Dynamics of Peer Education in Cooperative Learning Workgroups

Many recent studies demonstrate that cooperative learning provides a variety of educational advantages over more traditional instructional models, both in general and specifically in engineering education. Little is known, however, about the interactional dynamics among students in engineering work groups. To explore these dynamics and their implications for engineering education, we analyzed work sessions of student groups in a sophomore‐level chemical engineering course at North Carolina State University. Using conversation analysis as a methodology for understanding how students taught and learned from one another, we found that group members generally engaged in two types of teaching‐learning interactions. In the first type, transfer‐of‐knowledge (TK) sequences, they took on distinct teacher and pupil roles, and in the second, collaborative sequences (CS), they worked together with no clear role differentiation. The interactional problems that occurred during the work sessions were associated primarily with TK sequences, and had to do with students who either habitually assumed the pupil's role (constant pupils) or habitually discouraged others' contributions (blockers). Our findings suggest that professors can facilitate student group interactions by introducing students to the two modes of teaching interaction so group members can effectively manage exchanges of knowledge, and also by helping students distribute tasks in a way that minimizes role imbalances.     

Large-Format HgCdTe Dual-Band Long-Wavelength Infrared Focal-Plane Arrays

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) continues to further its capability to deliver state-of-the-art high-performance, large-format, HgCdTe focal-plane arrays (FPAs) for dual-band long-wavelength infrared (L/LWIR) detection. Specific improvements have recently been implemented at RVS in molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) growth and wafer fabrication and are reported in this paper. The aim of the improvements is to establish producible processes for 512 × 512 30-μm-unit-cell L/LWIR FPAs, which has resulted in: the growth of triple-layer heterojunction (TLHJ) HgCdTe back-to-back photodiode detector designs on 6 cm × 6 cm CdZnTe substrates with 300-K Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) cutoff wavelength uniformity of ±0.1 μm across the entire wafer; demonstration of detector dark-current performance for the longer-wavelength detector band approaching that of single-color liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) LWIR detectors; and uniform, high-operability, 512 × 512 30-μm-unit-cell FPA performance in both LWIR bands.     

Redundancy and its implications in TLM diffusion models

Redundancy in the simplest form of a two-dimensional TLM network is identified and a method of eliminating it is described. Results obtained using the non-redundant algorithm are compared with those derived from the standard, redundant algorithm. The non-redundant approach is extended to deal with non-uniform elemental capacitance; a cylindrical geometry is taken as an example of this. The scope for and benefits of rendering TLM diffusion models non-redundant are discussed.     

BANQ餐厅 美国波士顿

正Banq餐厅位是一家新型餐厅,位于便士储蓄银行(Penny Savings Bank)旧大楼以前用来经营银行业务的大厅内。餐厅分成两个部分,前面区域面向华盛顿大街,设计成酒吧,后面的大厅则作为用餐区。然而,这个空间在z轴上以天花板和地面之间的另一个分区为中心进行设计。如果由于餐厅空间活动的多变性而需要保持灵活性——包括两个座位、四个座位和六个座位,以及与聚会和其他活动有关的座位     

Flow and spawning habitat relationships for Dolly Varden: Understanding habitat–population dynamics in the Canadian Western Arctic

Northern form Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) have been designated as a species of Special Concern in Canada due to declines in population abundance and potential threats. Concern over detrimental effects of low flows on population abundance prompted research on how variability in discharge regimes influence habitat availability. Habitat suitability indices for prespawning and spawning adult anadromous Dolly Varden from two streams were integrated into a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic habitat model to assess the effect of flow variability on usable habitat. Regional hydrographs were used to identify an ecologically relevant range of flows that provided optimal spawning habitat for these populations and examine the relationship between abundance and discharge. Adults spawned in the tail end of pools at moderate water depths and water velocities, and used pebble‐ to cobble‐sized substrate for building redds; whereas, prespawning adults occupied deeper pools with moderate velocities and used cobble for cover. Model outputs showed that spawning habitat availability was optimized at flow rates between 1.6 and 3.0 m³/s and between 1.0 and 6.0 m³/s in Fish Hole Creek (FHC) and Little Fish Creek, respectively. A positive relationship between flows during the fall spawning period and abundance of the FHC population suggests that higher flows coinciding with optimal habitat availability may have contributed to positive recruitment. To strengthen and refine this habitat–population relationship for Dolly Varden in this area requires investigation of a broader suite of variables associated with environmental regimes and physical habitat in reaches used for spawning.     

在科学研究和生物制药学系统中实现可追踪的气体流量监测与控制

科学和制药进展方面越来越多的研究都依赖于对细胞生长和复杂生化反应的了解和控制。在以上过程中实现气体精确和可追踪的监测和控制很有必要。对诸如二氧化碳、氮气、空气等气体的测定与控制已经可以通过一个简单的可变截面流量计成功实现。但可变截面流量计在精确度、可追踪性和最大允许压力等方面仍然具有明显的局限性。本文所介绍的热式质量流量计和控制系统为流量测定和控制提供了更高的准确度和直接的可追溯性,且此准确度和追溯性几乎不受压力和温度变化的影响。     

Incorporating a Polyethyleneglycol Linker to Enhance the Hydrophilicity of Mitochondria-Targeted Triphenylphosphonium Constructs

The targeting of bioactive molecules and probes to mitochondria can be achieved by coupling to the lipophilic triphenyl phosphonium (TPP) cation, which accumulates several hundred-fold within mitochondria in response to the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m). Typically, a simple alkane links the TPP to its “cargo”, increasing overall hydrophobicity. As it would be beneficial to enhance the water solubility of mitochondria-targeted compounds we explored the effects of replacing the alkyl linker with a polyethylene glycol (PEG). We found that the use of PEG led to compounds that were readily taken up by isolated mitochondria and by mitochondria inside cells. Within mitochondria the PEG linker greatly decreased adsorption of the TPP constructs to the matrix-facing face of the mitochondrial inner membrane. These findings will allow the distribution of mitochondria-targeted TPP compounds within mitochondria to be fine-tuned.     

The implications of Big Five standing for the distribution of trait manifestation in behavior: Fifteen experience-sampling studies and a meta-analysis.

One of the fundamental questions in personality psychology is whether and how strongly trait standing relates to the traits that people actually manifest in their behavior when faced with real pressures and real consequences of their actions. One reason this question is fundamental is the common belief that traits do not predict how individuals behave, which leads to the reasonable conclusion that traits are not important to study. However, this conclusion is surprising given that there is almost no data on the ability of traits to predict distributions of naturally occurring, representative behaviors of individuals (and that there are many studies showing that traits do indeed predict specific behaviors). The authors describe a meta-analysis of 15 experience-sampling studies, conducted over the course of 8 years, amassing over 20,000 reports of trait manifestation in behavior. Participants reported traits on typical self-report questionnaires, then described their current behavior multiple times per day for several days as the behavior was occurring. Results show that traits, contrary to expectations, were strongly predictive of individual differences in trait manifestation in behavior, predicting average levels with correlations between .42 and .56 (approaching .60 for stringently restricted studies). Several other ways of summarizing trait manifestation in behavior were also predicted from traits. These studies provide evidence that traits are powerful predictors of actual manifestation of traits in behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of posture on dynamic back loading during a cable lifting task

This study evaluated spinal loads associated with lifting and hanging heavy mining cable in a variety of postures. This electrical cable can weigh up to 10 kg per metre and is often lifted in restricted spaces in underground coal mines. Seven male subjects performed eight cable lifting and hanging tasks, while trunk kinematic data and trunk muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were obtained. The eight tasks were combinations of four postures (standing, stooping, kneeling on one knee, or kneeling on both knees) and two levels of cable load (0 N or 100 N load added to the existing cable weight). An EMG-assisted model was used to calculate forces and moments acting on the lumbar spine. A two-way split-plot ANOVA showed that increased load (p < 0.05) and changes in lifting posture (p < 0.05) independently affected trunk muscle recruitment and spinal loading. The increase in cable load resulted in higher EMG activity of all trunk muscles and increased axial and lateral bending moments on the spine (p < 0.05). Changes in posture caused more selective adjustments in muscle recruitment and affected the sagittal plane moment (p < 0.05). Despite the more selective nature of trunk EMG changes due to posture, the magnitude of changes in spinal loading was often quite dramatic. However, average compression values exceeded 3400 N for all cable lifting tasks.     

Field Evaluation of Crushed Glass–Dredged Material Blends

Based on the laboratory results reported in a companion paper, three crushed glass–dredged material (CG–DM) blends were prepared and evaluated in the field to explore the feasibility of using CG–DM blends in general, embankment and structural fill applications. A trailer-mounted pugmill successfully prepared 20/80, 50/50, and 80/20 CG–DM blends (dry weight percent CG content reported first) within a tolerance of ±5 dry % by weight of the targeted percentages. Blending criteria were routinely met at pugmill throughputs up to 1,500?m3/day. The constructed 20/80 CG–DM embankment was compacted to a minimum of 90% modified Proctor compaction, whereas the 50/50 and 80/20 CG–DM embankments were constructed to a minimum of 95% modified Proctor compaction. Twenty to 80% CG addition to DM resulted in 1.5–5.5?kN/m3 increases in field dry densities above 100% DM, densities not achievable with other DM stabilization techniques such as Portland cement, fly ash, and/or lime (PC/FA/lime) addition. CG substantially improved the workability of DM allowing construction with conventional equipment and three person crew while achieving very consistent and reproducible results during a timeline of frequent and heavy precipitation events. The 20/80, 50/50, and 80/20 CG–DM embankments were characterized by average cone tip resistances on the order of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0?MPa, respectively. An environmental evaluation of 100% CG, DM and 50/50 CG–DM blend samples coupled with an economic analysis of a scaled-up commercial application illustrated that the CG–DM blending approach is potentially more cost effective than PC/FA/lime stabilization approaches. These features of CG–DM blending make the process attractive for use in urban and industrial settings.