Readability of Instructional Materials and Usability of Online Learning Environment: Their Relations to the Development of Authentic and Contingent Knowledge

This research project correlates authentic knowledge with the readability of instructional materials and contingent knowledge with usability of the online learning environment. Based on thematic analyses in above two areas, we propose a model that governs how adult learners develop authentic and contingent knowledge in an intertwined manner

(5R,6S)-4-Isopropyl-5-methyl-6-phenyl-3-propanoyl-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-one

The title compound, C16H22N2O3, was synthesized during the course of a study on (1R,2S)-norephedrine-derived 1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-ones. The conformation adopted by the isopropyl group is pseudo-axial relative to the oxadiazinan core. The allylic strain contributes to this conformational arrangement

Multiple-Brain connectivity during third party punishment: an EEG hyperscanning study

Compassion is a particular form of empathic reaction to harm that befalls others and is accompanied by a desire to alleviate their suffering. This altruistic behavior is often manifested through altruistic punishment, wherein individuals penalize a deprecated human's actions, even if they are directed toward strangers. By adopting a dual approach, we provide empirical evidence that compassion is a multifaceted prosocial behavior and can predict altruistic punishment. In particular, in this multiple-brain connectivity study in an EEG hyperscanning setting, compassion was examined during real-time social interactions in a third-party punishment (TPP) experiment. We observed that specific connectivity patterns were linked to behavioral and psychological intra- and interpersonal factors. Thus, our results suggest that an ecological approach based on simultaneous dual-scanning and multiple-brain connectivity is suitable for analyzing complex social phenomena

CP Violation and Matter Effect in Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments

We show simple methods how to separate pure CP violating effect from matter effect in long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments with three generations of neutrinos. We give compact formulae for neutrino oscillation probabilities assuming one of the three neutrino masses (presumably tau-neutrino mass) to be much larger than the other masses and the effective mass due to matter effect. Two methods are shown: One is to observe envelopes of the curves of oscillation probabilities as functions of neutrino energy; a merit of this method is that only a single detector is enough to determine the presence of CP violation. The other is to compare experiments with at least two different baseline lengths; this has a merit that it needs only narrow energy range of oscillation data.Comment: 17 pages + 9 eps figures, LaTeX, errors are correcte

Glucose Exposure in Peritoneal Dialysis Is a Significant Factor Predicting Peritonitis

INTRODUCTION: Loss of residual renal function (RRF) as well as high peritoneal glucose exposure are associated with increased peritonitis frequency in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Our objective was to investigate the contribution of RRF and peritoneal glucose exposure to peritonitis in PD patients. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, 105 incident end-stage renal disease patients that started PD between January 2006 and 2015 were studied. Follow-up was 5 years with censoring at death or switch to another treatment modality. Cox regression models were used to calculate the association between glucose exposure, RRF, and peritonitis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to examine the difference in occurrence of peritonitis between patients with high and low glucose exposure and between those with and without residual diuresis. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients were followed for a mean of 23 months. Fifty-one patients developed a peritonitis. Cox regression models at 6 months showed that glucose exposure and not residual diuresis significantly predicted PD peritonitis. Kaplan-Meier analysis after 6 months of follow-up showed that time to first PD peritonitis was significantly longer in the low glucose exposure group. Similarly, patients with RRF had a significantly longer interval to first peritonitis compared to patients without RRF. CONCLUSION: A higher exposure to glucose rather than loss of RRF is associated with an increased risk of peritonitis. This confirms the detrimental effects of glycemic harm to the peritoneal host defense on invading microorganisms and argues for the use of the lowest PD glucose concentrations possible

Matter effects in long baseline experiments, the flavor content of the heaviest (or lightest) neutrino and the sign of Delta m^2

The neutrinos of long baseline beams travel inside the Earth's crust where the density is approximately rho = 2.8 g cm^-3. If electron neutrinos participate in the oscillations, matter effects will modify the oscillation probabilities with respect to the vacuum case. Depending on the sign of Delta m^2 an MSW resonance will exist for neutrinos or anti-neutrinos with energy approximately E_nu(res) = 4.7 |\Delta m^2|/(10^-3 eV^2) GeV. For Delta m^2 in the interval indicated by the Super-Kamiokande experiment this energy range is important for the proposed long baseline experiments. For positive Delta m^2 the most important effects of matter are a 9% (25%) enhancement of the transition probability P(nu_mu -> nu_e) for the KEK to Kamioka (Fermilab to Minos and CERN to Gran Sasso) beam(s) in the energy region where the probability has its first maximum, and an approximately equal suppression of P(antinu_mu -> antinu_e). For negative Delta m^2 the effects for neutrinos and anti-neutrinos are interchanged. Producing beams of neutrinos and antineutrinos and measuring the oscillation probabilities for both (nu_mu -> nu_e) and (antinu_mu -> antinu_e) transitions can solve the sign ambiguity in the determination of Delta m^2.Comment: Latex, 28 pages, 12 postscript figure

CP and T violation test in neutrino oscillation

We examine how large violation of CP and T is allowed in long base line neutrino experiments. When we attribute only the atmospheric neutrino anomaly to neutrino oscillation we may have large CP violation effect. When we attribute both the atmospheric neutrino anomaly and the solar neutrino deficit to neutrino oscillation we may have a sizable T violation effect proportional to the ratio of two mass differences; it is difficult to see CP violation since we can't ignore the matter effect. We give a simple expression for T violation in the presence of matter.Comment: 12 pages + 2 eps figures, Latex, In order to avoid misunderstanding we have refined our English and rewritten the parts which might be misleading. Several typographical errors are correcte

Discrepancy between self-perceived mycophenolic acid-associated diarrhea and stool water content after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a well-known side effect of mycophenolic acid (MPA) use in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). It is unknown whether self-reported diarrhea using the Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale (MTSOSD-59R) corresponds to stool water content and how both relate to MPA usage. METHODS: MTSOSD-59R questionnaires filled out by 700 KTRs from the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study(NCT03272841) were analyzed and compared with stool water content. Stool samples(N=345) were freeze-dried and a water content ≥80% was considered diarrhea. RESULTS: Self-perceived diarrhea was reported by 46%, while stool water content ≥80% was present in 23% of KTRs. MPA use was not associated with self-perceived diarrhea (odds ratio(OR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval(CI), 0.87-1.99, P=0.2), while it was associated with stool water content ≥80% (OR 2.88; 95%CI, 1.41-5.89, P=0.004), independent of potential confounders. Adjustment for prior MPA discontinuation because of severe diarrhea, uncovered an association between MPA use and self-perceived diarrhea (OR 1.80; 95%CI, 1.13-2.89, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that reporting bias could add to the discrepancy between both methods for diarrhea assessment. We recommend use of objective biomarkers or more extensive questionnaires which assess information on stool frequency and stool consistency, to investigate post-transplantation diarrhea

Urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine excretion, protein energy malnutrition and risk of all-cause mortality in kidney transplant recipients:Results from the TransplantLines cohort studies

Background: Leucine is an essential amino acid and a potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis. Since muscle wasting is a major risk factor for mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), dietary leucine intake might be linked to long-term mortality. Urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine (3-HIC) excretion, a functional marker of marginal biotin deficiency, may also serve as a marker for dietary leucine intake. Objective: In this study we aimed to investigate the cross-sectional determinants of urinary 3-HIC excretion and to prospectively investigate the association of urinary 3-HIC excretion with all-cause mortality in KTR. Design: Urinary 3-HIC excretion and plasma biotin were measured in a longitudinal cohort of 694 stable KTR. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses were performed using ordinary least squares linear regression analyses and Cox regression analyses, respectively. Results: In KTR (57% male, 53 +/- 13 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate 45 +/- 19 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), urinary 3-HIC excretion (0.80 [0.57-1.16] mu mol/24 h) was significantly associated with plasma biotin (std. beta = -0.17; P 45%. During median follow-up for 5.4 [4.8-6.1] years, 150 (22%) patients died. Log(2)-transformed urinary 3-HIC excretion was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 0.52 [0.43-0.63]; P < 0.001). This association was independent of potential confounders. Conclusions: Urinary 3-HIC excretion more strongly serves as a marker of leucine intake than of biotin status. A higher urinary 3-HIC excretion is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Future studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanism. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

High Energy Neutrinos from Cosmological Gamma-Ray Burst Fireballs

Observations suggest that $\gamma$-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced by the dissipation of the kinetic energy of a relativistic fireball. We show that a large fraction, $\ge 10$, of the fireball energy is expected to be converted by photo-meson production to a burst of $\sim10^{14} eV$ neutrinos. A km^2 neutrino detector would observe at least several tens of events per year correlated with GRBs, and test for neutrino properties (e.g. flavor oscillations, for which upward moving $\tau$'s would be a unique signature, and coupling to gravity) with an accuracy many orders of magnitude better than is currently possible.Comment: Submitted to PRL (4 pages, LaTeX