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.     

Assessment of space division strategies for generation of adequate computational models for solid foams

The present study is concerned with a competitive assessment of different strategies for the division of space in the generation of computational models for the microstructure of solid foams for a numerical analysis of their properties. The study includes the standard (Γ‐) Voronoi procedure, the δ-Voronoi procedure, a Voronoi procedure in Laguerre geometry as well as a simple foam evolution strategy. In addition to the basic versions of the individual strategies, smoothing and optimization approaches are used for a further improvement of the generated computational models. The quality of the models is assessed in terms of two quantitative criteria where the first criterion is the Kelvin parameter whereas the second criterion is based on the error in the statistical cell size distribution compared to experimental observations reported in the literature. All strategies are applied to the simplified case of two-dimensional model foams. Nevertheless, the results can be generalized to the three-dimensional case in a straight forward manner.     

Prevalence and risk factors for bruises in Chilean bovine carcasses

Records of cattle slaughtered at two Chilean slaughterhouses (SLH1 and SLH2) were used to determine prevalence and risk factors for carcasses with bruises. Bruise prevalence amounted to 12.3% but differed between slaughterhouses (20.8% for SLH1 and 8.6% for SLH2 respectively). Bruise severity grade 1 (mild) was most frequently recorded. The type of the animal, source of animal, the level of fat cover and lairage time were associated with the presence of bruises. Older categories of animals and animals that pass through a market before being moved to the slaughterhouse are more prone to show bruises. The results also indicate that under the reported Chilean circumstances animals that have longer lairage times (over 12 h) have a significantly reduced risk for bruises, except for oxen. Presence of bruises is also significantly associated with increased carcass pH values.     

Novel polyamide nanocomposites based on silicate nanotubes of the mineral halloysite

In this study, the silicate nanotubes of the mineral halloysite will be used as reinforcement in polyamide-6 (PA 6). The nanocomposites based on PA-6 and as-received halloysite were prepared by melt extrusion and an adjacent injection moulding process. Mechanical and thermomechanical properties have been investigated by tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis. The results show an increased strength and stiffness as well as an enhanced elongation at break at low halloysite content. To evaluate the potential of halloysite as a new candidate in the class of nanofillers, the properties of the halloysite nanocomposites has been compared to those of conventional nanocomposites based on organically modified montmorillonite. From this comparison it can be seen, that both types of nanocomposites show enhanced tensile properties as well as an increased storage modulus, but the increase in tensile strength is more pronounced in the organoclay nanocomposites, whereas the raise of the storage modulus is more prominent in the halloysite nanocomposites.     

The impact of the EU ETS on the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies – Findings for Germany

This paper provides an overview of early changes in the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies which have been triggered by the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Based on a broad definition of the sector, our research analyses the impact of the EU ETS on the four building blocks ‘knowledge and technologies’, ‘actors and networks’, ‘institutions’, and ‘demand’ by combining two streams of literature, namely systems of innovation and environmental economics. Our analysis for Germany is based on 42 exploratory interviews with experts in the field of the EU ETS, the power sector, and technological innovation. We find that the EU ETS mainly affects the rate and direction of technological change of power generation technologies within the large-scale, coal-based power generation technological regime, to which carbon capture technologies are added as a new technological trajectory. While this impact can be interpreted as the defensive behaviour of incumbents, the observed changes should not be underestimated. We argue that the EU ETS’ impact on corporate CO₂ culture and routines may prepare the ground for the transition to a low-carbon sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies.     

Resolving function-based conflicts in groupware systems

In groupware tools, the activation of a function may affect other users who might have conflicting interests. We developed technical mechanisms to support users in resolving them. Contrary to current implementations of groupware tools, these mechanisms strengthen the position of the users who are affected by the activation of said functions. Supporting the visibility of a function's activation, and providing a channel for communication or means to intervene against the function's activation are approaches which constitute a framework to implement these mechanisms. We conclude with showing implementation examples of the framework and their evaluation in the POLITeam project.