Problem solving in a middle school robotics design classroom

Little research has been conducted on how students work when they are required to plan, build and evaluate artefacts in technology rich learning environments such as those supported by tools including flow charts, Labview programming and Lego construction. In this study, activity theory was used as an analytic tool to examine the social construction of meaning. There was a focus on the effect of teachers’ goals and the rules they enacted upon student use of the flow chart planning tool, and the tools of the programming language Labview and Lego construction. It was found that the articulation of a teacher’s goals via rules and divisions of labour helped to form distinct communities of learning and influenced the development of different problem solving strategies. The use of the planning tool flow charting was associated with continuity of approach, integration of problem solutions including appreciation of the nexus between construction and programming, and greater educational transformation. Students who flow charted defined problems in a more holistic way and demonstrated more methodical, insightful and integrated approaches to their use of tools. The findings have implications for teaching in design dominated learning environments.

Embedding graphic organisers in the teaching and learning of family and consumer sciences (home economics) in Kuwait

Educational reforms currently being enacted in Kuwaiti Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) in response to contemporary demands for increased student-centred teaching and learning are challenging for FCS teachers due to their limited experience with student-centred learning tools such as Graphic Organisers (GOs). To adopt these reforms, Kuwaiti teachers require a better understanding of and competency in promoting cognitive learning processes that will maximise student-centred learning approaches. This study followed the experiences of four Grade 6 FCS Kuwaiti teachers as they undertook a Professional Development (PD) program specifically designed to advance their understanding of the use of GOs and then as they implemented what they had learned in their Grade 6 FCS classroom. The PD program developed for this study was informed by Nasseh.s competency PD model as well as Piaget and Ausubel.s cognitive theories. This model enabled an assessment and evaluation of the development of the teachers. competencies as an outcome of the PD program in terms of the adoption of GOs, in particular, and their capacity to use GOs to engage students in personalised, in-depth, learning through critical thinking and understanding. The research revealed that the PD program was influential in reforming the teachers. learning, understanding of and competency in, cognitive and visual theories of learning, so that they facilitated student-centred teaching and learning processes that enabled students to adopt and adapt GOs in constructivist learning. The implementation of five GOs - Flow Chart, Concept Maps, K-W-L Chart, Fishbone Diagram and Venn Diagram - as learning tools in classrooms was investigated to find if changes in pedagogical approach for supporting conceptual learning through cognitive information processing would reduce the cognitive work load of students and produce better learning approaches. The study as evidenced by the participant teachers. responses and classroom observations, showed a marked increase in student interest, participation, critical thought, problem solving skills, as a result of using GOs, compared to using traditional teaching and learning methods. A theoretical model was developed from the study based on the premise that teachers. knowledge of the subject, pedagogy and student learning precede the implementation of student-centred learning reform, that it plays an important role in the implementation of student-centred learning and that it brings about a change in teaching practice. The model affirmed that observed change in teaching-practice included aspects of teachers. beliefs, as well as confidence and effect on workplace and on student learning, including engagement, understanding, critical thinking and problem solving. The model assumed that change in teaching practice is inseparable from teachers. lifelong PD needs related to knowledge, understanding, skills and competency. These findings produced a set of preliminary guidelines for establishing student-centred constructivist strategies in Kuwaiti education while retaining Kuwait.s cultural uniqueness.

Strategies and solutions for housing sustainability : building information files and performance certificates

The overall aim of this research project was to provide a broader range of value propositions (beyond upfront traditional construction costs) that could transform both the demand side and supply side of the housing industry. The project involved gathering information about how building information is created, used and communicated and classifying building information, leading to the formation of an Information Flow Chart and Stakeholder Relationship Map. These were then tested via broad housing industry focus groups and surveys. The project revealed four key relationships that appear to operate in isolation to the whole housing sector and may have significant impact on the sustainability outcomes and life cycle costs of dwellings over their life cycle. It also found that although a lot of information about individual dwellings does already exist, this information is not coordinated or inventoried in any systematic manner and that national building information files of building passports would present value to a wide range of stakeholders.

Potential functions for hydrogen bond interactions - III. Empirical Potential Function for the Peptide N-H...O=C Hydrogen Bond

A careful comparison of the distribution in the (R, θ)-plane of all NH ... O hydrogen bonds with that for bonds between neutral NH and neutral C=O groups indicated that the latter has a larger mean R and a wider range of θ and that the distribution was also broader than for the average case. Therefore, the potential function developed earlier for an average NH ... O hydrogen bond was modified to suit the peptide case. A three-parameter expression of the form {Mathematical expression}, with △ = R - Rmin, was found to be satisfactory. By comparing the theoretically expected distribution in R and θ with observed data (although limited), the best values were found to be p1 = 25, p3 = - 2 and q1 = 1 × 10-3, with Rmin = 2·95 Å and Vmin = - 4·5 kcal/mole. The procedure for obtaining a smooth transition from Vhb to the non-bonded potential Vnb for large R and θ is described, along with a flow chart useful for programming the formulae. Calculated values of ΔH, the enthalpy of formation of the hydrogen bond, using this function are in reasonable agreement with observation. When the atoms involved in the hydrogen bond occur in a five-membered ring as in the sequence[Figure not available: see fulltext.] a different formula for the potential function is needed, which is of the form Vhb = Vmin +p1△2 +q1x2 where x = θ - 50° for θ ≥ 50°, with p1 = 15, q1 = 0·002, Rmin = 2· Å and Vmin = - 2·5 kcal/mole. © 1971 Indian Academy of Sciences.

Improved Analysis Method for Wave-Induced Pipeline Stability on Sandy Seabed

The existing Det Norske Veritas DNV Recommended Practice RP E305 for pipeline on-bottom stability is mainly based on the pipe–soil interaction model reported by Wagner et al. in 1987, and the wake model reported by Lambrakos et al. in 1987, to calculate the soil resistance and the hydrodynamic forces upon pipeline, respectively. Unlike the methods in the DNV Practice, in this paper, an improved analysis method is proposed for the on-bottom stability of a submarine pipeline, which is based on the relationships between Um/ gD 0.5 and Ws / D2 for various restraint conditions obtained by the hydrodynamic loading experiments, taking into account the coupling effects between wave, pipeline, and sandy seabed. The analysis procedure is illustrated with a detailed flow chart. A comparison is made between the submerged weights of pipeline predicted with the DNV Practice and those with the new method. The proposed analysis method may provide a helpful tool for the engineering practice of pipeline on-bottom stability design.

Fish seed production and marketing in some selected areas of Bangladesh

The main objective of the study was to assess the production and marketing system of fish seed and examining the demand for and supply of fry and fingerlings in some selected areas viz. Mymensingh, Netrokona and Tangail in Bangladesh. The present study selected the related stakeholders like 20 Fish Seed Multiplication Farms (FSMF) owners, 80 nursery operators, 20 fry traders and 90 fish farmers who are the beneficiaries and directly involved with the fish seed production and supply chain, and marketing system of fish seed. In case of nursing and rearing fingerlings, only those stakeholders (nurserers and fish farmers) attached with NGOs were selected and the NGOs were GRAMUS, SARA and ORD from Mymensingh and SATU from Tangail district. Data were collected for the period 2004-2005 and most analyses were done by using tables and flow chart to determine production and marketing system of fish seed.

基于考生比例的考场编排问题的分治算法

根据高考考场编排的一般要求和约束条件,建立了相应的数学模型,提出了基于考生比例的考场编排问题的分治算法,给出了算法的具体步骤,分析了算法的复杂度,验证了算法的合理性和有效性。实验结果表明,该算法能有效控制考生的分布,编排过程完全可以控制,最大程度地避免了前后左右相邻考生属同一中学,编排结果达到了比较理想的均衡状态。该算法速度快、效率高、易于实现、继承性强,很容易推广到其它类似问题的求解。

混凝土泵车浇筑过程机器人化探讨

对混凝土泵车布料机构的运动姿态调整采取了最优控制 ,解决了泵车机器人化的运动分析的臂解问题 ,论述了泵车动态分析中应解决和注意的问题 ,给出了泵车控制自动化的程序流程图和控制系统图 ,从而为提高泵车施工过程的自动化和泵车的机器人化提出了新的思路

企业经营系统的对象模型──资金流模型

本文阐述了大型工业企业综合自动化系统体系结构中经营管理层的对象模型（资金流模型）。首先论述了该模型在自动化体系结构中的地位和作用，然后分析了企业生产经营过程中发生的资金流，提出用借贷流程图方法表达资金流模型，并将这一方法与国际通用的借贷记帐法相联系，从而揭示了资金流模型与会计核算的内在联系．本文还对企业生产与经营活动的几个主要过程用借贷流程图进行了细化描述。

焊缝图像处理技术在激光拼焊中的应用

基于拼板激光焊接工程中的视觉跟踪系统,应用相关图像处理技术,建立了一种焊缝跟踪的图像处理流程模型,并通过实验验证了该模型的正确性。

高可靠性红外车辆分离器设计与应用

本文给出了一种针对公路自动收费系统的车辆分离检测而设计的,利用红外线发射和接收所形成的光幕,完全消除跟车现象,并能将半挂车、全挂车、单车可靠分离的红外车辆分离器。高可靠性红外车辆分离器的设计很好克服了传统红外车辆分离器环境适应性差、故障率高等缺点。本文还介绍了光幕形成的基本原理,并阐述了硬件关键点及实现方法,给出了系统硬件原理图、软件基本设计思想。

非均质储层叠前地震反演技术研究及应用

(1) I research on the relationship between elastic parameters, lithology and liquid. It is a physical base for pre-stack seismic inversion. I research all kinds of approximate expressions of Zoeppritz function. Then the relation of all kinds of approximate expressions can be confirmed. The geological model of water sand and gas sand in different depth was designed. Moreover I research on precision of all kinds of approximate expressions. (2) In process of seismic data which aim at amplitude recovery and apply in pre-stack seismic inversion, I advance to adopt double flow chart for different aim. Pre-stack noise elimination, real amplitude recovery and NMO correction of long offset are the key taches. (3) I made a systemic expatiate for the thinking and applicability about all kinds of expressions of elastic impedance. And mathematical model was applied to compare the precision with all kinds of expressions of elastic impedance. I propose a new pre-stack simultaneous inversion which is based on the Zoppritz function and simulated annealing algorithm. This method can ensure calculation precision of reflection coefficient from different incident angle and get a global optimum solution. Therefore this method improves the precision of pre-stack seismic inversion. (4) The object function of P-S wave pre-stack simultaneous inversion was established. I compared the precision and convergence between simultaneous inversion and P-wave inversion. And the results show that simultaneous inversion is superior to P-wave inversion. Through the study of AVO event of transformed wave, AVO characters of different kinds of gas sand were analyzed. (5) I carried out the study work of pre-stack seismic inversion for carbonate reservoir in middle of Tarim basin and sand shale reservoir in Sulige Area of Erdos Basin. The method and technology in this paper was applied to practical work. And I made a prediction for heterogeneous reservoir. Moreover it acquires a good application effect. Key Word: reflection coefficient， amplitude recovery， pre-stack seismic inversion， Heterogeneous reservoir，prediction.

基于量子蒙特卡罗的地震波反演方法

The primary approaches for people to understand the inner properties of the earth and the distribution of the mineral resources are mainly coming from surface geology survey and geophysical/geochemical data inversion and interpretation. The purpose of seismic inversion is to extract information of the subsurface stratum geometrical structures and the distribution of material properties from seismic wave which is used for resource prospecting, exploitation and the study for inner structure of the earth and its dynamic process. Although the study of seismic parameter inversion has achieved a lot since 1950s, some problems are still persisting when applying in real data due to their nonlinearity and ill-posedness. Most inversion methods we use to invert geophysical parameters are based on iterative inversion which depends largely on the initial model and constraint conditions. It would be difficult to obtain a believable result when taking into consideration different factors such as environmental and equipment noise that exist in seismic wave excitation, propagation and acquisition. The seismic inversion based on real data is a typical nonlinear problem, which means most of their objective functions are multi-minimum. It makes them formidable to be solved using commonly used methods such as general-linearization and quasi-linearization inversion because of local convergence. Global nonlinear search methods which do not rely heavily on the initial model seem more promising, but the amount of computation required for real data process is unacceptable. In order to solve those problems mentioned above, this paper addresses a kind of global nonlinear inversion method which brings Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method into geophysical inverse problems. QMC has been used as an effective numerical method to study quantum many-body system which is often governed by Schrödinger equation. This method can be categorized into zero temperature method and finite temperature method. This paper is subdivided into four parts. In the first one, we briefly review the theory of QMC method and find out the connections with geophysical nonlinear inversion, and then give the flow chart of the algorithm. In the second part, we apply four QMC inverse methods in 1D wave equation impedance inversion and generally compare their results with convergence rate and accuracy. The feasibility, stability, and anti-noise capacity of the algorithms are also discussed within this chapter. Numerical results demonstrate that it is possible to solve geophysical nonlinear inversion and other nonlinear optimization problems by means of QMC method. They are also showing that Green’s function Monte Carlo (GFMC) and diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) are more applicable than Path Integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) and Variational Monte Carlo (VMC) in real data. The third part provides the parallel version of serial QMC algorithms which are applied in a 2D acoustic velocity inversion and real seismic data processing and further discusses these algorithms’ globality and anti-noise capacity. The inverted results show the robustness of these algorithms which make them feasible to be used in 2D inversion and real data processing. The parallel inversion algorithms in this chapter are also applicable in other optimization. Finally, some useful conclusions are obtained in the last section. The analysis and comparison of the results indicate that it is successful to bring QMC into geophysical inversion. QMC is a kind of nonlinear inversion method which guarantees stability, efficiency and anti-noise. The most appealing property is that it does not rely heavily on the initial model and can be suited to nonlinear and multi-minimum geophysical inverse problems. This method can also be used in other filed regarding nonlinear optimization.