Sensor-based fine telemanipulation for space robotics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrenucci, M.; Bergamasco, M.; Dario, P.

1989-01-01

The control of a multifingered hand slave in order to accurately exert arbitrary forces and impart small movements to a grasped object is, at present, a knotty problem in teleoperation. Although a number of articulated robotic hands have been proposed in the recent past for dexterous manipulation in autonomous robots, the possible use of such hands as slaves in teleoperated manipulation is hindered by the present lack of sensors in those hands, and (even if those sensors were available) by the inherent difficulty of transmitting to the master operator the complex sensations elicited by such sensors at the slave level. An analysis of different problems related to sensor-based telemanipulation is presented. The general sensory systems requirements for dexterous slave manipulators are pointed out and the description of a practical sensory system set-up for the developed robotic system is presented. The problem of feeding back to the human master operator stimuli that can be interpreted by his central nervous system as originated during real dexterous manipulation is then considered. Finally, some preliminary work aimed at developing an instrumented glove designed purposely for commanding the master operation and incorporating Kevlar tendons and tension sensors, is discussed.

Student-Retention and Career-Placement Rates Between Bachelor's and Master's Degree Professional Athletic Training Programs.

PubMed

Bowman, Thomas G; Mazerolle, Stephanie M; Pitney, William A; Dodge, Thomas M; Hertel, Jay

2015-09-01

The debate over what the entry-level degree should be for athletic training has heightened. A comparison of retention and career-placement rates between bachelor's and master's degree professional athletic training programs may inform the debate. To compare the retention rates and career-placement rates of students in bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. Cross-sectional study. Web-based survey. A total of 192 program directors (PDs) from bachelor's degree (n = 177) and master's degree (n = 15) professional programs. The PDs completed a Web-based survey. We instructed the PDs to provide a retention rate and career-placement rate for the students in the programs they lead for each of the past 5 years. We also asked the PDs if they thought retention of students was a problem currently facing athletic training education. We used independent t tests to compare the responses between bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. We found a higher retention rate for professional master's degree students (88.70% ± 9.02%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 83.71, 93.69) than bachelor's degree students (80.98% ± 17.86%, 95% CI = 78.30, 83.66) (t25 = -2.86, P = .008, d = 0.55). Similarly, PDs from professional master's degree programs reported higher career-placement percentages (88.50% ± 10.68%, 95% CI = 82.33, 94.67) than bachelor's degree professional PDs (71.32% ± 18.47%, 95% CI = 68.54, 74.10) (t20 = -5.40, P < .001, d = 1.14). Finally, we observed no difference between groups regarding whether retention is a problem facing athletic training (χ(2)1 = 0.720, P = .40, Φ = .061). Professional master's degree education appears to facilitate higher retention rates and greater career-placement rates in athletic training than bachelor's degree education. Professional socialization, program selectivity, and student commitment and motivation levels may help to explain the differences noted.

Predicting doctor performance outcomes of curriculum interventions: problem-based learning and continuing competence.

PubMed

Norman, Geoffrey R; Wenghofer, Elizabeth; Klass, Daniel

2008-08-01

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational strategy designed to enhance self-assessment, self-directed learning and lifelong learning. The present study examines a peer review programme to determine whether the impact of PBL on continuing competence can be detected in practice. This study aimed to establish whether McMaster graduates who graduated between 1972 and 1991 were any less likely to be identified as having issues of competence by a systematic peer review programme than graduates of other Ontario medical schools. We identified a total of 1166 doctors who had graduated after 1972 and had completed a mandated peer review programme. Of these, 108 had graduated from McMaster and 857 from other Canadian schools. School of graduation was cross-tabulated against peer rating. A secondary analysis examined predictors of ratings using multiple regression. We found that 4% of McMaster graduates and 5% of other graduates were deemed to demonstrate cause for concern or serious concern, and that 24% of McMaster doctors and 28% of other doctors were rated as excellent. These differences were not significant. Multiple regression indicated that certification by family medicine or a specialty, female gender and younger age were all predictors of practice outcomes, but school of graduation was not. There is no evidence from this study that PBL graduates are better able to maintain competence than graduates of conventional schools. The study highlights potential problems in attempting to link undergraduate educational interventions to doctor performance outcomes.

Crowd Computing as a Cooperation Problem: An Evolutionary Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christoforou, Evgenia; Fernández Anta, Antonio; Georgiou, Chryssis; Mosteiro, Miguel A.; Sánchez, Angel

2013-05-01

Cooperation is one of the socio-economic issues that has received more attention from the physics community. The problem has been mostly considered by studying games such as the Prisoner's Dilemma or the Public Goods Game. Here, we take a step forward by studying cooperation in the context of crowd computing. We introduce a model loosely based on Principal-agent theory in which people (workers) contribute to the solution of a distributed problem by computing answers and reporting to the problem proposer (master). To go beyond classical approaches involving the concept of Nash equilibrium, we work on an evolutionary framework in which both the master and the workers update their behavior through reinforcement learning. Using a Markov chain approach, we show theoretically that under certain----not very restrictive—conditions, the master can ensure the reliability of the answer resulting of the process. Then, we study the model by numerical simulations, finding that convergence, meaning that the system reaches a point in which it always produces reliable answers, may in general be much faster than the upper bounds given by the theoretical calculation. We also discuss the effects of the master's level of tolerance to defectors, about which the theory does not provide information. The discussion shows that the system works even with very large tolerances. We conclude with a discussion of our results and possible directions to carry this research further.

Overcoming the "Walmart Syndrome": Adapting Problem-Based Management Education in East Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallinger, Philip; Lu, Jiafang

2012-01-01

This paper explores design issues to be considered in adapting the problem-based learning (PBL) for use in the context of East Asian higher education and tests its instructional effectiveness in a Master of Management degree program at a graduate school of business (GSB) in Thailand. The research analyzes course evaluation data obtained from…

Integrating Problem- and Project-Based Learning Opportunities: Assessing Outcomes of a Field Course in Environment and Sustainability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kricsfalusy, Vladimir; George, Colleen; Reed, Maureen G.

2018-01-01

Improving student competencies to address sustainability challenges has been a subject of significant debate in higher education. Problem- and project-based learning have been widely celebrated as course models that support the development of sustainability competencies. This paper describes a course developed for a professional Master's program…

Finite-time master-slave synchronization and parameter identification for uncertain Lurie systems.

PubMed

Wang, Tianbo; Zhao, Shouwei; Zhou, Wuneng; Yu, Weiqin

2014-07-01

This paper investigates the finite-time master-slave synchronization and parameter identification problem for uncertain Lurie systems based on the finite-time stability theory and the adaptive control method. The finite-time master-slave synchronization means that the state of a slave system follows with that of a master system in finite time, which is more reasonable than the asymptotical synchronization in applications. The uncertainties include the unknown parameters and noise disturbances. An adaptive controller and update laws which ensures the synchronization and parameter identification to be realized in finite time are constructed. Finally, two numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2014 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Outcome Evaluation of a Problem-Based Learning Approach with MSW Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westhues, Anne; Barsen, Chia; Freymond, Nancy; Train, Patricia

2014-01-01

In this article, we report the findings from a study exploring the effects of a problem-based learning (PBL) approach to teaching and learning on learning outcomes for master's of social work (MSW) students. Students who participated in a PBL pilot project were compared with students who did not participate in 5 outcome areas: social work…

Developing Teacher Competencies for Problem-Based Learning Pedagogy and for Supporting Learning in Language-Minority Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rillero, Peter; Koerner, Mari; Jimenez-Silva, Margarita; Merrit, Joi; Farr, Wendy J.

2017-01-01

Teachers need to be able to design and implement problem-based learning (PBL) experiences to help students master the content and the processes in new mathematics and science education standards. Due to the changed population of learners within schools, it is also critically important that teachers in the elementary grades have the abilities to…

Understanding Critical Thinking to Create Better Doctors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zayapragassarazan, Zayabalaradjane; Menon, Vikas; Kar, Sitanshu Sekhar; Batmanabane, Gitanjali

2016-01-01

Medical students master an enormous body of knowledge, but lack systematic problem solving ability and effective clinical decision making. High profile reports have called for reforms in medical education to create a better generation of doctors who can cope with the system based problems they would encounter in an interdisciplinary and…

The Study on the Psychological Problems and Countermeasures of the Full-Time Professional Masters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hui, Tang; Liang, Ma

2012-01-01

Mental health education is one of the most important tasks in postgraduate education. Professional master, as a graduate of an emerging group, its mental health education cannot be ignored. This paper focuses on the existence of some mental health problems of Chinese full-time professional master, explores and analyzes their causes and finally…

Black start research of the wind and storage system based on the dual master-slave control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leng, Xue; Shen, Li; Hu, Tian; Liu, Li

2018-02-01

Black start is the key to solving the problem of large-scale power failure, while the introduction of new renewable clean energy as a black start power supply was a new hotspot. Based on the dual master-slave control strategy, the wind and storage system was taken as the black start reliable power, energy storage and wind combined to ensure the stability of the micorgrid systems, to realize the black start. In order to obtain the capacity ratio of the storage in the small system based on the dual master-slave control strategy, and the black start constraint condition of the wind and storage combined system, obtain the key points of black start of wind storage combined system, but also provide reference and guidance for the subsequent large-scale wind and storage combined system in black start projects.

The Role of the e-Tutor in Synchronous Online Problem-Based Learning: A Study in a Master Public Health Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Jong, Nynke; Verstegen, Daniëlle M. L.; Könings, Karen D.

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to compare the role of the tutor in an online and a face-to-face problem-based learning (PBL) session to shed light on potential differences of the tutor role in both settings. In this practice-based study we compared the two groups with the same tutor undertaking the same module. Students completed questionnaires about…

Student-Retention and Career-Placement Rates Between Bachelor's and Master's Degree Professional Athletic Training Programs

PubMed Central

Bowman, Thomas G.; Mazerolle, Stephanie M.; Pitney, William A.; Dodge, Thomas M.; Hertel, Jay

2015-01-01

Context  The debate over what the entry-level degree should be for athletic training has heightened. A comparison of retention and career-placement rates between bachelor's and master's degree professional athletic training programs may inform the debate. Objective  To compare the retention rates and career-placement rates of students in bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. Design  Cross-sectional study. Setting  Web-based survey. Patients or Other Participants  A total of 192 program directors (PDs) from bachelor's degree (n = 177) and master's degree (n = 15) professional programs. Intervention(s)  The PDs completed a Web-based survey. Main Outcome Measure(s)  We instructed the PDs to provide a retention rate and career-placement rate for the students in the programs they lead for each of the past 5 years. We also asked the PDs if they thought retention of students was a problem currently facing athletic training education. We used independent t tests to compare the responses between bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. Results  We found a higher retention rate for professional master's degree students (88.70% ± 9.02%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 83.71, 93.69) than bachelor's degree students (80.98% ± 17.86%, 95% CI = 78.30, 83.66) (t25 = −2.86, P = .008, d = 0.55). Similarly, PDs from professional master's degree programs reported higher career-placement percentages (88.50% ± 10.68%, 95% CI = 82.33, 94.67) than bachelor's degree professional PDs (71.32% ± 18.47%, 95% CI = 68.54, 74.10) (t20 = −5.40, P < .001, d = 1.14). Finally, we observed no difference between groups regarding whether retention is a problem facing athletic training (χ21 = 0.720, P = .40, Φ = .061). Conclusions  Professional master's degree education appears to facilitate higher retention rates and greater career-placement rates in athletic training than bachelor's degree education. Professional socialization, program selectivity, and student commitment and motivation levels may help to explain the differences noted. PMID:26308497

Problems in the Research Problem: Critical Feedback and Resistance in Academic Supervision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vehvilainen, Sanna

2009-01-01

The paper focuses on a routine activity of academic supervision: Giving and receiving feedback based on the student's master's thesis manuscript. Two case analyses are presented on fundamentally critical feedback. Such feedback constitutes a recommendation to the student to seriously rethink the thesis, but there are various interactional…

A Qualitative Investigation into How Problem-Based Learning Impacts on the Development of Team-Working Skills in Occupational Therapy Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seymour, Alison

2013-01-01

It has been suggested that problem-based learning (PBL) has a positive impact on the team-working skills of medical, health and social care students. These skills are important for graduates to master to enable effective collaborative working in today's diverse health and social care settings. What is not clear from the literature is how…

Solving the master equation without kinetic Monte Carlo: Tensor train approximations for a CO oxidation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelß, Patrick; Matera, Sebastian; Schütte, Christof

2016-06-01

In multiscale modeling of heterogeneous catalytic processes, one crucial point is the solution of a Markovian master equation describing the stochastic reaction kinetics. Usually, this is too high-dimensional to be solved with standard numerical techniques and one has to rely on sampling approaches based on the kinetic Monte Carlo method. In this study we break the curse of dimensionality for the direct solution of the Markovian master equation by exploiting the Tensor Train Format for this purpose. The performance of the approach is demonstrated on a first principles based, reduced model for the CO oxidation on the RuO2(110) surface. We investigate the complexity for increasing system size and for various reaction conditions. The advantage over the stochastic simulation approach is illustrated by a problem with increased stiffness.

A Novel Wide-Area Backup Protection Based on Fault Component Current Distribution and Improved Evidence Theory

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhe; Kong, Xiangping; Yin, Xianggen; Yang, Zengli; Wang, Lijun

2014-01-01

In order to solve the problems of the existing wide-area backup protection (WABP) algorithms, the paper proposes a novel WABP algorithm based on the distribution characteristics of fault component current and improved Dempster/Shafer (D-S) evidence theory. When a fault occurs, slave substations transmit to master station the amplitudes of fault component currents of transmission lines which are the closest to fault element. Then master substation identifies suspicious faulty lines according to the distribution characteristics of fault component current. After that, the master substation will identify the actual faulty line with improved D-S evidence theory based on the action states of traditional protections and direction components of these suspicious faulty lines. The simulation examples based on IEEE 10-generator-39-bus system show that the proposed WABP algorithm has an excellent performance. The algorithm has low requirement of sampling synchronization, small wide-area communication flow, and high fault tolerance. PMID:25050399

[A way of helping "Mr. Minotaur" and "Ms. Ariadne" to exit from the multiple morbidity labyrinth: the "master problems"].

PubMed

Turabián, J L; Pérez Franco, B

2016-01-01

Multiple morbidity seems to be "infinite" and so is not easy to make useful decisions. A new concept is introduced: the "master problems", as a qualitative method to facilitate the exit from this maze of multiple morbidity. Metaphors from the art world have been used to teach this concept. These "master problems" generally remain hidden and can only "unravel" between the interstices of multiple morbidity, when the details of the system that defines the problem are explained. A problem with "energy" or a "master problem" is complex, multiple and dramatic or theatrical--everything in the clinical history history make us look into that particular question. It is what gives us a blow to the stomach, which causes our hearts to beat faster, that moves us on many levels, which has a high "density of emotions", human elements, social symbols, and opens solutions in a patient. Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Using NetMaster to manage IBM networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ginsburg, Guss

1991-01-01

After defining a network and conveying its importance to support the activities at the JSC, the need for network management based on the size and complexity of the IBM SNA network at JSC is demonstrated. Network Management consists of being aware of component status and the ability to control resources to meet the availability and service needs of users. The concerns of the user are addressed as well as those of the staff responsible for managing the network. It is explained how NetMaster (a network management system for managing SNA networks) is used to enhance reliability and maximize service to SNA network users through automated procedures. The following areas are discussed: customization, problem and configuration management, and system measurement applications of NetMaster. Also, several examples are given that demonstrate NetMaster's ability to manage and control the network, integrate various product functions, as well as provide useful management information.

Discussion Based Fish Bowl Strategy in Learning Psychology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singaravelu, G.

2007-01-01

The present study investigates the learning problems in psychology at Master of Education(M.Ed.,) in Bharathiar University and finds the effectiveness of Discussion Based Fish Bowl Strategy in learning psychology. Single group Experimental method was adopted for the study. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted for this study.…

Solving the master equation without kinetic Monte Carlo: Tensor train approximations for a CO oxidation model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gelß, Patrick, E-mail: p.gelss@fu-berlin.de; Matera, Sebastian, E-mail: matera@math.fu-berlin.de; Schütte, Christof, E-mail: schuette@mi.fu-berlin.de

2016-06-01

In multiscale modeling of heterogeneous catalytic processes, one crucial point is the solution of a Markovian master equation describing the stochastic reaction kinetics. Usually, this is too high-dimensional to be solved with standard numerical techniques and one has to rely on sampling approaches based on the kinetic Monte Carlo method. In this study we break the curse of dimensionality for the direct solution of the Markovian master equation by exploiting the Tensor Train Format for this purpose. The performance of the approach is demonstrated on a first principles based, reduced model for the CO oxidation on the RuO{sub 2}(110) surface.more » We investigate the complexity for increasing system size and for various reaction conditions. The advantage over the stochastic simulation approach is illustrated by a problem with increased stiffness.« less

[Application of problem-based learning in pre-job training of postgraduate students in department of endodontics].

PubMed

Shao, Li-na; Wang, Xue-mei; Qiu, Li-hong; Zhan, Fu-liang; Xue, Ming

2013-08-01

To apply problem-based learning (PBL) in pre-job training of postgraduate students in department of endodontics. Thirty master degree postgraduate students of China Medical University were randomly divided into 2 groups, there were 15 students in each group. One group were taught with PBL method while the other group with lecture-based learning (LBL) method. The teaching effect was measured with examination and questionnaire survey. The data were analyzed by student's t-test using SPSS 11.5 software package. There was no significant difference in basic knowledge, medical records writing, oral examination between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in case analysis, dental operation, theory examination, practical examination and total scores between the two groups (P<0.05). The PBL method was welcomed by master degree postgraduate students. The abilities of postgraduate students can be developed by PBL method in different aspects. PBL achieves satisfactory teaching effect, and can be applied in pre-job training of postgraduate students.

A Consideration of the Challenges Involved in Supervising International Masters Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Lorraine

2007-01-01

This paper explores the challenges facing supervisors of international postgraduate students at the dissertation stage of the masters programme. The central problems of time pressure, language difficulties, a lack of critical analysis and a prevalence of personal problems among international students are discussed. This paper makes recommendations…

Particle Swarm Optimization with Double Learning Patterns.

PubMed

Shen, Yuanxia; Wei, Linna; Zeng, Chuanhua; Chen, Jian

2016-01-01

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is an effective tool in solving optimization problems. However, PSO usually suffers from the premature convergence due to the quick losing of the swarm diversity. In this paper, we first analyze the motion behavior of the swarm based on the probability characteristic of learning parameters. Then a PSO with double learning patterns (PSO-DLP) is developed, which employs the master swarm and the slave swarm with different learning patterns to achieve a trade-off between the convergence speed and the swarm diversity. The particles in the master swarm and the slave swarm are encouraged to explore search for keeping the swarm diversity and to learn from the global best particle for refining a promising solution, respectively. When the evolutionary states of two swarms interact, an interaction mechanism is enabled. This mechanism can help the slave swarm in jumping out of the local optima and improve the convergence precision of the master swarm. The proposed PSO-DLP is evaluated on 20 benchmark functions, including rotated multimodal and complex shifted problems. The simulation results and statistical analysis show that PSO-DLP obtains a promising performance and outperforms eight PSO variants.

Marine Corps Readiness: The Costs of First-Term Dependency

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-01-01

Marines always get the job done, and the Marines are the masters of unfailing alchemy which converts unoriented youths into proud, self-reliant...especially in localities with high off base housing costs. Finances and housing problems are at the root of many other problems which service...Marine Corps Readiness: The Cost of First-Term Dependency CSC 2000 Subject Area – Manpower Table of Contents Page DISCLAIMER

Discriminative and robust zero-watermarking scheme based on completed local binary pattern for authentication and copyright identification of medical images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiyao; Lou, Jieting; Wang, Yifan; Du, Jingyu; Zou, Beiji; Chen, Yan

2018-03-01

Authentication and copyright identification are two critical security issues for medical images. Although zerowatermarking schemes can provide durable, reliable and distortion-free protection for medical images, the existing zerowatermarking schemes for medical images still face two problems. On one hand, they rarely considered the distinguishability for medical images, which is critical because different medical images are sometimes similar to each other. On the other hand, their robustness against geometric attacks, such as cropping, rotation and flipping, is insufficient. In this study, a novel discriminative and robust zero-watermarking (DRZW) is proposed to address these two problems. In DRZW, content-based features of medical images are first extracted based on completed local binary pattern (CLBP) operator to ensure the distinguishability and robustness, especially against geometric attacks. Then, master shares and ownership shares are generated from the content-based features and watermark according to (2,2) visual cryptography. Finally, the ownership shares are stored for authentication and copyright identification. For queried medical images, their content-based features are extracted and master shares are generated. Their watermarks for authentication and copyright identification are recovered by stacking the generated master shares and stored ownership shares. 200 different medical images of 5 types are collected as the testing data and our experimental results demonstrate that DRZW ensures both the accuracy and reliability of authentication and copyright identification. When fixing the false positive rate to 1.00%, the average value of false negative rates by using DRZW is only 1.75% under 20 common attacks with different parameters.

Facility Master Plans: An Essential First Step in the Building Development Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wickerham, Wendell E.

2002-01-01

Discusses the importance of the facility master plan (FMP) in defining project scope and validating or challenging the work of consultants. Offers three case studies illustrating how facility master plans averted problems or led to unanticipated benefits for the colleges involved. (EV)

Using a Problem-Based Learning Approach to Teach an Intelligent Systems Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheong, France

2008-01-01

While delivering the Intelligent Systems course, an elective course in the Master of Business Information Technology program at RMIT University, it was felt that there was a learning issue as students' learning seemed to be superficial. This perception was based on the questions students asked in class and the mechanical attitude they adopted…

Relationships between Students' Strategies for Influencing Their Study Environment and Their Strategic Approach to Studying

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jungert, Tomas; Rosander, Michael

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between student influence, students' strategic approaches to studying and academic achievement, and to examine differences between students in a Master's programme in Engineering with conventional teaching and one based on problem-based learning in a sample of 268 students. A version of…

Education in Care and Technology; Development and Evaluation of a First Cohort of an International Master Course.

PubMed

Willems, Charles G

2017-01-01

A report written as a personal communication based on the experience gathered by developing and delivery of a international professional master course. The organization of the curriculum consists of 16 modules. Using a framework of the user centered design and development cycle students receive domain knowledge related to user-orientation, business, innovation and implementation. Also, introduction is given to tools that can be used to investigate certain aspects. The course will be completed by the performance of master thesis research related of a practice oriented problem relevant to the work environment of the student. This master-course has been followed by a first cohort of 8 students. In this report, an evaluation is given on this first delivery. Organization of this course is complicated by the marketing conditions that have to be used. Students and teachers are well supported by the distance based learning environment. The 16 modules representing the content of the course contains a variety of subjects and methods and represents a huge educational load to the students. Translating this content to the development of the own applied research subject contributes to the learning process. The first cohort of students will complete their master thesis in July 2017. Further introduction of new cohorts will mainly depend on the possibility to reduce the financial constraints to participation.

Financial Education Can Change Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Varcoe, Karen P.; Wright, Joan

1991-01-01

Interviews with 190 participants in Money Sense--a financial management education program based on the "master volunteer" approach--showed that the program taught them food shopping and money management skills and helped save money on food costs. Most experienced fewer financial problems and perceived their financial status as improved.…

Transmission and Reproduction of Force Sensation by Bilateral Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsura, Seiichiro; Ohnishi, Kouhei

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which thinks a great deal of patient’s quality of life (QOL) has attracted attention during about ten years. In this paper, it aims at development of the technology for transmitting force sensation required in medical treatment especially through surgical instruments, such as forceps. In bilateral control, it is a problem how master and slave robots realize the law of action and reaction to the environment. Mechanism of contact with environment and bilateral controller based on stiffness are shown. Master arm in contact with human and slave arm in contact with environment are given compliance, and stable contact with environment can be realized. The proposed method is applied to 3-link master-slave manipulators. As a result, transmission and reproduction of force sensation can be realized. The experimental results show viability of the proposed method.

Development of an Online Orientation for an Instructional Technology Masters Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dixon, Michael; Beveridge, Pamela; Farrior, Charlotte; Williams, Beth Ann; Sugar, William; Brown, Abbie

2012-01-01

Four graduate students were tasked with creating a real-world solution to a problem faced by the instructional technology masters program in which they were participating. While taking an online course in multimedia instructional product development, part of East Carolina University's Masters of Science in Instructional Technology degree program,…

General framework for dynamic large deformation contact problems based on phantom-node X-FEM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broumand, P.; Khoei, A. R.

2018-04-01

This paper presents a general framework for modeling dynamic large deformation contact-impact problems based on the phantom-node extended finite element method. The large sliding penalty contact formulation is presented based on a master-slave approach which is implemented within the phantom-node X-FEM and an explicit central difference scheme is used to model the inertial effects. The method is compared with conventional contact X-FEM; advantages, limitations and implementational aspects are also addressed. Several numerical examples are presented to show the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method.

Investigating the Link between Self Directed Learning Readiness and Project-Based Learning Outcomes: The Case of International Masters Students in an Engineering Management Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Rodney A.

2007-01-01

Modern learning approaches increasingly have fewer structured learning activities and more self-directed learning tasks guided through consultation with academics. Such tasks are predominately project-/problem-based where the student is required to follow a freely guided road map to self discovery while simultaneously achieving desired learning…

Science Club--A Concept

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wegner, Claas; Issak, Nicole; Tesch, Katharina; Zehne, Carolin

2016-01-01

The following article presents a concept of a science club which was developed by two master's students as a part of their thesis and which has been developed and improved ever since. The extra-curricular concept emphasises pupils' individuality through focusing on problem based leaning, station learning, and mixed age groups. Having joined the…

A New Approach to Teaching Business Oriented Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merchant, Ronald

1980-01-01

Describes a competency based business mathematics course offered at Spokane Falls Community College (Washington) in which students, through the use of calculators, master mathematical concepts without having to mentally add columns of figures or perform complex arithmetic problems on paper. Examines both the mathematical and 10-key skills…

Designing Online Learning Communities of Practice: A Democratic Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sorensen, Elsebeth Korsgaard; Murchu, Daithi O.

2004-01-01

This study addresses the problem of designing an appropriate learning space or architecture for distributed online courses using net-based communication technologies. We apply Wenger's criteria to explore, identify and discuss the design architectures of two online courses from two comparable online Master's programmes, developed and delivered in…

Impacts of Captioned Movies on Listening Comprehension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janfaza, Abusaied; Jelyani, Saghar Javidi; Soori, Afshin

2014-01-01

With the advent of technology, the implication of authentic multimedia-based teaching materials are using widely in language classrooms. Technology can be in service of teaching different skills such as listening, reading, speaking and writing. Among these skills listening comprehension is a skill in which the learners have problems to master.…

Old Tools for New Problems: Modifying Master Gardener Training to Improve Food Access in Rural Areas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Randle, Anne

2015-01-01

Extension faces ever-changing problems, which can be addressed by modifying successful tools rather than inventing new ones. The Master Gardener program has proven its effectiveness, but the cost and time commitment can make it inaccessible to rural, low-income communities, where training in home gardening may address issues of food access and…

Master-slave system with force feedback based on dynamics of virtual model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nojima, Shuji; Hashimoto, Hideki

1994-01-01

A master-slave system can extend manipulating and sensing capabilities of a human operator to a remote environment. But the master-slave system has two serious problems: one is the mechanically large impedance of the system; the other is the mechanical complexity of the slave for complex remote tasks. These two problems reduce the efficiency of the system. If the slave has local intelligence, it can help the human operator by using its good points like fast calculation and large memory. The authors suggest that the slave is a dextrous hand with many degrees of freedom able to manipulate an object of known shape. It is further suggested that the dimensions of the remote work space be shared by the human operator and the slave. The effect of the large impedance of the system can be reduced in a virtual model, a physical model constructed in a computer with physical parameters as if it were in the real world. A method to determine the damping parameter dynamically for the virtual model is proposed. Experimental results show that this virtual model is better than the virtual model with fixed damping.

Particle Swarm Optimization with Double Learning Patterns

PubMed Central

Shen, Yuanxia; Wei, Linna; Zeng, Chuanhua; Chen, Jian

2016-01-01

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is an effective tool in solving optimization problems. However, PSO usually suffers from the premature convergence due to the quick losing of the swarm diversity. In this paper, we first analyze the motion behavior of the swarm based on the probability characteristic of learning parameters. Then a PSO with double learning patterns (PSO-DLP) is developed, which employs the master swarm and the slave swarm with different learning patterns to achieve a trade-off between the convergence speed and the swarm diversity. The particles in the master swarm and the slave swarm are encouraged to explore search for keeping the swarm diversity and to learn from the global best particle for refining a promising solution, respectively. When the evolutionary states of two swarms interact, an interaction mechanism is enabled. This mechanism can help the slave swarm in jumping out of the local optima and improve the convergence precision of the master swarm. The proposed PSO-DLP is evaluated on 20 benchmark functions, including rotated multimodal and complex shifted problems. The simulation results and statistical analysis show that PSO-DLP obtains a promising performance and outperforms eight PSO variants. PMID:26858747

Master's Training as a Part of Young Researcher's Professional Development: British and Ukrainian Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bidyuk, Natalya

2014-01-01

The problem of the professional development of young researchers in terms of Master's training has been analyzed. The analysis of the literature references, documental and other sources gave grounds to state that the basic principle of Master's professional training is a research-oriented paradigm. The necessity of using the innovative ideas of…

Mastering Foreign Language Competence of Ecology and Environment Managers for Mining Industry of Kuzbass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenwald, Oksana; Islamov, Roman; Sergeychick, Tatyana

2017-11-01

The necessity to solve nature conservation problems of Kuzbass mining industry demands from postgraduate education institutions to train highly qualified specialists in ecology and environment management. As 21st century education is competence-based one, the article clarifies the concept of competence in education, focuses on key competences, namely foreign language competence and its relevance for specialists in ecology and environment management. Foreign language competence is acquired through the course of "Foreign Language" discipline which covers the following aspects: academic reading, academic writing and public speaking. The article also describes the experience of organizing students' individual work taking into account their motivation and specific conditions of the discipline as well. Thus, both the content of the discipline and the approach to organize students' learning contribute to mastering foreign language competence of ecology and environment managers as inherent condition of their professional efficiency for solving ecological problems of mining industry in Kuzbass region.

Incorporating active learning in psychiatry education.

PubMed

Kumar, Sonia; McLean, Loyola; Nash, Louise; Trigwell, Keith

2017-06-01

We aim to summarise the active learning literature in higher education and consider its relevance for postgraduate psychiatry trainees, to inform the development of a new Formal Education Course (FEC): the Master of Medicine (Psychiatry) at the University of Sydney. We undertook a literature search on 'active learning', 'flipped classroom', 'problem-based learning' and 'psychiatry education'. The effectiveness of active learning pedagogy in higher education is well supported by evidence; however, there have been few psychiatry-specific studies. A new 'flipped classroom' format was developed for the Master of Medicine (Psychiatry). Postgraduate psychiatry training is an active learning environment; the pedagogical approach to FECs requires further evaluation.

New master program in management in biophotonics and biotechnologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meglinski, I. V.; Tuchin, V. V.

2006-08-01

We develop new graduate educational highly interdisciplinary program that will be useful for addressing problems in worldwide biotechnologies and related biomedical industries. This Master program called Management in Biophotonics and Biotechnologies provides students with the necessary training, education and problem-solving skills to produce managers who are better equipped to handle the challenges of modern business in modern biotechnologies. Administered jointly by Cranfield University (UK) and Saratov State University, Russia) graduates possess a blend of engineering, biotechnologies, business and interpersonal skills necessary for success in industry. The Master courses combine a regular year program in biophotonics & biotechnologies disciplines with the core requirements of a Master degree. A major advantage of the program is that it will provide skills not currently available to graduates in any other program, and it will give the graduates an extra competitive edge for getting a job then.

Coping in the World of Work. Practice in Problem Solving. Masters, Handouts and Transparencies. Research and Development Series No. 120C.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio State Univ., Columbus. Center for Vocational Education.

Master handouts and transparencies needed for activities and instruction are contained in this document, which is part of a career development unit on coping in the world of work designed to assist students in developing coping strategies to deal with work entry and job adjustment problems. (Other components of the unit--instructor's handbook,…

Teaching Talented Teenagers at the Interlochen Arts Academy: An Interview with Three Master Teachers: Crispin Campbell, Hal Grossman, and T. J. Lymenstull.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haroutounian, Joanne

2000-01-01

This interview with three performing master teachers at the Interlochen Arts Academy features personal teaching approaches that develop the problem solving skills that are essential for advanced musical study. A positive master teacher-student dynamic is revealed that nurtures technical facility, as well as interpretive decision-making. The role…

Social Work Education. Report of Master Plan Committee S.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Higher Education, Springfield. Master Plan Committee.

This report of the Master Plan Committee on Social Work Education is part of Phase III of the Illinois Statewide Master Plan for Higher Education dealing with graduate and professional education. Part I presents an overview. Part II gives a brief description of social work and a statement of the problem. In Part III the social work manpower in the…

Meeting the Capstone Challenge in Postgraduate Food Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McSweeney, Peter; Calvo, Joaquin; Santhanam-Martin, Michael; Billman-Jacobe, Helen

2017-01-01

Project work and work placements can help prepare tertiary food science students for the workplace. Programs in the curriculum should support the development of transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and planning. This paper describes a case study of a new capstone project for Masters of Food Science students based on a work…

Directors Online: A New Answer to an Old Problem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foster-Jorgensen, Karen

2009-01-01

Too often, when child care center directors turn their attention to enhancing management skills, or connecting with someone who understands the day-to-day demands of the job, they are pulled back to the immediate needs of running their programs. Directors, often masters of multitasking, are increasingly turning to web-based technology to manage…

Reconstructing Christian Ethics: Exploring Constructivist Practices for Teaching Christian Ethics in the Masters of Divinity Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danaher, William

2009-01-01

This article reflects on an effort to incorporate constructivist pedagogies (learner-centered, inquiry-guided, problem-based models of teaching) into an introductory class on Christian Ethics in an M.Div. curriculum. Although some students preferred more traditional pedagogies, the majority found that constructivist pedagogies better accommodated…

Faculty and Graduate Student PBL Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Betty

2008-01-01

This paper examines similarities and differences in faculty and student perceptions to PBL training. Faculty at a newly formed university participated in a four day PBL [Problem-Based Learning] workshop. A cohort of MSc [Master of Science] Petroleum Engineering students were PBL trained. Results from the pre/post test using a 15 item dichotomous…

A control method for bilateral teleoperating systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strassberg, Yesayahu

1992-01-01

The thesis focuses on control of bilateral master-slave teleoperators. The bilateral control issue of teleoperators is studied and a new scheme that overcomes basic unsolved problems is proposed. A performance measure, based on the multiport modeling method, is introduced in order to evaluate and understand the limitations of earlier published bilateral control laws. Based on the study evaluating the different methods, the objective of the thesis is stated. The proposed control law is then introduced, its ideal performance is demonstrated, and conditions for stability and robustness are derived. It is shown that stability, desired performance, and robustness can be obtained under the assumption that the deviation of the model from the actual system satisfies certain norm inequalities and the measurement uncertainties are bounded. The proposed scheme is validated by numerical simulation. The simulated system is based on the configuration of the RAL (Robotics and Automation Laboratory) telerobot. From the simulation results it is shown that good tracking performance can be obtained. In order to verify the performance of the proposed scheme when applied to a real hardware system, an experimental setup of a three degree of freedom master-slave teleoperator (i.e. three degree of freedom master and three degree of freedom slave robot) was built. Three basic experiments were conducted to verify the performance of the proposed control scheme. The first experiment verified the master control law and its contribution to the robustness and performance of the entire system. The second experiment demonstrated the actual performance of the system while performing a free motion teleoperating task. From the experimental results, it is shown that the control law has good performance and is robust to uncertainties in the models of the master and slave.

[Preventing maternal and child malnutrition: the nutrition component of the Mesoamerican Health Initiative 2015].

PubMed

Rivera, Juan A; Martorell, Reynaldo; González, Wendy; Lutter, Chessa; Cossío, Teresa González de; Flores-Ayala, Rafael; Uauy, Ricardo; Delgado, Hernán

2011-01-01

To describe the regional master plan of nutrition to address maternal and child malnutrition in a 5- year period developed by the Nutrition Technical Group. The Nutrition Technical Group developed a situation analysis describing the main nutrition problems, policies and programs in Mesoamerica. The situation analysis and a literature review about effective interventions to address malnutrition were conducted to develop a nutrition master plan. The Nutrition Technical Group held various meetings to develop, discuss and validate the master plan. Theory of change identified problems and barriers, the actions to be developed, the changes and impacts expected. A package of interventions is proposed to reduce undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies useful under different epidemiological contexts. The nutrition master plan provides a guideline of best practices that can be used for evidence-informed decision making and the development of national policies and programs to reduce malnutrition.

Preparing educators for problem-based and community-based curricula: a student's experiences.

PubMed

Dana, N

1997-03-01

The Department of Nursing at the University of Natal Durban (UND) introduced a one year Masters Degree in Progressive Education for Health Professionals in 1996, the aim of which is to prepare educators of health professionals to understand better innovative methods of teaching, learning and more specifically problem-based learning (PBL) and community-based education (CBE). The author of this paper is a registered nurse and this paper focuses on her experiences as a student in this programme. Most of the experiences gained are related to the use of a Personal and Academic Development Portfolio, which covered activities from both her own classes and those related to facilitation of basic student's learning.

[Head masters' perception of school-based hostility in Alicante, Spain: a qualitative study].

PubMed

Martínez Fernández, Carmen; Hernández-Aguado, Ildefonso; Torres Cantero, Alberto M

2006-01-01

There is growing social concern about school violence but little is known about how this situation is experienced in the schools. The objective of this study was to know the perception that School's head masters have of the school-based hostility, on their causes, how they value current preventive strategies, and their recommendations to develop future preventive interventions. We conducted an exploratory study with 14 semistructured interviews of School's head masters. Interviews were conducted at the Schools between May and June 2003 in 1 independent school, 9 state comprehensive schools, and 4 other comprehensive schools within the city of Alicante. The perception of the head masters is that the prevalence of violence is low, more verbal than physical and within gender. They identify lack of punctuality, absenteeism and lack of interest as forms of hostility. As causes they identified age, family problems, school environment, society, media (TV and video-games) and poor language skills. Preventive methods in use were, on one hand, extra-lessons and transversal contents foreseen in the Education Law and common to all schools, and, on the other hand, ideological and pedagogical contents which were specific of some centres. Recommendations focused in demands for increased economic support and skilled human resources. School-based violence is not perceived as an alarming school issue, nor by its magnitude neither by the immediate causes and students' characteristics to which it is associated. A heavier emphasis is placed on external and environmental causes perceived as much more difficult to confront.

Exploratory Model Analysis of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Low Global Scheduler Problem

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-01

solution. The non- linear least squares model is defined as Y = f{e,t) where: 0 =M-element parameter vector Y =N-element vector of all data t...NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, California THESIS EXPLORATORY MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE SPACE BASED INFRARED SYSTEM (SBIRS) LOW GLOBAL SCHEDULER...December 1999 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE EXPLORATORY MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE SPACE BASED INFRARED SYSTEM

Particle Beam Tracker for an Accelerating Target.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-12-01

previous efforts by Captain David Meer in his Doctoral Dissertation and Lieutenants William Zicker and Bill Moose in their Master’s theses. Specifically...detection and position esti- mation in hand, the problem of beam control can now be addressed. In 1983, ILt William Zicker , in his master’s thesis...beam controller. Another problem studied by Zicker was how to limit the size of the * Meer filter, which grows with each new realization on the

Enhancing Social Work Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Substance-Using Clients through SBIRT Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Senreich, Evan; Ogden, Lydia P.; Greenberg, Joy Pastan

2017-01-01

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based protocol that addresses both moderate-risk and high-risk substance use problems for individuals. In an urban college's master's and bachelor's social work programs with 218 students, SBIRT training was introduced into core course curricula, with many students…

Assessing the Value of Educational Competencies of Healthcare Leaders and Organizational Factors: A Case Study Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munz, James A.

2017-01-01

This qualitative research study addressed the problem that the healthcare industry has no clear evidence of the academic competencies that influence the attainment of organizational success. The study was based on one case study at a Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) accredited Masters of Health Administration…

[Clinical pharmacy practice education in master's course of Meijo University in affiliation with medical school].

PubMed

Matsuba, Kazuhisa

2009-08-01

In 2003, Meijo University has developed a new program to train students in master's degree in the field of clinical practice. This new curriculum has three big pillars of educational goal: Problem-Based Learning (PBL), communication skill and clinical pharmacy practice training. Before exposing students to clinical training, they must learn first how to solve various patients' problems through PBL and enhance their communication skill. To provide a clinical environment, education and training, the Faculty of Pharmacy cooperated with the School of Medicine of Fujita Health University. Master's students together with other members of the healthcare team observe patient's disease state and most especially monitor pharmacotherapy. At first, students will be trained for a month at the pharmacy division and experience one week-nursing job. Next, they will be trained at the clinical divisions such as General Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Respiratory Medicine, Hematology, Chemotherapy, Gastroenterological Surgery, Psychiatry, and Emergency Unit. Students rotate three-month training on four clinical divisions during one year. The head physicians of the medical department hold concurrent post as professors and share responsibility with the pharmacy faculty in training the students. To have its venue where students, faculty and physicians conduct their discussion on clinical cases, a pharmacy satellite seminar class room was set up at Fujita Health University hospital. Through this, pharmacy students and faculty had more opportunities to exchange knowledge on medicine and pharmacy. Master's students are expected to acquire professionalism, ethical knowledge and pharmaceutical care skills through the clinical pharmacy practice program.

Modeling of a data exchange process in the Automatic Process Control System on the base of the universal SCADA-system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Topolskiy, D.; Topolskiy, N.; Solomin, E.; Topolskaya, I.

2016-04-01

In the present paper the authors discuss some ways of solving energy saving problems in mechanical engineering. In authors' opinion one of the ways of solving this problem is integrated modernization of power engineering objects of mechanical engineering companies, which should be intended for the energy supply control efficiency increase and electric energy commercial accounting improvement. The author have proposed the usage of digital current and voltage transformers for these purposes. To check the compliance of this equipment with the IEC 61850 International Standard, we have built a mathematic model of the data exchange process between measuring transformers and a universal SCADA-system. The results of modeling show that the discussed equipment corresponds to the mentioned Standard requirements and the usage of the universal SCADA-system for these purposes is preferable and economically reasonable. In modeling the authors have used the following software: MasterScada, Master OPC_DI_61850, OPNET.

A comparison of classroom and online asynchronous problem-based learning for students undertaking statistics training as part of a Public Health Masters degree.

PubMed

de Jong, N; Verstegen, D M L; Tan, F E S; O'Connor, S J

2013-05-01

This case-study compared traditional, face-to-face classroom-based teaching with asynchronous online learning and teaching methods in two sets of students undertaking a problem-based learning module in the multilevel and exploratory factor analysis of longitudinal data as part of a Masters degree in Public Health at Maastricht University. Students were allocated to one of the two study variants on the basis of their enrolment status as full-time or part-time students. Full-time students (n = 11) followed the classroom-based variant and part-time students (n = 12) followed the online asynchronous variant which included video recorded lectures and a series of asynchronous online group or individual SPSS activities with synchronous tutor feedback. A validated student motivation questionnaire was administered to both groups of students at the start of the study and a second questionnaire was administered at the end of the module. This elicited data about student satisfaction with the module content, teaching and learning methods, and tutor feedback. The module coordinator and problem-based learning tutor were also interviewed about their experience of delivering the experimental online variant and asked to evaluate its success in relation to student attainment of the module's learning outcomes. Student examination results were also compared between the two groups. Asynchronous online teaching and learning methods proved to be an acceptable alternative to classroom-based teaching for both students and staff. Educational outcomes were similar for both groups, but importantly, there was no evidence that the asynchronous online delivery of module content disadvantaged part-time students in comparison to their full-time counterparts.

Distributed support vector machine in master-slave mode.

PubMed

Chen, Qingguo; Cao, Feilong

2018-05-01

It is well known that the support vector machine (SVM) is an effective learning algorithm. The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm has emerged as a powerful technique for solving distributed optimisation models. This paper proposes a distributed SVM algorithm in a master-slave mode (MS-DSVM), which integrates a distributed SVM and ADMM acting in a master-slave configuration where the master node and slave nodes are connected, meaning the results can be broadcasted. The distributed SVM is regarded as a regularised optimisation problem and modelled as a series of convex optimisation sub-problems that are solved by ADMM. Additionally, the over-relaxation technique is utilised to accelerate the convergence rate of the proposed MS-DSVM. Our theoretical analysis demonstrates that the proposed MS-DSVM has linear convergence, meaning it possesses the fastest convergence rate among existing standard distributed ADMM algorithms. Numerical examples demonstrate that the convergence and accuracy of the proposed MS-DSVM are superior to those of existing methods under the ADMM framework. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adherence to Treatment in a Behavioral Intervention Curriculum for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Timothy R.; Symons, Frank J.

2011-01-01

Parents (N = 21) of children with autism spectrum disorders responded to a survey on adherence to skills instruction and problem behavior management strategies they had previously been observed to master in a standardized training curriculum based on the principles of applied behavior analysis. Survey items were guided by existing models of and…

Evidence for the Effectiveness of Inquiry-Based, Particulate-Level Instruction on Conceptions of the Particulate Nature of Matter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bridle, Chad A.; Yezierski, Ellen J.

2012-01-01

Research has shown that students in traditional college-preparatory chemistry courses become masters of mathematical equations without an understanding of the conceptual basis for the mathematical relationships. This problem is rooted not only in what curriculum is presented to students, but also in how it is experienced by the students. Ample…

Using Mathematics Curriculum Based Measurement as an Indicator of Student Performance on State Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Linda De Zell

2009-01-01

Math skills are essential to daily life, impacting a person's ability to function at home, work, and in the community. Although reading has been the focus in recent years, many students struggle in math. The inability to master math calculation and problem solving has contributed to the rising incidence of student failure, referrals for special…

Methodological Innovations in Public Health Education: Transdisciplinary Problem Solving

PubMed Central

Lawlor, Edward F.; Sebert-Kuhlmann, Anne K.; McBride, Timothy D.

2015-01-01

In 2008, the faculty of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis designed a Master of Public Health program centered on transdisciplinary problem solving in public health. We have described the rationale for our approach, guiding principles and pedagogy for the program, and specific transdisciplinary competencies students acquire. We have explained how transdisciplinary content has been organized and delivered, how the program is being evaluated, and how we have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for a Master of Public Health degree. PMID:25706031

Methodological innovations in public health education: transdisciplinary problem solving.

PubMed

Lawlor, Edward F; Kreuter, Matthew W; Sebert-Kuhlmann, Anne K; McBride, Timothy D

2015-03-01

In 2008, the faculty of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis designed a Master of Public Health program centered on transdisciplinary problem solving in public health. We have described the rationale for our approach, guiding principles and pedagogy for the program, and specific transdisciplinary competencies students acquire. We have explained how transdisciplinary content has been organized and delivered, how the program is being evaluated, and how we have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for a Master of Public Health degree.

Cloning SU8 silicon masters using epoxy resins to increase feature replicability and production for cell culture devices.

PubMed

Kamande, J W; Wang, Y; Taylor, A M

2015-05-01

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices for cell-based studies. Commonly, the negative tone photoresist, SU8, is used to pattern features onto silicon wafers to create masters (SU8-Si) for PDMS replica molding. However, the complexity in the fabrication process, low feature reproducibility (master-to-master variability), silane toxicity, and short life span of these masters have been deterrents for using SU8-Si masters for the production of cell culture based PDMS microfluidic devices. While other techniques have demonstrated the ability to generate multiple devices from a single master, they often do not match the high feature resolution (∼0.1 μm) and low surface roughness that soft lithography masters offer. In this work, we developed a method to fabricate epoxy-based masters that allows for the replication of features with high fidelity directly from SU8-Si masters via their PDMS replicas. By this method, we show that we could obtain many epoxy based masters with equivalent features to a single SU8-Si master with a low feature variance of 1.54%. Favorable feature transfer resolutions were also obtained by using an appropriate Tg epoxy based system to ensure minimal shrinkage of features ranging in size from ∼100 μm to <10 μm in height. We further show that surface coating epoxy masters with Cr/Au lead to effective demolding and yield PDMS chambers that are suitable for long-term culturing of sensitive primary hippocampal neurons. Finally, we incorporated pillars within the Au-epoxy masters to eliminate the process of punching media reservoirs and thereby reducing substantial artefacts and wastage.

Cloning SU8 silicon masters using epoxy resins to increase feature replicability and production for cell culture devices

PubMed Central

Kamande, J. W.; Wang, Y.; Taylor, A. M.

2015-01-01

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices for cell-based studies. Commonly, the negative tone photoresist, SU8, is used to pattern features onto silicon wafers to create masters (SU8-Si) for PDMS replica molding. However, the complexity in the fabrication process, low feature reproducibility (master-to-master variability), silane toxicity, and short life span of these masters have been deterrents for using SU8-Si masters for the production of cell culture based PDMS microfluidic devices. While other techniques have demonstrated the ability to generate multiple devices from a single master, they often do not match the high feature resolution (∼0.1 μm) and low surface roughness that soft lithography masters offer. In this work, we developed a method to fabricate epoxy-based masters that allows for the replication of features with high fidelity directly from SU8-Si masters via their PDMS replicas. By this method, we show that we could obtain many epoxy based masters with equivalent features to a single SU8-Si master with a low feature variance of 1.54%. Favorable feature transfer resolutions were also obtained by using an appropriate Tg epoxy based system to ensure minimal shrinkage of features ranging in size from ∼100 μm to <10 μm in height. We further show that surface coating epoxy masters with Cr/Au lead to effective demolding and yield PDMS chambers that are suitable for long-term culturing of sensitive primary hippocampal neurons. Finally, we incorporated pillars within the Au-epoxy masters to eliminate the process of punching media reservoirs and thereby reducing substantial artefacts and wastage. PMID:26180572

Sherlock Holmes, Master Problem Solver.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ballew, Hunter

1994-01-01

Shows the connections between Sherlock Holmes's investigative methods and mathematical problem solving, including observations, characteristics of the problem solver, importance of data, questioning the obvious, learning from experience, learning from errors, and indirect proof. (MKR)

CACS: Master Textbook List Helps Solve On-Going Problem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Robert

1979-01-01

The use of a master textbook list developed by the Southern California Association of College Stores (CACS) is described. The three-part program is explained and the information assimilation process, format for revising lists, procedures for implementation, and general guidelines are among areas covered. (PHR)

Traffic Trials

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harknett, Thomas

2007-01-01

The decision to develop a transportation master plan for a school or university is often is a gradual process determined by changes that might have seemed insignificant in the beginning, but have combined to create problems that no longer can be ignored. Many circumstances can bring to light the need for a transportation master plan. In some…

Master-Leader-Slave Cuckoo Search with Parameter Control for ANN Optimization and Its Real-World Application to Water Quality Prediction

PubMed Central

Jaddi, Najmeh Sadat; Abdullah, Salwani; Abdul Malek, Marlinda

2017-01-01

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been employed to solve a broad variety of tasks. The selection of an ANN model with appropriate weights is important in achieving accurate results. This paper presents an optimization strategy for ANN model selection based on the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, which is rooted in the obligate brood parasitic actions of some cuckoo species. In order to enhance the convergence ability of basic CS, some modifications are proposed. The fraction Pa of the n nests replaced by new nests is a fixed parameter in basic CS. As the selection of Pa is a challenging issue and has a direct effect on exploration and therefore on convergence ability, in this work the Pa is set to a maximum value at initialization to achieve more exploration in early iterations and it is decreased during the search to achieve more exploitation in later iterations until it reaches the minimum value in the final iteration. In addition, a novel master-leader-slave multi-population strategy is used where the slaves employ the best fitness function among all slaves, which is selected by the leader under a certain condition. This fitness function is used for subsequent Lévy flights. In each iteration a copy of the best solution of each slave is migrated to the master and then the best solution is found by the master. The method is tested on benchmark classification and time series prediction problems and the statistical analysis proves the ability of the method. This method is also applied to a real-world water quality prediction problem with promising results. PMID:28125609

Master-Leader-Slave Cuckoo Search with Parameter Control for ANN Optimization and Its Real-World Application to Water Quality Prediction.

PubMed

Jaddi, Najmeh Sadat; Abdullah, Salwani; Abdul Malek, Marlinda

2017-01-01

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been employed to solve a broad variety of tasks. The selection of an ANN model with appropriate weights is important in achieving accurate results. This paper presents an optimization strategy for ANN model selection based on the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, which is rooted in the obligate brood parasitic actions of some cuckoo species. In order to enhance the convergence ability of basic CS, some modifications are proposed. The fraction Pa of the n nests replaced by new nests is a fixed parameter in basic CS. As the selection of Pa is a challenging issue and has a direct effect on exploration and therefore on convergence ability, in this work the Pa is set to a maximum value at initialization to achieve more exploration in early iterations and it is decreased during the search to achieve more exploitation in later iterations until it reaches the minimum value in the final iteration. In addition, a novel master-leader-slave multi-population strategy is used where the slaves employ the best fitness function among all slaves, which is selected by the leader under a certain condition. This fitness function is used for subsequent Lévy flights. In each iteration a copy of the best solution of each slave is migrated to the master and then the best solution is found by the master. The method is tested on benchmark classification and time series prediction problems and the statistical analysis proves the ability of the method. This method is also applied to a real-world water quality prediction problem with promising results.

INVOGE (International Geological Masters in Volcanology and geotechniques): a strategy to train and maintain globally mobile geoscientists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wyk de Vries, B.; Bion, P.; Rose, W. I.; Tibaldi, A.; Calder, E.; Wooten, K.; Sealing, C.; Menassian, S.

2012-04-01

INVOGE is an EU-US bilateral cooperation programme funded by the EACEA (EU) and FIPSE (US). The partner universities are Blaise Pascal ( UBP, Clermont-Ferrand, France), University of Milan-Bicocca (Italy), Michigan Technological University (US) and the University at Buffalo (US). Students spend one academic year on the opposing side of the Atlantic and a shorter time on mobility at the secondary European partner. The project is a partial merger of four masters programmes that have similar fields of study, but widely differing speciality courses and great cultural and linguistic differences. The partner universities also have major implantations in developing nations, in Latin America and South East Asia, areas from which are drawn a both students and staff. In this presentation we show how we are creating a sustainable structure to train internationally mobile, multilingual geoscientists in both developed and developing nations both within the present INVOGE master and in associated programmes. For example at UBP the newly created CLERVOLC 'laboratoire d'excelence' programme associates research in several domains with the international outreach associated with the Institute for Research and Development (IRD) into the international Masters programme, seamlessly coupling research and education into projects such as INVOGE. The other partner universities are developing similar internconnected international projects. We also will detail the problems related to moving students from widely different backgrounds around culturally and linguistically diverse universities and will discuss how we are tackling such problems, with internet-based courses, language and cultural training for students and staff training, curriculum changes, close student - staff integration into project development and the creation of alumni organisations.

ID-based encryption scheme with revocation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Othman, Hafizul Azrie; Ismail, Eddie Shahril

2017-04-01

In 2015, Meshram proposed an efficient ID-based cryptographic encryption based on the difficulty of solving discrete logarithm and integer-factoring problems. The scheme was pairing free and claimed to be secure against adaptive chosen plaintext attacks (CPA). Later, Tan et al. proved that the scheme was insecure by presenting a method to recover the secret master key and to obtain prime factorization of modulo n. In this paper, we propose a new pairing-free ID-based encryption scheme with revocation based on Meshram's ID-based encryption scheme, which is also secure against Tan et al.'s attacks.

Educatee's Thesaurus as an Object of Measuring Learned Material of the Distance Learning Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rybanov, Alexander Aleksandrovich

2013-01-01

Monitoring and control over the process of studying the distance learning course are based on solving the problem of making out an adequate integral mark to the educatee for mastering entire study course, by testing results. It is suggested to use the degree of correspondence between educatee's thesaurus and the study course thesaurus as an…

Mentorship as a Strategy to Improve Research Output at Tertiary Institutions: A Case Study of University of Johannesburg

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nundulall, R.; Reddy, K.

2011-01-01

The problem explored is the relatively low research output at a merged Higher Education Institution (HEI). The re-landscaping of how HEIs operate, has impacted on merged institutions, especially those of a comprehensive nature, that are facing the challenge of improving research output. This article is based on research conducted for a Master's…

Master of Professional Studies in Agriculture and Life Sciences Offered through the Field of Food Science and Technology at Cornell University: A Model for the Development of a Course-Based Graduate Degree in Food Science and Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weller, Daniel; Robbins, Janette; Elmore, Andrea; Wiedmann, Martin

2015-01-01

The shortage of highly qualified graduates with advanced training in food science is a pressing problem facing government agencies and the food industry. This has created a need to recruit and train food scientists at the graduate level. However, most graduate level programs are research-based and do not meet the needs of many students. The…

Master plan nurse duty roster using the 0-1 goal programming technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail, Wan Rosmanira; Jenal, Ruzzakiah

2013-04-01

The scheduling of nurses is particularly challenging because of the nature of the work which is around the clock. In addition, inefficient duty roster can have an effect on the nurses well being as well as their job satisfaction. In nurse scheduling problem (NSP), nurses are generally allocated to periods of work over a specified time horizon. A typical length of the schedule varies from a few weeks to a month. The schedule will be consistently rebuilt after the specified time period and will result in a time-consuming task for the administrative staff involved. Moreover, the task becomes overwhelming when the staff needs to consider the previous duty rosters in order to maintain the quality of schedules. Therefore, this study suggests the development of a master plan for a nurse duty roster for approximately one year. The master plan starts with the development of a blue print for the nurse duty roster using a 0-1 goal programming technique. The appropriate working period for this blue print is formulated based on the number of night shifts and the number of required nurses for night shift per schedule. Subsequently, the blue print is repeated to complete the annual nurse duty roster. These newly developed procedures were then tested on several data sets. The test results found that the master plan has successfully distributed the annual workload evenly among nurses. In addition, the master plan allows nurses to arrange their career and social activities in advance.

[Planning driven by health priorities. Master planning criteria].

PubMed

Tresserras, Ricard

2008-12-01

With the aim of responding to a number of problems detected in health plan evaluations, a new direction has been proposed in Catalonia which would lead to the improved unification of the strategic and operational approaches, and leadership. The master plans that tackle those health problems with the greatest impact were created along these lines. This article presents the most salient aspects of the master plans for oncology, circulatory diseases, mental health and addictions, immigration and the field of social healthcare. Their organisational structure, mission and functions are presented, commenting on the prioritisation of activities and the principal benchmark elements of the healthcare model in the definition of planning criteria for services incorporated into the Health Map. Finally, mention is made of the evaluation procedures. The in-depth study of priority settings has resulted in significant progress towards unifying health and service planning.

PROBLEMS OF AMERICANS IN MASTERING THE PRONUNCIATION OF EGYPTIAN ARABIC.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

KENNEDY, NANCY M.

THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY SPEAKERS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH IN ATTEMPTING TO MASTER THE PRONUNCIATION OF EGYPTIAN ARABIC WERE ANALYZED DURING THE REPORTED RESEARCH. THE LANGUAGE UNDER CONSIDERATION WAS THE URBAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC OF THE EGYPTIAN DELTA. THIS STUDY DEALT WITH THE SEGMENTAL PHONEMES ONLY, WITH SOME REFERENCE TO STRESS AND…

An Exploratory Study of Female Master of Divinity Students in a Conservative West Coast Evangelical Seminary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clemen, Valerie A.

2009-01-01

Issues surrounding female participation in graduate theological education are complex and multifaceted. One important problem concerning female theological students is the lack of research exploring the experiences and unique challenges faced by conservative evangelical female Master of Divinity (M. Div.) students as they pursue academic and…

Participants' Perceptions of a Violence Prevention Curriculum for Middle School Students: Was It Relevant and Useful?

PubMed

Farrell, Albert D; Mehari, Krista; Mays, Sally; Sullivan, Terri N; Le, Anh-Thuy

2015-08-01

School-based youth violence prevention programs, particularly those focused on middle school students, have generally had limited effects that are often not sustained over time. Although many interventions focus on teaching social-cognitive skills, few studies have explored the extent to which students master these skills, actually use them, and find them effective in dealing with problem situations. This study examined these issues based on interviews with 141 students attending one county and two urban middle schools in classrooms where the Second Step violence prevention program had been implemented. We coded interviews to assess participants' general reactions to the interventions, use of skills, and effectiveness of skills. We also asked participants to describe outcomes they experienced when they used specific skills taught in the intervention in response to problem situations. Participants had generally positive reactions to the intervention. Their suggestions for improving the intervention primarily concerned improving its relevance. Participants described changes they had made based on the intervention, particularly controlling anger and improving relations with others. Their responses indicated that they sometimes misunderstood or misused specific intervention skills, especially problem solving and empathy. Students' descriptions of the outcomes they experienced when using intervention skills were not uniformly positive. This was especially true for situations involving peers such as peer pressure and bullying. These results underscore the need for more intensive efforts to ensure that students master intervention skills and are able to use them correctly. In addition, interventions should address the broader social context (e.g., peers, school) to maximize the effectiveness of skills.

A Comparison between Shear Bond Strength of VMK Master Porcelain with Three Base-metal Alloys (Ni-cr-T3, VeraBond, Super Cast) and One Noble Alloy (X-33) in Metal-ceramic Restorations

PubMed Central

Ahmadzadeh, A; Neshati, A; Mousavi, N; Epakchi, S; Dabaghi Tabriz, F; Sarbazi, AH

2013-01-01

Statement of Problem: The increase in the use of metal-ceramic restorations and a high prevalence of porcelain chipping entails introducing an alloy which is more compatible with porcelain and causes a stronger bond between the two. This study is to compare shear bond strength of three base-metal alloys and one noble alloy with the commonly used VMK Master Porcelain. Materials and Method: Three different groups of base-metal alloys (Ni-cr-T3, Super Cast, and VeraBond) and one group of noble alloy (X-33) were selected. Each group consisted of 15 alloy samples. All groups went through the casting process and change from wax pattern into metal disks. The VMK Master Porcelain was then fired on each group. All the specimens were put in the UTM; a shear force was loaded until a fracture occurred and the fracture force was consequently recorded. The data were analyzed by SPSS Version 16 and One-Way ANOVA was run to compare the shear strength between the groups. Furthermore, the groups were compared two-by-two by adopting Tukey test. Results: The findings of this study revealed shear bond strength of Ni-Cr-T3 alloy was higher than the three other alloys (94 MPa or 330 N). Super Cast alloy had the second greatest shear bond strength (80. 87Mpa or 283.87 N). Both VeraBond (69.66 MPa or 245 N) and x-33 alloys (66.53 MPa or 234 N) took the third place. Conclusion: Ni-Cr-T3 with VMK Master Porcelain has the greatest shear bond strength. Therefore, employment of this low-cost alloy is recommended in metal-ceramic restorations. PMID:24724144

Multiprocessor shared-memory information exchange

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Santoline, L.L.; Bowers, M.D.; Crew, A.W.

1989-02-01

In distributed microprocessor-based instrumentation and control systems, the inter-and intra-subsystem communication requirements ultimately form the basis for the overall system architecture. This paper describes a software protocol which addresses the intra-subsystem communications problem. Specifically the protocol allows for multiple processors to exchange information via a shared-memory interface. The authors primary goal is to provide a reliable means for information to be exchanged between central application processor boards (masters) and dedicated function processor boards (slaves) in a single computer chassis. The resultant Multiprocessor Shared-Memory Information Exchange (MSMIE) protocol, a standard master-slave shared-memory interface suitable for use in nuclear safety systems, ismore » designed to pass unidirectional buffers of information between the processors while providing a minimum, deterministic cycle time for this data exchange.« less

Extraction and Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Crops Based on Multitemporal High Resolution Data-Taking Qiaocheng District of Bozhou as AN Example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, H.; He, J.; Zhou, H.; Guan, F.; Li, L.; Ren, B.; Wang, Z.

2018-04-01

Remote sensing technology has become an important method to rapidly acquireing of planting layout and composition of regional crops.It is very important to accurately master the planting area of Chinese medicine crops in the Characteristic planting area because it relations to accurately master the cultivation of Chinese medicine crops, formulate related policies and adjustment of crop planting structure.The author puts forward a method of using remote sencing technology for momitoring Chinese medicine which has good applicability and generalization. This paper took Qiaocheng District of Bozhou as an example to Verify the feasibility of the method, providing a reference for solving the problem of interpretation and extraction of Chinese medicinal materials in the region.

A New Polar Transfer Alignment Algorithm with the Aid of a Star Sensor and Based on an Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter.

PubMed

Cheng, Jianhua; Wang, Tongda; Wang, Lu; Wang, Zhenmin

2017-10-23

Because of the harsh polar environment, the master strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) has low accuracy and the system model information becomes abnormal. In this case, existing polar transfer alignment (TA) algorithms which use the measurement information provided by master SINS would lose their effectiveness. In this paper, a new polar TA algorithm with the aid of a star sensor and based on an adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF) is proposed to deal with the problems. Since the measurement information provided by master SINS is inaccurate, the accurate information provided by the star sensor is chosen as the measurement. With the compensation of lever-arm effect and the model of star sensor, the nonlinear navigation equations are derived. Combined with the attitude matching method, the filter models for polar TA are designed. An AUKF is introduced to solve the abnormal information of system model. Then, the AUKF is used to estimate the states of TA. Results have demonstrated that the performance of the new polar TA algorithm is better than the state-of-the-art polar TA algorithms. Therefore, the new polar TA algorithm proposed in this paper is effectively to ensure and improve the accuracy of TA in the harsh polar environment.

A New Polar Transfer Alignment Algorithm with the Aid of a Star Sensor and Based on an Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter

PubMed Central

Cheng, Jianhua; Wang, Tongda; Wang, Lu; Wang, Zhenmin

2017-01-01

Because of the harsh polar environment, the master strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) has low accuracy and the system model information becomes abnormal. In this case, existing polar transfer alignment (TA) algorithms which use the measurement information provided by master SINS would lose their effectiveness. In this paper, a new polar TA algorithm with the aid of a star sensor and based on an adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF) is proposed to deal with the problems. Since the measurement information provided by master SINS is inaccurate, the accurate information provided by the star sensor is chosen as the measurement. With the compensation of lever-arm effect and the model of star sensor, the nonlinear navigation equations are derived. Combined with the attitude matching method, the filter models for polar TA are designed. An AUKF is introduced to solve the abnormal information of system model. Then, the AUKF is used to estimate the states of TA. Results have demonstrated that the performance of the new polar TA algorithm is better than the state-of-the-art polar TA algorithms. Therefore, the new polar TA algorithm proposed in this paper is effectively to ensure and improve the accuracy of TA in the harsh polar environment. PMID:29065521

GCSE Assessment Notes: Six GCSE Assessment Assignments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Stephen

1988-01-01

Provided are copy masters, instructions for use, and grading criteria for six problems used as part of the practical assessment for a modular science course. Each problem gives a narrative and a list of materials necessary to complete the problem. (CW)

A systematic and efficient method to compute multi-loop master integrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiao; Ma, Yan-Qing; Wang, Chen-Yu

2018-04-01

We propose a novel method to compute multi-loop master integrals by constructing and numerically solving a system of ordinary differential equations, with almost trivial boundary conditions. Thus it can be systematically applied to problems with arbitrary kinematic configurations. Numerical tests show that our method can not only achieve results with high precision, but also be much faster than the only existing systematic method sector decomposition. As a by product, we find a new strategy to compute scalar one-loop integrals without reducing them to master integrals.

Using the tenets of the problem-centered systems therapy of the family (PCSTF) to teach the McMaster Approach to family therapists.

PubMed

Archambault, Richard; Mansfield, Abigail K; Evans, Doug; Keitner, Gabor I

2014-12-01

This article describes the videoconferencing training of a group of family therapists in the McMaster Approach to evaluating and treating families. A discussion of the key tenets of the McMaster Approach lays the groundwork for how these tenets were applied to training in a residential treatment agency for adolescents. The article serves as an example of how videoconference technology can facilitate extended training, even from a distance. © 2014 Family Process Institute.

Exploring Opportunities to Boost Adult Students' Graduation--The Reasons behind the Delays and Drop-Outs of Graduation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aarreniemi-Jokipelto, Päivi; Bäck, Asta

2014-01-01

Drop-outs and delays of graduation is currently a huge problem in adult education. The main reason for the drop-outs and delays is usually stated to be the difficulty of combining studies with family and work. This study was based on interviews where students studying in the bachelor's or master's degree programme were interviewed to find out the…

GPS-Free Localization Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Wang, Lei; Xu, Qingzheng

2010-01-01

Localization is one of the most fundamental problems in wireless sensor networks, since the locations of the sensor nodes are critical to both network operations and most application level tasks. A GPS-free localization scheme for wireless sensor networks is presented in this paper. First, we develop a standardized clustering-based approach for the local coordinate system formation wherein a multiplication factor is introduced to regulate the number of master and slave nodes and the degree of connectivity among master nodes. Second, using homogeneous coordinates, we derive a transformation matrix between two Cartesian coordinate systems to efficiently merge them into a global coordinate system and effectively overcome the flip ambiguity problem. The algorithm operates asynchronously without a centralized controller; and does not require that the location of the sensors be known a priori. A set of parameter-setting guidelines for the proposed algorithm is derived based on a probability model and the energy requirements are also investigated. A simulation analysis on a specific numerical example is conducted to validate the mathematical analytical results. We also compare the performance of the proposed algorithm under a variety multiplication factor, node density and node communication radius scenario. Experiments show that our algorithm outperforms existing mechanisms in terms of accuracy and convergence time. PMID:22219694

A Master Plan for the Development of Vocational-Technical Education In New Mexico.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sterling Inst., Washington, DC.

This master plan for vocational education in New Mexico is the result of a study conducted by professional education consultants. The following areas were examined during the study: (1) New Mexico's present manpower problems, (2) market trends of future industrial potential, (3) state resources capable of attracting new industry, (4) adequacy of…

A Review of Extension Master Gardener Training Manuals from around the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Kathleen; Bradley, Lucy K.

2015-01-01

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) are recruited and trained to answer questions and diagnose gardening problems for the public. Most states have developed an EMGV Manual for use in the initial training. Thirty-two EMGV Training manuals from across the United States were reviewed for form and content. While many of the manuals have…

A Work Force for Environment and Energy. A Master Plan for Environmental/Energy Higher Education in Illinois.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois Inst. for Environmental Quality, Chicago.

This master plan for environmental and energy higher education in Illinois is a direct result of a mandate from the Illinois General Assembly. To prepare students to confront our nation's environmental problems, each university will submit a management and development plan, designed to preserve existing environmental values and provide…

Opportunities to Pose Problems Using Digital Technology in Problem Solving Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aguilar-Magallón, Daniel Aurelio; Fernández, Willliam Enrique Poveda

2017-01-01

This article reports and analyzes different types of problems that nine students in a Master's Program in Mathematics Education posed during a course on problem solving. What opportunities (affordances) can a dynamic geometry system (GeoGebra) offer to allow in-service and in-training teachers to formulate and solve problems, and what type of…

78 FR 18584 - Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-27

... Master Holdings, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for... Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC's application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate schedule, noting that such application includes a request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34...

Speculations on the Future of Taught Masters Courses in Gerontology: Lessons from a Comparison of England, Scotland, Finland, and Spain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Askham, Janet; Gilhooly, Mary; Parkatti, Terttu; Vega, Jose-Luis

2007-01-01

Postgraduate education in gerontology is now widespread within European universities, but, even so, such developments remain very uneven. This paper outlines the variety of provision by describing Master's programmes in a sample of countries: England, Scotland, Finland, and Spain. These programmes illustrate some of the common problems: lack of…

Considering the Influence of Prerequisite Performance on Wheel Spinning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wan, Hao; Beck, Joseph Barbosa

2015-01-01

The phenomenon of wheel spinning refers to students attempting to solve problems on a particular skill, but becoming stuck due to an inability to learn the skill. Past research has found that students who do not master a skill quickly tend not to master it at all. One question is why do students wheel spin? A plausible hypothesis is that students…

Competences Mastering Demanded by Practice as One of the Main Directions in Specialist Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korchemny, Petr A.

2016-01-01

The relevance of the presented problems in the paper is conditioned by the fact that the process of implementation of the competence approach into the educational space of Russia is in contact with a number of theoretical inconsistencies which are directly related to understanding the formation and mastering of competences. The goal of the paper…

Gynaecological endoscopic surgical education and assessment. A diploma programme in gynaecological endoscopic surgery.

PubMed

Campo, Rudi; Wattiez, Arnaud; Tanos, Vasilis; Di Spiezio Sardo, Attilio; Grimbizis, Grigoris; Wallwiener, Diethelm; Brucker, Sara; Puga, Marco; Molinas, Roger; O'Donovan, Peter; Deprest, Jan; Van Belle, Yves; Lissens, Ann; Herrmann, Anja; Tahir, Mahmood; Benedetto, Chiara; Siebert, Igno; Rabischong, Benoit; De Wilde, Rudy Leon

In recent years, training and education in endoscopic surgery has been critically reviewed. Clinicians, both surgeons as gynaecologist who perform endoscopic surgery without proper training of the specific psychomotor skills, are at higher risk to increased patient morbidity and mortality. Although the apprentice-tutor model has long been a successful approach for training of surgeons, recently, clinicians have recognised that endoscopic surgery requires an important training phase outside the operating theatre. The Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment programme (GESEA) recognises the necessity of this structured approach and implements two separated stages in its learning strategy. In the first stage, a skill certificate on theoretical knowledge and specific practical psychomotor skills is acquired through a high-stake exam; in the second stage, a clinical programme is completed to achieve surgical competence and receive the corresponding diploma. Three diplomas can be awarded: (a) the Bachelor in Endoscopy, (b) the Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeon (MIGS) and (c) the Master level. The Master level is sub-divided into two separate diplomas: the Master in Laparoscopic Pelvic Surgery and the Master in Hysteroscopy. The complexity of modern surgery has increased the demands and challenges to surgical education and the quality control. This programme is based on the best available scientific evidence, and it counteracts the problem of the traditional surgical apprentice-tutor model. It is seen as a major step toward standardisation of endoscopic surgical training in general.

The Effect of Feedback on Penile Tumescence in Sexually Functional Men

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-06

cardiovascular and nervous systems. However, men who have few physical problems may also experience the disorder due to psychological factors. Men who suffer...following orgasm ) (Ellis, 1906). Masters and Johnson further developed this model during the 1950s and 1960s. Based on more than 10,000 observations...involves erection of the penis, which usually occurs within a few seconds after sexual stimulation begins. In addition, skin ridges of the scrotum

Distributed software framework and continuous integration in hydroinformatics systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jianzhong; Zhang, Wei; Xie, Mengfei; Lu, Chengwei; Chen, Xiao

2017-08-01

When encountering multiple and complicated models, multisource structured and unstructured data, complex requirements analysis, the platform design and integration of hydroinformatics systems become a challenge. To properly solve these problems, we describe a distributed software framework and it’s continuous integration process in hydroinformatics systems. This distributed framework mainly consists of server cluster for models, distributed database, GIS (Geographic Information System) servers, master node and clients. Based on it, a GIS - based decision support system for joint regulating of water quantity and water quality of group lakes in Wuhan China is established.

Problem Solving-based Learning Materials on Fraction for Training Creativity of Elementary School Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widhitama, Y. N.; Lukito, A.; Khabibah, S.

2018-01-01

The aim of this research is to develop problem solving based learning materials on fraction for training creativity of elementary school students. Curriculum 2006 states that mathematics should be studied by all learners starting from elementary level in order for them mastering thinking skills, one of them is creative thinking. To our current knowledge, there is no such a research topic being done. To promote this direction, we initiate by developing learning materials with problem solving approach. The developed materials include Lesson Plan, Student Activity Sheet, Mathematical Creativity Test, and Achievement Test. We implemented a slightly modified 4-D model by Thiagajan et al. (1974) consisting of Define, Design, Development, and Disseminate. Techniques of gathering data include observation, test, and questionnaire. We applied three good qualities for the resulted materials; that is, validity, practicality, and effectiveness. The results show that the four mentioned materials meet the corresponding criteria of good quality product.

Defense.gov Special Report: A Nation's Gratitude

Science.gov Websites

Deployments, 2003-2006 Baghdad, Ramadi Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica R. Coombs Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica R . Coombs 40th Expeditionary Support Squadron June 2011 - December 2011 Ali Air Base Indiana Army Master Sgt Multiple Deployments, 2004-2007 Fallujah, Ramadi Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy G. Coombs Air Force Master

Distributed On-line Monitoring System Based on Modem and Public Phone Net

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Dandan; Zhang, Qiushi; Li, Guiru

In order to solve the monitoring problem of urban sewage disposal, a distributed on-line monitoring system is proposed. By introducing dial-up communication technology based on Modem, the serial communication program can rationally solve the information transmission problem between master station and slave station. The realization of serial communication program is based on the MSComm control of C++ Builder 6.0.The software includes real-time data operation part and history data handling part, which using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 for database, and C++ Builder6.0 for user interface. The monitoring center displays a user interface with alarm information of over-standard data and real-time curve. Practical application shows that the system has successfully accomplished the real-time data acquisition from data gather station, and stored them in the terminal database.

Clinical care management and workflow by episodes.

PubMed Central

Claus, P. L.; Carpenter, P. C.; Chute, C. G.; Mohr, D. N.; Gibbons, P. S.

1997-01-01

This paper describes the implementation of clinically defined episodes of care and the introduction of an episode-based summary list of patient problems across Mayo Clinic Rochester in 1996 and 1997. Although Mayo's traditional paper-based system has always relied on a type of 'episode of care' (called the "registration") for patient and history management, a new, more clinically relevant definition of episode of care was put into practice in November 1996. This was done to improve care management and operational processes and to provide a basic construct for the electronic medical record. Also since November 1996, a computer-generated summary list of patient problems, the "Master Sheet Summary Report," organized by episode, has been placed in all patient histories. In the third quarter of 1997, the ability to view the episode-based problem summary online was made available to the 3000+ EMR-capable workstations deployed across the Mayo Rochester campus. In addition, the clinically oriented problem summarization process produces an improved basic "package" of clinical information expected to lead to improved analytic decision support, outcomes analysis and epidemiological research. PMID:9357595

Drainage network optimization for inundation mitigation case study of ITS Surabaya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savitri, Yang Ratri; Lasminto, Umboro

2017-06-01

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya is one of engineering campus in Surabaya with an area of ± 187 ha, which consists of building and campus facilities. The campus is supported by drainage system planned according to the ITS Master Plan on 2002. The drainage system is planned with numbers of retention and detention pond based on the city concept of Zero Delta Q concept. However, in the rainy season, it frequently has inundation problems in several locations. The problems could be identified from two major sources, namely the internal campus facilities and external condition connected with the city drainage system. This paper described the capabilities of drainage network optimization to mitigate local urban drainage problem. The hydrology-hydraulic investigation was done by utilizing the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) developed by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The mitigation is based on several alternative that based on the existing condition and regarding the social problem. The study results showed that the management of the flow from external source could reduce final stored volume of the campus main channel by 31.75 %.

Interprofessional problem-based learning project outcomes between prelicensure baccalaureate of science in nursing and doctor of pharmacy programs.

PubMed

Hodges, Helen F; Massey, Ann T

2015-04-01

Persistently high medical error rates, caregiver dissatisfaction, and compromised patient safety often result from poorly coordinated, increasingly complex health care. Barriers to interprofessional health professions education persist despite the urgent calls for improved quality and safety. Investigators explored the effects of a problem-based learning (PBL) strategy between prelicensure doctorate of pharmacy (PharmD) and baccalaureate nursing (BSN) students. A descriptive design was used to compare the learning gains and satisfaction with a PBL hybrid approach for BSN and PharmD prelicensure student groups over three academic terms. Consistent with earlier works, content-based learning gains and student satisfaction were not significantly different between groups. Narrative data provide insight into perceived benefits, barriers, and perspectives of participating students and facilitators. Attributes of this pedagogical approach provide opportunity for prelicensure students to explore professional interdependence while adequately mastering fact-based content. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

Communication Skills for Women in the World of Corporate Business: Getting It Right and Moving Up!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berry, Priscilla

2010-01-01

This article explores, in general, three areas for leadership communication that women in business need to master. Indeed, there are more than three, but the focus here is on: the need to master the art of successfully confronting the problem when it appears, the process of leading a team, the special requirements of communicating with men. An…

Publishing scientific papers based on Master's and Ph.D. theses from a small scientific community: case study of Croatian medical schools.

PubMed

Frković, Vedran; Skender, Tomislav; Dojćinović, Bojan; Bilić-Zulle, Lidija

2003-02-01

To evaluate publishing activity of medical doctors after they have obtained Master's or Ph.D. degree at the Rijeka and Zagreb University Schools of Medicine in Croatia, and establish the number of journal articles based on these theses. Data on Master's and Ph.D. theses defended at the Rijeka and Zagreb University Schools of Medicine in the 1990-1999 period were collected by hand-search of the archive. MEDLINE and Current Contents databases were searched for journal articles resulting from the theses. During the 10-year period, 1,535 Master's and 634 Ph.D. theses were defended at the Rijeka and Zagreb University Schools of Medicine (253 Master's and 138 Ph.D. theses from Rijeka and 1,282 Master's and 496 Ph.D. theses from Zagreb). There were 201 (14%) Master's and 218 (34%) Ph.D. theses that resulted in articles published in journals indexed in MEDLINE (13% of Master's and 11% of Ph.D. theses from Rijeka, and 14% of Master's and 41% of Ph.D. theses from Zagreb). Also, 97 (6%) Master's and 129 (20%) Ph.D. theses that resulted in articles published in Current Contents journals (8% of Master's and 6% of Ph.D. theses from Rijeka, and 6% of Master's and 24% of Ph.D. theses from Zagreb). There was no significant difference between the two Universities with respect to published articles based on Master's theses, but there were significantly more articles from Ph.D. theses in Zagreb (p<0.001). Most of the theses resulted in a single publication (95%), 19 (5%) in 2, and 2 in 3 publications. Out of all 453 journal articles, 31% were published in Croatian and 69% in international journals. Most Croatian Master's and Ph.D. theses are not made available to the scientific community. There should be more institutional effort directed at the stimulation of postgraduate students to publish their scientific work.

Quantized Synchronization of Chaotic Neural Networks With Scheduled Output Feedback Control.

PubMed

Wan, Ying; Cao, Jinde; Wen, Guanghui

In this paper, the synchronization problem of master-slave chaotic neural networks with remote sensors, quantization process, and communication time delays is investigated. The information communication channel between the master chaotic neural network and slave chaotic neural network consists of several remote sensors, with each sensor able to access only partial knowledge of output information of the master neural network. At each sampling instants, each sensor updates its own measurement and only one sensor is scheduled to transmit its latest information to the controller's side in order to update the control inputs for the slave neural network. Thus, such communication process and control strategy are much more energy-saving comparing with the traditional point-to-point scheme. Sufficient conditions for output feedback control gain matrix, allowable length of sampling intervals, and upper bound of network-induced delays are derived to ensure the quantized synchronization of master-slave chaotic neural networks. Lastly, Chua's circuit system and 4-D Hopfield neural network are simulated to validate the effectiveness of the main results.In this paper, the synchronization problem of master-slave chaotic neural networks with remote sensors, quantization process, and communication time delays is investigated. The information communication channel between the master chaotic neural network and slave chaotic neural network consists of several remote sensors, with each sensor able to access only partial knowledge of output information of the master neural network. At each sampling instants, each sensor updates its own measurement and only one sensor is scheduled to transmit its latest information to the controller's side in order to update the control inputs for the slave neural network. Thus, such communication process and control strategy are much more energy-saving comparing with the traditional point-to-point scheme. Sufficient conditions for output feedback control gain matrix, allowable length of sampling intervals, and upper bound of network-induced delays are derived to ensure the quantized synchronization of master-slave chaotic neural networks. Lastly, Chua's circuit system and 4-D Hopfield neural network are simulated to validate the effectiveness of the main results.

The integration of an online module on student learning.

PubMed

Yehle, Karen S; Chang, Karen

2012-11-01

Heart failure is a prevalent and costly condition. Patients with better self-management are less likely to be rehospitalized. An online interactive heart failure module was developed and integrated into a medical-surgical nursing course to assist students in learning how to care for patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the integration of an online heart failure module improved baccalaureate nursing students' heart failure self-management knowledge. A pretest/posttest design was used to examine the effects of student knowledge of heart failure self-management following implementation of an online module. Among 235 students, significant improvement of heart failure self-management knowledge was observed (P < .05). The mean posttest scores ranged from 13.82 to 15.93. Students had problems mastering knowledge of weight monitoring, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, symptoms to report to physicians, and potassium-based salt substitutes. These findings were similar to four studies examining nurses' knowledge of heart failure. Students and nurses have difficulty mastering similar heart failure education concepts. An additional strategy, such as simulated or case scenarios, needs to be developed to help nurses and nursing students master all key concepts of heart failure self-management.

The aging of elite male athletes: age-related changes in performance and skeletal muscle structure and function

PubMed Central

Faulkner, John A.; Davis, Carol S.; Mendias, Christopher L.; Brooks, Susan V.

2009-01-01

Objective The paper addresses the degree to which the attainment of the status as an elite athlete in different sports ameliorates the known age-related losses in skeletal muscle structure and function. Design The retrospective design, based on comparisons of published data on former elite and masters athletes and data on control subjects, assessed the degree to which the attainment of ‘elite and masters athlete status’ ameliorated the known age-related changes in skeletal muscle structure and function. Setting Institutional. Participants Elite male athletes. Interventions Participation in selected individual and team sports. Main Outcome Measurements Strength, power, VO2 max and performance. Results For elite athletes in all sports, as for the general population, age-related muscle atrophy begins at about 50 years of age. Despite the loss of muscle mass, elite athletes who maintain an active life style age gracefully with few health problems. Conversely, those who lapse into inactivity regress toward general population norms for fitness, weight control, and health problems. Elite athletes in the dual and team sports have careers that rarely extend into the thirties. Conclusions Life long physical activity does not appear to have any impact on the loss in fiber number. The loss of fibers can be buffered to some degree by hypertrophy of fibers that remain. Surprisingly, the performance of elite athletes in all sports appears to be impaired before the onset of the fiber loss. Even with major losses in physical capacity and muscle mass, the performance of elite and masters athletes is remarkable. PMID:19001883

Implementation method of multi-terminal DC control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Liu; Hao-Ran, Huang; Jun-Wen, Zhou; Hong-Guang, Guo; Yu-Yong, Zhou

2018-04-01

Currently the multi-terminal DC system (MTDC) has more stations. Each station needs operators to monitor and control the device. It needs much more operation and maintenance, low efficiency and small reliability; for the most important reason, multi-terminal DC system has complex control mode. If one of the stations has some problem, the control of the whole system should have problems. According to research of the characteristics of multi-terminal DC (VSC-MTDC) systems, this paper presents a strong implementation of the multi-terminal DC Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This system is intelligent, can be networking, integration and intelligent. A master control system is added in each station to communication with the other stations to send current and DC voltage value to pole control system for each station. Based on the practical application and information feedback in the China South Power Grid research center VSC-MTDC project, this system is higher efficiency and save the cost on the maintenance of convertor station to improve the intelligent level and comprehensive effect. And because of the master control system, a multi-terminal system hierarchy coordination control strategy is formed, this make the control and protection system more efficiency and reliability.

Assessment of GPS carrier-phase stability for time-transfer applications.

PubMed

Larson, K M; Levine, J; Nelson, L M; Parker, T E

2000-01-01

We have conducted global positioning system (GPS) carrier-phase time-transfer experiments between the master clock (MC) at the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) in Washington, DC and the alternate master clock (AMC) at Schriever Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, Colorado. These clocks are also monitored on an hourly basis with two-way satellite time-transfer (TWSTT) measurements. We compared the performance of the GPS carrier phase and TWSTT systems over a 236-d period. Because of power problems and data outages during the carrier-phase experiment, the longest continuous time span is 96 d. The data from this period show agreement with TWSTT within +/-1 ns, apart from an overall constant time offset (caused by unknown delays in the GPS hardware at both ends). For averaging times of a day, the carrier-phase and TWSTT systems have a frequency uncertainty of 2.5 and 5.5 parts in 10(15), respectively.

Structural and Functional Model of Training Future Masters of Vocational Training for the Organization of Teaching and the Production Process in Terms of Networking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dorozhkin, Evgenij M.; Tarasyuk, Olga V.; Lyzhin, Anton I.; Krotova, Olga P.; Sherstneva, Natalia L.

2016-01-01

The urgency of the problem under investigation is due to the fact that, in accordance with the Federal Law "On Education in the Russian Federation" concentrated system of training of working professions, in which the most important specialist in the formation of the qualification is a master of industrial training as the last and only…

Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment. A diploma programme in gynaecological endoscopic surgery.

PubMed

Campo, Rudi; Wattiez, Arnaud; Tanos, Vasilis; Di Spiezio Sardo, Attilio; Grimbizis, Grigoris; Wallwiener, Diethelm; Brucker, Sara; Puga, Marco; Molinas, Roger; O'Donovan, Peter; Deprest, Jan; Van Belle, Yves; Lissens, Ann; Herrmann, Anja; Tahir, Mahmood; Benedetto, Chiara; Siebert, Igno; Rabischong, Benoit; De Wilde, Rudy Leon

2016-04-01

In recent years, training and education in endoscopic surgery has been critically reviewed. Clinicians, both surgeons as gynaecologist who perform endoscopic surgery without proper training of the specific psychomotor skills are at higher risk to increased patient morbidity and mortality. Although the apprentice-tutor model has long been a successful approach for training of surgeons, recently, clinicians have recognised that endoscopic surgery requires an important training phase outside the operating theatre. The Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment programme (GESEA), recognises the necessity of this structured approach and implements two separated stages in its learning strategy. In the first stage, a skill certificate on theoretical knowledge and specific practical psychomotor skills is acquired through a high stake exam; in the second stage, a clinical programme is completed to achieve surgical competence and receive the corresponding diploma. Three diplomas can be awarded: (a) the Bachelor in Endoscopy; (b) the Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeon (MIGS); and (c) the Master level. The Master level is sub-divided into two separate diplomas: the Master in Laparoscopic Pelvic Surgery and the Master in Hysteroscopy. The complexity of modern surgery has increased the demands and challenges to surgical education and the quality control. This programme is based on the best available scientific evidence and it counteracts the problem of the traditional surgical apprentice tutor model. It is seen as a major step toward standardization of endoscopic surgical training in general. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

SPH modeling of fluid-solid interaction for dynamic failure analysis of fluid-filled thin shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caleyron, F.; Combescure, A.; Faucher, V.; Potapov, S.

2013-05-01

This work concerns the prediction of failure of a fluid-filled tank under impact loading, including the resulting fluid leakage. A water-filled steel cylinder associated with a piston is impacted by a mass falling at a prescribed velocity. The cylinder is closed at its base by an aluminum plate whose characteristics are allowed to vary. The impact on the piston creates a pressure wave in the fluid which is responsible for the deformation of the plate and, possibly, the propagation of cracks. The structural part of the problem is modeled using Mindlin-Reissner finite elements (FE) and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) shells. The modeling of the fluid is also based on an SPH formulation. The problem involves significant fluid-structure interactions (FSI) which are handled through a master-slave-based method and the pinballs method. Numerical results are compared to experimental data.

NetCoDer: A Retransmission Mechanism for WSNs Based on Cooperative Relays and Network Coding

PubMed Central

Valle, Odilson T.; Montez, Carlos; Medeiros de Araujo, Gustavo; Vasques, Francisco; Moraes, Ricardo

2016-01-01

Some of the most difficult problems to deal with when using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are related to the unreliable nature of communication channels. In this context, the use of cooperative diversity techniques and the application of network coding concepts may be promising solutions to improve the communication reliability. In this paper, we propose the NetCoDer scheme to address this problem. Its design is based on merging cooperative diversity techniques and network coding concepts. We evaluate the effectiveness of the NetCoDer scheme through both an experimental setup with real WSN nodes and a simulation assessment, comparing NetCoDer performance against state-of-the-art TDMA-based (Time Division Multiple Access) retransmission techniques: BlockACK, Master/Slave and Redundant TDMA. The obtained results highlight that the proposed NetCoDer scheme clearly improves the network performance when compared with other retransmission techniques. PMID:27258280

Teaching practice of the course of Laser Principle and Application based on PBL mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yongliang; Lv, Beibei; Wang, Siqi

2017-08-01

The primary task of university education is to stimulate students' autonomic learning and cultivate students' creative thinking. This paper put to use problem based learning (PBL) teaching mode, to enable students master flexible knowledge as the goal, and a detailed analysis of the implementation method and concrete measures of PBL teaching reform in the course of Laser Principle and Application, then compared with the former teaching methods. From the feedback of students and teaching experience, we get good teaching effect and prove the feasibility of PBL teaching mode in practice.

ISE: An Integrated Search Environment. The manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Lon-Chan

1992-01-01

Integrated Search Environment (ISE), a software package that implements hierarchical searches with meta-control, is described in this manual. ISE is a collection of problem-independent routines to support solving searches. Mainly, these routines are core routines for solving a search problem and they handle the control of searches and maintain the statistics related to searches. By separating the problem-dependent and problem-independent components in ISE, new search methods based on a combination of existing methods can be developed by coding a single master control program. Further, new applications solved by searches can be developed by coding the problem-dependent parts and reusing the problem-independent parts already developed. Potential users of ISE are designers of new application solvers and new search algorithms, and users of experimental application solvers and search algorithms. The ISE is designed to be user-friendly and information rich. In this manual, the organization of ISE is described and several experiments carried out on ISE are also described.

Upper Mississippi River Land Use Allocation Plan. Master Plan for Public Use Development and Resource Management. Parts 1 and 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

many broad-based and long- associated with the Upper Mississippi les of such problems include increasing water quality issues, balancing growth 1...farther west. In the pioneer the end of the St. Paul District portion sites (disturbed sites without previous growth where Mississippi River. species of...have a high water table in lower areas. The percolation rate is generally less than 10 minutes per inch. These *soils tend to be acid and low in

Analysis of Emergency Department Nurse Attitudes Toward Caring for Ethnically Diverse Patients

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-12-31

care Even with recent advances in cultural care, unethical practices such as sexism and racism remain a problem in the U.S. health care system...Dr. Mary Kay Rayens, for her statistical expertise; * Julie Wachal, who kindly assisted me through the intricacies of the Master’s Program...and is based on King’s Theory of Goal Attainment (Rooda, 1992). The main propositions of King’s Theory of Goal Attainment can be summarized as

Grasp planning under uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erkmen, A. M.; Stephanou, H. E.

1989-01-01

The planning of dexterous grasps for multifingered robot hands operating in uncertain environments is covered. A sensor-based approach to the planning of a reach path prior to grasping is first described. An on-line, joint space finger path planning algorithm for the enclose phase of grasping was then developed. The algorithm minimizes the impact momentum of the hand. It uses a Preshape Jacobian matrix to map task-level hand preshape requirements into kinematic constraints. A master slave scheme avoids inter-finger collisions and reduces the dimensionality of the planning problem.

Design of a haptic device with grasp and push-pull force feedback for a master-slave surgical robot.

PubMed

Hu, Zhenkai; Yoon, Chae-Hyun; Park, Samuel Byeongjun; Jo, Yung-Ho

2016-07-01

We propose a portable haptic device providing grasp (kinesthetic) and push-pull (cutaneous) sensations for optical-motion-capture master interfaces. Although optical-motion-capture master interfaces for surgical robot systems can overcome the stiffness, friction, and coupling problems of mechanical master interfaces, it is difficult to add haptic feedback to an optical-motion-capture master interface without constraining the free motion of the operator's hands. Therefore, we utilized a Bowden cable-driven mechanism to provide the grasp and push-pull sensation while retaining the free hand motion of the optical-motion capture master interface. To evaluate the haptic device, we construct a 2-DOF force sensing/force feedback system. We compare the sensed force and the reproduced force of the haptic device. Finally, a needle insertion test was done to evaluate the performance of the haptic interface in the master-slave system. The results demonstrate that both the grasp force feedback and the push-pull force feedback provided by the haptic interface closely matched with the sensed forces of the slave robot. We successfully apply our haptic interface in the optical-motion-capture master-slave system. The results of the needle insertion test showed that our haptic feedback can provide more safety than merely visual observation. We develop a suitable haptic device to produce both kinesthetic grasp force feedback and cutaneous push-pull force feedback. Our future research will include further objective performance evaluations of the optical-motion-capture master-slave robot system with our haptic interface in surgical scenarios.

[Curricular design of health postgraduate programs: the case of Masters in epidemiology].

PubMed

Bobadilla, J L; Lozano, R; Bobadilla, C

1991-01-01

This paper discusses the need to create specific programs for the training of researchers in epidemiology, a field that has traditionally been ignored by the graduate programs in public health. This is due, in part, to the emphasis that has been placed on the training of professionals in other areas of public health. The paper also includes the results of a consensus exercise developed during the curricular design of the Masters Program in Epidemiology of the School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The technique used during the consensus exercise was the TKJ, which allows the presentation of ideas and possible solutions for a specific problem. This is probably the first published experience in the use of such a technique for the design of an academic curriculum. Taking as a base the general characteristics of the students, the substantive, disciplinary and methodological subjects were chosen. The results showed a need for a multidisciplinary approach based on modern methodologies of statistics and epidemiology. The usefulness of the results of the curricular design and the superiority of this method to reach consensus is also discussed.

Final Environmental Assessment: For Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Master Plan District of Columbia

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-30

the impacts of vehicle travel and facilitate alternative modes of transportation that would reduce air pollutants . Noise: There would be...ltlb•nKM nr~t~~G.,~ StEiiubetlls Fort McNair East Potomac Pari < Poplar Point "" Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Master Plan Environmental...Industrial $uppon Eost Potomac Pari < Poplar Point Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Master Plan Environmental Assessment pg. 16 Several general

The development of method for continuous improvement of master file of the nursing practice terminology.

PubMed

Tsuru, Satoko; Okamine, Eiko; Takada, Aya; Watanabe, Chitose; Uchiyama, Makiko; Dannoue, Hideo; Aoyagi, Hisae; Endo, Akira

2009-01-01

Nursing Action Master and Nursing Observation Master were released from 2002 to 2008. Two kinds of format, an Excel format and a CSV format file are prepared for maintaining them. Followings were decided as a basic rule of the maintenance: newly addition, revision, deletion, the numbering of the management and a rule of the coding. The master was developed based on it. We do quality assurance for the masters using these rules.

Utilities for master source code distribution: MAX and Friends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felippa, Carlos A.

1988-01-01

MAX is a program for the manipulation of FORTRAN master source code (MSC). This is a technique by which one maintains one and only one master copy of a FORTRAN program under a program developing system, which for MAX is assumed to be VAX/VMS. The master copy is not intended to be directly compiled. Instead it must be pre-processed by MAX to produce compilable instances. These instances may correspond to different code versions (for example, double precision versus single precision), different machines (for example, IBM, CDC, Cray) or different operating systems (i.e., VAX/VMS versus VAX/UNIX). The advantage os using a master source is more pronounced in complex application programs that are developed and maintained over many years and are to be transported and executed on several computer environments. The version lag problem that plagues many such programs is avoided by this approach. MAX is complemented by several auxiliary programs that perform nonessential functions. The ensemble is collectively known as MAX and Friends. All of these programs, including MAX, are executed as foreign VAX/VMS commands and can easily be hidden in customized VMS command procedures.

Implementation of authentic assessment in the project based learning to improve student's concept mastering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sambeka, Yana; Nahadi, Sriyati, Siti

2017-05-01

The study aimed to obtain the scientific information about increase of student's concept mastering in project based learning that used authentic assessment. The research was conducted in May 2016 at one of junior high school in Bandung in the academic year of 2015/2016. The research method was weak experiment with the one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample was taken by random cluster sampling technique and the sample was 24 students. Data collected through instruments, i.e. written test, observation sheet, and questionnaire sheet. Student's concept mastering test obtained N-Gain of 0.236 with the low category. Based on the result of paired sample t-test showed that implementation of authentic assessment in the project based learning increased student's concept mastering significantly, (sig<0.05).

Student Triads: A Collaborative Approach to Practicum Experiences for Master's Nursing Students.

PubMed

Goodwin, Miki; Jenkins-Weinrub, Edith

2015-01-01

This article presents an approach for a collaborative practicum experience for master's degree nursing students. The students were placed into triads and then assigned as a group to work in a large health care organization. A triad consisted of 1 student from each concentration of study: nursing administration, nursing education, or nursing informatics, and the group was immersed in real-time problem-solving and decision-making processes over the course of the year.

Balance Evaluation Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

NeuroCom's Balance Master is a system to assess and then retrain patients with balance and mobility problems and is used in several medical centers. NeuroCom received assistance in research and funding from NASA, and incorporated technology from testing mechanisms for astronauts after shuttle flights. The EquiTest and Balance Master Systems are computerized posturography machines that measure patient responses to movement of a platform on which the subject is standing or sitting, then provide assessments of the patient's postural alignment and stability.

An Accurate Co-registration Method for Airborne Repeat-pass InSAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, X. T.; Zhao, Y. H.; Yue, X. J.; Han, C. M.

2017-10-01

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology plays a significant role in topographic mapping and surface deformation detection. Comparing with spaceborne repeat-pass InSAR, airborne repeat-pass InSAR solves the problems of long revisit time and low-resolution images. Due to the advantages of flexible, accurate, and fast obtaining abundant information, airborne repeat-pass InSAR is significant in deformation monitoring of shallow ground. In order to getting precise ground elevation information and interferometric coherence of deformation monitoring from master and slave images, accurate co-registration must be promised. Because of side looking, repeat observing path and long baseline, there are very different initial slant ranges and flight heights between repeat flight paths. The differences of initial slant ranges and flight height lead to the pixels, located identical coordinates on master and slave images, correspond to different size of ground resolution cells. The mismatching phenomenon performs very obvious on the long slant range parts of master image and slave image. In order to resolving the different sizes of pixels and getting accurate co-registration results, a new method is proposed based on Range-Doppler (RD) imaging model. VV-Polarization C-band airborne repeat-pass InSAR images were used in experiment. The experiment result shows that the proposed method leads to superior co-registration accuracy.

Comparison of the scanned pages of the contractual documents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreeva, Elena; Arlazarov, Vladimir V.; Manzhikov, Temudzhin; Slavin, Oleg

2018-04-01

In this paper the problem statement is given to compare the digitized pages of the official papers. Such problem appears during the comparison of two customer copies signed at different times between two parties with a view to find the possible modifications introduced on the one hand. This problem is a practically significant in the banking sector during the conclusion of contracts in a paper format. The method of comparison based on the recognition, which consists in the comparison of two bag-of-words, which are the recognition result of the master and test pages, is suggested. The described experiments were conducted using the OCR Tesseract and the siamese neural network. The advantages of the suggested method are the steady operation of the comparison algorithm and the high exacting precision, and one of the disadvantages is the dependence on the chosen OCR.

Preliminary PANSAT ground station software design and use of an expert system to analyze telemetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, Gregory W.

1994-03-01

The Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT) is a communications satellite designed to be used by civilian amateur radio operators. A master ground station is being built at the Naval Postgraduate School. This computer system performs satellite commands, displays telemetry, trouble-shoots problems, and passes messages. The system also controls an open loop tracking antenna. This paper concentrates on the telemetry display, decoding, and interpretation through artificial intelligence (AI). The telemetry is displayed in an easily interpretable format, so that any user can understand the current health of the satellite and be cued as to any problems and possible solutions. Only the master ground station has the ability to receive all telemetry and send commands to the spacecraft; civilian ham users do not have access to this information. The telemetry data is decommutated and analyzed before it is displayed to the user, so that the raw data will not have to be interpreted by ground users. The analysis will use CLIPS imbedded in the code, and derive its inputs from telemetry decommutation. The program is an expert system using a forward chaining set of rules based on the expected operation and parameters of the satellite. By building the rules during the construction and design of the satellite, the telemetry can be well understood and interpreted after the satellite is launched and the designers may no longer be available to provide input to the problem.

20 CFR 632.23 - Termination and corrective action of a CAP and/or Master Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... substantiates serious management, fiscal and/or performance problems, information from the Inspector General or gained through incident reports of poor performance, serious administrative problems and/or inability to... termination: (1) Poor performance and inability to meet Federal standards related to such debt collection...

Cognitive Processes Embedded in Self-Explanations of Solving Technical Problems: Implications for Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maughan, George R.

2007-01-01

This qualitative research examines the cognitive processes embedded in self-explanations of automobile and motorcycle service technicians performing troubleshooting tasks and solving technical problems. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve service technicians who have obtained the designation of "master technician" or equivalent within…

Academic Preparation for International Pre-MBA's in Marketing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westerfield, Kay

Adjustments to the case study approach are recommended to address three major areas of difficulty for foreign students in master's-level marketing education programs: (1) language-related problems; (2) unfamiliar class format and methodology; and (3) lack of cultural background knowledge. For language-related problems, case studies are a good…

Counselor Educators and Students with Problems of Professional Competence: A Survey and Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown-Rice, Kathleen; Furr, Susan

2016-01-01

A total of 370 counselor educators in CACREP-accredited [Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs] programs were surveyed to determine their knowledge of master's students' problems of professional competence (PPC) and their perception of roadblocks that affect gatekeeping practices. Findings suggest that educators…

Classification of holter registers by dynamic clustering using multi-dimensional particle swarm optimization.

PubMed

Kiranyaz, Serkan; Ince, Turker; Pulkkinen, Jenni; Gabbouj, Moncef

2010-01-01

In this paper, we address dynamic clustering in high dimensional data or feature spaces as an optimization problem where multi-dimensional particle swarm optimization (MD PSO) is used to find out the true number of clusters, while fractional global best formation (FGBF) is applied to avoid local optima. Based on these techniques we then present a novel and personalized long-term ECG classification system, which addresses the problem of labeling the beats within a long-term ECG signal, known as Holter register, recorded from an individual patient. Due to the massive amount of ECG beats in a Holter register, visual inspection is quite difficult and cumbersome, if not impossible. Therefore the proposed system helps professionals to quickly and accurately diagnose any latent heart disease by examining only the representative beats (the so called master key-beats) each of which is representing a cluster of homogeneous (similar) beats. We tested the system on a benchmark database where the beats of each Holter register have been manually labeled by cardiologists. The selection of the right master key-beats is the key factor for achieving a highly accurate classification and the proposed systematic approach produced results that were consistent with the manual labels with 99.5% average accuracy, which basically shows the efficiency of the system.

Time efficient Gabor fused master slave optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cernat, Ramona; Bradu, Adrian; Rivet, Sylvain; Podoleanu, Adrian

2018-02-01

In this paper the benefits in terms of operation time that Master/Slave (MS) implementation of optical coherence tomography can bring in comparison to Gabor fused (GF) employing conventional fast Fourier transform based OCT are presented. The Gabor Fusion/Master Slave Optical Coherence Tomography architecture proposed here does not need any data stitching. Instead, a subset of en-face images is produced for each focus position inside the sample to be imaged, using a reduced number of theoretically inferred Master masks. These en-face images are then assembled into a final volume. When the channelled spectra are digitized into 1024 sampling points, and more than 4 focus positions are required to produce the final volume, the Master Slave implementation of the instrument is faster than the conventional fast Fourier transform based procedure.

46 CFR 11.450 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of less than 200 GRT. 11.450 Section 11.450... limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels... for master or mate of vessels of less than 200 GRT are issued in 50 GRT increments based on the...

46 CFR 11.450 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of not more than 200 gross tons. 11.450... and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of... master or mate of vessels of not more than 200 gross tons are issued in 50 ton increments based on the...

46 CFR 11.450 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of not more than 200 gross tons. 11.450... and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of... master or mate of vessels of not more than 200 gross tons are issued in 50 ton increments based on the...

46 CFR 11.450 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of not more than 200 gross tons. 11.450... and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of... master or mate of vessels of not more than 200 gross tons are issued in 50 ton increments based on the...

46 CFR 11.450 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of not more than 200 gross tons. 11.450... and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of Great Lakes and inland vessels of... master or mate of vessels of not more than 200 gross tons are issued in 50 ton increments based on the...

18. NORTHEAST CORNER OF BUILDING 8990 (MASTER SURVEILLANCE ADN CONTROL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

18. NORTHEAST CORNER OF BUILDING 8990 (MASTER SURVEILLANCE ADN CONTROL TOWER). - Loring Air Force Base, Alert Area, Southeastern portion of base, east of southern end of runway, Limestone, Aroostook County, ME

17. SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BUILDING 8990 (MASTER SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

17. SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BUILDING 8990 (MASTER SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL TOWER). - Loring Air Force Base, Alert Area, Southeastern portion of base, east of southern end of runway, Limestone, Aroostook County, ME

An Examination of the Use of Lists of Recent Publications Found in Selected Journals in British and European History for Collection Development and Current Awareness by Librarians and Historians: A Master's Paper for the M.S. in L.S. Degree, July, 1985.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barringer, Sallie H.

This master's paper examines the use, by historians and librarians, of lists of recent publications, bibliographies, and reviews appearing in selected British and European history journals. Part 1 contains: (1) an introduction; (2) background information; (3) a literature review; (4) the problem statement; (5) a definition of terms; and (6) the…

Cabrillo College Master Plan, 2001-2004.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cabrillo Coll., Aptos, CA. Office of Institutional Research.

This document presents Cabrillo College's (California) master plan for 2001 to 2004. Major steps in compiling the master plan included: conducting environmental scanning, making planning assumptions, establishing goals, identifying objectives, developing strategies, and evaluating the plan. The plan is based on six broad goals: (1) to enable…

46 CFR 11.422 - Tonnage limitations and qualifying requirements for endorsements as master or mate of vessels of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... endorsements as master or mate of vessels of less than 200 GRT. 11.422 Section 11.422 Shipping COAST GUARD... requirements for endorsements as master or mate of vessels of less than 200 GRT. (a) Each national endorsement as master or mate of vessels of less than 200 GRT is issued with a tonnage limitation based on the...

Protecting Health and Saving Lives: The Part-Time/Internet-Based Master of Public Health Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Linda; Gresh, Kathy; Vanchiswaran, Rohini; Werapitiya, Deepthi

2007-01-01

This article discusses the part-time/Internet-based Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH). The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was the first school of public health in the United States to offer a Master of Public Health program via the Internet. The JHSPH MPH Program…

Ambulatory Data System: A Case Study in the Compliance, Utilization and Data Accuracy of the Ambulatory Data System at Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-06-07

25 percent more days each year than are men’s activities, and women are bedridden 35 percent more days than men because of infectious diseases... respiratory problems, digestive disease, injuries, and other chronic conditions (Blumenthal, 1995). Not only are Americans living longer, they are requiring...requirements” (ADS, 1998). Functionally , ADS is a form-based data collection tool similar to the "master bills" used in civilian health care practices. For the

Creation of a master table for checking indication and contraindication of medicine from a knowledge base linked with a thesaurus.

PubMed

Ji, Shanmei; Matsumura, Yasushi; Kuwata, Shigeki; Nakano, Hirohiko; Chen, Yufeng; Teratani, Tadamasa; Zhang, Qiyan; Mineno, Takahiro; Takeda, Hiroshi

2004-12-01

To develop a system for checking indication and contraindication of medicines in prescription order entry system, a master table consisting of the disease names corresponding to the medicines adopted in a hospital is needed. The creation of this table requires a considerable manpower. We developed a Web-based system for constructing a medicine/disease thesaurus and a knowledge base. By authority management of users, this system enables many specialists to create the thesaurus collaboratively without confusion. It supports the creation of a knowledge base using concept names by referring to the thesaurus, which is automatically converted to the check master table. When a disease name or medicine name was added to the thesaurus, the check table was automatically updated. We constructed a thesaurus and a knowledge base in the field of circulatory system disease. The knowledge base linked with the thesaurus proved to be efficient for making the check master table for indication/contraindication of medicines.

Producing alcohol and other drugs as a policy 'problem': A critical analysis of South Africa's 'National Drug Master Plan' (2013-2017).

PubMed

Pienaar, Kiran; Savic, Michael

2016-04-01

The strong symbolic value of illicit drug use makes it a contested issue, which attracts mixed public opinion, intense media attention and close political scrutiny. This means that the formulation of plausible, authoritative policies governing illicit drugs must navigate fraught political terrain. In a country like South Africa with its long unique history of institutionalised oppression of the black majority, the issues confronting drug policy are particularly complex and the need for carefully formulated policy responses especially urgent. Yet despite this, the area of drug policy development in South Africa has received little scholarly attention to date. This paper explores the complexities of policymaking in the South African context by drawing on feminist scholar Carol Bacchi's poststructuralist approach to policy analysis, which focuses on how policy helps to produce the problems it purports to solve. Taking as its empirical focus, South Africa's current drug policy, the third National Drug Master Plan (NDMP), 2013-2017, the paper analyses how the policy constitutes the 'problem of alcohol and other drugs' (AODs). We identify three central policy proposals through which specific problematisations emerge: (1) the proposal that drug use is a global issue requiring a coordinated policy response, (2) appeals to evidence-based policy proposals and (3) the proposal that AOD 'use' and 'abuse' be treated interchangeably. We suggest that these proposals reveal a tendency towards inflating the 'problem of AODs' and thus work to justify punitive policy measures. In an effort to explore the implications of particular problematisations for effecting social change, we clarify the ways in which the policy may work to undermine the interests of those it seeks to aid by reinforcing stigma and marginalisation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of library use in problem-based and traditional medical curricula.

PubMed

Marshall, J G; Fitzgerald, D; Busby, L; Heaton, G

1993-07-01

A key question for librarians and medical educators who are planning for curriculum change is whether students and faculty in problem-based learning (PBL) programs use the library and its resources differently than do participants in traditional programs. During 1991, this research question was explored at three medical schools in the province of Ontario, Canada. At the time of the study, McMaster University medical school was totally problem-based, the University of Western Ontario had one PBL day each week for first-year medical students, and the University of Toronto, although planning for medical curriculum change, had not yet initiated PBL. Data collected in the study suggest that more medical students in the problem-based curriculum than in the more traditional programs use the library and that, when the PBL students use the library, they do so more frequently, for longer periods of time, and as a source of a greater proportion of their study materials. PBL students also use the library more than their counterparts as a place to study and meet other students. Students in the problem-based curriculum use the following resources more extensively: end-user MEDLINE searching, library journals, reserve or short-term loan materials, photocopy services, and audiovisual materials. PBL students also report purchasing more textbooks. In contrast to the differences found among medical students, however, patterns of library and resource use by medical faculty at the three schools were quite similar.

Marionette

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sullivan, M.; Anderson, D.P.

1988-01-01

Marionette is a system for distributed parallel programming in an environment of networked heterogeneous computer systems. It is based on a master/slave model. The master process can invoke worker operations (asynchronous remote procedure calls to single slaves) and context operations (updates to the state of all slaves). The master and slaves also interact through shared data structures that can be modified only by the master. The master and slave processes are programmed in a sequential language. The Marionette runtime system manages slave process creation, propagates shared data structures to slaves as needed, queues and dispatches worker and context operations, andmore » manages recovery from slave processor failures. The Marionette system also includes tools for automated compilation of program binaries for multiple architectures, and for distributing binaries to remote fuel systems. A UNIX-based implementation of Marionette is described.« less

A cascade feedback control approach for hypnosis.

PubMed

Puebla, Hector; Alvarez-Ramírez, José

2005-10-01

This article studies the problem of controlling the drug administration during an anesthesia process, where muscle relaxation, analgesia, and hypnosis are regulated by means of monitored administration of specific drugs. On the basis of a seventh-order nonlinear pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic representation of the hypnosis process dynamics, a cascade (master/slave) feedback control structure for controlling the bispectral index (BIS) is proposed. The master controller compares the measured BIS with its reference value to provide the expired isoflurane concentration reference to the slave controller. In turn, the slave controller manipulates the anesthetic isoflurane concentration entering the anesthetic system to achieve the reference from the master controller. The advantage of the proposed cascade control structure with respect to its noncascade counterpart is that the former provides operation protection against BIS measurement failures. In fact, under a BIS measurement fault, the master control feedback is broken and the slave controller operates under a safe reference value. Extensive numerical simulations are used to illustrate the functioning of the proposed cascade control structure.

Introductory Economic Geography: Problem-Solving or a Teaching Problem?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wheeler, James O.

Because economic geography is viewed as a field with too many different aspects for one person to master, teaching an introductory course in the subject poses the challenge of selecting an organizing theme. One specific approach, organized around higher level generalizations and theories, is the use of location theory. Coupling location theory…

Learning Difficulties of Diabetic Patients: A Survey of Educators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bonnet, Caroline; Gagnayre, Remi; d'Ivernois, Jean-Francois

1998-01-01

Surveys 85 health care professionals on the learning difficulties of diabetic patients. Results show that educators find it easy to teach techniques: patients master procedures well and make few mistakes. In contrast, diabetic patients seem to have problems learning skills, such as insulin dose adjustment, that require complex problem-solving.…

Circumference and Problem Solving.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackburn, Katie; White, David

The concept of pi is one of great importance to all developed civilization and one that can be explored and mastered by elementary students through an inductive and problem-solving approach. Such an approach is outlined and discussed. The approach involves the following biblical quotation: "And he made a moltin sea ten cubits from one brim to…

Towards a conceptual multi-agent-based framework to simulate the spatial group decision-making process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghavami, Seyed Morsal; Taleai, Mohammad

2017-04-01

Most spatial problems are multi-actor, multi-issue and multi-phase in nature. In addition to their intrinsic complexity, spatial problems usually involve groups of actors from different organizational and cognitive backgrounds, all of whom participate in a social structure to resolve or reduce the complexity of a given problem. Hence, it is important to study and evaluate what different aspects influence the spatial problem resolution process. Recently, multi-agent systems consisting of groups of separate agent entities all interacting with each other have been put forward as appropriate tools to use to study and resolve such problems. In this study, then in order to generate a better level of understanding regarding the spatial problem group decision-making process, a conceptual multi-agent-based framework is used that represents and specifies all the necessary concepts and entities needed to aid group decision making, based on a simulation of the group decision-making process as well as the relationships that exist among the different concepts involved. The study uses five main influencing entities as concepts in the simulation process: spatial influence, individual-level influence, group-level influence, negotiation influence and group performance measures. Further, it explains the relationship among different concepts in a descriptive rather than explanatory manner. To illustrate the proposed framework, the approval process for an urban land use master plan in Zanjan—a provincial capital in Iran—is simulated using MAS, the results highlighting the effectiveness of applying an MAS-based framework when wishing to study the group decision-making process used to resolve spatial problems.

Preparing master-level mental health nurses to work within a wellness paradigm: Findings from the eMenthe project.

PubMed

Doyle, Louise; Ellilä, Heikki; Jormfeldt, Henrika; Lahti, Mari; Higgins, Agnes; Keogh, Brian; Meade, Oonagh; Sitvast, Jan; Skärsäter, Ingela; Stickley, Theo; Kilkku, Nina

2018-04-01

Mental health promotion remains an important component of mental health nursing practice. Supporting wellness at both the individual and societal levels has been identified as one of the key tenets of mental health promotion. However, the prevailing biomedical paradigm of mental health education and practice has meant that many nurses have not been equipped to incorporate a wellness perspective into their mental health practice. In the present study, we report on an exploratory study which details the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by master-level mental health nurses to practice within a wellness paradigm from the perspective of three groups of key stakeholders: (i) service users and family members (n = 23); (ii) experienced mental health nurses (n = 49); and (iii) master-level mental health nursing students (n = 37). The findings, which were reported from individual and focus group interviews across five European countries, suggested a need to reorientate mental health nursing education to include a focus on wellness and resilience to equip mental health nurses with the skills to work within a strengths-based, rather than a deficits-based, model of mental health practice. Key challenges to working within a wellness paradigm were identified as the prevailing dominance of the biomedical model of cause and treatment of mental health problems, which focusses on symptoms, rather than the holistic functioning of the individual, and positions the person as passive in the nurse-service user relationship. © 2017 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

The comparison of family function based on the McMaster model in fertile and infertile women

PubMed Central

Zanganeh, B; Kaboudi, M; Ashtarian, H; Kaboudi, B

2015-01-01

Introduction: One of the main parts of the lives of infertile impaired is social relationships and their family functions. This study aimed to compare the family function based on the McMaster model in fertile and infertile women. Materials and Methods: This research is a similar one. The population consisted of all infertile women referred to the two infertility centers and fertile females related to health areas located in the same area in Tehran. The sampling method was the convenience one and in both groups, 50 women were recruited as samples and they responded to the demographic and Family Assessment Device (FAD) questionnaires. The obtained information was investigated by using inferential and descriptive statistics and SPSS 22 software. Findings: The results showed the following behavioral control variables (p = 0/ 003), roles (p = 0/ 002), emotional responsiveness (p = 0/ 020) and emotional involvement (p = 0/ 006). There was a clear distinction between fertile and infertile women and infertile women obtained worse scores. Conclusion: The results indicated that infertile women have crucial problems in family functioning that can have an impact on other aspects of life and their health. PMID:28316731

Robustly stable adaptive control of a tandem of master-slave robotic manipulators with force reflection by using a multiestimation scheme.

PubMed

Ibeas, Asier; de la Sen, Manuel

2006-10-01

The problem of controlling a tandem of robotic manipulators composing a teleoperation system with force reflection is addressed in this paper. The final objective of this paper is twofold: 1) to design a robust control law capable of ensuring closed-loop stability for robots with uncertainties and 2) to use the so-obtained control law to improve the tracking of each robot to its corresponding reference model in comparison with previously existing controllers when the slave is interacting with the obstacle. In this way, a multiestimation-based adaptive controller is proposed. Thus, the master robot is able to follow more accurately the constrained motion defined by the slave when interacting with an obstacle than when a single-estimation-based controller is used, improving the transparency property of the teleoperation scheme. The closed-loop stability is guaranteed if a minimum residence time, which might be updated online when unknown, between different controller parameterizations is respected. Furthermore, the analysis of the teleoperation and stability capabilities of the overall scheme is carried out. Finally, some simulation examples showing the working of the multiestimation scheme complete this paper.

On the structure of the master equation for a two-level system coupled to a thermal bath

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vega, Inés

2015-04-01

We derive a master equation from the exact stochastic Liouville-von-Neumann (SLN) equation (Stockburger and Grabert 2002 Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 170407). The latter depends on two correlated noises and describes exactly the dynamics of an oscillator (which can be either harmonic or present an anharmonicity) coupled to an environment at thermal equilibrium. The newly derived master equation is obtained by performing analytically the average over different noise trajectories. It is found to have a complex hierarchical structure that might be helpful to explain the convergence problems occurring when performing numerically the stochastic average of trajectories given by the SLN equation (Koch et al 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 230402, Koch 2010 PhD thesis Fakultät Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften der Technischen Universitat Dresden).

Lévy targeting and the principle of detailed balance.

PubMed

Garbaczewski, Piotr; Stephanovich, Vladimir

2011-07-01

We investigate confining mechanisms for Lévy flights under premises of the principle of detailed balance. In this case, the master equation of the jump-type process admits a transformation to the Lévy-Schrödinger semigroup dynamics akin to a mapping of the Fokker-Planck equation into the generalized diffusion equation. This sets a correspondence between above two stochastic dynamical systems, within which we address a (stochastic) targeting problem for an arbitrary stability index μ ε (0,2) of symmetric Lévy drivers. Namely, given a probability density function, specify the semigroup potential, and thence the jump-type dynamics for which this PDF is actually a long-time asymptotic (target) solution of the master equation. Here, an asymptotic behavior of different μ-motion scenarios ceases to depend on μ. That is exemplified by considering Gaussian and Cauchy family target PDFs. A complementary problem of the reverse engineering is analyzed: given a priori a semigroup potential, quantify how sensitive upon the choice of the μ driver is an asymptotic behavior of solutions of the associated master equation and thus an invariant PDF itself. This task is accomplished for so-called μ family of Lévy oscillators.

Students’ difficulties in solving linear equation problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wati, S.; Fitriana, L.; Mardiyana

2018-03-01

A linear equation is an algebra material that exists in junior high school to university. It is a very important material for students in order to learn more advanced mathematics topics. Therefore, linear equation material is essential to be mastered. However, the result of 2016 national examination in Indonesia showed that students’ achievement in solving linear equation problem was low. This fact became a background to investigate students’ difficulties in solving linear equation problems. This study used qualitative descriptive method. An individual written test on linear equation tasks was administered, followed by interviews. Twenty-one sample students of grade VIII of SMPIT Insan Kamil Karanganyar did the written test, and 6 of them were interviewed afterward. The result showed that students with high mathematics achievement donot have difficulties, students with medium mathematics achievement have factual difficulties, and students with low mathematics achievement have factual, conceptual, operational, and principle difficulties. Based on the result there is a need of meaningfulness teaching strategy to help students to overcome difficulties in solving linear equation problems.

Depression and Caregiving

MedlinePlus

... Has specialized training in human behavior, family behavior, psychology, and problem solving. Has a Master's degree in ... and groups. Has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with supervised postgraduate work. American Association of Marriage ...

Plastic masters-rigid templates for soft lithography.

PubMed

Desai, Salil P; Freeman, Dennis M; Voldman, Joel

2009-06-07

We demonstrate a simple process for the fabrication of rigid plastic master molds for soft lithography directly from (poly)dimethysiloxane devices. Plastics masters (PMs) provide a cost-effective alternative to silicon-based masters and can be easily replicated without the need for cleanroom facilities. We have successfully demonstrated the use of plastics micromolding to generate both single and dual-layer plastic structures, and have characterized the fidelity of the molding process. Using the PM fabrication technique, world-to-chip connections can be integrated directly into the master enabling devices with robust, well-aligned fluidic ports directly after molding. PMs provide an easy technique for the fabrication of microfluidic devices and a simple route for the scaling-up of fabrication of robust masters for soft lithography.

High-fidelity bilateral teleoperation systems and the effect of multimodal haptics.

PubMed

Tavakoli, Mahdi; Aziminejad, Arash; Patel, Rajni V; Moallem, Mehrdad

2007-12-01

In master-slave teleoperation applications that deal with a delicate and sensitive environment, it is important to provide haptic feedback of slave/environment interactions to the user's hand as it improves task performance and teleoperation transparency (fidelity), which is the extent of telepresence of the remote environment available to the user through the master-slave system. For haptic teleoperation, in addition to a haptics-capable master interface, often one or more force sensors are also used, which warrant new bilateral control architectures while increasing the cost and the complexity of the teleoperation system. In this paper, we investigate the added benefits of using force sensors that measure hand/master and slave/environment interactions and of utilizing local feedback loops on the teleoperation transparency. We compare the two-channel and the four-channel bilateral control systems in terms of stability and transparency, and study the stability and performance robustness of the four-channel method against nonidealities that arise during bilateral control implementation, which include master-slave communication latency and changes in the environment dynamics. The next issue addressed in the paper deals with the case where the master interface is not haptics capable, but the slave is equipped with a force sensor. In the context of robotics-assisted soft-tissue surgical applications, we explore through human factors experiments whether slave/environment force measurements can be of any help with regard to improving task performance. The last problem we study is whether slave/environment force information, with and without haptic capability in the master interface, can help improve outcomes under degraded visual conditions.

The Sartre-Heidegger Controversy on Humanism and the Concept of Man in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kakkori, Leena; Huttunen, Rauno

2012-01-01

Jean-Paul Sartre claims in his 1945 lecture "Existentialism is a Humanism" that there are two kinds of existentialism: that of Christians like Karl Jaspers, and atheistic like Martin Heidegger. Sartre's "spiritual master" Heidegger had no problem with Sartre defining him as an atheist, but he had serious problems with Sartre's…

In the Service of Learning and Activism: Service Learning, Critical Pedagogy, and the Problem Solution Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stenhouse, Vera L.; Jarrett, Olga S.

2012-01-01

To counteract disempowerment frequently experienced in education, in 2001 the authors initiated a "Problem Solution Project" (PSP) in the second year a two-year urban certification and Master's program. The PSP, designed to promote empowerment of first-year urban teachers and their students, involves both service learning. In 2004, the authors…

Coping in the World of Work. Practice in Problem Solving. Student Guide. Research and Development Series 120B.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Robert E.; And Others

This student guide supplements a career development unit on coping in the world of work designed to assist students in developing coping strategies to deal with work entry and job adjustment problems. (Other components of the unit--instructor's handbook, handout/transparency masters, and filmstrip/sound cassette programs, are available…

The Representation of Anatomical Structures through Computer Animation for Scientific, Educational and Artistic Applications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stredney, Donald Larry

An overview of computer animation and the techniques involved in its creation is provided in the introduction to this masters thesis, which focuses on the problems encountered by students in learning the forms and functions of complex anatomical structures and ways in which computer animation can address these problems. The objectives for,…

Perceptions and Problems of English Language and Communication Abilities: A Final Check on Thai Engineering Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rajprasit, Krich; Pratoomrat, Panadda; Wang, Tuntiga

2015-01-01

English language and communication abilities are an essential part of the global engineering community. However, non-native English speaking engineers and students tend to be unable to master these skills. This study aims to gauge the perceived levels of their general English language proficiency, to explore their English communicative problems,…

Problems of Female School Teachers in District Kulgam (J&K)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rashid, Ruhee; Maharashi, Santosh Kumar

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to find the problems of employed female school teachers in district Kulgam. Sample of 100 employed women are selected from different education institutions as 20 Rehaber e Taleem (ReT) female teachers, 40 female teachers, 20 female masters and 20 female lecturers using stratified random sampling. In this study we use…

Establishing a Master׳s for Europe--A transnational model for higher education.

PubMed

Fleming, V; Luyben, A

2016-02-01

Over the last 50 years leading international organisations have been emphasising the key role that midwives play in the provision of quality care for women and babies throughout the pregnancy continuum. Midwifery education, however, generally remained at pre-university level until recently when Bachelors' programmes were developed. In Europe this development was taken further with the awarding of a European Union Lifelong Learning Programme grant to a consortium of five universities in four countries to develop a joint Master's degree in midwifery. The first students, drawn not only from the countries of the partner institutions but also from other European countries and from countries outside of Europe, commenced their studies in 2009. DOES THE PROGRAMME MEET ITS OBJECTIVES AND THOSE SET OUT IN THE LANCET SERIES?: The objectives of the programme were in line with the requirements for effective midwifery care and evidence based practice as discussed in the Lancet series. As an EU funded project all the goals were met. However, in terms of its long-term sustainability problems arose due to the need for universities to rationalise programmes. The number of students has remained steady but low with the projected growth not taking place thus it has been impossible to perceive an impact on midwifery practice and the health of women and children where graduates are working. Despite limitations, the programme serves as an exemplary model of how a Master's programme in midwifery can be successfully built through a collaboration of interested parties from different countries, and can be applied at a global level in other regions of the world, with sufficient political and economic support. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new model for recognizing and rewarding the educational accomplishments of surgery faculty.

PubMed

Sachdeva, A K; Cohen, R; Dayton, M T; Hebert, J C; Jamieson, C; Neumayer, L A; Sharp, K W; Spence, R K

1999-12-01

Faculty members' educational endeavors have generally not received adequate recognition. The Association for Surgical Education in 1993 established a task force to determine the magnitude of this problem and to create a model to address the challenges and opportunities identified. To obtain baseline information, the task force reviewed information from national sources and the literature on recognizing and rewarding faculty members for educational accomplishments. The group also developed and mailed to surgery departments at all U.S. and Canadian medical schools a questionnaire asking about the educational endeavors of the surgery faculty and their recognition for such activities. The response rate after two mailings was only 56%, but the responses reaffirmed the inadequacy of systems for rewarding and recognizing surgeon-teachers and surgeon-educators, and confirmed that the distinction between the roles of teacher and educator was rarely made. The task force created a four-tier hierarchical model based on the designations teacher, master teacher, educator, and master educator as a framework to offer appropriate recognition and rewards to the faculty, and endorsed a broad definition of educational scholarship. Criteria for various levels of achievement, ways to demonstrate and document educational contributions, appropriate support and recognition, and suggested faculty ranks were defined for these levels. The task force recommended that each surgery department have within its faculty ranks a cadre of trained teachers, a few master teachers, and at least one educator. Departments with a major commitment to education should consider supporting a master educator to serve as a resource not only for the department but also for the department's medical school and other medical schools. Although this model was created for surgery departments, it is generalizable to other disciplines.

LP and NLP decomposition without a master problem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fuller, D.; Lan, B.

We describe a new algorithm for decomposition of linear programs and a class of convex nonlinear programs, together with theoretical properties and some test results. Its most striking feature is the absence of a master problem; the subproblems pass primal and dual proposals directly to one another. The algorithm is defined for multi-stage LPs or NLPs, in which the constraints link the current stage`s variables to earlier stages` variables. This problem class is general enough to include many problem structures that do not immediately suggest stages, such as block diagonal problems. The basic algorithmis derived for two-stage problems and extendedmore » to more than two stages through nested decomposition. The main theoretical result assures convergence, to within any preset tolerance of the optimal value, in a finite number of iterations. This asymptotic convergence result contrasts with the results of limited tests on LPs, in which the optimal solution is apparently found exactly, i.e., to machine accuracy, in a small number of iterations. The tests further suggest that for LPs, the new algorithm is faster than the simplex method applied to the whole problem, as long as the stages are linked loosely; that the speedup over the simpex method improves as the number of stages increases; and that the algorithm is more reliable than nested Dantzig-Wolfe or Benders` methods in its improvement over the simplex method.« less

The University of Washington's Community-Oriented Public Health Practice program and Public Health-Seattle & King County partnership.

PubMed

House, Peter J; Hartfield, Karen; Nicola, Bud; Bogan, Sharon L

2014-01-01

The Community-Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP) program, a 2-year in-residence MPH degree program in the University of Washington School of Public Health, has partnered with Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) since 2002 to create a mutually beneficial set of programs to improve teaching and address community-based public health problems in a practice setting. The COPHP program uses a problem-based learning approach that puts students in small groups to work on public health problems. Both University of Washington-based and PHSKC-based faculty facilitate the classroom work. In the first year for students, COPHP, in concert with PHSKC, places students in practicum assignments at PHSKC; in the second year, students undertake a master's project (capstone) in a community or public health agency. The capstone project entails taking on a problem in a community-based agency to improve either the health of a population or the capacity of the agency to improve population health. Both the practicum and the capstone projects emphasize applying classroom learning in actual public health practice work for community-based organizations. This partnership brings PHSKC and COPHP together in every aspect of teaching. In essence, PHSKC acts as the "academic health department" for COPHP. There are detailed agreements and contracts that guide all aspects of the partnership. Both the practicum and capstone projects require written contracts. The arrangements for getting non-University of Washington faculty paid for teaching and advising also include formal contracts.

High profile students’ growth of mathematical understanding in solving linier programing problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utomo; Kusmayadi, TA; Pramudya, I.

2018-04-01

Linear program has an important role in human’s life. This linear program is learned in senior high school and college levels. This material is applied in economy, transportation, military and others. Therefore, mastering linear program is useful for provision of life. This research describes a growth of mathematical understanding in solving linear programming problems based on the growth of understanding by the Piere-Kieren model. Thus, this research used qualitative approach. The subjects were students of grade XI in Salatiga city. The subjects of this study were two students who had high profiles. The researcher generally chose the subjects based on the growth of understanding from a test result in the classroom; the mark from the prerequisite material was ≥ 75. Both of the subjects were interviewed by the researcher to know the students’ growth of mathematical understanding in solving linear programming problems. The finding of this research showed that the subjects often folding back to the primitive knowing level to go forward to the next level. It happened because the subjects’ primitive understanding was not comprehensive.

A polymeric master replication technology for mass fabrication of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devices.

PubMed

Li, Hai-Fang; Lin, Jin-Ming; Su, Rong-Guo; Cai, Zong Wei; Uchiyama, Katsumi

2005-05-01

A protocol of producing multiple polymeric masters from an original glass master mold has been developed, which enables the production of multiple poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices in a low-cost and efficient manner. Standard wet-etching techniques were used to fabricate an original glass master with negative features, from which more than 50 polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) positive replica masters were rapidly created using the thermal printing technique. The time to replicate each PMMA master was as short as 20 min. The PMMA replica masters have excellent structural features and could be used to cast PDMS devices for many times. An integration geometry designed for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, which contains normal deep microfluidic channels and a much deeper optical fiber channel, was successfully transferred into PDMS devices. The positive relief on seven PMMA replica masters is replicated with regard to the negative original glass master, with a depth average variation of 0.89% for 26-microm deep microfluidic channels and 1.16% for the 90 mum deep fiber channel. The imprinted positive relief in PMMA from master-to-master is reproducible with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.06% for the maximum width and 0.46% for depth in terms of the separation channel. The PDMS devices fabricated from the PMMA replica masters were characterized and applied to the separation of a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled epinephrine sample.

Synthesis of aluminum-based scandium-yttrium master alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazhin, V. Yu.; Kosov, Ya. I.; Lobacheva, O. L.; Dzhevaga, N. V.

2015-07-01

The preparation technology for an Al-2% Sc-0.5% Y master alloy using aluminum-manganese alloys has been developed and tested. The microstructure of the prepared master alloy is studied and the compositions of intermetallics is determined. The efficient technological parameters of the synthesis are determined. It is shown that varying the compositions of starting reagents and alloying additions and optimizing the process conditions (temperature, mixing, etc.) allow us to forecast the manufacturing and operating characteristics of aluminum-based master alloys. Joint additions of scandium and yttrium oxides to a charge favor a substantial decrease in the grain size of the formed intermetallics; this effect appears to the utmost in the case of microallying with yttrium up to 0.5 wt %.

Project-based learning applied to spacecraft power systems: a long-term engineering and educational program at UPM University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pindado, Santiago; Cubas, Javier; Roibás-Millán, Elena; Sorribes-Palmer, Félix

2018-03-01

The IDR/UPM Institute is the research center responsible for the Master in Space Systems (MUSE) of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). This is a 2-year (120 ECTS) master's degree focused on space technology. The UPMSat-2 satellite program has become an excellent educational framework in which the academic contents of the master are trained through project-based learning and following a multidisciplinary approach. In the present work, the educational projects developed and carried out in relation to spacecraft power systems at the IDR/UPM Institute are described. These projects are currently being developed in the framework represented by the aforementioned MUSE master's program and UPMSat-2.

Homeroom Activities in a College of Technology Based on the Master Plan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuchida, Kunihiiko; Murata, Hideaki; Yuji, Junichiro

Homeroom (HR) activities have an important role in engineering education at technical colleges. Yatsushiro National College of Technology has made a master plan for them and has been putting the plan into practical use since 2002. This plan is comprehensive and has two main categories, social education and career guidance, both being composed of three sub-categories (e.g., self-understanding and making future plans) . Based on the master plan, each HR teacher makes his own plan for HR activities for his classroom at the beginning of the academic year. We have reached a consensus to share our practice and to improve HR activities for years to come. We also recognize that to carry out HR activities based on a master plan that reflects the school's educational goals is essential in order to train students who are well-prepared, both as engineers and as humans.

Applying the Methodology of the Community College Classification Scheme to the Public Master's Colleges and Universities Sector

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kinkead, J. Clint.; Katsinas, Stephen G.

2011-01-01

This work brings forward the geographically-based classification scheme for the public Master's Colleges and Universities sector. Using the same methodology developed by Katsinas and Hardy (2005) to classify community colleges, this work classifies Master's Colleges and Universities. This work has four major findings and conclusions. First, a…

Completion Time Dynamics for Master's and Doctoral Studies at Makerere University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wamala, Robert; Oonyu, Joseph C.

2012-01-01

This paper examines the dynamics of completion time of master's studies and how such dynamics relate to those of doctoral studies at Makerere University, Uganda. The assessment is based on administrative data of 605 master's degree students at the University in the 2004 and 2005 enrollment cohorts. The total elapsed time from first enrollment to…

Developing a Master's Student's Research and Practitioner Skills through Collaboration with a Doctoral Researcher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abrams, Rachel; Nolan, Emily

2016-01-01

Art therapy master's programs are required to include research coursework in their curriculum; however, they differ in content and types of required projects. Students encouraged to conduct studies that increase the evidence base of art therapy may struggle to do so. This article describes a research collaboration that allowed a master's level…

Airborne relay-based regional positioning system.

PubMed

Lee, Kyuman; Noh, Hongjun; Lim, Jaesung

2015-05-28

Ground-based pseudolite systems have some limitations, such as low vertical accuracy, multipath effects and near-far problems. These problems are not significant in airborne-based pseudolite systems. However, the monitoring of pseudolite positions is required because of the mobility of the platforms on which the pseudolites are mounted, and this causes performance degradation. To address these pseudolite system limitations, we propose an airborne relay-based regional positioning system that consists of a master station, reference stations, airborne relays and a user. In the proposed system, navigation signals are generated from the reference stations located on the ground and are relayed via the airborne relays. Unlike in conventional airborne-based systems, the user in the proposed system sequentially estimates both the locations of airborne relays and his/her own position. Therefore, a delay due to monitoring does not occur, and the accuracy is not affected by the movement of airborne relays. We conducted several simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed system. Based on the simulation results, we demonstrated that the proposed system guarantees a higher accuracy than airborne-based pseudolite systems, and it is feasible despite the existence of clock offsets among reference stations.

Airborne Relay-Based Regional Positioning System

PubMed Central

Lee, Kyuman; Noh, Hongjun; Lim, Jaesung

2015-01-01

Ground-based pseudolite systems have some limitations, such as low vertical accuracy, multipath effects and near-far problems. These problems are not significant in airborne-based pseudolite systems. However, the monitoring of pseudolite positions is required because of the mobility of the platforms on which the pseudolites are mounted, and this causes performance degradation. To address these pseudolite system limitations, we propose an airborne relay-based regional positioning system that consists of a master station, reference stations, airborne relays and a user. In the proposed system, navigation signals are generated from the reference stations located on the ground and are relayed via the airborne relays. Unlike in conventional airborne-based systems, the user in the proposed system sequentially estimates both the locations of airborne relays and his/her own position. Therefore, a delay due to monitoring does not occur, and the accuracy is not affected by the movement of airborne relays. We conducted several simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed system. Based on the simulation results, we demonstrated that the proposed system guarantees a higher accuracy than airborne-based pseudolite systems, and it is feasible despite the existence of clock offsets among reference stations. PMID:26029953

QMRPF-UKF Master-Slave Filtering for the Attitude Determination of Micro-Nano Satellites Using Gyro and Magnetometer

PubMed Central

Cui, Peiling; Zhang, Huijuan

2010-01-01

In this paper, the problem of estimating the attitude of a micro-nano satellite, obtaining geomagnetic field measurements via a three-axis magnetometer and obtaining angle rate via gyro, is considered. For this application, a QMRPF-UKF master-slave filtering method is proposed, which uses the QMRPF and UKF algorithms to estimate the rotation quaternion and the gyro bias parameters, respectively. The computational complexicity related to the particle filtering technique is eliminated by introducing a multiresolution approach that permits a significant reduction in the number of particles. This renders QMRPF-UKF master-slave filter computationally efficient and enables its implementation with a remarkably small number of particles. Simulation results by using QMRPF-UKF are given, which demonstrate the validity of the QMRPF-UKF nonlinear filter. PMID:22163448

A comparison of control modes for time-delayed remote manipulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starr, G. P.

1982-01-01

Transmission time delay in the communication channel of a manual control system is investigated. A time delay can exist in remote manipulation systems, caused by long communication distances or bandwidth limitations. Ferrell 1 conducted the first research in time-delayed manipulation using a two degree-of-freedom manipulator. His subjects, working at time delays of 1.0, 2.1, and 3.2 s, could accomplish tasks even requiring great accuracy. The subjects spontaneously adopted a pattern of moving cautiously, then waiting to see the results of their actions. In experiments with a six degree-of-freedom master-slave manipulator system and time delays of 1.0 to 6 s, Black 2 saw that subjects tried to use the move-and-wait strategy; but there were often difficulties. The subjects seemed to have a problem in holding the master arm stationary while waiting for feedback. Any undesired drifting of the master arm introduced a discrepancy between the positions of the master and slave. This discrepancy was not perceived because of the time delay. The subject would then begin his next move with an inherent error. The difficulty of effectively using the move-and-wait strategy with a master-slave manipulator suggested that rate control might be a more effective control mode with time delay.

Master's Degree in sustainable development in Switzerland, the first master course comprising three faculties.

PubMed

Burkhardt-Holm, Patricia; Chebbi, Camelia

2008-03-01

Sustainable development has become a key aspect in society, economics and environment. Therefore, experts dealing with questions relating to people, the environment and its resources are more and more requested. This paper presents the concept and first experiences of a specialised Master's Degree in Sustainable Development (MSD). This is a pioneer course as it is equally anchored in three faculties (Human science, Natural science, Business and Economy) at the University of Basel, Switzerland. It aims to transmit knowledge, teach methodology and enable practical work experience in the field of sustainable development. This interdisciplinary master's degree is composed of several modules. At first, the attendance of modules providing a basic understanding in the disciplines not yet covered by the former Bachelor degree, is mandatory. In optional modules, the acquired knowledge of the compulsory modules is further enhanced, focussing on four different topics and are titled as: Agglomeration and Ecosystems; Conservation and Utilisation of Natural Resources; Environment, Values, Societal Transformation and Health; and Environmental Problems in a Globalised World. In another optional module, students may complete an internship in which they can apply theoretical and thematic knowledge. To work independently on a problem in the context of, interdisciplinary projects are a central request in the MSD. Finally, the master thesis has to be planned and realized by a plying the scientific methods and skills acquired in the previous modules. Since the beginning of the programme in the winter of 2005/2006, 45 students have enrolled. They received degrees at 25 different universities, 13 of which are from abroad. Some already have several years of working experience, while others have only just completed their Bachelor's degrees. A analysis has shown that the graduates will have excellent chances in the employment market, since they are well qualified to take over sought-after positions in the business world, in administration, in consultancy, national or international organisations, or to follow academic careers.

Student Attitudes: A Study of Social Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hardy, Clifford A.

1976-01-01

Student attitudes toward current controversial problems (bussing for racial integration, legalization of abortion, and legalization of marijuana) were studied with regard to social class. The 1960 revision of the Purdue Master Attitude Scale was used. (LBH)

[The physical and health status of runaway slaves announced in Jornal do Commercio (RJ) in 1850].

PubMed

Amantino, Márcia

2007-01-01

The article examines the state of health of a population of runaway slaves, based on announcements published in Rio de Janeiro's Jornal do Commercio in 1850. Two strategies were used. The first entailed analysis of the slaves' physical characteristics, as described by their masters. Taking into account the slave's health, the second step was to describe his or her physical problems as viewed by the era's medical or folk knowledge. This evidence can be traced to procedures found in the slave system, which sought to maximize use of captives.

Reframing the Path to School Leadership: A Guide for Teachers and Principals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolman, Lee G.; Deal, Terrence E.

The best leaders use multiple frames or lenses to view common challenges and to solve their most difficult problems. This book contains a series of dialogs between a novice and a master teacher, and between a new and a seasoned principal as they demonstrate how framing and reframing challenges can bring clarity, help to anticipate problems, and…

Meeting the Challenge: The Educational Preparation of Social Workers for Practice with At-Risk Children (0-3) and Their Families.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nover, Aimee R.; Timberlake, Elizabeth M.

1989-01-01

The social work practice arena and professional preparation are described as they relate to infants and young children vulnerable to developmental problems and problems of psychosocial dysfunction. Curriculum structure of accredited Master's degree programs and the model curriculum project of the National Catholic School of Social Service are…

Rhetorical Moves in Problem Statement Section of Iranian EFL Postgraduate Students' Theses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nimehchisalem, Vahid; Tarvirdizadeh, Zahra; Paidary, Sara Sayed; Binti Mat Hussin, Nur Izyan Syamimi

2016-01-01

The Problem Statement (PS) section of a thesis, usually a subsection of the first chapter, is supposed to justify the objectives of the study. Postgraduate students are often ignorant of the rhetorical moves that they are expected to make in their PS. This descriptive study aimed to explore the rhetorical moves of the PS in Iranian master's (MA)…

Coping in the World of Work. Practice in Problem Solving. Instructor's Handbook. Research and Development Series 120A.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Robert E.; And Others

This instructor's handbook is part of a career development unit on coping in the world of work, designed to assist students in developing coping strategies to deal with work-entry and job adjustment problems. (Other components of the unit--student guide, handout/transparency masters, and filmstrip/sound cassette programs--are available…

A Program for Solving the Brain Ischemia Problem

PubMed Central

DeGracia, Donald J.

2013-01-01

Our recently described nonlinear dynamical model of cell injury is here applied to the problems of brain ischemia and neuroprotection. We discuss measurement of global brain ischemia injury dynamics by time course analysis. Solutions to proposed experiments are simulated using hypothetical values for the model parameters. The solutions solve the global brain ischemia problem in terms of “master bifurcation diagrams” that show all possible outcomes for arbitrary durations of all lethal cerebral blood flow (CBF) decrements. The global ischemia master bifurcation diagrams: (1) can map to a single focal ischemia insult, and (2) reveal all CBF decrements susceptible to neuroprotection. We simulate measuring a neuroprotectant by time course analysis, which revealed emergent nonlinear effects that set dynamical limits on neuroprotection. Using over-simplified stroke geometry, we calculate a theoretical maximum protection of approximately 50% recovery. We also calculate what is likely to be obtained in practice and obtain 38% recovery; a number close to that often reported in the literature. The hypothetical examples studied here illustrate the use of the nonlinear cell injury model as a fresh avenue of approach that has the potential, not only to solve the brain ischemia problem, but also to advance the technology of neuroprotection. PMID:24961411

Transient performance analysis of the master cylinder hydraulic system of a 6.3 MN fineblanking press

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Guodong; Li, Jin

2018-03-01

The master cylinder hydraulic system is the core component of the fineblanking press that seriously affects the machine performance. A key issue in the design of the master cylinder hydraulic system is dealing with the heavy shock loads in the fineblanking process. In this paper, an equivalent model of the master cylinder hydraulic system is established based on typical process parameters for practical fineblanking; then, the response characteristics of the master cylinder slider to the step changes in the load and control current are analyzed, and lastly, control strategies for the proportional valve are studied based on the impact of the control parameters on the kinetic stability of the slider. The results show that the kinetic stability of the slider is significantly affected by the step change of the control current, while it is slightly affected by the step change of the system load, which can be improved by adjusting the flow rate and opening time of the proportional valve.

Deficiency of Self-Efficacy in Problem-Solving as a Contributory Factor in Family Instability: A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Pourmovahed, Zahra; Mazloomy Mahmoodabad, Seyed Saied; Zareei Mahmoodabadi, Hassan; Tavangar, Hossein; Yassini Ardekani, Seyed Mojtaba; Vaezi, Ali Akbar

2018-01-01

Objective: Problem-solving ability is one of the most important means of family stability that enables the families to understand their roles, functions, and performances. Self-efficacy deficiency in problem-solving runs through many families. This qualitative study was conducted to investigate and describe how couples solve problems in their families. Method: This study was conducted to detect couples' self-efficacy deficiency in problem-solving using purposive sampling method. Several deep semi-structured interviews based on McMaster model and observations were conducted by nine family therapists and psychiatrists on four couples (eight persons) living in Yazd (Iran).The interviews were performed, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. The analysis was interpreted through directed content analysis methods. Results: Families in Yazd (Iran) made some attempts to solve their problems, but their efforts were not enough, and thus they suffered from self-efficacy deficiency, which included 8 categories. The main theme distilled from the data of 17 participants was self-efficacy deficiency, which included the following categories: avoidance, insolvency, interference from others, ineffective self-treatment, behavioral problems, stubbornness, superficiality, and denial. Conclusion: It is of paramount importance to identify self-efficacy deficiency in families and promote problem- solving programs to increase family stability. In the present study, the main deficiencies in problem-solving were detected.

Social Work Values in Human Services Administration: Implications for Social Work Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Larry D.; Hoefer, Richard

2014-01-01

The perceived wisdom in the social work education community, based on empirical research from the 1990s and the early part of this century, says that the master of social work (MSW) degree is not competitive with the master of business administration or the master of public administration to obtain top-level administration jobs in nonprofit…

Performing Academic Practice: Using the Master Class to Build Postgraduate Discursive Competences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baerenholdt, Jorgen Ole; Gregson, Nicky; Everts, Jonathan; Granas, Brynhild; Healey, Ruth L.

2010-01-01

How can we find ways of training PhD students in academic practices, while reflexively analysing how academic practices are performed? The paper's answer to this question is based on evaluations from a British-Nordic master class. The paper discusses how master classes can be used to train the discursive skills required for academic discussion,…

An Educational Master Plan for Austin Community College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colvert, C. C.

This seven-part report suggests a master plan for Austin Community College (ACC) through 1988-89 based on projections of enrollments, finances, and facility requirements. Section I details enrollment projections based on the proportional relationship between Travis County high school graduates and ACC enrollees. In addition, this section reviews…

Advancing Minorities and Women to the PhD in Physics and Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stassun, Keivan

2017-01-01

We briefly review the current status of underrepresented minorities in physics and astronomy: The underrepresentation of Black-, Hispanic-, and Native-Americans is an order of magnitude problem. We then describe the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge program as a successful model for addressing this problem. Since 2004 the program has admitted 110 students, 90% of them underrepresented minorities (50% female), with a retention rate of 90%. The program has become the top producer of African American master's degrees in physics, and is now one of the top producers of minority PhDs in astronomy, materials science, and physics. We summarize the main features of the program including its core strategies: (1) replacing the GRE in admissions with indicators that are better predictive of long-term success, (2) partnering with a minority-serving institution for student training through collaborative research, and (3) using the master's degree as a deliberate stepping stone to the PhD. We show how misuse of the GRE in graduate admissions may by itself in large part explain the ongoing underrepresentation of minorities in PhD programs, and we describe our alternate methods to identify talented individuals most likely to succeed. We describe our mentoring model and toolkit which may be utilized to enhance the success of all PhD students.

Dual-user nonlinear teleoperation subjected to varying time delay and bounded inputs.

PubMed

Zakerimanesh, Amir; Hashemzadeh, Farzad; Ghiasi, Amir Rikhtehgar

2017-05-01

A novel trilateral control architecture for Dual-master/Single-slave teleoperation system with taking account of saturation in actuators, nonlinear dynamics for telemanipulators and bounded varying time delay which affects the transmitted signals in the communication channels, is proposed in this paper. In this research, we will address the stability and desired position coordination problem of trilateral teleoperation system by extension of (nP+D) controller that is used for Single-master/Single-slave teleoperation system. Our proposed controller is weighted summation of nonlinear Proportional plus Damping (nP+D) controller that incorporate gravity compensation and the weights are specified by the dominance factor, which determines the supremacy of each user over the slave robot and over the other user. The asymptotic stability of closed loop dynamics is studied using Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional under conditions on the controller parameters, the actuator saturation characteristics and the maximum values of varying time delays. It is shown that these controllers satisfy the desired position coordination problem in free motion condition. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, a number of simulations have been conducted on a varying time delay Dual-master/Single-slave teleoperation system using 3-DOF planar robots for each telemanipulator subjected to actuator saturation. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid search for tertiary fragments reveals protein sequence–structure relationships

PubMed Central

Zhou, Jianfu; Grigoryan, Gevorg

2015-01-01

Finding backbone substructures from the Protein Data Bank that match an arbitrary query structural motif, composed of multiple disjoint segments, is a problem of growing relevance in structure prediction and protein design. Although numerous protein structure search approaches have been proposed, methods that address this specific task without additional restrictions and on practical time scales are generally lacking. Here, we propose a solution, dubbed MASTER, that is both rapid, enabling searches over the Protein Data Bank in a matter of seconds, and provably correct, finding all matches below a user-specified root-mean-square deviation cutoff. We show that despite the potentially exponential time complexity of the problem, running times in practice are modest even for queries with many segments. The ability to explore naturally plausible structural and sequence variations around a given motif has the potential to synthesize its design principles in an automated manner; so we go on to illustrate the utility of MASTER to protein structural biology. We demonstrate its capacity to rapidly establish structure–sequence relationships, uncover the native designability landscapes of tertiary structural motifs, identify structural signatures of binding, and automatically rewire protein topologies. Given the broad utility of protein tertiary fragment searches, we hope that providing MASTER in an open-source format will enable novel advances in understanding, predicting, and designing protein structure. PMID:25420575

Keeping Up in School? Identifying Learning Problems

MedlinePlus

... español Send us your comments Reading, writing, and math are the building blocks of learning. Mastering these ... and can create issues with reading, writing, and math. “Typically, in the first few years of elementary ...

Development Of Educational Programs In Renewable And Alternative Energy Processing: The Case Of Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svirina, Anna; Shindor, Olga; Tatmyshevsky, Konstantin

2014-12-01

The paper deals with the main problems of Russian energy system development that proves necessary to provide educational programs in the field of renewable and alternative energy. In the paper the process of curricula development and defining teaching techniques on the basis of expert opinion evaluation is defined, and the competence model for renewable and alternative energy processing master students is suggested. On the basis of a distributed questionnaire and in-depth interviews, the data for statistical analysis was obtained. On the basis of this data, an optimization of curricula structure was performed, and three models of a structure for optimizing teaching techniques were developed. The suggested educational program structure which was adopted by employers is presented in the paper. The findings include quantitatively estimated importance of systemic thinking and professional skills and knowledge as basic competences of a masters' program graduate; statistically estimated necessity of practice-based learning approach; and optimization models for structuring curricula in renewable and alternative energy processing. These findings allow the establishment of a platform for the development of educational programs.

Formative Evaluations of a Web-Based Masters Program: Insights for Web-Based Course Developers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shih, Ching-Chun; Howard, Marvin; Thompson, Ann D.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the various formative evaluation activities that have been conducted for the Masters of Science in Agronomy Distance Education Program at Iowa State University and to provide useful recommendations for educators involved in World Wide Web-based course development. It was found that those faculty members…

Distributed Control with Collective Intelligence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolpert, David H.; Wheeler, Kevin R.; Tumer, Kagan

1998-01-01

We consider systems of interacting reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms that do not work at cross purposes , in that their collective behavior maximizes a global utility function. We call such systems COllective INtelligences (COINs). We present the theory of designing COINs. Then we present experiments validating that theory in the context of two distributed control problems: We show that COINs perform near-optimally in a difficult variant of Arthur's bar problem [Arthur] (and in particular avoid the tragedy of the commons for that problem), and we also illustrate optimal performance in the master-slave problem.

Synchronisation control for neutral-type multi-slave stochastic hybrid systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jun; Pan, Feng; Cai, Tingting; Sun, Yuqing; Zhou, Wuneng; Liu, Huashan

2017-10-01

In this paper, an exponential synchronisation problem for neutral-type multi-slave hybrid systems with stochastic perturbation is discussed, where the adaptive synchronisation model involves a master system and multiple slave systems. By the use of generalised It?'s formula and M-matrix method, a sufficient condition is obtained to guarantee the stability of the error system, and the update law of the feedback controller is determined to deduce the synchronisation between the master system and the sum system of all slave systems. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results obtained in this paper.

Mapping of uncertainty relations between continuous and discrete time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiuchiú, Davide; Pigolotti, Simone

2018-03-01

Lower bounds on fluctuations of thermodynamic currents depend on the nature of time, discrete or continuous. To understand the physical reason, we compare current fluctuations in discrete-time Markov chains and continuous-time master equations. We prove that current fluctuations in the master equations are always more likely, due to random timings of transitions. This comparison leads to a mapping of the moments of a current between discrete and continuous time. We exploit this mapping to obtain uncertainty bounds. Our results reduce the quests for uncertainty bounds in discrete and continuous time to a single problem.

Mapping of uncertainty relations between continuous and discrete time.

PubMed

Chiuchiù, Davide; Pigolotti, Simone

2018-03-01

Lower bounds on fluctuations of thermodynamic currents depend on the nature of time, discrete or continuous. To understand the physical reason, we compare current fluctuations in discrete-time Markov chains and continuous-time master equations. We prove that current fluctuations in the master equations are always more likely, due to random timings of transitions. This comparison leads to a mapping of the moments of a current between discrete and continuous time. We exploit this mapping to obtain uncertainty bounds. Our results reduce the quests for uncertainty bounds in discrete and continuous time to a single problem.

A mixed parallel strategy for the solution of coupled multi-scale problems at finite strains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopes, I. A. Rodrigues; Pires, F. M. Andrade; Reis, F. J. P.

2018-02-01

A mixed parallel strategy for the solution of homogenization-based multi-scale constitutive problems undergoing finite strains is proposed. The approach aims to reduce the computational time and memory requirements of non-linear coupled simulations that use finite element discretization at both scales (FE^2). In the first level of the algorithm, a non-conforming domain decomposition technique, based on the FETI method combined with a mortar discretization at the interface of macroscopic subdomains, is employed. A master-slave scheme, which distributes tasks by macroscopic element and adopts dynamic scheduling, is then used for each macroscopic subdomain composing the second level of the algorithm. This strategy allows the parallelization of FE^2 simulations in computers with either shared memory or distributed memory architectures. The proposed strategy preserves the quadratic rates of asymptotic convergence that characterize the Newton-Raphson scheme. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed parallel strategy.

A concept for the modernization of underground mining master maps based on the enrichment of data definitions and spatial database technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krawczyk, Artur

2018-01-01

In this article, topics regarding the technical and legal aspects of creating digital underground mining maps are described. Currently used technologies and solutions for creating, storing and making digital maps accessible are described in the context of the Polish mining industry. Also, some problems with the use of these technologies are identified and described. One of the identified problems is the need to expand the range of mining map data provided by survey departments to other mining departments, such as ventilation maintenance or geological maintenance. Three solutions are proposed and analyzed, and one is chosen for further analysis. The analysis concerns data storage and making survey data accessible not only from paper documentation, but also directly from computer systems. Based on enrichment data, new processing procedures are proposed for a new way of presenting information that allows the preparation of new cartographic representations (symbols) of data with regard to users' needs.

Antibiotic exposure and bacterial resistance in human and veterinary medicine: a problem-based learning topic for Master's students.

PubMed

Eveillard, Matthieu; Pouliquen, Hervé; Ruvoen, Nathalie; Couvreur, Sébastien; Krempf, Michel; Magras, Catherine; Lepelletier, Didier

2017-03-01

This report describes a problem-based learning activity concerning antibiotic exposure and bacterial resistance in human and veterinary medicine. In addition, learning outcomes and satisfaction of students were recorded by the supervisors of the activity. The students all participated actively in the group work and considered that the small size of the group facilitated interpersonal communication. They believed that working in an interdisciplinary group helped them learn better than if they were following specific courses. They also reported that their mid-term meeting with one of the supervisors was a catalyst for the initiation of a real work group. Concerning the evaluation of the activity itself, the supervisors considered that the group provided a relevant analysis of the issue. These characteristics should encourage teachers to test this method of learning certain aspects of microbiology and infectious diseases with their students. © FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Design of a force reflecting hand controller for space telemanipulation studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paines, J. D. B.

1987-01-01

The potential importance of space telemanipulator systems is reviewed, along with past studies of master-slave manipulation using a generalized force reflecting master arm. Problems concerning their dynamic interaction with the human operator have been revealed in the use of these systems, with marked differences between 1-g and simulated weightless conditions. A study is outlined to investigate the optimization of the man machine dynamics of master-slave manipulation, and a set of specifications is determined for the apparatus necessary to perform this investigation. This apparatus is a one degree of freedom force reflecting hand controller with closed loop servo control which enables it to simulate arbitrary dynamic properties to high bandwidth. Design of the complete system and its performance is discussed. Finally, the experimental adjustment of the hand controller dynamics for smooth manual control performance with good operator force perception is described, resulting in low inertia, viscously damped hand controller dynamics.

Impact of Context-Rich, Multifaceted Problems on Students' Attitudes Towards Problem-Solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogilvie, Craig

2008-04-01

Young scientists and engineers need strong problem-solving skills to enable them to address the broad challenges they will face in their careers. These challenges will likely be ill-defined and open-ended with either unclear goals, insufficient constraints, multiple possible solutions, and different criteria for evaluating solutions so that our young scientists and engineers must be able to make judgments and defend their proposed solutions. In contrast, many students believe that problem-solving is being able to apply set procedures or algorithms to tasks and that their job as students is to master an ever-increasing list of procedures. This gap between students' beliefs and the broader, deeper approaches of experts is a strong barrier to the educational challenge of preparing students to succeed in their future careers. To start to address this gap, we have used multi-faceted, context-rich problems in a sophomore calculus-based physics course. To assess whether there was any change in students' attitudes or beliefs towards problem-solving, students were asked to reflect on their problem-solving at the beginning and at the end of the semester. These reflections were coded as containing one or more problem-solving ideas. The change in students' beliefs will be shown in this talk.

Career Orientations of Business Master's Students as Compared to Social Work Students: Further Inquiry into the Value of Graduate Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchanan, F. Robert; Kim, Kong-Hee; Basham, Randall

2007-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore career orientations of business master's degree seekers in comparison with social work degree pursuers in an effort to provide insight for educators and policy makers. Design/methodology/approach: A web-based survey of current master's students from two graduate schools at a large university…

Selection to Ensure Study Success: Looking for Multiple Criteria in the Case of a European Master of Science Program in Business

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fastre, Greet; Gijselaers, Wim H.; Segers, Mien

2008-01-01

The authors report relations between entrance criteria and study success in a program for a master of science in business. Based on the admission criteria broadly used in European business schools and the findings of prior research, the present authors measured eight criteria for study success in the master's degree program. The authors applied…

VIEW OF MASTER CLOCK, SECOND FLOOR, BUILDING 1, FACING NORTH ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW OF MASTER CLOCK, SECOND FLOOR, BUILDING 1, FACING NORTH - Roosevelt Base, Administration & Brig Building, Bounded by Nevada & Colorado Streets, Reeves & Richardson Avenues, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA

Master plan for REIS implementation. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knobloch, P.C.

1974-08-01

Implementation requirements of the regional energy information system (REIS) and provision of a brief cost/benefit analysis of the proposed system are discussed. Divided into four sectors (problems, requirements, the present system, and the proposed implementation of REIS), the development of a demonstration data base, its implementation and that of the regional input-output model as a tool for decision makers are subjects of the report. The accounting subsystem and energy flow network model are two main components; the need to identify specific problems, to gather information on source, energy type, location, use, time with cross classification, the structure of REIS withmore » parameter subsystem, and a description of the study area (N. E. Minnesota) are included. Five energy-producing and 76 energy-using sectors are specified, with energy classification and forms included. (GRA)« less

From Novice to Expert: Problem Solving in ICD-10-PCS Procedural Coding

PubMed Central

Rousse, Justin Thomas

2013-01-01

The benefits of converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS have been well documented in recent years. One of the greatest challenges in the conversion, however, is how to train the workforce in the code sets. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) has been described as a language requiring higher-level reasoning skills because of the system's increased granularity. Training and problem-solving strategies required for correct procedural coding are unclear. The objective of this article is to propose that the acquisition of rule-based logic will need to be augmented with self-evaluative and critical thinking. Awareness of how this process works is helpful for established coders as well as for a new generation of coders who will master the complexities of the system. PMID:23861674

Analytic descriptions of stochastic bistable systems under force ramp

DOE PAGES

Friddle, Raymond W.

2016-05-13

Solving the two-state master equation with time-dependent rates, the ubiquitous driven bistable system, is a long-standing problem that does not permit a complete solution for all driving rates. We show an accurate approximation to this problem by considering the system in the control parameter regime. Moreover, the results are immediately applicable to a diverse range of bistable systems including single-molecule mechanics.

Combinational Optimal Stopping Problems

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

such as final, technical, interim, memorandum, master’s thesis, progress, quarterly, research , special, group study, etc. 3. DATES COVERED...Vinel, A. and P. Krokhmal (2015) Certainty equivalent measures of risk, Annals of Operations Research , DOI:10.1007/s10479-015-1801-0. [3] Chernikov...Operations Research , 50(3):415–423, 2002. [16] I. Ljubi, P. Mutzel, and B. Zey. Stochastic survivable network design problems. Electronic Notes in Discrete

Assessment of a Merged Research and Education Program in Pacific Latin America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bluth, G. J.; Gierke, J. S.; Gross, E. L.; Kieckhafer, P. B.; Rose, W. I.

2006-12-01

The ultimate goal of integrating research with education is to encourage cross-disciplinary, creative, and critical thinking in problem solving and foster the ability to deal with uncertainty in analyzing problems and designing appropriate solutions. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is actively promoting these kinds of programs, in particular in conjunction with international collaboration. With NSF support, we are building a new educational system of applied research and engineering, using two existing programs at Michigan Tech: a Peace Corp/Master's International (PC/MI) program in Natural Hazards which features a 2-year field assignment, and an "Enterprise" program for undergraduates, which gives teams of geoengineering students the opportunity to work for three years in a business-like setting to solve real-world problems. This project involves 2 post-doctoral researchers, 3-5 Ph.D. and Master's, 5-10 PC/MI graduate students, and roughly 20 undergraduate students each year. The assessment of this project involves measurement of participant perceptions and motivations towards working in Pacific Latin America (Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua), and tracking the changes as the participants complete academic and field aspects of this program. As the participants progress through their projects and Peace Corps assignments, we also get insights into the type of academic preparation best suited for international geoscience collaboration and it is not always a matter of technical knowledge. As a result, we are modifying existing courses in hazard communication, as well as developing a new course focusing on the geology of these regions taught through weekly contributions by an international team of researchers. Other efforts involve multi-university, web-based courses in critical technical topics such as volcano seismology, which because of their complex, cross-disciplinary nature are difficult to sustain from a single institution.

Adopting and Teaching Evidence-Based Practice in Master's-Level Social Work Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drake, Brett; Hovmand, Peter; Jonson-Reid, Melissa; Zayas, Luis H.

2007-01-01

This article makes specific suggestions for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in the master's-in-social-work (MSW) curriculum. The authors use the model of EBP as it was originally conceived: a process for posing empirically answerable questions, finding and evaluating the best available evidence, and applying that evidence in conjunction…

Health Services: Clinical. Dietary Aide. Instructor's Manual. Competency-Based Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cave, Julie; And Others

This instructor's manual consists of materials for use in presenting a course in the occupational area of dietary aide. Included in the first part of the guide are a program master sequence; a master listing of instructional materials, equipment, and supplies; an overview of the competency-based vocational education (CBVE) system; and guidelines…

Climate Masters of Nebraska: An Innovative Action-Based Approach for Climate Change Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pathak, Tapan B.; Bernadt, Tonya; Umphlett, Natalie

2014-01-01

Climate Masters of Nebraska is an innovative educational program that strategically trains community volunteers about climate change science and corresponding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an interactive and action-based teaching environment. As a result of the program, 91% of participants indicated that they made informed changes in…

Health Services: Clinical. Pharmacy Aide. Instructor's Manual. Competency-Based Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cave, Julie; And Others

This instructor's manual consists of materials for use in presenting a course in the occupational area of pharmacy aide. Included in the first part of the guide are a program master sequence; a master listing of instructional materials, equipment, and supplies; an overview of the competency-based vocational education (CBVE) system; and guidelines…

Design Report for Isolated RS-485 Bus Node

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

controlled wired RS-485 network. The Android-based smartphone or tablet is used in conjunction with a USB to serial bridge to operate as the bus master in...Android-based smartphone or tablet is used in conjunction with a USB to serial bridge to operate as the bus master in the system. The Android device

A Masters Programme in Telecommunications Management--Demand-Based Curriculum Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gharaibeh, Khaled M.; Kaylani, Hazem; Murphy, Noel; Brennan, Conor; Itradat, Awni; Al-Bataineh, Mohammed; Aloqlah, Mohammed; Salhieh, Loay; Altarazi, Safwan; Rawashdeh, Nathir; del Carmen Bas Cerdá, María; Conchado Peiró, Andrea; Al-Zoubi, Asem; Harb, Bassam; Bany Salameh, Haythem

2015-01-01

This paper presents a curriculum design approach for a Masters Programme in Telecommunications Management based on demand data obtained from surveying the needs of potential students of the proposed programme. Through online surveys disseminated at telecom companies in Jordan, it was possible to measure the demand for such a programme and to…

The ACGT Master Ontology and its applications – Towards an ontology-driven cancer research and management system

PubMed Central

Brochhausen, Mathias; Spear, Andrew D.; Cocos, Cristian; Weiler, Gabriele; Martín, Luis; Anguita, Alberto; Stenzhorn, Holger; Daskalaki, Evangelia; Schera, Fatima; Schwarz, Ulf; Sfakianakis, Stelios; Kiefer, Stephan; Dörr, Martin; Graf, Norbert; Tsiknakis, Manolis

2017-01-01

Objective This paper introduces the objectives, methods and results of ontology development in the EU co-funded project Advancing Clinico-genomic Trials on Cancer – Open Grid Services for Improving Medical Knowledge Discovery (ACGT). While the available data in the life sciences has recently grown both in amount and quality, the full exploitation of it is being hindered by the use of different underlying technologies, coding systems, category schemes and reporting methods on the part of different research groups. The goal of the ACGT project is to contribute to the resolution of these problems by developing an ontology-driven, semantic grid services infrastructure that will enable efficient execution of discovery-driven scientific workflows in the context of multi-centric, post-genomic clinical trials. The focus of the present paper is the ACGT Master Ontology (MO). Methods ACGT project researchers undertook a systematic review of existing domain and upper-level ontologies, as well as of existing ontology design software, implementation methods, and end-user interfaces. This included the careful study of best practices, design principles and evaluation methods for ontology design, maintenance, implementation, and versioning, as well as for use on the part of domain experts and clinicians. Results To date, the results of the ACGT project include (i) the development of a master ontology (the ACGT-MO) based on clearly defined principles of ontology development and evaluation; (ii) the development of a technical infra-structure (the ACGT Platform) that implements the ACGT-MO utilizing independent tools, components and resources that have been developed based on open architectural standards, and which includes an application updating and evolving the ontology efficiently in response to end-user needs; and (iii) the development of an Ontology-based Trial Management Application (ObTiMA) that integrates the ACGT-MO into the design process of clinical trials in order to guarantee automatic semantic integration without the need to perform a separate mapping process. PMID:20438862

18 CFR 708.4 - Required programs and reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... part of the Master Plan—Plan of Study. The work plan shall satisfy minimum standards described in this... related to implementation of the Master Plan. These recommendations shall be based on evaluation of...

Interior view of northeast unit master bedroom, looking into sleeping ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Interior view of northeast unit master bedroom, looking into sleeping porch, facing northeast - MacDill Air Force Base, Double Non-Commissioned Officers' Quarters, 7418 Hanger Loop Drive, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

A quasispecies approach to the evolution of sexual replication in unicellular organisms.

PubMed

Tannenbaum, Emmanuel; Fontanari, José F

2008-03-01

This study develops a simplified model describing the evolutionary dynamics of a population composed of obligate sexually and asexually reproducing, unicellular organisms. The model assumes that the organisms have diploid genomes consisting of two chromosomes, and that the sexual organisms replicate by first dividing into haploid intermediates, which then combine with other haploids, followed by the normal mitotic division of the resulting diploid into two new daughter cells. We assume that the fitness landscape of the diploids is analogous to the single-fitness-peak approach often used in single-chromosome studies. That is, we assume a master chromosome that becomes defective with just one point mutation. The diploid fitness then depends on whether the genome has zero, one, or two copies of the master chromosome. We also assume that only pairs of haploids with a master chromosome are capable of combining so as to produce sexual diploid cells, and that this process is described by second-order kinetics. We find that, in a range of intermediate values of the replication fidelity, sexually reproducing cells can outcompete asexual ones, provided the initial abundance of sexual cells is above some threshold value. The range of values where sexual reproduction outcompetes asexual reproduction increases with decreasing replication rate and increasing population density. We critically evaluate a common approach, based on a group selection perspective, used to study the competition between populations and show its flaws in addressing the evolution of sex problem.

New concept for a general purpose subsea installation system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Citi, G.; Cowen, S.; Radicioni, A.

1996-12-31

The first use of the Agip SAF System (Sistema Alti Fondali), an installation and maintenance system for subsea production systems up to 1,000 m water depth, was successfully performed on the Luna 40 well in 180 m w.d. The system successfully installed the christmas tree, flowline jumpers, control system and high pressure cap as well as deploying the LMRP to allow the commissioning of the well. The SAF system performed all the planned tasks during the installation of the Luna 40 subsea tree and now has to be considered an operational success. The system is based around a Master Vehiclemore » that provides hydraulic power to, and controls a set of dedicated work modules. During the 2 test and 5 working dives, the Master Vehicle and the modules were subsea for a considerable period of time, up to 75 hours continuously, without any operational failures. This installation uncovered some system deficiencies that will have to be studied to improve the reliability and operability of the system. From the experience gained during this operation it has been shown that the system of a Master Vehicle providing locally generated hydraulic power is a feasible approach to many subsea installation problems. This paper describes the SAF system including improvements to be performed before being used operationally in up to 1,000 m of water and over. It also covers the necessary modifications required to allow the system to be deployed from a wide range of installation vessel.« less

Talent Developed: Conversations with Masters in the Arts and Sciences. Hugo Fiorato.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subotnik, Rena F.

2001-01-01

An interview with Hugo Fiorato, the conductor of the New York City Ballet, recounts his musical education, special problems of conducting for a ballet company, the training of orchestra members and conductors, and mentorship. (DB)

MULTIOBJECTIVE PARALLEL GENETIC ALGORITHM FOR WASTE MINIMIZATION

EPA Science Inventory

In this research we have developed an efficient multiobjective parallel genetic algorithm (MOPGA) for waste minimization problems. This MOPGA integrates PGAPack (Levine, 1996) and NSGA-II (Deb, 2000) with novel modifications. PGAPack is a master-slave parallel implementation of a...

Problem-Based Learning for Didactic Presentation to Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

PubMed

Montenery, Susan

2017-05-01

Nursing judgment is an essential component in the delivery of safe, quality patient care. Nurses must have the knowledge and skills to question authority, make judgments, substantiate evidence, and advocate for the patient. Traditional pedagogy in content-laden courses remains primarily lecture based. Incorporating active strategies to strengthen professional practice is essential. A pilot study assessed senior baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of problem-based learning (PBL) and their readiness for self-directed learning. In addition, the authors analyzed the relationship between readiness for self-directed learning and course content mastery using PBL. Students completed the Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale, the Problem-Based Learning Environment Inventory, and course content mastery exams. Students reported positive experiences with PBL and readiness for self-directed learning. Readiness for self-directed learning and 2 of 5 exam scores were inversely, significantly related. Students' perceptions of their readiness for self-directed learning did not always correspond with course content mastery. Specifically, some students who perceived themselves as ready for self-directed learning did not perform well on course content exams. This inverse relationship has not been reported by other researchers and brings an interesting perspective to student perceptions and actual performance. Four themes emerged from students' narrative responses: Prepared Me for Real Life Professional Situations, Stimulated My Critical Thinking, Promoted Independent Problem Solving, and Supported Learning Retention. PBL as a pedagogical approach provides opportunities for nursing students to explore their professional independence while attempting to master content.

System and method for time synchronization in a wireless network

DOEpatents

Gonia, Patrick S.; Kolavennu, Soumitri N.; Mahasenan, Arun V.; Budampati, Ramakrishna S.

2010-03-30

A system includes multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, where each wireless node is configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock. One of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master. Each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node. The time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master.

Model dynamics for quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabakin, Frank

2017-08-01

A model master equation suitable for quantum computing dynamics is presented. In an ideal quantum computer (QC), a system of qubits evolves in time unitarily and, by virtue of their entanglement, interfere quantum mechanically to solve otherwise intractable problems. In the real situation, a QC is subject to decoherence and attenuation effects due to interaction with an environment and with possible short-term random disturbances and gate deficiencies. The stability of a QC under such attacks is a key issue for the development of realistic devices. We assume that the influence of the environment can be incorporated by a master equation that includes unitary evolution with gates, supplemented by a Lindblad term. Lindblad operators of various types are explored; namely, steady, pulsed, gate friction, and measurement operators. In the master equation, we use the Lindblad term to describe short time intrusions by random Lindblad pulses. The phenomenological master equation is then extended to include a nonlinear Beretta term that describes the evolution of a closed system with increasing entropy. An external Bath environment is stipulated by a fixed temperature in two different ways. Here we explore the case of a simple one-qubit system in preparation for generalization to multi-qubit, qutrit and hybrid qubit-qutrit systems. This model master equation can be used to test the stability of memory and the efficacy of quantum gates. The properties of such hybrid master equations are explored, with emphasis on the role of thermal equilibrium and entropy constraints. Several significant properties of time-dependent qubit evolution are revealed by this simple study.

Faded-example as a Tool to Acquire and Automate Mathematics Knowledge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Retnowati, E.

2017-04-01

Students themselves accomplish Knowledge acquisition and automation. The teacher plays a role as the facilitator by creating mathematics tasks that assist students in building knowledge efficiently and effectively. Cognitive load caused by learning material presented by teachers should be considered as a critical factor. While the intrinsic cognitive load is related to the degree of complexity of the material learning ones can handle, the extraneous cognitive load is directly caused by how the material is presented. Strategies to present a learning material in computational learning domains like mathematics are a namely worked example (fully-guided task) or problem-solving (discovery task with no guidance). According to the empirical evidence, learning based on problem-solving may cause high-extraneous cognitive load for students who have limited prior knowledge, conversely learn based on worked example may cause high-extraneous cognitive load for students who have mastered the knowledge base. An alternative is a faded example consisting of the partly-completed task. Learning from faded-example can facilitate students who already acquire some knowledge about the to-be-learned material but still need more practice to automate the knowledge further. This instructional strategy provides a smooth transition from a fully-guided into an independent problem solver. Designs of faded examples for learning trigonometry are discussed.

Surgical bedside master console for neurosurgical robotic system.

PubMed

Arata, Jumpei; Kenmotsu, Hajime; Takagi, Motoki; Hori, Tatsuya; Miyagi, Takahiro; Fujimoto, Hideo; Kajita, Yasukazu; Hayashi, Yuichiro; Chinzei, Kiyoyuki; Hashizume, Makoto

2013-01-01

We are currently developing a neurosurgical robotic system that facilitates access to residual tumors and improves brain tumor removal surgical outcomes. The system combines conventional and robotic surgery allowing for a quick conversion between the procedures. This concept requires a new master console that can be positioned at the surgical bedside and be sterilized. The master console was developed using new technologies, such as a parallel mechanism and pneumatic sensors. The parallel mechanism is a purely passive 5-DOF (degrees of freedom) joystick based on the author's haptic research. The parallel mechanism enables motion input of conventional brain tumor removal surgery with a compact, intuitive interface that can be used in a conventional surgical environment. In addition, the pneumatic sensors implemented on the mechanism provide an intuitive interface and electrically isolate the tool parts from the mechanism so they can be easily sterilized. The 5-DOF parallel mechanism is compact (17 cm width, 19cm depth, and 15cm height), provides a 505,050 mm and 90° workspace and is highly backdrivable (0.27N of resistance force representing the surgical motion). The evaluation tests revealed that the pneumatic sensors can properly measure the suction strength, grasping force, and hand contact. In addition, an installability test showed that the master console can be used in a conventional surgical environment. The proposed master console design was shown to be feasible for operative neurosurgery based on comprehensive testing. This master console is currently being tested for master-slave control with a surgical robotic system.

Self-Directed Student Research through Analysis of Microarray Datasets: A Computer-Based Functional Genomics Practical Class for Masters-Level Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grenville-Briggs, Laura J.; Stansfield, Ian

2011-01-01

This report describes a linked series of Masters-level computer practical workshops. They comprise an advanced functional genomics investigation, based upon analysis of a microarray dataset probing yeast DNA damage responses. The workshops require the students to analyse highly complex transcriptomics datasets, and were designed to stimulate…

Review and Redesign of the Curriculum of a Masters Programme in Telecommunications Engineering--Towards an Outcome-Based Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gharaibeh, Khaled; Harb, Bassam; Salameh, Haythem Bany; Zoubi, Asem; Shamali, Ahmed; Murphy, Noel; Brennan, Conor

2013-01-01

This article presents the methodology and results of the curriculum review of the Masters of Science programme in Wireless Communications offered by the Telecommunications Engineering Department at Yarmouk University in Jordan. The review is based on expert opinion collected through questionnaires and meetings about the programme and focuses on…

106. Air defense command "master plan", base map," RCA Service ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

106. Air defense command "master plan", base map," RCA Service Company tab no. F-1, sheet 1 of 2, dated 22 October, 1965. - Clear Air Force Station, Ballistic Missile Early Warning System Site II, One mile west of mile marker 293.5 on Parks Highway, 5 miles southwest of Anderson, Anderson, Denali Borough, AK

Working with Volunteers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowland, Virginia; And Others

1990-01-01

This special section features research concluding that volunteers find the time because they believe they have more time to help (Rowland); an extension program using volunteer master teachers (Feather); use of volunteer marketing professionals (Fromer); retaining volunteers through leadership training (Balliette, Smith); "problem" volunteers and…

Summary of Research 1997, Department of Operations Research.

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-01-01

for addressing warfighting problems. This capabil- ity is especially important at the present time when technology in general, and information...Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, 1993 Master of Science in Operations Research-September 1997 Advisor: W. Max Woods, Department of

A task-specific interactive game-based virtual reality rehabilitation system for patients with stroke: a usability test and two clinical experiments.

PubMed

Shin, Joon-Ho; Ryu, Hokyoung; Jang, Seong Ho

2014-03-06

Virtual reality (VR) is not commonly used in clinical rehabilitation, and commercial VR gaming systems may have mixed effects in patients with stroke. Therefore, we developed RehabMaster™, a task-specific interactive game-based VR system for post-stroke rehabilitation of the upper extremities, and assessed its usability and clinical efficacy. A participatory design and usability tests were carried out for development of RehabMaster with representative user groups. Two clinical trials were then performed. The first was an observational study in which seven patients with chronic stroke received 30 minutes of RehabMaster intervention per day for two weeks. The second was a randomised controlled trial of 16 patients with acute or subacute stroke who received 10 sessions of conventional occupational therapy only (OT-only group) or conventional occupational therapy plus 20 minutes of RehabMaster intervention (RehabMaster + OT group). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment score (FMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), adverse effects, and drop-out rate were recorded. The requirements of a VR system for stroke rehabilitation were established and incorporated into RehabMaster. The reported advantages from the usability tests were improved attention, the immersive flow experience, and individualised intervention. The first clinical trial showed that the RehabMaster intervention improved the FMA (P = .03) and MBI (P = .04) across evaluation times. The second trial revealed that the addition of RehabMaster intervention tended to enhance the improvement in the FMA (P = .07) but did not affect the improvement in the MBI. One patient with chronic stroke left the trial, and no adverse effects were reported. The RehabMaster is a feasible and safe VR system for enhancing upper extremity function in patients with stroke.

A task-specific interactive game-based virtual reality rehabilitation system for patients with stroke: a usability test and two clinical experiments

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Virtual reality (VR) is not commonly used in clinical rehabilitation, and commercial VR gaming systems may have mixed effects in patients with stroke. Therefore, we developed RehabMaster™, a task-specific interactive game-based VR system for post-stroke rehabilitation of the upper extremities, and assessed its usability and clinical efficacy. Methods A participatory design and usability tests were carried out for development of RehabMaster with representative user groups. Two clinical trials were then performed. The first was an observational study in which seven patients with chronic stroke received 30 minutes of RehabMaster intervention per day for two weeks. The second was a randomised controlled trial of 16 patients with acute or subacute stroke who received 10 sessions of conventional occupational therapy only (OT-only group) or conventional occupational therapy plus 20 minutes of RehabMaster intervention (RehabMaster + OT group). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment score (FMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), adverse effects, and drop-out rate were recorded. Results The requirements of a VR system for stroke rehabilitation were established and incorporated into RehabMaster. The reported advantages from the usability tests were improved attention, the immersive flow experience, and individualised intervention. The first clinical trial showed that the RehabMaster intervention improved the FMA (P = .03) and MBI (P = .04) across evaluation times. The second trial revealed that the addition of RehabMaster intervention tended to enhance the improvement in the FMA (P = .07) but did not affect the improvement in the MBI. One patient with chronic stroke left the trial, and no adverse effects were reported. Conclusions The RehabMaster is a feasible and safe VR system for enhancing upper extremity function in patients with stroke. PMID:24597650

A Study of the Operating Room Scheduling System at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-01

PROCESSING CLASS V SYSTEM .... .......... . A BIBLIOGRAPHY ....... ........... . . . .. . ii ’I. INTRODUCTIO9 Development of the Problem Convinced that...of the most difficult administrativo tasks that a modern hospital must face, and proposed using a combination of a master posting sheet and a...deal with scheduling problems.9 This particular process also incorporates the two-room system doscribed earlier, and the author admits that this

A Requirements Analysis Model for Selection of Personal Computer (PC) software in Air Force Organizations

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-01

Institute of Technology Air University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Systems Management Dexter R... management system software Diag/Prob Diagnosis and problem solving or problem finding GR Graphics software Int/Transp Interoperability and...language software Plan/D.S. Planning and decision support or decision making PM Program management software SC Systems for Command, Control, Communications

Defense Analysis: The Decision Process

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-07-01

problems ot resource allocation. Includes chapters on tormulating the problem, the research ettort, evaluation ot alternatives, interpretations of...Economics and Decision Making. He is a graduate of Colgate University (BA, Psychology) and received his Masters degree at the Naval Post Graduate School...Analysis 62 ’, ’The Steps irn Subject iye Aiuslysis 66 " Identify the Factors 66 Discusss the Factors 67 Evaluate Each Factor 67 Summa r y 68 Chapter VII

La Linguistica Aplicada a la Relacion Paradigmatica entre los Verbos "Ser" y "Estar" (Linguistics Applied to the Paradigmatic Relationship between the Verbs "Ser" and "Estar")

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marchetti, Magda Ruggeri

1977-01-01

Speakers of Italian often have problems mastering Spanish because they erroneously believe its great similiarity to Italian makes it easy to learn. One of the fundamental problems is the lack of ability to choose the correct verb, "ser" or "estar," both equivalents of the Italian "essere." (Text is in Spanish.) (CFM)

Control Software for a High-Performance Telerobot

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kline-Schoder, Robert J.; Finger, William

2005-01-01

A computer program for controlling a high-performance, force-reflecting telerobot has been developed. The goal in designing a telerobot-control system is to make the velocity of the slave match the master velocity, and the environmental force on the master match the force on the slave. Instability can arise from even small delays in propagation of signals between master and slave units. The present software, based on an impedance-shaping algorithm, ensures stability even in the presence of long delays. It implements a real-time algorithm that processes position and force measurements from the master and slave and represents the master/slave communication link as a transmission line. The algorithm also uses the history of the control force and the slave motion to estimate the impedance of the environment. The estimate of the impedance of the environment is used to shape the controlled slave impedance to match the transmission-line impedance. The estimate of the environmental impedance is used to match the master and transmission-line impedances and to estimate the slave/environment force in order to present that force immediately to the operator via the master unit.

New Southern Cataclysmic Variables: Discoveries from MASTER-SAAO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buckley, D. A. H.; Potter, S. B.; Kniazev, A.; Lipunov, V.; Gorbovskoy, E.; Tiurina, N.

2017-03-01

In this paper we report on new cataclysmic variables (CVs) discovered by the first local optical transient detection system established at the SAAO Sutherland station, namely MASTER-SAAO. The characteristics of the MASTER-SAAO system are described and the parameters of the survey compared to the Catalina Real Time Survey (CRTS). To date MASTER-SAAO has discovered over 200 (non-Solar System) optical transients with about 75% of these being likely new CVs, most being dwarf novae (DNe). Approximately 50% of the DNe have outburst amplitudes in excess of 4 magnitudes, with some extreme amplitude (> 7 mag), probable WZ Sge systems. The MASTER-SAAO detection limit of B = 19-20 is comparable to the ˜20 magnitude limit of the CRTS (depending on CV colour). Based on the CV detection statistics of CRTS, we believe that MASTER-SAAO is detecting essentially the same CV population as CRTS, for a detection outburst amplitude threshold >2.2 magnitudes. We also present results of the initial follow-up program on CVs discovered by MASTER, including dwarf novae, a bright new VY Scl system and a new eclipsing polar.

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF MASTER BATHROOM. VIEW FACING SOUTHWEST. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF MASTER BATHROOM. VIEW FACING SOUTHWEST. - U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Naval Housing Area Makalapa, Junior Officers' Quarters Type K, Makin Place, & Halawa, Makalapa, & Midway Drives, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

Gravitational decoherence, alternative quantum theories and semiclassical gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, B. L.

2014-04-01

In this report we discuss three aspects: 1) Semiclassical gravity theory (SCG): 4 levels of theories describing the interaction of quantum matter with classical gravity. 2) Alternative Quantum Theories: Discerning those which are derivable from general relativity (GR) plus quantum field theory (QFT) from those which are not 3) Gravitational Decoherence: derivation of a master equation and examination of the assumptions which led to the claims of observational possibilities. We list three sets of corresponding problems worthy of pursuit: a) Newton-Schrödinger Equations in relation to SCG; b) Master equation of gravity-induced effects serving as discriminator of 2); and c) Role of gravity in macroscopic quantum phenomena.

Buckling Analysis for Stiffened Anisotropic Circular Cylinders Based on Sanders Nonlinear Shell Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.

2014-01-01

Nonlinear and bifurcation buckling equations for elastic, stiffened, geometrically perfect, right-circular cylindrical, anisotropic shells subjected to combined loads are presented that are based on Sanders' shell theory. Based on these equations, a three-parameter approximate Rayleigh-Ritz solution and a classical solution to the buckling problem are presented for cylinders with simply supported edges. Extensive comparisons of results obtained from these solutions with published results are also presented for a wide range of cylinder constructions. These comparisons include laminated-composite cylinders with a wide variety of shell-wall orthotropies and anisotropies. Numerous results are also given that show the discrepancies between the results obtained by using Donnell's equations and variants of Sanders' equations. For some cases, nondimensional parameters are identified and "master" curves are presented that facilitate the concise representation of results.

Reviewing and Viewing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clements, Douglas H., Ed.; And Others

1988-01-01

Presents reviews of three software packages. Includes "Cube Builder: A 3-D Geometry Tool," which allows students to build three-dimensional shapes; "Number Master," a multipurpose practice program for whole number computation; and "Safari Search: Problem Solving and Inference," which focuses on decision making in mathematical analysis. (PK)

Using Case Studies in the Teaching of Physical Principles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowe, Ian

1975-01-01

Proposes the use of problems of the everyday world to motivate students to master basic physical principles. Cites the example of conversion of solar energy by a photovoltaic cell as a source of topics in electricity and solid state physics. (CP)

Cumulative Effect of Repeated Brief Cerebral Ischemia

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-14

in this process. Rats were prepared for experiment under halothane anesthesia with trach; ostomy , ligation of both subclavian arteries, cannulation of...did, beyond ordinary surgical morbidity and electronic recording problems. All have finally been mastered, and we are hopeful that the mastery will be

Marketing for a Web-Based Master's Degree Program in Light of Marketing Mix Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pan, Cheng-Chang

2012-01-01

The marketing mix model was applied with a focus on Web media to re-strategize a Web-based Master's program in a southern state university in U.S. The program's existing marketing strategy was examined using the four components of the model: product, price, place, and promotion, in hopes to repackage the program (product) to prospective students…

Simultaneous delivery time and aperture shape optimization for the volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment planning problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahnam, Mehdi; Gendreau, Michel; Lahrichi, Nadia; Rousseau, Louis-Martin

2017-07-01

In this paper, we propose a novel heuristic algorithm for the volumetric-modulated arc therapy treatment planning problem, optimizing the trade-off between delivery time and treatment quality. We present a new mixed integer programming model in which the multi-leaf collimator leaf positions, gantry speed, and dose rate are determined simultaneously. Our heuristic is based on column generation; the aperture configuration is modeled in the columns and the dose distribution and time restriction in the rows. To reduce the number of voxels and increase the efficiency of the master model, we aggregate similar voxels using a clustering technique. The efficiency of the algorithm and the treatment quality are evaluated on a benchmark clinical prostate cancer case. The computational results show that a high-quality treatment is achievable using a four-thread CPU. Finally, we analyze the effects of the various parameters and two leaf-motion strategies.

Turbopump Performance Improved by Evolutionary Algorithms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oyama, Akira; Liou, Meng-Sing

2002-01-01

The development of design optimization technology for turbomachinery has been initiated using the multiobjective evolutionary algorithm under NASA's Intelligent Synthesis Environment and Revolutionary Aeropropulsion Concepts programs. As an alternative to the traditional gradient-based methods, evolutionary algorithms (EA's) are emergent design-optimization algorithms modeled after the mechanisms found in natural evolution. EA's search from multiple points, instead of moving from a single point. In addition, they require no derivatives or gradients of the objective function, leading to robustness and simplicity in coupling any evaluation codes. Parallel efficiency also becomes very high by using a simple master-slave concept for function evaluations, since such evaluations often consume the most CPU time, such as computational fluid dynamics. Application of EA's to multiobjective design problems is also straightforward because EA's maintain a population of design candidates in parallel. Because of these advantages, EA's are a unique and attractive approach to real-world design optimization problems.

Construction of the Dependence Matrix Based on the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix in OOD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Jianhong; Zhang, Quan; Wang, Yanling; Luo, Tao

In the Object-Oriented software design (OOD), design of the class and object, definition of the classes’ interface and inheritance levels and determination of dependent relations have a serious impact on the reusability and flexibility of the system. According to the concrete problems of design, how to select the right solution from the hundreds of the design schemas which has become the focus of attention of designers. After analyzing lots of software design schemas in practice and Object-Oriented design patterns, this paper constructs the dependence matrix of Object-Oriented software design filed, referring to contradiction matrix of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) proposed by the former Soviet Union innovation master Altshuller. As the practice indicates, it provides a intuitive, common and standardized method for designers to choose the right design schema. Make research and communication more effectively, and also improve the software development efficiency and software quality.

Constant time worker thread allocation via configuration caching

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eichenberger, Alexandre E; O'Brien, John K. P.

Mechanisms are provided for allocating threads for execution of a parallel region of code. A request for allocation of worker threads to execute the parallel region of code is received from a master thread. Cached thread allocation information identifying prior thread allocations that have been performed for the master thread are accessed. Worker threads are allocated to the master thread based on the cached thread allocation information. The parallel region of code is executed using the allocated worker threads.

A Master-Oscillator-Power-Amplifier 2-micron Laser Using Fiber Phase-conjugate Mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yu, Jirong; Bai, Yingxin; Shkunov, V.; Rockwell, D.; Betin, A.; Wang, J.; Petros, M.; Petzar, Paul; Trieu, Bo

2007-01-01

For the first time, a 2-micron master-oscillator-power-amplifier laser using a fiber based phase conjugation mirror has been demonstrated. The beam quality improvement and 56% of the PCM reflectivity have been achieved.

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF MASTER BEDROOM, AS SEEN FROM DOORWAY. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF MASTER BEDROOM, AS SEEN FROM DOORWAY. VIEW FACING NORTHEAST. - U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Naval Housing Area Makalapa, Junior Officers' Quarters Type K, Makin Place, & Halawa, Makalapa, & Midway Drives, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

Evaluation and utilization of preassembled frozen commercial fast real-time qPCR master mixes for detection of cytomegalovirus and BK virus.

PubMed

Glover, William A; Atienza, Ederlyn E; Nesbitt, Shannon; Kim, Woo J; Castor, Jared; Cook, Linda; Jerome, Keith R

2016-01-01

Quantitative DNA detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK virus (BKV) is critical in the management of transplant patients. Quantitative laboratory-developed procedures for CMV and BKV have been described in which much of the processing is automated, resulting in rapid, reproducible, and high-throughput testing of transplant patients. To increase the efficiency of such assays, the performance and stability of four commercial preassembled frozen fast qPCR master mixes (Roche FastStart Universal Probe Master Mix with Rox, Bio-Rad SsoFast Probes Supermix with Rox, Life Technologies TaqMan FastAdvanced Master Mix, and Life Technologies Fast Universal PCR Master Mix), in combination with in-house designed primers and probes, was evaluated using controls and standards from standard CMV and BK assays. A subsequent parallel evaluation using patient samples was performed comparing the performance of freshly prepared assay mixes versus aliquoted frozen master mixes made with two of the fast qPCR mixes (Life Technologies TaqMan FastAdvanced Master Mix, and Bio-Rad SsoFast Probes Supermix with Rox), chosen based on their performance and compatibility with existing PCR cycling conditions. The data demonstrate that the frozen master mixes retain excellent performance over a period of at least 10 weeks. During the parallel testing using clinical specimens, no difference in quantitative results was observed between the preassembled frozen master mixes and freshly prepared master mixes. Preassembled fast real-time qPCR frozen master mixes perform well and represent an additional strategy laboratories can implement to reduce assay preparation times, and to minimize technical errors and effort necessary to perform clinical PCR. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Balanced Scorecard Goal Four: Provide Policy Management, Advocacy and Problem Solving Measuring Achievement of Internal Customer Objectives

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-06-01

Achievement of Internal Customer Objectives A Graduate Management Project Submitted to The Residency Committee In Candidacy for the Degree of Masters in...internal customer relations, the GPRMC has incorporated use of a Balanced Scorecard within its management scheme. The scorecard serves as a strategy map...headquarters. The goal, "Provide Policy Management , Advocacy and Problem Solving", addresses the relationship between the headquarters and its internal

A systematic methodology for creep master curve construction using the stepped isostress method (SSM): a numerical assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miranda Guedes, Rui

2018-02-01

Long-term creep of viscoelastic materials is experimentally inferred through accelerating techniques based on the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) or on the time-stress superposition principle (TSSP). According to these principles, a given property measured for short times at a higher temperature or higher stress level remains the same as that obtained for longer times at a lower temperature or lower stress level, except that the curves are shifted parallel to the horizontal axis, matching a master curve. These procedures enable the construction of creep master curves with short-term experimental tests. The Stepped Isostress Method (SSM) is an evolution of the classical TSSP method. Higher reduction of the required number of test specimens to obtain the master curve is achieved by the SSM technique, since only one specimen is necessary. The classical approach, using creep tests, demands at least one specimen per each stress level to produce a set of creep curves upon which TSSP is applied to obtain the master curve. This work proposes an analytical method to process the SSM raw data. The method is validated using numerical simulations to reproduce the SSM tests based on two different viscoelastic models. One model represents the viscoelastic behavior of a graphite/epoxy laminate and the other represents an adhesive based on epoxy resin.

An investigation of collisions between fiber positioning units in LAMOST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiao-Jie; Wang, Gang

2016-04-01

The arrangement of fiber positioning units in the LAMOST focal plane may lead to collisions during the fiber allocation process. To avoid these collisions, a software-based protection system has to abandon some targets located in the overlapping field of adjacent fiber units. In this paper, we first analyze the probability of collisions between fibers and infer their possible reasons. It is useful to solve the problem of collisions among fiber positioning units so as to improve the efficiency of LAMOST. Based on this, a collision handling system is designed by using a master-slave control structure between the micro control unit and microcomputer. Simulated experiments validate that the system can provide real-time inspection and swap information between the fiber unit controllers and the main controller.

A satellite mobile communication system based on Band-Limited Quasi-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (BLQS-CDMA)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Degaudenzi, R.; Elia, C.; Viola, R.

1990-01-01

Discussed here is a new approach to code division multiple access applied to a mobile system for voice (and data) services based on Band Limited Quasi Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (BLQS-CDMA). The system requires users to be chip synchronized to reduce the contribution of self-interference and to make use of voice activation in order to increase the satellite power efficiency. In order to achieve spectral efficiency, Nyquist chip pulse shaping is used with no detection performance impairment. The synchronization problems are solved in the forward link by distributing a master code, whereas carrier forced activation and closed loop control techniques have been adopted in the return link. System performance sensitivity to nonlinear amplification and timing/frequency synchronization errors are analyzed.

Joint Supervision of Research Degrees: Second Thoughts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bourner, Tom; Hughes, Mark

1991-01-01

A discussion of Britain's regulation that master's and doctoral degree candidates must have two or three program supervisors identifies four potential problems: fragmentation of supervisory responsibilities; conflicting advice; unproductive games; and absence of overall perspective on the thesis. Experience with an improved, team approach is…

Quantum harmonic oscillator in a thermal bath

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhang, Yuhong

1993-01-01

The influence functional path-integral treatment of quantum Brownian motion is briefly reviewed. A newly derived exact master equation of a quantum harmonic oscillator coupled to a general environment at arbitrary temperature is discussed. It is applied to the problem of loss of quantum coherence.

A Study of Authoring Alternatives for Training-Oriented Videodiscs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bunderson, C. Victor; And Others

This study examined eight areas that are related to the problems of authoring and producing training-oriented videodiscs: the delivery system itself; media selection during instructional systems development; instructional strategies; author mock-up and simulation prior to premastering; premastering; mastering and replication; composition of…

Lessons from a Lifetime as a Music Educator. Grand Masters Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burmeister, Clifton A.

2001-01-01

Focuses on Clifton Burmeister's experiences in music education, addressing his career and educational experiences. Highlights the trends he witnessed within music education. Believes that each generation of teachers must fight for music education and lists the problems that must be solved. (CMK)

Roles of infection control nurses in Royal Thai Army hospitals.

PubMed

Chaisombat, Yawares; Moongtui, Wanchai; Soparat, Poonsap; Buppanharan, Wanchai; Danchaivijitr, Somwang

2005-12-01

To study the performance according to the assigned roles of infection control nurses (ICNs) in Royal Thai Army hospitals. Interviewing ICNs in 6 hospitals. During April and May 2002, 11 ICNs in 6 hospitals were interviewed. Two hospitals had been accredited and 4 were applying for hospital accreditation. Full-time ICNs were identified in 5 and part-time in 6. The ICNs were graduated with bachelor and master degrees in 5 and 6 respectively. Two ICNs graduated with master degree in IC. All could perform their roles in administration, education, surveillance, personnel health, consultation and quality improvement. Only 7 ICNs had experience in outbreak investigation. None were principle investigators in research except for their master degrees. The main problem was the absence of ICNs posts in all except 1 hospital. Infection control nurses in Royal Thai Army hospitals in the present study could perform their roles according to assignment except involvement in outbreak investigation in some and in research as the principle investigators in all.

Relevance of graduate programs - university viewpoint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guerrero, E.T.

1978-01-01

Graduate programs in engineering evolved in the early 1900's and saw rapid expansion during, and after World War II, particularly after Sputnik I. The Master's Degree is an extension of Bachelor's work, tending toward specialization and an introduction into inquiry and research. The Doctoral Degree represents considerably more and signifies mastery of a field of learning and training for independent inquiry. The upper one-third of Bachelor's graduates in petroleum engineering should obtain a Master's Degree and the upper 10 to 20% of these should study for the Ph.D. Drilling and production operations involve a rapidly changing and ever more complexmore » technology. Recent innovations of computerized drilling optimization, numerical simulation of production and reservoir engineering problems, and introduction of a host of enhanced oil recovery methods require more petroleum engineers with Master's Degrees, as well as some with Ph.D Degrees. Engineers can receive valuable education through company continuing education programs; however, advanced education is best obtained in an accredited university.« less

Field Validity and Feasibility of Four Techniques for the Detection of Trichuris in Simians: A Model for Monitoring Drug Efficacy in Public Health?

PubMed Central

Levecke, Bruno; De Wilde, Nathalie; Vandenhoute, Els; Vercruysse, Jozef

2009-01-01

Background Soil-transmitted helminths, such as Trichuris trichiura, are of major concern in public health. Current efforts to control these helminth infections involve periodic mass treatment in endemic areas. Since these large-scale interventions are likely to intensify, monitoring the drug efficacy will become indispensible. However, studies comparing detection techniques based on sensitivity, fecal egg counts (FEC), feasibility for mass diagnosis and drug efficacy estimates are scarce. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study, the ether-based concentration, the Parasep Solvent Free (SF), the McMaster and the FLOTAC techniques were compared based on both validity and feasibility for the detection of Trichuris eggs in 100 fecal samples of nonhuman primates. In addition, the drug efficacy estimates of quantitative techniques was examined using a statistical simulation. Trichuris eggs were found in 47% of the samples. FLOTAC was the most sensitive technique (100%), followed by the Parasep SF (83.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 82.4–83.6%]) and the ether-based concentration technique (76.6% [95% CI: 75.8–77.3%]). McMaster was the least sensitive (61.7% [95% CI: 60.7–62.6%]) and failed to detect low FEC. The quantitative comparison revealed a positive correlation between the four techniques (Rs = 0.85–0.93; p<0.0001). However, the ether-based concentration technique and the Parasep SF detected significantly fewer eggs than both the McMaster and the FLOTAC (p<0.0083). Overall, the McMaster was the most feasible technique (3.9 min/sample for preparing, reading and cleaning of the apparatus), followed by the ether-based concentration technique (7.7 min/sample) and the FLOTAC (9.8 min/sample). Parasep SF was the least feasible (17.7 min/sample). The simulation revealed that the sensitivity is less important for monitoring drug efficacy and that both FLOTAC and McMaster were reliable estimators. Conclusions/Significance The results of this study demonstrated that McMaster is a promising technique when making use of FEC to monitor drug efficacy in Trichuris. PMID:19172171

Derivation of exact master equation with stochastic description: dissipative harmonic oscillator.

PubMed

Li, Haifeng; Shao, Jiushu; Wang, Shikuan

2011-11-01

A systematic procedure for deriving the master equation of a dissipative system is reported in the framework of stochastic description. For the Caldeira-Leggett model of the harmonic-oscillator bath, a detailed and elementary derivation of the bath-induced stochastic field is presented. The dynamics of the system is thereby fully described by a stochastic differential equation, and the desired master equation would be acquired with statistical averaging. It is shown that the existence of a closed-form master equation depends on the specificity of the system as well as the feature of the dissipation characterized by the spectral density function. For a dissipative harmonic oscillator it is observed that the correlation between the stochastic field due to the bath and the system can be decoupled, and the master equation naturally results. Such an equation possesses the Lindblad form in which time-dependent coefficients are determined by a set of integral equations. It is proved that the obtained master equation is equivalent to the well-known Hu-Paz-Zhang equation based on the path-integral technique. The procedure is also used to obtain the master equation of a dissipative harmonic oscillator in time-dependent fields.

Collective and experimental research project for master's students on the pathophysiology of obesity.

PubMed

Bourlier, Virginie; Conte, Caroline; Denis, Colette; Dray, Cédric; Guillou, Pascale; Belliure, Manuela; Lorsignol, Anne; Noël, Marion; Buffin-Meyer, Bénédicte

2017-12-01

We describe here a collective and experimental research project-based learning (ERPBL) for master's students that can be used to illustrate some basic concepts on glucose/lipid homeostasis and renal function around a topical issue. The primary objective of this ERPBL was to strengthen students' knowledge and understanding of physiology and pathophysiology. The secondary objectives were to help students to develop technical/practical abilities and acquire transversal skills with real-world connections. Obesity is a worldwide public health problem that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and nephropathies. To study the impact of western dietary habits, students evaluated the effects of a diet enriched with fat and cola [high-fat and cola diet (HFCD)] on metabolism and renal function in mice. Students mainly worked in tandem to prepare and perform experiments, but also collectively to compile, analyze, and discuss data. Students showed that HFCD-fed mice 1 ) developed obesity; 2 ) exhibited glucose homeostasis impairments associated to ectopic fat storage; and 3 ) displayed reduced glomerular filtration. The educational benefit of the program was estimated using three evaluation metrics: a conventional multicriteria assessment by teachers, a pre-/posttest, and a self-evaluation questionnaire. They showed that the current approach successfully strengthened scientific student knowledge and understanding of physiology/pathophysiology. In addition, it helped students develop new skills, such as technical and transversal skills. We concluded that this ERPBL dealing with the pathophysiology of obesity was strongly beneficial for master's students, thereby appearing as an efficient and performing educational tool. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Application of comparative digital holography for distant shape control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumbach, Torsten; Osten, Wolfgang; von Kopylow, Christoph; Juptner, Werner P. O.

2004-09-01

The comparison of two objects is of great importance in the industrial production process. Especially comparing the shape is of particular interest for maintaining calibration tools or controlling the tolerance in the deviation between a sample and a master. Outsourcing and globalization of production places can result in large distances between co-operating partners and might cause problems for maintaining quality standards. Consequently new challenges arise for optical measurement techniques especially in the field of industrial shape control. In this paper we describe the progress of implementing a novel technique for comparing directly two objects with different microstructure. The technique is based on the combination of comparative holography and digital holography. Comparing the objects can be done in two ways. One is the digital comparison in the computer and the other way is by using the analogue reconstruction of a master hologram with a spatial light modulator (SLM) as coherent mask for illuminating the test object. Since this mask is stored digitally it can be transmitted via telecommunication networks and this enables the access to the full optical information of the master object at any place wanted. Beside the basic principle of comparative digital holography (CDH), we will show in this paper the set-up for doing the analogue comparison of two objects with increased sensitivity in comparison to former measurements and the calibration of the SLM that is used for the experiments. We will give examples for the digital and the analogue comparison of objects including a verification of our results by another optical measurement technique.

Integral stormwater management master plan and design in an ecological community.

PubMed

Che, Wu; Zhao, Yang; Yang, Zheng; Li, Junqi; Shi, Man

2014-09-01

Urban stormwater runoff nearly discharges directly into bodies of water through gray infrastructure in China, such as sewers, impermeable ditches, and pump stations. As urban flooding, water shortage, and other environment problems become serious, integrated water environment management is becoming increasingly complex and challenging. At more than 200ha, the Oriental Sun City community is a large retirement community located in the eastern side of Beijing. During the beginning of its construction, the project faced a series of serious water environment crises such as eutrophication, flood risk, water shortage, and high maintenance costs. To address these issues, an integral stormwater management master plan was developed based on the concept of low impact development (LID). A large number of LID and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) approaches were designed and applied in the community to replace traditional stormwater drainage systems completely. These approaches mainly included bioretention (which captured nearly 85th percentile volume of the annual runoff in the site, nearly 5.4×10(5)m(3) annually), swales (which functioned as a substitute for traditional stormwater pipes), waterscapes, and stormwater wetlands. Finally, a stormwater system plan was proposed by integrating with the gray water system, landscape planning, an architectural master plan, and related consultations that supported the entire construction period. After more than 10 years of planning, designing, construction, and operation, Oriental Sun City has become one of the earliest modern large-scale LID communities in China. Moreover, the project not only addressed the crisis efficiently and effectively, but also yielded economic and ecological benefits. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Solving the chemical master equation using sliding windows

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The chemical master equation (CME) is a system of ordinary differential equations that describes the evolution of a network of chemical reactions as a stochastic process. Its solution yields the probability density vector of the system at each point in time. Solving the CME numerically is in many cases computationally expensive or even infeasible as the number of reachable states can be very large or infinite. We introduce the sliding window method, which computes an approximate solution of the CME by performing a sequence of local analysis steps. In each step, only a manageable subset of states is considered, representing a "window" into the state space. In subsequent steps, the window follows the direction in which the probability mass moves, until the time period of interest has elapsed. We construct the window based on a deterministic approximation of the future behavior of the system by estimating upper and lower bounds on the populations of the chemical species. Results In order to show the effectiveness of our approach, we apply it to several examples previously described in the literature. The experimental results show that the proposed method speeds up the analysis considerably, compared to a global analysis, while still providing high accuracy. Conclusions The sliding window method is a novel approach to address the performance problems of numerical algorithms for the solution of the chemical master equation. The method efficiently approximates the probability distributions at the time points of interest for a variety of chemically reacting systems, including systems for which no upper bound on the population sizes of the chemical species is known a priori. PMID:20377904

TELEsarPHONE: Mutual Telexistence Master-Slave Communication System Based on Retroreflective Projection Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tachi, Susumu; Kawakami, Naoki; Nii, Hideaki; Watanabe, Kouichi; Minamizawa, Kouta

TELEsarPHONE is a conceptual prototype of a mutual telexistence system, designed for face-to-face telecommunication via robots. Because of the development of telexistence technology, we can acquire a feeling that we are present in several actual remote places using remote robots as our surrogates and can work and act freely there. However, people in the place where someone telexists using a robot see only the robot, and they cannot feel the existence of the telexisting person. Mutual telexistence aims to solve this problem so that the existence of a telexisting person (visitor) is apparent to the people in the remote environment by providing mutual sensations of presence. On the basis of the concept of mutual telexistence, we have designed and developed a prototype of a telexistence master-slave system for remote communication by applying retroreflective projection technology. In the TELEsarPHONE system, the face and chest of the slave robot TELESAR II are covered by retroreflective material. To provide the feeling of existence, the real-time image of the visitor is projected onto the robot so that people can see the visitor in real time.

Integration of microbiology and infectious disease teaching courses in an interdisciplinary training programme (Master level) centred on the 'One world, one health' WHO concept.

PubMed

Eveillard, Matthieu; Ruvoen, Nathalie; Lepelletier, Didier; Fradet, Stéphanie; Couvreur, Sébastien; Krempf, Michel; Magras, Catherine

2016-05-01

This report describes the integration of the microbiology and infectious diseases teaching courses in an international Master's level interdisciplinary programme based on the 'One world, one health' WHO concept, and reports the students and teachers' evaluation related to their feelings of about this innovative programme. The integration was evaluated by recording the positioning of these two topics in the five teaching units constituting the programme, and by identifying their contribution in the interactions between the different teaching units. The satisfaction of students was assessed by a quantitative survey, whereas the feelings of students and teachers were assessed by interviews. The study demonstrated that microbiology and infectious diseases were widely involved in interactions between the teaching units, constituting a kind of cement for the programme. The students assigned a mean score of 3.7 to the topics dealing with microbiology and infectious diseases. According to the qualitative data, students and teachers considered that the interdisciplinary approach provided new insights but reported problems of communication, probably inherent to the multiculturalism of the class. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Design of a monitor and simulation terminal (master) for space station telerobotics and telescience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lopez, L.; Konkel, C.; Harmon, P.; King, S.

1989-01-01

Based on Space Station and planetary spacecraft communication time delays and bandwidth limitations, it will be necessary to develop an intelligent, general purpose ground monitor terminal capable of sophisticated data display and control of on-orbit facilities and remote spacecraft. The basic elements that make up a Monitor and Simulation Terminal (MASTER) include computer overlay video, data compression, forward simulation, mission resource optimization and high level robotic control. Hardware and software elements of a MASTER are being assembled for testbed use. Applications of Neural Networks (NNs) to some key functions of a MASTER are also discussed. These functions are overlay graphics adjustment, object correlation and kinematic-dynamic characterization of the manipulator.

Collective operations in a file system based execution model

DOEpatents

Shinde, Pravin; Van Hensbergen, Eric

2013-02-12

A mechanism is provided for group communications using a MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system. A master application creates a multi-pipe synthetic file in the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system, the master application indicating a multi-pipe operation to be performed. The master application then writes a header-control block of the multi-pipe synthetic file specifying at least one of a multi-pipe synthetic file system name, a message type, a message size, a specific destination, or a specification of the multi-pipe operation. Any other application participating in the group communications then opens the same multi-pipe synthetic file. A MULTI-PIPE file system module then implements the multi-pipe operation as identified by the master application. The master application and the other applications then either read or write operation messages to the multi-pipe synthetic file and the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system module performs appropriate actions.

Collective operations in a file system based execution model

DOEpatents

Shinde, Pravin; Van Hensbergen, Eric

2013-02-19

A mechanism is provided for group communications using a MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system. A master application creates a multi-pipe synthetic file in the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system, the master application indicating a multi-pipe operation to be performed. The master application then writes a header-control block of the multi-pipe synthetic file specifying at least one of a multi-pipe synthetic file system name, a message type, a message size, a specific destination, or a specification of the multi-pipe operation. Any other application participating in the group communications then opens the same multi-pipe synthetic file. A MULTI-PIPE file system module then implements the multi-pipe operation as identified by the master application. The master application and the other applications then either read or write operation messages to the multi-pipe synthetic file and the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system module performs appropriate actions.

Linear Programming across the Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoder, S. Elizabeth; Kurz, M. Elizabeth

2015-01-01

Linear programming (LP) is taught in different departments across college campuses with engineering and management curricula. Modeling an LP problem is taught in every linear programming class. As faculty teaching in Engineering and Management departments, the depth to which teachers should expect students to master this particular type of…

A Study On School Practice Of Students In Field Teaching Master Of Arts Without Thesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzel, Hatice

2007-04-01

Teacher training and the quality of the trained teachers include a large number of problems about the education system and practices that are constantly on agenda in Turkey. Teacher candidates should be well trained in order to possess certain qualifications.

Coping Strategies Used by Distance Rehabilitation Counseling Interns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kampfe, Charlene M.; Smith, Mae S.; Manyibe, Edward O.; Sales, Amos P.; Moore, Susan F.

2009-01-01

This study investigated coping strategies used by distance master's level student interns from one rehabilitation counseling program. Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference among five coping strategies. Post hoc comparisons showed that interns used problem-focused and seeking social support more frequently than self-blame, wishful…

What's New in Elder Abuse Programming? Four Bright Ideas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolf, Rosalie S.; Pillemar, Karl

1994-01-01

Presents four "best practice models" that address problems faced by community agencies working with elder abuse cases: multidisciplinary case consultation team; senior advocate volunteer program; victim support group; and master's of social work degree specialization in adult protective services. Sees their relatively low cost, flexibility, and…

Algebraic aspects of the driven dynamics in the density operator and correlation functions calculation for multi-level open quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogolubov, Nikolai N.; Soldatov, Andrey V.

2017-12-01

Exact and approximate master equations were derived by the projection operator method for the reduced statistical operator of a multi-level quantum system with finite number N of quantum eigenstates interacting with arbitrary external classical fields and dissipative environment simultaneously. It was shown that the structure of these equations can be simplified significantly if the free Hamiltonian driven dynamics of an arbitrary quantum multi-level system under the influence of the external driving fields as well as its Markovian and non-Markovian evolution, stipulated by the interaction with the environment, are described in terms of the SU(N) algebra representation. As a consequence, efficient numerical methods can be developed and employed to analyze these master equations for real problems in various fields of theoretical and applied physics. It was also shown that literally the same master equations hold not only for the reduced density operator but also for arbitrary nonequilibrium multi-time correlation functions as well under the only assumption that the system and the environment are uncorrelated at some initial moment of time. A calculational scheme was proposed to account for these lost correlations in a regular perturbative way, thus providing additional computable terms to the correspondent master equations for the correlation functions.

Building Automatic Grading Tools for Basic of Programming Lab in an Academic Institution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harimurti, Rina; Iwan Nurhidayat, Andi; Asmunin

2018-04-01

The skills of computer programming is a core competency that must be mastered by students majoring in computer sciences. The best way to improve this skill is through the practice of writing many programs to solve various problems from simple to complex. It takes hard work and a long time to check and evaluate the results of student labs one by one, especially if the number of students a lot. Based on these constrain, web proposes Automatic Grading Tools (AGT), the application that can evaluate and deeply check the source code in C, C++. The application architecture consists of students, web-based applications, compilers, and operating systems. Automatic Grading Tools (AGT) is implemented MVC Architecture and using open source software, such as laravel framework version 5.4, PostgreSQL 9.6, Bootstrap 3.3.7, and jquery library. Automatic Grading Tools has also been tested for real problems by submitting source code in C/C++ language and then compiling. The test results show that the AGT application has been running well.

The accurate particle tracer code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yulei; Liu, Jian; Qin, Hong; Yu, Zhi; Yao, Yicun

2017-11-01

The Accurate Particle Tracer (APT) code is designed for systematic large-scale applications of geometric algorithms for particle dynamical simulations. Based on a large variety of advanced geometric algorithms, APT possesses long-term numerical accuracy and stability, which are critical for solving multi-scale and nonlinear problems. To provide a flexible and convenient I/O interface, the libraries of Lua and Hdf5 are used. Following a three-step procedure, users can efficiently extend the libraries of electromagnetic configurations, external non-electromagnetic forces, particle pushers, and initialization approaches by use of the extendible module. APT has been used in simulations of key physical problems, such as runaway electrons in tokamaks and energetic particles in Van Allen belt. As an important realization, the APT-SW version has been successfully distributed on the world's fastest computer, the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer, by supporting master-slave architecture of Sunway many-core processors. Based on large-scale simulations of a runaway beam under parameters of the ITER tokamak, it is revealed that the magnetic ripple field can disperse the pitch-angle distribution significantly and improve the confinement of energetic runaway beam on the same time.

Pre-service teachers’ approaches to a historical problem in mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malgieri, Massimiliano; Onorato, Pasquale; Mascheretti, Paolo; De Ambrosis, Anna

2014-09-01

In this paper we report on an activity sequence with a group of 29 pre-service physics teachers based on the reconstruction and analysis of a thought experiment that was crucial for Huygens’ derivation of the formula for the centre of oscillation of a physical pendulum. The sequence starts with student teachers approaching the historical problem and culminates in a guided inquiry activity in a video-based laboratory (VBL) setting using Tracker software. We collected data before, during and after the experimental activity by means of written questions, oral discussions and final reports. These documents provide insights into students’ initial and evolving conceptions, as well as their attitudes towards the activity. The analysis of data allows us to uncover and focus on relevant difficulties for future teachers in mastering the concepts of centre of mass and conservation of energy. Moreover, we find indications that the VBL environment makes a positive contribution by stimulating and improving students’ modelling abilities. In particular, we find a sharp increase in the percentage of students capable of producing coherent explanations and physical analyses for the Huygens’ pendulum system after the Tracker activity.

Kinect technology for hand tracking control of surgical robots: technical and surgical skill comparison to current robotic masters.

PubMed

Kim, Yonjae; Leonard, Simon; Shademan, Azad; Krieger, Axel; Kim, Peter C W

2014-06-01

Current surgical robots are controlled by a mechanical master located away from the patient, tracking surgeon's hands by wire and pulleys or mechanical linkage. Contactless hand tracking for surgical robot control is an attractive alternative, because it can be executed with minimal footprint at the patient's bedside without impairing sterility, while eliminating current disassociation between surgeon and patient. We compared technical and technologic feasibility of contactless hand tracking to the current clinical standard master controllers. A hand-tracking system (Kinect™-based 3Gear), a wire-based mechanical master (Mantis Duo), and a clinical mechanical linkage master (da Vinci) were evaluated for technical parameters with strong clinical relevance: system latency, static noise, robot slave tremor, and controller range. Five experienced surgeons performed a skill comparison study, evaluating the three different master controllers for efficiency and accuracy in peg transfer and pointing tasks. da Vinci had the lowest latency of 89 ms, followed by Mantis with 374 ms and 3Gear with 576 ms. Mantis and da Vinci produced zero static error. 3Gear produced average static error of 0.49 mm. The tremor of the robot used by the 3Gear and Mantis system had a radius of 1.7 mm compared with 0.5 mm for da Vinci. The three master controllers all had similar range. The surgeons took 1.98 times longer to complete the peg transfer task with the 3Gear system compared with Mantis, and 2.72 times longer with Mantis compared with da Vinci (p value 2.1e-9). For the pointer task, surgeons were most accurate with da Vinci with average error of 0.72 mm compared with Mantis's 1.61 mm and 3Gear's 2.41 mm (p value 0.00078). Contactless hand-tracking technology as a surgical master can execute simple surgical tasks. Whereas traditional master controllers outperformed, given that contactless hand-tracking is a first-generation technology, clinical potential is promising and could become a reality with some technical improvements.

Selection bias in population-based cancer case-control studies due to incomplete sampling frame coverage.

PubMed

Walsh, Matthew C; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Gangnon, Ronald E; Nieto, F Javier; Newcomb, Polly A; Palta, Mari

2012-06-01

Increasing numbers of individuals are choosing to opt out of population-based sampling frames due to privacy concerns. This is especially a problem in the selection of controls for case-control studies, as the cases often arise from relatively complete population-based registries, whereas control selection requires a sampling frame. If opt out is also related to risk factors, bias can arise. We linked breast cancer cases who reported having a valid driver's license from the 2004-2008 Wisconsin women's health study (N = 2,988) with a master list of licensed drivers from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT). This master list excludes Wisconsin drivers that requested their information not be sold by the state. Multivariate-adjusted selection probability ratios (SPR) were calculated to estimate potential bias when using this driver's license sampling frame to select controls. A total of 962 cases (32%) had opted out of the WDOT sampling frame. Cases age <40 (SPR = 0.90), income either unreported (SPR = 0.89) or greater than $50,000 (SPR = 0.94), lower parity (SPR = 0.96 per one-child decrease), and hormone use (SPR = 0.93) were significantly less likely to be covered by the WDOT sampling frame (α = 0.05 level). Our results indicate the potential for selection bias due to differential opt out between various demographic and behavioral subgroups of controls. As selection bias may differ by exposure and study base, the assessment of potential bias needs to be ongoing. SPRs can be used to predict the direction of bias when cases and controls stem from different sampling frames in population-based case-control studies.

Teaching Medium-Sized ERP Systems - A Problem-Based Learning Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkelmann, Axel; Matzner, Martin

In order to increase the diversity in IS education, we discuss an approach for teaching medium-sized ERP systems in master courses. Many of today's IS curricula are biased toward large ERP packages. Nevertheless, these ERP systems are only a part of the ERP market. Hence, this chapter describes a course outline for a course on medium-sized ERP systems. Students had to study, analyze, and compare five different ERP systems during a semester. The chapter introduces a procedure model and scenario for setting up similar courses at other universities. Furthermore, it describes some of the students' outcomes and evaluates the contribution of the course with regard to a practical but also academic IS education.

Research on the ITOC based scheduling system for ship piping production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Rui; Liu, Yu-Jun; Hamada, Kunihiro

2010-12-01

Manufacturing of ship piping systems is one of the major production activities in shipbuilding. The schedule of pipe production has an important impact on the master schedule of shipbuilding. In this research, the ITOC concept was introduced to solve the scheduling problems of a piping factory, and an intelligent scheduling system was developed. The system, in which a product model, an operation model, a factory model, and a knowledge database of piping production were integrated, automated the planning process and production scheduling. Details of the above points were discussed. Moreover, an application of the system in a piping factory, which achieved a higher level of performance as measured by tardiness, lead time, and inventory, was demonstrated.

Extended GTST-MLD for aerospace system safety analysis.

PubMed

Guo, Chiming; Gong, Shiyu; Tan, Lin; Guo, Bo

2012-06-01

The hazards caused by complex interactions in the aerospace system have become a problem that urgently needs to be settled. This article introduces a method for aerospace system hazard interaction identification based on extended GTST-MLD (goal tree-success tree-master logic diagram) during the design stage. GTST-MLD is a functional modeling framework with a simple architecture. Ontology is used to extend the ability of system interaction description in GTST-MLD by adding the system design knowledge and the past accident experience. From the level of functionality and equipment, respectively, this approach can help the technician detect potential hazard interactions. Finally, a case is used to show the method. © 2011 Society for Risk Analysis.

33 CFR 385.30 - Master Implementation Sequencing Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Incorporating New Information Into the Plan § 385.30 Master Implementation Sequencing Plan. (a) Not later than... projects of the Plan, including pilot projects and operational elements, based on the best scientific, technical, funding, contracting, and other information available. The Corps of Engineers and the South...

75 FR 34526 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-17

... transceivers use a master reference oscillator to determine the frequency stability of the transmitted signal... if the transmitted signal is not on frequency. The master oscillator, itself, is specified to a much..., the modulation circuitry used in the DTX radios is based upon very stable limiting operational...

Electronic structure, transport, and collective effects in molecular layered systems.

PubMed

Hahn, Torsten; Ludwig, Tim; Timm, Carsten; Kortus, Jens

2017-01-01

The great potential of organic heterostructures for organic device applications is exemplified by the targeted engineering of the electronic properties of phthalocyanine-based systems. The transport properties of two different phthalocyanine systems, a pure copper phthalocyanine (CoPc) and a flourinated copper phthalocyanine-manganese phthalocyanine (F 16 CoPc/MnPc) heterostructure, are investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) and the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) approach. Furthermore, a master-equation-based approach is used to include electronic correlations beyond the mean-field-type approximation of DFT. We describe the essential theoretical tools to obtain the parameters needed for the master equation from DFT results. Finally, an interacting molecular monolayer is considered within a master-equation approach.

Cooperative International Education. Background Paper I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Willis H.; Spence, Ralph B.

A discussion of the problems involved in developing a valid program for cooperation in international education begins by stressing the distinction between education and schooling: the first an age-old experience derived from the whole culture, and the second a relatively new concept devoted to mastering material which someone has decided is…

Teaching Mendelian Genetics with the Computer.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Small, James W., Jr.

Students in general undergraduate courses in both biology and genetics seem to have great difficulty mastering the basic concepts of Mendelian Genetics and solving even simple problems. In an attempt to correct this situation, students in both courses at Rollins College were introduced to three simulation models of the genetics of the fruit…

Tactile Functioning in Children Who Are Blind: A Clinical Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Withagen, Ans; Vervloed, Mathijs P. J.; Janssen, Neeltje M.; Knoors, Harry; Verhoeven, Ludo

2010-01-01

This study of 48 children with congenital blindness who attended mainstream schools focused on the tactile and haptic skills they needed in typical academic and everyday tasks. The results showed that, in general, the children mastered such tactile tasks, but some items posed special problems. (Contains 4 tables.)

The Craft of Teaching. A Guide to Mastering the Professor's Art.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eble, Kenneth E.

College teaching, teaching skills, and practical problems are considered. The emphasis on subject matter specialization in graduate school and effects on the preparation of college teachers are considered, along with suggestions about what beginning college teachers need to know beyond subject matter training. After briefly considering assumptions…

Student Distress in Clinical Workplace Learning: Differences in Social Comparison Behaviours

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raat, A. N. Janet; Schönrock-Adema, Johanna; van Hell, E. Ally; Kuks, Jan B. M.; Cohen-Schotanus, Janke

2015-01-01

In medical education, student distress is known to hamper learning and professional development. To address this problem, recent studies aimed at helping students cope with stressful situations. Undergraduate students in clinical practice frequently use experiences of surrounding peers to estimate their abilities to master such challenging…

Critical Thinking and Educational Reform; The Emerging Revolution.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paul, Richard W.

This examination of deep-seated structural problems facing public education today is built on the premise that a new beginning is needed in which education focuses on critical thinking or "rational learning." Such a focus presupposes that students and teachers master the critical-analytical vocabulary of the English language in…

Randomized Trial of Suicide Gatekeeper Training for Social Work Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobson, Jodi M.; Osteen, Phillip J.; Sharpe, Tanya L.; Pastoor, Jennifer B.

2012-01-01

Problem: Education and research on social work's role in preventing client suicide is limited. Method: Seventy advanced master of social work students were randomly assigned to either the training group (Question, Persuade, and Referral suicide gatekeeper training) or the control group. Outcomes measured over time included suicide knowledge,…

Technical Writing Tips

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Patrick M.

2004-01-01

The main reason engineers, technicians, and programmers write poor technical documents is because they have had little training or experience in that area. This article addresses some of the basics that students can use to master technical writing tasks. The article covers the most common problems writers make and offers suggestions for improving…

Minorities in Higher Education: A Pipeline Problem?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sethna, Beheruz N.

2011-01-01

This paper uses national data from the American Council on Education (ACE) to study the progress of different ethnic groups through the academic pipeline--stages studied include the Bachelor's, Master's, doctoral, levels, and then progress to the Assistant, Associate, and (full) Professor stages, to full-time administrators and finally to the CEO…

Designing a Master Program in Educational Leadership: Trends, Reflections, and Conclusions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aitken, Art; Bedard, George; Darroch, Amber

This paper presents a dialogue about the current context for educational leadership preparation that draws upon worldwide thought and discussion on the issue. Topics considered include recognition by faculty at the University of Lethbridge that educational leadership has problems in content alignment, relevance, and pedagogy. Research shows that…

Is Pseudoscymnus tsugae the solution to the hemlock woolly adelgid problem?: An early perspective

Treesearch

Mark S. McClure; Carole A. S-J. Cheah; Timothy C. Tigner

2000-01-01

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Homoptera: Adelgidae) is native to Japan where it is an innocuous inhabitant of Tsuga diversifolia Masters and T. sieboldii Carriere. Native populations of this insect are regulated by host resistance and natural enemies. However, introduced populations in eastern...

Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies in Brazil: Lessons from Sustainability and Environmental Sciences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bursztyn, Marcel; Maury, María Beatriz; Litre, Gabriela

2016-01-01

This article analyzes the process of institutionalizing interdisciplinary graduate programs in Brazil, which has over more than four decades of experience implementing masters and doctoral problem-oriented programs designed to operate outside the disciplinary structure of universities. Brazil has a high degree of centrality and government…

Questioning Collectives and Agencies: A Commentary on Curricular Choices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnold, Jenny

2015-01-01

This commentary explores theoretical alternatives for viewing the problem identified by Volny Fages and Virginie Albe in their article entitled Social issues in nanoscience and nanotechnology Master's degrees: The socio-political stakes of curricular choices. An approach to social research is suggested that would render visible the associations…

Efficiency/Equity Analysis of Water Resources Problems--A Game Theoretic Approach.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-01-01

contained in the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority’s master plan for Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in Florida (Ross et al...spanning tree, Networks, 3(4), 289-304, 1973. Converse, A.O., Optimum number and location of treatment plants , Journal of the Water Pollution Control

Computers Can Soothe Transfer Articulation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mazman, Samuel

In order to solve the problem of students enrolling in courses not directly articulated with an ultimate goal, West Shore Community College (WSCC) developed a program using articulation data, master student records, and fee statements. The objectives of the program were to: (1) communicate information about the transferability of courses at the…

Mastering the Multiplication Facts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

D'Ettorre, Jenna

2009-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to share the results of a six-week research project (after baseline data was collected) that focused on three different strategies (flashcards, interactive games, and music) and their effectiveness in helping fifth grade students memorize the basic multiplication facts. Many teachers face a serious problem when their…

Blackboard Electrophoresis: An Inexpensive Exercise on the Principles of DNA Restriction Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Costa, M. J.

2007-01-01

Undergraduates with little training on molecular biology may find the technical level of the typical introductory restriction laboratory too challenging and have problems with mastering the underlying concepts and processes. "Blackboard electrophoresis" is an active learning exercise, which focuses student attention on the sequences and principles…

The Use of Computer Graphics in the Design Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palazzi, Maria

This master's thesis examines applications of computer technology to the field of industrial design and ways in which technology can transform the traditional process. Following a statement of the problem, the history and applications of the fields of computer graphics and industrial design are reviewed. The traditional industrial design process…

Developing an Academic Information Resources Master Plan: A Paradigm.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gentry, H. R.

Since 1980, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) has rapidly expanded its use of personal computers in instruction and administration. Many computers were being acquired, however, before appropriate policies, plans, and procedures were developed for their effective management. In response to this problem, the following actions were identified…

Evidence-based selection process to the Master of Public Health program at Medical University.

PubMed

Panczyk, Mariusz; Juszczyk, Grzegorz; Zarzeka, Aleksander; Samoliński, Łukasz; Belowska, Jarosława; Cieślak, Ilona; Gotlib, Joanna

2017-09-11

Evaluation of the predictive validity of selected sociodemographic factors and admission criteria for Master's studies in Public Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw (MUW). For the evaluation purposes recruitment data and learning results of students enrolled between 2008 and 2012 were used (N = 605, average age 22.9 ± 3.01). The predictive analysis was performed using the multiple linear regression method. In the proposed regression model 12 predictors were selected, including: sex, age, professional degree (BA), the Bachelor's studies grade point average (GPA), total score of the preliminary examination broken down into five thematic areas. Depending on the tested model, one of two dependent variables was used: first-year GPA or cumulative GPA in the Master program. The regression model based on the result variable of Master's GPA program was better matched to data in comparison to the model based on the first year GPA (adjusted R 2 0.413 versus 0.476 respectively). The Bachelor's studies GPA and each of the five subtests comprising the test entrance exam were significant predictors of success achieved by a student both after the first year and at the end of the course of studies. Criteria of admissions with total score of MCQs exam and Bachelor's studies GPA can be successfully used for selection of the candidates for Master's degree studies in Public Health. The high predictive validity of the recruitment system confirms the validity of the adopted admission policy at MUW.

Towards evidence-based critical thinking medicine? Uses of best evidence in flawless argumentations.

PubMed

Jenicek, Milos

2006-08-01

Uses of informal logic and critical thinking methodology are increasingly taught, learnt and advantageously applied in such diverse domains as law, the military, business, and education. Health sciences are also following this trend. However, production and critical appraisal of evidence as already practiced in Evidence-Based Medicine must be coupled with equally rigorous uses in order to ensure appropriate health problem understanding and decision-making. Making most proposals and decisions in medicine is the conclusion of an argumentation process that lies behind any communication between health professionals working with patients, performing research or sharing ideas about health problems, their interpretations and solutions with numerous stakeholders in public life. Modern critical thinking and decision making in medicine is not instantly mastered, but is instead a learnt experience as anything else in professional and social interactions. The modern argument as outlined, illustrated and applied to health problems in this essay is an extension of a previously established way of thinking in Evidence-Based Medicine. Ideally, health professionals, their patients and all other stakeholders should speak the same language and it is up to us to make this possible. Evidence and critical thinking - based medicine might be a solution. As modern critical thinkers, we are at the forefront and we must see to it that patients and professional and general communities benefit from this more so even than from other remarkable historical and current contributions to the well-being of those under our care.

The implementation of problem-based learning in health service management training programs.

PubMed

Stankunas, Mindaugas; Czabanowska, Katarzyna; Avery, Mark; Kalediene, Ramune; Babich, Suzanne Marie

2016-10-03

Purpose Strengthening management capacity within the health care sector could have a significant impact on population health. However, many training programs in this area are still delivered using a classic lecture-based approach. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and better understand the feasibility of using a problem-based learning (PBL) approach in health services management training programs. Design/methodology/approach A PBL teaching approach (based on the Maastricht University model) was tested with second-year postgraduate students from the Master in Public Health Management program at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Students' opinions about PBL were investigated using a questionnaire with eight open-ended questions. Thematic content analysis was chosen to reflect the search for patterns across the data. Findings Respondents stated that the main advantage of PBL was that it was a more interesting and effective way of learning: "It is easier to remember, when you study by yourself and discuss with all peers". In addition, it was mentioned that PBL initiated a rapid exchange of ideas and sharing of personal experience. Students stressed that PBL was a good tool for developing other skills as well, such as "public speaking, communication, logic thinking". All students recommended delivering all other courses in the health services management program using PBL methodologies. Originality/value Findings from our study suggest that PBL may be an effective approach to teaching health services management. Potential problems in implementation are noted.

Generalized master equation via aging continuous-time random walks.

PubMed

Allegrini, Paolo; Aquino, Gerardo; Grigolini, Paolo; Palatella, Luigi; Rosa, Angelo

2003-11-01

We discuss the problem of the equivalence between continuous-time random walk (CTRW) and generalized master equation (GME). The walker, making instantaneous jumps from one site of the lattice to another, resides in each site for extended times. The sojourn times have a distribution density psi(t) that is assumed to be an inverse power law with the power index micro. We assume that the Onsager principle is fulfilled, and we use this assumption to establish a complete equivalence between GME and the Montroll-Weiss CTRW. We prove that this equivalence is confined to the case where psi(t) is an exponential. We argue that is so because the Montroll-Weiss CTRW, as recently proved by Barkai [E. Barkai, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 104101 (2003)], is nonstationary, thereby implying aging, while the Onsager principle is valid only in the case of fully aged systems. The case of a Poisson distribution of sojourn times is the only one with no aging associated to it, and consequently with no need to establish special initial conditions to fulfill the Onsager principle. We consider the case of a dichotomous fluctuation, and we prove that the Onsager principle is fulfilled for any form of regression to equilibrium provided that the stationary condition holds true. We set the stationary condition on both the CTRW and the GME, thereby creating a condition of total equivalence, regardless of the nature of the waiting-time distribution. As a consequence of this procedure we create a GME that is a bona fide master equation, in spite of being non-Markov. We note that the memory kernel of the GME affords information on the interaction between system of interest and its bath. The Poisson case yields a bath with infinitely fast fluctuations. We argue that departing from the Poisson form has the effect of creating a condition of infinite memory and that these results might be useful to shed light on the problem of how to unravel non-Markov quantum master equations.

An all-joint-control master device for single-port laparoscopic surgery robots.

PubMed

Shim, Seongbo; Kang, Taehun; Ji, Daekeun; Choi, Hyunseok; Joung, Sanghyun; Hong, Jaesung

2016-08-01

Robots for single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) typically have all of their joints located inside abdomen during surgery, whereas with the da Vinci system, only the tip part of the robot arm is inserted and manipulated. A typical master device that controls only the tip with six degrees of freedom (DOFs) is not suitable for use with SPLS robots because of safety concerns. We designed an ergonomic six-DOF master device that can control all of the joints of an SPLS robot. We matched each joint of the master, the slave, and the human arm to decouple all-joint motions of the slave robot. Counterbalance masses were used to reduce operator fatigue. Mapping factors were determined based on kinematic analysis and were used to achieve all-joint control with minimal error at the tip of the slave robot. The proposed master device has two noteworthy features: efficient joint matching to the human arm to decouple each joint motion of the slave robot and accurate mapping factors, which can minimize the trajectory error of the tips between the master and the slave. We confirmed that the operator can manipulate the slave robot intuitively with the master device and that both tips have similar trajectories with minimal error.

Leadership Practices of Non-Traditional Seminary Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hillman, George Milton, Jr.

2008-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI-Self) scores between masters-level seminary students based on the independent variables of student age, class load, gender, marital status, and parental status. The 1,254 masters-level seminary students enrolled on the main campus of Dallas Theological…

Mastering the Techniques of Teaching. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowman, Joseph

This book examines elements of good college teaching and ways to master effective teaching techniques, drawing on direct observation, research on teaching and learning, and student accounts of outstanding professors. Chapter 1 reviews research on exemplary teaching and proposes a two-dimensional model of effective college teaching based on…

Ferment in Business Education: E-Commerce Master's Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durlabhji, Subhash; Fusilier, Marcelline R.

2002-01-01

A review of curriculum and course descriptions of 67 Web-based electronic commerce master's programs showed that the number of programs grew 76% over 8 months. More nontechnical than technology-centered courses are offered. Business schools are apparently viewing e-commerce as a completely new discipline. (Contains 26 references.) (SK)

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF SECONDFLOOR HALLWAY, AS SEEN FROM MASTER ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

FACILITY 89. INTERIOR OF SECOND-FLOOR HALLWAY, AS SEEN FROM MASTER BEDROOM. CLOSET OVER STAIRWAY AT LEFT. VIEW FACING SOUTHEAST. - U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Naval Housing Area Makalapa, Junior Officers' Quarters Type K, Makin Place, & Halawa, Makalapa, & Midway Drives, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

Laser Development for Gravitational-Wave Interferometry in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Numata, Kenji; Camp, Jordan

2012-01-01

We are reporting on our development work on laser (master oscillator) and optical amplifier systems for gravitational-wave interferometry in space. Our system is based on the mature, wave-guided optics technologies, which have advantages over bulk, crystal-based, free-space optics. We are investing in a new type of compact, low-noise master oscillator, called the planar-waveguide external cavity diode laser. We made measurements, including those of noise, and performed space-qualification tests.

Carnegie Mellon University's MMM program: management education for 21st-century physicians.

PubMed

Korevaar, W C; Pearson, R W

2001-01-01

The number and types of executive and graduate-level management programs for physicians have exploded in recent years. These programs take on a variety of formats, ranging from executive seminars to master's-level degree programs. Options for physicians obtaining the master's degree tend to be either regionally based programs in traditional evening classes or nationally based programs that combine executive education formats with distance education. This paper examines a nationally based program - the Master of Medical Management (MMM) - from the perspectives of an administrator and a graduate of the program. It offers reasons for the growth of similar programs and data from students enrolled in the Carnegie Mellon University MMM program. The paper also examines educational outcomes in the form of behavioral competencies that the physicians acquired in the program. It concludes with reflections on the future of the MMM and related programs for physician executives in the 21st century.

Vision and dual IMU integrated attitude measurement system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Xiaoting; Sun, Changku; Wang, Peng; Lu, Huang

2018-01-01

To determination relative attitude between two space objects on a rocking base, an integrated system based on vision and dual IMU (inertial determination unit) is built up. The determination system fuses the attitude information of vision with the angular determinations of dual IMU by extended Kalman filter (EKF) to obtain the relative attitude. One IMU (master) is attached to the measured motion object and the other (slave) to the rocking base. As the determination output of inertial sensor is relative to inertial frame, thus angular rate of the master IMU includes not only motion of the measured object relative to inertial frame but also the rocking base relative to inertial frame, where the latter can be seen as redundant harmful movement information for relative attitude determination between the measured object and the rocking base. The slave IMU here assists to remove the motion information of rocking base relative to inertial frame from the master IMU. The proposed integrated attitude determination system is tested on practical experimental platform. And experiment results with superior precision and reliability show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed attitude determination system.

Preparing for fieldwork: Students' perceptions of their readiness to provide evidence-based practice.

PubMed

Evenson, Mary E

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore students' perceptions of their confidence to use research evidence to complete a client case analysis assignment in preparation for participation in fieldwork and future practice. A convenience sample of 42 entry-level occupational therapy Masters students, included 41 females and one male, ages 24 to 35. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Students participated in a problem-based learning approach supported by educational technology. Measures included a pre- and post-semester confidence survey, a post-semester satisfaction survey, and an assignment rubric. Based on paired t-tests and Wilcoxin Signed Ranks Tests, statistically significant differences in pre- and post-test scores were noted for all 18 items on the confidence survey (p< 0.001). Significant increases in students' confidence were noted for verbal and written communication of descriptive, assessment, and intervention evidence, along with increased confidence to effectively use assessment evidence. Results suggest that problem-based learning methods were significantly associated with students' perceptions of their confidence to use research evidence to analyze a client case. These results cannot necessarily be generalized due to the limitations of using non-standardized measures with a convenience sample, without a control group, within the context of a single course as part of one academic program curriculum.

Direct Solution of the Chemical Master Equation Using Quantized Tensor Trains

PubMed Central

Kazeev, Vladimir; Khammash, Mustafa; Nip, Michael; Schwab, Christoph

2014-01-01

The Chemical Master Equation (CME) is a cornerstone of stochastic analysis and simulation of models of biochemical reaction networks. Yet direct solutions of the CME have remained elusive. Although several approaches overcome the infinite dimensional nature of the CME through projections or other means, a common feature of proposed approaches is their susceptibility to the curse of dimensionality, i.e. the exponential growth in memory and computational requirements in the number of problem dimensions. We present a novel approach that has the potential to “lift” this curse of dimensionality. The approach is based on the use of the recently proposed Quantized Tensor Train (QTT) formatted numerical linear algebra for the low parametric, numerical representation of tensors. The QTT decomposition admits both, algorithms for basic tensor arithmetics with complexity scaling linearly in the dimension (number of species) and sub-linearly in the mode size (maximum copy number), and a numerical tensor rounding procedure which is stable and quasi-optimal. We show how the CME can be represented in QTT format, then use the exponentially-converging -discontinuous Galerkin discretization in time to reduce the CME evolution problem to a set of QTT-structured linear equations to be solved at each time step using an algorithm based on Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) methods from quantum chemistry. Our method automatically adapts the “basis” of the solution at every time step guaranteeing that it is large enough to capture the dynamics of interest but no larger than necessary, as this would increase the computational complexity. Our approach is demonstrated by applying it to three different examples from systems biology: independent birth-death process, an example of enzymatic futile cycle, and a stochastic switch model. The numerical results on these examples demonstrate that the proposed QTT method achieves dramatic speedups and several orders of magnitude storage savings over direct approaches. PMID:24626049

Mortality Measurement at Advanced Ages: A Study of the Social Security Administration Death Master File

PubMed Central

Gavrilov, Leonid A.; Gavrilova, Natalia S.

2011-01-01

Accurate estimates of mortality at advanced ages are essential to improving forecasts of mortality and the population size of the oldest old age group. However, estimation of hazard rates at extremely old ages poses serious challenges to researchers: (1) The observed mortality deceleration may be at least partially an artifact of mixing different birth cohorts with different mortality (heterogeneity effect); (2) standard assumptions of hazard rate estimates may be invalid when risk of death is extremely high at old ages and (3) ages of very old people may be exaggerated. One way of obtaining estimates of mortality at extreme ages is to pool together international records of persons surviving to extreme ages with subsequent efforts of strict age validation. This approach helps researchers to resolve the third of the above-mentioned problems but does not resolve the first two problems because of inevitable data heterogeneity when data for people belonging to different birth cohorts and countries are pooled together. In this paper we propose an alternative approach, which gives an opportunity to resolve the first two problems by compiling data for more homogeneous single-year birth cohorts with hazard rates measured at narrow (monthly) age intervals. Possible ways of resolving the third problem of hazard rate estimation are elaborated. This approach is based on data from the Social Security Administration Death Master File (DMF). Some birth cohorts covered by DMF could be studied by the method of extinct generations. Availability of month of birth and month of death information provides a unique opportunity to obtain hazard rate estimates for every month of age. Study of several single-year extinct birth cohorts shows that mortality trajectory at advanced ages follows the Gompertz law up to the ages 102–105 years without a noticeable deceleration. Earlier reports of mortality deceleration (deviation of mortality from the Gompertz law) at ages below 100 appear to be artifacts of mixing together several birth cohorts with different mortality levels and using cross-sectional instead of cohort data. Age exaggeration and crude assumptions applied to mortality estimates at advanced ages may also contribute to mortality underestimation at very advanced ages. PMID:22308064

Definitions of components of the master water data index maintained by the National Water Data Exchange

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perry, R.A.; Williams, O.O.

1982-01-01

The Master Water Data Index is a computerized data base developed and maintained by the National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX). The Index contains information about water-data collection sites. This information includes: the identification of new sites for which water data are available, the locations of these sites, the type of site, the data-collection organization, the types of data available, the major water-data parameters for which data are available, the frequency at which these parameters are measured, the period of time for which data are available, and the medial in which the data are stored. This document, commonly referred to as the MWDI data dictionary, contains a definition and description of each component of the Master Water Data Index data base. (USGS)

A multimodal MRI dataset of professional chess players.

PubMed

Li, Kaiming; Jiang, Jing; Qiu, Lihua; Yang, Xun; Huang, Xiaoqi; Lui, Su; Gong, Qiyong

2015-01-01

Chess is a good model to study high-level human brain functions such as spatial cognition, memory, planning, learning and problem solving. Recent studies have demonstrated that non-invasive MRI techniques are valuable for researchers to investigate the underlying neural mechanism of playing chess. For professional chess players (e.g., chess grand masters and masters or GM/Ms), what are the structural and functional alterations due to long-term professional practice, and how these alterations relate to behavior, are largely veiled. Here, we report a multimodal MRI dataset from 29 professional Chinese chess players (most of whom are GM/Ms), and 29 age matched novices. We hope that this dataset will provide researchers with new materials to further explore high-level human brain functions.

Innovations in Public Health Education: Promoting Professional Development and a Culture of Health

PubMed Central

Gentry, Daniel; Klesges, Lisa M.

2015-01-01

As the field of public health advances toward addressing complex, systemic problems, future public health professionals must be equipped with leadership and interprofessional skills that support collaboration and a culture of health. The University of Memphis School of Public Health has infused innovative strategies into graduate education via experiential learning opportunities to enhance leadership, collaboration, and professional development. Novel training programs such as Day One, Public Health Interdisciplinary Case Competition, and Memphis Healthy U support Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health cross-cutting competencies and prepare Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration graduates to function effectively at the outset of their careers and become catalysts for creating a culture of health. PMID:25706016

Innovations in public health education: promoting professional development and a culture of health.

PubMed

Levy, Marian; Gentry, Daniel; Klesges, Lisa M

2015-03-01

As the field of public health advances toward addressing complex, systemic problems, future public health professionals must be equipped with leadership and interprofessional skills that support collaboration and a culture of health. The University of Memphis School of Public Health has infused innovative strategies into graduate education via experiential learning opportunities to enhance leadership, collaboration, and professional development. Novel training programs such as Day One, Public Health Interdisciplinary Case Competition, and Memphis Healthy U support Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health cross-cutting competencies and prepare Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration graduates to function effectively at the outset of their careers and become catalysts for creating a culture of health.

Telemanipulation of cooperative robots: a case of study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pliego-Jiménez, Javier; Arteaga-Pérez, Marco

2018-06-01

This article addresses the problem of dexterous robotic grasping by means of a telemanipulation system composed of a single master and two slave robot manipulators. The slave robots are analysed as a cooperative system where it is assumed that the robots can push but not pull the object. In order to achieve a stable rigid grasp, a centralised adaptive position-force control algorithm for the slave robots is proposed. On the other hand, a linear velocity observer for the master robot is developed to avoid numerical differentiation. A set of experiments with different human operators were carried out to show the good performance and capabilities of the proposed control-observer algorithm. In addition, the dynamic model and closed-loop dynamics of the telemanipulation is presented.

The viscoelastic behavior of a composite in a thermal environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, D. H.; Brinson, H. F.; Griffith, W. I.; Yeow, Y. T.

1979-01-01

A proposed method for the accelerated predictions of modulus and life times for time dependent polymer matrix composite laminates is presented. The method, based on the time temperature superposition principle and lamination theory, is described in detail. Unidirectional reciprocal of compliance master curves and the shift functions needed are presented and discussed. Master curves for arbitrarily oriented unidirectional laminates are predicted and compared with experimantal results obtained from master curves generated from 15 minute tests and with 25 hour tests. Good agreement is shown. Predicted 30 deg and 60 deg unidirectional strength master curves are presented and compared to results of creep rupture tests. Reasonable agreement is demonstrated. In addition, creep rupture results for a (90 deg + or - 60 deg/90 deg) sub 2s laminate are presented.

Research on techniques for computer three-dimensional simulation of satellites and night sky

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Guangwei; Hu, Haitao

2007-11-01

To study space attack-defense technology, a simulation of satellites is needed. We design and implement a 3d simulating system of satellites. The satellites are rendered under the Night sky background. The system structure is as follows: one computer is used to simulate the orbital of satellites, the other computers are used to render 3d simulation scene. To get a realistic effect, a three-channel multi-projector display system is constructed. We use MultiGen Creator to construct satellite and star models. We use MultiGen Distributed Vega to render the three-channel scene. There are one master and three slaves. The master controls the three slaves to render three channels separately. To get satellites' positions and attitudes, the master communicates with the satellite orbit simulator based on TCP/IP protocol. Then it calculates the observer's position, the satellites' position, the moon's and the sun's position and transmits the data to the slaves. To get a smooth orbit of target satellites, an orbit prediction method is used. Because the target satellite data packets and the attack satellite data packets cannot keep synchronization in the network, a target satellite dithering phenomenon will occur when the scene is rendered. To resolve this problem, an anti-dithering algorithm is designed. To render Night sky background, a file which stores stars' position and brightness data is used. According to the brightness of each star, the stars are classified into different magnitude. The star model is scaled according to the magnitude. All the stars are distributed on a celestial sphere. Experiments show, the whole system can run correctly, and the frame rate can reach 30Hz. The system can be used in a space attack-defense simulation field.

Some Teaching Reform Ideas on Management Information System of Master of Business Administration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fan, Chongjun

2009-01-01

Management information system (MIS) is one of the core courses of master of business administration (MBA). Based on the educational characteristics of MBA, this paper studies the teaching issues and strategies of MIS course of MBA. The discussion includes three parts: modification of educational content; improvement of educational ability; case…

2004 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education. Update on Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2005

2005-01-01

The 2004 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education identified clear and measurable goals that focused on outcomes rather than inputs alone. To reinforce this outcomes-based approach, the plan proposed that the state develop a new funding method to reward public colleges and universities for student success. Specifically, it proposed that the…

Making the Invisible Visible. On Participation and Communication in a Global, Web-Based Master's Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahlgren, Madeleine Abrandt; Larsson, Staffan; Walters, Shirley

2006-01-01

This study focuses on the discourse of an intercontinental on-line Master's programme in adult learning, using English as the lingua franca of the programme and involving four collaborating universities in Sweden, South Africa, Canada and Australia. The programme is highly interactive, emphasising communication between students. Taking the…

A Move-Analytic Contrastive Study on the Introductions of American and Philippine Master's Theses in Architecture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lintao, Rachelle B.; Erfe, Jonathan P.

2012-01-01

This study purports to foster the understanding of profession-based academic writing in two different cultural conventions by examining the rhetorical moves employed by American and Philippine thesis introductions in Architecture using Swales' 2004 Revised CARS move-analytic model as framework. Twenty (20) Master's thesis introductions in…

Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform (CTER) Online: Evaluation of an Online Master of Education Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levin, Sandra R.; Levin, James A.; Guell, James G.; Waddoups, Gregory L.

2002-01-01

Describes a Master of Education program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign called Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform OnLine (CTER) that is aimed at K-12 teachers. The evaluation based on program stakeholders includes interface design; instructional design; faculty satisfaction; student attitudes; economic viability;…

Professional Training Programs of Masters in Adult Education at Universities of Germany

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hizhynska, Tetiana

2015-01-01

The German experience in professional training of teaching staff in adult education has been analyzed; it has been clarified that modern educational programs of Bachelor and Master specialties are based on the basic educational program offered by Adult Education Sectional Commission of Pedagogical Sciences in Germany (DGfE); value-targeted and…

El Camino College Master Plan.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El Camino Coll., Torrance, CA.

This document is the educational Master Plan for El Camino Community College District. The purpose of the plan is to develop a research-based document that will be used as a foundation for decisions regarding instructional programs, support services, staffing and facilities. It is intended to serve as the basic foundation for all other plans of…

45. Master plan of 4th floor, building 1, U.S. Naval ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

45. Master plan of 4th floor, building 1, U.S. Naval supply activities, New York, Brooklyn, New York, public works department, March 2, 1953. Drawing #BK-S1-4. Scale 1/16=1. - U.S. Navy Fleet Supply Base, Storehouse No. 1, 830 Third Avenue, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY

Enhancing Student Competency and Employability in International Business through Master's Dissertations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sinkovics, Rudolf R.; Richardson, Christopher; Lew, Yong Kyu

2015-01-01

A core component of International Business (IB) postgraduate programs around the world is the master's dissertation, which requires students to produce a written document, typically around 20,000 words in length, based on empirical research. While the dissertation is given considerable importance in such programs, often accounting for more than a…

Colorado Academic Library Master Plan, Spring 1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breivik, Patricia Senn; And Others

Based on a need to assess current library strengths and weaknesses and to project potential library roles in supporting higher education, this master plan makes a series of recommendations to Colorado's academic libraries. It is noted that the plan was endorsed by both the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the Colorado State Department…

On the BV formalism of open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunaga, Hiroaki; Nomura, Mitsuru

2018-05-01

We construct several BV master actions for open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space. First, we show that a naive use of the conventional BV approach breaks down at the third order of the antifield number expansion, although it enables us to define a simple "string antibracket" taking the Darboux form as spacetime antibrackets. This fact implies that in the large Hilbert space, "string fields-antifields" should be reassembled to obtain master actions in a simple manner. We determine the assembly of the string anti-fields on the basis of Berkovits' constrained BV approach, and give solutions to the master equation defined by Dirac antibrackets on the constrained string field-antifield space. It is expected that partial gauge-fixing enables us to relate superstring field theories based on the large and small Hilbert spaces directly: reassembling string fields-antifields is rather natural from this point of view. Finally, inspired by these results, we revisit the conventional BV approach and construct a BV master action based on the minimal set of string fields-antifields.

Stroma-associated master regulators of molecular subtypes predict patient prognosis in ovarian cancer.

PubMed

Zhang, Shengzhe; Jing, Ying; Zhang, Meiying; Zhang, Zhenfeng; Ma, Pengfei; Peng, Huixin; Shi, Kaixuan; Gao, Wei-Qiang; Zhuang, Guanglei

2015-11-04

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGS-OvCa) has the lowest survival rate among all gynecologic cancers and is hallmarked by a high degree of heterogeneity. The Cancer Genome Atlas network has described a gene expression-based molecular classification of HGS-OvCa into Differentiated, Mesenchymal, Immunoreactive and Proliferative subtypes. However, the biological underpinnings and regulatory mechanisms underlying the distinct molecular subtypes are largely unknown. Here we showed that tumor-infiltrating stromal cells significantly contributed to the assignments of Mesenchymal and Immunoreactive clusters. Using reverse engineering and an unbiased interrogation of subtype regulatory networks, we identified the transcriptional modules containing master regulators that drive gene expression of Mesenchymal and Immunoreactive HGS-OvCa. Mesenchymal master regulators were associated with poor prognosis, while Immunoreactive master regulators positively correlated with overall survival. Meta-analysis of 749 HGS-OvCa expression profiles confirmed that master regulators as a prognostic signature were able to predict patient outcome. Our data unraveled master regulatory programs of HGS-OvCa subtypes with prognostic and potentially therapeutic relevance, and suggested that the unique transcriptional and clinical characteristics of ovarian Mesenchymal and Immunoreactive subtypes could be, at least partially, ascribed to tumor microenvironment.

Control of an ER haptic master in a virtual slave environment for minimally invasive surgery applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Young-Min; Choi, Seung-Bok

2008-12-01

This paper presents the control performance of an electrorheological (ER) fluid-based haptic master device connected to a virtual slave environment that can be used for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). An already developed haptic joint featuring controllable ER fluid and a spherical joint mechanism is adopted for the master system. Medical forceps and an angular position measuring device are devised and integrated with the joint to establish the MIS master system. In order to embody a human organ in virtual space, a volumetric deformable object is used. The virtual object is then mathematically formulated by a shape-retaining chain-linked (S-chain) model. After evaluating the reflection force, computation time and compatibility with real-time control, the haptic architecture for MIS is established by incorporating the virtual slave with the master device so that the reflection force for the object of the virtual slave and the desired position for the master operator are transferred to each other. In order to achieve the desired force trajectories, a sliding mode controller is formulated and then experimentally realized. Tracking control performances for various force trajectories are evaluated and presented in the time domain.

Developing the role of Swedish advanced practice nurse (APN) through a blended learning master's program: Consequences of knowledge organisation.

PubMed

Bergström, Peter; Lindh, Viveca

2018-01-01

This paper reports on a research study conducted with a group of nurses in Sweden enrolled in a newly developed blended learning master's programme to become advanced practice nurses (APNs). As background, the paper presents the regional needs the programme is intended to address and describes how the programme was designed. The aim was to understand how, from students' perspective, the nurse master's programme structured knowledge for their future position as APNs. The research question focuses on how the master's programme prepares students by meeting their diverse needs for knowledge. Empirical material was collected at two times during the students' first and second years of study through semi-structured qualitative interviews. The findings highlight the process in which these master's students gained a more advanced identity of becoming APNs. This process demonstrates how students perceive their current position as nurses based on a discourse of knowledge in relation to the practical and theoretical knowledge they encounter in the master's programme. This article concludes by recommending that attention should be paid to developing APN role models in the current Swedish healthcare system. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Counteracting tobacco motor sports sponsorship as a promotional tool: is the tobacco settlement enough?

PubMed

Siegel, M

2001-07-01

This study sought to quantify television advertising exposure achieved by tobacco companies through sponsorship of motor sports events and to evaluate the likely effect of the Master Settlement Agreement on this advertising. Data from Sponsors Report, which quantifies the exposure that sponsors of selected televised sporting events receive during broadcasts of those events, were compiled for all motor sports events covered by the service for the period 1997 through 1999. From 1997 through 1999, tobacco companies achieved 169 hours of television advertising exposure and $410.5 million of advertising value for their products by sponsoring motor sports events. If tobacco companies comply with the Master Settlement Agreement and maintain their advertising at 1999 levels, they will still be able to achieve more than 25 hours of television exposure and an equivalent television advertising value of $99.1 million per year. Despite a federal ban on tobacco advertising on television, tobacco companies achieve the equivalent of more than $150 million in television advertising per year through their sponsorship of motor sports events. The Master Settlement Agreement likely will do little to address this problem.

Optical polarimetric observations of GRB prompt emissions by MASTER robots-telescopes net.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorbovskoy, Evgeny; Lipunov, Vladimir; Kornilov, Victor; Shatskij, Nikolaj; Kuvshi-Nov, Dmitry; Tyurina, Nataly; Belinski, Alexander; Krylov, Alexander; Balanutsa, Pavel; Chazov, Vadim; Kuznetsov, Artem; Zimnuhov, Dmitry; Balanutsa, Pavel; Kortunov, Petr; Sankovich, Anatoly; Tlatov, An-Drey; Parkhomenko, A.; Krushinsky, Vadim; Zalozhnyh, Ivan; Popov, A.; Kopytova, Taisia; Ivanov, Kirill; Yazev, Sergey; Yurkov, Vladimir

The main goal of the MASTER-Net project is to produce a unique fast sky survey with all sky observed over a single night down to a limiting magnitude of 19 -20mag. Such a survey will make it possible to address a number of fundamental problems: search for dark energy via the discovery and photometry of supernovas (including SNIa), search for exoplanets, microlensing effects, discovery of minor bodies in the Solar System and space-junk monitoring. All MASTER telescopes can be guided by alerts, and we plan to observe prompt optical emission from gamma-ray bursts synchronously in several filters and in several polarization planes. Observations on telescopes capable to observ polarisation of GRB prompt emission have been begun in the summer of 2009. Since summer of 2009 an observations of several GRB have been made. In particular for GRB0910 and GRB091127 optical polarisation has been measured. So, for GRB091127 which supervision have begun all through 91 sec polarisation at level of several tens percent has been registered. (GCN 10231, GCN 10052, GCN 10203)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Field, Scott E.; Hesthaven, Jan S.; Lau, Stephen R.

In the context of metric perturbation theory for nonspinning black holes, extreme mass ratio binary systems are described by distributionally forced master wave equations. Numerical solution of a master wave equation as an initial boundary value problem requires initial data. However, because the correct initial data for generic-orbit systems is unknown, specification of trivial initial data is a common choice, despite being inconsistent and resulting in a solution which is initially discontinuous in time. As is well known, this choice leads to a burst of junk radiation which eventually propagates off the computational domain. We observe another potential consequence ofmore » trivial initial data: development of a persistent spurious solution, here referred to as the Jost junk solution, which contaminates the physical solution for long times. This work studies the influence of both types of junk on metric perturbations, waveforms, and self-force measurements, and it demonstrates that smooth modified source terms mollify the Jost solution and reduce junk radiation. Our concluding section discusses the applicability of these observations to other numerical schemes and techniques used to solve distributionally forced master wave equations.« less

Theoretical analysis of the overtone-induced isomerization of methyl isocyanide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miller, J.A.; Chandler, D.W.

1986-10-15

A master-equation formalism is applied to the problem of overtone-induced isomerization of CH/sub 3/NC to CH/sub 3/CN. The results are compared to the experiments of Reddy and Berry, who measured the yield of isomerization as a function of pressure after excitation to the fourth and fifth overtones of the CH stretching mode. The master-equation model predicts the yield and the curvature in the yield/sup -1/ vs pressure plots observed in the experiments. For the lower overtone (50) the results are consistent with a simple strong-collider model. However, even under strong-collider conditions the yield is very sensitive to the parameters inmore » the master equation. For the upper overtone (60) the data do not fit a strong collider model and multistep deactivation dominates. We are able to determine from the data the average energy transferred in a collision by assuming a particular form for the energy-transfer function. In addition, the effect of changing the shape of the energy-transfer function is investigated.« less

Using Dictionaries in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aleeva, Gulnara Kh.; Safiullina, Gulshat R.

2016-01-01

The article discusses the problem of mastering new vocabulary at the English language classes. The brief review of the bilingual English-Russian printed and electronic Dictionaries used at the practical classes of English for the students of the first and second courses of the Germanic Philology Department of Kazan Federal University. The method…

Family Practice: A Proposed Solution to the Problem of Meeting the Medical Needs of the Community

PubMed Central

McAuley, R. G.

1967-01-01

Difficulties in meeting today's community medical needs are outlined, followed by a proposed solution in which the first-contact physician is the trained family physician. The McMaster Family Practice Course is described. The potential research contribution of a Department of Family Medicine is stressed. PMID:6020551

Magic Finger Teaching Method in Learning Multiplication Facts among Deaf Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thai, Liong; Yasin, Mohd. Hanafi Mohd

2016-01-01

Deaf students face problems in mastering multiplication facts. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of Magic Finger Teaching Method (MFTM) and students' perception towards MFTM. The research employs a quasi experimental with non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design. Pre-test, post-test and questionnaires were used. As…

Crossword Puzzles for Chemistry Education: Learning Goals beyond Vocabulary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuriev, Elizabeth; Capuano, Ben; Short, Jennifer L.

2016-01-01

Chemistry is a technical scientific discipline strongly underpinned by its own complex and diverse language. To be successful in the problem-solving aspects of chemistry, students must master the language of chemistry, and in particular, the definition of terms and concepts. To assist students in this challenging task, a variety of instructional…

Teaching Quantitative Management to Evening MBA Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Libby, Barbara

1984-01-01

The author discusses the mathematics background of Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students and asks what math tools are necessary for an MBA. While she finds useful the ability to deal with linear and quadratic equations; interest, depreciation, and growth rates; and word problems, she concludes that calculus is of little use apart from…

Social Media as a Learning Technology for University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hussain, Irshad; Cakir, Ozlem; Candeger, Ümmügülsüm

2018-01-01

This paper demonstrates the role of social media as a learning technology for university students and highlights their problems associated with its use. The population of the study consisted of Masters' and Bachelor Studies students studying in their final semesters in the departments of Social Sciences at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,…

The Impact of Family Functioning on Caregiver Burden among Caregivers of Veterans with Congestive Heart Failure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Crystal Dea

2010-01-01

A cross-sectional study of 76 family caregivers of older veterans with congestive heart failure utilized the McMaster model of family functioning to examine the impact of family functioning variables (problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, and affective involvement) on caregiver burden dimensions (relationship burden,…

Developmental Dissociation in the Neural Responses to Simple Multiplication and Subtraction Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prado, Jérôme; Mutreja, Rachna; Booth, James R.

2014-01-01

Mastering single-digit arithmetic during school years is commonly thought to depend upon an increasing reliance on verbally memorized facts. An alternative model, however, posits that fluency in single-digit arithmetic might also be achieved via the increasing use of efficient calculation procedures. To test between these hypotheses, we used a…

Modular space station phase B extension program master plan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Munsey, E. H.

1971-01-01

The project is defined for design, development, fabrication, test, and pre-mission and mission operations of a shuttle-launched modular space station. The project management approach is described in terms of organization, management requirements, work breakdown structure, schedule, time-phased logic, implementation plans, manpower, and funding. The programmatic and technical problems are identified.

Learning To Compete: Post-graduate Training in an Aerospace Company.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hyland, Paul; Sloan, Terry; Beckett, Ron

2002-01-01

A master of technology management degree program was offered to aerospace employees on site; many completed modules and 20 completed degrees. Responses from 38.5% of 65 participants indicated both personal and company benefits (improved capacity for change, movement toward a learning culture), but some experienced problems in applying learning on…

Communicative, Educational, Pedagogical Objectives and Planning in Russian Language Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evtyugina, Alla A.; Hasanova, Irina I.; Kotova, Svetlana S.; Sokolova, Anastasia N.; Svetkina, Irina A.

2016-01-01

The relevance of the problem stems from the necessity to distinctly plan educational process and set the goals for successful mastering of Russian language by foreign students in Russian higher educational institutions. The article is aimed at defining the foreign students' objectives for Russian language training, allowing them to get involved…

Learning Problems in Transnational Business Education and Training: The Case of the MBA in Thailand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pimpa, Nattavud

2009-01-01

The transnational Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme has been one of the most popular official business training programmes amongst Thai business practitioners. Although the numbers of transnational business schools and MBA programmes are rapidly increasing, the programmes face numerous challenges from both local and global factors.…

EFL Learner's Awareness of Stress-Moving vs. Neutral Suffixes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shemshadsara, Zahra Ghorbani

2011-01-01

Mastering pronunciation in EFL context, where direct access to native speaker is scarce, is a highly challenging objective for many language students in Iran. Stress as a suprasegmental feature, more specifically, poses its own problems, specially when suffixes are added to words. There are different types of suffixes, two of which are neutral…

The Use of Argument Mapping to Enhance Critical Thinking Skills in Business Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kunsch, David W.; Schnarr, Karin; van Tyle, Russell

2014-01-01

Complex business problems require enhanced critical thinking skills. In a dedicated, in-person critical thinking class, argument mapping techniques were used in conjunction with business and nonbusiness case studies to build the critical thinking skills of a group of master of business administration students. Results demonstrated that the…

Commitment to Literacy: Another Opportunity for Excellence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roth, Audrey J.

English composition teachers in community colleges encounter a wide range of writing abilities and problems in their classes and must provide a great deal of individualized attention to assist students in mastering the process of writing. If teachers of writing are to be able to carry out their designated commitment to literacy for students,…

The Language of Children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus: Meeting Task Demands and Mastering Syntax.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byrne, Karen; And Others

1990-01-01

Linguistic performance of 7 children (mean age=68 months) with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and average intelligence was evaluated. Subjects dealt with the semantic-pragmatic requirements of linguistically posed problems in an age-appropriate manner. Performance declined as task demands increased but no more than performance of nondisabled…

Using Forensic Science Problems as Teaching Tools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duncan, Kanesa; Daly-Engel, Toby

2006-01-01

The desire to observe and understand the natural world is strong in young children, but high school students often consider science irrelevant to their daily lives. Therefore, as teachers of older age groups, the authors constantly struggle to engage students in scientific exploration so they can master concepts and appreciate the nature of…

Enhancing Mathematics by Online Assessments: Two Cases of Remedial Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brouwer, Natasa; Ekimova, Lilia; Jasinska, Magdalena; van Gastel, Leendert; Virgailaite-Meckauskaite, Egle

2009-01-01

There is growing concern in Europe that some students are not well-equipped to start a Bachelor's or Master's programme, especially when the programme has a strong mathematical focus. In particular, attention is drawn to problems with mathematics in the transition from secondary to higher education. Higher education expects a certain level of…

Teaching Program Evaluation on Interactive Television.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNeil, Keith; Steinhauser, Jim; Newman, Isadore

This paper describes a five-session course entitled "Program Evaluation," which was taught via interactive television in the summer of 2002 to 68 doctoral and master's students in 5 of 6 locations throughout New Mexico. Students received a 4-hour lecture and then participated in off-line activities directed by the instructor. Problems in distance…

Bilingual Education in Sociolinguistic Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fishman, Joshua A.

Discussed are some of the problems of bilingual programs (lack of funds, personnel, and evaluated programs). Four broad categories of bilingual programs are (1) Transitional Bilingualism, in which Spanish is used in the early grades to help pupils "adjust to school" and/or "master subject matter" until their skill in English is developed; (2)…

History, Communications and Some Further Perils of Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldman, Marvin

Presented to the faculty of the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York City) after the acceptance by the New York Board of Regents of the school's plan to offer master's degree programs, these remarks focus on the problems presented by rapid developments in communications technology and the responsibility of the faculty to participate in the…

On Improving Text Readability by Creating a Personal Writing Style

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shen, Yuru

2017-01-01

English writing is one of the four indispensable skills that English learners need to master, but unfortunately, many Chinese college students have much difficulty composing clear, concise and coherent essays although they have studied English for at least over six years. To address the problem, the researchers and teachers in China have tried…

Interfutures: Facing the Future, Mastering the Probable and Managing the Unpredictable.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France).

This report discusses the findings of the three year Interfutures Project which studied the future development of advanced industrial societies and the relations between these countries and the developing countries. The major emphasis of the project was to analyze economic problems. However, political and social elements were also studied. The…

Authentic Performance of Complex Problem-Solving Tasks with an EPSS.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leighton, Chet; McCabe, Cynthia

Just-In-Time Learning (JIT Learning) is a semester-long graduate course that teaches corporate trainers and instructional designers how to design performance improvement interventions. This course is part of a Master's program in Instructional Technology at San Francisco State University. The course has been offered three times and has been…

A Critical Thinking Benchmark for a Department of Agricultural Education and Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Dustin K.; Retallick, Michael S.; Paulsen, Thomas H.

2014-01-01

Due to an ever changing world where technology seemingly provides endless answers, today's higher education students must master a new skill set reflecting an emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, and communications. The purpose of this study was to establish a departmental benchmark for critical thinking abilities of students majoring…

The Development of a Continuing Education Program for Mid-Career Professionals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gunderson, Norman O.

The Master's Degree Program in Cybernetic Systems was proposed a decade ago as an interdisciplinary problem-solving oriented educational effort. Implemented seven years ago, it has developed into a successful continuing education vehicle for mid-career professionals. Those proposing the program recognized that without guidelines to follow, it must…

Parents Who Bully the School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evans, Robert; Thompson, Michael G.

2016-01-01

Over the last 30 years, Robert Evans and Michael Thompson have been called to consult with more than 2,000 schools independent and public, in the United States and internationally. These school visits have given them a deep appreciation for the range and complexity of challenges schools face and for their capacity to master evolving problems. With…

Strengthening Grade 3-5 Students' Foundational Knowledge of Rational Numbers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Good, Thomas L.; Wood, Marcy B.; Sabers, Darrell; Olson, Amy M.; Lavigne, Alyson Leah; Sun, Huaping; Kalinec-Craig, Crystal

2013-01-01

Background: American students have done poorly in algebra and that has generated policy concerns about preparing students for STEM careers. There has been growing recognition that the algebra problem may begin in earlier grades when students do not adequately master rational numbers. Purpose: The study provided a series of workshops organized…

Transfer of Algebraic and Graphical Thinking between Mathematics and Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potgieter, Marietjie; Harding, Ansie; Engelbrecht, Johann

2008-01-01

Students in undergraduate chemistry courses find, as a rule, topics with a strong mathematical basis difficult to master. In this study we investigate whether such mathematically related problems are due to deficiencies in their mathematics foundation or due to the complexity introduced by transfer of mathematics to a new scientific domain. In the…

Violent Video Games as Exemplary Teachers: A Conceptual Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gentile, Douglas A.; Gentile, J. Ronald

2008-01-01

This article presents conceptual and empirical analyses of several of the "best practices" of learning and instruction, and demonstrates how violent video games use them effectively to motivate learners to persevere in acquiring and mastering a number of skills, to navigate through complex problems and changing environments, and to experiment with…

CAD/CAM produces dentures with improved fit.

PubMed

Steinmassl, Otto; Dumfahrt, Herbert; Grunert, Ingrid; Steinmassl, Patricia-Anca

2018-02-22

Resin polymerisation shrinkage reduces the congruence of the denture base with denture-bearing tissues and thereby decreases the retention of conventionally fabricated dentures. CAD/CAM denture manufacturing is a subtractive process, and polymerisation shrinkage is not an issue anymore. Therefore, CAD/CAM dentures are assumed to show a higher denture base congruence than conventionally fabricated dentures. It has been the aim of this study to test this hypothesis. CAD/CAM dentures provided by four different manufacturers (AvaDent, Merz Dental, Whole You, Wieland/Ivoclar) were generated from ten different master casts. Ten conventional dentures (pack and press, long-term heat polymerisation) made from the same master casts served as control group. The master casts and all denture bases were scanned and matched digitally. The absolute incongruences were measured using a 2-mm mesh. Conventionally fabricated dentures showed a mean deviation of 0.105 mm, SD = 0.019 from the master cast. All CAD/CAM dentures showed lower mean incongruences. From all CAD/CAM dentures, AvaDent Digital Dentures showed the highest congruence with the master cast surface with a mean deviation of 0.058 mm, SD = 0.005. Wieland Digital Dentures showed a mean deviation of 0.068 mm, SD = 0.005, Whole You Nexteeth prostheses showed a mean deviation of 0.074 mm, SD = 0.011 and Baltic Denture System prostheses showed a mean deviation of 0.086 mm, SD = 0.012. CAD/CAM produces dentures with better fit than conventional dentures. The present study explains the clinically observed enhanced retention and lower traumatic ulcer-frequency in CAD/CAM dentures.

An entrepreneurial physics method and its experimental test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Robert

2012-02-01

As faculty in a master's program for entrepreneurial physics and in an applied physics PhD program, I have advised upwards of 40 master and doctoral theses in industrial physics. I have been closely involved with four robust start-up manufacturing companies focused on physics high-technology and I have spent 30 years collaborating with industrial physicists on research and development. Thus I am in a position to reflect on many articles and advice columns centered on entrepreneurship. What about the goals, strategies, resources, skills, and the 10,000 hours needed to be an entrepreneur? What about business plans, partners, financing, patents, networking, salesmanship and regulatory affairs? What about learning new technology, how to solve problems and, in fact, learning innovation itself? At this point, I have my own method to propose to physicists in academia for incorporating entrepreneurship into their research lives. With this method, we do not start with a major invention or discovery, or even with a search for one. The method is based on the training we have, and the teaching we do (even quantum electrodynamics!), as physicists. It is based on the networking we build by 1) providing courses of continuing education for people working in industry and 2) through our undergraduate as well as graduate students who have gone on to work in industry. In fact, if we were to be limited to two words to describe the method, they are ``former students.'' Data from local and international medical imaging manufacturing industry are presented.

Data preparation techniques for a perinatal psychiatric study based on linked data.

PubMed

Xu, Fenglian; Hilder, Lisa; Austin, Marie-Paule; Sullivan, Elizabeth A

2012-06-08

In recent years there has been an increase in the use of population-based linked data. However, there is little literature that describes the method of linked data preparation. This paper describes the method for merging data, calculating the statistical variable (SV), recoding psychiatric diagnoses and summarizing hospital admissions for a perinatal psychiatric study. The data preparation techniques described in this paper are based on linked birth data from the New South Wales (NSW) Midwives Data Collection (MDC), the Register of Congenital Conditions (RCC), the Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC) and the Pharmaceutical Drugs of Addiction System (PHDAS). The master dataset is the meaningfully linked data which include all or major study data collections. The master dataset can be used to improve the data quality, calculate the SV and can be tailored for different analyses. To identify hospital admissions in the periods before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after birth, a statistical variable of time interval (SVTI) needs to be calculated. The methods and SPSS syntax for building a master dataset, calculating the SVTI, recoding the principal diagnoses of mental illness and summarizing hospital admissions are described. Linked data preparation, including building the master dataset and calculating the SV, can improve data quality and enhance data function.

Improving evidence based practice in postgraduate nursing programs: A systematic review: Bridging the evidence practice gap (BRIDGE project).

PubMed

Hickman, Louise D; DiGiacomo, Michelle; Phillips, Jane; Rao, Angela; Newton, Phillip J; Jackson, Debra; Ferguson, Caleb

2018-04-01

The nursing profession has a significant evidence to practice gap in an increasingly complex and dynamic health care environment. To evaluate effectiveness of teaching and learning strategies related to a capstone project within a Masters of Nursing program that encourage the development of evidence based practice capabilities. Systematic review that conforms to the PRISMA statement. Master's Nursing programs that include elements of a capstone project within a university setting. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ERIC and PsycInfo were used to search for RCT's or quasi experimental studies conducted between 1979 and 9 June 2017, published in a peer reviewed journal in English. Of 1592 studies, no RCT's specifically addressed the development of evidence based practice capabilities within the university teaching environment. Five quasi-experimental studies integrated blended learning, guided design processes, small group work, role play and structured debate into Masters of Nursing research courses. All five studies demonstrated some improvements in evidence based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation, with three out of five studies demonstrating significant improvements. There is a paucity of empirical evidence supporting the best strategies to use in developing evidence based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation skills for Master's Nursing students. As a profession, nursing requires methodologically robust studies that are discipline specific to identify the best approaches for developing evidence-based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation skills within the university teaching environment. Provision of these strategies will enable the nursing profession to integrate the best empirical evidence into nursing practice. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Reproductive rights and responsibilities.

PubMed

Oliviera, R D

1994-01-01

Rosiska Darcy Oliviera, Executive Secretary of the Coalition of Brazilian Women from Non-governmental Organizations for Population and Environment, stresses the need to view population control as a political problem rather than just a technical problem of demographic organization. At present, science, technology, and capital separate the work in much the same way that the master slave relationship of colonialist times did. The vast majority of the excluded are from developing countries in the South and, from a market perspective, these outcasts serve no purpose to global processes. Relegated to the margins of society, outcasts are often forced to turn to illegal activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution to survive, and these behaviors are used to bolster racist ideology. Improving the quality of life for all men and women requires a global alliance to overcome this social apartheid. If women are to exercise their reproductive rights, women's health programs must extend their focus beyond contraception to include education that empowers women to make real choices and a material base that permits access to a spectrum of safe methods.

Local synchronization of chaotic neural networks with sampled-data and saturating actuators.

PubMed

Wu, Zheng-Guang; Shi, Peng; Su, Hongye; Chu, Jian

2014-12-01

This paper investigates the problem of local synchronization of chaotic neural networks with sampled-data and actuator saturation. A new time-dependent Lyapunov functional is proposed for the synchronization error systems. The advantage of the constructed Lyapunov functional lies in the fact that it is positive definite at sampling times but not necessarily between sampling times, and makes full use of the available information about the actual sampling pattern. A local stability condition of the synchronization error systems is derived, based on which a sampled-data controller with respect to the actuator saturation is designed to ensure that the master neural networks and slave neural networks are locally asymptotically synchronous. Two optimization problems are provided to compute the desired sampled-data controller with the aim of enlarging the set of admissible initial conditions or the admissible sampling upper bound ensuring the local synchronization of the considered chaotic neural networks. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design technique.

Numerical modeling and simulation studies for the M4 adaptive mirror of the E-ELT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbillet, Marcel; Riccardi, Armando; Xompero, Marco

2012-07-01

We report in this paper on the progress of numerical modeling and simulation studies of the M4 adaptive mirror, a representative of the "adaptive secondary mirrors" technology, for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). This is based on both dedicated routines and the existing code of the Software Package CADS. The points approached are basically the specific problems encountered with this particular type of voice-coil adaptive mirrors on the E-ELT: (*) the segmentation of the adaptive mirror, implying a fitting error due also to the edges of its six petals, as well as possible co-phasing problems to be evaluated in terms of interaction with the wavefront sensor (a pyramid here); (**) the necessary presence of "master" and "slave" actuators which management, in terms of wavefront reconstruction, implies to consider different strategies. The on-going work being performed for the two above points is described in details, and some preliminary results are given.

Structural conceptualization of learning experiences in nursing master's degree programs utilized in occupational health nursing activities.

PubMed

Aoyama, Wakako; Tatsumi, Asami

2017-01-31

In this study, concepts were constructed that express learning experiences in nursing master's degree programs utilized in occupational health nursing activities with the aim of clarifying those characteristics. This was based on the idea that elucidation of the characteristics of learning experiences in nursing master's degree programs used in occupational health nursing activities would be meaningful in providing high-quality occupational health services that respond to the needs of society. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people who fulfilled the three conditions of having completed a master's degree programs, working as an occupational health nurse after completion of the program, and not continuing on to a doctoral program. The nursing conceptualization method of Naomi Funashima was used. From the obtained data, 512 code items expressing learning experiences in master's degree programs utilized in occupational health nursing activities were identified. These items included five core categories (concepts), 34 categories, and 69 subcategories. The five concepts constructed were "Pursuit of expertise and self-evaluation," "Mutual understanding of various people that leads to human resources utilization," "Theoretical and academic learning that influences changes in activities," "Research learning that lead to activities based on scientific evidence," and "Learning that leads to high-quality activities making use of expertise." It was found that various learning experiences in the master's program to pursue the specialty of occupational health nurses in order to recognize their roles as well as the experiences to take the initiative in learning had been integrated in their activities after completion of the course and had contributed to their high-quality occupational health nursing activities. It was suggested that the learning experiences in the master's program, which had been revealed in this study, were the experiences necessary for providing high-quality occupational health nursing activities to satisfy the social needs.

LG-ANALYST: linguistic geometry for master air attack planning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stilman, Boris; Yakhnis, Vladimir; Umanskiy, Oleg

2003-09-01

We investigate the technical feasibility of implementing LG-ANALYST, a new software tool based on the Linguistic Geometry (LG) approach. The tool will be capable of modeling and providing solutions to Air Force related battlefield problems and of conducting multiple experiments to verify the quality of the solutions it generates. LG-ANALYST will support generation of the Fast Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP) with subsequent conversion into Air Tasking Order (ATO). An Air Force mission is modeled employing abstract board games (ABG). Such a mission may include, for example, an aircraft strike package moving to a target area with the opposing side having ground-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft batteries, fighter wings, and radars. The corresponding abstract board captures 3D air space, terrain, the aircraft trajectories, positions of the batteries, strategic features of the terrain, such as bridges, and their status, radars and illuminated space, etc. Various animated views are provided by LG-ANALYST including a 3D view for realistic representation of the battlespace and a 2D view for ease of analysis and control. LG-ANALYST will allow a user to model full scale intelligent enemy, plan in advance, re-plan and control in real time Blue and Red forces by generating optimal (or near-optimal) strategies for all sides of a conflict.

Resummed memory kernels in generalized system-bath master equations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mavros, Michael G.; Van Voorhis, Troy, E-mail: tvan@mit.edu

2014-08-07

Generalized master equations provide a concise formalism for studying reduced population dynamics. Usually, these master equations require a perturbative expansion of the memory kernels governing the dynamics; in order to prevent divergences, these expansions must be resummed. Resummation techniques of perturbation series are ubiquitous in physics, but they have not been readily studied for the time-dependent memory kernels used in generalized master equations. In this paper, we present a comparison of different resummation techniques for such memory kernels up to fourth order. We study specifically the spin-boson Hamiltonian as a model system bath Hamiltonian, treating the diabatic coupling between themore » two states as a perturbation. A novel derivation of the fourth-order memory kernel for the spin-boson problem is presented; then, the second- and fourth-order kernels are evaluated numerically for a variety of spin-boson parameter regimes. We find that resumming the kernels through fourth order using a Padé approximant results in divergent populations in the strong electronic coupling regime due to a singularity introduced by the nature of the resummation, and thus recommend a non-divergent exponential resummation (the “Landau-Zener resummation” of previous work). The inclusion of fourth-order effects in a Landau-Zener-resummed kernel is shown to improve both the dephasing rate and the obedience of detailed balance over simpler prescriptions like the non-interacting blip approximation, showing a relatively quick convergence on the exact answer. The results suggest that including higher-order contributions to the memory kernel of a generalized master equation and performing an appropriate resummation can provide a numerically-exact solution to system-bath dynamics for a general spectral density, opening the way to a new class of methods for treating system-bath dynamics.« less

Computational solutions to large-scale data management and analysis

PubMed Central

Schadt, Eric E.; Linderman, Michael D.; Sorenson, Jon; Lee, Lawrence; Nolan, Garry P.

2011-01-01

Today we can generate hundreds of gigabases of DNA and RNA sequencing data in a week for less than US$5,000. The astonishing rate of data generation by these low-cost, high-throughput technologies in genomics is being matched by that of other technologies, such as real-time imaging and mass spectrometry-based flow cytometry. Success in the life sciences will depend on our ability to properly interpret the large-scale, high-dimensional data sets that are generated by these technologies, which in turn requires us to adopt advances in informatics. Here we discuss how we can master the different types of computational environments that exist — such as cloud and heterogeneous computing — to successfully tackle our big data problems. PMID:20717155

Using Bloom's Taxonomy to Evaluate the Cognitive Levels of Master Class Textbook's Questions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Assaly, Ibtihal R.; Smadi, Oqlah M.

2015-01-01

This study aimed at evaluating the cognitive levels of the questions following the reading texts of Master Class textbook. A checklist based on Bloom's Taxonomy was the instrument used to categorize the cognitive levels of these questions. The researchers used proper statistics to rank the cognitive levels of the comprehension questions. The…

Bus-Programmable Slave Card

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, William A.

1990-01-01

Slave microprocessors in multimicroprocessor computing system contains modified circuit cards programmed via bus connecting master processor with slave microprocessors. Enables interactive, microprocessor-based, single-loop control. Confers ability to load and run program from master/slave bus, without need for microprocessor development station. Tristate buffers latch all data and information on status. Slave central processing unit never connected directly to bus.

Exploring the Dimensions of Brand Reputation in Higher Education--A Case Study of a Finnish Master's Degree Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suomi, Kati

2014-01-01

This exploratory study examines the dimensions that are relevant to brand reputation, particularly in the context of master's degree programmes. The data analysis is based on Vidaver-Cohen's "Business school quality dimensions and reputational attributes". The qualitative data for the case study comprise a student questionnaire and…

An E-Learning Collaborative Environment: Learning within a Masters in Education Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hendricks, Natheem

2012-01-01

This article contributes to the debate about e-learning as a form of adult education. It is based on the experiences of South African students, describes and analyses group interaction in an intercontinental Masters in Adult Education Programme which uses a computer electronic platform as the primary medium for learning and teaching. The article…

Room Use for Group Instruction in Regularly Scheduled Classes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phay, John E.; McCary, Arthur D.

A method by which accurate accounting by computer might be made of apace and room use by regularly scheduled classes in institutions of higher learning is furnished. Based on well-defined terms, a master room schedule and a master course schedule are prepared on computer cards. This information is then compared with the reported individual room…

Promise for the Future: An Evaluation of the Texas Master Reading Teacher Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Linda DeZell; O'Neill, Kevin J.; Hasbrouck, Jan E.; Parker, Richard I.

In 1999 the Texas Legislature provided for the creation of the Master Reading Teacher (MRT) Certificate to address several issues. MRTs primary duties are to: serve as reading teachers; consult with and mentor other teachers; and provide research-based information and training. In September 2001 the Texas Education Agency asked Dr. Jan Hasbrouck…

Collective and Experimental Research Project for Master's Students on the Pathophysiology of Obesity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bourlier, Virginie; Conte, Caroline; Denis, Colette; Dray, Cédric; Guillou, Pascale; Belliure, Manuela; Lorsignol, Anne; Noël, Marion; Buffin-Meyer, Bénédicte

2017-01-01

We describe here a collective and experimental research project-based learning (ERPBL) for master's students that can be used to illustrate some basic concepts on glucose/lipid homeostasis and renal function around a topical issue. The primary objective of this ERPBL was to strengthen students' knowledge and understanding of physiology and…

Establishing and Maintaining Program Coherence in a Cohort-Based Graduate Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamb, Lisa Clement; Jacobs, Victoria R.

2009-01-01

One characteristic of master's programs that has received little attention in the literature is the opportunity that cohorts allow for creating intellectually coherent programs rather than a collection of independent courses. We thus describe how the faculty who taught in a cohort for students earning a master of arts degree in K-8 mathematics…

A Value-Added Approach to Selecting the Best Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Dorothy M.; Kiang, Melody; Fisher, Steven A.

2007-01-01

Although numerous studies rank master of business administration (MBA) programs, prospective students' selection of the best MBA program is a formidable task. In this study, the authors used a linear-programming-based model called data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate MBA programs. The DEA model connects costs to benefits to evaluate the…

The Process and Experience of Online Group Counseling for Masters-Level Counseling Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lopresti, Jason Michael

2010-01-01

The present study explored the process and experience of online group counseling using a text-based synchronous program, particularly addressing how the process compares to face-to-face group counseling. Six students in a masters-level group counseling class voluntarily chose to participate for eight sixty minute online sessions on a weekly basis,…

The Master in Addiction Medicine Program in the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Jong, Cornelis; Luycks, Lonneke; Delicat, Jan-Wilm

2011-01-01

Since 2007 there is a full-time, 2-year professional training in addiction medicine in the Netherlands. The aim of this article is to describe in detail the development and present status of the Dutch Master in Addiction Medicine (MiAM) program. In this competency-based professional training, theoretical courses are integrated with learning in…

Blending Q and P: Incorporating Action Learning in a Master's Programme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boak, George

2011-01-01

This paper is based on the experience of incorporating action learning within a Master's degree programme over a period of 14 years. The MA in Leading Innovation and Change was launched in 1995. It was first developed, and subsequently delivered, by a small group of staff working collaboratively across organisational boundaries. It is currently…

Team-Based Programs: The EMP. An Industry/University Partnership-The Educational Model for the 21st Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haynes, Ray; And Others

California Polytechnic State University's College of Business and College of Engineering have joined forces to create a joint Engineering Management Program (EMP). Students holding undergraduate engineering or equivalent degrees enter and earn both Masters in Business Administration and Masters of Science in Engineering in 24 months. The program…

Marketing and Student Recruitment Practices for Master's-Level Graduate Programs, 2012. Trends in Enrollment Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noel-Levitz, Inc, 2012

2012-01-01

What's working in the area of marketing and recruiting for master's-level graduate programs? To find out, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) and Noel-Levitz conducted a national, Web-based poll to determine and report the most effective practices. Highlights from the findings: (1) Among the "top 10" most…

Content Analysis of Master Theses and Dissertations Based on Action Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durak, Gürhan; Yünkül, Eyup; Cankaya, Serkan; Akpinar, Sükran; Erten, Emine; Inam, Nazmiye; Taylan, Ufuk; Tastekin, Eray

2016-01-01

Action Research (AR) is becoming popular in the field of education, and according to literature, it could be stated that AR studies have positive influence on practice in education. The present study aims at conducting content analysis of action research (AR) master theses and doctoral dissertations submitted at the level of Turkish higher…

Leveraging the Relationship: Knowledge Processes in School-University Research Networks of Master's Programmes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornelissen, Frank; Daly, Alan J.; Liou, Yi-Hwa; Van Swet, Jacqueline; Beijaard, Douwe; Bergen, Theo C. M.

2015-01-01

This study investigated the way developing, sharing and using of research-based knowledge occurred in the school-university research network of a master's programme for in-service teachers in the Netherlands. Over a 10-month period, a combination of quantitative and qualitative network data was collected. Data were analysed at three network…

Masters Athletes: Exemplars of Successful Aging?

PubMed

Geard, David; Reaburn, Peter R J; Rebar, Amanda L; Dionigi, Rylee A

2017-07-01

Global population aging has raised academic interest in successful aging to a public policy priority. Currently there is no consensus regarding the definition of successful aging. However, a synthesis of research shows successful aging can be defined as a late-life process of change characterized by high physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning. Masters athletes systematically train for, and compete in, organized forms of team and individual sport specifically designed for older adults. Masters athletes are often proposed as exemplars of successful aging. However, their aging status has never been examined using a comprehensive multidimensional successful aging definition. Here, we examine the successful aging literature, propose a successful aging definition based on this literature, present evidence which suggests masters athletes could be considered exemplars of successful aging according to the proposed definition, and list future experimental research directions.

Physiological control of dual rotary pumps as a biventricular assist device using a master/slave approach.

PubMed

Stevens, Michael C; Wilson, Stephen; Bradley, Andrew; Fraser, John; Timms, Daniel

2014-09-01

Dual rotary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can provide biventricular mechanical support during heart failure. Coordination of left and right pump speeds is critical not only to avoid ventricular suction and to match cardiac output with demand, but also to ensure balanced systemic and pulmonary circulatory volumes. Physiological control systems for dual LVADs must meet these objectives across a variety of clinical scenarios by automatically adjusting left and right pump speeds to avoid catastrophic physiological consequences. In this study we evaluate a novel master/slave physiological control system for dual LVADs. The master controller is a Starling-like controller, which sets flow rate as a function of end-diastolic ventricular pressure (EDP). The slave controller then maintains a linear relationship between right and left EDPs. Both left/right and right/left master/slave combinations were evaluated by subjecting them to four clinical scenarios (rest, postural change, Valsalva maneuver, and exercise) simulated in a mock circulation loop. The controller's performance was compared to constant-rotational-speed control and two other dual LVAD control systems: dual constant inlet pressure and dual Frank-Starling control. The results showed that the master/slave physiological control system produced fewer suction events than constant-speed control (6 vs. 62 over a 7-min period). Left/right master/slave control had lower risk of pulmonary congestion than the other control systems, as indicated by lower maximum EDPs (15.1 vs. 25.2-28.4 mm Hg). During exercise, master/slave control increased total flow from 5.2 to 10.1 L/min, primarily due to an increase of left and right pump speed. Use of the left pump as the master resulted in fewer suction events and lower EDPs than when the right pump was master. Based on these results, master/slave control using the left pump as the master automatically adjusts pump speed to avoid suction and increases pump flow during exercise without causing pulmonary venous congestion. Copyright © 2014 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effect of breath freshener strips on two types of breath alcohol testing instruments.

PubMed

Moore, Ronald L; Guillen, Jennifer

2004-07-01

The potential for breath freshener strips to interfere with the accuracy of a breath alcohol test was studied. Twelve varieties of breath freshener strips from five manufacturers were examined. Breath tests were conducted using the infrared based BAC DataMaster or the fuel cell based Alco-Sensor IV-XL, 30 and 150 seconds after placing a breath strip on the tongue. No effect was observed using the Alco-Sensor system. Some of the strips gave a small reading at 30 seconds (less than or equal to 0.010 g/210 L apparent alcohol) using the DataMaster. Readings on the DataMaster returned to zero by the 150 second test. A proper pre-test observation and deprivation period should prevent any interference from breath freshener strips on breath alcohol testing.

Mid-infrared source with 0.2 J pulse energy based on nonlinear conversion of Q-switched pulses in ZnGeP2.

PubMed

Haakestad, Magnus W; Fonnum, Helge; Lippert, Espen

2014-04-07

Mid-infrared (3-5 μm) pulses with high energy are produced using nonlinear conversion in a ZnGeP(2)-based master oscillator-power amplifier, pumped by a Q-switched cryogenic Ho:YLF oscillator. The master oscillator is based on an optical parametric oscillator with a V-shaped 3-mirror ring resonator, and the power amplifier is based on optical parametric amplification in large-aperture ZnGeP(2) crystals. Pulses with up to 212 mJ energy at 1 Hz repetition rate are obtained, with FWHM duration 15 ns and beam quality M(2) = 3.

Chaos synchronization of uncertain chaotic systems using composite nonlinear feedback based integral sliding mode control.

PubMed

Mobayen, Saleh

2018-06-01

This paper proposes a combination of composite nonlinear feedback and integral sliding mode techniques for fast and accurate chaos synchronization of uncertain chaotic systems with Lipschitz nonlinear functions, time-varying delays and disturbances. The composite nonlinear feedback method allows accurate following of the master chaotic system and the integral sliding mode control provides invariance property which rejects the perturbations and preserves the stability of the closed-loop system. Based on the Lyapunov- Krasovskii stability theory and linear matrix inequalities, a novel sufficient condition is offered for the chaos synchronization of uncertain chaotic systems. This method not only guarantees the robustness against perturbations and time-delays, but also eliminates reaching phase and avoids chattering problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the suggested procedure leads to a great control performance. Copyright © 2018 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of underground pipeline based on Golay waveform design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Jingjing; Xu, Dazhuan

2017-08-01

The detection of underground pipeline is an important problem in the development of the city, but the research about it is not mature at present. In this paper, based on the principle of waveform design in wireless communication, we design an acoustic signal detection system to detect the location of underground pipelines. According to the principle of acoustic localization, we chose DSP-F28335 as the development board, and use DA and AD module as the master control chip. The DA module uses complementary Golay sequence as emission signal. The AD module acquisiting data synchronously, so that the echo signals which containing position information of the target is recovered through the signal processing. The test result shows that the method in this paper can not only calculate the sound velocity of the soil, but also can locate the location of underground pipelines accurately.

Time Limits in Testing: An Analysis of Eye Movements and Visual Attention in Spatial Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roach, Victoria A.; Fraser, Graham M.; Kryklywy, James H.; Mitchell, Derek G. V.; Wilson, Timothy D.

2017-01-01

Individuals with an aptitude for interpreting spatial information (high mental rotation ability: HMRA) typically master anatomy with more ease, and more quickly, than those with low mental rotation ability (LMRA). This article explores how visual attention differs with time limits on spatial reasoning tests. Participants were assorted to two…

Regents Physics Syllabus: A Syllabus for Secondary Schools. [Revised].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany. Bureau of Curriculum Development.

This syllabus outlines a course of study for high school students in the New York State Regents Physics program. It is a major revision of the 1967 edition. It identifies skills students should master, encourages the development of positive science attitudes and emphasizes problem solving. The five core areas represent the basics for all students,…

Current Problems in Vocational Education in Switzerland: Report on a National Research Program. Occasional Paper No. 93.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steiner, Gerhard

Vocational education in Switzerland takes place mainly in three kinds of institutions. Apprentices receive training in small laboratories or workshops from a master, in larger companies from a special trainer, or in state or private workshops. Besides this job-oriented education, apprentices attend courses in vocational schools. Research in…

Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Student Success in First-Year Master of Social Work Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horne, Dana Meredith

2017-01-01

Emotional intelligence has been defined as "the ability to recognize the meanings of emotions and their relationships, and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them" (Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 1999, p. 267). Despite the relevance of emotional intelligence to social work education, limited research has focused on the assessment…

The ReDistricting Game: Teaching Congressional Gerrymandering through an Online Simulation Game

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Juckett, Emily; Feinberg, Joseph R.

2010-01-01

The ReDistricting Game is an online simulation game that engages learners in the redistricting process and spotlights the problem of gerrymandering districts in the United States. Hands-on simulation games such as this one can motivate students to think at higher levels and master key concepts. The concept of redistricting does not automatically…

Capstone Interdisciplinary Team Project: A Requirement for the MS in Sustainability Degree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jiji, Latif M.; Schonfeld, Irvin Sam; Smith, George A.

2015-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to describe experience gained with a required six-credit year-long course, the Capstone Interdisciplinary Team Project, a key component of the Master of Science (MS) in Sustainability degree at the City College of New York. A common feature of sustainability problems is their interdisciplinary nature. Solutions to…

The Impact of a Post-Master's Program in Substance Abuse on Social Work and Other Health Professionals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Straussner, Shulamith Lala A.; Vairo, Elena

2007-01-01

Substance abuse is a major problem encountered by social workers in all settings. This study investigated the impact of a postmaster's program in the treatment of substance-abusing clients on the domains of "Attitudes and Values," "Knowledge and Skills," and "Behaviors" of its graduates. Overall, 91 percent of…

Two Year College Faculty Problems: Master Contracts, Pros and Cons.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Don A., Ed.

The principal papers presented at this conference were as follows: (1) "We've Come a Long Way, Baby" by Thomas F. Stark, (2) "Hey! Who Runs This Show?" by Clair T. Blikre, and (3) "Bargaining Allows Teachers to Teach!" by Ralph Chesebrough. The background, purposes and activities of the Iron Range Institute are described. The appendix, Career…

Communication for the Workplace: An Integrated Language Approach. Second Edition. Job Skills. Net Effect Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ettinger, Blanche; Perfetto, Edda

Using a developmental, hands-on approach, this text/workbook helps students master the basic English skills that are essential to write effective business correspondence, to recognize language errors, and to develop decision-making and problem-solving skills. Its step-by-step focus and industry-specific format encourages students to review,…

A "Tools for Teachers" Approach for Infusing Social Skills Instruction into Daily Teaching Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leffert, James S.; Brady, Mary E.; Siperstein, Gary N.

2009-01-01

Students participate in a "social community" of learners. For children with learning problems, mastering the skills needed to actively participate in this community can be a challenge. How can teachers find time to provide social skills instruction, given the pressures to teach academic subjects first and foremost? This article shows school…

Formation of Future Teachers' Professional Competence on the Basis of Polylingual Approach: The State Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhorabekova, Ainur N.

2015-01-01

Nowadays the institutions of higher education are facing new challenges, the which aim is to provide highly qualified specialists who have mastered not only professional knowledge, but also ready for intercultural multilingual communication, solving problems independently, teaching subjects in two or more languages. For teacher training, we need a…

Testing Methodology in the Student Learning Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gorbunova, Tatiana N.

2017-01-01

The subject of the research is to build methodologies to evaluate the student knowledge by testing. The author points to the importance of feedback about the mastering level in the learning process. Testing is considered as a tool. The object of the study is to create the test system models for defence practice problems. Special attention is paid…

The Surprising Power of Statistical Learning: When Fragment Knowledge Leads to False Memories of Unheard Words

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Endress, Ansgar D.; Mehler, Jacques

2009-01-01

Word-segmentation, that is, the extraction of words from fluent speech, is one of the first problems language learners have to master. It is generally believed that statistical processes, in particular those tracking "transitional probabilities" (TPs), are important to word-segmentation. However, there is evidence that word forms are stored in…

How Children Learn Their Mother Tongue: They Don't

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halpern, Mark

2016-01-01

A new solution is offered to the Infant Language Acquisition Problem, rejecting both of Chomsky's alternatives. It proposes that the infant does not acquire his mother tongue by mastering its grammar, whether by inference from personal experience or via an innate Language Acquisition Device such as the UG, but that the language he hears is all…

Biological Science: An Ecological Approach. BSCS Green Version. Teacher's Resource Book and Test Item Bank. Sixth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, Colorado Springs.

This book consists of four sections: (1) "Supplemental Materials"; (2) "Supplemental Investigations"; (3) "Test Item Bank"; and (4) "Blackline Masters." The first section provides additional background material related to selected chapters and investigations in the student book. Included are a periodic table of the elements, genetics problems and…

The Effects of the Constructivist Learning Approach on Student's Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ayaz, Mehmet Fatih; Sekerci, Hanifi

2015-01-01

In this research, a meta-analysis study was conducted in order to determine the effects of constructivist learning approach on students' academic achievement. Master's thesis, doctoral dissertation and articles in national and international databases, which are realized between the years of 2003-2014, appropriate to the problem and which can be…

Didactic Aspects of the Academic Discipline "History and Methodology of Mathematics"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Hai; Varankina, Vera I.; Sadovaya, Victoriya V.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this article is to develop the content and methods, as well as the analysis of the approbation of the program of the academic discipline "History and methodology of mathematics" for graduate students of the Master's program of mathematical program tracks. The leading method in the study of this problem was the method of…

12 Years of Action Learning at EM Normandie: Monitored Field Projects as Regular Pedagogical Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anger, Sophie Gay; Hachard, Virginie

2011-01-01

The Master Grande Ecole curriculum at EM Normandie School is organized around junior consulting projects and real problem solving activities aiming at bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and professional competencies. Since the 90's, students are involved in regular consulting activities for local and national companies following the…

Perceptions of Geography as a Discipline among Students of Different Academic Levels in Pakistan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fatima, Munazza

2016-01-01

Geography is facing the problem of its identity and recognition as a useful academic discipline in Pakistan. This research paper examines the perception about geography as an academic discipline from the students of different academic levels i.e. intermediate, graduate, master and M.Phil. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and a…

Earthquakes and Tsunamis. High School Teacher's Guidebook [and] High School Textbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France). Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

This teacher's guide and student text detail the causes and effects of earthquakes and tsunamis. In the teacher's guidebook, suggested activities for each section of the text book's chapters as well as answers to the chapter test problems are presented. Worksheet masters are also provided. Chapters in both books are: (1) "Outside and Inside…

Professional Development Graduate Courses and a Masters of Arts in Physics Education with Web Based Course Components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindgren, Richard; Thornton, Stephen

2010-02-01

Professional development courses offered in physical/Earth science and physics by the Department of Physics are delivered by different venues to accommodate the needs of the K-12 teaching community. The majority of teachers take our courses off-site or through our distance-learning web-based program on the Internet for endorsement or recertification, but with a gradually increasing number enrolling in our 30 credit Masters of Arts in Physics Education degree (MAPE) program. The purpose of the Masters program is to provide increased physics content to those teachers who feel inadequately prepared to teach high school physics. The increase in numbers and success of this program is partly due to the convenience of taking online web-based courses which is made possible by using the latest communication technologies on the high speed internet. There is also a residential component of the MAPE program, which requires the candidates to earn 14 credits of calculus-based core physics in residence in the summer at the University. We have graduated a total of 91 teachers since the program began in 2000. )

Clinical nurse specialist practice domains and evidence-based practice competencies: a matrix of influence.

PubMed

Kring, Daria L

2008-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe master's-level evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies as determined by a national consensus panel and present an EBP matrix that illustrates the influence that the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) practice can have on driving EBP change. Evidence-based practice is a growing and necessary paradigm for nursing care. The ACE Star Model conceptualizes the knowledge transformation that must occur in an EBP environment as 5 distinct points: discovery, summary, translation, integration, and evaluation. Master's-level EBP competencies based on these 5 steps were established by a national consensus panel. The CNS's practice can be organized around 5 domains: expert practitioner, researcher, consultant, educator, and leader. The master's-level EBP competencies can be transposed on a crosswalk of the ACE Star Model and the 5 CNS practice domains to form a matrix representing the influence that CNSs can have over the EBP process. Each competency falls well within the practice domains of the CNS, making the CNS an ideal person to lead the EBP movement forward, providing tangible outcomes to further demonstrate the need for the CNS role.

Epidemics in networks: a master equation approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cotacallapa, M.; Hase, M. O.

2016-02-01

A problem closely related to epidemiology, where a subgraph of ‘infected’ links is defined inside a larger network, is investigated. This subgraph is generated from the underlying network by a random variable, which decides whether a link is able to propagate a disease/information. The relaxation timescale of this random variable is examined in both annealed and quenched limits, and the effectiveness of propagation of disease/information is analyzed. The dynamics of the model is governed by a master equation and two types of underlying network are considered: one is scale-free and the other has exponential degree distribution. We have shown that the relaxation timescale of the contagion variable has a major influence on the topology of the subgraph of infected links, which determines the efficiency of spreading of disease/information over the network.

Exponential synchronization of neural networks with discrete and distributed delays under time-varying sampling.

PubMed

Wu, Zheng-Guang; Shi, Peng; Su, Hongye; Chu, Jian

2012-09-01

This paper investigates the problem of master-slave synchronization for neural networks with discrete and distributed delays under variable sampling with a known upper bound on the sampling intervals. An improved method is proposed, which captures the characteristic of sampled-data systems. Some delay-dependent criteria are derived to ensure the exponential stability of the error systems, and thus the master systems synchronize with the slave systems. The desired sampled-data controller can be achieved by solving a set of linear matrix inequalitys, which depend upon the maximum sampling interval and the decay rate. The obtained conditions not only have less conservatism but also have less decision variables than existing results. Simulation results are given to show the effectiveness and benefits of the proposed methods.

Ultrastable light sources in the crossover from superradiance to lasing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Minghui; Tieri, David; Holland, Murray

2013-05-01

We theoretically investigate the crossover from steady-state superradiance to optical lasing. An exact solution of the quantum master equation is difficult to obtain due to the exponential scaling of the Hilbert space dimension with system size. However, since Lindblad operators in the master equation are invariant under SU(4) transformations, we are able to reduce the exponential scaling of the problem to cubic by expanding the density matrix in terms of an SU(4) basis. In this way, we obtain exact quantum solutions of the superradiance-laser crossover. We use this theory to investigate the potential for ultrastable lasers in the millihertz linewidth regime, and find the behavior of important observables, such as intensity, linewidth, spin-correlation, and entanglement. This work was supported by the DARPA QUASAR program and NSF.

The impact of Masters education in manual and manipulative therapy and the 'knowledge acquisition model'.

PubMed

Perry, Jo; Green, Ann; Harrison, Karen

2011-06-01

This study aimed to explore the professional and personal impact that a clinical Masters program of manipulative therapy education had on the lives of individuals who had undertaken the course and was a follow-on study of participants' career pathways following Masters education (Green et al., 2008). Seven graduates from the program took part in a focus group. The narrative data obtained was independently verified prior to two researchers conducting a systematic, thematic content analysis. Three key themes were identified and the 'knowledge acquisition model' developed. Findings revealed that studying at Master's level is a 'life changing' and rewarding experience that develops individuals in three key domains; professionally, personally and intellectually. During Masters education students described a journey of multi-compartmental development whereby their knowledge-base was challenged and their existing cognitive framework deconstructed. Progression through the program resulted in the development of a new, clearer framework for thinking and understanding that extended, universally, into all aspects of their lives; clinically, managerially, emotionally, politically and intellectually. Participants also described two cultures for career progression in the UK National Health Service (NHS). Findings could help students considering undertaking Masters level education, employers and clinical mentors of these practitioners and academic educators. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Master indenture: capital financing for health care systems.

PubMed

Fisher, B; Zimmerman, R J

1984-04-01

The master indenture enables members of multiinstitutional health care systems to finance capital programs and expansions by borrowing on the basis of systemwide revenues and assets. Participation in a master indenture financing may be structured in two ways. In a restricted group, only the parent organization issues notes, and only the parent is directly liable for the debt. To ensure that each member's revenues flow to the parent, the latter must have sole member status and be permitted to approve subsidiaries' debts, budgets, amendments to articles and bylaws of incorporation, and selection of trustees. Each entity's articles and bylaws must permit it to support the system members' common charitable purpose. In contrast, members of an obligated group have direct joint and several liability for master indenture notes. If one subsidiary misses a payment, the parent can call for payment from other obligated group members. Limitations on a member's obligation to support system debt in case of insolvency or bankruptcy may be included in the master indenture provisions. Whichever structure is selected, the amount of debt that can be incurred is based on the institutions' combined financial statements. The master indenture thus allows financially weak institutions to benefit from the credit strengths of stranger system members and permits the parent organization to control members' access to capital markets.

The Distance-learning Part-time Masters and Doctoral Internet Programs in Astronomy at James Cook University, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, G. L.; Hons, A.; Orchiston, W.; Blank, D.

2006-08-01

The Centre for Astronomy at James Cook University (Townsville, Australia) specializes in the delivery of postgraduate distance-learning programs. In this paper, we report on the development of Internet-based Masters and Doctoral level degrees in Astrophysics, History of Astronomy and Astronomy Education that are offered by JCU. The Doctor of Astronomy (D.Astro.) degree is the world's only professional doctoral level program that is delivered over the Internet, and students can specialise in the areas of Astronomy Education, History of Astronomy or Astrophysics. An Internet-delivered Ph.D. is also available. There are two Masters level programs: the Master of Astronomy Education (M.Astro.Ed.), and the Master of Astronomy (M.Astro.), which incorporates a major in Astrophysics or History of Astronomy. There are also Internet-delivered Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas in Astronomy. Instruments are being developed on-campus to support these programs (partially in collaboration with the Global Hands-On-Universe Consortium), however, most of the astrophysics research is undertaken using national and international facilities.

Master-slave micromanipulator apparatus

DOEpatents

Morimoto, A.K.; Kozlowski, D.M.; Charles, S.T.; Spalding, J.A.

1999-08-31

An apparatus is disclosed based on precision X-Y stages that are stacked. Attached to arms projecting from each X-Y stage are a set of two axis gimbals. Attached to the gimbals is a rod, which provides motion along the axis of the rod and rotation around its axis. A dual-planar apparatus that provides six degrees of freedom of motion precise to within microns of motion. Precision linear stages along with precision linear motors, encoders, and controls provide a robotics system. The motors can be positioned in a remote location by incorporating a set of bellows on the motors and can be connected through a computer controller that will allow one to be a master and the other one to be a slave. Position information from the master can be used to control the slave. Forces of interaction of the slave with its environment can be reflected back to the motor control of the master to provide a sense of force sensed by the slave. Forces import onto the master by the operator can be fed back into the control of the slave to reduce the forces required to move it. 12 figs.

Master-slave micromanipulator method

DOEpatents

Morimoto, Alan K.; Kozlowski, David M.; Charles, Steven T.; Spalding, James A.

1999-01-01

A method based on precision X-Y stages that are stacked. Attached to arms projecting from each X-Y stage are a set of two axis gimbals. Attached to the gimbals is a rod, which provides motion along the axis of the rod and rotation around its axis. A dual-planar apparatus that provides six degrees of freedom of motion precise to within microns of motion. Precision linear stages along with precision linear motors, encoders, and controls provide a robotics system. The motors can be remotized by incorporating a set of bellows on the motors and can be connected through a computer controller that will allow one to be a master and the other one to be a slave. Position information from the master can be used to control the slave. Forces of interaction of the slave with its environment can be reflected back to the motor control of the master to provide a sense of force sensed by the slave. Forces import onto the master by the operator can be fed back into the control of the slave to reduce the forces required to move it.

Master-slave micromanipulator apparatus

DOEpatents

Morimoto, Alan K.; Kozlowski, David M.; Charles, Steven T.; Spalding, James A.

1999-01-01

An apparatus based on precision X-Y stages that are stacked. Attached to arms projecting from each X-Y stage are a set of two axis gimbals. Attached to the gimbals is a rod, which provides motion along the axis of the rod and rotation around its axis. A dual-planar apparatus that provides six degrees of freedom of motion precise to within microns of motion. Precision linear stages along with precision linear motors, encoders, and controls provide a robotics system. The motors can be positioned in a remote location by incorporating a set of bellows on the motors and can be connected through a computer controller that will allow one to be a master and the other one to be a slave. Position information from the master can be used to control the slave. Forces of interaction of the slave with its environment can be reflected back to the motor control of the master to provide a sense of force sensed by the slave. Forces import onto the master by the operator can be fed back into the control of the slave to reduce the forces required to move it.

Dynamic balance between master transcription factors determines the fates and functions of CD4 T cell and innate lymphoid cell subsets

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

CD4 T cells, including T regulatory cells (Treg cells) and effector T helper cells (Th cells), and recently identified innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play important roles in host defense and inflammation. Both CD4 T cells and ILCs can be classified into distinct lineages based on their functions and the expression of lineage-specific genes, including those encoding effector cytokines, cell surface markers, and key transcription factors. It was first recognized that each lineage expresses a specific master transcription factor and the expression of these factors is mutually exclusive because of cross-regulation among these factors. However, recent studies indicate that the master regulators are often coexpressed. Furthermore, the expression of master regulators can be dynamic and quantitative. In this review, we will first discuss similarities and differences between the development and functions of CD4 T cell and ILC subsets and then summarize recent literature on quantitative, dynamic, and cell type–specific balance between the master transcription factors in determining heterogeneity and plasticity of these subsets. PMID:28630089

Torque Measurement of 3-DOF Haptic Master Operated by Controllable Electrorheological Fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jong-Seok; Choi, Seung-Bok; Lee, Yang-Sub

2015-02-01

This work presents a torque measurement method of 3-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) haptic master featuring controllable electrorheological (ER) fluid. In order to reflect the sense of an organ for a surgeon, the ER haptic master which can generate the repulsive torque of an organ is utilized as a remote controller for a surgery robot. Since accurate representation of organ feeling is essential for the success of the robot-assisted surgery, it is indispensable to develop a proper torque measurement method of 3-DOF ER haptic master. After describing the structural configuration of the haptic master, the torque models of ER spherical joint are mathematically derived based on the Bingham model of ER fluid. A new type of haptic device which has pitching, rolling, and yawing motions is then designed and manufactured using a spherical joint mechanism. Subsequently, the field-dependent parameters of the Bingham model are identified and generating repulsive torque according to applied electric field is measured. In addition, in order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed torque model, a comparative work between simulated and measured torques is undertaken.

Enhancing the Professional Mindset of Future Sales Professionals: Key Insights from a Master in Sales Transformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marcos-Cuevas, Javier; Critten, Peter; Squire, Phil; Speakman, James I. F.

2014-01-01

Sales education has grown in importance, particularly throughout the last decade, with an increasing number of university sales centers offering programs to prepare new generations of sales professionals. In this article, we describe how work-based learning, action research, and reflective practice used in a sales master program can be used in…

Challenges of University Adjustment in the UK: A Study of East Asian Master's Degree Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Wenli; Hammond, Michael

2011-01-01

This paper reports on the adjustment of East Asian Master's level students who came to study at a campus-based university in the UK during 2004-05. International students face challenges in respect to language proficiency, academic expectations and social participation. In this longitudinal study the experiences of a group of students from East…

Reciprocal Learning by Experienced Teachers and Their Educators on a Master's Degree Programme in the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Swet, Jacqueline; Ponte, Petra

2007-01-01

This article reports findings from a case study into reciprocal learning in tutor groups in a research-based master's programme, run jointly by Roehampton University, London, UK and Fontys OSO, The Netherlands. The research was designed to investigate to what extent, and how, forms of reciprocal learning arose in tutor groups for experienced…

California Master Plan for Migrant Education, 1976 Edition (Plan Maestro de California para Educacion Migrante, Edicion de 1976).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento. Div. of Compensatory Education.

Based on the national migrant education plan, California's master plan aims to mobilize the necessary State and Federal resources, and to unify and assist the efforts of local educational agencies to end the migrant child's failure in school. The plan includes provisions for: instructional activities on a regular and extended year basis designed…

The Effects of a Strengths-Based Assessment and Development Program on First-Term Masters of Business Administration Students and Future Academic Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hohn, Michael C.

2009-01-01

Adults returning to graduate school to acquire a master of business administration (MBA) degree face a myriad of challenges as they attempt to manage academic responsibilities, work, family, and social obligations. Currently, a number of educational professionals only look to identify and remediate student deficiencies. Developing existing…

Classifying the Colleges of the Forgotten Americans: A Geographically-Based Classification of Public Master's Colleges and Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katsinas, Stephen G.; Kinkead, J. Clint

2011-01-01

At the 2009 meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education's Council on Public Policy in Higher Education, Pat Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, asserted that Master's Colleges and Universities (MCUs) are the most understudied sector of American higher education. This paper described how…

Trajectories of Attentional Development: An Exploration with the Master Activation Map Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Michael, George A.; Lete, Bernard; Ducrot, Stephanie

2013-01-01

The developmental trajectories of several attention components, such as orienting, inhibition, and the guidance of selection by relevance (i.e., advance knowledge relevant to the task) were investigated in 498 participants (ages 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 20). The paradigm was based on Michael et al.'s (2006) master activation map model and consisted of…