Medical Oversight, Educational Core Content, and Proposed Scopes of Practice of Wilderness EMS Providers: A Joint Project Developed by Wilderness EMS Educators, Medical Directors, and Regulators Using a Delphi Approach.

PubMed

Millin, Michael G; Johnson, David E; Schimelpfenig, Tod; Conover, Keith; Sholl, Matthew; Busko, Jonnathan; Alter, Rachael; Smith, Will; Symonds, Jennifer; Taillac, Peter; Hawkins, Seth C

2017-01-01

A disparity exists between the skills needed to manage patients in wilderness EMS environments and the scopes of practice that are traditionally approved by state EMS regulators. In response, the National Association of EMS Physicians Wilderness EMS Committee led a project to define the educational core content supporting scopes of practice of wilderness EMS providers and the conditions when wilderness EMS providers should be required to have medical oversight. Using a Delphi process, a group of experts in wilderness EMS, representing educators, medical directors, and regulators, developed model educational core content. This core content is a foundation for wilderness EMS provider scopes of practice and builds on both the National EMS Education Standards and the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. These experts also identified the conditions when oversight is needed for wilderness EMS providers. By consensus, this group of experts identified the educational core content for four unique levels of wilderness EMS providers: Wilderness Emergency Medical Responder (WEMR), Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT), Wilderness Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (WAEMT), and Wilderness Paramedic (WParamedic). These levels include specialized skills and techniques pertinent to the operational environment. The skills and techniques increase in complexity with more advanced certification levels, and address the unique circumstances of providing care to patients in the wilderness environment. Furthermore, this group identified that providers having a defined duty to act should be functioning with medical oversight. This group of experts defined the educational core content supporting the specific scopes of practice that each certification level of wilderness EMS provider should have when providing patient care in the wilderness setting. Wilderness EMS providers are, indeed, providing health care and should thus function within defined scopes of practice and with physician medical director oversight.

CoRes utilization for building PCK in pre-service teacher education on the digestive system topic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nugraha, Ikmanda

2017-05-01

Knowledge of teachers in learning activities in the classroom has a close relationship with how well and how much students learn. Recently, a promising development in teacher education has appeared that centers on the academic construct of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). This study was an exploratory study into a science teacher education program that seeks to build the foundations on which pre-service teachers can begin to build their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The program involved the use of Content Representations (CoRes), which was initially applied as component of a strategy for exploring and gaining insights into the PCK of in-service science teachers. This study involved the researcher and 20 students (third year) in a pre-service teacher education course (School Science I) in science education when the students worked to make content analysis on the digestive system topic. During the course, the students make their own CoRes through a workshop for digestive system topic individually, in pairs and whole class discussion. Data were recorded from students' CoRes, student reflective journals, interviews, and field notes recorded in the researcher's reflective journal. Pre-service teachers' comments from interviews and reflective journals were coded in relation to references about: (1) the effectiveness of variety strategies in building the knowledge bases required to design a CoRes and (2) their awareness and/or development of tentative components of future PCK for a digestive system topic as a result of CoRes construction. Observational data were examined for indications of increasing independence and competency on the part of student teachers when locating appropriate information for designing their CoRes. From this study, it is hoped that the pre-service science teachers are able to build knowledge and then transform it into a form of PCK for digestive system topic for their first classroom planning and teaching to teach digestive system contents effectively.

Curriculum Guidelines for Periodontics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of Dental Education, 1985

1985-01-01

Guidelines describe the interrelationships of this and other dental fields, give an overview of the curriculum and its primary educational objectives, and outline the suggested prerequisites, core content, specific behavioral objectives, sequencing, and faculty requirements. (MSE)

Inorganic/organic nanocomposites: Reaching a high filler content without increasing viscosity using core-shell structured nanoparticles

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

Benhadjala, W., E-mail: warda.benhadjala@cea.fr; CEA, LETI, Minatec Campus, 38000 Grenoble; Gravoueille, M.

2015-11-23

Extensive research is being conducted on the development of inorganic/organic nanocomposites for a wide variety of applications in microelectronics, biotechnologies, photonics, adhesives, or optical coatings. High filler contents are usually required to fully optimize the nanocomposites properties. However, numerous studies demonstrated that traditional composite viscosity increases with increasing the filler concentration reducing therefore significantly the material processability. In this work, we synthesized inorganic/organic core-shell nanocomposites with different shell thicknesses. By reducing the shell thickness while maintaining a constant core size, the nanoparticle molecular mass decreases but the nanocomposite filler fraction is correlatively increased. We performed viscosity measurements, which clearly highlightedmore » that intrinsic viscosity of hybrid nanoparticles decreases as the molecular mass decreases, and thus, as the filler fraction increases, as opposed to Einstein predictions about the viscosity of traditional inorganic/polymer two-phase mixtures. This exceptional behavior, modeled by Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation, proves to be a significant breakthrough for the development of industrializable nanocomposites with high filler contents.« less

Perceived Challenges to Integrating Reading Strategies in Content Areas: A Single Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pezzolla, Karen

2017-01-01

An alarming percentage of middle and high school students find themselves unable to read their textbooks at grade level proficiency; lacking the necessary skills to access and process information, and read critically. The Common Core State Standards require students to apply reading strategies across the curriculum, therefore requiring teachers to…

The feasibility of recharge rate determinations using the steady- state centrifuge method

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nimmo, J.R.; Stonestrom, David A.; Akstin, K.C.

1994-01-01

The establishment of steady unsaturated flow in a centrifuge permits accurate measurement of small values of hydraulic conductivity (K). This method can provide a recharge determination if it is applied to an unsaturated core sample from a depth at which gravity alone drives the flow. A K value determined at the in situ water content indicates the long-term average recharge rate at a point. Tests of this approach have been made at two sites. For sandy core samples a better knowledge of the matric pressure profiles is required before a recharge rate can be determined. Fine-textured cores required new developments of apparatus and procedures, especially for making centrifuge measurements with minimal compaction of the samples. -from Authors

A Contextual Analysis of the Quality Core Curriculum and the Georgia Performance Standards in Seventh Grade Social Studies: A Critical Race Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Candis, Matthew Reese

2013-01-01

In 1985 the state of Georgia introduced the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) in accordance with the Quality Basic Education (QBE) Act. These learning standards identified the content knowledge that students were required to learn in each subject area at all grade levels. The QCC was replaced by the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) to identify the…

Predicting extractives content of Eucalyptus bosistoana F. Muell. Heartwood from stem cores by near infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanjie; Altaner, Clemens

2018-06-01

Time and resource are the restricting factors for the wider use of chemical information of wood in tree breeding programs. NIR offers an advantage over wet-chemical analysis in these aspects and is starting to be used for tree breeding. This work describes the development of a NIR-based assessment of extractive content in heartwood of E. bosistoana, which does not require milling and conditioning of the samples. This was achieved by applying the signal processing algorithms (external parameter orthogonalisation (EPO) and significance multivariate correlation (sMC)) to spectra obtained from solid wood cores, which were able to correct for moisture content, grain direction and sample form. The accuracy of extractive content predictions was further improved by variable selection, resulting in a root mean square error of 1.27%. Considering the range of extractive content in E. bosistoana heartwood of 1.3 to 15.0%, the developed NIR calibration has the potential to be used in an E. bosistoana breeding program or to assess the special variation in extractive content throughout a stem.

The Crusades and Islam. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad, 1998 (Israel and Jordan).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Serota, Laurie

These two mini-units are designed to supplement the areas of study dictated by the Core Knowledge Sequence, a content-rich curriculum used in the educator/curriculum developer's school. The mini-units fall in the middle of a 6-month-long study of the Middle Ages and incorporate the depth of content required to support the larger unit on the Middle…

Enhancing the Practicum Experience for Pre-service Chemistry Teachers Through Collaborative CoRe Design with Mentor Teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hume, Anne; Berry, Amanda

2013-10-01

This paper reports findings from an ongoing study exploring how the Content Representation (CoRe) design can be used as a tool to help chemistry student teachers begin acquiring the professional knowledge required to become expert chemistry teachers. Phase 2 of the study, reported in this paper, investigated how collaboration with school-based mentors (associate teachers) on teaching practice (practicum) might impact on this process and student teachers' development of their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The collaboration involved identifying and discussing pedagogical issues related to a practicum-teaching topic using a student teacher's draft CoRe as a starting point and ongoing focus for the professional dialogue. Practicum offered an opportunity for aspects of student teachers' PCK, as embodied in their draft CoRes, to be explored and expanded upon in classroom programmes with the support and input of associate teachers. The findings were influenced by different contextual factors; however, the student teachers found their CoRes to be very useful frameworks for engaging in focussed professional dialogue with their teaching mentors. They valued the expertise, currency of knowledge and mentoring of their associates and reported positively about the contribution this support made to their PCK development via the CoRe design process and the transformation of the CoRe into classroom teaching.

Experimental constraints on the sulfur content in the Earth's core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fei, Y.; Huang, H.; Leng, C.; Hu, X.; Wang, Q.

2015-12-01

Any core formation models would lead to the incorporation of sulfur (S) into the Earth's core, based on the cosmochemical/geochemical constraints, sulfur's chemical affinity for iron (Fe), and low eutectic melting temperature in the Fe-FeS system. Preferential partitioning of S into the melt also provides petrologic constraint on the density difference between the liquid outer and solid inner cores. Therefore, the center issue is to constrain the amount of sulfur in the core. Geochemical constraints usually place 2-4 wt.% S in the core after accounting for its volatility, whereas more S is allowed in models based on mineral physics data. Here we re-examine the constraints on the S content in the core by both petrologic and mineral physics data. We have measured S partitioning between solid and liquid iron in the multi-anvil apparatus and the laser-heated diamond anvil cell, evaluating the effect of pressure on melting temperature and partition coefficient. In addition, we have conducted shockwave experiments on Fe-11.8wt%S using a two-stage light gas gun up to 211 GPa. The new shockwave experiments yield Hugoniot densities and the longitudinal sound velocities. The measurements provide the longitudinal sound velocity before melting and the bulk sound velocity of liquid. The measured sound velocities clearly show melting of the Fe-FeS mix with 11.8wt%S at a pressure between 111 and 129 GPa. The sound velocities at pressures above 129GPa represent the bulk sound velocities of Fe-11.8wt%S liquid. The combined data set including density, sound velocity, melting temperature, and S partitioning places a tight constraint on the required sulfur partition coefficient to produce the density and velocity jumps and the bulk sulfur content in the core.

Curricular Guidelines in Microbiology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilett, Norman P.; And Others

1984-01-01

The American Association of Dental Schools' guidelines for curriculum development in microbiology outline the scope of the subject, interrelationships with other disciplines and specialties, primary educational goals, prerequisites, core content, specific behavioral objectives in each subarea, sequencing, and faculty and facilities requirements.…

Determining content for a simulation-based curriculum in pediatric emergency medicine: results from a national Delphi process.

PubMed

Bank, Ilana; Cheng, Adam; McLeod, Peter; Bhanji, Farhan

2015-11-01

By the end of residency training, pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) residents are expected to have developed the confidence and abilities required to manage acutely ill children. Acquisition of competence requires exposure and/or supplemental formal education for critical and noncritical medical clinical presentations. Simulation can provide experiential learning and can improve trainees' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The primary objective of this project was to identify the content for a simulation-based national curriculum for PEM training. We recruited participants for the Delphi study by contacting current PEM program directors and immediate past program directors as well as simulation experts at all of the Canadian PEM fellowship sites. We determined the appropriate core content for the Delphi study by combining the PEM core content requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). Using the Delphi method, we achieved consensus amongst the national group of PEM and simulation experts. The participants completed a three-round Delphi (using a four-point Likert scale). Response rates for the Delphi were 85% for the first round and 77% for second and third rounds. From the initial 224 topics, 53 were eliminated (scored <2). Eighty-five topics scored between 2 and 3, and 87 scored between 3 and 4. The 48 topics, which were scored between 3.5 and 4.0, were labeled as "key curriculum topics." We have iteratively identified a consensus for the content of a national simulation-based curriculum.

Minor Actinides-Loaded FBR Core Concept Suitable for the Introductory Period in Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimura, Koji; Sasahira, Akira; Yamashita, Junichi; Fukasawa, Tetsuo; Hoshino, Kuniyoshi

According to the Japan's Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy(1), a basic scenario for fast breeder reactors (FBRs) is that they will be introduced on a commercial basis starting around 2050 replacing light water reactors (LWRs). During the FBR introduction period, the Pu from LWR spent fuel is used for FBR startup. Howerver, the FBR core loaded with this Pu has a larger burnup reactivity due to its larger isotopic content of Pu-241 than a core loaded with Pu from an FBR multi-recycling core. The increased burnup reactivity may reduce the cycle length of an FBR. We investigated, an FBR transitional core concept to confront the issues of the FBR introductory period in Japan. Core specifications are based on the compact-type sodium-cooled mixed oxide (MOX)-fueled core designed from the Japanese FBR cycle feasibility studies, because lower Pu inventory should be better for the FBR introductory period in view of its flexibility for the required reprocessing amount of LWR spent fuel to start up FBRs. The reference specifications were selected as follows. Output of 1500MWe and average discharge fuel burnup of about 150GWd/t. Minor Actinides (MAs) recovered from LWR spent fuels which provide Pu to startup FBRs are loaded to the initial loading fuels and exchanged fuels during few cycles until equilibrium. We made the MA content of the initial loading fuel four kinds like 0%, 3%, 4%, 5%. The average of the initial loading fuel is assumed to be 3%, and that of the exchange fuel is set as 5%. This 5% maximum of the MA content is based on the irradiation results of the experimental fast reactor Joyo. We evaluated the core performances including burnup characteristics and the reactivity coefficient and confirmed that transitional core from initial loading until equilibrium cycle with loaded Pu from LWR spent fuel performs similary to an FBR multi-recycling core.

Revisiting soil carbon and nitrogen sampling: quantitative pits versus rotary cores

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and its feedbacks with global climate have sparked renewed interest in quantifying ecosystem carbon (C) budgets, including quantifying belowground pools. Belowground nutrient budgets require accurate estimates of soil mass, coarse fragment content, and nutrient ...

What Would It Take for an Atmospheric Neutrino Detector to Constrain the Hydrogen Content of the Earth's Core ?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourret, S.; Coelho, J. A. B.; Kaminski, E. C.; Van Elewyck, V.

2017-12-01

The difference between PREM density and seismic profiles in the Earth's core and the values for pure iron and iron-nickel alloys inferred from high pressure/high temperature experiments and ab initio calculations requires the presence of a few wt% of light elements. The nature and amount of these light elements (O, Si, S, H, C...) remains controversial. Recent studies have renewed the interest in H. It is the most abundant element in the nebula and can be easily dissolved in iron in the early stages of Earth's evolution. 1 to 2 wt% of H could explain the difference between PREM and pure iron. However, current geophysical methods alone cannot settle the debate between H and the other candidate elements. Neutrino oscillation tomography using atmospheric neutrinos opens an avenue to collect independent data on Earth's core composition. This method exploits the quantum phenomenon of neutrino flavour oscillations, which depends on the electron density along the path of the neutrino through the Earth. The combination of a neutrino-based measurement of the electron density with the PREM mass density profile constrains the average proton-to-nucleon ratio of the medium (Z/A). Since this parameter varies among chemical elements, e.g. 0.466 for Fe and 1 for H, this technique has the potential to provide unprecedented insights into the chemical composition of the core, and in particular its hydrogen content. Performing such a measurement requires large-size detectors with good efficiency in the relevant energy range and precise determination of the neutrino energy, arrival direction, and flavour. Considering a generic but realistic model of detector response, we quantify the influence of various detector performance indicators on the sensitivity to the average Z/A in the core. We further evaluate the impact of systematic uncertainties, such as those related to the physical model for neutrino oscillations and the incoming flux of atmospheric neutrinos. We consider specific examples of the next-generation detectors planned to start operating within the decade: ORCA, PINGU, Hyper-Kamiokande, and DUNE. We also identify the most crucial improvements required to reach a measurement of the H content of the core with a precision better than 1 wt%.

Metal-silicate partitioning of U: Implications for the heat budget of the core and evidence for reduced U in the mantle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chidester, Bethany A.; Rahman, Zia; Righter, Kevin; Campbell, Andrew J.

2017-02-01

Earth's core might require an internal heat source, such as radioactive decay, to explain the presence of the magnetic field through geologic time. To investigate whether U would be an important heat source in the core, we performed metal-silicate partitioning experiments of U at P-T (up to 67 GPa and 5400 K) conditions more relevant to a magma ocean scenario than has previously been reported. This study finds the partitioning of U to be strongly dependent on ƒO2, temperature, the S content of the metal and the SiO2 content of the silicate during core-mantle differentiation. Differentiation at mean conditions of 42-58 GPa and 3900-4200 K would put 1.4-3.5 ppb U (2-8 wt% S) in the core, amounting to a maximum of 1.4 (+1/-0.7) TW of heat 4.5 billion years ago. This is likely not enough heat to mitigate early widespread mantle melting. It was also found that U likely exists in the 2+ oxidation state in silicate melts in the deep Earth, a state which has not been previously observed in nature.

Family Medicine Didactics Revisited.

PubMed

Butler, Dennis J; Brocato, Joseph; Yeazel, Mark

2017-11-01

All family medicine programs are required to provide specialty-specific didactic conferences for residents. Since a baseline study of family medicine didactic formats was published in 2000, training requirements have changed, core content has evolved, and new teaching strategies have been recommended. The present study examines the characteristics of current family medicine didactics, compares current and past conference format data, and identifies factors affecting content selection. The survey used in the prior conference formats study was distributed to all US family medicine programs. All questions from the original survey were repeated, and items regarding factors affecting conference content and threats to conferences were added. The survey response rate was 66%. The majority of family medicine programs endorse block formats for structuring conferences. Compared to the original study, programs are devoting significantly more hours to didactics on fewer days. Family medicine faculty and residents are responsible for 70% of didactic offerings (also a significant shift), and 87% of programs use a core curriculum. In over 70% of programs, some residents are unavailable for conferences due to work restrictions or service demands. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education subcompetencies and Milestones have only a moderate impact on topic selection. Family medicine didactics have evolved in the past 15 years with a notable increase in reliance upon core faculty and residents to lead conferences. Reduced availability of residents prevents all residents from having full exposure to the didactic curriculum. Family medicine faculty who are taking greater responsibility for didactics are also faced with increased clinical and administrative duties.

Using Labor Market Information in Program Development and Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lebesch, Anna M.

2012-01-01

The community college environment is complex and dynamic, requiring constant monitoring. To ensure that workforce education, a core component of community colleges' missions, remains aligned with colleges' environments, responsive to employers' needs, suited to students' interests and abilities, and current in content and technology, it is…

Structural changes in block copolymer micelles induced by cosolvent mixtures†

PubMed Central

Kelley, Elizabeth G.; Smart, Thomas P.; Jackson, Andrew J.; Sullivan, Millicent O.

2013-01-01

We investigated the influence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) addition on the structure of poly(1,2-butadiene-b-ethylene oxide) [PB-PEO] micelles in aqueous solution. Our studies showed that while the micelles remained starlike, the micelle core-corona interfacial tension and micelle size decreased upon THF addition. The detailed effects of the reduction in interfacial tension were probed using contrast variations in small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments. At low THF contents (high interfacial tensions), the SANS data were fit to a micelle form factor that incorporated a radial density distribution of corona chains to account for the starlike micelle profile. However, at higher THF contents (low interfacial tensions), the presence of free chains in solution affected the scattering at high q and required the implementation of a linear combination of micelle and Gaussian coil form factors. These SANS data fits indicated that the reduction in interfacial tension led to broadening of the core-corona interface, which increased the PB chain solvent accessibility at intermediate THF solvent fractions. We also noted that the micelle cores swelled with increasing THF addition, suggesting that previous assumptions of the micelle core solvent content in cosolvent mixtures may not be accurate. Control over the size, corona thickness, and extent of solvent accessible PB in these micelles can be a powerful tool in the development of targeting delivery vehicles. PMID:24282441

Structural changes in block copolymer micelles induced by cosolvent mixtures

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

Kelley, Elizabeth G.; Smart, Thomas P.; Jackson, Andrew J.

2012-11-26

We investigated the influence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) addition on the structure of poly(1,2-butadiene-b-ethylene oxide) [PB-PEO] micelles in aqueous solution. Our studies showed that while the micelles remained starlike, the micelle core-corona interfacial tension and micelle size decreased upon THF addition. The detailed effects of the reduction in interfacial tension were probed using contrast variations in small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments. At low THF contents (high interfacial tensions), the SANS data were fit to a micelle form factor that incorporated a radial density distribution of corona chains to account for the starlike micelle profile. However, at higher THF contents (lowmore » interfacial tensions), the presence of free chains in solution affected the scattering at high q and required the implementation of a linear combination of micelle and Gaussian coil form factors. These SANS data fits indicated that the reduction in interfacial tension led to broadening of the core-corona interface, which increased the PB chain solvent accessibility at intermediate THF solvent fractions. We also noted that the micelle cores swelled with increasing THF addition, suggesting that previous assumptions of the micelle core solvent content in cosolvent mixtures may not be accurate. Control over the size, corona thickness, and extent of solvent accessible PB in these micelles can be a powerful tool in the development of targeting delivery vehicles.« less

Did the formation of D″ cause the Archaean-Proterozoic transition?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Ian H.; Griffiths, Ross W.

2014-02-01

The MgO content of the highest MgO plume-related komatiites and picrites remained constant at 32±2.5% between 3.5 and 2.7 Ga, then fell to 21±3% by ca. 2.0 Ga, a value similar to the present day value. Because there is a linear relationship between the liquidus temperature of dry magmas and their MgO content this observation implies that the temperature of mantle plumes changed little between 3.5 and 2.7 Ga, and then fell by 200-250 °C between 2.7 and 2.0 Ga to a temperature similar to that of present plumes. We suggest that Archaean plumes originate from the core-mantle boundary and that their temperature remained constant because the temperature of the outer core was buffered by solidification of the Fe-Ni inner core. At about 2.7 Ga dense former basaltic crust began to accumulate at the core and eventually covered it to produce an insulating layer that reduced the heat flux out of the core and lowered the temperature of mantle plumes. The temperature of mantle plumes fell as the dense layer above the core thickened until it exceeded the critical thickness required for convection. Because heat is transferred rapidly across the convecting part of the insulating layer, any further increase in its thickness by the addition more basaltic material has no influence on the temperature at the top of the layer, which is the source of Post-Archaean mantle plumes. We equate the dense layer above the core with the seismically identified layer D″. Our analyses suggest the drop in plume temperatures produced by a dense insulating layer above the core will be about 40% once it starts to convect, which is consistent with the observed drop inferred from the decrease in the MgO content of komatiites and picrites at that time.

Annular seed-blanket thorium fuel core concepts for heavy water moderated reactors

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

Bromley, B.P.; Hyland, B.

2013-07-01

New reactor concepts to implement thorium-based fuel cycles have been explored to achieve maximum resource utilization. Pressure tube heavy water reactors (PT-HWR) are highly advantageous for implementing the use of thorium-based fuels because of their high neutron economy and on-line re-fuelling capability. The use of heterogeneous seed-blanket core concepts in a PT-HWR where higher-fissile-content seed fuel bundles are physically separate from lower-fissile-content blanket bundles allows more flexibility and control in fuel management to maximize the fissile utilization and conversion of fertile fuel. The lattice concept chosen is a 35-element bundle made with a homogeneous mixture of reactor grade Pu andmore » Th, and with a central zirconia rod to help reduce coolant void reactivity. Several annular heterogeneous seed-blanket core concepts with plutonium-thorium-based fuels in a 700-MWe-class PT-HWR were analyzed, using a once-through thorium (OTT) cycle. Different combinations of seed and blanket fuel were tested to determine the impact on core-average burnup, fissile utilization, power distributions, and other performance parameters. It was found that the various core concepts can achieve a fissile utilization that is up to 30% higher than is currently achieved in a PT-HWR using conventional natural uranium fuel bundles. Up to 67% of the Pu is consumed; up to 43% of the energy is produced from thorium, and up to 363 kg/year of U-233 is produced. Seed-blanket cores with ∼50% content of low-power blanket bundles may require power de-rating (∼58% to 65%) to avoid exceeding maximum limits for peak channel power, bundle power and linear element ratings. (authors)« less

What makes a hospital manager competent at the middle and senior levels?

PubMed

Liang, Zhanming; Leggat, Sandra G; Howard, Peter F; Koh, Lee

2013-11-01

The purpose of this paper is to confirm the core competencies required for middle to senior level managers in Victorian public hospitals in both metropolitan and regional/rural areas. This exploratory mixed-methods study used a three-step approach which included position description content analysis, focus group discussions and online competency verification and identification survey. The study validated a number of key tasks required for senior and middle level hospital managers (levels II, III and IV) and identified and confirmed the essential competencies for completing these key tasks effectively. As a result, six core competencies have been confirmed as common to the II, III and IV management levels in both the Melbourne metropolitan and regional/rural areas. Six core competencies are required for middle to senior level managers in public hospitals which provide guidance to the further development of the competency-based educational approach for training the current management workforce and preparing future health service managers. With the detailed descriptions of the six core competencies, healthcare organisations and training institutions will be able to assess the competency gaps and managerial training needs of current health service managers and develop training programs accordingly.

Paraphrasing Strategy Instruction in Content Area Text

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagaman, Jessica L.; Casey, Kathryn J.

2017-01-01

Reading comprehension is important for academic success and is a skill required for many activities in school and beyond. With the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), many teachers have reported feeling overwhelmed by the expectations that reading and writing skills should be emphasized, taught, and supported in the content…

Rhetorical Reading as a Gateway to Disciplinary Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warren, James E.

2013-01-01

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) require literacy instruction for secondary students across content areas, but they also recommend that this instruction account for the discipline-specific nature of academic texts. Since English language arts (ELA) teachers and literacy specialists are also responsible for teaching students to read across…

Life Science Literacy of an Undergraduate Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Medina, Stephanie R.; Ortlieb, Evan; Metoyer, Sandra

2014-01-01

Science content knowledge is a concern for educators in the United States because performance has stagnated for the past decade. Investigators designed this study to determine the current levels of scientific literacy among undergraduate students in a freshman-level biology course (a core requirement for majors and nonmajors), identify factors…

An Exploratory Look at Graduate Public Relations Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aldoory, Linda; Toth, Elizabeth L.

2000-01-01

Conducts a content analysis of web pages to examine 26 United States Masters degree programs in public relations for their degree requirements, core courses, public relations courses, and optional courses. Finds a lack of adherence to the recommendations of the Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education. (NH)

Allied Health Occupations II (Health Careers--Core Curriculum).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Middletown Public Schools, CT.

This volume outlines the requirements and content of a second-year course in allied health occupations education that is designed to provide students with background informational material and practical skills used in various health fields. Addressed in the individual units of the course are the following topics: safety; ethical and legal…

Marketing Education. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 19.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators throughout Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in marketing education in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the mission, purpose, goals, and structure of marketing…

Core-Mantle Partitioning of Volatile Elements and the Origin of Volatile Elements in Earth and Moon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Righter, Kevin; Pando, K.; Danielson, L.; Nickodem, K.

2014-01-01

Depletions of volatile siderophile elements (VSE; Ga, Ge, In, As, Sb, Sn, Bi, Zn, Cu, Cd) in mantles of Earth and Moon, constrain the origin of volatile elements in these bodies, and the overall depletion of volatile elements in Moon relative to Earth. A satisfactory explanation has remained elusive [1,2]. We examine the depletions of VSE in Earth and Moon and quantify the amount of depletion due to core formation and volatility of potential building blocks. We calculate the composition of the Earth's PUM during continuous accretion scenarios with constant and variable fO2. Results suggest that the VSE can be explained by a rather simple scenario of continuous accretion leading to a high PT metal-silicate equilibrium scenario that establishes the siderophile element content of Earth's PUM near the end of accretion [3]. Core formation models for the Moon explain most VSE, but calculated contents of In, Sn, and Zn (all with Tc < 750 K) are all still too high after core formation, and must therefore require an additional process to explain the depletions in the lunar mantle. We discuss possible processes including magmatic degassing, evaporation, condensation, and vapor-liquid fractionation in the lunar disk.

Fabrication of TREAT Fuel with Increased Graphite Loading

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

Luther, Erik Paul; Leckie, Rafael M.; Dombrowski, David E.

2014-02-05

As part of the feasibility study exploring the replacement of the HEU fuel core of the TREAT reactor at Idaho National Laboratory with LEU fuel, this study demonstrates that it is possible to increase the graphite content of extruded fuel by reformulation. The extrusion process was use to fabricate the “upgrade” core1 for the TREAT reactor. The graphite content achieved is determined by calculation and has not been measured by any analytical method. In conjunction, a technique, Raman Spectroscopy, has been investigated for measuring the graphite content. This method shows some promise in differentiating between carbon and graphite; however, standardsmore » that would allow the technique to be calibrated to quantify the graphite concentration have yet to be fabricated. Continued research into Raman Spectroscopy is on going. As part of this study, cracking of graphite extrusions due to volatile evolution during heat treatment has been largely eliminated. Continued research to optimize this extrusion method is required.« less

Volatiles in glasses from the HSDP2 drill core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seaman, Caroline; Sherman, Sarah Bean; Garcia, Michael O.; Baker, Michael B.; Balta, Brian; Stolper, Edward

2004-09-01

H2O, CO2, S, Cl, and F concentrations are reported for 556 glasses from the submarine section of the 1999 phase of HSDP drilling in Hilo, Hawaii, providing a high-resolution record of magmatic volatiles over ˜200 kyr of a Hawaiian volcano's lifetime. Glasses range from undegassed to having lost significant volatiles at near-atmospheric pressure. Nearly all hyaloclastite glasses are degassed, compatible with formation from subaerial lavas that fragmented on entering the ocean and were transported by gravity flows down the volcano flank. Most pillows are undegassed, indicating submarine eruption. The shallowest pillows and most massive lavas are degassed, suggesting formation by subaerial flows that penetrated the shoreline and flowed some distance under water. Some pillow rim glasses have H2O and S contents indicating degassing but elevated CO2 contents that correlate with depth in the core; these tend to be more fractionated and could have formed by mixing of degassed, fractionated magmas with undegassed magmas during magma chamber overturn or by resorption of rising CO2-rich bubbles by degassed magmas. Intrusive glasses are undegassed and have CO2 contents similar to adjacent pillows, indicating intrusion shallow in the volcanic edifice. Cl correlates weakly with H2O and S, suggesting loss during low-pressure degassing, although most samples appear contaminated by seawater-derived components. F behaves as an involatile incompatible element. Fractionation trends were modeled using MELTS. Degassed glasses require fractionation at p? ≈ 5-10 bars. Undegassed low-SiO2 glasses require fractionation at p? ≈ 50 bars. Undegassed and partially degassed high-SiO2 glasses can be modeled by coupled crystallization and degassing. Eruption depths of undegassed pillows can be calculated from their volatile contents assuming vapor saturation. The amount of subsidence can be determined from the difference between this depth and the sample's depth in the core. Assuming subsidence at 2.5 mm/y, the amount of subsidence suggests ages of ˜500 ka for samples from the lower 750 m of the core, consistent with radiometric ages. H2O contents of undegassed low-SiO2 HSDP2 glasses are systematically higher than those of high-SiO2 glasses, and their H2O/K2O and H2O/Ce ratios are higher than typical tholeiitic pillow rim glasses from Hawaiian volcanoes.

Technology Education. Career Awareness & Technology Literacy. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 20.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators throughout Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in career awareness and technological literacy in grades 7-10. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the vision and goals of career…

Theatre Arts Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virginia Department of Education, 2006

2006-01-01

The Theatre Arts Standards of Learning identify the essential content and skills required in the theatre arts curriculum for the middle school and core high school courses in Virginia's public schools. The standards are designed to be cumulative and progress in complexity by course from the middle school through the secondary level. Throughout…

Knowledge Transfer in Biology and Translation across External Representations: Experts' Views and Challenges for Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schonborn, Konrad J.; Bogeholz, Susanne

2009-01-01

Recent curriculum reform promotes core competencies such as desired "content knowledge" and "communication" for meaningful learning in biology. Understanding in biology is demonstrated when pupils can apply acquired knowledge to new tasks. This process requires the transfer of knowledge and the subordinate process of translation across external…

Tag Content Access Control with Identity-based Key Exchange

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Liang; Rong, Chunming

2010-09-01

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that used to identify objects and users has been applied to many applications such retail and supply chain recently. How to prevent tag content from unauthorized readout is a core problem of RFID privacy issues. Hash-lock access control protocol can make tag to release its content only to reader who knows the secret key shared between them. However, in order to get this shared secret key required by this protocol, reader needs to communicate with a back end database. In this paper, we propose to use identity-based secret key exchange approach to generate the secret key required for hash-lock access control protocol. With this approach, not only back end database connection is not needed anymore, but also tag cloning problem can be eliminated at the same time.

Mercury content of Illinois soils

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dreher, G.B.; Follmer, L.R.

2004-01-01

For a survey of Illinois soils, 101 cores had been collected and analyzed to determine the current and background elemental compositions of Illinois soils. Mercury and other elements were determined in six samples per core, including a surface sample from each core. The mean mercury content in the surface samples was 33 ?? 20 ??g/kg soil, and the background content was 20 ?? 9 ??g/kg. The most probable sources of mercury in these soils were the parent material, and wet and dry deposition of Hg0 and Hg2+ derived from coal-burning power plants, other industrial plants, and medical and municipal waste incinerators. Mercury-bearing sewage sludge or other fertilizers applied to agricultural fields could have been the local sources of mercury. Although the mercury content correlated with organic carbon content or clay content in individual cores, when all the data were considered, there was no strong correlation between mercury and either the organic carbon or the clay-size content.

Quantification of oil and water in preserved reservoir rock by NMR spectroscopy and imaging.

PubMed

Davies, S; Hardwick, A; Roberts, D; Spowage, K; Packer, K J

1994-01-01

Reservoir rock analysis by proton NMR requires separation of the response into brine and crude oil components. Tests on preserved core from a North Sea chalk reservoir show that spin-lattice relaxation time distributions can be used to distinguish the two fluids. NMR estimates of oil and water saturations for 1.5" diameter core examined in a 10 MHz Bruker Minispec spectrometer closely match fluid contents determined by distillation. The spin-lattice relaxation contrast mechanism developed for core samples can be applied in the quantitative analysis of NMR images. The relaxation data are compared with data from chemical shift imaging on the same core sample. The results indicate that it will be possible to monitor changes in fluid distributions, in this and similar systems, under dynamic conditions such as in a waterflood.

Multi-Core Processor Memory Contention Benchmark Analysis Case Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, Tyler; McGalliard, James

2009-01-01

Multi-core processors dominate current mainframe, server, and high performance computing (HPC) systems. This paper provides synthetic kernel and natural benchmark results from an HPC system at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center that illustrate the performance impacts of multi-core (dual- and quad-core) vs. single core processor systems. Analysis of processor design, application source code, and synthetic and natural test results all indicate that multi-core processors can suffer from significant memory subsystem contention compared to similar single-core processors.

The nucleotide composition of microbial genomes indicates differential patterns of selection on core and accessory genomes.

PubMed

Bohlin, Jon; Eldholm, Vegard; Pettersson, John H O; Brynildsrud, Ola; Snipen, Lars

2017-02-10

The core genome consists of genes shared by the vast majority of a species and is therefore assumed to have been subjected to substantially stronger purifying selection than the more mobile elements of the genome, also known as the accessory genome. Here we examine intragenic base composition differences in core genomes and corresponding accessory genomes in 36 species, represented by the genomes of 731 bacterial strains, to assess the impact of selective forces on base composition in microbes. We also explore, in turn, how these results compare with findings for whole genome intragenic regions. We found that GC content in coding regions is significantly higher in core genomes than accessory genomes and whole genomes. Likewise, GC content variation within coding regions was significantly lower in core genomes than in accessory genomes and whole genomes. Relative entropy in coding regions, measured as the difference between observed and expected trinucleotide frequencies estimated from mononucleotide frequencies, was significantly higher in the core genomes than in accessory and whole genomes. Relative entropy was positively associated with coding region GC content within the accessory genomes, but not within the corresponding coding regions of core or whole genomes. The higher intragenic GC content and relative entropy, as well as the lower GC content variation, observed in the core genomes is most likely associated with selective constraints. It is unclear whether the positive association between GC content and relative entropy in the more mobile accessory genomes constitutes signatures of selection or selective neutral processes.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Focusing on Families, Work, and Their Interrelationships. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 17.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators throughout Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in family and consumer sciences education in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the objectives/delivery of family and…

Aligning Instruction and Assessment with Game and Simulation Design. CRESST Report 780

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wainess, Richard; Koenig, Alan; Kerr, Deirdre

2011-01-01

Effective design of training-related games (games for training and/or assessment) requires synergy between the mechanisms for delivering instructional content and the mechanisms for learning game play and game functionality (Becker, 2006). The learning domain must be embedded as a core game mechanic: that is, the game cannot be advanced or won…

Business Education. Preparing Students for Employment in Business Occupations. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators in Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in business education in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the mission, purpose, goals, and structure of business education;…

Trade & Industrial Education. Preparing Today for Tomorrow's Workforce. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 21.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators throughout Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in trade and industrial education in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the objectives and delivery of trade and industrial…

Agriscience Technology Education. Preparing for Careers in Agricultural Science, Business, and Technology. Alabama Course of Study. Bulletin 1996, No. 13.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alabama State Dept. of Education, Montgomery.

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators in Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in agriscience technology in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the mission, purpose, goals, and structure of agriscience technology…

Physical Activity Promotion: A Responsibility for Both K-12 Physical Education and Kinesiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corbin, Charles B.; McKenzie, Thomas L.

2008-01-01

As the discipline and the various professions evolved over time, the content of disciplinary classes offered at universities sometimes became less "connected" with physical education. "Core" courses in the discipline were required to try to meet the demands of the expanding professional programs, while at the same time meeting the knowledge…

Moving Forward: State Engagement with the Next Generation Science Standards. Special re:VISION Insert. Issue 5

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hunt Institute, 2014

2014-01-01

A rigorous K-12 science education builds student knowledge in core scientific content and equips students to analyze problems, use evidence, and investigate solutions. The education requirements of careers across the economy are increasing and all students--regardless of whether they pursue science as a career--need greater proficiency in the…

Core Principles and Test Item Development for Advanced High School and Introductory University Level Food Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laing-Kean, Claudine A. M.

2010-01-01

Programs supported by the Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006 are required to operate under the state or national content standards, and are expected to carry out evaluation procedures that address accountability. The Indiana high school course, "Advanced Life Science: Foods" ("ALS: Foods") operates under the auspices of the Perkins…

Implementing an Evidence-Based Instructional Routine to Enhance Comprehension of Expository Text

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wexler, Jade; Reed, Deborah K.; Mitchell, Marisa; Doyle, Brie; Clancy, Erin

2015-01-01

To graduate from high school and become competitive in the workplace and other postsecondary endeavors, adolescents are required to meet rigorous standards, such as the Common Core State Standards. To meet such standards, teachers must teach students to read and make sense of increasingly complex content-area expository text. Secondary teachers,…

Progress towards autonomous, intelligent systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lum, Henry; Heer, Ewald

1987-01-01

An aggressive program has been initiated to develop, integrate, and implement autonomous systems technologies starting with today's expert systems and evolving to autonomous, intelligent systems by the end of the 1990s. This program includes core technology developments and demonstration projects for technology evaluation and validation. This paper discusses key operational frameworks in the content of systems autonomy applications and then identifies major technological challenges, primarily in artificial intelligence areas. Program content and progress made towards critical technologies and demonstrations that have been initiated to achieve the required future capabilities in the year 2000 era are discussed.

National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12. A Special Publication of the Journal of School Health. Special Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American School Health Association (NJ1), 2012

2012-01-01

The goal of this paper, "National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12," is to provide clear, consistent and straightforward guidance on the "essential minimum, core content" for sexuality education that is developmentally and age-appropriate for students in grades K-12. The development of these standards is a result of an…

The impact of capacity growth in national telecommunications networks.

PubMed

Lord, Andrew; Soppera, Andrea; Jacquet, Arnaud

2016-03-06

This paper discusses both UK-based and global Internet data bandwidth growth, beginning with historical data for the BT network. We examine the time variations in consumer behaviour and how this is statistically aggregated into larger traffic loads on national core fibre communications networks. The random nature of consumer Internet behaviour, where very few consumers require maximum bandwidth simultaneously, provides the opportunity for a significant statistical gain. The paper looks at predictions for how this growth might continue over the next 10-20 years, giving estimates for the amount of bandwidth that networks should support in the future. The paper then explains how national networks are designed to accommodate these traffic levels, and the various network roles, including access, metro and core, are described. The physical layer network is put into the context of how the packet and service layers are designed and the applications and location of content are also included in an overall network overview. The specific role of content servers in alleviating core network traffic loads is highlighted. The status of the relevant transmission technologies in the access, metro and core is given, showing that these technologies, with adequate research, should be sufficient to provide bandwidth for consumers in the next 10-20 years. © 2016 The Author(s).

Aquifer Recharge Estimation In Unsaturated Porous Rock Using Darcian And Geophysical Methods.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nimmo, J. R.; De Carlo, L.; Masciale, R.; Turturro, A. C.; Perkins, K. S.; Caputo, M. C.

2016-12-01

Within the unsaturated zone a constant downward gravity-driven flux of water commonly exists at depths ranging from a few meters to tens of meters depending on climate, medium, and vegetation. In this case a steady-state application of Darcy's law can provide recharge rate estimates.We have applied an integrated approach that combines field geophysical measurements with laboratory hydraulic property measurements on core samples to produce accurate estimates of steady-state aquifer recharge, or, in cases where episodic recharge also occurs, the steady component of recharge. The method requires (1) measurement of the water content existing in the deep unsaturated zone at the location of a core sample retrieved for lab measurements, and (2) measurement of the core sample's unsaturated hydraulic conductivity over a range of water content that includes the value measured in situ. Both types of measurements must be done with high accuracy. Darcy's law applied with the measured unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and gravitational driving force provides recharge estimates.Aquifer recharge was estimated using Darcian and geophysical methods at a deep porous rock (calcarenite) experimental site in Canosa, southern Italy. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) profiles were collected from the land surface to water table to provide data for Darcian recharge estimation. Volumetric water content was estimated from resistivity profiles using a laboratory-derived calibration function based on Archie's law for rock samples from the experimental site, where electrical conductivity of the rock was related to the porosity and water saturation. Multiple-depth core samples were evaluated using the Quasi-Steady Centrifuge (QSC) method to obtain hydraulic conductivity (K), matric potential (ψ), and water content (θ) estimates within this profile. Laboratory-determined unsaturated hydraulic conductivity ranged from 3.90 x 10-9 to 1.02 x 10-5 m/s over a volumetric water content range from 0.1938 to 0.4311 m3/m3. Using these measured properties, the water content estimated from geophysical measurements has been used to identify the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity indicative of the steady component of the aquifer recharge rate at Canosa.

Analysis of a mutant exhibiting conditional sorting to dense core secretory granules in Tetrahymena thermophila.

PubMed

Bowman, G R; Turkewitz, A P

2001-12-01

The formation of dense core granules (DCGs) requires both the sorting of granule contents from other secretory proteins and a postsorting maturation process. The Tetrahymena thermophila strain SB281 fails to synthesize DCGs, and previous analysis suggested that the defect lay at or near the sorting step. Because this strain represents one of the very few mutants in this pathway, we have undertaken a more complete study of the phenotype. Genetic epistasis analysis places the defect upstream of those in two other characterized Tetrahymena mutants. Using immunofluorescent detection of granule content proteins, as well as GFP tagging, we describe a novel cytoplasmic compartment to which granule contents can be sorted in growing SB281 cells. Cell fusion experiments indicate that this compartment is not a biosynthetic intermediate in DCG synthesis. Sorting in SB281 is strongly conditional with respect to growth. When cells are starved, the storage compartment is degraded and de novo synthesized granule proteins are rapidly secreted. The mutation in SB281 therefore appears to affect DCG synthesis at the level of both sorting and maturation.

Analysis of a mutant exhibiting conditional sorting to dense core secretory granules in Tetrahymena thermophila.

PubMed Central

Bowman, G R; Turkewitz, A P

2001-01-01

The formation of dense core granules (DCGs) requires both the sorting of granule contents from other secretory proteins and a postsorting maturation process. The Tetrahymena thermophila strain SB281 fails to synthesize DCGs, and previous analysis suggested that the defect lay at or near the sorting step. Because this strain represents one of the very few mutants in this pathway, we have undertaken a more complete study of the phenotype. Genetic epistasis analysis places the defect upstream of those in two other characterized Tetrahymena mutants. Using immunofluorescent detection of granule content proteins, as well as GFP tagging, we describe a novel cytoplasmic compartment to which granule contents can be sorted in growing SB281 cells. Cell fusion experiments indicate that this compartment is not a biosynthetic intermediate in DCG synthesis. Sorting in SB281 is strongly conditional with respect to growth. When cells are starved, the storage compartment is degraded and de novo synthesized granule proteins are rapidly secreted. The mutation in SB281 therefore appears to affect DCG synthesis at the level of both sorting and maturation. PMID:11779800

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

KLARER,PAUL R.; BINDER,ALAN B.; LENARD,ROGER X.

A preliminary set of requirements for a robotic rover mission to the lunar polar region are described and assessed. Tasks to be performed by the rover include core drill sample acquisition, mineral and volatile soil content assay, and significant wide area traversals. Assessment of the postulated requirements is performed using first order estimates of energy, power, and communications throughput issues. Two potential rover system configurations are considered, a smaller rover envisioned as part of a group of multiple rovers, and a larger single rover envisioned along more traditional planetary surface rover concept lines.

Addition of Functional Content during Core Content Instruction with Students with Moderate Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Belva C.; Hager, Karen L.; Galloway, Carey Creech

2011-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to add functional content during core content instruction of language arts, science, and math. The investigation involved three middle school students with moderate disabilities who participated in the state's alternate assessment. During instruction using a constant time delay procedure to teach required…

High-pressure melting experiments on Fe-Si alloys and implications for silicon as a light element in the core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozawa, Haruka; Hirose, Kei; Yonemitsu, Kyoko; Ohishi, Yasuo

2016-12-01

We carried out melting experiments on Fe-Si alloys to 127 GPa in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (DAC). On the basis of textural and chemical characterizations of samples recovered from a DAC, a change in eutectic liquid composition in the Fe-FeSi binary system was examined with increasing pressure. The chemical compositions of coexisting liquid and solid phases were quantitatively determined with field-emission-type electron microprobes. The results demonstrate that silicon content in the eutectic liquid decreases with increasing pressure to less than 1.5 ± 0.1 wt.% Si at 127 GPa. If silicon is a single light element in the core, 4.5 to 12 wt.% Si is required in the outer core in order to account for its density deficit from pure iron. However, such a liquid core, whose composition is on the Si-rich side of the eutectic point, crystallizes less dense solid, CsCl (B2)-type phase at the inner core boundary (ICB). Our data also show that the difference in silicon concentration between coexisting solid and liquid is too small to account for the observed density contrast across the ICB. These indicate that silicon cannot be the sole light element in the core. Previous geochemical and cosmochemical arguments, however, strongly require ∼6 wt.% Si in the core. It is possible that the Earth's core originally included ∼6 wt.% Si but then became depleted in silicon by crystallizing SiO2 or MgSiO3.

Women, Education and the Law: Defining the "High Qualified" Teacher--No Child Left Behind's Requirements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

First, Patricia F.

2003-01-01

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provided that by the end of the 2005-06 school year, all teachers in core content areas, teaching in public schools, must be "highly qualified" in each subject they teach. Under the law, "highly qualified" means that a teacher is fully licensed through a traditional or alternative route and…

A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Effective Teaching Techniques for Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rusk, Kara

2012-01-01

For teachers who work with students with severe disabilities, it is a challenge to find ways to incorporate the core content and academic standards with the functional skills that the student will need to be independent as he or she transitions into adulthood. "Current federal requirements challenge educators, to bring about achievement of a…

Digital Assist: A Comparison of Two Note-Taking Methods (Traditional vs. Digital Pen) for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rody, Carlotta A.

2013-01-01

High school biology classes traditionally follow a lecture format to disseminate content and new terminology. With the inclusive practices of No Child Left Behind, the Common Core State Standards, and end-of-course exam requirement for high school diplomas, classes include a large range of achievement levels and abilities. Teachers assume, often…

Some Assembly Required: Building a Better Accountability System for California. Education Sector Reports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carey, Kevin

2012-01-01

For years California has been a leader in public education. In 1999, the state implemented some of the strongest content standards in the country through its main accountability metric, the Academic Performance Index (API). The state has also signed onto the Common Core State Standards, taking important steps to ensure its students are college-…

Utilizing Discourse in the Development of Strategic Readers in the Content Areas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spies, Tracy G.

2016-01-01

The impetus behind the design and implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was to establish nationwide criteria in preparing students to be college or career ready by the end of high school. The standards require students to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate text across a wide range of disciplines. Essential to the mastery of the…

Seismic peak amplitude as a predictor of TOC content in shallow marine sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neto, Arthur Ayres; Mota, Bruno Bourguignon; Belem, André Luiz; Albuquerque, Ana Luiza; Capilla, Ramsés

2016-10-01

Acoustic remote sensing is a highly effective tool for exploring the seafloor of both deep and shallow marine settings. Indeed, the acoustic response depends on several physicochemical factors such as sediment grain size, bulk density, water content, and mineralogy. The objective of the present study is to assess the suitability of seismic peak amplitude as a predictor of total organic carbon (TOC) content in shallow marine sediments, based on data collected in the Cabo Frio mud belt in an upwelling zone off southeastern Brazil. These comprise records of P-wave velocity ( V P) along 680 km of high-resolution single-channel seismic surveys, combined with analyses of grain size, wet bulk density, absolute water content and TOC content for four piston-cores. TOC contents of sediments from 13 box-cores served to validate the methodology. The results show well-defined positive correlations between TOC content and mean grain size (phi scale) as well as absolute water content, and negative correlations with V P, wet bulk density, and acoustic impedance. These relationships yield a regression equation by which TOC content can be satisfactorily predicted on the basis of acoustic impedance for this region: y = - 4.84 ln( x) + 40.04. Indeed, the derived TOC contents differ by only 5% from those determined by geochemical analysis. After appropriate calibration, acoustic impedance can thus be conveniently used as a predictor of large-scale spatial distributions of organic carbon enrichment in marine sediments. This not only contributes to optimizing scientific project objectives, but also enhances the cost-effectiveness of marine surveys by greatly reducing the ship time commonly required for grid sampling.

Preservice Secondary Teachers Perceptions of College-Level Mathematics Content Connections with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Travis A.

2016-01-01

Preservice Secondary Mathematics Teachers (PSMTs) were surveyed to identify if they could connect early-secondary mathematics content (Grades 7-9) in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) with mathematics content studied in content courses for certification in secondary teacher preparation programs. Respondents were asked to…

Examining the importance of incorporating emergency preparedness and disaster training core competencies into allied health curricula.

PubMed

Curtis, Tammy

2015-01-01

Preparation for responding to emergency events that does not warrant outside help beyond the local community resources or responding to disaster events that is beyond the capabilities of the local community both require first responders and healthcare professionals to have interdisciplinary skills needed to function as a team for saving lives. To date, there is no core emergency preparedness and disaster planning competencies that have been standardized at all levels across the various allied health curricula disciplines. To identify if emergency preparedness and disaster training content are currently being taught in allied health program courses, to identify possible gaps within allied health curricula, and to explore the perceptions of allied health college educators for implementing emergency preparedness and disaster training core competencies into their existing curricula, if not already included. A quantitative Internet-based survey was conducted in 2013. Convenient sample. Fifty-one allied health college educators completed the survey. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority of allied health college instructors do not currently teach emergency preparedness and disaster training core competency content within their current allied health discipline; however, their perceived level of importance for inclusion of the competencies was high. The results of this study supported the need for developing and establishing a basic national set of standardized core emergency preparedness and disaster planning competencies at all levels across various allied health curricula disciplines to ensure victims receive the best patient care and have the best possible chance of survival.

Uranium, thorium and REE partitioning into sulfide liquids at high pressure and high temperature: Implications for reduced, S-rich planetary bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wohlers, A.; Wood, B. J.

2017-12-01

Based on models of the young solar nebula it is likely that the inner planets went through an early reduced phase of accretion with high metal/silicate ratio and low volatile element contents. Mercury is an existing example of a large planetary embryo with these characteristics but also with a very high S content. In order to investigate the geochemical evolution of Mercury-like bodies we experimentally determined the partitioning of lithophile elements (U, Th, Eu, Sm, Nd, Zr, La, Ce, Yb) between sulfide liquid, low-S metals and silicate melt at 1.5 GPa and 1400-2100˚C. Our results, when combined with those of Wohlers and Wood (2015) show that under highly reducing conditions (FeOsilicate<1wt%) U, Sm, Nd and other lithophile elements partition strongly into FeS liquids relative to silicate melts. The dependences of D's on the FeS contents of the metal and FeO contents of the silicate may be understood in terms of exchange reactions: UO2 + 2FeS = 2FeO + US2silicate sulfide silicate sulfideHigh concentrations of FeSmetal and low FeO contents of the silicate melts drive the reaction to the right, yielding high US2 in the sulfide and high DU. A second effect which raises DU (and other lithophile D's) is the S content of the silicate melt. The latter increases rapidly at low FeO contents and reaches 11wt %. This greatly reduces the activity coefficient of FeO, displacing the reaction further to the right. At 1.5GPa and 1400˚C we obtain sulfide-silicate partitioning with DNd/DSm 1.4 and DTh 0.1DU. As temperature increases to 2100˚C, DNd/DSm declines to 1.0 and DTh/DU increases to 0.3. We estimated the effects of accreting a reduced sulfur-rich component (with FeS core) added to early Earth. The results at 1400˚C imply the possibility of a significant ( 11ppm) 142Nd anomaly in silicate Earth and the addition of >8 ppb U to the core, but require an unreasonably high Th/U of silicate Earth (4.54). Results at 2100˚C lead to a 142Nd anomaly of 0 but addition of such a reduced sulfur-rich body could add up to 10 ppb of U to the core, together with 21 ppb Th. This combination would generate 3 TW of the energy required for the geodynamo. In this case, the Th/U ratio of silicate Earth would be 4.3, within the range of some estimates. Wohlers A. & Wood B.J. (2015) A Mercury-like component of early Earth yield uranium in the core and high mantle Nd142. Nature 520, 337-340

Permeability analysis of Asbuton material used as core layers of water resistance in the body of dam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahim, H.; Tjaronge, M. W.; Thaha, A.; Djamaluddin, R.

2017-11-01

In order to increase consumption of the local materials and national products, large reserves of Asbuton material about 662.960 million tons in the Buton Islands became an alternative as a waterproof core layer in the body of dam. The Asbuton material was used in this research is Lawele Granular Asphalt (LGA). This study was an experimental study conducted in the laboratory by conducting density testing (content weight) and permeability on Asbuton material. Testing of the Asbuton material used Falling Head method to find out the permeability value of Asbuton material. The data of test result to be analyzed are the relation between compaction energy and density value also relation between density value and permeability value of Asbuton material. The result shows that increases the number of blow apply to the Asbuton material at each layer will increase the density of the Asbuton material. The density value of Asbuton material that satisfies the requirements for use as an impermeable core layer in the dam body is 1.53 grams/cm3. The increase the density value (the weight of the contents) of the Asbuton material will reduce its permeability value of the Asbuton material.

Automated classification of Acid Rock Drainage potential from Corescan drill core imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cracknell, M. J.; Jackson, L.; Parbhakar-Fox, A.; Savinova, K.

2017-12-01

Classification of the acid forming potential of waste rock is important for managing environmental hazards associated with mining operations. Current methods for the classification of acid rock drainage (ARD) potential usually involve labour intensive and subjective assessment of drill core and/or hand specimens. Manual methods are subject to operator bias, human error and the amount of material that can be assessed within a given time frame is limited. The automated classification of ARD potential documented here is based on the ARD Index developed by Parbhakar-Fox et al. (2011). This ARD Index involves the combination of five indicators: A - sulphide content; B - sulphide alteration; C - sulphide morphology; D - primary neutraliser content; and E - sulphide mineral association. Several components of the ARD Index require accurate identification of sulphide minerals. This is achieved by classifying Corescan Red-Green-Blue true colour images into the presence or absence of sulphide minerals using supervised classification. Subsequently, sulphide classification images are processed and combined with Corescan SWIR-based mineral classifications to obtain information on sulphide content, indices representing sulphide textures (disseminated versus massive and degree of veining), and spatially associated minerals. This information is combined to calculate ARD Index indicator values that feed into the classification of ARD potential. Automated ARD potential classifications of drill core samples associated with a porphyry Cu-Au deposit are compared to manually derived classifications and those obtained by standard static geochemical testing and X-ray diffractometry analyses. Results indicate a high degree of similarity between automated and manual ARD potential classifications. Major differences between approaches are observed in sulphide and neutraliser mineral percentages, likely due to the subjective nature of manual estimates of mineral content. The automated approach presented here for the classification of ARD potential offers rapid, repeatable and accurate outcomes comparable to manually derived classifications. Methods for automated ARD classifications from digital drill core data represent a step-change for geoenvironmental management practices in the mining industry.

Physics Envy: Psychologists' Perceptions of Psychology and Agreement about Core Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howell, Jennifer L.; Collisson, Brian; King, Kelly M.

2014-01-01

This study assessed the nature of psychology and its consensus regarding core content. We hypothesized that psychology possesses little agreement regarding its core content areas and thus may "envy" more canonical sciences, such as physics. Using a global sample, we compared psychologists' and physicists' perceptions regarding…

The effects of sulfur on carbon partitioning and solubility in high pressure-temperature alloy-silicate systems: Implications for fractionation of carbon and sulfur during accretion and core formation of Earth and Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuno, K.; Dasgupta, R.; Grewal, D. S.

2017-12-01

Constraining the carbon (C) fractionation between the silicate magma ocean (MO) and core-forming alloy liquid is required to determine the origin and evolution of C between reservoirs such as atmosphere, crust, mantle, and core of terrestrial planets. [1]. Alloy-silicate partitioning experiments of C have shown that preferential fractionation of C into the alloy liquid would have left the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) devoid of C [2-4]. Merger of a sulfur (S)-rich differentiated planetary embryo into the proto-Earth could have supplied almost the entire C budget of the present-day BSE [5], however, experimental data on the systematic effect of S on C solubility in Fe-Ni alloy liquid and its partitioning between the alloy liquid and silicate melt are lacking. We have performed multi anvil experiments with alloy-silicate±glassy carbon mixtures at 6-13 GPa and 1800-2000 °C, fO2 of ΔIW of -0.4 to -2.3, using graphite or MgO capsules and varying alloy S content from 10 to 36 wt.%. We find that C content of the alloy liquid decreases from 4.6 to 0.2 wt.% with increasing alloy S content of 10 to 36 wt.%. Temperature has a small positive effect and pressure has little effect on alloy C solubility. Alloy-silicate partition coefficient of C also decreases with increasing alloy S content at a given P-T-fO2. We used the data to quantify the distribution of C between the silicate MO and core-forming alloy liquid of an S-rich planetary embryo. The model calculations using our data suggest that the addition of a relatively oxidized, C-poor ( 0.3 wt.%) and S-rich ( 3 wt.%) large embryo (6-20% of the present-day Earth mass) to a volatile-poor growing Earth can establish the C and S contents [6, 7] and C/S ratio [8] in BSE. The resulting core composition after the accretion and core formation process is estimated to be C- and S-poor ( 0.05 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, respectively). On the other hand, a single stage core formation on Mars that results in a core with 8-10 wt.% S can yield a mantle with terrestrial-mantle like carbon abundance if the bulk Mars contains 0.6 wt.% C and 1.5-1.7 wt.% S. [1] Dasgupta (2013) RiMG. [2] Dasgupta et al. (2013) GCA. [3] Chi et al. (2014) GCA. [4] Li et al. (2015) EPSL. [5] Li et al. (2016) Nat. Geo. [6] Dasgupta & Hirschmann (2010) EPSL. [7] Palme & O'Neill (2013), Treat. Geochem. [8] Hirschmann (2016) Am Min.

Promoting pedagogical content knowledge development for early career secondary teachers in science and technology using content representations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, John; Eames, Chris; Hume, Anne; Lockley, John

2012-11-01

Background: This research addressed the key area of early career teacher education and aimed to explore the use of a 'content representation' (CoRe) as a mediational tool to develop early career secondary teacher pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). This study was situated in the subject areas of science and technology, where sound teacher knowledge is particularly important to student engagement. Purpose: The study was designed to examine whether such a tool (a CoRe), co-designed by an early career secondary teacher with expert content and pedagogy specialists, can enhance the PCK of early career teachers. The research questions were: How can experts in content and pedagogy work together with early career teachers to develop one science topic CoRe and one technology topic CoRe to support the development of PCK for early career secondary teachers? How does the use of a collaboratively designed CoRe affect the planning of an early career secondary teacher in science or technology? How has engagement in the development and use of an expert-informed CoRe developed an early career teacher's PCK? Sample: The research design incorporated a unique partnership between two expert classroom teachers, two content experts, four early career teachers, and four researchers experienced in science and technology education. Design: This study employed an interpretivist-based methodology and an action research approach within a four-case study design. Data were gathered using qualitative research methods focused on semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis. Results: The study indicated that CoRes, developed through this collaborative process, helped the early career teachers focus on the big picture of the topic, emphasize particularly relevant areas of content and consider alternative ways of planning for their teaching. Conclusions: This paper presents an analysis of the process of CoRe development by the teacher-expert partnerships and the effect that had on the early career teachers' PCK. In addition, as the same tools and methodology were applied to both a science and a technology teaching context, differences between the two learning areas are discussed.

Algebra? There's an App for That: Florida Goes Online with Math Support for Teachers and Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schackow, Joy Bronston; Cugini, Stephanie

2016-01-01

The transition to Common Core State Standards for Mathematics has created a need for high-quality professional learning on content and pedagogy. This is especially true for algebra 1 teachers in Florida, where students must pass a standards-based exam as a requirement to earning a high school diploma. Time, distance, and cost constraints can get…

Checkerboard seed-blanket thorium fuel core concepts for heavy water moderated reactors

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

Bromley, B.P.; Hyland, B.

2013-07-01

New reactor concepts to implement thorium-based fuel cycles have been explored to achieve maximum resource utilization. Pressure tube heavy water reactors (PT-HWR) are highly advantageous for implementing the use of thorium-based fuels because of their high neutron economy and on-line re-fuelling capability. The use of heterogeneous seed-blanket core concepts in a PT-HWR where higher-fissile-content seed fuel bundles are physically separate from lower-fissile-content blanket bundles allows more flexibility and control in fuel management to maximize the fissile utilization and conversion of fertile fuel. The lattice concept chosen was a 35-element bundle made with a homogeneous mixture of reactor grade Pu (aboutmore » 67 wt% fissile) and Th, and with a central zirconia rod to help reduce coolant void reactivity. Several checkerboard heterogeneous seed-blanket core concepts with plutonium-thorium-based fuels in a 700-MWe-class PT-HWR were analyzed, using a once-through thorium (OTT) cycle. Different combinations of seed and blanket fuel were tested to determine the impact on core-average burnup, fissile utilization, power distributions, and other performance parameters. It was found that various checkerboard core concepts can achieve a fissile utilization that is up to 26% higher than that achieved in a PT-HWR using more conventional natural uranium fuel bundles. Up to 60% of the Pu is consumed; up to 43% of the energy is produced from thorium, and up to 303 kg/year of Pa-233/U-233/U-235 are produced. Checkerboard cores with about 50% of low-power blanket bundles may require power de-rating (65% to 74%) to avoid exceeding maximum limits for channel and bundle powers and linear element ratings. (authors)« less

Content analysis of physical examination templates in electronic health records using SNOMED CT.

PubMed

Gøeg, Kirstine Rosenbeck; Chen, Rong; Højen, Anne Randorff; Elberg, Pia

2014-10-01

Most electronic health record (EHR) systems are built on proprietary information models and terminology, which makes achieving semantic interoperability a challenge. Solving interoperability problems requires well-defined standards. In contrast, the need to support clinical work practice requires a local customization of EHR systems. Consequently, contrasting goals may be evident in EHR template design because customization means that local EHR organizations can define their own templates, whereas standardization implies consensus at some level. To explore the complexity of balancing these two goals, this study analyzes the differences and similarities between templates in use today. A similarity analysis was developed on the basis of SNOMED CT. The analysis was performed on four physical examination templates from Denmark and Sweden. The semantic relationships in SNOMED CT were used to quantify similarities and differences. Moreover, the analysis used these identified similarities to investigate the common content of a physical examination template. The analysis showed that there were both similarities and differences in physical examination templates, and the size of the templates varied from 18 to 49 fields. In the SNOMED CT analysis, exact matches and terminology similarities were represented in all template pairs. The number of exact matches ranged from 7 to 24. Moreover, the number of unrelated fields differed a lot from 1/18 to 22/35. Cross-country comparisons tended to have more unrelated content than within-country comparisons. On the basis of identified similarities, it was possible to define the common content of a physical examination. Nevertheless, a complete view on the physical examination required the inclusion of both exact matches and terminology similarities. This study revealed that a core set of items representing the physical examination templates can be generated when the analysis takes into account not only exact matches but also terminology similarities. This core set of items could be a starting point for standardization and semantic interoperability. However, both unmatched terms and terminology matched terms pose a challenge for standardization. Future work will include using local templates as a point of departure in standardization to see if local requirements can be maintained in a standardized framework. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of toxicology knowledge in the fourth-year medical students: Three years of data.

PubMed

Buchanan, Jennie; Windels, Daniel; Druck, Jeffrey; Heard, Kennon

2018-01-01

Pharmacology and toxicology are core content knowledge for physicians. Medical students should demonstrate understanding of general pharmacology and basic treatment of poisoning. The objective of this study was to measure the knowledge of the 4th-year medical students (MS4) on these topics over 3 years. A multiple-choice exam (15 questions) was administered to MS4 students in spring of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Questions were developed by medical toxicologists to evaluate basic knowledge in three areas: pharmacologic effects (PE), treatment of poisoning (TOP), and pharmacokinetics (PK). The students were grouped by intended specialties into pharmacologic intense (anesthesia, emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry), less pharmacologic intense specialties (dermatology, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, radiology, and surgery) and by completion of a pharmacology or toxicology elective. Mean group scores were compared using ANOVA. Totally 332 of 401 (83%) students completed the survey. Mean scores were stable over the three years, higher for students completing a toxicology rotation and for students entering a pharmacologically intense specialty. The external validity is limited to a single medical school with incomplete participation and content was limited by the survey length. Consistent results over the three-year period and correlation of performance with completing a toxicology rotation and intent to enter a pharmacology intensive specialty suggest this survey may correlate with toxicology knowledge. Implementation of required core courses focused on toxicology may improve core content knowledge in fourth year medical students.

Si-depleted outer core inferred from sound velocity measurements of liquid Fe-Si alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, Y.; Imada, S.; Hirose, K.; Kuwayama, Y.; Sinmyo, R.; Tateno, S.; Ozawa, H.; Tsutsui, S.; Uchiyama, H.; Baron, A. Q. R.

2016-12-01

Recent core formation models [1,2] suggested that a large amount of Si could have been incorporated into the core forming metals in the early stage of the Earth. These studies gave estimates for the Si content in the core, from 2 to 9 wt.%. In order to constrain the Si content of the outer core, we have determined the sound wave velocity of liquid Fe-Si alloys under high pressures and high temperatures. Starting materials of Fe-Si alloys with 6.5 and 9 wt.% Si were melted in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell. The longitudinal acoustic phonon excitation of a liquid metal was measured up to 52 GPa and 3200 K by using high resolution inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy at beamline BL35XU [3] of the SPring-8 synchrotron facility. Our results show that silicon significantly increases the P-wave velocity of liquid Fe. Seismological observation shows that the P-wave velocity in the outer core is 3-4% faster than in pure iron. Comparing the present results with seismological observations, the silicon content of the outer core should be limited to be <2 wt.%, significantly lower than previous estimates based on the element partitioning between core forming mental and silicate magma ocean during core formation processes. This indicates that the present-day core is depleted in Si relative to the ancient core just after core formation, which agrees with the recent proposal [4] that the Si content in the outer core has been diminished by SiO2 crystallization through the core cooling history. [1] Rubie et al. (2011) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 301, 31-42. [2] Siebert et al. (2013) Science 339, 1194-1197. [3] Baron et al. (2000) J. Phys. Chem. Solids 61, 461-465 [4] Hirose et al. (2015) Abstract presented at AGU Fall Meeting 2015.

Evolution of massive stars in very young clusters and associations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stothers, R. B.

1985-01-01

Statistics concerning the stellar content of young galactic clusters and associations which show well defined main sequence turnups have been analyzed in order to derive information about stellar evolution in high-mass galaxies. The analytical approach is semiempirical and uses natural spectroscopic groups of stars on the H-R diagram together with the stars' apparent magnitudes. The new approach does not depend on absolute luminosities and requires only the most basic elements of stellar evolution theory. The following conclusions are offered on the basis of the statistical analysis: (1) O-tupe main-sequence stars evolve to a spectral type of B1 during core hydrogen burning; (2) most O-type blue stragglers are newly formed massive stars burning core hydrogen; (3) supergiants lying redward of the main-sequence turnup are burning core helium; and most Wolf-Rayet stars are burning core helium and originally had masses greater than 30-40 solar mass. The statistics of the natural spectroscopic stars in young galactic clusters and associations are given in a table.

Core content for training in venous and lymphatic medicine.

PubMed

Zimmet, Steven E; Min, Robert J; Comerota, Anthony J; Meissner, Mark H; Carman, Teresa L; Rathbun, Suman W; Jaff, Michael R; Wakefield, Thomas W; Feied, Craig F

2014-10-01

The major venous societies in the United States share a common mission to improve the standards of medical practitioners, the educational goals for teaching and training programs in venous disease, and the quality of patient care related to the treatment of venous disorders. With these important goals in mind, a task force made up of experts from the specialties of dermatology, interventional radiology, phlebology, vascular medicine, and vascular surgery was formed to develop a consensus document describing the Core Content for venous and lymphatic medicine and to develop a core educational content outline for training. This outline describes the areas of knowledge considered essential for practice in the field, which encompasses the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with acute and chronic venous and lymphatic disorders. The American Venous Forum and the American College of Phlebology have endorsed the Core Content. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

A suggested core content for education scholarship fellowships in emergency medicine.

PubMed

Yarris, Lalena M; Coates, Wendy C; Lin, Michelle; Lind, Karen; Jordan, Jaime; Clarke, Sam; Guth, Todd A; Santen, Sally A; Hamstra, Stanley J

2012-12-01

A working group at the 2012 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference on education research in emergency medicine (EM) convened to develop a curriculum for dedicated postgraduate fellowships in EM education scholarship. This fellowship is intended to create future education scholars, equipped with the skills to thrive in academic careers. This proceedings article reports on the consensus of a breakout session subgroup tasked with defining a common core content for education scholarship fellowships. The authors propose that the core content of an EM education scholarship fellowship can be categorized in four distinct areas: career development, theories of learning and teaching methods, education research methods, and educational program administration. This core content can be incorporated into curricula for education scholarship fellowships in EM or other fields and can also be adapted for use in general medical education fellowships. © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Near-Infrared Imaging for Spatial Mapping of Organic Content in Petroleum Source Rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehmani, Y.; Burnham, A. K.; Vanden Berg, M. D.; Tchelepi, H.

2017-12-01

Natural gas from unconventional petroleum source rocks (shales) plays a key role in our transition towards sustainable low-carbon energy production. The potential for carbon storage (in adsorbed state) in these formations further aligns with efforts to mitigate climate change. Optimizing production and development from these resources requires knowledge of the hydro-thermo-mechanical properties of the rock, which are often strong functions of organic content. This work demonstrates the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectral imaging in mapping the spatial distribution of organic content with O(100µm) resolution on cores that can span several hundred feet in depth (Mehmani et al., 2017). We validate our approach for the immature oil shale of the Green River Formation (GRF), USA, and show its applicability potential in other formations. The method is a generalization of a previously developed optical approach specialized to the GRF (Mehmani et al., 2016a). The implications of this work for spatial mapping of hydro-thermo-mechanical properties of excavated cores, in particular thermal conductivity, are discussed (Mehmani et al., 2016b). References:Mehmani, Y., A.K. Burnham, M.D. Vanden Berg, H. Tchelepi, "Quantification of organic content in shales via near-infrared imaging: Green River Formation." Fuel, (2017). Mehmani, Y., A.K. Burnham, M.D. Vanden Berg, F. Gelin, and H. Tchelepi. "Quantification of kerogen content in organic-rich shales from optical photographs." Fuel, (2016a). Mehmani, Y., A.K. Burnham, H. Tchelepi, "From optics to upscaled thermal conductivity: Green River oil shale." Fuel, (2016b).

Revealing the Structural Complexity of Component Interactions of Topic-Specific PCK when Planning to Teach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mavhunga, Elizabeth

2018-04-01

Teaching pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) at a topic-specific level requires clarity on the content-specific nature of the components employed, as well as the specific features that bring about the desirable depth in teacher explanations. Such understanding is often hazy; yet, it influences the nature of teacher tasks and learning opportunities afforded to pre-service teachers in a teaching program. The purpose of this study was twofold: firstly, to illuminate the emerging complexity when content-specific components of PCK interact when planning to teach a chemistry topic; and secondly, to identify the kinds of teacher tasks that promote the emergence of such complexity. Data collected were content representations (CoRes) in chemical equilibrium accompanied by expanded lesson outlines from 15 pre-service teachers in their final year of study towards a first degree in teaching (B Ed). The analysis involved extraction of episodes that exhibited component interaction by using a qualitative in-depth analysis method. The results revealed the structure in which the components of PCK in a topic interact among each other to be linear, interwoven, or a combination of the two. The interwoven interactions contained multiple components that connected explanations on different aspects of a concept, all working in a complementary manner. The most sophisticated component interactions emerged from teacher tasks on descriptions of a lesson sequence and a summary of a lesson. Recommendations in this study highlight core practices for making pedagogical transformation of topic content knowledge more accessible.

Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE): extending GAISE into nursing education.

PubMed

Hayat, Matthew J

2014-04-01

Statistics coursework is usually a core curriculum requirement for nursing students at all degree levels. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) establishes curriculum standards for academic nursing programs. However, the AACN provides little guidance on statistics education and does not offer standardized competency guidelines or recommendations about course content or learning objectives. Published standards may be used in the course development process to clarify course content and learning objectives. This article includes suggestions for implementing and integrating recommendations given in the Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) report into statistics education for nursing students. Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.

Capturing and portraying science student teachers' pedagogical content knowledge through CoRe construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thongnoppakun, Warangkana; Yuenyong, Chokchai

2018-01-01

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is an essential kind of knowledge that teacher have for teaching particular content to particular students for enhance students' understanding, therefore, teachers with adequate PCK can give content to their students in an understandable way rather than transfer subject matter knowledge to learner. This study explored science student teachers' PCK for teaching science using Content representation base methodology. Research participants were 68 4th year science student teachers from department of General Science, faculty of Education, Phuket Rajabhat University. PCK conceptualization for teaching science by Magnusson et al. (1999) was applied as a theoretical framework in this study. In this study, Content representation (CoRe) by Loughran et al. (2004) was employed as research methodology in the lesson preparation process. In addition, CoRe consisted of eight questions (CoRe prompts) that designed to elicit and portray teacher's PCK for teaching science. Data were collected from science student teachers' CoRes design for teaching a given topic and student grade. Science student teachers asked to create CoRes design for teaching in topic `Motion in one direction' for 7th grade student and further class discussion. Science student teachers mostly created a same group of science concepts according to subunits of school science textbook rather than planned and arranged content to support students' understanding. Furthermore, they described about the effect of student's prior knowledge and learning difficulties such as students' knowledge of Scalar and Vector quantity; and calculating skill. These responses portrayed science student teacher's knowledge of students' understanding of science and their content knowledge. However, they still have inadequate knowledge of instructional strategies and activities for enhance student learning. In summary, CoRes design can represented holistic overviews of science student teachers' PCK related to the teaching of a particular topic and also support them to gain more understanding about how to teach for understanding. Research implications are given for teacher education and educational research to offer a potential way to enhance science student teachers' PCK for teaching science and support their professional learning.

Developing the Clarity and Openness in Reporting: E3-based (CORE) Reference user manual for creation of clinical study reports in the era of clinical trial transparency.

PubMed

Hamilton, Samina; Bernstein, Aaron B; Blakey, Graham; Fagan, Vivien; Farrow, Tracy; Jordan, Debbie; Seiler, Walther; Shannon, Anna; Gertel, Art

2016-01-01

Interventional clinical studies conducted in the regulated drug research environment are reported using International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) regulatory guidance documents: ICH E3 on the structure and content of clinical study reports (CSRs) published in 1995 and ICH E3 supplementary Questions & Answers (Q & A) published in 2012.Since the ICH guidance documents were published, there has been heightened awareness of the importance of disclosure of clinical study results. The use of the CSR as a key source document to fulfil emerging obligations has resulted in a re-examination of how ICH guidelines are applied in CSR preparation. The dynamic regulatory and modern drug development environments create emerging reporting challenges. Regulatory medical writing and statistical professionals developed Clarity and Openness in Reporting: E3-based (CORE) Reference over a 2-year period. Stakeholders contributing expertise included a global industry association, regulatory agency, patient advocate, academic and Principal Investigator representatives. CORE Reference should help authors navigate relevant guidelines as they create CSR content relevant for today's studies. It offers practical suggestions for developing CSRs that will require minimum redaction and modification prior to public disclosure.CORE Reference comprises a Preface, followed by the actual resource. The Preface clarifies intended use and underlying principles that inform resource utility. The Preface lists references contributing to development of the resource, which broadly fall into 'regulatory' and 'public disclosure' categories. The resource includes ICH E3 guidance text, ICH E3 Q & A 2012-derived guidance text and CORE Reference text, distinguished from one another through the use of shading. Rationale comments are used throughout for clarification purposes.A separate mapping tool comparing ICH E3 sectional structure and CORE Reference sectional structure is also provided.Together, CORE Reference and the mapping tool constitute the user manual. This publication is intended to enhance the use, understanding and dissemination of CORE Reference.The CORE Reference user manual and the associated website (http://www.core-reference.org) should improve the reporting of interventional clinical studies.Periodic updates of CORE Reference are planned to maintain its relevance. CORE Reference was registered with http://www.equator-network.org on 23 March 2015.

Low hydrogen contents in the cores of terrestrial planets.

PubMed

Clesi, Vincent; Bouhifd, Mohamed Ali; Bolfan-Casanova, Nathalie; Manthilake, Geeth; Schiavi, Federica; Raepsaet, Caroline; Bureau, Hélène; Khodja, Hicham; Andrault, Denis

2018-03-01

Hydrogen has been thought to be an important light element in Earth's core due to possible siderophile behavior during core-mantle segregation. We reproduced planetary differentiation conditions using hydrogen contents of 450 to 1500 parts per million (ppm) in the silicate phase, pressures of 5 to 20 GPa, oxygen fugacity varying within IW-3.7 and IW-0.2 (0.2 to 3.7 log units lower than iron-wüstite buffer), and Fe alloys typical of planetary cores. We report hydrogen metal-silicate partition coefficients of ~2 × 10 -1 , up to two orders of magnitude lower than reported previously, and indicative of lithophile behavior. Our results imply H contents of ~60 ppm in the Earth and Martian cores. A simple water budget suggests that 90% of the water initially present in planetary building blocks was lost during planetary accretion. The retained water segregated preferentially into planetary mantles.

The effects of nickel and sulphur on the core-mantle partitioning of oxygen in Earth and Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuno, Kyusei; Frost, Daniel J.; Rubie, David C.

2011-03-01

Constraints on the partitioning of oxygen between silicates, oxides, and metallic liquids are important for determining the amount of oxygen that may have entered the cores of terrestrial planets and to identify likely reactions at the core-mantle boundary. Several previous studies have examined oxygen partitioning between liquid Fe metal and ferropericlase, however, the cores of terrestrial planets also contain nickel and most likely sulphur. We have performed experiments to examine the effects of both nickel and sulphur on the partitioning of oxygen between ferropericlase and liquid Fe alloy up to pressures of 24.5 GPa in the temperature range 2430-2750 K using a multianvil press. The results show that at a fixed oxygen fugacity the proportion of oxygen that partitions into liquid metal will decrease by approximately 1-2 mol% on the addition of 10-20 mol% nickel to the liquid. The addition of around 30 mol% sulphur will, on the other hand, increase the metal oxygen content by approximately 10 mol%. Experiments to examine the combined effects of both nickel and sulphur, show a decrease in the effect of nickel on oxygen partitioning as the sulphur content of the metal increases. We expand an existing thermodynamic model for the partitioning of oxygen at high pressures and temperatures to include the effects of nickel and sulphur by fitting these experimental data, with further constraints provided by existing phase equilibria studies at similar conditions in the Fe-S and Fe-O-S systems. Plausible terrestrial core sulphur contents have little effect on oxygen partitioning. When our model is extrapolated to conditions of the present day terrestrial core-mantle boundary, the presence of nickel is found to lower the oxygen content of the outer core that is in equilibrium with the expected mantle ferropericlase FeO content, by approximately 1 weight %, in comparison to nickel free calculations. In agreement with nickel-free experiments, this implies that the Earth's outer core is undersaturated in oxygen with respect to plausible mantle FeO contents, which will result in either the depletion of FeO from the base of the mantle or cause the development of an outer core layer that is enriched in oxygen. The oxygen content of the more sulphur-rich Martian core would be in the range 2-4 wt.% if it is in equilibrium with the FeO-rich Martian mantle.

Analytical methods in the high conversion reactor core design

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

Zeggel, W.; Oldekop, W.; Axmann, J.K.

High conversion reactor (HCR) design methods have been used at the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUBS) with the technological support of Kraftwerk Union (KWU). The present state and objectives of this cooperation between KWU and TUBS in the field of HCRs have been described using existing design models and current activities aimed at further development and validation of the codes. The hard physical and thermal-hydraulic boundary conditions of pressurized water reactor (PWR) cores with a high degree of fuel utilization result from the tight packing of the HCR fuel rods and the high fissionable plutonium content of the fuel. Inmore » terms of design, the problem will be solved with rod bundles whose fuel rods are adjusted by helical spacers to the proposed small rod pitches. These HCR properties require novel computational models for neutron physics, thermal hydraulics, and fuel rod design. By means of a survey of the codes, the analytical procedure for present-day HCR core design is presented. The design programs are currently under intensive development, as design tools with a solid, scientific foundation and with essential parameters that are widely valid and are required for a promising optimization of the HCR core. Design results and a survey of future HCR development are given. In this connection, the reoptimization of the PWR core in the direction of an HCR is considered a fascinating scientific task, with respect to both economic and safety aspects.« less

Development of Extended Content Standards for Biodiversity Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hugo, Wim; Schmidt, Jochen; Saarenmaa, Hannu

2013-04-01

Interoperability in the field of Biodiversity observation has been strongly driven by the development of a number of global initiatives (GEO, GBIF, OGC, TDWG, GenBank, …) and its supporting standards (OGC-WxS, OGC-SOS, Darwin Core (DwC), NetCDF, …). To a large extent, these initiatives have focused on discoverability and standardization of syntactic and schematic interoperability. Semantic interoperability is more complex, requiring development of domain-dependent conceptual data models, and extension of these models with appropriate ontologies (typically manifested as controlled vocabularies). Biodiversity content has been standardized partly, for example through Darwin Core for occurrence data and associated taxonomy, and through Genbank for genetic data, but other contexts of biodiversity observation have lagged behind - making it difficult to achieve semantic interoperability between distributed data sources. With this in mind, WG8 of GEO BON (charged with data and systems interoperability) has started a work programme to address a number of concerns, one of which is the gap in content standards required to make Biodiversity data truly interoperable. The paper reports on the framework developed by WG8 for the classification of Biodiversity observation data into 'families' of use cases and its supporting data schema, where gaps, if any, in the availability if content standards have been identified, and how these are to be addressed by way of an abstract data model and the development of associated content standards. It is proposed that a minimum set of standards (1) will be required to address the scope of Biodiversity content, aligned with levels and dimensions of observation, and based on the 'Essential Biodiversity Variables' (2) being developed by GEO BON . The content standards are envisaged as loosely separated from the syntactic and schematic standards used for the base data exchange: typically, services would offer an existing data standard (DwC, WFS, SOS, NetCDF), with a use-case dependent 'payload' embedded into the data stream. This enables the re-use of the abstract schema, and sometimes the implementation specification (for example XML, JSON, or NetCDF conventions) across services. An explicit aim will be to make the XML implementation specification re-usable as a DwC and a GML (SOS end WFS) extension. (1) Olga Lyashevska, Keith D. Farnsworth, How many dimensions of biodiversity do we need?, Ecological Indicators, Volume 18, July 2012, Pages 485-492, ISSN 1470-160X, 10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.016. (2) GEO BON: Workshop on Essential Biodiversity Variables (27-29 February 2012, Frascati, Italy). (http://www.earthobservations.org/geobon_docs_20120227.shtml)

Revisioning a clinical nurse specialist curriculum in 3 specialty tracks.

PubMed

Arslanian-Engoren, Cynthia; Sullivan, Barbara-Jean; Struble, Laura

2011-01-01

The objective of the present study was to revise 3 clinical nurse specialist (CNS) educational tracks with current National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist core competencies and educational expectations. National curricula recommendations include core competencies by the 3 spheres of influence. Advanced practice registered nurses consensus model educational requirements include a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours; separate graduate courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and advanced physical assessment; and content in differential diagnosis disease management, decision making, and role preparation. This educational initiative was designed to (1) align with core competencies and advanced practice registered nurse consensus model recommendations, (2) create an innovative learning environment, (3) meet the needs of diverse student populations, (4) align with emerging doctor of nursing practice programs, (5) create a high-efficiency and high-quality environment to manage human and fiscal resources, and (6) reduce duplication of efforts. Courses were revised that did not meet current CNS educational preparation expectations. A total of 11 didactic and clinical sequences courses were developed for the 3 tracks to (1) ensure minimum numbers of clinical hours; (2) expand content on health promotion and risk reduction, advanced practice nurse role, and the healthcare delivery system; (3) consolidate clinical courses; and (4) resequence foundational content before beginning clinical courses. Revisioning a CNS curriculum in 3 specialty tracks is challenging but doable using innovative and creative approaches. The innovative process used to revise our CNS curriculum will assist nurse educators faced with similar program delivery challenges to meet future directions for educating CNS students in advanced nursing practice. Copyright © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Mechanical properties of kenaf bast and core fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishak, M. R.; Leman, Z.; Sapuan, S. M.; Edeerozey, A. M. M.; Othman, I. S.

2010-05-01

Kenaf fibre has high potential to be used for composite reinforcement in biocomposite material. It is made up of an inner woody core and an outer fibrous bark surrounding the core. The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of short kenaf bast and core fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites with varying fibre weight fraction i.e. 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. The compression moulding technique was used to prepare the composite specimens for tensile, flexural and impact tests in accordance to the ASTM D5083, ASTM D790 and ASTM D256 respectively. The overall results showed that the composites reinforced with kenaf bast fibre had higher mechanical properties than kenaf core fibre composites. The results also showed that the optimum fibre content for achieving highest tensile strength for both bast and core fibre composites was 20%wt. It was also observed that the elongation at break for both composites decreased as the fibre content increased. For the flexural strength, the optimum fibre content for both composites was 10%wt while for impact strength, it was at 10%wt and 5%wt for bast and core fibre composites respectively.

The redox state of the mantle during and just after core formation.

PubMed

Frost, D J; Mann, U; Asahara, Y; Rubie, D C

2008-11-28

Siderophile elements are depleted in the Earth's mantle, relative to chondritic meteorites, as a result of equilibration with core-forming Fe-rich metal. Measurements of metal-silicate partition coefficients show that mantle depletions of slightly siderophile elements (e.g. Cr, V) must have occurred at more reducing conditions than those inferred from the current mantle FeO content. This implies that the oxidation state (i.e. FeO content) of the mantle increased with time as accretion proceeded. The oxygen fugacity of the present-day upper mantle is several orders of magnitude higher than the level imposed by equilibrium with core-forming Fe metal. This results from an increase in the Fe2O3 content of the mantle that probably occurred in the first 1Ga of the Earth's history. Here we explore fractionation mechanisms that could have caused mantle FeO and Fe2O3 contents to increase while the oxidation state of accreting material remained constant (homogeneous accretion). Using measured metal-silicate partition coefficients for O and Si, we have modelled core-mantle equilibration in a magma ocean that became progressively deeper as accretion proceeded. The model indicates that the mantle would have become gradually oxidized as a result of Si entering the core. However, the increase in mantle FeO content and oxygen fugacity is limited by the fact that O also partitions into the core at high temperatures, which lowers the FeO content of the mantle. (Mg,Fe)(Al,Si)O3 perovskite, the dominant lower mantle mineral, has a strong affinity for Fe2O3 even in the presence of metallic Fe. As the upper mantle would have been poor in Fe2O3 during core formation, FeO would have disproportionated to produce Fe2O3 (in perovskite) and Fe metal. Loss of some disproportionated Fe metal to the core would have enriched the remaining mantle in Fe2O3 and, if the entire mantle was then homogenized, the oxygen fugacity of the upper mantle would have been raised to its present-day level.

The development of a core syllabus for the teaching of oral anatomy, histology, and embryology to dental students via an international 'Delphi Panel'.

PubMed

Moxham, Bernard John; McHanwell, Stephen; Berkovitz, Barry

2018-03-01

The formulation of core syllabuses for the biomedical sciences within medical and dental courses is partially driven by the need to cope with decreased time allocations for these subjects as a result of major curricular changes taking place worldwide. There is also a requirement to deal with the request for increased clinical relevance. In response to such demands, the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) is devising core syllabuses for the anatomical sciences relating to the education and training of both scientific and clinical professions. The process initially involves using Delphi Panels consisting of a team of anatomists, scientists, and clinicians who evaluate syllabus content in detail and accord each element/topic 'essential,' 'important,' 'acceptable,' or 'not required' status. Their conjectures, published on the IFAA website, provide merely a framework to enable other stakeholders to comment. The approach is international in scope, is conceptually 'democratic,' and is developmentally fluid in being readily available for amendment. The aim is to set internationally recognized standards and thus to provide guidelines concerning anatomical knowledge when engaged in course development. This article presents the deliberations of an IFAA Delphi Panel into a core syllabus for oral anatomy, histology, and embryology within the dental curriculum. Clin. Anat. 31:231-249, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using Powder Cored Tubular Wire Technology to Enhance Electron Beam Freeform Fabricated Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gonzales, Devon; Liu, Stephen; Domack, Marcia; Hafley, Robert

2016-01-01

Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) is an additive manufacturing technique, developed at NASA Langley Research Center, capable of fabricating large scale aerospace parts. Advantages of using EBF3 as opposed to conventional manufacturing methods include, decreased design-to-product time, decreased wasted material, and the ability to adapt controls to produce geometrically complex parts with properties comparable to wrought products. However, to fully exploit the potential of the EBF3 process development of materials tailored for the process is required. Powder cored tubular wire (PCTW) technology was used to modify Ti-6Al-4V and Al 6061 feedstock to enhance alloy content, refine grain size, and create a metal matrix composite in the as-solidified structures, respectively.

Comparative Bacterial Proteomics: Analysis of the Core Genome Concept

PubMed Central

Callister, Stephen J.; McCue, Lee Ann; Turse, Joshua E.; Monroe, Matthew E.; Auberry, Kenneth J.; Smith, Richard D.; Adkins, Joshua N.; Lipton, Mary S.

2008-01-01

While comparative bacterial genomic studies commonly predict a set of genes indicative of common ancestry, experimental validation of the existence of this core genome requires extensive measurement and is typically not undertaken. Enabled by an extensive proteome database developed over six years, we have experimentally verified the expression of proteins predicted from genomic ortholog comparisons among 17 environmental and pathogenic bacteria. More exclusive relationships were observed among the expressed protein content of phenotypically related bacteria, which is indicative of the specific lifestyles associated with these organisms. Although genomic studies can establish relative orthologous relationships among a set of bacteria and propose a set of ancestral genes, our proteomics study establishes expressed lifestyle differences among conserved genes and proposes a set of expressed ancestral traits. PMID:18253490

Spatial-spectral flexible optical networking: enabling switching solutions for a simplified and efficient SDM network platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomkos, I.; Zakynthinos, P.; Klonidis, D.; Marom, D.; Sygletos, S.; Ellis, A.; Salvadori, E.; Siracusa, D.; Angelou, M.; Papastergiou, G.; Psaila, N.; Ferran, J. F.; Ben-Ezra, S.; Jimenez, F.; Fernández-Palacios, J. P.

2013-12-01

The traffic carried by core optical networks grows at a steady but remarkable pace of 30-40% year-over-year. Optical transmissions and networking advancements continue to satisfy the traffic requirements by delivering the content over the network infrastructure in a cost and energy efficient manner. Such core optical networks serve the information traffic demands in a dynamic way, in response to requirements for shifting of traffics demands, both temporally (day/night) and spatially (business district/residential). However as we are approaching fundamental spectral efficiency limits of singlemode fibers, the scientific community is pursuing recently the development of an innovative, all-optical network architecture introducing the spatial degree of freedom when designing/operating future transport networks. Spacedivision- multiplexing through the use of bundled single mode fibers, and/or multi-core fibers and/or few-mode fibers can offer up to 100-fold capacity increase in future optical networks. The EU INSPACE project is working on the development of a complete spatial-spectral flexible optical networking solution, offering the network ultra-high capacity, flexibility and energy efficiency required to meet the challenges of delivering exponentially growing traffic demands in the internet over the next twenty years. In this paper we will present the motivation and main research activities of the INSPACE consortium towards the realization of the overall project solution.

Optimization of the injection molding process for development of high performance calcium oxide -based ceramic cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, P. P.; Wu, G. Q.; Tao, Y.; Cheng, X.; Zhao, J. Q.; Nan, H.

2018-02-01

The binder composition used for ceramic injection molding plays a crucial role on the final properties of sintered ceramic and to avoid defects on green parts. In this study, the effects of binder compositions on the rheological, microstructures and the mechanical properties of CaO based ceramic cores were investigated. It was found that the optimized formulation for dispersant, solid loading was 1.5 wt% and 84 wt%, respectively. The microstructures, such as porosity, pore size distribution and grain boundary density were closely related to the plasticizer contents. The decrease of plasticizer contents can enhance the strength of the ceramic cores but with decreased shrinkage. Meanwhile, the creep resistance of ceramic cores was enhanced by decreasing of plasticizer contents. The flexural strength of the core was found to decrease with the increase of the porosity, the improvement of creep resistance is closely related to the decrease of porosity and grain boundary density.

Carbon chemistry of the Apollo 15 and 16 deep drill cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wszolek, P. C.; Burlingame, A. L.

1973-01-01

The carbon chemistry of the Apollo 15 and 16 deep drill cores is a function of the surface exposure plus the chemical and mineralogical composition of the individual samples. The depth profiles of carbide and methane yields in the Apollo 15 core show a general decline with depth and correlate with the solar wind noble gas content, percentage agglutinates, track densities, and metallic iron. All horizons examined were exposed for a considerable time on the lunar surface. The Apollo 16 core samples show that chemical and mineralogical composition plays an important role in determining the nature of carbide-like material present in the fines. The higher aluminum and calcium contents and lower iron contents of highlands material result in carbide-like material yielding less CD4 and more C2D2 (deuteroacetylene) upon DF acid dissolution.

Development of national standardized all-hazard disaster core competencies for acute care physicians, nurses, and EMS professionals.

PubMed

Schultz, Carl H; Koenig, Kristi L; Whiteside, Mary; Murray, Rick

2012-03-01

The training of medical personnel to provide care for disaster victims is a priority for the physician community, the federal government, and society as a whole. Course development for such training guided by well-accepted standardized core competencies is lacking, however. This project identified a set of core competencies and performance objectives based on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by the specific target audience (emergency department nurses, emergency physicians, and out-of-hospital emergency medical services personnel) to ensure they can treat the injuries and illnesses experienced by victims of disasters regardless of cause. The core competencies provide a blueprint for the development or refinement of disaster training courses. This expert consensus project, supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, incorporated an all-hazard, comprehensive emergency management approach addressing every type of disaster to minimize the effect on the public's health. An instructional systems design process was used to guide the development of audience-appropriate competencies and performance objectives. Participants, representing multiple academic and provider organizations, used a modified Delphi approach to achieve consensus on recommendations. A framework of 19 content categories (domains), 19 core competencies, and more than 90 performance objectives was developed for acute medical care personnel to address the requirements of effective all-hazards disaster response. Creating disaster curricula and training based on the core competencies and performance objectives identified in this article will ensure that acute medical care personnel are prepared to treat patients and address associated ramifications/consequences during any catastrophic event. Copyright © 2012 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

The dynamics of health care reform--learning from a complex adaptive systems theoretical perspective.

PubMed

Sturmberg, Joachim P; Martin, Carmel M

2010-10-01

Health services demonstrate key features of complex adaptive systems (CAS), they are dynamic and unfold in unpredictable ways, and unfolding events are often unique. To better understand the complex adaptive nature of health systems around a core attractor we propose the metaphor of the health care vortex. We also suggest that in an ideal health care system the core attractor would be personal health attainment. Health care reforms around the world offer an opportunity to analyse health system change from a complex adaptive perspective. At large health care reforms have been pursued disregarding the complex adaptive nature of the health system. The paper details some recent reforms and outlines how to understand their strategies and outcomes, and what could be learnt for future efforts, utilising CAS principles. Current health systems show the inherent properties of a CAS driven by a core attractor of disease and cost containment. We content that more meaningful health systems reform requires the delicate task of shifting the core attractor from disease and cost containment towards health attainment.

Investigating Pre-Service Science Teachers (PSTs)’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Through Extended Content Representation (CoRe)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agustin, R. R.; Liliasari, L.

2017-02-01

The purpose of this study was to attain an insight into pre-service science teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) as an integrative competency that is addressed by 21st century skills. The methods used in the study was descriptive. Nineteen pre-service science teachers (PSTs) of an educational university in Indonesia were involved in a semester long school science course. The course mainly develop students’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) by utilizing content representation (CoRe) template. Furthermore an infusion of technological knowledge (TK) analysis led to the study of their TPACK by extending the template with a question in line to TK. The extended CoRe and self-reported survey were employed as instruments. The analysis of data used were quantitative and qualitative technique to obtain the insight into PSTs’ PCK and TK. The results shows contrary value of PCK and TK identified by CoRe template to those measured by self-reported survey. However, the PSTs perceive their TPACK much higher, that, is 74.74%. Further investigation regarding PSTs ability to compose lesson plan was recommended for further research to capture more comprehensive insight into PSTs’ TPACK.

SPRUCE Whole Ecosystem Warming (WEW) Peat Water Content and Temperature Profiles for Experimental Plot Cores Beginning June 2016

DOE Data Explorer

Gutknecht, J. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Kluber, L. A. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Hanson, P. J. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Schadt, C. W. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

2016-06-01

This data set provides the peat water content and peat temperature at time of sampling for peat cores collected before and during the SPRUCE Whole Ecosystem Warming (WEW) study. Cores for the current data set were collected during the following bulk peat sampling events: 13 June 2016 and 23 August 2016. Over time, this dataset will be updated with each new major bulk peat sampling event, and dates/methods will be updated accordingly.

Inert gas stratigraphy of Apollo 15 drill core sections 15001 and 15003

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huebner, W.; Kirsten, T.; Heymann, D.

1973-01-01

Rare gase contents were studied in Apollo 15 drill core sections corresponding to 207 to 238 and 125 to 161-cm depths, with respect to layering of the core, turnover on a centimeter scale, and cosmic proton bombardment history. Trapped gas abundance was established in all samples, the mean grain size being a major factor influencing the absolute rare gas contents. Analysis of the results suggests that the regolith materials were exposed to galactic and solar cosmic rays long before their deposition.

SPRUCE Deep Peat Heating (DPH) Peat Water Content and Temperature Profiles for Experimental Plot Cores, June 2014 through June 2015

DOE Data Explorer

Kluber, Lauren A. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Phillips, Jana R. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Hanson, Paul J. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.; Schadt, Christopher W. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

2016-01-01

This data set provides the peat water content and peat temperature at time of sampling for peat cores collected before and during the SPRUCE Deep Peat Heating (DPH) study. Cores were collected during three sampling events: 03 June 2014, 09 September 2014, and 16 June 2015. Two cores were extracted from hollow locations in each of the 10 experimental plots (4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, and 20). Cores were partitioned into samples at 11 depth increments: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-75, 75-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, and 175-200 cm below surface of the hollow.

Diagenetic effects on magnetic minerals in a Holocene lacustrine sediment core from Huguangyan maar lake, southeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xudong; Wang, Yong; Bian, Liu; Shen, Ji

2016-09-01

Post-depositional reductive diagenesis usually results in partial or entire cleansing of the pristine palaeomagnetic signal, therefore, its intensity is important to be assessed for sediments that are in the purpose of retrieving palaeomagnetic information. Grain size, rock magnetic and geochemical studies on the entire core, along with scanning electron microscope observations and X-ray diffraction analyses for representative samples were carried out on a Holocene sediment core retrieved from the deep water part of Huguangyan maar lake (HGY), southeast China. The pristine magnetic mineral assemblage of the studied core is domianted by superparamagnetic (SP) and stable single domain titanomagnetite, and high coercivity minerals are not detectable. Based on down-core variations of the average grain size (MZ), total organic carbon (TOC), detrital elements (Al, Ti, Fe and Mn) and the concentration and mineralogy of magnetic minerals, the studied core could be divided into three subsections. The uppermost subsection is the least affected by diagenesis, with detrital titanomagnetite as the dominant magnetic mineral. This is owing to low TOC contents, but high detrital input generated by weak Asian summer monsoon intensity during the late Holocene. The intermediate subsection shows down-core progressively enhanced dissolution of detrital titanomagnetite, and concomitant formation of authigenic pyrite and siderite, which indicates down-core progressively enhanced diagenesis generated by down-core progressive increasing TOC content, but decreasing detrital input as the result of down-core progressively strengthened Asian summer monsoon intensity. The pristine magnetic mineral assemblage has been profoundly modified in the lowermost subsection. At certain positions of the lowermost subsection, detrital titanomagnetite has been even completely dissolved via diagenesis, giving place to authigenic pyrite and siderite. High TOC content, but low detrital input generated from strong Asian summer monsoon intensity during the early Holocene are accountable for intensive diagenesis in the lowermost subsection. Complete erasing of detrital magnetic input signal at certain positions of the lowermost subsection, and considerable formation of authigenic siderite indicate that palaeomagnetic records of the studied core have been significantly compromised. The studied core has relatively higher TOC content, lower detrital matter content, calmer sedimentary environments, and less DO available at its water-sediment interface than the cores retrieved at relatively shallower water depths, which all contribute to its relatively stronger diagenesis. Progressive thickening of the upper two subsections with increasing water depth is owing to progressive increase in sedimentation rate with increasing water depth, which is the key factor in determining the thickness of each diagenetic subsection of cores from HGY. It would be better that lake sediments for palaeomagnetic investigations collected at a water depth shallower than the depth of its thermocline.

Common Core State Standards Assessments: Challenges and Opportunities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polikoff, Morgan S.

2014-01-01

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were created in response to the shortcomings of No Child Left Behind era standards and assessments. Among those failings were the poor quality of content standards and assessments and the variability in content expectations and proficiency targets across states, as well as concerns related to the economic…

A Guide to Addressing Multiple Priorities in Core Content Instruction for Students with Severe Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Root, Jenny R.; Knight, Victoria F.; Mims, Pamela J.

2017-01-01

Instruction in academic core content provides students with moderate to severe disabilities a full educational opportunity that promotes current and future options in the community and can complement acquisition of daily living skills. However, high school teachers face many challenges in balancing instructional priorities given the mission to…

Curriculum content and assessment of pre-clinical dental skills: A survey of undergraduate dental education in Europe.

PubMed

Field, J; Stone, S; Orsini, C; Hussain, A; Vital, S; Crothers, A; Walmsley, D

2018-05-01

Since 1981, the qualifications for various healthcare professionals across the European Union have enjoyed mutual recognition in accordance with the EU Directive 81/1057/EEC. Whilst the directive includes dental practitioners, it is recognised that significant variation exists in curriculum structure, content and scope of practice across institutions. This article aimed to explore pan-European practice in relation to curriculum content, teaching and learning strategies and assessment of pre-clinical dental skills. A request to complete an online questionnaire, in English, was sent electronically to skills leads at all Association of Dental Education in Europe member schools. The questionnaire collected information in relation to institution and country, regulatory requirements to demonstrate safety, details of specific pre-clinical skills courses, learning materials and teaching staff. Forty-eight institutions, from 25 European countries responded. Seven countries (n=7, 28%) reported no requirement to demonstrate student operative safety prior to patient treatment. Several core and operative clinical skills are common to the majority of institutions. The most commonly taught core skills related directly to the clinical environment such as cross-infection control and hand washing. The least common were skills that indirectly related to patient care, such as communication skills and working as a team. There are clear differences within European pre-clinical dental education, and greater efforts are needed to demonstrate that all European students are fit to practice before they start treating patients. Learning outcomes, teaching activities and assessment activities of pre-clinical skills should be shared collaboratively to further standardise curricula. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Constraints on The Coupled Thermal Evolution of the Earth's Core and Mantle, The Age of The Inner Core, And The Origin of the 186Os/188Os Core(?) Signal in Plume-Derived Lavas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lassiter, J. C.

2005-12-01

Thermal and chemical interaction between the core and mantle has played a critical role in the thermal and chemical evolution of the Earth's interior. Outer core convection is driven by core cooling and inner core crystallization. Core/mantle heat transfer also buffers mantle potential temperature, resulting in slower rates of mantle cooling (~50-100 K/Ga) than would be predicted from the discrepancy between current rates of surface heat loss (~44 TW) and internal radioactive heat production (~20 TW). Core/mantle heat transfer may also generate thermal mantle plumes responsible for ocean island volcanic chains such as the Hawaiian Islands. Several studies suggest that mantle plumes, in addition to transporting heat from the core/mantle boundary, also carry a chemical signature of core/mantle interaction. Elevated 186Os/188Os ratios in lavas from Hawaii, Gorgona, and in the 2.8 Ga Kostomuksha komatiites have been interpreted as reflecting incorporation of an outer core component with high time-integrated Pt/Os and Re/Os ( Brandon et al., 1999, 2003; Puchtel et al., 2005). Preferential partitioning of Os relative to Re and Pt into the inner core during inner core growth may generate elevated Re/Os and Pt/Os ratios in the residual outer core. Because of the long half-life of 190Pt (the parent of 186Os, t1/2 = 489 Ga), an elevated 186Os/188Os outer core signature in plume lavas requires that inner core crystallization began early in Earth history, most likely prior to 3.5 Ga. This in turn requires low time-averaged core/mantle heat flow (<~2.5 TW) or large quantities of heat-producing elements in the core. Core/mantle heat flow may be estimated using boundary-layer theory, by measuring the heat transported in mantle plumes, by estimating the heat transported along the outer core adiabat, or by comparing the rates of heat production, surface heat loss, and secular cooling of the mantle. All of these independent methods suggest time-averaged core/mantle heat flow of ~5-14 TW. In the absence of heat-producing elements in the core, such high heat flow rates require an inner core younger than ~1 Ga and preclude the development of significant 186Os enrichment in the outer core. Experimental studies suggest that potassium may partition into Fe-S-O liquids during core formation. Radioactive decay of potassium in the core could provide an additional heat source and reconcile geophysical evidence for high core/mantle heat flow with apparent geochemical evidence for an ancient inner core. However, high concentrations of chalcophile elements such as Cu in the mantle are inconsistent with significant segregation of a S-rich liquid during core formation, precluding K partitioning into the core by this mechanism. Furthermore, core formation scenarios that would lead to high K content in the core (e.g., core formation prior to terrestrial volatile depletion) also result in high core Pb concentrations. Core/mantle interaction would then produce strong negative correlations between 186Os/188Os and 207Pb/204Pb ratios, but such correlations are not observed. In summary, elevated 186Os/188Os ratios in some plume-derived lavas are unlikely to reflect core/mantle interaction because the inner core is too young for this isotopic signature to have developed in the outer core. Melt generation from pyroxenite or fractionation of PGEs between sulfide melts and monosulfide solid solutions provide alternative mechanisms for generating ancient mantle reservoirs with elevated Pt/Os and 186Os/188Os.

78 FR 33475 - Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-04

... Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities; Final Rule #0;#0;Federal Register... FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION 17 CFR Part 37 RIN 3038-AD18 Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap... Core Principles 1. Subpart B--Core Principle 1 (Compliance With Core Principles) 2. Subpart C--Core...

[Effects of hot-NaOH pretreatment on Jerusalem artichoke stalk composition and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis].

PubMed

Wang, Qing; Qiu, Jingwen; Li, Yang; Shen, Fei

2015-10-01

In order to explore the possibility of Jerusalem artichoke stalk for bioenergy conversion, we analyzed the main composition of whole stalk, pitch, and core of the stalk. Meanwhile, these parts were pretreated with different NaOH concentrations at 121 degrees C. Afterwards, enzymatic hydrolysis was performed to evaluate the pretreatment efficiency. Jerusalem artichoke stalk was characterized by relatively high lignin content (32.0%) compared with traditional crop stalks. The total carbohydrate content was close to that of crop stalks, but with higher cellulose content (40.5%) and lower hemicellulose (19.6%) than those of traditional crop stalks. After pretreatment, the lignin content in the whole stalk, pitch, and core decreased by 13.1%-13.4%, 8.3%-13.5%, and 19.9%-27.2%, respectively, compared with the unpretreated substrates. The hemicellulose content in the whole stalk, pitch, and core decreased 87.8%-96.9%, 87.6%-95.0%, and 74.0%-90.2%, respectively. Correspondingly, the cellulose content in the pretreated whole stalk, pitch, and core increased by 56.5%-60.2%, 52.2%-55.4%, and 62.7%-73.2%, respectively. Moreover, increase of NaOH concentration for pretreatment could improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of the whole stalk and pitch by 2.3-2.6 folds and 10.3-18.5 folds, respectively. The hydrolysis of pretreated stalk core decreased significantly as 2.0 mol/L NaOH was employed, although the increased NaOH concentration can also improve its hydrolysis performance. Based on these results, hot-NaOH can be regarded as an option for Jerusalem artichoke stalk pretreatment. Increasing NaOH concentration was beneficial to hemicellulose and lignin removal, and consequently improved sugar conversion. However, the potential decrease of sugar conversion of the pretreated core by higher NaOH concentration suggested further optimization on the pretreatment conditions should be performed.

Analysis of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) ability of science teachers in planning and reflecting on environmental pollution content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purwianingsih, W.; Mardiyah, A.

2018-05-01

Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) is a blend of content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge, which can illustrate the ability of teachers to design and to teach a content by accessing what they knows about the material, students, curriculum and how best to teach the content. Description of PCK ability of science teachers can be accessed through an analysis of their ability to plan and reflect on learning. This study aims to provide an overview of teachers’ PCK skills on environmental pollution materials through use of Content Representation (CoRe) and Pedagogical and Professional-experience Repertoires (PaP-eRs). Descriptive method used in this study with six of science teachers on 7th class from three different schools as subject. The results show that teachers’ PCK skills in planning through CoRe and reflecting through PaP-eRs are in fairly good category. The teacher’s ability in implementing environmental pollution learning materials is in good category. However, there is still a discrepancy between planning through CoRe and the implementation of classroom learning. The teacher’s PCK is influenced by teaching experience and educational background.

A prototype experiment for cooperative monitoring of nuclear reactors with cubic meter scale antineutrino detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernstein, A.; Allen, M.; Bowden, N.; Brennan, J.; Carr, D. J.; Estrada, J.; Hagmann, C.; Lund, J. C.; Madden, N. W.; Winant, C. D.

2005-09-01

Our Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Sandia National Laboratories collaboration has deployed a cubic-meter-scale antineutrino detector to demonstrate non-intrusive and automatic monitoring of the power levels and plutonium content of a nuclear reactor. Reactor monitoring of this kind is required for all non-nuclear weapons states under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), and is implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since the antineutrino count rate and energy spectrum depend on the relative yields of fissioning isotopes in the reactor core, changes in isotopic composition can be observed without ever directly accessing the core. Data from a cubic meter scale antineutrino detector, coupled with the well-understood principles that govern the core's evolution in time, can be used to determine whether the reactor is being operated in an illegitimate way. Our group has deployed a detector at the San Onofre reactor site in California to demonstrate this concept. This paper describes the concept and shows preliminary results from 8 months of operation.

Microstructures and performance of CaO-based ceramic cores with different particle size distributions for investment casting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, P. P.; Wu, G. Q.; Tao, Y.; Cheng, X.; Zhao, J. Q.; Nan, H.

2018-02-01

A series of calcium-based ceramic cores for casting titanium alloy were prepared by mixing different amounts of coarse and fine powders through injection molding. The effects of particle size on the microstructures and properties of the ceramic cores were investigated using quantitative and statistical analysis methods. It is found that the shrinkage and room-temperature strength of the ceramic cores were enhanced as increasing the contents of fine particles. Moreover, the creep resistance of the ceramic cores increased initially and then decreased. The increase in the fine particle content of the cores reduced the number and mean diameter of pores after sintering. The grain boundary density decreased firstly and then increased. The flexural strength of the ceramic cores at room temperature decreased with increasing porosity of ceramic cores, whereas the creep resistance increased with decreasing grain boundary density. A core exhibiting the optimal property was obtained when mixing 65 wt% of coarse powders (75-150 μm) and 35 wt% of fine powders (25-48 μm).

Developing an Interface to Order and Document Health Education Videos in the Electronic Health Record.

PubMed

Wojcik, Lauren

2015-01-01

Transitioning to electronic health records (EHRs) provides an opportunity for health care systems to integrate educational content available on interactive patient systems (IPS) with the medical documentation system. This column discusses how one hospital simplified providers' workflow by making it easier to order educational videos and ensure that completed education is documented within the medical record. Integrating the EHR and IPS streamlined the provision of patient education, improved documentation, and supported the organization in meeting core requirements for Meaningful Use.

An Evaluation of Emergency Medicine Core Content Covered by Free Open Access Medical Education Resources.

PubMed

Stuntz, Robert; Clontz, Robert

2016-05-01

Emergency physicians are using free open access medical education (FOAM) resources at an increasing rate. The extent to which FOAM resources cover the breadth of emergency medicine core content is unknown. We hypothesize that the content of FOAM resources does not provide comprehensive or balanced coverage of the scope of knowledge necessary for emergency medicine providers. Our objective is to quantify emergency medicine core content covered by FOAM resources and identify the predominant FOAM topics. This is an institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of all English-language FOAM posts between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, as aggregated on http://FOAMem.com. The topics of FOAM posts were compared with those of the emergency medicine core content, as defined by the American Board of Emergency Medicine's Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (MCPEM). Each FOAM post could cover more than 1 topic. Repeated posts and summaries were excluded. Review of the MCPEM yielded 915 total emergency medicine topics grouped into 20 sections. Review of 6,424 FOAM posts yielded 7,279 total topics and 654 unique topics, representing 71.5% coverage of the 915 topics outlined by the MCPEM. The procedures section was covered most often, representing 2,285 (31.4%) FOAM topics. The 4 sections with the least coverage were cutaneous disorders, hematologic disorders, nontraumatic musculoskeletal disorders, and obstetric and gynecologic disorders, each representing 0.6% of FOAM topics. Airway techniques; ECG interpretation; research, evidence-based medicine, and interpretation of the literature; resuscitation; and ultrasonography were the most overrepresented subsections, equaling 1,674 (23.0%) FOAM topics when combined. The data suggest an imbalanced and incomplete coverage of emergency medicine core content in FOAM. The study is limited by its retrospective design and use of a single referral Web site to obtain available FOAM resources. More comprehensive and balanced coverage of emergency medicine core content is needed if FOAM is to serve as a primary educational resource. Copyright © 2016 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Computer-Assisted Instruction for Teaching Academic Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pennington, Robert C.

2010-01-01

Although legislation mandates that students with autism receive instruction linked to the general education core content, there is limited research supporting the effectiveness of interventions for teaching core content to these students. In this study, the author reviewed research conducted between the years 1997 and 2008 using computer-assisted…

Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Finance Course: Some Curriculum and Pedagogical Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thapa, Samanta; Chan, Kam C.

2013-01-01

Using online survey, we document the opinions of finance professors as to what should be the core content of undergraduate entrepreneurial finance course and the approach to be taken to teach this course. On the core content of the course, the top five topics preferred by the respondents were: Identifying business opportunities and examining their…

Development of concept-based physiology lessons for biomedical engineering undergraduate students.

PubMed

Nelson, Regina K; Chesler, Naomi C; Strang, Kevin T

2013-06-01

Physiology is a core requirement in the undergraduate biomedical engineering curriculum. In one or two introductory physiology courses, engineering students must learn physiology sufficiently to support learning in their subsequent engineering courses and careers. As preparation for future learning, physiology instruction centered on concepts may help engineering students to further develop their physiology and biomedical engineering knowledge. Following the Backward Design instructional model, a series of seven concept-based lessons was developed for undergraduate engineering students. These online lessons were created as prerequisite physiology training to prepare students to engage in a collaborative engineering challenge activity. This work is presented as an example of how to convert standard, organ system-based physiology content into concept-based content lessons.

Content validity of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for multiple sclerosis from the perspective of speech and language therapists.

PubMed

Renom, Marta; Conrad, Andrea; Bascuñana, Helena; Cieza, Alarcos; Galán, Ingrid; Kesselring, Jürg; Coenen, Michaela

2014-11-01

The Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a comprehensive framework to structure the information obtained in multidisciplinary clinical settings according to the biopsychosocial perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and to guide the treatment and rehabilitation process accordingly. It is now undergoing validation from the user perspective for which it has been developed in the first place. To validate the content of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for MS from the perspective of speech and language therapists (SLTs) involved in the treatment of persons with MS (PwMS). Within a three-round e-mail-based Delphi Study 34 SLTs were asked about PwMS' problems, resources and aspects of the environment treated by SLTs. Responses were linked to ICF categories. Identified ICF categories were compared with those included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for MS to examine its content validity. Thirty-four SLTs named 524 problems and resources, as well as aspects of environment. Statements were linked to 129 ICF categories (60 Body-functions categories, two Body-structures categories, 42 Activities-&-participation categories, and 25 Environmental-factors categories). SLTs confirmed 46 categories in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set. Twenty-one ICF categories were identified as not-yet-included categories. This study contributes to the content validity of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for MS from the perspective of SLTs. Study participants agreed on a few not-yet-included categories that should be further discussed for inclusion in a revised version of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set to strengthen SLTs' perspective in PwMS' neurorehabilitation. © 2014 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Do socio-economic factors influence supermarket content and shoppers' purchases?

PubMed

Vinkeles Melchers, Natalie V S; Gomez, Maria; Colagiuri, Ruth

2009-12-01

Obesity is at crisis proportions. Individuals of low socio-economic status (SES) are more likely to consume higher energy dense diets than their high socio-economic status counterparts. The contribution of supermarket purchases of energy dense, nutrient poor foods has not been well-researched and has largely depended on unverified self-report. We estimated the proportion of supermarket shelf space dedicated to non-core foods in nine supermarkets (in five high and four low SES areas) in metropolitan Sydney. We analysed 204 shoppers' dockets (102 from high and 102 from low SES areas) for purchases of confectionery; sugar sweetened, carbonated beverages and cordials, sweet biscuits and cakes, and crisps and popcorn. After adjusting for the number of people shopped for, low SES shoppers purchased significantly more non-core foods than high SES shoppers (p=0.039), especially chips and sugar sweetened, carbonated beverages and cordials. There was no difference in the shelf space dedicated to non-core foods, or between non-core foods purchased and the proportion of shelf space occupied by them in either low or high SES areas. Increased purchase of non-core foods by low SES shoppers who are already at higher risk of obesity than high SES shoppers is cause for concern. Further research is required to explore underlying reasons for this association.

A metallicity recipe for rocky planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawson, Rebekah I.; Chiang, Eugene; Lee, Eve J.

2015-10-01

Planets with sizes between those of Earth and Neptune divide into two populations: purely rocky bodies whose atmospheres contribute negligibly to their sizes, and larger gas-enveloped planets possessing voluminous and optically thick atmospheres. We show that whether a planet forms rocky or gas-enveloped depends on the solid surface density of its parent disc. Assembly times for rocky cores are sensitive to disc solid surface density. Lower surface densities spawn smaller planetary embryos; to assemble a core of given mass, smaller embryos require more mergers between bodies farther apart and therefore exponentially longer formation times. Gas accretion simulations yield a rule of thumb that a rocky core must be at least 2M⊕ before it can acquire a volumetrically significant atmosphere from its parent nebula. In discs of low solid surface density, cores of such mass appear only after the gas disc has dissipated, and so remain purely rocky. Higher surface density discs breed massive cores more quickly, within the gas disc lifetime, and so produce gas-enveloped planets. We test model predictions against observations, using planet radius as an observational proxy for gas-to-rock content and host star metallicity as a proxy for disc solid surface density. Theory can explain the observation that metal-rich stars host predominantly gas-enveloped planets.

Mastery of Content Representation (CoRes) Related TPACK High School Biology Teacher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nasution, W. R.; Sriyati, S.; Riandi, R.; Safitri, M.

2017-09-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the mastery of Content Representation (CoRes) teachers related to the integration of technology and pedagogy in teaching Biology (TPACK). This research uses a descriptive method. The data were taken using instruments CoRes as the primary data and semi-structured interviews as supporting data. The subjects were biology teacher in class X MIA from four schools in Bandung. Teachers raised CoRes was analyzed using a scoring rubric CoRes with coding 1-3 then categorized into a group of upper, middle, or lower. The results showed that the two teachers in the lower category. This results means that the control of teachers in defining the essential concept in the CoRes has not been detailed and specific. Meanwhile, two other teachers were in the middle category. This means that the ability of teachers to determine the essential concepts in the CoRes are still inadequate so that still needs to be improved.

Mercury profiles in sediment from the marginal high of Arabian Sea: an indicator of increasing anthropogenic Hg input.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Parthasarathi; Vudamala, Krushna; Chennuri, Kartheek; Armoury, Kazip; Linsy, P; Ramteke, Darwin; Sebastian, Tyson; Jayachandran, Saranya; Naik, Chandan; Naik, Richita; Nath, B Nagender

2016-05-01

Total Hg distributions and its speciation were determined in two sediment cores collected from the western continental marginal high of India. Total Hg content in the sediment was found to gradually increase (by approximately two times) towards the surface in both the cores. It was found that Hg was preferentially bound to sulfide under anoxic condition. However, redox-mediated reactions in the upper part of the core influenced the total Hg content in the sediment cores. This study suggests that probable increase in authigenic and allogenic Hg deposition attributed to the increasing Hg concentration in the surface sediment in the study area.

Phase Equilibria of a S- and C-Poor Lunar Core

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Righter, K.; Pando, K.; Go, B. M.; Danielson, L. R.; Habermann, M.

2016-01-01

The composition of the lunar core can have a large impact on its thermal evolution, possible early dynamo creation, and physical state. Geochemical measurements have placed better constraints on the S and C content of the lunar mantle. In this study we have carried out phase equilibrium studies of geochemically plausible S- and C-poor lunar core compositions in the Fe-Ni-S-C system, and apply them to the early history of the Moon. We chose two bulk core compositions, with differing S and C content based on geochemical analyses of S and C trapped melts in Apollo samples, and on the partitioning of S and C between metal and silicate. This approach allowed calculation of core S and C contents - 90% Fe, 9% Ni, 0.5% C, and 0.375% S by weight; a second composition contained 1% each of S and C. Experiments were carried out from 1473K to 1973K and 1 GPa to 5 GPa, in piston cylinder and multi- anvil apparatuses. Combination of the thermal model of with our results, shows that a solid inner core (and therefore initiation of a dynamo) may have been possible in the earliest history of the Moon (approximately 4.2 Ga ago), in agreement with. Thus a volatile poor lunar core may explain the thermal and magnetic history of the Moon.

65nm RadSafe™ Technology for RC64 and Advanced SOCs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liran, Tuvia; Ginosar, Ran; Lange, Fredy; Mandler, Alberto; Aviely, Peleg; Meirov, Henri; Goldberg, Michael; Meister, Zeev; Oliel, Mickey

2015-09-01

The trend of scaling of microelectronic provides certain advantages for space components, as well as some challenges. It enables implementing highly integrated and high performance ASICs, reducing power, area and weight. Scaling also improves the immunity to TID and SEL in most cases, but increases soft error rate significantly. Ramon Chips adopted the 65nm technology for implementing RC64 [1,2], a 64 core DSP for space applications, and for making other future products. The 65nm process node is widely used, very mature, and supported by wide range of IP providers. Thus the need for full custom design of cores and IPs is minimized, and radiation hardening is achievable by mitigating the radiation effects on the available IPs, and developing proprietary IPs only for complementing the available IPs. The RadSafe_65TM technology includes hardened standard cells and I/O libraries, methods for mitigation of radiation effects in COTS IP cores (SRAM, PLL, SERDES, DDR2/3 interface) and adding unique cores for monitoring radiation effects and junction temperature. We had developed RADIC6, a technology development vehicle, for verification of all hard cores and verification of the methodologies and design flow required for RC64. RADIC6 includes the test structures for characterizing the IP cores for immunity to all radiation effects. This paper describes the main elements and IP cores of RadSafe_65TM, as well as the contents of RADIC6 test chip.

Exploring the Role of Agriculture Teachers in Core Academic Integration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKim, Aaron J.; Sorenson, Tyson J.; Velez, Jonathan J.

2016-01-01

Core academic skills are essential for success in our society. However, an abundance of research has identified a large proportion of secondary school students are under performing in core academic areas such as literacy and math. Researchers have suggested integrating core academic content throughout all secondary coursework as a potential…

Gender Integration of a Core Content Area Teacher/Athletic Coach in the Rural Southeastern United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Alan

2012-01-01

Research on the occupational socialization of teachers and coaches has largely centered on physical education teachers and rarely on teachers from core content areas (i.e. English, foreign language, mathematics, science and social studies) who also coach athletics. The primary purpose of this single-case study was to explore the socialization of a…

Teaching Core Content Embedded in a Functional Activity to Students with Moderate Intellectual Disability Using a Simultaneous Prompting Procedure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karl, Jennifer; Collins, Belva C.; Hager, Karen D.; Ault, Melinda Jones

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a simultaneous prompting procedure in teaching four secondary students with moderate intellectual disability to acquire and generalize core content embedded in a functional activity. Data gathered within the context of a multiple probe design revealed that all participants learned the…

What's in a Name? An Examination of Sociology of Aging Versus Social Gerontology Course Content

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dossey-Newby, Paula; Krull, Amy C.

2005-01-01

This study examines the comparability of sociology of aging courses, a core component in many undergraduate multidisciplinary gerontology minor programs. A content analysis of syllabi in the 5th edition of Teaching Sociology of Aging and the Life Course (Harris, 2000) was undertaken to determine the presence of 7 core sociological concepts. Among…

Imaging Water in Deformed Quartzites: Examples from Caledonian and Himalayan Shear Zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kronenberg, Andreas; Ashley, Kyle; Hasnan, Hasnor; Holyoke, Caleb; Jezek, Lynna; Law, Richard; Thomas, Jay

2016-04-01

Infrared IR measurements of OH absorption bands due to water in deformed quartz grains have been collected from major shear zones of the Caledonian and Himalayan orogens. Mean intragranular water contents were determined from the magnitude of the broad OH absorption at 3400 cm-1 as a function of structural position, averaging over multiple grains, using an IR microscope coupled to a conventional FTIR spectrometer with apertures of 50-100 μm. Images of water content were generated by scanning areas of up to 4 mm2 of individual specimens with a 10 μm synchrotron-generated IR beam and contouring OH absorptions. Water contents vary with structural level relative to the central cores of shear zones and they vary at the grain scale corresponding to deformation and recrystallization microstructures. Gradients in quartz water content expressed over structural distances of 10 to 400 m from the centers of the Moine Thrust (Stack of Glencoul, NW Scotland), the Main Central Thrust (Sutlej valley of NW India), and the South Tibetan Detachment System (Rongbuk valley north of Mount Everest) indicate that these shear zones functioned as fluid conduits. However, the gradients differ substantially: in some cases, enhanced fluid fluxes appear to have increased quartz water contents, while in others, they served to decrease water contents. Water contents of Moine thrust quartzites appear to have been reduced during shear at greenschist facies by processes of regime II BLG/SGR dislocation creep. Intragranular water contents of the protolith 70 m below the central fault core are large (4078 ± 247 ppm, H/106 Si) while mylonites within 5 mm of the Moine hanging wall rocks have water contents of only 1570 (± 229) ppm. Water contents between these extremes vary systematically with structural level and correlate inversely with the extent of dynamic recrystallization (20 to 100%). Quartz intragranular water contents of Himalayan thrust and low-angle detachment zones sheared at upper amphibolite conditions by regime III GBM creep show varying trends with structural level. Water contents increase toward the Lhotse detachment of the Rongbuk valley, reaching 11,350 (± 1095) ppm, whereas they decrease toward the Main Central Thrust exposed in the western part of the Sutlej valley to values as low as 170 (± 25) ppm. Maps of intragranular water content correspond to populations of fluid inclusions, which depend on the history of deformation and dynamic recrystallization. Increases in water content require the introduction of secondary fluid inclusions, generally by brittle microcracking followed by crack healing and processes of inclusion redistribution documented in milky quartz experiments. Decreases in water content result from dynamic recrystallization, as mobile grain boundaries sweep through wet porphyroclasts, leaving behind dry recrystallized grains. Intragranular water contents throughout greenschist mylonites of the Moine thrust are comparable to those of quartz weakened by water in laboratory experiments. However, water contents of upper amphibolite mylonites of the Main Central Thrust are far below those required for water weakening at experimental strain rates and offer challenges to our understanding of quartz rheology.

[Needs assessment of a core curriculum for residency training].

PubMed

Kwon, Hyo-Jin; Lee, Young-Mee; Chang, Hyung-Joo; Kim, Ae-Ri

2015-09-01

The core curriculum in graduate medical education (GME) is an educational program that covers the minimum body of knowledge and skills that is required of all residents, regardless of their specialty. This study examined the opinions of stakeholders in GME regarding the core curriculum. A questionnaire was administered at three tertiary hospitals that were affiliated with one university; 192 residents and 61 faculty members and attending physicians participated in the survey. The questionnaire comprised six items on physician competency and the needs for a core curriculum. Questions on subjects or topics and adequate training years for each topics were asked only to residents. Most residents (78.6%) and faculty members (86.9%) chose "medical expertise" as the "doctor's role in the 21st century." In contrast, communicator, manager, and collaborator were recognized by less than 30% of all participants. Most residents (74.1%) responded that a core curriculum is "necessary but not feasible," whereas 68.3% of faculty members answered that it is "absolutely needed." Regarding subjects that should be included in the core curriculum, residents and faculty members had disparate preferences- residents preferred more "management of a private clinic" and "financial management," whereas faculty members desired "medical ethics" and "communication skills." Residents and faculty members agree that residents should develop a wide range of competencies in their training. However, the perception of the feasibility and opinions on the contents of the core curriculum differed between groups. Further studies with larger samples should be conducted to define the roles and professional competencies of physicians and the needs for a core curriculum in GME.

Learning experiences in population education: proposed guidelines and core messages.

PubMed

1984-01-01

As a result of the 1984 Regional Workshop for the Development of Packages of Adequate Learning Requirements in Population Education, the participants tackled the problem of non-institutionalization of population education into the formal and non-formal educational curricula in their countries. Based on their deliberations, several sets of guidelines and core messages were formulated to provide countries with a more definite direction that will hopefully ensure the functional and effective integration of population education in their respective national school and out-of-school curriculum system. Useful packages of learning materials in population education should help realize the country's population policy and goals within the broader framework of socioeconomic development, and the content of the package should comprehensively cover the core messages of the country's Population Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Program. The population knowledge base of the package should be accurate and relevant; the package should provide for graphic and visual presentation and for assessment of effects on the target groups. Proposed core messages in population education discuss the advantages of small family size and delayed marriage, and aspects of responsible parenthood. Other messages discuss population resource development and population-related beliefs and values.

A core syllabus for the teaching of embryology and teratology to medical students.

PubMed

Fakoya, Francis A; Emmanouil-Nikoloussi, Elpida; Sharma, Deepak; Moxham, Bernard J

2017-03-01

Clinical relevance in the teaching of biomedical sciences within health care courses presupposes that there is internationally agreed core material within the curricula. However, with the exception of a syllabus for neuroanatomy and gross anatomy of the head and neck for medical students, core syllabuses within many of the specialized anatomical sciences have yet to be developed. The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists aims to formulate internationally accepted core syllabuses for all anatomical sciences disciplines initially using Delphi Panels that comprise anatomists, scientists, and clinicians who evaluate syllabus content. Here, the suggestions of a Delphi Panel for embryology and teratology are presented prior to their publication on the website of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. Hence, to obtain a more definitive syllabus, it is required that anatomical and embryological/teratological societies, as well as individual anatomists, embryologists and clinicians, freely comment upon, elaborate and amend, this draft syllabus. The goal is to set internationally recognized standards and thereby provide guidelines concerning embryological and teratological knowledge when involved with course development. Clin. Anat. 30:159-167, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Association mapping of seed quality traits using the Canadian flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) core collection.

PubMed

Soto-Cerda, Braulio J; Duguid, Scott; Booker, Helen; Rowland, Gordon; Diederichsen, Axel; Cloutier, Sylvie

2014-04-01

The identification of stable QTL for seed quality traits by association mapping of a diverse panel of linseed accessions establishes the foundation for assisted breeding and future fine mapping in linseed. Linseed oil is valued for its food and non-food applications. Modifying its oil content and fatty acid (FA) profiles to meet market needs in a timely manner requires clear understanding of their quantitative trait loci (QTL) architectures, which have received little attention to date. Association mapping is an efficient approach to identify QTL in germplasm collections. In this study, we explored the quantitative nature of seed quality traits including oil content (OIL), palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid (LIO) linolenic acid (LIN) and iodine value in a flax core collection of 390 accessions assayed with 460 microsatellite markers. The core collection was grown in a modified augmented design at two locations over 3 years and phenotypic data for all seven traits were obtained from all six environments. Significant phenotypic diversity and moderate to high heritability for each trait (0.73-0.99) were observed. Most of the candidate QTL were stable as revealed by multivariate analyses. Nine candidate QTL were identified, varying from one for OIL to three for LIO and LIN. Candidate QTL for LIO and LIN co-localized with QTL previously identified in bi-parental populations and some mapped nearby genes known to be involved in the FA biosynthesis pathway. Fifty-eight percent of the QTL alleles were absent (private) in the Canadian cultivars suggesting that the core collection possesses QTL alleles potentially useful to improve seed quality traits. The candidate QTL identified herein will establish the foundation for future marker-assisted breeding in linseed.

Developing high-quality educational software.

PubMed

Johnson, Lynn A; Schleyer, Titus K L

2003-11-01

The development of effective educational software requires a systematic process executed by a skilled development team. This article describes the core skills required of the development team members for the six phases of successful educational software development. During analysis, the foundation of product development is laid including defining the audience and program goals, determining hardware and software constraints, identifying content resources, and developing management tools. The design phase creates the specifications that describe the user interface, the sequence of events, and the details of the content to be displayed. During development, the pieces of the educational program are assembled. Graphics and other media are created, video and audio scripts written and recorded, the program code created, and support documentation produced. Extensive testing by the development team (alpha testing) and with students (beta testing) is conducted. Carefully planned implementation is most likely to result in a flawless delivery of the educational software and maintenance ensures up-to-date content and software. Due to the importance of the sixth phase, evaluation, we have written a companion article on it that follows this one. The development of a CD-ROM product is described including the development team, a detailed description of the development phases, and the lessons learned from the project.

Conceptual Underpinnings of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL): Comparisons of Core Sets for Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, and Traumatic Brain Injury.

PubMed

Wong, Alex W K; Lau, Stephen C L; Fong, Mandy W M; Cella, David; Lai, Jin-Shei; Heinemann, Allen W

2018-04-03

To determine the extent to which the content of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) covers the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) using summary linkage indicators. Content analysis by linking content of the Neuro-QoL to corresponding ICF codes of each Core Set for MS, stroke, SCI, and TBI. Three academic centers. None. None. Four summary linkage indicators proposed by MacDermid et al were estimated to compare the content coverage between Neuro-QoL and the ICF codes of Core Sets for MS, stroke, MS, and TBI. Neuro-QoL represented 20% to 30% Core Set codes for different conditions in which more codes in Core Sets for MS (29%), stroke (28%), and TBI (28%) were covered than those for SCI in the long-term (20%) and early postacute (19%) contexts. Neuro-QoL represented nearly half of the unique Activity and Participation codes (43%-49%) and less than one third of the unique Body Function codes (12%-32%). It represented fewer Environmental Factors codes (2%-6%) and no Body Structures codes. Absolute linkage indicators found that at least 60% of Neuro-QoL items were linked to Core Set codes (63%-95%), but many items covered the same codes as revealed by unique linkage indicators (7%-13%), suggesting high concept redundancy among items. The Neuro-QoL links more closely to ICF Core Sets for stroke, MS, and TBI than to those for SCI, and primarily covers activity and participation ICF domains. Other instruments are needed to address concepts not measured by the Neuro-QoL when a comprehensive health assessment is needed. Copyright © 2018 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The neural basis of temporal order processing in past and future thought.

PubMed

D'Argembeau, Arnaud; Jeunehomme, Olivier; Majerus, Steve; Bastin, Christine; Salmon, Eric

2015-01-01

Although growing evidence has shown that remembering the past and imagining the future recruit a common core network of frontal-parietal-temporal regions, the extent to which these regions contribute to the temporal dimension of autobiographical thought remains unclear. In this fMRI study, we focused on the event-sequencing aspect of time and examined whether ordering past and future events involve common neural substrates. Participants had to determine which of two past (or future) events occurred (or would occur) before the other, and these order judgments were compared with a task requiring to think about the content of the same past or future events. For both past and future events, we found that the left posterior hippocampus was more activated when establishing the order of events, whereas the anterior hippocampus was more activated when representing their content. Aside from the hippocampus, most of the brain regions that were activated when thinking about temporal order (notably the intraparietal sulcus, dorsolateral pFC, dorsal anterior cingulate, and visual cortex) lied outside the core network and may reflect the involvement of controlled processes and visuospatial imagery to locate events in time. Collectively, these findings suggest (a) that the same processing operations are engaged for ordering past events and planned future events in time, (b) that anterior and posterior portions of the hippocampus are involved in processing different aspects of autobiographical thought, and (c) that temporal order is not necessarily an intrinsic property of memory or future thought but instead requires additional, controlled processes.

[Public health competencies and contents in Spanish undergraduate medical degrees].

PubMed

Davó-Blanes, M Carmen; Vives-Cases, Carmen; Barrio-Fernández, José Luis; Porta, Miquel; Benavides, Fernando G; de Miguel, Ángel Gil

2016-01-01

To reach a consensus among public health faculty from various Spanish universities about the core public health competencies that should be integrated into undergraduate medical degrees. The 2nd Forum of University Teachers was held at the Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid, 11-12 December 2014). Twenty-four university professors and lecturers from 19 Spanish universities imparting medical degrees participated in the forum. They were distributed in three working groups during three working sessions. In the first session, they were asked to identify and classify core public health competencies for medical degrees. In the second, they were asked to propose public health contents for the identified competencies. In the third session, the participants organized these contents in thematic blocks. The results were discussed in distinct plenary sessions. The highest number of core competencies was identified in the activities related to the public health functions «Assessment of the population's health needs» and «Developing health policies». The final programme included basic contents organised into five units: Concept of health, public health and its determinants; Epidemiology and health research; Determinants and health problems; Strategies, interventions and policies; and health systems, clinical and healthcare management. The public health core competencies and contents identified in this Forum may be considered as a starting point to improve and update public health training programmes for future medical professionals. Copyright © 2015 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

[Public health competencies and contents in Spanish university degree programmes of Veterinary Medicine].

PubMed

Davó-Blanes, María Del Carmen; Vives-Cases, Carmen; Huerta, Belén

2017-04-19

To reach a consensus among public health faculty from various Spanish universities about the core public health competencies that should be integrated into the Veterinary Medicine degree training. The 3rd Forum of University Professors of Public Health was held at the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Cordoba (12-13 January 2016). Forty-two university professors and lecturers from nine Spanish universities with veterinary degrees participated in the forum. They were divided into five working groups during three working sessions to identify and classify core public health competencies for the Veterinary Medicine degree, propose public health contents for the identified competencies and organize such contents in thematic blocks. The results were discussed in different plenary sessions. The highest number of core competencies was identified in the activities related to the following public health functions: «Assessment of the population's health needs» and «Developing health policies». The final programme included basic contents organized into five units: 1) Fundamentals of public health; 2) Study and research in public health; 3) Production, animal health and environment; 4) Food security; and 5) Health education. The public health core competencies and contents identified in this Forum may be considered as a starting point to update public health training programmes for future veterinary professionals. Copyright © 2017 SESPAS. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

us9805_latilt

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;meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name /dublin_core"> <meta name=dc.title content="Alaska Solar Resource: Flat Plate Collector, Facing

Autigenic and Anthropogenic Uranium in the Marine Sediments of the Gulf of California in Front of Santa Rosalia Mining District

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choumiline, K.; Rodríguez-Figueroa, G.; Shumilin, E.; Sapozhnikov, D.

2007-05-01

To verify the possibilities of U enrichments in the marine sedimentary environment of the eastern sector of the central Gulf of Califoria (GC), eleven sediment cores were collected in front of the Santa Rosalia mining region, peninsula of Baja California. Uranium and some other trace element contents in sliced core layers, dried and homogenized, were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Average total U contents in sediments of five cores collected in the open GC in front of Santa Rosalía at sites with water depths from 265 m to 1030 m and in the Guaymas Basin with 2019 m, ranged from 1.36±0.26 mg kg-1 (Guaymas Basin) to 9.31±3.03 mg kg-1 (SR63 core, depth 630 m). To distinguish non-lithogenic U from the lithogenic one, the normalization of total U contents to the concentrations of Sc in the samples was used. That because this element is a reliable indicator of crustal materials, mainly aluminosilicates in the marine sediments. The relative contribution of non-lithogenic (authigenic) U varied from 49.8±3 % (Guaymas Basin) to 84.2±8.2 % (SR62 core) of the total U content in the sediments of the open central GC. Surprisingly, in three sediment cores from the coastal zone adjacent to the town of Santa Rosalía in water depth range 3-6 m very high concentrations of total U were found, ranging from 54.2±7.3 mg kg-1 (SR4 core) to 110±13 mg kg-1 (SR2 core) and exceeding not only U average abundance in the earth´s crust (2.7 mg kg-1), but also its levels found for SR62 core, as well as those reported for natural enrichments of U in suboxic-anoxic environments, e.g. at Mexico and Peru margin sites (3.04 mg kg-1 - 24.54 mg kg-1, McManus et al., 2006). The relative contribution of non-lithogenic U in the sediments of these three anomalous cores varied from 97.2±0.4 % (SR4 core) to 98.80.2 % (SR1 and SR2 cores) of their total U content. The sediments were also depleted in organic C (0.05 % - 0.18 %), which is not typical for marine solid phases enriched in authigenic U. Additional surface sampling around the cores with high levels of U, helped to define the spatial distribution of this element, as well as Co, Cu, Zn, light lanthanides and europium, which also showed "anomalies". The association with anthropogenic impact is discussed because the geochemical fingerprints of these sediments are the same as for solid wastes of copper smelting, which has occurred in Santa Rosalía in the past century till 1984.

Using X-Ray Fluorescence Technique to Quantify Metal Concentration in Coral Cores from Belize

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kingsley, C.; Bhattacharya, A.; Hangsterfer, A.; Carilli, J.; Field, D. B.

2016-12-01

Caribbean coral reefs are some of the most threatened marine ecosystems in the world. Research appears to suggest that environmental stressors of local origin, such as sediment run off, can reduce the resilience of these reefs to global threats such as ocean warming. Sedimentation can stunt coral growth, reduce its resilience, and it is possible that trapped material could render coral skeletons brittle (personal discussions). Material trapped in coral skeletons can provide information on the sources of particulate matter in the ocean ecosystem. Despite the importance of quantifying sources and types of materials trapped in corals, the research community is yet to fully develop techniques that allow accurate representation of trapped matter, which is potentially a major source of metal content in reef building coral skeletons. The dataset presented here explores the usefulness of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), a widely used tool in environmental studies (but generally not in corals), to estimate metal content in coral cores collected from four locations near Belize, with varying degrees of impact from coastal processes. The coral cores together cover a period of 1862-2006. Trace, major, and minor metal content from these cores have been well-studied using solution-based ICP-MS, providing us with the unique opportunity to test the efficacy of XRF technique in characterizing metal content in these coral cores. We have measured more than 50 metals using XRF every two millimeters along slabs removed from the middle of a coral core to characterize materials present in coral skeletons. We compared the results from XRF to solution-based ICP-MS - that involves dissolving subsamples of coral skeleton to measure metal content. Overall, it appears that the non-destructive XRF technique is a viable supplement in determining sediment and metal content in coral cores, and may be particularly helpful for assessing resistant phases such as grains of sediment that are not fully dissolved in the typical solution-based ICP-MS methodology. We also compared our XRF results with coral biology, environmental and climate information (regional and global). Our research clearly has strong implications far beyond that of these specific corals in Belize and will help researchers all over the world understand what is happening to coral reefs.

Heavy metal distribution in sediment profiles of Tuul River, Mongolia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soyol-Erdene, T. O.; Lin, S.; Tuuguu, E.; Daichaa, D.; Ulziibat, B.; Enkh-Amgalan, T.; Hsieh, I. C.

2016-12-01

The distribution, enrichment, and accumulation of heavy metals in the sediments of Tuul River, Mongolia were investigated. Sediment core samples with depths of 4.0-49 cm from thirteen locations along the Tuul River were collected in the period from Sept. 2013 to Aug. 2014 and characterized for metal contents (e.g., Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Hg and Cr), water content, and grain size. Results showed that metal average concentrations in the sample cores varied from 0.02 mg kg-1 for Hg (0.01 - 0.03 mg kg-1) to 481 mg kg-1 for Mn (277 - 623 mg kg-1). Metal concentrations at the downstream of the capital city were higher than those at other locations. All heavy metals studied, had average enrichment factors less than 3.0, but some sites had relatively higher values of enrichment factors up to 18 for Cu, 4.1 for Hg, 5.9 for Zn, and 25 for Cr, especially at middle depth ( 8-12 cm) of the cores. Importantly, severe pollution of mercury (Hg) was found at the downstream of the capital city which requires immediate remediation before this metal propagates into the food chain. Metal concentrations correlated to the physical-chemical properties of the sediments, which suggested the influence of industrial and municipal wastewaters discharged from the nearby cities. Results of this work would help to develop strategy to remediate of Tuul river sediment and to reduce the exposure of inhabitants to toxic substances.

Magma Ocean Depth and Oxygen Fugacity in the Early Earth--Implications for Biochemistry.

PubMed

Righter, Kevin

2015-09-01

A large class of elements, referred to as the siderophile (iron-loving) elements, in the Earth's mantle can be explained by an early deep magma ocean on the early Earth in which the mantle equilibrated with metallic liquid (core liquid). This stage would have affected the distribution of some of the classic volatile elements that are also essential ingredients for life and biochemistry - H, C, S, and N. Estimates are made of the H, C, S, and N contents of Earth's early mantle after core formation, considering the effects of variable temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity, and composition on their partitioning. Assessment is made of whether additional, exogenous, sources are required to explain the observed mantle concentrations, and areas are identified where additional data and experimentation would lead to an improved understanding of this phase of Earth's history.

Integrating Content and Literacy in Social Studies: Assessing Instructional Materials and Student Work from a Common Core-Aligned Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reisman, Abby

2017-01-01

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) call on science and social studies teachers to engage in literacy instruction that prepares students for the academic rigors of college. The Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) designed a framework to address the challenge of literacy-content integration. At the heart of the intervention are fill-in-the-blank…

Core Versus Nuclear Gauge Methods of Determining Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content

Treesearch

Jacqueline G. Steele; Jerry L. Koger; Albert C. Trouse; Donald L. Sirois

1983-01-01

Soil bulk and moisture content measurements were obtained using two nuclear gauge systems and those compared to those obtained from soil cores. The soils, a Hiwassee sandy loam, a Lakeland loamy sand, and a Loyd clay, were free of organic matter and uniform in mechanical composition. The regression equations developed for the nuclear guages for the first phase of the...

A Survey of Military Counseling Content and Curriculum among Council on Rehabilitation Education- and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs-Accredited Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stebnicki, Mark A.; Clemmons-James, Dominiquie; Leierer, Stephen

2017-01-01

Purpose: To determine the amount, frequency, and type of course content related to military counseling issues in Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)- and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited master's-level counselor education programs. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all CORE- and…

Dynamics of myelin content decrease in the rat stroke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kisel, A.; Khodanovich, M.; Atochin, D.; Mustafina, L.; Yarnykh, V.

2017-08-01

The majority of studies were usually focused on neuronal death after brain ischemia; however, stroke affects all cell types including oligodendrocytes that form myelin sheath in the CNS. Our study is focused on the changes of myelin content in the ischemic core and neighbor structures in early terms (1, 3 and 10 days) after stroke. Stroke was modeled with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in 15 male rats that were divided into three groups by time points after operation. Brain sections were histologically stained with Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) for myelin quantification. The significant demyelination was found in the ischemic core, corpus callosum, anterior commissure, whereas myelin content was increased in caudoputamen, internal capsule and piriform cortex compared with the contralateral hemisphere. The motor cortex showed a significant increase of myelin content on the 1st day and a significant decrease on the 3rd and 10th days after MCAo. These results suggest that stroke influences myelination not only in the ischemic core but also in distant structures.

Correlation between active-learning coursework and student retention of core content during advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

PubMed

Lucas, Kristy H; Testman, Julie A; Hoyland, Marcella N; Kimble, Angel M; Euler, Mary L

2013-10-14

To implement an active-learning approach in a pharmacotherapy course sequence in the second year (P2) and third (P3) year of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program and determine whether the pedagogical changes correlated with retention of core content in the fourth year (P4). Class sessions were transitioned from slides-based lectures to discussion-based active-learning pedagogy. A comprehensive examination was created and administered to assess student retention of therapeutic topics taught. Students demonstrated significantly improved overall scores on questions derived from the active-learning pedagogy used in Pharmacotherapy II and III compared to those derived from Pharmacotherapy I in which content was delivered by lecture. The use of active-learning strategies over lecture-based methods in pharmacotherapy courses resulted in higher retention of core content. Students' performance in areas taught using the discussion-based methodology was superior to that which was taught using lecture-based slide presentations.

Correlation Between Active-Learning Coursework and Student Retention of Core Content During Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

PubMed Central

Testman, Julie A.; Hoyland, Marcella N.; Kimble, Angel M.; Euler, Mary L.

2013-01-01

Objective. To implement an active-learning approach in a pharmacotherapy course sequence in the second year (P2) and third (P3) year of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program and determine whether the pedagogical changes correlated with retention of core content in the fourth year (P4). Design. Class sessions were transitioned from slides-based lectures to discussion-based active-learning pedagogy. Assessment. A comprehensive examination was created and administered to assess student retention of therapeutic topics taught. Students demonstrated significantly improved overall scores on questions derived from the active-learning pedagogy used in Pharmacotherapy II and III compared to those derived from Pharmacotherapy I in which content was delivered by lecture. Conclusion. The use of active-learning strategies over lecture-based methods in pharmacotherapy courses resulted in higher retention of core content. Students’ performance in areas taught using the discussion-based methodology was superior to that which was taught using lecture-based slide presentations. PMID:24159212

Effects of a Circulating-water Garment and Forced-air Warming on Body Heat Content and Core Temperature

PubMed Central

Taguchi, Akiko; Ratnaraj, Jebadurai; Kabon, Barbara; Sharma, Neeru; Lenhardt, Rainer; Sessler, Daniel I.

2005-01-01

Background: Forced-air warming is sometimes unable to maintain perioperative normothermia. We therefore compared heat transfer, regional heat distribution, and core rewarming of forced-air warming with a novel circulating-water garment. Methods: Nine volunteers were each evaluated on two randomly ordered study days. They were anesthetized and cooled to a core temperature near 34°C. The volunteers were subsequently warmed for 2.5 hours with either a circulating-water garment or forced-air cover. Overall, heat balance was determined from the difference between cutaneous heat loss (thermal flux transducers) and metabolic heat production (oxygen consumption). Average arm and leg (peripheral) tissue temperatures were determined from 18 intramuscular needle thermocouples, 15 skin thermal flux transducers, and “deep” arm and foot thermometers. Results: Heat production (≈ 60 kcal/h) and loss (≈45 kcal/h) were similar with each treatment before warming. The increase in heat transfer across anterior portions of the skin surface was similar with each warming system (≈65 kcal/h). Forced-air warming had no effect on posterior heat transfer whereas circulating-water transferred 21 ± 9 kcal/h through the posterior skin surface after a half hour of warming. Over 2.5 h, circulating-water thus increased body heat content 56% more than forced air. Core temperatures thus increased faster than with circulating water than forced air, especially during the first hour, with the result that core temperature was 1.1 ± 0.7°C greater after 2.5 h (P < 0.001). Peripheral tissue heat content increased twice as much as core heat content with each device, but the core-to-peripheral tissue temperature gradient remained positive throughout the study. Conclusions: The circulating-water system transferred more heat than forced air, with the difference resulting largely from posterior heating. Circulating water rewarmed patients 0.4°C/h faster than forced air. A substantial peripheral-to-core tissue-temperature gradient with each device indicated that peripheral tissues insulated the core, thus slowing heat transfer. PMID:15114200

Tank 241-AY-101 Privatization Push Mode Core Sampling and Analysis Plan

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

TEMPLETON, A.M.

2000-01-12

This sampling and analysis plan (SAP) identifies characterization objectives pertaining to sample collection, laboratory analytical evaluation, and reporting requirements for samples obtained from tank 241-AY-101. The purpose of this sampling event is to obtain information about the characteristics of the contents of 241-AY-101 required to satisfy Data Quality Objectives For RPP Privatization Phase I: Confirm Tank T Is An Appropriate Feed Source For High-Level Waste Feed Batch X(HLW DQO) (Nguyen 1999a), Data Quality Objectives For TWRS Privatization Phase I : Confirm Tank T Is An Appropriate Feed Source For Low-Activity Waste Feed Batch X (LAW DQO) (Nguyen 1999b), Low Activitymore » Waste and High-Level Waste Feed Data Quality Objectives (L and H DQO) (Patello et al. 1999), and Characterization Data Needs for Development, Design, and Operation of Retrieval Equipment Developed through the Data Quality Objective Process (Equipment DQO) (Bloom 1996). Special instructions regarding support to the LAW and HLW DQOs are provided by Baldwin (1999). Push mode core samples will be obtained from risers 15G and 150 to provide sufficient material for the chemical analyses and tests required to satisfy these data quality objectives. The 222-S Laboratory will extrude core samples; composite the liquids and solids; perform chemical analyses on composite and segment samples; archive half-segment samples; and provide subsamples to the Process Chemistry Laboratory. The Process Chemistry Laboratory will prepare test plans and perform process tests to evaluate the behavior of the 241-AY-101 waste undergoing the retrieval and treatment scenarios defined in the applicable DQOs. Requirements for analyses of samples originating in the process tests will be documented in the corresponding test plans and are not within the scope of this SAP.« less

Tank 241-AY-101 Privatization Push Mode Core Sampling and Analysis Plan

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

TEMPLETON, A.M.

2000-05-19

This sampling and analysis plan (SAP) identifies characterization objectives pertaining to sample collection, laboratory analytical evaluation, and reporting requirements for samples obtained from tank 241-AY-101. The purpose of this sampling event is to obtain information about the characteristics of the contents of 241-AY-101 required to satisfy ''Data Quality Objectives For RPP Privatization Phase I: Confirm Tank T Is An Appropriate Feed Source For High-Level Waste Feed Batch X(HLW DQO)' (Nguyen 1999a), ''Data Quality Objectives For TWRS Privatization Phase I: Confirm Tank T Is An Appropriate Feed Source For Low-Activity Waste Feed Butch X (LAW DQO) (Nguyen 1999b)'', ''Low Activity Wastemore » and High-Level Waste Feed Data Quality Objectives (L&H DQO)'' (Patello et al. 1999), and ''Characterization Data Needs for Development, Design, and Operation of Retrieval Equipment Developed through the Data Quality Objective Process (Equipment DQO)'' (Bloom 1996). Special instructions regarding support to the LAW and HLW DQOs are provided by Baldwin (1999). Push mode core samples will be obtained from risers 15G and 150 to provide sufficient material for the chemical analyses and tests required to satisfy these data quality objectives. The 222-S Laboratory will extrude core samples; composite the liquids and solids; perform chemical analyses on composite and segment samples; archive half-segment samples; and provide sub-samples to the Process Chemistry Laboratory. The Process Chemistry Laboratory will prepare test plans and perform process tests to evaluate the behavior of the 241-AY-101 waste undergoing the retrieval and treatment scenarios defined in the applicable DQOs. Requirements for analyses of samples originating in the process tests will be documented in the corresponding test plans and are not within the scope of this SAP.« less

What is shared, what is different? Core relational themes and expressive displays of eight positive emotions.

PubMed

Campos, Belinda; Shiota, Michelle N; Keltner, Dacher; Gonzaga, Gian C; Goetz, Jennifer L

2013-01-01

Understanding positive emotions' shared and differentiating features can yield valuable insight into the structure of positive emotion space and identify emotion states, or aspects of emotion states, that are most relevant for particular psychological processes and outcomes. We report two studies that examined core relational themes (Study 1) and expressive displays (Study 2) for eight positive emotion constructs--amusement, awe, contentment, gratitude, interest, joy, love, and pride. Across studies, all eight emotions shared one quality: high positive valence. Distinctive core relational theme and expressive display patterns were found for four emotions--amusement, awe, interest, and pride. Gratitude was associated with a distinct core relational theme but not an expressive display. Joy and love were each associated with a distinct expressive display but their core relational themes also characterised pride and gratitude, respectively. Contentment was associated with a distinct expressive display but not a core relational theme. The implications of this work for the study of positive emotion are discussed.

[Use of ICF Core Sets for medical reports concerning patients with low back pain and chronic widespread pain syndrome].

PubMed

Kirschneck, M; Winkelmann, A; Kirchberger, I; Glässel, A; Ewert, T; Stucki, G; Cieza, A

2008-11-01

Medical reports of the national pension insurance are essential for the national pension regulatory authority to decide on granting services regarding participation as well as retirement pensions due to inability to work. There are guidelines regarding the content of medical reports. It is also generally accepted that the evaluation of functioning is an essential component of them. However, it is still an open question to what extent the standardisation and the objectiveness of medical reports can be improved. The ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) is a framework as well as a common language for describing functioning and disability. ICF Core Sets are lists of disease-specific relevant ICF categories and can be a useful practicable tool for medical reports for national pension insurance. They could support the standardization of the medical reports. The aim of this planned project is to examine whether the ICF Core Sets for low back pain and chronic widespread pain could serve as a useful basis for medical reports for national pension insurance regarding the patients suffering low back pain or chronic widespread pain. Six hundred medical reports from patients with low back pain or chronic widespread pain, respectively, will be translated into the language of the ICF using a retrospective qualitative study design. For this translation ('linking') process specialised physicians from the national pension insurance and members of the Institute for Health and Rehabilitations Science will be trained to use established linking rules. STATE OF THE PROJECT: Currently, a total of 244 medical reports from the national pension insurance with the health conditions low back pain or chronic widespread pain were selected by members of the national pension insurance. The medical reports are anonymised in different federal states according to the appropriate requirements. The first 10 medical reports have already being analysed. First analyses show that the structure of medical reports varies enormously. Therefore a comparison of the content without having a common basis is hardly possible. This demonstrates the importance of the project and the possible usefulness of the ICF and the ICF Core Sets for structuring the content of medical reports for the national pension insurance.

The Effect of Nickel on Iron Isotope Fractionation and Implications for the Earth's Core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reagan, M. M.; Shahar, A.; Elardo, S. M.; Liu, J.; Xiao, Y.; Mao, W. L.

2017-12-01

The Earth's core is thought to be composed mainly of an iron-rich iron nickel (FeNi) alloy. Therefore, determining the behavior of these alloys at core conditions is crucial for interpreting and constraining geophysical and geochemical models. Understanding the effect of nickel on iron isotope fractionation can shed light on planetary core formation. We collected a series of phonon excitation spectra using nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (NRIXS) on 57Fe-enriched FeNi alloys with varying (Fe0.9Ni0.1, Fe0.8Ni0.2, Fe0.7Ni0.3) nickel content in a diamond anvil cell at pressures up to 50 GPa. All three alloys studied exhibited differences from pure Fe, indicating that increasing nickel content could have an effect on iron isotope fractionation which would have implications for planetary core formation and provide constraints the bulk composition for terrestrial planets.

Combining X-Ray Fluorescence and Magnetic Techniques to Quantify Elemental Concentrations in Coral Cores from Belize

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldfarb, L. A.; Kingsley, C.; Urbalejo, A. A.; Hangsterfer, A.; Gee, J. S.; Carilli, J.; Feinberg, J. M.; Mitra, R.; Bhattacharya, A.; Field, D.

2017-12-01

Caribbean coral reefs are some of the most threatened marine ecosystems in the world. Research suggest that environmental stressors of local origin, such as sediment run off, can reduce the resilience of these reefs to global threats such as ocean warming. Material trapped in coral skeletons can provide information on the sources of particulate matter in the ocean ecosystem. Despite the importance of quantifying sources and types of materials trapped in corals, the research community is yet to fully develop techniques that allow accurate representation of trapped matter, which is potentially a major source of metal content in reef building coral skeletons. The dataset presented here is a progress and combination of two works presented at American Geophysical Union 2016 Fall Meeting; In this research, we explore the efficacy of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), a widely used tool in environmental studies (but generally not in corals), to estimate detrital metal content in coral cores collected from four locations near Belize, with varying degrees of impact from coastal processes. Four coral cores together cover a period of 1862-2006. Trace, major and minor metal content from these cores have been well-studied using solution-based ICP-MS, providing us with the unique opportunity to test the efficacy of XRF technique in characterizing metal content in these coral cores. We have measured more than 50 metals using XRF every two millimeters along slabs removed from the middle of a coral core spanning to characterize materials present in coral skeletons. We compare the results from XRF to elemental concentrations reported from solution-based ICP-MS. Furthermore, we also compare our XRF data to magnetic measurements we have made in these same coral cores. Overall, it appears that the non-destructive XRF technique is a viable supplement to the ICP-MS in determining sediment and metal content in coral cores, and may be particularly helpful for assessing resistant phases such as grains of sediment that are not fully dissolved in the typical solution-based ICP-MS methodology. Our research clearly has strong implications far beyond that of these specific corals in Belize and will help researchers all over the world understand what is happening to coral reefs.

A review of training research and virtual reality simulators for the da Vinci surgical system.

PubMed

Liu, May; Curet, Myriam

2015-01-01

PHENOMENON: Virtual reality simulators are the subject of several recent studies of skills training for robot-assisted surgery. Yet no consensus exists regarding what a core skill set comprises or how to measure skill performance. Defining a core skill set and relevant metrics would help surgical educators evaluate different simulators. This review draws from published research to propose a core technical skill set for using the da Vinci surgeon console. Publications on three commercial simulators were used to evaluate the simulators' content addressing these skills and associated metrics. An analysis of published research suggests that a core technical skill set for operating the surgeon console includes bimanual wristed manipulation, camera control, master clutching to manage hand position, use of third instrument arm, activating energy sources, appropriate depth perception, and awareness of forces applied by instruments. Validity studies of three commercial virtual reality simulators for robot-assisted surgery suggest that all three have comparable content and metrics. However, none have comprehensive content and metrics for all core skills. INSIGHTS: Virtual reality simulation remains a promising tool to support skill training for robot-assisted surgery, yet existing commercial simulator content is inadequate for performing and assessing a comprehensive basic skill set. The results of this evaluation help identify opportunities and challenges that exist for future developments in virtual reality simulation for robot-assisted surgery. Specifically, the inclusion of educational experts in the development cycle alongside clinical and technological experts is recommended.

The Effect of Optional Summer Transition to High School Program Participation and Required School Year Long Placement on a Core Content Team on Ninth-Grade Students At-Risk Measured Achievement, Engagement, and Behavior Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pokorski, Frances K.

2011-01-01

No significant difference in beginning ninth-grade pretest compared to ending ninth-grade posttest comparisons of American History t(17) = 0.34, p = 0.37 (one-tailed), d = 0.09, English t(17) = 1.40, p = 0.09 (one-tailed), d = 0.34, and Biology (t(17) = -1.58, p = 0.07 (one-tailed), d = -0.22, course grade scores were observed for students…

Actinide management with commercial fast reactors

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

Ohki, Shigeo

The capability of plutonium-breeding and minor-actinide (MA) transmutation in the Japanese commercial sodium-cooled fast reactor offers one of practical solutions for obtaining sustainable energy resources as well as reducing radioactive toxicity and inventory. The reference core design meets the requirement of flexible breeding ratio from 1.03 to 1.2. The MA transmutation amount has been evaluated as 50-100 kg/GW{sub e}y if the MA content in fresh fuel is 3-5 wt%, where about 30-40% of initial MA can be transmuted in the discharged fuel.

Space Station Furnace Facility. Volume 2: Appendix 1: Contract End Item specification (CEI), part 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seabrook, Craig

1992-01-01

This specification establishes the performance, design, development, and verification requirements for the Space Station Furnace Facility (SSFF) Core. The definition of the SSFF Core and its interfaces, specifies requirements for the SSFF Core performance, specifies requirements for the SSFF Core design, and construction are presented, and the verification requirements are established.

Pain education in North American medical schools.

PubMed

Mezei, Lina; Murinson, Beth B

2011-12-01

Knowledgeable and compassionate care regarding pain is a core responsibility of health professionals associated with better medical outcomes, improved quality of life, and lower healthcare costs. Education is an essential part of training healthcare providers to deliver conscientious pain care but little is known about whether medical school curricula meet educational needs. Using a novel systematic approach to assess educational content, we examined the curricula of Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited medical schools between August 2009 and February 2010. Our intent was to establish important benchmark values regarding pain education of future physicians during primary professional training. External validation was performed. Inclusion criteria required evidence of substantive participation in the curriculum management database of the Association of American Medical Colleges. A total of 117 U.S. and Canadian medical schools were included in the study. Approximately 80% of U.S. medical schools require 1 or more pain sessions. Among Canadian medical schools, 92% require pain sessions. Pain sessions are typically presented as part of general required courses. Median hours of instruction on pain topics for Canadian schools was twice the U.S. median. Many topics included in the International Association for the Study of Pain core curriculum received little or no coverage. There were no correlations between the types of pain education offered and school characteristics (eg, private versus public). We conclude that pain education for North American medical students is limited, variable, and often fragmentary. There is a need for innovative approaches and better integration of pain topics into medical school curricula. This study assessed the scope and scale of pain education programs in U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Significant gaps between recommended pain curricula and documented educational content were identified. In short, pain education was limited and fragmentary. Innovative and integrated pain education in primary medical education is needed. Copyright © 2011 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quality Teaching in Addressing Student Achievement: A Comparative Study between National Board Certified Teachers and Other Teachers on the Kentucky Core Content Test Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buecker, Harrie Lynne

2010-01-01

This dissertation focused on the link between quality teaching and its potential impact on student achievement. National Board Certification is used to represent quality teaching and student achievement is measured by the Kentucky Core Content Test. Data were gathered on the reading and mathematics scores of students of National Board Teachers who…

The physics of the earth's core: An introduction

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

Melchior, P.

1986-01-01

This book is a reference text providing information on physical topics of recent developments in internal geophysics. The text summarizes papers covering theoretical geophysics. Basic formulae, definitions and theorems are not explained in detail due to the limited space. The contents include applications to geodesy, geophysics, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics and planetary physics. The formal contents include: The Earth's model; Thermodynamics; Hydrodynamics; Geomagnetism; Geophysical implications in the Earth's core.

Perspectives on Canadian core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia: a survey of graduate fellows.

PubMed

O'Leary, James D; Crawford, Mark W

2015-10-01

Educators in anesthesia have an obligation to ensure that fellowship programs are training anesthesiologists to meet the highest standards of performance in clinical and academic practice. The objective of this survey was to characterize the perspectives of graduates of Canadian core fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia (during a ten-year period starting in 2003) on the adequacies and inadequacies of fellowship training. We conducted an electronic survey of graduates from eight departments of pediatric anesthesia in Canada who completed one-year core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia from 2003 to 2013. A novel survey design was implemented, and the content and structure of the design were tested before distribution. Data were collected on respondents' demographics, details of training and practice settings, perceived self-efficacy in subspecialty practices, research experience, and perspectives on one-year core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia. Descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals were determined. The survey was sent to 132 anesthesiologists who completed core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia in Canada. Sixty-five (49%) completed and eligible surveys were received. Most of the anesthesiologists surveyed perceived that 12 months of core fellowship training are sufficient to acquire the knowledge and critical skills needed to practice pediatric anesthesia. Subspecialty areas most frequently perceived to require improved training included pediatric cardiac anesthesia, chronic pain medicine, and regional anesthesia. This survey reports perceived deficiencies in domains of pediatric anesthesia fellowship training. These findings should help guide the future development of core and advanced fellowship training programs in pediatric anesthesia.

Genetic Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) Ability Profile of Prospective Biology Teacher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purwianingsih, W.; Muthmainnah, E.; Hidayat, T.

2017-02-01

Genetics is one of the topics or subject matter in biology that are considered difficult. Student difficulties of understanding genetics, can be caused by lack of understanding this concept and the way of teachers teach. Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) is a way to understand the complex relationships between teaching and content taught through the use of specific teaching approaches. The aims of study was to analyze genetic PCK ability profile of prospective biology teacher.13 student of sixth semester Biology education department who learned Kapita Selekta Biologi SMA course, participated in this study. PCK development was measured by CoRes (Content Representation). Before students fill CoRes, students are tested mastery genetic concepts through a multiple-choice test with three tier-test. Data was obtained from the prior CoRes and its revisions, as well as the mastery concept in pre and post test. Results showed that pre-test of genetic mastery concepts average on 55.4% (low category) and beginning of the writing CoRes, student get 43.2% (Pra PCK). After students get lecture and simulating learning, the post-test increased to 63.8% (sufficient category) and PCK revision is also increase 58.1% (growing PCK). It can be concluded that mastery of subject matter could affects the ability of genetic PCK.

Comparative analysis of thorium and uranium fuel for transuranic recycle in a sodium cooled Fast Reactor

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

C. Fiorina; N. E. Stauff; F. Franceschini

2013-12-01

The present paper compares the reactor physics and transmutation performance of sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (FRs) for TRansUranic (TRU) burning with thorium (Th) or uranium (U) as fertile materials. The 1000 MWt Toshiba-Westinghouse Advanced Recycling Reactor (ARR) conceptual core has been used as benchmark for the comparison. Both burner and breakeven configurations sustained or started with a TRU supply, and assuming full actinide homogeneous recycle strategy, have been developed. State-of-the-art core physics tools have been employed to establish fuel inventory and reactor physics performances for equilibrium and transition cycles. Results show that Th fosters large improvements in the reactivity coefficients associatedmore » with coolant expansion and voiding, which enhances safety margins and, for a burner design, can be traded for maximizing the TRU burning rate. A trade-off of Th compared to U is the significantly larger fuel inventory required to achieve a breakeven design, which entails additional blankets at the detriment of core compactness as well as fuel manufacturing and separation requirements. The gamma field generated by the progeny of U-232 in the U bred from Th challenges fuel handling and manufacturing, but in case of full recycle, the high contents of Am and Cm in the transmutation fuel impose remote fuel operations regardless of the presence of U-232.« less

20 CFR 662.250 - Where and to what extent must required One-Stop partners make core services available?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...-Stop partners make core services available? 662.250 Section 662.250 Employees' Benefits EMPLOYMENT AND... extent must required One-Stop partners make core services available? (a) At a minimum, the core services... worker program partners are required to make all of the core services listed in § 662.240 available at...

20 CFR 662.250 - Where and to what extent must required One-Stop partners make core services available?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...-Stop partners make core services available? 662.250 Section 662.250 Employees' Benefits EMPLOYMENT AND... extent must required One-Stop partners make core services available? (a) At a minimum, the core services... worker program partners are required to make all of the core services listed in § 662.240 available at...

Charge State of the Globular Histone Core Controls Stability of the Nucleosome

PubMed Central

Fenley, Andrew T.; Adams, David A.; Onufriev, Alexey V.

2010-01-01

Presented here is a quantitative model of the wrapping and unwrapping of the DNA around the histone core of the nucleosome that suggests a mechanism by which this transition can be controlled: alteration of the charge state of the globular histone core. The mechanism is relevant to several classes of posttranslational modifications such as histone acetylation and phosphorylation; several specific scenarios consistent with recent in vivo experiments are considered. The model integrates a description based on an idealized geometry with one based on the atomistic structure of the nucleosome, and the model consistently accounts for both the electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions to the nucleosome free energy. Under physiological conditions, isolated nucleosomes are predicted to be very stable (38 ± 7 kcal/mol). However, a decrease in the charge of the globular histone core by one unit charge, for example due to acetylation of a single lysine residue, can lead to a significant decrease in the strength of association with its DNA. In contrast to the globular histone core, comparable changes in the charge state of the histone tail regions have relatively little effect on the nucleosome's stability. The combination of high stability and sensitivity explains how the nucleosome is able to satisfy the seemingly contradictory requirements for thermodynamic stability while allowing quick access to its DNA informational content when needed by specific cellular processes such as transcription. PMID:20816070

Melting Experiments in the Fe-FeSi System at High Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozawa, H.; Hirose, K.

2013-12-01

The principal light element in the Earth's core must reproduce the density jump at the inner core boundary (ICB). Silicon is thought to be a plausible light element in the core, and the melting phase relations in Fe-FeSi binary system at the ICB pressure are of great importance. Theoretical calculations on the Fe-FeSi binary system suggested that the difference in Si content between the outer core and the inner core would be too small to satisfy the observed density jump at the ICB [Alfè et al., 2002 EPSL], which requires other light elements in addition to silicon. Here we experimentally examined partitioning of silicon between liquid and solid iron up to 97 GPa. High pressure and temperature conditions were generated in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell. Chemical compositions of co-existing quenched liquid and solid Fe-Si alloys were determined with a field-emission-type electron probe micro-analyzer. We used Fe-Si alloy containing 9 wt% Si as a starting material. Chemical analyses on the recovered samples from 39 and 49 GPa demonstrated the coexistence of quenched Si-depleted liquid and Si-enriched solid. In contrast, silicon partitions preferentially into liquid metal at 97 GPa, suggesting the starting composition (Fe-9wt% Si) lies on the iron-rich part of the eutectic. These results indicate the eutectic composition shifts toward FeSi between 49 and 97 GPa.

The development of learning materials based on core model to improve students’ learning outcomes in topic of Chemical Bonding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avianti, R.; Suyatno; Sugiarto, B.

2018-04-01

This study aims to create an appropriate learning material based on CORE (Connecting, Organizing, Reflecting, Extending) model to improve students’ learning achievement in Chemical Bonding Topic. This study used 4-D models as research design and one group pretest-posttest as design of the material treatment. The subject of the study was teaching materials based on CORE model, conducted on 30 students of Science class grade 10. The collecting data process involved some techniques such as validation, observation, test, and questionnaire. The findings were that: (1) all the contents were valid, (2) the practicality and the effectiveness of all the contents were good. The conclusion of this research was that the CORE model is appropriate to improve students’ learning outcomes for studying Chemical Bonding.

caCORE: a common infrastructure for cancer informatics.

PubMed

Covitz, Peter A; Hartel, Frank; Schaefer, Carl; De Coronado, Sherri; Fragoso, Gilberto; Sahni, Himanso; Gustafson, Scott; Buetow, Kenneth H

2003-12-12

Sites with substantive bioinformatics operations are challenged to build data processing and delivery infrastructure that provides reliable access and enables data integration. Locally generated data must be processed and stored such that relationships to external data sources can be presented. Consistency and comparability across data sets requires annotation with controlled vocabularies and, further, metadata standards for data representation. Programmatic access to the processed data should be supported to ensure the maximum possible value is extracted. Confronted with these challenges at the National Cancer Institute Center for Bioinformatics, we decided to develop a robust infrastructure for data management and integration that supports advanced biomedical applications. We have developed an interconnected set of software and services called caCORE. Enterprise Vocabulary Services (EVS) provide controlled vocabulary, dictionary and thesaurus services. The Cancer Data Standards Repository (caDSR) provides a metadata registry for common data elements. Cancer Bioinformatics Infrastructure Objects (caBIO) implements an object-oriented model of the biomedical domain and provides Java, Simple Object Access Protocol and HTTP-XML application programming interfaces. caCORE has been used to develop scientific applications that bring together data from distinct genomic and clinical science sources. caCORE downloads and web interfaces can be accessed from links on the caCORE web site (http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/core). caBIO software is distributed under an open source license that permits unrestricted academic and commercial use. Vocabulary and metadata content in the EVS and caDSR, respectively, is similarly unrestricted, and is available through web applications and FTP downloads. http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/core/publications contains links to the caBIO 1.0 class diagram and the caCORE 1.0 Technical Guide, which provide detailed information on the present caCORE architecture, data sources and APIs. Updated information appears on a regular basis on the caCORE web site (http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/core).

Assessing the Genetics Content in the Next Generation Science Standards.

PubMed

Lontok, Katherine S; Zhang, Hubert; Dougherty, Michael J

2015-01-01

Science standards have a long history in the United States and currently form the backbone of efforts to improve primary and secondary education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Although there has been much political controversy over the influence of standards on teacher autonomy and student performance, little light has been shed on how well standards cover science content. We assessed the coverage of genetics content in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) using a consensus list of American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) core concepts. We also compared the NGSS against state science standards. Our goals were to assess the potential of the new standards to support genetic literacy and to determine if they improve the coverage of genetics concepts relative to state standards. We found that expert reviewers cannot identify ASHG core concepts within the new standards with high reliability, suggesting that the scope of content addressed by the standards may be inconsistently interpreted. Given results that indicate that the disciplinary core ideas (DCIs) included in the NGSS documents produced by Achieve, Inc. clarify the content covered by the standards statements themselves, we recommend that the NGSS standards statements always be viewed alongside their supporting disciplinary core ideas. In addition, gaps exist in the coverage of essential genetics concepts, most worryingly concepts dealing with patterns of inheritance, both Mendelian and complex. Finally, state standards vary widely in their coverage of genetics concepts when compared with the NGSS. On average, however, the NGSS support genetic literacy better than extant state standards.

HCS road: an enterprise system for integrated HCS data management and analysis.

PubMed

Jackson, Donald; Lenard, Michael; Zelensky, Alexander; Shaikh, Mohammad; Scharpf, James V; Shaginaw, Richard; Nawade, Mahesh; Agler, Michele; Cloutier, Normand J; Fennell, Myles; Guo, Qi; Wardwell-Swanson, Judith; Zhao, Dandan; Zhu, Yingjie; Miller, Christopher; Gill, James

2010-08-01

The effective analysis and interpretation of high-content screening (HCS) data requires joining results to information on experimental treatments and controls, normalizing data, and selecting hits or fitting concentration-response curves. HCS data have unique requirements that are not supported by traditional high-throughput screening databases, including the ability to designate separate positive and negative controls for different measurements in multiplexed assays; the ability to capture information on the cell lines, fluorescent reagents, and treatments in each assay; the ability to store and use individual-cell and image data; and the ability to support HCS readers and software from multiple vendors along with third-party image analysis tools. To address these requirements, the authors developed an enterprise system for the storage and processing of HCS images and results. This system, HCS Road, supports target identification, lead discovery, lead evaluation, and lead profiling activities. A dedicated client supports experimental design, data review, and core analyses and displays images together with results for assay development, hit assessment, and troubleshooting. Data can be exported to third-party applications for further analysis and exploration. HCS Road provides a single source for high-content results across the organization, regardless of the group or instrument that produced them.

Analyzing the Core Flight Software (CFS) with SAVE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ganesan, Dharmalingam; Lindvall, Mikael; McComas, David

2008-01-01

This viewgraph presentation describes the SAVE tool and it's application to Core Flight Software (CFS). The contents include: 1) Fraunhofer-a short intro; 2) Context of this Collaboration; 3) CFS-Core Flight Software?; 4) The SAVE Tool; 5) Applying SAVE to CFS -A few example analyses; and 6) Goals.

[Study on trace elements of lake sediments by ICP-AES and XRF core scanning].

PubMed

Cheng, Ai-Ying; Yu, Jun-Qing; Gao, Chun-Liang; Zhang, Li-Sha; He, Xian-Hu

2013-07-01

It is the first time to study sediment of Toson lake in Qaidam Basin. Trace elements including Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb in lake sediment were measured by ICP-AES method, studied and optimized from different resolution methods respectively, and finally determined a optimum pretreatment system for sediment of Toson lake, namely, HCl-HNO3-HF-HClO4-H2O2 system in the proportions of 5 : 5 : 5 : 1 : 1 was determined. At the same time, the data measured by XRF core scanning were compared, the use of moisture content correction method was analyzed, and the influence of the moisture content on the scanning method was discussed. The results showed that, compared to the background value, the contents of Cd and Zn were a little higher, the content of Cr, Cu and Pb was within the background value limits. XRF core scanning was controlled by sediment elements as well as water content in sediment to some extent. The results by the two methods showed a significant positive correlation, with the correlation coefficient up to 0.673-0.925, and they have a great comparability.

Science-based occupations and the science curriculum: Concepts of evidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aikenhead, Glen S.

2005-03-01

What science-related knowledge is actually used by nurses in their day-to-day clinical reasoning when attending patients? The study investigated the knowledge-in-use of six acute-care nurses in a hospital surgical unit. It was found that the nurses mainly drew upon their professional knowledge of nursing and upon their procedural understanding that included a common core of concepts of evidence (concepts implicitly applied to the evaluation of data and the evaluation of evidence - the focus of this research). This core included validity triangulation, normalcy range, accuracy, and a general predilection for direct sensual access to a phenomenon over indirect machine-managed access. A cluster of emotion-related concepts of evidence (e.g. cultural sensitivity) was also discovered. These results add to a compendium of concepts of evidence published in the literature. Only a small proportion of nurses (one of the six nurses in the study) used canonical science content in their clinical reasoning, a result consistent with other research. This study also confirms earlier research on employees in science-rich workplaces in general, and on professional development programs for nurses specifically: canonical science content found in a typical science curriculum (e.g. high school physics) does not appear relevant to many nurses' knowledge-in-use. These findings support a curriculum policy that gives emphasis to students learning how to learn science content as required by an authentic everyday or workplace context, and to students learning concepts of evidence.

Climatic change and evaporative processes in the development of Common Era hypersaline lakes, East Antarctica: A study of Lake Suribati

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakashima, H.; Seto, K.; Katsuki, K.; Kaneko, H.; yamada, K.; Imura, S.; Dettman, D. L.

2011-12-01

The Antarctic continent was uplifted by glacioisostatic rebound due to the regression of ice sheets after the last glacial period. Today's saline lakes were formed in shallow basins originally below sea level. Antarctic hypersaline lakes are formed by concentration of isolated seawater bodies as affected by recent climate change. Many saline lakes are found in the ice-free area of the Soya coast, East Antarctica. Lake Suribati is located in Sukarvsnes on the Soya coast. It is a hypersaline lake with maximum salinity ~200 psu, and an observable stable halocline at 7~12m depth. This study uses Lake Suribati sediment core Sr4C-01, collected by the 46th Japanese Antarctica Research Expedition, to examine the relationship of climatic change to evaporative processes and solute concentration in Lake Suribati in the Common Era. Sr4C-01 core was collected at 9.53m water depth in Lake Suribati in 2005 (core length is 63cm). This core primarily consists of black mud and laminated black organic mud. In the interval from 10 to 24cm below the sediment surface evaporite crystals occur. The age of the Sr4C-01 core bottom is estimated to be ~3,500 cal yrs BP, based on AMS carbon-14 dating at 6 core horizons. The evaporite crystals were indentified as aragonite based on XRD. Total inorganic carbon (TIC) content is low, around 0.5%, throughout the Sr4C-01 core, with higher values, approximately 1~4%, in two intervals, 57~52cm and 29~10cm core depth. Variation in CaO content tracks TIC content. We suggest that synchronous change in CaO and TIC contents indicate the vertical change in the amount of aragonite. Two intervals of evaporite precipition imply two intervals of evaporation and concentration of lake water. Hypersaline lake conditions did not occur soon after the isolation from the sea, rather these occurred under repeated concentration and dilution of lake water. Dilution of saline lake water could occur through the inflow of melt water from local snow or ice, indicating a warm climate interval. During cool periods, local snow and ice sheet may have remained frozen. In this case, lake water volume would decrease by sublimation from the frozen lake surface, leading to salt concentration. Based on MgO and Na2O content data, we suggest that other Mg and Na evaporites occur in the core. If such evaporates can be identified, a detailed solute concentration process can be described. Analysis of evaporites in sediment core from Antarctic hypersaline lakes have great potential as proxy indicators for the study of climate change in Antarctica.

76 FR 1213 - Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-07

... Part II Commodity Futures Trading Commission 17 CFR Part 37 Core Principles and Other Requirements... RIN Number 3038-AD18 Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities AGENCY... Compliance With the Core Principles III. Effective Date and Transition Period IV. Related Matters A...

78 FR 32988 - Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets; Correction

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-03

... COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION 17 CFR Part 38 RIN 3038-AD09 Core Principles and Other... regarding Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets by inserting a missing... regarding Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets (77 FR 36612, June 19, 2012...

Textual Demands of Passages in Three English/Language Arts Common Core Assessments and One Core Literacy Program for Intermediate Elementary Grades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morrison, Timothy G.; Wilcox, Brad; Murdoch, Erica; Bird, Lauren

2018-01-01

The Common Core has emphasized reading for comprehension, including making inferences. However, little is known about the textual demands found within assessment and instructional passages that are promoted as being in line with Common Core expectations. The purpose of this content analysis was to identify the readability levels, passage length,…

Research on the technical requirements standards of high efficiency precipitator in power industries for assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Huang; Ling, Lin; Jun, Guo; Jianguo, Li; Yongzhong, Wang

2017-11-01

Facing the increasingly severe situation of air pollution, China are now positively promoting the evaluation of high efficiency air pollution control equipments and the research of the relative national standards. This paper showed the significance and the effect of formulating the technical requirements of high efficiency precipitator equipments for assessment national standards in power industries as well as the research thoughts and principle of these standards. It introduce the qualitative and quantitative evaluation requirements of high efficiency precipitators using in power industries and the core technical content such as testing, calculating, evaluation methods and so on. The implementation of a series of national standards is in order to lead and promote the production and application of high efficiency precipitator equipments in the field of the prevention of air pollution in national power industries.

Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Increases Phytochemicals in Menus and Curriculum Furthers Identification of Phytochemical-Rich Foods.

PubMed

Brewer, D; Hershberger, S; Gaetke, L

2016-01-01

This study evaluated whether providing the Fruits and Vegetables (F/V) required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) increased phytochemical/antioxidant content of school lunches. Additionally, the ability of adolescents to apply their nutritional knowledge following participation in a nutrition-focused science-based curriculum was assessed. Changes in antioxidant/phytochemical content from F/V offered in school lunch menus were analyzed Pre-and Post-HHFKA. Food logs completed by 717 youth aged 10-18 were analyzed for correctly identifying "fighting foods". Significant increases in antioxidant/phytochemical content resulted following implementation of HHFKA (P<0.05 ) . Seventy-five percent [0, 100] of the time students accurately identified "fighting foods" in their one-day in-school food log (n=468). Creatively incorporating nutrition education into core curriculum, when paired with a supportive built environment that increases F/V access (HHFKA), generates a multilevel intervention promoting F/V consumption among school-aged youth.

Self-Contained versus Departmentalized School Organization and the Impact on Fourth and Fifth Grade Student Achievement in Reading and Mathematics as Determined by the Kentucky Core Content Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kent, Kimberly Penn

2010-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference between self-contained and departmentalized classroom organization on the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) in reading and mathematics for students in fourth and fifth grade. A secondary purpose of this study was to consider how these organizational structures affect the…

Wellsite, laboratory, and mathematical techniques for determining sorbed gas content of coals and gas shales utilizing well cuttings

USGS Publications Warehouse

Newell, K.D.

2007-01-01

Drill cuttings can be used for desorption analyses but with more uncertainty than desorption analyses done with cores. Drill cuttings are not recommended to take the place of core, but in some circumstances, desorption work with cuttings can provide a timely and economic supplement to that of cores. The mixed lithologic nature of drill cuttings is primarily the source of uncertainty in their analysis for gas content, for it is unclear how to apportion the gas generated from both the coal and the dark-colored shale that is mixed in usually with the coal. In the Western Interior Basin Coal Basin in eastern Kansas (Pennsylvanian-age coals), dark-colored shales with normal (??? 100 API units) gamma-ray levels seem to give off minimal amounts of gas on the order of less than five standard cubic feet per ton (scf/ton). In some cuttings analyses this rule of thumb for gas content of the shale is adequate for inferring the gas content of coals, but shales with high-gamma-ray values (>150 API units) may yield several times this amount of gas. The uncertainty in desorption analysis of drill cuttings can be depicted graphically on a diagram identified as a "lithologic component sensitivity analysis diagram." Comparison of cuttings desorption results from nearby wells on this diagram, can sometimes yield an unique solution for the gas content of both a dark shale and coal mixed in a cuttings sample. A mathematical solution, based on equating the dry, ash-free gas-contents of the admixed coal and dark-colored shale, also yields results that are correlative to data from nearby cores. ?? 2007 International Association for Mathematical Geology.

Core Competencies for Shared Decision Making Training Programs: Insights From an International, Interdisciplinary Working Group

PubMed Central

Légaré, France; Moumjid-Ferdjaoui, Nora; Drolet, Renée; Stacey, Dawn; Härter, Martin; Bastian, Hilda; Beaulieu, Marie-Dominique; Borduas, Francine; Charles, Cathy; Coulter, Angela; Desroches, Sophie; Friedrich, Gwendolyn; Gafni, Amiram; Graham, Ian D.; Labrecque, Michel; LeBlanc, Annie; Légaré, Jean; Politi, Mary; Sargeant, Joan; Thomson, Richard

2014-01-01

Shared decision making is now making inroads in health care professionals’ continuing education curriculum, but there is no consensus on what core competencies are required by clinicians for effectively involving patients in health-related decisions. Ready-made programs for training clinicians in shared decision making are in high demand, but existing programs vary widely in their theoretical foundations, length, and content. An international, interdisciplinary group of 25 individuals met in 2012 to discuss theoretical approaches to making health-related decisions, compare notes on existing programs, take stock of stakeholders concerns, and deliberate on core competencies. This article summarizes the results of those discussions. Some participants believed that existing models already provide a sufficient conceptual basis for developing and implementing shared decision making competency-based training programs on a wide scale. Others argued that this would be premature as there is still no consensus on the definition of shared decision making or sufficient evidence to recommend specific competencies for implementing shared decision making. However, all participants agreed that there were 2 broad types of competencies that clinicians need for implementing shared decision making: relational competencies and risk communication competencies. Further multidisciplinary research could broaden and deepen our understanding of core competencies for shared decision making training. PMID:24347105

Core Content for Undergraduate Medical Education in Spain: Recommendations of the Instructors' Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV).

PubMed

Casanova, J M; Pujol, R M; Ferrándiz, C; Betlloch, I; Bosch, R J; Fernández, V; Martí, R M; Requena, L; Moreno, J C; Alegre, V; Vilata, J J; Vilar, N; Jaén, P; Bielsa, I; Querol, I; Azón, T; Borrego, L; Mascaró, J M; Alsina, M; Díaz, R M; Suarez, R; García-Bustinduy, M; García-Patos, V; Estrach, T

2016-03-01

Skin problems are among the most frequent reasons for seeking medical attention in primary care. In recent years, as a result of the process of adapting medical curricula to the requirements of the European Higher Education Area, the amount of time students spend learning the concepts of dermatology has been reduced in many universities. In order to reach a consensus on core content for undergraduate education in dermatology, we sent a survey to the 57 members of the instructors' group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), asking their opinions on what objectives should be set for a dermatology course in Spain. A total of 131 previously selected objectives were listed. We then applied the Delphi method to achieve consensus on which ones the respondents considered important or very important (score≥4 on a Likert scale). Nineteen responses (33%) were received. On the second round of the Delphi process, 68 objectives achieved average scores of at least 4. The respondents emphasized that graduates should understand the structure and functions of the skin and know about bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections, the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the 4 main inflammatory dermatoses. Students should also learn about common complaints, such as itching and bald patches; the management of dermatologic emergencies; purpura and erythema nodosum as signs of internal disease; and the prevention of STDs and skin cancer. During clinical clerkships students should acquire the communication skills they will need to interview patients, write up a patient's medical history, and refer the patient to a specialist. The AEDV's group of instructors have defined their recommendations on the core content that medical faculties should adopt for the undergraduate subject of dermatology in Spain. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.

Lead users' ideas on core features to support physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a first step in the development of an internet service using participatory design.

PubMed

Revenäs, Åsa; Opava, Christina H; Åsenlöf, Pernilla

2014-03-22

Despite the growing evidence of the benefits of physical activity (PA) in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the majority is not physically active enough. An innovative strategy is to engage lead users in the development of PA interventions provided over the internet. The aim was to explore lead users' ideas and prioritization of core features in a future internet service targeting adoption and maintenance of healthy PA in people with RA. Six focus group interviews were performed with a purposively selected sample of 26 individuals with RA. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and quantification of participants' prioritization of most important content. Six categories were identified as core features for a future internet service: up-to-date and evidence-based information and instructions, self-regulation tools, social interaction, personalized set-up, attractive design and content, and access to the internet service. The categories represented four themes, or core aspects, important to consider in the design of the future service: (1) content, (2) customized options, (3) user interface and (4) access and implementation. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study involving people with RA in the development of an internet service to support the adoption and maintenance of PA.Participants helped identifying core features and aspects important to consider and further explore during the next phase of development. We hypothesize that involvement of lead users will make transfer from theory to service more adequate and user-friendly and therefore will be an effective mean to facilitate PA behavior change.

Positioning Genomics in Biology Education: Content Mapping of Undergraduate Biology Textbooks†

PubMed Central

Wernick, Naomi L. B.; Ndung’u, Eric; Haughton, Dominique; Ledley, Fred D.

2014-01-01

Biological thought increasingly recognizes the centrality of the genome in constituting and regulating processes ranging from cellular systems to ecology and evolution. In this paper, we ask whether genomics is similarly positioned as a core concept in the instructional sequence for undergraduate biology. Using quantitative methods, we analyzed the order in which core biological concepts were introduced in textbooks for first-year general and human biology. Statistical analysis was performed using self-organizing map algorithms and conventional methods to identify clusters of terms and their relative position in the books. General biology textbooks for both majors and nonmajors introduced genome-related content after text related to cell biology and biological chemistry, but before content describing higher-order biological processes. However, human biology textbooks most often introduced genomic content near the end of the books. These results suggest that genomics is not yet positioned as a core concept in commonly used textbooks for first-year biology and raises questions about whether such textbooks, or courses based on the outline of these textbooks, provide an appropriate foundation for understanding contemporary biological science. PMID:25574293

Positioning genomics in biology education: content mapping of undergraduate biology textbooks.

PubMed

Wernick, Naomi L B; Ndung'u, Eric; Haughton, Dominique; Ledley, Fred D

2014-12-01

Biological thought increasingly recognizes the centrality of the genome in constituting and regulating processes ranging from cellular systems to ecology and evolution. In this paper, we ask whether genomics is similarly positioned as a core concept in the instructional sequence for undergraduate biology. Using quantitative methods, we analyzed the order in which core biological concepts were introduced in textbooks for first-year general and human biology. Statistical analysis was performed using self-organizing map algorithms and conventional methods to identify clusters of terms and their relative position in the books. General biology textbooks for both majors and nonmajors introduced genome-related content after text related to cell biology and biological chemistry, but before content describing higher-order biological processes. However, human biology textbooks most often introduced genomic content near the end of the books. These results suggest that genomics is not yet positioned as a core concept in commonly used textbooks for first-year biology and raises questions about whether such textbooks, or courses based on the outline of these textbooks, provide an appropriate foundation for understanding contemporary biological science.

Biochemistry for dietetic students: course content and format.

PubMed

Sirota, L H

1984-12-01

This article presents the results of a survey of the 251 undergraduate dietetic programs for course content and level of the biochemistry course most frequently used to satisfy competencies in biochemistry under Plan IV of the ADA in 1979-80. It showed that a common core of information was stressed by all biochemistry instructors, but there was great variability in content and level of material covered and the textbook chosen, depending on whether the biochemistry course was offered to dietetic majors only, in classes with other nonchemistry majors, or in classes with chemistry majors. Variability was also seen in the time allotted for biochemistry--39 to 280 hours (total lecture and required laboratory hours); laboratory requirements--only 71%; and departmental affiliation of the instructor--17 different departments, primarily of chemistry (80%), biology (8%), and home economics (4%). Topics given greatest emphasis were descriptive ones, such as definitions, simple structures, and reactions of intermediary metabolism in general terms. Topics given least emphasis were those involving mechanistic and quantitative biochemistry, such as respiratory quotient (RQ), enzyme kinetics, calculations of energy from fat and carbohydrates, and specific structures of vitamins, ketones, and metabolic intermediates. The lack of communication between biochemistry and nutrition instructors and the great differences in the preparation of dietetic majors in biochemistry are sources of concern.

Revisiting Traveling Books: Early Literacy, Social Studies, and the Common Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swain, Holly Hilboldt; Coleman, Julianne

2015-01-01

With the development and institution of the Common Core Standards, teachers must be prepared to integrate content areas such as social studies within the language arts curriculum. Teachers following the suggestions of the Common Core Standards should develop practical and meaningful strategies within their classrooms that encourage and support…

How Rhetorical Theories of Genre Address Common Core Writing Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collin, Ross

2013-01-01

This article begins with a review of the forms of writing promoted in the Common Core State Standards. Across content areas, Common Core encourages teachers to attune students' writing to rhetorical concerns of audience, purpose, task, and disciplinary thinking. To address these concerns, teachers might take a rhetorical approach to the study…

Explicit Instruction in Core Reading Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reutzel, D. Ray; Child, Angela; Jones, Cindy D.; Clark, Sarah K.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of the types and occurrences of explicit instructional moves recommended for teaching five essentials of effective reading instruction in grades 1, 3, and 5 core reading program teachers' editions in five widely marketed core reading programs. Guided practice was the most frequently…

Count every newborn; a measurement improvement roadmap for coverage data.

PubMed

Moxon, Sarah G; Ruysen, Harriet; Kerber, Kate J; Amouzou, Agbessi; Fournier, Suzanne; Grove, John; Moran, Allisyn C; Vaz, Lara M E; Blencowe, Hannah; Conroy, Niall; Gülmezoglu, A; Vogel, Joshua P; Rawlins, Barbara; Sayed, Rubayet; Hill, Kathleen; Vivio, Donna; Qazi, Shamim A; Sitrin, Deborah; Seale, Anna C; Wall, Steve; Jacobs, Troy; Ruiz Peláez, Juan; Guenther, Tanya; Coffey, Patricia S; Dawson, Penny; Marchant, Tanya; Waiswa, Peter; Deorari, Ashok; Enweronu-Laryea, Christabel; Arifeen, Shams; Lee, Anne C C; Mathai, Matthews; Lawn, Joy E

2015-01-01

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), launched in 2014, aims to end preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths, with national targets of ≤12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births and ≤12 stillbirths per 1000 total births by 2030. This requires ambitious improvement of the data on care at birth and of small and sick newborns, particularly to track coverage, quality and equity. In a multistage process, a matrix of 70 indicators were assessed by the Every Newborn steering group. Indicators were graded based on their availability and importance to ENAP, resulting in 10 core and 10 additional indicators. A consultation process was undertaken to assess the status of each ENAP core indicator definition, data availability and measurement feasibility. Coverage indicators for the specific ENAP treatment interventions were assigned task teams and given priority as they were identified as requiring the most technical work. Consultations were held throughout. ENAP published 10 core indicators plus 10 additional indicators. Three core impact indicators (neonatal mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, stillbirth rate) are well defined, with future efforts needed to focus on improving data quantity and quality. Three core indicators on coverage of care for all mothers and newborns (intrapartum/skilled birth attendance, early postnatal care, essential newborn care) have defined contact points, but gaps exist in measuring content and quality of the interventions. Four core (antenatal corticosteroids, neonatal resuscitation, treatment of serious neonatal infections, kangaroo mother care) and one additional coverage indicator for newborns at risk or with complications (chlorhexidine cord cleansing) lack indicator definitions or data, especially for denominators (population in need). To address these gaps, feasible coverage indicator definitions are presented for validity testing. Measurable process indicators to help monitor health service readiness are also presented. A major measurement gap exists to monitor care of small and sick babies, yet signal functions could be tracked similarly to emergency obstetric care. The ENAP Measurement Improvement Roadmap (2015-2020) outlines tools to be developed (e.g., improved birth and death registration, audit, and minimum perinatal dataset) and actions to test, validate and institutionalise proposed coverage indicators. The roadmap presents a unique opportunity to strengthen routine health information systems, crosslinking these data with civil registration and vital statistics and population-based surveys. Real measurement change requires intentional transfer of leadership to countries with the greatest disease burden and will be achieved by working with centres of excellence and existing networks.

Developing a virtual community for health sciences library book selection: Doody's Core Titles.

PubMed

Shedlock, James; Walton, Linda J

2006-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe Doody's Core Titles in the Health Sciences as a new selection guide and a virtual community based on an effective use of online systems and to describe its potential impact on library collection development. The setting is the availability of health sciences selection guides. Participants include Doody Enterprise staff, Doody's Library Board of Advisors, content specialists, and library selectors. Resources include the online system used to create Doody's Core Titles along with references to complementary databases. Doody's Core Titles is described and discussed in relation to the literature of selection guides, especially in comparison to the Brandon/Hill selected lists that were published from 1965 to 2003. Doody's Core Titles seeks to fill the vacuum created when the Brandon/Hill lists ceased publication. Doody's Core Titles is a unique selection guide based on its method of creating an online community of experts to identify and score a core list of titles in 119 health sciences specialties and disciplines. The result is a new selection guide, now available annually, that will aid health sciences librarians in identifying core titles for local collections. Doody's Core Titles organizes the evaluation of core titles that are identified and recommended by content specialists associated with Doody's Book Review Service and library selectors. A scoring mechanism is used to create the selection of core titles, similar to the star rating system employed in other Doody Enterprise products and services.

[Can ICF core sets be helpful in preparing a social-medical expert report due to incapacity to work?--a first proposal].

PubMed

Kirschneck, M; Legner, R; Armbrust, W; Nowak, D; Cieza, A

2015-04-01

Social-medical expert reports from the German statutory pension insurance are essential for the German statutory pension regulatory authority to decide whether to grant services regarding participation as well as retirement pensions due to incapacity to work.The objective of this investigation is to determine whether the ICF Core Sets and other international approaches, such as the EUMASS Core Sets or ICF Core Set for vocational rehabilitation cover the content of the social-medical expert reports as well as to propose an approach how the ICF can be economically used by the social medicine practitioner when writing a social-medical expert report. A retrospective quantitative study design was used to translate a total of 294 social-medical expert reports from patients with low back pain (LBP) or chronic widespread pain (CWP) into the language of the ICF (linking) by 2 independent health professionals and compare the results with the ICF Core Sets for specific health conditions and other international approaches. The content of social-medical expert reports was largely reflected by the condition specific brief ICF Core Sets, brief ICF Core Sets for vocational rehabilitation and EUMASS Core Sets. The weighted Kappa statistic for the agreement between the 2 health professionals who translated the expert reports were in CWP 0.69 with a bootstrapped confidence interval of 0.67-0.71 and in LBP 0.73 (0.71-0.74). The analyses show that the content of social-medical expert reports varies enormously. A combination of a condition specific brief ICF Core Set as well as vocational rehabilitation and EUMASS ICF Core Sets as well as all ICF-categories from the expert reports that were named at least in 50% of it can largely provide a basis for preparing expert reports. Within the scope of implementation the need for a specific ICF Core Set for expert reports of the German statutory pension insurance should be further analyzed and discussed. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Assessing the Genetics Content in the Next Generation Science Standards

PubMed Central

Lontok, Katherine S.; Zhang, Hubert; Dougherty, Michael J.

2015-01-01

Science standards have a long history in the United States and currently form the backbone of efforts to improve primary and secondary education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Although there has been much political controversy over the influence of standards on teacher autonomy and student performance, little light has been shed on how well standards cover science content. We assessed the coverage of genetics content in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) using a consensus list of American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) core concepts. We also compared the NGSS against state science standards. Our goals were to assess the potential of the new standards to support genetic literacy and to determine if they improve the coverage of genetics concepts relative to state standards. We found that expert reviewers cannot identify ASHG core concepts within the new standards with high reliability, suggesting that the scope of content addressed by the standards may be inconsistently interpreted. Given results that indicate that the disciplinary core ideas (DCIs) included in the NGSS documents produced by Achieve, Inc. clarify the content covered by the standards statements themselves, we recommend that the NGSS standards statements always be viewed alongside their supporting disciplinary core ideas. In addition, gaps exist in the coverage of essential genetics concepts, most worryingly concepts dealing with patterns of inheritance, both Mendelian and complex. Finally, state standards vary widely in their coverage of genetics concepts when compared with the NGSS. On average, however, the NGSS support genetic literacy better than extant state standards. PMID:26222583

Determination of subsurface fluid contents at a crude-oil spill site

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hess, K.M.; Herkelrath, W.N.; Essaid, H.I.

1992-01-01

Measurement of the fluid-content distribution at sites contaminated by immiscible fluids, including crude oil, is needed to better understand the movement of these fluids in the subsurface and to provide data to calibrate and verify numerical models and geophysical methods. A laboratory method was used to quantify the fluid contents of 146 core sections retrieved from boreholes aligned along a 120-m longitudinal transect at a crude-oil spill site near Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.A. The 47-mm-diameter, minimally disturbed cores spanned a 4-m vertical interval contaminated by oil. Cores were frozen on site in a dry ice-alcohol bath to prevent redistribution and loss of fluids while sectioning the cores. We gravimetrically determined oil and water contents using a two-step method: (1) samples were slurried and the oil was removed by absorption onto strips of hydrophobic porous polyethylene (PPE); and (2) the samples were oven-dried to remove the water. The resulting data show sharp vertical gradients in the water and oil contents and a clearly defined oil body. The subsurface distribution is complex and appears to be influenced by sediment heterogeneities and water-table fluctuations. The center of the oil body has depressed the water-saturated zone boundary, and the oil is migrating laterally within the capillary fringe. The oil contents are as high as 0.3 cm3 cm-3, which indicates that oil is probably still mobile 10 years after the spill occurred. The thickness of oil measured in wells suggests that accumulated thickness in wells is a poor indicator of the actual distribution of oil in the subsurface. Several possible sources of error are identified with the field and laboratory methods. An error analysis indicates that adsorption of water and sediment into the PPE adds as much as 4% to the measured oil masses and that uncertainties in the calculated sample volume and the assumed oil density introduce an additional ??3% error when the masses are converted to fluid contents.

Middle School Teacher Misconceptions and Anxieties Concerning Space Science Disciplinary Core Ideas in NGSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Kristine

2017-01-01

The Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are grouped into the broad disciplinary areas of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, and Engineering, Technology and Application of Science, and feature learning progressions based on endpoint targets for each grade band. Since the Middle School DCIs build on the expected learning achievements to be reached by the end of Fifth Grade, and High School DCI similarly build on the expected learning achievements expected for the end of Eighth Grade, the Middle School grade band is of particular importance as the bridge between the Elementary and High School curriculum. In states where there is not a special Middle School Certification many of these science classes are taught by teachers prepared to teach at the Elementary level (and who may have limited content background). As a result, some pre-service and in-service teachers have expressed reduced self-confidence in both their own science content knowledge and their ability to apply it in the NGSS-based classroom, while decades of research has demonstrated the pervasiveness of science misconceptions among teachers. Thus the adoption of NGSS has the potential to drive talented teachers out of the profession who feel that they are ill-prepared for this sweeping transition. The key is providing rigorous education in both content and pedagogy for pre-service teachers and quality targeted professional development for in-service teachers. This report focuses on the Middle School Space Sciences grade band DCIs and presents research on specific difficulties, misconceptions and uncertainties with the material demonstrated by pre-service education students over the past four years in a required university science content course, as well as two year-long granted workshop series for current Middle School teachers. This information is relevant to the development of both new content courses aligned with NGSS for pre-service teachers and professional development for in-service teachers.

Core belief content examined in a large sample of patients using online cognitive behaviour therapy.

PubMed

Millings, Abigail; Carnelley, Katherine B

2015-11-01

Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy provides a unique opportunity to collect and analyse data regarding the idiosyncratic content of people's core beliefs about the self, others and the world. 'Beating the Blues' users recorded a core belief derived through the downward arrow technique. Core beliefs from 1813 mental health patients were coded into 10 categories. The most common were global self-evaluation, attachment, and competence. Women were more likely, and men were less likely (than chance), to provide an attachment-related core belief; and men were more likely, and women less likely, to provide a self-competence-related core belief. This may be linked to gender differences in sources of self-esteem. Those who were suffering from anxiety were more likely to provide power- and control-themed core beliefs and less likely to provide attachment core beliefs than chance. Finally, those who had thoughts of suicide in the preceding week reported less competence themed core beliefs and more global self-evaluation (e.g., 'I am useless') core beliefs than chance. Concurrent symptom level was not available. The sample was not nationally representative, and featured programme completers only. Men and women may focus on different core beliefs in the context of CBT. Those suffering anxiety may need a therapeutic focus on power and control. A complete rejection of the self (not just within one domain, such as competence) may be linked to thoughts of suicide. Future research should examine how individual differences and symptom severity influence core beliefs. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Testing a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique on the Arctic sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, D.; Nam, S. I.

2017-12-01

Physical and geochemical investigations coupled with the Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) were performed on three surface sediment cores (ARA03B/24BOX, ARA02B/01(A)MUC, ARA02B/02MUC and ARA02B/03(A)MUC) recovered from the western Arctic Ocean (Chukchi Sea) during IBRV ARON expeditions in 2012. The LIBS technique was applied to carry out elemental chemical analysis of the Arctic sediments and compared with that measured by ITRAX X-ray fuorescence (XRF) core scanning. LIBS and XRF have shown similar elemental composition within each sediment core. In this study, mineral composition (XRD), grain size distribution and organic carbon content as well as elemental composition (LIBS) were all considered to understand paleoenvironmental changes (ocean circulation, sea-ice drift, iceberg discharge, and etc.) recorded in the Arctic Holocene sediment. Quantitative LIBS analysis shows a gradually varying distribution of the elements along the sampled core and clear separation between the cores. The cores are geochemically characterized by elevated Mn profile. The gradient of mineral composition and grain sizes among the cores shows regional distribution and variation in sedimentary condition due to geological distance between East Siberian and North America. The present study reveals that a LIBS technique can be employed for in-situ sediment analyses for the Arctic Ocean. Furthermore, LIBS does not require costly equipment, trained operators, and complicated sample pre-treatment processes compared to Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP), and also known to show relatively high levels of sensitivity, precision, and distinction than XRF analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA).

The Development of a Core Curriculum Outcomes Assessment Plan for Brenau Women's College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Patricia Webster

This paper presents results and recommendations from a literature review, the purpose of which was to: (1) find the best structure and content for a core curricular assessment plan at Brenau Women's College (Georgia); and (2) determine a reasonable evaluation plan of the core curricular assessment plan once it is implemented. The literature also…

What Is the Canon in American Politics? Analyses of Core Graduate Syllabi

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diament, Sean M.; Howat, Adam J.; Lacombe, Matthew J.

2017-01-01

Many core graduate-level seminars claim to expose students to their discipline's "canon." The contents of this canon, however, can and do differ across departments and instructors. This project employs a survey of core American politics PhD seminar syllabi at highly ranked universities to construct a systematic account of the American…

Core Vocabulary: Its Morphological Content and Presence in Exemplar Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hiebert, Elfrieda H.; Goodwin, Amanda P.; Cervetti, Gina N.

2018-01-01

This study addresses the distribution of words in texts at different points of schooling. The first aim was to identify a core vocabulary that accounts for the majority of the words in texts through the lens of morphological families. Results showed that 2,451 morphological families, averaging 4.61 members, make up the core vocabulary of school…

Introduction to autonomous mobile robotics using Lego Mindstorms NXT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akın, H. Levent; Meriçli, Çetin; Meriçli, Tekin

2013-12-01

Teaching the fundamentals of robotics to computer science undergraduates requires designing a well-balanced curriculum that is complemented with hands-on applications on a platform that allows rapid construction of complex robots, and implementation of sophisticated algorithms. This paper describes such an elective introductory course where the Lego Mindstorms NXT kits are used as the robot platform. The aims, scope and contents of the course are presented, and the design of the laboratory sessions as well as the term projects, which address several core problems of robotics and artificial intelligence simultaneously, are explained in detail.

The Role of Nanoparticle Surface Functionality in the Disruption of Model Cell Membranes

PubMed Central

Moghadam, Babak Y.; Hou, Wen-Che; Corredor, Charlie; Westerhoff, Paul; Posner, Jonathan D.

2012-01-01

Lipid bilayers are biomembranes common to cellular life and constitute a continuous barrier between cells and their environment. Understanding the interaction of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with lipid bilayers is an important step toward predicting subsequent biological effects. In this study, we assess the effect of varying the surface functionality and concentration of 10 nm-diameter gold (Au) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) ENMs on the disruption of negatively charged lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) using a dye leakage assay. Our findings show that Au ENMs having both positive and negative surface charge induce leakage that reaches a steady state after several hours. Positively charged particles with identical surface functionality and different core composition show similar leakage effects and result in faster and greater leakage than negatively charged particles, which suggests that surface functionality, not particle core composition, is a critical factor in determining the interaction between ENMs and lipid bilayers. The results suggest that particles permanently adsorb to bilayers and that only one positively charged particle is required to disrupt a liposome and trigger leakage of its entire contents in contrast to mellitin molecules, the most widely studied membrane lytic peptide, which requires hundred of molecules to generate leakage. PMID:22921268

The lead isotopic age of the Earth can be explained by core formation alone.

PubMed

Wood, Bernard J; Halliday, Alex N

2010-06-10

The meaning of the age of the Earth defined by lead isotopes has long been unclear. Recently it has been proposed that the age of the Earth deduced from lead isotopes reflects volatile loss to space at the time of the Moon-forming giant impact rather than partitioning into metallic liquids during protracted core formation. Here we show that lead partitioning into liquid iron depends strongly on carbon content and that, given a content of approximately 0.2% carbon, experimental and isotopic data both provide evidence of strong partitioning of lead into the core throughout the Earth's accretion. Earlier conclusions that lead is weakly partitioned into iron arose from the use of carbon-saturated (about 5% C) iron alloys. The lead isotopic age of the Earth is therefore consistent with partitioning into the core and with no significant late losses of moderately volatile elements to space during the giant impact.

A model for enhancing Internet medical document retrieval with "medical core metadata".

PubMed

Malet, G; Munoz, F; Appleyard, R; Hersh, W

1999-01-01

Finding documents on the World Wide Web relevant to a specific medical information need can be difficult. The goal of this work is to define a set of document content description tags, or metadata encodings, that can be used to promote disciplined search access to Internet medical documents. The authors based their approach on a proposed metadata standard, the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, which has recently been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force. Their model also incorporates the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) vocabulary and MEDLINE-type content descriptions. The model defines a medical core metadata set that can be used to describe the metadata for a wide variety of Internet documents. The authors propose that their medical core metadata set be used to assign metadata to medical documents to facilitate document retrieval by Internet search engines.

A Model for Enhancing Internet Medical Document Retrieval with “Medical Core Metadata”

PubMed Central

Malet, Gary; Munoz, Felix; Appleyard, Richard; Hersh, William

1999-01-01

Objective: Finding documents on the World Wide Web relevant to a specific medical information need can be difficult. The goal of this work is to define a set of document content description tags, or metadata encodings, that can be used to promote disciplined search access to Internet medical documents. Design: The authors based their approach on a proposed metadata standard, the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, which has recently been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force. Their model also incorporates the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) vocabulary and Medline-type content descriptions. Results: The model defines a medical core metadata set that can be used to describe the metadata for a wide variety of Internet documents. Conclusions: The authors propose that their medical core metadata set be used to assign metadata to medical documents to facilitate document retrieval by Internet search engines. PMID:10094069

Characterization of polymer chain fractions of kiwifruit starch.

PubMed

Li, Dongxing; Zhu, Fan

2018-02-01

In this report, the amylose composition and molecular structure of starches from the core and outer pericarp of 3 golden kiwifruit varieties were characterised, using enzymatic and chromatographic techniques. Starches from the core tissues of kiwifruit tend to have higher amylose contents (by ∼3-5%) and longer unit chains of both amylopectins and their φ, β-limit dextrins (LDs) than those of the outer pericarp starches. The contents of short B-chains of the φ, β-LDs of amylopectins from the outer pericarp were higher (by ∼3%) than those of φ, β-LDs of the core amylopectins. Overall, the composition and structure of starches from the outer pericarp and core tissues of a golden kiwifruit were different. This study provides a structural basis to further investigate the starch degradation in kiwifruit, which may be of importance for the storage and eating quality of the fruit. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

U, Th, and K in planetary cores: Implications for volatile elements and heat production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boujibar, A.; Habermann, M.; Righter, K.; Ross, D. K.; Righter, M.; Chidester, B.; Rapp, J. F.; Danielson, L. R.; Pando, K.; Andreasen, R.

2016-12-01

The accretion of terrestrial planets is known to be accompanied with volatile loss due to strong solar winds produced by the young Sun and due to energetic impacts. It was previously expected that Mercury, the innermost planet is depleted in volatile elements in comparison to other terrestrial planets. These predictions have been recently challenged by the MESSENGER mission to Mercury that detected relatively high K/U and K/Th ratios on Mercury's surface, suggesting a volatile content similar to Earth and Mars. However previous studies showed that Fe-rich metals can incorporate substantial U, Th and K under reducing conditions and with high sulfur contents, which are two conditions relevant to Mercury. In order to quantify the fractionation of these heat-producing elements during core segregation, we determined experimentally their partition coefficients (Dmet/sil) between metal and silicate at varying pressure, temperature, oxygen fugacity and sulfur content. Our data confirm that U, Th, and K become more siderophile with decreasing fO2 and increasing sulfur content, with a stronger effect for U and Th in comparison to K. Hence Mercury's core is likely to have incorporated more U and Th than K, resulting in the elevated K/U and K/Th ratios measured on the surface. The bulk concentrations of U, Th, and K in terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are calculated based on geochemical constraints on core-mantle differentiation. Significant amounts of U, Th and K are partitioned into the cores of Mercury, Venus and Earth, but much less into Mars' core. The resulting bulk planet K/U and K/Th correlate with the heliocentric distance, which suggests an overall volatile depletion in the inner Solar System. These results have important implications for internal heat production. The role of impact erosion on the evolution of Th/U ratio will also be addressed.

Strategic retrieval, confabulations, and delusions: theory and data.

PubMed

Gilboa, Asaf

2010-01-01

Based on Moscovitch and Winocur's "working with memory" framework, confabulation is described as a deficit in strategic retrieval processes. The present paper suggests that only a confluence of deficits on multiple memory-related processes leads to confabulation. These are divided into three categories. Core processes that are unique to confabulation and required for its evolution include: (1) an intuitive, rapid, preconscious "feeling of rightness" monitoring, (2) an elaborate conscious "editor" monitoring, and (3) control processes that mediate the decision whether to act upon a retrieved memory. The second category is deficits on constitutional processes which are required for confabulation to occur but are not unique to it. These include the formation of erroneous memory representation, (temporal) context confusion, and deficits in retrieval cue generation. Finally, associated Features of confabulations determine the content "flavour" and frequency of confabulation but are not required for their evolution. Some associated features are magnification of normal reconstructive memory processes such as reliance on generic/schematic representations, and positivity biases in memory, whereas others are abnormal such as perseveration or source memory deficits. Data on deficits in core processes in confabulation are presented. Next, the apparent correspondences between confabulation and delusion are discussed. Considering confabulation within a strategic memory framework may help elucidate both the commonalities and differences between the two symptoms. Delusions are affected by a convergence of abnormal perception and encoding of information, associated with aberrant cognitive schema structure and disordered belief monitoring. Whereas confabulation is primarily a disorder of retrieval, mnemonic aspects of delusions can be described as primarily a disorder of input and integration of information. It is suggested that delusions might share some of the associated features of confabulation but not its core and constitutional processes. Preliminary data in support of this view are presented.

Identification of the Core Set of Carbon-Associated Genes in a Bioenergy Grassland Soil

DOE PAGES

Howe, Adina; Yang, Fan; Williams, Ryan J.; ...

2016-11-17

Despite the central role of soil microbial communities in global carbon (C) cycling, little is known about soil microbial community structure and even less about their metabolic pathways. Efforts to characterize soil communities often focus on identifying differences in gene content across environmental gradients, but an alternative question is what genes are similar in soils. These genes may indicate critical species or potential functions that are required in all soils. Here we identified the “core” set of C cycling sequences widely present in multiple soil metagenomes from a fertilized prairie (FP). Of 226,887 sequences associated with known enzymes involved inmore » the synthesis, metabolism, and transport of carbohydrates, 843 were identified to be consistently prevalent across four replicate soil metagenomes. This core metagenome was functionally and taxonomically diverse, representing five enzyme classes and 99 enzyme families within the CAZy database. Though it only comprised 0.4% of all CAZy-associated genes identified in FP metagenomes, the core was found to be comprised of functions similar to those within cumulative soils. The FP CAZy-associated core sequences were present in multiple publicly available soil metagenomes and most similar to soils sharing geographic proximity. As a result, in soil ecosystems, where high diversity remains a key challenge for metagenomic investigations, these core genes represent a subset of critical functions necessary for carbohydrate metabolism, which can be targeted to evaluate important C fluxes in these and other similar soils.« less

Estimating the spatial distribution of soil organic matter density and geochemical properties in a polygonal shaped Arctic Tundra using core sample analysis and X-ray computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soom, F.; Ulrich, C.; Dafflon, B.; Wu, Y.; Kneafsey, T. J.; López, R. D.; Peterson, J.; Hubbard, S. S.

2016-12-01

The Arctic tundra with its permafrost dominated soils is one of the regions most affected by global climate change, and in turn, can also influence the changing climate through biogeochemical processes, including greenhouse gas release or storage. Characterization of shallow permafrost distribution and characteristics are required for predicting ecosystem feedbacks to a changing climate over decadal to century timescales, because they can drive active layer deepening and land surface deformation, which in turn can significantly affect hydrological and biogeochemical responses, including greenhouse gas dynamics. In this study, part of the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiment (NGEE-Arctic), we use X-ray computed tomography (CT) to estimate wet bulk density of cores extracted from a field site near Barrow AK, which extend 2-3m through the active layer into the permafrost. We use multi-dimensional relationships inferred from destructive core sample analysis to infer organic matter density, dry bulk density and ice content, along with some geochemical properties from nondestructive CT-scans along the entire length of the cores, which was not obtained by the spatially limited destructive laboratory analysis. Multi-parameter cross-correlations showed good agreement between soil properties estimated from CT scans versus properties obtained through destructive sampling. Soil properties estimated from cores located in different types of polygons provide valuable information about the vertical distribution of soil and permafrost properties as a function of geomorphology.

Intratumoral and Intertumoral Genomic Heterogeneity of Multifocal Localized Prostate Cancer Impacts Molecular Classifications and Genomic Prognosticators

PubMed Central

Wei, Lei; Wang, Jianmin; Lampert, Erika; Schlanger, Simon; DePriest, Adam D.; Hu, Qiang; Gomez, Eduardo Cortes; Murakam, Mitsuko; Glenn, Sean T.; Conroy, Jeffrey; Morrison, Carl; Azabdaftari, Gissou; Mohler, James L.; Liu, Song; Heemers, Hannelore V.

2018-01-01

Background Next-generation sequencing is revealing genomic heterogeneity in localized prostate cancer (CaP). Incomplete sampling of CaP multiclonality has limited the implications for molecular subtyping, stratification, and systemic treatment. Objective To determine the impact of genomic and transcriptomic diversity within and among intraprostatic CaP foci on CaP molecular taxonomy, predictors of progression, and actionable therapeutic targets. Design, setting, and participants Four consecutive patients with clinically localized National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate- or high-risk CaP who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy underwent radical prostatectomy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in June–July 2014. Presurgical information on CaP content and a customized tissue procurement procedure were used to isolate nonmicroscopic and noncontiguous CaP foci in radical prostatectomy specimens. Three cores were obtained from the index lesion and one core from smaller lesions. RNA and DNA were extracted simultaneously from 26 cores with ≥90% CaP content and analyzed using whole-exome sequencing, single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, and RNA sequencing. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Somatic mutations, copy number alternations, gene expression, gene fusions, and phylogeny were defined. The impact of genomic alterations on CaP molecular classification, gene sets measured in Oncotype DX, Prolaris, and Decipher assays, and androgen receptor activity among CaP cores was determined. Results and limitations There was considerable variability in genomic alterations among CaP cores, and between RNA- and DNA-based platforms. Heterogeneity was found in molecular grouping of individual CaP foci and the activity of gene sets underlying the assays for risk stratification and androgen receptor activity, and was validated in independent genomic data sets. Determination of the implications for clinical decision-making requires follow-up studies. Conclusions Genomic make-up varies widely among CaP foci, so care should be taken when making treatment decisions based on a single biopsy or index lesions. Patient summary We examined the molecular composition of individual cancers in a patient’s prostate. We found a lot of genetic diversity among these cancers, and concluded that information from a single cancer biopsy is not sufficient to guide treatment decisions. PMID:27451135

Lead users’ ideas on core features to support physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a first step in the development of an internet service using participatory design

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Despite the growing evidence of the benefits of physical activity (PA) in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the majority is not physically active enough. An innovative strategy is to engage lead users in the development of PA interventions provided over the internet. The aim was to explore lead users’ ideas and prioritization of core features in a future internet service targeting adoption and maintenance of healthy PA in people with RA. Methods Six focus group interviews were performed with a purposively selected sample of 26 individuals with RA. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and quantification of participants’ prioritization of most important content. Results Six categories were identified as core features for a future internet service: up-to-date and evidence-based information and instructions, self-regulation tools, social interaction, personalized set-up, attractive design and content, and access to the internet service. The categories represented four themes, or core aspects, important to consider in the design of the future service: (1) content, (2) customized options, (3) user interface and (4) access and implementation. Conclusions This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study involving people with RA in the development of an internet service to support the adoption and maintenance of PA. Participants helped identifying core features and aspects important to consider and further explore during the next phase of development. We hypothesize that involvement of lead users will make transfer from theory to service more adequate and user-friendly and therefore will be an effective mean to facilitate PA behavior change. PMID:24655757

Developing a virtual community for health sciences library book selection: Doody's Core Titles

PubMed Central

Shedlock, James; Walton, Linda J.

2006-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe Doody's Core Titles in the Health Sciences as a new selection guide and a virtual community based on an effective use of online systems and to describe its potential impact on library collection development. Setting/Participants/Resources: The setting is the availability of health sciences selection guides. Participants include Doody Enterprise staff, Doody's Library Board of Advisors, content specialists, and library selectors. Resources include the online system used to create Doody's Core Titles along with references to complementary databases. Brief Description: Doody's Core Titles is described and discussed in relation to the literature of selection guides, especially in comparison to the Brandon/Hill selected lists that were published from 1965 to 2003. Doody's Core Titles seeks to fill the vacuum created when the Brandon/Hill lists ceased publication. Doody's Core Titles is a unique selection guide based on its method of creating an online community of experts to identify and score a core list of titles in 119 health sciences specialties and disciplines. Results/Outcome: The result is a new selection guide, now available annually, that will aid health sciences librarians in identifying core titles for local collections. Evaluation Method: Doody's Core Titles organizes the evaluation of core titles that are identified and recommended by content specialists associated with Doody's Book Review Service and library selectors. A scoring mechanism is used to create the selection of core titles, similar to the star rating system employed in other Doody Enterprise products and services. PMID:16404471

40 CFR 35.6230 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Response Actions Core Program Cooperative Agreements § 35.6230 Application requirements. To receive a Core... number of products to be completed, and a schedule for implementation. Eligible activities under Core... to sustain and increase recipient involvement in CERCLA implementation, and the impact of Core...

40 CFR 35.6230 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Response Actions Core Program Cooperative Agreements § 35.6230 Application requirements. To receive a Core... number of products to be completed, and a schedule for implementation. Eligible activities under Core... to sustain and increase recipient involvement in CERCLA implementation, and the impact of Core...

Ethics Education in Midwifery Education Programs in the United States.

PubMed

Megregian, Michele

2016-09-01

Familiarity with ethical concepts is a required competency for new graduates and a component of accreditation for midwifery education programs in the United States. While midwifery educators have acknowledged the importance of ethics education in midwifery programs, little is known about current methods, format, or evaluation of ethics education. A Web-based survey was developed for program directors of accredited midwifery education programs in the United States. Clock hours, formats, venues, content topics, barriers, and evaluation methods were evaluated by descriptive analysis. Fifty-one percent of programs completed the online survey (25/49). Of these, only 7 (28%) offer ethics as a stand-alone class, although all responding programs integrate some ethics education into other core classes. Programs show variation in format, venue, resources, and clock hours dedicated to ethics education. The most frequent barrier to ethics education is an already crowded curriculum (60%), although 32% of programs denied any barriers at all. The majority of programs include the ethical concepts of informed consent, shared decision making, and effective communication in curriculum content. This survey found that there is considerable variation in ethics education in terms of content, format, and evaluation among accredited midwifery education programs in the United States. Midwifery educators have an opportunity to explore the ethical dilemmas unique to maternity care from a midwifery perspective. There is also the opportunity to create a comprehensive and dynamic midwifery ethics curriculum, which incorporates both stand-alone ethics courses and ethics concepts that are woven throughout the core midwifery curriculum. © 2016 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Essential competencies in entry-level pediatric physical therapy education.

PubMed

Rapport, Mary Jane; Furze, Jennifer; Martin, Kathy; Schreiber, Joe; Dannemiller, Lisa A; Dibiasio, Paula A; Moerchen, Victoria A

2014-01-01

The Section on Pediatrics (SoP) convened an Education Summit in July 2012 to examine, discuss, and respond to documented inconsistencies and challenges in teaching pediatric physical therapy (PT) content in entry-level professional education programs. Despite previous attempts by the SoP to provide guidance around teaching pediatric PT, variability continued to be extensive across programs. This article presents the core competencies developed out of the Summit to inform pediatric content in the entry-level PT curriculum. In addition, the core competencies were linked to teaching strategies, learning activities, assessment outcomes, and curricular structures. Consensus was reached on 5 core competencies that represent a knowledge base essential to all graduates of PT programs. In contrast to prior SoP documents, these competencies were specifically designed to focus on knowledge and skills unique to pediatric practice but essential for all graduates of accredited entry-level PT education programs. For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, at http://links.lww.com/PPT/A50.

Energy-aware Thread and Data Management in Heterogeneous Multi-core, Multi-memory Systems

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

Su, Chun-Yi

By 2004, microprocessor design focused on multicore scaling—increasing the number of cores per die in each generation—as the primary strategy for improving performance. These multicore processors typically equip multiple memory subsystems to improve data throughput. In addition, these systems employ heterogeneous processors such as GPUs and heterogeneous memories like non-volatile memory to improve performance, capacity, and energy efficiency. With the increasing volume of hardware resources and system complexity caused by heterogeneity, future systems will require intelligent ways to manage hardware resources. Early research to improve performance and energy efficiency on heterogeneous, multi-core, multi-memory systems focused on tuning a single primitivemore » or at best a few primitives in the systems. The key limitation of past efforts is their lack of a holistic approach to resource management that balances the tradeoff between performance and energy consumption. In addition, the shift from simple, homogeneous systems to these heterogeneous, multicore, multi-memory systems requires in-depth understanding of efficient resource management for scalable execution, including new models that capture the interchange between performance and energy, smarter resource management strategies, and novel low-level performance/energy tuning primitives and runtime systems. Tuning an application to control available resources efficiently has become a daunting challenge; managing resources in automation is still a dark art since the tradeoffs among programming, energy, and performance remain insufficiently understood. In this dissertation, I have developed theories, models, and resource management techniques to enable energy-efficient execution of parallel applications through thread and data management in these heterogeneous multi-core, multi-memory systems. I study the effect of dynamic concurrent throttling on the performance and energy of multi-core, non-uniform memory access (NUMA) systems. I use critical path analysis to quantify memory contention in the NUMA memory system and determine thread mappings. In addition, I implement a runtime system that combines concurrent throttling and a novel thread mapping algorithm to manage thread resources and improve energy efficient execution in multi-core, NUMA systems.« less

Developing pre-service science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge by using training program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Udomkan, Watinee; Suwannoi, Paisan

2018-01-01

A training program was developed for enhancing pre-service science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The pre-service science teachers are able to: understand science curriculum, knowledge of assessment in science, knowledge of students' understanding of science, instructional strategies and orientations towards science teaching, which is conceptualized as PCK [5]. This study examined the preservice science teachers' understandings and their practices which include five pre-service science teachers' PCK. In this study, the participants demonstrated their PCK through the process of the training program by writing content representations (CoRes), preparing the lesson plans, micro-teaching, and actual teaching respectively. All pre-service science teachers' performs were collected by classroom observations. Then, they were interviewed. The results showed that the pre-service science teachers progressively developed knowledge components of PCK. Micro-teaching is the key activities for developing PCK. However, they had some difficulties in their classroom teaching. They required of sufficient ability to design appropriate instructional strategies and assessment activities for teaching. Blending content and pedagogy is also a matter of great concern. The implication of this study was that science educators can enhance pre-service science teachers' PCK by fostering their better understandings of the instructional strategies, assessment activities and blending between content and pedagogy in their classroom.

We Don't Live in a Multiple-Choice World: Inquiry and the Common Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaeger, Paige

2012-01-01

The Common Core raises the bar for states struggling to decide what should be taught or tested. As low-performing schools strive to improve instruction, the blueprint has been defined. The Common Core defines the curriculum in enough detail and specifies ways to teach that content creatively and innovatively, to produce graduates who are problem…

Mapping of a standard documentation template to the ICF core sets for arthritis and low back pain.

PubMed

Escorpizo, Reuben; Davis, Kandace; Stumbo, Teri

2010-12-01

To identify the contents of a documentation template in The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Core Sets for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and low back pain (LBP) as reference. Concepts were identified from items of an outpatient documentation template and mapped to the ICF using established linking rules. The ICF categories that were linked were compared with existing arthritis and LBP Core Sets. Based on the ICF, the template had the highest number (29%) of linked categories under Activities and participation while Body structures had the least (17%). ICF categories in the arthritis and LBP Core Sets had a 37-55% match with the ICF categories found in the template. We found 164 concepts that were not classified or not defined and 37 as personal factors. The arthritis and LBP Core Sets were reflected in the contents of the template. ICF categories in the Core Sets were reflected in the template (demonstrating up to 55% match). Potential integration of ICF in documentation templates could be explored and examined in the future to enhance clinical encounters and multidisciplinary communication. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Schiariti, Verónica; Mahdi, Soheil; Bölte, Sven

2018-05-30

Capturing functional information is crucial in childhood disability. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets promote assessments of functional abilities and disabilities in clinical practice regarding circumscribed diagnoses. However, the specificity of ICF Core Sets for childhood-onset disabilities has been doubted. This study aimed to identify content commonalities and differences among the ICF Core Sets for cerebral palsy (CP), and the newly developed Core Sets for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The categories within each Core Set were aggregated at the ICF component and chapter levels. Content comparison was conducted using descriptive analyses. The activities and participation component of the ICF was the most covered across all Core Sets. Main differences included representation of ICF components and coverage of ICF chapters within each component. CP included all ICF components, while ADHD and ASD predominantly focused on activities and participation. Environmental factors were highly represented in the ADHD Core Sets (40.5%) compared to the ASD (28%) and CP (27%) Core Sets. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for CP, ASD, and ADHD capture both common but also unique functional information, showing the importance of creating condition-specific, ICF-based tools to build functional profiles of individuals with childhood-onset disabilities. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for cerebral palsy (CP), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include unique functional information. The ICF-based tools for CP, ASD, and ADHD differ in terms of representation and coverage of ICF components and ICF chapters. Representation of environmental factors uniquely influences functioning and disability across ICF Core Sets for CP, ASD and ADHD. © 2018 Mac Keith Press.

Correlation between MCAT biology content specifications and topic scope and sequence of general education college biology textbooks.

PubMed

Rissing, Steven W

2013-01-01

Most American colleges and universities offer gateway biology courses to meet the needs of three undergraduate audiences: biology and related science majors, many of whom will become biomedical researchers; premedical students meeting medical school requirements and preparing for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT); and students completing general education (GE) graduation requirements. Biology textbooks for these three audiences present a topic scope and sequence that correlates with the topic scope and importance ratings of the biology content specifications for the MCAT regardless of the intended audience. Texts for "nonmajors," GE courses appear derived directly from their publisher's majors text. Topic scope and sequence of GE texts reflect those of "their" majors text and, indirectly, the MCAT. MCAT term density of GE texts equals or exceeds that of their corresponding majors text. Most American universities require a GE curriculum to promote a core level of academic understanding among their graduates. This includes civic scientific literacy, recognized as an essential competence for the development of public policies in an increasingly scientific and technological world. Deriving GE biology and related science texts from majors texts designed to meet very different learning objectives may defeat the scientific literacy goals of most schools' GE curricula.

Correlation between MCAT Biology Content Specifications and Topic Scope and Sequence of General Education College Biology Textbooks

PubMed Central

Rissing, Steven W.

2013-01-01

Most American colleges and universities offer gateway biology courses to meet the needs of three undergraduate audiences: biology and related science majors, many of whom will become biomedical researchers; premedical students meeting medical school requirements and preparing for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT); and students completing general education (GE) graduation requirements. Biology textbooks for these three audiences present a topic scope and sequence that correlates with the topic scope and importance ratings of the biology content specifications for the MCAT regardless of the intended audience. Texts for “nonmajors,” GE courses appear derived directly from their publisher's majors text. Topic scope and sequence of GE texts reflect those of “their” majors text and, indirectly, the MCAT. MCAT term density of GE texts equals or exceeds that of their corresponding majors text. Most American universities require a GE curriculum to promote a core level of academic understanding among their graduates. This includes civic scientific literacy, recognized as an essential competence for the development of public policies in an increasingly scientific and technological world. Deriving GE biology and related science texts from majors texts designed to meet very different learning objectives may defeat the scientific literacy goals of most schools’ GE curricula. PMID:24006392

Modular reconfigurable matched spectral filter spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schundler, Elizabeth; Engel, James R.; Gruber, Thomas; Vaillancourt, Robert; Benedict-Gill, Ryan; Mansur, David J.; Dixon, John; Potter, Kevin; Newbry, Scott

2015-06-01

OPTRA is currently developing a modular, reconfigurable matched spectral filter (RMSF) spectrometer for the monitoring of greenhouse gases. The heart of this spectrometer will be the RMSF core, which is a dispersive spectrometer that images the sample spectrum from 2000 - 3333 cm-1 onto a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) such that different columns correspond to different wavebands. By applying masks to this DMD, a matched spectral filter can be applied in hardware. The core can then be paired with different fore-optics or detector modules to achieve active in situ or passive remote detection of the chemicals of interest. This results in a highly flexible system that can address a wide variety of chemicals by updating the DMD masks and a wide variety of applications by swapping out fore-optic and detector modules. In either configuration, the signal on the detector is effectively a dot-product between the applied mask and the sample spectrum that can be used to make detection and quantification determinations. Using this approach significantly reduces the required data bandwidth of the sensor without reducing the information content, therefore making it ideal for remote, unattended systems. This paper will focus on the design of the RMSF core.

Consensus statement on an updated core communication curriculum for UK undergraduate medical education.

PubMed

Noble, Lorraine M; Scott-Smith, Wesley; O'Neill, Bernadette; Salisbury, Helen

2018-04-22

Clinical communication is a core component of undergraduate medical training. A consensus statement on the essential elements of the communication curriculum was co-produced in 2008 by the communication leads of UK medical schools. This paper discusses the relational, contextual and technological changes which have affected clinical communication since then and presents an updated curriculum for communication in undergraduate medicine. The consensus was developed through an iterative consultation process with the communication leads who represent their medical schools on the UK Council of Clinical Communication in Undergraduate Medical Education. The updated curriculum defines the underpinning values, core components and skills required within the context of contemporary medical care. It incorporates the evolving relational issues associated with the more prominent role of the patient in the consultation, reflected through legal precedent and changing societal expectations. The impact on clinical communication of the increased focus on patient safety, the professional duty of candour and digital medicine are discussed. Changes in the way medicine is practised should lead rapidly to adjustments to the content of curricula. The updated curriculum provides a model of best practice to help medical schools develop their teaching and argue for resources. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of shell thickness on thermal stability of bimetallic Al-Pd nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, John Z.; Nguyen, Ngoc Ha; Rawlins, John; Petre, Catalin F.; Ringuette, Sophie

2014-07-01

Aluminum-based bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles have shown promising applications in civil and defense industries. This study addresses the thermal stability of aluminum-palladium (Al-Pd) core/shell nanoparticles with a varying shell thickness of 5, 6, and 7 Å, respectively. The classic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed in order to investigate the effects of the shell thickness on the ignition mechanism and subsequent energetic processes of these nanoparticles. The histograms of temperature change and structural evolution clearly show the inhibition role of the Pd shell during ignition. While the nanoparticle with a thicker shell is more thermally stable and hence requires more excess energy, stored as the potential energy of the nanoparticle and provided through numerically heating, to initiate the thermite reaction, a higher adiabatic temperature can be produced from this nanoparticle, thanks to its greater content of Pd. The two-stage thermite reactions are discussed with their activation energy based on the energy balance processes during MD heating and production. Analyses of the simulation results reveal that the inner pressure of the core-shell nanoparticle increases with both temperature and the absorbed thermal energy during heating, which may result in a breakup of the Pd shell.

Autophagic kinases SmVPS34 and SmVPS15 are required for viability in the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora.

PubMed

Voigt, Oliver; Herzog, Britta; Jakobshagen, Antonia; Pöggeler, Stefanie

2014-01-01

Autophagy is a tightly controlled degradation process of all eukaryotes. It includes the sequestration of cytoplasmic contents and organelles within a double-membraned autophagosome. Autophagy involves core autophagy related (atg) genes as well as genes regulating vesicle trafficking. Previously, we analyzed the impact of proteins of the core autophagic machinery SmATG7, SmATG8 and SmATG4 on the sexual and vegetative development of the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. While deletion of Smatg8 and Smatg4 abolished fruiting-body formation and impaired vegetative growth, Smatg7 is required for viability. In yeast, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase vacuolar protein sorting 34 (Vps34) and its myristoylated membrane targeting unit, the protein kinase Vps15 have been shown to be important regulators of autophagy and vacuolar protein sorting. However, their exact role in filamentous ascomycetes remains elusive. To determine the function of Smvps34 and Smvps15 we isolated genes with high sequence similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae VPS34 and VPS15. For both genes we were not able to generate a homokaryotic knockout mutant in S. macrospora, suggesting that Smvps34 and Smvps15 are required for viability. Furthermore, we analyzed the repertoire of vps genes encoded by S. macrospora and could identify putative homologs of nearly all of the 61 VPS genes of S. cerevisiae. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Promoting Pedagogical Content Knowledge Development for Early Career Secondary Teachers in Science and Technology Using Content Representations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, John; Eames, Chris; Hume, Anne; Lockley, John

2012-01-01

Background: This research addressed the key area of early career teacher education and aimed to explore the use of a "content representation" (CoRe) as a mediational tool to develop early career secondary teacher pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). This study was situated in the subject areas of science and technology, where sound…

Prediction of protein secondary structure content for the twilight zone sequences.

PubMed

Homaeian, Leila; Kurgan, Lukasz A; Ruan, Jishou; Cios, Krzysztof J; Chen, Ke

2007-11-15

Secondary protein structure carries information about local structural arrangements, which include three major conformations: alpha-helices, beta-strands, and coils. Significant majority of successful methods for prediction of the secondary structure is based on multiple sequence alignment. However, multiple alignment fails to provide accurate results when a sequence comes from the twilight zone, that is, it is characterized by low (<30%) homology. To this end, we propose a novel method for prediction of secondary structure content through comprehensive sequence representation, called PSSC-core. The method uses a multiple linear regression model and introduces a comprehensive feature-based sequence representation to predict amount of helices and strands for sequences from the twilight zone. The PSSC-core method was tested and compared with two other state-of-the-art prediction methods on a set of 2187 twilight zone sequences. The results indicate that our method provides better predictions for both helix and strand content. The PSSC-core is shown to provide statistically significantly better results when compared with the competing methods, reducing the prediction error by 5-7% for helix and 7-9% for strand content predictions. The proposed feature-based sequence representation uses a comprehensive set of physicochemical properties that are custom-designed for each of the helix and strand content predictions. It includes composition and composition moment vectors, frequency of tetra-peptides associated with helical and strand conformations, various property-based groups like exchange groups, chemical groups of the side chains and hydrophobic group, auto-correlations based on hydrophobicity, side-chain masses, hydropathy, and conformational patterns for beta-sheets. The PSSC-core method provides an alternative for predicting the secondary structure content that can be used to validate and constrain results of other structure prediction methods. At the same time, it also provides useful insight into design of successful protein sequence representations that can be used in developing new methods related to prediction of different aspects of the secondary protein structure. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The development of a core syllabus for the teaching of head and neck anatomy to medical students.

PubMed

Tubbs, R Shane; Sorenson, Edward P; Sharma, Amit; Benninger, Brion; Norton, Neil; Loukas, Marios; Moxham, Bernard J

2014-04-01

The study of human anatomy has traditionally served as a fundamental component in the basic science education of medical students, yet there exists a remarkable lack of firm guidance on essential features that must be included in a gross anatomy course, which would constitute a "Core Syllabus" of absolutely mandatory structures and related clinical pathologies. While universal agreement on the details of a core syllabus is elusive, there is a general consensus that a core syllabus aims to identify the minimum level of knowledge expected of recently qualified medical graduates in order to carry out clinical procedures safely and effectively, while avoiding overloading students with unnecessary facts that have less immediate application to their future careers as clinicians. This paper aims to identify consensus standards of essential features of Head and Neck anatomy via a Delphi Panel consisting of anatomists and clinicians who evaluated syllabus content structures (greater than 1,000) as "essential", "important", "acceptable", or "not required." The goal is to provide guidance for program/course directors who intend to provide the optimal balance between establishing a comprehensive list of clinically relevant essential structures and an overwhelming litany, which would otherwise overburden trainees in their initial years of medical school with superficial rote learning, which potentially dilutes the key and enduring fundamental lessons that prepare students for training in any medical field. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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

Howe, Adina; Yang, Fan; Williams, Ryan J.

Despite the central role of soil microbial communities in global carbon (C) cycling, little is known about soil microbial community structure and even less about their metabolic pathways. Efforts to characterize soil communities often focus on identifying differences in gene content across environmental gradients, but an alternative question is what genes are similar in soils. These genes may indicate critical species or potential functions that are required in all soils. Here we identified the “core” set of C cycling sequences widely present in multiple soil metagenomes from a fertilized prairie (FP). Of 226,887 sequences associated with known enzymes involved inmore » the synthesis, metabolism, and transport of carbohydrates, 843 were identified to be consistently prevalent across four replicate soil metagenomes. This core metagenome was functionally and taxonomically diverse, representing five enzyme classes and 99 enzyme families within the CAZy database. Though it only comprised 0.4% of all CAZy-associated genes identified in FP metagenomes, the core was found to be comprised of functions similar to those within cumulative soils. The FP CAZy-associated core sequences were present in multiple publicly available soil metagenomes and most similar to soils sharing geographic proximity. As a result, in soil ecosystems, where high diversity remains a key challenge for metagenomic investigations, these core genes represent a subset of critical functions necessary for carbohydrate metabolism, which can be targeted to evaluate important C fluxes in these and other similar soils.« less

Late Holocene carbon and nitrogen input into the Java Sea recorded in sediment cores off rivers from Java and Kalimantan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herbeck, Lucia; Kwiatkowski, Cornelia; Mohtadi, Mahyar; Jennerjahn, Tim

2014-05-01

Beginning a few thousand years ago, global climate and environmental change have become more and more affected by human activities. Hence, quantifying the 'human component' becomes increasingly important in order to predict future developments. Indonesia and the surrounding oceans are key in this respect, because it is in the region (i) that receives the highest inputs of water, sediment and associated dissolved and particulate substances and (ii) that suffers from anthropogenically modified landscapes and coastal zones. As opposing the global trend, land-based human activities have increased the sediment input into the ocean from Indonesia since pre-human times. Nevertheless, there are strong gradients in land use/cover and resulting river fluxes within Indonesia as, for example, between Java and Kalimantan. Major goal of this study is to identify the contribution of human activities in river catchments (i.e. land use/cover change, hydrological alterations) to gradients in carbon and nitrogen deposition in sediments of the Java Sea between densely populated Java and sparsely populated Kalimantan during the Late Holocene. We hypothesized that the riverine input of C and N increased during the late Holocene and increased more off Java than off Kalimantan. Sediment cores (80 to 130 cm long) off major river mouths from Java (2 cores off Bengawan Solo) and Kalimantan (1 core off Pembuang, 1 core off Jelai) were dated and analysed for Corg, Ntot, carbonate and stable isotope composition (δ13Corg, δ15N) in 3 cm intervals. Sedimentation rates off the Kalimantan rivers with 0.05-0.11 cm yr-1 were higher than off the Bengawan Solo, the largest river catchment on Java (<0.04 cm yr-1). Ntot contents in all sediment cores were low with ~0.07% and varied little over time. A higher Corg content, molar C/N ratio and variability over the past 5000 years in all parameters in the core closer to the river mouth off the Bengawan Solo than the one further offshore indicates that terrestrial input into the Java Sea was limited to approx. 15 km off the river mouth. Both cores off Kalimantan and the core off Java close to the Bengawan Solo had similar Corg contents (~0.8%) and molar C/N-ratios (11-19). δ13Corg of -24‰ and low carbonate contents (~7%) indicate an even higher contribution of terrigenous organic matter off the Kalimantan rivers than off the Bengawan Solo, where δ13Corg of -22‰ and CaCO3 contents of ~17% rather point to marine phytoplankton as major organic matter source. Our preliminary results indicate a higher input of terrigenous organic matter from Kalimantan than from Java and show little evidence for anthropogenic impact on organic matter inputs into the Java Sea during the late Holocene.

Properties of experimental copper-aluminium-nickel alloys for dental post-and-core applications.

PubMed

Rittapai, Apiwat; Urapepon, Somchai; Kajornchaiyakul, Julathep; Harniratisai, Choltacha

2014-06-01

This study aimed to develop a copper-aluminium-nickel alloy which has properties comparable to that of dental alloys used for dental post and core applications with the reasonable cost. Sixteen groups of experimental copper alloys with variants of 3, 6, 9, 12 wt% Al and 0, 2, 4, 6 wt% Ni were prepared and casted. Their properties were tested and evaluated. The data of thermal, physical, and mechanical properties were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). The alloy toxicity was evaluated according to the ISO standard. The solidus and liquidus points of experimental alloys ranged from 1023℃ to 1113℃ and increased as the nickel content increased. The highest ultimate tensile strength (595.9 ± 14.2 MPa) was shown in the Cu-12Al-4Ni alloy. The tensile strength was increased as the both elements increased. Alloys with 3-6 wt% Al exhibited a small amount of 0.2% proof strength. Accordingly, the Cu-9Al-2Ni and Cu-9Al-4Ni alloys not only demonstrated an appropriate modulus of elasticity (113.9 ± 8.0 and 122.8 ± 11.3 GPa, respectively), but also had a value of 0.2% proof strength (190.8 ± 4.8 and 198.2 ± 3.4 MPa, respectively), which complied with the ISO standard requirement (>180 MPa). Alloys with the highest contents of nickel (6 wt% Ni) revealed a widespread decolourisation zone (5.0-5.9 mm), which correspondingly produced the largest cell response, equating positive control. The copper alloys fused with 9 wt% Al and 2-4 wt% Ni can be considered for a potential use as dental post and core applications.

The evaluation of kefir pure culture starter: Liquid-core capsule entrapping microorganisms isolated from kefir grains.

PubMed

Wang, Liang; Zhong, Hao; Liu, Keying; Guo, Aizhen; Qi, Xianghui; Cai, Meihong

2016-10-01

The main purpose of this study was to develop a pure culture starter for producing kefir. In order to accomplish starter recycling, yeasts (Kluyveromyces marxianus strain, Pichia kudriavzevii clone), lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus kefiri strain F4Aa, Lactobacillus kefiri strain NM131-7, Lactobacillus kefiri strain NM132-3, Lactobacillus kefiri strain NM180-3, respectively), and acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter lovaniensis strain) were entrapped in liquid core capsules based on the distribution ratio in kefir grains. The microbiological, antimicrobial, and chemical properties of kefir made with capsules (M) and kefir grains (K) were measured and compared. According to the results of plate counts in different selective medium, the number of yeasts and bacteria in the liquid core capsules gradually increased and stabilized after eight fermentation cycles. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that almost all the aroma components existed in the two type of kefir, except the ethyl lactate. There was no significant difference in alcohol content, protein content, and fat content, except the acidity and sugar content. Water holding capacity of kefir K was higher than kefir M. There were 14 same free amino acids in kefir M and kefir K, and the content of most free amino acids was similar. In antimicrobial test, there was no significant difference in both kefirs. © The Author(s) 2016.

Use of processed resistivity borehole imaging to assess the insoluble content of the massively bedded Preesall Halite NW England

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kingdon, Andrew; Evans, David J.

2013-04-01

With the decline of the UK's remaining conventional reserves of natural gas and associated growth of imports, the lack of adequate storage capacity is a matter of concern for ensuring energy security year-round. In a number of countries, subsurface caverns for gas storage have been created by solution mining of massive halite deposits and similar storage facilities are likely to become an important part of the UK's energy infrastructure. Crucial to the economic viability of such facilities is the percentage of insoluble material within the halite intervals, which influences strongly the relationship between cavern sump and working volumes: successful development of these caverns is dependent upon maximising the efficiency of cavern design and construction. The purity of a massive halite sequence can only be assessed either by direct means (i.e. coring) or indirectly by downhole geophysical logs The use of conventional geophysical logs in subsurface exploration is well established but literature generally relies on a very low resolution tools with a typical vertical logging sample interval of 15 centimetres. This means that such tools provide, at best, a "blurred" view of the sedimentary successions penetrated by the borehole and that discrete narrow bands of insoluble material will not be identifiable or distinguishable from zones of "dirtier" halite with disseminated mud materials. In 2008, Halite-Energy Group (formerly Canatxx Gas Storage Ltd) drilled the Burrows Marsh #1 borehole and acquired resistivity borehole imaging (FMI) logs through the Triassic Preesall Halite in the Preesall Saltfield, NW England. In addition to near full circumferal imaging capability, rather than a single measurement per increment, FMI logs allows millimetre to centimetre scale imaging of sedimentary features, that is one to two orders of magnitude higher vertical resolution. After binary segmentation of the FMI images to achieve a simple halite-insoluble ("mud") separation these were subject to a filtering process to develop a detailed understanding of the halite sequence's insoluble content. The results were then calibrated, post-normalisation, by new laboratory determinations of the insoluble content of laterally equivalent samples of core from the nearby Arm Hill #1 borehole. The FMI logs provide a greater degree of resolution when compared to conventional geophysical logs. With the statistical analysis provided by this process, it further enhances the correlation between the logs and core and ultimately, the assessment of insoluble content. Despite the obvious increase in resolution, precise statistical quantification of the success of the borehole imaging technique is somewhat obfuscated by the absence of both FMI logs and continuous core in a single borehole. The acquisition parameters for these images are at the limits for the tools and therefore more noisy than those acquired in other lithologies or logging environments. The optimum acquisition parameters (in particular gain settings and logging speed), the nature of the filtering required to quantify the insoluble content and the effects of image noise on those calculations are discussed.

Common Core English and Language Arts K-1 Exemplar Text Set: A Critical Content Analysis of Cultural Representations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCaffrey, Megan

2014-01-01

With the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in over forty states, teachers are putting into practice the CCSS text exemplars of text complexity. Of particular concern for the purpose of this research are the kindergarten and first grade (K-1) read aloud and independent text exemplar lists. While not intended as core reading…

Stars By Which to Navigate? Scanning National and International Education Standards in 2009. An Interim Report on Common Core, NAEP, TIMSS and PISA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmichael, Sheila Byrd; Wilson, W. Stephen; Finn, Chester E., Jr.; Winkler, Amber M.; Palmieri, Stafford

2009-01-01

Subject-matter experts reviewed the content, rigor, and clarity of the first public drafts of the "Common Core" standards released in September 2009 by the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) of the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. Using the same criteria, the same experts also…

Content Analysis of Major Textbooks and Online Resources Used in Responsible Conduct of Research Instruction

PubMed Central

Kon, Alexander A.; Schilling, Debie A.; Heitman, Elizabeth; Steneck, Nicholas H.; DuBois, James M.

2011-01-01

Instruction in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) is required for all trainees funded by the National Institues of Health (NIH) or National Science Foundation (NSF). A recent Delphi study identified 53 key topics in 7 core areas that RCR education experts felt should be included in this instruction, which is required of many trainees in clinical and translational research. We performed a content analysis of major textbooks and online resources used in RCR instruction to determine the extent to which the 53 key topics identified in the Delphi study are covered by these resources. Textbooks and online resources used in RCR education at Clinical and Translational Science Award institutions were identified via survey. These resources were subjected to a content analysis. The 53 key topics identified in the Delphi study formed the basis of these analyses. We identified 10 textbooks and 1 online resource currently in use. Of the 53 key topics, only 4 were included in all 11 resources, and another 12 were included in 10. Twenty-three topics were covered in fewer than 65% of the resources, and two topics were absent from nearly all. Educators in clinical and translational research should be aware of key topics that are not covered in the RCR textbooks and online resources they may use and should consider augmenting discussion of such topics with other materials. PMID:21766046

Composite Cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

Spang & Company's new configuration of converter transformer cores is a composite of gapped and ungapped cores assembled together in concentric relationship. The net effect of the composite design is to combine the protection from saturation offered by the gapped core with the lower magnetizing requirement of the ungapped core. The uncut core functions under normal operating conditions and the cut core takes over during abnormal operation to prevent power surges and their potentially destructive effect on transistors. Principal customers are aerospace and defense manufacturers. Cores also have applicability in commercial products where precise power regulation is required, as in the power supplies for large mainframe computers.

Single-fabrication-step Ge nanosphere/SiO2/SiGe heterostructures: a key enabler for realizing Ge MOS devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, P. H.; Peng, K. P.; Lin, H. C.; George, T.; Li, P. W.

2018-05-01

We report channel and strain engineering of self-organized, gate-stacking heterostructures comprising Ge-nanosphere gate/SiO2/SiGe-channels. An exquisitely-controlled dynamic balance between the concentrations of oxygen, Si, and Ge interstitials was effectively exploited to simultaneously create these heterostructures in a single oxidation step. Process-controlled tunability of the channel length (5–95 nm diameters for the Ge-nanospheres), gate oxide thickness (2.5–4.8 nm), as well as crystal orientation, chemical composition and strain engineering of the SiGe-channel was achieved. Single-crystalline (100) Si1‑x Ge x shells with Ge content as high as x = 0.85 and with a compressive strain of 3%, as well as (110) Si1‑x Ge x shells with Ge content of x = 0.35 and corresponding compressive strain of 1.5% were achieved. For each crystal orientation, our high Ge-content, highly-stressed SiGe shells feature a high degree of crystallinity and thus, provide a core ‘building block’ required for the fabrication of Ge-based MOS devices.

Single-fabrication-step Ge nanosphere/SiO2/SiGe heterostructures: a key enabler for realizing Ge MOS devices.

PubMed

Liao, P H; Peng, K P; Lin, H C; George, T; Li, P W

2018-05-18

We report channel and strain engineering of self-organized, gate-stacking heterostructures comprising Ge-nanosphere gate/SiO 2 /SiGe-channels. An exquisitely-controlled dynamic balance between the concentrations of oxygen, Si, and Ge interstitials was effectively exploited to simultaneously create these heterostructures in a single oxidation step. Process-controlled tunability of the channel length (5-95 nm diameters for the Ge-nanospheres), gate oxide thickness (2.5-4.8 nm), as well as crystal orientation, chemical composition and strain engineering of the SiGe-channel was achieved. Single-crystalline (100) Si 1-x Ge x shells with Ge content as high as x = 0.85 and with a compressive strain of 3%, as well as (110) Si 1-x Ge x shells with Ge content of x = 0.35 and corresponding compressive strain of 1.5% were achieved. For each crystal orientation, our high Ge-content, highly-stressed SiGe shells feature a high degree of crystallinity and thus, provide a core 'building block' required for the fabrication of Ge-based MOS devices.

Not another boring lecture: engaging learners with active learning techniques.

PubMed

Wolff, Margaret; Wagner, Mary Jo; Poznanski, Stacey; Schiller, Jocelyn; Santen, Sally

2015-01-01

Core content in Emergency Medicine Residency Programs is traditionally covered in didactic sessions, despite evidence suggesting that learners do not retain a significant portion of what is taught during lectures. We describe techniques that medical educators can use when leading teaching sessions to foster engagement and encourage self-directed learning, based on current literature and evidence about learning. When these techniques are incorporated, sessions can be effective in delivering core knowledge, contextualizing content, and explaining difficult concepts, leading to increased learning. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Core Professionalism Education in Surgery: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Sarıoğlu Büke, Akile; Karabilgin Öztürkçü, Özlem Sürel; Yılmaz, Yusuf; Sayek, İskender

2018-03-15

Professionalism education is one of the major elements of surgical residency education. To evaluate the studies on core professionalism education programs in surgical professionalism education. Systematic review. This systematic literature review was performed to analyze core professionalism programs for surgical residency education published in English with at least three of the following features: program developmental model/instructional design method, aims and competencies, methods of teaching, methods of assessment, and program evaluation model or method. A total of 27083 articles were retrieved using EBSCOHOST, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and manual search. Eight articles met the selection criteria. The instructional design method was presented in only one article, which described the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation model. Six articles were based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education criterion, although there was significant variability in content. The most common teaching method was role modeling with scenario- and case-based learning. A wide range of assessment methods for evaluating professionalism education were reported. The Kirkpatrick model was reported in one article as a method for program evaluation. It is suggested that for a core surgical professionalism education program, developmental/instructional design model, aims and competencies, content, teaching methods, assessment methods, and program evaluation methods/models should be well defined, and the content should be comparable.

Multistage Core Formation in Planetesimals Revealed by Numerical Modeling and Hf-W Chronometry of Iron Meteorites

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

Neumann, W.; Kruijer, T. S.; Breuer, D.

Iron meteorites provide some of the most direct insights into the processes and timescales of core formation in planetesimals. Of these, group IVB irons stand out by having one of the youngest 182Hf- 182W model ages for metal segregation (2.9 ± 0.6 Ma after solar system formation), as well as the lowest bulk sulfur content and hence highest liquidus temperature. Here in this paper, using a new model for the internal evolution of the IVB parent body, we show that a single stage of metal-silicate separation cannot account for the complete melting of pure Fe metal at the relatively latemore » time given by the Hf-W model age. Instead, a complex metal-silicate separation scenario is required that includes migration of partial silicate melts, formation of a shallow magma ocean, and core formation in two distinct stages of metal segregation. In the first stage, a protocore formed at ≈1.5 Ma via settling of metal particles in a mantle magma ocean, followed by metal segregation from a shallow magma ocean at ≈5.4 Ma. As these stages of metal segregation occurred at different times, the two metal fractions had different 182W compositions. Consequently, the final 182W composition of the IVB core does not correspond to a single differentiation event, but represents the average composition of early- and late-segregated core fractions. Our best fit model indicates an ≈100 km radius for the IVB parent body and provides an accretion age of ≈0.1–0.5 Ma after solar system formation. The computed solidification time is, furthermore, consistent with the Re-Os age for crystallization of the IVB core.« less

Multistage Core Formation in Planetesimals Revealed by Numerical Modeling and Hf-W Chronometry of Iron Meteorites

DOE PAGES

Neumann, W.; Kruijer, T. S.; Breuer, D.; ...

2018-02-01

Iron meteorites provide some of the most direct insights into the processes and timescales of core formation in planetesimals. Of these, group IVB irons stand out by having one of the youngest 182Hf- 182W model ages for metal segregation (2.9 ± 0.6 Ma after solar system formation), as well as the lowest bulk sulfur content and hence highest liquidus temperature. Here in this paper, using a new model for the internal evolution of the IVB parent body, we show that a single stage of metal-silicate separation cannot account for the complete melting of pure Fe metal at the relatively latemore » time given by the Hf-W model age. Instead, a complex metal-silicate separation scenario is required that includes migration of partial silicate melts, formation of a shallow magma ocean, and core formation in two distinct stages of metal segregation. In the first stage, a protocore formed at ≈1.5 Ma via settling of metal particles in a mantle magma ocean, followed by metal segregation from a shallow magma ocean at ≈5.4 Ma. As these stages of metal segregation occurred at different times, the two metal fractions had different 182W compositions. Consequently, the final 182W composition of the IVB core does not correspond to a single differentiation event, but represents the average composition of early- and late-segregated core fractions. Our best fit model indicates an ≈100 km radius for the IVB parent body and provides an accretion age of ≈0.1–0.5 Ma after solar system formation. The computed solidification time is, furthermore, consistent with the Re-Os age for crystallization of the IVB core.« less

Multistage Core Formation in Planetesimals Revealed by Numerical Modeling and Hf-W Chronometry of Iron Meteorites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neumann, W.; Kruijer, T. S.; Breuer, D.; Kleine, T.

2018-02-01

Iron meteorites provide some of the most direct insights into the processes and timescales of core formation in planetesimals. Of these, group IVB irons stand out by having one of the youngest 182Hf-182W model ages for metal segregation (2.9 ± 0.6 Ma after solar system formation), as well as the lowest bulk sulfur content and hence highest liquidus temperature. Here, using a new model for the internal evolution of the IVB parent body, we show that a single stage of metal-silicate separation cannot account for the complete melting of pure Fe metal at the relatively late time given by the Hf-W model age. Instead, a complex metal-silicate separation scenario is required that includes migration of partial silicate melts, formation of a shallow magma ocean, and core formation in two distinct stages of metal segregation. In the first stage, a protocore formed at ≈1.5 Ma via settling of metal particles in a mantle magma ocean, followed by metal segregation from a shallow magma ocean at ≈5.4 Ma. As these stages of metal segregation occurred at different times, the two metal fractions had different 182W compositions. Consequently, the final 182W composition of the IVB core does not correspond to a single differentiation event, but represents the average composition of early- and late-segregated core fractions. Our best fit model indicates an ≈100 km radius for the IVB parent body and provides an accretion age of ≈0.1-0.5 Ma after solar system formation. The computed solidification time is, furthermore, consistent with the Re-Os age for crystallization of the IVB core.

Short communication: Little change takes place in Camembert-type cheese water activities throughout ripening in terms of relative humidity and salt.

PubMed

Leclercq-Perlat, M-N; Hélias, A; Corrieu, G

2013-01-01

Water activity (a(w)) affects the growth and activity of ripening microorganisms. Moreover, it is generally accepted that a(w) depends on relative humidity (RH) and salt content; these 3 variables were usually measured on a given day in a cheese without the microorganism layer and without accounting for a distinction between the rind, the underrind, and the core. However, a(w) dynamics have never been thoroughly studied throughout cheese ripening. Experimental Camembert cheeses were ripened under controlled and aseptic conditions (temperature, gaseous atmosphere, and RH) for 14 d. In this study, only RH was varied. Samples were taken from the cheese (microorganism layer)-air interface, the rind, and the core. The aw of the cheese-air interface did not change over ripening when RH varied between 91 and 92% or between 97 and 98%. However, on d 5, we observed a small but significant increase in a(w), which coincided with the beginning of growth of Penicillium camemberti mycelia. After d 3, no significant differences were found between the a(w) of the cheese-air interface, the rind, and the core. From d 0 to 3, cheese rind a(w) increased from 0.94 to 0.97, which was probably due to the diffusion of salt from the rind to the core: NaCl content in the rind decreased from 3.7 to 1.6% and NaCl content in the core increased from 0.0 to 1.6%. Nevertheless, aw did not significantly vary in the core, raising questions about the real effect of salt on a(w).

Effect of an educational intervention on nursing staff knowledge, confidence, and practice in the care of children with mild traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Cook, Rebecca S; Gillespie, Gordon L; Kronk, Rebecca; Daugherty, Margot C; Moody, Suzanne M; Allen, Lesley J; Shebesta, Kaaren B; Falcone, Richard A

2013-04-01

Nurses are key providers in the care of children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). New treatment recommendations emphasize symptom assessment and brain rest guidelines to optimize recovery. This study compared pediatric trauma core nurses' knowledge, degree of confidence, and perceived change in practice following mTBI education. Twenty-eight trauma core nurses were invited to participate in this voluntary quasiexperimental, one-group pretest-posttest study. Multiple choice questions were developed to assess knowledge, and self-report Likert scale statements were used to evaluate confidence and change in practice. Baseline data of 25 trauma core nurses were assessed and then reassessed 1 month postintervention. Paired samples analysis showed significant improvement in knowledge (mean pretest: 33.6% vs. mean posttest score: 79.2%; 95% CI [35.6, 55.6]; t = 9.368; p < .001). All but two test questions yielded a significant increase in the number of participants with correct responses. Preintervention confidence was low (0-32% per question) and significantly increased postintervention (26%-84% per question). Despite increased administration of the symptom assessment and identification of interventions for symptom resolution posteducation (χ(2)6.125, p = .001), these scores remained low. Findings demonstrate that educational intervention effectively increased trauma core nurses' knowledge and confidence in applying content into practice. Postintervention scores did not uniformly increase, and not all trauma core nurses consistently transferred content into practice. Further research is recommended to evaluate which teaching method and curriculum content are most effective to educate trauma core nurses and registered nurses caring for patients with mTBI and to identify barriers to incorporating this knowledge in practice.

Metal-silicate partitioning and the light element in the core (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, B. J.; Wade, J.; Tuff, J.

2009-12-01

Most attempts to constrain the concentrations of “light” elements in the Earth’s core rely either on cosmochemical arguments or on arguments based on the densities and equations of state of Fe-alloys containing the element of concern. Despite its utility, the latter approach yields a wide range of permissible compositions and hence weak constraints. The major problem with the cosmochemical approach is that the abundances in the bulk Earth of all the candidate “light” elements- H, C, O, Si and S are highly uncertain because of their volatile behavior during planetary accretion. In contrast, refractory elements appear to be in approximately CI chondritic relative abundances in the Earth. This leads to the potential for using the partitioning of refractory siderophile elements between the mantle and core to constrain the concentrations of light elements in the core. Recent experimental metal-silicate partitioning data, coupled with mantle abundances of refractory siderophile elements (e.g. Wade and Wood, EPSL v.236, 78—95,2005; Kegler et. al. EPSL v.268, 28-40,2008) have shown that the core segregated from the mantle under high pressure conditions (~40 GPa). If a wide range of elements, from very siderophile, (e.g. Mo) through moderately (Ni, Co, W) to weakly siderophile (V, Cr, Nb, Si) are considered, the Earth also appears to have become more oxidized during accretion. Metal-silicate partitioning of some elements is also sensitive to the light element content of the metal. For example, Nb and W partitioning depend strongly on carbon, Mo on silicon and Cr on sulfur. Given the measured mantle abundances of the refractory elements, these observations enable the Si and C contents of the core to be constrained at ~5% and <2% respectively while partitioning is consistent with a cosmochemically-estimated S content of ~2%.

Hydroponics: Content and Rationale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ernst, Jeremy V.; Busby, Joe R.

2009-01-01

Technology education has the means of becoming the catalyst for integrated content and curricula, especially in core academic areas, such as science and mathematics, where it has been found difficult to incorporate other subject matter. Technology is diverse enough in nature that it can be addressed by a variety of content areas, serving as a true…

Using Content Acquisition Podcasts to Deliver Core Content to Preservice Teacher Candidates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Michael J.; Kellems, Ryan O.; Thomas, Cathy Newman; Newton, Jennifer R.

2015-01-01

Teacher educators are always looking for instructional strategies that are easy to create and use but are powerful for promoting learning among preservice teacher candidates. Content acquisition podcasts (CAPs) is an example of an instructional strategy that embeds evidence-based instructional design principles to package and deliver critical…

Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners, Second Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanTassel-Baska, Joyce, Ed.; Little, Catherine A., Ed.

2011-01-01

The newly updated "Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners" provides a solid introduction to curriculum development in gifted and talented education. Written by experts in the field of gifted education, this text uses cutting-edge design techniques and aligns the core content with national and state standards. In addition to a revision…

Drilling into Magma: Experiences at Kīlauea Iki Lava Lake, Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helz, R. L.

2017-12-01

Several historic lava lakes (1959 Kīlauea Iki, 1963 Alae, and 1965 Makaopuhi) were drilled in the 20th century, and molten core recovered from them. Kīlauea Iki lava lake, the most extensively studied, was drilled in 1960-62, 1967, 1965, 1976, 1979, 1981 and 1988. A total of 1400 m feet of core was recovered, about 210 m of which was partially molten. The melt fraction varied from near zero to 40-45% by volume, with higher fractions in glassy ooze from below the crust/melt interface. Most of the 1960-1979 drill holes terminated in pre-existing melt-rich internal differentiates; the later (1981, 1988) drill holes were mostly stopped arbitrarily. When melt was reached and the string backed off to wireline the last interval of core, black glassy ooze immediately moved up the borehole. Repeated re-entry and ooze recovery never exhausted the melt-rich sources. The first deep hole that did not hit melt was KI79-1, which was stopped at 62.2 m after recovering 12 m of molten mush. Here the uncased drill hole backfilled not with black glassy ooze but with olivine-rich, partly crystalline mush. The first redrilled core (recovered between 50.8 and 53.9 m), which moved up over a period of 16 days after termination of the original hole, underwent extensive separation of melt from crystals as it flowed upward. After this interval was pulled, drilling resumed with the bottom of the hole at 52.9 m, and uniform olivine-rich mush was recovered from 52.9-54.25 m. Drilling resumed once more at 52.9 m and a further 3 m of ooze recovered. The bit reached a depth of 55.4 m when the core barrel was full, suggesting that the crystal-rich mush was rising into the core barrel spontaneously during drilling. The three cores recovered in reentering KI79-1 show the effect of unloading the confining pressure on mush layers, with melt moving toward the low-pressure area (the bottom of the hole) relative to crystals. All of the crystal-rich mushes are more melt-rich than the original core, with elevated TiO2, K2O and P2O5 levels at the same bulk MgO content. Grain-to-grain contacts were progressively eroded in the melt-inflated mushes, so that the mushes had no internal cohesion. Although their melt contents never reached 50% by volume, they were extremely mobile, rising into the drill hole in minutes rather than the days required for the initial backfilling of the hole.

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

Tiegs, T.N.

TiC-Ni{sub 3}Al cermets are under development for application in diesel engines because of desirable physical properties and wear resistance. Powder compacts with binder contents from 30-50 vol. % were fabricated by pressureless sintering under vacuum followed by low gas pressure isostatic pressing. Increasing the Ni{sub 3}Al content improved densification when using prealloyed powders as expected. However, when the Ni{sub 3}Al was formed by in-situ reaction synthesis of Ni and NiAl, densification decreased with higher binder contents. The final microstructure consisted of a ''core-rim'' structure with TiC cores surrounded by (Ti,W)C rims. In some cases, Ni and Al were also observedmore » in the peripheral region of the rim structure. Grain sizes of the TiC increased with binder content and temperature. Preferred orientation of the Ni{sub 3}Al binder phase was observed due to very large grain sizes on the order of millimeters.« less

Count every newborn; a measurement improvement roadmap for coverage data

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Background The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), launched in 2014, aims to end preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths, with national targets of ≤12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births and ≤12 stillbirths per 1000 total births by 2030. This requires ambitious improvement of the data on care at birth and of small and sick newborns, particularly to track coverage, quality and equity. Methods In a multistage process, a matrix of 70 indicators were assessed by the Every Newborn steering group. Indicators were graded based on their availability and importance to ENAP, resulting in 10 core and 10 additional indicators. A consultation process was undertaken to assess the status of each ENAP core indicator definition, data availability and measurement feasibility. Coverage indicators for the specific ENAP treatment interventions were assigned task teams and given priority as they were identified as requiring the most technical work. Consultations were held throughout. Results ENAP published 10 core indicators plus 10 additional indicators. Three core impact indicators (neonatal mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, stillbirth rate) are well defined, with future efforts needed to focus on improving data quantity and quality. Three core indicators on coverage of care for all mothers and newborns (intrapartum/skilled birth attendance, early postnatal care, essential newborn care) have defined contact points, but gaps exist in measuring content and quality of the interventions. Four core (antenatal corticosteroids, neonatal resuscitation, treatment of serious neonatal infections, kangaroo mother care) and one additional coverage indicator for newborns at risk or with complications (chlorhexidine cord cleansing) lack indicator definitions or data, especially for denominators (population in need). To address these gaps, feasible coverage indicator definitions are presented for validity testing. Measurable process indicators to help monitor health service readiness are also presented. A major measurement gap exists to monitor care of small and sick babies, yet signal functions could be tracked similarly to emergency obstetric care. Conclusions The ENAP Measurement Improvement Roadmap (2015-2020) outlines tools to be developed (e.g., improved birth and death registration, audit, and minimum perinatal dataset) and actions to test, validate and institutionalise proposed coverage indicators. The roadmap presents a unique opportunity to strengthen routine health information systems, crosslinking these data with civil registration and vital statistics and population-based surveys. Real measurement change requires intentional transfer of leadership to countries with the greatest disease burden and will be achieved by working with centres of excellence and existing networks. PMID:26391444

A new method for teaching physical examination to junior medical students.

PubMed

Sayma, Meelad; Williams, Hywel Rhys

2016-01-01

Teaching effective physical examination is a key component in the education of medical students. Preclinical medical students often have insufficient clinical knowledge to apply to physical examination recall, which may hinder their learning when taught through certain understanding-based models. This pilot project aimed to develop a method to teach physical examination to preclinical medical students using "core clinical cases", overcoming the need for "rote" learning. This project was developed utilizing three cycles of planning, action, and reflection. Thematic analysis of feedback was used to improve this model, and ensure it met student expectations. A model core clinical case developed in this project is described, with gout as the basis for a "foot and ankle" examination. Key limitations and difficulties encountered on implementation of this pilot are discussed for future users, including the difficulty encountered in "content overload". This approach aims to teach junior medical students physical examination through understanding, using a simulated patient environment. Robust research is now required to demonstrate efficacy and repeatability in the physical examination of other systems.

Laboratory and field evaluation of hot mix asphalt with high contents of reclaimed asphalt pavement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Winkle, Clinton Isaac

Currently in Iowa, the amount of RAP materials allowed for the surface layer is limited to 15% by weight. The objective of this project was to develop quality standards for inclusion of RAP content higher than 15% in asphalt mixtures. To meet Superpave mix design requirements, it was necessary to fractionate the RAP materials. Based on the extensive sieve-by-sieve analysis of RAP materials, the optimum sieve size to fractionate RAP materials was identified. To determine if the higher percentage of RAP materials than 15% can be used in Iowa's state highway, three test sections with 30.0%, 35.5% and 39.2% of RAP materials were constructed on Highway 6 in Iowa City. The construction of the field test sections was monitored and the cores were obtained to measure field densities of test sections. Field mixtures collected from test sections were compacted in the laboratory in order to test the moisture sensitivity using a Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device. The binder was extracted from the field mixtures with varying amounts of RAP materials and tested to determine the effects of RAP materials on the PG grade of a virgin binder. Field cores were taken from the various mix designs to determine the percent density of each test section. A condition survey of the test sections was then performed to evaluate the short-term performance.

The core content of the undergraduate curriculum in Manchester.

PubMed

O'Neill, P A; Metcalfe, D; David, T J

1999-02-01

To identify the core content for the new undergraduate medical curriculum in Manchester. The initial step was to produce a list of 'index clinical situations' (ICSs), for which a newly graduated doctor must have a required level of competence. Using repeated consultation with consultants and general practitioners involved in medical education in the North-West of England, a list of 215 ICSs was agreed. Specialists and generalists were then asked to identify the components of the knowledge base and the performance (skills) base for each ICS. The knowledge base was divided into technical (biomedical facts/concepts) and contextual (effect/management of disease within the individual, family and society) domains. The performance base was divided into intellectual (problem solving and decision making) and interpersonal (history, examination, communication and procedural skills) domains. Forty specialties were consulted and 11,021 items (defined as a piece of knowledge, a concept or a skill) were identified. There was considerable overlap in the items listed, such that when the returns for each ICS were amalgamated, the 215 ICSs contained 6434 items with a mean of 34 +/- 14.2 per situation (range 6-85). UTILISATION: We have used the defined ICSs in the design of the trigger material used in the weekly problem-based learning sessions. Over 4 years almost all (207/215, 96%) of the ICS are covered, with many being revisited at several points in the curriculum.

Science of health care delivery milestones for undergraduate medical education.

PubMed

Havyer, Rachel D; Norby, Suzanne M; Leep Hunderfund, Andrea N; Starr, Stephanie R; Lang, Tara R; Wolanskyj, Alexandra P; Reed, Darcy A

2017-08-25

The changing healthcare landscape requires physicians to develop new knowledge and skills such as high-value care, systems improvement, population health, and team-based care, which together may be referred to as the Science of Health Care Delivery (SHCD). To engender public trust and confidence, educators must be able to meaningfully assess physicians' abilities in SHCD. We aimed to develop a novel set of SHCD milestones based on published Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) milestones that can be used by medical schools to assess medical students' competence in SHCD. We reviewed all ACGME milestones for 25 specialties available in September 2013. We used an iterative, qualitative process to group the ACGME milestones into SHCD content domains, from which SHCD milestones were derived. The SHCD milestones were categorized within the current ACGME core competencies and were also mapped to Association of American Medical Colleges' Entrustable Professional Activities (AAMC EPAs). Fifteen SHCD sub-competencies and corresponding milestones are provided, grouped within ACGME core competencies and mapped to multiple AAMC EPAs. This novel set of milestones, grounded within the existing ACGME competencies, defines fundamental expectations within SHCD that can be used and adapted by medical schools in the assessment of medical students in this emerging curricular area. These milestones provide a blueprint for SHCD content and assessment as ongoing revisions to milestones and curricula occur.

A New Capability for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Design

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

Amiri, Benjamin W.; Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; Kapernick, Richard J.

2007-01-30

This paper describes a new capability for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) design that has been developed, and presents the results of some analyses performed with this design tool. The purpose of the tool is to design to specified mission and material limits, while maximizing system thrust to weight. The head end of the design tool utilizes the ROCket Engine Transient Simulation (ROCETS) code to generate a system design and system design requirements as inputs to the core analysis. ROCETS is a modular system level code which has been used extensively in the liquid rocket engine industry for many years. Themore » core design tool performs high-fidelity reactor core nuclear and thermal-hydraulic design analysis. At the heart of this process are two codes TMSS-NTP and NTPgen, which together greatly automate the analysis, providing the capability to rapidly produce designs that meet all specified requirements while minimizing mass. A PERL based command script, called CORE DESIGNER controls the execution of these two codes, and checks for convergence throughout the process. TMSS-NTP is executed first, to produce a suite of core designs that meet the specified reactor core mechanical, thermal-hydraulic and structural requirements. The suite of designs consists of a set of core layouts and, for each core layout specific designs that span a range of core fuel volumes. NTPgen generates MCNPX models for each of the core designs from TMSS-NTP. Iterative analyses are performed in NTPgen until a reactor design (fuel volume) is identified for each core layout that meets cold and hot operation reactivity requirements and that is zoned to meet a radial core power distribution requirement.« less

Physical Properties of Sediment Related to Gas Hydrate in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winters, W. J.; Novosel, I.; Boldina, O. M.; Waite, W. F.; Lorenson, T. D.; Paull, C. K.; Bryant, W.

2002-12-01

Eighteen giant piston cores, up to 38-m long, were recovered during July 2002 to determine the distribution of gas hydrate in widely different geologic environments of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Physical properties, including electrical resistivity, three different shear strengths, P-wave velocity, and thermal conductivity were measured on split and whole-round cores at sea. Water content, grain density, and related properties are being determined in a shore-based laboratory from shipboard-acquired subsamples. These physical property data are important for two primary reasons: (1) to relate the presence of gas hydrate to the natural host sediment; and (2) to correlate with shallow seismic reflection records so they can be interpreted more accurately within and below the depth of coring. Preliminary results indicate that porosity and water content typically decrease rapidly to a subbottom depth of about 8 to 9 m, but then decrease at a much lower rate to the base of the core - often 30 or more mbsf. Although higher water contents are measured in the sediments that were recovered in association with gas hydrates, they are probably an artifact of post-sampling hydrate dissociation rather than an in-situ characteristic. The hydrate recovered during the cruise, was present either as particles distributed throughout the sediment or as massive chunks that filled the entire 10-cm diameter of the core liner. The sediments immediately adjacent to the recovered gas hydrates are visually similar to surrounding sediments, and thus primary lithologic differences do not appear to control the distribution of these gas hydrates. Vane shear strength measurements correlate better to subbottom depth than to water content. The strength values typically increase from less than 10 kPa near the seafloor to as much as 80 to 90 kPa at the base of some cores. Electrical resistivity appears to be related to water content (and probably porewater salinity) since a break in slope with depth is often recorded in the upper 8 to 15 m of sediment. Electrical resistivity typically increases from about 0.4 to 0.5 ohm-m near the top of many cores, to about 0.7 ohm-m near the base of the deeper recovered sediment. These values are typical for clay-rich fine-grained sediment with high water content. Although the amount of gas hydrate in the natural environment is enormous, little is known about its distribution in sea-floor sediment or even exactly how it forms. A goal of this cruise was to find evidence for the existence of gas hydrate away from obvious seafloor gas-hydrate mounds and at depth in the sediment. This international, multi-discipline coring cruise was conducted jointly by the Institut Polaire Francais, Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV) and the USGS aboard the 120-m-long French research vessel, Marion Dufresne. Partial funding was provided by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and considerable at-sea help was provided by an international group of about 40 scientists under the IMAGES (International Marine Past Global Changes Study) and PAGE (Paleoceanography of the Atlantic and Geochemistry) programs.

Paleoclimatic investigations during the late Quaternary using gravity core sediments of Lake Hovsgol in Mongolia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheong, Daekyo; Shin, Seungwon; Park, Yong-Hee; Nam, Seung Il

2010-05-01

The Lake Hovsgol is located in northeast Eurasia which is a tectonic lake formed by rifting, and its thick bottom sediments record climatic change of the past. The lake is a suitable site to study a rapid Quaternary climate change. This study includes analysis of smear slides, particle size analysis, data of spectrophotometer and magnetic susceptibility, trace element analysis using XRF core scanner for HS-3, 5 gravity core sediments from the middle southern Lake Hovsgol. HS-3 core sediments were measured for TOC, and HS-5 core was scrutinized for species analysis of ostracods. HS-3 core was obtained at 160 m water depth, and is divided into three sedimentary units. Unit A of HS-3 is characterized by distinct lamination, high sand contents considerably decreasing towards the upper part, and the ostracods are rarely discovered at the upper part of Unit A. Unit B is characterized by weakly lamination, and some ostracods are observed in the lower part, but diatoms are observed in the upper part of Unit B. Also grain size is getting smaller toward the upper part. Unit C consists of fine diatomaceous ooze and contains abundant diatoms. Overall organic contents are high, and lamination with black-colored organic layer is observed in the lower part of Unit C. HS-5 core was obtained at 210 m water depth and is divided into two sedimentary units with faint boundary. Unit A of HS-5 is characterized by lamination and contains abundant diatoms and ostracods. At Unit B, grain size is getting smaller toward the upper part, and occurrence change of ostracods is observed in the upper part. Framboidal pyrite were formed during the diagenesis. Four species of ostracods are observed in the core sediments, i.e. Cytherissa lacustris, Limnocythere inopinate dominate in the lower part, and Candona lepnevae, Leucocythere sp dominates in the upper part. Carbon age dating results show that sediment unit B of HS-5 and unit C of HS-3 containing rare ostracods are similar in age. The reason of low occurrence of ostracods fossils and high content of sand is consistent with that ostracods disappeared as temperature rise or inhabitant change since late LGM. An age of sediment unit B of HS-3 is the Last Deglacial period when organic contents increased obviously and contents of sand decreased as the lake level rose. The change of magnetic susceptibility and Fe/Al, Ca/Al and Si/Al ratio values are observed at 90 cm depth section of HS-3, which indicates that input sediments changed as the lake level fell due to a temporal cooling at Younger Dryas during the Last Deglacial. The age of the sediment unit C of HS-3 is Holocene. At this period, high contents of organic materials were caused by increase of nutrition input because of a thick vegetation cover as temperature rose, and thus diatom blooming. The organic strata containing mica minerals at early Holocene have been formed during fall or stagnation periods of the lake level. We interpreted that those are closely related to the global environmental change.

Critical Thoughts About the Core Entrustable Professional Activities in Undergraduate Medical Education.

PubMed

Krupat, Edward

2018-03-01

The Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency (Core EPAs) have taken a strong hold on undergraduate medical education (UME). This Perspective questions their value added and considers the utility of the Core EPAs along two separate dimensions: (1) the ways they change the content and focus of the goals of UME; and (2) the extent to which entrustable professional activity (EPA)-based assessment conforms to basic principles of measurement theory as practiced in the social sciences. Concerning content and focus, the author asks whether the 13 Core EPAs frame UME too narrowly, putting competencies into the background and overlooking certain aspirational, but important and measurable, objectives of UME. The author also discusses the unevenness of EPAs in terms of their breadth and their developmental status as core activities. Regarding measurement and assessment, the author raises concerns that the EPA metric introduces layers of inference that may cause distortions and hinder accuracy and rater agreement. In addition, the use of weak anchors and multidimensional scales is also of concern. The author concludes with a proposal for reframing the Core EPAs and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies into broadly defined sets of behaviors, referred to as "Tasks of Medicine," and calls for the development of a systematic and longitudinal research agenda. The author asserts that "slowing down when you should" applies to medical education as well as patient care, and calls for a reevaluation of the Core EPAs before further commitment to them.

Lead contamination and source in Shanghai in the past century using dated sediment cores from urban park lakes.

PubMed

Li, H B; Yu, S; Li, G L; Deng, H

2012-08-01

Lead contamination becomes of importance to urban resident health worldwide, especially for child health and growth. Undisturbed lake sediment cores are increasingly employed as a useful tool to backdate environmental contamination history. Five intact sediment cores collected from lakes in five urban parks were dated using (210)Pb and analyzed for total Pb content and isotope ratio to reconstruct the Pb contamination history over the last century in Shanghai, China. Total Pb content in the sediment cores increased by about 2- to 3-fold since 1900s. The profile of Pb flux in each sediment core revealed a remarkable increase of Pb contamination in Shanghai over the past century, especially in the latest three decades when China was experiencing a rapid economic and industrial development. Significant correlations were found between Pb fluxes in sediment cores and Pb emission from coal combustion in Shanghai. Coal combustion emission dominated anthropogenic Pb sources during the past century contributing from 52% to 69% of total Pb in cores, estimated by a three-end member model of Pb isotope ratios. Leaded gasoline emission generally contributed <30% of total Pb, which was banned by 1997 in the Shanghai region. Our results implicate that coal combustion-based energy consumption should be replaced, or at least partially replaced, to reduce health risks of Pb contamination in Shanghai. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil Penetration Rates by Earthworms and Plant Roots- Mechanical and Energetic Considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz, Siul; Schymanski, Stan; Or, Dani

2016-04-01

We analyze the implications of different soil burrowing rates by earthworms and growing plant roots using mechanical models that consider soil rheological properties. We estimate the energetic requirements for soil elasto-viscoplastic displacement at different rates for similar burrows and water contents. In the core of the mechanical model is a transient cavity expansion into viscoplastic wet soil that mimic an earthworm or root tip cone-like penetration and subsequent cavity expansion due to pressurized earthworm hydrostatic skeleton or root radial growth. Soil matrix viscoplatic considerations enable separation of the respective energetic requirements for earthworms penetrating at 2 μm/s relative to plant roots growing at 0.2 μm/s . Typical mechanical and viscous parameters are obtained inversely for soils under different fixed water contents utilizing custom miniaturized cone penetrometers at different fixed penetration rates (1 to 1000 μm/s). Experimental results determine critical water contents where soil exhibits pronounced viscoplatic behavior (close to saturation), bellow which the soil strength limits earthworms activity and fracture propagation by expanding plant roots becomes the favorable mechanical mode. The soil mechanical parameters in conjunction with earthworm and plant root physiological pressure limitations (200 kPa and 2000 kPa respectively) enable delineation of the role of soil saturation in regulating biotic penetration rates for different soil types under different moisture contents. Furthermore, this study provides a quantitative framework for estimating rates of energy expenditure for soil penetration, which allowed us to determine maximum earthworm population densities considering soil mechanical properties and the energy stored in soil organic matter.

Physicochemical properties of kiwifruit starch.

PubMed

Li, Dongxing; Zhu, Fan

2017-04-01

Three varieties of golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) (Gold3, Gold9 and Hort16A) were collected at the commercial harvesting time, and physicochemical properties of starches from core and outer pericarp were studied. Starch contents (dry weight basis) in outer pericarp and core tissues ranged from 38.6 to 51.8% and 34.6 to 40.7%, respectively. All the kiwifruit starches showed B-type polymorph. Compared to the outer pericarp starches, amylose content and enzyme susceptibility of core starches were higher, and the degree of crystallinity, granule size and gelatinization parameters of core starches were somewhat lower. This suggests different biosynthetic properties between these two starches. The enthalpy changes of gelatinization of outer pericarp starches were high (∼21J/g). Rheological properties of outer pericarp starches were compared with normal maize and potato starches showed high yield stress of flow properties. This study revealed the unique properties of kiwifruit starch among various types of starches. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Communication skills training: Adapting to the trends and moving forward.

PubMed

Liu, Ye; Huang, Yiqin; Gao, Hong; Cheng, Xunjia

2017-05-23

Communication ability is one of the core requirements of doctors' competency. Teaching communication to medical students and junior doctors has attracted much attention. With the challenge of escalating demands, the status of training communication skills has been promoted in the past several decades. The training content was integrated with other courses and various pedagogic approaches have been applied and proved to be effective. Practical strategies and mixed types were highly recommended. However, there are still many problems, including the fragmentation of the training, insufficient practice, inadequate qualified teachers, case adaptation, course localization and impediment from the environment. This paper proposes some suggestions to solve the problems.

Decoding the content of recollection within the core recollection network and beyond.

PubMed

Thakral, Preston P; Wang, Tracy H; Rugg, Michael D

2017-06-01

Recollection - retrieval of qualitative information about a past event - is associated with enhanced neural activity in a consistent set of neural regions (the 'core recollection network') seemingly regardless of the nature of the recollected content. Here, we employed multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to assess whether retrieval-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity in core recollection regions - including the hippocampus, angular gyrus, medial prefrontal cortex, retrosplenial/posterior cingulate cortex, and middle temporal gyrus - contain information about studied content and thus demonstrate retrieval-related 'reinstatement' effects. During study, participants viewed objects and concrete words that were subjected to different encoding tasks. Test items included studied words, the names of studied objects, or unstudied words. Participants judged whether the items were recollected, familiar, or new by making 'remember', 'know', and 'new' responses, respectively. The study history of remembered test items could be reliably decoded using MVPA in most regions, as well as from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region where univariate recollection effects could not be detected. The findings add to evidence that members of the core recollection network, as well as at least one neural region where mean signal is insensitive to recollection success, carry information about recollected content. Importantly, the study history of recognized items endorsed with a 'know' response could be decoded with equal accuracy. The results thus demonstrate a striking dissociation between mean signal and multi-voxel indices of recollection. Moreover, they converge with prior findings in suggesting that, as it is operationalized by classification-based MVPA, reinstatement is not uniquely a signature of recollection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fluorescent solute-partitioning characterization of layered soft contact lenses.

PubMed

Dursch, T J; Liu, D E; Oh, Y; Radke, C J

2015-03-01

Partitioning of aqueous packaging, wetting, and care-solution agents into and out of soft contact lenses (SCLs) is important for improving wear comfort and also for characterizing lens physico-chemical properties. We illustrate both features of partitioning by application of fluorescent-solute partitioning into DAILIES TOTAL1® (delefilcon A) water-gradient SCLs, which exhibit a layered structure of a silicone-hydrogel (SiHy) core sandwiched between thin surface-gel layers. Two-photon fluorescence confocal laser-scanning microscopy and attenuated total-reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) characterize the lens and assess uptake profiles of six prototypical fluorescent solutes. Comparison of solute uptake in a SiHy-core prototype lens (i.e., O2OPTIX(TM)) validates the core SiHy structure of DAILIESTOTAL1®. To establish surface-layer charge, partition coefficients and water contents are obtained for aqueous pH values of 4 and 7.4. Solute fluorescence-intensity profiles clearly confirm a layered structure for the DAILIES TOTAL1® lenses. In all cases, aqueous solute partition coefficients are greater in the surface layers than in the SiHy core, signifying higher water in the surface gels. ATR-FTIR confirms surface-layer mass water contents of 82±3%. Water uptake and hydrophilic-solute uptake at pH 4 compared with that at pH 7.4 reveal that the surface-gel layers are anionic at physiologic pH 7.4, whereas both the SiHy core and O2OPTIX™ (lotrafilcon B) are nonionic. We successfully confirm the layered structure of DAILIES TOTAL1®, consisting of an 80-μm-thick SiHy core surrounded by 10-μm-thick polyelectrolyte surface-gel layers of significantly greater water content and aqueous solute uptake compared with the core. Accordingly, fluorescent-solute partitioning in SCLs provides information on gel structure and composition, in addition to quantifying uptake and release amounts and rates. Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fish scales in sediments from off Callao, central Peru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díaz-Ochoa, J. A.; Lange, C. B.; Pantoja, S.; De Lange, G. J.; Gutiérrez, D.; Muñoz, P.; Salamanca, M.

2009-07-01

We study fish scales as a proxy of fish abundance and preservation biases together with phosphorus from fish remains (P fish) in a sediment core retrieved off Callao, Peru (12°1'S, 77°42'W; water depth=179 m; core length=52 cm). We interpret our results as a function of changing redox conditions based on ratios of redox-sensitive trace elements (Cu/Al, Mo/Al, Ni/Al, Zn/Al, V/Al), terrigenous indicators (Fe in clays, Ti, Al), and biogenic proxies (CaCO 3, biogenic opal, total nitrogen, organic carbon, barite Ba). The core covers roughly 700 years of deposition, based on 210Pb activities extrapolated downcore and 14C dating at selected intervals. Our fish-scale record is dominated by anchovy ( Engraulis ringens) scales followed by hake ( Merluccius gayii) scales. The core presented an abrupt lithological change at 17 cm (corresponding to the early 19th century). Above that depth, it was laminated and was more organic-rich (10-15% organic carbon) than below, where the core was partly laminated and less organic-rich (<10%). The lithological shift coincides with abrupt changes in dry bulk density and in the contents of terrigenous and redox-sensitive trace elements, biogenic proxies, and fish scales. The remarkable increase in redox-sensitive trace elements in the upper 17 cm of the core suggests more reducing conditions when compared with deeper and older horizons, and is interpreted as an intensification of the oxygen minimum zone off Peru beginning in the early 19th century. Higher fish-scale contents and higher P fish/P total ratios were also observed within the upper 17 cm of the core. The behavior of biogenic proxies and redox-sensitive trace elements was similar; more reduced conditions corresponded to higher contents of CaCO 3, C org, total nitrogen and fish scales, suggesting that these proxies might convey an important preservation signal.

Carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of core catcher samples from the ICDP deep drilling at Laguna Potrok Aike (Patagonia, Argentina)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luecke, Andreas; Wissel, Holger; Mayr*, Christoph; Oehlerich, Markus; Ohlendorf, Christian; Zolitschka, Bernd; Pasado Science Team

2010-05-01

The ICDP project PASADO aims to develop a detailed paleoclimatic record for the southern part of the South American continent from sediments of Laguna Potrok Aike (51°58'S, 70°23'W), situated in the Patagonian steppe east of the Andean cordillera and north of the Street of Magellan. The precursor project SALSA recovered the Holocene and Late Glacial sediment infill of Laguna Potrok Aike and developed the environmental history of the semi-arid Patagonian steppe by a consequent interdisciplinary multi-proxy approach (e.g. Haberzettl et al., 2007). From September to November 2008 the ICDP deep drilling took place and successfully recovered in total 510 m of sediments from two sites resulting in a composite depth of 106 m for the selected main study Site 2. A preliminary age model places the record within the last 50.000 years. During the drilling campaign, the core catcher content of each drilled core run (3 m) was taken as separate sample to be shared and distributed between involved laboratories long before the main sampling party. A total of 70 core catcher samples describe the sediments of Site 2 and will form the base for more detailed investigations on the palaeoclimatic history of Patagonia. We here report on the organic carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of bulk sediment and plant debris of the core catcher samples. Similar investigations were performed for Holocene and Late Glacial sediments of Laguna Potrok Aike revealing insights into the organic matter dynamics of the lake and its catchment as well as into climatically induced hydrological variations with related lake level fluctuations (Mayr et al., 2009). The carbon and nitrogen content of the core catcher fine sediment fraction (<200 µm) is low to very low (around 1 % and 0.1 %, respectively) and requires particular attention in isotope analysis. The carbon isotope composition shows comparably little variation around a value of -26.0 per mil. The positive values of the Holocene and the Late Glacial (up to 22.0 per mil) are only sporadically reached down core. Compared to this, separated moss debris is remarkably 13C depleted with a minimum at 31.5 per mil. The nitrogen isotope ratios of glacial Laguna Potrok Aike sediments are lower (2.5 per mil) than those of the younger part of the record. The core catcher samples indicate several oscillations between 0.5 and 3.5 per mil. Data suggest a correlation between nitrogen isotopes and C/N ratios, but no linear relation between carbon isotopes and carbon content and an only weak relationship between carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Increasing nitrogen isotope values from 8000 cm downwards could probably be related to changed environmental conditions of Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) compared to Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2). This will be further evaluated with higher resolution from the composite profile including a detailed study of discrete plant debris layers. References Haberzettl, T. et al. (2007). Lateglacial and Holocene wet-dry cycles in southern Patagonia: chronology, sedimentology and geochemistry of a lacustrine record from Laguna Potrok Aike, Argentina. The Holocene, 17: 297-310. Mayr, C. et al. (2009). Isotopic and geochemical fingerprints of environmental changes during the last 16,000 years on lacustrine organic matter from Laguna Potrok Aike (southern Patagonia, Argentina). Journal of Paleolimnology, 42: 81-102.

Field-Based Experiential Learning Using Mobile Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilley, G. E.

2015-12-01

Technologies such as GPS and cellular triangulation allow location-specific content to be delivered by mobile devices, but no mechanism currently exists to associate content shared between locations in a way that guarantees the delivery of coherent and non-redundant information at every location. Thus, experiential learning via mobile devices must currently take place along a predefined path, as in the case of a self-guided tour. I developed a mobile-device-based system that allows a person to move through a space along a path of their choosing, while receiving information in a way that guarantees delivery of appropriate background and location-specific information without producing redundancy of content between locations. This is accomplished by coupling content to knowledge-concept tags that are noted as fulfilled when users take prescribed actions. Similarly, the presentation of the content is related to the fulfillment of these knowledge-concept tags through logic statements that control the presentation. Content delivery is triggered by mobile-device geolocation including GPS/cellular navigation, and sensing of low-power Bluetooth proximity beacons. Together, these features implement a process that guarantees a coherent, non-redundant educational experience throughout a space, regardless of a learner's chosen path. The app that runs on the mobile device works in tandem with a server-side database and file-serving system that can be configured through a web-based GUI, and so content creators can easily populate and configure content with the system. Once the database has been updated, the new content is immediately available to the mobile devices when they arrive at the location at which content is required. Such a system serves as a platform for the development of field-based geoscience educational experiences, in which students can organically learn about core concepts at particular locations while individually exploring a space.

Perspectives on family health, happiness and harmony (3H) among Hong Kong Chinese people: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Lam, W W T; Fielding, R; McDowell, I; Johnston, J; Chan, Sophia; Leung, G M; Lam, T H

2012-10-01

Family harmony, an important Confucian ideal in Chinese society is believed to determine family happiness and therefore health, but is this accurate? This is a qualitative study of 41 Hong Kong Chinese family members. Individual recorded interviews were thematically analysed describing perceived interactions between harmony, happiness and health. Family harmony comprised four components: communication, mutual respect, lack of conflict and family time [notably 'Gou tong' (in Cantonese )-opportunity and willingness to spend time together-requiring good interpersonal communication, emphasized by female respondents]. Lack of conflict was emphasized, while diverse values, parenting styles and financial difficulties were common causes of conflict. Respect required reciprocity. Family happiness comprised four elements: family harmony, an important pre-requisite; mutual caring and supportive orientation; sense of security emphasizing financial security in middle-class versus sense of togetherness in lower social class groups and contentment. Healthy families were harmonious; 'typical' (children/two-parent/two-grandparent); happy; caring and respectful, with individual health and healthy behaviours. Family harmony, happiness and health are interrelated and built on a communicative, respectful, caring and contented set of attitudes, in particular allowing for family time. Harmony is apparently a core element of good family functioning.

A Masters Programme in telecommunications management - demand-based curriculum design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2015-05-01

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 determine the required programme contents and specifications. The curriculum design is based on definition of programme outcomes and on using a house of quality approach (HOQ) to determine the list of courses required in the programme. Surveyed competencies are mapped to a long list of proposed courses in a HOQ in order to determine the importance of each of these courses. A final list of core and elective courses is then developed considering the contribution to programme outcomes and the academic standards.

Nitrate transport and transformation processes in unsaturated porous media

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tindall, James A.; Petrusak, Robin L.; McMahon, Peter B.

1995-01-01

A series of experiments was conducted on two contrasting agricultural soils to observe the influence of soil texture, preferential flow, and plants on nitrate transport and denitrification under unsaturated conditions. Calcium nitrate fertilizer was applied to the surface of four large undisturbed soil cores (30 cm diameter by 40 cm height). Two of the cores were a structured clay obtained from central Missouri and two were an unstructured fine sand obtained from central Florida. The cores were irrigated daily and maintained at a matric potential of -20 kPa, representative of soil tension in the rooting zone of irrigated agricultural fields. Volumetric water content (θ), concentration of nitrate-N in the soil solution, and nitrous oxide flux at the surface, 10, 20, and 30 cm were monitored daily. Leaching loss of surface-applied N03− -N was significant in both the sand and the clay. In unplanted sand cores, almost all of the applied nitrate was leached below 30 cm within 10 days. Gaseous N loss owing to denitrification was no greater than 2% of the nitrate-N applied to the unplanted sand cores and, in general, was less than 1 %. Although leaching was somewhat retarded in the clay cores, about 60% of the applied nitrate-N was leached from the unplanted clay soil in 5–6 weeks. Under unsaturated conditions, the clay had little to no tendency to denitrify despite the greater moisture content of the clay and retarded leaching of nitrate in the clay. The planted sand cores had surprisingly large gaseous N loss owing to denitrification, as much as 17% of the nitrate-N. Results from both the clay and sand experiments show that the dynamics of nitrate transport and transformation in unsaturated soils are affected by small, localized variations in the soil moisture content profile, the gaseous diffusion coefficient of the soil, the rate at which the nitrate pulse passes through the soil, the solubility of N2O and N2 and the diffusion of the gasses through the soil solution, and development of a water content profile in the soil. Limited dentrification in the clay soil was due to a limited volume of soil available for infiltration after internal catchment and the development of denitrifying conditions resulting from the presence of an extensive macropore system.

High permafrost ice contents in Holocene slope deposits as observed from shallow geophysics and a coring program in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbonneau, A.; Allard, M.; L'Hérault, E.; LeBlanc, A.

2011-12-01

A study of permafrost conditions was undertaken in the Hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and Université Laval's Centre d'études nordiques (CEN) to support decision makers in their community planning work. The methods used for this project were based on geophysical and geomorphological approaches, including permafrost cores drilled in surficial deposits and ground penetrating radar surveys using a GPR Pulse EKKO 100 extending to the complete community area and to its projected expansion sector. Laboratory analysis allowed a detailed characterization of permafrost in terms of water contents, salinity and grain size. Cryostratigraphic analysis was done via CT-Scan imagery of frozen cores using medical imaging softwares such as Osiris. This non destructive method allows a 3D imaging of the entire core in order to locate the amount of the excess ice, determine the volumetric ice content and also interpret the ice-formation processes that took place during freezing of the permafrost. Our new map of the permafrost conditions in Pangnirtung illustrates that the dominant mapping unit consist of ice-rich colluvial deposits. Aggradationnal ice formed syngenitically with slope sedimentation. Buried soils were found imbedded in this colluvial layer and demonstrates that colluviation associated with overland-flow during snowmelt occurred almost continuously since 7080 cal. BP. In the eastern sector of town, the 1 to 4 meters thick colluviums cover till and a network of ice wedges that were revealed as spaced hyperbolic reflectors on GPR profiles. The colluviums also cover ice-rich marine silt and bedrock in the western sector of the hamlet; marine shells found in a permafrost core yielded a radiocarbon date of 9553 cal. BP which provides a revised age for the local deglaciation and also a revised marine submergence limit. Among the applied methods, shallow drilling in coarse grained permafrost, core recovery and CT-Scan allowed the discovery of the importance of Holocene slope processes on shaping the surface of the terrain and leading to the observed cryostructures and ice contents in the near surface permafrost.

Permeability of bacterial spores. IV. Water content, uptake, and distribution.

PubMed

BLACK, S H; GERHARDT, P

1962-05-01

Black, S. H. (The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and Philipp Gerhardt. Permeability of bacterial spores. IV. Water content, uptake, and distribution. J. Bacteriol. 83:960-967. 1962.-Dormant and germinated spores of Bacillus cereus strain terminalis were examined for water properties. Respectively, they exhibited a mean density of 1.28 and 1.11 g/ml, a water content of 64.8 and 73.0%, and a total water uptake of 66.6 and 75.6%, based on spore weight, or 86.0 and 83.9%, based on spore volume. The results confirmed a previous report that internal and external water are in virtually complete equilibrium, but refuted a prevailing hypothesis that heat resistance is attributable to a dry core. A model of spore ultrastructure that evolved from the cumulative results pictures a moist, dense, heteroporous core. A new hypothesis is formulated as an explanation for thermostability in spores and possibly in other instances; it postulates the occurrence of an insolubly gelled core with cross-linking between macromolecules through stable but reversible bonds so as to form a high-polymer matrix with entrapped free water.

A field study of discrete emotions: athletes' cognitive appraisals during competition.

PubMed

Martinent, Guillaume; Ferrand, Claude

2015-03-01

Cognitive-motivational-relational theory (CMRT) emphasizes that cognitive appraisal components and core relational themes (in which the 6 separate appraisal judgments are brought together as 1) are the proximal determinants of athletes' emotions. This study aimed to explore appraisals associated with discrete emotions experienced by athletes during competition by adopting a naturalistic, qualitative video-assisted approach. Thirty self-confrontation interviews were conducted with 11 national table-tennis players. Qualitative inductive and deductive content analyses were conducted on the participants' transcripts. Content analyses suggested that primary and secondary appraisal components (goal relevance, goal congruence, ego involvement, blame or credit, coping potential, and future expectations) were associated with a range of positive and negative discrete emotions: self-, other-, and environmental-oriented anger, anxiety, discouragement, disappointment, disgust, joy, serenity, relief, hope, and pride. Hierarchical content analyses also provided some support for the concept of core relational themes. Findings of the present study are consistent with a CMRT approach and highlight that primary and secondary appraisals as well as core relational themes are associated with discrete emotions experienced by athletes while competing. Limitations and practical applications of this study are discussed.

Towards the development of rapid screening techniques for shale gas core properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cave, Mark R.; Vane, Christopher; Kemp, Simon; Harrington, Jon; Cuss, Robert

2013-04-01

Shale gas has been produced for many years in the U.S.A. and forms around 8% of total their natural gas production. Recent testing for gas on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire UK suggests there are potentially large reserves which could be exploited. The increasing significance of shale gas has lead to the need for deeper understanding of shale behaviour. There are many factors which govern whether a particular shale will become a shale gas resource and these include: i) Organic matter abundance, type and thermal maturity; ii) Porosity-permeability relationships and pore size distribution; iii) Brittleness and its relationship to mineralogy and rock fabric. Measurements of these properties require sophisticated and time consuming laboratory techniques (Josh et al 2012), whereas rapid screening techniques could provide timely results which could improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of exploration. In this study, techniques which are portable and provide rapid on-site measurements (X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Infra-red (IR) spectroscopy) have been calibrated against standard laboratory techniques (Rock-Eval 6 analyser-Vinci Technologies) and Powder whole-rock XRD analysis was carried out using a PANalytical X'Pert Pro series diffractometer equipped with a cobalt-target tube, X'Celerator detector and operated at 45kV and 40mA, to predict properties of potential shale gas material from core material from the Bowland shale Roosecote, south Cumbria. Preliminary work showed that, amongst various mineralogical and organic matter properties of the core, regression models could be used so that the total organic carbon content could be predicted from the IR spectra with a 95 percentile confidence prediction error of 0.6% organic carbon, the free hydrocarbons could be predicted with a 95 percentile confidence prediction error of 0.6 mgHC/g rock, the bound hydrocarbons could be predicted with a 95 percentile confidence prediction error of 2.4 mgHC/g rock, mica content with a 95 percentile confidence prediction error of 14% and quartz content with a 95 percentile confidence prediction error of 14% . References M. Josh *, L. Esteban, C. Delle Piane, J. Sarout, D.N. Dewhurst, M.B. Clennell 2012. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering , 88-89, 107-124.

How Irreversible Heat Transport Processes Drive Earth's Interdependent Thermal, Structural, and Chemical Evolution Providing a Strongly Heterogeneous, Layered Mantle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmeister, A.; Criss, R. E.

2013-12-01

Because magmatism conveys radioactive isotopes plus latent heat rapidly upwards while advecting heat, this process links and controls the thermal and chemical evolution of Earth. We present evidence that the lower mantle-upper mantle boundary is a profound chemical discontinuity, leading to observed heterogeneities in the outermost layers that can be directly sampled, and construct an alternative view of Earth's internal workings. Earth's beginning involved cooling via explosive outgassing of substantial ice (mainly CO) buried with dust during accretion. High carbon content is expected from Solar abundances and ice in comets. Reaction of CO with metal provided a carbide-rich core while converting MgSiO3 to olivine via oxidizing reactions. Because thermodynamic law (and buoyancy of hot particles) indicates that primordial heat from gravitational segregation is neither large nor carried downwards, whereas differentiation forced radioactive elements upwards, formation of the core and lower mantle greatly cooled the Earth. Reference conductive geotherms, calculated using accurate and new thermal diffusivity data, require that heat-producing elements are sequestered above 670 km which limits convection to the upper mantle. These irreversible beginnings limit secular cooling to radioactive wind-down, permiting deduction of Earth's inventory of heat-producing elements from today's heat flux. Coupling our estimate for heat producing elements with meteoritic data indicates that Earth's oxide content has been underestimated. Density sorting segregated a Si-rich, peridotitic upper mantle from a refractory, oxide lower mantle with high Ca, Al and Ti contents, consistent with diamond inclusion mineralogy. Early and rapid differentiation means that internal temperatures have long been buffered by freezing of the inner core, allowing survival of crust as old as ca.4 Ga. Magmatism remains important. Melt escaping though stress-induced fractures in the rigid lithosphere imparts a lateral component and preferred direction to upper mantle circulation. Mid-ocean magma production over ca. 4 Ga has deposited a slab volume at 670 km that is equivalent to the transition zone, thereby continuing differentiation by creating a late-stage chemical discontinuity near 400 km. This ongoing process has generated the observed lateral and vertical heterogeneity above 670 km.

Evaluation of a Core Curriculum for Optometric Residents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heiberger, Michael H.; Suchoff, Irvin B.

1989-01-01

A survey of residents and residency supervisors at three Veterans' Administration hospitals affiliated with one school of optometry investigated attitudes toward core optometry curriculum activities. Activities were generally rated well for content and effectiveness of presentation, and the study also provided information for program improvement.…

Determination of indium content of GaAs/(In,Ga)As/(GaAs) core-shell(-shell) nanowires by x-ray diffraction and nano x-ray fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al Hassan, Ali; Lewis, R. B.; Küpers, H.; Lin, W.-H.; Bahrami, D.; Krause, T.; Salomon, D.; Tahraoui, A.; Hanke, M.; Geelhaar, L.; Pietsch, U.

2018-01-01

We present two complementary approaches to investigate the In content in GaAs/(In,Ga)As/(GaAs) core-shell-(shell) nanowire (NW) heterostructures using synchrotron radiation. The key advantage of our methodology is that NWs are characterized in their as-grown configuration, i.e., perpendicularly standing on a substrate. First, we determine the mean In content of the (In,Ga)As shell by high-resolution x-ray diffraction (XRD) from NW ensembles. In particular, we disentangle the influence of In content and shell thickness on XRD by measuring and analyzing two reflections with diffraction vector parallel and perpendicular to the growth axis, respectively. Second, we study the In distribution within individual NWs by nano x-ray fluorescence. Both the NW (111) basal plane, that is parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the {10-1} sidewall plane were scanned with an incident nanobeam of 50 nm width. We investigate three samples with different nominal In content of the (In,Ga)As shell. In all samples, the average In content of the shell determined by XRD is in good agreement with the nominal value. For a nominal In content of 15%, the In distribution is fairly uniform between all six sidewall facets. In contrast, in NWs with nominally 25% In content, different sidewall facets of the same NW exhibit different In contents. This effect is attributed to shadowing during growth by molecular beam epitaxy. At the same time, along the NW axis the In distribution is still fairly homogeneous. In NWs with 60% nominal In content and no outer GaAs shell, the In content varies significantly both between different sidewall facets and along the NW axis. This fluctuation is explained by the formation of (In,Ga)As mounds that grow simultaneously with a thinner (In,Ga)As shell. The methodology presented here may be applied also to other core-shell NWs with a ternary shell and paves the way to correlating NW structure with functional properties that depend on the as-grown configuration of the NWs.

Exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science courses in the reformed medical curriculum iMED: a mixed methods study.

PubMed

Eisenbarth, Sophie; Tilling, Thomas; Lueerss, Eva; Meyer, Jelka; Sehner, Susanne; Guse, Andreas H; Guse Nee Kurré, Jennifer

2016-04-29

Heterogeneous basic science knowledge of medical students is an important challenge for medical education. In this study, the authors aimed at exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science (ISS) courses as a novel approach to address this challenge and to promote learning basic science concepts in medical education. ISS courses were embedded in a reformed medical curriculum. The authors used a mixed methods approach including four focus groups involving ISS course lecturers and students (two each), and five surveys of one student cohort covering the results of regular student evaluations including the ISS courses across one study year. They conducted their study at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between December 2013 and July 2014. Fourteen first-year medical students and thirteen ISS course lecturers participated in the focus groups. The authors identified several themes focused on the temporal integration of ISS courses into the medical curriculum, the integration of ISS course contents into core curriculum contents, the value and role of ISS courses, and the courses' setting and atmosphere. The integrated course concept was positively accepted by both groups, with participants suggesting that it promotes retention of basic science knowledge. Values and roles identified by focus group participants included promotion of basic understanding of science concepts, integration of foundational and applied learning, and maximization of students' engagement and motivation. Building close links between ISS course contents and the core curriculum appeared to be crucial. Survey results confirmed qualitative findings regarding students' satisfaction, with some courses still requiring optimization. Integration of supportive basic science courses, traditionally rather part of premedical education, into the medical curriculum appears to be a feasible strategy to improve medical students' understanding of basic science concepts and to increase their motivation and engagement.

Asynchronous web-based learning, a practical method to enhance teaching in emergency medicine.

PubMed

Pourmand, Ali; Lucas, Raymond; Nouraie, Mehdi

2013-03-01

Abstract Objective: To compare medical knowledge acquisition among emergency medicine (EM) residents who attend weekly core content lectures with those absent but asynchronously viewing the same lectures in a Web-based electronic platform. During the study period all EM residents attending or absent from weekly educational conferences were given a quiz on the covered material. During Phase 1, absentees were not given supplemental educational content for missed lectures. During Phase 2, absentees were sent a link to an online multimedia module containing an audiovisual recording of the actual missed lecture with presentation slides. Scores between attendees and absentees during both phases were compared using a repeated-measures analysis to evaluate the effect of the supplemental online module on knowledge acquisition. Thirty-nine EM residents (equally distributed in postgraduate years 1-4) were studied during a 15-week period. Overall and after adjusting for sex and postgraduate year level, both lecture attendance (b=27; 95% confidence interval, 22-32; p<0.0001) and Web-based learning (b=32; 95% confidence interval, 26-37; p<0.0001) were associated with significant increases in test scores compared with residents who were absent and not receiving supplemental Web-based learning. Neither the self-perceived level of mastery with the lecture topic nor the amount of reported reading was found to be a predictor of test scores. In an EM residency program, asynchronous Web-based learning may result in medical knowledge acquisition similar to or better than attending traditional core content lectures. The percentage of curriculum delivery by asynchronous learning that may be used to achieve overall terminal learning objectives in medical knowledge acquisition requires further study.

Name It! Store It! Protect It!: A Systems Approach to Managing Data in Research Core Facilities.

PubMed

DeVries, Matthew; Fenchel, Matthew; Fogarty, R E; Kim, Byong-Do; Timmons, Daniel; White, A Nicole

2017-12-01

As the capabilities of technology increase, so do the production of data and the need for data management. The need for data storage at many academic institutions is increasing exponentially. Technology is expanding rapidly, and institutions are recognizing the need to incorporate data management that can be available for future data sharing as a critical component of institutional services. The establishment of a process to manage the surge in data storage is complex and often hindered by not having a plan. Simple file naming-nomenclature-is also becoming ever more important to leave an established understanding of the contents in a file. This is especially the case as research experiences turnover from research projects and personnel. The indexing of files consistently also helps to identify past work. Finally, the protection of the data contents is becoming increasing challenging. As the genomic field expands, and medicine becomes more personalized, the identification of methods to protect the contents of data in both short- and long-term storage needs to be established so as not to risk the potential of revealing identifiable information. This is often something we do not consider in a nonclinical research environment. The need for establishing basic guidelines for institutions is critical, as individual research laboratories are unable to handle the scope of data storage required for their own research. In addition to the immediate needs for establishing guidelines on data storage and file naming and how to protect information, the recognition of the need for specialized support for data management supporting research cores and laboratories at academic institutions is becoming a critical component of institutional services. Here, we outline some case studies and methods that you may be able to adopt at your own institution.

Focusing on Mathematical Knowledge: The Impact of Content-Intensive Teacher Professional Development. NCEE 2016-4010

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garet, Michael S.; Heppen, Jessica B.; Walters, Kirk; Parkinson, Julia; Smith, Toni M.; Song, Mengli; Garrett, Rachel; Yang, Rui; Borman, Geoffrey D.

2016-01-01

This report examines the impact of content-intensive Professional Development (PD) on teachers' math content knowledge, their instructional practice, and their students' achievement. The study's PD had three components, totaling 93 hours. The core of the PD was "Intel Math," an intensive 80-hour workshop delivered in summer 2013 that…

Teaching and Assessing Professionalism in Radiology Resident Education.

PubMed

Kelly, Aine Marie; Gruppen, Larry D; Mullan, Patricia B

2017-05-01

Radiologists in teaching hospitals and in practices with residents rotating through are involved in the education of their residents. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires evidence that trainees are taught and demonstrate competency not only in medical knowledge and in patient care-the historic focus of radiology education-but also in the so-called non-interpretative core competencies, which include professionalism and interpersonal skills. In addition to accreditation agencies, the prominent assessment practices represented by the American Board of Radiology core and certifying examinations for trainees, as well as Maintenance of Certification for practitioners, are planning to feature more non-interpretative competency assessment, including professionalism to a greater extent. Because professionalism was incorporated as a required competency in medical education as a whole, more clarity about the justification and expected content for teaching about competence in professionalism, as well as greater understanding and evidence about appropriate and effective teaching and assessment methods, have emerged. This article summarizes justifications and expectations for teaching and assessing professionalism in radiology residents and best practices on how to teach and evaluate professionalism that can be used by busy radiology faculty in their everyday practice supervising radiology residents. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of polymeric subcoats on the drug release properties of tablets powder-coated with pre-plasticized Eudragit L 100-55.

PubMed

Sauer, Dorothea; Watts, Alan B; Coots, Lonique B; Zheng, Weijia C; McGinity, James W

2009-02-09

The aim of the study was to investigate the properties of sodium valproate tablets that were dry powder-coated with pre-plasticized Eudragit L 100-55. Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) was used as primer to facilitate initial coating powder adhesion. Solubility parameters were employed to determine the wetting properties of the PEG 3350 primer. Additional PEG 3350 within the powder coating formulation was required to enable powder adhesion to the tablet cores. The application of a subcoat of either Eudragit E PO or Eudragit RL PO facilitated adhesion of the enteric polymer to the tablet cores and reduced the amount PEG 3350 required in the coating formulation. Since reduction of the PEG 3350 content produced less water-vapor permeable films, the enteric coating level necessary to control the drug release was decreased. PEG 3350 and Methocel K4M were incorporated in both Eudragit E PO and Eudragit RL PO subcoating formulations as pore forming agents. The influence of the pore forming excipients on physicochemical properties of free powder-cast films was investigated. The miscibility of the PEG 3350 and Methocel K4M in the film coating was correlated with their ability to function as pore forming agent.

Mid-Holocene paleoclimatic changes and solar activity in San'in District, mid-latitude North Pacific Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okazaki, Y.; Seto, K.; Sakai, T.; Ooki, A.; yamada, K.; Dettman, D. L.

2011-12-01

Evidence shows that solar activity influences climate on a global scale. In the mid-latitude region, climate change is expected to change precipitation patterns. Concurrently, variation in solar activity may influence phytoplankton productivity. It seems that these changes should be recorded in sediment and organic matter deposits in coastal lagoons. In this study, we discuss the relationship between climate change and solar activity in the mid-Holocene in the northern hemisphere mid-latitude region based on grain size analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) content and organic carbon accumulation rates (Corg A.R.) in coastal lagoon sediment core samples. The INB core was drilled to produce a high resolution record of Holocene paleoenvironmental change in the San'in District, western Japan. The core is 19.17m in total length and is divided into Unit I~VII by lithofacies. Holocene sediment, primarily organic silt, forms Unit III and above in this core. Unit III was deposited from 8.4 to 5.4 ka, when sea level rose during the Jomon transgression; its depositional environment is a coastal lagoon. Progradation of the river mouth during the sea level rise lead to an increase in the C/N ratio of organic matter. Unit IV contains the volcanic Shigaku pyroclastic flow (the sixth stage of volcanic activity of the Sanbe volcano), and Unit V reflects deposition in a freshwater lake or swamp. Above this aggredational sediments were deposited by small rivers. This study focused on the coastal lagoon sediments of Unit III (8.4 to 5.4 ka); we carried out CNS elemental analysis and grain size analysis with a resolution of approximately five years. TOC content is variable and increases from 0.5 to 5%. Variation in TOC content is relatively well correlated with atmospheric radiocarbon 14C (Delta 14C) and therefore with solar activity, although the relationship is unclear in the upper portion of Unit III. The trend in Corg A.R. is different than TOC contents, about 40g/m/yr at ~8ka and about 20g/m/yr at 6-7 ka. This trend is also observed in a sediment core of Nakaumi Lagoon in San'in District, where it is due to a dilution effect caused by increased precipitation and high productivity because of a higher nutrient load during a warm interval (Sampei et al.,1997). It seems that the correspondence between TOC content and Delta 14C in this core is caused by similar factors. That is, a positive peak of Delta 14C indicating low solar activity and a cold period shows high TOC content because of concentration of TOC. On the other hand, a negative peak in Delta 14C indicates a warm period, and has a low TOC content because of clastic dilution. In the upper portion this relationship becomes complex because of changes in the terrestrial plant input due to river mouth progradation. Using these relationships, we may be able to estimate precipitation change based on the change in TOC content, and discuss its implications for global climate change.

Virtual Design Method for Controlled Failure in Foldcore Sandwich Panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturm, Ralf; Fischer, S.

2015-12-01

For certification, novel fuselage concepts have to prove equivalent crashworthiness standards compared to the existing metal reference design. Due to the brittle failure behaviour of CFRP this requirement can only be fulfilled by a controlled progressive crash kinematics. Experiments showed that the failure of a twin-walled fuselage panel can be controlled by a local modification of the core through-thickness compression strength. For folded cores the required change in core properties can be integrated by a modification of the fold pattern. However, the complexity of folded cores requires a virtual design methodology for tailoring the fold pattern according to all static and crash relevant requirements. In this context a foldcore micromodel simulation method is presented to identify the structural response of a twin-walled fuselage panels with folded core under crash relevant loading condition. The simulations showed that a high degree of correlation is required before simulation can replace expensive testing. In the presented studies, the necessary correlation quality could only be obtained by including imperfections of the core material in the micromodel simulation approach.

Pediatric hospital medicine core competencies: development and methodology.

PubMed

Stucky, Erin R; Ottolini, Mary C; Maniscalco, Jennifer

2010-01-01

Pediatric hospital medicine is the most rapidly growing site-based pediatric specialty. There are over 2500 unique members in the three core societies in which pediatric hospitalists are members: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM). Pediatric hospitalists are fulfilling both clinical and system improvement roles within varied hospital systems. Defined expectations and competencies for pediatric hospitalists are needed. In 2005, SHM's Pediatric Core Curriculum Task Force initiated the project and formed the editorial board. Over the subsequent four years, multiple pediatric hospitalists belonging to the AAP, APA, or SHM contributed to the content of and guided the development of the project. Editors and collaborators created a framework for identifying appropriate competency content areas. Content experts from both within and outside of pediatric hospital medicine participated as contributors. A number of selected national organizations and societies provided valuable feedback on chapters. The final product was validated by formal review from the AAP, APA, and SHM. The Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies were created. They include 54 chapters divided into four sections: Common Clinical Diagnoses and Conditions, Core Skills, Specialized Clinical Services, and Healthcare Systems: Supporting and Advancing Child Health. Each chapter can be used independently of the others. Chapters follow the knowledge, skills, and attitudes educational curriculum format, and have an additional section on systems organization and improvement to reflect the pediatric hospitalist's responsibility to advance systems of care. These competencies provide a foundation for the creation of pediatric hospital medicine curricula and serve to standardize and improve inpatient training practices. (c) 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Late Pleistocene to Holocene environmental changes as recorded in the sulfur geochemistry of coastal plain sediments, southwestern Taiwan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chen, Y.-G.; Liu, J.C.-L.; Shieh, Y.-N.; Liu, T.-K.

2004-01-01

A core, drilled at San-liao-wan in the southwestern coastal plain of Taiwan, has been analyzed for total sulfur contents, isotopic values, as well as ratios of pyritic sulfur to organic carbon. Our results demonstrate a close relationship between late Pleistocene sea-level change and the proxies generated in this study. The inorganic sulfur contents indicate that at our study site, the Holocene transgression started at ???11 ka and remained under seawater for thousands of years until the late Holocene, corresponding to a depth of 20 m in the study core. The uppermost 20 m of core shows relatively high total organic carbon (TOC) and ??34S of inorganic sulfur, suggesting a transitional environment such as muddy lagoon or marsh, before the site turned into a modern coastal plain. In the lower part of the core, at depths of 110-145 m (corresponding ages of ???12-30 ka), low sulfur contents are recorded, probably indicating fluvial sediments deposited during the oceanic isotope stage (OIS) 2, a sea-level lowstand. The lower part of the core, roughly within OIS 3, records at least two transgressions, although the transgressional signals may be somewhat obscured by subsequent weathering. The reworked origin of organic matter reported in previous studies is confirmed by our organic sulfur data; however, the marine organic source was periodically dominant. The modern high sulfate concentrations in pore water have no correlation to the other sulfur species in the sediments, probably indicating that the sulfate migrated into the site subsequent to early diagenesis. ?? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predoctoral Curriculum Guidelines for Biomaterials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of Dental Education, 1986

1986-01-01

The American Association of Dental Schools' predoctoral guidelines for biomaterials curricula includes notes on interrelationships between this and other fields, a curriculum overview, primary educational goals, prerequisites, a core content outline, specific behavioral objectives for each content area, and information on sequencing, faculty and…

Sensors, Circuits, and Satellites - NGSS at it's best: the integration of three dimensions with NASA science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butcher, G. J.; Roberts-Harris, D.

2013-12-01

A set of innovative classroom lessons were developed based on informal learning activities in the 'Sensors, Circuits, and Satellites' kit manufactured by littleBits™ Electronics that are designed to lead students through a logical science content storyline about energy using sound and light and fully implements an integrated approach to the three dimensions of the Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS). This session will illustrate the integration of NGSS into curriculum by deconstructing lesson design to parse out the unique elements of the 3 dimensions of NGSS. We will demonstrate ways in which we have incorporated the NGSS as we believe they were intended. According to the NGSS, 'The real innovation in the NGSS is the requirement that students are required to operate at the intersection of practice, content, and connection. Performance expectations are the right way to integrate the three dimensions. It provides specificity for educators, but it also sets the tone for how science instruction should look in classrooms. (p. 3). The 'Sensors, Circuits, and Satellites' series of lessons accomplishes this by going beyond just focusing on the conceptual knowledge (the disciplinary core ideas) - traditionally approached by mapping lessons to standards. These lessons incorporate the other 2 dimensions -cross-cutting concepts and the 8-practices of Sciences and Engineering-via an authentic and exciting connection to NASA science, thus implementing the NGSS in the way they were designed to be used: practices and content with the crosscutting concepts. When the NGSS are properly integrated, students are engaged in science and engineering content through the coupling of practice, content and connection. In the past, these two dimensions have been separated as distinct entities. We know now that coupling content and practices better demonstrates what goes on in real world science and engineering. We set out to accomplish what is called for in NGSS by integrating these three dimensions to 'provide students with a context for the content of science, how science knowledge is acquired and understood, and how the sciences are connected through concepts that have universal meaning across the disciplines,' which include connections to authentic NASA science (NGSS, pg.2). The NASA context is embedded in the lessons and designed to interest students in Earth and space science. Research suggests that personal interest, experience, and enthusiasm--critical to children's learning of science at school or in other settings-- may also be linked to later educational and career choices. (Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Cross-cutting concepts, Core ideas, p. 28) Students are encouraged to follow their interests, through additional online resources, real world NASA applications, and career connections offering insight to course offerings and possible majors. Combined with the innovative electronic component kit manufactured by littleBits™ Electronics, students are excited and engaged in authentic science and engineering. Sample circuit used in the Sensors, Circuits, and Satellites kit.

Management of the high-order mode content in large (40 microm) core photonic bandgap Bragg fiber laser.

PubMed

Gaponov, D A; Février, S; Devautour, M; Roy, P; Likhachev, M E; Aleshkina, S S; Salganskii, M Y; Yashkov, M V; Guryanov, A N

2010-07-01

Very large-mode-area Yb(3+)-doped single-mode photonic bandgap (PBG) Bragg fiber oscillators are considered. The transverse hole-burning effect is numerically modeled, which helps properly design the PBG cladding and the Yb(3+)-doped region for the high-order mode content to be carefully controlled. A ratio of the Yb(3+)-doped region diameter to the overall core diameter of 40% allows for single-mode emission, even for small spool diameters of 15 cm. Such a fiber was manufactured and subsequently used as the core element of a cw oscillator. Very good beam quality parameter M(2)=1.12 and slope efficiency of 80% were measured. Insensitivity to bending, exemplified by the absence of temporal drift of the beam, was demonstrated for curvature diameter as small as 15 cm.

Democratizing Access to Core Mathematics across Grades 9-12

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hegedus, Stephen; Dalton, Sara; Brookstein, Arden; Tapper, John; Heller, Eric

2011-01-01

The authors' proposed work builds upon 12+ years of research collectively known as the "SimCalc Projects." SimCalc Connected MathWorlds (SCM) combines two innovative technological ingredients to address core mathematical ideas in deep and sustainable ways for mathematics learners. Software that addresses content issues through dynamic…

Honors in Honduras: Engaged Learning in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Folds-Bennett, Trisha; Twomey, Mary Pat

2013-01-01

A significant challenge in honors education is providing experiences through which students deeply engage ideas and content so that their analytical abilities and core beliefs and values are transformed. The College of Charleston Honors College aimed to stimulate critical thinking and examination of core values through a more holistic approach to…

Utah's New Mathematics Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Utah State Office of Education, 2011

2011-01-01

Utah has adopted more rigorous mathematics standards known as the Utah Mathematics Core Standards. They are the foundation of the mathematics curriculum for the State of Utah. The standards include the skills and understanding students need to succeed in college and careers. They include rigorous content and application of knowledge and reflect…

The Common Core and Inverse Functions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edenfield, Kelly W.

2012-01-01

The widespread adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSI 2010) shows a commitment to changing mathematics teaching and learning in pursuit of increasing student achievement. CCSSM should not be viewed as just another list of content standards for publishers and assessment groups to design their products around. Many…

Geochemical changes and fracture development in Woodford Shale cores following hydrous pyrolysis under uniaxial confinement

USGS Publications Warehouse

Birdwell, Justin E.; Lewan, Michael D.; Miller, Michael; Baez, Luis; Beeney, Ken; Sonnenberg, Steve

2013-01-01

A uniaxial confinement clamp was used on Woodford Shale cores in hydrous pyrolysis experiments to study fracture development during thermal maturation. The clamp simulates overburden in that it prevents cores from expanding perpendicular to bedding fabric during the volume-increasing reactions associated with petroleum generation. Cores were cut from a slab of immature Woodford Shale and subjected to hydrous pyrolysis under confinement at 300, 330, and 365 °C for 72 hours to induce thermal maturities ranging from early bitumen to maximum expelled-oil generation. Two additional cores were used as experimental controls: (1) a confined core was saturated with water by heating it to 100 °C under hydrous pyrolysis conditions for 72 hours to use for characterization of the original rock, and (2) an unconfined core was heated at 365 °C for 72 hours to evaluate the effects of confinement on petroleum generation and expulsion. X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) imaging and other analyses identified five distinct beds within the cored interval. Using a tentative classification system, beds 1, 2, and 3 are described as dolomitic marlstone (DM) with total organic carbon (TOC) contents of 7.7, 5.8, and 7.7 wt. %, respectively; bed 4 is a cherty quartzose claystone (CQC) with TOC content of 5.5 wt. %; and bed 5 is a quartzose claystone with TOC content of 10.9 wt. %. Bed samples all had similar Rock-Eval hydrogen indices (600 ± 46 mg S2/g-TOC) and Tmax values (433 ± 2 °C), demonstrating organic matter uniformity and low thermal maturity. The X-CT scan of the core heated to 100 °C showed preexisting fractures that were nearly perpendicular to the bedding fabric primarily in the low-TOC DM bed 2 and CQC bed 4. Heating led to enhancement of preexisting fractures in the confined cores with the greatest enhancement occurring in CQC bed 4. The fractures increased in size and intensity with temperature. This is attributed to the internal pressure generated by volume-increasing reactions during the conversion of kerogen to bitumen and bitumen to oil and gas. The unconfined core heated to 365 °C showed no enhanced fracturing and its X-CT-scan resembled that of the 100 °C confined core. Comparison of the oil and gas yields from the confined and unconfined cores heated to 365 °C showed no significant differences, indicating that product expulsion is not inhibited by the procedure used in this study. These results also indicate that fracturing during thermal maturation is driven primarily by the enhancement of existing fractures.

Investigation of quartz diagenesis in mudstones of the Spraberry and Wolfcamp Formations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eakin, A.; Reece, J. S.

2016-12-01

Here we present preliminary core analysis of the diagenetic variability existing within a siliceous mudstone facies of the Permian Spraberry and Wolfcamp Formations in the Midland Basin, Texas. Within this mudstone facies, the carbonate content varies from absent in several Wolfcamp Formation samples to >40 wt. % in the Spraberry Formation. A normalized ratio of quartz to clay content with carbonate removed reveals a systematic decrease in quartz content with increasing clay content. This relationship is typical of rocks with variable amounts of detrital quartz content. However, in this siliceous mudstone facies, the abundance of detrital quartz silt grains does not vary widely. Additionally, for the same clay content, the Wolfcamp Formation shows a higher concentration of quartz than the Spraberry Formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the presence of microcrystalline quartz cement that likely accounts for the increased quartz content in the Wolfcamp Formation. This research tests the hypothesis that the increased quartz cement in the Wolfcamp Formation may occur at the expense of the carbonate cement present in the overlying Spraberry Formation. Furthermore, the deviation in quartz content for the same clay concentration only occurs once the ratio of quartz to clay content increases beyond 1.2. This ratio may represent a threshold of detrital quartz in the clay matrix required to have enough porosity and nucleation surface area for authigenic quartz growth. The presence of matrix cement may impact the mechanical properties to favor fracturing and cataclasis over more ductile deformation. This would enhance development of secondary porosity, while also increasing permeability through the connection of primary pores. Acquiring a fundamental understanding of diagenesis in the Spraberry and Wolfcamp Formations will aid in better prediction of mechanical behavior during drilling and optimized resource recovery.

Core Professionalism Education in Surgery: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Sarıoğlu Büke, Akile; Karabilgin Öztürkçü, Özlem Sürel; Yılmaz, Yusuf; Sayek, İskender

2018-01-01

Background: Professionalism education is one of the major elements of surgical residency education. Aims: To evaluate the studies on core professionalism education programs in surgical professionalism education. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: This systematic literature review was performed to analyze core professionalism programs for surgical residency education published in English with at least three of the following features: program developmental model/instructional design method, aims and competencies, methods of teaching, methods of assessment, and program evaluation model or method. A total of 27083 articles were retrieved using EBSCOHOST, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and manual search. Results: Eight articles met the selection criteria. The instructional design method was presented in only one article, which described the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation model. Six articles were based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education criterion, although there was significant variability in content. The most common teaching method was role modeling with scenario- and case-based learning. A wide range of assessment methods for evaluating professionalism education were reported. The Kirkpatrick model was reported in one article as a method for program evaluation. Conclusion: It is suggested that for a core surgical professionalism education program, developmental/instructional design model, aims and competencies, content, teaching methods, assessment methods, and program evaluation methods/models should be well defined, and the content should be comparable. PMID:29553464

Emerging technology becomes an opportunity for EOS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fargion, Giulietta S.; Harberts, Robert; Masek, Jeffrey G.

1996-11-01

During the last decade, we have seen an explosive growth in our ability to collect and generate data. When implemented, NASA's Earth observing system data information system (EOSDIS) will receive about 50 gigabytes of remotely sensed image data per hour. This will generate an urgent need for new techniques and tools that can automatically and intelligently assist in transforming this abundance of data into useful knowledge. Some emerging technologies that address these challenges include data mining and knowledge discovery in databases (KDD). The most basic data mining application is a content-based search (examples include finding images of particular meteorological phenomena or identifying data that have been previously mined or interpreted). In order that these technologies be effectively exploited for EOSDIS development, a better understanding of data mining and the requirements for using this technology is necessary. The authors are currently undertaking a project exploring the requirements and options of content-based search and data mining for use on EOSDIS. The scope of the project is to develop a prototype with which to investigate user interface concepts, requirements, and designs relevant for EOSDIS core system (ECS) subsystem utilizing these techniques. The goal is to identify a generic handling of these functions. This prototype will help identify opportunities which the earth science community and EOSDIS can use to meet the challenges of collecting, searching, retrieving, and interacting with abundant data resources in highly productive ways.

Different nature of glacial CaCO3 constituents between MIS 2 and MIS 12 in the East Sea/Japan Sea and its paleoceanographic implication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khim, Boo-Keun; Tada, Ryuji; Itaki, Takuya

2014-05-01

Two piston cores (PC-05 and PC-08) were collected on the Yamato Rise in the East Sea/Japan Sea during the KR07-12 cruise. A composite core was achieved with the successful replacement of almost half of the upper part of core PC-05 by the entirety of core PC-08 based on the co-equivalence of L* values and the dark layers, because an interval (170 cm to 410 cm) of core PC-05 was considerably disturbed due to fluidization during the core execution. Chronostratigraphy of the composite core was constructed by the direct comparison of L* values to the well-dated core MD01-2407 that was obtained in the Oki Ridge. The lower-bottom of the composite core reached back to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 14, based on the age estimate by LR04 stacks. Downcore opal variation of the composite core exhibited the distinct orbital-scale cyclic changes; high during the interglacial and low during the glacial periods. However, downcore CaCO3 variation showed no corresponding orbital-scale cyclic change between glacial and interglacial periods. Some intervals of both periods were high in CaCO3 content. Frequent and large fluctuations in CaCO3 content seemed to be more related to the presence of dark layers containing thin lamination (TL) within the glacial and interglacial intervals. It is worthy to note that MIS 2 and MIS 12 are characterized by distinctly high CaCO3 content, showing up to 18% and 73%, respectively, among the glacial periods. Furthermore, in terms of lithology, MIS 2 was characterized by a thick dark layer (low L* values) with TL, whereas MIS 12 preserved the distinctly light layer (high L* values) with parallel laminations. Another remarkable dissimilarity between MIS 2 and MIS 12 was the nature of their CaCO3 constituent; the CaCO3 constituent of MIS 2 consisted of mostly planktonic foraminifera, whereas that of MIS 12 was mostly dump of coccolithophorids, regardless the presence of planktonic foraminifera. The distinctness of the CaCO3 constituents between MIS 2 and MIS 12 indicates that the preservation of CaCO3 contents was different temporarily during the glacial periods in the East Sea/Japan Sea. Enhanced CaCO3 preservation in MIS 2 is attributed primarily to less dissolution during the sinking through the water column or at the seafloor, but increased CaCO3 preservation in MIS 12 is mainly due to the high primary production in the surface water. With respect to the different function of the biological pump which controls CO2 cycles, the East Sea/Japan Sea clearly experienced carbonate-ocean-like state during MIS 12, despite normally silica-ocean-like state.

24 CFR 257.3 - Scope of part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... PROGRAM HOPE for Homeowners Program-General Requirements § 257.3 Scope of part. (a) Core requirements. This subpart establishes the core requirements for the H4H program. (b) Basic program parameters. (1...

24 CFR 257.3 - Scope of part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... PROGRAM HOPE for Homeowners Program-General Requirements § 257.3 Scope of part. (a) Core requirements. This subpart establishes the core requirements for the H4H program. (b) Basic program parameters. (1...

76 FR 13101 - Requirements for Processing, Clearing, and Transfer of Customer Positions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-10

... organization (DCO) for clearing. Proposed regulations also would facilitate compliance with DCO Core Principle.... The Commission is further proposing related regulations implementing SEF Core Principle 7 (Financial Integrity of Transactions) and DCM Core Principle 11 (Financial Integrity of Transactions), requiring...

H Diffusion in Olivine and Pyroxene from Peridotite Xenoliths and a Hawaiian Magma Speedometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peslier, A. H.; Bizimis, M.

2014-01-01

Hydrogen is present as a trace element in olivine and pyroxene and its content distribution in the mantle results from melting and metasomatic processes. Here we examine how these H contents can be disturbed during decompression. Hydrogen was analyzed by FTIR in olivine and pyroxene of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Salt Lake Crater (SLC) nephelinites which are part of the rejuvenated volcanism at Oahu (Hawaii) [1,2]. H mobility in pyroxene resulting from spinel exsolution during mantle upwelling Most pyroxenes in SLC peridotites exhibit exsolutions, characterized by spinel inclusions. Pyroxene edges where no exsolution are present have less H then their core near the spinel. Given that H does not enter spinel [3], subsolidus requilibration may have concentrated H in the pyroxene adjacent to the spinel exsolution during mantle upwelling. H diffusion in olivine during xenolith transport by its host magma and host magma ascent rates Olivines have lower water contents at the edge and near fractures compared to at their core, while the concentrations of all other chemical elements appear homogeneous. This suggests that some of the initial water has diffused out of the olivine. Water loss from the olivine is thought to occur during host-magma ascent and xenolith transport to the surface [4-6]. Diffusion modeling matches best the data when the initial water content used is that measured at the core of the olivines, implying that mantle water contents are preserved at the core of the olivines. The 3225 cm(sup -1) OH band at times varies independantly of other OH bands, suggesting uneven H distribution in olivine defects likely acquired during mantle metasomatism just prior to eruption and unequilibrated. Diffusion times (1-48 hrs) combined with depths of peridotite equilibration or of magma start of degassing allow to calculate ascent rates for the host nephelinite of 0.1 to 27 m/s.

Non-climatic signal in ice core records: Lessons from Antarctic mega-dunes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekaykin, Alexey; Eberlein, Lutz; Lipenkov, Vladimir; Popov, Sergey; Schroder, Ludwig

2015-04-01

We present the results of glaciological investigations in the mega-dune area located 30 km to the east from Vostok Station (central East Antarctica) implemented during the 58th and 59th Russian Antarctic Expedition (January 2013 and January 2014). Snow accumulation rate and isotope content (δD and δ18O) were measured along the 2-km profile across the mega-dune ridge accompanied by precise GPS altitude measurements and GPR survey. It is shown that the spatial variability of snow accumulation and isotope content covaries with the surface slope. The accumulation rate regularly changes by 1 order of magnitude within the distance < 1 km, with the reduced accumulation at the leeward slope of the dune and increased accumulation in the hollow between the dunes. At the same time, the accumulation rate averaged over the length of a dune wave (25 mm w.e.) corresponds well with the value obtained at Vostok Station, which suggests no additional wind-driven snow sublimation in the mega-dunes comparing to the surrounding plateau. The snow isotope content is in negative correlation with the snow accumulation, which could be explained by post-depositional snow modification and/or by enhanced redistribution by wind of winter precipitation comparing to summer precipitation. Using the GPR data, we estimated the dune drift velocity (5.5 ± 1.3 m yr-1). The full cycle of the dune drift is thus about 340 years. Since the spatial anomalies of snow accumulation and isotope content are supposed to drift with the dune, an ice core drilled in the mega-dune area would exhibit the non-climatic 340-yr cycle of these two parameters. We made an attempt to simulate a vertical profile of isotope content with such a non-climatic variability in a virtual ice core, using the data on the dune size and velocity. The obtained results are discussed in terms of real ice core data interpretation.

Core competencies for shared decision making training programs: insights from an international, interdisciplinary working group.

PubMed

Légaré, France; Moumjid-Ferdjaoui, Nora; Drolet, Renée; Stacey, Dawn; Härter, Martin; Bastian, Hilda; Beaulieu, Marie-Dominique; Borduas, Francine; Charles, Cathy; Coulter, Angela; Desroches, Sophie; Friedrich, Gwendolyn; Gafni, Amiram; Graham, Ian D; Labrecque, Michel; LeBlanc, Annie; Légaré, Jean; Politi, Mary; Sargeant, Joan; Thomson, Richard

2013-01-01

Shared decision making is now making inroads in health care professionals' continuing education curriculum, but there is no consensus on what core competencies are required by clinicians for effectively involving patients in health-related decisions. Ready-made programs for training clinicians in shared decision making are in high demand, but existing programs vary widely in their theoretical foundations, length, and content. An international, interdisciplinary group of 25 individuals met in 2012 to discuss theoretical approaches to making health-related decisions, compare notes on existing programs, take stock of stakeholders concerns, and deliberate on core competencies. This article summarizes the results of those discussions. Some participants believed that existing models already provide a sufficient conceptual basis for developing and implementing shared decision making competency-based training programs on a wide scale. Others argued that this would be premature as there is still no consensus on the definition of shared decision making or sufficient evidence to recommend specific competencies for implementing shared decision making. However, all participants agreed that there were 2 broad types of competencies that clinicians need for implementing shared decision making: relational competencies and risk communication competencies. Further multidisciplinary research could broaden and deepen our understanding of core competencies for shared decision making training. Copyright © 2013 The Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education, and the Council on CME, Association for Hospital Medical Education.

Bird Boxes Build Content Area Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cianca, Sherri Ann

2013-01-01

This article describes a preservice teacher training in line with meeting the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) using geometric reasoning, spatial sense, measurement, representation, communication, and problem solving. The author infers that when preservice teachers lack pedagogical content knowledge they cannot successfully…

Using CoRes to Develop the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) of Early Career Science and Technology Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, John; Lockley, John

2012-01-01

Research has shown that one of the factors that enable effective teachers is their rich "Pedagogical Content Knowledge" (PCK), a special blend of content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge that is built up over time and experience. This form of professional knowledge, first theorized by Shulman (1987), is topic-specific, unique to each…

Temporal Change of Seismic Earth's Inner Core Phases: Inner Core Differential Rotation Or Temporal Change of Inner Core Surface?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, J.; Tian, D.; Sun, L.; Wen, L.

2017-12-01

Since Song and Richards [1996] first reported seismic evidence for temporal change of PKIKP wave (a compressional wave refracted in the inner core) and proposed inner core differential rotation as its explanation, it has generated enormous interests in the scientific community and the public, and has motivated many studies on the implications of the inner core differential rotation. However, since Wen [2006] reported seismic evidence for temporal change of PKiKP wave (a compressional wave reflected from the inner core boundary) that requires temporal change of inner core surface, both interpretations for the temporal change of inner core phases have existed, i.e., inner core rotation and temporal change of inner core surface. In this study, we discuss the issue of the interpretation of the observed temporal changes of those inner core phases and conclude that inner core differential rotation is not only not required but also in contradiction with three lines of seismic evidence from global repeating earthquakes. Firstly, inner core differential rotation provides an implausible explanation for a disappearing inner core scatterer between a doublet in South Sandwich Islands (SSI), which is located to be beneath northern Brazil based on PKIKP and PKiKP coda waves of the earlier event of the doublet. Secondly, temporal change of PKIKP and its coda waves among a cluster in SSI is inconsistent with the interpretation of inner core differential rotation, with one set of the data requiring inner core rotation and the other requiring non-rotation. Thirdly, it's not reasonable to invoke inner core differential rotation to explain travel time change of PKiKP waves in a very small time scale (several months), which is observed for repeating earthquakes in Middle America subduction zone. On the other hand, temporal change of inner core surface could provide a consistent explanation for all the observed temporal changes of PKIKP and PKiKP and their coda waves. We conclude that the observed temporal changes of the inner core phases are caused by temporal changes of inner core surface. The temporal changes of inner core surface are found to occur in some localized regions within a short time scale (years to months), a phenomenon that should provide important clues to a potentially fundamental change of our understanding of core dynamics.

Content Validation and Evaluation of an Endovascular Teamwork Assessment Tool.

PubMed

Hull, L; Bicknell, C; Patel, K; Vyas, R; Van Herzeele, I; Sevdalis, N; Rudarakanchana, N

2016-07-01

To modify, content validate, and evaluate a teamwork assessment tool for use in endovascular surgery. A multistage, multimethod study was conducted. Stage 1 included expert review and modification of the existing Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS) tool. Stage 2 included identification of additional exemplar behaviours contributing to effective teamwork and enhanced patient safety in endovascular surgery (using real-time observation, focus groups, and semistructured interviews of multidisciplinary teams). Stage 3 included content validation of exemplar behaviours using expert consensus according to established psychometric recommendations and evaluation of structure, content, feasibility, and usability of the Endovascular Observational Teamwork Assessment Tool (Endo-OTAS) by an expert multidisciplinary panel. Stage 4 included final team expert review of exemplars. OTAS core team behaviours were maintained (communication, coordination, cooperation, leadership team monitoring). Of the 114 OTAS behavioural exemplars, 19 were modified, four removed, and 39 additional endovascular-specific behaviours identified. Content validation of these 153 exemplar behaviours showed that 113/153 (73.9%) reached the predetermined Item-Content Validity Index rating for teamwork and/or patient safety. After expert team review, 140/153 (91.5%) exemplars were deemed to warrant inclusion in the tool. More than 90% of the expert panel agreed that Endo-OTAS is an appropriate teamwork assessment tool with observable behaviours. Some concerns were noted about the time required to conduct observations and provide performance feedback. Endo-OTAS is a novel teamwork assessment tool, with evidence for content validity and relevance to endovascular teams. Endo-OTAS enables systematic objective assessment of the quality of team performance during endovascular procedures. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

23. CORE WORKER OPERATING A COREBLOWER THAT PNEUMATICALLY FILLED CORE ...

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

23. CORE WORKER OPERATING A CORE-BLOWER THAT PNEUMATICALLY FILLED CORE BOXES WITH RESIGN IMPREGNATED SAND AND CREATED A CORE THAT THEN REQUIRED BAKING, CA. 1950. - Stockham Pipe & Fittings Company, 4000 Tenth Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL

Improving dielectric properties of BaTiO3/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites by employing core-shell structured BaTiO3@Poly(methylmethacrylate) and BaTiO3@Poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xianhong; Zhao, Sidi; Wang, Fang; Ma, Yuhong; Wang, Li; Chen, Dong; Zhao, Changwen; Yang, Wantai

2017-05-01

Polymer based dielectric composites were fabricated through incorporation of core-shell structured BaTiO3 (BT) nanoparticles into PVDF matrix by means of solution blending. Core-shell structured BT nanoparticles with different shell composition and shell thickness were prepared by grafting methacrylate monomer (MMA or TFEMA) onto the surface of BT nanoparticles via surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The content of the grafted polymer and the micro-morphology of the core-shell structured BT nanoparticles were investigated by thermo gravimetric analyses (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The dielectric properties were measured by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The results showed that high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss are successfully realized in the polymer based composites. Moreover, the type of the grafted polymer and its content had different effect on the dielectric constant. In detail, the attenuation of dielectric constant was 16.6% for BT@PMMA1/PVDF and 10.7% for BT@PMMA2/PVDF composite in the range of 10 Hz to 100 kHz, in which the grafted content of PMMA was 5.5% and 8.0%, respectively. However, the attenuation of dielectric constant was 5.5% for BT@PTFEMA1/PVDF and 4.0% for BT@PTFEMA2/PVDF composite, in which the grafted content of PTFEMA was 1.5% and 2.0%, respectively. These attractive features of BT@PTFEMA/PVDF composites suggested that dielectric ceramic fillers modified with fluorinated polymer can be used to prepare high performance composites, especially those with low dielectric loss and high dielectric constant.

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

Blanchard, I.; Badro, J.; Siebert, J.

We present gallium concentration (normalized to CI chondrites) in the mantle is at the same level as that of lithophile elements with similar volatility, implying that there must be little to no gallium in Earth's core. Metal-silicate partitioning experiments, however, have shown that gallium is a moderately siderophile element and should be therefore depleted in the mantle by core formation. Moreover, gallium concentrations in the mantle (4 ppm) are too high to be only brought by the late veneer; and neither pressure, nor temperature, nor silicate composition has a large enough effect on gallium partitioning to make it lithophile. Wemore » therefore systematically investigated the effect of core composition (light element content) on the partitioning of gallium by carrying out metal–silicate partitioning experiments in a piston–cylinder press at 2 GPa between 1673 K and 2073 K. Four light elements (Si, O, S, C) were considered, and their effect was found to be sufficiently strong to make gallium lithophile. The partitioning of gallium was then modeled and parameterized as a function of pressure, temperature, redox and core composition. A continuous core formation model was used to track the evolution of gallium partitioning during core formation, for various magma ocean depths, geotherms, core light element contents, and magma ocean composition (redox) during accretion. The only model for which the final gallium concentration in the silicate Earth matched the observed value is the one involving a light-element rich core equilibrating in a FeO-rich deep magma ocean (>1300 km) with a final pressure of at least 50 GPa. More specifically, the incorporation of S and C in the core provided successful models only for concentrations that lie far beyond their allowable cosmochemical or geophysical limits, whereas realistic O and Si amounts (less than 5 wt.%) in the core provided successful models for magma oceans deeper that 1300 km. In conclusion, these results offer a strong argument for an O- and Si-rich core, formed in a deep terrestrial magma ocean, along with oxidizing conditions.« less

OPTICAL FIBRES AND FIBREOPTIC SENSORS: Bismuth-ring-doped fibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zlenko, Aleksandr S.; Akhmetshin, Ural G.; Dvoirin, Vladislav V.; Bogatyrev, Vladimir A.; Firstov, Sergei V.

2009-11-01

A new process for bismuth doping of optical fibres is proposed in which the dopant is introduced into a thin layer surrounding the fibre core. This enables bismuth stabilisation in the silica glass, with no limitations on the core composition. In particular, the GeO2 content of the fibre core in this study is 16 mol %. Spectroscopic characterisation of such fibres and optical gain measurements suggest that the proposed approach has considerable potential for laser applications.

Static compression of Fe 0.83Ni 0.09Si 0.08 alloy to 374 GPa and Fe 0.93Si 0.07 alloy to 252 GPa: Implications for the Earth's inner core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asanuma, Hidetoshi; Ohtani, Eiji; Sakai, Takeshi; Terasaki, Hidenori; Kamada, Seiji; Hirao, Naohisa; Ohishi, Yasuo

2011-10-01

The pressure-volume equations of state of iron-nickel-silicon alloy Fe 0.83Ni 0.09Si 0.08 (Fe-9.8 wt.% Ni-4.0 wt.% Si) and iron-silicon alloy Fe 0.93Si 0.07 (Fe-3.4 wt.% Si) have been investigated up to 374 GPa and 252 GPa, respectively. The present compression data covered pressures of the Earth's core. We confirmed that both Fe 0.83Ni 0.09Si 0.08 and Fe 0.93Si 0.07 alloys remain in the hexagonal close packed structure at all pressures studied. We obtained the density of these alloys at the pressure of the inner core boundary (ICB), 330 GPa at 300 K by fitting the compression data to the third order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. Using these density values combined with the previous data for hcp-Fe, hcp-Fe 0.8Ni 0.2, and hcp-Fe 0.84Si 0.16 alloys and comparing with the density of the PREM inner core, we estimated the Ni and Si contents of the inner core. The Si content of the inner core estimated here is slightly greater than that estimated previously based on the sound velocity measurement of the hcp-Fe-Ni-Si alloy at high pressure.

Using Intentional Development of Research Skills as a Framework for Curriculum Reform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, V. L.; Lord, M. L.

2008-12-01

We advocate that geoscience departmental or community discussions related to curriculur revision or accreditation should be considered within a framework that clearly and intentionally develops research and professional skills throughout the curricular structure. Among the primary qualities sought by geoscience employers and graduate schools are graduates with strong research, critical thinking, field, communication, and people/team skills. While these should be the hallmark of a liberally educated graduate, we think it is imperative to explicitly develop and assess these skills as part of the same curricular framework used for organizing essential content. Though many organizations and authors have argued about the importance and effectiveness of undergraduate research as a means to develop higher level skill sets, discussions of geoscience accreditation or curricular revision commonly emphasize the choice of a core set of courses or content. Drummond and Markin (2008) highlight the commonalities among core geoscience courses. However, their summary, and our own experiences and program comparisons also point out diversity among successful geoscience program cores that may relate to expansion of the boundaries of our discipline, geographic factors, and/or size and character of department faculty. At Western Carolina University (WCU) and more recently at Grand Valley State University, attempts at curricular revision were initially stymied by difficulties in defining core courses. At WCU, focus on a critical skills framework helped to work through these challenges to establish a revised geology curriculum in 2000 with explicit goals to build critical thinking, reasoning, synthesis, and communication skills. To achieve these goals, investigative experiences were included in all geology courses, a senior research capstone was required, and more opportunities were created for all students to engage in out-of-class research. Numerous measures indicate programmatic and student successes, but reveal challenges that the program now seeks to improve by adding skills and assessment benchmarks to key courses at each class level. These changes are supported by a faculty with a common vision, a recent program review, and a University initiative to improve student engagement and synthesis.

Understanding Preservice Teachers' Technology Use through TPACK Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pamuk, S.

2012-01-01

This study discusses preservice teachers' achievement barriers to technology integration, using principles of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) as an evaluative framework. Technology-capable participants each freely chose a content area to comprise project. Data analysis based on interactions among core components of TPACK…

Integrating Magnetics for On-Chip Power: A Perspective

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

Sullivan, CR; Harburg, DV; Qiu, JZ

Integration of efficient power converters requires technology for efficient, high-power on-chip inductors and transformers. Increases in switching frequency, facilitated by advances in circuit designs and silicon or wide-bandgap semiconductors, can enable miniaturization, but only if the magnetics technology works well at the higher frequencies. Technologies, geometries, and scaling of air-core and magnetic-core inductors and transformers are examined, and their potential for integration is discussed. Air-core inductors can use simpler fabrication, and increasing frequency can always be used to decrease their size, but magnetic cores can decrease the required thickness without requiring as high a frequency.

The Effect of the Air-Delivery Method on Parameters of the Precessing Vortex Core in a Hydrodynamic Vortex Chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alekseenko, S. V.; Shtork, S. I.; Yusupov, R. R.

2018-03-01

The effect of the method of gas-phase injection into a swirled fluid flow on parameters of a precessing vortex core is studied experimentally. Conditions of the appearance of the vortex-core precession effect were modeled in a hydrodynamic sudden expansion vortex chamber. The dependences of the vortexcore precession frequency, flow-pulsation level, and full pressure differential in the vortex chamber on the consumption gas content in the flow have been obtained. The results of measurements permit one to determine optimum conditions for the most effective control of vortex-core precession.

Examining the Common Core State Standards in Agricultural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKim, Aaron J.; Lambert, Misty D.; Sorensen, Tyson J.; Velez, Jonathan J.

2015-01-01

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represent a shift in the American education system. Included in the CCSS are opportunities for agriculture teachers to integrate math and English language arts content into their curriculum. Using the theory of planned behavior, we sought to identify Oregon agriculture teachers' attitudes, familiarity with,…

The Unified Core: A "Major" Learning Community Model in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Powell, Gwynn M.; Johnson, Corey W.; James, J. Joy; Dunlap, Rudy

2011-01-01

The Unified Core is an innovative approach to higher education that blends content through linked courses within a major to create a community of learners. This article offers the theoretical background for the approach, describes the implementation, and offers suggestions to educators who would like to design their own version of this innovative…

Content Validity of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Multiple Sclerosis from the Perspective of Speech and Language Therapists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Renom, Marta; Conrad, Andrea; Bascuñana, Helena; Cieza, Alarcos; Galán, Ingrid; Kesselring, Jürg; Coenen, Michaela

2014-01-01

Background: The Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a comprehensive framework to structure the information obtained in multidisciplinary clinical settings according to the biopsychosocial perspective of the International Classification of Functioning,…

Helping Children Become More Knowledgeable through Text

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neuman, Susan B.; Roskos, Kathleen

2012-01-01

With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, curriculum resources are shifting from an emphasis on literary texts to a greater focus on informational texts. Although we need to understand the intention of these new Common Core State Standards, and the important drive toward greater content knowledge for all students, we must be wary of…

Using Sentence Frames to Develop Academic Vocabulary for English Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Donnelly, Whitney Bray; Roe, Christopher J.

2010-01-01

Often, English-language development (ELD) is taught during a dedicated time of the school day. There is often a mismatch between the content of ELD and the lessons taught during core instruction provided during the remainder of the day. During core instruction, teachers use specially designed academic instruction in English strategies to ensure…

Mathematical Rigor in the Common Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hull, Ted H.; Balka, Don S.; Miles, Ruth Harbin

2013-01-01

A whirlwind of activity surrounds the topic of teaching and learning mathematics. The driving forces are a combination of changes in assessment and advances in technology that are being spurred on by the introduction of content in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice. Although the issues are certainly complex, the same forces…

Sociology and Essential Elements: A Challenge for Secondary Teachers of Social Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Short, Alvin P.; And Others

1989-01-01

Reviews the status of sociology in the public schools through four studies carried out over an eight-year period in the public schools. Examines the core content of high school sociology courses along with the core sociological knowledge, values and skills that have been integrated into other social studies courses. (LS)

Applying Mass Customization Concepts to Core Courses: Increasing Student-Centered Customization and Enabling Cross-Functional Integration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Darryl D.

2011-01-01

This conceptual paper suggests a methodology for increasing student satisfaction in core courses by applying the principle of mass customization to increase student satisfaction. It proposes that customization can be increased by increasing course flexibility along three dimensions: content flexibility, schedule flexibility, and course length…

High resolution photoemission investigation: The oxidation of W

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morar, J. F.; Himpsel, F. J.; Hughes, G. J.; Jordan, J. L.; McFeely, F. R.; Hollinge, G.

High resolution photoemission measurements of surface oxide layers on tungsten has revealed a set of well resolved core level shifts characteristic of individual metal oxidation states. Measurement and analysis of this type of data can provide specific and quantitative chemical information about surface oxides. The formation of bonds between transition metals and strongly electronegative elements such as oxygen and fluorine results in charge transfer with the effect of shifting the metal core electron binding energies. The magnitude of such shifts depends primarily on two factors; the amount of charge transfer and the screening ability of the metals electrons. The size of core-level shifts tend to increase with additional charge transfer and be decreased by screening. In the case of tungsten the amount of screening should be a function of oxygen content since the oxygen ties up free electrons which are effective at screening. A continuous change in the tungsten core level shifts is observed with increasing oxygen content, i.e., as the screening changes from that characteristic of a metal screened to that characteristic of an insulator unscreened.

The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database: update 2017.

PubMed

Davis, Allan Peter; Grondin, Cynthia J; Johnson, Robin J; Sciaky, Daniela; King, Benjamin L; McMorran, Roy; Wiegers, Jolene; Wiegers, Thomas C; Mattingly, Carolyn J

2017-01-04

The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; http://ctdbase.org/) provides information about interactions between chemicals and gene products, and their relationships to diseases. Core CTD content (chemical-gene, chemical-disease and gene-disease interactions manually curated from the literature) are integrated with each other as well as with select external datasets to generate expanded networks and predict novel associations. Today, core CTD includes more than 30.5 million toxicogenomic connections relating chemicals/drugs, genes/proteins, diseases, taxa, Gene Ontology (GO) annotations, pathways, and gene interaction modules. In this update, we report a 33% increase in our core data content since 2015, describe our new exposure module (that harmonizes exposure science information with core toxicogenomic data) and introduce a novel dataset of GO-disease inferences (that identify common molecular underpinnings for seemingly unrelated pathologies). These advancements centralize and contextualize real-world chemical exposures with molecular pathways to help scientists generate testable hypotheses in an effort to understand the etiology and mechanisms underlying environmentally influenced diseases. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Radioactivities in returned lunar materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The Ar37, Ar39, and H3 were measured at four depths (from 0 to 19.5 cm) of the deep core from Apollo 16 and in four other Apollo 16 samples. The Ar37 increased steadily from 40 dpm/kg at the top of the core to 68 dpm/kg at 19-cm depth. The comparison of the Ar37 in the core with that in rock 15555 shows that the solar flare at the time of the Apollo 16 mission was approximately an order of magnitude less intense than solar flares of 24 January 1971 and 2 November 1969, which occurred before the Apollo 14 and 12 missions. The Ar39 activities in the top 19 cm of the deep core varied little with depth. Because the Apollo 16 samples have a much higher Ca content and much lower Fe and Ti contents than do the documented rocks from previous missions, the Ar39 in the Fe, Ca, and K can be determined from Ar39 measurements on lunar material if a Ti cross section is assumed.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Li2MnO3 Shell/LiMO2 (M = Ni, Co, Mn) Core-Structured Nanocomposites for Lithium-Ion Batteries

PubMed Central

Noh, Jae-Kyo; Kim, Soo; Kim, Haesik; Choi, Wonchang; Chang, Wonyoung; Byun, Dongjin; Cho, Byung-Won; Chung, Kyung Yoon

2014-01-01

Core/shell-like nanostructured xLi2MnO3·(1−x)LiMO2 (M = Ni, Co, Mn) composite cathode materials are successfully synthesized through a simple solid-state reaction using a mechanochemical ball-milling process. The LiMO2 core is designed to have a high-content of Ni, which increases the specific capacity. The detrimental surface effects arising from the high Ni-content are countered by the Li2MnO3 shell, which stabilizes the nanoparticles. The electrochemical performances and thermal stabilities of the synthesized nanocomposites are compared with those of bare LiMO2. In particular, the results of time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD) analyses of xLi2MnO3·(1−x)LiMO2 nanocomposites as well as their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) profiles demonstrate that the Li2MnO3 shell is effective in stabilizing the LiMO2 core at high temperatures, making the nanocomposites highly suitable from a safety viewpoint. PMID:24784478

Tank 241-AZ-102 Privatization Push Mode Core Sampling and Analysis Plan

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

RASMUSSEN, J.H.

1999-08-02

This sampling and analysis plan (SAP) identifies characterization objectives pertaining to sample collection, laboratory analytical evaluation, and reporting requirements for samples obtained from tank 241-AZ-102. The purpose of this sampling event is to obtain information about the characteristics of the contents of 241-AZ-102 required to satisfy the Data Quality Objectives For TWRS Privatization Phase I: Confirm Tank TIS An Appropriate Feed Source For High-Level Waste Feed Batch X(HLW DQO) (Nguyen 1999a), Data Quality Objectives For TWRS Privatization Phase 1: Confirm Tank TIS An Appropriate Feed Source For Low-Activity Waste Feed Batch X (LAW DQO) (Nguyen 1999b), Low Activity Waste andmore » High Level Waste Feed Data Quality Objectives (L&H DQO) (Patello et al. 1999) and Characterization Data Needs for Development, Design, and Operation of Retrieval Equipment Developed through the Data Quality Objective Process (Equipment DQO) (Bloom 1996). The Tank Characterization Technical Sampling Basis document (Brown et al. 1998) indicates that these issues, except the Equipment DQO apply to tank 241-AZ-102 for this sampling event. The Equipment DQO is applied for shear strength measurements of the solids segments only. Poppiti (1999) requires additional americium-241 analyses of the sludge segments. Brown et al. (1998) also identify safety screening, regulatory issues and provision of samples to the Privatization Contractor(s) as applicable issues for this tank. However, these issues will not be addressed via this sampling event. Reynolds et al. (1999) concluded that information from previous sampling events was sufficient to satisfy the safety screening requirements for tank 241 -AZ-102. Push mode core samples will be obtained from risers 15C and 24A to provide sufficient material for the chemical analyses and tests required to satisfy these data quality objectives. The 222-S Laboratory will extrude core samples, composite the liquids and solids, perform chemical analyses, and provide subsamples to the Process Chemistry Laboratory. The Process Chemistry Laboratory will prepare test plans and perform process tests to evaluate the behavior of the 241-AZ-102 waste undergoing the retrieval and treatment scenarios defined in the applicable DQOs. Requirements for analyses of samples originating in the process tests will be documented in the corresponding test plan.« less

Using the CoRE Requirements Method with ADARTS. Version 01.00.05

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-01

requirements; combining ADARTS processes and objects derived from CoRE requirements into an ADARTS software architecture design ; and taking advantage of...CoRE’s precision in the ADARTS process structuring, class structuring, and software architecture design activities. Object-oriented requirements and

Design and evaluation of artificial cornea with core-skirt design using polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate and graphite.

PubMed

Sinha, Mukty; Gupte, Tanvi

2017-06-10

Artificial cornea is the effective treatment option for corneal blindness. One of the challenges with the artificial cornea is limited, or no tissue integration necessitates reimplantation due to necrosis or corneal melting. We propose here a new formulation approach for core-skirt incorporating graphite in the outer skirt region to improve cell adhesion. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were procured from Sigma-Aldrich. Polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization of HEMA. PHEMA hydrogel core with graphite incorporated skirt was developed with the help of mould and spacer. Pores were introduced into the skirt by salt leaching technique using sodium chloride as porogen. The porous skirt was improved for its aesthetic appeal of black colour and mechanical strength to sustain intraocular pressure by incorporating graphite. The material properties of the newly developed design were evaluated in terms of wetting behaviour, mechanical strength, water vapour permeability, degradation profile and cell adhesion. The polymerization of HEMA was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and FTIR. Water content of the polymeric film was optimized at 50% where maximum transparency with required refractive index of 1.4 was obtained. The concentration of salt vital for the essential porosity was also optimized using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Other properties, namely mechanical strength, water vapour transmission rate and degradation behaviour, showed that the developed design is suitable for ocular applications. Furthermore, cell adhesion study confirmed tissue adhesion in the skirt region but absent in the core. The core-skirt design may offer an efficient cornea replacement alternative with enhanced tissue integration in addition to desired mechanical behaviour with a clear and aesthetic vision.

State Public Health Enabling Authorities: Results of a Fundamental Activities Assessment Examining Core and Essential Services

PubMed Central

Hoss, Aila; Menon, Akshara; Corso, Liza

2016-01-01

Context Public health enabling authorities establish the legal foundation for financing, organizing, and delivering public health services. State laws vary in terms of the content, depth, and breadth of these fundamental public health activities. Given this variance, the Institute of Medicine has identified state public health laws as an area that requires further examination. To respond to this call for further examination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Law Program conducted a fundamental activities legal assessment on state public health laws. Objective The goal of the legal assessment was to examine state laws referencing frameworks representing public health department fundamental activities (ie, core and essential services) in an effort to identify, catalog, and describe enabling authorities of state governmental public health systems. Design In 2013, Public Health Law Program staff compiled a list of state statutes and regulations referencing different commonly-recognized public health frameworks of fundamental activities. The legal assessment included state fundamental activities laws available on WestlawNext as of July 2013. The results related to the 10 essential public health services and the 3 core public health functions were confirmed and updated in June 2016. Results Eighteen states reference commonly-recognized frameworks of fundamental activities in their laws. Thirteen states have listed the 10 essential public health services in their laws. Eight of these states have also referenced the 3 core public health functions in their laws. Five states reference only the core public health functions. Conclusions Several states reference fundamental activities in their state laws, particularly through use of the essential services framework. Further work is needed to capture the public health laws and practices of states that may be performing fundamental activities but without reference to a common framework. PMID:27682724

State Public Health Enabling Authorities: Results of a Fundamental Activities Assessment Examining Core and Essential Services.

PubMed

Hoss, Aila; Menon, Akshara; Corso, Liza

2016-01-01

Public health enabling authorities establish the legal foundation for financing, organizing, and delivering public health services. State laws vary in terms of the content, depth, and breadth of these fundamental public health activities. Given this variance, the Institute of Medicine has identified state public health laws as an area that requires further examination. To respond to this call for further examination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Law Program conducted a fundamental activities legal assessment on state public health laws. The goal of the legal assessment was to examine state laws referencing frameworks representing public health department fundamental activities (ie, core and essential services) in an effort to identify, catalog, and describe enabling authorities of state governmental public health systems. In 2013, Public Health Law Program staff compiled a list of state statutes and regulations referencing different commonly-recognized public health frameworks of fundamental activities. The legal assessment included state fundamental activities laws available on WestlawNext as of July 2013. The results related to the 10 essential public health services and the 3 core public health functions were confirmed and updated in June 2016. Eighteen states reference commonly-recognized frameworks of fundamental activities in their laws. Thirteen states have listed the 10 essential public health services in their laws. Eight of these states have also referenced the 3 core public health functions in their laws. Five states reference only the core public health functions. Several states reference fundamental activities in their state laws, particularly through use of the essential services framework. Further work is needed to capture the public health laws and practices of states that may be performing fundamental activities but without reference to a common framework.

Remote sensing programs and courses in engineering and water resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiefer, R. W.

1981-01-01

The content of typical basic and advanced remote sensing and image interpretation courses are described and typical remote sensing graduate programs of study in civil engineering and in interdisciplinary environmental remote sensing and water resources management programs are outlined. Ideally, graduate programs with an emphasis on remote sensing and image interpretation should be built around a core of five courses: (1) a basic course in fundamentals of remote sensing upon which the more specialized advanced remote sensing courses can build; (2) a course dealing with visual image interpretation; (3) a course dealing with quantitative (computer-based) image interpretation; (4) a basic photogrammetry course; and (5) a basic surveying course. These five courses comprise up to one-half of the course work required for the M.S. degree. The nature of other course work and thesis requirements vary greatly, depending on the department in which the degree is being awarded.

Beta cells transfer vesicles containing insulin to phagocytes for presentation to T cells.

PubMed

Vomund, Anthony N; Zinselmeyer, Bernd H; Hughes, Jing; Calderon, Boris; Valderrama, Carolina; Ferris, Stephen T; Wan, Xiaoxiao; Kanekura, Kohsuke; Carrero, Javier A; Urano, Fumihiko; Unanue, Emil R

2015-10-06

Beta cells from nondiabetic mice transfer secretory vesicles to phagocytic cells. The passage was shown in culture studies where the transfer was probed with CD4 T cells reactive to insulin peptides. Two sets of vesicles were transferred, one containing insulin and another containing catabolites of insulin. The passage required live beta cells in a close cell contact interaction with the phagocytes. It was increased by high glucose concentration and required mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. Live images of beta cell-phagocyte interactions documented the intimacy of the membrane contact and the passage of the granules. The passage was found in beta cells isolated from islets of young nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and nondiabetic mice as well as from nondiabetic humans. Ultrastructural analysis showed intraislet phagocytes containing vesicles having the distinct morphology of dense-core granules. These findings document a process whereby the contents of secretory granules become available to the immune system.

How primary trainee teachers perceive the development of their own scientific knowledge: links between confidence, content and competence?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shallcross, Tony; Spink, Elaine; Stephenson, Philip; Warwick, Paul

2002-12-01

The significance of subject knowledge in the education of science teachers is much debated nationally and internationally. Part of this debate is about what the term 'science subject knowledge' means. This paper examines two UK research studies, one from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and one from Homerton College, Cambridge, into initial teacher education (ITE) trainees' confidence with their science knowledge. Both surveys revealed the importance of school experience in developing this knowledge. The MMU survey also identified a disproportionate requirement being placed on trainees to teach particular science topics in schools. The paper discusses the implications of these surveys for the design of ITE primary core science programmes in the UK and raises questions about current approaches to the assessment of trainees' subject knowledge in ITE, which are of generic interest. How do we verify trainees' mastery of content? Does such mastery equate with competent teaching? Answers to both questions are proposed.

Carbon and geochemical properties of cryosols on the North Slope of Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mu, Cuicui; Zhang, Tingjun; Schuster, Paul F.; Schaefer, Kevin; Wickland, Kimberly P.; Repert, Deborah A.; Liu, Lin; Schaefer, Tim; Cheng, Guodong

2014-01-01

Cryosols contain roughly 1700 Gt of Soil organic carbon (SOC) roughly double the carbon content of the atmosphere. As global temperature rises and permafrost thaws, this carbon reservoir becomes vulnerable to microbial decomposition, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions that will amplify anthropogenic warming. Improving our understanding of carbon dynamics in thawing permafrost requires more data on carbon and nitrogen content, soil physical and chemical properties and substrate quality in cryosols. We analyzed five permafrost cores obtained from the North Slope of Alaska during the summer of 2009. The relationship between SOC and soil bulk density can be adequately represented by a logarithmic function. Gas fluxes at − 5 °C and 5 °C were measured to calculate the temperature response quotient (Q10). Q10 and the respiration per unit soil C were higher in permafrost-affected soils than that in the active layer, suggesting that decomposition and heterotrophic respiration in cryosols may contribute more to global warming.

Prioritized retransmission in slotted all-optical packet-switched networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghaffar Pour Rahbar, Akbar; Yang, Oliver

2006-12-01

We consider an all-optical slotted packet-switched network interconnected by a number of bufferless all-optical switches with contention-based operation. One approach to reduce the cost of the expensive contention resolution hardware could be retransmission in which each ingress switch keeps a copy of the transmitted traffic in the electronic buffer and retransmits whenever required. The conventional retransmission technique may need a higher number of retransmissions until traffic passes through the network. This in turn may lead to a retransmission at a higher layer and reduce the network throughput. In this paper, we propose and analyze a simple but effective prioritized retransmission technique in which dropped traffic is prioritized when retransmitted from ingress switches so that the core switch can process them with a higher priority. We present the analysis of both techniques in multifiber network architecture and verify it via simulation to demonstrate that our proposed algorithm can limit the number of retransmissions significantly and can improve TCP throughput better than the conventional retransmission technique.

bioGUID: resolving, discovering, and minting identifiers for biodiversity informatics

PubMed Central

Page, Roderic DM

2009-01-01

Background Linking together the data of interest to biodiversity researchers (including specimen records, images, taxonomic names, and DNA sequences) requires services that can mint, resolve, and discover globally unique identifiers (including, but not limited to, DOIs, HTTP URIs, and LSIDs). Results bioGUID implements a range of services, the core ones being an OpenURL resolver for bibliographic resources, and a LSID resolver. The LSID resolver supports Linked Data-friendly resolution using HTTP 303 redirects and content negotiation. Additional services include journal ISSN look-up, author name matching, and a tool to monitor the status of biodiversity data providers. Conclusion bioGUID is available at . Source code is available from . PMID:19900301

Healthcare administration education in the 21st century: the case for entrepreneurship.

PubMed

Williams, David R; Duncan, W Jack; Ginter, Peter M

2005-01-01

This paper recommends the broadening of the course content in several of the current required courses within the core curriculum of healthcare management education to include entrepreneurship topics and the inclusion of a separate entrepreneurship course. The current state of entrepreneurship within healthcare is described through the discussion of a healthcare entrepreneurship continuum. Because of the evolution of the healthcare industry in the past ten years, healthcare administration programs must also evolve to make our curriculum more relevant and increase student placement options. The current healthcare administration education shortcomings are discussed and recommendations for curriculum change are presented. Finally, a readings and resources list is provided as a basis for further curriculum development.

Get it together: Issues that facilitate collaboration in teams of learners in intensive care.

PubMed

Conte, Helen; Jirwe, Maria; Scheja, Max; Hjelmqvist, Hans

2016-05-01

The study describes issues that facilitate collaboration in teams of learners in an interprofessional education unit in intensive care. A descriptive qualitative study design was applied using semi-structured interviews based on the critical incident technique and qualitative content analysis. Nineteen participants, eight learners in their specialist training, nine supervisors and two head supervisors in Sweden identified 47 incidents. Teams of learners having control was the core issue. Motivation, time, experiences and reflection were central issues for facilitating collaboration. Efficiently training teams how to collaborate requires learners having control while acting on their common understanding and supervisors taking a facilitating role supporting teams to take control of their critical analysis.

Generating unstructured nuclear reactor core meshes in parallel

DOE PAGES

Jain, Rajeev; Tautges, Timothy J.

2014-10-24

Recent advances in supercomputers and parallel solver techniques have enabled users to run large simulations problems using millions of processors. Techniques for multiphysics nuclear reactor core simulations are under active development in several countries. Most of these techniques require large unstructured meshes that can be hard to generate in a standalone desktop computers because of high memory requirements, limited processing power, and other complexities. We have previously reported on a hierarchical lattice-based approach for generating reactor core meshes. Here, we describe efforts to exploit coarse-grained parallelism during reactor assembly and reactor core mesh generation processes. We highlight several reactor coremore » examples including a very high temperature reactor, a full-core model of the Korean MONJU reactor, a ¼ pressurized water reactor core, the fast reactor Experimental Breeder Reactor-II core with a XX09 assembly, and an advanced breeder test reactor core. The times required to generate large mesh models, along with speedups obtained from running these problems in parallel, are reported. A graphical user interface to the tools described here has also been developed.« less

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health: Online and Integrated into Core Master of Public Health Subjects

PubMed Central

Angus, Lynnell; Ewen, Shaun; Coombe, Leanne

2016-01-01

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is an internationally recognised post-graduate qualification for building the public health workforce. In Australia, MPH graduate attributes include six Indigenous public health (IPH) competencies. The University of Melbourne MPH program includes five core subjects and ten specialisation streams, of which one is Indigenous health. Unless students complete this specialisation or electives in Indigenous health, it is possible for students to graduate without attaining the IPH competencies. To address this issue in a crowded and competitive curriculum an innovative approach to integrating the IPH competencies in core MPH subjects was developed. Five online modules that corresponded with the learning outcomes of the core public health subjects were developed, implemented and evaluated in 2015. This brief report outlines the conceptualisation, development, and description of the curriculum content; it also provides preliminary student evaluation and staff feedback on the integration project. Significance for public health This approach to a comprehensive, online, integrated Indigenous public health (IPH) curriculum is significant, as it ensures that all University of Melbourne Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates will have the competencies to positively contribute to Indigenous health status. A workforce that is attuned not only to the challenges of IPH, but also to the principles of self-determination, Indigenous agency and collaboration is better equipped to be comprised of ethical and judgment-safe practitioners. Additionally, the outlined approach of utilizing IPH content and examples into core MPH subjects ensures both the Australian relevance for an Australian-based health professional course and international appeal through the modules inclusion of International Indigenous case-studies and content. Furthermore, approaches learned in a challenging Indigenous Australian context are transferable and applicable to other IPH challenges in a local, national and global context. PMID:27190981

The biological significance of storage granules in rat parathyroid cells.

PubMed

Setoguti, T; Inoue, Y; Wild, P

1995-10-01

Both prosecretory and storage granules are concomitantly formed at the trans Golgi network including the innermost Golgi cisterna. Prosecretory granules develop into small secretory granules that release their contents by exocytosis finely regulated by a complex mechanism for maintaining calcium homeostasis. In the rat parathyroid cells, storage granules are large secretory granules storing parathyroid hormone for an emergency supply. The hormone is rapidly discharged by exocytosis when serum calcium concentration is decreased. The granules are constantly produced even under conditions of low serum calcium concentration in the regions of 8 mg/dl. The granule content is constantly hydrolyzed when not discharged, leading to a decreased core and finally to the formation of vacuolar bodies. The fate of the vacuolar bodies is unknown. Hypercalcemic conditions accelerate hydrolysis. The threshold value of calcium concentration required for the release of storage granule contents is between 8.0 and 7.5 mg/dl and that of calcium concentration for accelerating degradation of storage granules is about 11.5 mg/dl. Sympathetic stimulation causes storage granules to be discharged regardless of hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia. Parasympathetic stimulation accelerates hydrolysis. The degradation of storage granules seems to be closely associated with an intracellular regulatory mechanism for parathyroid hormone secretion.

Making the case that episodic recollection is attributable to operations occurring at retrieval rather than to content stored in a dedicated subsystem of long-term memory.

PubMed

Klein, Stanley B

2013-01-01

Episodic memory often is conceptualized as a uniquely human system of long-term memory that makes available knowledge accompanied by the temporal and spatial context in which that knowledge was acquired. Retrieval from episodic memory entails a form of first-person subjectivity called autonoetic consciousness that provides a sense that a recollection was something that took place in the experiencer's personal past. In this paper I expand on this definition of episodic memory. Specifically, I suggest that (1) the core features assumed unique to episodic memory are shared by semantic memory, (2) episodic memory cannot be fully understood unless one appreciates that episodic recollection requires the coordinated function of a number of distinct, yet interacting, "enabling" systems. Although these systems-ownership, self, subjective temporality, and agency-are not traditionally viewed as memorial in nature, each is necessary for episodic recollection and jointly they may be sufficient, and (3) the type of subjective awareness provided by episodic recollection (autonoetic) is relational rather than intrinsic-i.e., it can be lost in certain patient populations, thus rendering episodic memory content indistinguishable from the content of semantic long-term memory.

Carbamazepine parenteral nanoemulsions prepared by spontaneous emulsification process.

PubMed

Kelmann, Regina G; Kuminek, Gislaine; Teixeira, Helder F; Koester, Letícia S

2007-09-05

Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely used anticonvulsant drug, is a poorly soluble drug with no parenteral treatment available for patients. This study was aimed at developing a nanoemulsion for CBZ intravenous delivery. The spontaneous emulsification method was used to prepare different formulations containing 2mg/mL CBZ. Likewise, a 2(2) full factorial experimental design was applied to study the influence of two independent variables (type of oil and type of lipophilic emulsifier) on emulsion physicochemical characteristics. The nanoemulsions were evaluated concerning droplet size, zeta potential, viscosity, drug content and association to oily phase. The formulation, which presented the best characteristics required for intravenous administration was selected and refined with respect to the lipophilic emulsifier content (increase from 5% to 6% of soy lecithin). This formulation was characterized and kept its properties in a satisfactory range over the evaluated period (3 months), i.e. droplet size around 150 nm, drug content around 95% and zeta potential around -40 mV. The transmission electron microscopy revealed emulsion droplets almost spherical in shape with an amorphous core, whereas the in vitro release profile assessed by dialysis bags demonstrated a release kinetics square root time dependent, with 95% of ca. having been released within 11h.

Non-destructive electromechanical assessment (Arthro-BST) of human articular cartilage correlates with histological scores and biomechanical properties.

PubMed

Sim, S; Chevrier, A; Garon, M; Quenneville, E; Yaroshinsky, A; Hoemann, C D; Buschmann, M D

2014-11-01

The hand-held Arthro-BST™ device is used to map electromechanical properties of articular cartilage. The purpose of the study was to evaluate correlation of electromechanical properties with histological, biochemical and biomechanical properties of cartilage. Electromechanical properties (quantitative parameter (QP)) of eight human distal femurs were mapped manually ex vivo using the Arthro-BST (1 measure/site, 5 s/measure, 3209 sites). Osteochondral cores were then harvested from different areas on the femurs and assessed with the Mankin histological score. Prior to histoprocessing, cores were tested in unconfined compression. A subset of the cores was analyzed with polarized light microscopy (PLM) to assess collagen structure. Biochemical assays were done on additional cores to obtain water content and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. The QP corresponding to each core was calculated by averaging all QPs collected within 6 mm of the core center. The electromechanical QP correlated strongly with both the Mankin score and the PLM score (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001 and r = -0.70, P < 0.0001 respectively) thus accurately reflecting tissue quality and collagen architecture. Electromechanical QP also correlated strongly with biomechanical properties including fibril modulus (r = -0.76, P < 0.0001), matrix modulus (r = -0.69, P < 0.0001), and log of permeability (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001). The QP correlated weakly with GAG per wet weight and with water content (r = -0.50, P < 0.0003 and r = 0.39, P < 0.006 respectively). Non-destructive electromechanical QP measurements correlate strongly with histological scores and biomechanical parameters providing a rapid and reliable assessment of articular cartilage quality. Copyright © 2014 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anatomy of a subtropical intrathermocline eddy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barceló-Llull, Bàrbara; Sangrà, Pablo; Pallàs-Sanz, Enric; Barton, Eric D.; Estrada-Allis, Sheila N.; Martínez-Marrero, Antonio; Aguiar-González, Borja; Grisolía, Diana; Gordo, Carmen; Rodríguez-Santana, Ángel; Marrero-Díaz, Ángeles; Arístegui, Javier

2017-06-01

An interdisciplinary survey of a subtropical intrathermocline eddy was conducted within the Canary Eddy Corridor in September 2014. The anatomy of the eddy is investigated using near submesoscale fine resolution two-dimensional data and coarser resolution three-dimensional data. The eddy was four months old, with a vertical extension of 500 m and 46 km radius. It may be viewed as a propagating negative anomaly of potential vorticity (PV), 95% below ambient PV. We observed two cores of low PV, one in the upper layers centered at 85 m, and another broader anomaly located between 175 m and the maximum sampled depth in the three-dimensional dataset (325 m). The upper core was where the maximum absolute values of normalized relative vorticity (or Rossby number), |Ro| =0.6, and azimuthal velocity, U=0.5 m s-1, were reached and was defined as the eddy dynamical core. The typical biconvex isopleth shape for intrathermocline eddies induces a decrease of static stability, which causes the low PV of the upper core. The deeper low PV core was related to the occurrence of a pycnostad layer of subtropical mode water that was embedded within the eddy. The eddy core, of 30 km radius, was in near solid body rotation with period of 4 days. It was encircled by a thin outer ring that was rotating more slowly. The kinetic energy (KE) content exceeded that of available potential energy (APE), KE/APE=1.58; this was associated with a low aspect ratio and a relatively intense rate of spin as indicated by the relatively high value of Ro. Inferred available heat and salt content anomalies were AHA=2.9×1018 J and ASA=14.3×1010 kg, respectively. The eddy AHA and ASA contents per unit volume largely exceed those corresponding to Pacific Ocean intrathermocline eddies. This suggests that intrathermocline eddies may play a significant role in the zonal conduit of heat and salt along the Canary Eddy Corridor.

Colloid release and clogging in porous media: Effects of solution ionic strength and flow velocity.

PubMed

Torkzaban, Saeed; Bradford, Scott A; Vanderzalm, Joanne L; Patterson, Bradley M; Harris, Brett; Prommer, Henning

2015-10-01

The release and retention of in-situ colloids in aquifers play an important role in the sustainable operation of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) schemes. The processes of colloid release, retention, and associated permeability changes in consolidated aquifer sediments were studied by displacing native groundwater with reverse osmosis-treated (RO) water at various flow velocities. Significant amounts of colloid release occurred when: (i) the native groundwater was displaced by RO-water with a low ionic strength (IS), and (ii) the flow velocity was increased in a stepwise manner. The amount of colloid release and associated permeability reduction upon RO-water injection depended on the initial clay content of the core. The concentration of released colloids was relatively low and the permeability reduction was negligible for the core sample with a low clay content of about 1.3%. In contrast, core samples with about 6 and 7.5% clay content exhibited: (i) close to two orders of magnitude increase in effluent colloid concentration and (ii) more than 65% permeability reduction. Incremental improvement in the core permeability was achieved when the flow velocity increased, whereas a short flow interruption provided a considerable increase in the core permeability. This dependence of colloid release and permeability changes on flow velocity and colloid concentration was consistent with colloid retention and release at pore constrictions due to the mechanism of hydrodynamic bridging. A mathematical model was formulated to describe the processes of colloid release, transport, retention at pore constrictions, and subsequent permeability changes. Our experimental and modeling results indicated that only a small fraction of the in-situ colloids was released for any given change in the IS or flow velocity. Comparison of the fitted and experimentally measured effluent colloid concentrations and associated changes in the core permeability showed good agreement, indicating that the essential physics were accurately captured by the model. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Current status and historical variations of phthalate ester (PAE) contamination in the sediments from a large Chinese lake (Lake Chaohu).

PubMed

Kang, Lei; Wang, Qing-Mei; He, Qi-Shuang; He, Wei; Liu, Wen-Xiu; Kong, Xiang-Zhen; Yang, Bin; Yang, Chen; Jiang, Yu-Jiao; Xu, Fu-Liu

2016-06-01

The residual levels of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the surface and two core sediments from Lake Chaohu were measured with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The temporal-spatial distributions, compositions of PAEs, and their effecting factors were investigated. The results indicated that di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were three dominant PAE components in both the surface and core sediments. The residual level of total detected PAEs (∑PAEs) in the surface sediments (2.146 ± 2.255 μg/g dw) was lower than that in the western core sediments (10.615 ± 9.733 μg/g) and in the eastern core sediments (5.109 ± 4.741 μg/g). The average content of ∑PAEs in the surface sediments from the inflow rivers (4.128 ± 1.738 μg/g dw) was an order of magnitude higher than those from the lake (0.323 ± 0.093 μg/g dw), and there were similar PAE compositions between the lake and inflow rivers. This finding means that there were important effects of PAE input from the inflow rivers on the compositions and distributions of PAEs in the surface sediments. An increasing trend was found for the residual levels of ΣPAEs, DnBP, and DIBP from the bottom to the surface in both the western and eastern core sediments. Increasing PAE usage with the population growth, urbanization, and industrial and agricultural development in Lake Chaohu watershed would result in the increasing production of PAEs and their resulting presence in the sediments. The significant positive relationships were also found between the PAE contents and the percentage of sand particles, as well as TOC contents in the sediment cores.

Possibility of Exciton Mediated Superconductivity in Nano-Sized Sn/Si Core-Shell Clusters: A Process Technology towards Heterogeneous Material in Nano-Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurokawa, Yuichiro; Hihara, Takehiko; Ichinose, Ikuo; Sumiyama, Kenji

2012-07-01

We have produced Sn/Si core-shell cluster assemblies by a plasma-gas-condensation cluster beam deposition apparatus. For the sample with Si content = 12 at. %, the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity exhibits a metallic behavior above 10 K and the onset of superconducting transition below 6.1 K. With decreasing temperature, the thermomagnetic curve for the sample with Si content = 8 at. % begins to decrease steadily toward negative value below 7.7 K, indicating the Meissner effect. An increase in the transition temperature, TC is attributable to exciton-type superconductivity.

The concept lens diagram: a new mechanism for presenting biochemistry content in terms of "big ideas".

PubMed

Rowland, Susan L; Smith, Christopher A; Gillam, Elizabeth M A; Wright, Tony

2011-07-01

A strong, recent movement in tertiary education is the development of conceptual, or "big idea" teaching. The emphasis in course design is now on promoting key understandings, core competencies, and an understanding of connections between different fields. In biochemistry teaching, this radical shift from the content-based tradition is being driven by the "omics" information explosion; we can no longer teach all the information we have available. Biochemistry is a core, enabling discipline for much of modern scientific research, and biochemistry teaching is in urgent need of a method for delivery of conceptual frameworks. In this project, we aimed to define the key concepts in biochemistry. We find that the key concepts we defined map well onto the core science concepts recommended by the Vision and Change project. We developed a new method to present biochemistry through the lenses of these concepts. This new method challenged the way we thought about biochemistry as teachers. It also stimulated the majority of the students to think more deeply about biochemistry and to make links between biochemistry and material in other courses. This method is applicable to the full spectrum of content usually taught in biochemistry. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fine Structure of the Outermost Solid Core from Analysis of PKiKP Coda Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasnoshchekov, D.; Kaazik, P.; Ovtchinnikov, V.

2006-05-01

Near surface heterogeneities in the Earth's inner core have recently been confirmed to exist, and pods of partial melt or variations in seismic anisotropy either due to orientation of iron crystals or changes in strength were indicated as possible sources for such peculiarities. In the same time, analysis of the phase reflected from the inner core boundary (PKiKP) predicts complex character of the reflecting discontinuity in the form of local thin transition layers resulting in mosaic structure of the Earth's inner core's surface. Precritical PKiKP waveforms and coda waves provide necessary seismological constraints to investigate fine structure of the upper part of the Earth's inner core and its boundary, and rank high among researches that detected the described specifics of the solid core. PKiKP coda studies have to do with weak amplitudes and subtle effects, which frequently requires using a reference core related seismic phase and array data processing, as well as eliminating max number of factors biasing the resulting estimates (for example, source related inaccuracies typical for earthquake analysis). In this work we report new observations of PKiKP coda waves detected on records of a group of Underground Nuclear Explosions (UNEs) carried out in USSR and recorded at distances from 6 to 95 degrees by stations of the world seismological network. Our dataset benefits from using accurate ground truth information on source parameters (locations, origin times, depths, etc.), requires no accounting for different source radiation patterns and contains records corresponding to the whole range of precritical reflection including so called transparent zone where amplitudes of direct PKiKP phase are negligible. The processed dataset incorporates records of the array of sources consisted of the same magnitude explosions closely carried out at Semipalatinsk Test Site and recorded by stations located in Eurasia, Africa and North America. We detect PKiKP coda waves on records of all stations that registered this array. The performed frequency-wavenumber analysis and stacking of the array data reveal both scattering mechanism tracked in the form of slight dependence of PKiKP coda's frequency content on epicentral distance, and reflective mechanism evidenced by detection of distinct arrivals of waves reflected from isotropic or anisotropic discontinuities below the inner core boundary. We infer, that PKiKP coda is built by both volumetric scattering and reverberations on reflectors in the upper portion of the inner core. We also find no significant evidence for the presence of a constant depth global isotropic reflector all through 300 km below the ICB and attribute different types of the observed PKiKP coda patterns to variability in properties of the outermost portion of the Earth's inner core either due to its anisotropy or local specifics. The research described was made possible in part by contribution from grant RUG1-2675-MO-05 of the US Civilian Research & Development Foundation for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (CRDF) and the President Grant MK-1600.2005.5.

Peer Feedback Content and Sender's Competence Level in Academic Writing Revision Tasks: Are They Critical for Feedback Perceptions and Efficiency?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strijbos, Jan-Willem; Narciss, Susanne; Dunnebier, Katrin

2010-01-01

Peer-feedback content is a core component of peer assessment, but the impact of various contents of feedback is hardly studied. Participants in the study were 89 graduate students who were assigned to four experimental and a control group. Experimental groups received a scenario with concise general (CGF) or elaborated specific (ESF) feedback by a…

Changes in kenaf properties and chemistry as a function of growing time

Treesearch

Roger M. Rowell; James S. Han

1999-01-01

Kenaf Tainung 1 cultivar was grown in Madison, WI in 1994. The ratio of core to bast fiber, total plant yield, protein, ash, fiber length, extractives, lignin, and sugar content were determined as a function of growing age. Ash, protein, extractives, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, D-galactose, and D-mannose contents decreased while lignin, D-glucose and D-xylose content...

The Common Core Writing Standards: A Descriptive Study of Content and Alignment with a Sample of Former State Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Troia, Gary A.; Olinghouse, Natalie G.; Wilson, Joshua; Stewart, Kelly A.; Mo, Ya; Hawkins, Lisa; Kopke, Rachel A.

2016-01-01

Many students do not meet expected standards of writing performance, despite the need for writing competence in and out of school. As policy instruments, writing content standards have an impact on what is taught and how students perform. This study reports findings from an evaluation of the content of a sample of seven diverse states' current…

[What kind of ethical education for pharmacists is necessary? Can "the core curriculum model for pharmacology education" provide the needed guidance?].

PubMed

Matsuda, Jun

2009-07-01

Section A of "The core curriculum model for pharmacy education" (2002)- "Learning about Humanism"- outlines the educational contents for ethics in pharmaceutical departments. People who read this section are likely to conclude that the cultivation of human sensitivity is of prime importance in ethics education in pharmacy. However, if a pharmacist found herself or himself on the horns of a moral dilemma during clinical practice, she/he may discover that human sensitivity alone may not provide the answer. When searching for ethically appropriate conduct in concrete cases, both moral insight and good judgment are necessary. The main contents of ethics education in a pharmaceutical department should be instruction in the ethics of medicine and pharmacy and practical exercises in handling moral dilemmas that pharmacists might encounter in actual situations. "Humanism" implies not only humanitarianism but also anthropocentricism. Plants, animals, and ecological systems are considered to be objects of ethical concern in some contemporary ethics, such as L. Siep's "Concrete Ethics (Konkrete Ethik, 2004)". The pharmacist's job specifications require her or him to treat laboratory animals ethically and to have environmental consciousness. Humanism-based ethics are too narrow for pharmacy ethics. Pharmacy students should learn a more comprehensive ethics that covers social ethics, bioethics, and environmental ethics. Such ethics and moral training should be given, especially, both before and after long-term practical training in hospitals and pharmacies.

Creating a Curriculum for the 21st Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohr, Wanda K.; Naylor, Mary D.

1998-01-01

Describes a fundamental revision of an undergraduate psychiatric-mental health nursing program that was undertaken to maintain its humanistic focus while rising to the marketplace challenges that confront nurses in constantly changing environments. Includes a chart of core content, psychiatric mental health content, and competencies. (Author/JOW)

Students Score!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris-Frederick, Cynthia

2000-01-01

Describes how one teacher used peer review to help students understand state content standards. Students held one another accountable for the basics, then she assessed the core content of their work. To get students thinking about standards-based learning, she used a pizza activity. Next, students created rubrics for assessing book reports and…

English Examination Questions in Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCurry, Doug

2010-01-01

This paper outlines the analysis of subject English in a report written for the Commonwealth government entitled "Year 12 Curriculum Content and Achievement Standards" (CCAS). This report could not find "a core of common content (either topics or skills) in senior English (including Literature)". In the light of the diversity…

STEM Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans muscle thick filaments: evidence for microdifferentiated substructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muller, S. A.; Haner, M.; Ortiz, I.; Aebi, U.; Epstein, H. F.

2001-01-01

In the thick filaments of body muscle in Caenorhabditis elegans, myosin A and myosin B isoforms and a subpopulation of paramyosin, a homologue of myosin heavy chain rods, are organized about a tubular core. As determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy, the thick filaments show a continuous decrease in mass-per-length (MPL) from their central zones to their polar regions. This is consistent with previously reported morphological studies and suggests that both their content and structural organization are microdifferentiated as a function of position. The cores are composed of a second distinct subpopulation of paramyosin in association with the alpha, beta, and gamma-filagenins. MPL measurements suggest that cores are formed from seven subfilaments containing four strands of paramyosin molecules, rather than the two originally proposed. The periodic locations of the filagenins within different regions and the presence of a central zone where myosin A is located, implies that the cores are also microdifferentiated with respect to molecular content and structure. This differentiation may result from a novel "induced strain" assembly mechanism based upon the interaction of the filagenins, paramyosin and myosin A. The cores may then serve as "differentiated templates" for the assembly of myosin B and paramyosin in the tapering, microdifferentiated polar regions of the thick filaments.

Centennial-scale records of total organic carbon in sediment cores from the South Yellow Sea, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Qing; Lin, Jia; Hong, Yuehui; Yuan, Lirong; Liu, Jinzhong; Xu, Xiaoming; Wang, Jianghai

2018-01-01

Global carbon cycling is a significant factor that controls climate change. The centennial-scale variations in total organic carbon (TOC) contents and its sources in marginal sea sediments may reflect the influence of human activities on global climate change. In this study, two fine-grained sediment cores from the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass of the South Yellow Sea were used to systematically determine TOC contents and stable carbon isotope ratios. These results were combined with previous data of black carbon and 210Pb dating from which we reconstructed the centennial-scale initial sequences of TOC, terrigenous TOC (TOCter) and marine autogenous TOC (TOCmar) after selecting suitable models to correct the measured TOC (TOCcor). These sequences showed that the TOCter decreased with time in the both cores while the TOCmar increased, particularly the rapid growth in core H43 since the late 1960s. According to the correlation between the Huanghe (Yellow) River discharge and the TOCcor, TOCter, or TOCmar, we found that the TOCter in the two cores mainly derived from the Huanghe River and was transported by it, and that higher Huanghe River discharge could strengthen the decomposition of TOCmar. The newly obtained initial TOC sequences provide important insights into the interaction between human activities and natural processes.

Sound velocity of Fe-S liquids at high pressure: Implications for the Moon's molten outer core

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

Jing, Zhicheng; Wang, Yanbin; Kono, Yoshio

2014-07-21

Sound velocities of Fe and Fe–S liquids were determined by combining the ultrasonic measurements and synchrotron X-ray techniques under high pressure–temperature conditions from 1 to 8 GPa and 1573 K to 1973 K. Four different liquid compositions were studied including Fe, Fe–10 wt% S, Fe–20 wt% S, and Fe–27 wt% S. Our data show that the velocity of Fe-rich liquids increases upon compression and decreases with increasing sulfur content, whereas temperature has negligible effect on the velocity of Fe–S liquids. The sound velocity data were combined with ambient-pressure densities to fit the Murnaghan equation of state (EOS). Compared to themore » lunar seismic model, our velocity data constrain the sulfur content at 4±3 wt%, indicating a significantly denser (6.5±0.5 g/cm 3) and hotter (1870-70+100 K) outer core than previously estimated. A new lunar structure model incorporating available geophysical observations points to a smaller core radius. Our model suggests a top–down solidification scenario for the evolution of the lunar core. Such “iron snow” process may have been an important mechanism for the growth of the inner core.« less

Characterization of subunit-specific interactions in a double-stranded RNA virus: Raman difference spectroscopy of the phi6 procapsid.

PubMed

Benevides, James M; Juuti, Jarmo T; Tuma, Roman; Bamford, Dennis H; Thomas, George J

2002-10-08

The icosahedral core of a double-stranded (ds) RNA virus hosts RNA-dependent polymerase activity and provides the molecular machinery for RNA packaging. The stringent requirements of dsRNA metabolism may explain the similarities observed in core architecture among a broad spectrum of dsRNA viruses, from the mammalian rotaviruses to the Pseudomonas bacteriophage phi6. Although the structure of the assembled core has been described in atomic detail for Reoviridae (blue tongue virus and reovirus), the molecular mechanism of assembly has not been characterized in terms of conformational changes and key interactions of protein constituents. In the present study, we address such questions through the application of Raman spectroscopy to an in vitro core assembly system--the procapsid of phi6. The phi6 procapsid, which comprises multiple copies of viral proteins P1 (copy number 120), P2 (12), P4 (72), and P7 (60), represents a precursor of the core that is devoid of RNA. Raman signatures of the procapsid, its purified recombinant core protein components, and purified sub-assemblies lacking either one or two of the protein components have been obtained and interpreted. The major procapsid protein (P1), which forms the skeletal frame of the core, is an elongated and monomeric molecule of high alpha-helical content. The fold of the core RNA polymerase (P2) is also mostly alpha-helical. On the other hand, the folds of both the procapsid accessory protein (P7) and RNA-packaging ATPase (P4) are of the alpha/beta type. Raman difference spectra show that conformational changes occur upon interaction of P1 with either P4 or P7 in the procapsid. These changes involve substantial ordering of the polypeptide backbone. Conversely, conformations of procapsid subunits are not significantly affected by interactions with P2. An assembly model is proposed in which P1 induces alpha-helix in P4 during formation of the nucleation complex. Subsequently, the partially disordered P7 subunit is folded within the context of the procapsid shell.

Statistical errors and systematic biases in the calibration of the convective core overshooting with eclipsing binaries. A case study: TZ Fornacis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valle, G.; Dell'Omodarme, M.; Prada Moroni, P. G.; Degl'Innocenti, S.

2017-04-01

Context. Recently published work has made high-precision fundamental parameters available for the binary system TZ Fornacis, making it an ideal target for the calibration of stellar models. Aims: Relying on these observations, we attempt to constrain the initial helium abundance, the age and the efficiency of the convective core overshooting. Our main aim is in pointing out the biases in the results due to not accounting for some sources of uncertainty. Methods: We adopt the SCEPtER pipeline, a maximum likelihood technique based on fine grids of stellar models computed for various values of metallicity, initial helium abundance and overshooting efficiency by means of two independent stellar evolutionary codes, namely FRANEC and MESA. Results: Beside the degeneracy between the estimated age and overshooting efficiency, we found the existence of multiple independent groups of solutions. The best one suggests a system of age 1.10 ± 0.07 Gyr composed of a primary star in the central helium burning stage and a secondary in the sub-giant branch (SGB). The resulting initial helium abundance is consistent with a helium-to-metal enrichment ratio of ΔY/ ΔZ = 1; the core overshooting parameter is β = 0.15 ± 0.01 for FRANEC and fov = 0.013 ± 0.001 for MESA. The second class of solutions, characterised by a worse goodness-of-fit, still suggest a primary star in the central helium-burning stage but a secondary in the overall contraction phase, at the end of the main sequence (MS). In this case, the FRANEC grid provides an age of Gyr and a core overshooting parameter , while the MESA grid gives 1.23 ± 0.03 Gyr and fov = 0.025 ± 0.003. We analyse the impact on the results of a larger, but typical, mass uncertainty and of neglecting the uncertainty in the initial helium content of the system. We show that very precise mass determinations with uncertainty of a few thousandths of solar mass are required to obtain reliable determinations of stellar parameters, as mass errors larger than approximately 1% lead to estimates that are not only less precise but also biased. Moreover, we show that a fit obtained with a grid of models computed at a fixed ΔY/ ΔZ - thus neglecting the current uncertainty in the initial helium content of the system - can provide severely biased age and overshooting estimates. The possibility of independent overshooting efficiencies for the two stars of the system is also explored. Conclusions: The present analysis confirms that to constrain the core overshooting parameter by means of binary systems is a very difficult task that requires an observational precision still rarely achieved and a robust statistical treatment of the error sources.

Curriculum Diversity through a Core Approach to Ethics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Englehardt, Elaine Eliason

In 1987, a sophomore level interdisciplinary Ethics and Values (EV) core course was implemented at Utah Valley Community College in Orem, serving as the humanities core among the liberal education requirements, a requirement for business students, a vital force in the nursing program, and a means to enrich the trade and technology courses. The…

Content validation of the international classification of functioning, disability and health core set for stroke from gender perspective using a qualitative approach.

PubMed

Glässel, A; Coenen, M; Kollerits, B; Cieza, A

2014-06-01

The extended ICF Core Set for stroke is an application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the purpose to represent the typical spectrum of functioning of persons with stroke. The objective of the study is to add evidence to the content validity of the extended ICF Core Set for stroke from persons after stroke taking into account gender perspective. A qualitative study design was conducted by using individual interviews with women and men after stroke in an in- and outpatient rehabilitation setting. The sampling followed the maximum variation strategy. Sample size was determined by saturation. Concepts from qualitative data analysis were linked to ICF categories and compared to the extended ICF Core Set for stroke. Twelve women and 12 men participated in 24 individual interviews. In total, 143 out of 166 ICF categories included in the extended ICF Core Set for stroke were confirmed (women: N.=13; men: N.=17; both genders: N.=113). Thirty-eight additional categories that are not yet included in the extended ICF Core Set for stroke were raised by women and men. This study confirms that the experience of functioning and disability after stroke shows communalities and differences for women and men. The validity of the extended ICF Core Set for stroke could be mostly confirmed, since it does not only include those areas of functioning and disability relevant to both genders but also those exclusively relevant to either women or men. Further research is needed on ICF categories not yet included in the extended ICF Core Set for stroke.

The influence of clarification and threats on life situation: patients’ experiences 1 year after TSCI

PubMed Central

Bjørnshave Noe, Bodil; Bjerrum, Merete; Angel, Sanne

2017-01-01

Introduction: The study was conducted at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark (VCR). The aim of the study was to explore patients’ experiences following traumatic spinal cord injury and to identify characteristics of positive versus negative life situation 1 year post discharge from hospital rehabilitation. This was a qualitative study conducted using inductive content analysis. Case Presentation: In this qualitative study seven patients were interviewed one year after discharge from initial rehabilitation at the VCR. The interviews were analysed using inductive content analysis. Discussion: We found that two categories condensed the patients’ experiences of their life situation 1 year post discharge: ‘clarification in relation to overall life situation’ and ‘threat to core competences’. The transversal analysis across the derived categories identified different combinations of clarification and threats to core competences explaining the patients’ experiences: high degree of clarification combined with low degree of threat to core competences was indicative of positive life situation. Also, positive life situation was seen when a high degree of clarification compensated for high degree of threats on core competencies. In contrast, an overall stressful and negative life situation was influenced by poor clarification combined with a high degree of threat to core competences. However, when core competences can be transformed into new skills, threats were manageable. This study revealed that clarification related to overall life situation in combination with threat to core competences may explain traumatic spinal cord injury patients’ overall life situation 1 year post discharge. An appropriate balance characterises a positive life situation. There might be a need to pay attention to patients who are challenged by low degree of clarification and high degree of threats on core competencies 1 year post discharge as this may influence the life situation negatively. PMID:28435741

Vertical distribution of potentially toxic elements in sediments impacted by intertidal geothermal hot springs (Bahia Concepcion, Gulf of California)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leal-Acosta, M. L.; Shumilin, E.

2016-12-01

The intertidal geothermal hot springs (GHS) in Bahia Concepcion, Gulf of California are the source of potentially toxic elements to the adjacent marine environment surrounded by mangroves trees. The anoxic sediments enriched in organic carbon accumulate As, Hg and other heavy metals that can be bioavailable for the biota. To know the vertical distribution of these elements the geochemistry of a short sediment core was carried out. It was collected in June, 2010 in the mangrove area near to GHS (1 m) during a low tide, pushing manually a polypropylene tube into the sediments. The extracted sediment core was cut with plastic knife on 1 cm thick sub-samples, stored in plastic bags and transported on ice to the laboratory. The major and trace elements contents were determinate by ICP-MS after total digestion with stronger acids (HClO4-HNO3-HCl-HF). Certificate reference materials were used for the quality control of the method obtaining good recoveries for most of the elements (80-105%). The sediment core had high maximum contents of CaCO3 (70%) and total organic carbon (12%). The concentration of Hg along the core ranges from 650 to 74300 mg kg-1 and had more than three orders of magnitude above the reference values of 40 mg kg-1 for the Upper Continental Crust (UCC)1. In contrast, As ranges from 12 to 258 mg kg-1 resulting in more than one order of magnitude respect to UCC1 (1.7 mg kg-1). Similar pattern result for Mn, Cu, Pb, and Zn with the maximum values of 3200 mg kg-1, 42 mg kg-1, 12.4 mg kg-1, 71 mg kg-1 respectively that coincide with the maximum for As at the same core depth (4 cm). The Ca, Li, Co, Sb, U, and Mg also show high contents in comparison with the UCC1reference values. The maximum contents of Mo and Cd coincide with maximum concentration of sulfur (2%) at 6 to 8 cm. The enrichment factor calculated using Al as normalizing element showed Cd (7-280), As (26-329) and Hg (23-1196) as highly enriched mainly in the first centimeters of the sediment core. 1 Wedephol (1995)

Trunk muscle quality assessed by computed tomography: Association with adiposity indices and glucose tolerance in men.

PubMed

Maltais, Alexandre; Alméras, Natalie; Lemieux, Isabelle; Tremblay, Angelo; Bergeron, Jean; Poirier, Paul; Després, Jean-Pierre

2018-04-12

Thigh muscle attenuation measured by computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be a reliable and useful index of skeletal muscle fat infiltration. Thigh muscle fat content assessed by CT has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes and is a correlate of insulin resistance in sedentary individuals. However, as measurement of mid-thigh fat content requires the assessment of another region of interest beyond the usual abdominal scan required to measure levels of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, this study aimed at testing the hypothesis that skeletal muscle fat measured from a single abdominal scan (L 4 -L 5 ) would also provide information relevant to the estimation of muscle fat infiltration as it relates to cardiometabolic risk. Abdominal (L 4 -L 5 ) and mid-thigh CT scans were performed in a sample of 221 sedentary men covering a wide range of adiposity values. Trunk muscles on the L 4 -L 5 scan were classified into 2 groups: 1) psoas and 2) core muscles. The two scans were segmented to calculate muscle areas, mean attenuation values as well as low-attenuation muscle (LAM) areas, the latter being considered as an index of skeletal muscle fat infiltration. Body mass index (BMI), body composition and waist circumference were assessed and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Mid-thigh, psoas and core LAM areas were all significantly associated with body composition indices (0.46 ≤ r ≤ 0.71, p < 0.0001) whereas trunk muscle indices were more strongly associated with visceral adiposity and waist circumference (0.54 ≤ r ≤ 0.79, p < 0.0001) than were mid-thigh muscle variables (0.44 ≤ r ≤ 0.62, p < 0.0001). Mid-thigh LAM area as well as psoas and core LAM areas were significantly associated with fasting glucose, 2-h plasma glucose levels, the glucose area under the curve and with the HOMA-IR index (mid-thigh LAM area: 0.18 ≤ r ≤ 0.25, p < 0.01; psoas LAM area: 0.27 ≤ r ≤ 0.33, p < 0.0001; core LAM area: 0.24 ≤ r ≤ 0.34, p < 0.01). Multivariable stepwise regression analyses revealed that the associations between trunk muscle indices and glucose tolerance/insulin resistance were no longer significant after controlling for visceral adiposity measured at L 4 -L 5 . Our results suggest that CT-imaging derived indices of trunk muscle quality are related to glucose tolerance and visceral adiposity. However, the relationship between skeletal muscle fat and insulin resistance appears to be largely mediated by the concomitant variation in visceral adiposity. Finally, our results suggest that a single CT scan performed at L 4 -L 5 is adequate to assess skeletal muscle fat content related to cardiometabolic risk. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Supplemental materials for the ICDP-USGS Eyreville A, B, and C core holes, Chesapeake Bay impact structure: Core-box photographs, coring-run tables, and depth-conversion files

USGS Publications Warehouse

Durand, C.T.; Edwards, L.E.; Malinconico, M.L.; Powars, D.S.

2009-01-01

During 2005-2006, the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program and the U.S. Geological Survey drilled three continuous core holes into the Chesapeake Bay impact structure to a total depth of 1766.3 m. A collection of supplemental materials that presents a record of the core recovery and measurement data for the Eyreville cores is available on CD-ROM at the end of this volume and in the GSA Data Repository. The supplemental materials on the CD-ROM include digital photographs of each core box from the three core holes, tables of the three coring-run logs, as recorded on site, and a set of depth-conversion programs. In this chapter, the contents, purposes, and basic applications of the supplemental materials are briefly described. With this information, users can quickly decide if the materials will apply to their specific research needs. ?? 2009 The Geological Society of America.

Core neurological examination items for neurology clerks: A modified Delphi study with a grass-roots approach

PubMed Central

Liu, Chi-Hung; Hsu, Li-Ling; Hsiao, Cheng-Ting; Hsieh, Suh-Ing; Chang, Chun-Wei; Huang, Elaine Shinwei; Chang, Yeu-Jhy

2018-01-01

Background With the evolution of treatments for neurological diseases, the contents of core neurological examinations (NEs) for medical students may need to be modified. We aimed to establish a consensus on the core NE items for neurology clerks and compare viewpoints between different groups of panelists. Methods First, a pilot group proposed the core contents of NEs for neurology clerks. The proposed core NE items were then subject to a modified web-based Delphi process using the online software “SurveyMonkey”. A total of 30 panelists from different backgrounds (tutors or learners, neurologists or non-neurologists, community hospitals or medical centers, and different academic positions) participated in the modified Delphi process. Each panelist was asked to agree or disagree on the inclusion of each item using a 9-point Likert scale and was encouraged to provide feedback. We also compared viewpoints between different groups of panelists using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Eighty-three items were used for the first round of the Delphi process. Of them, 18 without consensus of being a core NE item for the neurology clerks in the first round and another 14 items suggested by the panelists were further discussed in the second round. Finally, 75 items with different grades were included in the recommended NE items for neurology clerks. Conclusions Our findings provide a reference regarding the core NE items for milestone development for neurology clerkships. We hope that prioritizing the NE items in this order can help medical students to learn NE more efficiently. PMID:29771997

A drop in pediatric subject examination scores after curriculum changes that emphasize general pediatric topics.

PubMed

Potts, M J; Phelan, K W

1997-09-01

To determine whether emphasizing a limited number of general pediatric objectives and using a test based on them would improve student knowledge of the topic areas. Before-after trial. Community-based medical school. Third-year medical students on a required clerkship in pediatrics. Six core objectives: recognizing the seriously ill child, stabilizing such a child, fluid and electrolyte requirements and therapy, newborn care, well child care, and variability of normal vital signs in children based on their age were defined and a modified essay examination was constructed. The test was given to pediatric students close to the end of their clerkship. In study year 1, no warning was given about the examination and results did not affect student grades. In study year 2, passing all items was a requirement and failure required remedial oral examination of any missed items. All students completed the National Board of Medical Examiners pediatric subject examination. For 7 of 8 essay items, significant increases in numbers of students passing were seen in study year 2, but students scored 51 points lower on the National Board of Medical Examiners pediatric subject examination (P=.002). The decrease in scores was not seen in any other clerkship or among pediatric students from a different campus of the medical school. Emphasis on core objectives and an essay examination significantly improved students' knowledge of the defined topics but decreased the scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination. This may be attributable to a difference in content between the 2 tests. Faculty proposing new curriculum guidelines need to review student assessment methods to avoid such unexpected changes in scores.

Build Engagement and Knowledge One Block at a Time with Minecraft

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tromba, Peter

2013-01-01

The core of instruction is the interaction between the student, the content, and the teacher. Good instructional design accounts for the students' needs and interests by personalizing the core to each student. Video games and simulations are one way to meet student needs and leverage their interests for increased student learning. In the 2011-12…

Conflicts of Time: Examining School Schedules in Secondary Agricultural Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Epps, Rebekah B.; Adams, Randy J.; Vincent, Stacy K.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine how school schedules can or cannot be justified through the perspective of student performance on state core content assessments and occupational skills standards assessments. This study utilized the Theory of Power in Education when considering school schedules as a means to student success on core content…

Publications - GMC 232 | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical

Science.gov Websites

Surveys Skip to content State of Alaska myAlaska My Government Resident Business in Alaska DGGS GMC 232 Publication Details Title: Petrographic analysis and formation damage potential of core Reference Hickey, J.J., 1994, Petrographic analysis and formation damage potential of core plugs (12,017

Strengthen Your Music Program by Incorporating Aspects of the ELA Common Core State Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Nancy Thompson

2014-01-01

Implementation of the English Language Arts (ELA) Common Core State Standards (CCSS) reduces the traditional separation between the study of different subjects. Increased focus on nonfiction reading and writing means more incorporation of other content, such as music, into language arts classes. CCSS's emphasis on speaking and writing across…

Basic Safety II. Apprentice Related Training Module.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rice, Eric; Spetz, Sally H.

One in a series of core instructional materials for apprentices to use during the first or second years of apprentice-related subjects training, this booklet deals with basic safety. The first section consists of an outline of the content and scope of the core materials as well as a self-assessment pretest. Covered in the four instructional…

Alignment: Its Role in Standards-Based Reform and Prospects for the Common Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massell, Diane; Perrault, Paul

2014-01-01

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) of 2010 represent a new chapter in the 25-year history of standards-based reforms (SBR). The CCSS attempts to bring the system back to the principles of its founding--more rigorous, focused, academic content and performance expectations collectively embraced by the nation. The new standards depart…

Using Teacher Evaluation Reform and Professional Development to Support Common Core Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Youngs, Peter

2013-01-01

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, in its aim to align diverse state curricula and improve educational outcomes, calls for K-12 teachers in the United States to engage all students in mathematical problem solving along with reading and writing complex text through the use of rigorous academic content. Until recently, most teacher…

Teaching Students to Dig Deeper: The Common Core in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Ben

2013-01-01

This important new book identifies the skills and qualities students need, based on the Common Core State Standards, to be "really" ready for college and careers. Go beyond content knowledge...the deep thinking and learning skills detailed in this book will equip students for success! Prepare your students for their futures by helping them become:…

Information as a Human Right

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farmer, Lesley S. J.

2015-01-01

Information lies at the core of freedom of expression since it empowers citizens to understand the functions of media and other information providers, to access and critically evaluate their content, and to make informed decisions as users and producer of information and media content. Information and related technologies have become increasingly…

ARTISTIC Critique: A Practical Approach to Viewing Dance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Typhani

2013-01-01

Content Literacy, 21st Century Skills, and Common Core Standards are quickly becoming the buzz of current public education initiatives. As these new policies dictate educational reform, public schools are hustling to find meaning, definition, and accountability for these future expectations. Content literacy goes beyond the ability to read and…

Composition of the core from gallium metal–silicate partitioning experiments

DOE PAGES

Blanchard, I.; Badro, J.; Siebert, J.; ...

2015-07-24

We present gallium concentration (normalized to CI chondrites) in the mantle is at the same level as that of lithophile elements with similar volatility, implying that there must be little to no gallium in Earth's core. Metal-silicate partitioning experiments, however, have shown that gallium is a moderately siderophile element and should be therefore depleted in the mantle by core formation. Moreover, gallium concentrations in the mantle (4 ppm) are too high to be only brought by the late veneer; and neither pressure, nor temperature, nor silicate composition has a large enough effect on gallium partitioning to make it lithophile. Wemore » therefore systematically investigated the effect of core composition (light element content) on the partitioning of gallium by carrying out metal–silicate partitioning experiments in a piston–cylinder press at 2 GPa between 1673 K and 2073 K. Four light elements (Si, O, S, C) were considered, and their effect was found to be sufficiently strong to make gallium lithophile. The partitioning of gallium was then modeled and parameterized as a function of pressure, temperature, redox and core composition. A continuous core formation model was used to track the evolution of gallium partitioning during core formation, for various magma ocean depths, geotherms, core light element contents, and magma ocean composition (redox) during accretion. The only model for which the final gallium concentration in the silicate Earth matched the observed value is the one involving a light-element rich core equilibrating in a FeO-rich deep magma ocean (>1300 km) with a final pressure of at least 50 GPa. More specifically, the incorporation of S and C in the core provided successful models only for concentrations that lie far beyond their allowable cosmochemical or geophysical limits, whereas realistic O and Si amounts (less than 5 wt.%) in the core provided successful models for magma oceans deeper that 1300 km. In conclusion, these results offer a strong argument for an O- and Si-rich core, formed in a deep terrestrial magma ocean, along with oxidizing conditions.« less

Review of the TREAT Conversion Conceptual Design and Fuel Qualification Plan

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

Diamond, David

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to re establish the capability to conduct transient testing of nuclear fuels at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility. The original TREAT core went critical in February 1959 and operated for more than 6,000 reactor startups before plant operations were suspended in 1994. DOE is now planning to restart the reactor using the plant's original high-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel. At the same time, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Material Management and Minimization Reactor Conversion Program is supporting analyses and fuel fabrication studies that will allowmore » for reactor conversion to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel (i.e., fuel with less than 20% by weight 235U content) after plant restart. The TREAT Conversion Program's objectives are to perform the design work necessary to generate an LEU replacement core, to restore the capability to fabricate TREAT fuel element assemblies, and to implement the physical and operational changes required to convert the TREAT facility to use LEU fuel.« less

Probing molecular dynamics in solution with x-ray valence-to-core spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doumy, Gilles; March, Anne Marie; Tu, Ming-Feng; Al Haddad, Andre; Southworth, Stephen; Young, Linda; Walko, Donald; Bostedt, Christoph

2017-04-01

Hard X-ray spectroscopies are powerful tools for probing the electronic and geometric structure of molecules in complex or disordered systems and have been particularly useful for studying molecules in the solution phase. They are element specific, sensitive to the electronic structure and the local arrangements of surrounding atoms of the element being selectively probed. When combined in a pump-probe scheme with ultrafast lasers, X-ray spectroscopies can be used to track the evolution of structural changes that occur after photoexcitation. Efficient use of hard x-ray radiation coming from high brilliance synchrotrons and upcoming high repetition rate X-ray Free Electron Lasers requires MHz repetition rate lasers and data acquisition systems. High information content Valence-to-Core x-ray emission is directly sensitive to the molecular orbitals involved in photochemistry. We report on recent progress towards fully enabling this photon-hungry technique for the study of time-resolved molecular dynamics, including efficient detection and use of polychromatic x-ray micro-probe at the Advanced Photon Source. Work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division.

A new method for teaching physical examination to junior medical students

PubMed Central

Sayma, Meelad; Williams, Hywel Rhys

2016-01-01

Introduction Teaching effective physical examination is a key component in the education of medical students. Preclinical medical students often have insufficient clinical knowledge to apply to physical examination recall, which may hinder their learning when taught through certain understanding-based models. This pilot project aimed to develop a method to teach physical examination to preclinical medical students using “core clinical cases”, overcoming the need for “rote” learning. Methods This project was developed utilizing three cycles of planning, action, and reflection. Thematic analysis of feedback was used to improve this model, and ensure it met student expectations. Results and discussion A model core clinical case developed in this project is described, with gout as the basis for a “foot and ankle” examination. Key limitations and difficulties encountered on implementation of this pilot are discussed for future users, including the difficulty encountered in “content overload”. Conclusion This approach aims to teach junior medical students physical examination through understanding, using a simulated patient environment. Robust research is now required to demonstrate efficacy and repeatability in the physical examination of other systems. PMID:26937208

DairyBeef: maximizing quality and profits--a consistent food safety message.

PubMed

Moore, D A; Kirk, J H; Klingborg, D J; Garry, F; Wailes, W; Dalton, J; Busboom, J; Sams, R W; Poe, M; Payne, M; Marchello, J; Looper, M; Falk, D; Wright, T

2004-01-01

To respond to meat safety and quality issues in dairy market cattle, a collaborative project team for 7 western states was established to develop educational resources providing a consistent meat safety and quality message to dairy producers, farm advisors, and veterinarians. The team produced an educational website and CD-ROM course that included videos, narrated slide sets, and on-farm tools. The objectives of this course were: 1) to help producers and their advisors understand market cattle food safety and quality issues, 2) help maintain markets for these cows, and 3) help producers identify ways to improve the quality of dairy cattle going to slaughter. DairyBeef. Maximizing Quality & Profits consists of 6 sections, including 4 core segments. Successful completion of quizzes following each core segment is required for participants to receive a certificate of completion. A formative evaluation of the program revealed the necessity for minor content and technological changes with the web-based course. All evaluators considered the materials relevant to dairy producers. After editing, course availability was enabled in February, 2003. Between February and May, 2003, 21 individuals received certificates of completion.

Crowdsourced Curriculum Development for Online Medical Education.

PubMed

Shappell, Eric; Chan, Teresa M; Thoma, Brent; Trueger, N Seth; Stuntz, Bob; Cooney, Robert; Ahn, James

2017-12-08

In recent years online educational content, efforts at quality appraisal, and integration of online material into institutional teaching initiatives have increased. However, medical education has yet to develop large-scale online learning centers. Crowd-sourced curriculum development may expedite the realization of this potential while providing opportunities for innovation and scholarship. This article describes the current landscape, best practices, and future directions for crowdsourced curriculum development using Kern's framework for curriculum development and the example topic of core content in emergency medicine. A scoping review of online educational content was performed by a panel of subject area experts for each step in Kern's framework. Best practices and recommendations for future development for each step were established by the same panel using a modified nominal group consensus process. The most prevalent curriculum design steps were (1) educational content and (2) needs assessments. Identified areas of potential innovation within these steps included targeting gaps in specific content areas and developing underrepresented instructional methods. Steps in curriculum development without significant representation included (1) articulation of goals and objectives and (2) tools for curricular evaluation. By leveraging the power of the community, crowd-sourced curriculum development offers a mechanism to diffuse the burden associated with creating comprehensive online learning centers. There is fertile ground for innovation and scholarship in each step along the continuum of curriculum development. Realization of this paradigm's full potential will require individual developers to strongly consider how their contributions will align with the work of others.

Crowdsourced Curriculum Development for Online Medical Education

PubMed Central

Chan, Teresa M; Thoma, Brent; Trueger, N Seth; Stuntz, Bob; Cooney, Robert; Ahn, James

2017-01-01

In recent years online educational content, efforts at quality appraisal, and integration of online material into institutional teaching initiatives have increased. However, medical education has yet to develop large-scale online learning centers. Crowd-sourced curriculum development may expedite the realization of this potential while providing opportunities for innovation and scholarship. This article describes the current landscape, best practices, and future directions for crowdsourced curriculum development using Kern’s framework for curriculum development and the example topic of core content in emergency medicine. A scoping review of online educational content was performed by a panel of subject area experts for each step in Kern’s framework. Best practices and recommendations for future development for each step were established by the same panel using a modified nominal group consensus process. The most prevalent curriculum design steps were (1) educational content and (2) needs assessments. Identified areas of potential innovation within these steps included targeting gaps in specific content areas and developing underrepresented instructional methods. Steps in curriculum development without significant representation included (1) articulation of goals and objectives and (2) tools for curricular evaluation. By leveraging the power of the community, crowd-sourced curriculum development offers a mechanism to diffuse the burden associated with creating comprehensive online learning centers. There is fertile ground for innovation and scholarship in each step along the continuum of curriculum development. Realization of this paradigm’s full potential will require individual developers to strongly consider how their contributions will align with the work of others. PMID:29464134

75 FR 80571 - Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-22

... Part II Commodity Futures Trading Commission 17 CFR Parts 1, 16, and 38 Core Principles and Other... CFR Parts 1, 16, and 38 RIN 3038-AD09 Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract... Principles 1. Subpart B--Designation as Contract Market 2. Subpart C--Compliance With Rules i. Proposed Sec...

What Role do Nor'Easters have on the Jamaica Bay Wetlands Sediment Budget?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clarke, R. C.; Bentley, S. J.; Wang, H.; Smith, J.

2017-12-01

The wetlands of Jamaica Bay, located on the outskirts of Queens, New York, have lost over half their surface area in the last 50 years due both anthropogenic and natural causes, including channel dredging, urban drainage construction, and greater tidal amplitudes partially due to rising local sea levels. Superstorm Sandy made landfall in 2014 as a powerful coastal geomorphic agent, highlighting the vulnerability of that region to large cyclonic storms that are more commonly encountered along coastal reaches of southeastern North America. After this event, research aimed at quantifying the geomorphic impact of Superstorm Sandy and to evaluate the record of past documented major winter storms on Jamaica Bay's wetlands. 12 sediment cores were collected from the surface of remaining wetlands in August 2014 by the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center; the cores have been analyzed for Pb-210/Cs-137 geochronology, organic content, and water content to establish chronology of mineral sediment supply to the wetlands over the past 120 years. Most cores were found to be organic-rich, marked with periodic cm-scale beds with increased mineral content. Historic storm data, dating as far back as the late 1800's, were used to identify hurricanes and major winter storms determined by the National Weather Service passing within 100 km of the study area. Likely storm-event deposits in each core were identified as layers with mineral content higher than the core mean plus one standard deviation, and were matched to historic events via radioisotope geochronology, incorporating age-model uncertainty. Overall, 22 out of the 35 defined storm layers match the timing of historic strong storms (within uncertainty ranging from 2 to 5 years) from 1894 to Superstorm Sandy in 2014. Our findings show that over multidecadal timescales, nor'easters and winter storms play a role in the vertical accretion of sediment in the Jamaica Bay wetlands, but are substantially less important than sediment delivery under typical tidal conditions. Event deposits from tropical cyclones are also present, but less common than those produced by frontal storms.

High renewable content sandwich structures based on flax-basalt hybrids and biobased epoxy polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colomina, S.; Boronat, T.; Fenollar, O.; Sánchez-Nacher, L.; Balart, R.

2014-05-01

In the last years, a growing interest in the development of high environmental efficiency materials has been detected and this situation is more accentuated in the field of polymers and polymer composites. In this work, green composite sandwich structures with high renewable content have been developed with core cork materials. The base resin for composites was a biobased epoxy resin derived from epoxidized vegetable oils. Hybrid basalt-flax fabrics have been used as reinforcements for composites and the influence of the stacking sequence has been evaluated in order to optimize the appropriate laminate structure for the sandwich bases. Core cork materials with different thickness have been used to evaluate performance of sandwich structures thus leading to high renewable content composite sandwich structures. Results show that position of basalt fabrics plays a key role in flexural fracture of sandwich structures due to differences in stiffness between flax and basalt fibers.

Synthesis of Pd₃Co₁@Pt/C core-shell catalysts for methanol-tolerant cathodes of direct methanol fuel cells.

PubMed

Aricò, Antonino S; Stassi, Alessandro; D'Urso, Claudia; Sebastián, David; Baglio, Vincenzo

2014-08-18

A composite Pd-based electrocatalyst consisting of a surface layer of Pt (5 wt.%) supported on a core Pd3Co1 alloy (95 wt.%) and dispersed as nanoparticles on a carbon black support (50 wt.% metal content) was prepared by using a sulphite-complex route. The structure, composition, morphology, and surface properties of the catalyst were investigated by XRD, XRF, TEM, XPS and low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LE-ISS). The catalyst showed an enrichment of Pt on the surface and a smaller content of Co in the outermost layers. These characteristics allow a decrease the Pt content in direct methanol fuel cell cathode electrodes (from 1 to 0.06 mg cm(-2)) without significant decay in performance, due also to a better tolerance to methanol permeated through the polymer electrolyte membrane. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The History of the Internet Search Engine: Navigational Media and the Traffic Commodity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Couvering, E.

This chapter traces the economic development of the search engine industry over time, beginning with the earliest Web search engines and ending with the domination of the market by Google, Yahoo! and MSN. Specifically, it focuses on the ways in which search engines are similar to and different from traditional media institutions, and how the relations between traditional and Internet media have changed over time. In addition to its historical overview, a core contribution of this chapter is the analysis of the industry using a media value chain based on audiences rather than on content, and the development of traffic as the core unit of exchange. It shows that traditional media companies failed when they attempted to create vertically integrated portals in the late 1990s, based on the idea of controlling Internet content, while search engines succeeded in creating huge "virtually integrated" networks based on control of Internet traffic rather than Internet content.

Synthesis of NiAu alloy and core-shell nanoparticles in water-in-oil microemulsions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiu, Hsin-Kai; Chiang, I.-Chen; Chen, Dong-Hwang

2009-07-01

NiAu alloy nanoparticles with various Ni/Au molar ratios were synthesized by the hydrazine reduction of nickel chloride and hydrogen tetrachloroaurate in the microemulsion system. They had a face-centered cubic structure and a mean diameter of 6-13 nm, decreasing with increasing Au content. As Au nanoparticles did, they showed a characteristic absorption peak at about 520 nm but the intensity decreased with increasing Ni content. Also, they were nearly superparamagnetic, although the magnetization decreased significantly with increasing Au content. Under an external magnetic field, they could be self-organized into the parallel lines. In addition, the core-shell nanoparticles, Ni3Au1@Au, were prepared by the Au coating on the surface of Ni3Au1 alloy nanoparticles. By increasing the hydrogen tetrachloroaurate concentration for Au coating, the thickness of Au shells could be raised and led to an enhanced and red-shifted surface plasmon absorption.

Developing a Manualized Occupational Therapy Diabetes Management Intervention: Resilient, Empowered, Active Living With Diabetes.

PubMed

Pyatak, Elizabeth A; Carandang, Kristine; Davis, Shain

2015-07-01

This article reports on the development of a manualized occupational therapy intervention for diabetes management. An initial theoretical framework and core content areas for a Stage I intervention manual were developed based on an in-depth needs assessment and review of existing literature. After evaluation by a panel of experts and completion of a feasibility study, the intervention was revised into a Stage 2 manual in preparation for a randomized study evaluating the intervention's efficacy. In developing the initial manual, we delineated core theoretical principles to allow for flexible application and tailoring of the intervention's content areas. Expert panel feedback and feasibility study results led to changes to the intervention structure and content as we developed the Stage 2 manual. Through describing this process, we illustrate the dynamic evolution of intervention manuals, which undergo revisions due to both theoretical and practical considerations at each stage of the research-to-clinical practice pipeline.

Research on the integration of teaching content of core courses in Agro-ecological environmental specialties of higher vocational colleges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Juan; Ma, Guosheng

2018-02-01

Curriculum is the means to cultivate higher vocational talents. On the basis of analyzing the core curriculum problems of curriculum reform and Agro-ecological environmental specialties in higher vocational colleges, this paper puts forward the optimization and integration measures of 6 core courses, including “Eco-environment Repair Technology”, “Agro-environmental Management Plan”, “Environmental Engineering Design”, “Environmental Pest Management Technology”, “Agro-chemical Pollution Control Technology”, “Agro-environmental Testing and Analysis”. It integrates the vocational qualification certificate education and professional induction certificate training items, and enhances the adaptability, skills and professionalism of professional core curriculum.

A Cul-3-BTB ubiquitylation pathway regulates junctional levels and asymmetry of core planar polarity proteins

PubMed Central

Strutt, Helen; Searle, Elizabeth; Thomas-MacArthur, Victoria; Brookfield, Rosalind; Strutt, David

2013-01-01

The asymmetric localisation of core planar polarity proteins at apicolateral junctions is required to specify cell polarity in the plane of epithelia. This asymmetric distribution of the core proteins is proposed to require amplification of an initial asymmetry by feedback loops. In addition, generation of asymmetry appears to require the regulation of core protein levels, but the importance of such regulation and the underlying mechanisms is unknown. Here we show that ubiquitylation acts through more than one mechanism to control core protein levels in Drosophila, and that without this regulation cellular asymmetry is compromised. Levels of Dishevelled at junctions are regulated by a Cullin-3-Diablo/Kelch ubiquitin ligase complex, the activity of which is most likely controlled by neddylation. Furthermore, activity of the deubiquitylating enzyme Fat facets is required to maintain Flamingo levels at junctions. Notably, ubiquitylation does not alter the total cellular levels of Dishevelled or Flamingo, but only that of the junctional population. When junctional core protein levels are either increased or decreased by disruption of the ubiquitylation machinery, their asymmetric localisation is reduced and this leads to disruption of planar polarity at the tissue level. Loss of asymmetry by altered core protein levels can be explained by reference to feedback models for amplification of asymmetry. PMID:23487316

The history of psychology course in Spanish psychology curricula: Past, present, future.

PubMed

Chisvert-Perales, Mauricio; Monteagudo-Soto, María J; Mestre, Vicenta

2016-05-01

Since the university education of psychologists began in Spain in 1954, the history of psychology course has been included in the curriculum. In the first few years, only half of the curricula offered the course. From 1973 to 2007, the universities' organization and regulation underwent successive reforms that involved changes in the curricula, decreeing specific national guidelines for each degree and establishing a minimum set of common required courses, called core courses, including the history of psychology. In 2007, the European Higher Education Area was set up, transforming the 5-year bachelor's degrees into 4-year degrees and eliminating the required guidelines, with each university being able to define the content of their curricula. The Dean's Conference for Psychology agreed on some recommendations related to core courses, which continued to include the history of psychology and were adopted by the majority of the universities. In 2015, the government established a new national regulation that makes it possible for each university to voluntarily reduce the length of the bachelor's degree to 3 years. Some psychology historians believe that this hypothetical reduction in the length of the degree, along with the already existing general tendency to prioritize applied or practical courses over basic or fundamental ones, could produce an appropriate scenario for the disappearance of the history of psychology course in some universities. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effect of Salts on Electrospray Ionization of Amino Acids in the Negative Mode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, H. I.; Johnson, P. V.; Beegle, L. W.; Kanik, I.

2004-01-01

The continued search for organics on Mars will require the development of simplified procedures for handling and processing of soil or rock core samples prior to analysis by onboard instrumentation. Extraction of certain organic molecules such as amino acids from rock and soil samples using a liquid solvent (H2O) has been shown to be more efficient (by approximately an order of magnitude) than heat extraction methods. As such, liquid extraction (using H2O) of amino acid molecules from rock cores or regolith material is a prime candidate for the required processing. In this scenario, electrospray ionization (ESI) of the liquid extract would be a natural choice for ionization of the analyte prior to interrogation by one of a variety of potential analytical separation techniques (mass spectroscopy, ion mobility spectroscopy, etc.). Aside from the obvious compatibility of ESI and liquid samples, ESI offers simplicity and a soft ionization capability. In order to demonstrate that liquid extraction and ESI can work as part of an in situ instrument on Mars, we must better understand and quantify the effect salts have on the ESI process. In the current work, we have endeavored to investigate the feasibility and limitations of negative mode ESI of Martian surface samples in the context of sample salt content using ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS).

An improved method for quantitatively measuring the sequences of total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiaoming; Zhu, Qing; Zhou, Qianzhi; Liu, Jinzhong; Yuan, Jianping; Wang, Jianghai

2018-01-01

Understanding global carbon cycle is critical to uncover the mechanisms of global warming and remediate its adverse effects on human activities. Organic carbon in marine sediments is an indispensable part of the global carbon reservoir in global carbon cycling. Evaluating such a reservoir calls for quantitative studies of marine carbon burial, which closely depend on quantifying total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores and subsequently on obtaining their high-resolution temporal sequences. However, the conventional methods for detecting the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon cannot resolve the following specific difficulties, i.e., (1) a very limited amount of each subsample versus the diverse analytical items, (2) a low and fluctuating recovery rate of total organic carbon or black carbon versus the reproducibility of carbon data, and (3) a large number of subsamples versus the rapid batch measurements. In this work, (i) adopting the customized disposable ceramic crucibles with the microporecontrolled ability, (ii) developing self-made or customized facilities for the procedures of acidification and chemothermal oxidization, and (iii) optimizing procedures and carbon-sulfur analyzer, we have built a novel Wang-Xu-Yuan method (the WXY method) for measuring the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon in marine sediment cores, which includes the procedures of pretreatment, weighing, acidification, chemothermal oxidation and quantification; and can fully meet the requirements of establishing their highresolution temporal sequences, whatever in the recovery, experimental efficiency, accuracy and reliability of the measurements, and homogeneity of samples. In particular, the usage of disposable ceramic crucibles leads to evidently simplify the experimental scenario, which further results in the very high recovery rates for total organic carbon and black carbon. This new technique may provide a significant support for revealing the mechanism of carbon burial and evaluating the capacity of marine carbon accumulation and sequestration.

Learning a weighted sequence model of the nucleosome core and linker yields more accurate predictions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens.

PubMed

Reynolds, Sheila M; Bilmes, Jeff A; Noble, William Stafford

2010-07-08

DNA in eukaryotes is packaged into a chromatin complex, the most basic element of which is the nucleosome. The precise positioning of the nucleosome cores allows for selective access to the DNA, and the mechanisms that control this positioning are important pieces of the gene expression puzzle. We describe a large-scale nucleosome pattern that jointly characterizes the nucleosome core and the adjacent linkers and is predominantly characterized by long-range oscillations in the mono, di- and tri-nucleotide content of the DNA sequence, and we show that this pattern can be used to predict nucleosome positions in both Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae more accurately than previously published methods. Surprisingly, in both H. sapiens and S. cerevisiae, the most informative individual features are the mono-nucleotide patterns, although the inclusion of di- and tri-nucleotide features results in improved performance. Our approach combines a much longer pattern than has been previously used to predict nucleosome positioning from sequence-301 base pairs, centered at the position to be scored-with a novel discriminative classification approach that selectively weights the contributions from each of the input features. The resulting scores are relatively insensitive to local AT-content and can be used to accurately discriminate putative dyad positions from adjacent linker regions without requiring an additional dynamic programming step and without the attendant edge effects and assumptions about linker length modeling and overall nucleosome density. Our approach produces the best dyad-linker classification results published to date in H. sapiens, and outperforms two recently published models on a large set of S. cerevisiae nucleosome positions. Our results suggest that in both genomes, a comparable and relatively small fraction of nucleosomes are well-positioned and that these positions are predictable based on sequence alone. We believe that the bulk of the remaining nucleosomes follow a statistical positioning model.

Learning a Weighted Sequence Model of the Nucleosome Core and Linker Yields More Accurate Predictions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens

PubMed Central

Reynolds, Sheila M.; Bilmes, Jeff A.; Noble, William Stafford

2010-01-01

DNA in eukaryotes is packaged into a chromatin complex, the most basic element of which is the nucleosome. The precise positioning of the nucleosome cores allows for selective access to the DNA, and the mechanisms that control this positioning are important pieces of the gene expression puzzle. We describe a large-scale nucleosome pattern that jointly characterizes the nucleosome core and the adjacent linkers and is predominantly characterized by long-range oscillations in the mono, di- and tri-nucleotide content of the DNA sequence, and we show that this pattern can be used to predict nucleosome positions in both Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae more accurately than previously published methods. Surprisingly, in both H. sapiens and S. cerevisiae, the most informative individual features are the mono-nucleotide patterns, although the inclusion of di- and tri-nucleotide features results in improved performance. Our approach combines a much longer pattern than has been previously used to predict nucleosome positioning from sequence—301 base pairs, centered at the position to be scored—with a novel discriminative classification approach that selectively weights the contributions from each of the input features. The resulting scores are relatively insensitive to local AT-content and can be used to accurately discriminate putative dyad positions from adjacent linker regions without requiring an additional dynamic programming step and without the attendant edge effects and assumptions about linker length modeling and overall nucleosome density. Our approach produces the best dyad-linker classification results published to date in H. sapiens, and outperforms two recently published models on a large set of S. cerevisiae nucleosome positions. Our results suggest that in both genomes, a comparable and relatively small fraction of nucleosomes are well-positioned and that these positions are predictable based on sequence alone. We believe that the bulk of the remaining nucleosomes follow a statistical positioning model. PMID:20628623

Surface drilling technologies for Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blacic, J. D.; Rowley, J. C.; Cort, G. E.

1986-01-01

Rock drilling and coring conceptual designs for the surface activities associated with a manned Mars mission are proposed. Straightforward extensions of equipment and procedures used on Earth are envisioned for the sample coring and shallow high explosive shot holes needed for tunneling and seismic surveying. A novel rocket exhaust jet piercing method is proposed for very rapid drilling of shot holes required for explosive excavation of emergency radiation shelters. Summaries of estimated equipment masses and power requirements are provided, and the indicated rotary coring rigs are scaled from terrestrial equipment and use compressed CO2 from the Martian atmosphere for core bit cooling and cuttings removal. A mass of 120 kg and power of 3 kW(e) are estimated for a 10 m depth capability. A 100 m depth capacity core rig requires about 1150 kg and 32 km(e). The rocket exhaust jet equipment devised for shallow (3m) explosive emplacement shot holes requires no surface power beyond an electrical ignition system, and might have a 15 kg mass.

Comparison of predicted engine core noise with current and proposed aircraft noise certification requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vonglahn, U. H.; Groesbeck, D. E.

1981-01-01

Predicted engine core noise levels are compared with measured total aircraft noise levels and with current and proposed federal noise certification requirements. Comparisons are made at the FAR-36 measuring stations and include consideration of both full- and cutback-power operation at takeoff. In general, core noise provides a barrier to achieving proposed EPA stage 5 noise levels for all types of aircraft. More specifically, core noise levels will limit further reductions in aircraft noise levels for current widebody commercial aircraft.

Fast and Accurate Simulation of the Cray XMT Multithreaded Supercomputer

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

Villa, Oreste; Tumeo, Antonino; Secchi, Simone

Irregular applications, such as data mining and analysis or graph-based computations, show unpredictable memory/network access patterns and control structures. Highly multithreaded architectures with large processor counts, like the Cray MTA-1, MTA-2 and XMT, appear to address their requirements better than commodity clusters. However, the research on highly multithreaded systems is currently limited by the lack of adequate architectural simulation infrastructures due to issues such as size of the machines, memory footprint, simulation speed, accuracy and customization. At the same time, Shared-memory MultiProcessors (SMPs) with multi-core processors have become an attractive platform to simulate large scale machines. In this paper, wemore » introduce a cycle-level simulator of the highly multithreaded Cray XMT supercomputer. The simulator runs unmodified XMT applications. We discuss how we tackled the challenges posed by its development, detailing the techniques introduced to make the simulation as fast as possible while maintaining a high accuracy. By mapping XMT processors (ThreadStorm with 128 hardware threads) to host computing cores, the simulation speed remains constant as the number of simulated processors increases, up to the number of available host cores. The simulator supports zero-overhead switching among different accuracy levels at run-time and includes a network model that takes into account contention. On a modern 48-core SMP host, our infrastructure simulates a large set of irregular applications 500 to 2000 times slower than real time when compared to a 128-processor XMT, while remaining within 10\\% of accuracy. Emulation is only from 25 to 200 times slower than real time.« less

Pharmacology Portal: An Open Database for Clinical Pharmacologic Laboratory Services.

PubMed

Karlsen Bjånes, Tormod; Mjåset Hjertø, Espen; Lønne, Lars; Aronsen, Lena; Andsnes Berg, Jon; Bergan, Stein; Otto Berg-Hansen, Grim; Bernard, Jean-Paul; Larsen Burns, Margrete; Toralf Fosen, Jan; Frost, Joachim; Hilberg, Thor; Krabseth, Hege-Merete; Kvan, Elena; Narum, Sigrid; Austgulen Westin, Andreas

2016-01-01

More than 50 Norwegian public and private laboratories provide one or more analyses for therapeutic drug monitoring or testing for drugs of abuse. Practices differ among laboratories, and analytical repertoires can change rapidly as new substances become available for analysis. The Pharmacology Portal was developed to provide an overview of these activities and to standardize the practices and terminology among laboratories. The Pharmacology Portal is a modern dynamic web database comprising all available analyses within therapeutic drug monitoring and testing for drugs of abuse in Norway. Content can be retrieved by using the search engine or by scrolling through substance lists. The core content is a substance registry updated by a national editorial board of experts within the field of clinical pharmacology. This ensures quality and consistency regarding substance terminologies and classification. All laboratories publish their own repertoires in a user-friendly workflow, adding laboratory-specific details to the core information in the substance registry. The user management system ensures that laboratories are restricted from editing content in the database core or in repertoires within other laboratory subpages. The portal is for nonprofit use, and has been fully funded by the Norwegian Medical Association, the Norwegian Society of Clinical Pharmacology, and the 8 largest pharmacologic institutions in Norway. The database server runs an open-source content management system that ensures flexibility with respect to further development projects, including the potential expansion of the Pharmacology Portal to other countries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.

Using a statewide survey methodology to prioritize pediatric cardiology core content.

PubMed

Neal, Ashley E; Lehto, Elizabeth; Miller, Karen Hughes; Ziegler, Craig; Davis, Erin

2018-01-01

Although pediatrician-reported relevance of Canadian cardiology-specific objectives has been studied, similar data are not available for the 2016 American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) cardiology-specific objectives. This study asked Kentucky trainees, pediatricians, and pediatric cardiologists to identify "most important" content within these objectives. This cross-sectional study used an original, online survey instrument based on the 2016 ABP cardiology-specific objectives. We collected quantitative data (numerical indications of importance) and qualitative data (open-ended replies regarding missing content and difficulty in teaching and learning). Respondents indicated the top two choices of most important items within eight content areas. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and chi-square analysis were calculated. Content within categories was organized using naturally occurring "clusters" and "gaps" in scores. Common themes among open-ended qualitative responses were identified using Pandit's version of Glaser and Strauss Grounded theory (constant comparison). Of the 136 respondents, 23 (17%) were residents, 15 (11%) fellows, 85 (62%) pediatricians, and 13 (10%) pediatric cardiologists. Of attendings, 80% reported faculty/gratis faculty status. Naturally occurring clusters in respondent-designated importance resulted in ≤3 "most selected" objectives per content area. Objectives in "most selected" content pertained to initial diagnosis (recognition of abnormality/disease) (n = 16), possible emergent/urgent intervention required (n = 14), building a differential (n = 8), and planning a workup (n = 4). Conversely, themes for "least selected" content included comanagement with subspecialist (n = 15), knowledge useful in patient-family communication (n = 9), knowledge that can be referenced (as needed) (n = 7), and longitudinal/follow-up concerns (n = 5). This study demonstrated the utility of an online survey methodology to identify pediatric cardiology content perceived most important. Learners and faculty generally provided concordant responses regarding most important content within the cardiology-specific ABP objectives. Medical educators could apply this methodology to inform curriculum revision. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Biology of Consciousness

PubMed Central

Edelman, Gerald M.; Gally, Joseph A.; Baars, Bernard J.

2010-01-01

The Dynamic Core and Global Workspace hypotheses were independently put forward to provide mechanistic and biologically plausible accounts of how brains generate conscious mental content. The Dynamic Core proposes that reentrant neural activity in the thalamocortical system gives rise to conscious experience. Global Workspace reconciles the limited capacity of momentary conscious content with the vast repertoire of long-term memory. In this paper we show the close relationship between the two hypotheses. This relationship allows for a strictly biological account of phenomenal experience and subjectivity that is consistent with mounting experimental evidence. We examine the constraints on causal analyses of consciousness and suggest that there is now sufficient evidence to consider the design and construction of a conscious artifact. PMID:21713129

Geohydrologic data from test hole USW UZ-7, Yucca Mountain area, Nye County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kume, Jack; Hammermeister, D.P.

1990-01-01

This report contains a description of the methods used in drilling and coring of the test-hole USW UZ-7, a description of the methods used in collecting, handling, and testing of test-hole samples; Lithologic information from the test hole; and water-content, water-potential, bulk-density, grain-density, porosity, and tritium data for the test hole. Test-hole USW UZ-7 was drilled and cored to a total depth of 62.94 m. The drilling was done using air as a drilling fluid to minimize disturbance to the water content of cores, drill-bit cuttings, and borehole wall-rock. Beginning at the land surface, the unsaturated-zone rock that was penetrated consisted of alluvium; welded and partially to nonwelded ash-flow tuff; bedded and reworked ash-fall tuff; nonwelded ash-flow tuff; and welded ash-flow tuff. Values of gravimetric water content and water potential of alluvium were intermediate between the extreme values in welded and nonwelded units of tuff. Gravimetric water content was largest in bedded and nonwelded ash-fall tuffs and was smallest in welded ash-flow tuff. Values of water potential were more negative in densely welded ash-flow tuffs and were less negative in bedded and nonwelded ash-fall tuffs. Bulk density was largest in densely welded ash-flow tuffs and smallest in nonwelded and bedded ash-fall tuffs. Grain density was uniform but was slightly larger in nonwelded and bedded ash-fall tuffs than in welded ash-flow tuffs. Porosity trends were opposite to bulk-density trends. Tritium content in alluvium was smallest near the alluvium-bedrock contact, markedly increased in the middle of the deposit, and decreased in the near-surface zone of the deposit. (Author 's abstract)

Pre-Service Teachers' Perspectives on How the Use of TOON Comic Books during Guided Reading Influenced Learning by Struggling Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGrail, Ewa; Rieger, Alicja; Doepker, Gina M.; McGeorge, Samantha

2018-01-01

National guidelines such as the "Standards for the 21st Century Learner" (American Association of School Librarians, 2007) and the "Common Core State Standards" (Common Core State Standards, 2010) recognize the importance of using a wide range of informational texts, including comic books and graphic novels to teach content, in…

Literacy Content and Core Practices: Teacher Educator Pedagogy as the Bridge between Knowing and Doing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danielson, Katie A.

2016-01-01

Mary Kennedy (1999) introduced the problem of enactment to describe how novice teachers often struggle to put what they have learned in coursework into practice in the field. One approach to this problem is to put practice at the center of teacher education by specifying core practices of teaching around which to structure novices' learning…

Update to core reporting practices in structural equation modeling.

PubMed

Schreiber, James B

This paper is a technical update to "Core Reporting Practices in Structural Equation Modeling." 1 As such, the content covered in this paper includes, sample size, missing data, specification and identification of models, estimation method choices, fit and residual concerns, nested, alternative, and equivalent models, and unique issues within the SEM family of techniques. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of mercury and organic carbon using a direct mercury analyzer: Mercury profiles in sediment cores from oxbow lakes in the Mississippi Delta

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Sediment cores from seasonal wetland and open water areas from six oxbow lakes in the Mississippi River alluvial flood plain were analyzed for total-mercury (Hg) using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA). In the process we evaluated the feasibility of simultaneously determining organic matter content by...

Oregon School Bus Drivers Training Program. Students Handbook. Core Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon State Dept. of Education, Salem.

This student handbook is one of the publications used for the Oregon Bus Driver Training Core Course. Handbook content focuses on those aspects of driving a school bus that differ from driving an automobile and that are essential for the safe transporting of students. Designed to accompany the four classes (each two and one-half hours long), the…

Core Curriculum in Preventing and Reducing School Violence and Vandalism. Course 4: Interpersonal Relations. Participant Guide and Reference Notebook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Human Services, Washington, DC.

This guide, intended for participants in the fourth course of the National School Resource Network Core Curriculum, contains an activity/content summary for each module of the course, worksheets, and background materials. The purpose of this course is to introduce approaches and resources to identify, manage, reduce, resolve, and prevent crisis…

Professional Development for Promoting 21st Century Skills and Common Core State Standards in Foreign Language and Social Studies Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beriswill, Joanne Elizabeth; Bracey, Pamela Scott; Sherman-Morris, Kathleen; Huang, Kun; Lee, Sang Joon

2016-01-01

To help satisfy the pressing need for technology-related professional development for in-service teachers, the Global Academic Essentials Teacher Institute (GAETI) was implemented to provide in-service foreign language and social studies teachers with content, pedagogy, and technology explorations centered on the teaching of the Common Core State…

The Common Core and Democratic Education: Examining Potential Costs and Benefits to Public and Private Autonomy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bindewald, Benjamin J.; Tannebaum, Rory P.; Womac, Patrick

2016-01-01

This conceptual paper assesses prevalent critiques of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and analyzes content from the CCSS in language arts and literacy to determine whether the standards are likely to support or undermine key democratic aims of education. The authors conclude that critiques of the CCSS have some merit but are generally…

The Impact of iCivics on Students' Core Civic Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeCompte, Karon; Moore, Brandon; Blevins, Brooke

2011-01-01

iCivics, a free online, civics education program created by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, is aligned to state and national standards to teach core civics content. The research question for this study is: Does spending at least 30 minutes on the iCivics interactive web site 2 times per week improve student scores on a civics test? A…

The Core Ideas of "Lessons from History: Essential Understandings and Historical Perspectives Students Should Acquire." ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Risinger, C. Frederick

This digest discusses "Lessons From History," the report of the National Center for History in the Schools at the University of California, Los Angeles. The report provides a rationale for the study of history throughout the K-12 curriculum and specifies core ideas, themes, and topics that undergird both content and performance standards…

Intensity of Focus, Richness of Content: Crafting Tier 2 Response to Intervention in an Era of the Common Core

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaeger, Elizabeth L.

2016-01-01

This article describes a Tier 2 intervention program for fourth graders that is well suited to supporting implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Screening assessments and miscue analyses were used to clarify students' strengths and challenges. Students then attended only classes that were suited to their particular literacy needs,…

Design Core Commonalities: A Study of the College of Design at Iowa State University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Venes, Jane

2015-01-01

This comprehensive study asks what a group of rather diverse disciplines have in common. It involves a cross-disciplinary examination of an entire college, the College of Design at Iowa State University. This research was intended to provide a sense of direction in developing and assessing possible core content. The reasoning was that material…

Pearson-Praxis Assessments Review Teacher Certification Assessment Technology Education: A Report for the Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahoney, Mark P.

2015-01-01

The Praxis Series, developed by Educational Testing Services (ETS), has been the long standing assessment for teacher licensure. It is comprised of three separate skills examinations: (1) Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) (attempts to measure academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics; content knowledge of candidates…

Informational Text and the Common Core: A Content Analysis of Three Basal Reading Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walters, Barbara A.

2013-01-01

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS-ELA) will have a significant impact on what teachers teach and what primary students are supposed to be able to do (Bomer & Maloch, 2011). By the end of fourth grade, reading instruction should be evenly balanced between literary text and informational text (NGA Center and CCSSO,…

Common Core Standards for High School English Language Arts: A Quick-Start Guide

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kendall, John; Frazee, Dana; Ryan, Susan

2012-01-01

High school teachers and leaders with responsibility for English language arts (ELA) need this handy guide to successfully implement the Common Core in their respective grade levels. Getting a copy for every staff member ensures they know: (1) How grades 11-12 ELA content differs from and builds upon 9-10 standards; (2) How the four strands…

Oil, fatty acid, flavonoid, and resveratrol content variability in FAD2A functional SNP genotypes in the U.S. peanut mini-core collection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Peanut seeds contain high amounts of oil and protein as well as some useful bioactive phytochemicals which can contribute to human health. The U.S. peanut mini-core collection is an important genetic resource for improving seed quality and developing new cultivars. Variability of seed chemical compo...

Embedding Hands-On Mini Laboratory Experiences in a Core Undergraduate Fluid Mechanics Course: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Han, Duanduan; Ugaz, Victor

2017-01-01

Three self-contained mini-labs were integrated into a core undergraduate fluid mechanics course, with the goal of delivering hands-on content in a manner scalable to large class sizes. These mini-labs supported learning objectives involving friction loss in pipes, flow measurement, and centrifugal pump analysis. The hands-on experiments were…

IFLA General Conference, 1990. Official Opening and Plenary Session; Open Forum on IFLA's Core Programmes; Contributed Papers Session. Booklet 0.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Federation of Library Associations, The Hague (Netherlands).

The 15 papers in this collection include opening remarks, reports on core programs of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), and papers from a contributed papers session. Contents are: (1) "Opening Speech of the IFLA General Conference: Stockholm 1990" (Hans-Peter Geh), in German, with an English translation; (2)…

Biogas production from pineapple core - A preliminary study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jehan, O. S.; Sanusi, S. N. A.; Sukor, M. Z.; Noraini, M.; Buddin, M. M. H. S.; Hamid, K. H. K.

2017-09-01

Anaerobic digestion of pineapple waste was investigated by using pineapple core as the sole substrate. Pineapple core was chosen due to its high total sugar content thus, indicating high amount of fermentable sugar. As digestion process requires the involvement of microorganisms, wastewater from the same industry was added in the current study at ratio of 1:1 by weight. Two different sources of wastewater (Point 1 and Point 2) were used in this study to distinguish the performance of microorganism consortia in both samples. The experiment was conducted by using a lab scale batch anaerobic digester made up from 5L container with separate gas collecting system. The biogas produced was collected by using water displacement method. The experiment was conducted for 30 days and the biogas produced was collected and its volume was recorded at 3 days interval. Based on the data available, wastewater from the first point recorded higher volume of biogas with the total accumulated biogas volume is 216.1 mL. Meanwhile, wastewater sample from Point 2 produced a total of 140.5 mL of biogas, by volume. The data shows that the origin and type of microorganism undeniably play significant role in biogas production. In fact, other factors; pH of wastewater and temperature were also known to affect biogas production. The anaerobic digestion is seen as the promising and sustainable alternatives to current disposal method.

Changes in soil hydraulic properties caused by construction of a simulated waste trench at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shakofsky, S.M.

1995-01-01

In order to assess the effect of filled waste disposal trenches on transport-governing soil properties, comparisons were made between profiles of undisturbed soil and disturbed soil in a simulated waste trench. The changes in soil properties induced by the construction of a simulated waste trench were measured near the Radioactive Waste Management Complex at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in the semi-arid southeast region of Idaho. The soil samples were collected, using a hydraulically- driven sampler to minimize sample disruption, from both a simulated waste trench and an undisturbed area nearby. Results show that the undisturbed profile has distinct layers whose properties differ significantly, whereas the soil profile in the simulated waste trench is. by comparison, homogeneous. Porosity was increased in the disturbed cores, and, correspondingly, saturated hydraulic conductivities were on average three times higher. With higher soil-moisture contents (greater than 0.32), unsaturated hydraulic conductivities for the undisturbed cores were typically greater than those for the disturbed cores. With lower moisture contents, most of the disturbed cores had greater hydraulic conductivities. The observed differences in hydraulic conductivities are interpreted and discussed as changes in the soil pore geometry.

Evaluation of Neutron Radiography Reactor LEU-Core Start-Up Measurements

DOE PAGES

Bess, John D.; Maddock, Thomas L.; Smolinski, Andrew T.; ...

2014-11-04

Benchmark models were developed to evaluate the cold-critical start-up measurements performed during the fresh core reload of the Neutron Radiography (NRAD) reactor with Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel. Experiments include criticality, control-rod worth measurements, shutdown margin, and excess reactivity for four core loadings with 56, 60, 62, and 64 fuel elements. The worth of four graphite reflector block assemblies and an empty dry tube used for experiment irradiations were also measured and evaluated for the 60-fuel-element core configuration. Dominant uncertainties in the experimental k eff come from uncertainties in the manganese content and impurities in the stainless steel fuel claddingmore » as well as the 236U and erbium poison content in the fuel matrix. Calculations with MCNP5 and ENDF/B-VII.0 neutron nuclear data are approximately 1.4% (9σ) greater than the benchmark model eigenvalues, which is commonly seen in Monte Carlo simulations of other TRIGA reactors. Simulations of the worth measurements are within the 2σ uncertainty for most of the benchmark experiment worth values. The complete benchmark evaluation details are available in the 2014 edition of the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments.« less

An optical method for characterizing carbon content in ceramic pot filters.

PubMed

Goodwin, J Y; Elmore, A C; Salvinelli, C; Reidmeyer, Mary R

2017-08-01

Ceramic pot filter (CPF) technology is a relatively common means of household water treatment in developing areas, and performance characteristics of CPFs have been characterized using production CPFs, experimental CPFs fabricated in research laboratories, and ceramic disks intended to be CPF surrogates. There is evidence that CPF manufacturers do not always fire their products according to best practices and the result is incomplete combustion of the pore forming material and the creation of a carbon core in the final CPFs. Researchers seldom acknowledge the existence of potential existence of carbon cores, and at least one CPF producer has postulated that the carbon may be beneficial in terms of final water quality because of the presence of activated carbon in consumer filters marketed in the Western world. An initial step in characterizing the presence and impact of carbon cores is the characterization of those cores. An optical method which may be more viable to producers relative to off-site laboratory analysis of carbon content has been developed and verified. The use of the optical method is demonstrated via preliminary disinfection and flowrate studies, and the results of these studies indicate that the method may be of use in studying production kiln operation.

Evaluation of Neutron Radiography Reactor LEU-Core Start-Up Measurements

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

Bess, John D.; Maddock, Thomas L.; Smolinski, Andrew T.

Benchmark models were developed to evaluate the cold-critical start-up measurements performed during the fresh core reload of the Neutron Radiography (NRAD) reactor with Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel. Experiments include criticality, control-rod worth measurements, shutdown margin, and excess reactivity for four core loadings with 56, 60, 62, and 64 fuel elements. The worth of four graphite reflector block assemblies and an empty dry tube used for experiment irradiations were also measured and evaluated for the 60-fuel-element core configuration. Dominant uncertainties in the experimental k eff come from uncertainties in the manganese content and impurities in the stainless steel fuel claddingmore » as well as the 236U and erbium poison content in the fuel matrix. Calculations with MCNP5 and ENDF/B-VII.0 neutron nuclear data are approximately 1.4% (9σ) greater than the benchmark model eigenvalues, which is commonly seen in Monte Carlo simulations of other TRIGA reactors. Simulations of the worth measurements are within the 2σ uncertainty for most of the benchmark experiment worth values. The complete benchmark evaluation details are available in the 2014 edition of the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments.« less

Constraints on the Properties of the Moon's Outer Core from High-Pressure Sound Velocity Measurements on Fe-S Liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Z.; Wang, Y.; Kono, Y.; Yu, T.; Sakamaki, T.; Park, C.; Rivers, M. L.; Sutton, S. R.; Shen, G.

2013-12-01

Geophysical observations based on lunar seismology and laser ranging strongly suggest that the Moon's iron core is partially molten. Similar to Earth and other terrestrial planets, light elements, such as sulfur, silicon, carbon, and oxygen, are likely present in the lunar core. Determining the light element concentration in the outer core is of vital importance to the understanding of the structure, dynamics, and chemical evolution of the Moon, as well as the enigmatic history of the lunar dynamo. Among the candidate elements, sulfur is the preferred major light element in the lunar outer due to its high abundance in the parent bodies of iron meteorites, its high solubility in liquid Fe at the lunar core pressure (~5 GPa), and its strong effects on reducing the density, velocity, and freezing temperature of the core. In this study, we conducted in-situ sound velocity measurements on liquid samples of four different compositions, including pure Fe, Fe-10wt%S, Fe-20wt%S, and Fe-27wt%S, at pressure and temperature conditions up to 8 GPa and 1973 K (encompassing the entire lunar depth range), using the Kawai-type multi-anvil device at the GSECARS beamline 13-ID-D and the Paris-Edinburgh cell at HPCAT beamline 16-BM-B. Our results show that the velocity of Fe-rich liquids increases upon compression, decreases with increasing sulfur content, and is nearly independent of temperature. Compared to the seismic velocity of the outer core, our velocity data constrain the sulfur content at 4×2 wt%, indicating a significantly denser (6.4×0.4 g/cm3) and hotter (1860×60 K) outer core than previously estimated. A new lunar structure model incorporating available geophysical observations points to a smaller core radius. Our model also suggests a top-down solidification scenario for the evolution of the lunar core. Such an 'iron snow' process may have been an important mechanism for the growth of the inner core.

Three-Year High School Science Core Curriculum: A Framework.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bardeen, Marjorie; Freeman, Wade; Lederman, Leon; Marshall, Stephanie; Thompson, Bruce; Young, M. Jean

It is time to start a complete re-structuring of the high school science sequence: new content, new instructional materials, new laboratories, new assessment tools, and new teacher preparation. This white paper initiates re-structuring by proposing organization, pedagogy, and content for a new sequence of science courses. The proposal respects the…

Identifying Mathematics Content and Integrating It into Science Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwols, Amitra; Miller, Kirsten Brush

2012-01-01

Science teachers know that the mathematics concepts taught in the Common Core are critical for students' understanding of science. But what can a teacher do when his/her students lack the necessary mathematics skills to master science content? There may be other reasons besides students not paying attention in their math courses. Maybe the…

Using a Simultaneous Prompting Procedure to Embed Core Content When Teaching a Potential Employment Skill

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Belva C.; Terrell, Misty; Test, David W.

2017-01-01

This investigation used a multiple-probe-across-participants design to examine the effects of using a simultaneous prompting procedure to teach four secondary students with mild intellectual disabilities the employment task of caring for plants in a greenhouse. The instructor also embedded photosynthesis science content as nontargeted information…

The "Literature" of Literature Anthologies: An Examination of Text Types

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watkins, Naomi M.; Liang, Lauren Aimonette

2014-01-01

While the contents of K-6 basal readers have been recently examined (Dewitz, Leahy, Jones, Sullivan, 2010; Moss, 2008; Moss & Newton, 2002), the contents of secondary school literature anthologies have been vastly ignored in the last 2 decades. Given the Common Core State Standards' division of literary and informational text across content…

Saxon Math. What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2016

2016-01-01

"Saxon Math" is a core curriculum for students in grades K-12 that uses an incremental approach to instruction and assessment. This approach limits the amount of new math content delivered to students each day and allows time for daily practice. New concepts are introduced gradually and integrated with previously introduced content so…

The Nature of Integration among PCK Components: A Case Study of Two Experienced Chemistry Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydin, Sevgi; Boz, Yezdan

2013-01-01

In this qualitative case study, we examined the nature of integration among pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) components. To attain the goal, two experienced chemistry teachers' teaching redox reactions and electrochemical cells was observed. The data were collected through card-sorting activity, content representation (CoRe) tool, observation,…

Preserving Library Value through the Shifting Tides of Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breeding, Marshall

2012-01-01

The core mission of libraries has always centered on making content and related services available to patrons. The form in which that content is delivered has changed continually. The most ancient libraries or archives organized clay tablets or cylinders written in cuneiform. Centuries ago, the transition from scrolls to codices must have been…

Investigating the Effects of a Math-Enhanced Agricultural Teaching Methods Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stripling, Christopher T.; Roberts, T. Grady

2013-01-01

Numerous calls have been made for agricultural education to support core academic subject matter including mathematics. Previous research has shown that the incorporation of mathematics content into a teaching methods course had a positive effect on preservice teachers' mathematics content knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate…

Preparing Teachers for New Standards: From Content in Core Disciplines to Disciplinary Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyle, Justin D.; Svihla, Vanessa; Tyson, Kersti; Bowers, Hannah; Buntjer, Jennifer; Garcia-Olp, Michelle; Kvam, Nicholas; Sample, Stephanie

2013-01-01

There are many barriers to the implementation of new practice standards. To implement practices that both prepare and inspire their students, preservice teachers need opportunities to enact reform practices: to prepare and be inspired themselves. These opportunities are found in students' content courses, methods courses, and field placements. In…

Training ELF Teachers to Create a Blended Learning Environment: Encouraging CMS Adoption and Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cote, Travis; Milliner, Brett

2015-01-01

E-learning has become a crucial component of most tertiary institution's education initiatives (Park, Lee, & Cheong, 2007) and core to most e-learning strategies is the institution's Content Management System (CMS). A CMS has the potential to enhance language courses by facilitating engagement with class content, providing students with…

Inquiry and 21st-Century Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pappas, Marjorie L.

2009-01-01

Over the last eight years, the primary focus in schools has been on passing standardized tests based on a core curriculum. The emphasis on learning content is in direct contrast to the world outside the school walls where the technological capability to provide access to content, i.e., information at lightning speed, already exists. In fact,…

Core Requirements for the Economics Major

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petkus, Marie; Perry, John J.; Johnson, Bruce K.

2014-01-01

In this article, the authors are the first to describe the core economics curriculum requirements for economics majors at all American colleges and universities, as opposed to a sample of institutions. Not surprisingly, principles of economics is nearly universally required and implemented as a two-semester course in 85 percent of economics major…

76 FR 34287 - ITS Joint Program Office; Core System Requirements Walkthrough and Architecture Proposal Review...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-13

... Architecture Proposal Review Meetings and Webinars; Notice of Public Meeting AGENCY: Research and Innovative... webinars to discuss the Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Core System Requirements and Architecture Proposal... review of System Requirements Specification and Architecture Proposal. The second meeting will be a...

Inner core tilt and polar motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumberry, Mathieu; Bloxham, Jeremy

2002-11-01

A tilted inner core permits exchange of angular momentum between the core and the mantle through gravitational and pressure torques and, as a result, changes in the direction of Earth's axis of rotation with respect to the mantle. We have developed a model to calculate the amplitude of the polar motion that results from an equatorial torque at the inner core boundary which tilts the inner core out of alignment with the mantle. We specifically address the issue of the role of the inner core tilt in the decade polar motion known as the Markowitz wobble. We show that a decade polar motion of the same amplitude as the observed Markowitz wobble requires a torque of 1020 N m which tilts the inner core by 0.07 degrees. This result critically depends on the viscosity of the inner core; for a viscosity less than 5 × 1017 Pa s, larger torques are required. We investigate the possibility that a torque of 1020 N m with decadal periodicity can be produced by electromagnetic coupling between the inner core and torsional oscillations of the flow in the outer core. We demonstrate that a radial magnetic field at the inner core boundary of 3 to 4 mT is required to obtain a torque of such amplitude. The resulting polar motion is eccentric and polarized, in agreement with the observations. Our model suggests that equatorial torques at the inner core boundary might also excite the Chandler wobble, provided there exists a physical mechanism that can generate a large torque at a 14 month period.

Vertical radar profiles for the calibration of unsaturated flow models under dynamic water table conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassiani, G.; Gallotti, L.; Ventura, V.; Andreotti, G.

2003-04-01

The identification of flow and transport characteristics in the vadose zone is a fundamental step towards understanding the dynamics of contaminated sites and the resulting risk of groundwater pollution. Borehole radar has gained popularity for the monitoring of moisture content changes, thanks to its apparent simplicity and its high resolution characteristics. However, cross-hole radar requires closely spaced (a few meters), plastic-cased boreholes, that are rarely available as a standard feature in sites of practical interest. Unlike cross-hole applications, Vertical Radar Profiles (VRP) require only one borehole, with practical and financial benefits. High-resolution, time-lapse VRPs have been acquired at a crude oil contaminated site in Trecate, Northern Italy, on a few existing boreholes originally developed for remediation via bioventing. The dynamic water table conditions, with yearly oscillations of roughly 5 m from 6 to 11 m bgl, offers a good opportunity to observe via VRP a field scale drainage-imbibition process. Arrival time inversion has been carried out using a regularized tomographic algorithm, in order to overcome the noise introduced by first arrival picking. Interpretation of the vertical profiles in terms of moisture content has been based on standard models (Topp et al., 1980; Roth et al., 1990). The sedimentary sequence manifests itself as a cyclic pattern in moisture content over most of the profiles. We performed preliminary Richards' equation simulations with time varying later table boundary conditions, in order to estimate the unsaturated flow parameters, and the results have been compared with laboratory evidence from cores.

Microstructure, Pitting Corrosion Resistance and Impact Toughness of Duplex Stainless Steel Underwater Dry Hyperbaric Flux-Cored Arc Welds

PubMed Central

Hu, Yu; Shen, Xiao-Qin; Wang, Zhong-Min

2017-01-01

Duplex stainless steel multi-pass welds were made at 0.15 MPa, 0.45 MPa, and 0.75 MPa pressure, simulating underwater dry hyperbaric welding by the flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) method, with welds of normal pressure as a benchmark. The purpose of this work was to estimate the effect of ambient pressure on the microstructure, pitting corrosion resistance and impact toughness of the weld metal. The microstructure measurement revealed that the ferrite content in the weld metal made at 0.45 MPa is the lowest, followed by that of 0.75 MPa and 0.15 MPa. The analysis of potentiodynamic polarization tests at 30 °C and 50 °C demonstrated that the pitting corrosion resistance depends on the phases of the lower pitting resistance equivalent numbers (PREN), secondary austenite and ferrite. The weld metal made at 0.45 MPa had the best resistance to pitting corrosion at 30 °C and 50 °C with the highest PRENs of secondary austenite and ferrite. The weld metal made at 0.15 MPa displayed the lowest pitting corrosion resistance at 30 °C with the lowest PREN of secondary austenite, while the weld metal made at 0.75 MPa was the most seriously eroded after being tested at 50 °C for the lowest PREN of ferrite, with large cluster pits seen in ferrite at 50 °C. The impact tests displayed a typical ductile-brittle transition because of the body-centered cubic (BCC) structure of the ferrite when the test temperature was lowered. All the weld metals met the required value of 34 J at −40 °C according to the ASTM A923. The highest ferrite content corresponded to the worst impact toughness, but the highest toughness value did not correspond to the greatest austenite content. With the decreasing of the test temperature, the drop value of absorbed energy was correlated to the ferrite content. Additionally, in this work, the weld metal made at 0.45 MPa had the best combined properties of pitting resistance and impact toughness. PMID:29258262

Microstructure, Pitting Corrosion Resistance and Impact Toughness of Duplex Stainless Steel Underwater Dry Hyperbaric Flux-Cored Arc Welds.

PubMed

Hu, Yu; Shi, Yong-Hua; Shen, Xiao-Qin; Wang, Zhong-Min

2017-12-18

Duplex stainless steel multi-pass welds were made at 0.15 MPa, 0.45 MPa, and 0.75 MPa pressure, simulating underwater dry hyperbaric welding by the flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) method, with welds of normal pressure as a benchmark. The purpose of this work was to estimate the effect of ambient pressure on the microstructure, pitting corrosion resistance and impact toughness of the weld metal. The microstructure measurement revealed that the ferrite content in the weld metal made at 0.45 MPa is the lowest, followed by that of 0.75 MPa and 0.15 MPa. The analysis of potentiodynamic polarization tests at 30 °C and 50 °C demonstrated that the pitting corrosion resistance depends on the phases of the lower pitting resistance equivalent numbers (PREN), secondary austenite and ferrite. The weld metal made at 0.45 MPa had the best resistance to pitting corrosion at 30 °C and 50 °C with the highest PRENs of secondary austenite and ferrite. The weld metal made at 0.15 MPa displayed the lowest pitting corrosion resistance at 30 °C with the lowest PREN of secondary austenite, while the weld metal made at 0.75 MPa was the most seriously eroded after being tested at 50 °C for the lowest PREN of ferrite, with large cluster pits seen in ferrite at 50 °C. The impact tests displayed a typical ductile-brittle transition because of the body-centered cubic (BCC) structure of the ferrite when the test temperature was lowered. All the weld metals met the required value of 34 J at -40 °C according to the ASTM A923. The highest ferrite content corresponded to the worst impact toughness, but the highest toughness value did not correspond to the greatest austenite content. With the decreasing of the test temperature, the drop value of absorbed energy was correlated to the ferrite content. Additionally, in this work, the weld metal made at 0.45 MPa had the best combined properties of pitting resistance and impact toughness.

Submarine landslide identified in DLW3102 core of the northern continental slope, South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yuanqin; Liu, Lejun; Zhou, Hang; Huang, Baoqi; Li, Ping; Ma, Xiudong; Dong, Feiyin

2018-02-01

In this paper, we take DLW3101 core obtained at the top of the canyon (no landslide area) and DLW3102 core obtained at the bottom of the canyon (landslide area) on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea as research objects. The chronostratigraphic framework of the DLW3101 core and elemental strata of the DLW3101 core and the DLW3102 core since MIS5 are established by analyzing oxygen isotope, calcium carbonate content, and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanning elements. On the basis of the information obtained by analyzing the sedimentary structure and chemical elements in the landslide deposition, we found that the DLW3102 core shows four layers of submarine landslides, and each landslide layer is characterized by high Si, K, Ti, and Fe contents, thereby indicating terrigenous clastic sources. L1 (2.15-2.44 m) occurred in MIS2, which is a slump sedimentary layer with a small sliding distance and scale. L2 (15.48-16.00 m) occurred in MIS5 and is a debris flow-deposited layer with a scale and sliding distance that are greater than those of L1. L3 (19.00-20.90 m) occurred in MIS5; its upper part (19.00-20.00 m) is a debris flow-deposited layer, and its lower part (20.00-20.90 m) is a sliding deposition layer. The landslide scale of L3 is large. L4 (22.93-24.27 m) occurred in MIS5; its upper part (22.93-23.50 m) is a turbid sedimentary layer, and its lower part (23.50-24.27 m) is a slump sedimentary layer. The landslide scale of L4 is large.

Validation of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Vocational Rehabilitation From the Perspective of Physical Therapists: International Delphi Survey.

PubMed

Kaech Moll, Veronika M; Escorpizo, Reuben; Portmann Bergamaschi, Ruth; Finger, Monika E

2016-08-01

The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a list of essential categories on functioning based on the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which describes a standard for interdisciplinary assessment, documentation, and communication in VR. The aim of this study was to examine the content validity of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR from the perspective of physical therapists. A 3-round email survey was performed using the Delphi method. A convenience sample of international physical therapists working in VR with work experience of ≥2 years were asked to identify aspects they consider as relevant when evaluating or treating clients in VR. Responses were linked to the ICF categories and compared with the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR. Sixty-two physical therapists from all 6 WHO world regions responded with 3,917 statements that were subsequently linked to 338 ICF categories. Fifteen (17%) of the 90 categories in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR were confirmed by the physical therapists in the sample. Twenty-two additional ICF categories were identified that were not included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR. Vocational rehabilitation in physical therapy is not well defined in every country and might have resulted in the small sample size. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized to all physical therapists practicing in VR. The content validity of the ICF Core Set for VR is insufficient from solely a physical therapist perspective. The results of this study could be used to define a physical therapy-specific set of ICF categories to develop and guide physical therapist clinical practice in VR. © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Geochronology and sources of heavy metal pollution in sediments of Istanbul Strait (Bosporus) outlet area, SW Black Sea, Turkey.

PubMed

Sarı, Erol; Çağatay, M Namık; Acar, Dursun; Belivermiş, Murat; Kılıç, Önder; Arslan, Tuğçe Nagihan; Tutay, Ali; Kurt, Mehmet Ali; Sezer, Narin

2018-08-01

Geochemical and sedimentological analyses and radionuclide ( 210 Pb and 137 Cs) dating of three cores from the Bosporus outlet area of the Black Sea, north of Istanbul, were conducted to assess the sources and history of heavy metal pollution. The sedimentary succession in the shelf core KD12-01 consists mainly of clay (49-80%) and silt (15-41%). Radionuclide dating of the core indicates that it consists of old sediments that are uncontaminated with heavy metals. In contrast, cores KD12-04 and KD12-07 recovered from -350 m and -304 mm in the upper slope area represent sediments consisting of silt and clay that were deposited since at least the last 120 years and 60 years, respectively. The latter core contains two mass-flow units represented by relatively old sedimentary material according to the low 210 Pb activity and relatively low heavy metal contents. The upper 40 and 48 cm of cores KD 12-04 and KD 12-07 represent sediments deposited since 1970s and 1980s that are significantly polluted with Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, Pb and Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Mo, Pb, Zn, respectively. However, high Pb and Cr concentrations with high TOC contents date back to early part of the 20th century in core KD 12-04. The geochemical data, together with the high 137 Cs concentrations of the contaminated sediments, strongly suggest that the pollution is mainly delivered to the western and north western Black Sea by the large European rivers, from there transported to the study area by the rim current, and deposited in the sediments under anoxic conditions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The thermal evolution and dynamo generation of Mercury with an Fe-Si core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knibbe, Jurrien

2017-04-01

The present day partially liquid (as opposed to fully solidified) Fe-rich core of Mercury is traditionally explained by assuming a substantial amount of S to be present in the core (e.g. Grott et al., 2011), because S lowers the core's melting temperature. However, this assumption has problematic implications: Mercury's large Fe-rich core and measured low FeO surface content are indicative of an oxygen poor bulk composition, which is consistent with the volatile-poor material that is expected to have condensed from the solar nebula close to the Sun. In contrast, S is a moderately volatile element. Combined with the high S content of Mercury's crust and (likely) mantle, as indicated by the measured high S/Si surface fraction, the resulting high planetary S abundance is difficult to reconcile with a volatile poor origin of the planet. Additionally, the observed low magnetic field strength is most easily explained if compositional buoyancy fluxes are absent [Manglik et al., 2010], yet such fluxes are produced upon solidifying a pure Fe inner core from Fe-S liquid. Alternatively, both Mercury's high S/Si and Mg/Si surface ratios (Nittler et al., 2011) may indicate that a siderophile fractionation of Si and lithophile fractionation of S took place during Mercury's core-mantle differentiation. This fractionation behaviour of these elements is supported by metal/silicate partitioning experiments that have been performed at the low oxygen conditions inferred for Mercury [e.g. Chabot et al., 2014]. Mercury's bulk composition, in terms of S/Si and Fe/Si ratios, would also approach that of meteorites that are considered as potential building blocks of the planet if the core is Si-rich and S-poor. Here we simulate the thermal evolution of Mercury with an Fe-Si core. Results show that an Fe-Si core can remain largely molten until present, without the need for S. An Fe-Si core also has interesting implications for Mercury's core-convection regime and magnetic field generation. The non-preferential Si fractionation between solid and liquid metal does not produce a compositional gradient, such that compositional buoyancy fluxes are negligible. Additionally, thermally driven core convection is more efficient as a result of a high latent heat release upon solidifying Si-rich metal. Implications of this scenario for Mercury's magnetic field strength and geometry need to be further examined.

Analysis of the dielectric properties of trunk wood in dominant conifer species from New England and Siberia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ranson, K. J.; Rock, B. N.; Salas, W. A.; Smith, K.; Williams, D. L.

1992-01-01

Data were collected for dominant conifer species. Dielectric properties of trunk wood were measured using a C-band dielectric probe. For certain specimens, electrical resistance was also measured using a shigometer. The water status of the trees studies was determined either by use of a Scholander pressure chamber on branch samples collected simultaneously with dielectric measurements or by fresh-weight/dry-weight assessment of wood core samples extracted and analyzed with the dielectric probe and shigometer. Diurnal delectric properties and xylem water column tension are inversely correlated such that real and imaginary dielectric values drop as tension increases. The dielectric properties were positively correlated with wood core moisture content while electrical resistance was poorly correlated with wood core moisture content in one species studied. Results support the view that dielectric properties are strongly correlated with moisture status in trunk wood, and possibly ion concentrations associated with decay processes in damaged specimens.

Geochemical consequences of flow differentiation in a multiple injection dike (Trinity ophiolite, N. California)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brouxel, M.

1991-01-01

A clinopyroxene-rich dike of the Trinity ophiolite sheeted-dike complex shows three different magmatic pulses, probably injected in a short period of time (no well developed chilled margin) and important variations of the clinopyroxene and plagioclase percentages between its core (highly porphyritic) and margins (aphyric). This variation, interpreted as related to a flow differentiation phenomenon (mechanical phenocryst redistribution), has important geochemical consequences. It produces increases in the FeO, MgO, CaO, Cr and Ni contents from the margin to the core, together with increases in the clinopyroxene percentage, and decreases in the SiO2, Zr, Y, Nb and REE contents together with a decrease in the percentage of the fine-grained groundmass toward the core of the dike. This mineralogical redistribution, which also affects the incompatible trace element ratios because of the difference in plagioclase and clinopyroxene mineral/liquid partition coefficients, illustrate the importance of fractionation processes outside of a magma chamber. ?? 1991.

Role Of Impurities On Deformation Of HCP Crystal: A Multi-Scale Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatia, Mehul Anoopkumar

Commercially pure (CP) and extra low interstitial (ELI) grade Ti-alloys present excellent corrosion resistance, lightweight, and formability making them attractive materials for expanded use in transportation and medical applications. However, the strength and toughness of CP titanium are affected by relatively small variations in their impurity/solute content (IC), e.g., O, Al, and V. This increase in strength is due to the fact that the solute either increases the critical stress required for the prismatic slip systems ({10- 10}) or activates another slip system ((0001), {10-11}). In particular, solute additions such as O can effectively strengthen the alloy but with an attendant loss in ductility by changing the behavior from wavy (cross slip) to planar nature. In order to understand the underlying behavior of strengthening by solutes, it is important to understand the atomic scale mechanism. This dissertation aims to address this knowledge gap through a synergistic combination of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics. Further, due to the long-range strain fields of the dislocations and the periodicity of the DFT simulation cells, it is difficult to apply ab initio simulations to study the dislocation core structure. To alleviate this issue we developed a multiscale quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics approach (QM/MM) to study the dislocation core. We use the developed QM/MM method to study the pipe diffusion along a prismatic edge dislocation core. Complementary to the atomistic simulations, the Semi-discrete Variational Peierls-Nabarro model (SVPN) was also used to analyze the dislocation core structure and mobility. The chemical interaction between the solute/impurity and the dislocation core is captured by the so-called generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE) surface which was determined from DFT-VASP calculations. By taking the chemical interaction into consideration the SVPN model can predict the dislocation core structure and mobility in the presence and absence of the solute/impurity and thus reveal the effect of impurity/solute on the softening/hardening behavior in alpha-Ti. Finally, to study the interaction of the dislocation core with other planar defects such as grain boundaries (GB), we develop an automated method to theoretically generate GBs in HCP type materials.

Free Electrons to Molecular Bonds and Back: Closing the Energetic Oxygen Reduction (ORR)-Oxygen Evolution (OER) Cycle Using Core-Shell Nanoelectrocatalysts.

PubMed

Strasser, Peter

2016-11-15

Nanomaterial science and electrocatalytic science have entered a successful "nanoelectrochemical" symbiosis, in which novel nanomaterials offer new frontiers for studies on electrocatalytic charge transfer, while electrocatalytic processes give meaning and often practical importance to novel nanomaterial concepts. Examples of this fruitful symbiosis are dealloyed core-shell nanoparticle electrocatalysts, which often exhibit enhanced kinetic charge transfer rates at greatly improved atom-efficiency. As such, they represent ideal electrocatalyst architectures for the acidic oxygen reduction reaction to water (ORR) and the acidic oxygen evolution reaction from water (OER) that require scarce Pt- and Ir-based catalysts. Together, these two reactions constitute the "O-cycle", a key elemental process loop in the field of electrochemical energy interconversion between electricity (free electrons) and molecular bonds (H 2 O/O 2 ), realized in the combination of water electrolyzers and hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. In this Account, we describe our recent efforts to design, synthesize, understand, and test noble metal-poor dealloyed Pt and Ir core-shell nanoparticles for deployment in acidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and PEM fuel cells. Spherical dealloyed Pt core-shell particles, derived from PtNi 3 precursor alloys, showed favorable ORR activity. More detailed size-activity correlation studies further revealed that the 6-8 nm diameter range is a most desirable initial particle size range in order to maximize the particle Ni content after ORR testing and to preserve performance stability. Similarly, dealloyed and oxidized IrO x core-shell particles derived from Ni-rich Ir-Ni precursor particles proved highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in acidic conditions. In addition to the noble metal savings in the particle cores, the Pt core-shell particles are believed to benefit in terms of their mass-based electrochemical kinetics from surface lattice strain effects that tune the adsorption energies and barriers of elementary steps. The molecular mechanism of the kinetic benefit of the dealloyed IrO x particle needs more attention, but there is mounting evidence for ligand hole effects in defect-rich IrO x shells that generate preactive oxygen centers.

The evolution of the intracluster medium metallicity in Sunyaev Zel'dovich-selected galaxy clusters at 0 < z < 1.5

DOE PAGES

McDonald, M.; Bulbul, E.; Haan, T. de; ...

2016-07-27

Here, we present the results of an X-ray spectral analysis of 153 galaxy clusters observed with the Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Suzaku space telescopes. These clusters, which span 0 < z < 1.5, were drawn from a larger, mass-selected sample of galaxy clusters discovered in the 2500 square degree South Pole Telescope Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) survey. With a total combined exposure time of 9.1 Ms, these data yield the strongest constraints to date on the evolution of the metal content of the intracluster medium (ICM). We find no evidence for strong evolution in the global (r < R 500) ICM metallicity (dZ/dz = –0.06 ± 0.04 Z ⊙), with a mean value at z = 0.6 ofmore » $$\\langle Z\\rangle =0.23\\pm 0.01$$ Z ⊙ and a scatter of σ Z = 0.08 ± 0.01 Z ⊙. These results imply that the emission-weighted metallicity has not changed by more than 40% since z = 1 (at 95% confidence), consistent with the picture of an early (z > 1) enrichment. We find, in agreement with previous works, a significantly higher mean value for the metallicity in the centers of cool core clusters versus non-cool core clusters. We find weak evidence for evolution in the central metallicity of cool core clusters (dZ/dz = –0.21 ± 0.11 Z ⊙), which is sufficient to account for this enhanced central metallicity over the past ~10 Gyr. We find no evidence for metallicity evolution outside of the core (dZ/dz = –0.03 ± 0.06 Z ⊙), and no significant difference in the core-excised metallicity between cool core and non-cool core clusters. This suggests that strong radio-mode active galactic nucleus feedback does not significantly alter the distribution of metals at $$r\\gt 0.15{R}_{500}$$. Given the limitations of current-generation X-ray telescopes in constraining the ICM metallicity at z > 1, significant improvements on this work will likely require next-generation X-ray missions.« less

Determination of Trace Concentration in TMD Detectors using PGAA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomandl, I.; Viererbl, L.; Kudějová, P.; Lahodová, Z.; Klupák, V.; Fikrle, M.

2015-05-01

Transmutation detectors could be alternative to the traditional activation detector method for neutron fluence dosimetry at power nuclear reactors. This new method require an isotopically highly-sensitive, non-destructive in sense of compactness as well as isotopic content, precise and standardly used analytical method for trace concentration determination. The capability of Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis (PGAA) for determination of trace concentrations of transmuted stable nuclides in the metallic foils of Ni, Au, Cu and Nb, which were irradiated for 21 days in the reactor core at the LVR-15 research reactor in Řež, is reported. The PGAA measurements of these activation foils were performed at the PGAA facility at Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRMII) in Garching.

Organic sedimentation in modern lacustrine systems: A case study from Lake Malawi, East Africa

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ellis, Geoffrey S.; Barry J. Katz,; Christopher A. Scholz,; Peter K. Swart,

2015-01-01

This study examines the relationship between depositional environment and sedimentary organic geochemistry in Lake Malawi, East Africa, and evaluates the relative significance of the various processes that control sedimentary organic matter (OM) in lacustrine systems. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations in recent sediments from Lake Malawi range from 0.01 to 8.80 wt% and average 2.83 wt% for surface sediments and 2.35 wt% for shallow core sediments. Hydrogen index (HI) values as determined by Rock-Eval pyrolysis range from 0 to 756 mg HC g−1 TOC and average 205 mg HC g−1 TOC for surface sediments and 228 mg HC g−1 TOC for shallow core samples. On average, variations in primary productivity throughout the lake may account for ~33% of the TOC content in Lake Malawi sediments (as much as 1 wt% TOC), and have little or no impact on sedimentary HI values. Similarly, ~33% to 66% of the variation in TOC content in Lake Malawi sediments appears to be controlled by anoxic preservation of OM (~1–2 wt% TOC), although some component of the water depth–TOC relationship may be due to physical sediment transport processes. Furthermore, anoxic preservation has a minimal effect on HI values in Lake Malawi sediments. Dilution of OM by inorganic sediment may account for ~16% of variability in TOC content in Lake Malawi sediments (~0.5 wt% TOC). The effect of inputs of terrestrial sediment on the organic character of surface sediments in these lakes is highly variable, and appears to be more closely related to the local depositional environment than the regional flux of terrestrial OM. Total nitrogen and TOC content in surface sediments collected throughout the lake are found to be highly correlated (r2 = 0.95), indicating a well-homogenized source of OM to the lake bottom. The recurring suspension and deposition of terrestrial sediment may account for significant amounts of OM deposited in offshore regions of the lake. This process effectively separates denser inorganic sediment from less dense OM and allows terrestrial OM to preferentially be transported farther offshore. The conclusion is that for the organic carbon content in these regions to be elevated a mixed terrestrial-lacustrine origin is required. The hydrodynamic separation of mineral and organic constituents is most pronounced in regions with shallow bathymetric gradients, consistent with previous findings from Lake Tanganyika.

Preliminary biogeochemical assessment of EPICA LGM and Holocene ice samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulat, S.; Alekhina, I.; Marie, D.; Wagenbach, D.; Raynaud, D.; Petit, J. R.

2009-04-01

We are investigating the biological content (biomass and microbial diversity of Aeolian origin) of EPICA ice core within the frame of EPICA Microbiology consortium*. Two ice core sections were selected from EPICA Dome C and Droning Maud Land, both from LGM and Holocene. Preliminary measurements of DOC (dissolved organic content) and microbial cell concentrations have been performed. Both analyses showed the very low biomass and ultra low DOC content. Trace DNA analyses are in a progress. The ice sections were decontaminated in LGGE cold and clean room facilities benefiting the protocol developed for Vostok ice core studies. The melt water was then shared between two party laboratories for a complementary approach in studying microbial content. Prior to biology the melt water was tested for chemical contaminant ions and organic acids, DOC and dust contents. The biological methods included all the spectra of appropriate molecular techniques (gDNA extraction, PCR, clone libraries and sequencing). As preliminary results, both LGM (well identified by dust fallout) and Holocene ice samples (EDC99 and EDML) proved to be extremely clear (i.e. pristine) in terms of biomass (less then 4 cells per ml) and DOC contents (less then 5 ppbC). There was no obvious difference between LGM and Holocene in cell counts, while LGM showed a bit high organic carbon content. The latter in terms of biology means ultra-oligotrophic conditions (i.e., no possibility for heterotrophic life style). In fact no metabolizing microbial cells or propagating populations are expected at these depths at temperature -38oC and lower (limiting life temperature threshold is -20°C). Nevertheless some life seeds brought in Antarctica with precipitation could be well preserved because the age is rather young (21 kyr and less). Trying to identify these aliens and document their distribution during last climate cycle the meltwater was concentrated about 1000 times down. The genomic DNA was extracted and very weak signals were possible to generate which are now under cloning. The signals were hard to reproduce because of rather low volume of samples. More ice volume is needed to get the biosignal stronger and reproducible. Meantime we are adjusting PCR and in addition testing DNA repair-enzyme cocktail in case of DNA damage. As a preliminary conclusion we would like to highlight the following. Both Holocene and LGM ice samples (EDC99 and EDML) are very clean in terms of Ultra low biomass and Ultra low DOC content. The most basal ice of EDC and EDML ice cores could help in assessing microbial biomass and diversity if present under the glacier at the ice-bedrock boundary. * The present-day consortium includes S. Bulat, I. Alekhina, P. Normand, D. Prieur, J-R. Petit and D. Raynaud (France) and E. Willerslev and J.P. Steffensen (Denmark)