Learning by volunteer computing, thinking and gaming: What and how are volunteers learning by participating in Virtual Citizen Science?

Citizen Science (CS) refers to a form of research collaboration that engages volunteers without formal scientific training in contributing to empirical scientific projects. Virtual Citizen Science (VCS) projects engage participants in online tasks. VCS has demonstrated its usefulness for research, however little is known about its learning potential for volunteers. This paper reports on research exploring the learning outcomes and processes in VCS. In order to identify different kinds of learning, 32 exploratory interviews of volunteers were conducted in three different VCS projects. We found six main learning outcomes related to different participants' activities in the project. Volunteers learn on four dimensions that are directly related to the scope of the VCS project: they learn at the task/game level, acquire pattern recognition skills, on-topic content knowledge, and improve their scientific literacy. Thanks to indirect opportunities of VCS projects, volunteers learn on two additional dimensions: off topic knowledge and skills, and personal development. Activities through which volunteers learn can be categorized in two levels: at a micro (task/game) level that is direct participation to the task, and at a macro level, i.e. use of project documentation, personal research on the Internet, and practicing specific roles in project communities. Both types are influenced by interactions with others in chat or forums. Most learning happens to be informal, unstructured and social. Volunteers do not only learn from others by interacting with scientists and their peers, but also by working for others: they gain knowledge, new status and skills by acting as active participants, moderators, editors, translators, community managers, etc. in a project community. This research highlights these informal and social aspects in adult learning and science education and also stresses the importance for learning through the indirect opportunities provided by the project: the main one being the opportunity to participate and progress in a project community, according to one's tastes and skills

Advances and challenges in the treatment of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease with fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigability. Standard immunomodulatory treatment may fail to achieve sufficient improvement with minimal symptom expression or remission of myasthenic symptoms, despite adequate dosing and duration of treatment. Treatment-resistant MG poses a challenge for both patients and treating neurologists and requires new therapeutic approaches. The spectrum of upcoming immunotherapies that more specifically address distinct targets of the main immunological players in MG pathogenesis includes T-cell directed monoclonal antibodies that block the intracellular cascade associated with T-cell activation, monoclonal antibodies directed against key B-cell molecules, as well as monoclonal antibodies against the fragment crystallizable neonatal receptor (FcRn), cytokines and transmigration molecules, and also drugs that inhibit distinct elements of the complement system activated by the pathogenic MG antibodies. The review gives an overview on new drugs being evaluated in still ongoing or recently finished controlled clinical trials and drugs of potential benefit in MG due to their mechanisms of action and positive effects in other autoimmune disorders. Also, the challenges associated with the new therapeutic options are discussed briefly.publishedVersio

The Ursinus Weekly, April 25, 1968

Two concerts, parties to highlight Spring IF weekend, May 1-5 • Student body to honor Scott Pierce; Memorial concert held on May 1 • Large UC audience attends Mme. Agi Jambor concert • Spring festival: Capers and queen • YM-YWCA and USGA elect executive officers • 13 seniors named Chapter Scholars • Editorial • Student strike for peace • Exchange • New album poses many problems for F. Scott Pierce memorial concert: Technical feat; Album hot item • Senior English majors given comprehensive • SFARC minutes • UC students tutor in local program • The Metropolitans: The road to paradise • Evening School alumni assoc. becomes active • Philadelphia radio stations plug concert and album • S. Ross Doughty, \u2768 honored by N.D.E.A. • State Legislature honors Pancoast • Ursinus trackmen unleash onslaught, vault victory streak to seven in a row • Baseball nine streaks to early season wins • Tennis team wins first • Campus Chest Road Rallye • Greek gleanings • Letter to the editor: Senior blasts explanation of new faces policy • Committee asks for new courseshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1188/thumbnail.jp

Quantum dot micropillar cavities with quality factors exceeding 250,000

We acknowledge funding the BMBF within the projects QuaHL-Rep (16BQ1042) and Q.com-H project and by the State of Bavaria.We report on the spectroscopic investigation of quantum dot micropillar cavities with unprecedented quality factors. We observe a pronounced dependency of the quality factor on the measurement scheme and find that significantly larger quality factors can be extracted in photoreflectance compared to photoluminescence measurements. While the photoluminescence spectra of the microcavity resonances feature a Lorentzian lineshape and Q-factors up to 184,000 (±10,000), the reflectance spectra have a Fano-shaped asymmetry and feature significantly higher Q-factors in excess of 250,000 resulting from a full saturation of the embedded emitters. The very high quality factors in our cavities promote strong light-matter coupling with visibilities exceeding 0.5 for a single QD coupled to the cavity mode.PostprintPeer reviewe

Two-photon interference from remote quantum dots with inhomogeneously broadened linewidths

This work was financially supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via the project QuaHL-Rep and by the State of Bavaria.In this paper, we study the influence of quasiresonant and nonresonant excitation on the interference properties of single photons emitted from quantum dots (QDs). The quasiresonant excitation scheme leads to an increase of interference visibility of photons emitted from the same QD to 69% compared to 12% for nonresonant excitation. Furthermore, we demonstrate quantum interference of photons emitted from separate QDs which are simultaneously excited into their p shell. We can readily extract a two-photon interference visibility as high as (39 ± 2)% for nonpostselected coincidences exceeding the predicted value based on coherence and radiative decay times of the quantum dot emission (similar to 25%). We account for this observation by treating the emission of both quantum dots as inhomogeneously broadened ensembles of Fourier-limited photons and observe good congruence between experiment and model.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Course of neuropsychological impairment during Natalizumab associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

BACKGROUND Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) - an opportunistic infection of the central nervous system with the John Cunningham virus (JCV) - is a side-effect of Natalizumab (NTZ) treatment for relapsing remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially leading to a substantial increase of physical and also mental disability. Nevertheless, data of neuropsychological impairment during NTZ-PML disease course is missing. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the neuropsychological disease course of NTZ-PML patients and to compare neuropsychological deficits of NTZ-PML patients with two different non-PML MS cohorts. METHODS Neuropsychological examinations of 28 NTZ-PML patients performed during different phases of the disease (I. at PML-diagnosis, II. during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and III. post-IRIS/PML) were retrospectively analyzed and compared to those of NTZ treated RRMS or SPMS patients with and without immunotherapy. RESULTS Compared to controls, NTZ-PML patients performed worse in neuropsychological examinations during all stages of disease mainly affecting visuo-spatial abilitiy and working memory. Furthermore, failure to eliminate the JCV from the central nervous system (CNS) was associated with a progredient decline of cognition, especially working memory. CONCLUSION Working-memory and visuospatial ability are the core neuropsychological deficits of NTZ-PML patients even in long-term-follow-up. Our finding should be implemented in neurorehabilitation strategies

The Ursinus Weekly, October 3, 1968

Fourteen join faculty; Dept. heads named for Philos. & Economics • 227 freshmen begin studies; 3 foreign students included • Professors recognized for teaching excellence • Stained glass exhibit on display at Ursinus • Joint effort concert features Intruders • Editorial: Student activism - radical or responsible? • Frosh at Shalom; Dinks on till 12th • The illegalities of Ursinus law • The great society? • Editorial: Everyone\u27s problem • Freeland\u27s days numbered; Library to rise on site • Graduate school aspirants urged to prepare early • Forums replace required chapel • Studio art to highlight new fine arts course • Annual Parents Day planned for Oct. 12 • Franklin & Marshall passing stops Bears in season opener • Ursinus hockey squad hopes for eighth undefeated year • Baker counts on frosh to bolster soccer team • Undefeated Harriers aim for MAC title • Greek gleaningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1163/thumbnail.jp

Komfort in energieflexiblen Gebäuden: Einbindung von Nutzer*innen für eine erfolgreiche Energiewende im Gebäudebereich

Vor allem im dicht besiedelten urbanen Raum ist die Nachfrage nach innovativen und nachhaltigen Wohnkonzepten unter Einsatz intelligenter Technologien groß. Ein zentraler Aspekt ist die Energieproduktion und -versorgung in Wohngebäuden und quartieren, die verstärkt lokale erneuerbare Energien einbeziehen. Dabei sollen vor allem Flexibilisierungsmaßnahmen einen sinnvollen Einsatz volatiler Energieträger ermöglichen. Die hier präsentierte Fallstudie vergleicht den (thermischen) Wohnkomfort in einem energieflexiblen Gebäude in Wien aus der Sicht von Nutzer*innen und aus der Sicht von Expert*innen. Die Studie hebt die Relevanz wissenschaftlich evaluierter nutzer*innenzentrierter Planung für den Erfolg der Energiewende hervor, da die Erfassung heterogener Bedürfnisse beim Wohnkomfort potenzielle Zielkonflikte bei Planung, Umsetzung und Nutzung innovativer Gebäudekonzepte aufzeigen kann.Especially in densely populated urban areas, the demand for innovative and sustainable residential concepts using smart technologies is high. A key aspect is energy production and supply in residential buildings and neighborhoods that increasingly rely on local renewable energy. In particular, flexibilization measures are expected to enable sensible use of volatile energy sources. The case study presented here compares the (thermal) comfort in an energy flexible building in Vienna from the perspective of residents and from the perspective of experts. The study highlights the relevance of scientifically evaluated user-centered planning for a successful energy transition, since the identification of heterogeneous residential comfort needs helps reveal potential conflicts in planning, implementation, and use of innovative building concepts