147 research outputs found
The Problem Distiller Tool: supporting teachers in uncovering why their students have problems understanding Threshold Concepts
In pressThis study explored the use of a web-based tool entitled ‘Problem Distiller’ designed to support teachers in uncovering why their students have problems understanding Threshold Concepts. Data collected involved interviews with two math teachers, invited to experiment the Problem Distiller tool and Think Aloud protocol. Content analysis was used to process and analyse the collected data.. Findings show that teachers found it helpful when the information they entered through the Problem Distiller was fed back as they constructed an online diagnostic quiz. Focusing on the teachers’ understanding of why the students have problems is an effective way of tackling the barriers posed by Threshold Concepts and can be integrated with existing strategies and teaching approaches.CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), PortugalEuropean Community's Seventh Framework ProgrammeThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement no. 317964 JUXTALEARN. We would like to thank the interviewed teachers for their valuable collaboration
Negative outcomes evoke cyclic irrational decisions in Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) represents a unique gaming space in which the predictions of human
rational decision-making can be compared with actual performance. Playing a computerized opponent
adopting a mixed-strategy equilibrium, participants revealed a non-significant tendency to over-select
Rock. Further violations of rational decision-making were observed using an inter-trial analysis where
participants were more likely to switch their item selection at trial n + 1 following a loss or draw at
trial n, revealing the strategic vulnerability of individuals following the experience of negative rather
than positive outcome. Unique switch strategies related to each of these trial n outcomes were also
identified: after losing participants were more likely to ‘downgrade’ their item (e.g., Rock followed by
Scissors) but after drawing participants were more likely to ‘upgrade’ their item (e.g., Rock followed by
Paper). Further repetition analysis revealed that participants were more likely to continue their specific
cyclic item change strategy into trial n + 2. The data reveal the strategic vulnerability of individuals
following the experience of negative rather than positive outcome, the tensions between behavioural
and cognitive influences on decision making, and underline the dangers of increased behavioural
predictability in other recursive, non-cooperative environments such as economics and politics
Code Status Discussions Between Attending Hospitalist Physicians and Medical Patients at Hospital Admission
BackgroundBioethicists and professional associations give specific recommendations for discussing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).ObjectiveTo determine whether attending hospitalist physicians' discussions meet these recommendations.DesignCross-sectional observational study on the medical services at two hospitals within a university system between August 2008 and March 2009.ParticipantsAttending hospitalist physicians and patients who were able to communicate verbally about their medical care.Main measuresWe identified code status discussions in audio-recorded admission encounters via physician survey and review of encounter transcripts. A quantitative content analysis was performed to determine whether discussions included elements recommended by bioethicists and professional associations. Two coders independently coded all discussions; Cohen's kappa was 0.64-1 for all reported elements.Key resultsAudio-recordings of 80 patients' admission encounters with 27 physicians were obtained. Eleven physicians discussed code status in 19 encounters. Discussions were more frequent in seriously ill patients (OR 4, 95% CI 1.2-14.6), yet 66% of seriously ill patients had no discussion. The median length of the code status discussions was 1 min (range 0.2-8.2). Prognosis was discussed with code status in only one of the encounters. Discussions of patients' preferences focused on the use of life-sustaining interventions as opposed to larger life goals. Descriptions of CPR as an intervention used medical jargon, and the indication for CPR was framed in general, as opposed to patient-specific scenarios. No physician quantitatively estimated the outcome of or provided a recommendation about the use of CPR.ConclusionsCode status was not discussed with many seriously ill patients. Discussions were brief, and did not include elements that bioethicists and professional associations recommend to promote patient autonomy. Local and national guidelines, research, and clinical practice changes are needed to clarify and systematize with whom and how CPR is discussed at hospital admission
Vertical Intra-Industry Trade, Technology and Income Distribution: A Panel Data Analysis of EU Trade with Central-East European Countries
This article tests a Heckscher-Ohlin framework versus a neo-Ricardian framework for explaining vertical intra-industry trade. The study applies panel techniques with instrument variables to analyse trade between 'old' EU and 10 Central-East European countries in their transition period. Results show country-pair fixed effects to be of high relevance for explaining vertical intra-industry trade. Technology differences are positively, while differences in factor endowment measured in GDP per capita, are negatively correlated with vertical intra-industry trade, and confirm the relevance of the neo-Ricardian framework. In addition, changing bilateral differences in personal income distribution during the transition of Central-East European countries towards a market economy contribute to changes in vertical intra-industry trade
Genome-wide association study identifies PERLD1 as asthma candidate gene
10.1186/1471-2350-12-170BMC Medical Genetics12-BMGM
SN 2022oqm: A Multi-peaked Calcium-rich Transient from a White Dwarf Binary Progenitor System
We present the photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2022oqm, a
nearby multi-peaked hydrogen- and helium-weak calcium-rich transient (CaRT). SN
2022oqm was detected 19.9 kpc from its host galaxy, the face-on spiral galaxy
NGC 5875. Extensive spectroscopic coverage reveals a hot (T >= 40,000 K)
continuum and carbon features observed ~1 day after discovery, SN Ic-like
photospheric-phase spectra, and strong forbidden calcium emission starting 38
days after discovery. SN 2022oqm has a relatively high peak luminosity (MB =
-17 mag) for CaRTs, making it an outlier in the population. We determine that
three power sources are necessary to explain SN 2022oqm's light curve, with
each power source corresponding to a distinct peak in its light curve. The
first peak of the light curve is powered by an expanding blackbody with a power
law luminosity, consistent with shock cooling by circumstellar material.
Subsequent peaks are powered by a double radioactive decay model, consistent
with two separate sources of photons diffusing through an optically thick
ejecta. From the optical light curve, we derive an ejecta mass and 56Ni mass of
~0.89 solar masses and ~0.09 solar masses, respectively. Detailed spectroscopic
modeling reveals ejecta that is dominated by intermediate-mass elements, with
signs that Fe-peak elements have been well-mixed. We discuss several physical
origins for SN 2022oqm and favor a white dwarf progenitor model. The inferred
ejecta mass points to a surprisingly massive white dwarf, challenging models of
CaRT progenitors.Comment: 33 pages, 17 figures, 5 tables, Submitted to Ap
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