626 research outputs found
Access Anglesey 2018: Lessons from an inclusive field course
Abstract. Traditional methods of fieldwork delivery can present learners with a range of physical, cognitive and social challenges which may subsequently hinder their ability to engage effectively with learning. We developed a residential geoscience field course designed to be physically accessible to, and socially inclusive of, a diverse range of learners including those with limited physical mobility and neurodiverse conditions. This paper presents the logistical and pedagogical challenges involved in delivering such a field course. In terms of pedagogic design scheduling, pace and timing, and the ability to access content in multiple ways were critical to ensuring that all students were included in the learning. The most effective mitigations were the simplest and benefitted the whole group. Practical interventions found to support access and inclusion for the benefit of all participants included using an audio tour-guide system to communicate with students at field locations, using a four-wheel drive vehicle to improve access to specific locations, providing alternative exercises such as prepared photomicrographs and rock specimens, providing electronic tablets with suitable apps, and selecting accommodation with accessible common-room spaces, and a dedicated quiet room. </jats:p
CEM03 and LAQGSM03 - new modeling tools for nuclear applications
An improved version of the Cascade-Exciton Model (CEM) of nuclear reactions
realized in the code CEM2k and the Los Alamos version of the Quark-Gluon String
Model (LAQGSM) have been developed recently at LANL to describe reactions
induced by particles and nuclei for a number of applications. Our CEM2k and
LAQGSM merged with the GEM2 evaporation/fission code by Furihata have
predictive powers comparable to other modern codes and describe many reactions
better than other codes; therefore both our codes can be used as reliable event
generators in transport codes for applications. During the last year, we have
made a significant improvements to the intranuclear cascade parts of CEM2k and
LAQGSM, and have extended LAQGSM to describe photonuclear reactions at energies
to 10 GeV and higher. We have produced in this way improved versions of our
codes, CEM03.01 and LAQGSM03.01. We present a brief description of our codes
and show illustrative results obtained with CEM03.01 and LAQGSM03.01 for
different reactions compared with predictions by other models, as well as
examples of using our codes as modeling tools for nuclear applications.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Journal of Physics:
Conference Series: Proc. Europhysics Conf. on New Trends in Nuclear Physics
Applications and Technologies (NPDC19), Pavia, Italy, September 5-9, 200
Cross-sections for nuclide production in 56Fe target irradiated by 300, 500,750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV protons compared with data on hydrogen target irradiation by 300, 500, 750, 1000, and 1500 MeV/nucleon 56Fe ions
Cross-sections for radioactive nuclide production in 56Fe(p,x) reactions at
300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV were measured using the ITEP U-10
proton accelerator. In total, 221 independent and cumulative yields of products
of half-lives from 6.6 min to 312 days have been obtained via the
direct-spectrometry method. The measured data have been compared with the
experimental data obtained elsewhere by the direct and inverse kinematics
methods and with calculations by 15 codes, namely: MCNPX (INCL, CEM2k, BERTINI,
ISABEL), LAHET (BERTINI, ISABEL), CEM03 (.01, .G1, .S1), LAQGSM03 (.01, .G1,
>.S1), CASCADE-2004, LAHETO, and BRIEFF. Most of our data are in a good
agreement with the inverse kinematics results and disprove the results of some
earlier activation measurements that were quite different from the inverse
kinematics measurements. The most significant calculation-to-experiment
differences are observed in the yields of the A<30 light nuclei, indicating
that further improvements in nuclear reaction models are needed, and pointing
out as well to a necessity of more complete measurements of such reactions.Comment: 53 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables, only pdf file, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Spallation Residues in the Reaction 56Fe + p at 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 A GeV
The spallation residues produced in the bombardment of 56}Fe at 1.5, 1.0,
0.75, 0.5 and 0.3 A GeV on a liquid-hydrogen target have been measured using
the reverse kinematics technique and the Fragment Separator at GSI (Darmstadt).
This technique has permitted the full identification in charge and mass of all
isotopes produced with cross-sections larger than 10^{-2} mb down to Z=8. Their
individual production cross-sections and recoil velocities at the five energies
are presented. Production cross-sections are compared to previously existing
data and to empirical parametric formulas, often used in cosmic-ray
astrophysics. The experimental data are also extensively compared to different
combinations of intra-nuclear cascade and de-excitation models. It is shown
that the yields of the lightest isotopes cannot be accounted for by standard
evaporation models. The GEMINI model, which includes an asymmetric fission
decay mode, gives an overall good agreement with the data. These experimental
data can be directly used for the estimation of composition modifications and
damages in materials containing iron in spallation sources. They are also
useful for improving high precision cosmic-ray measurements.Comment: Submited to Phys. Rev. C (10/2006
Acceptability, usability and performance of lateral flow immunoassay tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: REACT-2 study of self-testing in non-healthcare key workers
Background Seroprevalence studies are essential to understand the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2. Various technologies, including laboratory assays and point-of-care self-tests, are available for antibody testing. The interpretation of seroprevalence studies requires comparative data on the performance of antibody tests. Methods In June 2020, current and former members of the UK Police forces and Fire service performed a self-test lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), had a nurse-performed LFIA and provided a venous blood sample for ELISA . We present the prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2; the acceptability and usability of self-test LFIAs; and determine the sensitivity and specificity of LFIAs compared to laboratory ELISA. Results In this cohort of 5189 current and former members of the Police service and 263 members of the Fire service, 7.4% (396/5,348; 95% CI, 6.7-8.1) were antibody positive. Seroprevalence was 8.9% (6.9-11.4) in those under 40 years, 11.5% (8.8-15.0) in those of non-white ethnicity and 7.8% (7.1-8.7) in those currently working. Self-test LFIA had an acceptability of 97.7% and a usability of 90.0%. There was substantial agreement between within-participant LFIA results (kappa 0.80; 0.77-0.83). The LFIAs had a similar performance: compared to ELISA, sensitivity was 82.1% (77.7-86.0) self-test and 76.4% (71.9-80.5) nurse-performed with specificity of 97.8% (97.3-98.2) and 98.5% (98.1-98.8) respectively. Conclusion A greater proportion of this non-healthcare key worker cohort showed evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population at 6.0% (5.8-6.1) following the first wave in England. The high acceptability and usability reported by participants and similar performance of self-test and nurse-performed LFIAs indicate that the self-test LFIA is fit for purpose for home-testing in occupational and community prevalence studies
Production of Ultra-Cold-Neutrons in Solid \alpha-Oxygen
Our recent neutron scattering measurements of phonons and magnons in solid
\alpha-oxygen have led us to a new understanding of the production mechanismen
of ultra-cold-neutrons (UCN) in this super-thermal converter. The UCN
production in solid \alpha-oxygen is dominated by the excitation of phonons.
The contribution of magnons to UCN production becomes only slightly important
above E >10 meV and at E >4 meV. Solid \alpha-oxygen is in comparison to solid
deuterium less effcient in the down-scattering of thermal or cold neutrons into
the UCN energy regime.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figuer
Diffuse reflection of ultracold neutrons from low-roughness surfaces
We report a measurement of the reflection of ultracold neutrons from flat, large-area plates of different Fermi potential materials with low surface roughness. The results were used to test two diffuse reflection models, the well-known Lambert model and the micro-roughness model which is based on wave scattering. The Lambert model fails to reproduce the diffuse reflection data. The surface roughness b and correlation length w , obtained by fitting the micro-roughness model to the data are in the range 1 b 3 nm and 10 w 120 nm, in qualitative agreement with independent measurements using atomic force microscop
Lens shape and refractive index distribution in type 1 diabetes
To compare lens dimensions and refractive index distributions in type 1 diabetes and age-matched control groups.There were 17 participants with type 1 diabetes, consisting of two subgroups (7 young [23 ± 4 years] and 10 older [54 ± 4 years] participants), with 23 controls (13 young, 24 ± 4 years; 10 older, 55 ± 4 years). For each participant, one eye was tested with relaxed accommodation. A 3T clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanner was used to image the eye, employing a multiple spin echo (MSE) sequence to determine lens dimensions and refractive index profiles along the equatorial and axial directions.The diabetes group had significantly smaller lens equatorial diameters and larger lens axial thicknesses than the control group (diameter mean ± 95% confidence interval [CI]: diabetes group 8.65 ± 0.26 mm, control group 9.42 ± 0.18 mm; axial thickness: diabetes group 4.33 ± 0.30 mm, control group 3.80 ± 0.14 mm). These differences were also significant within each age group. The older group had significantly greater axial thickness than the young group (older group 4.35 ± 0.26 mm, young group 3.70 ± 0.25 mm). Center refractive indices of diabetes and control groups were not significantly different. There were some statistically significant differences between the refractive index fitting parameters of young and older groups, but not between diabetes and control groups of the same age.Smaller lens diameters occurred in the diabetes groups than in the age-matched control groups. Differences in refractive index distribution between persons with and without diabetes are too small to have important effects on instruments measuring axial thickness
REACT-1 round 8 final report: high average prevalence with regional heterogeneity of trends in SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community in England during January 2021
In early January 2021, England entered its third national lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce numbers of deaths and pressure on healthcare services, while rapidly rolling out vaccination to healthcare workers and those most at risk of severe disease and death. REACT-1 is a survey of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in the community in England, based on repeated cross-sectional samples of the population. Between 6th and 22nd January 2021, out of 167,642 results, 2,282 were positive giving a weighted national prevalence of infection of 1.57% (95% CI, 1.49%, 1.66%). The R number nationally over this period was estimated at 0.98 (0.92, 1.04). Prevalence remained high throughout, but with suggestion of a decline at the end of the study period. The average national trend masked regional heterogeneity, with robustly decreasing prevalence in one region (South West) and increasing prevalence in another (East Midlands). Overall prevalence at regional level was highest in London at 2.83% (2.53%, 3.16%). Although prevalence nationally was highest in the low-risk 18 to 24 year old group at 2.44% (1.96%, 3.03%), it was also high in those over 65 years who are most at risk, at 0.93% (0.82%, 1.05%). Large household size, living in a deprived neighbourhood, and Black and Asian ethnicity were all associated with higher levels of infections compared to smaller households, less deprived neighbourhoods and other ethnicities. Healthcare and care home workers, and other key workers, were more likely to test positive compared to other workers. If sustained lower prevalence is not achieved rapidly in England, pressure on healthcare services and numbers of COVID-19 deaths will remain unacceptably high
Green Plants in the Red: A Baseline Global Assessment for the IUCN Sampled Red List Index for Plants
Plants provide fundamental support systems for life on Earth and are the basis for all terrestrial ecosystems; a decline in plant diversity will be detrimental to all other groups of organisms including humans. Decline in plant diversity has been hard to quantify, due to the huge numbers of known and yet to be discovered species and the lack of an adequate baseline assessment of extinction risk against which to track changes. The biodiversity of many remote parts of the world remains poorly known, and the rate of new assessments of extinction risk for individual plant species approximates the rate at which new plant species are described. Thus the question ‘How threatened are plants?’ is still very difficult to answer accurately. While completing assessments for each species of plant remains a distant prospect, by assessing a randomly selected sample of species the Sampled Red List Index for Plants gives, for the first time, an accurate view of how threatened plants are across the world. It represents the first key phase of ongoing efforts to monitor the status of the world’s plants. More than 20% of plant species assessed are threatened with extinction, and the habitat with the most threatened species is overwhelmingly tropical rain forest, where the greatest threat to plants is anthropogenic habitat conversion, for arable and livestock agriculture, and harvesting of natural resources. Gymnosperms (e.g. conifers and cycads) are the most threatened group, while a third of plant species included in this study have yet to receive an assessment or are so poorly known that we cannot yet ascertain whether they are threatened or not. This study provides a baseline assessment from which trends in the status of plant biodiversity can be measured and periodically reassessed
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