively strong desynchronization of upper alpha power over parietal and occipital sites, indicating high visual/figural processing demands. Interestingly, the stage of idea elaboration was accompanied by a relative increase of upper alpha power at parietal and occipital sites compared to the stage of idea generation, indicating heightened top-down processing demands. Furthermore, task performance was associated with relative increases of upper alpha power at frontal sites and relative decreases at centro-temporal sites from the stage of idea generation to idea elaboration. This association suggests the importance of increased inhibitory control over stimulus-based bottom-up information and motor imagery in order to achieve more creative outputs. Taken together these findings add to the relevant literature in that they a) extend research on the relationship between EEG alpha activity and creativity to the figural domain, and b) support a multistage view of creative ideation, involving cognitive control and mental imagery as important components of creativity. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Yeo, Tiong-Meng; Quek, Choon-Lang
2014-01-01
This comparative study investigates how two groups of design and technology students generated ideas in an asynchronous computer-mediated communication setting. The generated ideas were design ideas in the form of sketches. Each group comprised five students who were all 15 years of age. All the students were from the same secondary school but…
Rietzschel, Eric F; Nijstad, Bernard A; Stroebe, Wolfgang
2010-02-01
It is commonly assumed that successful innovation depends on creative idea generation: the more ideas are generated, the higher the probability of selecting a very good idea should be. However, research has shown that people do not perform optimally at idea selection and that ideational output may not contribute much to creative idea selection. The present studies aim to explain this phenomenon. We identified the strong tendency of our participants to select feasible and desirable ideas, at the cost of originality, as the main reason for their poor selection performance. Two manipulations of participants' processing of the available ideas (exclusion instructions and quality ratings) had no effect on selection effectiveness. In contrast, explicitly instructing participants to select creative or original ideas did improve selection effectiveness with regard to idea originality, but at the same time decreased participants' satisfaction and the rated effectiveness of chosen ideas. Results are discussed in relation to an effectiveness-originality trade off.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nakano, Masaru; Kubota, Fumiko; Inamori, Yutaka; Mitsuyuki, Keiji
Manufacturing system designers should concentrate on designing and planning manufacturing systems instead of spending their efforts on creating the simulation models to verify the design. This paper proposes a method and its tool to navigate the designers through the engineering process and generate the simulation model automatically from the design results. The design agent also supports collaborative design projects among different companies or divisions with distributed engineering and distributed simulation techniques. The idea was implemented and applied to a factory planning process.
Ditta, Annie S; Storm, Benjamin C
2017-05-01
Four experiments examined participants' ability to remember their own ideas in a modified Alternative Uses Task. Participants were asked to generate uses for objects, and on half of the trials participants were then asked to think of more uses. Memory for the initial uses they generated was then tested via a cued-recall task. Results demonstrated that participants forgot their initial uses as a consequence of thinking of new uses (referred to as the thinking-induced forgetting effect), and this effect persisted even when participants chose the subset of uses they thought were the most creative and to be remembered. The only scenario in which uses were protected from forgetting was when they were required to use their uses as hints for generating more ideas. Together, these findings demonstrate that one's own ideas are susceptible to forgetting when additional ideas must be generated, indicating that thinking is a modifier of memory despite one's motivation to preserve their ideas.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Valentine, Andrew; Belski, Iouri; Hamilton, Margaret
2017-01-01
Problem-solving is a key engineering skill, yet is an area in which engineering graduates underperform. This paper investigates the potential of using web-based tools to teach students problem-solving techniques without the need to make use of class time. An idea generation experiment involving 90 students was designed. Students were surveyed…
On the utilization of engineering knowledge in design optimization
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Papalambros, P.
1984-01-01
Some current research work conducted at the University of Michigan is described to illustrate efforts for incorporating knowledge in optimization in a nontraditional way. The incorporation of available knowledge in a logic structure is examined in two circumstances. The first examines the possibility of introducing global design information in a local active set strategy implemented during the iterations of projection-type algorithms for nonlinearly constrained problems. The technique used algorithms for nonlinearly constrained problems. The technique used combines global and local monotinicity analysis of the objective and constraint functions. The second examines a knowledge-based program which aids the user to create condigurations that are most desirable from the manufacturing assembly viewpoint. The data bank used is the classification scheme suggested by Boothroyd. The important aspect of this program is that it is an aid for synthesis intended for use in the design concept phase in a way similar to the so-called idea-triggers in creativity-enhancement techniques like brain-storming. The idea generation, however, is not random but it is driven by the goal of achieving the best acceptable configuration.
Gallupe, R B; Bastianutti, L M; Cooper, W H
1991-02-01
Brainstorming groups have consistently produced fewer ideas than have the equivalent number of individuals working by themselves. These results have been attributed to social loafing, evaluation apprehension, and production blocking in groups. In this study, a new brainstorming technique--electronic brainstorming--that may reduce both production blocking and evaluation apprehension was assessed. Electronic and nonelectronic groups and nominal and interacting groups were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Electronic groups were more productive than nonelectronic groups, but the productivity of nominal and interacting groups did not differ. In contrast, interacting groups felt better about the idea-generation process than did nominal groups. Ways in which electronic brainstorming can reopen a long dormant area of research and application are discussed.
Collaborative Sketching in Crowdsourcing Design: A New Method for Idea Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sun, Lingyun; Xiang, Wei; Chen, Shi; Yang, Zhiyuan
2015-01-01
Design integrates concepts and solves problems. Crowdsourcing design imports vast knowledge and produces creative ideas. It publishes design tasks, collects dozens of contributors' ideas and reward the best. Contributors in crowdsourcing design work individually when generating ideas. However, those who collaborate could make better use of crowd's…
Age-related differences in idea generation and selection for propositional language.
Madden, Daniel L; Sale, Martin V; Robinson, Gail A
2018-05-21
Conceptual preparation mechanisms such as novel idea generation and selection from amongst competing alternatives are critical for language production and may contribute to age-related language deficits. This study investigated whether older adults show diminished idea generation and selection abilities, compared to younger adults. Twenty younger (18-35 years) and 20 older (60-80 years) adults completed two novel experimental tasks, an idea generation task and a selection task. Older participants were slower than younger participants overall on both tasks. Importantly, this difference was more pronounced for task conditions with greater demands on generation and selection. Older adults were also significantly reduced on a semantic, but not phonemic, word fluency task. Overall, the older group showed evidence of age-related decline specific to idea generation and selection ability. This has implications for the message formulation stage of propositional language decline in normal aging.
Real-time high speed generator system emulation with hardware-in-the-loop application
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Stroupe, Nicholas
The emerging emphasis and benefits of distributed generation on smaller scale networks has prompted much attention and focus to research in this field. Much of the research that has grown in distributed generation has also stimulated the development of simulation software and techniques. Testing and verification of these distributed power networks is a complex task and real hardware testing is often desired. This is where simulation methods such as hardware-in-the-loop become important in which an actual hardware unit can be interfaced with a software simulated environment to verify proper functionality. In this thesis, a simulation technique is taken one step further by utilizing a hardware-in-the-loop technique to emulate the output voltage of a generator system interfaced to a scaled hardware distributed power system for testing. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate a new method of testing a virtually simulated generation system supplying a scaled distributed power system in hardware. This task is performed by using the Non-Linear Loads Test Bed developed by the Energy Conversion and Integration Thrust at the Center for Advanced Power Systems. This test bed consists of a series of real hardware developed converters consistent with the Navy's All-Electric-Ship proposed power system to perform various tests on controls and stability under the expected non-linear load environment of the Navy weaponry. This test bed can also explore other distributed power system research topics and serves as a flexible hardware unit for a variety of tests. In this thesis, the test bed will be utilized to perform and validate this newly developed method of generator system emulation. In this thesis, the dynamics of a high speed permanent magnet generator directly coupled with a micro turbine are virtually simulated on an FPGA in real-time. The calculated output stator voltage will then serve as a reference for a controllable three phase inverter at the input of the test bed that will emulate and reproduce these voltages on real hardware. The output of the inverter is then connected with the rest of the test bed and can consist of a variety of distributed system topologies for many testing scenarios. The idea is that the distributed power system under test in hardware can also integrate real generator system dynamics without physically involving an actual generator system. The benefits of successful generator system emulation are vast and lead to much more detailed system studies without the draw backs of needing physical generator units. Some of these advantages are safety, reduced costs, and the ability of scaling while still preserving the appropriate system dynamics. This thesis will introduce the ideas behind generator emulation and explain the process and necessary steps to obtaining such an objective. It will also demonstrate real results and verification of numerical values in real-time. The final goal of this thesis is to introduce this new idea and show that it is in fact obtainable and can prove to be a highly useful tool in the simulation and verification of distributed power systems.
Beyond Idea Generation: The Power of Groups in Developing Ideas
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McMahon, Kibby; Ruggeri, Azzurra; Kämmer, Juliane E.; Katsikopoulos, Konstantinos V.
2016-01-01
Brainstorming research has claimed that individuals are more creative than groups. However, these conclusions are largely based on measuring creativity by the number of ideas generated, and researchers have tended to neglect other important components of creativity, such as the quality of developed ideas. These studies aim to address this gap in…
The adaptive observer. [liapunov synthesis, single-input single-output, and reduced observers
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Carroll, R. L.
1973-01-01
The simple generation of state from available measurements, for use in systems for which the criteria defining the acceptable state behavior mandates a control that is dependent upon unavailable measurement is described as an adaptive means for determining the state of a linear time invariant differential system having unknown parameters. A single input output adaptive observer and the reduced adaptive observer is developed. The basic ideas for both the adaptive observer and the nonadaptive observer are examined. A survey of the Liapunov synthesis technique is taken, and the technique is applied to adaptive algorithm for the adaptive observer.
Emerging Approach of Natural Language Processing in Opinion Mining: A Review
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, Tai-Hoon
Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of artificial intelligence and computational linguistics. It studies the problems of automated generation and understanding of natural human languages. This paper outlines a framework to use computer and natural language techniques for various levels of learners to learn foreign languages in Computer-based Learning environment. We propose some ideas for using the computer as a practical tool for learning foreign language where the most of courseware is generated automatically. We then describe how to build Computer Based Learning tools, discuss its effectiveness, and conclude with some possibilities using on-line resources.
Whose idea was that? Source monitoring for idea ownership following elaboration.
Stark, Louisa-Jayne; Perfect, Timothy J
2007-10-01
Unconscious plagiarism (UP) occurs when an individual claims a previously experienced idea as their own. Previous studies have explored the cognitive precursors of such errors by manipulating the ways that ideas are thought about between initial idea exposure and later test. While imagining other's ideas does not increase rates of UP relative to control on either a recall-own or generate-new task, improving others' ideas substantially increases such errors in the recall-own task. This study explored the effects of elaboration on rates of UP when a source-monitoring test replaced the recall-own test. Plagiarism was again observed following idea improvement but not idea imagery even though participants engaged explicit source evaluation. Thus the probability of plagiarising another's idea appears linked to the generative nature of the idea processing performed.
Visual Thinking Styles and Idea Generation Strategies Employed in Visual Brainstorming Sessions
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Börekçi, Naz A. G. Z.
2017-01-01
This paper presents the findings of visual analyses conducted on 369 sketch ideas generated in three 6-3-5 visual brainstorming sessions by a total of 25 participants, following the same design brief. The motivation for the study was an interest in the thematic content of the ideas generated as groups, and the individual representation styles used…
Cassotti, Mathieu; Agogué, Marine; Camarda, Anaëlle; Houdé, Olivier; Borst, Grégoire
2016-01-01
Developmental cognitive neuroscience studies tend to show that the prefrontal brain regions (known to be involved in inhibitory control) are activated during the generation of creative ideas. In the present article, we discuss how a dual-process model of creativity-much like the ones proposed to account for decision making and reasoning-could broaden our understanding of the processes involved in creative ideas generation. When generating creative ideas, children, adolescents, and adults tend to follow "the path of least resistance" and propose solutions that are built on the most common and accessible knowledge within a specific domain, leading to fixation effect. In line with recent theory of typical cognitive development, we argue that the ability to resist the spontaneous activation of design heuristics, to privilege other types of reasoning, might be critical to generate creative ideas at all ages. In the present review, we demonstrate that inhibitory control at all ages can actually support creativity. Indeed, the ability to think of something truly new and original requires first inhibiting spontaneous solutions that come to mind quickly and unconsciously and then exploring new ideas using a generative type of reasoning. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Joseph, Karunan; Ibrahim, Fatimah; Cho, Jongman
2015-01-01
Recent advances in the field of centrifugal microfluidic disc suggest the need for electrical interface in the disc to perform active biomedical assays. In this paper, we have demonstrated an active application powered by the energy harvested from the rotation of the centrifugal microfluidic disc. A novel integration of power harvester disc onto centrifugal microfluidic disc to perform localized heating technique is the main idea of our paper. The power harvester disc utilizing electromagnetic induction mechanism generates electrical energy from the rotation of the disc. This contributes to the heat generation by the embedded heater on the localized heating disc. The main characteristic observed in our experiment is the heating pattern in relative to the rotation of the disc. The heating pattern is monitored wirelessly with a digital temperature sensing system also embedded on the disc. Maximum temperature achieved is 82 °C at rotational speed of 2000 RPM. The technique proves to be effective for continuous heating without the need to stop the centrifugal motion of the disc.
Looking for ideas: Eye behavior during goal-directed internally focused cognition☆
Walcher, Sonja; Körner, Christof; Benedek, Mathias
2017-01-01
Humans have a highly developed visual system, yet we spend a high proportion of our time awake ignoring the visual world and attending to our own thoughts. The present study examined eye movement characteristics of goal-directed internally focused cognition. Deliberate internally focused cognition was induced by an idea generation task. A letter-by-letter reading task served as external task. Idea generation (vs. reading) was associated with more and longer blinks and fewer microsaccades indicating an attenuation of visual input. Idea generation was further associated with more and shorter fixations, more saccades and saccades with higher amplitudes as well as heightened stimulus-independent variation of eye vergence. The latter results suggest a coupling of eye behavior to internally generated information and associated cognitive processes, i.e. searching for ideas. Our results support eye behavior patterns as indicators of goal-directed internally focused cognition through mechanisms of attenuation of visual input and coupling of eye behavior to internally generated information. PMID:28689088
Automating addiction treatment: enhancing the human experience and creating a fix for the future.
Gustafson, David H; Palesh, Tara E; Picard, Rosalind W; Plsek, Paul E; Maher, Lynne; Capoccia, Victor A
2005-01-01
The country's system of providing treatment for people struggling with addiction requires a fundamental overhaul. To address these daunting problems, a group of experts from outside the addiction field met in an intensive retreat and envisioned a new future for addiction treatment that would use the latest available technology. Retreat leaders employed creative techniques to help free up thinking beyond incremental improvement ideas. Current and former addicts or alcoholics and family members also attended the retreat to provide the panelists with a real-world understanding of their lives. Through this process, the panelists generated eight idea categories that visualized future treatments for addiction using technology. They were: (1) Integrated System and Record; (2) Monitoring/Treatment; (3) Virtual Experiences; (4) Treatment Access and "One Stop Shop"; (5) Networks; (6) Tailored Media Campaigns; (7) Diagnostic Tools; and (8) Help for Family. Two stories illustrate how these ideas could help a heroin addict and an alcoholic. The sponsors plan another meeting to bring these visionary concepts closer to real application.
Cosby, Karen S; Zipperer, Lorri; Balik, Barbara
2015-09-01
The patient safety literature is full of exhortations to approach medical error from a system perspective and seek multidisciplinary solutions from groups including clinicians, patients themselves, as well as experts outside the traditional medical domain. The 7th annual International Conference on Diagnostic Error in Medicine sought to attract a multispecialty audience, and attempted to capture some of the conversations by engaging participants in a World Café, a technique used to stimulate discussion and preserve insight gained during the conference. We present the ideas generated in this session, discuss them in the context of psychological safety, and demonstrate the application of this novel technique.
The Role of Individualism-Collectivism in the Individual Creative Process
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Yao, Xiang; Wang, Shuhong; Dang, Junhua; Wang, Lei
2012-01-01
This study is among the first to examine how individuals' cultural value orientations impact 2 separate stages of creativity: idea generation and idea implementation. A total of 247 Chinese employees completed questionnaires including individualism-collectivism culture orientation and their idea generation behavior. Supervisor ratings of idea…
Enhancing data locality by using terminal propagation
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Hendrickson, B.; Leland, R.; Van Driessche, R.
1995-12-31
Terminal propagation is a method developed in the circuit placement community for adding constraints to graph partitioning problems. This paper adapts and expands this idea, and applies it to the problem of partitioning data structures among the processors of a parallel computer. We show how the constraints in terminal propagation can be used to encourage partitions in which messages are communicated only between architecturally near processors. We then show how these constraints can be handled in two important partitioning algorithms, spectral bisection and multilevel-KL. We compare the quality of partitions generated by these algorithms to each other and to Partitionsmore » generated by more familiar techniques.« less
Interaction effect of response medium and working memory capacity on creative idea generation
Hao, Ning; Yuan, Huan; Cheng, Rui; Wang, Qing; Runco, Mark A.
2015-01-01
This study aimed to examine the interaction effect of response medium (i.e., write down ideas and orally report ideas) and working memory capacity (WMC) on creative idea generation. Participants (N = 90) with higher or lower WMC were asked to solve Alternative Uses Task (AUT) problems in the condition of writing down or speaking out ideas. The results showed that fluency of AUT performance was higher in the writing than in the speaking condition. Additionally, participants with higher WMC performed better on AUT fluency than those with lower WMC in the writing condition, while they showed no difference in the speaking condition. Moreover, level of cognitive demand fully mediated the effect of response medium on AUT fluency. Theoretically, these findings indicated the importance of WMC in creative idea generation, which supported the controlled-attention theory of creativity. Practical implications and future directions were discussed. PMID:26528227
Interaction effect of response medium and working memory capacity on creative idea generation.
Hao, Ning; Yuan, Huan; Cheng, Rui; Wang, Qing; Runco, Mark A
2015-01-01
This study aimed to examine the interaction effect of response medium (i.e., write down ideas and orally report ideas) and working memory capacity (WMC) on creative idea generation. Participants (N = 90) with higher or lower WMC were asked to solve Alternative Uses Task (AUT) problems in the condition of writing down or speaking out ideas. The results showed that fluency of AUT performance was higher in the writing than in the speaking condition. Additionally, participants with higher WMC performed better on AUT fluency than those with lower WMC in the writing condition, while they showed no difference in the speaking condition. Moreover, level of cognitive demand fully mediated the effect of response medium on AUT fluency. Theoretically, these findings indicated the importance of WMC in creative idea generation, which supported the controlled-attention theory of creativity. Practical implications and future directions were discussed.
Creativity: The Role of Unconscious Processes in Idea Generation and Idea Selection
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ritter, Simone M.; van Baaren, Rick B.; Dijksterhuis, Ap
2012-01-01
Today's world of continuous change thrives on creative individuals. Anecdotal reports suggest that creative performance benefits from unconscious processes. Empirical research on the role of the unconscious in creativity, though, is inconsistent and thus far has focused mainly on one aspect of the creative process--idea generation. This is the…
School Choice: How an Abstract Idea Became a Political Reality
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Viteritti, Joseph P.
2005-01-01
This paper traces the evolution of the choice idea over three generations, from a market model concerned with economic liberty, to a demand for social justice based on equality, to a political movement that translates the idea into policy. Focusing on the last generation, it explains why the market concept has lacked political appeal and how…
The Role of Domain Knowledge in Creative Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ward, Thomas B.
2008-01-01
Previous studies have shown that a predominant tendency in creative generation tasks is to base new ideas on well-known, specific instances of previous ideas (e.g., basing ideas for imaginary aliens on dogs, cats or bears). However, a substantial minority of individuals has been shown to adopt more abstract approaches to the task and to develop…
Mayseless, Naama; Aharon-Peretz, Judith; Shamay-Tsoory, Simone
2014-11-01
Human creativity is thought to entail two processes. One is idea generation, whereby ideas emerge in an associative manner, and the other is idea evaluation, whereby generated ideas are evaluated and screened. Thus far, neuroimaging studies have identified several brain regions as being involved in creativity, yet only a handful of studies have examined the neural basis underlying these two processes. We found that an individual with left temporoparietal hemorrhage who had no previous experience as an artist developed remarkable artistic creativity, which diminished as the hemorrhage receded. We thus hypothesized that damage to the evaluation network of creativity during the initial hematoma had a releasing effect on creativity by "freeing" the idea generation system. In line with this hypothesis, we conducted a subsequent fMRI study showing that decreased left temporal and parietal activations among healthy individuals as they evaluated creative ideas selectively predicted higher creativity. The current studies provide converging multi-method evidence suggesting that the left temporoparietal area is part of a neural network involved in evaluating creativity, and that as such may act as inhibitors of creativity. We propose an explanatory model of creativity centered upon the key role of the left temporoparietal regions in evaluating and inhibiting creativity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Roelofs, Henk; Nieuwenhuis, Adriaan
2016-01-01
How do we identify tools that can overcome uncertainty in realizing value with students using their "idea creativity" in generating and developing ideas in new concepts? Tools that better fit in the mindset of the new generations. The major question of idea creativity, especially in an educational environment is: How to determine and…
Laboratory plasma interactions experiments: Results and implications to future space systems
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Leung, Philip
1986-01-01
The experimental results discussed show the significance of the effects caused by spacecraft plasma interactions, in particular the generation of Electromagnetic Interference. As the experimental results show, the magnitude of the adverse effects induced by Plasma Interactions (PI) will be more significant for spacecraft of the next century. Therefore, research is needed to control possible adverse effects. Several techniques to control the selected PI effects are discussed. Tests, in the form of flight experiments, are needed to validate these proposed ideas.
Multiscale Monte Carlo equilibration: Pure Yang-Mills theory
Endres, Michael G.; Brower, Richard C.; Orginos, Kostas; ...
2015-12-29
In this study, we present a multiscale thermalization algorithm for lattice gauge theory, which enables efficient parallel generation of uncorrelated gauge field configurations. The algorithm combines standard Monte Carlo techniques with ideas drawn from real space renormalization group and multigrid methods. We demonstrate the viability of the algorithm for pure Yang-Mills gauge theory for both heat bath and hybrid Monte Carlo evolution, and show that it ameliorates the problem of topological freezing up to controllable lattice spacing artifacts.
Using Runtime Analysis to Guide Model Checking of Java Programs
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Havelund, Klaus; Norvig, Peter (Technical Monitor)
2001-01-01
This paper describes how two runtime analysis algorithms, an existing data race detection algorithm and a new deadlock detection algorithm, have been implemented to analyze Java programs. Runtime analysis is based on the idea of executing the program once. and observing the generated run to extract various kinds of information. This information can then be used to predict whether other different runs may violate some properties of interest, in addition of course to demonstrate whether the generated run itself violates such properties. These runtime analyses can be performed stand-alone to generate a set of warnings. It is furthermore demonstrated how these warnings can be used to guide a model checker, thereby reducing the search space. The described techniques have been implemented in the b e grown Java model checker called PathFinder.
Strategies for automatic planning: A collection of ideas
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Collins, Carol; George, Julia; Zamani, Elaine
1989-01-01
The main goal of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is to obtain science return from interplanetary probes. The uplink process is concerned with communicating commands to a spacecraft in order to achieve science objectives. There are two main parts to the development of the command file which is sent to a spacecraft. First, the activity planning process integrates the science requests for utilization of spacecraft time into a feasible sequence. Then the command generation process converts the sequence into a set of commands. The development of a feasible sequence plan is an expensive and labor intensive process requiring many months of effort. In order to save time and manpower in the uplink process, automation of parts of this process is desired. There is an ongoing effort to develop automatic planning systems. This has met with some success, but has also been informative about the nature of this effort. It is now clear that innovative techniques and state-of-the-art technology will be required in order to produce a system which can provide automatic sequence planning. As part of this effort to develop automatic planning systems, a survey of the literature, looking for known techniques which may be applicable to our work was conducted. Descriptions of and references for these methods are given, together with ideas for applying the techniques to automatic planning.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kirby, Barrick R.; Heinert, Seth B.; Myers, Brian E.; Thoron, Andrew C.; Stofer, Kathryn
2018-01-01
The purpose of this study was to identify disciplinary core ideas that should be included in secondary school agriscience programs using a panel of experts in agricultural education, and to create a matrix of disciplinary core ideas, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources career pathways performance indicators, and the Next Generation Science…
Assiduous String-Savers: The Idea-Generating Strategies of Professional Expository Writers.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Root, Robert L., Jr.
A study was conducted over a two-year period to investigate the idea-generating strategies of six professional writers and their implications for students. Because finding an idea that leads to a journal or newspaper column is so important to a writer, an attempt was made to learn ways professional writers establish working plans and develop a…
Can Generating Representations Enhance Learning with Dynamic Visualizations?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Zhang, Zhihui Helen; Linn, Marcia C.
2011-01-01
This study explores the impact of asking middle school students to generate drawings of their ideas about chemical reactions on integrated understanding. Students explored atomic interactions during hydrogen combustion using a dynamic visualization. The generation group drew their ideas about how the reaction takes place at the molecular level.…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
de Buisonjé, David R.; Ritter, Simone M.; de Bruin, Suze; ter Horst, J. Marie-Louise; Meeldijk, Arne
2017-01-01
Generating creative ideas in a brainstorm session `is a crucial part of innovation. However, for actual implementation, the most creative ideas must be selected from a pool of ideas. To date, idea selection has remained relatively unexplored and validated instruments to measure idea selection performance are not systematically employed. This study…
Idea Evaluation: Error in Evaluating Highly Original Ideas
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Licuanan, Brian F.; Dailey, Lesley R.; Mumford, Michael D.
2007-01-01
Idea evaluation is a critical aspect of creative thought. However, a number of errors might occur in the evaluation of new ideas. One error commonly observed is the tendency to underestimate the originality of truly novel ideas. In the present study, an attempt was made to assess whether analysis of the process leading to the idea generation and…
Automatic Generation of Mashups for Personalized Commerce in Digital TV by Semantic Reasoning
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Blanco-Fernández, Yolanda; López-Nores, Martín; Pazos-Arias, José J.; Martín-Vicente, Manuela I.
The evolution of information technologies is consolidating recommender systems as essential tools in e-commerce. To date, these systems have focused on discovering the items that best match the preferences, interests and needs of individual users, to end up listing those items by decreasing relevance in some menus. In this paper, we propose extending the current scope of recommender systems to better support trading activities, by automatically generating interactive applications that provide the users with personalized commercial functionalities related to the selected items. We explore this idea in the context of Digital TV advertising, with a system that brings together semantic reasoning techniques and new architectural solutions for web services and mashups.
Default Mode and Executive Networks Areas: Association with the Serial Order in Divergent Thinking
Heinonen, Jarmo; Numminen, Jussi; Hlushchuk, Yevhen; Antell, Henrik; Taatila, Vesa; Suomala, Jyrki
2016-01-01
Scientific findings have suggested a two-fold structure of the cognitive process. By using the heuristic thinking mode, people automatically process information that tends to be invariant across days, whereas by using the explicit thinking mode people explicitly process information that tends to be variant compared to typical previously learned information patterns. Previous studies on creativity found an association between creativity and the brain regions in the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the default mode network and the executive network. However, which neural networks contribute to the explicit mode of thinking during idea generation remains an open question. We employed an fMRI paradigm to examine which brain regions were activated when participants (n = 16) mentally generated alternative uses for everyday objects. Most previous creativity studies required participants to verbalize responses during idea generation, whereas in this study participants produced mental alternatives without verbalizing. This study found activation in the left anterior insula when contrasting idea generation and object identification. This finding suggests that the insula (part of the brain’s salience network) plays a role in facilitating both the central executive and default mode networks to activate idea generation. We also investigated closely the effect of the serial order of idea being generated on brain responses: The amplitude of fMRI responses correlated positively with the serial order of idea being generated in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is part of the central executive network. Positive correlation with the serial order was also observed in the regions typically assigned to the default mode network: the precuneus/cuneus, inferior parietal lobule and posterior cingulate cortex. These networks support the explicit mode of thinking and help the individual to convert conventional mental models to new ones. The serial order correlated negatively with the BOLD responses in the posterior presupplementary motor area, left premotor cortex, right cerebellum and left inferior frontal gyrus. This finding might imply that idea generation without a verbal processing demand reflecting lack of need for new object identification in idea generation events. The results of the study are consistent with recent creativity studies, which emphasize that the creativity process involves working memory capacity to spontaneously shift between different kinds of thinking modes according to the context. PMID:27627760
Application of lean manufacturing techniques in the Emergency Department.
Dickson, Eric W; Singh, Sabi; Cheung, Dickson S; Wyatt, Christopher C; Nugent, Andrew S
2009-08-01
"Lean" is a set of principles and techniques that drive organizations to continually add value to the product they deliver by enhancing process steps that are necessary, relevant, and valuable while eliminating those that fail to add value. Lean has been used in manufacturing for decades and has been associated with enhanced product quality and overall corporate success. To evaluate whether the adoption of Lean principles by an Emergency Department (ED) improves the value of emergency care delivered. Beginning in December 2005, we implemented a variety of Lean techniques in an effort to enhance patient and staff satisfaction. The implementation followed a six-step process of Lean education, ED observation, patient flow analysis, process redesign, new process testing, and full implementation. Process redesign focused on generating improvement ideas from frontline workers across all departmental units. Value-based and operational outcome measures, including patient satisfaction, expense per patient, ED length of stay (LOS), and patient volume were compared for calendar year 2005 (pre-Lean) and periodically after 2006 (post-Lean). Patient visits increased by 9.23% in 2006. Despite this increase, LOS decreased slightly and patient satisfaction increased significantly without raising the inflation adjusted cost per patient. Lean improved the value of the care we delivered to our patients. Generating and instituting ideas from our frontline providers have been the key to the success of our Lean program. Although Lean represents a fundamental change in the way we think of delivering care, the specific process changes we employed tended to be simple, small procedure modifications specific to our unique people, process, and place. We, therefore, believe that institutions or departments aspiring to adopt Lean should focus on the core principles of Lean rather than on emulating specific process changes made at other institutions.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meyendorf, Norbert
2018-04-01
Industry 4.0 stands for the fourth industrial revolution that is ongoing at present. Industry 4.0 is a terminology generally used in Europe to characterize the integration of production and communication technologies, the so called "smart factory". Lowering costs and efficient in-time production will be possible for low numbers of unique parts, for example by additive manufacturing (3D printing). A significant aspect is also quality and maintainability of these sometimes unique structures and components. NDE has to follow these trends, but introduce the capability of cyber systems into the inspection and maintenance processes. The author initiated in his NDE introductory class student projects where small groups of students had to identify everyday problems that can be solved by NDE techniques and suggest technical solutions based on today's technology. The results where exiting. After discussing the ecosystem and the present situation of NDE as a science, several of these ideas were presented. Let us listen to the ideas and needs of the young generation to re-invent NDE!
Quantum Hall physics: Hierarchies and conformal field theory techniques
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hansson, T. H.; Hermanns, M.; Simon, S. H.; Viefers, S. F.
2017-04-01
The fractional quantum Hall effect, being one of the most studied phenomena in condensed matter physics during the past 30 years, has generated many ground-breaking new ideas and concepts. Very early on it was realized that the zoo of emerging states of matter would need to be understood in a systematic manner. The first attempts to do this, by Haldane and Halperin, set an agenda for further work which has continued to this day. Since that time the idea of hierarchies of quasiparticles condensing to form new states has been a pillar of our understanding of fractional quantum Hall physics. In the 30 years that have passed since then, a number of new directions of thought have advanced our understanding of fractional quantum Hall states and have extended it in new and unexpected ways. Among these directions is the extensive use of topological quantum field theories and conformal field theories, the application of the ideas of composite bosons and fermions, and the study of non-Abelian quantum Hall liquids. This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of this field, including the most recent developments.
IDEA Technical Report No. 4. Description of IDEA Standard Form Data Base.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cashin, William E.; Perrin, Bruce M.
The data and computational procedures used by the IDEA System to generate IDEA Reports from information collected on the Standard Form of the IDEA Survey Form are described in this technical report. The computations for each of the seven parts of the IDEA Report are explained. The data base used for this 1978-79 Kansas State University study…
Toledo-Pereyra, Luis H
2011-01-01
After the interest in surgical research, developing the research idea is of fundamental importance because without it we can not have research. Where do the research ideas come from then? Is there any better way to improve our ability to generate research ideas? Where do they come from? What are the factors that stimulate the research idea? Anything we do in and out of medicine or surgery should be the force that will maintain our mind occupied on our future research ideas. From events in the clinical arena to discussions in formal rounds or informal meetings should be the origin of our thinking in research. So, the generation of research ideas come from any place and we should be aware of it. We could be successful in research if we could produce and accumulate the ideas as they frequently present to us in our professional or daily life. The research environment could help us in securing the presence and evolution of the idea. Be aware of changes and future developments and be ready to admit and grow the research idea that could be presented to you during the practice of medicine.
Conflict in Relationships and Perceived Support in Innovative Work Behavior
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Battistelli, Adalgisa; Picci, Patrizia; Odoardi, Carlo
In recent years, the idea that innovation is one of the determining factors in the efficacy and survival of organizations has been strongly consolidated. Individuals and groups within the various organizations undertake specific creative activities with the express intention of deriving direct benefits from the changes with regard to the generational phase of ideas. Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) is a complex behavioral pattern which consists of a set of three different tasks, namely, idea generation, idea promotion and idea realization. Considering the scant attention that has been paid to date to the potentially different role of antecedent factors in the various phases of innovative behavior, the aim of the present work was to examine the combined conflicting and supportive roles on innovation within the three stages of IWB. The results obtained from a sample of 110 Public Elementary School teachers confirm, as expected, that in the realization phase there are a positive influence from conflicting and supportive roles on innovation and a positive influence from support for innovation also in the phase of idea promotion; whereas, unexpectedly, a positive influence from conflicting is exercised in the phases of idea generation.
A modular assembling platform for manufacturing of microsystems by optical tweezers
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ksouri, Sarah Isabelle; Aumann, Andreas; Ghadiri, Reza; Prüfer, Michael; Baer, Sebastian; Ostendorf, Andreas
2013-09-01
Due to the increased complexity in terms of materials and geometries for microsystems new assembling techniques are required. Assembling techniques from the semiconductor industry are often very specific and cannot fulfill all specifications in more complex microsystems. Therefore, holographic optical tweezers are applied to manipulate structures in micrometer range with highest flexibility and precision. As is well known non-spherical assemblies can be trapped and controlled by laser light and assembled with an additional light modulator application, where the incident laser beam is rearranged into flexible light patterns in order to generate multiple spots. The complementary building blocks are generated by a two-photon-polymerization process. The possibilities of manufacturing arbitrary microstructures and the potential of optical tweezers lead to the idea of combining manufacturing techniques with manipulation processes to "microrobotic" processes. This work presents the manipulation of generated complex microstructures with optical tools as well as a storage solution for 2PP assemblies. A sample holder has been developed for the manual feeding of 2PP building blocks. Furthermore, a modular assembling platform has been constructed for an `all-in-one' 2PP manufacturing process as a dedicated storage system. The long-term objective is the automation process of feeding and storage of several different 2PP micro-assemblies to realize an automated assembly process.
de Chantal, Pier-Luc; Markovits, Henry
2017-02-01
There is little consensus about the nature of logical reasoning and, equally important, about how it develops. To address this, we looked at the early origins of deductive reasoning in preschool children. We examined the contribution of two factors to the reasoning ability of very young children: inhibitory capacity and the capacity to generate alternative ideas. In a first study, a total of 32 preschool children were all given generation, inhibition, and logical reasoning measures. Logical reasoning was measured using knowledge-based premises such as "All dogs have legs," and two different inferences: modus ponens and affirmation of the consequent. Results revealed that correctly reasoning with both inferences is not related to the measure of inhibition, but is rather related to the capacity to generate alternative ideas. In a second study, 32 preschool children were given either the generation or the inhibition task before the logical reasoning measure. Results showed that receiving the generation task beforehand significantly improved logical reasoning compared to the inhibition task given beforehand. Overall, these results provide evidence for the greater importance of idea generation in the early development of logical reasoning.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Peters-Burton, Erin; Baynard, Liz R.
2013-11-01
An understanding of the scientific enterprise is useful because citizens need to make systematic, rational decisions about projects involving scientific endeavors and technology, and a clearer understanding of scientific epistemology is beneficial because it could encourage more public engagement with science. The purpose of this study was to capture beliefs for three groups, scientists, secondary science teachers, and eighth-grade science students, about the ways scientific knowledge is generated and validated. Open-ended questions were framed by formal scientific epistemology and dimensions of epistemology recognized in the field of educational psychology. The resulting statements were placed in a card sort and mapped in a network analysis to communicate interconnections among ideas. Maps analyzed with multidimensional scaling revealed robust connections among students and scientists but not among teachers. Student and teacher maps illustrated the strongest connections among ideas about experiments while scientist maps present more descriptive and well-rounded ideas about the scientific enterprise. The students' map was robust in terms of numbers of ideas, but were lacking in a hierarchical organization of ideas. The teachers' map displayed an alignment with the learning standards of the state, but not a broader view of science. The scientists map displayed a hierarchy of ideas with elaboration of equally valued statements connected to several foundational statements. Network analysis can be helpful in forwarding the study of views of the nature of science because of the technique's ability to capture verbatim statements from participants and to display the strength of connections among the statements.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Myers, John Y.; Abd-El-Khalick, Fouad
2016-01-01
This study (i) explicates the sorts of ideas about science and the nature of knowing that were generated among participant graduate students who viewed the sci-fi film, "Contact," and (ii) examines the interactions between these ideas and ontic stances with which participants approached viewing the film. Eleven doctoral students of…
Virtual reality for intelligent and interactive operating, training, and visualization systems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Freund, Eckhard; Rossmann, Juergen; Schluse, Michael
2000-10-01
Virtual Reality Methods allow a new and intuitive way of communication between man and machine. The basic idea of Virtual Reality (VR) is the generation of artificial computer simulated worlds, which the user not only can look at but also can interact with actively using data glove and data helmet. The main emphasis for the use of such techniques at the IRF is the development of a new generation of operator interfaces for the control of robots and other automation components and for intelligent training systems for complex tasks. The basic idea of the methods developed at the IRF for the realization of Projective Virtual Reality is to let the user work in the virtual world as he would act in reality. The user actions are recognized by the Virtual reality System and by means of new and intelligent control software projected onto the automation components like robots which afterwards perform the necessary actions in reality to execute the users task. In this operation mode the user no longer has to be a robot expert to generate tasks for robots or to program them, because intelligent control software recognizes the users intention and generated automatically the commands for nearly every automation component. Now, Virtual Reality Methods are ideally suited for universal man-machine-interfaces for the control and supervision of a big class of automation components, interactive training and visualization systems. The Virtual Reality System of the IRF-COSIMIR/VR- forms the basis for different projects starting with the control of space automation systems in the projects CIROS, VITAL and GETEX, the realization of a comprehensive development tool for the International Space Station and last but not least with the realistic simulation fire extinguishing, forest machines and excavators which will be presented in the final paper in addition to the key ideas of this Virtual Reality System.
Multiprocessor sparse L/U decomposition with controlled fill-in
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Alaghband, G.; Jordan, H. F.
1985-01-01
Generation of the maximal compatibles of pivot elements for a class of small sparse matrices is studied. The algorithm involves a binary tree search and has a complexity exponential in the order of the matrix. Different strategies for selection of a set of compatible pivots based on the Markowitz criterion are investigated. The competing issues of parallelism and fill-in generation are studied and results are provided. A technque for obtaining an ordered compatible set directly from the ordered incompatible table is given. This technique generates a set of compatible pivots with the property of generating few fills. A new hueristic algorithm is then proposed that combines the idea of an ordered compatible set with a limited binary tree search to generate several sets of compatible pivots in linear time. Finally, an elimination set to reduce the matrix is selected. Parameters are suggested to obtain a balance between parallelism and fill-ins. Results of applying the proposed algorithms on several large application matrices are presented and analyzed.
The NLM Indexing Initiative's Medical Text Indexer.
Aronson, Alan R; Mork, James G; Gay, Clifford W; Humphrey, Susanne M; Rogers, Willie J
2004-01-01
The Medical Text Indexer (MTI) is a program for producing MeSH indexing recommendations. It is the major product of NLM's Indexing Initiative and has been used in both semi-automated and fully automated indexing environments at the Library since mid 2002. We report here on an experiment conducted with MEDLINE indexers to evaluate MTI's performance and to generate ideas for its improvement as a tool for user-assisted indexing. We also discuss some filtering techniques developed to improve MTI's accuracy for use primarily in automatically producing the indexing for several abstracts collections.
Advances in nonlinear optical materials and devices
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Byer, Robert L.
1991-01-01
The recent progress in the application of nonlinear techniques to extend the frequency of laser sources has come from the joint progress in laser sources and in nonlinear materials. A brief summary of the progress in diode pumped solid state lasers is followed by an overview of progress in nonlinear frequency extension by harmonic generation and parametric processes. Improved nonlinear materials including bulk crystals, quasiphasematched interactions, guided wave devices, and quantum well intersubband studies are discussed with the idea of identifying areas of future progress in nonlinear materials and devices.
A tensor approach to modeling of nonhomogeneous nonlinear systems
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Yurkovich, S.; Sain, M.
1980-01-01
Model following control methodology plays a key role in numerous application areas. Cases in point include flight control systems and gas turbine engine control systems. Typical uses of such a design strategy involve the determination of nonlinear models which generate requested control and response trajectories for various commands. Linear multivariable techniques provide trim about these motions; and protection logic is added to secure the hardware from excursions beyond the specification range. This paper reports upon experience in developing a general class of such nonlinear models based upon the idea of the algebraic tensor product.
Disturbance Source Separation in Shear Flows Using Blind Source Separation Methods
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gluzman, Igal; Cohen, Jacob; Oshman, Yaakov
2017-11-01
A novel approach is presented for identifying disturbance sources in wall-bounded shear flows. The method can prove useful for active control of boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow. The underlying idea is to consider the flow state, as measured in sensors, to be a mixture of sources, and to use Blind Source Separation (BSS) techniques to recover the separate sources and their unknown mixing process. We present a BSS method based on the Degenerate Unmixing Estimation Technique. This method can be used to identify any (a priori unknown) number of sources by using the data acquired by only two sensors. The power of the new method is demonstrated via numerical and experimental proofs of concept. Wind tunnel experiments involving boundary layer flow over a flat plate were carried out, in which two hot-wire anemometers were used to separate disturbances generated by disturbance generators such as a single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator and a loudspeaker.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Valentine, Andrew; Belski, Iouri; Hamilton, Margaret
2017-11-01
Problem-solving is a key engineering skill, yet is an area in which engineering graduates underperform. This paper investigates the potential of using web-based tools to teach students problem-solving techniques without the need to make use of class time. An idea generation experiment involving 90 students was designed. Students were surveyed about their study habits and reported they use electronic-based materials more than paper-based materials while studying, suggesting students may engage with web-based tools. Students then generated solutions to a problem task using either a paper-based template or an equivalent web interface. Students who used the web-based approach performed as well as students who used the paper-based approach, suggesting the technique can be successfully adopted and taught online. Web-based tools may therefore be adopted as supplementary material in a range of engineering courses as a way to increase students' options for enhancing problem-solving skills.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Scherr, Rachel E.; Robertson, Amy D.
2015-06-01
We observe teachers in professional development courses about energy constructing mechanistic accounts of energy transformations. We analyze a case in which teachers investigating adiabatic compression develop a model of the transformation of kinetic energy to thermal energy. Among their ideas is the idea that thermal energy is generated as a byproduct of individual particle collisions, which is represented in science education research literature as an obstacle to learning. We demonstrate that in this instructional context, the idea that individual particle collisions generate thermal energy is not an obstacle to learning, but instead is productive: it initiates intellectual progress. Specifically, this idea initiates the reconciliation of the teachers' energy model with mechanistic reasoning about adiabatic compression, and leads to a canonically correct model of the transformation of kinetic energy into thermal energy. We claim that the idea's productivity is influenced by features of our particular instructional context, including the instructional goals of the course, the culture of collaborative sense making, and the use of certain representations of energy.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... Government to encourage the submission of new and innovative ideas in response to Broad Agency Announcements... new and innovative ideas do not fall under topic areas publicized under those programs or techniques, the ideas may be submitted as unsolicited proposals. ...
Stead, William W.; Miller, Randolph A.; Musen, Mark A.; Hersh, William R.
2000-01-01
The vision of integrating information—from a variety of sources, into the way people work, to improve decisions and process—is one of the cornerstones of biomedical informatics. Thoughts on how this vision might be realized have evolved as improvements in information and communication technologies, together with discoveries in biomedical informatics, and have changed the art of the possible. This review identified three distinct generations of “integration” projects. First-generation projects create a database and use it for multiple purposes. Second-generation projects integrate by bringing information from various sources together through enterprise information architecture. Third-generation projects inter-relate disparate but accessible information sources to provide the appearance of integration. The review suggests that the ideas developed in the earlier generations have not been supplanted by ideas from subsequent generations. Instead, the ideas represent a continuum of progress along the three dimensions of workflow, structure, and extraction. PMID:10730596
Digital Earth - Young generation's comprehension and ideas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bandrova, T.; Konecny, M.
2014-02-01
The authors are experienced in working with children and students in the field of early warning and crises management and cartography. All these topics are closely connected to Digital Earth (DE) ideas. On the basis of a questionnaire, the young generation's comprehension of DE concept is clarified. Students from different age groups (from 19 to 36) from different countries and with different social, cultural, economical and political backgrounds are asked to provide definition of DE and describe their basic ideas about meaning, methodology and applications of the concept. The questions aim to discover the young generation's comprehension of DE ideas. They partially cover the newest trends of DE development like social, cultural and environmental issues as well as the styles of new communications (Google Earth, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). In order to assure the future development of the DE science, it is important to take into account the young generation's expectations. Some aspects of DE development are considered in the Conclusions.
Teaching Integrative Thought: Techniques and Data.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Malloy, Thomas E.
Focusing on techniques for teaching students to integrate diverse ideas at a deep level of cognitive processing, a study evaluated an idea integration package for teaching writing in the college classroom. Subjects, 29 college students from an introductory psychology class at a Utah university, were divided into two groups. The integration group…
Role of Discrepant Questioning Leading to Model Element Modification
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rea-Ramirez, Mary Anne; Nunez-Oviedo, Maria Cecilia; Clement, John
2009-01-01
Discrepant questioning is a teaching technique that can help students "unlearn" misconceptions and process science ideas for deep understanding. Discrepant questioning is a technique in which teachers question students in a way that requires them to examine their ideas or models, without giving information prematurely to the student or passing…
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chan, Hau P.; Bao, Nai-Keng; Kwok, Wing O.; Wong, Wing H.
2002-04-01
The application of Digital Pixel Hologram (DPH) as anti-counterfeiting technology for products such as commercial goods, credit cards, identity cards, paper money banknote etc. is growing important nowadays. It offers many advantages over other anti-counterfeiting tools and this includes high diffraction effect, high resolving power, resistance to photo copying using two-dimensional Xeroxes, potential for mass production of patterns at a very low cost. Recently, we have successfully in fabricating high definition DPH with resolution higher than 2500dpi for the purpose of anti-counterfeiting by applying modern optical diffraction theory to computer pattern generation technique with the assist of electron beam lithography (EBL). In this paper, we introduce five levels of encryption techniques, which can be embedded in the design of such DPHs to further improve its anti-counterfeiting performance with negligible added on cost. The techniques involved, in the ascending order of decryption complexity, are namely Gray-level Encryption, Pattern Encryption, Character Encryption, Image Modification Encryption and Codebook Encryption. A Hong Kong Special Administration Regions (HKSAR) DPH emblem was fabricated at a resolution of 2540dpi using the facilities housed in our Optoelectronics Research Center. This emblem will be used as an illustration to discuss in details about each encryption idea during the conference.
Idea Generating among Secondary School Teachers.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tomic, Welko; Brouwers, Andre
This study investigated where and how secondary school teachers generated ideas linked to their work environment. A group of 146 teachers from 20 secondary schools in the Netherlands completed an adapted version of Geschka's questionnaire, which focused on (1) teachers' preferred conditions, environments, media, people, and activities before the…
Analytic double product integrals for all-frequency relighting.
Wang, Rui; Pan, Minghao; Chen, Weifeng; Ren, Zhong; Zhou, Kun; Hua, Wei; Bao, Hujun
2013-07-01
This paper presents a new technique for real-time relighting of static scenes with all-frequency shadows from complex lighting and highly specular reflections from spatially varying BRDFs. The key idea is to depict the boundaries of visible regions using piecewise linear functions, and convert the shading computation into double product integrals—the integral of the product of lighting and BRDF on visible regions. By representing lighting and BRDF with spherical Gaussians and approximating their product using Legendre polynomials locally in visible regions, we show that such double product integrals can be evaluated in an analytic form. Given the precomputed visibility, our technique computes the visibility boundaries on the fly at each shading point, and performs the analytic integral to evaluate the shading color. The result is a real-time all-frequency relighting technique for static scenes with dynamic, spatially varying BRDFs, which can generate more accurate shadows than the state-of-the-art real-time PRT methods.
An Emerging Learning Design for Student-Generated "iVideos"
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kearney, Matthew; Jones, Glynis; Roberts, Lynn
2012-01-01
This paper describes an emerging learning design for a popular genre of learner-generated video projects: "Ideas Videos" or "iVideos." These advocacy-style videos are short, two-minute, digital videos designed "to evoke powerful experiences about educative ideas" (Wong, Mishra, Koehler & Siebenthal, 2007, p1). We…
The Influence of Different Pictorial Representations during Idea Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cardoso, Carlos; Badke-Schaub, Petra
2011-01-01
During creative problem-solving, designers frequently come across a variety of rich visual displays. While browsing for different sources of information, pictorial representations of existing concepts take prominence. However, once designers start generating new solution ideas to design problems, they often become too attached to some of the…
Generating Ideas in Jazz Improvisation: Where Theory Meets Practice
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hargreaves, Wendy
2012-01-01
Idea generation is an integral component of jazz improvising. This article merges theoretical origins and practical experiences through the examination of two seminal works from Pressing and Sudnow. A comparative analysis yields three common sources with distinct characteristics. The greater body of jazz literature supports this potential link…
Energy harvesting from cerebrospinal fluid pressure fluctuations for self-powered neural implants.
Beker, Levent; Benet, Arnau; Meybodi, Ali Tayebi; Eovino, Ben; Pisano, Albert P; Lin, Liwei
2017-06-01
In this paper, a novel method to generate electrical energy by converting available mechanical energy from pressure fluctuations of the cerebrospinal fluid within lateral ventricles of the brain is presented. The generated electrical power can be supplied to the neural implants and either eliminate their battery need or extend the battery lifespan. A diaphragm type harvester comprised of piezoelectric material is utilized to convert the pressure fluctuations to electrical energy. The pressure fluctuations cause the diaphragm to bend, and the strained piezoelectric materials generate electricity. In the framework of this study, an energy harvesting structure having a diameter of 2.5 mm was designed and fabricated using microfabrication techniques. A 1:1 model of lateral ventricles was 3D-printed from raw MRI images to characterize the harvester. Experimental results show that a maximum power of 0.62 nW can be generated from the harvester under similar physical conditions in lateral ventricles which corresponds to energy density of 12.6 nW/cm 2 . Considering the available area within the lateral ventricles and the size of harvesters that can be built using microfabrication techniques it is possible to amplify to power up to 26 nW. As such, the idea of generating electrical energy by making use of pressure fluctuations within brain is demonstrated in this work via the 3D-printed model system.
Discrepant Questioning as a Tool To Build Complex Mental Models of Respiration.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rea-Ramirez, Mary Anne; Nunez-Oviedo, Maria C.
Discrepant questioning is a teaching technique that can help students "unlearn" misconceptions and process science ideas for deep understanding. Discrepant questioning is a technique in which teachers question students in a way that requires them to examine their ideas or models, without giving information prematurely to the student or passing…
Visualizing multiattribute Web transactions using a freeze technique
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hao, Ming C.; Cotting, Daniel; Dayal, Umeshwar; Machiraju, Vijay; Garg, Pankaj
2003-05-01
Web transactions are multidimensional and have a number of attributes: client, URL, response times, and numbers of messages. One of the key questions is how to simultaneously lay out in a graph the multiple relationships, such as the relationships between the web client response times and URLs in a web access application. In this paper, we describe a freeze technique to enhance a physics-based visualization system for web transactions. The idea is to freeze one set of objects before laying out the next set of objects during the construction of the graph. As a result, we substantially reduce the force computation time. This technique consists of three steps: automated classification, a freeze operation, and a graph layout. These three steps are iterated until the final graph is generated. This iterated-freeze technique has been prototyped in several e-service applications at Hewlett Packard Laboratories. It has been used to visually analyze large volumes of service and sales transactions at online web sites.
Swarm Intelligence for Optimizing Hybridized Smoothing Filter in Image Edge Enhancement
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rao, B. Tirumala; Dehuri, S.; Dileep, M.; Vindhya, A.
In this modern era, image transmission and processing plays a major role. It would be impossible to retrieve information from satellite and medical images without the help of image processing techniques. Edge enhancement is an image processing step that enhances the edge contrast of an image or video in an attempt to improve its acutance. Edges are the representations of the discontinuities of image intensity functions. For processing these discontinuities in an image, a good edge enhancement technique is essential. The proposed work uses a new idea for edge enhancement using hybridized smoothening filters and we introduce a promising technique of obtaining best hybrid filter using swarm algorithms (Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO)) to search for an optimal sequence of filters from among a set of rather simple, representative image processing filters. This paper deals with the analysis of the swarm intelligence techniques through the combination of hybrid filters generated by these algorithms for image edge enhancement.
Rutherford, Alexandra
2003-11-01
Behaviorist B.F. Skinner is not typically associated with the fields of personality assessment or projective testing. However, early in his career Skinner developed an instrument he named the verbal summator, which, at one point, he referred to as a device for "snaring out complexes," much like an auditory analogue of the Rorschach inkblots. Skinner's interest in the projective potential of his technique was relatively short lived, but whereas he used the verbal summator to generate experimental data for his theory of verbal behavior, several other clinicians and researchers exploited this potential and adapted the verbal summator technique for both research and applied purposes. The idea of an auditory inkblot struck many as a useful innovation, and the verbal summator spawned the tautophone test, the auditory apperception test, and the Azzageddi test, among others. This article traces the origin, development, and eventual demise of the verbal summator as an auditory projective technique.
Brainstorming Themes that Connect Art and Ideas across the Curriculum
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Walling, Donovan R.
2006-01-01
Ideas are starting points-for thought, discussion, reading, viewing, writing, and making. The two "brainstorms on paper" presented in this article illustrate how taking an idea and examining it from an artistic point of view can generate thematic starting points to help teachers and students connect the visual arts to ideas that ripple across the…
Ideas versus Labor: What Do Children Value in Artistic Creation?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Li, Vivian; Shaw, Alex; Olson, Kristina R.
2013-01-01
As scientists, we primarily award authorship, as well as legal patents, to those who generate ideas, often without formally crediting others who executed the actual experiments. However, little is known about how and when people come to value ideas. Here, we investigate whether young children also value ideas over labor. In Study 1, we found that…
The "Next Generation Science Standards": A Focus on Physical Science
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Krajcik, Joe
2013-01-01
What should all students know about the physical sciences? Why should all students have a basic understanding of these ideas? An amazing number of new scientific breakthroughs have occurred in the last 20 years that impact daily lives. This article focuses on the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS) disciplinary core ideas in…
The Effects of Domain Knowledge and Instructional Manipulation on Creative Idea Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hao, Ning
2010-01-01
The experiment was designed to explore the effects of domain knowledge, instructional manipulation, and the interaction between them on creative idea generation. Three groups of participants who respectively possessed the domain knowledge of biology, sports, or neither were asked to finish two tasks: imagining an extraterrestrial animal and…
Task Demands and Generative Thinking: What Changes and What Remains the Same?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ward, Thomas B.; Sifonis, Cynthia M.
1997-01-01
This study examined the impact of three conditions on how subjects (105 college students) generated ideas about imaginary extraterrestrials. Results are discussed in terms of constraints on innovation, ways of overcoming those constraints, and the general tendency for new ideas to preserve many of the central properties of existing concepts.…
Toward sensor-based context aware systems.
Sakurai, Yoshitaka; Takada, Kouhei; Anisetti, Marco; Bellandi, Valerio; Ceravolo, Paolo; Damiani, Ernesto; Tsuruta, Setsuo
2012-01-01
This paper proposes a methodology for sensor data interpretation that can combine sensor outputs with contexts represented as sets of annotated business rules. Sensor readings are interpreted to generate events labeled with the appropriate type and level of uncertainty. Then, the appropriate context is selected. Reconciliation of different uncertainty types is achieved by a simple technique that moves uncertainty from events to business rules by generating combs of standard Boolean predicates. Finally, context rules are evaluated together with the events to take a decision. The feasibility of our idea is demonstrated via a case study where a context-reasoning engine has been connected to simulated heartbeat sensors using prerecorded experimental data. We use sensor outputs to identify the proper context of operation of a system and trigger decision-making based on context information.
Idea Sharing: Using Peer Assessment to Teach How to Make Oral Summaries in English Language Classes
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ivanova, Olimpiada F.
2014-01-01
In this "Idea Sharing" article, the author describes the techniques used when teaching oral summary making to second-year students studying Business English at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow. The techniques are based on peer assessment, which…
Elicitation Techniques: Getting People to Talk about Ideas They Don't Usually Talk About
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Barton, Keith C.
2015-01-01
Elicitation techniques are a category of research tasks that use visual, verbal, or written stimuli to encourage participants to talk about their ideas. These tasks are particularly useful for exploring topics that may be difficult to discuss in formal interviews, such as those that involve sensitive issues or rely on tacit knowledge. Elicitation…
Faculty Activity to Reach Consensus and Develop the SF-ROCKS Outreach Program
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Grove, K.; White, L.
2003-12-01
The Geosciences Department at San Francisco State University has prided itself on the excellent relationships among its faculty and students and on its proven ability to train students for careers in industry and academia. Yet, like many Geoscience departments, it recognized a need to generate higher enrollments in the undergraduate majors programs and to increase collaborations among departmental disciplines (in our case, geology, meteorology, and oceanography). To address these concerns, the department created a new outreach program that involves a majority of the faculty and that aims to increase the number of students (particularly those from underrepresented groups) who pursue a career in Geosciences at SFSU and who appreciate the role of the geosciences in their daily lives. The outreach idea was generated at a retreat of departmental faculty in January 2001. The department chair (Grove) used a classroom teaching technique to have faculty brainstorm ideas about increasing student enrollments and to reach consensus about actions to be taken. The faculty was divided into 4 groups of 3 members. Each group member spent 10 minutes brainstorming ideas and writing each idea on a post-it note. Group members then convened for 15 minutes to cluster their post-it note ideas into affinity groups. Each group subsequently had 10-15 minutes to present their ideas to the larger group, who then proceeded to decide on action items. From this activity came a clear consensus about the need for more outreach activities, and the faculty decided to submit a request for funding to a newly created NSF Geosciences program (OEDG---Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences). Our proposal was successful and we received a 5-year grant to fund SF-ROCKS (Reaching out to Communities and Kids with Science in San Francisco), a program now in its second year and directed by the current department chair (White). The multi-layered program involves faculty and students from SFSU and City College of San Francisco with local high school teachers and their students (see session ED15 for high school student research results and program web site---http://sf-rocks.sfsu.edu---for more details). The program has created more cohesion among department faculty and has been an effective mechanism for engaging faculty and students from our range of Geoscience disciplines, and for providing college students with meaningful experiences in the discipline.
Neural basis of functional fixedness during creative idea generation: an EEG study.
Camarda, Anaëlle; Salvia, Émilie; Vidal, Julie; Weil, Benoit; Poirel, Nicolas; Houdé, Olivier; Borst, Grégoire; Cassotti, Mathieu
2018-03-09
Decades of problem solving and creativity research have converged to show that the ability to generate new and useful ideas can be blocked or impeded by intuitive biases leading to mental fixations. The present study aimed at investigating the neural bases of the processes involved in overcoming fixation effects during creative idea generation. Using the AU task adapted for EEG recording, we examined whether participant's ability to provide original ideas was related to alpha power changes in both the frontal and temporo-parietal regions. Critically, for half of the presented objects, the classical use of the object was primed orally, and a picture of the classical use was presented visually to increase functional fixedness (Fixation Priming condition). For the other half, only the name of the object and a picture of the object was provided to the participants (control condition). As expected, priming the classical use of an object before the generation of creative alternative uses of the object impeded participants' performances in terms of remoteness. In the control condition, while the frontal alpha synchronization was maintained across all successive time windows in participants with high remoteness scores, the frontal alpha synchronization decreased in participants with low remoteness scores. In the Fixation Priming condition, in which functional fixedness was maximal, both participants with high and low remoteness scores maintained frontal alpha synchronization throughout the period preceding their answer. Whereas participants with high remoteness scores maintained alpha synchronization in the temporo-parietal regions throughout the creative idea generation period, participants with low remoteness scores displayed alpha desynchronization in the same regions during this period. We speculate that individuals with high remoteness scores might generate more creative ideas than individuals with low remoteness scores because they rely more on internal semantic association and selection processes. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Optical and mechanical tolerances in hybrid concentrated thermal-PV solar trough.
Diaz, Liliana Ruiz; Cocilovo, Byron; Miles, Alexander; Pan, Wei; Blanche, Pierre-Alexandre; Norwood, Robert A
2018-05-14
Hybrid thermal-PV solar trough collectors combine concentrated photovoltaics and concentrated solar power technology to harvest and store solar energy. In this work, the optical and mechanical requirements for optimal efficiency are analyzed using non-sequential ray tracing techniques. The results are used to generate opto-mechanical tolerances that can be compared to those of traditional solar collectors. We also explore ideas on how to relieve tracking tolerances for single-axis solar collectors. The objective is to establish a basis for tolerances required for the fabrication and manufacturing of hybrid solar trough collectors.
Mapping biological ideas: Concept maps as knowledge integration tools for evolution education
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Schwendimann, Beat Adrian
Many students leave school with a fragmented understanding of biology that does not allow them to connect their ideas to their everyday lives (Wandersee, 1989; Mintzes, Wandersee, & Novak, 1998; Mintzes, Wandersee, & Novak, 2000a). Understanding evolution ideas is seen as central to building an integrated knowledge of biology (Blackwell, Powell, & Dukes, 2003; Thagard & Findlay, 2010). However, the theory of evolution has been found difficult to understand as it incorporates a wide range of ideas from different areas (Bahar et al., 1999; Tsui & Treagust, 2003) and multiple interacting levels (Wilensky & Resnick, 1999; Duncan & Reiser, 2007; Hmelo-Silver et al., 2007). Research suggests that learners can hold a rich repertoire of co-existing alternative ideas of evolution (for example, Bishop & Anderson, 1990; Demastes, Good, & Peebles, 1996; Evans, 2008), especially of human evolution (for example, Nelson, 1986; Sinatra et al., 2003; Poling & Evans, 2004). Evolution ideas are difficult to understand because they often contradict existing alternative ideas (Mayr, 1982; Wolpert, 1994; Evans, 2008). Research suggests that understanding human evolution is a key to evolution education (for example, Blackwell et al., 2003; Besterman & Baggott la Velle, 2007). This dissertation research investigates how different concept mapping forms embedded in a collaborative technology-enhanced learning environment can support students' integration of evolution ideas using case studies of human evolution. Knowledge Integration (KI) (Linn et al., 2000; Linn et al., 2004) is used as the operational framework to explore concept maps as knowledge integration tools to elicit, add, critically distinguish, group, connect, and sort out alternative evolution ideas. Concept maps are a form of node-link diagram for organizing and representing connections between ideas as a semantic network (Novak & Gowin, 1984). This dissertation research describes the iterative development of a novel biology-specific form of concept map, called Knowledge Integration Map (KIM), which aims to help learners connect ideas across levels (for example, genotype and phenotype levels) towards an integrated understanding of evolution. Using a design-based research approach (Brown, 1992; Cobb et al., 2003), three iterative studies were implemented in ethically and economically diverse public high schools classrooms using the web-based inquiry science environment (WISE) (Linn et al., 2003; Linn et al., 2004). Study 1 investigates concept maps as generative assessment tools. Study 1A compares the concept map generation and critique process of biology novices and experts. Findings suggest that concept maps are sensitive to different levels of knowledge integration but require scaffolding and revision. Study 1B investigates the implementation of concept maps as summative assessment tools in a WISE evolution module. Results indicate that concept maps can reveal connections between students' alternative ideas of evolution. Study 2 introduces KIMs as embedded collaborative learning tools. After generating KIMs, student dyads revise KIMs through two different critique activities (comparison against an expert or peer generated KIM). Findings indicate that different critique activities can promote the use of different criteria for critique. Results suggest that the combination of generating and critiquing KIMs can support integrating evolution ideas but can be time-consuming. As time in biology classrooms is limited, study 3 distinguishes the learning effects from either generating or critiquing KIMs as more time efficient embedded learning tools. Findings suggest that critiquing KIMs can be more time efficient than generating KIMs. Using KIMs that include common alternative ideas for critique activities can create genuine opportunities for students to critically reflect on new and existing ideas. Critiquing KIMs can encourage knowledge integration by fostering self-monitoring of students' learning progress, identifying knowledge gaps, and distinguishing alternative evolution ideas. This dissertation research demonstrates that science instruction of complex topics, such as human evolution, can succeed through a combination of scaffolded inquiry activities using dynamic visualizations, explanation activities, and collaborative KIM activities. This research contributes to educational research and practice by describing ways to make KIMs effective and time efficient learning tools for evolution education. Supporting students' building of a more coherent understanding of core ideas of biology can foster their life-long interest and learning of science.
Does leader-affective presence influence communication of creative ideas within work teams?
Madrid, Hector P; Totterdell, Peter; Niven, Karen
2016-09-01
Affective presence is a novel, emotion-related personality trait, supported in experimental studies, concerning the extent to which a person makes his or her interaction partners feel the same way (Eisenkraft & Elfenbein, 2010). Applying this concept to an applied teamwork context, we proposed that team-leader-affective presence would influence team members' communication of creative ideas. Multilevel modeling analysis of data from a survey study conducted with teams from a consultancy firm confirmed that team-leader-affective presence interacted with team-member creative idea generation to predict inhibition of voicing their ideas. Specifically, withholding of ideas was less likely when team members generated creative ideas and their team leader had higher positive affective presence or lower negative affective presence. These findings contribute to emotion research by showing affective presence as a trait with interpersonal meaning, which can shape how cognition is translated into social behavior in applied performance contexts, such as teamwork in organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, Chensheng; Ko, Jonathan; Rzasa, John Robertson; Davis, Christopher C.
2017-08-01
The image encryption and decryption technique using lens components and random phase screens has attracted a great deal of research interest in the past few years. In general, the optical encryption technique can translate a positive image into an image with nearly a white speckle pattern that is impossible to decrypt. However, with the right keys as conjugated random phase screens, the white noise speckle pattern can be decoded into the original image. We find that the fundamental ideas in image encryption can be borrowed and applied to carry out beam corrections through turbulent channels. Based on our detailed analysis, we show that by using two deformable mirrors arranged in similar fashions as in the image encryption technique, a large number of controllable phase and amplitude distribution patterns can be generated from a collimated Gaussian beam. Such a result can be further coupled with wavefront sensing techniques to achieve laser beam correction against turbulence distortions. In application, our approach leads to a new type of phase conjugation mirror that could be beneficial for directed energy systems.
Live Speech Driven Head-and-Eye Motion Generators.
Le, Binh H; Ma, Xiaohan; Deng, Zhigang
2012-11-01
This paper describes a fully automated framework to generate realistic head motion, eye gaze, and eyelid motion simultaneously based on live (or recorded) speech input. Its central idea is to learn separate yet interrelated statistical models for each component (head motion, gaze, or eyelid motion) from a prerecorded facial motion data set: 1) Gaussian Mixture Models and gradient descent optimization algorithm are employed to generate head motion from speech features; 2) Nonlinear Dynamic Canonical Correlation Analysis model is used to synthesize eye gaze from head motion and speech features, and 3) nonnegative linear regression is used to model voluntary eye lid motion and log-normal distribution is used to describe involuntary eye blinks. Several user studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed speech-driven head and eye motion generator using the well-established paired comparison methodology. Our evaluation results clearly show that this approach can significantly outperform the state-of-the-art head and eye motion generation algorithms. In addition, a novel mocap+video hybrid data acquisition technique is introduced to record high-fidelity head movement, eye gaze, and eyelid motion simultaneously.
Evaluation of Computer Tools for Idea Generation and Team Formation in Project-Based Learning
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ardaiz-Villanueva, Oscar; Nicuesa-Chacon, Xabier; Brene-Artazcoz, Oscar; Sanz de Acedo Lizarraga, Maria Luisa; Sanz de Acedo Baquedano, Maria Teresa
2011-01-01
The main objective of this research was to validate the effectiveness of Wikideas and Creativity Connector tools to stimulate the generation of ideas and originality by university students organized into groups according to their indexes of creativity and affinity. Another goal of the study was to evaluate the classroom climate created by these…
The Role of Sketching States in the Stimulation of Idea Generation: An Eye Movement Study
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sun, Lingyun; Xiang, Wei; Yang, Cheng; Yang, Zhiyuan; Lou, Yun
2014-01-01
Sketching is widely used in design to generate creative ideas. Design studies present stimuli during sketching to enhance creativity. This study examines the effect of stimuli presented during different sketching states, especially of those presented during the stuck period. It conducted a sketching experiment that enrolled 41 students with an…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Weisgerber, Leo
1972-01-01
Discussion of two basic conceptions: Wilhelm von Humboldt's idea of language as energeia'' existing within and without man, and Noam Chomsky's idea of language generated by the speaker according to an innate apparatus. Revised version of lectures presented at the University of Bonn, West Germany in August 1971. (RS)
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Obschonka, Martin; Silbereisen, Rainer K.; Schmitt-Rodermund, Eva
2012-01-01
Applying a life-span approach of human development and using the example of science-based business idea generation, the authors used structural equation modeling to test a mediation model for predicting entrepreneurial behavior in a sample of German scientists (2 measurement occasions; Time 1, N = 488). It was found that recalled early…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Scherr, Rachel E.; Robertson, Amy D.
2015-01-01
We observe teachers in professional development courses about energy constructing mechanistic accounts of energy transformations. We analyze a case in which teachers investigating adiabatic compression develop a model of the transformation of kinetic energy to thermal energy. Among their ideas is the idea that thermal energy is generated as a…
Entrepreneurial Idea Identification through Online Social Networks
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lang, Matthew C.
2010-01-01
The increasing use of social network websites may signal a change in the way the next generation of entrepreneurs identify entrepreneurial ideas. An important part of the entrepreneurship literature emphasizes how vital the use of social networks is to entrepreneurial idea identification, opportunity recognition, and ultimately new venture…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
DONELSON, KENNETH L., ED.
IDEAS FOR THE TEACHING OF POETRY ARE PRESENTED THROUGH SEVERAL BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF 16 SUCCESSFULLY-USED TECHNIQUES. THESE INCLUDE (1) TEACHING RUPERT BROOKE'S "THE GREAT LOVER" IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHARLES SCHULTZ'"HAPPINESS IS A WARM PUPPY," (2) USING PICTURES AND MUSIC WITH POETRY, (3) DISCUSSING PHRASES PECULIAR TO SPORTS TO LEAD INTO A…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Johnson, H. Mark
To show how a central idea shapes a monolithic society, this social studies unit focuses on the idea of God's "providence" as the motivational force in Puritan thinking and analyzes the idea's sources, its truth, its impact, and its evolution through three generations of Puritan living. Sections of the unit discuss (1) the religious,…
Hu, Xiaoyun; Xi, Xiuming; Ma, Penglin; Qiu, Haibo; Yu, Kaijiang; Tang, Yaoqing; Qian, Chuanyun; Fang, Qiang; Wang, Yushan; Yu, Xiangyou; Xu, Yuan; Du, Bin
2016-10-16
The aim of this study is to develop consensus on core competencies required for postgraduate training in intensive care medicine. We used a combination of a modified Delphi method and a nominal group technique to create and modify the list of core competencies to ensure maximum consensus. Ideas were generated modified from Competency Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe collaboration (CoBaTrICE) core competencies. An online survey invited healthcare professionals, educators, and trainees to rate and comment on these competencies. The output from the online survey was edited and then reviewed by a nominal group of 13 intensive care professionals to identify each competence for importance. The resulting list was then recirculated in the nominal group for iterative rating. The online survey yielded a list of 199 competencies for nominal group reviewing. After five rounds of rating, 129 competencies entered the final set defined as core competencies. We have generated a set of core competencies using a consensus technique which can serve as an indicator for training program development.
Exploring Persona-Scenarios - Using Storytelling to Create Design Ideas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Madsen, Sabine; Nielsen, Lene
This paper explores the persona-scenario method by investigating how the method can support project participants in generating shared understandings and design ideas. As persona-scenarios are stories we draw on narrative theory to define what a persona-scenario is and which narrative elements it should consist of. Based on an empirical study a key finding is that despite our inherent human ability to construct, tell, and interpret stories it is not easy to write and present a good, coherent, and design-oriented story without methodical support. The paper therefore contributes with guidelines that delineate a) what a design-oriented persona-scenario should consist of (product) and b) how to write it (procedure) in order to generate and validate as many, new, and shared understandings and design ideas as possible (purpose). The purpose of the guidelines is to facilitate the construction of persona-scenarios as good, coherent stories, which make sense to the storytellers and to the audience - and which therefore generate many, new, and shared understandings and design ideas.
Learner-Generated Digital Video: Using Ideas Videos in Teacher Education
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kearney, Matthew
2013-01-01
This qualitative study investigates the efficacy of "Ideas Videos" (or "iVideos") in pre-service teacher education. It explores the experiences of student teachers and their lecturer engaging with this succinct, advocacy-style video genre designed to evoke emotions about powerful ideas in Education (Wong, Mishra, Koehler, &…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lee, Alwyn Vwen Yen; Tan, Seng Chee
2017-01-01
Understanding ideas in a discourse is challenging, especially in textual discourse analysis. We propose using temporal analytics with unsupervised machine learning techniques to investigate promising ideas for the collective advancement of communal knowledge in an online knowledge building discourse. A discourse unit network was constructed and…
Innovative Teaching Ideas. A Sharing of Teaching Tips, Ideas and Methods.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tenney, Richard W., Ed.; And Others
Compiled from materials collected from 150 teachers of agriculture across New York State who participated in a series of 11 regional agriculture inservice workshops, this resource guide contains innovative techniques for classroom operation as well as suggestions for using available resources. The ideas have been organized into the following eight…
Weinberger, Adam B.; Green, Adam E.; Chrysikou, Evangelia G.
2017-01-01
Creative cognition is frequently described as involving two primary processes, idea generation and idea selection. A growing body of research has used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to examine the neural mechanisms implicated in each of these processes. This literature has yielded a diverse set of findings that vary depending on the location and type (anodal, cathodal, or both) of electrical stimulation employed, as well as the task’s reliance on idea generation or idea selection. As a result, understanding the interactions between stimulation site, polarity and task demands is required to evaluate the potential of tDCS to enhance creative performance. Here, we review tDCS designs that have elicited reliable and dissociable enhancements for creative cognition. Cathodal stimulation over the left inferior frontotemporal cortex has been associated with improvements on tasks that rely primarily on idea generation, whereas anodal tDCS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and frontopolar cortex has been shown to augment performance on tasks that impose high demands on creative idea selection. These results highlight the functional selectivity of tDCS for different components of creative thinking and confirm the dissociable contributions of left dorsal and inferior lateral frontotemporal cortex for different creativity tasks. We discuss promising avenues for future research that can advance our understanding of the effectiveness of tDCS as a method to enhance creative cognition. PMID:28559804
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cassotti, Mathieu; Agogué, Marine; Camarda, Anaëlle; Houdé, Olivier; Borst, Grégoire
2016-01-01
Developmental cognitive neuroscience studies tend to show that the prefrontal brain regions (known to be involved in inhibitory control) are activated during the generation of creative ideas. In the present article, we discuss how a dual-process model of creativity--much like the ones proposed to account for decision making and reasoning--could…
Approximation concepts for efficient structural synthesis
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Schmit, L. A., Jr.; Miura, H.
1976-01-01
It is shown that efficient structural synthesis capabilities can be created by using approximation concepts to mesh finite element structural analysis methods with nonlinear mathematical programming techniques. The history of the application of mathematical programming techniques to structural design optimization problems is reviewed. Several rather general approximation concepts are described along with the technical foundations of the ACCESS 1 computer program, which implements several approximation concepts. A substantial collection of structural design problems involving truss and idealized wing structures is presented. It is concluded that since the basic ideas employed in creating the ACCESS 1 program are rather general, its successful development supports the contention that the introduction of approximation concepts will lead to the emergence of a new generation of practical and efficient, large scale, structural synthesis capabilities in which finite element analysis methods and mathematical programming algorithms will play a central role.
Entanglement by Path Identity.
Krenn, Mario; Hochrainer, Armin; Lahiri, Mayukh; Zeilinger, Anton
2017-02-24
Quantum entanglement is one of the most prominent features of quantum mechanics and forms the basis of quantum information technologies. Here we present a novel method for the creation of quantum entanglement in multipartite and high-dimensional systems. The two ingredients are (i) superposition of photon pairs with different origins and (ii) aligning photons such that their paths are identical. We explain the experimentally feasible creation of various classes of multiphoton entanglement encoded in polarization as well as in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces-starting only from nonentangled photon pairs. For two photons, arbitrary high-dimensional entanglement can be created. The idea of generating entanglement by path identity could also apply to quantum entities other than photons. We discovered the technique by analyzing the output of a computer algorithm. This shows that computer designed quantum experiments can be inspirations for new techniques.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Krenn, Mario; Hochrainer, Armin; Lahiri, Mayukh; Zeilinger, Anton
2017-02-01
Quantum entanglement is one of the most prominent features of quantum mechanics and forms the basis of quantum information technologies. Here we present a novel method for the creation of quantum entanglement in multipartite and high-dimensional systems. The two ingredients are (i) superposition of photon pairs with different origins and (ii) aligning photons such that their paths are identical. We explain the experimentally feasible creation of various classes of multiphoton entanglement encoded in polarization as well as in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces—starting only from nonentangled photon pairs. For two photons, arbitrary high-dimensional entanglement can be created. The idea of generating entanglement by path identity could also apply to quantum entities other than photons. We discovered the technique by analyzing the output of a computer algorithm. This shows that computer designed quantum experiments can be inspirations for new techniques.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Haque, Anwar U.; Asrar, Waqar; Omar, Ashraf A.; Sulaeman, Erwin; J. S Ali, Mohamed
2016-03-01
Dorsal fin is used in swimming animals like shark for the generation of thrust as well as to meet the requirement of the lateral stability. In the case of aircraft, rudders are normally used for the said requirement. In the present work, this nature inspired idea is explored for its application to neutralize the unavoidable asymmetric thrust produced by the twin engines of a hybrid buoyant aircraft. First, the estimation of asymmetric thrust is obtained with the help of analytical techniques for maximum thrust condition at 4 degree angle of attack. The moment generated by it is utilized for the sizing of a dorsal fin which looks similar to a tapered wing and is placed aft of the center of gravity. Wind tunnel testing at subsonic speed is carried out to explore the design features of this rotatable dorsal fin. It is found that a small rotation of 5 degree can generate the required moment. However, such rotation requires a complete pneumatic/electro-mechanical system and an alternative of it is to use a cambered airfoil for the dorsal fin installed at fixed location. Such a flow controlling device can also be used as an antenna mast, which is commonly installed out the fuselage of the aircraft for communication purposes. Moreover, by incorporating this technique, a pilot doesn't have to put an extra effort to make the aircraft stable in the presence of side wind.
Wavelets in music analysis and synthesis: timbre analysis and perspectives
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Alves Faria, Regis R.; Ruschioni, Ruggero A.; Zuffo, Joao A.
1996-10-01
Music is a vital element in the process of comprehending the world where we live and interact with. Frequency it exerts a subtle but expressive influence over a society's evolution line. Analysis and synthesis of music and musical instruments has always been associated with forefront technologies available at each period of human history, and there is no surprise in witnessing now the use of digital technologies and sophisticated mathematical tools supporting its development. Fourier techniques have been employed for years as a tool to analyze timbres' spectral characteristics, and re-synthesize them from these extracted parameters. Recently many modern implementations, based on spectral modeling techniques, have been leading to the development of new generations of music synthesizers, capable of reproducing natural sounds with high fidelity, and producing novel timbres as well. Wavelets are a promising tool on the development of new generations of music synthesizers, counting on its advantages over the Fourier techniques in representing non-periodic and transient signals, with complex fine textures, as found in music. In this paper we propose and introduce the use of wavelets addressing its perspectives towards musical applications. The central idea is to investigate the capacities of wavelets in analyzing, extracting features and altering fine timbre components in a multiresolution time- scale, so as to produce high quality synthesized musical sounds.
IDEAS: A multidisciplinary computer-aided conceptual design system for spacecraft
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ferebee, M. J., Jr.
1984-01-01
During the conceptual development of advanced aerospace vehicles, many compromises must be considered to balance economy and performance of the total system. Subsystem tradeoffs may need to be made in order to satisfy system-sensitive attributes. Due to the increasingly complex nature of aerospace systems, these trade studies have become more difficult and time-consuming to complete and involve interactions of ever-larger numbers of subsystems, components, and performance parameters. The current advances of computer-aided synthesis, modeling and analysis techniques have greatly helped in the evaluation of competing design concepts. Langley Research Center's Space Systems Division is currently engaged in trade studies for a variety of systems which include advanced ground-launched space transportation systems, space-based orbital transfer vehicles, large space antenna concepts and space stations. The need for engineering analysis tools to aid in the rapid synthesis and evaluation of spacecraft has led to the development of the Interactive Design and Evaluation of Advanced Spacecraft (IDEAS) computer-aided design system. The ADEAS system has been used to perform trade studies of competing technologies and requirements in order to pinpoint possible beneficial areas for research and development. IDEAS is presented as a multidisciplinary tool for the analysis of advanced space systems. Capabilities range from model generation and structural and thermal analysis to subsystem synthesis and performance analysis.
Elementary students' multiple representations of their ideas about air
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gravel, Brian Edward
This dissertation explores how students generate multiple external representations of their ideas about air, an "invisible" substance. External representations can serve a powerful role in placing students' ideas into the external world for reflection and abstraction. When provided the opportunity to represent their understandings of science in different ways, students generate increasingly coherent explanations of what they observe, including developing ideas about mechanisms that describe cause and effect. In this qualitative study, extended clinical interviews were conducted with twelve fifth-grade students from an urban public charter school. In study was designed to investigate students' ideas about air in the context of a linked-syringe device with the support of multiple representations. Students were given the opportunity to produce representations and to offer verbal explanations of the behavior of the syringes in a sequence of three interviews. In the first session, students were introduced to the linked-syringes, and they generated drawings to explain their thinking about air. In the second session, students created stop-motion animations of their explanations for air in the syringes. And in the final session, students built physical devices to demonstrate their ideas about air. Careful analysis of each individual student's trajectory through the microgenetic design and a cross-student analysis reveal that the process of generating multiple representations facilitates how students think and reason about air. Drawings served to organize elements of the linked-syringe problem, providing students with focal points on which to direct their reasoning as they generated more precise explanations. Stop-motion animation supported students' efforts to make sense of processes that change over time, such as compressing the air inside the syringes. And, the construction of physical artifacts prompted students to think about air as a substance, as the activity allowed them to generate analogous physical models of the linked syringes. Furthermore, the students' productions provided the researcher with enhanced access to the substance of students' ideas as captured in their representations. The results of this study are presented in case-study form to highlight how representations serve as embodiments of the resources that students possess for making sense of science. This dissertation contributes to the resources perspective of the importance of external representations in students' development of coherent explanations of what they observe.
New ideas for affordable space missions
Eller, E; Roussel-Dupre, D; Weiss, R; Bruegman, O
1996-04-01
In September 1995, NASA-Goddard held a workshop on low-cost access to space for science missions. The workshop provided briefings on balloons, sounding rockets, Shuttle payloads, and low-cost free-flyer concepts, to provide options of getting experiments into space. This report is the result of a panel session organized with the aim of generating new ideas beyond those presented in the workshop. In addition to the authors, Orlando Figueroa and Paul Ondrus of NASA-Goddard and Richard Zwirnbaum of Computer Sciences Corp. participated in the discussions. The ideas presented do not necessarily reflect the current thinking of NASA managers. Although the panel discussion was focused on the kinds of science missions usually funded by NASA, most of the ideas that were generated are relevant to military and commercial missions as well.
Towards the Next Generation of Space Environment Prediction Capabilities.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kuznetsova, M. M.
2015-12-01
Since its establishment more than 15 years ago, the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC, http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov) is serving as an assess point to expanding collection of state-of-the-art space environment models and frameworks as well as a hub for collaborative development of next generation space weather forecasting systems. In partnership with model developers and international research and operational communities the CCMC integrates new data streams and models from diverse sources into end-to-end space weather impacts predictive systems, identifies week links in data-model & model-model coupling and leads community efforts to fill those gaps. The presentation will highlight latest developments, progress in CCMC-led community-wide projects on testing, prototyping, and validation of models, forecasting techniques and procedures and outline ideas on accelerating implementation of new capabilities in space weather operations.
Close Associations and Memory in Brainwriting Groups
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Coskun, Hamit
2011-01-01
The present experiment examined whether or not the type of associations (close (e.g. apple-pear) and distant (e.g. apple-fish) word associations) and memory instruction (paying attention to the ideas of others) had effects on the idea generation performances in the brainwriting paradigm in which all participants shared their ideas by using paper…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Armbruster, Bonnie B.; Anderson, Thomas H.
Idea-mapping (i-mapping), a way of representing ideas from a text in the form of a diagram, is defined and illustrated in this document as a way to help students "see" how the ideas they read are linked to each other. The first portion of the document discusses the fundamental relationships found in texts (A is a characteristic of B, A…
World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) Young Investigator Workshops
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Austin, Meg
2004-01-01
The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) Young Investigator Workshops goals and objectives are: a) to familiarize Young Investigators with WOCE models, datasets and estimation procedures; b) to offer intensive hands-on exposure to these models ard methods; c) to build collaborations among junior scientists and more senior WOCE investigators; and finally, d) to generate ideas and projects leading to fundable WOCE synthesis projects. To achieve these goals and objectives, the Workshop will offer a mixture of tutorial lectures on numerical models and estimation procedures, advanced seminars on current WOCE synthesis activities and related projects, and the opportunity to conduct small projects which put into practice the techniques advanced in the lectures.
Cattaneo, Lauren Bennett; Chapman, Aliya R
2011-10-01
In intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessment, there is consensus that a large gap exists between research and practice. This exploratory study interviewed 13 practitioners working with IPV victims to generate ideas about the nature of this gap, and found that only two conducted standardized risk assessment. Others felt imposing structure might detract from the quality of their work. Results support the need for different techniques in different contexts; some adjust only speed of services according to their risk perception, whereas others use in-depth information to customize services. Perspectives appear particularly disparate regarding victim minimization of risk. Implications for future work are discussed.
Reducing energy costs in nursing homes
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Not Available
The handbook presents ideas and techniques for energy conservation in nursing homes. Case studies were developed of nursing homes located in different parts of the US. The typical nursing home assessed was proprietary, of intermediate-care level, medicaid-certified, and had less than 200 beds. Specific energy conservation measures were analyzed to determine the energy and dollar savings that could be realized. These include reducing heat loss through the building shell; reducing hot water costs; recovering the heat generated by dryers; reducing lighting costs; reducing heating and cooling costs, and analyzing fuels and fuel rates. A case for converting electric clothes dryersmore » to gas was analyzed. (MCW)« less
An Improved Effective Cost Review Process for Value Engineering
Joo, D. S.; Park, J. I.
2014-01-01
Second-look value engineering (VE) is an approach that aims to lower the costs of products for which target costs are not being met during the production stage. Participants in second-look VE typically come up with a variety of ideas for cost cutting, but the outcomes often depend on their levels of experience, and not many good alternatives are available during the production stage. Nonetheless, good ideas have been consistently generated by VE experts. This paper investigates past second-look VE cases and the thinking processes of VE experts and proposes a cost review process as a systematic means of investigating cost-cutting ideas. This cost review process includes the use of an idea checklist and a specification review process. In addition to presenting the process, this paper reports on its feasibility, based on its introduction into a VE training course as part of a pilot study. The results indicate that the cost review process is effective in generating ideas for later analysis. PMID:25580459
An improved effective cost review process for value engineering.
Joo, D S; Park, J I
2014-01-01
Second-look value engineering (VE) is an approach that aims to lower the costs of products for which target costs are not being met during the production stage. Participants in second-look VE typically come up with a variety of ideas for cost cutting, but the outcomes often depend on their levels of experience, and not many good alternatives are available during the production stage. Nonetheless, good ideas have been consistently generated by VE experts. This paper investigates past second-look VE cases and the thinking processes of VE experts and proposes a cost review process as a systematic means of investigating cost-cutting ideas. This cost review process includes the use of an idea checklist and a specification review process. In addition to presenting the process, this paper reports on its feasibility, based on its introduction into a VE training course as part of a pilot study. The results indicate that the cost review process is effective in generating ideas for later analysis.
Davidson, Matt; Berninger, Virginia
2016-01-01
This interdisciplinary research, drawing on cognitive psychology and linguistics, extended to middle childhood past research during early childhood or adulthood on thinking aloud prior to written composing. In year 5 of a longitudinal study of typical writing, when cohort 1 was in grade 5 ( n = 110 ten year-olds) and cohort 2 in grade 7 ( n = 97 twelve year-olds), a cross-sectional study was conducted. Children were first asked to think aloud while they generated ideas and second while they planned their essays to express and defend their opinions on a controversial topic in the region of the United States where they lived. Third, they wrote their essays. Their think-aloud protocols were audio-recorded and later transcribed into writing for analysis. The authors developed and applied rating scales for quality of idea generating and planning in the written transcriptions and quality of opinion expression, opinion defense, organization, and content in the essays children wrote after thinking aloud; total number of words in essays was also counted. Seventh graders scored significantly higher than fifth graders on quality of idea generation but not planning, and higher on all variables rated for quality in the written essays including length. Quality of expressing opinions and defending opinions were uncorrelated in grade 5, but moderately correlated in grade 7. Whether idea generating or planning quality explained unique variance in essays varied with coded written essay variables and grade. Educational applications of results for assessment, assessment-instruction links, instruction in social studies, and theory of mind in persuasive essay writing are discussed.
Davidson, Matt; Berninger, Virginia
2017-01-01
This interdisciplinary research, drawing on cognitive psychology and linguistics, extended to middle childhood past research during early childhood or adulthood on thinking aloud prior to written composing. In year 5 of a longitudinal study of typical writing, when cohort 1 was in grade 5 (n = 110 ten year-olds) and cohort 2 in grade 7 (n = 97 twelve year-olds), a cross-sectional study was conducted. Children were first asked to think aloud while they generated ideas and second while they planned their essays to express and defend their opinions on a controversial topic in the region of the United States where they lived. Third, they wrote their essays. Their think-aloud protocols were audio-recorded and later transcribed into writing for analysis. The authors developed and applied rating scales for quality of idea generating and planning in the written transcriptions and quality of opinion expression, opinion defense, organization, and content in the essays children wrote after thinking aloud; total number of words in essays was also counted. Seventh graders scored significantly higher than fifth graders on quality of idea generation but not planning, and higher on all variables rated for quality in the written essays including length. Quality of expressing opinions and defending opinions were uncorrelated in grade 5, but moderately correlated in grade 7. Whether idea generating or planning quality explained unique variance in essays varied with coded written essay variables and grade. Educational applications of results for assessment, assessment-instruction links, instruction in social studies, and theory of mind in persuasive essay writing are discussed. PMID:28203613
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wan, Yanlan; Bi, Hualin
2016-01-01
Chemistry core ideas play an important role in students' chemistry learning. On the basis of the representations of chemistry core ideas about "substances" and "processes" in the Chinese Chemistry Curriculum Standards (CCCS) and the U.S. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), we conduct a critical comparison of chemistry…
Improving health care, Part 4: Concepts for improving any clinical process.
Batalden, P B; Mohr, J J; Nelson, E C; Plume, S K
1996-10-01
One promising method for streamlining the generation of "good ideas" is to formulate what are sometimes called change concepts-general notions or approaches to change found useful in developing specific ideas for changes that lead to improvement. For example, in current efforts to reduce health care costs by discounting provider charges, the underlying generic concept is "reducing health care costs," and the specific idea is "discounting provider charges." Short-term gains in health care cost reduction can occur by pursuing discounts. After some time, however, limits to such reduction in costs are experienced. Persevering and continuing to travel down the "discounting provider charges" path is less likely to produce further substantial improvement than returning to the basic concept of "reducing health care costs." An interdisciplinary team aiming to reduce costs while improving quality of care for patients in need of hip joint replacement generated ideas for changing "what's done (process) to get better results." After team members wrote down their improvement ideas, they deduced the underlying change concepts and used them to generate even more ideas for improvement. Such change concepts include reordering the sequence of steps (preadmission physical therapy "certification"), eliminating failures at hand-offs between steps (transfer of information from physician's office to hospital), and eliminating a step (epidural pain control). Learning about making change, encouraging change, managing the change within and across organizations, and learning from the changes tested will characterize the sustainable, thriving health systems of the future.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Learning, 1983
1983-01-01
The "Idea Place," a regular feature carried by the magazine "Learning," provides an assortment of practical teaching techniques selected from commercially available materials and from ideas submitted by readers. Games, puzzles, and other activities are given for the areas of language arts, reading, mathematics, science, social…
Elements of analytic style: Bion's clinical seminars.
Ogden, Thomas H
2007-10-01
The author finds that the idea of analytic style better describes significant aspects of the way he practices psychoanalysis than does the notion of analytic technique. The latter is comprised to a large extent of principles of practice developed by previous generations of analysts. By contrast, the concept of analytic style, though it presupposes the analyst's thorough knowledge of analytic theory and technique, emphasizes (1) the analyst's use of his unique personality as reflected in his individual ways of thinking, listening, and speaking, his own particular use of metaphor, humor, irony, and so on; (2) the analyst's drawing on his personal experience, for example, as an analyst, an analysand, a parent, a child, a spouse, a teacher, and a student; (3) the analyst's capacity to think in a way that draws on, but is independent of, the ideas of his colleagues, his teachers, his analyst, and his analytic ancestors; and (4) the responsibility of the analyst to invent psychoanalysis freshly for each patient. Close readings of three of Bion's 'Clinical seminars' are presented in order to articulate some of the elements of Bion's analytic style. Bion's style is not presented as a model for others to emulate or, worse yet, imitate; rather, it is described in an effort to help the reader consider from a different vantage point (provided by the concept of analytic style) the way in which he, the reader, practices psychoanalysis.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ganesan, T.; Elamvazuthi, I.; Shaari, Ku Zilati Ku; Vasant, P.
2012-09-01
The global rise in energy demands brings major obstacles to many energy organizations in providing adequate energy supply. Hence, many techniques to generate cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly alternative energy source are being explored. One such method is the integration of photovoltaic cells, wind turbine generators and fuel-based generators, included with storage batteries. This sort of power systems are known as distributed generation (DG) power system. However, the application of DG power systems raise certain issues such as cost effectiveness, environmental impact and reliability. The modelling as well as the optimization of this DG power system was successfully performed in the previous work using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The central idea of that work was to minimize cost, minimize emissions and maximize reliability (multi-objective (MO) setting) with respect to the power balance and design requirements. In this work, we introduce a fuzzy model that takes into account the uncertain nature of certain variables in the DG system which are dependent on the weather conditions (such as; the insolation and wind speed profiles). The MO optimization in a fuzzy environment was performed by applying the Hopfield Recurrent Neural Network (HNN). Analysis on the optimized results was then carried out.
SEGMENTATION OF MITOCHONDRIA IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IMAGES USING ALGEBRAIC CURVES.
Seyedhosseini, Mojtaba; Ellisman, Mark H; Tasdizen, Tolga
2013-01-01
High-resolution microscopy techniques have been used to generate large volumes of data with enough details for understanding the complex structure of the nervous system. However, automatic techniques are required to segment cells and intracellular structures in these multi-terabyte datasets and make anatomical analysis possible on a large scale. We propose a fully automated method that exploits both shape information and regional statistics to segment irregularly shaped intracellular structures such as mitochondria in electron microscopy (EM) images. The main idea is to use algebraic curves to extract shape features together with texture features from image patches. Then, these powerful features are used to learn a random forest classifier, which can predict mitochondria locations precisely. Finally, the algebraic curves together with regional information are used to segment the mitochondria at the predicted locations. We demonstrate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms in segmentation of mitochondria in EM images.
The Idea Generator: Lori Bell--Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center, East Peoria
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Library Journal, 2004
2004-01-01
Anyone who hires Loft Bell is getting two librarians: one who enthusiastically does the job, and another who develops new ideas, secures grants to fund them, and swiftly puts the ideas into action. There's nothing that makes a job more attractive to Bell than the freedom to try out new things. Jenny Levine, Internet development specialist at…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wagner, Glenn
2017-01-01
Student-generated questions and ideas about our universe are the start of a rich and highly motivating learning environment. Using their curiosity-driven questions and ideas, students form Knowledge Building groups or "communities" where they plan, set goals, design questions for research, and assess the progress of their work, tasks…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Patrick, John J., Ed.
The political ideas of John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other Founders of the United States have been a rich civic legacy for successive generations of citizens. An important means of ensuring that these ideas on constitutional government continue to inspire and guide people in the 21st century lies in…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ohly, Sandra; Plückthun, Laura; Kissel, Dorothea
2017-01-01
The development of novel and useful ideas is a process that can be described in multiple steps, including information gathering, generating ideas and evaluating ideas. We evaluated a university course that was developed based on design thinking principles which employ similar steps. Our results show that the course was not effective in enhancing…
The return of the Inseminator: Eutelegenesis in past and contemporary reproductive ethics.
McMillan, John
2007-06-01
Eugenicists in the 1930s and 1940s emphasised our moral responsibilities to future generations and the importance of positively selecting traits that would benefit humanity. In 1935 Herbert Brewer recommended 'Eutelegenesis' (artificial insemination with sperm from specially selected males) so that that future generations are not only protected from hereditary disease but also become more intelligent and fraternal than us. The development of these techniques for human use and animal husbandry was the catalyst for the cross fertilization of moral ideas and the development of a critical procreative morality. While eugenicists argued for a new critical morality, religious critics argued against artificial insemination because of its potential to damage important moral institutions. The tension between critical and conservative procreative morality is a feature of the contemporary debates about reproductive technologies. This and some of the other aspects of the early and contemporary debates about artificial insemination and reproductive technologies are discussed in this article.
Epigenesis and the rationality of nature in William Harvey and Margaret Cavendish.
Goldberg, Benjamin
2017-06-01
The generation of animals was a difficult phenomenon to explain in the seventeenth century, having long been a problem in natural philosophy, theology, and medicine. In this paper, I explore how generation, understood as epigenesis, was directly related to an idea of rational nature. I examine epigenesis-the idea that the embryo was constructed part-by-part, over time-in the work of two seemingly dissimilar English philosophers: William Harvey, an eclectic Aristotelian, and Margaret Cavendish, a radical materialist. I chart the ways that they understood and explained epigenesis, given their differences in philosophy and ontology. I argue for the importance of ideas of harmony and order in structuring their accounts of generation as a rational process. I link their experiences during the English Civil war to how they see nature as a possible source for the rationality and concord sorely missing in human affairs.
Unlocking the effects of gender faultlines on team creativity: is activation the key?
Pearsall, Matthew J; Ellis, Aleksander P J; Evans, Joel M
2008-01-01
The purpose of this study was to use faultline theory to examine the effects of gender diversity on team creativity. Results from 80 teams working on an idea generation task indicated that the activation of gender faultlines negatively affected the number and overall creativity of ideas. However, gender faultlines that were not activated had no effect. Results also indicated that the relationship between activated gender faultlines and team creativity was partially mediated by the level of conflict within the team. Specifically, emotional conflict partially mediated the effects of activated gender faultlines on the number of ideas generated. Implications are discussed, as well as possible limitations and directions for future research. 2008 APA
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Johnson, Andy
2008-10-01
We have used PER-based course materials to teach various physics topics to Tibetan Buddhist monks over the last four years. While listening to the monks' ideas through interpreters, we found some striking similarities with ideas that we hear in our own classrooms in the US. However, the degree of similarity of monks' ideas with those of US students varied with the topic. For example, ideas that emerged in the topic of magnetism were often consistent with western ideas while ideas about color addition were sometimes strikingly different from ideas that American students use. The monks' ways of talking lead us to believe that cultural background partially determines how they think initially about particular physics topics. This poster will give examples of similarities and of differences, and attempt to identify reasons for both.
Examples of finite element mesh generation using SDRC IDEAS
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Zapp, John; Volakis, John L.
1990-01-01
IDEAS (Integrated Design Engineering Analysis Software) offers a comprehensive package for mechanical design engineers. Due to its multifaceted capabilities, however, it can be manipulated to serve the needs of electrical engineers, also. IDEAS can be used to perform the following tasks: system modeling, system assembly, kinematics, finite element pre/post processing, finite element solution, system dynamics, drafting, test data analysis, and project relational database.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ningrum, Ary Setya Budhi; Latief, Mohammad Adnan; Sulistyo, Gunadi Harry
2016-01-01
The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of mind mapping as a strategy in generating ideas before writing on the EFL students' idea development in argumentative writing as perceived from their gender differences and learning styles. By conducting an experimental investigation at university level in Indonesia, two existing TOEFL classes…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Thornburg, David; Beane, Pam
1983-01-01
Presents programming ideas using LOGO, activity for converting flowchart into a computer program, and a Pascal program for generating music using paddles. Includes the article "Helping Computers Adapt to Kids" by Philip Nothnagle; a program for estimating length of lines is included. (JN)
Transforming an idea into a scholarly project.
Ng, Lillian; Cullum, Sarah; Cheung, Gary; Friedman, Susan Hatters
2018-04-01
This article describes components of a workshop designed to orientate psychiatric trainees to the task of conducting a scholarly project. The aims are: to promote an approach that incorporates principles of adult learning to guide trainees who are undertaking research; to allow trainees to transform their ideas into more tangible research questions; and to enable supervisors to reflect on delivering similar content in scholarly project workshops. The workshop comprised: creating a safe space to explore ideas; discussing the process of posing a question or hypothesis; using group interactions to generate concepts; and considering personal values that influence the choice of research methodology to answer a question. Examples are provided from the workshop. The process enabled trainees to generate and distil ideas into more concrete questions and methods in three phases: introductory, exploratory and tangible. Adult learning principles may assist trainees to develop their ideas for a scholarly project into research questions that are relevant to clinical practice. Harnessing the creative potential of a peer collective may encourage deeper inquiry, shifts to a tangible output and a sustained interest in research.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Bunting, Charles F.; Yu, Shih-Pin
2006-01-01
This paper emphasizes the application of numerical methods to explore the ideas related to shielding effectiveness from a statistical view. An empty rectangular box is examined using a hybrid modal/moment method. The basic computational method is presented followed by the results for single- and multiple observation points within the over-moded empty structure. The statistics of the field are obtained by using frequency stirring, borrowed from the ideas connected with reverberation chamber techniques, and extends the ideas of shielding effectiveness well into the multiple resonance regions. The study presented in this paper will address the average shielding effectiveness over a broad spatial sample within the enclosure as the frequency is varied.
Perry, Jonathan; Linsley, Sue
2006-05-01
Nominal group technique is a semi-quantitative/qualitative evaluative methodology. It has been used in health care education for generating ideas to develop curricula and find solutions to problems in programme delivery. This paper aims to describe the use of nominal group technique and present the data from nominal group evaluations of a developing module which used novel approaches to the teaching and assessment of interpersonal skills. Evaluations took place over 3 years. Thirty-six students took part in annual groups. Analysis of the data produced the following themes based on items generated in the groups: role play, marking, course content, teaching style and user involvement. Findings indicate that students valued the role play, feedback from service users and emphasis on engagement and collaboration elements of the module. The areas which participants found difficult and desired change included anxiety during experiential practice, the "snap shot" nature of assessment and the use of specific interventions. Indications are also given regarding the impact of changes made by teaching staff over the 3 year evaluation period. The findings support themes within the existing literature on the teaching of interpersonal skills and may to some extent point the way toward best practice in this area. The paper discusses these findings and their implications for nurse education.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dahlem, Markus A.
2013-12-01
Migraine is a common disabling headache disorder characterized by recurrent episodes sometimes preceded or accompanied by focal neurological symptoms called aura. The relation between two subtypes, migraine without aura (MWoA) and migraine with aura (MWA), is explored with the aim to identify targets for neuromodulation techniques. To this end, a dynamically regulated control system is schematically reduced to a network of the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the cranial circulation, an associated descending modulatory network of brainstem nuclei, and parasympathetic vasomotor efferents. This extends the idea of a migraine generator region in the brainstem to a larger network and is still simple and explicit enough to open up possibilities for mathematical modeling in the future. In this study, it is suggested that the migraine generator network (MGN) is driven and may therefore respond differently to different spatio-temporal noxious input in the migraine subtypes MWA and MWoA. The noxious input is caused by a cortical perturbation of homeostasis, known as spreading depression (SD). The MGN might even trigger SD in the first place by a failure in vasomotor control. As a consequence, migraine is considered as an inherently dynamical disease to which a linear course from upstream to downstream events would not do justice. Minimally invasive and noninvasive neuromodulation techniques are briefly reviewed and their rational is discussed in the context of the proposed mechanism.
Designing Critique for Knowledge Integration
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sato, Mie Elissa
Generating explanations is central to science and has the potential to have a powerful impact on students' conceptual understanding in science instruction. However, improving conceptual understanding by generating explanations is a fraught affair: students may struggle with the sense of false clarity that may arise from generating explanations, fail to detect gaps in their understanding, and dismiss salient information that contradict their beliefs. Critiquing explanations has the potential to counteract these pitfalls by exposing students to alternative ideas to contrast with their own. This dissertation seeks to clarify how to design critique in technology-enhanced science instruction to support students in revising their explanations about scientific phenomena, and in doing so, refining their conceptual understanding. Using the Knowledge Integration framework, I revised two technology-enhanced curriculum units, Plate Tectonics and Global Climate Change, in a design partnership between teachers, researchers, and technologists. I conducted a series of studies with sixth-grade students to investigate the conditions under which guided critique of explanations can support revision. The pilot critique study investigated the impact of the revised Plate Tectonics unit on students' understanding of convection, as well as of a preliminary design of critique where students generated and applied their own criteria for what makes a good explanation in science. The guidance study explored how incorporating a complex selection task that features meta-explanatory criteria into critique supports students in distinguishing among different criteria, as well as how students use peer or expert guidance on their initial explanation during revision. The critique study investigated how designing critique with a complex selection task that features plausible alternative ideas and giving guidance on students' critiques support students in distinguishing among a range of relevant ideas and making productive revisions to their initial explanations. These studies clarify how critique can be designed to help students sort through various ideas in their conceptual repertoire, be they ideas about meta-explanatory criteria or science ideas about a specific phenomenon. The study findings illuminate the challenges of guiding students to examine or re-examine the full range of ideas for knowledge integration. Students struggle to identify salient, missing, or normative ideas in their own or another explanation, and to incorporate their insights in a coherent way through revision. The studies demonstrate that embedding complex selection tasks in critique encourages students to consider a broad range of ideas and supports them in making conceptual revisions of their explanations. The results have implications for the design of critique in technology-enhanced science instruction.
Improving college students' evaluation of text learning using idea-unit standards.
Dunlosky, John; Hartwig, Marissa K; Rawson, Katherine A; Lipko, Amanda R
2011-03-01
When recalling key definitions from class materials, college students are often overconfident in the quality of their responses. Even with commission errors, they often judge that their response is entirely or partially correct. To further understand this overconfidence, we investigated whether idea-unit judgements would reduce overconfidence (Experiments 1 and 2) and whether students inflated their scores because they believed that they knew answers but just responded incorrectly (Experiment 2). College students studied key-term definitions and later attempted to recall each definition when given the key term (e.g., What is the availability heuristic?). All students judged the quality of their recall, but some were given a full-definition standard to use, whereas other students first judged whether their response included each of the individual ideas within the corresponding correct answer. In Experiment 1, making these idea-unit judgements reduced overconfidence for commission errors. In Experiment 2, some students were given the correct definitions and graded other students' responses, and some students generated idea units themselves before judging their responses. Students were overconfident even when they graded other students' responses, and, as important, self-generated idea units for each definition also reduced overconfidence in commission errors. Thus, overconfidence appears to result from difficulties in evaluating the quality of recall responses, and such overconfidence can be reduced by using idea-unit judgements.
The Role of Intuition in the Generation and Evaluation Stages of Creativity
Pétervári, Judit; Osman, Magda; Bhattacharya, Joydeep
2016-01-01
Both intuition and creativity are associated with knowledge creation, yet a clear link between them has not been adequately established. First, the available empirical evidence for an underlying relationship between intuition and creativity is sparse in nature. Further, this evidence is arguable as the concepts are diversely operationalized and the measures adopted are often not validated sufficiently. Combined, these issues make the findings from various studies examining the link between intuition and creativity difficult to replicate. Nevertheless, the role of intuition in creativity should not be neglected as it is often reported to be a core component of the idea generation process, which in conjunction with idea evaluation are crucial phases of creative cognition. We review the prior research findings in respect of idea generation and idea evaluation from the view that intuition can be construed as the gradual accumulation of cues to coherence. Thus, we summarize the literature on what role intuitive processes play in the main stages of the creative problem-solving process and outline a conceptual framework of the interaction between intuition and creativity. Finally, we discuss the main challenges of measuring intuition as well as possible directions for future research. PMID:27703439
A framework to enhance security of physically unclonable functions using chaotic circuits
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chen, Lanxiang
2018-05-01
As a new technique for authentication and key generation, physically unclonable function (PUF) has attracted considerable attentions, with extensive research results achieved already. To resist the popular machine learning modeling attacks, a framework to enhance the security of PUFs is proposed. The basic idea is to combine PUFs with a chaotic system of which the response is highly sensitive to initial conditions. For this framework, a specific construction which combines the common arbiter PUF circuit, a converter, and the Chua's circuit is given to implement a more secure PUF. Simulation experiments are presented to further validate the framework. Finally, some practical suggestions for the framework and specific construction are also discussed.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Drake, R. L.; Duvoisin, P. F.; Asthana, A.; Mather, T. W.
1971-01-01
High speed automated identification and design of dynamic systems, both linear and nonlinear, are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on developing hardware and techniques which are applicable to practical problems. The basic modeling experiment and new results are described. Using the improvements developed successful identification of several systems, including a physical example as well as simulated systems, was obtained. The advantages of parameter signature analysis over signal signature analysis in go-no go testing of operational systems were demonstrated. The feasibility of using these ideas in failure mode prediction in operating systems was also investigated. An improved digital controlled nonlinear function generator was developed, de-bugged, and completely documented.
Aguayo, Joseph
2014-10-01
While Bion's 1967 memory and desire paper reflected a crucial episode in his clinical thinking during his epistemological period, it was also central to his evolution as a Kleinian psychoanalyst who worked with seriously disturbed adult patients. The author explicates and contextualizes these claims with a new archival document, the Los Angeles Seminars delivered by Bion in April 1967, and the full-length version of Notes on memory and desire. Bion here instigated a radical departure from years of theory-laden work when he made his clinical work and ideas accessible to a new audience of American Freudian analysts. While this new group was keenly interested to hear about Bion's clinical technique with both borderline and psychotic patients, there were varied reactions to Bion's ideas on the technical implications of the analyst's abandonment of memory and desire. Both the Los Angeles Seminars and Notes elicited responses ranging from bewilderment, admiration to skepticism amongst his audience of listeners and readers. These materials also however allow for a more complete and systematic presentation of important ideas about analytic technique - and while his ideas in this domain have been long valued and known by many psychoanalysts, this contribution stresses the crucial aspect of the reception of his ideas about technique in a particular American context. American analysts gained a much more explicit idea of how Bion worked analytically, how he listened, formulated interpretations and factored in the analyst's listening receptivity in the here-and-now. The author concludes with a consideration of the importance of Bion's American reception in 1967. Copyright © 2014 Institute of Psychoanalysis.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dhingra, Shonali; Sandler, Roman; Rios, Rodrigo; Vuong, Cliff; Mehta, Mayank
All animals naturally perceive the abstract concept of space-time. A brain region called the Hippocampus is known to be important in creating these perceptions, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In our lab we employ several experimental and computational techniques from Physics to tackle this fundamental puzzle. Experimentally, we use ideas from Nanoscience and Materials Science to develop techniques to measure the activity of hippocampal neurons, in freely-behaving animals. Computationally, we develop models to study neuronal activity patterns, which are point processes that are highly stochastic and multidimensional. We then apply these techniques to collect and analyze neuronal signals from rodents while they're exploring space in Real World or Virtual Reality with various stimuli. Our findings show that under these conditions neuronal activity depends on various parameters, such as sensory cues including visual and auditory, and behavioral cues including, linear and angular, position and velocity. Further, neuronal networks create internally-generated rhythms, which influence perception of space and time. In totality, these results further our understanding of how the brain develops a cognitive map of our surrounding space, and keep track of time.
Rackner, Vicki
2012-01-01
Would you like more control over your financial destiny? Here are eight entrepreneurial ideas to accelerate your practice's growth and help your practice thrive--no matter what happens with the economic recovery or healthcare reform.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Journal of Experiential Education, 1981
1981-01-01
A new journal feature shares practical ideas in experiential education in less than 800 words. This issue presents an initiative problem, rules for rope push, exercise illustrating dependence on schedules, how to experience a handicap, maple sugaring project, assignment bridging the generation gap, simulating literary experiences, and local…
Kramer, Linda W
2010-01-01
Generational diversity has proven challenges for nurse leaders, and generational values may influence ideas about work and career planning. This article discusses generational gaps, influencing factors and support, and the various generational groups present in today's workplace as well as the consequences of need addressing these issues. The article ends with a discussion of possible solutions.
Generation of large-scale magnetic fields by small-scale dynamo in shear flows
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Squire, Jonathan; Bhattacharjee, Amitava
2015-11-01
A new mechanism for turbulent mean-field dynamo is proposed, in which the magnetic fluctuations resulting from a small-scale dynamo drive the generation of large-scale magnetic fields. This is in stark contrast to the common idea that small-scale magnetic fields should be harmful to large-scale dynamo action. These dynamos occur in the presence of large-scale velocity shear and do not require net helicity, resulting from off-diagonal components of the turbulent resistivity tensor as the magnetic analogue of the ``shear-current'' effect. The dynamo is studied using a variety of computational and analytic techniques, both when the magnetic fluctuations arise self-consistently through the small-scale dynamo and in lower Reynolds number regimes. Given the inevitable existence of non-helical small-scale magnetic fields in turbulent plasmas, as well as the generic nature of velocity shear, the suggested mechanism may help to explain generation of large-scale magnetic fields across a wide range of astrophysical objects. This work was supported by a Procter Fellowship at Princeton University, and the US Department of Energy Grant DE-AC02-09-CH11466.
Flow Structures and Interactions of a Fail-Safe Actuator
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Khan, Wasif; Elimelech, Yoseph; Amitay, Michael
2010-11-01
Vortex generators are passive devices that are commonly used in many aerodynamic applications. In their basic concept, they enhance mixing, reduce or mitigate flow separation; however, they cause drag penalties at off design conditions. Micro vanes implement the same basic idea of vortex generators but their physical dimensions are much smaller. To achieve the same effect on the baseline flow field, micro vanes are combined with an active flow control device, so their net effect is comparable to that of vortex generators when the active device is energized. As a result of their small size, micro vanes have significantly less drag penalty at off design conditions. This concept of "dual-action" is the reason why such actuation is commonly called hybrid or fail-safe actuation. The present study explores experimentally the flow interaction of a synthetic-jet with a micro vane in a zero pressure gradient flow over a flat plate. Using the stereo particle image velocimetry technique a parametric study was conducted, where the effects of the micro vane shape, height and its angle with respect to the flow were examined, at several blowing ratios and synthetic-jet configurations.
Methods and Strategies: The Sun Is a Star?!
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hutchison, Paul
2013-01-01
Children understand the natural world in ways that make sense to them before they learn any science in school. This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance science teaching. This month's issue helps students connect scientifically correct ideas to what makes sense to them.
Brainstorming Design for Health: Helping Patients Utilize Patient-Generated Information on the Web
Huh, Jina; Hartzler, Andrea; Munson, Sean; Anderson, Nick; Edwards, Kelly; Gore, John L.; McDonald, David; O’Leary, Jim; Parker, Andrea; Streat, Derek; Yetisgen-Yildiz, Meliha; Pratt, Wanda; Ackerman, Mark S.
2013-01-01
Researchers and practitioners show increasing sinterest in utilizing patient-generated information on the Web. Although the HCI and CSCW communities have provided many exciting opportunities for exploring new ideas and building broad agenda in health, few venues offer a platform for interdisciplinary and collaborative brainstorming about design challenges and opportunities in this space. The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with opportunities to interact with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and practices—researchers, practitioners, designers, programmers, and ethnographers—and together generate tangible design outcomes that utilize patient-generated information on the Web. Through small multidisciplinary group work, we will provide participants with new collaboration opportunities, understanding of the state of the art, inspiration for future work, and ideally avenues for continuing to develop research and design ideas generated at the workshop. PMID:24499843
Teaching children the structure of science
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Börner, Katy; Palmer, Fileve; Davis, Julie M.; Hardy, Elisha; Uzzo, Stephen M.; Hook, Bryan J.
2009-01-01
Maps of the world are common in classroom settings. They are used to teach the juxtaposition of natural and political functions, mineral resources, political, cultural and geographical boundaries; occurrences of processes such as tectonic drift; spreading of epidemics; and weather forecasts, among others. Recent work in scientometrics aims to create a map of science encompassing our collective scholarly knowledge. Maps of science can be used to see disciplinary boundaries; the origin of ideas, expertise, techniques, or tools; the birth, evolution, merging, splitting, and death of scientific disciplines; the spreading of ideas and technology; emerging research frontiers and bursts of activity; etc. Just like the first maps of our planet, the first maps of science are neither perfect nor correct. Today's science maps are predominantly generated based on English scholarly data: Techniques and procedures to achieve local and global accuracy of these maps are still being refined, and a visual language to communicate something as abstract and complex as science is still being developed. Yet, the maps are successfully used by institutions or individuals who can afford them to guide science policy decision making, economic decision making, or as visual interfaces to digital libraries. This paper presents the process and results of creating hands-on science maps for kids that teaches children ages 4-14 about the structure of scientific disciplines. The maps were tested in both formal and informal science education environments. The results show that children can easily transfer their (world) map and concept map reading skills to utilize maps of science in interesting ways.
The IDEA model: A single equation approach to the Ebola forecasting challenge.
Tuite, Ashleigh R; Fisman, David N
2018-03-01
Mathematical modeling is increasingly accepted as a tool that can inform disease control policy in the face of emerging infectious diseases, such as the 2014-2015 West African Ebola epidemic, but little is known about the relative performance of alternate forecasting approaches. The RAPIDD Ebola Forecasting Challenge (REFC) tested the ability of eight mathematical models to generate useful forecasts in the face of simulated Ebola outbreaks. We used a simple, phenomenological single-equation model (the "IDEA" model), which relies only on case counts, in the REFC. Model fits were performed using a maximum likelihood approach. We found that the model performed reasonably well relative to other more complex approaches, with performance metrics ranked on average 4th or 5th among participating models. IDEA appeared better suited to long- than short-term forecasts, and could be fit using nothing but reported case counts. Several limitations were identified, including difficulty in identifying epidemic peak (even retrospectively), unrealistically precise confidence intervals, and difficulty interpolating daily case counts when using a model scaled to epidemic generation time. More realistic confidence intervals were generated when case counts were assumed to follow a negative binomial, rather than Poisson, distribution. Nonetheless, IDEA represents a simple phenomenological model, easily implemented in widely available software packages that could be used by frontline public health personnel to generate forecasts with accuracy that approximates that which is achieved using more complex methodologies. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tips from Teachers: Ideas that Work.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Henick, Louise; And Others
1994-01-01
Five articles describe effective ideas and techniques suggested by correctional educators. In "Warming Up: Mental Exercises for Successful Learning" (Louise Henick), warm-up exercises to help students get ready to learn are discussed, such as daily journals, word of the day, and quote of the day. "Keeping Students Posted" (Richard Johnson) shows…
How to Do Things with Words: Speech Acts in Education
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Gasparatou, Renia
2018-01-01
Originating from philosophy and science, many different ideas have made their way into educational policies. Educational policies often take such ideas completely out of context, and enforce them as general norms to every aspect of education; even opposing ideals make their way into school's curricula, teaching techniques, assignments, and…
The Creativity of Reflective and Impulsive Selected Students in Solving Geometric Problems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shoimah, R. N.; Lukito, A.; Siswono, T. Y. E.
2018-01-01
This research purposed to describe the elementary students’ creativity with reflective and impulsive cognitive style in solving geometric problems. This research used qualitative research methods. The data was collected by written tests and task-based interviews. The subjects consisted of two 5th grade students that were measured by MFFT (Matching Familiar Figures Test). The data were analyzed based on the three main components of creativity; that is fluency, flexibility, and novelty. This results showed that subject with reflective cognitive style in solving geometric problems met all components of creativity (fluency; subject generated more than three different right-ideas in solving problems, flexibility; subject generated more than two different ways to get problem solved, and novelty; subject generated new ideas and new ways that original and has never been used before). While subject with impulsive cognitive style in solving geometric problems met two components of creativity (fluency; subject generated more than three different right-ideas in solving problems, flexibility; subject generated two different ways to get problem solved). Thus, it could be concluded that reflective students are more creative in solving geometric problems. The results of this research can also be used as a guideline in the future assessment of creativity based on cognitive style.
Amartya Sen's Capability Approach and Education
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Walker, Melanie
2005-01-01
The human capabilities approach developed by the economist Amartya Sen links development, quality of life and freedom. This article explores the key ideas in the capability approach of: capability, functioning, agency, human diversity and public participation in generating valued capabilities. It then considers how these ideas relate specifically…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
de Berg, Kevin
2014-01-01
Both Lavoisier and Priestley were committed to the role of experiment and observation in their chemistry practice. According to Lavoisier the physical sciences embody three important ingredients; facts, ideas, and language, and Priestley would not have disagreed with this. Ideas had to be consistent with the facts generated from experiment and…
Teaching for Creativity: Towards Sustainable and Replicable Pedagogical Practice
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McWilliam, Erica; Dawson, Shane
2008-01-01
This article explores the pedagogical significance of recent shifts in scholarly attention away from first generation and towards second generation understandings of creativity. First generation or big "C" creativity locates the creative enterprise as a complex set of behaviours and ideas exhibited by an individual, while second generation or…
Encouraging Example Generation: A Teaching Experiment in First-Semester Calculus
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wagner, Elaine Rumsey; Orme, Susan Marla; Turner, Heidi Jean; Yopp, David
2017-01-01
Mathematicians use example generation to test and verify mathematical ideas; however, the processes through which undergraduates learn to productively generate examples are not well understood. We engaged calculus students in a teaching experiment designed to develop skills in productively generating examples to learn novel concepts. This article…
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Kamhawi, Hilmi N.
2012-01-01
This report documents the work performed from March 2010 to March 2012. The Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis (IDEA) environment is a collaborative environment based on an object-oriented, multidisciplinary, distributed framework using the Adaptive Modeling Language (AML) as a framework and supporting the configuration design and parametric CFD grid generation. This report will focus on describing the work in the area of parametric CFD grid generation using novel concepts for defining the interaction between the mesh topology and the geometry in such a way as to separate the mesh topology from the geometric topology while maintaining the link between the mesh topology and the actual geometry.
The Cyber-Framing of Nigerian Nationhood: Diaspora and the Imagined Nation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Odutola, Kole Ade
2010-01-01
Postings generated during "natural" online interactions among geographically dispersed/diasporic Nigerians contain ideas from different intellectual sources. A few of the ideas encapsulated within texts produced were brought to the fore, discussed, and analyzed. The consequent search for the presence of indigenous knowledge within the…
Designing and Validating Assessments of Complex Thinking in Science
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ryoo, Kihyun; Linn, Marcia C.
2015-01-01
Typical assessment systems often measure isolated ideas rather than the coherent understanding valued in current science classrooms. Such assessments may motivate students to memorize, rather than to use new ideas to solve complex problems. To meet the requirements of the Next Generation Science Standards, instruction needs to emphasize sustained…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Pinkston, Ria R.
In brainstorming a group attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously contributed by members. Brainstorming is recommended when the generation of ideas will be beneficial to the solution of problems. Four fundamental rules of brainstorming include: (1) criticism is not allowed during the thinking…
Centripetal Thinking in Curriculum Studies
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hlebowitsh, Peter
2010-01-01
After years of generating divergent approaches to scholarship, cast mostly as reactions against a historical orthodoxy, the curriculum studies community is now looking at a new dialectic--one marked by a physics that pull ideas inward toward some centripetal center. The tension between looking for unifying ideas as they articulate with a…
Age-Related Changes in Creative Thinking
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Roskos-Ewoldsen, Beverly; Black, Sheila R.; Mccown, Steven M.
2008-01-01
Age-related differences in cognitive processes were used to understand age-related declines in creativity. According to the Geneplore model (Finke, Ward, & Smith, 1992), there are two phases of creativity--generating an idea and exploring the implications of the idea--each with different underlying cognitive processes. These two phases are…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sagnak, Mesut; Kuruoz, Mehmet; Polat, Betül; Soylu, Ayse
2015-01-01
Problem Statement: The most important characteristic of today's organizations is too much change. The demand of organizations to fulfill objectives within dynamic environmental aspects has required strong leadership. Organizations' accommodation to changes, generating new ideas, adapting these ideas to organizations, and also the individual and…
All optical OFDM transmission for passive optical networks
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kachare, Nitin; Ashik T., J.; Bai, K. Kalyani; Kumar, D. Sriram
2017-06-01
This paper demonstrates the idea of data transmission at a very higher rate (Tbits/s) through optical fibers in a passive optical network using the most efficient data transmission technique widely used in wireless communication that is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. With an increase in internet users, data traffic has also increased significantly and the current dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems may not support the next generation passive optical networks (PONs) requirements. The approach discussed in this paper allows to increase the downstream data rate per user and extend the standard single-mode fiber reach for future long-haul applications. All-optical OFDM is a promising solution for terabit per second capable single wavelength transmission, with high spectral efficiency and high tolerance to chromatic dispersion.
An adaptive interferometer for optical testing .
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pariani, G.; Colella, L.; Bertarelli, C.; Aliverti, M.; Riva, M.; Bianco, A.
Interferometry is a well-established technique to test optical elements. However, its use is challenging in the case of free-form and aspheric elements, due to the lack of the reference optics. The proposed idea concerns the development of a versatile interferometer, where its reference arm is equipped with a reprogrammable Computer Generated Hologram. This principle takes advantage from our study on photochromic materials for optical applications, which shows a strong and reversible modulation of transparency in the visible region. The encoding of the desired hologram can be done off-line, or directly into the interferometer, and different patterns may be realized sequentially after the erasing of the previous hologram. We report on the present state of the research and on the future perspectives. skip=5pt
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salido-Monzú, David; Wieser, Andreas
2018-04-01
The intermode beats generated by direct detection of a mode-locked femtosecond laser represent inherent high-quality and high-frequency modulations suitable for electro-optical distance measurement (EDM). This approach has already been demonstrated as a robust alternative to standard long-distance EDM techniques. However, we extend this idea to intermode beating of a wideband source obtained by spectral broadening of a femtosecond laser. We aim at establishing a technological basis for accurate and flexible multiwavelength distance measurement. Results are presented from experiments using beat notes at 1 GHz generated by two bandpass-filtered regions from both extremes of a coherent supercontinuum ranging from 550 to 1050 nm. The displacement measurements performed simultaneously on both colors on a short-distance setup show that noise and coherence of the wideband laser are adequate for achieving accuracies of about 0.01 mm on each channel with a potential improvement by accessing higher beat notes. Pointing and power instabilities have been identified as dominant sources of systematic deviations. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate the basic feasibility of the proposed technique. We consider this a promising starting point for the further development of multiwavelength EDM enabling increased accuracy over long distances through dispersion-based integral refractivity compensation and for remote surface material probing along with distance measurement in laser scanning.
Geometric convex cone volume analysis
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Li, Hsiao-Chi; Chang, Chein-I.
2016-05-01
Convexity is a major concept used to design and develop endmember finding algorithms (EFAs). For abundance unconstrained techniques, Pixel Purity Index (PPI) and Automatic Target Generation Process (ATGP) which use Orthogonal Projection (OP) as a criterion, are commonly used method. For abundance partially constrained techniques, Convex Cone Analysis is generally preferred which makes use of convex cones to impose Abundance Non-negativity Constraint (ANC). For abundance fully constrained N-FINDR and Simplex Growing Algorithm (SGA) are most popular methods which use simplex volume as a criterion to impose ANC and Abundance Sum-to-one Constraint (ASC). This paper analyze an issue encountered in volume calculation with a hyperplane introduced to illustrate an idea of bounded convex cone. Geometric Convex Cone Volume Analysis (GCCVA) projects the boundary vectors of a convex cone orthogonally on a hyperplane to reduce the effect of background signatures and a geometric volume approach is applied to address the issue arose from calculating volume and further improve the performance of convex cone-based EFAs.
A Parallel 2D Numerical Simulation of Tumor Cells Necrosis by Local Hyperthermia
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Reis, R. F.; Loureiro, F. S.; Lobosco, M.
2014-03-01
Hyperthermia has been widely used in cancer treatment to destroy tumors. The main idea of the hyperthermia is to heat a specific region like a tumor so that above a threshold temperature the tumor cells are destroyed. This can be accomplished by many heat supply techniques and the use of magnetic nanoparticles that generate heat when an alternating magnetic field is applied has emerged as a promise technique. In the present paper, the Pennes bioheat transfer equation is adopted to model the thermal tumor ablation in the context of magnetic nanoparticles. Numerical simulations are carried out considering different injection sites for the nanoparticles in an attempt to achieve better hyperthermia conditions. Explicit finite difference method is employed to solve the equations. However, a large amount of computation is required for this purpose. Therefore, this work also presents an initial attempt to improve performance using OpenMP, a parallel programming API. Experimental results were quite encouraging: speedups around 35 were obtained on a 64-core machine.
Alternatives for jet engine control
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Leake, R. J.; Sain, M. K.
1978-01-01
General goals of the research were classified into two categories. The first category involves the use of modern multivariable frequency domain methods for control of engine models in the neighborhood of a quiescent point. The second category involves the use of nonlinear modelling and optimization techniques for control of engine models over a more extensive part of the flight envelope. In the frequency domain category, works were published in the areas of low-interaction design, polynomial design, and multiple setpoint studies. A number of these ideas progressed to the point at which they are starting to attract practical interest. In the nonlinear category, advances were made both in engine modelling and in the details associated with software for determination of time optimal controls. Nonlinear models for a two spool turbofan engine were expanded and refined; and a promising new approach to automatic model generation was placed under study. A two time scale scheme was developed to do two-dimensional dynamic programming, and an outward spiral sweep technique has greatly speeded convergence times in time optimal calculations.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Goswami, Madhuri Mandal; Dey, Chaitali; Bandyopadhyay, Ayan; Sarkar, Debasish; Ahir, Manisha
2016-11-01
Here we have discussed about designing the magnetic particles for hyperthermia therapy and done some studies in this direction. We have used oleylamine micelles as template to synthesize hollow-nanospheres (HNS) of magnetite by solvo-thermal technique. We have shown that oleylamine plays an important role to generate hollow particles. Structural analysis was done by XRD measurement and morphological measurements like SEM and TEM was performed to confirm the shape and size of hollow sphere particles. The detail magnetic measurements give an idea about the application of these HNS for magnetic heating in hyperthermia therapy. In vitro cytotoxicity studies reveal that tolerable dose rate for these particles can be significantly high and particles are non-toxic in nature. Being hollow in structure and magnetic in nature such materials will also be useful in other application fields like in drug delivery, drug release, arsenic and heavy metal removal by adsorption technique, magnetic separation etc.
Is the survival-processing memory advantage due to richness of encoding?
Röer, Jan P; Bell, Raoul; Buchner, Axel
2013-07-01
Memory for words rated according to their relevance in a grassland survival context is exceptionally good. According to Nairne, Thompson, and Pandeirada's (2007) evolutionary-based explanation, natural selection processes have tuned the human memory system to prioritize the processing of fitness-relevant information. The survival-processing memory advantage has been replicated numerous times, but very little is known about the proximate mechanisms behind it. The richness-of-encoding hypothesis (Kroneisen & Erdfelder, 2011) implies that rating the usefulness of items in a survival context leads to the generation of a large number of ideas that may be used as retrieval cues at test to boost recall. In Experiment 1, the typical survival-processing recall advantage was obtained when words were rated according to their usefulness in 1 of 3 fictional contexts. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to write down any ideas that came to mind when thinking about the usefulness of the words. Consistent with the richness-of-encoding hypothesis, participants generated more ideas in the survival condition than in the fitness-irrelevant control conditions. In Experiment 3, participants generated more ideas for congruent than for incongruent words, demonstrating that the richness-of-encoding hypothesis can also account for the previously obtained congruency effect on recall (Butler, Kang, & Roediger, 2009). In both experiments the number of ideas written down predicted future recall performance well. Our results provide further evidence for the assumption that richness of encoding is an important proximate mechanism involved in memory performance in the survival-processing paradigm. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.
Favorite Labs from Outstanding Teachers. Monograph VII.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sheldon, Daniel S., Ed.; Penick, John E., Ed.
This monograph is the first attempt to collect and share some of the teaching techniques, activities, and ideas of former recipients of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. The lessons are organized into topical themes to facilitate their incorporation into standard curriculum. The manual is divided into two main sections, "Labs" and "Ideas."…
Using the Concept Attainment Strategy to Enhance Reading Comprehension
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Boulware, Beverly J.; Crow, Mary Lynn
2008-01-01
The Concept Attainment Strategy is an instructional technique proposed by Jerome Bruner that targets the "big idea" or concept underlining concrete or abstract examples. This strategy focuses on the developing comprehension of words and ideas associated with a concept rather than on its name or what the concept is called. Specifically it develops…
Tips for Teachers: Lesson Plans and Ideas from around the World.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Mathieson, Murray; And Others
1990-01-01
The following ideas are presented: (1) working together in calculus, including a handout for a jigsaw lesson; (2) a lesson on water and ecology from the USSR using the collective teaching technique; (3) the Israeli Havruta "Companionship" method for peer teaching; and (4) an origami lesson outlined and illustrated. (JD)
Literary Ideas and Scripts for Young Playwrights
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kaniut Cobb, Lisa
2006-01-01
This collection presents techniques for tapping a broad range of literary sources to inspire young writers. Drawing upon poetry, folk tales, story jokes, and more, Literary Ideas walks students in grades 3-8 through the process of creating new stories and developing them as scripts for choral readings, readers theatre, and classroom plays. The…
Reading Comprehension: Techniques for Assessment and Optimization.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tyler, Sherman W.; And Others
Three studies examined the nature of individual differences and the role of advance information in reading comprehension. The subjects, 116 college students, read short passages--in some cases preceded by a given type of advance organizer--recalled the information therein, and finally sorted ideas from the passage into groups of similar ideas.…
Classroom Observation Techniques. IDEA Paper No. 4.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Acheson, Keith A.
Techniques for observing the classroom behavior of teachers and students are examined. These techniques provide a framework for analyzing and understanding classroom interaction, for making decisions about what should be happening, and for changing instructional behavior when it is necessary. The observation methods allow collection, analysis, and…
EXTENSION METHODS IDEAS FOR RURAL CIVIL DEFENSE.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.
TECHNIQUES FOR INVOLVING THE RURAL POPULATION IN CIVIL DEFENSE PLANNING IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS DOCUMENT. AN INITIAL STEP INVOLVES DETERMINING THE VARIOUS COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO BE USED. METHODS OF WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MASS MEDIA TECHNIQUES, AND CONSTRUCTION OF EXHIBITS ARE DESCRIBED. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION TECHNIQUES EXPLAINED…
[Rehabilitation, ethics and technique].
De Martini, André
2011-04-01
This paper initially includes the presentation of some ideas on the deficiency and the process of rehabilitation, whereby the latter is defined in its "condition" as a process. A few differences in relation to the idea of a program in the strict sense (defined as a fixed set of previously defined procedures or techniques) will be detected, as well as some ethical implications in the social, health or educational fields for professionals working with the disabled. Thus, the handling of the technique and the use of institutional measures will be discussed in this context, inasmuch as they are related to subjective and educational processes inherent to rehabilitation work. In so doing, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the role pertaining to these professionals.
Oversampling the Minority Class in the Feature Space.
Perez-Ortiz, Maria; Gutierrez, Pedro Antonio; Tino, Peter; Hervas-Martinez, Cesar
2016-09-01
The imbalanced nature of some real-world data is one of the current challenges for machine learning researchers. One common approach oversamples the minority class through convex combination of its patterns. We explore the general idea of synthetic oversampling in the feature space induced by a kernel function (as opposed to input space). If the kernel function matches the underlying problem, the classes will be linearly separable and synthetically generated patterns will lie on the minority class region. Since the feature space is not directly accessible, we use the empirical feature space (EFS) (a Euclidean space isomorphic to the feature space) for oversampling purposes. The proposed method is framed in the context of support vector machines, where the imbalanced data sets can pose a serious hindrance. The idea is investigated in three scenarios: 1) oversampling in the full and reduced-rank EFSs; 2) a kernel learning technique maximizing the data class separation to study the influence of the feature space structure (implicitly defined by the kernel function); and 3) a unified framework for preferential oversampling that spans some of the previous approaches in the literature. We support our investigation with extensive experiments over 50 imbalanced data sets.
Schiller, Britt-Marie
2018-04-01
Illusions are not errors but erroneous beliefs motivated by wishful ideas and fantasies. To disillusion gender is to challenge the traditional Freudian construction that splits masculinity and femininity into agency versus passivity, the first with power, the second without. Disillusioning femininity as impotent frees up potency and power as generativity. Disillusioning masculinity as phallic and omnipotent opens the masculine subject to permeability and vulnerability. Illusions regarding the transgender include the idea that there are only two gender categories and the idea that gender identity is generated solely from an internal sense of self. The wish "to be seen as" or "to pass as" one gender or the other shows that social structures exceed the individual. At least for now, the disillusionment of gender with which we are left marks a tension between the internal sense of gender identity and the social structures of gender.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tompkins, Gail E.; Camp, Donna J.
1988-01-01
Describes four prewriting techniques that elementary and middle grade students can use to gather and organize ideas for writing, and by so doing, cure writer's block. Techniques discussed are: (1) brainstorming; (2) clustering; (3) freewriting; and (4) cubing.
Cross-Generational Storytelling
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Smith, Cindy; Thurston, Judy Kay
2007-01-01
What happens when you combine senior citizens, pre-service art teachers, and elementary students? Cross-generational connections based on sharing memories, ideas, skills, laughter, tears, and creativity. The authors describe the cross-generational book exchange project. This project was initiated when a group of Central Michigan University (CMU)…
Selected techniques in water resources investigations, 1965
Mesnier, Glennon N.; Chase, Edith B.
1966-01-01
Increasing world activity in water-resources development has created an interest in techniques for conducting investigations in the field. In the United States, the Geological Survey has the responsibility for extensive and intensive hydrologic studies, and the Survey places considerable emphasis on discovering better ways to carry out its responsibility. For many years, the dominant interest in field techniques has been "in house," but the emerging world interest has led to a need for published accounts of this progress. In 1963 the Geological Survey published "Selected Techniques in Water Resources Investigations" (Water-Supply Paper 1669-Z) as part of the series "Contributions to the Hydrology of the United States."The report was so favorably received that successive volumes are planned, of which this is the first. The present report contains 25 papers that represent new ideas being tested or applied in the hydrologic field program of the Geological Survey. These ideas range from a proposed system for monitoring fluvial sediment to how to construct stream-gaging wells from steel oil drums. The original papers have been revised and edited by the compilers, but the ideas presented are those of the authors. The general description of the bubble gage on page 2 has been given by the compilers as supplementary information.
A Method to Test Model Calibration Techniques
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Judkoff, Ron; Polly, Ben; Neymark, Joel
This paper describes a method for testing model calibration techniques. Calibration is commonly used in conjunction with energy retrofit audit models. An audit is conducted to gather information about the building needed to assemble an input file for a building energy modeling tool. A calibration technique is used to reconcile model predictions with utility data, and then the 'calibrated model' is used to predict energy savings from a variety of retrofit measures and combinations thereof. Current standards and guidelines such as BPI-2400 and ASHRAE-14 set criteria for 'goodness of fit' and assume that if the criteria are met, then themore » calibration technique is acceptable. While it is logical to use the actual performance data of the building to tune the model, it is not certain that a good fit will result in a model that better predicts post-retrofit energy savings. Therefore, the basic idea here is that the simulation program (intended for use with the calibration technique) is used to generate surrogate utility bill data and retrofit energy savings data against which the calibration technique can be tested. This provides three figures of merit for testing a calibration technique, 1) accuracy of the post-retrofit energy savings prediction, 2) closure on the 'true' input parameter values, and 3) goodness of fit to the utility bill data. The paper will also discuss the pros and cons of using this synthetic surrogate data approach versus trying to use real data sets of actual buildings.« less
A Method to Test Model Calibration Techniques: Preprint
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Judkoff, Ron; Polly, Ben; Neymark, Joel
This paper describes a method for testing model calibration techniques. Calibration is commonly used in conjunction with energy retrofit audit models. An audit is conducted to gather information about the building needed to assemble an input file for a building energy modeling tool. A calibration technique is used to reconcile model predictions with utility data, and then the 'calibrated model' is used to predict energy savings from a variety of retrofit measures and combinations thereof. Current standards and guidelines such as BPI-2400 and ASHRAE-14 set criteria for 'goodness of fit' and assume that if the criteria are met, then themore » calibration technique is acceptable. While it is logical to use the actual performance data of the building to tune the model, it is not certain that a good fit will result in a model that better predicts post-retrofit energy savings. Therefore, the basic idea here is that the simulation program (intended for use with the calibration technique) is used to generate surrogate utility bill data and retrofit energy savings data against which the calibration technique can be tested. This provides three figures of merit for testing a calibration technique, 1) accuracy of the post-retrofit energy savings prediction, 2) closure on the 'true' input parameter values, and 3) goodness of fit to the utility bill data. The paper will also discuss the pros and cons of using this synthetic surrogate data approach versus trying to use real data sets of actual buildings.« less
Osmotic Power: A Fresh Look at an Old Experiment
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Dugdale, Pam
2014-01-01
Electricity from osmotic pressure might seem a far-fetched idea but this article describes a prototype in Norway where the osmotic pressure generated between salt and fresh water drives a turbine. This idea was applied in a student investigation, where they were tasked with researching which alternative materials could be used for the…
Lateral Thinking of Prospective Teachers
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lawrence, A. S. Arul; Xavier, S. Amaladoss
2013-01-01
Edward de Bono who invented the term "lateral thinking" in 1967 is the pioneer of lateral thinking. Lateral thinking is concerned with the generation of new ideas. Liberation from old ideas and the stimulation of new ones are twin aspects of lateral thinking. Lateral thinking is a creative skills from which all people can benefit…
Teaching through Trade Books: What We Do with Ideas
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Royce, Christine Anne
2016-01-01
Creative thinking is important to scientists and engineers as they frame their work and engage in the practices of their fields. Elementary-age children need opportunities to think about and develop an idea from its inception through to its conclusion to expand their thinking and engage in scientific processes. Generating and expanding on ideas…
Innovation and Idea Flow at U.S. International Campuses
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Martin, Justin D.
2014-01-01
This article explores some of the components of innovation that U.S. universities abroad can seize, or in some cases have seized, upon to maximize information flow, productivity, and idea generation at their overseas institutions. Using research in psychology, education, economics, and other fields, the article identifies the following as among…
Chinese Algebra: Using Historical Problems to Think about Current Curricula
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tillema, Erik
2005-01-01
The Chinese used the idea of generating equivalent expressions for solving problems where the problems from a historical Chinese text are studied to understand the ways in which the ideas can lead into algebraic calculations and help students to learn algebra. The texts unify algebraic problem solving through complex algebraic thought and afford…
Using Modules in Teaching Complex Analysis
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kinney, William M.
2017-01-01
Educational modules can play an important part in revitalizing the teaching and learning of complex analysis. At the Westmont College workshop on the subject in June 2014, time was spent generating ideas and creating structures for module proposals. Sharing some of those ideas and giving a few example modules is the main purpose of this paper. The…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Walkup, Nancy
2006-01-01
In this article, an art teacher relates how she uses her enthusiasm for collecting aesthetic objects to transform or generate ideas for art problems for her students, in the belief that teachers teach best about that which they are most enthusiastic. In her classes, she introduces the idea of collecting by asking students to discuss what they…
Lessons for Religious Education from Cognitive Science of Religion
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Brelsford, Theodore
2005-01-01
Recent work in the cognitive sciences provides new neurological/biological and evolutionary bases for understanding the construction of knowledge (in the form of sets of ideas containing functionally useful inferences) and the capacity for imagination (as the ability to run inferences and generate ideas from information) in the human mind. In…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Williams-Rossi, Dara; Campbell, Laurie O.
2012-01-01
In the past, teachers have used chalkboards for "chalk talks," a strategy where a teacher wrote words and drew images to demonstrate reflecting, document generating ideas, and explore knowledge. Out with the old-school version and in with the "Marker Sparker" method, which uses whiteboards or poster paper and colorful markers to achieve the same…
Divergent Thinking and Evaluation Skills: Do They Always Go Together?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Grohman, Magdalena; Wodniecka, Zofia; Klusak, Marcin
2006-01-01
The aim of the present study was to explore the hypothesized relationship between divergent thinking (DT) and two types of evaluation: interpersonal (judgments about others' ideas) and intrapersonal (judgments about one's own ideas). Divergent thinking and evaluation skills were measured by means of a GenEva (Generation and Evaluation) task. There…
Cartier, Yuri; Creatore, Maria I; Hoffman, Steven J; Potvin, Louise
2018-06-22
Priority-driven funding streams for population and public health are an important part of the health research landscape and contribute to orienting future scholarship in the field. While research priorities are often made public through targeted calls for research, less is known about how research funding organisations arrive at said priorities. Our objective was to explore how public health research funding organisations develop priorities for strategic extramural research funding programmes. Content analysis of published academic and grey literature and key informant interviews for five public and private funders of public health research in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and France were performed. We found important distinctions in how funding organisations processed potential research priorities through four non-sequential phases, namely idea generation, idea analysis, idea socialisation and idea selection. Funders generally involved the public health research community and public health decision-makers in idea generation and socialisation, but other groups of stakeholders (e.g. the public, advocacy organisations) were not as frequently included. Priority-setting for strategic funding programmes in public health research involves consultation mainly with researchers in the early phase of the process. There is an opportunity for greater breadth of participation and more transparency in priority-setting mechanisms for strategic funding programmes in population and public health research.
Enhancing their likelihood for a positive future: the perspective of inner-city youth.
Ginsburg, Kenneth R; Alexander, Penny M; Hunt, Jean; Sullivan, Maisha; Zhao, Huaqing; Cnaan, Avital
2002-06-01
Inner-city youth must overcome many environmental challenges as they strive for success. Their outcome is influenced by the interplay of protective forces and risk factors. To learn directly from youth what solutions they believe would most influence their likelihood of achieving a positive future. In-school 8th-, 9th-, and 12th-graders in north Philadelphia generated, prioritized, and explained their own solutions through a 4-stage hierarchical process facilitated by AmeriCorps workers. In Stage 1, 60 randomly selected students participated in 8 focus groups to develop the study question. In Stage 2, youth in Nominal Group Technique sessions generated and prioritized solutions. In Stage 3, a survey for each grade that included their top prioritized ideas was distributed, and youth rated each idea on a Likert scale (5= Definitely would make me more likely to have a positive future to 1 = Would definitely not.). One thousand twenty-two ninth-graders (69% of in-school youth at 5 high schools) returned usable surveys. Ninety-three percent of responders were 14 to 16 years old, 44% were male, 54% were black, and 32% were Latino. Four hundred seventeen 8th-graders and 322 12th-graders returned usable surveys. In Stage 4, youth in 10 focus groups added meaning and context to the ideas. The highest rated items in all grades were solutions that promoted education or increased job opportunities. Ninth-graders ranked helping youth get into college first by the Marginal Homogeneity Test. The creation of more jobs was ranked second. Third rank was shared by more job training, keeping youth from dropping out of school, and better books for schools. The next tier of items focused mostly on opportunities for youth to spend their free time productively and to have interactions with adults. Many items calling for the reduction of risk behaviors or disruptive surroundings were rated lower. The Kruskal-Wallis test found little variation in rating of the ideas by gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Youth believe that supportive solutions would do more to enhance their likelihood of reaching a positive future than would attempts to reduce "negative" behaviors or disruptive surroundings. This suggests that research and policies should consider how best to augment the protective influences of education, employment, meaningful use of time, and connection to adults.
Fujihara, Yuki; Saito, Taichi; Huetteman, Helen E; Sterbenz, Jennifer M; Chung, Kevin C
2018-04-01
A well-organized, thoughtful study design is essential for creating an impactful study. However, pressures promoting high output from researchers can lead to rushed study proposals that overlook critical weaknesses in the study design that can affect the validity of the conclusions. Researchers can benefit from thorough review of past failed proposals when crafting new research ideas. Conceptual frameworks and root cause analysis are two innovative techniques that can be used during study development to identify flaws and prevent study failures. In addition, conceptual frameworks and root cause analysis can be combined to complement each other to provide both a big picture and detailed view of a study proposal. This article describes these two common analytical methods and provides an example of how they can be used to evaluate and improve a study design by critically examining a previous failed research idea.
Gesture Facilitates Children's Creative Thinking.
Kirk, Elizabeth; Lewis, Carine
2017-02-01
Gestures help people think and can help problem solvers generate new ideas. We conducted two experiments exploring the self-oriented function of gesture in a novel domain: creative thinking. In Experiment 1, we explored the relationship between children's spontaneous gesture production and their ability to generate novel uses for everyday items (alternative-uses task). There was a significant correlation between children's creative fluency and their gesture production, and the majority of children's gestures depicted an action on the target object. Restricting children from gesturing did not significantly reduce their fluency, however. In Experiment 2, we encouraged children to gesture, and this significantly boosted their generation of creative ideas. These findings demonstrate that gestures serve an important self-oriented function and can assist creative thinking.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Nunez, Rafael E.
This paper gives a brief introduction to a discipline called the cognitive science of mathematics. The theoretical background of the arguments is based on embodied cognition and findings in cognitive linguistics. It discusses Mathematical Idea Analysis, a set of techniques for studying implicit structures in mathematics. Particular attention is…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Caraballo, Tami; Crowther, Gregory
2018-01-01
The Idea Bank column provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. As students use increasingly diverse internet sources, it becomes hard to tell whether their answers are truly original. A general solution to this dilemma is to ask students to present information in a format that they are unlikely to encounter in books…
A Planning Approach for Developing Inventory and Monitoring Programs In National Parks
David L. Peterson; David G. Silsbee; Daniel L. Schmoldt
1995-01-01
This document offers some conceptual ideas on how individual parks could plan and implement an Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) program. In several respects, the authors ideas parallel and complement the I&M project planning and development process outlined in the Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline (NPS-75). However, no universal techniques...
The Impact of Film. How Ideas Are Communicated Through Cinema and Television.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Madsen, Roy Paul
The forms and concepts of cinema and television are examined in order to shed light upon the techniques of communicating ideas and achieving psychological effects on film. Part I of the book focuses upon basic cinematic and television concepts, including matters such as the language and grammar of cinematography, the syntax of editing, the…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Behm, Mary W., Ed.
This handbook of publicity ideas suggests activities and themes to highlight services and resources of school media centers, including approaches to students, faculty, administration, and the community at large. A 14-item annotated bibliography and six mailing list addresses are provided as additional sources for ideas. Clip art illustrations…
Ideas versus labor: what do children value in artistic creation?
Li, Vivian; Shaw, Alex; Olson, Kristina R
2013-04-01
As scientists, we primarily award authorship, as well as legal patents, to those who generate ideas, often without formally crediting others who executed the actual experiments. However, little is known about how and when people come to value ideas. Here, we investigate whether young children also value ideas over labor. In Study 1, we found that 4 and 6 year olds preferred pictures containing their ideas to those containing their labor. In Study 2 we rule out an alternative explanation-that children simply favor pictures containing their idiosyncratic preferences-by discovering that 6 year olds, but not 4 year olds chose a picture they mistakenly believed contained their idea, over a picture that contained their idiosyncratic preferences. Consistent with these results, using a third-party design in Study 3, we found that 6 year olds, but not 4 year olds favored a person who only contributed an idea over another who only contributed labor in awarding ownership. Across three studies, these results suggest that by 6 years old, children value ideas over labor. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Equity and health policy in Africa: using concept mapping in Moore (Burkina Faso).
Ridde, Valéry
2008-04-22
This methodological article is based on a health policy research project conducted in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Concept mapping (CM) was used as a research method to understand the local views of equity among stakeholders, who were concerned by the health policy under consideration. While this technique has been used in North America and elsewhere, to our knowledge it has not yet been applied in Africa in any vernacular language. Its application raises many issues and certain methodological limitations. Our objective in this article is to present its use in this particular context, and to share a number of methodological observations on the subject. Two CMs were done among two different groups of local stakeholders following four steps: generating ideas, structuring the ideas, computing maps using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis methods, and interpreting maps. Fifteen nurses were invited to take part in the study, all of whom had undergone training on health policies. Of these, nine nurses (60%) ultimately attended the two-day meeting, conducted in French. Of 45 members of village health committees who attended training on health policies, only eight were literate in the local language (Moore). Seven of these (88%) came to the meeting. The local perception of equity seems close to the egalitarian model. The actors are not ready to compromise social stability and peace for the benefit of the worst-off. The discussion on the methodological limitations of CM raises the limitations of asking a single question in Moore and the challenge of translating a concept as complex as equity. While the translation of equity into Moore undoubtedly oriented the discussions toward social relations, we believe that, in the context of this study, the open-ended question concerning social justice has a threefold relevance. At the same time, those limitations were transformed into strengths. We understand that it was essential to resort to the focus group approach to explore deeply a complex subject such as equity, which became, after the two CMs, one of the important topics of the research. Using this technique in a new context was not the easiest thing to do. Nevertheless, contrary to what local organizers thought when we explained to them this "crazy" idea of applying the technique in Moore with peasants, we believe we have shown that it was feasible, even with persons not literate in French.
An efficient auto TPT stitch guidance generation for optimized standard cell design
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Samboju, Nagaraj C.; Choi, Soo-Han; Arikati, Srini; Cilingir, Erdem
2015-03-01
As the technology continues to shrink below 14nm, triple patterning lithography (TPT) is a worthwhile lithography methodology for printing dense layers such as Metal1. However, this increases the complexity of standard cell design, as it is very difficult to develop a TPT compliant layout without compromising on the area. Hence, this emphasizes the importance to have an accurate stitch generation methodology to meet the standard cell area requirement as defined by the technology shrink factor. In this paper, we present an efficient auto TPT stitch guidance generation technique for optimized standard cell design. The basic idea here is to first identify the conflicting polygons based on the Fix Guidance [1] solution developed by Synopsys. Fix Guidance is a reduced sub-graph containing minimum set of edges along with the connecting polygons; by eliminating these edges in a design 3-color conflicts can be resolved. Once the conflicting polygons are identified using this method, they are categorized into four types [2] - (Type 1 to 4). The categorization is based on number of interactions a polygon has with the coloring links and the triangle loops of fix guidance. For each type a certain criteria for keep-out region is defined, based on which the final stitch guidance locations are generated. This technique provides various possible stitch locations to the user and helps the user to select the best stitch location considering both design flexibility (max. pin access/small area) and process-preferences. Based on this technique, a standard cell library for place and route (P and R) can be developed with colorless data and a stitch marker defined by designer using our proposed method. After P and R, the full chip (block) would contain the colorless data and standard cell stitch markers only. These stitch markers are considered as "must be stitch" candidates. Hence during full chip decomposition it is not required to generate and select the stitch markers again for the complete data; therefore, the proposed method reduces the decomposition time significantly.
Technique for Calculating Solution Derivatives With Respect to Geometry Parameters in a CFD Code
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Mathur, Sanjay
2011-01-01
A solution has been developed to the challenges of computation of derivatives with respect to geometry, which is not straightforward because these are not typically direct inputs to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver. To overcome these issues, a procedure has been devised that can be used without having access to the mesh generator, while still being applicable to all types of meshes. The basic approach is inspired by the mesh motion algorithms used to deform the interior mesh nodes in a smooth manner when the surface nodes, for example, are in a fluid structure interaction problem. The general idea is to model the mesh edges and nodes as constituting a spring-mass system. Changes to boundary node locations are propagated to interior nodes by allowing them to assume their new equilibrium positions, for instance, one where the forces on each node are in balance. The main advantage of the technique is that it is independent of the volumetric mesh generator, and can be applied to structured, unstructured, single- and multi-block meshes. It essentially reduces the problem down to defining the surface mesh node derivatives with respect to the geometry parameters of interest. For analytical geometries, this is quite straightforward. In the more general case, one would need to be able to interrogate the underlying parametric CAD (computer aided design) model and to evaluate the derivatives either analytically, or by a finite difference technique. Because the technique is based on a partial differential equation (PDE), it is applicable not only to forward mode problems (where derivatives of all the output quantities are computed with respect to a single input), but it could also be extended to the adjoint problem, either by using an analytical adjoint of the PDE or a discrete analog.
High-resolution subgrid models: background, grid generation, and implementation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sehili, Aissa; Lang, Günther; Lippert, Christoph
2014-04-01
The basic idea of subgrid models is the use of available high-resolution bathymetric data at subgrid level in computations that are performed on relatively coarse grids allowing large time steps. For that purpose, an algorithm that correctly represents the precise mass balance in regions where wetting and drying occur was derived by Casulli (Int J Numer Method Fluids 60:391-408, 2009) and Casulli and Stelling (Int J Numer Method Fluids 67:441-449, 2010). Computational grid cells are permitted to be wet, partially wet, or dry, and no drying threshold is needed. Based on the subgrid technique, practical applications involving various scenarios were implemented including an operational forecast model for water level, salinity, and temperature of the Elbe Estuary in Germany. The grid generation procedure allows a detailed boundary fitting at subgrid level. The computational grid is made of flow-aligned quadrilaterals including few triangles where necessary. User-defined grid subdivision at subgrid level allows a correct representation of the volume up to measurement accuracy. Bottom friction requires a particular treatment. Based on the conveyance approach, an appropriate empirical correction was worked out. The aforementioned features make the subgrid technique very efficient, robust, and accurate. Comparison of predicted water levels with the comparatively highly resolved classical unstructured grid model shows very good agreement. The speedup in computational performance due to the use of the subgrid technique is about a factor of 20. A typical daily forecast can be carried out in less than 10 min on a standard PC-like hardware. The subgrid technique is therefore a promising framework to perform accurate temporal and spatial large-scale simulations of coastal and estuarine flow and transport processes at low computational cost.
Sparse Reconstruction Techniques in MRI: Methods, Applications, and Challenges to Clinical Adoption
Yang, Alice Chieh-Yu; Kretzler, Madison; Sudarski, Sonja; Gulani, Vikas; Seiberlich, Nicole
2016-01-01
The family of sparse reconstruction techniques, including the recently introduced compressed sensing framework, has been extensively explored to reduce scan times in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). While there are many different methods that fall under the general umbrella of sparse reconstructions, they all rely on the idea that a priori information about the sparsity of MR images can be employed to reconstruct full images from undersampled data. This review describes the basic ideas behind sparse reconstruction techniques, how they could be applied to improve MR imaging, and the open challenges to their general adoption in a clinical setting. The fundamental principles underlying different classes of sparse reconstructions techniques are examined, and the requirements that each make on the undersampled data outlined. Applications that could potentially benefit from the accelerations that sparse reconstructions could provide are described, and clinical studies using sparse reconstructions reviewed. Lastly, technical and clinical challenges to widespread implementation of sparse reconstruction techniques, including optimization, reconstruction times, artifact appearance, and comparison with current gold-standards, are discussed. PMID:27003227
Krüger, Dennis M; Ahmed, Aqeel; Gohlke, Holger
2012-07-01
The NMSim web server implements a three-step approach for multiscale modeling of protein conformational changes. First, the protein structure is coarse-grained using the FIRST software. Second, a rigid cluster normal-mode analysis provides low-frequency normal modes. Third, these modes are used to extend the recently introduced idea of constrained geometric simulations by biasing backbone motions of the protein, whereas side chain motions are biased toward favorable rotamer states (NMSim). The generated structures are iteratively corrected regarding steric clashes and stereochemical constraint violations. The approach allows performing three simulation types: unbiased exploration of conformational space; pathway generation by a targeted simulation; and radius of gyration-guided simulation. On a data set of proteins with experimentally observed conformational changes, the NMSim approach has been shown to be a computationally efficient alternative to molecular dynamics simulations for conformational sampling of proteins. The generated conformations and pathways of conformational transitions can serve as input to docking approaches or more sophisticated sampling techniques. The web server output is a trajectory of generated conformations, Jmol representations of the coarse-graining and a subset of the trajectory and data plots of structural analyses. The NMSim webserver, accessible at http://www.nmsim.de, is free and open to all users with no login requirement.
The neural coding of creative idea generation across adolescence and early adulthood
Kleibeuker, Sietske W.; Koolschijn, P. Cédric M. P.; Jolles, Dietsje D.; De Dreu, Carsten K. W.; Crone, Eveline A.
2013-01-01
Creativity is considered key to human prosperity, yet the neurocognitive principles underlying creative performance, and their development, are still poorly understood. To fill this void, we examined the neural correlates of divergent thinking in adults (25–30 years) and adolescents (15–17 years). Participants generated alternative uses (AU) or ordinary characteristics (OC) for common objects while brain activity was assessed using fMRI. Adults outperformed adolescents on the number of solutions for AU and OC trials. Contrasting neural activity for AU with OC trials revealed increased recruitment of left angular gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus, and bilateral middle temporal gyrus in both adults and adolescents. When only trials with multiple AU were included in the analysis, participants showed additional left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)/middle frontal gyrus (MFG) activation for AU compared to OC trials. Correspondingly, individual difference analyses showed a positive correlation between activations for AU relative to OC trials in left IFG/MFG and divergent thinking performance and activations were more pronounced in adults than in adolescents. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrated that creative idea generation involves recruitment of mainly left lateralized parietal and temporal brain regions. Generating multiple creative ideas, a hallmark of divergent thinking, shows additional lateral PFC activation that is not yet optimized in adolescence. PMID:24416008
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Wahid, Ali, E-mail: ali.wahid@live.com; Salim, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed, E-mail: mohamed.salim@petronas.com.my; Yusoff, Wan Ismail Wan, E-mail: wanismail-wanyusoff@petronas.com.my
2016-02-01
Geostatistics or statistical approach is based on the studies of temporal and spatial trend, which depend upon spatial relationships to model known information of variable(s) at unsampled locations. The statistical technique known as kriging was used for petrophycial and facies analysis, which help to assume spatial relationship to model the geological continuity between the known data and the unknown to produce a single best guess of the unknown. Kriging is also known as optimal interpolation technique, which facilitate to generate best linear unbiased estimation of each horizon. The idea is to construct a numerical model of the lithofacies and rockmore » properties that honor available data and further integrate with interpreting seismic sections, techtonostratigraphy chart with sea level curve (short term) and regional tectonics of the study area to find the structural and stratigraphic growth history of the NW Bonaparte Basin. By using kriging technique the models were built which help to estimate different parameters like horizons, facies, and porosities in the study area. The variograms were used to determine for identification of spatial relationship between data which help to find the depositional history of the North West (NW) Bonaparte Basin.« less
Ravi, Logesh; Vairavasundaram, Subramaniyaswamy
2016-01-01
Rapid growth of web and its applications has created a colossal importance for recommender systems. Being applied in various domains, recommender systems were designed to generate suggestions such as items or services based on user interests. Basically, recommender systems experience many issues which reflects dwindled effectiveness. Integrating powerful data management techniques to recommender systems can address such issues and the recommendations quality can be increased significantly. Recent research on recommender systems reveals an idea of utilizing social network data to enhance traditional recommender system with better prediction and improved accuracy. This paper expresses views on social network data based recommender systems by considering usage of various recommendation algorithms, functionalities of systems, different types of interfaces, filtering techniques, and artificial intelligence techniques. After examining the depths of objectives, methodologies, and data sources of the existing models, the paper helps anyone interested in the development of travel recommendation systems and facilitates future research direction. We have also proposed a location recommendation system based on social pertinent trust walker (SPTW) and compared the results with the existing baseline random walk models. Later, we have enhanced the SPTW model for group of users recommendations. The results obtained from the experiments have been presented.
A Survey of Shape Parameterization Techniques
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Samareh, Jamshid A.
1999-01-01
This paper provides a survey of shape parameterization techniques for multidisciplinary optimization and highlights some emerging ideas. The survey focuses on the suitability of available techniques for complex configurations, with suitability criteria based on the efficiency, effectiveness, ease of implementation, and availability of analytical sensitivities for geometry and grids. The paper also contains a section on field grid regeneration, grid deformation, and sensitivity analysis techniques.
Yoshida, Sachiyo; Rudan, Igor; Cousens, Simon
2016-01-01
Introduction Crowdsourcing has become an increasingly important tool to address many problems – from government elections in democracies, stock market prices, to modern online tools such as TripAdvisor or Internet Movie Database (IMDB). The CHNRI method (the acronym for the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative) for setting health research priorities has crowdsourcing as the major component, which it uses to generate, assess and prioritize between many competing health research ideas. Methods We conducted a series of analyses using data from a group of 91 scorers to explore the quantitative properties of their collective opinion. We were interested in the stability of their collective opinion as the sample size increases from 15 to 90. From a pool of 91 scorers who took part in a previous CHNRI exercise, we used sampling with replacement to generate multiple random samples of different size. First, for each sample generated, we identified the top 20 ranked research ideas, among 205 that were proposed and scored, and calculated the concordance with the ranking generated by the 91 original scorers. Second, we used rank correlation coefficients to compare the ranks assigned to all 205 proposed research ideas when samples of different size are used. We also analysed the original pool of 91 scorers to to look for evidence of scoring variations based on scorers' characteristics. Results The sample sizes investigated ranged from 15 to 90. The concordance for the top 20 scored research ideas increased with sample sizes up to about 55 experts. At this point, the median level of concordance stabilized at 15/20 top ranked questions (75%), with the interquartile range also generally stable (14–16). There was little further increase in overlap when the sample size increased from 55 to 90. When analysing the ranking of all 205 ideas, the rank correlation coefficient increased as the sample size increased, with a median correlation of 0.95 reached at the sample size of 45 experts (median of the rank correlation coefficient = 0.95; IQR 0.94–0.96). Conclusions Our analyses suggest that the collective opinion of an expert group on a large number of research ideas, expressed through categorical variables (Yes/No/Not Sure/Don't know), stabilises relatively quickly in terms of identifying the ideas that have most support. In the exercise we found a high degree of reproducibility of the identified research priorities was achieved with as few as 45–55 experts. PMID:27350874
Yoshida, Sachiyo; Rudan, Igor; Cousens, Simon
2016-06-01
Crowdsourcing has become an increasingly important tool to address many problems - from government elections in democracies, stock market prices, to modern online tools such as TripAdvisor or Internet Movie Database (IMDB). The CHNRI method (the acronym for the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative) for setting health research priorities has crowdsourcing as the major component, which it uses to generate, assess and prioritize between many competing health research ideas. We conducted a series of analyses using data from a group of 91 scorers to explore the quantitative properties of their collective opinion. We were interested in the stability of their collective opinion as the sample size increases from 15 to 90. From a pool of 91 scorers who took part in a previous CHNRI exercise, we used sampling with replacement to generate multiple random samples of different size. First, for each sample generated, we identified the top 20 ranked research ideas, among 205 that were proposed and scored, and calculated the concordance with the ranking generated by the 91 original scorers. Second, we used rank correlation coefficients to compare the ranks assigned to all 205 proposed research ideas when samples of different size are used. We also analysed the original pool of 91 scorers to to look for evidence of scoring variations based on scorers' characteristics. The sample sizes investigated ranged from 15 to 90. The concordance for the top 20 scored research ideas increased with sample sizes up to about 55 experts. At this point, the median level of concordance stabilized at 15/20 top ranked questions (75%), with the interquartile range also generally stable (14-16). There was little further increase in overlap when the sample size increased from 55 to 90. When analysing the ranking of all 205 ideas, the rank correlation coefficient increased as the sample size increased, with a median correlation of 0.95 reached at the sample size of 45 experts (median of the rank correlation coefficient = 0.95; IQR 0.94-0.96). Our analyses suggest that the collective opinion of an expert group on a large number of research ideas, expressed through categorical variables (Yes/No/Not Sure/Don't know), stabilises relatively quickly in terms of identifying the ideas that have most support. In the exercise we found a high degree of reproducibility of the identified research priorities was achieved with as few as 45-55 experts.
Reimagining Human Research Protections for 21st Century Science
Bietz, Matthew; Bae, Deborah; Bigby, Barbara; Devereaux, Mary; Fowler, James; Waldo, Ann; Weibel, Nadir; Patrick, Kevin; Klemmer, Scott; Melichar, Lori
2016-01-01
Background Evolving research practices and new forms of research enabled by technological advances require a redesigned research oversight system that respects and protects human research participants. Objective Our objective was to generate creative ideas for redesigning our current human research oversight system. Methods A total of 11 researchers and institutional review board (IRB) professionals participated in a January 2015 design thinking workshop to develop ideas for redesigning the IRB system. Results Ideas in 5 major domains were generated. The areas of focus were (1) improving the consent form and process, (2) empowering researchers to protect their participants, (3) creating a system to learn from mistakes, (4) improving IRB efficiency, and (5) facilitating review of research that leverages technological advances. Conclusions We describe the impetus for and results of a design thinking workshop to reimagine a human research protections system that is responsive to 21st century science. PMID:28007687
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
St John, Stuart A.
2012-01-01
The purpose of this work was to investigate ways in which everyday computers can be used in schools to fulfil several of the roles of more expensive, specialized laboratory equipment for teaching and learning purposes. The brief adopted was to keep things as straightforward as possible so that any school science department with a few basic tools can copy the ideas presented. The project has so far produced a simple, safe input device to enable use of a computer as an oscilloscope and the conversion of external speakers into a signal generator. They are not without their limitations, but the intention is that they may provide opportunities for hands-on learning in schools where budgets are very limited. Several teaching ideas are outlined, with pointers for further development. It is hoped that interest in the project may generate further application of the ideas to the teaching of high school physics.
Data on eye behavior during idea generation and letter-by-letter reading.
Walcher, Sonja; Körner, Christof; Benedek, Mathias
2017-12-01
This article includes the description of data information from an idea generation task (alternate uses task, (Guilford, 1967) [1]) and a letter-by-letter reading task under two background brightness conditions with healthy adults as well as a baseline measurement and questionnaire data (SIPI (Huba et al., 1981) [2]; DDFS (Singer and Antrobus, 1972) [3], 1963; RIBS (Runco et al., 2001) [4]). Data are hosted at the Open Science Framework (OSF): https://osf.io/fh66g/ (Walcher et al., 2017) [5]. There you will find eye tracking data, task performance data, questionnaires data, analyses scripts (in R, R Core Team, 2017 [6]), eye tracking paradigms (in the Experiment Builder (SR Research Ltd., [7]) and graphs on pupil and angle of eye vergence dynamics. Data are interpreted and discussed in the article 'Looking for ideas: Eye behavior during goal-directed internally focused cognition' (Walcher et al., 2017) [8].
Expertise in musical improvisation and creativity: the mediation of idea evaluation.
Kleinmintz, Oded M; Goldstein, Pavel; Mayseless, Naama; Abecasis, Donna; Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G
2014-01-01
The current study explored the influence of musical expertise, and specifically training in improvisation on creativity, using the framework of the twofold model, according to which creativity involves a process of idea generation and idea evaluation. Based on the hypothesis that a strict evaluation phase may have an inhibiting effect over the generation phase, we predicted that training in improvisation may have a "releasing effect" on the evaluation system, leading to greater creativity. To examine this hypothesis, we compared performance among three groups--musicians trained in improvisation, musicians not trained in improvisation, and non-musicians--on divergent thinking tasks and on their evaluation of creativity. The improvisation group scored higher on fluency and originality compared to the other two groups. Among the musicians, evaluation of creativity mediated how experience in improvisation was related to originality and fluency scores. It is concluded that deliberate practice of improvisation may have a "releasing effect" on creativity.
The future of 'pure' medical science: the need for a new specialist professional research system.
Charlton, Bruce G; Andras, Peter
2005-01-01
Over recent decades, medical research has become mostly an 'applied' science which implicitly aims at steady progress by an accumulation of small improvements, each increment having a high probability of validity. Applied medical science is, therefore, a social system of communications for generating pre-publication peer-reviewed knowledge that is ready for implementation. However, the need for predictability makes modern medical science risk-averse and this is leading to a decline in major therapeutic breakthroughs where new treatments for new diseases are required. There is need for the evolution of a specialized professional research system of pure medial science, whose role would be to generate and critically evaluate radically novel and potentially important theories, techniques, therapies and technologies. Pure science ideas typically have a lower probability of being valid, but the possibility of much greater benefit if they turn out to be true. The domination of medical research by applied criteria means that even good ideas from pure medical science are typically ignored or summarily rejected as being too speculative. Of course, radical and potentially important ideas may currently be published, but at present there is no formal mechanism by which pure science publications may be received, critiqued, evaluated and extended to become suitable for 'application'. Pure medical science needs to evolve to constitute a typical specialized scientific system of formal communications among a professional community. The members of this putative profession would interact via close research groupings, journals, meetings, electronic and web communications--like any other science. Pure medical science units might arise as elite grouping linked to existing world-class applied medical research institutions. However, the pure medical science system would have its own separate aims, procedures for scientific evaluation, institutional organization, funding and support arrangements; and a separate higher-professional career path with distinctive selection criteria. For instance, future leaders of pure medical science institutions would need to be selected on the basis of their specialized cognitive aptitudes and their record of having generated science-transforming ideas, as well as their research management skills. Pure medical science would work most effectively and efficiently if practiced in many independent and competing institutions in several different countries. The main 'market' for pure medical science would be the applied medical scientists, who need radical strategies to solve problems which are not yielding to established methods. The stimulus to create such elite pure medical science institutions might come from the leadership of academic 'entrepreneurs' (for instance, imaginative patrons in the major funding foundations), or be triggered by a widespread public recognition of the probable exhaustion of existing applied medical science approaches to solving major therapeutic challenges.
The project team has theoretically studied the mechanism of magnetohydrodynamic generator, the coupling of heat transfer and buoyancy-driven free convection, and radiation heat transfer. A number of ideas for the projects have been brainstormed in the team. The underline physi...
Intra-Generational Education: Imagining a Post-Age Pedagogy
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Haynes, Joanna; Murris, Karin
2017-01-01
This article discusses the idea of intra-generational education. Drawing on Braidotti's nomadic subject and Barad's conception of agency, we consider what intra-generational education might look like ontologically, in the light of critical posthumanism, in terms of natureculture world, nomadism and a vibrant indeterminacy of knowing subjects. In…
Managing industrial risk--having a tested and proven system to prevent and assess risk.
Heller, Stephen
2006-03-17
Some relatively easy techniques exist to improve the risk picture/profile to aid in preventing losses. Today with the advent of computer system resources, focusing on specific aspects of risk through systematic scoring and comparison, the risk analysis can be relatively easy to achieve. Techniques like these demonstrate how working experience and common sense can be combined mathematically into a flexible risk management tool or risk model for analyzing risk. The risk assessment methodology provided by companies today is no longer the ideas and practices of one group or even one company. It is reflective of the practice of many companies, as well as the ideas and expertise of academia and government regulators. The use of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques for making critical decisions has been recognized for many years for a variety of purposes. In today's computer age, the easy accessing and user-friendly nature for using these techniques, makes them a favorable choice for use in the risk assessment environment. The new user of these methodologies should find many ideas directly applicable to his or her needs when approaching risk decision making. The user should find their ideas readily adapted, with slight modification, to accurately reflect a specific situation using MCDM techniques. This makes them an attractive feature for use in assessment and risk modeling. The main advantage of decision making techniques, such as MCDM, is that in the early stages of a risk assessment, accurate data on industrial risk, and failures are lacking. In most cases, it is still insufficient to perform a thorough risk assessment using purely statistical concepts. The practical advantages towards deviating from strict data-driven protocol seem to outweigh the drawbacks. Industry failure data often comes at a high cost when a loss occurs. We can benefit from this unfortunate acquisition of data through the continuous refining of our decisions by incorporating this new information into our assessments. MCDM techniques offer flexibility in accessing comparison within broad data sets to reflect our best estimation of their importance towards contribution to the risk picture. This allows for the accurate determination of the more probable and more consequential issues. This can later be refined using more intensive risk techniques and the avoidance of less critical issues.
The Role of Scientific Modeling Criteria in Advancing Students' Explanatory Ideas of Magnetism
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cheng, Meng-Fei; Brown, David E.
2015-01-01
Student construction of models is a strong focus of current research and practice in science education. In order to study in detail the interactions between students' model generation and evaluation and their development of explanatory ideas to account for magnetic phenomena, a multi-session teaching experiment was conducted with a small number of…
Origins of Genius: Darwinian Perspectives on Creativity.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Simonton, Dean Keith
This study of creative genius argues that creativity can best be understood as a Darwinian process of variation and selection. The artist or scientist generates a wealth of ideas, and then subjects these ideas to aesthetic or scientific judgment, selecting only those that have the best chance to survive and reproduce. The book draws on the latest…
Chemical name extraction based on automatic training data generation and rich feature set.
Yan, Su; Spangler, W Scott; Chen, Ying
2013-01-01
The automation of extracting chemical names from text has significant value to biomedical and life science research. A major barrier in this task is the difficulty of getting a sizable and good quality data to train a reliable entity extraction model. Another difficulty is the selection of informative features of chemical names, since comprehensive domain knowledge on chemistry nomenclature is required. Leveraging random text generation techniques, we explore the idea of automatically creating training sets for the task of chemical name extraction. Assuming the availability of an incomplete list of chemical names, called a dictionary, we are able to generate well-controlled, random, yet realistic chemical-like training documents. We statistically analyze the construction of chemical names based on the incomplete dictionary, and propose a series of new features, without relying on any domain knowledge. Compared to state-of-the-art models learned from manually labeled data and domain knowledge, our solution shows better or comparable results in annotating real-world data with less human effort. Moreover, we report an interesting observation about the language for chemical names. That is, both the structural and semantic components of chemical names follow a Zipfian distribution, which resembles many natural languages.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Garfin, G. M.; Brugger, J.; Gordon, E. S.; Barsugli, J. J.; Rangwala, I.; Travis, W.
2015-12-01
For more than a decade, stakeholder needs assessments and reports, including the recent National Climate Assessment, have pointed out the need for climate "science translators" or "science integrators" who can help bridge the gap between the cultures and contexts of researchers and decision-makers. Integration is important for exchanging and enhancing knowledge, building capacity to use climate information in decision making, and fostering more robust planning for decision-making in the context of climate change. This talk will report on the characteristics of successful climate science integrators, and a variety of models for training the upcoming generation of climate science integrators. Science integration characteristics identified by an experienced vanguard in the U.S. include maintaining credibility in both the scientific and stakeholder communities, a basic respect for stakeholders demonstrated through active listening, and a deep understanding of the decision-making context. Drawing upon the lessons of training programs for Cooperative Extension, public health professionals, and natural resource managers, we offer ideas about training next generation climate science integrators. Our model combines training and development of skills in interpersonal relations, communication of science, project implementation, education techniques and practices - integrated with a strong foundation in disciplinary knowledge.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Crane, Loren D.
This paper describes six specific techniques that speech communication students may use in rehearsals to improve memory, to increase delivery skills, and to reduce speech stress. The techniques are idea association, covert modeling, desensitization, language elaboration, overt modeling, and self-regulation. Recent research is reviewed that…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Delbende, Jean-Christophe; And Others
1996-01-01
Four ideas for French language classroom activities are described: an exercise in listening to popular songs; a film scenario rewriting exercise; a technique for teaching the subjunctive mood; and a paired or small-group activity to enhance understanding of advertising. (MSE)
Kolin, Alexander; Steele, James R.; Imai, James S.; Macalpin, Rex N.
1974-01-01
A combination of deformable flow probes of negligible lateral dimensions with an electronic circuit capable of providing a prolonged plateau of dB/dt = 0 and of sampling the flow signal at the end of this interval permits electromagnetic measurement of blood flow with a reliable zero base line secured by switching off the magnet. An extracorporeal magnet provides the magnetic field. The flow transducer is introduced into the vascular system percutaneously through a standard angiographic catheter by conventional technique. The idea of the current generator can be described as “principle of interrupted resonance.” The current wave form can be described as a sequence of disconnected bisected sine waves joined at the apices by horizontal current plateaus where di/dt is strictly zero. Images PMID:4275395
Insight in the Brain: The Cognitive and Neural Bases of Eureka Moments
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Beeman, Mark
Where do new ideas come from? Although all new ideas build on old, this can happen in different ways. Some new ideas, or solutions to old problems, are achieved through methodical, analytical processing. Other new ideas come about in a sudden burst of insight, often based on or generating a restructured view of the problem itself. Behavioral, brain imaging, and eye-tracking results all reveal distinct cortical networks contributing to insight solving, as contrasted with analytic solving. Consistently, the way in which people solve problems appears to relate to the way they engage attention and cognitive control: across time, across moods,more » and across individuals. Insight is favored when people can disengage from strong stimuli and associations - figuratively and literally looking "outside the box" of the problem to suddenly solve with a new idea.« less
deCarvalho, R J
1999-05-01
Otto Rank's will therapy helped shape the ideas and techniques of relationship therapy developed by the Philadelphia social workers Jessie Taft, Virginia Robinson, and Frederick Allen in the 1930s. Rank's work and these ideas and techniques in turn strongly influenced the formulation of Carl Rogers' person-centered psychotherapy. This article compares and contrasts will, relationship, and person-centered approaches to psychotherapy and discusses the social factors--primarily the professional conflicts between a male-dominated psychiatry and female social workers over the independent practice of psychotherapy--that were crucial in the dissemination of Rank's psychological thought and the early popularity of Rogers.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Twenge, Jean M.
2011-01-01
This author became intrigued by the idea that her generation, who had grown up reaping the benefits of second-wave feminism, might differ from previous generations in their attitudes toward women. What was unclear was how this period of progress might have combined with feminist backlash in affecting subsequent generations' responses to typical…
Large Ensemble Analytic Framework for Consequence-Driven Discovery of Climate Change Scenarios
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lamontagne, Jonathan R.; Reed, Patrick M.; Link, Robert; Calvin, Katherine V.; Clarke, Leon E.; Edmonds, James A.
2018-03-01
An analytic scenario generation framework is developed based on the idea that the same climate outcome can result from very different socioeconomic and policy drivers. The framework builds on the Scenario Matrix Framework's abstraction of "challenges to mitigation" and "challenges to adaptation" to facilitate the flexible discovery of diverse and consequential scenarios. We combine visual and statistical techniques for interrogating a large factorial data set of 33,750 scenarios generated using the Global Change Assessment Model. We demonstrate how the analytic framework can aid in identifying which scenario assumptions are most tied to user-specified measures for policy relevant outcomes of interest, specifically for our example high or low mitigation costs. We show that the current approach for selecting reference scenarios can miss policy relevant scenario narratives that often emerge as hybrids of optimistic and pessimistic scenario assumptions. We also show that the same scenario assumption can be associated with both high and low mitigation costs depending on the climate outcome of interest and the mitigation policy context. In the illustrative example, we show how agricultural productivity, population growth, and economic growth are most predictive of the level of mitigation costs. Formulating policy relevant scenarios of deeply and broadly uncertain futures benefits from large ensemble-based exploration of quantitative measures of consequences. To this end, we have contributed a large database of climate change futures that can support "bottom-up" scenario generation techniques that capture a broader array of consequences than those that emerge from limited sampling of a few reference scenarios.
Breakthrough thinking from inside the box.
Coyne, Kevin P; Clifford, Patricia Gorman; Dye, Renée
2007-12-01
Companies often begin their search for great ideas either by encouraging wild, outside-the-box thinking or by conducting quantitative analysis of existing market and financial data and customer opinions. Those approaches can produce middling ideas at best, say Coyne, founder of an executive-counseling firm in Atlanta, and Clifford and Dye, strategy experts at McKinsey. The problem with the first method is that few people are very good at unstructured, abstract brainstorming. The problems with the second are that databases are usually compiled to describe current--not future--offerings, and customers rarely can tell you whether they need or want a product if they've never seen it. The secret to getting your organization to regularly generate lots of good ideas, and occasionally some great ones, is deceptively simple: First, create new boxes for people to think within so that they don't get lost in the cosmos and they have a basis for offering ideas and knowing whether they're making progress in the brainstorming session. Second, redesign ideation processes to remove obstacles that interfere with the flow of ideas--such as most people's aversion to speaking in groups larger than ten. This article offers a tested approach that poses concrete questions. For example, what do Rollerblades, Häagen-Dazs ice cream, and Spider-Man movies have in common? The answer: Each is something that adults loved as children and that was reproduced in an expensive form for grown-ups. Asking brainstorming participants to ponder how their childhood passions could be recast as adult offerings might generate some fabulous ideas for new products or services.
Does the New Digital Generation of Learners Exist? A Qualitative Study
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Sanchez, Jaime; Salinas, Alvaro; Contreras, David; Meyer, Eduardo
2011-01-01
This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion on the current generation of students and their relationship to technology, providing qualitative, empirical information obtained in the Chilean context. The study analyses and discusses the ideas regarding the emergence of a new generation of learners, or digital natives, as characterised by…
Do the Brain Networks of Scientists Account for Their Superiority in Hypothesis-Generating?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lee, Jun-Ki
2012-01-01
Where do scientists' superior abilities originate from when generating a creative idea? What different brain functions are activated between scientists and i) general academic high school students and ii) science high school students when generating a biological hypothesis? To reveal brain level explanations for these questions, this paper…
Modelling Analysis of Students' Processes of Generating Scientific Explanatory Hypotheses
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Park, Jongwon
2006-01-01
It has recently been determined that generating an explanatory hypothesis to explain a discrepant event is important for students' conceptual change. The purpose of this study is to investigate how students' generate new explanatory hypotheses. To achieve this goal, questions are used to identify students prior ideas related to electromagnetic…
Learner-Generated Content and Engagement in Second Language Task Performance
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lambert, Craig; Philp, Jenefer; Nakamura, Sachiko
2017-01-01
This study investigates the benefits of designing second language (L2) learning tasks to operate on learner-generated content (related to actual content in their lives and experiences) as opposed to teacher-generated content typical of current approaches to L2 task design (fictitious ideas and events created to provide an opportunity for…
Wang, Mei; Wang, Hongxia; Zhao, Namula
2015-02-01
To explore the unique ideas, properties, and standards of fracture repositioning with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China. Based on the natural life concept of "integration of universe and man", osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China uses the modern principles and methods of physiology, psychology, and biomechanics. Against this background, we explored the unique ideas, properties, and stan- dards of fracture repositioning in traditional Mongolian medicine. Fracture treatment with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China is based on (a) the ideas of natural, sealed, self and dynamic repositioning of fractures; (b) the properties of structural continuity and functional completeness; (c) the standards of "integration of movement and stillness" and "force to force". The unique ideas, properties, and standards of fracture repositioning with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China have resulted in the widespread use of such techniques and represents the future direction of the development of fracture repositioning.
From the Teachers Professional Ethics to the Personal Professional Responsibility
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Seghedin, Elena
2014-01-01
Following the idea of civic responsibility of all adults for the new generation, we have tried, in different previous studies, to demonstrate that teaching is involving a lot of moral principles and values. Our present article aim is to present a part of our research about the teaching ethics under the idea of being a stable dimension of teaching…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wexler, Jade; Reed, Deborah K.; Barton, Erin E.; Mitchell, Marisa; Clancy, Erin
2018-01-01
Many youth in the juvenile justice system with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders struggle with reading. A multiple-baseline-across-participants single-case research design was used to examine the relationship between a supplemental peer-mediated reading intervention and juvenile offenders' generation of main idea statements about…
Creativity and Collaborative Learning and Teaching Strategies in the Design Disciplines
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Turnbull, Morag; Littlejohn, Allison; Allan, Malcolm
2010-01-01
Creativity can be described as the ability to generate new ideas and combine existing ideas in new ways to find novel solutions to problems. Creativity is enhanced by a free flow of knowledge and through social contact. On this basis, the authors argue that knowledge sharing is central to creativity in design and present preliminary evidence to…
A Lesson Based on Student-Generated Ideas: A Practical Example Highlighting the Role of a Teacher
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Fuentes, Sarah Quebec
2011-01-01
The role of a teacher is different from that in traditional mathematics instruction when the implementation of a lesson is based on students' ideas. The author's experience teaching the same lesson (of the latter format) to two different classes of pre-service teachers in an elementary mathematics methods course is described. Since whole-class…
From Disk to Hard Copy: Teaching Writing with Computers.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Strickland, James
This book is based on the idea that finding the perfect piece of software is less important than understanding the role of computers in helping all students do what writers do: get ideas, generate material, manipulate that material, confer and collaborate with others in the classroom or over a network, edit the documents, and publish a final copy.…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Guo, Jing; McLeod, Poppy Lauretta
2014-01-01
Drawing upon the Search for Ideas in Associative Memory (SIAM) model as the theoretical framework, the impact of heterogeneity and topic relevance of visual stimuli on ideation performance was examined. Results from a laboratory experiment showed that visual stimuli increased productivity and diversity of idea generation, that relevance to the…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Perez, Jose Gutierrez; Llorente, Ma Teresa Pozo
2005-01-01
The main idea this article develops is the conceptual chaos, methodological tensions and epistemological conflicts that are being experienced in the field of environmental education as a result of the uncertainty generated by some institutions and international organisms. The authors' perspective starts from the idea that too many expectations…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Moje, Elizabeth Birr
Based on the premise that young people have important stories to tell, this book presents adolescents' lives and experiences to show the importance of understanding their literacy practices, to generate ideas for relating those practices to teaching and curriculum development, and to advance the idea that all children need strong, abiding…
Struggling Writers' Use of iPad Art and Text Apps for Story Writing
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Dunn, Michael
2015-01-01
Many children struggle with writing. Idea generation, planning, organizing ideas, editing, and encoding a final text all have a part in a child's producing a publishable copy. Part of the challenge for these students is how working memory can be overloaded when initially planning and writing at the same time. To address this issue, the author…
Meteorological needs of the aviation community
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Luers, J. K.
1977-01-01
A study was conducted to determine the important meteorological needs of the aviation community and to recommend research in those areas judged most beneficial. The study was valuable in that it provided a comprehensive list of suspected meteorological deficiencies and ideas for research programs relative to these deficiencies. The list and ideas were generated from contacts with various pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists.
Profits and prophets: Derrida on linguistic bereavement and (Im)possibility in nursing.
Pesut, Barbara
2018-01-01
The work of Jacques Derrida has received relatively little attention within nursing philosophy. Perhaps this is because Derrida is known best for deconstructing philosophy itself, a task he performed by making language unintelligible to make a point. This in itself makes his work daunting for nurses who do applied philosophy. Despite these difficulties, Derrida's focus on holding open a space for ideas, particularly those ideas that are invisible or unpopular, holds potential for enhancing the diversity of ideas within nursing. His work, liberally scattered with religious references, and focused on deconstructing language that served the profits of a few, earned him the characterization of a prophet without religion. This idea was further supported in the way his deconstruction attempted to keep spaces open for the un-representable and its generativity in opening new possibilities in life. A deconstruction for generative purposes is particularly helpful within palliative care where language quickly takes on dogma in the face of mystery and where new possibilities support life amidst the irrevocable nature of death. In this article, I discuss Derrida's deconstructive approach of differance and then apply that approach to language common in palliative care. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Classroom Management Through the Application of Behavior Modification Techniques.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ferinden, William E., Jr.
The primary aim of this book is to bring to the grade school teacher a survey of the most recent techniques and ideas of behavior modification which are applicable to good classroom management. All of the approaches and techniques presented could be of interest to teachers working at all grade levels. Since research has shown that the systematic…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Storer, I. J.; Campbell, R. I.
2012-01-01
Industrial Designers need to understand and command a number of modelling techniques to communicate their ideas to themselves and others. Verbal explanations, sketches, engineering drawings, computer aided design (CAD) models and physical prototypes are the most commonly used communication techniques. Within design, unlike some disciplines,…
Retraining therapy for chronic tinnitus. A critical analysis of its status.
Kroener-Herwig, B; Biesinger, E; Gerhards, F; Goebel, G; Verena Greimel, K; Hiller, W
2000-01-01
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), as conceived of mainly by PJ Jastreboff, has recently received increasing attention in the media, as well as in seminars and congresses on treatment methods for chronic tinnitus. It is often claimed, though not explicitly in scientific publications, that TRT is currently the most efficacious therapy for tinnitus, obtaining improvement rates exceeding 80%. This assertion is highly significant in light of the most likely increasing prevalence of chronic tinnitus and ensuing urgent demand for effective therapies. Before examining the evidence regarding the effectiveness of TRT, Jastreboff's theoretical idea of tinnitus as a neurophysiological disorder is examined and evaluated. This idea is plausible and is supported by some evidence. The interaction between neuroacoustic and emotional processes emphasized by Jastreboff is, however, neither new nor sufficiently elaborated with respect to the underlying psychological factors. The TRT intervention technique and its main components 'directive counselling' and use of 'noise generators' are found to be theoretically well grounded. The lack of detailed information concerning TRT implementation and the potential consequence that differing interventions may be labelled TRT are criticized. Jastreboff's obvious opposition to psychologists' participation in TRT, despite the increase in efficacy they could affect through utilization of cognitive restructuring techniques and behaviour modification interventions, is also criticized. Finally, studies regarding the efficacy of TRT are reviewed and severe methodological shortcomings (e.g. lack of controlled randomized group studies) in TRT research are noted. Taking the current state of evidence into account, we conclude that there is no convincing empirical support for the assumption that TRT is superior to other treatments, since no comparative studies have been conducted. It is contended that there is more substantial empirical support for the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural interventions in reducing tinnitus annoyance and tinnitus-related suffering. The necessity for methodologically well-designed studies to pinpoint effect sizes of TRT and compare them with other techniques, especially cognitive-behavioural ones, is emphasized.
Motivational Antecedents of Individual Innovation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Picci, Patrizia; Battistelli, Adalgisa
The current work seeks to focus on the innovative work behavior and, in particular, on the stage of idea generation. An important factor that stimulates the individual to carry out the various emergent processes of change and innovation within the organization is known as intrinsic motivation, but under certain conditions, the presence of different forms of extrinsic motivation, as external regulation, introjection, identification and integration, positively influences innovative behavior at work, specifically the creative stage of the process. Starting from this evidence, the organizational environment could be capable of stimulating or indeed inhibiting potential creativity and innovation of individuals. About 100 individuals employees of a local government health department in Central Italy were given an explicit questionnaire. The results show that among external factors that effect the individual such as control, rewards and recognition for work well done, controlled motivation influences overall innovative behavior whereas autonomous motivation plays a significant role in the specific behavior of idea generation. At the same time, it must also be acknowledged that a clearly articulated task which allows an individual to identify with said task, seems to favor overall innovative behavior, whilst a task which allows a fair degree of autonomy influences the behavior of generating ideas.
The Saint Louis River Idea-Slam crowd sourcing good ideas ...
As part of the 2017 Saint Louis River Summit, we propose hosting an “Idea-Slam” using software originally developed by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Idea-box is an open source online app/website used to collect and surface ideas from members of an organization, or the public in general. Using the app, users login, view a request or challenge for new ideas, can submit their own ideas and/or view, comment and vote on other previously submitted ideas. Initially we will start with three idea request or “challenges” as listed below. The first will be run prior to the Summit to help generate additional challenges that might be added for the summit depending on the results. Initial Idea Challenges:1. (Prior to summit) If you could ask a large group of Saint Louis River focused scientist, stakeholders, managers, politicians and the public a question about the SLR, what would you ask?2. How might we better engage students and educators with the Saint Louis River?3. How might we employ citizen science for the Saint Louis River?The Idea-box app will be available for users two weeks before the Saint Louis Summit. We will e-mail previous summit participants and others an invitation to participate in “The Saint Louis River Idea-Slam” with clear instruction on how to proceed. During the morning of the first day at the Saint Louis Summit we will make a brief announcement about the Idea-Slam (< 2min.), and invite everyone to participate.
Integrated digital/electric aircraft concepts study
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Cronin, M. J.; Hays, A. P.; Green, F. B.; Radovcich, N. A.; Helsley, C. W.; Rutchik, W. L.
1985-01-01
The integrated digital/electrical aircraft (IDEA) is an aircraft concept which employs all electric secondary power systems and advanced digital flight control systems. After trade analysis, preferred systems were applied to the baseline configuration. An additional configuration, the alternate IDEA, was also considered. For this concept the design ground rules were relaxed in order to quantify additional synergistic benefits. It was proposed that an IDEA configuration and technical risks associated with the IDEA systems concepts be defined and the research and development required activities to reduce these risks be identified. The selected subsystems include: power generation, power distribution, actuators, environmental control system and flight controls systems. When the aircraft was resized, block fuel was predicted to decrease by 11.3 percent, with 7.9 percent decrease in direct operating cost. The alternate IDEA shows a further 3.4 percent reduction in block fuel and 3.1 percent reduction in direct operating cost.
Scientific entrepreneurship in the materials and life science industries.
Dinglasan, Jose Amado; Anderson, Darren J; Thomas, Keith
2011-01-01
Scientists constantly generate great ideas in the laboratory and, as most of us were meant to believe, we should publish or perish. After all, what use is a great scientific idea if it is not shared with the rest of the scientific community? What some scientists forget is that a good idea can be worth something - sometimes it can be worth a lot (of money)! What do you do if you believe that your idea has some commercial potential? How do you turn this idea into a business? This chapter gives the aspiring scientific entrepreneur some (hopefully) valuable advice on topics like choosing the right people for your management team, determining inventorship of the technology and ownership shares in the new company, protecting your intellectual property, and others; finally, it describes some of the various pitfalls you may encounter when commercializing an early stage technology and instructions on how to avoid them.
ERM Ideas and Innovations: Digital Repository Management as ERM
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Pinkas, María M.; Lin, Na
2014-01-01
This article describes the application of electronic resources management (ERM) to digital repository management at the Health Sciences and Human Services Library at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The authors discuss electronic resources management techniques, through the application of "Techniques for Electronic Management,"…
Whitewater Kayaking Instruction: Skills and Techniques.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Poff, Raymond; Stuessy, Tom
This paper briefly presents ideas and techniques that can facilitate effective whitewater kayaking instruction. Instructors often focus so much on the mechanics of specific skills that they overlook less obvious, but equally important, aspects of instruction. These aspects include the underlying purposes and guiding principles of kayaking…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Burack, A. S., Ed.
Forty novelists share their ideas and experience on various aspects of writing book-length fiction in this volume. Problems of technique, plotting, theme, characterization, planning, flashbacks, pace, suspense, dialogue, setting, and point of view are discussed by these contemporary authors. Some of the chapters and authors include: (1)…
Di Pietro, C; Di Pietro, V; Emmanuele, G; Ferro, A; Maugeri, T; Modica, E; Pigola, G; Pulvirenti, A; Purrello, M; Ragusa, M; Scalia, M; Shasha, D; Travali, S; Zimmitti, V
2003-01-01
In this paper we present a new Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) algorithm called AntiClusAl. The method makes use of the commonly use idea of aligning homologous sequences belonging to classes generated by some clustering algorithm, and then continue the alignment process ina bottom-up way along a suitable tree structure. The final result is then read at the root of the tree. Multiple sequence alignment in each cluster makes use of the progressive alignment with the 1-median (center) of the cluster. The 1-median of set S of sequences is the element of S which minimizes the average distance from any other sequence in S. Its exact computation requires quadratic time. The basic idea of our proposed algorithm is to make use of a simple and natural algorithmic technique based on randomized tournaments which has been successfully applied to large size search problems in general metric spaces. In particular a clustering algorithm called Antipole tree and an approximate linear 1-median computation are used. Our algorithm compared with Clustal W, a widely used tool to MSA, shows a better running time results with fully comparable alignment quality. A successful biological application showing high aminoacid conservation during evolution of Xenopus laevis SOD2 is also cited.
Innovation in medicine: Ignaz the reviled and Egas the regaled.
Csoka, Antonei Benjamin
2016-06-01
In our current climate of rapid technological progress, it seems counterintuitive to think that modern science can learn anything of ethical value from the dark recesses of the nineteenth century or earlier. However, this happens to be quite true, with plenty of knowledge and wisdom to be gleaned by studying our scientific predecessors. Presently, our journals are flooded with original concepts and potential breakthroughs, a continuous stream of ideas pushing the frontiers of knowledge ever forward. Some ideas flourish while others flounder; but what sets the two apart? The distinguishing feature between success and failure within this context is the ability to discern the appropriate time to accept an innovation with open arms, versus when to take a more cautious approach. And the primary arbiters for whether an idea will catch on or not are the professional audience. I illustrate this concept by comparing the initial reception of two innovative ideas from Medicine's past: sterile technique, and prefrontal lobotomy. Sterile technique was first introduced by Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis and was initially ridiculed and rejected, with Semmelweis eventually dying in exile. Conversely, lobotomy was accepted and lauded and its inventor, Dr. Egas Moniz, won the Nobel Prize for his "discovery". This begs the question: why was a technique with the potential to save millions of lives initially rejected, whereas paradoxically, one that compromised and sometimes destroyed lives, accepted? Here I explore and analyze the potential reasons why, suggest how we can learn from these mistakes of the past and apply new insight to some current ethical dilemmas.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Guchhait, Shyamal; Banerjee, Biswanath
2018-04-01
In this paper, a variant of constitutive equation error based material parameter estimation procedure for linear elastic plates is developed from partially measured free vibration sig-natures. It has been reported in many research articles that the mode shape curvatures are much more sensitive compared to mode shape themselves to localize inhomogeneity. Complying with this idea, an identification procedure is framed as an optimization problem where the proposed cost function measures the error in constitutive relation due to incompatible curvature/strain and moment/stress fields. Unlike standard constitutive equation error based procedure wherein a solution of a couple system is unavoidable in each iteration, we generate these incompatible fields via two linear solves. A simple, yet effective, penalty based approach is followed to incorporate measured data. The penalization parameter not only helps in incorporating corrupted measurement data weakly but also acts as a regularizer against the ill-posedness of the inverse problem. Explicit linear update formulas are then developed for anisotropic linear elastic material. Numerical examples are provided to show the applicability of the proposed technique. Finally, an experimental validation is also provided.
Measurement Issues In Pulsed Laser Propulsion
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Sinko, John E.; Scharring, Stefan; Eckel, Hans-Albert
Various measurement techniques have been used throughout the over 40-year history of laser propulsion. Often, these approaches suffered from inconsistencies in definitions of the key parameters that define the physics of laser ablation impulse generation. Such parameters include, but are not limited to the pulse energy, spot area, imparted impulse, and ablated mass. The limits and characteristics of common measurement techniques in each of these areas will be explored as they relate to laser propulsion. The idea of establishing some standardization system for laser propulsion data is introduced in this paper, so that reported results may be considered and studiedmore » by the general community with more certain understanding of particular merits and limitations. In particular, it is the intention to propose a minimum set of requirements a literature study should meet. Some international standards for measurements are already published, but modifications or revisions of such standards may be necessary for application to laser ablation propulsion. Issues relating to development of standards will be discussed, as well as some examples of specific experimental circumstances in which standardization would have prevented misinterpretation or misuse of past data.« less
Water ascent in trees and lianas: the cohesion-tension theory revisited in the wake of Otto Renner.
Bentrup, Friedrich-Wilhelm
2017-03-01
The cohesion-tension theory of water ascent (C-T) has been challenged over the past decades by a large body of experimental evidence obtained by means of several minimum or non-invasive techniques. The evidence strongly suggests that land plants acquire water through interplay of several mechanisms covered by the multi-force theory of (U. Zimmermann et al. New Phytologist 162: 575-615, 2004). The diversity of mechanisms includes, for instance, water acquisition by inverse transpiration and thermodynamically uphill transmembrane water secretion by cation-chloride cotransporters (L.H. Wegner, Progress in Botany 76:109-141, 2014). This whole plant perspective was opened by Otto Renner at the beginning of the last century who supported experimentally the strictly xylem-bound C-T mechanism, yet anticipated that the water ascent involves both the xylem conduit and parenchyma tissues. The survey also illustrates the known paradigm that new techniques generate new insights, as well as a paradigm experienced by Max Planck that a new scientific idea is not welcomed by the community instantly.
Tools for community-oriented primary care: use of key informant trees in eleven practices.
Williams, R. L.; Jaén, C. R.
2000-01-01
Physicians increasingly need information about their communities to use in care of the individual patient. Busy practitioners need feasible methods for collecting this information before they can begin to gather and use it, however. Our objective was to study key informant trees as a practical approach for practice-based gathering of qualitative data from a community. Following a standard protocol, key informant trees were set up in 11 different practices to study the costs, advantages, and problems with their use for this purpose. Time studies showed that each tree took 7 to 11 hours of physician time and 7 hours of clerical time to organize and conduct. The technique appeared to be best suited for two qualitative informational needs: idea generation and explanatory data gathering. Trees appeared most productive where there was stability of physician staff in the practice, where the practice had been present in the community for some years, and where community residents were relatively stable. Response and selection biases are important considerations in use of this technique. PMID:10976171
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Penin, A. N.; Reutova, T. A.; Sergienko, A. V.
1992-01-01
An experiment on one-photon state localization in space using a correlation technique in Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC) process is discussed. Results of measurements demonstrate an idea of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox for coordinate and momentum variables of photon states. Results of the experiment can be explained with the help of an advanced wave technique. The experiment is based on the idea that two-photon states of optical electromagnetic fields arising in the nonlinear process of the spontaneous parametric down conversion (spontaneous parametric light scattering) can be explained by quantum mechanical theory with the help of a single wave function.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Penin, A. N.; Reutova, T. A.; Sergienko, A. V.
1992-02-01
An experiment on one-photon state localization in space using a correlation technique in Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC) process is discussed. Results of measurements demonstrate an idea of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox for coordinate and momentum variables of photon states. Results of the experiment can be explained with the help of an advanced wave technique. The experiment is based on the idea that two-photon states of optical electromagnetic fields arising in the nonlinear process of the spontaneous parametric down conversion (spontaneous parametric light scattering) can be explained by quantum mechanical theory with the help of a single wave function.
Clinical prediction and the idea of a population.
Armstrong, David
2017-04-01
Using an analysis of the British Medical Journal over the past 170 years, this article describes how changes in the idea of a population have informed new technologies of medical prediction. These approaches have largely replaced older ideas of clinical prognosis based on understanding the natural histories of the underlying pathologies. The 19 th -century idea of a population, which provided a denominator for medical events such as births and deaths, was constrained in its predictive power by its method of enumerating individual bodies. During the 20 th century, populations were increasingly constructed through inferential techniques based on patient groups and samples seen to possess variable characteristics. The emergence of these new virtual populations created the conditions for the emergence of predictive algorithms that are used to foretell our medical futures.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hunt, Carolyn S.; Crumpler, Thomas P.; Handsfield, Lara J.
2016-01-01
We consider how research participants engage alongside researchers as choreographers of data generation and highlight the everyday practices of researchers and participants "in motion" within and across time and space. Data for this case analysis were generated during a two-year qualitative study investigating multimodal literacies,…
The Management of New Ideas: An Entrepreneur’s Perspective
2017-06-01
MARCIMS Marine Civil Information Management System MARCORSYSCOM Marine Corps Systems Command MARFORPAC Marine Forces Pacific Command MCCDC Marine Corp...any personally identifying information . While this work aims to generate theory related to the management of new ideas and their meanings during the...currently deployed civil information management system as the current system in use was antiquated and frustrating to use. While we were enthusiastic
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wright, Tarah Sharon Alexandra
2004-01-01
This paper reports on a Delphi Study undertaken at Dalhousie University in which a multi-stakeholder panel was consulted in order to generate ideas that could be incorporated into an Implementation Plan for the University Environmental Policy (UEP). The objectives of the study were twofold. First, the study endeavored to develop ideas as to the…
Font generation of personal handwritten Chinese characters
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lin, Jeng-Wei; Wang, Chih-Yin; Ting, Chao-Lung; Chang, Ray-I.
2014-01-01
Today, digital multimedia messages have drawn more and more attention due to the great achievement of computer and network techniques. Nevertheless, text is still the most popular media for people to communicate with others. Many fonts have been developed so that product designers can choose unique fonts to demonstrate their idea gracefully. It is commonly believed that handwritings can reflect one's personality, emotion, feeling, education level, and so on. This is especially true in Chinese calligraphy. However, it is not easy for ordinary users to customize a font of their personal handwritings. In this study, we performed a process reengineering in font generation. We present a new method to create font in a batch mode. Rather than to create glyphs of characters one by one according to their codepoints, people create glyphs incrementally in an on-demand manner. A Java Implementation is developed to read a document image of user handwritten Chinese characters, and make a vector font of these handwritten Chinese characters. Preliminary experiment result shows that the proposed method can help ordinary users create their personal handwritten fonts easily and quickly.
Predicting future discoveries from current scientific literature.
Petrič, Ingrid; Cestnik, Bojan
2014-01-01
Knowledge discovery in biomedicine is a time-consuming process starting from the basic research, through preclinical testing, towards possible clinical applications. Crossing of conceptual boundaries is often needed for groundbreaking biomedical research that generates highly inventive discoveries. We demonstrate the ability of a creative literature mining method to advance valuable new discoveries based on rare ideas from existing literature. When emerging ideas from scientific literature are put together as fragments of knowledge in a systematic way, they may lead to original, sometimes surprising, research findings. If enough scientific evidence is already published for the association of such findings, they can be considered as scientific hypotheses. In this chapter, we describe a method for the computer-aided generation of such hypotheses based on the existing scientific literature. Our literature-based discovery of NF-kappaB with its possible connections to autism was recently approved by scientific community, which confirms the ability of our literature mining methodology to accelerate future discoveries based on rare ideas from existing literature.
Expertise in Musical Improvisation and Creativity: The Mediation of Idea Evaluation
Kleinmintz, Oded M.; Goldstein, Pavel; Mayseless, Naama; Abecasis, Donna; Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G.
2014-01-01
The current study explored the influence of musical expertise, and specifically training in improvisation on creativity, using the framework of the twofold model, according to which creativity involves a process of idea generation and idea evaluation. Based on the hypothesis that a strict evaluation phase may have an inhibiting effect over the generation phase, we predicted that training in improvisation may have a “releasing effect” on the evaluation system, leading to greater creativity. To examine this hypothesis, we compared performance among three groups - musicians trained in improvisation, musicians not trained in improvisation, and non-musicians - on divergent thinking tasks and on their evaluation of creativity. The improvisation group scored higher on fluency and originality compared to the other two groups. Among the musicians, evaluation of creativity mediated how experience in improvisation was related to originality and fluency scores. It is concluded that deliberate practice of improvisation may have a “releasing effect” on creativity. PMID:25010334
Algorithms for Adaptation in Aerial Surveillance
2002-03-01
In the brain small local structures can involve inhibition whereas more distant functional areas are less likely to have inhibition. This appeals to...and 2. retains a more conventional programming model [than the PDP approach]. The former is achieved by appealing to well understood ideas from...1980s. The statistical techniques used in our implementation of these ideas (GRAVA) are appealing to us for three reasons: 91 5.2. PRIOR WORK 1. GRAVA
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Vever, Daniel; And Others
1991-01-01
Four class activities for French language instruction are described, including a crossword puzzle exercise emphasizing French culture, use of films for developing a variety of language skills, techniques for helping students discuss others' ideas, and an exercise promoting discussion through photographs of older adults engaged in various…
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Alhusaini, Abdulnasser Alashaal F.
The Real Engagement in Active Problem Solving (REAPS) model was developed in 2004 by C. June Maker and colleagues as an intervention for gifted students to develop creative problem solving ability through the use of real-world problems. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the REAPS model on developing students' general creativity and creative problem solving in science with two durations as independent variables. The long duration of the REAPS model implementation lasted five academic quarters or approximately 10 months; the short duration lasted two quarters or approximately four months. The dependent variables were students' general creativity and creative problem solving in science. The second purpose of the study was to explore which aspects of creative problem solving (i.e., generating ideas, generating different types of ideas, generating original ideas, adding details to ideas, generating ideas with social impact, finding problems, generating and elaborating on solutions, and classifying elements) were most affected by the long duration of the intervention. The REAPS model in conjunction with Amabile's (1983; 1996) model of creative performance provided the theoretical framework for this study. The study was conducted using data from the Project of Differentiation for Diverse Learners in Regular Classrooms (i.e., the Australian Project) in which one public elementary school in the eastern region of Australia cooperated with the DISCOVER research team at the University of Arizona. All students in the school from first to sixth grade participated in the study. The total sample was 360 students, of which 115 were exposed to a long duration and 245 to a short duration of the REAPS model. The principal investigators used a quasi-experimental research design in which all students in the school received the treatment for different durations. Students in both groups completed pre- and posttests using the Test of Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP) and the Test of Creative Problem Solving in Science (TCPS-S). A one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to control for differences between the two groups on pretest results. Statistically significant differences were not found between posttest scores on the TCT-DP for the two durations of REAPS model implementation. However, statistically significant differences were found between posttest scores on the TCPS-S. These findings are consistent with Amabile's (1983; 1996) model of creative performance, particularly her explanation that domain-specific creativity requires knowledge such as specific content and technical skills that must be learned prior to being applied creatively. The findings are also consistent with literature in which researchers have found that longer interventions typically result in expected positive growth in domain-specific creativity, while both longer and shorter interventions have been found effective in improving domain-general creativity. Change scores were also calculated between pre- and posttest scores on the 8 aspects of creativity (Maker, Jo, Alfaiz, & Alhusaini, 2015a), and a binary logistic regression was conducted to assess which were the most affected by the long duration of the intervention. The regression model was statistically significant, with aspects of generating ideas, adding details to ideas, and finding problems being the most affected by the long duration of the intervention. Based on these findings, the researcher believes that the REAPS model is a useful intervention to develop students' creativity. Future researchers should implement the model for longer durations if they are interested in developing students' domain-specific creative problem solving ability.
Strong Electroweak Symmetry Breaking in the Large Hadron Collider Era
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Evans, Jared Andrew
2011-12-01
With the Large Hadron Collider collecting data, both the pursuit of novel detection techniques and the exploration of new ideas are more important than ever. Novel detection techniques are essential in order for the community to garner the most worth from the machine. New ideas are needed both to expand the boundaries of what could be observed and to foster the creative mindset of the community that moves particle physics into fascinating, and often unexpected, directions. Discovering whether electroweak symmetry is broken strongly or weakly is one of the most pressing questions to be answered. Exploring the possibility of strong electroweak symmetry breaking is the topic of this work. The first of two major sectors in this work concerns the theory of conformal technicolor. We present the low energy minimal model for conformal technicolor and verify that it can satisfy current constraints from experiment. We will also provide a UV completion for this model, which realistically extends the sector with high-energy supersymmetry. Two complete models of flavor are presented. This is the first example of a complete, consistent model of strong electroweak symmetry breaking. The second of the two sectors discusses experimental signatures arising in a large class of general technicolor models at the Large Hadron Collider. The possible existence of narrow scalar states that can be produced via gluon-gluon fusion is first discussed. These states can decay into exotic final states of multiple electroweak gauge bosons, third generation particles and even light composite Higgs particles. A two Higgs doublet model is proposed as an effective way to model these exciting states. Lastly, we discuss the array of possible final states and their possible discovery.
Radiant thinking and the use of the mind map in nurse practitioner education.
Spencer, Julie R; Anderson, Kelley M; Ellis, Kathryn K
2013-05-01
The concept of radiant thinking, which led to the concept of mind mapping, promotes all aspects of the brain working in synergy, with thought beginning from a central point. The mind map, which is a graphical technique to improve creative thinking and knowledge attainment, utilizes colors, images, codes, and dimensions to amplify and enhance key ideas. This technique augments the visualization of relationships and links between concepts, which aids in information acquisition, data retention, and overall comprehension. Faculty can promote students' use of the technique for brainstorming, organizing ideas, taking notes, learning collaboratively, presenting, and studying. These applications can be used in problem-based learning, developing plans of care, health promotion activities, synthesizing disease processes, and forming differential diagnoses. Mind mapping is a creative way for students to engage in a unique method of learning that can expand memory recall and help create a new environment for processing information. Copyright 2013, SLACK Incorporated.
Innovating in health delivery: The Penn medicine innovation tournament.
Terwiesch, Christian; Mehta, Shivan J; Volpp, Kevin G
2013-06-01
Innovation tournaments can drive engagement and value generation by shifting problem-solving towards the end user. In health care, where the frontline workers have the most intimate understanding of patients' experience and the delivery process, encouraging them to generate and develop new approaches is critical to improving health care delivery. In many health care organizations, senior managers and clinicians retain control of innovation. Frontline workers need to be engaged in the innovation process. Penn Medicine launched a system-wide innovation tournament with the goal of improving the patient experience. We set a quantitative goal of receiving 500 ideas and getting at least 1000 employees to participate in the tournament. A secondary goal was to involve various groups of the care process (doctors, nurses, clerical staff, transporters). The tournament was broken up into three phases. During Phase 1, employees were encouraged to submit ideas. Submissions were judged by an expert panel and crowd sourcing based on their potential to improve patient experience and ability to be implemented within 6 months. During Phase 2, the best 200 ideas were pitched during a series of 5 workshops and ten finalists were selected. During Phase 3, the best 10 ideas were presented to and judged by an audience of about 200 interested employees and a judging panel of 15 administrators. Two winners were selected. A total of 1739 ideas were submitted and over 5000 employees participated in the innovation tournament. Patient convenience/amenities (21%) was the top category of submission, with other popular areas including technology optimization (11%), assistance with navigation within UPHS (10%), and improving patient/family centered care (9%) and care delivery models/transitions (9%). A combination of winning and submitted ideas were implemented. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hydrologic validation of a structure-from-motion DEM derived from low-altitude UAV imagery
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Steiner, Florian; Marzolff, Irene; d'Oleire-Oltmanns, Sebastian
2015-04-01
The increasing ease of use of current Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and 3D image processing software has spurred the number of applications relying on high-resolution topographic datasets. Of particular significance in this field is "structure from motion" (SfM), a photogrammetric technique used to generate low-cost digital elevation models (DEMs) for erosion budgeting, measuring of glaciers/lava-flows, archaeological applications and others. It was originally designed to generate 3D-models of buildings, based on unordered collections of images and has become increasingly common in geoscience applications during the last few years. Several studies on the accuracy of this technique already exist, in which the SfM data is mostly compared with Lidar-generated terrain data. The results are mainly positive, indicating that the technique is suitable for such applications. This work aims at validating very high resolution SfM DEMs with a different approach: Not the original elevation data is validated, but data on terrain-related hydrological and geomorphometric parameters derived from the DEM. The study site chosen for this analysis is an abandoned agricultural field near the city of Taroudant, in the semi-arid southern part of Morocco. The site is characterized by aggressive rill and gully erosion and is - apart from sparsely scattered shrub cover - mainly featureless. An area of 5.7 ha, equipped with 30 high-precision ground control points (GCPs), was covered with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in two different heights (85 and 170 m). A selection of 160 images was used to generate several high-resolution DEMs (2 and 5 cm resolution) of the area using the fully automated SfM software AGISOFT Photoscan. For comparison purposes, a conventional photogrammetry-based workflow using the Leica Photogrammetry Suite was used to generate a DEM with a resolution of 5 cm (LPS DEM). The evaluation is done by comparison of the SfM DEM with the derived orthoimages and the LPS DEM. Parameters evaluated include the flow accumulation, the extracted thalweg networks, slope and exposition. Thus, the question asked is not "Is the height at this specific point accurate compared to a true reference height?", but rather "Does the surface runoff modelled from this DEM behave in the same way as it does in reality?". This means that the DEM will be validated on a functional basis, examining the accuracy of hydrological connectivity and networks. The results of this work may help in the establishment of the SfM technique in geoscience applications, and give an idea of the hydrologic accuracy and reliability of such DEMs.
Boot, Nathalie; Baas, Matthijs; Mühlfeld, Elisabeth; de Dreu, Carsten K W; van Gaal, Simon
2017-09-01
Critical to creative cognition and performance is both the generation of multiple alternative solutions in response to open-ended problems (divergent thinking) and a series of cognitive operations that converges on the correct or best possible answer (convergent thinking). Although the neural underpinnings of divergent and convergent thinking are still poorly understood, several electroencephalography (EEG) studies point to differences in alpha-band oscillations between these thinking modes. We reason that, because most previous studies employed typical block designs, these pioneering findings may mainly reflect the more sustained aspects of creative processes that extend over longer time periods, and that still much is unknown about the faster-acting neural mechanisms that dissociate divergent from convergent thinking during idea generation. To this end, we developed a new event-related paradigm, in which we measured participants' tendency to implicitly follow a rule set by examples, versus breaking that rule, during the generation of novel names for specific categories (e.g., pasta, planets). This approach allowed us to compare the oscillatory dynamics of rule convergent and rule divergent idea generation and at the same time enabled us to measure spontaneous switching between these thinking modes on a trial-to-trial basis. We found that, relative to more systematic, rule convergent thinking, rule divergent thinking was associated with widespread decreases in delta band activity. Therefore, this study contributes to advancing our understanding of the neural underpinnings of creativity by addressing some methodological challenges that neuroscientific creativity research faces. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Oncology Nurses and the Cancer Moonshot 2020.
Kennedy Sheldon, Lisa
2016-08-01
When Vice President Joe Biden's son, Beau, died of a brain tumor in May 2015, the Vice President's grief was profound. Yet, his grief generated an idea, a big idea: Let's collaborate and focus the talent and resources in our country to eliminate cancer as we know it. When Vice President Biden shared his idea with President Barack Obama in the fall of 2015, not only did President Obama endorse the idea, he announced the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative during his January 2016 State of the Union Address. The goal is to double progress against cancer and break down silos that prevent science and industry from working together. The initiative centers around the development and implementation of new vaccine-based immunotherapies to target individual tumors based on their genomic signature.
Applying the concepts of innovation strategies to plastic surgery.
Wang, Yirong; Kotsis, Sandra V; Chung, Kevin C
2013-08-01
Plastic surgery has a well-known history of innovative procedures and products. However, with the rise in competition, such as aesthetic procedures being performed by other medical specialties, there is a need for continued innovation in plastic surgery to create novel treatments to advance this specialty. Although many articles introduce innovative technologies and procedures, there is a paucity of publications to highlight the application of principles of innovation in plastic surgery. The authors review the literature regarding business strategies for innovation. The authors evaluate concepts of innovation, process of innovation (i.e., idea generation, idea evaluation, idea conversion, idea diffusion, and adoption), ethical issues, and application to plastic surgery. Adopting a business model of innovation is helpful for promoting a new paradigm of progress to propel plastic surgery to new avenues of creativity.
Simulation of generation of new ideas for new product development and IT services
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nasiopoulos, Dimitrios K.; Sakas, Damianos P.; Vlachos, D. S.; Mavrogianni, Amanda
2015-02-01
This paper describes a dynamic model of the New Product Development (NPD) process. The model has been occurring from best practice noticed in our research conducted at a range of situations. The model contributes to determine and put an IT company's NPD activities into the frame of the overall NPD process[1]. It has been found to be a useful tool for organizing data on IT company's NPD activities without enforcement an excessively restrictive research methodology refers to the model of NPD. The framework, which strengthens the model, will help to promote a research of the methods undertaken within an IT company's NPD process, thus promoting understanding and improvement of the simulation process[2]. IT companies tested many techniques with several different practices designed to improve the validity and efficacy of their NPD process[3]. Supported by the model, this research examines how widely accepted stated tactics are and what impact these best tactics have on NPD performance. The main assumption of this study is that simulation of generation of new ideas[4] will lead to greater NPD effectiveness and more successful products in IT companies. With the model implementation, practices concern the implementation strategies of NPD (product selection, objectives, leadership, marketing strategy and customer satisfaction) are all more widely accepted than best practices related with controlling the application of NPD (process control, measurements, results). In linking simulation with impact, our results states product success depends on developing strong products and ensuring organizational emphasis, through proper project selection. Project activities strengthens both product and project success. IT products and services success also depends on monitoring the NPD procedure through project management and ensuring team consistency with group rewards. Sharing experiences between projects can positively influence the NPD process.
Modelling ultrasound guided wave propagation for plate thickness measurement
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Malladi, Rakesh; Dabak, Anand; Murthy, Nitish Krishna
2014-03-01
Structural Health monitoring refers to monitoring the health of plate-like walls of large reactors, pipelines and other structures in terms of corrosion detection and thickness estimation. The objective of this work is modeling the ultrasonic guided waves generated in a plate. The piezoelectric is excited by an input pulse to generate ultrasonic guided lamb waves in the plate that are received by another piezoelectric transducer. In contrast with existing methods, we develop a mathematical model of the direct component of the signal (DCS) recorded at the terminals of the piezoelectric transducer. The DCS model uses maximum likelihood technique to estimate the different parameters, namely the time delay of the signal due to the transducer delay and amplitude scaling of all the lamb wave modes due to attenuation, while taking into account the received signal spreading in time due to dispersion. The maximum likelihood estimate minimizes the energy difference between the experimental and the DCS model-generated signal. We demonstrate that the DCS model matches closely with experimentally recorded signals and show it can be used to estimate thickness of the plate. The main idea of the thickness estimation algorithm is to generate a bank of DCS model-generated signals, each corresponding to a different thickness of the plate and then find the closest match among these signals to the received signal, resulting in an estimate of the thickness of the plate. Therefore our approach provides a complementary suite of analytics to the existing thickness monitoring approaches.
Grassroots Publicity. Proven, Low- or No-Cost Ideas for Adult Education Programs.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Reiff, Tana; Jamula, Melissa
This booklet describes 20 inexpensive or no-cost techniques for increasing enrollment and student completion rates in adult education programs. Outlined in the guide are the following techniques or activities: refining class logistics; sponsoring liaisons; designing registration packets and recruitment fliers and writing press releases, radio…
Mainstreaming: Sharing Ideas, Strategies, Materials, Techniques.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hillside School, Cushing, OK.
The manual provides teaching approaches based on a model of least to highest modification of instruction, which may be used for a continuum of special education placements ranging from regular classroom through hospital settings. The first section on adaptive techniques (requiring the least modification) includes suggestions to adjust time for…
Dual parallel mass apectrometry (LC1/MS2 and LC2/MS2) for lipid and vitamin D analysis
USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database
Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry (MS) and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS are complementary techniques that provide different types of information for lipids such as triacylglycerols, phospholipids, and fat-soluble vitamins. Since no one technique is by itself idea...
Mapping the Idea: A Notetaking System.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Driskell, Jeanette
"Mapping" is a note-taking technique by which students use visual cues to isolate, emphasize, and group information meaningfully. Features of this technique include: organizing the note page laterally, so that general topics are on the left side and supportive information is on the right side; separating topics by horizontal lines;…
The University's Statement of Goals. An Idea Whose Time Has Arrived.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McKelvie, Brenda D.
1986-01-01
The need for colleges and universities to clarify goals in light of current financial constraints is discussed. The goal formulation strategies and techniques of the Institutional Goals Inventory and the Dephi technique are examined in the context of their application at the University of Ottawa. (MSE)
Electronically nonadiabatic wave packet propagation using frozen Gaussian scattering
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kondorskiy, Alexey D., E-mail: kondor@sci.lebedev.ru; Nanbu, Shinkoh, E-mail: shinkoh.nanbu@sophia.ac.jp
2015-09-21
We present an approach, which allows to employ the adiabatic wave packet propagation technique and semiclassical theory to treat the nonadiabatic processes by using trajectory hopping. The approach developed generates a bunch of hopping trajectories and gives all additional information to incorporate the effect of nonadiabatic coupling into the wave packet dynamics. This provides an interface between a general adiabatic frozen Gaussian wave packet propagation method and the trajectory surface hopping technique. The basic idea suggested in [A. D. Kondorskiy and H. Nakamura, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 8937 (2004)] is revisited and complemented in the present work by the elaborationmore » of efficient numerical algorithms. We combine our approach with the adiabatic Herman-Kluk frozen Gaussian approximation. The efficiency and accuracy of the resulting method is demonstrated by applying it to popular benchmark model systems including three Tully’s models and 24D model of pyrazine. It is shown that photoabsorption spectrum is successfully reproduced by using a few hundreds of trajectories. We employ the compact finite difference Hessian update scheme to consider feasibility of the ab initio “on-the-fly” simulations. It is found that this technique allows us to obtain the reliable final results using several Hessian matrix calculations per trajectory.« less
Ravi, Logesh; Vairavasundaram, Subramaniyaswamy
2016-01-01
Rapid growth of web and its applications has created a colossal importance for recommender systems. Being applied in various domains, recommender systems were designed to generate suggestions such as items or services based on user interests. Basically, recommender systems experience many issues which reflects dwindled effectiveness. Integrating powerful data management techniques to recommender systems can address such issues and the recommendations quality can be increased significantly. Recent research on recommender systems reveals an idea of utilizing social network data to enhance traditional recommender system with better prediction and improved accuracy. This paper expresses views on social network data based recommender systems by considering usage of various recommendation algorithms, functionalities of systems, different types of interfaces, filtering techniques, and artificial intelligence techniques. After examining the depths of objectives, methodologies, and data sources of the existing models, the paper helps anyone interested in the development of travel recommendation systems and facilitates future research direction. We have also proposed a location recommendation system based on social pertinent trust walker (SPTW) and compared the results with the existing baseline random walk models. Later, we have enhanced the SPTW model for group of users recommendations. The results obtained from the experiments have been presented. PMID:27069468
Statistical ultrasonics: the influence of Robert F. Wagner
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Insana, Michael F.
2009-02-01
An important ongoing question for higher education is how to successfully mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. It has been my privilege to have been mentored by one of the best, Dr Robert F. Wagner and his colleagues at the CDRH/FDA during the mid 1980s. Bob introduced many of us in medical ultrasonics to statistical imaging techniques. These ideas continue to broadly influence studies on adaptive aperture management (beamforming, speckle suppression, compounding), tissue characterization (texture features, Rayleigh/Rician statistics, scatterer size and number density estimators), and fundamental questions about how limitations of the human eye-brain system for extracting information from textured images can motivate image processing. He adapted the classical techniques of signal detection theory to coherent imaging systems that, for the first time in ultrasonics, related common engineering metrics for image quality to task-based clinical performance. This talk summarizes my wonderfully-exciting three years with Bob as I watched him explore topics in statistical image analysis that formed a rational basis for many of the signal processing techniques used in commercial systems today. It is a story of an exciting time in medical ultrasonics, and of how a sparkling personality guided and motivated the development of junior scientists who flocked around him in admiration and amazement.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Stirling, Diane
This character education guide, for grades Pre-K through 12, presents field-generated, field-tested ideas for integrating character education with daily learning. The ideas are varied in design, scope, and developmental levels and range from half-hour lessons to school-wide events to year-long courses. Each unit (50 in all) is built on particular…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Stirling, Diane
This character-education guide, for grades Pre-K through 12, presents field-generated, field-tested ideas for integrating character education with daily learning. The ideas are varied in design, scope, and developmental levels, and range from half-hour lessons to schoolwide events to year-long courses. Each unit (50 in all) is built on particular…
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
2017-04-01
Online tone generators are free, user friendly, and can make for engaging and meaningful study of many topics in the areas of interference, waves, and the physics of music. By using a website such as OnlineToneGenerator.com, and through opening multiple windows simultaneously, students can immediately perform several experiments. In this article, I highlight five lesson ideas that come naturally from these types of websites.
Perceptual uncertainty supports design reasoning
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tseng, Winger S. W.
2018-06-01
The unstructured, ambiguous figures used as design cues in the experiment were classified as being at high, moderate, and low ambiguity. Participants were required to use the ideas suggested by the visual cues to design a novel table. Results showed that different levels of ambiguity within the cues significantly influenced the quantity of idea development of expert designers, but not novice designers, whose idea generation remained relatively low across all levels of ambiguity. For experts, as the level of ambiguity in the cue increased so did the number of design ideas that were generated. Most design interpretations created by both experts and novices were affected by geometric contours within the figures. In addition, when viewing cues of high ambiguity, experts produced more interpretative transformations than when viewing cues of moderate or low ambiguity. Furthermore, experts produced significantly more new functions or meanings than novices. We claim that increased ambiguity within presented visual cues engenders uncertainty in designers that facilitates flexible transformations and interpretations that prevent premature commitment to uncreative solutions. Such results could be applied in design learning and education, focused on differences between experts and novices, to generalize the principles and strategies of interpretations by experts during concept sketching to train novices when face design problems, and the development of CACD tools to support designers.
Collaboration Best Practices Today and in the Future
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Soderstrom, Thomas J.
2006-01-01
This viewgraph presentation reviews the idea of collaboration in the work place and changes that are occurring and the direction that these changes will take collaboration.. The new style of collaboration is driven by the new generation and the expected retirement of the baby boom generation.
Locally linear regression for pose-invariant face recognition.
Chai, Xiujuan; Shan, Shiguang; Chen, Xilin; Gao, Wen
2007-07-01
The variation of facial appearance due to the viewpoint (/pose) degrades face recognition systems considerably, which is one of the bottlenecks in face recognition. One of the possible solutions is generating virtual frontal view from any given nonfrontal view to obtain a virtual gallery/probe face. Following this idea, this paper proposes a simple, but efficient, novel locally linear regression (LLR) method, which generates the virtual frontal view from a given nonfrontal face image. We first justify the basic assumption of the paper that there exists an approximate linear mapping between a nonfrontal face image and its frontal counterpart. Then, by formulating the estimation of the linear mapping as a prediction problem, we present the regression-based solution, i.e., globally linear regression. To improve the prediction accuracy in the case of coarse alignment, LLR is further proposed. In LLR, we first perform dense sampling in the nonfrontal face image to obtain many overlapped local patches. Then, the linear regression technique is applied to each small patch for the prediction of its virtual frontal patch. Through the combination of all these patches, the virtual frontal view is generated. The experimental results on the CMU PIE database show distinct advantage of the proposed method over Eigen light-field method.
[The reception of Heinz Kohut in Germany].
Milch, Wolfgang
2016-01-01
First the discussion of Kohut's new ideas in the United States is sketched as a background. The response to these ideas was divided: on the one hand they were hailed as important innovations of psychoanalytic theory, and a circle of colleagues formed around their author; on the other hand they were violently rejected, and old friends distanced themselves from him. In Germany Kuhut's ideas were initially well received. His visits, lectures and supervisions resulted in a lively exchange and a number of friendships. When the differences between Kohutian and classical theory became evident this led increasingly to disillusionment and retreat. De-emphasizing drive and ego psychology had considerable consequences for psychoanalytic technique as well as for the analyst's Menschenbild, his relationship to the patient and his critical self-reflection. In Germany, too, a circle of colleagues emerged, following and elaborating the ideas of Kohut.
Local Positioning Systems in (Game) Sports
Leser, Roland; Baca, Arnold; Ogris, Georg
2011-01-01
Position data of players and athletes are widely used in sports performance analysis for measuring the amounts of physical activities as well as for tactical assessments in game sports. However, positioning sensing systems are applied in sports as tools to gain objective information of sports behavior rather than as components of intelligent spaces (IS). The paper outlines the idea of IS for the sports context with special focus to game sports and how intelligent sports feedback systems can benefit from IS. Henceforth, the most common location sensing techniques used in sports and their practical application are reviewed, as location is among the most important enabling techniques for IS. Furthermore, the article exemplifies the idea of IS in sports on two applications. PMID:22163725
Choux, Alexandre; Busvelle, Eric; Gauthier, Jean Paul; Pascal, Ghislain
2007-11-20
Our work is in the context of the French "laser mégajoule" project, about fusion by inertial confinement. The project leads to the problem of characterizing the inner surface, of the approximately spherical target, by optical shadowgraphy techniques. Our work is entirely based on the basic idea that optical shadowgraphy produces "caustics" of systems of optical rays, which contain a great deal of 3D information about the surface to be characterized. We develop a method of 3D reconstruction based upon this idea plus a "small perturbations" technique. Although computations are made in the special "spherical" case, the method is in fact general and may be extended to several other situations.
The Use of a Code-generating System for the Derivation of the Equations for Wind Turbine Dynamics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ganander, Hans
2003-10-01
For many reasons the size of wind turbines on the rapidly growing wind energy market is increasing. Relations between aeroelastic properties of these new large turbines change. Modifications of turbine designs and control concepts are also influenced by growing size. All these trends require development of computer codes for design and certification. Moreover, there is a strong desire for design optimization procedures, which require fast codes. General codes, e.g. finite element codes, normally allow such modifications and improvements of existing wind turbine models. This is done relatively easy. However, the calculation times of such codes are unfavourably long, certainly for optimization use. The use of an automatic code generating system is an alternative for relevance of the two key issues, the code and the design optimization. This technique can be used for rapid generation of codes of particular wind turbine simulation models. These ideas have been followed in the development of new versions of the wind turbine simulation code VIDYN. The equations of the simulation model were derived according to the Lagrange equation and using Mathematica®, which was directed to output the results in Fortran code format. In this way the simulation code is automatically adapted to an actual turbine model, in terms of subroutines containing the equations of motion, definitions of parameters and degrees of freedom. Since the start in 1997, these methods, constituting a systematic way of working, have been used to develop specific efficient calculation codes. The experience with this technique has been very encouraging, inspiring the continued development of new versions of the simulation code as the need has arisen, and the interest for design optimization is growing.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mohamed, Ahmed
Efficient and reliable techniques for power delivery and utilization are needed to account for the increased penetration of renewable energy sources in electric power systems. Such methods are also required for current and future demands of plug-in electric vehicles and high-power electronic loads. Distributed control and optimal power network architectures will lead to viable solutions to the energy management issue with high level of reliability and security. This dissertation is aimed at developing and verifying new techniques for distributed control by deploying DC microgrids, involving distributed renewable generation and energy storage, through the operating AC power system. To achieve the findings of this dissertation, an energy system architecture was developed involving AC and DC networks, both with distributed generations and demands. The various components of the DC microgrid were designed and built including DC-DC converters, voltage source inverters (VSI) and AC-DC rectifiers featuring novel designs developed by the candidate. New control techniques were developed and implemented to maximize the operating range of the power conditioning units used for integrating renewable energy into the DC bus. The control and operation of the DC microgrids in the hybrid AC/DC system involve intelligent energy management. Real-time energy management algorithms were developed and experimentally verified. These algorithms are based on intelligent decision-making elements along with an optimization process. This was aimed at enhancing the overall performance of the power system and mitigating the effect of heavy non-linear loads with variable intensity and duration. The developed algorithms were also used for managing the charging/discharging process of plug-in electric vehicle emulators. The protection of the proposed hybrid AC/DC power system was studied. Fault analysis and protection scheme and coordination, in addition to ideas on how to retrofit currently available protection concepts and devices for AC systems in a DC network, were presented. A study was also conducted on the effect of changing the distribution architecture and distributing the storage assets on the various zones of the network on the system's dynamic security and stability. A practical shipboard power system was studied as an example of a hybrid AC/DC power system involving pulsed loads. Generally, the proposed hybrid AC/DC power system, besides most of the ideas, controls and algorithms presented in this dissertation, were experimentally verified at the Smart Grid Testbed, Energy Systems Research Laboratory. All the developments in this dissertation were experimentally verified at the Smart Grid Testbed.
Ozcan, Seyda; Rogers, Helen; Choudhary, Pratik; Amiel, Stephanie A; Cox, Alison; Forbes, Angus
2013-01-01
Context Providing effective support for patients in using insulin effectively is essential for good diabetes care. For that support to be effective it must reflect and attend to the needs of patients. Purpose To explore the perspectives of adult type 1 diabetes patients on their current diabetes care in order to generate ideas for creating a new patient centered intensive insulin clinic. Methods A multi-method approach was used, comprising: an observational exercise of current clinical care; three focus groups (n = 17); and a survey of service users (n = 419) to test the ideas generated from the observational exercise and focus groups (rating 1 to 5 in terms of importance). The ideas generated by the multi-method approach were organized thematically and mapped onto the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Results The themes and preferences for service redesign in relation to CCM components were: health care organization, there was an interest in having enhanced systems for sharing clinical information; self-management support, patients would like more flexible and easy to access resources and more help with diabetes technology and psychosocial support; delivery system design and clinical information systems, the need for greater integration of care and better use of clinic time; productive relationships, participants would like more continuity; access to health professionals, patient involvement and care planning. The findings from the patient survey indicate high preferences for most of the areas for service enhancement identified in the focus groups and observational exercise. Clinical feedback and professional continuity (median = 5, interquartile range = 1) were the most highly rated. Conclusion The patient consultation process had generated important ideas on how the clinical team and service can improve the care provided. Key areas for service development were: a stronger emphasis of collaborative care planning; improved patient choice in the use of health technology; more resources for self-management support; and a more explicit format for the process of care in the clinic. PMID:23776329
Fibrous Protein Structures: Hierarchy, History and Heroes.
Squire, John M; Parry, David A D
2017-01-01
During the 1930s and 1940s the technique of X-ray diffraction was applied widely by William Astbury and his colleagues to a number of naturally-occurring fibrous materials. On the basis of the diffraction patterns obtained, he observed that the structure of each of the fibres was dominated by one of a small number of different types of molecular conformation. One group of fibres, known as the k-m-e-f group of proteins (keratin - myosin - epidermin - fibrinogen), gave rise to diffraction characteristics that became known as the α-pattern. Others, such as those from a number of silks, gave rise to a different pattern - the β-pattern, while connective tissues yielded a third unique set of diffraction characteristics. At the time of Astbury's work, the structures of these materials were unknown, though the spacings of the main X-ray reflections gave an idea of the axial repeats and the lateral packing distances. In a breakthrough in the early 1950s, the basic structures of all of these fibrous proteins were determined. It was found that the long protein chains, composed of strings of amino acids, could be folded up in a systematic manner to generate a limited number of structures that were consistent with the X-ray data. The most important of these were known as the α-helix, the β-sheet, and the collagen triple helix. These studies provided information about the basic building blocks of all proteins, both fibrous and globular. They did not, however, provide detailed information about how these molecules packed together in three-dimensions to generate the fibres found in vivo. A number of possible packing arrangements were subsequently deduced from the X-ray diffraction and other data, but it is only in the last few years, through the continued improvements of electron microscopy, that the packing details within some fibrous proteins can now be seen directly. Here we outline briefly some of the milestones in fibrous protein structure determination, the role of the amino acid sequences and how new techniques, including electron microscopy, are helping to define fibrous protein structures in three-dimensions. We also introduce the idea that, from the known sequence characteristics of different fibrous proteins, new molecules can be designed and synthesized, thereby generating new biological materials with specific structural properties. Some of these, for example, are planned for use in drug delivery systems. Along the way we also introduce the various Chapters of the book, where individual fibrous proteins are discussed in detail.
Impact of an annual retreat on process improvement in a respiratory therapy section.
Roberts, Vincent T; Kester, Lucy; Stoller, James K
2005-12-01
In order to fulfill the mission of providing superb respiratory care, managing respiratory care services requires communication and collaboration. To enhance communication and collaboration in our Section of Respiratory Therapy at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and to generate ideas for improvement, since 1996 we have conducted annual retreats for the Section, during which important challenges and opportunities are discussed in a large-group forum. The current report describes the retreat process and outcomes, namely the ideas generated during these retreats and the frequency with which ideas were implemented successfully. The annual retreat brings together all clinical specialists, supervisors, and managers in the Section of Respiratory Therapy, along with the medical director of Respiratory Therapy and representatives of the staff from each shift. In advance of the annual half-day retreat, supervisors and clinical specialists are asked to write a brief description of things that need improvement and actionable proposed solutions to these challenges. These documents are reviewed by the supervisors, managers, education coordinator, and medical director, and a list of discussion topics for the retreat is formulated. The retreat day begins with a brief introduction and summary of the year's activities and then encourages open-ended discussions regarding the various topics, with the explicit, repeated goal of generating solutions. Minutes are kept to identify specific action items, a list of which is visited repeatedly throughout the year, to assess progress toward successful completion of each action item. In the current analysis, the primary outcome measures are the number of ideas generated as action items during the retreats and the frequency with which these ideas have been implemented. Over the 8 years of annual retreats, 103 action items have been generated, of which 84% (n = 87) have been successfully implemented or completed. As evidence of the importance of this group-based activity, we cite several examples of suggestions and action items that were felt to uniquely represent group process and wisdom and which were not proposed beforehand by individuals. On the basis of this experience, we recommend conducting annual respiratory therapy department retreats. We believe the benefits include collective problem-solving in a public forum to identify solutions not advanced by individuals. Also, we believe that the direct communication in such retreats contributes to enhanced morale, further evidence of which is the very low turnover rate among our respiratory therapists during the 8 years in which we have conducted annual retreats.
Controlled drug delivery systems: past forward and future back.
Park, Kinam
2014-09-28
Controlled drug delivery technology has progressed over the last six decades. This progression began in 1952 with the introduction of the first sustained release formulation. The 1st generation of drug delivery (1950-1980) focused on developing oral and transdermal sustained release systems and establishing controlled drug release mechanisms. The 2nd generation (1980-2010) was dedicated to the development of zero-order release systems, self-regulated drug delivery systems, long-term depot formulations, and nanotechnology-based delivery systems. The latter part of the 2nd generation was largely focused on studying nanoparticle formulations. The Journal of Controlled Release (JCR) has played a pivotal role in the 2nd generation of drug delivery technologies, and it will continue playing a leading role in the next generation. The best path towards a productive 3rd generation of drug delivery technology requires an honest, open dialog without any preconceived ideas of the past. The drug delivery field needs to take a bold approach to designing future drug delivery formulations primarily based on today's necessities, to produce the necessary innovations. The JCR provides a forum for sharing the new ideas that will shape the 3rd generation of drug delivery technology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Two variants of minimum discarded fill ordering
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
D'Azevedo, E.F.; Forsyth, P.A.; Tang, Wei-Pai
1991-01-01
It is well known that the ordering of the unknowns can have a significant effect on the convergence of Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (PCG) methods. There has been considerable experimental work on the effects of ordering for regular finite difference problems. In many cases, good results have been obtained with preconditioners based on diagonal, spiral or natural row orderings. However, for finite element problems having unstructured grids or grids generated by a local refinement approach, it is difficult to define many of the orderings for more regular problems. A recently proposed Minimum Discarded Fill (MDF) ordering technique is effective in findingmore » high quality Incomplete LU (ILU) preconditioners, especially for problems arising from unstructured finite element grids. Testing indicates this algorithm can identify a rather complicated physical structure in an anisotropic problem and orders the unknowns in the preferred'' direction. The MDF technique may be viewed as the numerical analogue of the minimum deficiency algorithm in sparse matrix technology. At any stage of the partial elimination, the MDF technique chooses the next pivot node so as to minimize the amount of discarded fill. In this work, two efficient variants of the MDF technique are explored to produce cost-effective high-order ILU preconditioners. The Threshold MDF orderings combine MDF ideas with drop tolerance techniques to identify the sparsity pattern in the ILU preconditioners. These techniques identify an ordering that encourages fast decay of the entries in the ILU factorization. The Minimum Update Matrix (MUM) ordering technique is a simplification of the MDF ordering and is closely related to the minimum degree algorithm. The MUM ordering is especially for large problems arising from Navier-Stokes problems. Some interesting pictures of the orderings are presented using a visualization tool. 22 refs., 4 figs., 7 tabs.« less
Associative Algorithms for Computational Creativity
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Varshney, Lav R.; Wang, Jun; Varshney, Kush R.
2016-01-01
Computational creativity, the generation of new, unimagined ideas or artifacts by a machine that are deemed creative by people, can be applied in the culinary domain to create novel and flavorful dishes. In fact, we have done so successfully using a combinatorial algorithm for recipe generation combined with statistical models for recipe ranking…
Managing Generational Differences.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ansoorian, Andrew; Good, Pamela; Samuelson, Dave
2003-01-01
School leaders who recognize the differing needs of baby boomers and Generation X can create an organization where all employees are working from their strengths. Successful personnel leaders provide boomers with lots of public recognition and opportunities for input, while letting X-ers know that their ideas will be evaluated on merit, not on…
Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Penuel, William R.; Harris, Christopher J.; DeBarger, Angela Haydel
2015-01-01
The Next Generation Science Standards embody a new vision for science education grounded in the idea that science is both a body of knowledge and a set of linked practices for developing knowledge. The authors describe strategies that they suggest school and district leaders consider when designing strategies to support NGSS implementation.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Griffiths, Martin
2011-01-01
One of the author's undergraduate students recently asked him whether it was possible to generate a random positive integer. After some thought, the author realised that there were plenty of interesting mathematical ideas inherent in her question. So much so in fact, that the author decided to organise a workshop, open both to undergraduates and…
Fostering Students' Competence in Identifying Business Opportunities in Entrepreneurship Education
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Karimi, Saeid; Biemans, Harm J. A.; Lans, Thomas; Aazami, Mousa; Mulder, Martin
2016-01-01
Opportunity identification and, in particular, the generation of new business ideas is becoming an important element of entrepreneurship education. Researchers and educators, however, struggle with how opportunity identification competence can be enhanced. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to test the ability of students to generate new…
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Nurses' Innovation Behavior.
Bagheri, Afsaneh; Akbari, Morteza
2018-01-01
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of entrepreneurial leadership on nurses' innovation work behavior and its dimensions. This cross-sectional study employed the 10-item Innovation Work Behavior Questionnaire and the 8-item Entrepreneurial Leadership Questionnaire to explore the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on the innovation work behavior of 273 nurses from public and private hospitals in Iran. Entrepreneurial leadership had a significant positive impact on nurses' innovation work behavior and most strongly improved idea exploration, followed by idea generation, idea implementation, and idea championing. Entrepreneurial leadership was effective in enhancing nurses' innovation work behavior. More attention needs to be focused on developing entrepreneurial leadership competencies and on developing nurse leaders. Healthcare policies and strategies are needed to facilitate the implementation of entrepreneurial leadership by providing healthcare leaders with the appropriate environment. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.
Applying the Concepts of Innovation Strategies to Plastic Surgery
Wang, Yirong; Kotsis, Sandra V.; Chung, Kevin C.
2014-01-01
Background: Plastic surgery has a well-known history of innovative procedures and products. However, with the rise in competition, such as aesthetic procedures being performed by other medical specialties, there is a need for continued innovation in plastic surgery to create novel treatments to advance this specialty. Although many articles introduce innovative technologies and procedures, there is a paucity of publications to highlight the application of principles of innovation in plastic surgery. Methods: We review the literature regarding business strategies for innovation. Results: We evaluate concepts of innovation, process of innovation (idea generation, idea evaluation, idea conversion, idea diffusion and adoption), ethical issues, and the application to plastic surgery. Conclusions: Adopting a business model of innovation is helpful to promote a new paradigm of progress to propel plastic surgery to new avenues of creativity. PMID:23897344
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Synthesis, 1974
1974-01-01
A regular feature with practical ideas and techniques for enhancing one's personal development and integration. The theme for this issue is the subpersonalities or inner personages in each of us. (Author)
Incubation Effects in Problem Solving
1988-12-14
to other matters The incubation period is over when a sudden illumination occurs or when the problem solver resumes conscious problem solving and then...atheoretical -- as it must be if we are to establish the ’Briefly, Best-First search involves evaluating each idea that has been generated so far and...choosing the most promising one for further exploration, After a certain amount of exploration, the evaluation process is repeated. A certain idea may look
Scintillating Suggestions for Involving Students. The Faculty Handbook for Student Involvement.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Morris, Bill, Ed.
Designed for use by faculty at American River College (ARC), the four chapters of this handbook present suggestions, techniques, and resources to help teachers explore new ideas and enrich their classroom experiences. Chapter 1 contains brief descriptions by ARC faculty of successful teaching techniques, organized into the following six areas:…
Seed enhancement/upgrading techniques: Read the seed
Kim R. Creasy
2002-01-01
To the nursery industry in Canada, seed enhancing and upgrading techniques have ever increasingly become and are now an integral part of their operations prior to greenhouse sowing. The terms "enhancing" and "upgrading" can be used interchangeably, but they essentially mean the same thing. It's the idea of improving the quality of initial...
Using Simulations To Understand Older Adults with Sensory Impairment.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Clubok, Miriam
2000-01-01
Summarizes two popular models for increasing sensitivity to sensory impairment in the elderly and details a third model used in training human service students and practitioners. Ideas and techniques presented work toward understanding the impact of sensory impairment on the daily life of older adults and to identify coping techniques to improve…
Public Relations and Publicity: Tools and Techniques for Student Organizations.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
DeFeo, Carol Jean
Based on the idea that to be successful, a student organization must have a sound public relations and publicity program, this handbook considers techniques of internal communication that establish good public relations with various special groups: the student body, the administration, the faculty, and the staff. The handbook states that…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rosenthal, Howard G., Ed.
The underlying concept of this publication is that homework, which is merely a specific type of therapy technique, can be helpful to counselors and educators. It contains ideas from psychiatrists; psychologists; counselors; social workers; and family therapists who use homework techniques to enhance therapy with adults, children, and adolescents;…
Gogniat, Gaëtan; Dukan, Sam
2007-12-01
Here, we show that resistance of Escherichia coli to TiO2 photocatalysis involves defenses against reactive oxygen species. Results support the idea that TiO2 photocatalysis generates damage which later becomes deleterious during recovery. We found this to be partly due to DNA attack via hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction during recovery.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rahmawati, Yuli; Koul, Rekha; Fisher, Darrell
2015-01-01
The paper reports a study of the effectiveness of co-teaching and co-generative dialogue in science learning and teaching in lower secondary science classes. The idea of co-teaching and co-generative dialogue--first proposed by two leading educationists, Roth and Tobin, in early 2000--made an international impact in educational research. In the…
Dual energy approach for cone beam artifacts correction
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Han, Chulhee; Choi, Shinkook; Lee, Changwoo; Baek, Jongduk
2017-03-01
Cone beam computed tomography systems generate 3D volumetric images, which provide further morphological information compared to radiography and tomosynthesis systems. However, reconstructed images by FDK algorithm contain cone beam artifacts when a cone angle is large. To reduce the cone beam artifacts, two-pass algorithm has been proposed. The two-pass algorithm considers the cone beam artifacts are mainly caused by high density materials, and proposes an effective method to estimate error images (i.e., cone beam artifacts images) by the high density materials. While this approach is simple and effective with a small cone angle (i.e., 5 - 7 degree), the correction performance is degraded as the cone angle increases. In this work, we propose a new method to reduce the cone beam artifacts using a dual energy technique. The basic idea of the proposed method is to estimate the error images generated by the high density materials more reliably. To do this, projection data of the high density materials are extracted from dual energy CT projection data using a material decomposition technique, and then reconstructed by iterative reconstruction using total-variation regularization. The reconstructed high density materials are used to estimate the error images from the original FDK images. The performance of the proposed method is compared with the two-pass algorithm using root mean square errors. The results show that the proposed method reduces the cone beam artifacts more effectively, especially with a large cone angle.
Sensor planning for moving targets
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Musman, Scott A.; Lehner, Paul; Elsaesser, Chris
1994-10-01
Planning a search for moving ground targets is difficult for humans and computationally intractable. This paper describes a technique to solve such problems. The main idea is to combine probability of detection assessments with computational search heuristics to generate sensor plans which approximately maximize either the probability of detection or a user- specified knowledge function (e.g., determining the target's probable destination; locating the enemy tanks). In contrast to super computer-based moving target search planning, our technique has been implemented using workstation technology. The data structures generated by sensor planning can be used to evaluate sensor reports during plan execution. Our system revises its objective function with each sensor report, allowing the user to assess both the current situation as well as the expected value of future information. This capability is particularly useful in situations involving a high rate of sensor reporting, helping the user focus his attention on sensors reports most pertinent to current needs. Our planning approach is implemented in a three layer architecture. The layers are: mobility analysis, followed by sensor coverage analysis, and concluding with sensor plan analysis. It is possible using these layers to describe the physical, spatial, and temporal characteristics of a scenario in the first two layers, and customize the final analysis to specific intelligence objectives. The architecture also allows a user to customize operational parameters in each of the three major components of the system. As examples of these performance options, we briefly describe the mobility analysis and discuss issues affecting sensor plan analysis.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hughes, David; Dazzo, Tony
2007-01-01
This viewgraph presentation reviews the use of particle analysis to assist in preparing for the 4th Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Servicing mission. During this mission the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) will be repaired. The particle analysis consisted of Finite element mesh creation, Black-body viewfactors generated using I-DEAS TMG Thermal Analysis, Grey-body viewfactors calculated using Markov method, Particle distribution modeled using an iterative Monte Carlo process, (time-consuming); in house software called MASTRAM, Differential analysis performed in Excel, and Visualization provided by Tecplot and I-DEAS. Several tests were performed and are reviewed: Conformal Coat Particle Study, Card Extraction Study, Cover Fastener Removal Particle Generation Study, and E-Graf Vibration Particulate Study. The lessons learned during this analysis are also reviewed.
McGee, M
1994-07-01
This article offers insights into the relationship of llama owners to their animals and the role of veterinarians as part of the animal care team. The effect of human behavior and handling techniques on llama behavior and marketability are discussed. Progressive ideas for nonforceful llama handling equipment, procedures, and training ideas are outlined in detail. Included are specific training plans for routine herd management chores such as injections and toenail trimming. This article is useful for both veterinarians and llama owners.
Editorial of the special issue ;Surveillance conference;
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
2017-12-01
During the 25 last years, the Surveillance conference has been a place where many passionate discussions have taken place and many new ideas or techniques have been discussed. These lively meetings have always been supported by MSSP, so that the idea of a special issue based on a selection of papers in the proceedings of Surveillance 7 (2013) and Surveillance 8 (2015) has naturally arisen. Here is how everything begun, as reported by Simon Braun and Ménad Sidahmed …
Developing the nuclear idea: concept, technique, and process.
Billow, Richard M
2013-10-01
I introduce an approach to group that has remained undeveloped in the literature, but represents an essence of relationally oriented group psychotherapy. Evolving from the verbalizations and enactments through which the group symbolizes and becomes known-a nuclear idea takes shape. It emerges from the nucleus of the group process: co-created from intersubjective forces and locations that cannot be fully specified, yet may be possible to observe, name, and utilize clinically. Groups organize themselves by developing nuclear ideas, with the therapist's active participation. They are vehicles through which a group comes to think about its thinking: not only what it thinks, but also how it thinks, or chooses not to think, and when and why. Developing the nuclear idea provides a framework for how the therapist-and the group itself-goes about the task of containing. With its emphasis on meaning and the development of meaning as transformational, the concept of the nuclear idea supplements the whole group, interpersonal, and intrapsychic lenses through which the therapist comes to understand group experience and base interventions. Clinical vignettes illustrate how the therapist may develop nuclear ideas thematically, conceptualize further, and negotiate meaning with the co-participation of other group members.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wagner, Glenn
2017-03-01
Student-generated questions and ideas about our universe are the start of a rich and highly motivating learning environment. Using their curiosity-driven questions and ideas, students form Knowledge Building groups or ‘communities’ where they plan, set goals, design questions for research, and assess the progress of their work, tasks that were once under the control of the teacher. With the understanding that all knowledge and ideas are treated as improvable, students work collaboratively at their level of competency to share their knowledge, ideas and understandings gained from authoritative sources and laboratory activities. Over time, students work collectively to improve the knowledge and ideas of others that result in advances in understanding that benefit not only the individual but the community as a whole. Learning outcomes reported in this paper demonstrate that a Knowledge Building environment applied to introductory cosmology produced similar gains in knowledge and understanding surrounding foundational concepts compared to teacher-centred learning environments. Aside from new knowledge and understanding, students develop important skills and competencies such as question-asking, idea development, communication, collaboration that are becoming ever more important for 21st century living and working. Finally, the process of planning and initiating a Knowledge Building environment that produced the results reported in this paper is outlined.
[Boleslas Matuszewki--pioneer of medical film-making].
Matanović, Dragana
2005-01-01
Boleslas Matuszewski, born in 1856, was a pioneer in medical film-making. He worked simultaneously on improving his movie camera, film-making, collecting film documentation, and the idea of establishing an archive of medical films. Although his first attempts at filming and showing surgical operations didn't gain widespread approval, he was not discouraged, and succeeded in garnering support from a number of French doctors, who realised the importance of his ideas, not only in filming and forming medical film documentation, but also in the use of film for educative purposes. His visionary ideas gained acceptance when Dr. Doyen, on the occasion of the 66th Convention of the British Medical Society, in 1898, used film material as part of his lecture. Shortly afterwards, the Medical Academy took steps to show certain operative techniques, which represented both the confirmation and fruition of Matuszewski's ideas about filmmaking and the establishment of an archive of medical films.
Regression Verification Using Impact Summaries
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Backes, John; Person, Suzette J.; Rungta, Neha; Thachuk, Oksana
2013-01-01
Regression verification techniques are used to prove equivalence of syntactically similar programs. Checking equivalence of large programs, however, can be computationally expensive. Existing regression verification techniques rely on abstraction and decomposition techniques to reduce the computational effort of checking equivalence of the entire program. These techniques are sound but not complete. In this work, we propose a novel approach to improve scalability of regression verification by classifying the program behaviors generated during symbolic execution as either impacted or unimpacted. Our technique uses a combination of static analysis and symbolic execution to generate summaries of impacted program behaviors. The impact summaries are then checked for equivalence using an o-the-shelf decision procedure. We prove that our approach is both sound and complete for sequential programs, with respect to the depth bound of symbolic execution. Our evaluation on a set of sequential C artifacts shows that reducing the size of the summaries can help reduce the cost of software equivalence checking. Various reduction, abstraction, and compositional techniques have been developed to help scale software verification techniques to industrial-sized systems. Although such techniques have greatly increased the size and complexity of systems that can be checked, analysis of large software systems remains costly. Regression analysis techniques, e.g., regression testing [16], regression model checking [22], and regression verification [19], restrict the scope of the analysis by leveraging the differences between program versions. These techniques are based on the idea that if code is checked early in development, then subsequent versions can be checked against a prior (checked) version, leveraging the results of the previous analysis to reduce analysis cost of the current version. Regression verification addresses the problem of proving equivalence of closely related program versions [19]. These techniques compare two programs with a large degree of syntactic similarity to prove that portions of one program version are equivalent to the other. Regression verification can be used for guaranteeing backward compatibility, and for showing behavioral equivalence in programs with syntactic differences, e.g., when a program is refactored to improve its performance, maintainability, or readability. Existing regression verification techniques leverage similarities between program versions by using abstraction and decomposition techniques to improve scalability of the analysis [10, 12, 19]. The abstractions and decomposition in the these techniques, e.g., summaries of unchanged code [12] or semantically equivalent methods [19], compute an over-approximation of the program behaviors. The equivalence checking results of these techniques are sound but not complete-they may characterize programs as not functionally equivalent when, in fact, they are equivalent. In this work we describe a novel approach that leverages the impact of the differences between two programs for scaling regression verification. We partition program behaviors of each version into (a) behaviors impacted by the changes and (b) behaviors not impacted (unimpacted) by the changes. Only the impacted program behaviors are used during equivalence checking. We then prove that checking equivalence of the impacted program behaviors is equivalent to checking equivalence of all program behaviors for a given depth bound. In this work we use symbolic execution to generate the program behaviors and leverage control- and data-dependence information to facilitate the partitioning of program behaviors. The impacted program behaviors are termed as impact summaries. The dependence analyses that facilitate the generation of the impact summaries, we believe, could be used in conjunction with other abstraction and decomposition based approaches, [10, 12], as a complementary reduction technique. An evaluation of our regression verification technique shows that our approach is capable of leveraging similarities between program versions to reduce the size of the queries and the time required to check for logical equivalence. The main contributions of this work are: - A regression verification technique to generate impact summaries that can be checked for functional equivalence using an off-the-shelf decision procedure. - A proof that our approach is sound and complete with respect to the depth bound of symbolic execution. - An implementation of our technique using the LLVMcompiler infrastructure, the klee Symbolic Virtual Machine [4], and a variety of Satisfiability Modulo Theory (SMT) solvers, e.g., STP [7] and Z3 [6]. - An empirical evaluation on a set of C artifacts which shows that the use of impact summaries can reduce the cost of regression verification.
Reimagining Human Research Protections for 21st Century Science.
Bloss, Cinnamon; Nebeker, Camille; Bietz, Matthew; Bae, Deborah; Bigby, Barbara; Devereaux, Mary; Fowler, James; Waldo, Ann; Weibel, Nadir; Patrick, Kevin; Klemmer, Scott; Melichar, Lori
2016-12-22
Evolving research practices and new forms of research enabled by technological advances require a redesigned research oversight system that respects and protects human research participants. Our objective was to generate creative ideas for redesigning our current human research oversight system. A total of 11 researchers and institutional review board (IRB) professionals participated in a January 2015 design thinking workshop to develop ideas for redesigning the IRB system. Ideas in 5 major domains were generated. The areas of focus were (1) improving the consent form and process, (2) empowering researchers to protect their participants, (3) creating a system to learn from mistakes, (4) improving IRB efficiency, and (5) facilitating review of research that leverages technological advances. We describe the impetus for and results of a design thinking workshop to reimagine a human research protections system that is responsive to 21st century science. ©Cinnamon Bloss, Camille Nebeker, Matthew Bietz, Deborah Bae, Barbara Bigby, Mary Devereaux, James Fowler, Ann Waldo, Nadir Weibel, Kevin Patrick, Scott Klemmer, Lori Melichar. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 22.12.2016.
[Natural history and eighteenth-century ideas regarding generation and heredity: Buffon and Bonnet].
Castañeda, L A
1995-01-01
The intellectual course of natural history reveals three conceptual approaches. The first was the taxonomic point of view, where naturalists worked to name and classify the living beings created by God. The second approach was provided by the eighteenth century's philosophical doctrine of mechanism, which lent natural history its method of endeavoring to comprehend the workings of organisms, inasmuch as the world "ran". Calling into question the adequacy of prior message, the third approach argued that living things display characteristics quite distinct from those of non-living matter, making it necessary to understand processes rather than simply decompose phenomena to then analyze them. This inadequacy became apparent at the moment when ideas of generation and heredity ascribed a reproductive history to living things, a history where the act of one fellow creature being formed by another plays an important role in coming to understand the workings of life. The paper analyzes these conceptual approaches from the perspective of Buffon's and Bonnet's ideas on reproduction and heredity, which represented opposite schools of thought: epigenesis and preformation.
Extending the Framework of Generativity Theory Through Research: A Qualitative Study
Rubinstein, Robert L.; Girling, Laura M.; de Medeiros, Kate; Brazda, Michael; Hannum, Susan
2015-01-01
Purpose of the study: Based on ethnographic interviews, we discuss three ideas we believe will expand knowledge of older informants’ thoughts about and representations of generativity. We adapt the notion of “dividuality” as developed in cultural anthropology to reframe ideas on generativity. The term dividuality refers to a condition of interpersonal or intergenerational connectedness, as distinct from individuality. We also extend previous definitions of generativity by identifying both objects of generative action and temporal and relational frameworks for generative action. Design: We define 4 foci of generativity (people, groups, things, and activities) and 4 spheres of generativity (historical, familial, individual, and relational) based in American culture and with which older informants could easily identify. The approach outlined here also discusses a form of generativity oriented to the past in which relationships with persons in senior generations form a kind of generative action since they are involved in caring for the origins of the self and hence of future generative acts. These 3 elements of a new framework will allow researchers to pose critical questions about generativity among older adults. Such questions include (a) How is the self, as culturally constituted, involved in generative action? and (b) What are the types of generativity within the context of American culture and how are they spoken about? Each of the above points is directly addressed in the data we present below. Methods: We defined these domains through extended ethnographic interviews with 200 older women. Results and implications: The article addresses some new ways of thinking about generativity as a construct, which may be useful in understanding the cultural personhood of older Americans. PMID:24704718
Extending the Framework of Generativity Theory Through Research: A Qualitative Study.
Rubinstein, Robert L; Girling, Laura M; de Medeiros, Kate; Brazda, Michael; Hannum, Susan
2015-08-01
Based on ethnographic interviews, we discuss three ideas we believe will expand knowledge of older informants' thoughts about and representations of generativity. We adapt the notion of "dividuality" as developed in cultural anthropology to reframe ideas on generativity. The term dividuality refers to a condition of interpersonal or intergenerational connectedness, as distinct from individuality. We also extend previous definitions of generativity by identifying both objects of generative action and temporal and relational frameworks for generative action. We define 4 foci of generativity (people, groups, things, and activities) and 4 spheres of generativity (historical, familial, individual, and relational) based in American culture and with which older informants could easily identify. The approach outlined here also discusses a form of generativity oriented to the past in which relationships with persons in senior generations form a kind of generative action since they are involved in caring for the origins of the self and hence of future generative acts. These 3 elements of a new framework will allow researchers to pose critical questions about generativity among older adults. Such questions include (a) How is the self, as culturally constituted, involved in generative action? and (b) What are the types of generativity within the context of American culture and how are they spoken about? Each of the above points is directly addressed in the data we present below. We defined these domains through extended ethnographic interviews with 200 older women. The article addresses some new ways of thinking about generativity as a construct, which may be useful in understanding the cultural personhood of older Americans. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Advances in Multi-Sensor Information Fusion: Theory and Applications 2017.
Jin, Xue-Bo; Sun, Shuli; Wei, Hong; Yang, Feng-Bao
2018-04-11
The information fusion technique can integrate a large amount of data and knowledge representing the same real-world object and obtain a consistent, accurate, and useful representation of that object. The data may be independent or redundant, and can be obtained by different sensors at the same time or at different times. A suitable combination of investigative methods can substantially increase the profit of information in comparison with that from a single sensor. Multi-sensor information fusion has been a key issue in sensor research since the 1970s, and it has been applied in many fields. For example, manufacturing and process control industries can generate a lot of data, which have real, actionable business value. The fusion of these data can greatly improve productivity through digitization. The goal of this special issue is to report innovative ideas and solutions for multi-sensor information fusion in the emerging applications era, focusing on development, adoption, and applications.
An extension of stochastic hierarchy equations of motion for the equilibrium correlation functions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ke, Yaling; Zhao, Yi
2017-06-01
A traditional stochastic hierarchy equations of motion method is extended into the correlated real-time and imaginary-time propagations, in this paper, for its applications in calculating the equilibrium correlation functions. The central idea is based on a combined employment of stochastic unravelling and hierarchical techniques for the temperature-dependent and temperature-free parts of the influence functional, respectively, in the path integral formalism of the open quantum systems coupled to a harmonic bath. The feasibility and validity of the proposed method are justified in the emission spectra of homodimer compared to those obtained through the deterministic hierarchy equations of motion. Besides, it is interesting to find that the complex noises generated from a small portion of real-time and imaginary-time cross terms can be safely dropped to produce the stable and accurate position and flux correlation functions in a broad parameter regime.
Towards terrain interaction prediction for bioinspired planetary exploration rovers.
Yeomans, Brian; Saaj, Chakravathini M
2014-03-01
Deployment of a small legged vehicle to extend the reach of future planetary exploration missions is an attractive possibility but little is known about the behaviour of a walking rover on deformable planetary terrain. This paper applies ideas from the developing study of granular materials together with a detailed characterization of the sinkage process to propose and validate a combined model of terrain interaction based on an understanding of the physics and micro mechanics at the granular level. Whilst the model reflects the complexity of interactions expected from a walking rover, common themes emerge which enable the model to be streamlined to the extent that a simple mathematical representation is possible without resorting to numerical methods. Bespoke testing and analysis tools are described which reveal some unexpected conclusions and point the way towards intelligent control and foot geometry techniques to improve thrust generation.
Utilizing traditional storytelling to promote wellness in American Indian communities.
Hodge, Felicia Schanche; Pasqua, Anna; Marquez, Carol A; Geishirt-Cantrell, Betty
2002-01-01
Utilizing storytelling to transmit educational messages is a traditional pedagogical method practiced by many American Indian tribes. American Indian stories are effective because they present essential ideas and values in a simple, entertaining form. Different story characters show positive and negative behaviors. The stories illustrate consequences of behaviors and invite listeners to come to their own conclusions after personal reflection. Because stories have been passed down through tribal communities for generations, listeners also have the opportunity to reconnect and identify with past tribal realities. This article reports on a research intervention that is unique in promoting health and wellness through the use of storytelling. The project utilized stories to help motivate tribal members to once more adopt healthy, traditional life-styles and practices. The authors present and discuss the stories selected, techniques used in their telling, the preparation and setting for the storytelling, and the involvement and interaction of the group.
Calcification detection of abdominal aorta in CT images and 3D visualization in VR devices.
Garcia-Berna, Jose A; Sanchez-Gomez, Juan M; Hermanns, Judith; Garcia-Mateos, Gines; Fernandez-Aleman, Jose L
2016-08-01
Automatic calcification detection in abdominal aorta consists of a set of computer vision techniques to quantify the amount of calcium that is found around this artery. Knowing that information, it is possible to perform statistical studies that relate vascular diseases with the presence of calcium in these structures. To facilitate the detection in CT images, a contrast is usually injected into the circulatory system of the patients to distinguish the aorta from other body tissues and organs. This contrast increases the absorption of X-rays by human blood, making it easier the measurement of calcifications. Based on this idea, a new system capable of detecting and tracking the aorta artery has been developed with an estimation of the calcium found surrounding the aorta. Besides, the system is complemented with a 3D visualization mode of the image set which is designed for the new generation of immersive VR devices.
Optical image encryption using triplet of functions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yatish; Fatima, Areeba; Nishchal, Naveen Kumar
2018-03-01
We propose an image encryption scheme that brings into play a technique using a triplet of functions to manipulate complex-valued functions. Optical cryptosystems using this method are an easier approach toward the ciphertext generation that avoids the use of holographic setup to record phase. The features of this method were shown in the context of double random phase encoding and phase-truncated Fourier transform-based cryptosystems using gyrator transform. In the first step, the complex function is split into two matrices. These matrices are separated, so they contain the real and imaginary parts. In the next step, these two matrices and a random distribution function are acted upon by one of the functions in the triplet. During decryption, the other two functions in the triplet help us retrieve the complex-valued function. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed idea. To check the robustness of the proposed scheme, attack analyses were carried out.
A perspective on the contributions of Ronald C. Davidson to plasma physics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wurtele, Jonathan S.
2016-10-01
Starting in the 1960s and continuing for half a century, Ronald C. Davidson made fundamental theoretical contributions to a wide range of areas of pure and applied plasma physics. Davidson was one of the founders of nonneutral plasma physics and a pioneer in developing and applying kinetic theory and nonlinear stability theorems to collective interaction processes and nonlinear dynamics of nonneutral plasmas and intense charged particle beams. His textbooks on nonneutral plasmas are the classic references for the field and educated generations of graduate students. Davidson was a strong advocate for applying the ideas of plasma theory to develop techniques that benefit other branches of science. For example, one of the major derivative fields enabled by nonneutral plasmas is the study of antimatter plasmas and the synthesis of antihydrogen. This talk will review a few highlights of Ronald Davidson's impact on plasma physics and related fields of science.
Utilizing Traditional Storytelling to Promote Wellness in American Indian Communities
HODGE, FELICIA SCHANCHE; PASQUA, ANNA; MARQUEZ, CAROL A.; GEISHIRT-CANTRELL, BETTY
2011-01-01
Utilizing storytelling to transmit educational messages is a traditional pedagogical method practiced by many American Indian tribes. American Indian stories are effective because they present essential ideas and values in a simple, entertaining form. Different story characters show positive and negative behaviors. The stories illustrate consequences of behaviors and invite listeners to come to their own conclusions after personal reflection. Because stories have been passed down through tribal communities for generations, listeners also have the opportunity to reconnect and identify with past tribal realities. This article reports on a research intervention that is unique in promoting health and wellness through the use of storytelling. The project utilized stories to help motivate tribal members to once more adopt healthy, traditional lifestyles and practices. The authors present and discuss the stories selected, techniques used in their telling, the preparation and setting for the storytelling, and the involvement and interaction of the group. PMID:11776018
Methods for simulation-based analysis of fluid-structure interaction.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Barone, Matthew Franklin; Payne, Jeffrey L.
2005-10-01
Methods for analysis of fluid-structure interaction using high fidelity simulations are critically reviewed. First, a literature review of modern numerical techniques for simulation of aeroelastic phenomena is presented. The review focuses on methods contained within the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) framework for coupling computational fluid dynamics codes to computational structural mechanics codes. The review treats mesh movement algorithms, the role of the geometric conservation law, time advancement schemes, wetted surface interface strategies, and some representative applications. The complexity and computational expense of coupled Navier-Stokes/structural dynamics simulations points to the need for reduced order modeling to facilitate parametric analysis. The proper orthogonalmore » decomposition (POD)/Galerkin projection approach for building a reduced order model (ROM) is presented, along with ideas for extension of the methodology to allow construction of ROMs based on data generated from ALE simulations.« less
Multicore Challenges and Benefits for High Performance Scientific Computing
Nielsen, Ida M. B.; Janssen, Curtis L.
2008-01-01
Until recently, performance gains in processors were achieved largely by improvements in clock speeds and instruction level parallelism. Thus, applications could obtain performance increases with relatively minor changes by upgrading to the latest generation of computing hardware. Currently, however, processor performance improvements are realized by using multicore technology and hardware support for multiple threads within each core, and taking full advantage of this technology to improve the performance of applications requires exposure of extreme levels of software parallelism. We will here discuss the architecture of parallel computers constructed from many multicore chips as well as techniques for managing the complexitymore » of programming such computers, including the hybrid message-passing/multi-threading programming model. We will illustrate these ideas with a hybrid distributed memory matrix multiply and a quantum chemistry algorithm for energy computation using Møller–Plesset perturbation theory.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Aaron; Chien, TeYu
2018-03-01
Complex oxide heterostructure interfaces have shown novel physical phenomena which do not exist in bulk materials. These heterostructures can be used in the potential applications in the next generation devices and served as the playgrounds for the fundamental physics research. The direct measurements of the interfaces with excellent spatial resolution and physical property information is rather difficult to achieve with the existing tools. Recently developed cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (XSTM/S) for complex oxide interfaces have proven to be capable of providing local electronic density of states (LDOS) information at the interface with spatial resolution down to nanometer scale. In this perspective, we will briefly introduce the basic idea and some recent achievements in using XSTM/S to study complex oxide interfaces. We will also discuss the future of this technique and the field of the interfacial physics.
An Ontology-Based Conceptual Model For Accumulating And Reusing Knowledge In A DMAIC Process
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nguyen, ThanhDat; Kifor, Claudiu Vasile
2015-09-01
DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) is an important process used to enhance quality of processes basing on knowledge. However, it is difficult to access DMAIC knowledge. Conventional approaches meet a problem arising from structuring and reusing DMAIC knowledge. The main reason is that DMAIC knowledge is not represented and organized systematically. In this article, we overcome the problem basing on a conceptual model that is a combination of DMAIC process, knowledge management, and Ontology engineering. The main idea of our model is to utilizing Ontologies to represent knowledge generated by each of DMAIC phases. We build five different knowledge bases for storing all knowledge of DMAIC phases with the support of necessary tools and appropriate techniques in Information Technology area. Consequently, these knowledge bases provide knowledge available to experts, managers, and web users during or after DMAIC execution in order to share and reuse existing knowledge.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Callieri, M.; Debevec, P.; Pair, J.; Scopigno, R.
2005-06-01
Offine rendering techniques have nowadays reached an astonishing level of realism but paying the cost of a long computational time. The new generation of programmable graphic hardware, on the other hand, gives the possibility to implement in realtime some of the visual effects previously available only for cinematographic production. In a collaboration between the Visual Computing Lab (ISTI-CNR) with the Institute for Creative Technologies of the University of Southern California, has been developed a realtime demo that replicate a sequence from the short movie "The Parthenon" presented at Siggraph 2004. The application is designed to run on an immersive reality system, making possible for a user to perceive the virtual environment with a cinematographic visual quality. In this paper we present the principal ideas of the project, discussing design issues and technical solution used for the realtime demo.
History of Artificial Gravity. Chapter 3
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Clement, Gilles; Bukley, Angie; Paloski, William
2006-01-01
This chapter reviews the past and current projects on artificial gravity during space missions. The idea of a rotating wheel-like space station providing artificial gravity goes back in the writings of Tsiolkovsky, Noordung, and Wernher von Braun. Its most famous fictional representation is in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which also depicts spin-generated artificial gravity aboard a space station and a spaceship bound for Jupiter. The O Neill-type space colony provides another classic illustration of this technique. A more realistic approach to rotating the space station is to provide astronauts with a smaller centrifuge contained within a spacecraft. The astronauts would go into it for a workout, and get their gravity therapeutic dose for a certain period of time, daily or a few times a week. This simpler concept is current being tested during ground-based studies in several laboratories around the world.
Generating Testable Questions in the Science Classroom: The BDC Model
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tseng, ChingMei; Chen, Shu-Bi Shu-Bi; Chang, Wen-Hua
2015-01-01
Guiding students to generate testable scientific questions is essential in the inquiry classroom, but it is not easy. The purpose of the BDC ("Big Idea, Divergent Thinking, and Convergent Thinking") instructional model is to to scaffold students' inquiry learning. We illustrate the use of this model with an example lesson, designed…
The Development of Creative Thinking in Graduate Students Doing Scientific Research
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Truran, Peter
2016-01-01
The teaching of research methodology to graduate science students places an emphasis on scientific reasoning and on the generation and evaluation of evidence in support of research conclusions. Very little attention is paid to the teaching of scientific creativity, the processes for generation of new ideas, hypotheses, and theories. By contrast,…
Investigating the Impacts of Design Heuristics on Idea Initiation and Development
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kramer, Julia; Daly, Shanna R.; Yilmaz, Seda; Seifert, Colleen M.; Gonzalez, Richard
2015-01-01
This paper presents an analysis of engineering students' use of Design Heuristics as part of a team project in an undergraduate engineering design course. Design Heuristics are an empirically derived set of cognitive "rules of thumb" for use in concept generation. We investigated heuristic use in the initial concept generation phase,…
Automatic Dance Lesson Generation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Yang, Yang; Leung, H.; Yue, Lihua; Deng, LiQun
2012-01-01
In this paper, an automatic lesson generation system is presented which is suitable in a learning-by-mimicking scenario where the learning objects can be represented as multiattribute time series data. The dance is used as an example in this paper to illustrate the idea. Given a dance motion sequence as the input, the proposed lesson generation…
Next Generation Science Standards: A National Mixed-Methods Study on Teacher Readiness
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Haag, Susan; Megowan, Colleen
2015-01-01
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) science and engineering practices are ways of eliciting the reasoning and applying foundational ideas in science. As research has revealed barriers to states and schools adopting the NGSS, this mixed-methods study attempts to identify characteristics of professional development (PD) that will support NGSS…
Mini-Concerts: Creating Space for Student-Initiated Performance
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Gifford, Cody; Johnson, Erik
2015-01-01
Mini-concerts are regularly occurring, low-stakes curricular events in the classroom where students perform music of their choice for their peers. An idea generated by music educators in domestic and international K-12 schools who strive to meet the needs of diverse student populations, mini-concerts have helped generate student excitement and…
Teaching Generation Text: Using Cell Phones to Enhance Learning
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Nielsen, Lisa; Webb, Willyn
2011-01-01
"Teaching Generation Text" shows how teachers can turn cell phones into an educational opportunity instead of an annoying distraction. With a host of innovative ideas, activities, lessons, and strategies, Nielsen and Webb offer a unique way to use students' preferred method of communication in the classroom. Cell phones can remind students to…
An Analysis of the Proverbs the Yorubans Live By
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Tunde Bolaji, Ezekiel; Kehinde, Taye A.
2017-01-01
In the Yoruba society, proverbs have been and still remain powerful and effective instruments of transmitting ideas, motive, knowledge and social morality from generation to generations. This is because proverbs reflect societal values of the people. Like any other group of people, the Yorubas are interested in the maintenance of personal health…
The Next Generation of Science Standards: Implications for Biology Education
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bybee, Rodger W.
2012-01-01
The release of A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (NRC, 2012) provides the basis for the next generation of science standards. This article first describes that foundation for the life sciences; it then presents a draft standard for natural selection and evolution. Finally, there is a…
Teaching the "Geo" in Geography with the Next Generation Science Standards
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wysession, Michael E.
2016-01-01
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS; Achieve 2014, 532; Figure 1A) represent a new approach to K-12 science education that involves the interweaving of three educational dimensions: Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). Unlike most preexisting state science standards for…
The "Digital Natives" Debate: A Critical Review of the Evidence
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bennett, Sue; Maton, Karl; Kervin, Lisa
2008-01-01
The idea that a new generation of students is entering the education system has excited recent attention among educators and education commentators. Termed "digital natives" or the "Net generation", these young people are said to have been immersed in technology all their lives, imbuing them with sophisticated technical skills and learning…
Blockbuster Ideas: Activities for Breaking Up Block Periods.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bohince, Judy
1996-01-01
Describes how to approach block scheduling of science classes. Discusses the planning process, specific activities that work well in longer science classes, and techniques for motivating students. (DDR)
Communicating for the Long War: Options for Squadron Commanders
2009-04-01
in military operations. In today’s global environment, the opinion of the US public and the world public is essential for the United States to...report emphasized the United States is engaged in a “generational and global struggle about ideas, not a war between the West and Islam.”8 The report...today’s environment of globalization , information and ideas can be transmitted across the world in a matter of seconds. PA operations can use this
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Asch, Chris Myers; Levy, Philip I.
2008-01-01
The idea of creating a national university is not new. More than two centuries ago, George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson advocated for a national university. Today--energized by concerns about the performance of civil servants and the need to recruit a new generation of talent into key federal, state, and municipal positions--a…
Selling ideas, attitudes, and behaviors.
Gentile, Douglas A
2010-04-01
Advertisers are adept at changing our attitudes and purchasing behaviors, but we rarely notice the effects. This plenary talk at the eighth annual Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Forum, November 2009, focused on the psychology of advertising and how advertising is designed to work outside of our conscious awareness. Several psychological "tricks" are used to influence us, with the goal being to get us to change our behaviors but to think that it was our idea all along. These tricks include using emotional appeals and persuasion techniques that rely on biases in human problem solving. This power can be used for social marketing, the use of these techniques to promote social well-being, rather than simply for commercial purposes. Understanding how advertising works therefore allows us to use this power to effect positive changes in society.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Zaslow, Ruth
1991-01-01
Managers can coach employees in writing better reports by helping them through the following steps: audience and purpose, idea generation, organization, drafting, and editing for style, structure, and mechanics. (SK)
Computer aided fringe pattern analysis
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sciammarella, Cesar A.
The paper reviews the basic laws of fringe pattern interpretation. The different techniques that are currently utilized are presented using a common frame of reference stressing the fact that these techniques are different variations of the same basic principle. Digital and analog techniques are discussed. Currently available hardware is presented and the relationships between hardware and the operations of pattern fringe processing are pointed out. Examples are given to illustrate the ideas discussed in the paper.
The U.S. German Bilateral Working Group originated in 1990 in order to share and transfer information, ideas, tools and techniques regarding environmental research. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the German Federal Mini...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
LaBelle, Sandy
2006-01-01
This article shares seven easy ideas to help teachers tame their time-management problems. To reduce the amount of mail that makes it to one's desk, the author suggests using the "Chicken Pox" technique to limit the number of times a piece of mail is handled. With this technique, it is not necessary to make an immediate decision regarding the…
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Aroeste, H.
1982-01-01
Guided Inquiry System Technique, a global approach to problem solving, was applied to the subject of Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS). Nutrition, food processing, and the use of higher plants in a CELSS were considered by a panel of experts. Specific ideas and recommendations gleaned from discussions with panel members are presented.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Olson, Carol Booth, Comp.
The concept of writing as process has revolutionized the way many view composition, and this book is organized by the stages of that process. Each section begins with a well-known author presenting specific techniques, followed by commentaries which include testimonials, applications of writing techniques, and descriptions of strategy…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Singleton, Pat; Dhanavel, P.; Lwin, Phyu Phyu; Yoel, Judith
2002-01-01
Techniques for teaching in the English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language classroom are included. They focus on planning a conversation class, teaching writing, a lesson plan based on a multiliteracy text, and how a pile of pictures can be used in different ways. (Author/VWL)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Abd-El-Barr, Mostafa
2010-12-01
The use of non-binary (multiple-valued) logic in the synthesis of digital systems can lead to savings in chip area. Advances in very large scale integration (VLSI) technology have enabled the successful implementation of multiple-valued logic (MVL) circuits. A number of heuristic algorithms for the synthesis of (near) minimal sum-of products (two-level) realisation of MVL functions have been reported in the literature. The direct cover (DC) technique is one such algorithm. The ant colony optimisation (ACO) algorithm is a meta-heuristic that uses constructive greediness to explore a large solution space in finding (near) optimal solutions. The ACO algorithm mimics the ant's behaviour in the real world in using the shortest path to reach food sources. We have previously introduced an ACO-based heuristic for the synthesis of two-level MVL functions. In this article, we introduce the ACO-DC hybrid technique for the synthesis of multi-level MVL functions. The basic idea is to use an ant to decompose a given MVL function into a number of levels and then synthesise each sub-function using a DC-based technique. The results obtained using the proposed approach are compared to those obtained using existing techniques reported in the literature. A benchmark set consisting of 50,000 randomly generated 2-variable 4-valued functions is used in the comparison. The results obtained using the proposed ACO-DC technique are shown to produce efficient realisation in terms of the average number of gates (as a measure of chip area) needed for the synthesis of a given MVL function.
Lauria, Massimiliano; Piccinini, Sara; Pirona, Raul; Lund, Gertrud; Viotti, Angelo; Motto, Mario
2014-03-01
Pure epigenetic variation, or epigenetic variation that is independent of genetic context, may provide a mechanism for phenotypic variation in the absence of DNA mutations. To estimate the extent of pure epigenetic variation within and across generations and to identify the DNA regions targeted, a group of eight plants derived from a highly inbred line of maize (Zea mays) was analyzed by the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique. We found that cytosine methylation (mC) differences among individuals accounted for up to 7.4% of CCGG sites investigated by MSAP. Of the differentially methylated fragments (DMFs) identified in the S0 generation, ∼12% were meiotically inherited for at least six generations. We show that meiotically heritable mC variation was consistently generated for an average of 0.5% CCGG sites per generation and that it largely occurred somatically. We provide evidence that mC variation can be established and inherited in a parent-of-origin manner, given that the paternal lineage is more prone to both forward and reverse mC changes. The molecular characterization of selected DMFs revealed that the variation was largely determined by CG methylation changes that map within gene regions. The expression analysis of genes overlapping with DMFs did not reveal an obvious correlation between mC variation and transcription, reinforcing the idea that the primary function of gene-body methylation is not to control gene expression. Because this study focuses on epigenetic variation in field-grown plants, the data presented herein pertain to spontaneous epigenetic changes of the maize genome in a natural context.
Lauria, Massimiliano; Piccinini, Sara; Pirona, Raul; Lund, Gertrud; Viotti, Angelo; Motto, Mario
2014-01-01
Pure epigenetic variation, or epigenetic variation that is independent of genetic context, may provide a mechanism for phenotypic variation in the absence of DNA mutations. To estimate the extent of pure epigenetic variation within and across generations and to identify the DNA regions targeted, a group of eight plants derived from a highly inbred line of maize (Zea mays) was analyzed by the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique. We found that cytosine methylation (mC) differences among individuals accounted for up to 7.4% of CCGG sites investigated by MSAP. Of the differentially methylated fragments (DMFs) identified in the S0 generation, ∼12% were meiotically inherited for at least six generations. We show that meiotically heritable mC variation was consistently generated for an average of 0.5% CCGG sites per generation and that it largely occurred somatically. We provide evidence that mC variation can be established and inherited in a parent-of-origin manner, given that the paternal lineage is more prone to both forward and reverse mC changes. The molecular characterization of selected DMFs revealed that the variation was largely determined by CG methylation changes that map within gene regions. The expression analysis of genes overlapping with DMFs did not reveal an obvious correlation between mC variation and transcription, reinforcing the idea that the primary function of gene-body methylation is not to control gene expression. Because this study focuses on epigenetic variation in field-grown plants, the data presented herein pertain to spontaneous epigenetic changes of the maize genome in a natural context. PMID:24374354
Iterative Authoring Using Story Generation Feedback: Debugging or Co-creation?
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Swartjes, Ivo; Theune, Mariët
We explore the role that story generation feedback may play within the creative process of interactive story authoring. While such feedback is often used as 'debugging' information, we explore here a 'co-creation' view, in which the outcome of the story generator influences authorial intent. We illustrate an iterative authoring approach in which each iteration consists of idea generation, implementation and simulation. We find that the tension between authorial intent and the partially uncontrollable story generation outcome may be relieved by taking such a co-creation approach.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lin, Yu-Ren; Hung, Cheng-Yu; Hung, Jeng-Fung
2017-01-01
This study investigated two science teachers' meta-strategic knowledge (MSK) of argumentation teaching by applying the repertory grid technique (RGT). One teacher was a novice, while the other was experienced in teaching argumentation. Using the RGT, we elicited the objectives and strategies of the two teachers regarding their argumentation teaching involving two social scientific issue (SSI) scenarios. The results showed that the experienced teacher had more varied and organised MSK for teaching argumentation than the novice teacher. Meanwhile, the novice teacher indicated a belief that the learning of argumentation should occur in a more student-centred manner, rather than relying on a traditional lecture-based environment. Consequently, she spent a considerable amount of time engaging students with their peers' ideas through discussion and collaboration. On the other hand, the experienced teacher noticed that most of students had the ability to generate arguments, but that few knew how to argue based on evidence. Therefore, she helped students to collect data from various resources and suggested that they construct their own knowledge framework in order to improve students' ability to incorporate their understanding of scientific knowledge into scientific argumentation.
In search of mitochondrial mechanisms: interfield excursions between cell biology and biochemistry.
Bechtel, William; Abrahamsen, Adele
2007-01-01
Developing models of biological mechanisms, such as those involved in respiration in cells, often requires collaborative effort drawing upon techniques developed and information generated in different disciplines. Biochemists in the early decades of the 20th century uncovered all but the most elusive chemical operations involved in cellular respiration, but were unable to align the reaction pathways with particular structures in the cell. During the period 1940-1965 cell biology was emerging as a new discipline and made distinctive contributions to understanding the role of the mitochondrion and its component parts in cellular respiration. In particular, by developing techniques for localizing enzymes or enzyme systems in specific cellular components, cell biologists provided crucial information about the organized structures in which the biochemical reactions occurred. Although the idea that biochemical operations are intimately related to and depend on cell structures was at odds with the then-dominant emphasis on systems of soluble enzymes in biochemistry, a reconceptualization of energetic processes in the 1960s and 1970s made it clear why cell structure was critical to the biochemical account. This paper examines how numerous excursions between biochemistry and cell biology contributed a new understanding of the mechanism of cellular respiration.
Three main paradigms of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Imani, Vandad; Haataja, Keijo; Toivanen, Pekka
2018-04-01
Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) is one of the most challenging research areas within computer and machine vision for automated scene commentary and explanation. The SLAM technique has been a developing research area in the robotics context during recent years. By utilizing the SLAM method robot can estimate the different positions of the robot at the distinct points of time which can indicate the trajectory of robot as well as generate a map of the environment. SLAM has unique traits which are estimating the location of robot and building a map in the various types of environment. SLAM is effective in different types of environment such as indoor, outdoor district, Air, Underwater, Underground and Space. Several approaches have been investigated to use SLAM technique in distinct environments. The purpose of this paper is to provide an accurate perceptive review of case history of SLAM relied on laser/ultrasonic sensors and camera as perception input data. In addition, we mainly focus on three paradigms of SLAM problem with all its pros and cons. In the future, use intelligent methods and some new idea will be used on visual SLAM to estimate the motion intelligent underwater robot and building a feature map of marine environment.
On search guide phrase compilation for recommending home medical products.
Luo, Gang
2010-01-01
To help people find desired home medical products (HMPs), we developed an intelligent personal health record (iPHR) system that can automatically recommend HMPs based on users' health issues. Using nursing knowledge, we pre-compile a set of "search guide" phrases that provides semantic translation from words describing health issues to their underlying medical meanings. Then iPHR automatically generates queries from those phrases and uses them and a search engine to retrieve HMPs. To avoid missing relevant HMPs during retrieval, the compiled search guide phrases need to be comprehensive. Such compilation is a challenging task because nursing knowledge updates frequently and contains numerous details scattered in many sources. This paper presents a semi-automatic tool facilitating such compilation. Our idea is to formulate the phrase compilation task as a multi-label classification problem. For each newly obtained search guide phrase, we first use nursing knowledge and information retrieval techniques to identify a small set of potentially relevant classes with corresponding hints. Then a nurse makes the final decision on assigning this phrase to proper classes based on those hints. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques by compiling search guide phrases from an occupational therapy textbook.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Talla Mbé, Jimmi Hervé; Woafo, Paul
2018-03-01
We report on a simple way to generate complex optical waveforms with very cheap and accessible equipments. The general idea consists in modulating a laser diode with an autonomous electronic oscillator, and in the case of this study, we use a distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode pumped with an electronic Chua's circuit. Based on the adiabatic P-I characteristics of the laser diode at low frequencies, we show that when the total pump is greater than the laser threshold, it is possible to convert the electrical waveforms of the Chua's circuit into optical carriers. But, if that is not the case, the on-off dynamical behavior of the laser permits to obtain many other optical waveform signals, mainly pulses. Our numerical results are consistent with experimental measurements. The work presents the advantage of extending the range of possible chaotic dynamics of the laser diodes in the time domains (millisecond) where it is not usually expected with conventional modulation techniques. Moreover, this new technique of laser diodes modulation brings a general benefit in the physical equipment, reduces their cost and congestion so that, it can constitute a step towards photonic integrated circuits.
Hutten, Rebecca; Parry, Glenys D; Ricketts, Thomas; Cooke, Jo
2015-08-12
This study demonstrates a technique to aid the implementation of research findings through an example of improving services and self-management in longer-term depression. In common with other long-term conditions, policy in this field requires innovation to be undertaken in the context of a whole system of care, be cost-effective, evidence-based and to comply with national clinical guidelines. At the same time, successful service development must be acceptable to clinicians and service users and choices must be made within limited resources. This paper describes a novel way of resolving these competing requirements by reconciling different sources and types of evidence and systematically engaging multiple stakeholder views. The study combined results from mathematical modelling of the care pathway, research evidence on effective interventions and findings from qualitative research with service users in a series of workshops to define, refine and select candidate service improvements. A final consensus-generating workshop used structured discussion and anonymised electronic voting. This was followed by an email survey to all stakeholders, to achieve a pre-defined criterion of consensus for six suggestions for implementation. An initial list of over 20 ideas was grouped into four main areas. At the final workshop, each idea was presented in person, visually and in writing to 40 people, who assigned themselves to one or more of five stakeholder groups: i) service users and carers, ii) clinicians, iii) managers, iv) commissioners and v) researchers. Many belonged to more than one group. After two rounds of voting, consensus was reached on seven ideas and one runner up. The survey then confirmed the top six ideas to be tested in practice. The method recruited and retained people with diverse experience and views within a health community and took account of a full range of evidence. It enabled a diverse group of stakeholders to travel together in a direction that converged with the messages coming out of the research and successfully yielded priorities for service improvement that met competing requirements.
Lieff, S J; Clarke, D
2000-12-01
To generate hypotheses regarding factors that influence senior psychiatric residents, to consider treating geriatric patients in their future practices. Using the Delphi technique, designed to generate ideas and consensus, we asked psychiatry residents at the University of Toronto who had completed, or were completing, their geriatric rotation about the factors they thought might influence residents in devoting some of their practice to geriatric patients. Residents then rated the degree of influence of these factors which had been synthesized into a questionnaire. Twenty-six items were rated according to their degree of influence. The most influential item was positive clinical experiences with seniors. This was followed closely by supervisor characteristics such as enthusiasm, role modeling, competence, and mentoring. Interest in and comfort with the medical psychiatric and neuropsychiatric nature of the field were also felt to be influential. The factors that influence senior psychiatry resident interest in the practice of geriatric psychiatry are primarily educational and result from exposure to the field under optimal educational circumstances (positive clinical experiences and excellent supervisors). The medical and neuropsychiatric nature of the field also likely exerts a unique influence and should be considered in stimulating interest in this population.
Probability sampling in legal cases: Kansas cellphone users
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kadane, Joseph B.
2012-10-01
Probability sampling is a standard statistical technique. This article introduces the basic ideas of probability sampling, and shows in detail how probability sampling was used in a particular legal case.
Creativity and the role of the leader.
Amabile, Teresa M; Khaire, Mukti
2008-10-01
In today's innovation-driven economy, understanding how to generate great ideas has become an urgent managerial priority. Suddenly, the spotlight has turned on the academics who've studied creativity for decades. How relevant is their research to the practical challenges leaders face? To connect theory and practice, Harvard Business School professors Amabile and Khaire convened a two-day colloquium of leading creativity scholars and executives from companies such as Google, IDEO, Novartis, Intuit, and E Ink. In this article, the authors present highlights of the research presented and the discussion of its implications. At the event, a new leadership agenda began to take shape, one rooted in the awareness that you can't manage creativity--you can only manage for creativity. A number of themes emerged: The leader's job is not to be the source of ideas but to encourage and champion ideas. Leaders must tap the imagination of employees at all ranks and ask inspiring questions. They also need to help their organizations incorporate diverse perspectives, which spur creative insights, and facilitate creative collaboration by, for instance, harnessing new technologies. The participants shared tactics for enabling discoveries, as well as thoughts on how to bring process to bear on creativity without straitjacketing it. They pointed out that process management isn't appropriate in all stages of creative work; leaders should apply it thoughtfully and manage the handoff from idea generators to commercializers deftly. The discussion also examined the need to clear paths through bureaucracy, weed out weak ideas, and maximize the organization's learning from failure. Though points of view varied, the theories and frameworks explored advance the understanding of creativity in business and offer executives a playbook for increasing innovation.
Leuthardt, Eric C
2013-01-01
There is currently an acceleration of new scientific and technical capabilities that create new opportunities for academic neurosurgery. To engage these changing dynamics, the Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology (CINT) was created on the premise that successful innovation of device-related ideas relies on collaboration between multiple disciplines. The CINT has created a unique model that integrates scientific, medical, engineering, and legal/business experts to participate in the continuum from idea generation to translation. To detail the method by which this model has been implemented in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis and the experience that has been accrued thus far. The workflow is structured to enable cross-disciplinary interaction, both intramurally and extramurally between academia and industry. This involves a structured method for generating, evaluating, and prototyping promising device concepts. The process begins with the "invention session," which consists of a structured exchange between inventors from diverse technical and medical backgrounds. Successful ideas, which pass a separate triage mechanism, are then sent to industry-sponsored multidisciplinary fellowships to create functioning prototypes. After 3 years, the CINT has engaged 32 clinical and nonclinical inventors, resulting in 47 ideas, 16 fellowships, and 12 patents, for which 7 have been licensed to industry. Financial models project that if commercially successful, device sales could have a notable impact on departmental revenue. The CINT is a model that supports an integrated approach from the time an idea is created through its translational development. To date, the approach has been successful in creating numerous concepts that have led to industry licenses. In the long term, this model will create a novel revenue stream to support the academic neurosurgical mission.
Microbial biogeography: putting microorganisms on the map.
Martiny, Jennifer B Hughes; Bohannan, Brendan J M; Brown, James H; Colwell, Robert K; Fuhrman, Jed A; Green, Jessica L; Horner-Devine, M Claire; Kane, Matthew; Krumins, Jennifer Adams; Kuske, Cheryl R; Morin, Peter J; Naeem, Shahid; Ovreås, Lise; Reysenbach, Anna-Louise; Smith, Val H; Staley, James T
2006-02-01
We review the biogeography of microorganisms in light of the biogeography of macroorganisms. A large body of research supports the idea that free-living microbial taxa exhibit biogeographic patterns. Current evidence confirms that, as proposed by the Baas-Becking hypothesis, 'the environment selects' and is, in part, responsible for spatial variation in microbial diversity. However, recent studies also dispute the idea that 'everything is everywhere'. We also consider how the processes that generate and maintain biogeographic patterns in macroorganisms could operate in the microbial world.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Chen, Hsin-Liang, E-mail: hlchen@iner.gov.tw; Tu, Yen-Cheng; Hsieh, Cheng-Chang
2014-09-14
With the characteristics of higher electron density and lower ion bombardment energy, large-area VHF (very high frequency) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition has become an essential manufacturing equipment to improve the production throughput and efficiency of thin film silicon solar cell. However, the combination of high frequency and large electrodes leads to the so-called standing wave effect causing a serious problem for the deposition uniformity of silicon thin film. In order to address this issue, a technique based on the idea of simultaneously launching two standing waves that possess similar amplitudes and are out of phase by 90° in timemore » and space is proposed in this study. A linear plasma reactor with discharge length of 54 cm is tested with two different frequencies including 60 and 80 MHz. The experimental results show that the proposed technique could effectively improve the non-uniformity of VHF plasmas from >±60% when only one standing wave is applied to <±10% once two specific standing waves are launched at the same time. Moreover, in terms of the reactor configuration adopted in this study, in which the standing wave effect along the much shorter dimension can be ignored, the proposed technique is applicable to different frequencies without the need to alter the number and arrangement of power feeding points.« less
Data mining in pharma sector: benefits.
Ranjan, Jayanthi
2009-01-01
The amount of data getting generated in any sector at present is enormous. The information flow in the pharma industry is huge. Pharma firms are progressing into increased technology-enabled products and services. Data mining, which is knowledge discovery from large sets of data, helps pharma firms to discover patterns in improving the quality of drug discovery and delivery methods. The paper aims to present how data mining is useful in the pharma industry, how its techniques can yield good results in pharma sector, and to show how data mining can really enhance in making decisions using pharmaceutical data. This conceptual paper is written based on secondary study, research and observations from magazines, reports and notes. The author has listed the types of patterns that can be discovered using data mining in pharma data. The paper shows how data mining is useful in the pharma industry and how its techniques can yield good results in pharma sector. Although much work can be produced for discovering knowledge in pharma data using data mining, the paper is limited to conceptualizing the ideas and view points at this stage; future work may include applying data mining techniques to pharma data based on primary research using the available, famous significant data mining tools. Research papers and conceptual papers related to data mining in Pharma industry are rare; this is the motivation for the paper.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Obi, Ifeoma E.
2012-01-01
Knowledge creation involves the generation of new ideas, facts and insights through interaction with people to meet challenges and changes. Online and offline professional groups and networks are some of the avenues for generating new knowledge and innovation in practices. Guidance counselling is one the areas that needs to constantly remain…
A Bold Experiment: Teachers Team with Scientists to Learn Next Generation Science Standards
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Gilman, Sharon L.; Fout, Martha C.
2017-01-01
The "Next Generation Science Standards" place an emphasis on the practices of science and engineering, where ensuring that students understand and experience how science works is as important as, or maybe more important than, memorizing facts. The idea is that, while some facts may change, the practices will always be applicable, and it…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Perez, Miguel S.
2013-01-01
The nation's generation of "Baby Boomers" is now the grandparents of a new generation of students known as "Gen Y" and "Gen Z," respectively. "Gen X," parents of our current students, have the enormous task of raising their children as "digital natives" in a technological-savvy world. The idea of…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Freeland, Peter
2013-01-01
Charles Darwin supposed that evolution involved a process of gradual change, generated randomly, with the selection and retention over many generations of survival-promoting features. Some theists have never accepted this idea. "Intelligent design" is a relatively recent theory, supposedly based on scientific evidence, which attempts to…
The Learning Preferences of Digital Learners in K-12 Schools in China
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Yang, Junfeng; Huang, Ronghuai; Kinshuk
2016-01-01
Students grown up with digital technology and Internet are called digital natives or net generation. All others, who grew up without so much immersion with digital technologies are called digital immigrants. Researchers held different ideas on whether a new generation of learners existed. One of the foci of the debate is on the appropriateness of…
Starting to Experiment with Wave Power
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hare, Jonathan; McCallie, Ellen
2005-01-01
Outlined is a simple design for a working wave-powered electrical generator based on one made on the BBC "Rough Science" TV series. The design has been kept deliberately simple to facilitate rapid pupil/student involvement and most importantly so that there is much scope for their own ingenuity and ideas. The generator works on the principle of…
Suggestions for Teaching the Principles of Continental Drift in the Elementary School
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Glenn, William H.
1977-01-01
Provides a brief overview of current geographic ideas regarding continental drift and plate tectonics and suggests techniques for illustrating continental motions to elementary school pupils. (Author/DB)
A robust star identification algorithm with star shortlisting
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mehta, Deval Samirbhai; Chen, Shoushun; Low, Kay Soon
2018-05-01
A star tracker provides the most accurate attitude solution in terms of arc seconds compared to the other existing attitude sensors. When no prior attitude information is available, it operates in "Lost-In-Space (LIS)" mode. Star pattern recognition, also known as star identification algorithm, forms the most crucial part of a star tracker in the LIS mode. Recognition reliability and speed are the two most important parameters of a star pattern recognition technique. In this paper, a novel star identification algorithm with star ID shortlisting is proposed. Firstly, the star IDs are shortlisted based on worst-case patch mismatch, and later stars are identified in the image by an initial match confirmed with a running sequential angular match technique. The proposed idea is tested on 16,200 simulated star images having magnitude uncertainty, noise stars, positional deviation, and varying size of the field of view. The proposed idea is also benchmarked with the state-of-the-art star pattern recognition techniques. Finally, the real-time performance of the proposed technique is tested on the 3104 real star images captured by a star tracker SST-20S currently mounted on a satellite. The proposed technique can achieve an identification accuracy of 98% and takes only 8.2 ms for identification on real images. Simulation and real-time results depict that the proposed technique is highly robust and achieves a high speed of identification suitable for actual space applications.
A selection criterion for patterns in reaction–diffusion systems
2014-01-01
Background Alan Turing’s work in Morphogenesis has received wide attention during the past 60 years. The central idea behind his theory is that two chemically interacting diffusible substances are able to generate stable spatial patterns, provided certain conditions are met. Ever since, extensive work on several kinds of pattern-generating reaction diffusion systems has been done. Nevertheless, prediction of specific patterns is far from being straightforward, and a great deal of interest in deciphering how to generate specific patterns under controlled conditions prevails. Results Techniques allowing one to predict what kind of spatial structure will emerge from reaction–diffusion systems remain unknown. In response to this need, we consider a generalized reaction diffusion system on a planar domain and provide an analytic criterion to determine whether spots or stripes will be formed. Our criterion is motivated by the existence of an associated energy function that allows bringing in the intuition provided by phase transitions phenomena. Conclusions Our criterion is proved rigorously in some situations, generalizing well-known results for the scalar equation where the pattern selection process can be understood in terms of a potential. In more complex settings it is investigated numerically. Our work constitutes a first step towards rigorous pattern prediction in arbitrary geometries/conditions. Advances in this direction are highly applicable to the efficient design of Biotechnology and Developmental Biology experiments, as well as in simplifying the analysis of morphogenetic models. PMID:24476200
A Weighted Least Squares Approach To Robustify Least Squares Estimates.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lin, Chowhong; Davenport, Ernest C., Jr.
This study developed a robust linear regression technique based on the idea of weighted least squares. In this technique, a subsample of the full data of interest is drawn, based on a measure of distance, and an initial set of regression coefficients is calculated. The rest of the data points are then taken into the subsample, one after another,…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Pozzi, Francesca; Ceregini, Andrea; Ferlino, Lucia; Persico, Donatella
2016-01-01
The Peer Review (PR) is a very popular technique to support socio-constructivist and connectivist learning processes, online or face-to-face, at all educational levels, in both formal and informal contexts. The idea behind this technique is that sharing views and opinions with others by discussing with peers and receiving and providing formative…
2006-03-31
from existing image steganography and steganalysis techniques, the overall objective of Task (b) is to design and implement audio steganography in...general design of the VoIP steganography algorithm is based on known LSB hiding techniques (used for example in StegHide (http...system. Nasir Memon et. al. described a steganalyzer based on image quality metrics [AMS03]. Basically, the main idea to detect steganography by
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Burak Eral, H.; van den Ende, Dirk; Mugele, Frieder
2012-04-01
Discussing ideas over a mug of coffee or tea is the lifeblood of science, but have you ever thought about the stains that can be inadvertently left behind? H Burak Eral, Dirk van den Ende and Frieder Mugele explain how these stains, which can be a major annoyance in some biology techniques, can be altered for the better using a technique called electrowetting.
Teaching Tip: Using Activity Diagrams to Model Systems Analysis Techniques: Teaching What We Preach
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lending, Diane; May, Jeffrey
2013-01-01
Activity diagrams are used in Systems Analysis and Design classes as a visual tool to model the business processes of "as-is" and "to-be" systems. This paper presents the idea of using these same activity diagrams in the classroom to model the actual processes (practices and techniques) of Systems Analysis and Design. This tip…
Collaborative Learning in Biology: Debating the Ethics of Recombinant DNA Technology.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Anderson, Rodney P.
1998-01-01
Discusses applications of recombinant DNA technology and the controversies surrounding that technique. Provides a cooperative learning project idea that involves teams of students investigating and debating these issues. (DDR)
Insights on ideation and innovation.
Hogan, J
2005-10-01
Even when companies are struggling or seeking to cut costs, it is still important for them to generate new ideas. This article discusses the concept of ideation and provides strategies for successful innovation.
Yadav, Bhupender; Jayna, Manisha; Yadav, Harish; Suri, Shrey; Phogat, Shefali; Madan, Reshu
2014-01-01
The history of complete denture impression procedures has been influenced largely by the development of impression materials from which new techniques and ideas arose. The purpose of this study was to compare the retention of complete dentures made by using different impression techniques like conventional, admixed, all green, and functional techniques. The results showed that there was significant difference in retention between the six techniques where functional technique showed the highest mean value of retention followed by elastomeric, all green, and admixed, while cocktail and green stick compound showed the lowest mean value. However, on clinical examination, the retention produced by the six techniques was satisfactory.
Yadav, Bhupender; Jayna, Manisha; Yadav, Harish; Suri, Shrey; Phogat, Shefali; Madan, Reshu
2014-01-01
The history of complete denture impression procedures has been influenced largely by the development of impression materials from which new techniques and ideas arose. The purpose of this study was to compare the retention of complete dentures made by using different impression techniques like conventional, admixed, all green, and functional techniques. The results showed that there was significant difference in retention between the six techniques where functional technique showed the highest mean value of retention followed by elastomeric, all green, and admixed, while cocktail and green stick compound showed the lowest mean value. However, on clinical examination, the retention produced by the six techniques was satisfactory. PMID:25180105
NASA's Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy (IDEA)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bennett, Jeffrey O.; Morrow, Cherilynn A.
1994-04-01
We describe a progressive program in science education called the Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy (IDEA). IDEA represents a commitrnent by the Astrophysics Division of NASA Headquarters to pre-collegiate and public learning. The program enlists the full participation of research astronomers in taking advantage of the natural appeal of astronomy and the unique features of space astrophysics missions to generate valuable learning experiences and scientifically accurate and educationally effective products for students, teachers and citizens. One of the premier projects is called Flight Opportunities for Science Teacher EnRichment (FOSTER) — a program to fly teachers aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory during actual research missions. IDEA is managed by a visiting scientist with extensive educational background (each of the authors have served in this role), and the program is unique within NASA science divisions for having a full time scientist devoted to education. IDEA recognizes that the rapidly shifting social and political landscape has caused a fundamental change in how science is expected to contribute to society. It is in the enlightened self-interest of all research scientists to respond to the challenge of connecting forefront research to basic educational needs. IDEA is exploring the avenues needed to facilitate these connections, including supplementing research grants for educational purposes.
NASA's initiative to develop education through astronomy (IDEA)
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Bennett, Jeffrey O.; Morrow, Cherilynn A.
1994-01-01
We describe a progressive program in science education called the Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy (IDEA). IDEA represents a commitment by the Astrophysics Division of NASA Headquarters to pre-collegiate and public learning. The program enlists the full participation of research astronomers in taking advantage of the natural appeal of astronomy and the unique features of space astrophysics missions to generate valuable learning experiences and scientifically accurate and educationally effective products for students, teachers and citizens. One of the premier projects is called Flight Opportunities for Science Teacher EnRichment (FOSTER) - a program to fly teachers aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory during actual research missions. IDEA is managed by a visiting scientist with extensive educational background (each of the authors have served in this role), and the program is unique within NASA science divisions for having a full time scientist devoted to education. IDEA recognizes that the rapidly shifting social and political landscape has caused a fundamental change in how science is expected to contribute to society. It is in the enlightened self-interest of all research scientists to respond to the challenge of connecting forefront research to basic educational needs. IDEA is exploring the avenues needed to facilitate these connections, including supplementing research grants for educational purposes.
Investigating a redesigned physics course for future elementary teachers
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fracchiolla, Claudia
There is a growing concern that the number of students graduating with a STEM major in the U.S. is insufficient to fill the growing demand in STEM careers. In order to fulfill that demand, it is important to increase student retention in STEM majors and also to attract more students to pursue careers in those areas. Previous research has indicated that children start losing interest in science at the elementary level because science is taught with a focus on learning vocabulary and ideas rather than learning through inquiry-based techniques. A factor that affects the quality of science education at the elementary level is the preparation of elementary teachers. Many elementary teachers feel unprepared to teach science because they lack adequate content knowledge as well as the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for teaching the subject. Previous studies of teacher preparation in science identified some areas with which pre-service teachers need assistance. One of these areas is understanding children's ideas of science. To address that issue, this dissertation investigates whether the use of an instructional approach that teaches physics phenomena along with an understanding of how children think about the physical phenomena promotes changes in students' knowledge of children's ideas and use of those ideas in instructional and assessment strategies. Results indicated that students who were explicitly exposed to knowledge of children's ideas more often incorporated those ideas into their own microteaching and demonstrated higher levels of sophistication of knowledge of children's ideas, instructional strategies, and assessment strategies that incorporated those ideas. This research explores an instructional model for blending physics content and pedagogical content knowledge.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Balashov, Victor N.; Brantley, Susan L.; Guthrie, George D.
One idea for mitigating the increase in fossil- fuel generated carbon dioxide (CO 2) in the atmosphere is to inject CO 2 into subsurface saline sandstone reservoirs, thereby storing it in those geologic formations and out of the atmosphere.
An economic analysis of disaggregation of space assets: Application to GPS
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hastings, Daniel E.; La Tour, Paul A.
2017-05-01
New ideas, technologies and architectural concepts are emerging with the potential to reshape the space enterprise. One of those new architectural concepts is the idea that rather than aggregating payloads onto large very high performance buses, space architectures should be disaggregated with smaller numbers of payloads (as small as one) per bus and the space capabilities spread across a correspondingly larger number of systems. The primary rationale is increased survivability and resilience. The concept of disaggregation is examined from an acquisition cost perspective. A mixed system dynamics and trade space exploration model is developed to look at long-term trends in the space acquisition business. The model is used to examine the question of how different disaggregated GPS architectures compare in cost to the well-known current GPS architecture. A generation-over-generation examination of policy choices is made possible through the application of soft systems modeling of experience and learning effects. The assumptions that are allowed to vary are: design lives, production quantities, non-recurring engineering and time between generations. The model shows that there is always a premium in the first generation to be paid to disaggregate the GPS payloads. However, it is possible to construct survivable architectures where the premium after two generations is relatively low.
High efficiency focus neutron generator
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sadeghi, H.; Amrollahi, R.; Zare, M.; Fazelpour, S.
2017-12-01
In the present paper, the new idea to increase the neutron yield of plasma focus devices is investigated and the results are presented. Based on many studies, more than 90% of neutrons in plasma focus devices were produced by beam target interactions and only 10% of them were due to thermonuclear reactions. While propounding the new idea, the number of collisions between deuteron ions and deuterium gas atoms were increased remarkably well. The COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2 was used to study the given idea in the known 28 plasma focus devices. In this circumstance, the neutron yield of this system was also obtained and reported. Finally, it was found that in the ENEA device with 1 Hz working frequency, 1.1 × 109 and 1.1 × 1011 neutrons per second were produced by D-D and D-T reactions, respectively. In addition, in the NX2 device with 16 Hz working frequency, 1.34 × 1010 and 1.34 × 1012 neutrons per second were produced by D-D and D-T reactions, respectively. The results show that with regards to the sizes and energy of these devices, they can be used as the efficient neutron generators.
RF photo-injector beam energy distribution studies by slicing technique
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Filippetto, D.; Bellaveglia, M.; Musumeci, P.; Ronsivalle, C.
2009-07-01
The SPARC photo-injector is an R&D facility dedicated to the production of high brightness electron beams for radiation generation via FEL or Thomson scattering processes. It is the prototype injector for the recently approved SPARX project, aiming at the construction in the Frascati/University of Rome Tor Vergata area of a new high brightness electron linac for the generation of SASE-FEL radiation in the 1-10 nm wavelength range. The first phase of the SPARC project has been dedicated to the e-beam source characterization; the beam transverse and longitudinal parameters at the exit of the gun have been measured, and the photo-injector settings optimized to achieve best performance. Several beam dynamics topics have been experimentally studied in this first phase of operation, as, for example, the effect of photocathode driver laser beam shaping and the evolution of the beam transverse emittance. These studies have been made possible by the use of a novel diagnostic tool, the " emittance-meter" which enables the measurement of the transverse beam parameters at different positions along the propagation axis in the very interesting region at the exit of the RF gun. The new idea of extending the e-meter capabilities came out more recently. Information on the beam longitudinal phase space and correlations with the transverse planes can be retrieved by the slicing technique. In this paper, we illustrate the basic concept of the measurement together with simulations that theoretically validate the methodology. Some preliminary results are discussed and explained with the aid of code simulations.
Setyan, Ari; Sauvain, Jean-Jacques; Guillemin, Michel; Riediker, Michael; Demirdjian, Benjamin; Rossi, Michel J
2010-12-17
The complex chemical and physical nature of combustion and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in general precludes the complete characterization of both bulk and interfacial components. The bulk composition reveals the history of the growth process and therefore the source region, whereas the interface controls--to a large extent--the interaction with gases, biological membranes, and solid supports. We summarize the development of a soft interrogation technique, using heterogeneous chemistry, for the interfacial functional groups of selected probe gases [N(CH(3))(3), NH(2)OH, CF(3)COOH, HCl, O(3), NO(2)] of different reactivity. The technique reveals the identity and density of surface functional groups. Examples include acidic and basic sites, olefinic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sites, and partially and completely oxidized surface sites. We report on the surface composition and oxidation states of laboratory-generated aerosols and of aerosols sampled in several bus depots. In the latter case, the biomarker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, signaling oxidative stress caused by aerosol exposure, was isolated. The increase in biomarker levels over a working day is correlated with the surface density N(i)(O3) of olefinic and/or PAH sites obtained from O(3) uptakes as well as with the initial uptake coefficient, γ(0), of five probe gases used in the field. This correlation with γ(0) suggests the idea of competing pathways occurring at the interface of the aerosol particles between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for oxidative stress and cellular antioxidants.
Inference of Stochastic Nonlinear Oscillators with Applications to Physiological Problems
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Smelyanskiy, Vadim N.; Luchinsky, Dmitry G.
2004-01-01
A new method of inferencing of coupled stochastic nonlinear oscillators is described. The technique does not require extensive global optimization, provides optimal compensation for noise-induced errors and is robust in a broad range of dynamical models. We illustrate the main ideas of the technique by inferencing a model of five globally and locally coupled noisy oscillators. Specific modifications of the technique for inferencing hidden degrees of freedom of coupled nonlinear oscillators is discussed in the context of physiological applications.
New Ideas on Facilities Management.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Grimm, James C.
1986-01-01
Examines trends in facilities management relating to products and people. Reviews new trends in products, including processes, techniques, and programs that are being expounded by business and industry. Discusses the "people factors" involved in facilities management. (ABB)
Storing the Electric Energy Produced by an AC Generator
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Carvalho, P. Simeao; Lima, Ana Paula; Carvalho, Pedro Simeao
2010-01-01
Producing energy from renewable energy sources is nowadays a priority in our society. In many cases this energy comes as electric energy, and when we think about electric energy generators, one major issue is how we can store that energy. In this paper we discuss how this can be done and give some ideas for applications that can serve as a…
An Alternative to Self-Esteem: Fostering Self-Compassion in Youth
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Persinger, James
2012-01-01
For more than a generation, the idea that children need nurturance of a high self-esteem in order to be developmentally healthy has had wide acceptance in Western psychology. A generation of parents has been told that one of their key tasks is to increase their children's self-esteem, and teachers have been trained to give accolades, gold stars,…
The Child: Consumer or Consumed?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Katz, Lilian G.
1973-01-01
Discussed disadvantages of efficiency approach to education. Distinguishes between the concepts of consuming and generating ideas, between a child's behavior and his experiences and between temporary excitement and sustained interest in regard to learning. (ST)
Mitra, Ayan; Politte, David G; Whiting, Bruce R; Williamson, Jeffrey F; O'Sullivan, Joseph A
2017-01-01
Model-based image reconstruction (MBIR) techniques have the potential to generate high quality images from noisy measurements and a small number of projections which can reduce the x-ray dose in patients. These MBIR techniques rely on projection and backprojection to refine an image estimate. One of the widely used projectors for these modern MBIR based technique is called branchless distance driven (DD) projection and backprojection. While this method produces superior quality images, the computational cost of iterative updates keeps it from being ubiquitous in clinical applications. In this paper, we provide several new parallelization ideas for concurrent execution of the DD projectors in multi-GPU systems using CUDA programming tools. We have introduced some novel schemes for dividing the projection data and image voxels over multiple GPUs to avoid runtime overhead and inter-device synchronization issues. We have also reduced the complexity of overlap calculation of the algorithm by eliminating the common projection plane and directly projecting the detector boundaries onto image voxel boundaries. To reduce the time required for calculating the overlap between the detector edges and image voxel boundaries, we have proposed a pre-accumulation technique to accumulate image intensities in perpendicular 2D image slabs (from a 3D image) before projection and after backprojection to ensure our DD kernels run faster in parallel GPU threads. For the implementation of our iterative MBIR technique we use a parallel multi-GPU version of the alternating minimization (AM) algorithm with penalized likelihood update. The time performance using our proposed reconstruction method with Siemens Sensation 16 patient scan data shows an average of 24 times speedup using a single TITAN X GPU and 74 times speedup using 3 TITAN X GPUs in parallel for combined projection and backprojection.
Paradigm transitions in solar-terrestrial physics from 1900: my personal view
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Akasofu, S.-I.
2015-04-01
Solar-terrestrial physics, like any other scientific field, has evolved and developed by replacing older theories with newer theories. Unfortunately, each generation of young researchers tends to learn naturally only the latest, and perhaps the most popular theory and believes that it is the only useful one to pursue. Therefore, they do not necessarily realize that in the past the theory they chose had struggled to reach its presently acceptable state, and that eventually it might be replaced with a new theory. Two generations of scientists or in some subjects even more generations tend to be guided by one particular idea or theory. Thus, among us (namely, one or two generations) a high degree of agreement occurs, both on the theoretical assumptions and on the problem to be solved within the framework provided by the theory. Such an idea or theory was termed paradigm by Kuhn (1970). The purpose of this article is to describe several examples of the transition of paradigms and ideas in the subjects of solar-terrestrial physics. The examples are subjects that experienced a paradigm change after prevailing in the field for a few generations and also some that are perhaps on the verge of the transition. The chosen subjects are (1) Stormer's single particle theory to Chapman's plasma theory (1907-1963), (2) the auroral zone to the auroral oval (1860-1971), (3) the closed to open magnetosphere (1931-1971), (4) the current system controversies (1918-1963) and (1964-present), (5) the fixed pattern concept to the concept of auroral/magnetospheric substorms (1935-1982), (6) the importance of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the development of geomagnetic storms (1905-1966), (7) the ring current: solar wind protons to oxygen ions from the ionosphere (1933-1977), (8) the storm-substorm controversy (1963-present), (9) substorm onset (1964-present), (10) solar flares (1958-present) and (11) sunspots (1961-present).
A life course perspective on how racism may be related to health inequities.
Gee, Gilbert C; Walsemann, Katrina M; Brondolo, Elizabeth
2012-05-01
Recent studies show that racism may influence health inequities. As individuals grow from infancy into old age, they encounter social institutions that may create new exposures to racial bias. Yet, few studies have considered this idea fully. We suggest a framework that shows how racism and health inequities may be viewed from a life course perspective. It applies the ideas of age-patterned exposures, sensitive periods, linked lives, latency period, stress proliferation, historic period, and cohorts. It suggests an overarching idea that racism can structure one's time in asset-building contexts (e.g., education) or disadvantaged contexts (e.g., prison). This variation in time and exposure can contribute to racial inequities in life expectancy and other health outcomes across the life course and over generations.
A Life Course Perspective on How Racism May Be Related to Health Inequities
Walsemann, Katrina M.; Brondolo, Elizabeth
2012-01-01
Recent studies show that racism may influence health inequities. As individuals grow from infancy into old age, they encounter social institutions that may create new exposures to racial bias. Yet, few studies have considered this idea fully. We suggest a framework that shows how racism and health inequities may be viewed from a life course perspective. It applies the ideas of age-patterned exposures, sensitive periods, linked lives, latency period, stress proliferation, historic period, and cohorts. It suggests an overarching idea that racism can structure one’s time in asset-building contexts (e.g., education) or disadvantaged contexts (e.g., prison). This variation in time and exposure can contribute to racial inequities in life expectancy and other health outcomes across the life course and over generations. PMID:22420802
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tselfes, Vasilis; Paroussi, Antigoni
2009-09-01
There is, in Greece, an ongoing attempt to breach the boundaries established between the different teaching-learning subjects of compulsory education. In this context, we are interested in exploring to what degree the teaching and learning of ideas from the sciences’ “internal life” (Hacking, in: Pickering (ed) Science as practice and culture, 1992) benefits from creatively coming into contact with theatrical education as part of the corresponding curriculum subject. To this end, 57 students of the Early Childhood Education Department of the University of Athens were called to study extracts from Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican, to focus on a subject that the Dialogue’s “interlocutors” forcefully disagree about and to theatrically represent (using shadow theatre techniques) what they considered as being the central idea of this clash of opinions. The results indicate that this attempt leads to a satisfactory understanding of ideas relating to the content and methodology of the natural sciences. At the same time, theatrical education avails itself of the representation of scientific ideas and avoids the clichés and hackneyed techniques that the (often) simplistic choices available in the educational context of early childhood education tend towards. The basic reasons for both facets of this success are: (a) Genuine scientific texts force the students to approach them with seriousness, and all the more so if these recount the manner in which scientific ideas are produced and are embedded in the historical and social context of the age that created them; (b) The theatrical framework, which essentially guides the students’ activities, allows (if not obliges) them to approach scientific issues creatively; in other words, it allows them to create something related to science and recognize it as theirs; and, (c) Both the narrative texts describing processes of “science making” (Bruner, J Sci Educ Technol 1:5-12, 1992) and theatrical expression constitute fields that are characterized by what, for the students, is a common and understandable manner of expression: the narrative.
Knowledge Exchange: selecting research opportunities through estimation.
Cudd, Peter; Fowler-Davis, Sally; Evans, Laura; Mawson, Sue
2015-01-01
A systematic way to select new ideas for research and development between two organisations is reported. It was applied to ideas that were generated from acute clinical settings by Occupational Therapists with a view to collaborate with nearby university academics from many disciplines. The process, assessment factors, use of ordinal scales with thresholding and an arbitrary formula are described. Challenges in the approach are discussed. Suitability for use by others in the AT field, other care related or even very different contexts is noted with some adaption and caveats.
Breaking CFD Bottlenecks in Gas-Turbine Flow-Path Design
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Davis, Roger L.; Dannenhoffer, John F., III; Clark, John P.
2010-01-01
New ideas are forthcoming to break existing bottlenecks in using CFD during design. CAD-based automated grid generation. Multi-disciplinary use of embedded, overset grids to eliminate complex gridding problems. Use of time-averaged detached-eddy simulations as norm instead of "steady" RANS to include effects of self-excited unsteadiness. Combined GPU/Core parallel computing to provide over an order of magnitude increase in performance/price ratio. Gas-turbine applications are shown here but these ideas can be used for other Air Force, Navy, and NASA applications.
Veritas filia temporis: The origins of the idea of scientific progress.
Špelda, Daniel
2016-10-01
The article provides insight into the epistemological and anthropological aspect of the origination of the idea of scientific progress. It focuses on the relationship between individual's limited lifetime and the immensity of nature. The basic assumption is that the idea of scientific progress offers a solution of the epistemological problem stemming from the finding that there is no (teleological) coincidence between human cognitive abilities and the extent of nature. In order to facilitate the understanding of the origin of the idea of scientific progress, I propose distinction between the descriptive and prescriptive concepts of progress. While the descriptive notion of progress expresses the cumulative character of scientific knowledge and the superiority of the present over preceding generations, the prescriptive concept pertains to progressivist epistemology directing scientific research at the future development of knowledge. This article claims that the prevalent concept in Antiquity was the descriptive concept of scientific progress. The prescriptive notion had developed only in ancient astronomy. Early modern science was faced with similar issues as ancient astronomy - mainly the empirical finding related to the inexhaustible character of nature. Consequently to the introduction of the idea of progress, the progress of sciences became a purpose in itself - hence becoming infinite.
Principal Leadership for Technology-enhanced Learning in Science
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gerard, Libby F.; Bowyer, Jane B.; Linn, Marcia C.
2008-02-01
Reforms such as technology-enhanced instruction require principal leadership. Yet, many principals report that they need help to guide implementation of science and technology reforms. We identify strategies for helping principals provide this leadership. A two-phase design is employed. In the first phase we elicit principals' varied ideas about the Technology-enhanced Learning in Science (TELS) curriculum materials being implemented by teachers in their schools, and in the second phase we engage principals in a leadership workshop designed based on the ideas they generated. Analysis uses an emergent coding scheme to categorize principals' ideas, and a knowledge integration framework to capture the development of these ideas. The analysis suggests that principals frame their thinking about the implementation of TELS in terms of: principal leadership, curriculum, educational policy, teacher learning, student outcomes and financial resources. They seek to improve their own knowledge to support this reform. The principals organize their ideas around individual school goals and current political issues. Principals prefer professional development activities that engage them in reviewing curricula and student work with other principals. Based on the analysis, this study offers guidelines for creating learning opportunities that enhance principals' leadership abilities in technology and science reform.
The Evolvement of Automobile Steering System Based on TRIZ
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhao, Xinjun; Zhang, Shuang
Products and techniques pass through a process of birth, growth, maturity, death and quit the stage like biological evolution process. The developments of products and techniques conform to some evolvement rules. If people know and hold these rules, they can design new kind of products and forecast the develop trends of the products. Thereby, enterprises can grasp the future technique directions of products, and make product and technique innovation. Below, based on TRIZ theory, the mechanism evolvement, the function evolvement and the appearance evolvement of automobile steering system had been analyzed and put forward some new ideas about future automobile steering system.
Protecting water resources with smart growth.
DOT National Transportation Integrated Search
2004-05-01
Protecting Water Resources with : Smart Growth is intended for audiences already familiar with smart : growth, who now seek specific ideas : on how techniques for smarter growth : can be used to protect their water : resources. This document is one...
"Seven Ideas" and "Entertainment and the Arts": Two Courses for the Non-Science Major
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Spielberg, N.; Christensen, S. H.
1977-01-01
Discusses the course content and teaching techniques of two one-quarter descriptive physics courses which have been particularly successful. Reports on large enrollments and positive reception by students and faculty. (MLH)