Research-based Experiments Research Articles

PRODUK KAP LAMPU GANTUNG BERBAHAN LIMBAH

Based on the experimental study about corncob conducted before, this village has managed to create a new breakthrough production of processed foods such as corn chips since 2003. The foods that use raw materials of corn is the only one in Probolinggo. Corn chips production as small industries is run by 7 women farmers starting in 2008. (Wahmuda, 2013). The problem of this industrial activity is unbalancing the marketing area with market demand that obstruct continues to increase. This causes decrease on the productivity of the industry. In addition corncob waste left over from a small industrial activities corn chips squashed every day as much as 60 kg. This would be a major obstacle when marketing targets to reach market demand. As a result of waste corn cobs will be more numerous and uncontrolled, even less the corn cob waste is only used as cooking fuel. This research includes experiments on corn cobs process is divided into several stages, namely the process of forming, heating, curing, mixing and merging material, as well as coloring. From the research-based experiments, it turns out corn cobs to have a variety of characteristics. The uniqueness and characteristics process of corncobs, can give some variant forms such as cubes, cylinders, triangles, and a chopped form. Of these forms can be created several patterns of merger between a very interesting form to be used as a hanging lamp shade products. In the manufacture of a hanging lampshade required supporting materials such as iron chandelier hook pipe diameter of 16 mm and an iron plate with a thickness of 3 mm.
 Innovation alternative these products will continue at the stage of the development process of product design by using corn cobs as raw material products with the hope to utilize more leverage on how to process forms such a way into a useful product in terms of people's needs, aesthetic value and become friendly products environment.
 

Raised Pavement Marker Assessments Using Mobile Retroreflectivity Unit Technology

Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) State Materials Office collects 25,000 lane miles of line-stripe pavement marking (PM) retroreflectivity data each year using RoadVista Laserlux G7 (LLG7) mobile retroreflectivity units (MRUs). The focus of this study was to configure an LLG7 MRU to accurately and repeatably detect and measure the retroreflectivity of in-service Class B raised pavement markers (RPMs) while simultaneously collecting PM retroreflectivity data. At this time, FDOT assesses the quality of in-service RPMs as part of a visual inspection. Currently, there are no standards or devices for mobile RPM retroreflectivity measurements. As these LLG7 MRUs were designed to measure PMs in units of RL (mcd/m2/lux), an additional objective was to derive regression equations that correlate the industry-standard units for RPMs (RI [mcd/lux]) and the RL values collected by the MRU. Through research-based experiments and with coordination from RoadVista, modifications were made to the LLG7 MRU to detect and measure RPM retroreflectivity in relation to RL. Regression equations were derived pertaining to retroreflectivity measurements between a handheld RPM retroreflectometer (RI) and an LLG7 MRU (RL) on in-service RPMs. The results indicate that the modified MRU can be used to effectively assess RPM retroreflectivity in tenth-mile intervals in a highly repeatable manner with an average error in estimated RI of ±13.5% without affecting PM data. Overall, utilizing the modified MRU for statewide RPM assessments is a significant improvement from the current process of visual assessments and allows the FDOT to quantify RPM quality on a network level.

Analysis of Research-based Experiment Teaching of Luminescent Materials

世界科学出版社（World Science Publishing-WSP）立足国际，积极配合中国“走出去”出版战略，大力推进版权输出与引进，并不断拓展国际间的交流与合作，取得显著成绩。WSP国际图书出版项目力倡中国科研人员出版英文图书，出版社具有丰富的国际传播资源与雄厚的编辑、翻译、出版力量，拥有一批著名的中外翻译专家、出版专家，及一支精通国际出版的编辑、翻译和国际营销队伍。探索“科学进步”与“社会进步”是人类永恒主题，WSP推崇以科学信仰引领学术方向，遵循各国法律和地方法规，能够协助您优质、快捷、低

Voxel Weight Matrix-Based Feature Extraction for Biomedical Applications

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is an emerging medical tool used to measure brain activities that were induced normally such as cognitive states (e.g., reading a sentence or viewing a picture) or abnormally (e.g., brain activity occurs after a stroke or brain injury). These measured data can be used to construct a model via machine learning techniques to predict the occurrence of a certain cognitive behavior or brain disease. The difficulty of this prediction problem can be summarized in two points: first, the size of the dataset is very small due to the small number of subjects (i.e., patients) who can contribute to these research-based experiments. Second, the size of the feature vector resulted from these medical tools is very large compared to the few number of samples that were collected. One possible way to overcome these obstacles is to develop a feature generation methodology that can produce a small-sized and descriptive feature vector that may improve the overall prediction performance. Motivated by these considerations, this paper proposes a novel feature generation methodology termed Voxel Weight Matrix (VWM) method. This feature generation technique can transform the original high-dimensional feature vector to a two-dimensional discriminative feature domain. The main contribution of this feature generation technique is its ability to represent the statistical measures of the original feature vector via two-dimensional feature vector. After generating the VWM-based feature set, various classification tools such as logistic regression (LR) models and Support Vector Machine (SVM) are used for cognitive state prediction based on publicly available fMRI dataset called state/plus dataset. The classification models with the proposed VWM features outperformed the best two reported prediction models associated with the star/plus dataset with an average accuracy of 99.8%. To further illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed feature generation methodology, another publicly available Electroencephalography (EEG) dataset are used for Epileptic Seizure Prediction.

Integrating Authentic Research Experiences into the Quantitative Analysis Chemistry Laboratory Course: STEM Majors’ Self-Reported Perceptions and Experiences

Integrating authentic research-based experiences that mimic real-world scientific practices and relevance to student personal life into a chemistry curriculum can make abstract chemical principles more palpable to students. Unfortunately, many reported research-based experiences chemistry laboratory experiments lack relevance to a student’s personal life. Additionally, the impact of a “relevant” authentic research-based experience curriculum on students’ affective outcomes beyond the General Chemistry courses has been overlooked. Two authentic research experiences modules developed around nanotechnology applications were implemented in a Quantitative Analysis Chemistry laboratory course for STEM majors. A follow-up study assessed the STEM majors’ perceptions of the learning environment and the organization of lab after exposure to both conventional experiments and authentic research-based experiences modules, as well as their perceived learning gains and the relevance of the laboratory experiments. Data were collected through validated surveys, and open-ended survey items and classroom observations. There were 55 students who participated in the study. Results showed significant improvements of students’ perceptions of learning environment and organization of the laboratory, favoring authentic research experiences modules over the conventional experiments. Self-reported learning gains and relevance of the experiments to students were also associated with the authentic research-based experiments. Students’ perceptions favoring the intervention modules related to learning through scientific inquiry, content relevance to real-world applications and student personal life, and use of real-world materials and a wide array of chemical instruments and techniques. Results imply the need to implement authentic research-based experiences centered on real-world issues and student personal life in the chemistry laboratory courses.

Lipid Residue Analysis of Archaeological Pottery: An Introductory Laboratory Experiment in Archaeological Chemistry

In this research-based experiment, students are introduced to the interdisciplinary field of archaeological chemistry by extracting and analyzing lipid residues absorbed in pottery. Reproduction archaeological pottery sherds are prepared by soaking ceramic fragments in individual or combinations of vegetable oils. Students crush and extract the absorbed residues, transesterify the recovered lipids to fatty acid methyl esters, and analyze the product by GC or GC/MS. Recovered residues are characterized by analysis of the major fatty acid peaks, as identified using reference standards or mass spectral databases. An archaeological context that links the sherds to the Minoan civilization is provided to students and must be considered to correctly identify the absorbed residue(s). The laboratory has been used in a topical archaeological instrumentation course that has attracted second to fourth year students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, and anthropology, and museum studies minors. Pedagogically, the la...

Combinatorial Solid-Phase Synthesis of Aromatic Oligoamides: A Research-Based Laboratory Module for Undergraduate Organic Chemistry

A five-week, research-based experiment suitable for second-semester introductory organic laboratory students is described. Each student designs, prepares, and analyzes a combinatorial array of six aromatic oligoamides. Molecules are prepared on solid phase via a six-step synthetic sequence, and purities and identities are determined by analysis of LC–MS data. This experiment engages students in a research experience: none of the structurally diverse compounds prepared have been previously reported in the literature. After completion of this experiment, products are evaluated for their biological activity in the author’s research laboratory. Although execution of biological experiments falls outside the learning objectives in this course, these applications motivate students. Through these hands-on experiences, students learn about organic chemistry reactions and modern techniques, and their research skills are enhanced.

Synthesis and Biological Research of Polycationic Oligopeptide: A Research-Based Experiment Recommended for Chemical Biology Majoring Students

Synthesis and Biological Research of Polycationic Oligopeptide: A Research-Based Experiment Recommended for Chemical Biology Majoring Students

Distributed Drug Discovery: Advancing Chemical Education through Contextualized Combinatorial Solid-Phase Organic Laboratories

The Distributed Drug Discovery (D3) program trains students in three drug discovery disciplines (synthesis, computational analysis, and biological screening) while addressing the important challenge of discovering drug leads for neglected diseases. This article focuses on implementation of the synthesis component in the second-semester undergraduate organic laboratory. The educational program was started at IUPUI in 2003 and has been carried out over 23 semesters with 65 lab sections by >1200 students. Since the chemistry component is most advanced, it serves as a model for the computational and biological modules in development. Synthetic procedures are based on well-documented, reproducible solid-phase combinatorial chemistry. They are carried out in a 2 × 3 combinatorial grid (Bill-Board) to create a control molecule and five new products (50 μmol scale, ∼10–20 mg product, typically high LC/MS purity). The first of these synthetic procedures (D3 Lab 1) utilizes a protected and activated derivative of glycine that is converted in a five-step synthetic sequence (alkylation, hydrolysis, neutralization, acylation, and cleavage from the resin) to N-acylated unnatural amino acids containing two variable diversity elements: a new α-side chain and an N-acyl group. Based on these combinatorial procedures, large virtual libraries/catalogs of student-accessible molecules can be created and computationally analyzed. Selected molecules are then synthesized and screened by D3 students. Active classroom learning experiences and recorded lectures or demonstrations are used to teach fundamental knowledge and skills in synthesis while enabling students to pursue, with no predetermined outcome, multidisciplinary, distributed, research-based experiments toward drug-lead discovery.

Improving Students’ Inquiry Skills and Self-Efficacy through Research-Inspired Modules in the General Chemistry Laboratory

Research projects conducted by faculty in STEM departments served as the inspiration for a new curriculum of inquiry-based, multiweek laboratory modules in the general chemistry 1 course. The purpose of this curriculum redesign was to improve students’ attitudes about chemistry as well as their self-efficacy and skills in performing inquiry activities. Students’ ability to plan experiments and interpret data improved throughout the semester, as did their confidence in conducting research-like lab activities. Improved confidence was observed among men and women, science and engineering students, and Caucasian and international students. These outcomes are similar to those found with authentic research-based experiments. The curriculum had less of an impact on students’ attitudes about chemistry. A research-inspired curriculum offers many benefits to students without the difficulties of designing actual research-based projects for general chemistry classes.

Development and Preliminary Impacts of the Implementation of an Authentic Research-Based Experiment in General Chemistry

Incorporating research-based lab activities into general chemistry at a large university can be challenging, considering the high enrollments and costs typically associated with the courses. Performing sweeping curricular overhauls of the general chemistry laboratory can be difficult, and in some cases discouraged, as many would rather maintain the status quo. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a research-based lab that fits into a two-hour general chemistry laboratory period. The new lab involves testing an imprinted polymer for removal of heavy-metal ions in wastewater, and both highlights and adds to the current research of a faculty member. Also discussed are the evaluation results of the first three years of implementation in the honors general chemistry lab section. A lab questionnaire was developed to measure effects on students on seven aspects, including learning gains, attitudes toward chemistry, and level of research interest. Evaluation results suggest positive impacts on attitudes toward chemistry and for seeking further research opportunities. This approach can be used as an initial step toward more sweeping research-based curricular changes at the general chemistry level.

From Linear to Interactive Logics: Characteristics of Workplace Development as Illustrated by Projects in Large Mail Centers

The 1960's and 1970's saw a mushrooming interest in research-based experiments with new forms of work organization. From the latter 1970's, this interest started to decline. When, today, new initiatives are taken to bring research back into the process of workplace restructuring, there is a need to analyze the experiences with the experimental-like projects of the past with a view to defining their limitations and seeing to what extent alternative strategies for change can be developed. Based on Scandinavian experience, the article contains a discussion of field experiments and related approaches, and outlines an alternative in terms of broadly oriented interactive change processes where human communication is the leading element rather than, i.e., a specific theory of design. Projects in mail centers are used as illustrations.