bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TEACHING FUNDAMENTAL COMPUTER PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS USING PALPABLE INTERACTIVE VISUAL LEARNING AIDS
Authors: Bubbar Kush , Shi Yang
Published: April 2017

Pointers have long been the Achilles heel of mechanical engineering students attempting to master dynamic memory allocation in mechatronic applications. They are abstract and intangible, both opposing characteristics of a discipline based on the concrete (and often hands on) physical world. With this said, pointers are considered an important threshold concept opening the door to the implementation of complex microcontroller applications in our digitally connected world.One of the primary challenges in learning the application of pointers is that the programming syntax and the abstract memory management concepts are often taught simultaneously. The natural progression of learning is to first comprehend the concepts followed by the syntax. Further newer learning theories suggest a conceptual understanding can only result through abstraction of experiences using metaphorical linkages.The following research body is focused on proposing a new strategy for teaching this complex concept using low cost physical props as a palpable interactive visual medium to provide the requisite experiences for concept abstraction. The learning aids are designed to enforce a strict process flow mimicking the invisible actions occurring internal to the microprocessor. Data is collected via questionnaires administered pre and post lecture delivery. Analysis of the results suggest moderate to high improvement in student comprehension of computer memory allocation concepts
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON ENGINEERS CANADA’S DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING WORK
Authors: Compeau Scott , Strong David
Published: April 2017

The breadth of the engineering profession is illustrated by Engineers Canada’s (EC) recognition of over 120 accredited engineering programs across the country. Arguably, the work of a professional engineer spans over an even larger scope. However, synthesizing a description of engineering work that encompasses all aspects of the profession is extremely difficult. Applicants to engineering programs in Canadian universities require high standing in specific course pre-requisites. In order to make an informed decision with regard to engineering as a possible career path, it is critical that students clearly understand the engineering profession. The purpose of this paper is to describe how Grade 9/10 students’ perceptions of engineering work compares to EC’s description, based on the outcomes of a research study involving a questionnaire and interviews. The findings show that the emerging categories from these students’ descriptions of engineering work that aligns with EC’s description, involves design (42.3%) and helping people or the environment (16.5%).
Optimum Frequency of Peer Evaluations in Capstone Design Courses
Authors: Couturier Michel F. , Bendrich Guida
Published: April 2017

Peer evaluations are commonly used in design courses for developmental and evaluative purposes. Peer ratings are however often higher than the instructor ratings and this can induce fears regarding their reliability. This study examined whether it may be possible to increase the agreement between peer and instructor ratings by increasing the frequency of the peer assessments. The premise was that peers may provide less lenient assessments if the impact of single evaluations on the final grade is reduced by increasing the number of evaluations. Increasing the number of peer evaluations in our senior design course from two to six per year did not increase the accuracy of the peer ratings but provided other benefits such as earlier identification of dysfunctional teams, elimination of free riding and more frequent developmental feedback. Peer and instructor ratings can be normalized however to yield similar indicators of the relative performance of teammates. The frequency and timing of peer evaluations are critical to obtain meaningful results and maximize impact on team dynamics
WHAT SENIORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR ENGAGEMENT
Authors: Doré Sylvie
Published: April 2017

The goal of this pre-study was to prescribe a solution to a perceived decrease in student engagement in an elective course on additive manufacturing. The objectives were to:identify in what activities the students are engaging; identify causes for lack of engagement in their studies, if any;identify possible changes to the additive manufacturing course.A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) triangulation interpretivist approach was used to address the first two objectives. Approximately half (1/2) the students stated that their studies was not their priority, two thirds (2/3) reported that they attended university primarily to earn a diploma rather than to learn and again two thirds (2/3) said that they had difficulty concentrating, signs that most students are not fully engaged in learning. The qualitative analysis provided insight and nuance to the quantitative analysis. It made it possible to identify sources for lack of engagement. Apart from the presence of electronic devices which distract attention, teaching methods, course content and evaluation modalities were often cited. Based on the findings, three changes are suggested to the course
A Case Study in Incorporating Significant Design Content into a Third-Year Industrial Engineering Course “Design and Analysis of Production Systems”
Authors: Flemming Scott
Published: April 2017

In recent years the CEAB has ben communicating to Engineering Faculties in Canada that “Engineering Design” is a key attribute that graduates should have when they finish their undergraduate degree. It hasalso been suggested that producing engineers with significant design skills is important for the Canadian economy as a whole and, in Dalhousie University’s context, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately “Design” is adifficult skill to teach or transfer; a recent article in Maclean’s suggests many engineering graduates around the country are leaving the university with an uneasy feeling that all they have been taught to dois “plug and chug.” How do we respond to this need? This paper offers a case study of how a third-year Industrial Engineering course shifted from a mainly book-and-formula based course to an offering which incorporated significant open-ended design content (25%) intended to both satisfy CEAB requirements and address the need for students to exercise their creative, hands-on problem-solving skills. Student project outcomes as well as anecdotal and SRI data suggest the shift to a design-focussedcourse was a success.
INCORPORATING EMPLOYER AND STUDENT ASSESSMENTS INTO A GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE ASSESSMENT PLAN
Authors: Gwyn Margaret
Published: April 2017

When faced with assessing the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) graduate attributes, most programs will start by focusing oninstructor assessments. Course instructors are uniquely positioned to assess their students’ learning, and instructor assessments are sufficient to meet CEAB accreditation requirements. However, for a full picture, data from multiple sources is always desirable. At the University of Victoria, we have chosen to include co-op employer and student assessments in our graduateattribute assessment plan. In this paper, we present the assessment tools we have identified and created, and outline the system we have developed to sustainably produce assessment reports every term for every program. We highlight some of the challenges we have faced, and conclude by discussing our future plans
Inquiry Learning Methodologies and the Disposition to Energy Systems Problem Solving
Authors: Ha Minha R. , Nagasaki Shinya , Riddoch Justin
Published: April 2017

In this paper, we argue that it is essential to pay attention to the engineering students’ use of sound methodologies in approaching engineering problems. There are serious challenges created from surfacelearning attitudes that undermine foundational, conceptual understanding and basic methods to solve technical problems. Moreover, such attitudes carry over to how students approach the complexity and human aspect of engineering problems. Senior undergraduate energy systems courses were redesigned to develop students’ inquiry and problem solving skills. Data from a post-course survey, completed by 58 senior engineering students, were analyzed using a thematic analysis and basic categorization. Findings suggest that inquiry learning (IL) and problem based learning (PBL) methods offer much value in the students’ development of researchand analytic skills. As well, students gained a deeper appreciation of complexity and the ethical issues in energy system challenges, which may have some impact on their assumed responsibility as engineers - during the process and in the aimed outcomes of their problem solving tasks. We reflect on the findings to propose how IL and PBL might be effectively designed and implemented for engineering students engaged in system level analyses.
A CASE STUDY ON BLENDED LEARNING IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Authors: Harris Jeffrey , Park Charles
Published: April 2017

This paper explores a case study of implementing blended learning in a third-year engineering course. In “Mechanical and Thermal Energy Conversion Processes”, blended learning was implemented by flipping the classroom (i.e. reversing the roles of lectures and homework) for selected units of the course. While flipping an entire course can be a significant undertaking, it can be much easier to take a blended approach and only flip lectures on selected topics. Many studies on flipped classroom learning have focused on the production of online lectures and active learning methods; often these case studies have overlooked the mechanisms to bring homework into the classroom. In this case study, homework was adapted into a variety of in-class activities, composed of hands-on learning, problem solving, and classroom discussions. In addition, a variety of classroom space types were used to conduct these activities. In this paper, the successes, challenges, and lessons learned for each type of activity and classroom space are discussed. Strategies for student engagement and acceptance of blended learning are also discussed.
ASSESSMENT DESIGN THROUGH AN EXPERT SYSTEM AND ITS APPLICATION TO A COURSE OF HYDRAULICS
Authors: Imam Muhammad H. , Tasadduq Imran A. , Khan Muhammad H. , Ahmad Abdul-Rahim , Aldosari Fahd
Published: April 2017

An assessment consists of questions addressing the required learning outcomes of a course. If a pool of questions of various types is made available then assessment design reduces to selection of questions, one by one, from the pool. Since the number of possible questions for a course may be quite large, and several preferences have to be matched, manual selection of a suitable question is not possible. This paper presents an enhanced implementation of a previously presented idea of a methodology for assessment design with an application to a course of Hydraulics with an initial pool of 1,000 questions. Each question is tagged with a set of attributes. The rules are generated by the expert system itself. The idea of a score of relevance has been introduced. The enhanced implementation displays a set of questions with their relevance scores rather than a single question to let the instructor choose from them. An instance of MS SQL Server at Azure database is used for the web-based cloud implementation.
ONLINE LEARNING ELEMENT DESIGN – DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION EXPERIENCES
Authors: Jamieson Marnie V. , Shaw John M.
Published: April 2017

The Capstone Design Course instructional team was selected to participate in the digital learning initiative at the University of Alberta. The goals of this initiative are to increase student engagement and promote flexible, independent learning. The objectives of the instructional team were to enhance the interactions between instructors and student design teams in the face of increasing enrolment and to align the course strategically with attributes expected for graduating engineers set out by the University of Alberta and elaborated in the Canadian Engineering AccreditationBoard (CEAB) Guidelines. Existing course lecture materials were redeveloped into an asynchronous online format for individual student engagement. Related inclass team-learning activities were prepared andimplemented. This report focuses on the design of online learning elements connected to in class active learning and project applications and our experiences with them over the course of a two-year pilot project. This paper is a follow up to “The University of Alberta Chemical Engineering Capstone Design Course Goes Flipped!”
EGAD National Snapshot Survey: Change, Progress and Improvement
Authors: Kaupp Jake , Frank Brian
Published: April 2017

Two years ago the EGAD group conducted a survey of institutional leaders of accreditation processes, which asked for a very brief summary of what the university is doing, and key issues or questions the university is facing. These results were presented in a special session at CEEA 2014. This past year, the survey was sent out again asking the same questions alongside some original ones in an effort to gauge how institutions priorities and concernshave shifted in the past two years and to collectively look at how the community is maturing. One of the key goals for this survey is to form a basis for recommendations and key issues to continue the emerging dialogue with CEAB regarding accreditation, continuous improvement and achieving the balance between educational quality and educational innovation.
EXPOSING ENGINEERING STUDENTS TO ETHICAL CHALLENGES: A WEB-BASED LEARNING MODULE
Authors: Kavanagh Leonnie , Laberinto Kim , Ruth Douglas
Published: April 2017

This paper presents the development of an interactive web-based module on the ‘Code of Ethics’ for the practice of professional engineering in Manitoba.The module highlights the importance of ethics, casestudies with ‘branching’ options for a variety of realworld scenarios of ethical or unethical choices, and tests with automatic feedback that track a students’ progress.Once implemented, this module is expected to form the foundation for future e-modules in various engineering courses at the University of Manitoba.
USING INSTITUTIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO ‘REVERSEENGINEER’ A LARGE ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Authors: Klassen Mike , Reeve Doug , Simpson Annie , Sacks Robin , Evans Greg
Published: April 2017

Leadership is poised to become a major feature of engineering education, but the question of how to grow programs within the institutional context ofengineering faculties remains largely unanswered by the literature. Our analysis of a single historic case study of Canada’s largest engineering leadership institute sheds light on some of the strategies used to grow from a small program to a stable educational unit. We find valuable insights on how to generalize these findings by applying concepts from institutional entrepreneurship to make sense of founder strategies.
LISTERIOSIS CASE STUDY – VARIATION AND LONGEVITY FOR CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT
Authors: Newton Cheryl , Moresoli Christine , Robinson Mary , Hassel Katharina
Published: April 2017

Both teaching and learning from case studies enriches the engineering curriculum by connecting the classroom to real world complexities. A case study about the 2008 Listeriosis outbreak at the Maple Leaf Foods facility in Toronto was developed for the Food Process Engineering course, ChE 564. ChE 564 is a fourth-year technical elective in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo (Waterloo), offered once every winter term. The Listeriosis case was developed by Waterloo Cases in Design Engineering (WCDE) from publicly-available sources.The WCDE Listeriosis case study has been used in four offerings of ChE 564 by three instructors, from 2013 to 2016. Factors that influenced the successful transfer of teaching material are explored using instructor reflection, classroom observations, and student feedback. The three instructors reflected on these factors between each offering of the course and adapted their teaching methodologies to align with the learning outcomes for the course.The evolution of the WCDE Listeriosis case study and its longevity will be discussed over the four course offerings. Issues such as student expectations, the role of the instructor, the open-ended nature of the case, class size, and class engagement are discussed as well. The success and challenges of the Listeriosis case study have broader implications on the difficulties of transferring material between terms and instructors while balancing variation for different cohorts. One challenge when developing case study material is balancing the time invested with the rewards in the classroom and the uptake by different instructors and/or courses.
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP @ SFU: EXPERIENTIAL, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM
Authors: Oldknow Kevin , Lubik Sarah
Published: April 2017

This paper provides an overview of experiences to date in developing and delivering the Technology Entrepreneurship @ SFU program - an interdisciplinary program in which Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Business students at Simon Fraser University collaborate on market-driven, entrepreneurial initiatives that simultaneously satisfy their respectivecapstone project requirements. The paper includes a discussion of program scope and objectives, design, implementation and revisions. The role of the program in providing experiential, interdisciplinary learning for Engineering and Business students through an immersive experience is discussed. Qualitative and quantitative program results to date are reviewed, with program enrollment and completion trends, course evaluation data and key stakeholder metrics indicating a level of successin: (1) creating an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial culture amongst the students, (2) preparing students for future career paths that may include entrepreneurship and (3) potential further commercialization of prototypesdeveloped in the Technology Entrepreneurship program. Longer-term measures of success are also considered and discussed in light of the experiences to date.
USING AN ONLINE MARKING SYSTEM FOR A LARGE CLASS ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Ostafichuk Peter M. , Jaeger Carol P.
Published: April 2017

The use of online team marking has the potential to both simplify and expedite the process of marking exams, papers, and other artifacts. An online team marking tool (Crowdmark) has been piloted at UBC in  Mechanical Engineering (125 student midterm) and two common first year introduction to engineering courses (840 student final exam, and 730 student midterm and final exam).Crowdmark, the particular software tool used, printed a unique QR code on each page of each exam and then exams were written by students in a conventional pencil-andpaper fashion. After the exam, papers were digitized and uploaded to the Crowdmark system. Following a brief training and orientation session, all marking took place by teaching assistants through the Crowdmark interface. Overall grader preference was positive, with the majority of graders expressing a strong preference for the Crowdmark system over conventional paper-based grading. In MECH 223, extensive historical data for marking time was available, and a significant reduction in marking time per exam (30%) was observed. This time savings included time saved handling papers and entering grades. Additional benefits were also observed through the use of this system: grades and histograms are available per question in real-time; time and grader tracking data is available; exam regrading is simplified; and there is a digital record of each exam for archiving purposes as well as to prevent issues of students altering papers prior to requesting regrading. Special safeguards had to be put in place due to freedom of information and privacy protection (FOIPP) requirements in British Columbia. We haveobserved a slightly lower cost per graded page with Crowdmark ($0.426/page) compared to a conventional exam ($0.439/page), but this includes outsourcing printing and scanning to an industrial-scale printing company. We consider this essentially cost-neutral, but like Crowdmarkfor all of the other benefits it offers.
A Literature Review on the Culture of Cheating in Undergraduate Engineering Programs
Authors: Smith David M. , Bens Susan , Wagner Douglas , Maw Sean
Published: April 2017

Anecdotally, cheating is perceived to happen in all Canadian engineering programs in varying degrees. The authors of this study want to understand the cultures of cheating in the Engineering Colleges at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina, to inform efforts to reduce the prevalence of cheating. The first step that has been undertaken in this process is a literature review of previous studies on the general topic of cheating in undergraduate engineering programs.As it happens, virtually all of these studies have taken place in the United States, further motivating parallel work here in Canada. Surveys have recently been distributed to students and faculty at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina, where the content of those surveys has been strongly influenced by high-quality work carried out by American researchers of this topic.In this paper, we will describe the research work that has been performed previously, and the survey and measurement tools that have been utilized in past studies e.g. PACES-1, PACES-2 and SEED. The general and specific methods that have been employed will be described, and the results will be summarized. For example, it is known that faculty and students often have very different definitions of, and beliefs around, cheating. In practical terms, this manifests itself in the differing attributions of responsibility for cheating.We conclude our paper by constructing a concise framework that summarizes the current understandings of how cheating is defined in an academic context for engineering, the most common ethical footings that underlie those definitions, and the conditional behaviours that result from them. Finally, we speculate on the potential differences that may arise in a Canadian context, and we describe the approach that we have taken to studying cheating at our own institutions using surveys and other evaluative processes.
Coaching for Communicative Competence: A Student-Focused Approach
Authors: Topping Aidan
Published: April 2017

This paper focuses on instructor led, student-focused coaching sessions undertaken in the senior (capstone) design classes at the University of Manitoba. The team-based design approach used in capstone courses allows students to work in a manner more closely reflecting industry practice; however, team writing does not allow for individualized scaffolding which could ensure each graduate meets the standard for communicative competence. Rather than allow students to rely on the team’s collective communication skills, we developed an approach that incorporates individual coaching sessions at multiple stages in the writing process. These sessions require students to reflect upon their work, and allow them to discuss it in a meaningful way with the instructor. Doing so at various stages affords students the opportunity to engage in an iterative approach to developing communicative competence: applying what they learn, reflecting on their work, and discussing communicative gains and new methodologies.While integrating individual coaching and directed instruction into the curriculum can be challenging, this paper demonstrates how student-focused coaching sessions provide a platform from which senior design students can increase both communicative competence and their value to industry as future engineers
Efficacy and Safety of an Intravenous C1-Inhibitor Concentrate for Long-Term Prophylaxis in Hereditary angioedema
Authors: Craig Timothy , Shapiro Ralph , Vegh Arthur , Baker James W. , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Busse Paula , Magerl Markus , Martinez-Saguer Inmaculada , Riedl Marc A. , Lumry William , Williams-Herman Debora , Edelman Jonathan , Feuersenger Henrike , Machnig Thomas , Rojavin Mikhail
Published: April 2017

Background

The plasma-derived, pasteurized, nanofiltered C1-inhibitor concentrate (pnfC1-INH) is approved in the United States as an intravenous (IV) on-demand treatment for hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks, and, in Europe, as on demand and short-term prophylaxis.

Objective

This analysis evaluated Berinert Patient Registry data regarding IV pnfC1-INH used as long-term prophylaxis (LTP).

Methods

The international registry (2010–2014) collected prospective and retrospective usage, dosing, and safety data on individuals who used pnfC1-INH for any reason.

Results

The registry included data on 47 subjects (80.9% female subjects; mean age, 44.8 years), which reflected 4082 infusions categorized as LTP and a total of 430.2 months of LTP administration. The median absolute dose of pnfC1-INH given for LTP was 1000 IU (range, 500–3000 IU), with a median time interval between infusion and a subsequent pnfC1-INH–treated attack of 72.0 hours (range, 0.0–166.4 hours). Fifteen subjects (31.9%) had no pnfC1-INH–treated HAE attacks within 7 days after pnfC1-INH infusion for LTP; 32 subjects (68.1%) experienced 246 attacks, with rates of 0.06 attacks per infusion and 0.57 attacks per month. A total of 81 adverse events were reported in 16 subjects (34.0%) (0.02 events per infusion; 0.19 events per month); only 3 adverse events were considered related to pnfC1-INH (noncardiac chest pain, postinfusion headache, deep vein thrombosis in a subject with an IV port).

Conclusion

In this international registry, IV pnf-C1-INH given as LTP for HAE was safe and efficacious, with a low rate of attacks that required pnfC1-INH treatment, particularly within the first several days after LTP administration.
Flexible Microsensor Technology for Real-Time Navigation Tracking in Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilation
Authors: Lam Kent , Bigcas Jo-Lawrence , Luong Amber , Yao William , Citardi Martin J.
Published: April 2017

Background

Microsensor navigation has the potential to aid balloon sinus ostial dilation by providing real-time tracking of balloon devices within the complex anatomy of the sinonasal cavities.

Objective

This feasibility study evaluated the incorporation of a new microsensor technology into a flexible guidewire for use with current instruments in balloon sinus ostial dilation.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to include seven men and one woman (age range, 33–68 years), who underwent balloon sinus ostial dilation with flexible microsensor navigation in the operating room setting. All the procedures were performed at target sinuses with the patient under general anesthesia, in conjunction with subsequent endoscopic sinus surgery.

Results

Balloon dilation was attempted at the maxillary (n = 3), frontal (n = 14), and sphenoid (n = 1) sinuses. In all the cases, the surgical navigation system displayed the flexible wire tip as it was advanced to the target sinus ostia; this visual feedback for wire position guided the balloon placement. Successful balloon dilation with assistance of flexible microsensor navigation was performed on most sinuses, except a single frontal sinus with adjacent type 2 frontal cells.

Conclusion

Flexible navigation technology may be combined with balloon sinus technology to facilitate localization of instruments in the sinus anatomy. Additional optimization of both the device and software technology is warranted.
Risk factors for MERS coronavirus infection in dromedary camels in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Morocco, 2015
Authors: Miguel Eve , Chevalier Véronique , Ayelet Gelagay , Ben Bencheikh Med Nadir , Boussini Hiver , Chu Daniel KW , El Berbri Ikhlass , Fassi-Fihri Ouaffa , Faye Bernard , Fekadu Getnet , Grosbois Vladimir , Ng Bryan CY , Perera Ranawaka APM , So TY , Traore Amadou , Roger François , Peiris Malik
Published: April 2017

Understanding Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) transmission in dromedary camels is important, as they consitute a source of zoonotic infection to humans. To identify risk factors for MERS-CoV infection in camels bred in diverse conditions in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Morocco, blood samples and nasal swabs were sampled in February–March 2015. A relatively high MERS-CoV RNA rate was detected in Ethiopia (up to 15.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.2–28.0), followed by Burkina Faso (up to 12.2%; 95% CI: 7–20.4) and Morocco (up to 7.6%; 95% CI: 1.9–26.1). The RNA detection rate was higher in camels bred for milk or meat than in camels for transport (p = 0.01) as well as in younger camels (p = 0.06). High seropositivity rates (up to 100%; 95% CI: 100–100 and 99.4%; 95% CI: 95.4–99.9) were found in Morocco and Ethiopia, followed by Burkina Faso (up to 84.6%; 95% CI: 77.2–89.9). Seropositivity rates were higher in large/medium herds (≥51 camels) than small herds (p = 0.061), in camels raised for meat or milk than for transport (p = 0.01), and in nomadic or sedentary herds than in herds with a mix of these lifestyles (p < 0.005).
One-Pot Three-Component Condensation of β-Naphthol with Arylaldehydes and Meldrum's Acid: Synthesis of 1-Aryl-1,2-Dihydro-Benzo[f]Chromen-3-Ones
Authors: Mehrabi Hossein , Najafian-Ashrafi Faezeh , Ranjbar-Karimi Reza
Published: April 2017

An efficient and simple method for the synthesis of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydro-benzo[f]chromen-3-ones via a one-pot three-component reaction of β-naphthol, arylaldehydes and Meldrum's acid with Et3N as a base in CH3CN under reflux is reported. All the products were obtained in good to excellent yields and their structures were established from their spectroscopic data.
Registration of Conventional Soybean Germplasm JTN‐4307 with Resistance to Nematodes and Fungal Diseases
Authors: Arelli Prakash R. , Shannon J. Grover , Mengistu Alemu , Gillen Anne M. , Fritz Lisa A.
Published: April 2017

JTN‐4307 (Reg. No. GP‐407, PI 670017), a maturity group V soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], was developed by the USDA‐ARS with the University of Missouri and the University of Tennessee and released in 2013 for its broad resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), reniform nematode, southern root knot nematode, and fungal diseases, especially frogeye leaf spot, southern stem canker, and moderate resistance to charcoal rot. JTN‐4307 is an F4–derived line from the cross of S97‐1688 (PI 633736) × V94‐0198. Selected F4 lines were planted in 2004 in Jackson, TN, and the agronomically superior single plants were selected for progeny testing. Two F4:5 progenies were planted in separate rows during 2005 and bulk harvested. Seeds of F4:6 rows were evaluated in the greenhouse bioassays for SCN resistance, and molecular markers were used to confirm the results. Field tests for frogeye leaf spot and charcoal rot resistance were conducted in Milan, TN, and Jackson, respectively. Frogeye leaf spot resistance was confirmed using molecular markers. JTN‐4307 was entered in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States from 2008 to 2013. JTN‐4307 will serve as an excellent parent material in breeding programs for providing durable resistance to multiple nematode populations and fungal diseases.
Neurological Disease Burden: Bangladesh Perspective
Authors: Alam Md. Badrul
Published: April 2017

Abstract Not AvailableJournal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh  2015; 1(2): 31-32
Demographic Characteristics and Etiology of Hydrocephalus Patients attended at Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahfuzur , Haque Mohammed Ashraful , Islam Mohammed Rafiqul , Salam Md. Abdus , Uddin Kalim , Rahman Md. Mizanur , Talukder Md. Moajjam Hossain , Hasanat Md. Aminul , Hossain Md. Afzal
Published: April 2017

Background: Hydrocephalous can occur at any age. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to see the Demographic Characteristics and Etiology of Hydrocephalus Patients. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from April 2009 to September 2010 for a period of one and half year. Patients presented with obstructive hydrocephalus at any age with both sexes were included as study population. Detailed socio-demographic history as well as the associated etiological factors was recorded in pre designed data collection sheet. Result: A total number of 60 obstructive hydrocephalous patients were recruited for this study after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age with SD was 17.95±19.15. Acquedctal stenosis was the most common etiology of hydrocephalous which was 31(51.7%) cases followed by posterior fossa midline tumour, CPA tumour and pineal region tumour which were 14 (23.3%) cases, 9(15.0%) cases and 6(10.0%) cases respectively. Conclusion: Obstructive hydrocephalous is most commonly found in younger age group which is caused by acquedctal stenosis. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2015;1(2): 47-49
Low Temperature Aqueous Solution-Processed ZnO and Polyethylenimine Ethoxylated Cathode Buffer Bilayer for High Performance Flexible Inverted Organic Solar Cells
Authors: You Hailong , Zhang Junchi , Zhang Zeyulin , Zhang Chunfu , Lin Zhenhua , Chang Jingjing , Han Genquan , Zhang Jincheng , Lu Gang , Hao Yue
Published: April 2017

High performance flexible inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) employing the low temperature cathode buffer bilayer combining the aqueous solution-processed ZnO and polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) are investigated based on Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butryric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PC61BM) and Poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexy)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PTB-7:PC71BM) material systems. It is found that, compared with pure ZnO or PEIE cathode buffer layer (CBL), the proper combination of low-temperature processed ZnO and PEIE as the CBL enhanced the short circuit current density (JSC), resulting in better device performance. The increased JSC results from the enhanced electron collection ability from the active layer to the cathode. By using the ZnO/PEIE CBL, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 4.04% for the P3HT:PC61BM flexible device and a PCE as high as 8.12% for the PTB-7:PC71BM flexible device are achieved, which are higher than the control devices with the pure ZnO CBL or pure PEIE CBL. The flexible inverted OSC also shows a superior mechanical property and it can keep 92.9% of its initial performance after 1000 bending cycles with a radius of 0.8 cm. These results suggest that the combination of the low temperature aqueous solution processed ZnO and PEIE can be a promising cathode buffer bilayer for flexible inverted OSCs.
Molecular Signature of Indeterminate Thyroid Lesions: Current Methods to Improve Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) Diagnosis
Authors: Cantara Silvia , Marzocchi Carlotta , Pilli Tania , Cardinale Sandro , Forleo Raffaella , Castagna Maria , Pacini Furio
Published: April 2017

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) represents the gold standard for determining the nature of thyroid nodules. It is a reliable method with good sensitivity and specificity. However, indeterminate lesions remain a diagnostic challenge and researchers have contributed molecular markers to search for in cytological material to refine FNAC diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgeries. Nowadays, several “home-made” methods as well as commercial tests are available to investigate the molecular signature of an aspirate. Moreover, other markers (i.e., microRNA, and circulating tumor cells) have been proposed to discriminate benign from malignant thyroid lesions. Here, we review the literature and provide data from our laboratory on mutational analysis of FNAC material and circulating microRNA expression obtained in the last 6 years.
Analysis of the Mechanical Behavior, Creep Resistance and Uniaxial Fatigue Strength of Martensitic Steel X46Cr13
Authors: Brnic Josip , Krscanski Sanjin , Lanc Domagoj , Brcic Marino , Turkalj Goran , Canadija Marko , Niu Jitai
Published: April 2017

The article deals with the analysis of the mechanical behavior at different temperatures, uniaxial creep and uniaxial fatigue of martensitic steel X46Cr13 (1.4034, AISI 420). For the purpose of considering the aforementioned mechanical behavior, as well as determining the appropriate resistance to creep and fatigue strength levels, numerous uniaxial tests were carried out. Tests related to mechanical properties performed at different temperatures are presented in the form of engineering stress-strain diagrams. Short-time creep tests performed at different temperatures and different stress levels are presented in the form of creep curves. Fatigue tests carried out at stress ratios R = 0.25 and R = − 1 are shown in the form of S–N (fatigue) diagrams. The finite fatigue regime for each of the mentioned stress ratios is modeled by an inclined log line, while the infinite fatigue regime is modeled by a horizontal line, which represents the fatigue limit of the material and previously was calculated by the modified staircase method. Finally, the fracture toughness has been calculated based on the Charpy V-notch impact energy.
The Effect of Milling Time on the Microstructural Characteristics and Strengthening Mechanisms of NiMo-SiC Alloys Prepared via Powder Metallurgy
Authors: Yang Chao , Muránsky Ondrej , Zhu Hanliang , Thorogood Gordon , Avdeev Maxim , Huang Hefei , Zhou Xingtai
Published: April 2017

A new generation of alloys, which rely on a combination of various strengthening mechanisms, has been developed for application in molten salt nuclear reactors. In the current study, a battery of dispersion and precipitation-strengthened (DPS) NiMo-based alloys containing varying amounts of SiC (0.5–2.5 wt %) were prepared from Ni-Mo-SiC powder mixture via a mechanical alloying (MA) route followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and rapid cooling. Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD), Electron Back Scattering Diffraction (EBSD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were employed in the characterization of the microstructural properties of these in-house prepared NiMo-SiC DPS alloys. The study showed that uniformly-dispersed SiC particles provide dispersion strengthening, the precipitation of nano-scale Ni3Si particles provides precipitation strengthening, and the solid-solution of Mo in the Ni matrix provides solid-solution strengthening. It was further shown that the milling time has significant effects on the microstructural characteristics of these alloys. Increased milling time seems to limit the grain growth of the NiMo matrix by producing well-dispersed Mo2C particles during sintering. The amount of grain boundaries greatly increases the Hall–Petch strengthening, resulting in significantly higher strength in the case of 48-h-milled NiMo-SiC DPS alloys compared with the 8-h-milled alloys. However, it was also shown that the total elongation is considerably reduced in the 48-h-milled NiMo-SiC DPS alloy due to high porosity. The porosity is a result of cold welding of the powder mixture during the extended milling process.
‘Nicht jüdeln’: Jews and Habsburg Loyalty in Franz Theodor Csokor’s Dritter November 1918
Authors: Silverman Lisa
Published: April 2017

This article argues that Franz Theodor Csokor’s three-act drama, Dritter November 1918: Ende der Armee Österreich-Ungarns (Third of November 1918: End of the Army in Austria-Hungary) reveals how Jewish difference played an important—if often unrecognized—role in the shaping the terms of Austrian patriotism in the years leading up to 1938. Portrayals of Habsburg loyalty as “Jewish” or “not Jewish” helped articulate how nostalgia for Austria-Hungary would figure in a new sense of Austrianness, a project that took on even more urgency under the authoritarian censors of the Ständestaat. While the play’s portrayal of a Jewish doctor as level-headed, peace-loving, and caring countered some egregious antisemitic stereotypes about disloyal and sexually perverted Jews, it also suggested that Jews were overly rational, lacking in emotional depth, and, ultimately, unable to embody a new Catholic, spiritual, Austrian patriotic ideal. Considered in its broader political context, and along with Csokor’s earlier unpublished drama Gesetz, the play reveals how labelling Habsburg loyalty as Jewish helped to clarify and critique the nature of what it meant to be Austrian under an authoritarian regime that promoted a pro-Catholic, anti-Nazi vision of Austrian patriotism. It also offers a prime example of how even anti-antisemitic authors like Csokor perpetuated negative stereotypes about Jews, even as they aimed to present them in a more positive light.
Automatic Estimation of Tree Position and Stem Diameter Using a Moving Terrestrial Laser Scanner
Authors: Oveland Ivar , Hauglin Marius , Gobakken Terje , Næsset Erik , Maalen-Johansen Ivar
Published: April 2017

Airborne laser scanning is now widely used for forest inventories. An essential part of inventory is a collection of field reference data including measurements of tree stem diameter at breast height (DBH). Traditionally this is acquired through manual measurements. The recent development of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) systems in terms of capacity and weight have made these systems attractive tools for extracting DBH. Multiple TLS scans are often merged into a single point cloud before the information extraction. This technique requires good position and orientation accuracy for each scan location. In this study, we propose a novel method that can operate under a relatively coarse positioning and orientation solution. The method divides the laser measurements into limited time intervals determined by the laser scan rotation. Tree positions and DBH are then automatically extracted from each laser scan rotation. To improve tree identification, the estimated center points are subsequently processed by an iterative closest point algorithm. In a small reference data set from a single field plot consisting of 18 trees, it was found that 14 were automatically identified by this method. The estimated DBH had a mean differences of 0.9 cm and a root mean squared error of 1.5 cm. The proposed method enables fast and efficient data acquisition and a 250 m2 field plot was measured within 30 s.
Water Quality Dynamics of Urban Water Bodies during Flooding in Can Tho City, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hong Quan , Radhakrishnan Mohanasundar , Huynh Thi Thao Nguyen , Baino-Salingay Maria Luisa , Ho Long Phi , Steen Peter Van der , Pathirana Assela
Published: April 2017

Water pollution associated with flooding is one of the major problems in cities in the global South. However, studies of water quality dynamics during flood events are not often reported in literature, probably due to difficult conditions for sampling during flood events. Water quality parameters in open water (canals, rivers, and lakes), flood water on roads and water in sewers have been monitored during the extreme fluvial flood event on 7 October 2013 in the city of Can Tho, Vietnam. This is the pioneering study of urban flood water pollution in real time in Vietnam. The results showed that water quality is very dynamic during flooding, especially at the beginning of the event. In addition, it was observed that the pathogen and contaminant levels in the flood water are almost as high as in sewers. The findings show that population exposed to flood water runs a health risk that is nearly equal to that of being in contact with sewer water. Therefore, the people of Can Tho not only face physical risk due to flooding, but are also exposed to health risks.
A Self-consistent Model for a Full Cycle of Recurrent Novae—Wind Mass-loss Rate and X-Ray Luminosity
Authors: Kato Mariko , Saio Hideyuki , Hachisu Izumi
Published: April 2017

An unexpectedly slow evolution in the pre-optical-maximum phase was suggested in the very short recurrence period of nova M31N 2008-12a. To obtain reasonable nova light curves we have improved our calculation method by consistently combining optically thick wind solutions of hydrogen-rich envelopes with white dwarf (WD) structures calculated by a Henyey-type evolution code. The wind mass-loss rate is properly determined with high accuracy. We have calculated light curve models for 1.2 M
⊙ and 1.38 M
⊙ WDs with mass accretion rates corresponding to recurrence periods of 10 yr and 1 yr, respectively. The outburst lasts 590/29 days, in which the pre-optical-maximum phase is 82/16 days, for 1.2/1.38 M
⊙, respectively. Optically thick winds start at the end of the X-ray flash and cease at the beginning of the supersoft X-ray phase. We also present supersoft X-ray light curves including a prompt X-ray flash and later supersoft X-ray phase.
Absolute Ages and Distances of 22 GCs Using Monte Carlo Main-sequence Fitting
Authors: O’Malley Erin M. , Gilligan Christina , Chaboyer Brian
Published: April 2017

The recent Gaia Data Release 1 of stellar parallaxes provides ample opportunity to find metal-poor main-sequence stars with precise parallaxes. We select 21 such stars with parallax uncertainties better than σ

π
/π ≤ 0.10 and accurate abundance determinations suitable for testing metal-poor stellar evolution models and determining the distance to Galactic globular clusters (GCs). A Monte Carlo analysis was used, taking into account uncertainties in the model construction parameters, to generate stellar models and isochrones to fit to the calibration stars. The isochrones that fit the calibration stars best were then used to determine the distances and ages of 22 GCs with metallicities ranging from −2.4 dex to −0.7 dex. We find distances with an average uncertainty of 0.15 mag and absolute ages ranging from 10.8 to 13.6 Gyr with an average uncertainty of 1.6 Gyr. Using literature proper motion data, we calculate orbits for the clusters, finding six that reside within the Galactic disk/bulge, while the rest are considered halo clusters. We find no strong evidence for a relationship between age and Galactocentric distance, but we do find a decreasing age–[Fe/H] relation.
The Yale–Potsdam Stellar Isochrones
Authors: Spada F. , Demarque P. , Kim Y.-C. , Boyajian T. S. , Brewer J. M.
Published: April 2017

We introduce the Yale–Potsdam Stellar Isochrones (YaPSI), a new grid of stellar evolution tracks and isochrones of solar-scaled composition. In an effort to improve the Yonsei–Yale database, special emphasis is placed on the construction of accurate low-mass models (

), and in particular on their mass–luminosity and mass–radius relations, both crucial for characterizing exoplanet-host stars, and, in turn, their planetary systems. The YaPSI models cover the mass range 0.15–

densely enough to permit detailed interpolation in mass, and the metallicity and helium abundance ranges [Fe/H] = −1.5 to +0.3 and Y
0 = 0.25–0.37 are specified independently of each other (i.e., no fixed

relation is assumed). The evolutionary tracks are calculated from the pre-main sequence up to the tip of the red giant branch. The isochrones, with ages between 1 Myr and 20 Gyr, provide UBVRI colors in the Johnson–Cousins system, and JHK colors in the homogenized Bessell & Brett system, derived from two different semi-empirical

–color calibrations from the literature. We also provide utility codes, such as an isochrone interpolator, in age, metallicity, and helium content, and an interface of the tracks with an open-source Monte Carlo Markov-Chain tool for the analysis of individual stars. Finally, we present comparisons of the YaPSI models with the best empirical mass–luminosity and mass–radius relations available to date, as well as isochrone fitting of well-studied stellar clusters.