304 research outputs found
Enhancing relevance and authenticity in school science: design of two prototypical activities within the FEDORA project
We live in a historical period that sociologists call the âsociety of accelerationâ, where changes, mainly triggered by science and technology, occur over increasingly shorter time intervals. International reports by the OECD, the European Commission, and UNESCO highlight a worrying detachment between scientific education at school and societal issues, in terms of topics and practices. To address this gap, the H2020 project FEDORA1 designed and implemented several school activities centered around topics related to current challenges, aimed to increase studentsâ feeling of relevance toward formal scientific education. These implementations are: (i) based on the three FEDORA frameworkâs theoretical pillars: interdisciplinarity, search for new languages, future-oriented education; (ii) informed by some FEDORAâs recommendations to curricula developers, then turned into operational design principles: cross and integrate different disciplines, elicit epistemic emotions, embrace and embed complexity and uncertainty, dismantle dichotomous thinking and telling, exercise scenario building and thinking about the future in a pluralistic way. After presenting the general framework and the recommendations, we will discuss the details of two activities (âMocku for change,â âPhysics of cloudsâ) which, respectively, exploit the use of creative writing and mockumentary as forms of new languages. They concern topics such as sustainability or complexity and are aimed to help students engage and make sense of contemporary challenges in a personal and emotional way. In the end, we will argue why we consider them to be examples of practical and (to some extent) reproducible activities in class, which could reduce the gap between science at school and science outside school; in this sense, we claim to shed light on possible ways by which formal educational systems can reposition themselves to deal with societal needs
Precise measurements of the properties of the B-1(5721)(0,+) and B-2*(5747)(0,+) states and observation of B-+,B-0 pi(-,+) mass structures
Invariant mass distributions of B+Ïâ and B0Ï+ combinations are investigated in order to study excited B mesons. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fbâ1 of pp collision data, recorded by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Precise measurements of the masses and widths of the B1(5721)0,+ and B2(5747)0,+ states are reported. Clear enhancements, particularly prominent at high pion transverse momentum, are seen over background in the mass range 5850-6000 MeV in both B+Ïâ and B0Ï+ combinations. The structures are consistent with the presence of four excited B mesons, labelled BJ (5840)0,+ and BJ (5960)0,+, whose masses and widths are obtained under different hypotheses for their quantum numbers
Treatment with IL-7 Prevents the Decline of Circulating CD4+ T Cells during the Acute Phase of SIV Infection in Rhesus Macaques
Although treatment with interleukin-7 (IL-7) was shown to transiently expand the naïve and memory T-cell pools in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), it is uncertain whether a full immunologic reconstitution can be achieved. Moreover, the effects of IL-7 have never been evaluated during acute HIV-1 (or SIV) infection, a critical phase of the disease in which the most dramatic depletion of CD4+ T cells is believed to occur. In the present study, recombinant, fully glycosylated simian IL-7 (50 ”g/kg, s.c., once weekly for 7 weeks) was administered to 6 rhesus macaques throughout the acute phase of infection with a pathogenic SIV strain (mac251); 6 animals were infected at the same time and served as untreated controls. Treatment with IL-7 did not cause clinically detectable side effects and, despite the absence of concomitant ART, did not induce significant increases in the levels of SIV replication except at the earliest time point tested (day 4 post-infection). Strikingly, animals treated with IL-7 were protected from the dramatic decline of circulating naïve and memory CD4+ T cells that occurred in untreated animals. Treatment with IL-7 induced only transient T-cell proliferation, but it was associated with sustained increase in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, persistent expansion of all circulating CD8+ T-cell subsets, and development of earlier and stronger SIV Tat-specific T-cell responses. However, the beneficial effects of IL-7 were not sustained after treatment interruption. These data demonstrate that IL-7 administration is effective in protecting the CD4+ T-cell pool during the acute phase of SIV infection in macaques, providing a rationale for the clinical evaluation of this cytokine in patients with acute HIV-1 infection
Les droits disciplinaires des fonctions publiques : « unification », « harmonisation » ou « distanciation ». A propos de la loi du 26 avril 2016 relative à la déontologie et aux droits et obligations des fonctionnaires
The production of tt⟠, W+bb⟠and W+cc⟠is studied in the forward region of protonâproton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98±0.02 fbâ1 . The W bosons are reconstructed in the decays WââÎœ , where â denotes muon or electron, while the b and c quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.The production of , and is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 0.02 \mbox{fb}^{-1}. The bosons are reconstructed in the decays , where denotes muon or electron, while the and quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions
First observation and amplitude analysis of the B- -> D+K-pi(-) decay
The B-âD+K-Ï- decay is observed in a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb-1 of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. Its branching fraction is measured to be B(B-âD+K-Ï-)=(7.31±0.19±0.22±0.39)Ă10-5 where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the branching fraction of the normalization channel B-âD+Ï-Ï-, respectively. An amplitude analysis of the resonant structure of the B-âD+K-Ï- decay is used to measure the contributions from quasi-two-body B-âD0â(2400)0K-, B-âD2â(2460)0K-, and B-âDJâ(2760)0K- decays, as well as from nonresonant sources. The DJâ(2760)0 resonance is determined to have spin 1
A study of CP violation in B-+/- -> DK +/- and B-+/- -> D pi(+/-) decays with D -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+) final states
A first study of CP violation in the decay modes and , where labels a or meson and labels a or meson, is performed. The analysis uses the LHCb data set collected in collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb. The analysis is sensitive to the CP-violating CKM phase through seven observables: one charge asymmetry in each of the four modes and three ratios of the charge-integrated yields. The results are consistent with measurements of using other decay modes
Study of the rare B-s(0) and B-0 decays into the pi(+) pi(-) mu(+) mu(-) final state
A search for the rare decays and is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5-1.3 GeV/ and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay and the first evidence of the decay are obtained and the branching fractions are measured to be and , where the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay , used as a normalisation.A search for the rare decays Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ and B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fbâ1 collected by the LHCb detector in protonâproton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV . Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5â1.3 GeV/c2 and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ and the first evidence of the decay B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ are obtained and the branching fractions, restricted to the dipion-mass range considered, are measured to be B(Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ)=(8.6±1.5 (stat)±0.7 (syst)±0.7(norm))Ă10â8 and B(B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ)=(2.11±0.51(stat)±0.15(syst)±0.16(norm))Ă10â8 , where the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay B0âJ/Ï(âÎŒ+ÎŒâ)Kâ(892)0(âK+Ïâ) , used as a normalisation.A search for the rare decays Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ and B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fbâ1 collected by the LHCb detector in protonâproton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV . Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5â1.3 GeV/c2 and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ and the first evidence of the decay B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ are obtained and the branching fractions, restricted to the dipion-mass range considered, are measured to be B(Bs0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ)=(8.6±1.5 (stat)±0.7 (syst)±0.7(norm))Ă10â8 and B(B0âÏ+ÏâÎŒ+ÎŒâ)=(2.11±0.51(stat)±0.15(syst)±0.16(norm))Ă10â8 , where the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay B0âJ/Ï(âÎŒ+ÎŒâ)Kâ(892)0(âK+Ïâ) , used as a normalisation.A search for the rare decays and is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5-1.3 GeV/ and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay and the first evidence of the decay are obtained and the branching fractions, restricted to the dipion-mass range considered, are measured to be and , where the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay , used as a normalisation
Observation of the B0 â Ï0Ï0 decay from an amplitude analysis of B0 â (Ï+Ïâ)(Ï+Ïâ) decays
Protonâproton collision data recorded in 2011 and 2012 by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fbâ1 , are analysed to search for the charmless B0âÏ0Ï0 decay. More than 600 B0â(Ï+Ïâ)(Ï+Ïâ) signal decays are selected and used to perform an amplitude analysis, under the assumption of no CP violation in the decay, from which the B0âÏ0Ï0 decay is observed for the first time with 7.1 standard deviations significance. The fraction of B0âÏ0Ï0 decays yielding a longitudinally polarised final state is measured to be fL=0.745â0.058+0.048(stat)±0.034(syst) . The B0âÏ0Ï0 branching fraction, using the B0âÏKâ(892)0 decay as reference, is also reported as B(B0âÏ0Ï0)=(0.94±0.17(stat)±0.09(syst)±0.06(BF))Ă10â6
Measurement of the (eta c)(1S) production cross-section in proton-proton collisions via the decay (eta c)(1S) -> p(p)over-bar
The production of the state in proton-proton collisions is probed via its decay to the final state with the LHCb detector, in the rapidity range GeV/c. The cross-section for prompt production of mesons relative to the prompt cross-section is measured, for the first time, to be at a centre-of-mass energy TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.7 fb, and at TeV using 2.0 fb. The uncertainties quoted are, in order, statistical, systematic, and that on the ratio of branching fractions of the and decays to the final state. In addition, the inclusive branching fraction of -hadron decays into mesons is measured, for the first time, to be , where the third uncertainty includes also the uncertainty on the inclusive branching fraction from -hadron decays. The difference between the and meson masses is determined to be MeV/c.The production of the state in proton-proton collisions is probed via its decay to the final state with the LHCb detector, in the rapidity range . The cross-section for prompt production of mesons relative to the prompt cross-section is measured, for the first time, to be at a centre-of-mass energy using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.7Â fb , and at using 2.0Â fb . The uncertainties quoted are, in order, statistical, systematic, and that on the ratio of branching fractions of the and decays to the final state. In addition, the inclusive branching fraction of -hadron decays into mesons is measured, for the first time, to be , where the third uncertainty includes also the uncertainty on the inclusive branching fraction from -hadron decays. The difference between the and meson masses is determined to be .The production of the state in proton-proton collisions is probed via its decay to the final state with the LHCb detector, in the rapidity range GeV/c. The cross-section for prompt production of mesons relative to the prompt cross-section is measured, for the first time, to be at a centre-of-mass energy TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.7 fb, and at TeV using 2.0 fb. The uncertainties quoted are, in order, statistical, systematic, and that on the ratio of branching fractions of the and decays to the final state. In addition, the inclusive branching fraction of -hadron decays into mesons is measured, for the first time, to be , where the third uncertainty includes also the uncertainty on the inclusive branching fraction from -hadron decays. The difference between the and meson masses is determined to be MeV/c
Angular analysis of the B-0 -> K*(0) e(+) e(-) decay in the low-q(2) region
An angular analysis of the decay is performed using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 {\mbox{fb}^{-1}}, collected by the LHCb experiment in collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV during 2011 and 2012. For the first time several observables are measured in the dielectron mass squared () interval between 0.002 and 1.120. The angular observables and which are related to the polarisation and to the lepton forward-backward asymmetry, are measured to be and , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The angular observables and which are sensitive to the photon polarisation in this range, are found to be and . The results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.An angular analysis of the B â K^{*}^{0} e e decay is performed using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV during 2011 and 2012. For the first time several observables are measured in the dielectron mass squared (q) interval between 0.002 and 1.120 GeV /c. The angular observables F and A which are related to the K^{*}^{0} polarisation and to the lepton forward-backward asymmetry, are measured to be F = 0.16 ± 0.06 ± 0.03 and A â=â0.10â±â0.18â±â0.05, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The angular observables A and A which are sensitive to the photon polarisation in this q range, are found to be A â=âââ0.23â±â0.23â±â0.05 and A â=â0.14â±â0.22â±â0.05. The results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.An angular analysis of the decay is performed using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 {\mbox{fb}^{-1}}, collected by the LHCb experiment in collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV during 2011 and 2012. For the first time several observables are measured in the dielectron mass squared () interval between 0.002 and 1.120. The angular observables and which are related to the polarisation and to the lepton forward-backward asymmetry, are measured to be and , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The angular observables and which are sensitive to the photon polarisation in this range, are found to be and . The results are consistent with Standard Model predictions
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