321 research outputs found

    Lehrmittel für technisches und textiles Gestalten

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    Der Beitrag zeigt, wie spezielle Rahmenbedingungen des Schulfachs ‹technisches und textiles Gestalten› die Innovation des Bereichs beeinflusst haben. Am Beispiel der zwei neueren Lehrmittel Werkweiser und Phänomenales Gestalten wird das Konzept der Lehrmittel, das mit einem Paradigmenwechsel verbunden ist, dargestellt. Erfahrungen mit den Lehrmitteln werden diskutiert.The article shows how particular parameters of the school subject Technical and Textile Design have had an influence on innovation in this area. The concept of teaching aids, which has been associated with a paradigm shift, is illustrated using the examples of the recent materials Work Manner and Phenomenal Design. Experiences with these teaching materials are discussed

    Impact of hot exozodiacal dust on the polarimetric analysis of close-in exoplanets

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    Hot exozodiacal dust (HEZD) found around main-sequence stars through interferometric observations in the photometric bands H to L is located close to the dust sublimation radius, potentially at orbital radii comparable to those of close-in exoplanets. Consequently, HEZD has a potential influence on the analysis of the scattered-light polarization of close-in exoplanets and vice versa. We analyze the impact of HEZD on the polarimetric characterization of close-in exoplanets. This study is motivated in particular by the recently proven feasibility of exoplanet polarimetry. Applying the 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code POLARIS in an extended and optimized version for radiative transfer in exoplanetary atmospheres and an analytical tool for modeling the HEZD, we simulated and compared the polarization characteristics of the wavelength-dependent scattered-light polarization of HEZD and close-in exoplanets. The varied parameters are the planetary phase angle (01800^\circ-180^\circ), the dust grain radius (0.02 μ0.02\ \mum  10 μ- \ 10\ \mum), the HEZD mass (101010^{-10}M\rm{M}_{\oplus}  108-\ 10^{-8}M\rm{M}_{\oplus}), the orbital inclination (0900^\circ-90^\circ), the composition of the planetary atmosphere (Mie and Rayleigh scattering atmosphere), the orbital radius of the HEZD (0.020.02 au  0.4-\ 0.4 au), and the planetary orbital radius (0.010.01 au $-\ 0.05$ au). The dust grain radius has the strongest influence on the polarimetric analysis due to its significant impact on the wavelength-dependent polarization characteristics and the total order of magnitude of the scattered-light polarization. In certain scenarios, the scattered-light polarization of the HEZD even exceeds that of the close-in exoplanet.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy \& Astrophysics. 14 pages, 13 figure

    Effects and utility of an online forward triage tool during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a mixed method study and patient perspectives, Switzerland.

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    OBJECTIVE To assess the effects (quantitatively) and the utility (qualitatively) of a COVID-19 online forward triage tool (OFTT) in a pandemic context. DESIGN A mixed method sequential explanatory study was employed. Quantitative data of all OFTT users, between 2 March 2020 and 12 May 2020, were collected. Second, qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews (n=19) to explain the quantitative findings, explore tool utility, user experience and elicit recommendations. SETTING The working group e-emergency medicine at the emergency department developed an OFTT, which was made available online. PARTICIPANTS Participants included all users above the age of 18 that used the OFTT between 2 March 2020 and 12 May 2020. INTERVENTION An OFTT that displayed the current test recommendations of the Federal Office of Public Health on whether someone needed testing for COVID-19 or not. No diagnosis was provided. RESULTS In the study period, 6272 users consulted our OFTT; 40.2% (1626/4049) would have contacted a healthcare provider had the tool not existed. 560 participants consented to a follow-up survey and provided a valid email address. 31.4% (176/560) participants returned a complete follow-up questionnaire. 84.7% (149/176) followed the recommendations given. 41.5% (73/176) reported that their fear was allayed after using the tool. Qualitatively, seven overarching themes emerged namely (1) accessibility of tool, (2) user-friendliness of tool, (3) utility of tool as an information source, (4) utility of tool in allaying fear and anxiety, (5) utility of tool in medical decision-making (6) utility of tool in reducing the potential for onward transmissions and (7) utility of tool in reducing health system burden. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that a COVID-19 OFTT does not only reduce the health system burden but can also serve as an information source, reduce anxiety and fear, reduce potential for cross infections and facilitate medical decision-making

    HHV-8 encoded LANA-1 alters the higher organization of the cell nucleus

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    The latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA-1) of Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8), alternatively called Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus (KSHV) is constitutively expressed in all HHV-8 infected cells. LANA-1 accumulates in well-defined foci that co-localize with the viral episomes. We have previously shown that these foci are tightly associated with the borders of heterochromatin [1]. We have also shown that exogenously expressed LANA-1 causes an extensive re-organization of Hoechst 33248 DNA staining patterns of the nuclei in non-HHV-8 infected cells [2]. Here we show that this effect includes the release of the bulk of DNA from heterochromatic areas, in both human and mouse cells, without affecting the overall levels of heterochromatin associated histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation (3MK9H3). The release of DNA from the heterochromatic chromocenters in LANA-1 transfected mouse cells co-incides with the dispersion of the chromocenter associated methylcytosin binding protein 2 (MECP2). The localization of 3MK9H3 to the remnants of the chromocenters remains unaltered. Moreover, exogeneously expressed LANA-1 leads to the relocation of the chromocenters to the nuclear periphery, indicating extensive changes in the positioning of the chromosomal domains in the LANA-1 harboring interphase nucleus. Using a series of deletion mutants we have shown that the chromatin rearranging effects of LANA-1 require the presence of a short (57 amino acid) region that is located immediately upstream of the internal acidic repeats. This sequence lies within the previously mapped binding site to histone methyltransferase SUV39H1. We suggest that the highly concentrated LANA-1, anchored to the host genome in the nuclear foci of latently infected cells and replicated through each cell generation, may function as "epigenetic modifier". The induction of histone modification in adjacent host genes may lead to altered gene expression, thereby contributing to the viral oncogenesis

    Evidence-based practice, research utilization, and knowledge translation in chiropractic: a scoping review

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    Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) gaps are widespread across health disciplines. Understanding factors supporting the uptake of evidence can inform the design of strategies to narrow these EBP gaps. Although research utilization (RU) and the factors associated with EBP have been reported in several health disciplines, to date this area has not been reviewed comprehensively in the chiropractic profession. The purpose of this review was to report on the current state of knowledge on EBP, RU, and knowledge translation (KT) in chiropractic. Methods: A scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework was used to systematically select and summarize existing literature. Searches were conducted using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms from the earliest date available in each database to May 2015. Quantitative and thematic analyses of the selected literature were conducted. Results: Nearly 85 % (56/67) of the included studies were conducted in Canada, USA, UK or Australia. Thematic analysis for the three categories (EBP, RU, KT) revealed two themes related to EBP (attitudes and beliefs of chiropractors; implementation of EBP), three related to RU (guideline adherence; frequency and sources of information accessed; and perceived value of websites and search engines), and three related to KT (knowledge practice gaps; barriers and facilitators to knowledge use; and selection, tailoring, and implementation of interventions). EBP gaps were noted in the areas of assessment of activity limitation, determination of psychosocial factors influencing pain, general health indicators, establishing a prognosis, and exercise prescription. While most practitioners believed EBP and research to be important and a few studies suggested that traditional and online educational strategies could improve patient care, use of EBP and guideline adherence varied widely. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the majority of chiropractors hold favourable attitudes and beliefs toward EBP. However, much remains to be done for chiropractors to routinely apply evidence into clinical practice. Educational strategies aimed at practicing chiropractors can lead to more EBP and improved patient care. The chiropractic profession requires more robust dissemination and implementation research to improve guideline adherence and patient health outcomes

    Ferruginous Hawk movements respond predictably to intra-annual variation but unexpectedly to anthropogenic habitats.

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    Birds exhibit flexible movement responses to environmental variation across the annual cycle, and those responses can provide insight into potential impacts that environmental changes may have on these species. To understand year-round variation in space use by Ferruginous Hawks Buteo regalis, we tracked 12 birds breeding in southwestern Idaho, USA, using GPS telemetry collected over 207 bird-months. Home-range sizes of territorial adult hawks showed strong intra-annual variation, being smallest from April to June and largest from July to October. In contrast, juvenile birds (< 2 years old) did not appear to hold territories and showed no detectable intra-annual variation in ranging behaviour. Association with land-cover types by territorial birds varied between breeding and non-breeding months and was linked to home-range size. Home-range sizes of non-territorial birds were larger than those of territorial birds, and that size did not vary across the year. Association with anthropogenic habitats (irrigated cropland habitats that can provide high rodent densities and increased foraging opportunities) was negatively associated with home-range size in months of the non-breeding season. Unexpectedly, the opposite was true in the months of the breeding season, such that use of croplands resulted in larger home-ranges. Patterns in home-range size were probably linked to intrinsic factors such as the timing of breeding and migratory behaviour, and to extrinsic factors such as prey availability associated with specific land-cover types. These results have implications for our understanding of the response of Ferruginous Hawks and other similar species to predicted changes in land cover, and they suggest unexpected relationships between human activity and wildlife behaviour. Furthermore, because the birds we tracked used a large portion of western North America, they are probably relevant far beyond the small area where these individuals were trapped

    Prevention of chronic rejection in mouse aortic allografts by combined treatment with CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody

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    Background. In this study, using a murine model of aortic allotransplantation, the role of blockade of signaling through CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40 ligand costimulatory pathways in the evolvement of posttransplant vasculopathy was examined. Methods. Aortic allografts were transplanted across C57BL/10J (H2b)→C3H (H2(k)) strain combinations. Transient or more stable blockade of second signaling was achieved by either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig fusion protein (200 μg/dose i.p.) and/or anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) monoclonal antibody (250 μg i.m.). At day 30 after transplantation, the grafts were harvested for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Results. Similar to allografts of untreated animals, aortic allografts obtained from recipients treated with either CTLA4-Ig or anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody alone exhibited marked narrowing of the lumen primarily due to concentric intimal thickening caused by proliferation of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells. Contemporaneous treatment, however, with either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody resulted in marked diminution of intimal thickening. Interestingly, concurrent prolonged inhibition of CD28/B7 and CD40/ CD40L pathways resulted in complete abrogation of the development of posttransplant arteriopathy. Conclusion. These data suggest that a more stable disruption of signaling through costimulatory pathways may be required to obviate the development of posttransplant vasculopathy
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