3,035 research outputs found
The use of electronic voting systems in large group lectures: Challenges and opportunities
We describe pedagogical, technical and operational issues associated with the introduction of an electronic voting system into large first-year undergraduate lectures. The rationale for doing so is to transform the lecture experience from a one-way transmission of information in to a two-way conversation between lecturer and students, mediated by the technology. We discuss some of the logistics involved, such as choice of handset, cost and siting within a lecture theatre as well as the aspects of pedagogy, such as the requirements of a good question for these interactive episodes. We present a number of possible use scenarios and evaluate student and staff experiences of the process
Germline knockout of Nr2e3 protects photoreceptors in three distinct mouse models of retinal degeneration
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common form of retinal dystrophy that can be caused by mutations in any one of dozens of rod photoreceptor genes. The genetic heterogeneity of RP represents a significant challenge for the development of effective therapies. Here, we present evidence for a potential gene-independent therapeutic strategy based on targetin
Switch-on Luminescent Sensing of Unlabelled Bacterial Lectin by Terbium(iii) Glycoconjugate Systems
Interactions of lectins with glycoconjugate-terbium(III) self-assembly complexes lead to sensing through enhanced lanthanide luminescence. This glycan-directed sensing paradigm detects an unlabelled lectin (LecA) associated with pathogen P. aeruginosa in solution, without any bactericidal activity. Further development of these probes could have potential as a diagnostic tool
Predictors of Hospitals with Endemic Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify hospital characteristics associated with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) carriage among inpatients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Orange County, California. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty hospitals in a single county. METHODS: We collected clinical MRSA isolates from inpatients in 30 of 31 hospitals in Orange County, California, from October 2008 through April 2010. We characterized isolates by spa typing to identify CA-MRSA strains. Using California’s mandatory hospitalization data set, we identified hospital-level predictors of CA-MRSA isolation. RESULTS: CA-MRSA strains represented 1,033 (46%) of 2,246 of MRSA isolates. By hospital, the median percentage of CA-MRSA isolates was 46% (range, 14%–81%). In multivariate models, CA-MRSA isolation was associated with smaller hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.97, or 3% decreased odds of CA-MRSA isolation per 1,000 annual admissions; P < .001), hospitals with more Medicaid-insured patients (OR, 1.2; P = .002), and hospitals with more patients with low comorbidity scores (OR, 1.3; P < .001). Results were similar when restricted to isolates from patients with hospital-onset infection. CONCLUSIONS: Among 30 hospitals, CA-MRSA comprised nearly half of MRSA isolates. There was substantial variability in CA-MRSA penetration across hospitals, with more CA-MRSA in smaller hospitals with healthier but socially disadvantaged patient populations. Additional research is needed to determine whether infection control strategies can be successful in targeting CA-MRSA influx
Magnetotunneling as a Probe of Luttinger-Liquid Behavior
A novel method for detecting Luttinger-liquid behavior is proposed. The idea
is to measure the tunneling conductance between a quantum wire and a parallel
two-dimensional electron system as a function of both the potential difference
between them, , and an in-plane magnetic field, . We show that the
two-parameter dependence on and allows for a determination of the
characteristic dependence on wave vector and frequency of the {\it
spectral function}, , of the quantum wire. In particular,
the separation of spin and charge in the Luttinger liquid should manifest
itself as singularities in the --characteristic. The experimental
feasibility of the proposal is discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Multifractals of Normalized First Passage Time in Sierpinski Gasket
The multifractal behavior of the normalized first passage time is
investigated on the two dimensional Sierpinski gasket with both absorbing and
reflecting barriers. The normalized first passage time for Sinai model and the
logistic model to arrive at the absorbing barrier after starting from an
arbitrary site, especially obtained by the calculation via the Monte Carlo
simulation, is discussed numerically. The generalized dimension and the
spectrum are also estimated from the distribution of the normalized first
passage time, and compared with the results on the finitely square lattice.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, with 3 figures and 1 table. to be published in J.
Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.67(1998
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