Epistemic and social scripts in computer-supported collaborative learning

Collaborative learning in computer-supported learning environments typically means that learners work on tasks together, discussing their individual perspectives via text-based media or videoconferencing, and consequently acquire knowledge. Collaborative learning, however, is often sub-optimal with respect to how learners work on the concepts that are supposed to be learned and how learners interact with each other. One possibility to improve collaborative learning environments is to conceptualize epistemic scripts, which specify how learners work on a given task, and social scripts, which structure how learners interact with each other. In this contribution, two studies will be reported that investigated the effects of epistemic and social scripts in a text-based computer-supported learning environment and in a videoconferencing learning environment in order to foster the individual acquisition of knowledge. In each study the factors ‘epistemic script’ and ‘social script’ have been independently varied in a 2×2-factorial design. 182 university students of Educational Science participated in these two studies. Results of both studies show that social scripts can be substantially beneficial with respect to the individual acquisition of knowledge, whereas epistemic scripts apparently do not to lead to the expected effects

Road Transportable Analytical Laboratory system. Phase 1

This developmental effort clearly shows that a Road Transportable Analytical Laboratory System is a worthwhile and achievable goal. The RTAL is designed to fully analyze (radioanalytes, and organic and inorganic chemical analytes) 20 samples per day at the highest levels of quality assurance and quality control. It dramatically reduces the turnaround time for environmental sample analysis from 45 days (at a central commercial laboratory) to 1 day. At the same time each RTAL system will save the DOE over $12 million per year in sample analysis costs compared to the costs at a central commercial laboratory. If RTAL systems were used at the eight largest DOE facilities (at Hanford, Savannah River, Fernald, Oak Ridge, Idaho, Rocky Flats, Los Alamos, and the Nevada Test Site), the annual savings would be$96,589,000. The DOE`s internal study of sample analysis needs projects 130,000 environmental samples requiring analysis in FY 1994, clearly supporting the need for the RTAL system. The cost and time savings achievable with the RTAL system will accelerate and improve the efficiency of cleanup and remediation operations throughout the DOE complex

Acceptability of a cognitive behavior therapy intervention to implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients

We aimed to assess cardiac patients, acceptance of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT); determine if gender was associated with treatment engagement (session attendance and utilization of intervention strategies); and relate engagement to outcome. Of 193 patients receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) who agreed to participate in a randomized controlled trial, 96 were randomized to CBT. Measures of treatment acceptance indicated that most participants rated counseling as “very to extremely helpful.” Gender was associated with only one treatment engagement index. Symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress improved from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up. Number of counseling session attendance was not associated with outcome. Reported utilization of two of the six CBT strategies (modifying faulty thinking, correcting cognitive distortions) was associated with a better treatment outcome. In conclusion, a CBT intervention was well received by ICD patients. There was some indication that treatment engagement related to better treatment outcomes.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SHHRC

Platelets induce free and phospholipid-esterified 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid generation in colon cancer cells by delivering 12-lipoxygenase

Platelets promote tumor metastasis by inducing promalignant phenotypes in cancer cells and directly contributing to cancer-related throm-botic complications. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells, which confers high-grade malignancy. 12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) generated by platelet-type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) is considered a key modulator of cancer metastasis through unknown mechanisms. In plate-lets, 12-HETE can be esterified into plasma membrane phospholipids (PLs), which drive thrombosis. Using cocultures of human platelets and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (line HT29) and LC-MS/MS, we investigated the impact of platelets on cancer cell biosynthesis of 12S-HETE and its esterification into PLs and whether platelet ability to transfer its mo-lecular cargo might play a role. To this aim, we performed coculture experiments with CFSE[5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester]-loaded platelets. HT29 cells did not generate 12S-HETE or express 12-LOX. However, they ac-quired the capacity to produce 12S-HETE mainly esterified in plasmalogen phospholipid forms following the uptake of platelet-derived medium-sized EVs (mEVs) expressing 12-LOX. 12-LOX was detected in plasma mEV of patients with adenomas/ adenocarcinomas, implying their potential to deliver the protein to cancer cells in vivo. In cancer cells exposed to platelets, endogenous but not exogenous 12S-HETE contributed to changes in EMT gene expression, mitigated by three structurally unrelated 12-LOX inhibitors. In conclusion, we showed that platelets induce the generation of primarily esteri-fied 12-HETE in colon cancer cells following mEV-mediated delivery of 12-LOX. The modification of cancer cell phospholipids by 12-HETE may functionally impact cancer cell biology and represent a novel target for anticancer agent development

Nest Architecture, Colony Productivity, and Duration of Immature Stages in a Social Wasp, Mischocyttarus consimilis

This study examined the nest architecture, colony productivity, and duration of the immature stages of the social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikáán (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The study was carried out under field conditions. Nests of M. consimilis consist of a single uncovered comb, which is attached to the substratum by a single petiole. The data for the nest architecture showed a positive and significant correlation between the size of the comb and the diameter of the petiole, and also between the height and diameter of the cells. The nests were constructed on horizontal, vertical, and sloping substrata with no apparent preference for a specific orientation. The colonies produced 72.9 cells and 40.7 adults on average. The mean frequency of productive cells was 33.3%, and 19.4% of the cells were reused. The mean duration of the immature stages combined was 69.7 days and the egg, larval, and pupal stages had mean durations of 14.9, 36.0, and 18.8 days, respectively. The duration of each immature stage was significantly shorter in the warmhumid season, and the larval and pupal stages were shorter during the colony pre-emergence stage

Ciudadanía, sociedad civil y participación en políticas públicas: la experiencia de los foros vecinales de seguridad en el municipio de La Plata

The article presents results of a study about citizen participation in public safety policies in the municipality of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The work focuses on the analysis of the participation practices observed in Community Safety Forums and on the meaning that the forum members attribute to these forums. The study utilized qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, such as participant observation, interviews with key informants and interviews with Forum members. One important conclusion is that the participation does not take advantage of all the public policy possibilities, and that the forums thus express a form of “limited citizenship”. An example of this is the self-identification of the forum members as ‘neighbors’, a category that can be seen as moral and depoliticized. Finally, it is hoped that the article can support empiric research and the debate about the political meaning of participation of civil society in public policies

Can the Mechanism for π1→ηπ,η′π\pi_1\to \eta\pi,\eta'\pi Hybrid Decays be Detected?

Two mechanisms for the $\pi_1$ ($J^{PC}=1^{-+}$) hybrid meson decay processes $\pi_1\to\eta\pi,\eta'\pi$ are investigated. These mechanisms are applied to $\phi\to\eta\gamma,\eta'\gamma$ and $J/\psi\to\eta\gamma,\eta'\gamma$ decays to illustrate the validity of the decay mechanisms and to obtain independent information on the coupling of $\eta,\eta'$ to quark and gluonic operators. From this information, we find that $\Gamma(\pi_1\to\eta\pi)/\Gamma(\pi_1\to\eta'\pi)$ is substantially different in the two decay mechanisms, and hence future experimental measurements of this ratio will provide valuable information for substantiating the hybrid nature of these states and for determining the mechanism for these hybrid decays.Comment: 5 pages, revtex, 1 eps figure embedded in manuscript. Analysis and references extended in v

QCD Sum Rule Analysis of the Decays B→Kℓ+ℓ−B \to K \ell^+ \ell^- and B→K∗ℓ+ℓ−B \to K^* \ell^+ \ell^-

We use QCD sum rules to calculate the hadronic matrix elements governing the rare decays $B \to K \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $B \to K^* \ell^+ \ell^-$ induced by the flavour changing neutral current $b \to s$ transition. We also study relations among semileptonic and rare $B \to K^{(*)}$ decay form factors. The analysis of the invariant mass distribution of the lepton pair in $B \to K^{(*)} \ell^+ \ell^-$ and of the angular asymmetry in $B \to K^* \ell^+ \ell^-$ provides us with interesting tests of the Standard Model and its extensions.Comment: 26 pages REVTEX + 7 figures. Some typos corrected, figure 5 and 7 modified. This version will appear on Physical Review