Electrodynamics at non-zero temperature, chemical potential, and Bose condensate

Electrodynamics of charged scalar bosons and spin 1/2 fermions is studied at non-zero temperature, chemical potentials, and possible Bose condensate of the charged scalars. Debye screening length, plasma frequency, and the photon dispersion relation are calculated. It is found that in presence of the condensate the time-time component of the photon polarization operator in the first order in electric charge squared acquires infrared singular parts proportional to inverse powers of the spatial photon momentum k.Comment: Two references and explanatory comments are added according to the referee's suggestions. The paper is accepted for publication in JCA

Voting Behavior and Motivations across Generations: Evidence from a Nationally Representative U.S. Survey

The four generations of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z are all distinct in nature as it relates to their characteristics, which are shaped by the American culture in which they were born. These generations as a whole also have different levels of political participation and political ideals. The purpose of this study is to examine how these differences correlate to voting behavior. The goal is to draw conclusions about the differences between voting behavior across generational lines, discovering patterns especially as it relates to motivations for voting. Through the use of a nationally representative survey, I was able to measure some of the motivations that might be instrumental in influencing members of different generations to vote. By combining this information with relevant research, I was able to come to the conclusion that Baby Boomers are highly motivated by civic duty to vote, and in turn they have had the highest turnout in several recent elections. Generation X and Generation Z did not reveal clear and consistent motivations. However, Millennials were the generation most motivated by social influence. Utilizing these motivations by generation could increase the efficacy of targeted campaigns and efforts to increase political participation

A qualitative exploration of students\u27 experiences with tutorial learning

The purpose of this study is to explore how students perceive their tutorial learning experiences at the collegiate level in a campus-based center and to explore the personality preferences of the students who participate in tutoring, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The study is designed to address tutoring from the perspective of the tutee’s experiences and to allow them to tell their story of how tutoring impacted their academic experience. The following research questions guide this study: 1. What are students’ perceptions of their tutorial learning experiences? 2. Are students’ perceptions of their tutorial learning experiences related to personality type preferences? Data analysis in qualitative research has a two-fold purpose to understand the participants’ perspective and to answer the research questions. This study uses the three-phase procedure described by Miles and Huberman (1994) to give meaning to the data and for organizational purposes. The three-phase procedure includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. Thirty-two students voluntarily participated in in-depth interviews. Interview data are transcribed and subsequently analyzed to facilitate the development of themes. Document analysis, a reflexive journal, and in-depth interviews are utilized to construct participant profiles and to generate themes. Themes that emerged are as follows: (1) Choice to Attend Tutoring, (2) Relationship with Tutor, (3) Learning Strategies, and (4) Derived Benefits of Tutoring. The themes are analyzed and the results discussed. Thereafter, the analysis turns to the personality type preferences in accord with the MBTI. The type preferences are coded and the results of the type preferences discussed in relation to the perceived experiences of participants as well as their styles of learning. A discussion of the findings, along with recommendations for practice and research conclude the study. Suggestions might be made to implement changes in tutorial learning as a form of academic support. While other learning styles inventories are available, the MBTI is an assessment that identifies individual strengths for students to work from giving it an advantage when compared to others. Finally, it is also important to assess the needs of each segment of the student population

Assessing the wider implementation of the SHARP principles: increasing physical activity in primary physical education

To assess the wider application of the SHARP (Stretching whilst moving, High repetition of skills, Accessibility, Reducing sitting and standing, and Promotion of physical activity) Principles intervention on children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in physical education (PE), when applied by teachers and coaches. A quasi-experimental intervention was employed in nine primary schools (experimental, n = 6: control, n = 3) including teachers (n = 10), coaches (n = 4), and children (aged 5 to 11 years, n = 84) in the West Midlands, UK. Practitioners applied the SHARP Principles to PE lessons, guided by an innovative behaviour change model. The System for Observing Fitness and Instruction Time (SOFIT) was used to measure children's MVPA in 111 lessons at pre- (n = 60) and post-intervention (n = 51). Seven interviews were conducted post-intervention to explore practitioners' perceptions. Two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) revealed that teachers increased children's MVPA by 27.7%. No statistically significant change in children's MVPA was observed when taught by the coaches. The qualitative results for teachers were 'children's engagement', a 'pedagogical paradigm shift', and 'relatedness'; and for coaches 'organisational culture' and 'insufficient support and motivation'. The SHARP Principles intervention is the most effective teaching strategy at increasing MVPA in primary PE when taught by school based staff (rather than outsourced coaches), evidencing increases almost double that of any previously published study internationally and demonstrating the capacity to influence educational policy and practice internationally.Published versio

The Validation of Speech Corpora

1.2 Intended audience........................

The Variation of Elastic Modulus and Changes of Structures and Mineral Phases In Rocks as Parameters for the Identification of Fire-Setting in Ancient Mines

The article is focused on the creation of a protocol for the analytical characterization of fire-setting in different types of rock. A set of experiments of heating and cooling have been carried out on different kind of rocks under various conditions and durations in order to record changes in the structures and composition of the samples. This study was set to support the solution of issues in the case of ambiguous identification between structures due to natural events in the rock and artificial exploitation

Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Reveals Efficient Cytosolic Delivery of Protein Cargo by Cell-Permeant Miniature Proteins.

New methods for delivering proteins into the cytosol of mammalian cells are being reported at a rapid pace. Differentiating between these methods in a quantitative manner is difficult, however, as most assays for evaluating cytosolic protein delivery are qualitative and indirect and thus often misleading. Here we make use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to determine with precision and accuracy the relative efficiencies with which seven different previously reported "cell-penetrating peptides" (CPPs) transport a model protein cargo-the self-labeling enzyme SNAP-tag-beyond endosomal membranes and into the cytosol. Using FCS, we discovered that the miniature protein ZF5.3 is an exceptional vehicle for delivering SNAP-tag to the cytosol. When delivered by ZF5.3, SNAP-tag can achieve a cytosolic concentration as high as 250 nM, generally at least 2-fold and as much as 6-fold higher than any other CPP evaluated. Additionally, we show that ZF5.3 can be fused to a second enzyme cargo-the engineered peroxidase APEX2-and reliably delivers the active enzyme to the cell interior. As FCS allows one to realistically assess the relative merits of protein transduction domains, we anticipate that it will greatly accelerate the identification, evaluation, and optimization of strategies to deliver large, intact proteins to intracellular locales