The Buckland Park air shower array

The new Buckland Park Air Shower Array has been producing analyzed shower data since July 1984. The array is described and some preliminary performance figures are presented

The specialty choices of graduates from Brighton and Sussex Medical School: a longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND Since 2007 junior doctors in the UK have had to make major career decisions at a point when previously many had not yet chosen a specialty. This study examined when doctors in this new system make specialty choices, which factors influence choices, and whether doctors who choose a specialty they were interested in at medical school are more confident in their choice than those doctors whose interests change post-graduation. METHODS Two cohorts of students in their penultimate year at one medical school (n = 227/239) were asked which specialty interested them as a career. Two years later, 210/227 were sent a questionnaire measuring actual specialty chosen, confidence, influence of perceptions of the specialty and experiences on choice, satisfaction with medicine, personality, self-efficacy, and demographics. Medical school and post-graduation choices in the same category were deemed 'stable'. Predictors of stability, and of not having chosen a specialty, were calculated using bootstrapped logistic regression. Differences between specialties on questionnaire factors were analysed. RESULTS 50% responded (n = 105/277; 44% of the 239 Year 4 students). 65% specialty choices were 'stable'. Factors univariately associated with stability were specialty chosen, having enjoyed the specialty at medical school or since starting work, having first considered the specialty earlier. A regression found doctors who chose psychiatry were more likely to have changed choice than those who chose general practice. Confidence in the choice was not associated with stability. Those who chose general practice valued lifestyle factors. A psychiatry choice was associated with needing a job and using one's intellect to help others. The decision to choose surgical training tended to be made early. Not having applied for specialty training was associated with being lower on agreeableness and conscientiousness. CONCLUSION Medical school experiences are important in specialty choice but experiences post-graduation remain significant, particularly in some specialties (psychiatry in our sample). Career guidance is important at medical school and should be continued post-graduation, with senior clinicians supported in advising juniors. Careers advice in the first year post-graduation may be particularly important, especially for specialties which have difficulty recruiting or are poorly represented at medical school

A relevância da industria 4.0 para desenvolvimento do polo industrial brasileiro frente aos desafios: The relevance of industry 4.0 for the development of the brazilian industrial hub facing the challenges

A indústria 4.0 é o termo que convencionou a chamar a quarta revolução industrial e o conjunto de tecnologias disponíveis que permite a integração do mundo físico com o digital e traz uma série de desafios e transformações à economia, modificando a configuração das profissões atualmente no mercado. O objetivo geral do trabalho é analisar a Indústria 4.0 e os principais impactos no Polo Industrial Brasileiro. Essa pesquisa corresponderá a uma revisão de literatura, serão utilizadas as seguintes bases de dados: Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Portal de Periódicos CAPES, Repositório de Universidades Públicas e Google scholar. O total de artigos científicos consultados para a realização dos objetivos propostos na presente pesquisa, à revisão foram realizados com 202 artigos, descartados 162 artigos, e utilizados 40 artigos publicados a partir do ano 2012 ao ano de 2022. No que diz respeito à indústria 4.0 no Brasil, ela pode abrir novos mercados, aproveitar a inovação e aumentar a produtividade, especialmente nas economias em desenvolvimento. Nesse sentido, os governos apoiam a inovação e os ganhos adotando programas de incentivo, melhorando a infraestrutura e políticas que desafiam a difícil distribuição dos benefícios digitais. Assim, diante do exposto, as empresas que conseguirem se beneficiar dessa situação certamente alcançarão um novo patamar de produtividade e competitividade. É importante destacar que o setor enfrentará desafios científicos, tecnológicos, econômicos, sociais e políticos ao adotar o novo modelo. Ao final conclui-se que todo o conceito de Indústria 4.0 é inovador e através da implementação de estratégias e aplicação de princípios, embora árdua, é possível adaptar esta nova concepção e com isso melhorar todas as indústrias

Can obstetric risk factors predict fetal acidaemia at birth? A retrospective case-control study

Background: Despite major advances in perinatal medicine, intrapartum asphyxia remains a leading and potentially preventable cause of perinatal mortality and long-term morbidity. The umbilical cord pH is considered an essential criteria for the diagnosis of acute intrapartum hypoxic events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether obstetric risk factors are associated with fetal acidaemia at delivery. Methodology: In a case-control study, 294 women with term singleton pregnancies complicated by an umbilical artery cord pH 7.20. Groups were compared for differences in maternal, obstetric, and fetal characteristics using logistic regression models presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The study showed pregestational diabetes (PGDM) [OR: 5.31, 95% CI: 1.15- 24.58, P = 0.018], urinary tract infection (UTI) [OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.61- 6.43, P < 0.001], and low Apgar scores to be significantly associated with acidaemia, whereas low maternal BMI [OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04-0.87, P = 0.032], pyrexia in labour [OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.12-0.53; P < 0.001], electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) [OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.43-0.99; P = 0.042), and emergency caesarean section [OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.26-0.66; P < 0.001] were found to be protective of acidaemia. Conclusion: Certain obstetric risk factors before and during labour can identify newborns at risk of developing acidaemia. Further research is needed to gain quantitative insight into the predictive capacity of these risks that can inform obstetric clinical management for improved outcomes

Short-range and tensor correlations in the 16^{16}O(e,e′'pn) reaction

The cross sections for electron induced two-nucleon knockout reactions are evaluated for the example of the $^{16}$O(e,e$'$pn)$^{14}$N reaction leading to discrete states in the residual nucleus $^{14}$N. These calculations account for the effects of nucleon-nucleon correlations and include the contributions of two-body meson exchange currents as the pion seagull, pion in flight and the isobar current contribution. The effects of short-range as well as tensor correlations are calculated within the framework of the coupled cluster method employing the Argonne V14 potential as a model for a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction. The relative importance of correlation effects as compared to the contribution of the meson exchange currents depends on the final state of the residual nucleus. The cross section leading to specific states, like e.g. the ground state of $^{14}$N, is rather sensitive to the details of the correlated wave function.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures include

Stimulation of glucose uptake by insulin-like growth factor II in human muscle is not mediated by the insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Although the growth-promoting effects of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) have been intensively studied, the acute actions of this hormone on glucose metabolism have been less well evaluated, especially in skeletal muscle ofhumans. We and other groups have shown that IGFs reduce glycaemic levels in humans and stimulate glucose uptake in rat muscle. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of IGF-II on glucose transport in muscle of normal and obese patients with and without non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), as well as to identify the receptor responsible for this action. 2- Deoxyglucose transport was determined in vitro using a muscle- fibre strip preparation. IGF-II binding and stimulation of glucose transport by IGF-II were investigated in biopsy material of rectus abdominus muscle taken from lean and obese patients and obese patients with NIDDM at the time of surgery. In the lean group, IGF-II (100 nM) stimulated glucose transport 2.1-fold, which was slightly less than stimulation by insulin (2.8-fold) at the same concentration. Binding of IGF-II was approx. 25 % of that of insulin at 1 nM concentrations of both hormones. Obesity with or without NIDDM significantly reduced IGF-II-stimulated glucose uptake compared with the lean group. In order to explore which receptor mediated the IGF-II effect, we compared glucose uptake induced by IGF-II and two IGF-II analogues: [Leu27]IGF-II, with high affinity for the IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor but markedly reduced affinity for the IGF-I and insulin receptors, and [Arg54,Arg55]IGF-II, with high affinity for the IGF-I and insulin receptors but no affinity for the IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor. The potency of [Arg54,Arg55]IGF-II was similar to that of IGF- II, whereas [Leu27]IGF-II had a very diminished effect. Results show that IGF-II is capable of stimulating muscle glucose uptake in lean but not in obese subjects and this effect seems not to be mediated via an IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor. Originally published Biochemical Journal, Vol. 300, Pt. 3, June 199

Engaging with assessment: increasing student engagement through continuous assessment

Student engagement is intrinsically linked to two important metrics in learning: student satisfaction and the quality of the student experience. One of the ways that engagement can be influenced is through careful curriculum design. Using the knowledge that many students are ‘assessment-driven’ a low stakes continuous weekly summative e-assessment was introduced to a module. The impact this had on student engagement was measured by studying student activity within the module virtual learning environment (VLE). It was found that introduction of the e-assessments led to a significant increase in VLE activity compared to the VLE activity in that module the previous year, and also compared to the VLE activity of two other modules studied by the same student cohort. As many institutions move towards greater blended or online deliveries it will become more important to ensure that VLEs encourage high levels of student engagement in order to maintain or enhance the student experience. Keywords : continuous assessment, learning analytics, student engagement, virtual learning environment

Phase Transitions and Spatio-Temporal Fluctuations in Stochastic Lattice Lotka-Volterra Models

We study the general properties of stochastic two-species models for predator-prey competition and coexistence with Lotka-Volterra type interactions defined on a $d$-dimensional lattice. Introducing spatial degrees of freedom and allowing for stochastic fluctuations generically invalidates the classical, deterministic mean-field picture. Already within mean-field theory, however, spatial constraints, modeling locally limited resources, lead to the emergence of a continuous active-to-absorbing state phase transition. Field-theoretic arguments, supported by Monte Carlo simulation results, indicate that this transition, which represents an extinction threshold for the predator population, is governed by the directed percolation universality class. In the active state, where predators and prey coexist, the classical center singularities with associated population cycles are replaced by either nodes or foci. In the vicinity of the stable nodes, the system is characterized by essentially stationary localized clusters of predators in a sea of prey. Near the stable foci, however, the stochastic lattice Lotka-Volterra system displays complex, correlated spatio-temporal patterns of competing activity fronts. Correspondingly, the population densities in our numerical simulations turn out to oscillate irregularly in time, with amplitudes that tend to zero in the thermodynamic limit. Yet in finite systems these oscillatory fluctuations are quite persistent, and their features are determined by the intrinsic interaction rates rather than the initial conditions. We emphasize the robustness of this scenario with respect to various model perturbations.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, 2-column revtex4 format. Minor modifications. Accepted in the Journal of Statistical Physics. Movies corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 are available at http://www.phys.vt.edu/~tauber/PredatorPrey/movies