1,531 research outputs found

    Getting more out of English language teaching in Japanese universities

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    Expert-novice interaction as the basis for L2 developmental activity: A SCT perspective

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    This study investigated interaction between an adult EFL university student in Japan and her EFL tutor/researcher while they observed the student’s L2 writing event during a stimulated retrospective recall session. Interaction is considered both a methodological instrument to investigate the complex cognitive activity underpinning L2 writing and a pedagogic tool to encourage linguistic -as well as strategic- awareness and change. Informed by Sociocultural theory, this paper argues that interaction which is sensitive to learners’ potential development can be a powerful tool to promote the co-construction of L2 knowledge. Data were collected through eye-tracking and real-time screen capture of the writing event and analysed using descriptive statistics and microgenetic multimodal interaction analysis. The paper aims to illustrate the potential value of a mixed-methods, multimodal, design to better understand the dual role of interaction (i) to support development, and (ii) as a methodological instrument to investigate the unfolding history of that development

    Scalar-Induced Compactifications in Higher Dimensional Supergravities

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    We discuss compactifications of higher dimensional supergravities which are induced by scalars. In particular, we consider vector multiplets coupled to the supergravity multiplet in the case of D=9, 8 and D=7 minimal supergravities. These vector multiplets contain scalars, which parametrize coset spaces of the general form SO(10-D,n)/SO(10-D)xSO(n), where n is the number of vector multiplets. We discuss the compactification of the supergravity theory to D-2 dimensons, which is induced by non-trivial vacuum scalar field configurations. There are singular and non-singular solutions, which preserve half of the supersymmetries.Comment: 25 pages, JHEP

    Improving the performance of community health workers in humanitarian emergencies: a realist evaluation protocol for the PIECES programme.

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    INTRODUCTION Understanding what enhances the motivation and performance of community health workers (CHWs) in humanitarian emergencies represents a key research gap within the field of human resources for health. This paper presents the research protocol for the Performance ImprovEment of CHWs in Emergency Settings (PIECES) research programme. Enhancing Learning and Research in Humanitarian Action (ELRHA) funded the development of this protocol as part of their Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) call (No.19839). PIECES aims to understand what factors improve the performance of CHWs in level III humanitarian emergencies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The suggested protocol uses a realist evaluation with multiple cases across the 3 country sites: Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon. Working with International Medical Corps (IMC), an initial programme theory was elicited through literature and document reviews, semistructured interviews and focus groups with IMC programme managers and CHWs. Based on this initial theory, this protocol proposes a combination of semistructured interviews, life histories and critical incident narratives, surveys and latent variable modelling of key constructs to explain how contextual factors work to trigger mechanisms for specific outcomes relating to IMC's 300+ CHWs' performance. Participants will also include programme staff, CHWs and programme beneficiaries. Realist approaches will be used to better understand 'what works, for whom and under what conditions' for improving CHW performance within humanitarian contexts. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Trinity College Dublin's Health Policy and Management/Centre for Global Health Research Ethics Committee gave ethical approval for the protocol development phase. For the full research project, additional ethical approval will be sought from: Université St. Joseph (Lebanon), the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health in Baghdad (Iraq) and the Middle East Technical University (Turkey). Dissemination activities will involve a mixture of research feedback, policy briefs, guidelines and recommendations, as well as open source academic articles

    An Application of Conceptual Design and Multidisciplinary Analysis Transitioning to Detailed Design Stages

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    This paper presents conceptual design and feasibility analysis for oversized grain harvesting combine headers with dynamic topology. To meet customer harvesting productivity requirements, the harvesting header must increase in width from 40 to 60 feet, yet be usable on current generation combine harvesters. While designing concepts for an oversized harvester head is a complex problem by itself, it also presents a latent challenge with packaging and transporting. Transporting a 60ft harvester header using traditional methods will violate road transport regulations imposed by US state and federal governments. This warrants innovations in both designing an oversized header concepts and viable means to package it for domestic and international shipping. The Advanced Systems Design Suite (ASDS) was used to design, visualize and perform quick assessment of the proposed concept designs. Three preliminary design concepts were generated based on customer requirements and manufacturer’s guidelines, of which one design was chosen for transitioning into detailed design stages. Static engineering analysis showed that the combine harvester’s feederhouse mount can support the additional mass of the larger header. Articulation mechanisms were represented by primitive shapes created in ASDS to visualize the preliminary design solution for packaging the header for transportation. Finite Element Analyses (FEA) was performed to determine the required size, shape, and position of the articulation mechanisms. Harvest productivity analyses were performed to assess business feasibility on the oversized header design. Header performance requirements identified potential time and monetary savings of an articulated header compared to a non articulated head of the same size. Reducing the time required to perform “non-harvesting activities” with currently available combines enables the manufacturer to generate a more feasible detailed design addressing this difficult design challenge. The ASDS, along with supplementary analyses tools can be used to generate viable design concepts and the work presented in this paper shows that the oversized combine header design is feasible and is worthy of transitioning into detailed design stages

    Restoring Ureagenesis in Hepatocytes by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Genomic Addition to Arginase-deficient Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

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    Urea cycle disorders are incurable enzymopathies that affect nitrogen metabolism and typically lead to hyperammonemia. Arginase deficiency results from a mutation in Arg1, the enzyme regulating the final step of ureagenesis and typically results in developmental disabilities, seizures, spastic diplegia, and sometimes death. Current medical treatments for urea cycle disorders are only marginally effective, and for proximal disorders, liver transplantation is effective but limited by graft availability. Advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell research has allowed for the genetic modification of stem cells for potential cellular replacement therapies. In this study, we demonstrate a universally-applicable CRISPR/Cas9-based strategy utilizing exon 1 of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus to genetically modify and restore arginase activity, and thus ureagenesis, in genetically distinct patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells and hepatocyte-like derivatives. Successful strategies restoring gene function in patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells may advance applications of genetically modified cell therapy to treat urea cycle and other inborn errors of metabolism

    Theory of mirror benchmarking and demonstration on a quantum computer

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    A new class of protocols called mirror benchmarking was recently proposed to measure the system-level performance of quantum computers. These protocols involve circuits with random sequences of gates followed by mirroring, that is, inverting each gate in the sequence. We give a simple proof that mirror benchmarking leads to an exponential decay of the survival probability with sequence length, under the uniform noise assumption, provided the twirling group forms a 2-design. The decay rate is determined by a quantity that is a quadratic function of the error channel, and for certain types of errors is equal to the unitarity. This result yields a new method for estimating the coherence of noise. We present data from mirror benchmarking experiments run on the Honeywell System Model H1. This data constitutes a set of performance curves, indicating the success probability for random circuits as a function of qubit number and circuit depth

    Holomorphic Hartree-Fock Theory: The Nature of Two-Electron Problems.

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    We explore the existence and behavior of holomorphic restricted Hartree-Fock (h-RHF) solutions for two-electron problems. Through algebraic geometry, the exact number of solutions with n basis functions is rigorously identified as 1/2(3n - 1), proving that states must exist for all molecular geometries. A detailed study on the h-RHF states of HZ (STO-3G) then demonstrates both the conservation of holomorphic solutions as geometry or atomic charges are varied and the emergence of complex h-RHF solutions at coalescence points. Using catastrophe theory, the nature of these coalescence points is described, highlighting the influence of molecular symmetry. The h-RHF states of HHeH2+ and HHeH (STO-3G) are then compared, illustrating the isomorphism between systems with two electrons and two electron holes. Finally, we explore the h-RHF states of ethene (STO-3G) by considering the π electrons as a two-electron problem and employ NOCI to identify a crossing of the lowest energy singlet and triplet states at the perpendicular geometry

    Moyo Vol. III N 1

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    Boyden, John and Rich Vanderklok. Are You a $nob? . 2. Herman, James. River Phoenix: A Final Conversation . 4. Blake, Ben. Arbor Vitae Victories: Other Crafty Everyday Uses For Those Inconspicuous Little Trees . 9. Fischesser, S. Separate But Unequal: A View of Denison\u27s Black Orientation . 10. Gilmore, Seth. Evil Upheaval: The Reforming of Organized Religion... in Granville .; Boyden, John. “Reaching Out & Talking Dirty (When Touching Turns to Touch Tones)”. 20. Vanderklok, Rich. Gen-X Angst . 24. Driscoll, Julie. Bang! Thump (Getting A Taste For The Meat Processing Industry). 25. Stillman, Lisa. The Bare Facts: An Exposé on Public Nudity . 26. Endicott, Josh. Frames . 29. Emmons, Alex. Frames . 29. Emmons, Alex. Untitled. 11. Bussan, Dave. Bull Session With a Former Editor On Denison\u27s Sacred Cow . 30. Webb, Aaron. Color Blind: From Diversity Adversity to Racial Rapport . 33. Archer, Troy Color Blind: From Diversity Adversity to Racial Rapport . 33
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