Scaffolded writing and rewriting in the discipline: A web-based reciprocal peer review system

This paper describes how SWoRD (scaffolded writing and rewriting in the discipline), a web-based reciprocal peer review system, supports writing practice, particularly for large content courses in which writing is considered critical but not feasibly included. To help students gain content knowledge as well as writing and reviewing skills, SWoRD supports the whole cycle of writing, reviews, back-reviews, and rewriting by scaffolding the journal publication process as its authentic practice model. In addition, SWoRD includes algorithms that compute individual reviewer’s review accuracy, which is in turn used to support the various drawbacks of reciprocal peer reviews (e.g., variation in motivation or ability of reviewers). Finally, this paper describes an empirical evaluation showing that the SWoRD approach is effective in improving writing quality in content classes.     

Improving the security of direct anonymous attestation under host corruptions

International Journal of Information Security - Direct anonymous attestation (DAA) enables a platform including a trusted platform module (TPM) to produce a signature in order to remotely attest...     

Validity and reliability of scaffolded peer assessment of writing from instructor and student perspectives.

Although peer reviewing of writing is a way to create more writing opportunities in college and university settings, the validity and reliability of peer-generated grades are a major concern. This study investigated the validity and reliability of peer-generated writing grades of 708 students across 16 different courses from 4 universities in a particular scaffolded reviewing context: Students were given guidance on peer assessment, used carefully constructed rubrics, and were provided clear incentives to take the assessment task seriously. Distinguishing between instructor and student perspectives of reliability and validity, the analyses suggest that the aggregate ratings of at least 4 peers on a piece of writing are both highly reliable and as valid as instructor ratings while (paradoxically) producing very low estimates of reliability and validity from the student perspective. The results suggest that instructor concerns about peer evaluation reliability and validity should not be a barrier to implementing peer evaluations, at least with appropriate scaffolds. Future research needs to investigate how to address student concerns about reliability and validity and to identify scaffolds that may ensure high levels of reliability and validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Direct Observation of Fe-Ge Ordering in Fe5−xGeTe2 Crystals and Resultant Helimagnetism

Microscopic structures and magnetic properties are investigated for Fe_5−xGeTe₂ single crystal, recently discovered as a promising van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnet. An Fe atom (Fe(1)) located in the outermost Fe₅Ge sublayer has two possible split-sites which are either above or below the Ge atom. Scanning tunneling microscopy shows √3 × √3 superstructures which are attributed to the ordering of Fe(1) layer. The √3 × √3 superstructures have two different phases due to the symmetry of Fe(1) ordering. Intriguingly, the observed √3 × √3 ordering breaks the inversion symmetry of crystal, resulting in substantial antisymmetric exchange interaction. The temperature dependence of magnetization reveals a sharp magnetic anomaly suggesting helical magnetism of the Fe_5−xGeTe₂ due to its non-centrosymmetricity. Analytical study also supports that the observed ordering can give rise to the helimagnetism. The work will provide essential information to understand the complex magnetic properties and the origin of the new vdW ferromagnet, Fe_5−xGeTe₂ for future topology-based spin devices.     

Growth Kinetics and Isothermal Oxidation Behavior of Aluminide Pack Coatings on a Multiphase Mo–Si–B Alloy

Oxidation of Metals - Refractory metal alloys, such as Mo–Si–B systems, can extend high-temperature capability more than commercial Ni-based superalloys, but Mo–Si–B alloys...     

Fe-Based Filler Material Forming Austenite-Covered Packet Lath Martensite for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding of 9% Ni Steel

Fe-based filler material with a composition of Fe–20Ni–5Co–2.5Mn–0.2C is developed for welding 9% Ni steel. To ensure high weldability through compositional similarity, the composition of the Fe-based filler material is designed based on that of 9% Ni steel. The filler material has elements such as Ni, Mn, Co, and C to enhance its compatibility with the 9% Ni steel. The Fe-based filler material is designed to control the martensite formation temperature, resulting in the appearance of the martensite–austenite dual phase during rapid cooling. The weld joint shows a distinct microstructure characterized by the presence of austenite-covered packet lath martensite. The mechanical properties of the weld joint are investigated via Vickers harness and tensile tests at 25 and −163 °C. In comparison to 9% Ni steel, the weld joint prepared using the Fe-based filler material exhibits yield and tensile strengths that are ≈5.5% higher. Additionally, the tensile fracture of the specimen occurs exclusively within the base metal, without any involvement of the weld metal or heat-affected zone. Further, the fracture surface is observed. In the findings of this study, the applicability of the Fe-based filler material for welding 9% Ni steel is demonstrated.     

Learning by reviewing.

Peer review of writing provides an alternative to the traditional approach of practicing writing with feedback from an instructor. Most of the limited research on peer review has examined the general effects or focused on the effects of receiving feedback from peers. The current study focused on the effects of giving feedback, that is, on whether students learn to write better by reviewing peer writing. Sixty-one undergraduate students were randomly assigned to reviewing, reading, or no-treatment control conditions. Reviewers rated and commented on papers written by peers. Readers read the same papers without commenting. All students then wrote a paper in the same genre but on a different topic. Students in the reviewing condition significantly outperformed those in both other conditions on the quality of the report. Follow-up analysis indicated that comments coded as “problem detection” and “solution suggestion” were positively correlated with writing outcomes for students in the reviewing condition. This research provides support for the use of peer review of writing as a learning activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Real-time monitoring of glutathione-triggered thiopurine anticancer drug release in live cells investigated by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We investigated in vitro and in vivo glutathione (GSH)-induced intracellular thiopurine anticancer drug release on gold nanoparticle (Au NP) surfaces by means of label-free confocal Raman spectroscopy. Direct monitoring of GSH-triggered release of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) and 6-thioguanine (6TG) was achieved in real time. Live cell imaging technique provides a nanomolar range release of 6MP and 6TG from Au NP surfaces after the injection of external GSH. In vivo SERS spectra of 6TG were obtained from the subcutaneous sites in living mice after GSH treatment. GSH-triggered releases of Cy5-dye assembled on 6TG-capped Au NPs were also compared using independent fluorescence measurements. Our work demonstrates that the time-lapse Raman spectroscopic tools are useful for monitoring of the controlled release of thiopurine drug molecules in vitro and in vivo.     

Effects of amplitude modulation on vibrotactile flow displays on piezo-actuated thin touch screen

This paper investigates effects of different amplitude modulation methods of frequency-swept excitation patterns for creating vibrotactile flow displays on a spatiotemporally actuated thin touch screen. Four piezoelectric actuators (bimorph type) located at the midpoints of each side of a screen can be used to make eight directional (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) vibrotactile flows by spatiotemporally actuating two or more piezo-actuators. To determine which amplitude modulation method is the most effective in generating directional vibrotactile flows, an excitation pattern having sweeping frequencies in the range of 50 Hz to 250 Hz with four different time-varying amplitudes are investigated: 1) constant amplitude modulation, 2) linear amplitude modulation (linearly increasing and decreasing amplitude), 3) exponential amplitude modulation (exponentially increasing and decreasing amplitude), and 4) logarithmic amplitude modulation (logarithmically increasing and decreasing amplitude). A user study shows that the exponentially increasing and decreasing the amplitude pattern is the worst in terms of human perception (accuracy, validity, and refinement), while other amplitude modulation methods give similar results. Another user study shows that the eight directional vibrotactile flows can easily be distinguished on the users?? palms. As such, it is expected that these vibrotactile flows can be applied to the user interface design of a mobile device, for example, for identifying callers or giving directions to the elderly and the blind.