112 research outputs found
Policy and model analysis : the case of soviet immigrant teacher re-training in Israel
This paper presents an evaluation study of the re-training
programme for immigrant science teachers from former USSR (FSU) that took
place in Israeli universities and teacher-training colleges for the first time
during 1990-1991 following the mass immigration from FSU. The main
criterion for this evaluation was the degree to which the re-training
programmes catered to professional, social and cultural inherent affecting
factors and met the aims of the re-training policy. On the basis of this study, a
list of policy recommendations is offered. The re-training considerations and
the models identified in this study might be applied in countries where major
social changes, such as immigration or recession, occur.peer-reviewe
The gap between intention and attainment in policy implementation : a syndrome revisited : the case of the reform in technological studies in Israel
This study analyses the syndrome inherent in the gap between policy
setting and policy implementation, as exemplified by the case of the reform in the
high-school system initiated by the Israeli Ministry of Education's Technological
Division. The reform policy in the Technological trend prompted by the great
advances in this field in recent years is explored, and the degree of its expected
versus de facto implementation is analysed. The measurement tool for degree of
implementation is the comparative requirements of the final matriculation exams
before and after the beginning of the reform. The analysis focuses on the
electronics and electricity trends. It challenges the validity of the proposed reform
implementation and disputes the· validity of the matriculation exams as a tool
meant to assess reform implementation. The gap between the initial intention
of the policy makers and actual policy implementation will be analysed and
discussed.peer-reviewe
Infrared Laser Driven Double Proton Transfer. An Optimal Control Theory Study
Laser control of ultrafast double proton transfer is investigated for a
two-dimensional model system describing stepwise and concerted transfer
pathways. The pulse design has been done by employing optimal control theory in
combination with the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree wave packet
propagation. The obtained laser fields correspond to multiple pump-dump pulse
sequences. Special emphasis is paid to the relative importance of stepwise and
concerted transfer pathways for the driven wave packet and its dependence on
the parameters of the model Hamiltonian as well as on the propagation time.
While stepwise transfer is dominating in all cases considered, for high barrier
systems concerted transfer proceeding via tunneling can make a contribution.Comment: 9 figure
Electronic Coherence Dephasing in Excitonic Molecular Complexes: Role of Markov and Secular Approximations
We compare four different types of equations of motion for reduced density
matrix of a system of molecular excitons interacting with thermodynamic bath.
All four equations are of second order in the linear system-bath interaction
Hamiltonian, with different approximations applied in their derivation. In
particular we compare time-nonlocal equations obtained from so-called
Nakajima-Zwanzig identity and the time-local equations resulting from the
partial ordering prescription of the cummulant expansion. In each of these
equations we alternatively apply secular approximation to decouple population
and coherence dynamics from each other. We focus on the dynamics of intraband
electronic coherences of the excitonic system which can be traced by coherent
two-dimensional spectroscopy. We discuss the applicability of the four
relaxation theories to simulations of population and coherence dynamics, and
identify features of the two-dimensional coherent spectrum that allow us to
distinguish time-nonlocal effects.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
Quantum Two-State Dynamics Driven by Stationary Non-Markovian Discrete Noise: Exact Results
We consider the problem of stochastic averaging of a quantum two-state
dynamics driven by non-Markovian, discrete noises of the continuous time random
walk type (multistate renewal processes). The emphasis is put on the proper
averaging over the stationary noise realizations corresponding, e.g., to a
stationary environment. A two state non-Markovian process with an arbitrary
non-exponential distribution of residence times (RTDs) in its states with a
finite mean residence time provides a paradigm. For the case of a two-state
quantum relaxation caused by such a classical stochastic field we obtain the
explicit exact, analytical expression for the averaged Laplace-transformed
relaxation dynamics. In the limit of Markovian noise (implying an exponential
RTD), all previously known results are recovered. We exemplify new more general
results for the case of non-Markovian noise with a biexponential RTD. The
averaged, real-time relaxation dynamics is obtained in this case by numerically
exact solving of a resulting algebraic polynomial problem. Moreover, the case
of manifest non-Markovian noise with an infinite range of temporal
autocorrelation (which in principle is not accessible to any kind of
perturbative treatment) is studied, both analytically (asymptotic long-time
dynamics) and numerically (by a precise numerical inversion of the
Laplace-transformed averaged quantum relaxation).Comment: Chemical Physics, in pres
Quantum dynamics in strong fluctuating fields
A large number of multifaceted quantum transport processes in molecular
systems and physical nanosystems can be treated in terms of quantum relaxation
processes which couple to one or several fluctuating environments. A thermal
equilibrium environment can conveniently be modelled by a thermal bath of
harmonic oscillators. An archetype situation provides a two-state dissipative
quantum dynamics, commonly known under the label of a spin-boson dynamics. An
interesting and nontrivial physical situation emerges, however, when the
quantum dynamics evolves far away from thermal equilibrium. This occurs, for
example, when a charge transferring medium possesses nonequilibrium degrees of
freedom, or when a strong time-dependent control field is applied externally.
Accordingly, certain parameters of underlying quantum subsystem acquire
stochastic character. Herein, we review the general theoretical framework which
is based on the method of projector operators, yielding the quantum master
equations for systems that are exposed to strong external fields. This allows
one to investigate on a common basis the influence of nonequilibrium
fluctuations and periodic electrical fields on quantum transport processes.
Most importantly, such strong fluctuating fields induce a whole variety of
nonlinear and nonequilibrium phenomena. A characteristic feature of such
dynamics is the absence of thermal (quantum) detailed balance.Comment: review article, Advances in Physics (2005), in pres
Re-visiting Meltsner: Policy Advice Systems and the Multi-Dimensional Nature of Professional Policy Analysis
10.2139/ssrn.15462511-2
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Evidence-Based Assessment of Congenital Heart Disease Genes to Enable Returning Results in a Genomic Study
Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common major congenital anomaly and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologic evidence supports a role of genetics in the development of CHD. Genetic diagnoses can inform prognosis and clinical management. However, genetic testing is not standardized among individuals with CHD. We sought to develop a list of validated CHD genes using established methods and to evaluate the process of returning genetic results to research participants in a large genomic study.
Methods: Two-hundred ninety-five candidate CHD genes were evaluated using a ClinGen framework. Sequence and copy number variants involving genes in the CHD gene list were analyzed in Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium participants. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic results were confirmed on a new sample in a clinical laboratory improvement amendments-certified laboratory and disclosed to eligible participants. Adult probands and parents of probands who received results were asked to complete a post-disclosure survey.
Results: A total of 99 genes had a strong or definitive clinical validity classification. Diagnostic yields for copy number variants and exome sequencing were 1.8% and 3.8%, respectively. Thirty-one probands completed clinical laboratory improvement amendments-confirmation and received results. Participants who completed postdisclosure surveys reported high personal utility and no decision regret after receiving genetic results.
Conclusions: The application of ClinGen criteria to CHD candidate genes yielded a list that can be used to interpret clinical genetic testing for CHD. Applying this gene list to one of the largest research cohorts of CHD participants provides a lower bound for the yield of genetic testing in CHD
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