Using an online tool to support school‐based ICT policy planning in primary education

An important step towards the successful integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools is to facilitate their capacity to develop a school‐based ICT policy resulting in an ICT policy plan. Such a plan can be defined as a school document containing strategic and operational elements concerning the integration of ICT in education. To write such a plan in an efficient way is challenging for schools. Therefore, an online tool [Planning for ICT in Schools (pICTos)] has been developed to guide schools in this process. A multiple case study research project was conducted with three Flemish primary schools to explore the process of developing a school‐based ICT policy plan and the supportive role of pICTos within this process. Data from multiple sources (i.e. interviews with school leaders and ICT coordinators, school policy documents analysis and a teacher questionnaire) were collected and analysed. The results indicate that schools shape their ICT policy based on specific school data collected and presented by the pICTos environment. School teams learned about the actual and future place of ICT in teaching and learning. Consequently, different policy decisions were made according to each school's vision on ‘good’ education and ICT integration.     

Digital Elevation Model generation for historical landscape analysis based on LiDAR data,a case study in Flanders (Belgium)

This paper discusses the generation of a high precision DEM (Digital Elevation Model) based on high density airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data for an interdisciplinary landscape archaeological study concerning the settlement history and environment in Sandy Flanders, a region to the north of Ghent (Belgium). The objective was to create a detailed topographical surface free of artificial features and topographical artefacts, in the form of a DEM, visualizing the natural and current topography through the implementation of true ground points only. The semi-automatical removal of these features and artefacts was based on topographical vector data, visual interpretations and slope analysis. Ultimately two DEM’s were constructed (1) a TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) model, whereby the inherent large file format restricts the usability to large scale and (2) a grid model which can be used for small-, medium- and large-scale applications. Both datasets were used as an image that is interpreted using ancillary data from historical sources. Its usefulness is illustrated in a case of field pattern and microfield topography. Starting from this DEM, the approach of this landscape historical study is mainly retrogressive, i.e. starting from the landscape structures and elements that are still present in the contemporary landscape and moving into the past.     

Report from the Wellcome Trust/EBA “Perspectives in Clinical Proteomics” retreat--a strategy to implement next-generation proteomic analyses to the clinic for patient benefit: pathway to translation

Proteomics has long been thought to hold the promise of producing results of clinical utility which will influence patient treatment and outcomes. A recent Wellcome Trust/EBI meeting and retreat--“Perspectives in Clinical Proteomics”--brought together experts from a broad range of stakeholder groups with an interest in ensuring proteomics achieves this aim. This viewpoint presents views derived from these forums, proposing a pathway for the development of next-generation proteomic analyses in the clinical setting from selection of candidates through to their validation and ultimate demonstration of utility through health technology assessments. Although not meant to be all encompassing, important elements for proteomics researchers to consider are presented.     

A cross-junction channel valveless-micropump with PZT actuation

A gas-jet micro pump with novel cross-junction channel has been designed and fabricated using a Si micromachining process. The valveless micro pump is composed of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) diaphragm actuator and fluidic network. The design of the valveless pump focuses on a cross-junction formed by the neck of the pump chamber and one outlet and two opposite inlet channels. The structure of cross-junction allows differences in fluidic resistance and fluidic momentum inside the channels during each PZT diaphragm vibration cycle, which leads to the gas flow being rectified without valves. The flow channels were easily fabricated by using silicon etching process. To investigate the effects of the structure of the cross-junction on the gas flow rate, two types of pump with different cross-junction were studied. The design and simulation were done using ANSYS-Fluent software. The simulations and experimental data revealed that the step-nozzle structure is much more advantageous than the planar structure. A flow rate of 5.2 ml/min was obtained for the pump with step structure when the pump was driven at its resonant frequency of 7.9 kHz by a sinusoidal voltage of 50 V_p–p.     

Creating broadcast interactive drama in an NVE

By exploiting a networked virtual environment architecture, we produced the gaming part of an interactive television drama series, TypoToons. For decades TV show makers have been inventing tools and tricks to enhance the stories they tell. Equivalents of, and additions to these conventional tricks in interactive media can only mature an interactive television if multidisciplinary teams can obtain hands on experience of these newly emerging worlds. The production team for TypoToons and the interactively participating audience provided an excellent opportunity to develop such a team     

Identification of stable models in subspace identification by usingregularization

In subspace identification methods, the system matrices are usually estimated by least squares, based on estimated Kalman filter state sequences and the observed inputs and outputs. For a finite number of data points, the estimated system matrix is not guaranteed to be stable, even when the true linear system is known to be stable. In this paper, stability is imposed by using regularization. The regularization term used here is the trace of a matrix which involves the dynamical system matrix and a positive (semi) definite weighting matrix. The amount of regularization can be determined from a generalized eigenvalue problem. The data augmentation method of Chui and Maciejowski (1996) is obtained by using specific choices for the weighting matrix in the regularization term     

Three-dimensional simulation of time-coded emission tomography

In this paper we discuss the potentialities of a time-coded single photon emissive imaging system for thyroid tomography. We have performed three-dimensional simulation studies in order to answer two questions: 1) does this coded aperture device produce good quality reconstructions, and 2) can the reconstruction be carried out sufficiently fast on a microcomputer. Our study leads to the conclusion that both questions can be answered affirmatively. Hence, time-coded emission tomography is a potentially useful imaging technique for diagnostic clinical practice.     

On the application of the Kramers-Kronig relations to problems concerning the frequency dependence of electrode impedance

It is emphasized that, under certain conditions, the frequency dependences of the real and imaginary parts of an electrical impedance are correlated by the Kramers-Kronig relations. The importance of these relations in electrochemistry is illustrated by the examples of certain electrochemical impedance types. Some misapprehensions appearing in the electrochemical literature are pointed out.