597 research outputs found
Students on the Edge: Evaluating an Academic Support Group
This qualitative case study evaluated the effectiveness of the Academic Skills Discussion Group, a new retention intervention targeting undergraduate students on academic probation. This intervention utilized a support group structure to provide social and academic supports to academically-poor students. These supports incorporated didactic educational presentations and interpersonal discussions relating to life change and college expectations. The case comprised one pilot administration of the intervention for three student group members. Data was collected from pre/post-intervention resiliency surveys, grade point average comparisons, journal-entry analysis and semi-structured exit interviews. The researcher conducted inductive data analysis by coding participant statements for meaning, calculating and comparing survey results, and triangulating findings. Analysis provided case descriptions and themes regarding how participating in the intervention influenced studentsâ resiliency, adjustment, and academic performance. Findings indicate that for most students, participation in the program coincided with improved academic performance and increased connectivity to the academic environment. Evaluative descriptions break down the recruitment strategy, examine benefits of participation and address future enhancements to the delivery of the intervention. Implications for higher education applications and future use of small group interventions are discussed
Surface electrons at plasma walls
In this chapter we introduce a microscopic modelling of the surplus electrons
on the plasma wall which complements the classical description of the plasma
sheath. First we introduce a model for the electron surface layer to study the
quasistationary electron distribution and the potential at an unbiased plasma
wall. Then we calculate sticking coefficients and desorption times for electron
trapping in the image states. Finally we study how surplus electrons affect
light scattering and how charge signatures offer the possibility of a novel
charge measurement for dust grains.Comment: To appear in Complex Plasmas: Scientific Challenges and Technological
Opportunities, Editors: M. Bonitz, K. Becker, J. Lopez and H. Thomse
Mie scattering by a charged dielectric particle
We study for a dielectric particle the effect of surplus electrons on the
anomalous scattering of light arising from the transverse optical phonon
resonance in the particle's dielectric constant. Excess electrons affect the
polarizability of the particle by their phonon-limited conductivity, either in
a surface layer (for negative electron affinity) or the conduction band (for
positive electron affinity). We demonstrate that surplus electrons shift an
extinction resonance in the infrared. This offers an optical way to measure the
charge of the particle and thus to use it in a plasma as a minimally invasive
electric probe.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted manuscrip
Electron surface layer at the interface of a plasma and a dielectric wall
We study the potential and the charge distribution across the interface of a
plasma and a dielectric wall. For this purpose, the charge bound to the wall is
modelled as a quasi-stationary electron surface layer which satisfies Poisson's
equation and minimizes the grand canonical potential of the wall-thermalized
excess electrons constituting the wall charge. Based on an effective model for
a graded interface taking into account the image potential and the offset of
the conduction band to the potential just outside the dielectric, we
specifically calculate the potential and the electron distribution for
magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide and sapphire surfaces in contact with a helium
discharge. Depending on the electron affinity of the surface, we find two
vastly different behaviors. For negative electron affinity, electrons do not
penetrate into the wall and an external surface charge is formed in the image
potential, while for positive electron affinity, electrons penetrate into the
wall and a space charge layer develops in the interior of the dielectric. We
also investigate how the electron surface layer merges with the bulk of the
dielectric.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, accepted versio
Point defect dynamics in bcc metals
We present an analysis of the time evolution of self-interstitial atom and
vacancy (point defect) populations in pure bcc metals under constant
irradiation flux conditions. Mean-field rate equations are developed in
parallel to a kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) model. When only considering the
elementary processes of defect production, defect migration, recombination and
absorption at sinks, the kMC model and rate equations are shown to be
equivalent and the time evolution of the point defect populations is analyzed
using simple scaling arguments. We show that the typically large mismatch of
the rates of interstitial and vacancy migration in bcc metals can lead to a
vacancy population that grows as the square root of time. The vacancy cluster
size distribution under both irreversible and reversible attachment can be
described by a simple exponential function. We also consider the effect of
highly mobile interstitial clusters and apply the model with parameters
appropriate for vanadium and iron.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Pathologies: A Narrative Review
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may influence the integrity and stability of the vascular endothelium. The association of an altered total EPC number and function with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors (CVF) was discussed; however, their role and applicability as biomarkers for clinical purposes have not yet been defined. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms in CVD. The assessment of endothelial dysfunction in vivo remains a major challenge, especially for a clinical evaluation of the need for therapeutic interventions or for primary prevention of CVD. One of the main challenges is the heterogeneity of this particular cell population. Endothelial cells (EC) can become senescent, and the majority of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) show evidence of apoptosis or necrosis. There are a few viable CECs that have properties similar to those of an endothelial progenitor cell. To use EPC levels as a biomarker for vascular function and cumulative cardiovascular risk, a correct definition of their phenotype, as well as an update on the clinical application and practicability of current isolation methods, are an urgent priority.
Keywords: biomarker; cardiovascular disease; endothelial cells; progenitor
Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Pathologies: A Narrative Review
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may influence the integrity and stability of the vascular endothelium. The association of an altered total EPC number and function with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors (CVF) was discussed; however, their role and applicability as biomarkers for clinical purposes have not yet been defined. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms in CVD. The assessment of endothelial dysfunction in vivo remains a major challenge, especially for a clinical evaluation of the need for therapeutic interventions or for primary prevention of CVD. One of the main challenges is the heterogeneity of this particular cell population. Endothelial cells (EC) can become senescent, and the majority of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) show evidence of apoptosis or necrosis. There are a few viable CECs that have properties similar to those of an endothelial progenitor cell. To use EPC levels as a biomarker for vascular function and cumulative cardiovascular risk, a correct definition of their phenotype, as well as an update on the clinical application and practicability of current isolation methods, are an urgent priority
Observation of a New Type of Low Frequency Waves at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
We report on magnetic field measurements made in the innermost coma of
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in its low activity state. Quasi-coherent,
large-amplitude (), compressional magnetic field
oscillations at 40 mHz dominate the immediate plasma environment of the
nucleus. This differs from previously studied comet-interaction regions where
waves at the cometary ion gyro-frequencies are the main feature. Thus classical
pick-up ion driven instabilities are unable to explain the observations. We
propose a cross-field current instability associated with newborn cometary ion
currents as a possible source mechanism.Comment: 6 pages, 3 Figure
Representing medical decision making strategies in a CBR system
Paper presented at the Sixth German Workshop on Case-Based Reasoning: Foundations, Systems, and Applications, Rostock, Germany.This paper describes and compares the development of two
organizational structures to represent medical decision making strategies. We
generate the solution to a new problem by applying a previous solution from a
medical record in a CBR system that performs decision-making about hypertension
drug therapy. The case libraries are structured in accordance with the approaches of
flat memory and discrimination network. Cases are originated by a retrospective
knowledge acquisition about 47 patients who underwent ambulatory care of a
university hospital. The similarity-based retrieval employed in the flat structure
resembles what physicians do when handling their routine cases of arterial
hypertension. Physicians identify a similar case in memory by recognizing the
content embedded in the new situation, like a script. The hypothetico-deductive
method for searching the case solution follows a similar strategy to the one
represented in the prioritized discrimination network. The inclusion of cases in the
case library of the discrimination network required more complex procedures than
in the case library of the flat memory. These two decision support systems could
contribute significantly to patient care. The system we are researching on has
educational purposes as well
- âŠ