Effects of a phase change cooling garment during exercise in the heat

The purpose of our study was to examine the physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of wearing a phase change cooling garment (CG) during an interval exercise routine in the heat. Sixteen male participants (age 23?±?3 years, ht 1.76?±?0.11?m; wt 78.5?±?11.2?kg; body fat 15.2?±?5.8%) completed two trials (one with phase change inserts, CG, and one control without inserts) consisting of two submaximal exercise portions separated by 5-minute seated rest, and a final maximal effort performance bout. Each submaximal bout involved 30?seconds or 1?minute of muscular endurance and agility exercises and 5?minutes of treadmill jogging and step-ups. The performance bout included 30?seconds or 1?minute of muscular endurance and agility exercises, with participants completing as many repetitions as possible, followed by a 15-minute recovery (active and passive). Rectal temperature (T_re) and heart rate were not different between trials, however change in T_re from baseline was improved during 10 and 15 minutes of recovery with the CG (P?<?.05). Mean skin temperature was lower using the CG vs control throughout the trial (P?<?.05). Thermal sensation was lower when using the CG compared to control (P?<?.001). There were no differences in any outcomes of the performance exercises (P?>?.05). These findings indicate that the continuous use of a CG during an interval style workout in the heat provides improvements in thermal sensation, however, only minimal thermophysiological benefits, and no performance augmentation.     

Encouraging Students with Different Profiles of Perceptions to Pursue Science by Choosing Appropriate Teaching Methods for Each Age Group

This research aimed at identifying student profiles of perceptions by means of a clustering method using a validated questionnaire. These profiles describe students’ attraction to science and technology (S&T) studies and careers as a variable driven by school S&T self-concept and interest in school S&T. In addition to three rather predictable student profiles (confident enthusiast, average ambitious, and pessimistic dropout), the fourth fairly well-populated profile called confident indifferent was produced. Our second and third research questions allowed us to describe each profile in terms of the instructional methods to which their population was exposed (including the degree to which they were actively involved) and the instructional methods to which they would like more exposure. An analysis of the evolution of the profiles’ population over time is also presented. The results suggest that pedagogical variety and active involvement in the decision to pursue S&T are important. The perception of the utility and importance of S&T both in and out of school may also play an important role in these decisions. Minor pedagogical preferences were also found in certain age groups.     

Experimental evidence of the superiority of the prevalence model of conceptual change over the classical models and repetition

This quasi‐experimental study investigated the effects on 558 grades five and six students of three different teaching conditions: the classical model of conceptual change (for which cognitive conflict is considered as a precondition to the transformation of knowledge), the prevalence model of conceptual change (in which different conceptions can coexist, with one of them surpassing the others), and repetition of traditional teaching (that avoids cognitive conflicts and concentrates on the automatization of appropriate thought processes). These conditions were reduced to sequencing considerations, as classical model participants were first subjected to a possible cognitive conflict induced by a video, followed by another video about the targeted conceptions; prevalence model participants were subjected to the same videos but in the opposite chronological order; and repetition condition participants watched the “traditional teaching” video twice. Differences in accuracy and response times between our computerized and validated “sink/float” pretest and retest were analyzed. Results and interpretations confirm that cognitive conflicts are useful in teaching sequences that aim at producing conceptual changes. However, the major findings of this research suggest that such conflicts should not necessarily be triggered at the very beginning of teaching sequences, and therefore that the prevalence model might possibly be the preferable one to promote conceptual changes in real‐life school science teaching settings. Recommendations for teaching and research are formulated. Presented results, although statistically significant, sometimes show weak effects sizes, and therefore call for further research efforts. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 52: 1082–1108, 2015. Cette recherche étudie l'effet de trois conditions expérimentales sur des élèves de 5^e et 6^e années du primaire: le modèle classique du changement conceptuel (selon lequel le conflit cognitif est considéré comme préalable à une transformation des connaissances), le modèle de prévalence conceptuelle (selon lequel différentes conceptions peuvent coexister, avec l'une d'elle qui prévaut sur les autres) et la répétition simple de l'enseignement (qui néglige de produire des conflits cognitifs et se concentre sur l'automatisation des procédés et informations qui mènent aux bonnes réponses). Ces conditions ont été réduites à des considérations de séquençage. Ainsi, les sujets de la condition classique ont d'abord été exposés à des informations présentées par vidéo et susceptible de produire un conflit cognitif, suivi par une autre vidéo présentant les conceptions scientifiques désirées; les sujets de la condition prévalence ont écouté les deux mêmes vidéos mais dans l'ordre inverse; et les sujets de la condition répétition ont vu deux fois la vidéo des conceptions scientifiques. Une analyse comparative des gains d'exactitude et de temps de réaction lors d'une tâche portant sur la flottabilité des corps a été effectuée. Les résultats et l'interprétation tendent à confirmer que les conflits cognitifs sont nécessaires aux changements conceptuels. Cependant, les résultats suggèrent également que les conflits n'ont pas nécessairement avantage à être provoqués en début de séquence et conséquemment que le modèle de prévalence serait possiblement celui qui aurait avantage à être utilisé en classe de science. Des recommandations pédagogiques sont formulées. Malgré des résultats clairement significatifs, les faibles magnitudes d'effets obtenues pour certaines mesures appellent à la prudence et à la poursuite des travaux.     

Designing ionic channels in novel carbons for electrochemical energy storage

Tremendous efforts have been dedicated to developing high-performance energy storage devices based on the micro- or nano-manipulation of novel carbon electrodes, as certain nanocarbons are perceived to have advantages such as high specific surface areas, superior electric conductivities, excellent mechanical properties and so on. In typical electrochemical electrodes, ions are intercalated/deintercalated into/from the bulk (for batteries) or adsorbed/desorbed on/from the surface (for electrochemical capacitors). Fast ionic transport, significantly determined by ionic channels in active electrodes or supporting materials, is a prerequisite for the efficient energy storage with carbons. In this report, we summarize recent design strategies for ionic channels in novel carbons and give comments on the promising features based on those carbons towards tailorable ionic channels.     

A secondary reanalysis of student perceptions of non‐traditional writing tasks over a ten year period

This study aims to add to the growing research related to the implementation of non‐traditional writing tasks in classrooms to encourage science literacy. A secondary reanalysis methodology was employed to review student interviews collected as a part of several individual studies during a ten year research program. This method established an interpretive framework different than the particular frameworks guiding the individual studies. In doing so, a greater ability to generalize findings was sought. Main assertions emerging from the student responses analyzed include recognition of benefits of non‐traditional writing, recognition of the need for particular task characteristics to encourage these benefits, and recognition of greater cognitive activity than is present in typical science classroom writing. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47: 518–539, 2010     

Rube Goldberg salad system: Teaching systems theory in communication

Courses: Undergraduate Organizational Communication, Communication Theory, and Small Group Communication courses.

Objectives: This single-class activity aims to engage students actively in explaining and applying systems components, processes, and properties.