7,068 research outputs found
Virtual patient design : exploring what works and why : a grounded theory study
Objectives:
Virtual patients (VPs) are online representations of clinical cases used in medical education. Widely adopted, they are well placed to teach clinical reasoning skills. International technology standards mean VPs can be created, shared and repurposed between institutions. A systematic review has highlighted the lack of evidence to support which of the numerous VP designs may be effective, and why. We set out to research the influence of VP design on medical undergraduates.
Methods:
This is a grounded theory study into the influence of VP design on undergraduate medical students. Following a review of the literature and publicly available VP cases, we identified important design properties. We integrated them into two substantial VPs produced for this research. Using purposeful iterative sampling, 46 medical undergraduates were recruited to participate in six focus groups. Participants completed both VPs, an evaluation and a 1-hour focus group discussion. These were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed using grounded theory, supported by computer-assisted analysis. Following open, axial and selective coding, we produced a theoretical model describing how students learn from VPs.
Results:
We identified a central core phenomenon designated âlearning from the VPâ. This had four categories: VP Construction; External Preconditions; StudentâVP Interaction, and Consequences. From these, we constructed a three-layer model describing the interactions of students with VPs. The inner layer consists of the student's cognitive and behavioural preconditions prior to sitting a case. The middle layer considers the VP as an âencoded objectâ, an e-learning artefact and as a âconstructed activityâ, with associated pedagogic and organisational elements. The outer layer describes cognitive and behavioural change.
Conclusions:
This is the first grounded theory study to explore VP design. This original research has produced a model which enhances understanding of how and why the delivery and design of VPs influence learning. The model may be of practical use to authors, institutions and researchers
A Model for Classical Space-time Co-ordinates
Field equations with general covariance are interpreted as equations for a
target space describing physical space time co-ordinates, in terms of an
underlying base space with conformal invariance. These equations admit an
infinite number of inequivalent Lagrangian descriptions. A model for
reparametrisation invariant membranes is obtained by reversing the roles of
base and target space variables in these considerations.Comment: 9 pages, Latex. This was the basis of a talk given at the Argonne
National Laboratory 1996 Summer Institute : Topics on Non-Abelian Duality
June 27-July 1
Mass as a Relativistic Quantum Observable
A field state containing photons propagating in different directions has a
non vanishing mass which is a quantum observable. We interpret the shift of
this mass under transformations to accelerated frames as defining space-time
observables canonically conjugated to energy-momentum observables. Shifts of
quantum observables differ from the predictions of classical relativity theory
in the presence of a non vanishing spin. In particular, quantum redshift of
energy-momentum is affected by spin. Shifts of position and energy-momentum
observables however obey simple universal rules derived from invariance of
canonical commutators.Comment: 5 pages, revised versio
Helical, Angular and Radial Ordering in Narrow Capillaries
To enlighten the nature of the order-disorder and order-order transitions in
block copolymer melts confined in narrow capillaries we analyze peculiarities
of the conventional Landau weak crystallization theory of systems confined to
cylindrical geometry. This phenomenological approach provides a quantitative
classification of the cylindrical ordered morphologies by expansion of the
order parameter spatial distribution into the eigenfunctions of the Laplace
operator. The symmetry of the resulting ordered morphologies is shown to
strongly depend both on the boundary conditions (wall preference) and the ratio
of the cylinder radius and the wave length of the critical order parameter
fluctuations, which determine the bulk ordering of the system under
consideration. In particular, occurrence of the helical morphologies is a
rather general consequence of the imposed cylindrical symmetry for narrow
enough capillaries. We discuss also the ODT and OOT involving some other
simplest morphologies. The presented results are relevant also to other
ordering systems as charge-density waves appearing under addition of an ionic
solute to a solvent in its critical region, weakly charged polyelectrolyte
solutions in poor solvent, microemulsions etc.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
On O-X mode conversion in 2D inhomogeneous plasma with a sheared magnetic field
The conversion of an ordinary wave to an extraordinary wave in a 2D
inhomogeneous slab model of the plasma confined by a sheared magnetic field is
studied analytically.Comment: sub. to PPC
On the squeezed states for n observables
Three basic properties (eigenstate, orbit and intelligence) of the canonical
squeezed states (SS) are extended to the case of arbitrary n observables. The
SS for n observables X_i can be constructed as eigenstates of their linear
complex combinations or as states which minimize the Robertson uncertainty
relation. When X_i close a Lie algebra L the generalized SS could also be
introduced as orbit of Aut(L^C). It is shown that for the nilpotent algebra h_N
the three generalizations are equivalent. For the simple su(1,1) the family of
eigenstates of uK_- + vK_+ (K_\pm being lowering and raising operators) is a
family of ideal K_1-K_2 SS, but it cannot be represented as an Aut(su^C(1,1))
orbit although the SU(1,1) group related coherent states (CS) with symmetry are
contained in it.
Eigenstates |z,u,v,w;k> of general combination uK_- + vK_+ + wK_3 of the
three generators K_j of SU(1,1) in the representations with Bargman index k =
1/2,1, ..., and k = 1/4,3/4 are constructed and discussed in greater detail.
These are ideal SS for K_{1,2,3}. In the case of the one mode realization of
su(1,1) the nonclassical properties (sub-Poissonian statistics, quadrature
squeezing) of the generalized even CS |z,u,v;+> are demonstrated. The states
|z,u,v,w;k=1/4,3/4> can exhibit strong both linear and quadratic squeezing.Comment: 25 pages, LaTex, 4 .pic and .ps figures. Improvements in text,
discussion on generation scheme added. To appear in Phys. Script
Analytical solutions of the Schr\"{o}dinger equation with the Woods-Saxon potential for arbitrary state
In this work, the analytical solution of the radial Schr\"{o}dinger equation
for the Woods-Saxon potential is presented. In our calculations, we have
applied the Nikiforov-Uvarov method by using the Pekeris approximation to the
centrifugal potential for arbitrary states. The bound state energy
eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions are obtained for various values of
and quantum numbers.Comment: 14 page
Relativistic phase space: dimensional recurrences
We derive recurrence relations between phase space expressions in different
dimensions by confining some of the coordinates to tori or spheres of radius
and taking the limit as . These relations take the form of
mass integrals, associated with extraneous momenta (relative to the lower
dimension), and produce the result in the higher dimension.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, to appear in J Phys
Scalable Spatial Super-Resolution using Entangled Photons
N00N states -- maximally path-entangled states of N photons -- exhibit
spatial interference patterns sharper than any classical interference pattern.
This is known as super-resolution. However, even with perfectly efficient
number-resolving detectors, the detection efficiency of all previously
demonstrated methods to measure such interference decreases exponentially with
the number of photons in the N00N state, often leading to the conclusion that
N00N states are unsuitable for spatial measurements. Here, we create spatial
super-resolution fringes with two-, three-, and four-photon N00N states, and
demonstrate a scalable implementation of the so-called ``optical centroid
measurement'' which provides an in-principle perfect detection efficiency.
Moreover, we compare the N00N-state interference to the corresponding classical
super-resolution interference. Although both provide the same increase in
spatial frequency, the visibility of the classical fringes decreases
exponentially with the number of detected photons, while the visibility of our
experimentally measured N00N-state super-resolution fringes remains
approximately constant with N. Our implementation of the optical centroid
measurement is a scalable method to measure high photon-number quantum
interference, an essential step forward for quantum-enhanced measurements,
overcoming what was believed to be a fundamental challenge to quantum
metrology
Self-force of a point charge in the space-time of a symmetric wormhole
We consider the self-energy and the self-force for an electrically charged
particle at rest in the wormhole space-time. We develop general approach and
apply it to two specific profiles of the wormhole throat with singular and with
smooth curvature. The self-force for these two profiles is found in manifest
form; it is an attractive force. We also find an expression for the self-force
in the case of arbitrary symmetric throat profile. Far from the throat the
self-force is always attractive.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures Comments: corrected pdf, enlarged pape
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