259 research outputs found
Discourse-centric learning analytics
Drawing on sociocultural discourse analysis and argumentation theory, we motivate a focus on learners' discourse as a promising site for identifying patterns of activity which correspond to meaningful learning and knowledge construction. However, software platforms must gain access to qualitative information about the rhetorical dimensions to discourse contributions to enable such analytics. This is difficult to extract from naturally occurring text, but the emergence of more-structured annotation and deliberation platforms for learning makes such information available. Using the Cohere web application as a research vehicle, we present examples of analytics at the level of individual learners and groups, showing conceptual and social network patterns, which we propose as indicators of meaningful learning
Live-virus exposure of vaccine-protected macaques alters the anti-HIV-1 antibody repertoire in the absence of viremia
Background: We addressed the question whether live-virus challenges could alter vaccine-induced antibody (Ab) responses in vaccinated rhesus macaques (RMs) that completely resisted repeated exposures to R5-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency viruses encoding heterologous HIV clade C envelopes (SHIV-Cs). Results: We examined the Ab responses in aviremic RMs that had been immunized with a multi-component protein vaccine (multimeric HIV-1 gp160, HIV-1 Tat and SIV Gag-Pol particles) and compared anti-Env plasma Ab titers before and after repeated live-virus exposures. Although no viremia was ever detected in these animals, they showed significant increases in anti-gp140 Ab titers after they had encountered live SHIVs. When we investigated the dynamics of anti-Env Ab titers during the immunization and challenge phases further, we detected the expected, vaccine-induced increases of Ab responses about two weeks after the last protein immunization. Remarkably, these titers kept rising during the repeated virus challenges, although no viremia resulted. In contrast, in vaccinated RMs that were not exposed to virus, anti-gp140 Ab titers declined after the peak seen two weeks after the last immunization. These data suggest boosting of pre-existing, vaccine-induced Ab responses as a consequence of repeated live-virus exposures. Next, we screened polyclonal plasma samples from two of the completely protected vaccinees by peptide phage display and designed a strategy that selects for recombinant phages recognized only by Abs present after – but not before – any SHIV challenge. With this “subtractive biopanning” approach, we isolated V3 mimotopes that were only recognized after the animals had been exposed to live virus. By detailed epitope mapping of such anti-V3 Ab responses, we showed that the challenges not only boosted pre-existing binding and neutralizing Ab titers, but also induced Abs targeting neo-antigens presented by the heterologous challenge virus. Conclusions: Anti-Env Ab responses induced by recombinant protein vaccination were altered by the multiple, live SHIV challenges in vaccinees that had no detectable viral loads. These data may have implications for the interpretation of “vaccine only” responses in clinical vaccine trials
Single - particle correlations in events with the total disintegration of nuclei
New experimental data on the behaviour of the single-particle two-dimensional
correlation functions R versus Q (Q is the number of nucleons emitted from nuc-
lei) and Ap (Ap is the mass of projectile nuclei) are presented in this paper.
The interactions of protons, d, 4He and 12C nuclei with carbon nuclei (at a
momentum of 4.2 A GeV/c) are considered.The values of R are obtained separately
for pi minus mesons and protons.In so doing,the values of R are normalized so
that -1=<R=<1.The value of R=0 corresponds to the case of the absence of corre-
lations.It has been found that the Q- and Ap-dependence of R takes place only
for weak correlations (R< 0.3).In the main (90 %),these correlations are con-
nected with the variable pt and have a nonlinear character, that is the regi-
ons with different characters of the Q-dependence of R are separated: there is
a change of regimes in the Q-dependences of R.The correlations weaken with
increasing Ap, and the variable R gets the least values of all the considered
ones in 12CC interactions.Simultaneously with weakening the correlations in the
region of large Q, the character of the Q-dependence of R changes.Comment: 17 pages, submitted to Phys. Rew.
Thermal fluctuations in the interacting pion gas
We derive the two-particle fluctuation correlator in a thermal gas of
pi-mesons to the lowest order in an interaction due to a resonance exchange. A
diagrammatic technique is used. We discuss how this result can be applied to
event-by-event fluctuations in heavy-ion collisions, in particular, to search
for the critical point of QCD. As a practical example, we determine the shape
of the rapidity correlator.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, RevTe
Strangeness Enhancement in p-A Collisions: Consequences for the Interpretation of Strangeness Production in A-A Collisions
Published measurements of semi-inclusive Lambda production in p-Au collisions
at the AGS are used to estimate the yields of singly strange hadrons in
nucleus-nucleus A-A collisions. Results of a described extrapolation technique
are shown and compared to measurements of K+ production in Si-Al, Si-Au, and
Au-Au collisions at the AGS and net Lambda production in Su-Su, S-Ag, Pb-Pb,
and inclusive p-A collisions at the SPS. The extrapolations can account for
more than 75% of the measured strange particle yields in all of the studied
systems except for very central Au-Au collisions at the AGS where RQMD
comparisons suggest large re-scattering contributions.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Gender Differences in Perceived Working Conditions of General Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic-a Cross-Sectional Study.
BACKGROUND
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gender-specific differences between general practitioners in adapting to the posed challenges. As primary care workforce is becoming increasingly female, in many countries, it is essential to take a closer look at gender-specific influences when the global health care system is confronted with a crisis.
OBJECTIVE
To explore gender-specific differences in the perceived working conditions and gender-specific differences in challenges facing GPs at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
DESIGN
Online survey in seven countries.
PARTICIPANTS
2,602 GPs from seven countries (Austria, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia). Of the respondents, 44.4% (n = 1,155) were women.
MAIN MEASURES
Online survey. We focused on gender-specific differences in general practitioners' perceptions of working conditions at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
KEY RESULTS
Female GPs rated their skills and self-confidence significantly lower than male GPs (f: 7.1, 95%CI: 6.9-7.3 vs. m: 7.6, 95%CI 7.4-7.8; p < .001), and their perceived risk (concerned about becoming infected or infecting others) higher than men (f: 5.7, 95%CI: 5.4-6.0 vs. m: 5.1, 95%CI: 4.8-5.5; p = .011). Among female GPs, low self-confidence in the treatment of COVID-19 patients appear to be common. Results were similar in all of the participating countries.
CONCLUSIONS
Female and male GPs differed in terms of their self-confidence when dealing with COVID-19-related issues and their perceptions of the risks arising from the pandemic. To ensure optimal medical care, it is important that GPs realistically assess their own abilities and overall risk
Multiplicity Distributions and Rapidity Gaps
I examine the phenomenology of particle multiplicity distributions, with
special emphasis on the low multiplicities that are a background in the study
of rapidity gaps. In particular, I analyze the multiplicity distribution in a
rapidity interval between two jets, using the HERWIG QCD simulation with some
necessary modifications. The distribution is not of the negative binomial form,
and displays an anomalous enhancement at zero multiplicity. Some useful
mathematical tools for working with multiplicity distributions are presented.
It is demonstrated that ignoring particles with pt<0.2 has theoretical
advantages, in addition to being convenient experimentally.Comment: 24 pages, LaTeX, MSUHEP/94071
Overpopulation of in pp collisions: a way to distinguish statistical hadronization from string dynamics
The ratio originating from string decays is predicted
to be larger than unity in proton proton interactions at SPS energies (=160 GeV). The anti-omega dominance increases with decreasing beam energy.
This surprising behavior is caused by the combinatorics of quark-antiquark
production in small and low-mass strings. Since this behavior is not found in a
statistical description of hadron production in proton proton collisions, it
may serve as a key observable to probe the hadronization mechanism in such
collisions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Pregnant women with bronchial asthma benefit from progressive muscle relaxation: A randomized, prospective, controlled trial
Background: Asthma is a serious medical problem in pregnancy and is often associated with stress, anger and poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on change in blood pressure, lung parameters, heart rate, anger and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Methods: We treated a sample of 64 pregnant women with bronchial asthma from the local population in an 8-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Thirty-two were selected for PMR, and 32 received a placebo intervention. The systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow and heart rate were tested, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Health Survey (SF-36) were employed. Results: According to the intend-to-treat principle, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in both forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow were observed after PMR. The heart rate showed a significant increase in the coefficient of variation, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency ranges, in addition to a significant reduction in low and middle frequency ranges. A significant reduction on three of five State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales, and a significant increase on seven of eight SF-36 scales were observed. Conclusions: PMR appears to be an effective method to improve blood pressure, lung parameters and heart rate, and to decrease anger levels, thus enhancing health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
- …