The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on TVET students’ learning process: A case of one Polytechnic College in Harare

A series of transformations have taken place in the education system due to COVID-19 pandemic. This research is aimed at determining the impact of COVID-19 on the learning process with special reference to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research approach was used involving a multiple case study research design. The study sample included two Clothing and Textile Technology (CTT), two Building Technology (BT), and two Food Technology (FT) students; and three lecturers at one selected Polytechnic College in Harare. Participants were purposively sampled. Data was collected through interviews with lecturers, focus group discussions with students and a review of uploaded materials. Thematic data analysis approach was used followed by a cross-case analysis of the three subject areas. The study established that the most affected subjects were CTT and BT. However, little effect was experienced in FT. The researchers therefore recommend a methodological shift from the traditional instructional designs to modern methods that address the prevailing conditions brought about by the pandemic. This requires all educational stakeholders’ ingenuity to institute feasible methods that would cater for all technical subjects in the transfer of the conventional educational systems to blended learning

Probing New Physics through mu-e Universality in K->lnu

The recent NA48/2 improvement on R_K=Gamma(K->e nu_e)/Gamma(K->mu nu_mu) emphasizes the role of K_l2 decays in probing the mu-e universality. Supersymmetric (SUSY) extensions of the Standard Model can exhibit mu-e non-universal contributions. Their origin is twofold: those deriving from lepton flavor conserving couplings are subdominant with respect to those arising from lepton flavor violating (LFV) sources. We show that mu-e non-universality in K_l2 is quite effective in constraining relevant regions of SUSY models with LFV (for instance, supergravities with a see-saw mechanism for neutrino masses). A comparison with analogous bounds coming from tau LFV decays proves the relevance of the measurement of R_K to probe LFV in SUSY.Comment: v2: 5 pages, 1 figure. Comments and 2 references adde

Gamma Ray Constraints on Flavor Violating Asymmetric Dark Matter

We show how cosmic gamma rays can be used to constrain models of asymmetric Dark Matter decaying into lepton pairs by violating flavor. First of all we require the models to explain the anomalies in the charged cosmic rays measured by PAMELA, FERMI and HESS; performing combined fits we determine the allowed values of the Dark Matter mass and lifetime. For these models, we then determine the constraints coming from the measurement of the isotropic gamma-ray background by FERMI for a complete set of lepton flavor violating primary modes and over a range of DM masses from 100 GeV to 10 TeV. We find that the FERMI constraints rule out the flavor violating asymmetric Dark Matter interpretation of the charged cosmic ray anomalies.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. v2: constraints derivation slightly modified, conclusions unchanged; some clarifications and some references added; matches version published on JCA

Addiction as a brain disease? A meta-regression comparison of error-related brain potentials between addiction and neurological diseases

The notion that addiction is a “brain disorder” is widespread. However, there is a lack of evidence on the degree of disorder in terms of error processing in addiction. The present meta-analysis aimed at shedding light on this by comparing error-processes with populations with well-recognized brain disorders. We included 17 addiction and 32 neurological disorder studies that compared error-related negativity (ERN) or error positivity (Pe) amplitudes/latencies between experimental and healthy-control groups. Meta-regression analyses were performed for the intergroup comparison and other moderators. Both diagnoses were accompanied by a diminished ERN amplitude, although the degree of impairment was marginally larger in neurological disorders. Neurological disorders presented shorter ERN latencies than addiction when compared with controls. The two groups did not differ in Pe amplitude/latency. Except for a reduced ERN amplitude found along with aging, no other moderator contributed significantly to divergent findings about these four ERP indexes. The results support the brain disease model of addiction, while stressing the importance of quantifying the degrees of brain dysfunctions as a next step.</p

A Revised Scheme to Compute Horizontal Covariances in an Oceanographic 3D-VAR Assimilation System.

We propose an improvement of an oceanographic three dimensional variational assimilation scheme (3D-VAR), named OceanVar, by introducing a recursive filter (RF) with the third order of accuracy (3rd-RF), instead of an RFwith first order of accuracy (1st-RF), to approximate horizontal Gaussian covariances. An advantage of the proposed scheme is that the CPU's time can be substantially reduced with benefits on the large scale applications. Experiments estimating the impact of 3rd-RF are performed by assimilating oceanographic data in two realistic oceanographic applications. The results evince benefits in terms of assimilation process computational time, accuracy of the Gaussian correlation modeling, and show that the 3rd-RF is a suitable tool for operational data assimilation

Particle fluxes in the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins: the role of ocean vertical velocities

This paper analyzes the relationship between deep sedimentary fluxes and ocean current vertical velocities in an offshore area of the Ionian Sea, the deepest basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediment trap data are collected at 500 m and 2800 m depth in two successive moorings covering the period September 1999–May 2001. A tight coupling is observed between the upper and deep traps and the estimated particle sinking rates are more than 200 m day−1. The current vertical velocity field is computed from a 1/16°×1/16° Ocean General Circulation Model simulation and from the wind stress curl. Current vertical velocities are larger and more variable than Ekman vertical velocities, yet the general patterns are alike. Current vertical velocities are generally smaller than 1 m day−1: we therefore exclude a direct effect of downward velocities in determining high sedimentation rates. However we find that upward velocities in the subsurface layers of the water column are positively correlated with deep particle fluxes. We thus hypothesize that upwelling would produce an increase in upper ocean nutrient levels – thus stimulating primary production and grazing – a few weeks before an enhanced vertical flux is found in the sediment traps. High particle sedimentation rates may be attained by means of rapidly sinking fecal pellets produced by gelatinous macro-zooplankton. Other sedimentation mechanisms, such as dust deposition, are also considered in explaining large pulses of deep particle fluxes. The fast sinking rates estimated in this study might be an evidence of the efficiency of the biological pump in sequestering organic carbon from the surface layers of the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins

Grand Unification of Quark and Lepton FCNCs

In the context of Supersymmetric Grand Unified theories with soft breaking terms arising at the Planck scale, it is generally possible to link flavor changing neutral current and CP violating processes occurring in the leptonic and hadronic sectors. We study the correlation between flavor changing squark and slepton mass insertions in models \`a la SU(5). We show that the constraints coming from lepton flavor violation exhibit a strong impact on CP-violating B decays.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Particle fluxes in the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins: the role of ocean vertical velocities

This paper analyzes the relationship between deep sedimentary fluxes and ocean current vertical velocities in an offshore area of the Ionian Sea, the deepest basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediment trap data are collected at 500 m and 2800 m depth in two successive moorings covering the period September 1999 – May 2001. A tight coupling is observed between the upper and deep traps and the deduced particle settling rates are larger than 200 m/day. The current vertical velocity field is computed from a high resolution Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) simulation and from the wind stress curl. Values are generally smaller than 1 m/day: we therefore exclude a direct effect of downward vertical velocities in determining sedimentation rates. However we find that upward vertical velocities in the subsurface layers of the water column are significantly correlated with deep particle fluxes. We thus hypothesize that upwelling would produce an increase in upper ocean nutrient levels - thus stimulating primary productivity and grazing - a few weeks before an enhanced vertical flux is found in the sediment traps. The role of ocean vertical velocities on deep particle fluxes would therefore be indirect. High particle sedimentation rates may be attained by means of rapidly sinking fecal pellets produced by gelatinous macro-zooplankton organisms. Other sedimentation mechanisms, such as dust deposition, are also taken into account in explaining large pulses of deep particle fluxes

Le malattie infiammatorie immuno-mediate (IMID) di interesse internistico: fisiopatologia, aspetti clinici e prospettive di terapia

Le IMID: inquadramento introduttivo A. Fontanella, G. Uomo Infiammazione e IMID T. d’Errico, M. Laccetti Malattia IgG4-relata C. Mastrobuoni, G. Uomo IMID in ematologia F. Rezzonico, A. Mazzone IMID in reumatologia A. Parisi, R. Buono, R. Russo, G. Uomo IMIDs in neurologia G.T. Maniscalco, C. Florio IMID in diabetologia R. Nicosia, C. Ricordi IMIDs in endocrinologia M.R. Poggiano, V. Nuzzo Malattie infiammatorie intestinali M. Salice, L. Calandrini, C. Praticò, M. Mazza, A. Calafiore, G. Carini, C. Calabrese, A. Belluzzi, F. Rizzello, P. Gionchetti, M. Campieri La malattia celiaca nel terzo millennio: nuove prospettive su patogenesi, clinica, diagnosi e terapia G. Caio, F. Giancola, R. De Giorgio, U. Volta Malattie epato-biliari autoimmuni M. Visconti, L. Fontanella, G. Marino Marsilia Pancreatiti autoimmuni P.G. Rabitti, R. Boni IMID e tumori F. Gallucci La sindrome infiammatoria da ricostruzione immune I. Ronga, G. Uomo Le malattie autoinfiammatorie M. Gattorno, A. Brucato Il rischio cardio-vascolare nelle IMIDs A. Fontanella, P. Gnerre, R. Nardi Quale ruolo degli inibitori delle PCSK9 in Medicina Interna nella prevenzione cardio-vascolare in alternativa alle terapie tradizionali? P. Gnerre, P. Zuccheri, M. Campanini, G. Pinna, R. Nardi Trombo-embolismo venoso e malattie autoimmuni sistemiche A. Fontanella, P. Gnerre, R. Nardi IMID nell’anziano: cenni sul trattamento M. Masina Farmaci biosimilari e farmaci innovativi in reumatologia: quale futuro? M. Todoerti, C. Montecucc

Particle fluxes in the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins: the role of ocean vertical velocities

This paper analyzes the relationship between deep sedimentary fluxes and ocean current vertical velocities in an offshore area of the Ionian Sea, the deepest basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediment trap data are collected at 500m and 2800m depth in two successive moorings covering the period September 1999–May 2001. A tight coupling is observed between the upper and deep traps and the estimated particle sinking rates are more than 200mday−1. The current vertical velocity field is computed from a 1/16 ×1/16 Ocean General Circulation Model simulation and from the wind stress curl. Current vertical velocities are larger and more variable than Ekman vertical velocities, yet the general patterns are alike. Current vertical velocities are generally smaller than 1mday−1: we therefore exclude a direct effect of downward velocities in determining high sedimentation rates. However we find that upward velocities in the subsurface layers of the water column are positively correlated with deep particle fluxes. We thus hypothesize that upwelling would produce an increase in upper ocean nutrient levels – thus stimulating primary production and grazing – a few weeks before an enhanced vertical flux is found in the sediment traps. High particle sedimentation rates may be attained by means of rapidly sinking fecal pellets produced by gelatinous macro-zooplankton. Other sedimentation mechanisms, such as dust deposition, are also considered in explaining large pulses of deep particle fluxes. The fast sinking rates estimated in this study might be an evi- Correspondence to: L. Patara ([email protected]) dence of the efficiency of the biological pump in sequestering organic carbon from the surface layers of the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins