Search

Computer assisted instruction (CAI), an instructional system with direct interaction between the student and the computer, can be a valuable aid for presenting new concepts, for reinforcing of selective skills, and for individualizing instruction. The advantages CAI provides include self-paced learning, more efficient allocation of classroom time, and feedback that allows students and teachers to monitor progress. The disadvantages of CAI include difficulty locating specific, relevant programs and the time and limitations for writing alternative programs, and the inconvenience of computer "down" time. Teachers designing a CAI curriculum for a reading and study skills course, may choose modules of instruction for time management, study strategies, note taking, test taking, and independent study. If a designer must write a program, the services of various support personnel, such as a computer consultant, a programer, or a secretary to type in the program, may be enlisted. The designer should review the completed program and evaluate whether the original objectives were met. Students and other teachers can also evaluate the program, which will allow for continual updating and maintenance of the program. (HTH)

Intended to provide educators with enough information about the educational uses of computers so that they can make responsible decisions about the usefulness of computers in their own instruction, this paper defines and describes a variety of computer uses and gives advice on the selection of appropriate computer equipment and software. The first section of the paper defines computer assisted instruction (CAI), explaining some of its varieties: drill and practice, tutorial, modeling, and simulation. Other educational uses of computers are also explained in this section. The second section of the paper goes into more detail about CAI, explaining its advantages and disadvantages. This section also gives advice on integrating a computer program into an existing course. Selection of a computer system and the software to go with it are the topics of the third and fourth sections. The appendix contains sample material from an existing CAI program for study skills and the names and addresses of software sources and computing magazines. (JL)

A computer program written for the Apple II was designed to teach college students how to map expository information. The program consists of five lessons, the first beginning with a definition and illustration of mapping. In this introductory lesson, students are asked to answer three basic questions when reading expository text: identify the subject/topic of the discourse; identify the subcategories/ideas of the discourse; and identify the details of the discourse. Lesson two focuses on the selection of the topic. Paragraph-length text is presented and followed by a multiple choice question directing the student to select the topic. After the topic is selected, a map representing the ideas in the paragraph is shown. Lesson three focuses on selecting the topic and subcategories. Again, a paragraph-length text is presented and followed by a question directing the student to select the topic. Next, the student selects the subcategory. The fourth lesson focuses on selecting the topic, the subcategories, and the details. The procedure for questions and answers is the same as in lesson three. Lesson five presents information concerning creative aspects of mapping. In the program the same color is used to depict certain levels of information, such as orange for topic or green for subcategory. In addition, pictures are used to illustrate the use of mnemonic aids to enhance the recall of information. (HOD)

Fast reactors with a closed fuel cycle (FRFC) are important for the sustainability, reliability, and security of the world's long-term energy supply because of its potential to extract more energy from the mined uranium than other fuel cycles and also due to its capability to incinerate transuranic elements. Knowing this vast potential, research activities on the FBRFC technology have rejuvenated worldwide. Presence of three such systems among the six proposed by the GEN IV International Forum marks their importance for the future. However, Pu production and its use in large quantities in these systems is a major safeguards concern. Hence, it is prudent to assess the proliferation resistance (PR) of the FRFC facilities for finding weak links, so as to ensure adequate safeguards for Pu. Towards this objective, the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute at the Texas A&M University is carrying out pre-conceptual design studies for the integration of modern safeguards directly into the planning and building of FRFC facilities. A broad three step safeguards approach is adopted consisting of; (1) quantitative SNM flow diagram development for the FRFC, (2) PR assessment tool development for analyzing SNM diversion scenarios, and (3) design of a safeguards system based on the risk informed data obtained from the PR assessment. Accordingly, the SNM flow diagram for the FBRFC was developed by employing MCNP/ORIGEN/MONTEBURNS computer codes choosing the Indian Proto-type FBR design details available from the open literature. The PR assessment software, PRAETOR (proliferation resistance analysis and evaluation tool for observed risk) based on the well established multiattribute utility analysis decision methodology is developed and employed. A set of 21 SNM diversion scenarios for the three key FRFC facilities (fuel fabrication, fast breeder reactor and fuel reprocessing) and a PWR spent fuel diversion scenario (as a reference case) are analyzed using the PRAETOR tool. The details of setting up material balance areas (MBA), material balance periods (MBP), key measurement points (KMP), and the containment & surveillance program based on a classical safeguards approach are presented in addition to the risk informed safeguards approach employing the PRAETOR tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful completion of a field trial of safeguards monitoring equipment at a natural uranium conversion plant (NUCP) demonstrated the need for a facility in which to perform full-scale equipment testing under controlled conditions prior to field deployment of safeguards systems at additional plants. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed the Uranyl Nitrate Calibration Loop Equipment (UNCLE) facility to simulate the full-scale operating conditions for a purified uranium-bearing aqueous stream exiting the solvent extraction process conducted in an NUCP. In addition to the calibration of detectors, such as the neutron detector developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), UNCLE can be used to test other in-line instruments (mass and volumetric flowmeters, spectrophotometers, etc.), such as the Endress+Hauser Promass 83F Coriolis meter that was used in the field test. UNCLE was specifically designed to be process adaptable, enabling the variation of solution flow rates, solution concentrations, and other system properties of interest. The LANL neutron detector was installed at UNCLE in October 2008 to take background data during construction. Final construction of UNCLE was completed in June 2009, and the uranyl nitrate was added to the system the following month. The design and capabilities of UNCLE will be presented, along with test results to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safeguarding natural uranium as it enters the fuel cycle has become a priority for the safeguards community in recent years. Uranyl nitrate is a material of interest in this endeavor because it is normally a step in the process from converting uranium ores to more concentrated forms like UO2 and U3O8. This paper will detail the improvements and design optimizations made for a uranyl nitrate neutron detector. The original design of the detector was based on standard neutron counter designs and featured 2 rings of He-3 tubes fully moderated and shielded from background. Several areas for enhancement were identified after months of testing in three different locations. An operating uranyl nitrate facility was included as one of the test locations. Three significant upgrades to the counter addressed in the redesign were: real time background detection, counter reliability improvements, and optimization of the detector design for the detection of neutrons emitted by the uranyl nitrate flowing through the monitored process pipe. The optimized detector design includes significant electronics upgrades, the ability to detect neutrons (background and signal) with 36 degree spatial resolution around the process pipe for signal and 45 degree spatial resolution for background, inner and outer rings of He-3 tubes for real time background corrections, and notably more reliable cabling. Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) modeling was used to optimize the signal (neutrons from uranyl nitrate in the monitored process pipe) to noise (background neutrons from all sources) ratio of the inner ring of He-3 tubes. Additionally, MCNP modeling maximized noise to signal on the outer ring of He-3 tubes. Details of the detector optimization as well as all the additional detector enhancements will be discussed. The neutron counter will be field tested on the Uranyl Nitrate Calibration Loop Equipment (UNCLE) facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As media usage has changed in the course of time new media have captured more and more space in people's daily routines. This experimental research analyses the modalities and extents of some media's (TV, internet, mobile phone) indispensability to our lives. Therefore 64 students had to do without the media in question for two weeks in order to gain data on their actual indispensability and the students' perceived indispensabilities. In this paper the very first results of this study are presented. Only one participant managed to preserve all three non-usage phases. In addition to that one participant respectively three participants bore up mobile phone and TV deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only a small number of graphite moderated reactor facilities exist in the world today; however, there has been some interest in reviving this concept especially for application in developing states. The materials needed in their construction and the engineering required to support them are easier to acquire for developing countries than typical light water reactor designs. Also, most graphite moderated reactor designs are more "grid appropriate" in power output. Graphite moderated reactors though pose a problem to the international community due to the fact that they may produce weapons-grade plutonium. Since so few systems of this type exist, experience in designing safeguards systems for these facilities is limited. In this work, a safeguards approach for a small graphite moderated reactor co-located with a fuel fabrication and reprocessing facility was developed. This approach demonstrated that IAEA safeguards, using conventional technologies, is sufficient to provide timely detection of a diversion of a significant quantity of nuclear material and to provide deterrence against such a diversion with minimal impact on facility operations in the case of an off-load refueled core. A unique test case (the Yongbyon complex in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) was used to assess the viability of this approach. For a core which can be on-load refueled some challenges still exist. In this paper, the safeguards approach is described as well as its applications to the on-load and offload refueled systems. Successes and challenges for this approach are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a preliminary descriptive analysis of content differences between news search engines (or news aggregators) like Google News and non-aggregator news websites like CNN.com. Specifically, Google claims to offer a wider variety of perspectives than other news sites as a result of the news aggregation process. We tested this notion by examining the frequency articles retrieved by news aggregators (Google News and Yahoo! News) and non-aggregators websites cited sources like medical journals, universities, hospitals, NCI, and ACS. We find evidence of significant differences between the two Internet-based news websites on a number of categories, but non-aggregators appear to cite significantly more sources on multiple levels. Implications of these findings and others are discussed, and future exploration posited. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender in crime coverage: A case study of a local newspaperAbstractThis content analysis examined six months of crime reporting in a local newspaper, focusing on the gender of criminals and victims. Types of offenses, criminal motivations, prominence and sensationalism were also measured. The study found that while the "chivalry hypothesis" was supported when female criminals committed nonviolent crimes, it did not apply to women who committed violent crimes. In fact, women who violated gender norms received harsher media treatment than nonviolent female criminals and their male counterparts. Also, men and women collaborating in crime received more prominent coverage than when males or females acted alone in criminal pursuits. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This content analysis of New York Times coverage explores the evolution of journalistic framing of the "anti-globalization" movement from 1999, when thousands of protestors in Seattle disrupted a trade meeting, until the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks in 2002. It finds that the 1999 demonstrations definitively put this movement on the newspaper's agenda and that over a three-year period movement visibility did not increase, use of official sources decreased slightly, and Seattle endured as a symbolic reference. While portrayals of the movement and its members shifted in complex ways, the traditional "protest paradigm" emphasizing violence and deviance persists; however, this analysis suggests that the movement was further mainstreamed--rather than newly marginalized--after September 11, 2001. The results suggest that coverage of dissent is driven more by news values such as novelty, violence, and local bias than by ideological, intellectual or professional learning curves among journalists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-two (42) states and the District of Columbia have legislation authorizing the use of ignition interlocks. Although widely studied, the effectiveness of interlock programs in reducing alcohol-impaired driving among DUI/DWI offenders has yet to be answered. One study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an ignition interlock license restriction program in Maryland, especially advances the knowledge in this field as it evaluates the overall program effectiveness and not just the efficacy of the device. The RCT design has the scientific integrity necessary to infer results to the general population of offenders and limits various sources of bias. The Maryland program has three general components thought to be essential for a successful program: the interlock device itself; use of a conditional interlock license restriction which means that drivers are approved for license reinstatement on the condition that they operate only vehicles equipped with an interlock; and close monitoring of participants for program compliance. This program led to a 60% reduction in alcohol-related traffic recidivism among program participants during the one-year RCT. Few if any states have implemented an ignition interlock license restriction program similar to the successful one evaluated in Maryland. States have especially balked at the expense of monitoring participants. It is not clear if such modified interlock programs are effective in reducing alcohol-related traffic recidivism or have other secondary effects. The current study reviews the characteristics of the Maryland ignition interlock license restriction program and highlights those factors thought to be requisite to a successful program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]