The acceptance of Tablet-PCs in classroom instruction: The teachers’ perspectives

Limited research has been conducted on the integration of Tablet-PCs in classroom instruction. This paper reports a qualitative study which investigates the acceptance of Tablet-PCs, seen as technological innovation, amongst teachers. The research approach intends to complement research on the acceptance of technology through a more detailed qualitative examination. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 teachers during a pilot project introducing Tablet-PCs to classroom instruction at three different schools. The findings indicate diversity in the attitude of teachers towards the technology, but also with regards to the performance expectancy and the facilitating conditions.     

A posteriori optimization of parameters in stabilized methods for convection–diffusion problems – Part I

Stabilized finite element methods for convection-dominated problems require the choice of appropriate stabilization parameters. From numerical analysis, often only their asymptotic values are known. This paper presents a general framework for optimizing stabilization parameters with respect to the minimization of a target functional. Exemplarily, this framework is applied to the SUPG finite element method and the minimization of a residual-based error estimator, an error indicator, and a functional including the crosswind derivative of the computed solution. Benefits of the basic approach are demonstrated by means of numerical results.     

An assessment of discretizations for convection-dominated convection–diffusion equations

The performance of several numerical schemes for discretizing convection-dominated convection–diffusion equations will be investigated with respect to accuracy and efficiency. Accuracy is considered in measures which are of interest in applications. The study includes an exponentially fitted finite volume scheme, the Streamline-Upwind Petrov–Galerkin (SUPG) finite element method, a spurious oscillations at layers diminishing (SOLD) finite element method, a finite element method with continuous interior penalty (CIP) stabilization, a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method, and a total variation diminishing finite element method (FEMTVD). A detailed assessment of the schemes based on the Hemker example will be presented.     

Efficient shape optimization for certain and uncertain aerodynamic design

In this paper, we present novel developments in aerodynamic shape optimization based on shape calculus as well as the proper treatment of aleatoric uncertainties in the field of aerodynamic design.     

Der Verdacht der Simulation

The Suspicion of Simulation. A Psychiatric Case History between Appropriation and Disciplinary Action at the End of the 19th Century. This case history explores how the question of agency was dealt with historically in two developing, normative orders of deviant behaviour. Examining the institutional career of the supposed adulterer, marriage swindler, and craft baker, we can trace the different observation regimes and systems of knowledge acquisition in the prison and in psychiatry. In both institutions there was talk of simulated madness; the explanations, however, were different. For the prison doctors and civil servants, the baker was a criminal; his deviant behaviour was a matter of consciously planned-out deception. For the examining psychiatrist, on the other hand, he was mentally ill and could not be held responsible for his own behaviour.     

Diamantartige Kohlenstoffschichten steigern die Effizienz

Diamond‐like carbon thin films enhance efficiency — laser arc deposition of ta‐C Rising prices for fossil fuels as well as the increasing effects of the climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases reveal the necessity of saving energy. Low friction coatings have an enormous potential in saving energy. Carbon based coatings — named as DLC coatings — are especially well suited for low friction coatings. In particular hydrogen‐free tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta‐C) coatings are of great interest due to their extraordinary low wear properties. In addition they show excellent low friction properties and especially in combination with specific lubricants the so‐called super low friction effect. For the deposition of ta‐C coatings PVD methods have to be applied instead of CVD methods as it is the case for conventional DLC coatings. We have developed a deposition method which is based on a pulsed arc steered by a laser (Laser‐Arc). This allows us to use large cathodes resulting in a high long‐term stability. Furthermore, the carbon plasma source can be combined with a filtering unit removing almost all droplets and particles, which usually are characteristic for an arc process. The resulting Laser‐Arc source allows for the deposition of smooth and virtually defect‐free ta‐C coatings with a competitive deposition rate.     

On the Cooling Rate-Microstructure Relationship in Molten Metal Gas Atomization

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Gas atomization is the most used powder production technique since it provides good control on particles shape, surface oxidation and dimension. It is a...     

Anti-Inflammatory Characteristics of Local Anesthetics: Inhibition of TNF-α Secretion of Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Leucocytes in Human Blood Samples

Background. Local anesthetics (LAs) have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammatory down-regulation is crucial in diseases with overactive immune reactions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic inflammation. We investigated the influence of four LAs, procaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine, on the reduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human leucocytes. Methods. Blood samples of 28 individuals were stimulated with LPS. The reduction of TNF-α production by each of the four LAs added (0.5 mg/mL) was measured and correlated with biometric variables. A response was defined as reduction to <85% of initial levels. Results. All four LAs down-regulated the TNF-α secretion in 44–61%: Bupivacaine (44.4%), lidocaine (61.5%), mepivacaine (44.4%), and procaine (50% of the individuals, “responders”). The TNF-α secretion was reduced to 67.4, 68.0, 63.6, and 67.1% of the initial values in responders. The effects in both patients and healthy persons were the same. Interindividual responses to LAs were not correlated with the duration or type of complaints, basal TNF-α serum level, sex, BMI, or age of responders. Conclusions. Four clinically relevant LAs (amid-LA and ester-LA) attenuate the inflammatory response provoked by LPS. They are potential candidates for drug repositioning in treating overactive immune reactions and chronic inflammation.     

Polymerization of cyclic monomers. VII. Synthesis and radical polymerization of 1,3‐bis[(1‐alkoxycarbonyl‐2‐vinylcyclopropane‐1‐yl)carboxy]benzenes

1,3‐Bis[(1‐alkoxycarbonyl‐2‐vinylcyclopropane‐1‐yl)carboxy]benzenes 1 [RO: CH₃O (a), C₂H₅O (b)] were synthesized by the esterification of the corresponding 1‐alkoxycarbonyl‐2‐vinylcyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acids with resorcinol. The structure of the new vinylcyclopropanes was confirmed by elemental analysis and infrared (IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR), and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C‐NMR) spectroscopy. The radical polymerization of difunctional 2‐vinyl‐cyclopropanes in bulk with 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) results in hard, transparent, crosslinked polymers. During the bulk polymerization of the crystalline bis[(1‐methoxycarbonyl‐2‐vinylcyclopropane‐1‐yl)carboxy]benzene 1a, an expansion in volume of about 1% took place. The radical solution polymerization of 1a resulted in a soluble polymer with pendant 2‐vinylcyclopropane groups. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1775–1782, 1999