2,773 research outputs found
Promoting deep learning through design - discussion, student activity and assessment
There is widespread evidence that Australia is currently facing falling student participation rates in science and mathematics subjects at secondary school and university undergraduate levels. The future implications of this science-deficit are widely acknowledged. Unfortunately, science teaching itself is also widely seen as being dull, too content-heavy, delivered to mass-audiences and assessed in ways promoting surface approaches to learning. To address these issues, and issues relating to the apparent lack of challenge for very able students in their first year at university, The University of Queensland developed the Advanced Study Program in Science (ASPinS). This initiative offers an enhanced learning experience to a select group of high-achieving students in addition to their existing undergraduate study in a Science-related degree program. ASPinS offers these students the opportunity to interact with leading research scientists, broaden their understanding of important scientific issues, experience new interactive learning opportunities, undertake research projects and obtain an authentic insight into science as a career. This presentation, however, will only focus on the unique first year course offered within the 3 year ASPinS experience â BIOL1017 âPerspectives in Scienceâ. In this course students are encouraged to think about important current scientific issues from different perspectives â both scientific and non-scientific. Panels of expert scientists use their knowledge and experience to present real scientific issues for students to examine and discuss. These panel discussions cover a spectrum of medical, environmental and social issues, covering different viewpoints and possible solutions. Combining this effective panel model with an array of student-led activities provides an ideal environment for learning. Students are made to apply their new knowledge, discuss issues and construct thoughts, opinions and products â depending on the specifically designed activities. Relevant assessment tasks include group-writing activities and oral presentations which enable students to demonstrate their learning through authentic contexts that are carefully designed to influence the way students learn. Authentic assessment tasks enable students to see a purpose for the product (assessment) they are producing while at the same time enabling them to synthesise the various scientific âfactsâ and issues they have been discussing. This level of assessment activity, by its nature, encourages higher-order learning. Student evaluations have consistently confirmed that the key to the success of each Module within the course lies in the breadth of speakers selected to represent the different angles associated with the topic under discussion and the related activities and assessment tasks. The findings indicate that students value the opportunity to explore the multi-disciplinary nature of science-related issues and to actually discuss the issues. The âPerspectives in Scienceâ course is a model for the success of combining teaching and learning theory and scholarship, to a particular set of objectives, to create a highly effective learning environment and a meaningful student experience
Permanent current from non-commutative spin algebra
We show that a spontaneous electric current is induced in a nano-scale
conducting ring just by putting three ferromagnets. The current is a direct
consequence of the non-commutativity of the spin algebra, and is proportional
to the non-coplanarity (chirality) of the magnetization vectors. The
spontaneous current gives a natural explanation to the chirality-driven
anomalous Hall effect.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures on separate pag
Exact ground-state correlation functions of the one-dimensional strongly correlated electron models with the resonating-valence-bond ground state
We investigate the one-dimensional strongly correlated electron models which
have the resonating-valence-bond state as the exact ground state. The
correlation functions are evaluated exactly using the transfer matrix method
for the geometric representations of the valence-bond states. In this method,
we only treat matrices with small dimensions. This enables us to give
analytical results. It is shown that the correlation functions decay
exponentially with distance. The result suggests that there is a finite
excitation gap, and that the ground state is insulating. Since the
corresponding non-interacting systems may be insulating or metallic, we can say
that the gap originates from strong correlation. The persistent currents of the
present models are also investigated and found to be exactly vanishing.Comment: 59 pages, REVTeX 3.0, Figures are available on reques
Non-magnetic impurities in two dimensional superconductors
A numerical approach to disordered 2D superconductors described by BCS mean
field theory is outlined. The energy gap and the superfluid density at zero
temperature and the quasiparticle density of states are studied. The method
involves approximate self-consistent solutions of the Bogolubov-deGennes
equations on finite square lattices. Where comparison is possible, the results
of standard analytic approaches to this problem are reproduced. Detailed
modeling of impurity effects is practical using this approach. The {\it range}
of the impurity potential is shown to be of {\it quantitative importance} in
the case of strong potential scatterers. We discuss the implications for
experiments, such as the rapid suppression of superconductivity by Zn doping in
Copper-Oxide superconductors.Comment: 16 pages, latex, 8 figures( available upon request
Persistent current of two-chain Hubbard model with impurities
The interplay between impurities and interactions is studied in the gapless
phase of two-chain Hubbard model in order to see how the screening of impurity
potentials due to repulsive interactions in single-chain model will be changed
by increasing the number of channels. Renormalization group calculations show
that charge stiffness, and hence persistent current, of the two-chain model are
less enhanced by interactions than single chain case.Comment: 4 Pages, RevTeX, No figures, Submitted to PR
Local Electronic Structure of a Single Magnetic Impurity in a Superconductor
The electronic structure near a single classical magnetic impurity in a
superconductor is determined using a fully self-consistent Koster-Slater
algorithm. Localized excited states are found within the energy gap which are
half electron and half hole. Within a jellium model we find the new result that
the spatial structure of the positive-frequency (electron-like) spectral weight
(or local density of states), can differ strongly from that of the negative
frequency (hole-like) spectral weight. The effect of the impurity on the
continuum states above the energy gap is calculated with good spectral
resolution for the first time. This is also the first three-dimensional
self-consistent calculation for a strong magnetic impurity potential.Comment: 13 pages, RevTex, change in heuristic picture, no change in numerical
result
Re-parameterization Invariance in Fractional Flux Periodicity
We analyze a common feature of a nontrivial fractional flux periodicity in
two-dimensional systems. We demonstrate that an addition of fractional flux can
be absorbed into re-parameterization of quantum numbers. For an exact
fractional periodicity, all the electronic states undergo the
re-parameterization, whereas for an approximate periodicity valid in a large
system, only the states near the Fermi level are involved in the
re-parameterization.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, minor changes, final version to appear in J. Phys.
Soc. Jp
Extended Impurity Potential in a d_{x^2-y^2} Superconductor
We investigate the role of a finite potential range of a nonmagnetic impurity
for the local density of states in a d_{x^2-y^2} superconductor. Impurity
induced subgap resonances are modified by the appearance of further scattering
channels beyond the --wave scattering limit. The structure of the local
density of states (DOS) in the vicinity of the impurity is significantly
enhanced and therefore improves the possibility for observing the
characteristic anisotropic spatial modulation of the local DOS in a d_{x^2-y^2}
superconductor by scanning tunneling microscopy.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex, with 4 embedded eps figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Let
Manipulation of P-TEFb control machinery by HIV: recruitment of P-TEFb from the large form by Tat and binding of HEXIM1 to TAR
Basal transcription of the HIV LTR is highly repressed and requires Tat to recruit the positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, which functions to promote the transition of RNA polymerase II from abortive to productive elongation. P-TEFb is found in two forms in cells, a free, active form and a large, inactive complex that also contains 7SK RNA and HEXIM1 or HEXIM2. Here we show that HIV infection of cells led to the release of P-TEFb from the large form. Consistent with Tat being the cause of this effect, transfection of a FLAG-tagged Tat in 293T cells caused a dramatic shift of P-TEFb out of the large form to a smaller form containing Tat. In vitro, Tat competed with HEXIM1 for binding to 7SK, blocked the formation of the P-TEFbâHEXIM1â7SK complex, and caused the release P-TEFb from a pre-formed P-TEFbâHEXIM1â7SK complex. These findings indicate that Tat can acquire P-TEFb from the large form. In addition, we found that HEXIM1 binds tightly to the HIV 5âČ UTR containing TAR and recruits and inhibits P-TEFb activity. This suggests that in the absence of Tat, HEXIM1 may bind to TAR and repress transcription elongation of the HIV LTR
Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by P-TEFb inhibitors DRB, seliciclib and flavopiridol correlates with release of free P-TEFb from the large, inactive form of the complex
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, comprised of cyclin dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9) and cyclin T1, T2 or K regulates the productive elongation phase of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) dependent transcription of cellular and integrated viral genes. P-TEFb containing cyclin T1 is recruited to the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) by binding to HIV Tat which in turn binds to the nascent HIV transcript. Within the cell, P-TEFb exists as a kinase-active, free form and a larger, kinase-inactive form that is believed to serve as a reservoir for the smaller form.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a method to rapidly quantitate the relative amounts of the two forms based on differential nuclear extraction. Using this technique, we found that titration of the P-TEFb inhibitors flavopiridol, DRB and seliciclib onto HeLa cells that support HIV replication led to a dose dependent loss of the large form of P-TEFb. Importantly, the reduction in the large form correlated with a reduction in HIV-1 replication such that when 50% of the large form was gone, HIV-1 replication was reduced by 50%. Some of the compounds were able to effectively block HIV replication without having a significant impact on cell viability. The most effective P-TEFb inhibitor flavopiridol was evaluated against HIV-1 in the physiologically relevant cell types, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs). Flavopiridol was found to have a smaller therapeutic index (LD<sub>50</sub>/IC<sub>50</sub>) in long term HIV-1 infectivity studies in primary cells due to greater cytotoxicity and reduced efficacy at blocking HIV-1 replication.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Initial short term studies with P-TEFb inhibitors demonstrated a dose dependent loss of the large form of P-TEFb within the cell and a concomitant reduction in HIV-1 infectivity without significant cytotoxicity. These findings suggested that inhibitors of P-TEFb may serve as effective anti-HIV-1 therapies. However, longer term HIV-1 replication studies indicated that these inhibitors were more cytotoxic and less efficacious against HIV-1 in the primary cell cultures.</p
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