Maximizing learning without sacrificing the fun: Stealth assessment,adaptivity and learning supports in educational games

In this study, we investigated the validity of a stealth assessment of physics understanding in an educational game, as well as the effectiveness of different game-level delivery methods and various in-game supports on learning. Using a game called Physics Playground, we randomly assigned 263 ninth- to eleventh-grade students into four groups: adaptive, linear, free choice and no-treatment control. Each condition had access to the same in-game learning supports during gameplay. Results showed that: (a) the stealth assessment estimates of physics understanding were valid—significantly correlating with the external physics test scores; (b) there was no significant effect of game-level delivery method on students' learning; and (c) physics animations were the most effective (among eight supports tested) in predicting both learning outcome and in-game performance (e.g. number of game levels solved). We included student enjoyment, gender and ethnicity in our analyses as moderators to further investigate the research questions.     

网络法律浅析

随着当今网络技术的迅猛发展,人们的行为和生活越来越受到其影响,发生着改变,故调整其行为规范的网络相关法律法规也越来越受到人们的关注。从法理学角度出发对网络法律进行构建与研究,在此基础上规范其基本理念和适用原则,对于建立完善网络法律体系尤为重要。本文从法理学角度出发,对网络法律的基本理念和原则进行了简要探析。     

Collective modes and a theory of response ofd-wave superconductors

We present a theory of the response ofd-wave superconductors to weak applied fields, by taking account of the Coulomb interaction and all the collective degrees of freedom as well as crystal symmetry. We choose two representative phases: the d phase, which has point nodes in the energy gap, and theY _2–1 phase, which has line as well as point nodes. The former is a self-consistent solution for cubic as well as spherical symmetries and the latter is one for spherical, cubic, and hexagonal symmetries. We obtain obviously gauge-invariant expressions for the order-parameter fluctuations and the currents, having forms common not only to thed-wave states, but also to thep-wave states studied earlier. We also investigate the collective excitations; in the long-wavelength limit for spherically symmetric systems, there are, on the frequency-temperature plane, seven branches for eachd-wave phase considered, in addition to the common plasma mode and orbital Goldstone modes resulting from the spontaneous breakdown of the rotational invariance. In theY _2–1-phase two eigenmodes are found to become gapless at a finite temperature, below which they are purely imaginary. This implies instability of the phase. The effect of crystal anisotropy on the collective spectra is also studied.A preliminary report on the present work was published inJpn. J. Appl. Phys. Suppl. 26-3, 167 (1987).     

Analysis of weakly guiding cladded acoustic fibers of hexagonal crystal symmetry

An approximate analysis of the weakly guiding cladded acoustic fiber consisting of a core and infinite thick cladding both with hexagonal crystal symmetry is presented. The crystalline Z axis is parallel to the fiber axis. Weak guidance conditions require that the stiffness constants of the core are slightly less than those of the cladding, and the density of the core and cladding are almost the same. Approximate dispersion and cutoff equations are derived for all pure guided modes. Dispersion curves of several lower-order guided torsional, radial-axial and flexural modes are evaluated using both exact and approximate formulas and they are in good agreement. A simple approximate dispersion equation for leaky (longitudinal-type) modes is also obtained.     

Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell based on fully integrated plasma-sprayed components

This work addresses the fabrication of membrane-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at medium temperatures, where all components are fabricated by plasma spray technology, and the evaluation of the performance of the SOFC single unit in a temperature range of 500 to 800 °C. Single cells composed of LaSrMgO₃ cathodes, LaSrGaMgO₃ (LSGM) electrolytes, and Ni/yttria-stabilized zirconia anodes were fabricated in successive atmospheric plasma-spraying processes. Plasma-spraying processes have been optimized and tailored to each layer to achieve highly porous cathode and anode layers as well as high-density electrolyte layers. A major effort has been devoted to the production of the LSGM electrolyte that has a high density and is free of cracks. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the conductivity of the electrode layers, and particularly the resistance of the electrolyte layer. It revealed that the heat treatment had a great influence on the specific conductivity of the sprayed electrolyte layers and that the specific conductivity of the heat-treated layers was dramatically increased to the same magnitude as is typical for sintered LSGM pellets. The experimental results have demonstrated that the plasma-spraying process has a great potential for the integrated fabrication of medium-temperature SOFC units. The original version of this article was published as part of the ASM Proceedings, Thermal Spray 2003: Advancing the Science and Applying the Technology, International Thermal Spray Conference (Orlando, FL), May 5–8, 2003, Basil R. Marple and Christian Moreau, Ed., ASM International, 2003.     

The T Cell Repertoires from Nickel Sensitized Joint Implant Failure Patients

Nickel (Ni²⁺) is one of the most common allergens, affecting around 10–15% of the general population. As the demand for orthopedic implant surgery rises, the number of surgical revisions due to joint implant failure also increases. There is evidence that some patients develop joint failure due to an immune response to a component of the implant, and we have found that Ni²⁺ is an especially important cause. Hence, understanding the mechanisms by which Ni²⁺ allergy induces joint implant failure becomes a critical research question. The structural basis of Ni²⁺ activation of pathogenic T cells is still not clear. The purpose of this study was to characterize Ni²⁺-reactive T cell repertoires derived from the peripheral blood of joint failure patients due to Ni²⁺ sensitization using single-cell sequencing techniques. We stimulated the proliferation of Ni²⁺ -reactive T cells from two implant failure patients in vitro, and sorted them for single-cell VDJ sequencing (10× genomics). We identified 2650 productive V-J spanning pairs. Both TCR α chains and β chains were enriched. TRBV18 usage is the highest in the P7 CD4+ population (18.1%), and TRBV5-1 usage is the highest in the P7 CD8+ population (12.1%). TRBV19 and TRBV20-1 segments are present in a high percentage of both P7 and P9 sequenced T cells. Remarkably, the alpha and beta chain combination of TRAV41-TRBV18 accounts for 13.5% of the CD4+ population of P7 patient. Compared to current Ni specific T cell repertoire studies of contact dermatitis, the Vα and Vβ usages of these joint implant failure patients were different. This could be due to the different availability of self-peptides in these two different tissues. However, TRBV19 (Vβ17) was among frequently used TCR β chains, which are common in previous reports. This implies that some pathogenic T cells could be similar in Ni²⁺ hypersensitivities in skin and joints. The alignment of the TCR CDR3β sequences showed a conserved glutamic acid (Glu) that could potentially interact with Ni²⁺. The study of these Ni²⁺ specific TCRs may shed light on the molecular mechanism of T cell activation by low molecular weight chemical haptens.     

致密油藏直井多层缝网压裂产量递减分析

垂向多层发育的致密油藏常采用缝网压裂进行开采,从而改善储层渗透率,提高油井产量。为此建立直井多层缝网压裂不稳定渗流数学模型,压裂后各层划分为人工裂缝区、改造区和未改造区。绘制分析Blasingame产量递减典型曲线,曲线分为7个流动阶段,总裂缝长度一定时,裂缝半长短的储层流体渗流率先到达未改造区,流体渗流阻力大,Blasingame曲线靠下;总改造体积一定时,各层改造体积差异越大,Blasingame曲线越靠下。用所建立的模型,对实测生产资料进行解释,获得各层裂缝半长、改造区渗透率等相关地层参数,该模型对进行多层缝网压裂直井产量分析具有指导意义。     

IGBT串联均压方法综述

绝缘栅双极性晶体管IGBT(insulated gate bipolar transistor)在高电压场合应用时需串联使用满足电压需求。由于器件内部的性能差异和外围电路参数不一致等,引起IGBT模块之间电压不均衡问题,威胁其运行安全。综述了国内外IGBT串联均压方法的发展及其研究现状。根据均压方法机理的不同,将IGBT串联均压方法分为被动均压方法和主动均压方法两种,进一步将主动均压方法归纳为无源控制方法和有源控制方法两类。根据各类方法的基本电路拓扑分析了均压原理,梳理了不同方法在电路拓扑、参数选择和控制策略等方面的优化和最新进展。通过均压效果、附加损耗和可靠性等多方面对不同均压方法进行对比,被动均压方法拓扑简单不需外加控制电路更适合在低频应用场合,在高频应用场合中,准有源栅极控制法以单驱动与无源器件相结合的方式,具有良好的发展前景。最后对IGBT串联均压方法进行了展望。     

Preparation of High Strength and Toughness Aramid Fiber by Introducing Flexible Asymmetric Monomer to Construct Misplaced-Nunchaku Structure

High performance fibers with high strength and toughness have great potential in composites, but contradiction between tensile strength and elongation at break makes the preparation to become a current challenge. Herein, an asymmetric structure of more flexible diamine, 3,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (3,4′-ODA), is introduced into heterocyclic aramid (PBIA) fibers to replace rigid symmetric p-phenylenediamine (PDA). By studying the properties of copolymer (mPEBA) fibers with different ratios of diamine, it is found that the mPEBA fiber reached the optimal mechanical properties with the 30% content of 3,4′-ODA. Compared with homopolymerized heterocyclic aramid fibers, the tensile strength and elongation at break of mPEBA fiber are improved by 26.2% and 38.7%, respectively. Results of X-ray diffraction show that the introduction of 3,4′-ODA structure can increase stretchability of mPEBA fibers, improving the orientation degree during hot-drawing. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm that 3,4′-ODA structure undergoes a conformation transformation to form a straightened chain during hot-drawing, while symmetrical 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (4,4′-ODA) cannot form the same conformation. The misplaced-nunchaku structure is formed based on the special meta-para position of 3,4′-ODA, achieving the synergy of high strength and high toughness.     

Zirconium-Embedded Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Containing Phosphaphenanthrene-Substituent Group Used as Flame Retardants for Epoxy Resin Composites

A zirconium hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane derivative (Zr–POSS–bisDOPO) is synthesized by the corner-capping and Kabachnik–Fields reactions. It is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and then used as a flame retardant in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) to endow epoxy resin (EP) with flame retardancy. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the cured EP/Zr–POSS–bisDOPO composites are investigated. The results show that when Zr–POSS–bisDOPO is added by 5–7 wt%, the EP/Zr–POSS–bisDOPO composites pass the UL-94 V-0 rating test. In addition, they have a better flame-retardant effect than pure EP. The combination of Zr atom embedded in the Si O cubic cage and the two phosphaphenanthrene substituent groups in one corner of cubic cage is expected to realize the Zr/Si/P ternary intramolecular hybrid synergistic effect and achieve the possibility of dispersing metal–POSS cages at a sub-micrometer-scale level into polymer matrix. It also proves that Zr–POSS–bisDOPO produces phosphorus-containing free radicals and terminates the chain reactions in gas phase. Meanwhile the Si O Si and Zr O units are retained in the solid phase, which promote the char formation and enhance the flame retardancy. This kind of Zr-doped POSS will be helpful for developing the new metal–POSS hybrid flame-retardant and polymer composites.