Exploring Seventh Graders’ Perceptions of the Picture-word Inductive Model to their English Narrative Writing in China

In this exploratory study, the researcher interviewed 30 seventh graders in China about their perceptions of the newly tried method, Picture-word Inductive Model (PWIM), to their English narrative writing. Many student participants listed and exemplified positive influence of PWIM on their narrative writing in and from the PWIM trial.

Inductive Theorem Proving and Computer Algebra in the Mathweb Software Bus

Reasoning systems have reached a high degree of maturity in the last decade. However, even the most successful systems are usually not general purpose problem solvers but are typically specialised on problems in a certain domain. The MathWeb SOftware Bus (Mathweb-SB) is a system for combining reasoning specialists via a common osftware bus. We described the integration of the lambda-clam systems, a reasoning specialist for proofs by induction, into the MathWeb-SB. Due to this integration, lambda-clam now offers its theorem proving expertise to other systems in the MathWeb-SB. On the other hand, lambda-clam can use the services of any reasoning specialist already integrated. We focus on the latter and describe first experimnents on proving theorems by induction using the computational power of the MAPLE system within lambda-clam.

Wireless Power Link Design for Both High-Power Inductive Coupling and Smart Metasurfaces Exploitation

As future technologies are going to be autonomous under the umbrella of the Internet of things (IoT) we can expect WPT to be the solution for intelligent devices. WPT has many industrial and medical applications both in the near-field and far-field domains. Considering the impact of WPT, this thesis is an attempt to design and realize both near-field and far-field WPT solutions for different application scenarios. A 27 MHz high frequency inductive wireless power link has been designed together with the Class-E switching inverter to compensate for the efficiency loss because of the varying weak coupling between transmitter and receiver because of their mutual misalignment. Then a system of three coils was introduced for SWIPT. The outer coil for WPT and the inner two coils were designed to fulfil the purpose of communication and testing, operating at frequencies different from the WPT coil. In addition to that, a trapping filter technique has also been adopted to ensure the EM isolation of the coils. Moreover, a split ring resonator-based dual polarization converter has been designed with good efficiency over a wide frequency range. The gap or cuts have been introduced in the adjacent sides of the square ring to make it a dual-polarization converter. The converter is also stable over a wide range of incident angles. Furthermore, a meta-element based intelligent surface has been designed to work in the reflection mode at 5 GHz. In this research activity, interdigital capacitors (IDCs) instead of ICs are introduced and a thin layer of the HfZrO between substrate and meta elements is placed whose response can be tuned and controlled with the applied voltage to achieve IRS.

Analysis and design considerations of resonator arrays for inductive power transfer systems

In the frame of inductive power transfer (IPT) systems, arrays of magnetically coupled resonators have received increasing attention as they are cheap and versatile due to their simple structure. They consist of magnetically coupled coils, which resonate with their self-capacitance or lumped capacitive networks. Of great industrial interest are planar resonator arrays used to power a receiver that can be placed at any position above the array. A thorough circuit analysis has been carried out, first starting from traditional two-coil IPT devices. Then, resonator arrays have been introduced, with particular attention to the case of arrays with a receiver. To evaluate the system performance, a circuit model based on original analytical formulas has been developed and experimentally validated. The results of the analysis also led to the definition of a new doubly-fed array configuration with a receiver that can be placed above it at any position. A suitable control strategy aimed at maximising the transmitted power and the efficiency has been also proposed. The study of the array currents has been carried out resorting to the theory of magneto-inductive waves, allowing useful insight to be highlighted. The analysis has been completed with a numerical and experimental study on the magnetic field distribution originating from the array. Furthermore, an application of the resonator array as a position sensor has been investigated. The position of the receiver is estimated through the measurement of the array input impedance, for which an original analytical expression has been also obtained. The application of this sensing technique in an automotive dynamic IPT system has been discussed. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of the possible applications of two-dimensional resonator arrays in IPT systems. These devices can be used to improve system efficiency and transmitted power, as well as for magnetic field shielding.

Alveolar osseous defect in rat for cell therapy: preliminary report

PURPOSE: To study were to reproduce an alveolar bone defect model in Wistar rats to be used for testing the efficacy of stem cell therapies. Additionally, we also aimed to determine the osteogenesis process of this osseous defect in the 1 month period post-surgery. METHODS: The animals were randomly divided into two groups of 7 animals each. A gingivobuccal incision was made, and a bone defect of 28 mm² of area was performed in the alveolar region. Animals were killed at 2 weeks after surgery (n=7) and 4 weeks after surgery (n=7). RESULTS: The average area of the alveolar defect at time point of 2 weeks was 22.27 ± 1.31 mm² and the average area of alveolar defect at time point of 4 weeks was 9.03 ± 1.17 mm². The average amount of bone formation at time point of 2 weeks was 5.73 ± 1.31 mm² and the average amount of bone formation at time point of 4 weeks was 19 ± 1.17 mm². Statistically significant differences between the amount of bone formation at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery were seen (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The highest rate of ossification occurred mostly from 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. This observation suggests that 4 weeks after the bone defect creation should be a satisfactory timing to assess the potential of bone inductive stem cells to accelerate bone regeneration in Wistar rats.

Avaliação da memória de trabalho em crianças com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade

Esse projeto investigou as habilidades cognitivas da Memória de Trabalho de crianças e adolescentes com o “Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade” (TDAH). Foi aplicado teste TIHC - Teste Infantil de Habilidades Cognitivas informatizado, avaliando principalmente cinco habilidades cognitivas Raciocínio Indutivas (RI), Memória de Armazenamento Auditiva (MAA) e Visual e Memória de Trabalho Auditiva (MTA) e Visual (MTV) usando o modelo de Cattell-Horn-Carroll. O teste foi aplicado em 62 sujeitos sendo 32 com TDAH do Hospital das Clínicas-SEPIA-USP e 30 sujeitos controle “normal” do Ensino Fundamental da rede municipal de 1ª à 8ª séries com idades entre 7 e 15 anos, de ambos os sexos. As análises executadas indicaram a existência de diferenças em diversos aspectos relacionados à memória nos tipos peculiares de crianças com TDAH. Verificou-se que as crianças com TDAH obtiveram bom desempenho nas provas de memória visual em detrimento as provas de memória auditiva. A correlação dos resultados do TIHC verificara que o tempo de reação da prova de memória de armazenamento visual manteve uma correlação significativa com a prova de cálculo.

Characterization and application of the solid waste generated in the production of calcium carbonate precipitate as a corrective for the soil acidity

The calcium carbonate industry generates solid waste products which, because of their high alkaline content (CaO, CaCO(3) and Ca (OH)(2)), have a substantial impact on the environment. The objectives of this study are to characterize and classify the solid waste products, which are generated during the hydration process of the calcium carbonate industry, according to ABNT`s NBR 10.000 series, and to determine the potential and efficiency of using these solid residues to correct soil acidity. Initially, the studied residue was submitted to gross mass, leaching, solubility, pH. X-ray Diffractometry, Inductive Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), granularity and humidity analyses. The potential and efficiency of the residue for correcting soil acidity was determined by analysis of the quality attributes for soil correctives (PN, PRNT, Ca and Mg contents, granularity). Consequently, the results show that the studied residue may be used as a soil acidity corrective, considering that a typical corrective compound is recommended for each different type of soil. Additionally, the product must be further treated (dried and ground) to suit the specific requirements of the consumer market.

Embrittlement of case hardened steel chain link

Various steel chain links presented cracking during their manufacturing process, which includes induction case hardening and electrogalvanizing steps. Fractographic examination of the exposed crack surfaces revealed intergranular cracking with some areas featuring a thin layer of iron oxide, indicating that the cracking took place after the electrogalvanizing step. The location of the cracks coincided with the position of the deepest case hardened layer, suggesting the occurrence of localized overheating during the induction case hardening step. Inductive heating finite element analysis (COSMOS Designstar Software) confirmed that during the case hardening the austenitising temperature reached in the crack region values of approximately 1050 degrees C. The results indicated that intergranular cracking was caused by hydrogen embrittlement. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein synthesis in bioreactor by transfected Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells carrying a constitutive or an inducible promoter

S2 cell populations (S2AcRVGP2K and S2MtRVGP-Hy) were selected after transfection of gene expression vectors carrying the cDNA encoding the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVGP) gene under the control of the constitutive (actin) or inductive (metallothionein) promoters. These cell populations were cultivated in a 1 L bioreactor mimicking a large scale bioprocess. Cell cultures were carried out at 90 rpm and monitored/controlled for temperature (28 degrees C) and dissolved oxygen (10 or 50% air saturation). Cell growth attained similar to 1.5-3 x 10(7) cells/mL after 3-4 clays of cultivation. The constitutive synthesis of RVGP in S2AcRVGP2K cells led to values of 0.76 mu g/10(7) cells at day 4 of culture. The RVGP synthesis in S2MtRVGP-Hy cell fraction increased upon CuSO(4) induction attaining specific productivities of 1.5-2 mu g/10(7) cells at clays 4-5. RVGP values in supernatant as a result of cell lysis were always very low (<0.2 mu g/mL) indicating good integrity of cells in culture. Overall the RVGP productivity was of 1.5-3 mg/L. Our data showed an important influence of dissolved oxygen on RVGP synthesis allowing a higher and sustained productivity by S2MtRVGP-Hy cells when cultivated with a DO of 10% air saturation. The RVGP productivity in bioreactors shown here mirrors those previously observed for T-flasks and shaker bottles and allow the preparation of the large RVGP quantities required for studies of structure and function. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sterilization by pure oxygen plasma and by oxygen-hydrogen peroxide plasma: An efficacy study

Plasma is an innovative sterilization method characterized by a low toxicity to operators and patients, and also by its operation at temperatures close to room temperatures. The use of different parameters for this method of sterilization and the corresponding results were analyzed in this study. A low-pressure inductive discharge was used to study the plasma sterilization processes. Oxygen and a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide were used as plasma source gases. The efficacy of the processes using different combinations of parameters such as plasma-generation method, type of gas, pressure, gas flow rate, temperature, power, and exposure time was evaluated. Two phases were developed for the processes, one using pure oxygen and the other a mixture of gases. Bacillus subtilis var. niger ATCC 9372 (Bacillus atrophaeus) spores inoculated on glass coverslips were used as biological indicators to evaluate the efficacy of the processes. All cycles were carried out in triplicate for different sublethal exposure times to calculate the D value by the enumeration method. The pour-plate technique was used to quantify the spores. D values of between 8 and 3 min were obtained. Best results were achieved at high power levels (350 and 40oW) using pure oxygen, showing that plasma sterilization is a promising alternative to other sterilization methods. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elite athletes: Why does the 'fire' burn so brightly?

Background and Purpose: What drives some athletes to achieve at the highest level whilst other athletes fail to achieve their physical potential? Why does the ‘fire’ burn so brightly for some elite athletes and not for others? A good understanding of an athlete’s motivation is critical to a coach designing an appropriate motivational climate to realize an athlete’s physical talent. This paper examines the motivational processes of elite athletes within the framework of three major social-cognitive theories of motivation. Method: Participants were five male and five female elite track and field athletes from Australia who had finished in the top ten at either the Olympic Games and/or the World Championships in the last six years. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Results and Discussion: Inductive analyses revealed several major themes associated with the motivational processes of elite athletes: (a) they were highly driven by personal goals and achievement, (b) they had strong self-belief, and (c) track and field was central to their lives. The findings are discussed in light of recent social-cognitive theories of motivation, namely, self-determination theory, the hierarchical model of motivation, and achievement goal theory. Self-determined forms of motivation characterised the elite athletes in this study and, consistent with social-cognitive theories of motivation, it is suggested that goal accomplishment enhances perceptions of competence and consequently promotes self-determined forms of motivation.

Equational Reasoning as a Tool for Data Analysis

A combination of deductive reasoning, clustering, and inductive learning is given as an example of a hybrid system for exploratory data analysis. Visualization is replaced by a dialogue with the data.

Variable temperature and pressure study of the aquation reactions of cobalt(III) and chromium(III) penta- and tetra-amines

Preparation of a series of specific penta- and tetra-amine derivatives of Co-III and Cr-III with a neutral leaving ligand has been carried out in order to accomplish a fine tuning of the associativeness/dissociativeness of their substitution reactions. Spontaneous aquation reactions of the neutral ligands have been studied at variable temperature and pressure. Although rate constants and thermal activation parameters show an important degree of scatter, the values determined for the activation volumes of the substitution process illustrate the mechanistic fine tuning that may be achieved for these reactions. In all cases, in the absence of important steric constraints in the molecule, electronic inductive effects seem to be the most important factor accounting for the dissociative shifts observed both for pentaamine (i.e.Delta V double dagger=+4.0 or +14.0 cm(3) mol(-1) and +5.2 or +16.5 cm(3) mol(-1) for the aquation of cis- or trans-[Co(MeNH2)(NH3)(4)(DMF)](3+) and cis- or trans-[CoL15(DMF)](3+) respectively, where L-15 represents a pentaamine macrocyclic ligand), and tetraamine systems (i.e.Delta V double dagger=+4.1 or +8.4 cm(3) mol(-1) and -10.8 or -7.4 cm(3) mol(-1) for the aquation of cis-[Co(NH3)(4)Cl(DMAC)](2+) (DMAC=dimethylacetamide) or cis-[Co(en)(2)Cl(DMAC)](2+) and cis-[Cr(NH3)(4)Cl(DMF)](2+) or cis -[Cr(en)(2)Cl(DMF)](2+)). From the results, clear evidence is obtained which indicates that, only when the situation is borderline I-a/I-d, or the steric demands are increased dramatically, dissociative shifts are observed; in all other cases electronic inductive effects seem to be dominant for such a tuning of the substitution process.

A strategy to fill gaps in soil survey over large spatial extents: an example from the Murray-Darling basin of Australia

We re-mapped the soils of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) in 1995-1998 with a minimum of new fieldwork, making the most out of existing data. We collated existing digital soil maps and used inductive spatial modelling to predict soil types from those maps combined with environmental predictor variables. Lithology, Landsat Multi Spectral Scanner (Landsat MSS), the 9-s digital elevation model (DEM) of Australia and derived terrain attributes, all gridded to 250-m pixels, were the predictor variables. Because the basin-wide datasets were very large data mining software was used for modelling. Rule induction by data mining was also used to define the spatial domain of extrapolation for the extension of soil-landscape models from existing soil maps. Procedures to estimate the uncertainty associated with the predictions and quality of information for the new soil-landforms map of the MDB are described. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.