Legal Crib Sheets: Promoting Deep Levels of Processing and Learning

The article demonstrates that legal crib sheets encourage deep levels of information processing, an activity that should enhance students\u27 learning and long-term memory. Levels of processing theory states that memory processes exist on a depth continuum; comprehension and synthesis are examples of deep cognitive processes that enhance memory, whereas simple repetition or examining surface characteristics of words are examples of shallow cognitive processes (Craik & Lockhart, 1972). The use of legal crib sheets allowed students to attain significantly higher overall mean test scores while not affecting their long-term retention of the material. Deeper levels of processing occurred because the students manipulated course infOrmation in preparing legal crib sheets

Evaporation of a packet of quantized vorticity

A recent experiment has confirmed the existence of quantized turbulence in superfluid He3-B and suggested that turbulence is inhomogenous and spreads away from the region around the vibrating wire where it is created. To interpret the experiment we study numerically the diffusion of a packet of quantized vortex lines which is initially confined inside a small region of space. We find that reconnections fragment the packet into a gas of small vortex loops which fly away. We determine the time scale of the process and find that it is in order of magnitude agreement with the experiment.Comment: figure 1a,b,c and d, figure2, figure

Health research systems in change: the case of ‘Push the Pace’ in the National Institute for Health Research

Background Those running well-organised health research systems are likely to be alert for ways in which they might increase the quality of the services they provide and address any problems identified. This is important because the efficiency of the research system can have a major impact on how long it takes for new treatments to be developed and reach patients. This opinion piece reflects on the experience and learning of the United Kingdom-based National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) when it implemented continuous improvement activity to improve its processes. Discussion This paper describes the structure and work of the NIHR and why, despite is successes as a health research system and ongoing local continuous improvement, it believed in the value of an organisation-wide continuous improvement activity. It did this by implementing an approach called ‘Push the Pace’. Initially, the organisation focused on reducing the amount of time it took for research to transition from an early concept to evidence that changes lives. This scrutiny enabled the NIHR to realise further areas of improvement it could make – additional goals were increased transparency, process simplification, and improved customer and stakeholder experience. We discuss our experience of Push the Pace with reference to literature on continuous improvement. Conclusion Continuous improvement is a cycle, an activity that is done constantly and over time, rather than an act or linear activity (such as Push the Pace). We believe that the work of Push the Pace has initiated a strong commitment to a culture of continuous improvement in the NIHR. This is significant because culture change is widely recognised as immensely challenging, particularly in such a large and distributed organisation. However, our biggest challenge will be to enable all staff and stakeholders of the NIHR to participate in the continuous improvement cycle

Isolement et identification de microorganismes indigènes de cacaoyères en côte d’ivoire et mise en évidence de leurs effets antagonistes vis-àvis de Phytophthora palmivora, agent de la pourriture brune des cabosses.

En Côte d’Ivoire, avec des pertes de production qui avoisinent 60 % dans certaines régions, la lutte contre la pourriture brune des cabosses du cacaoyer est devenue une priorité. La stratégie préconisée par la recherche est le développement d’une méthode de lutte intégrée, peu onéreuse et compatible avec les préoccupations environnementales. L’une des approches privilégiées de cette stratégie est l’utilisation des antagonistes naturels de Phytophthora sp. Dans cette optique, la biodiversité a été explorée dans l’écosystème de la cacaoyère. Des champignons et des bactéries ont été isolés à partir des sols sous cacaoyères et des cabosses. L’action antagoniste des champignons sur P. palmivora a été évaluée in vitro ainsi que la sensibilité foliaire à P. palmivora sur des disques de feuilles de cacaoyers en présence des bactéries. Les résultats montrent qu’en culture mixte avec P. palmivora, des isolats de Trichoderma sp ont montré un effet fongistatique et fongicide. Une réduction significative des notes de sensibilité selon l’échelle de Blaha a été obtenue avec deux bactéries, appartenant au genre Bacillus. L’étude se poursuit avec l’évaluation de l’efficacité des antagonistes naturels de Phytophthora sp en milieu réel sur le cacaoyer.In Côte d’Ivoire, yield losses due to Phytophthora sp. reach of about 60% in some cocoa growing areas; therefore, the control of cocoa black pod disease has become a priority. The management strategy is based on thedevelopment of an integrated control method which is cost effective and environmentally sound. The emphasis has been put on the use of natural antagonists of Phytophthora sp. Thus, the microbial biodiversity in the cocoa ecosystem has been explored. Fungi and bacteria have been isolated from pods and soil in cocoa farms. The antagonistic effects of these micro-organisms on Phytophthora sp. have been assessed in vitro. In addition, the leaf susceptibility to P. palmivora was assessed on cocoa leaf disks in the presence of the bacteria. The results showed that in a mix culture with P. palmivora, some isolates of Trichoderma sp. showed fungicidal effects. Two bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus significantly reduced cocoa leaf susceptibility to P. palmivora. The study will continue to assess the efficacy of the potentially effective micro-organisms in the field for the control of the black pod disease.Mots clés : Cacaoyer ; pourriture brune ; Phytophthora ; Trichoderma ; antagoniste

Editorial

‘A new spring, and a new sound’, so begins a famous Dutch poem. Will the birds sing differently, as the poet wishes in the next line? BKI, now 178 years old—surely one of the longest-running journals of Southeast Asian studies in the world, and known around its original home, the KITLV (Royal Institute), as ‘the Old Dame’—starts 2022 with a remarkable new development. For this reason, the first issue of the year opens with an Editorial. After generations of sound and steady editing under the direction of two scholars, one in the role of Chief Editor and one as Managing Editor, from now on, BKI will be run by an expanded editorial team of seven scholars drawn both from the geographical region, Southeast Asia, and the disciplines in the humanities and social sciences that BKI is dedicated to examining..

Specific heat of the Kelvin modes in low temperature superfluid turbulence

It is pointed out that the specific heat of helical vortex line excitations, in low temperature superfluid turbulence experiments carried out in helium II, can be of the same order as the specific heat of the phononic quasiparticles. The ratio of Kelvin mode and phonon specific heats scales with L_0 T^{-5/2}, where L_0 represents the smoothed line length per volume within the vortex tangle, such that the contribution of the vortex mode specific heat should be observable for L_0 = 10^6-10^8 cm^{-2}, and at temperatures which are of order 1-10 mK.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

Hypocrea rufa/Trichoderma viride: a reassessment, and description of five closely related species with and without warted conidia

The type species of the genus Hypocrea (Hypocreaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota, Fungi), H. rufa, is re-defined and epitypified using a combination of phenotype (morphology of teleomorphs and anamorphs, and characteristics in culture) and phylogenetic analyses of the translation-elongation factor 1α gene. Its anamorph, T. viride, the type species of Trichoderma, is re-described and epitypified. Eidamia viridescens is combined as Trichoderma viridescens and is recognised as one of the most morphologically and phylogenetically similar relatives of T. viride. Its teleomorph is newly described as Hypocrea viridescens. Contrary to frequent citations of H. rufa and T. viride in the literature, this species is relatively rare. Although both T. viride and T. viridescens have a wide geographic distribution, their greatest genetic diversity appears to be in Europe and North America. Hypocrea vinosa is characterised and its anamorph, T. vinosum sp. nov., is described. Conidia of T. vinosum are subglobose and warted. The new species T. gamsii is proposed. It shares eidamia-like morphology of conidiophores with T. viridescens, but it has smooth, ellipsoidal conidia that have the longest L/W ratio that we have seen in Trichoderma. Trichoderma scalesiae, an endophyte of trunks of Scalesia pedunculata in the Galapagos Islands, is described as new. It only produces conidia on a low-nutrient agar to which filter paper has been added. Additional phylogenetically distinct clades are recognised and provisionally delimited from the species here described. Trichoderma neokoningii, a T. koningii-like species, is described from a collection made in Peru on a fruit of Theobroma cacao infected with Moniliophthora roreri

Lumped Parameter Models of the Central Nervous System for VIIP Research

INTRODUCTION: Current long-duration missions to the International Space Station and future exploration-class missions beyond low-Earth orbit, such as to Mars and asteroids, expose astronauts to increased risk of Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) syndrome [1]. It has been hypothesized that the headward shift of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and blood in microgravity may cause significant elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP), which in turn induces VIIP syndrome through biomechanical pathways [1, 2]. However, there is insufficient evidence to confirm this hypothesis. In this light, we are developing lumped-parameter models of fluid transport in the central nervous system (CNS) as a means to simulate the influence of microgravity on ICP. The CNS models will also be used in concert with the lumped parameter and finite element models of the eye described in the realted IWS abstracts submitted by Nelson et al., Feola et al. and Ethier et al. METHODS: We have developed a nine compartment CNS model (Figure 1) capable of both time-dependent and steady state fluid transport simulations, based on the works of Stevens et al. [3]. The breakdown of compartments within the model includes: vascular (3), CSF (2), brain (1) and extracranial (3). The boundary pressure in the Central Arteries [A] node is prescribed using an oscillating pressure function PA(t) simulating the carotid pulsatile pressure wave as developed by Linninger et al. [4]. For each time step, pressures are integrated through time using an adaptive-timestep 4th and 5th order Runga-Kutta solver. Once pressures are found, constitutive equations are used to solve for flowrates (Q) between each compartment. In addition to fluid flow between the different compartments, compliance (C) interactions between neighboring compartments are represented. We are also developing a second CNS model based on the works of Linninger et al. [4] which takes a more granular approach to represent the interactions of the intracranial and spinal compartments with the inclusion of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins, venous sinus, and ventricles. The flow through the arteries, veins and CSF compartments are governed by continuity, momentum and distensibility balance equations. Furthermore, unlike the Stevens et al. approach, the Monro-Kellie doctrine of constant cranial volume and the bi-phasic nature of the brain parenchyma are implemented. These features appear to be more consistent with the physiologic and anatomical behavior of the CNS, and follow a modeling philosophy similar to the lumped parameter eye model that is intended to be integrated with the CNS model. However, Linningers approach has never been implemented to include hydrostatic gradient and microgravity simulation capabilities. Therefore, we aim at implement this modeling approach for spaceflight simulations and assess its overall applicability to VIIP research. OBJECTIVES: We will present verification and validation test results for both models, as well as head-to-head comparison to explore their strengths and limitations with respect to mathematical implementation and physiological significance for VIIP research. In doing so, we hope to provide some guidance to the HRP research community on how to appropriately leverage lumped parameter models for space biomedical research

Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment Plus (ETAT+): adapting training to strengthen quality improvement and task-sharing in emergency paediatric care in Sierra Leone

BACKGROUND: Over the past 25 years Sierra Leone has made progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, but the burden of preventable paediatric deaths remains high. Further progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require greater strengthening of the health care system, including hospital care for perinatal and paediatric conditions. Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment Plus (ETAT+) may offer a useful tool. METHODS: The five-day ETAT+ course was adapted as a six-month programme of in-situ training and mentoring integrated with patient flow and service delivery improvements in 14 regional and district government hospitals across the country. Nurses were trained to carry out the initial resuscitation and assessment of the sick paediatric patient, and to administer the first dose of medication per protocol. The course was for all clinical staff; most participants were nurses. RESULTS: The intervention was associated with an improvement in the quality of paediatric care and a reduction in mortality. In 2017 mortality decreased by 33.1%, from 14.5% at baseline to 9.7% after six months of the intervention. Mortality at the start of the 2018 intervention was 8.5% and reduced over six months to 6.5%. Care quality indicators showed improvement across the two intervention periods, with some evidence of sustained effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adapted ETAT+ training with in-situ mentoring alongside improved patient flow and service delivery supports improvements in the quality of paediatric care in Sierra Leonean hospitals. ETAT+ may provide an affordable framework for improving the quality of secondary paediatric care in Sierra Leone and a model of nurse-led resuscitation may allow for prompt and timely emergency paediatric care in Sierra Leonean hospitals where there are fewer physicians and other resources for care