Talk in virtual contexts: reflecting on participation and online learning models

Computer-mediated conferencing has been adopted, particularly for purposes of online course provision, as a method that can deliver community. Widespread interest in a communities-of-practice approach within both informal and formal learning has strengthened perceptions of the value of creating a community online. A case study of asynchronous computer conferencing for the purposes of leadership development in schools is the focus for a study of the features and the discursive quality of the online interaction that occurred. Two analytical approaches are used: discourse analysis and social network analysis. These highlighted different aspects of the case, in terms of the role of peers versus the expert moderator (or 'hotseat guest'), the extent of readership versus contribution and the tone and content of the discussion. Evidence that contributors were learning from the interaction was identified and strong links with place-based communities of practice were also evident. Nevertheless, the online interaction could not be said to constitute a community or to be evidently developing in that direction. Its features as a network, where weak links were key to a sharing and knowledge-construction process, were more salient. Networks offer the potential for weak connections that have a particular value for connecting across dispersed practitioners and potentially bridging between communities of practice and other forms of organisation and groupings.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of human milk triacylglycerols and gas chromatography of component fatty acids

Human milk triacylglycerols were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. A 5-μ Supelcosil LC-18 column (Supelco, Inc., Bellefonte, PA) was used with acetone/acetonitrile (64∶36, vol/vol) as mobile phase. Triacylglycerols were tentatively identified based on theoretical carbon number and relative retention time. Despite changes resulting from dietary fat variation, the major component triacylglycerols were those composed of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Triacylglycerols with palmitic, stearic and oleic acids were present as minor components. Fatty acids were quantified by gas chromatography relative to an internal standard. Ratios of n−6/n−3 fatty acids were found to be high than previously reported. Based on a paper presented at the Symposium on Milk Lipids held at the AOCS Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, April 1990.     

Mesoporous Natural Fiber Welded Cellulose Containing Silver Nanoparticles as a Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are presented within mesoporous natural fiber welded (NFW) cellulose and demonstrated as robust catalysts to reduce 4-nitrophenol using sodium borohydride. Growing AgNPs this way enables their retention within a nonderivatized, mesoporous, all-cellulose NFW composite. At an AgNP loading of 1.0 wt%, no leaching is observed during rinsing with polar and nonpolar solvents or any of 12 catalyst cycles and the cloth is easily retrievable and reusable. Comparatively, a 1.0 wt% AgNP loading on non-NFW cotton thread loses ≈95% of the starting Ag under similar conditions. Only at higher loadings is a very slow leaching observed in the NFW composite (<10% Ag loss). With a turnover frequency of 0.9 h^–1 (as compared to 2.2 h^–1 for the non-NFW cotton thread), the catalytic activity suffers only minor impedance from the NFW structure while affording significant promise in future applications for leach-resistant nonderivatized cotton (e.g., TiO₂ or photonic nanomaterials). Finally, it is shown that combustion of AgNPs-NFW composites creates Ag residues distinct from materials produced via combustion of AgNPs on non-NFW cotton. While the residues produced comprise Ag and residual carbon, this method is viable for producing metal “sponges” from monometallic and bimetallic NPs on mesoporous cellulose.     

A DYNAMIC,ADAPTIVE, LOCALLY CONSERVATIVE,AND NONCONFORMING SOLUTION STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

A family of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods are formulated and applied to chemical engineering problems. They are the four primal discontinuous Galerkin schemes for space discretization: symmetric interior penalty Galerkin, Oden-Babu?ka-Baumann DG formulation, nonsymmetric interior penalty Galerkin, and incomplete interior penalty Galerkin. Numerical examples of DG to solve typical chemical engineering problems, including a diffusion-convection-reaction system in a catalytic particle, a problem of heat transfer in a fixed bed, and flow and contaminant transport simulations in porous media, are presented. This article highlights the substantial advantages of DG on adaptive mesh modification over traditional methods. In particular, we propose and investigate the dynamic mesh modification strategy for DG guided by mathematically sound a posteriori error estimators.     

Deposition of Dry Powder Generated by Solovent in Sophia Anatomical Infant Nose-Throat (SAINT) Model

Purpose: To quantify deposition of ^99mtechnetium-labeled powder in the Sophia Anatomical Infant Nose-Throat (SAINT) model of a 9-month old. Methods: Powder was generated by the Solovent (BD Technologies), an active dry powder inhaler with spacer, during 30 seconds of tidal volume (TV) breathing. Activity that passed through the model was captured on a filter and represented powder that was available for deposition in the lungs. Deposition in the nasal cavity, on the filter, and in the spacer was expressed as a percentage of the injected dose into the spacer. Results: Mean (± SD) injected dose averaged 89.5 ± 0.09%, 90.3 ± 0.11%, and 91.3 ± 0.05% at 50, 100, and 200 mL TV, respectively. Mean nasal deposition increased significantly from 50 mL to 100 mL and 200 mL TV with 0.60 ± 0.002%, 1.72 ± 0.007%, and 6.75 ± 07.21%, respectively (all p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, mean filter deposition increased significantly from 50 mL to 100 mL to 200 mL with 0.28 ± 0.00%, 1.14 ± 0.00%, and 3.87 ± 0.01%, respectively (all p < 0.05). Mean retention in the spacer was similar at 50 mL (93.38 ± 0.02%) and at 100 mL TV (89.97 ± 0.04%), but decreased significantly to 71.47 ± 0.05% at 200 mL TV (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest for the first time the feasibility of delivering a dry powder formulation to infants and toddlers by actively introducing the powder into a spacer. Lung deposition and nasal deposition, as a percent of injected dose, were dependent on tidal volume with deposition increasing with increasing TV. Nevertheless, deposition, as a percent of injected dose, was low in both regions. This was likely due to significant retention in the spacer at all 3 tidal volumes.

Copyright 2012 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Particleboard from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a cheap agro by-product and a renewable resource, which consists mainly of substituted phenols. A CNSL-based reactive resin was used in this study as binder for particleboards. The resin was prepared by heating a mixture of CNSL, phenol, and hexamethylenetetramine. Properties of the board, viz. water absorption, tensile strength parallel to the surface, tensile strength perpendicular to the surface, and compressibility are determined. The effect of the resin content, P:F ratio of resin, and CNSL:P ratio of resin on the properties of particleboard are also studied. It is found that about 15% resin in the molding formulation is essential to give a board of acceptable quality. It is possible to include up to 20% CNSL without any deterioration in the properties of the board. This is significant from the conservation viewpoint.     

The Identification of Cyclopenta-Fused and Ethynyl-Substituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Benzene Droplet Combustion Products

In order to investigate new aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) growth and soot formation, we have synthesized special reference standards of cyclopenta-fused PAH (CP-PAH) and ethynyl-substituted PAH. We have identified several of these CP-PAH and ethynyl-PAH in benzene droplet combustion products, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible (UV) absorption spectroscopy. Although one CP-PAH identified in these products - acenaphthylene - has previously been identified as a product of a variety of combustion systems, we have identified six additional CP-PAH and two ethynyl-PAH which have never before been unequivocally identified as the products of benzene pyrolysis or combustion: acephenanthrylene, aceanthrylene, cyclopent[hi]acephenanthrylene, cyclopenta[cd]fluoranthene, cyclopenta[cd] pyrene, dicyclopenta[cd, jk]pyrene, 2-ethynylnaphthalene, and 1-ethynylacenaphthylene. We present the corresponding UV absorption spectra obtained from the HPLC analysis of benzene droplet combustion products, and compare them to the UV absorption     

Nutrition education: a questionnaire for assessment and teaching

It is generally recognized that there is a need for improved teaching of nutrition in medical schools and for increased education of the general population. A questionnaire, derived in part from a study of physician knowledge, was administered to first year medical students in order to assess their knowledge of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism, and as a teaching tool to transmit information about the subject. The performance of first year students was consistent with a generally educated population but there were surprising deficits in some fundamental areas of nutrition. Results of the questionnaire are informative about student knowledge, and immediate reinforcement from a questionnaire may provide a useful teaching tool. In addition, some of the subject matter can serve as a springboard for discussion of critical issues in nutrition such as obesity and markers for cardiovascular disease. A major barrier to improved teaching of nutrition is the lack of agreement on some of these critical issues and there are apparent inconsistencies in recommendations of government and health agencies. It seems reasonable that improved teaching should address the lack of knowledge of nutrition, rather than knowledge of official guidelines. Student awareness of factual information should be the primary goal.     

15‐Methylene‐Eburnamonine Kills Leukemic Stem Cells and Reduces Engraftment in a Humanized Bone Marrow Xenograft Mouse Model of Leukemia

Recent studies suggest that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and relapse of leukemia. Herein we show that (?)‐15‐methylene‐eburnamonine, a derivative of the alkaloid (?)‐eburnamonine, is cytotoxic against acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The agent also decreases primary LSC frequency in vitro. The cytotoxic effects appear to be mediated via the oxidative stress pathways. Furthermore, we show that the compound kills AML, ALL, and CLL stem cells. By the use of a novel humanized bone marrow murine model of leukemia (huBM/NSG), it was found to decrease progenitor cell engraftment.