Breaking concept boundaries to enhance creative potential: Using integrated concept maps for conceptual self-awareness

The authors address the role of computer support for building conceptual self-awareness—that is, enabling students to think outside of concept boundaries in hope of enhancing creative potential. Based on meta-cognition theory, we developed an integrated concept mapping system (ICMSys) to improve users’ conceptual self-awareness in addition to applying concept mapping techniques in traditional learning scenarios. Since the ICMSys accommodates different perspectives, selected ideas made by peers are retained with the help of integrated concept map (ICMap) representations used as stimuli for reflective thinking. Results from a case study with 32 information management undergraduates indicate: (a) increased levels of conceptual self-awareness, (b) evidence of conceptual improvement in the students’ redrawn concept maps, (c) that ICMap viewing frequency exerted a positive impact on level of conceptual self-awareness, and (d) a significant correlation between level of conceptual self-awareness in redrawn personal concept maps and actual conceptual changes as determined by three experts. We describe student perceptions of the ICMSys in terms of comprehension practicality and conceptual self-awareness, and give suggestions for future research.     

远跨大洋的握手——访Emergent、唯晶科技、Scaleform高层

中国游戏产业在学习国外先进的游戏开发经验和技术的同时，国外的一些游戏公司及相关产品也正积极地走近中国。Emergent、唯晶科技、Scaleform就是在这种背景下走到了一起。《游戏创造》对话栏目有机会请到三方的相关负责人就他们之间的合作心得以及产品未来技术发展的方向作些介绍。     

Catalytic properties of cobalt(II) porphyrins supported on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer

Polymeric pyridinium chloride was synthesized by treating pyridine with 2% divinylbenzene (DVB)-crosslinked chloromethyl polystyrene. Sodium 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)porphyrin was synthesized and appended on the above polymer through an ionic linkage. Cobalt(II) complex of the polymeric porphyrin was synthesized and characterized chemically and spectroscopically. This complex was employed as catalyst for the oxidation of dithiocarbamates to thiuram disulfide. Electronic and ESR spectra of the complex were analyzed before and after catalysis. pH dependence of catalytic reactions was also studied. These studies provide evidence for the catalytic ability of the polymeric cobalt(II) porphyrin system. A mechanism for the catalytic reaction is suggested on the basis of the above results. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

红星托儿所(马达思班上海办公室)

马达思班的建筑师们将一个托儿所改造为自己的办公室,但他们想要创作的不光是一个公司,也不光是一个工作室,而是一个工作室和展览空间的结合体。三层的云梯提供了一个互动平台,为开展交流活动提供了场所。旧建筑响亮的名字——红星依然闪闪照耀在此。     

Optimising resource portfolio planning for capital-intensive industries under process-technology progress

This paper addresses the problem of resource portfolio planning of firms in high-tech, capital-intensive manufacturing industries. In light of the strategic importance of resource portfolio planning in these industries, we offer an alternative approach to modelling capacity planning and allocation problems that improves the deficiencies of prior models in dealing with three salient features of these industries, i.e. fast technological obsolescence, volatile market demand, and high capital expenditure. This paper first discusses the characteristics of resource portfolio planning problems including capacity adjustment and allocation. Next, we propose a new mathematical programming formulation that simultaneously optimises capacity planning and task assignment. For solution efficiency, a constraint-satisfied genetic algorithm (CSGA) is developed to solve the proposed mathematical programming problem on a real-time basis. The proposed modelling scheme is employed in the context of a semiconductor testing facility. Experimental results show that our approach can solve the resource portfolio planning problem more efficiently than a conventional optimisation solver. The overall contribution is an analytical tool that can be employed by decision makers responding to the dynamic technological progress and new product introduction at the strategic resource planning level.     

Ellipsometric studies of microscopic surface roughness of CdS thin films

Analysis of changes in surface roughness of CdS thin films with preparation temperature was carried out using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). The films studied were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique, in the substrate temperature range 200–360°C. The VASE measurements were carried out in the visible region below the band gap (E _g=2·4eV) of CdS so as to reduce absorption by the film. The thickness of the films was in the range 500–600 nm. Bruggeman’s effective medium theory was used for analysis of the surface roughness of the film. The roughness of the film had a high value (∼ 65 nm) for films prepared at low temperature (200°C) and decreased with increase in substrate temperature. This reached minimum value (∼ 27 nm) in the temperature range 280–300°C. Thereafter roughness increased slowly with temperature. The growth rate of the films was calculated for different temperature ranges. It was found that the deposition rate decreases with the increase in substrate temperature and have an optimum value at 300°C. Above this temperature deposition rate decreased sharply. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the film also showed that the film prepared at 280–300°C had very smooth surface texture.     

Microstructured microspheres of hydroxyapatite bioceramic

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles having spherical geometry and 125–1000 m in size range were prepared using a solid-in-water-in-oil (S/W/O) emulsion, cross-linking technique. An aqueous solution of chitosan containing different loading of HAP was dispersed as droplet in liquid paraffin using a stabilizing agent. Cross-linking of chitosan was induced by adding appropriate amount of glutaraldehyde saturated toluene. Chitosan microspheres containing HAP were sintered at 1150 °C to obtain pure HAP microspheres. The spheres thus produced were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The percentage yield and size distributions of the spheres were also determined.     

Analysis of Dispersion in Ferrite-superconductor Layered Structures

This paper studies electromagnetic wave propagation in hybrid structures consisting of ferrite and superconducting films. Dispersion relations for transverse electric mode of propagation are derived. Numerical results are presented for two specific structures viz. a ferrite/superconductor structure and a ferrite/superconductor/ferrite structure and dependence of propagation on various structural parameters and frequency are determined. The non-reciprocal nature of propagation is also established.     

IL-17 Facilitates VCAM-1 Production and Monocyte Adhesion in Osteoarthritis Synovial Fibroblasts by Suppressing miR-5701 Synthesis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the infiltration and adhesion of monocytes into the inflamed joint synovium. Interleukin (IL)-17 is a critical inflammatory mediator that participates in the progression of OA, although the mechanisms linking IL-17 and monocyte infiltration are not well understood. Our analysis of synovial tissue samples retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset exhibited higher monocyte marker (CD11b) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) levels in OA samples than in normal, healthy samples. The stimulation of human OA synovial fibroblasts (OASFs) with IL-17 increased VCAM-1 production and subsequently enhanced monocyte adhesion. IL-17 affected VCAM-1-dependent monocyte adhesion by reducing miR-5701 expression through the protein kinase C (PKC)-α and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling cascades. Our findings improve our understanding about the effect of IL-17 on OA progression and, in particular, VCAM-1 production and monocyte adhesion, which may help with the design of more effective OA treatments.     

Analog performance investigation of dual electrode based doping-less tunnel FET

In this paper, we have proposed a device and named it dual electrode doping-less TFET (DEDLTFET), in which electrodes on top and bottom of source and drain are considered to enhance the ON state current and Analog performances. The charge plasma technique is used to generate electron’s and hole’s clouding depending upon their respective work functions at top and bottom of source/drain electrode. Band-to-band-tunneling rate is similar on both sides of source-channel junctions, which increases ON state current. The analog performance parameters of DEDLTFET are investigated and using device simulation the demonstrated characteristics are compared with doping-less (DLTFET) and the conventional doped double gate TFET (DGTFET), such as transconductance \((\hbox {g}_\mathrm{m})\), transconductance to drain current ratio \((\hbox {g}_\mathrm{m}/\hbox {I}_\mathrm{D})\), output-conductance (g\(_{d})\), output resistance \((\hbox {r}_\mathrm{d})\), early voltage \((\hbox {V}_\mathrm{EA})\), intrinsic gain \((\hbox {A}_\mathrm{V})\), total gate capacitance \((\hbox {C}_\mathrm{gg})\) and unity gain frequency \((\hbox {f}_\mathrm{T})\). From the simulation results, it is observed that DEDLTFET has significantly improved analog performance as compared to DGTFET and DLTFET.