Majorana bound state localization and energy oscillations for magnetic impurity chains on conventional superconductors

We study a chain of magnetic impurities on a conventional superconductor with spin-orbit coupling, treating the superconducting order fully self-consistently. We find and quantify strong hybridization between the topological edge Majorana bound states (MBSs) and in-gap Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states, which causes increasing energy oscillations as a function of magnetic impurity strength, even when the direct MBS overlap is negligible. By treating the MBS as a topological boundary state, dependent only on the effective mass gap, we arrive at a fully parameter-free functional form of the its localization which decreases with magnetic impurity strength, opposite to the behavior of the superconducting coherence length.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

A Shared Story of Successful Spanish Learning: An Embedded Multiple Case Study

Student success is on the American mind, and rightfully so, as indicators point to inequitable educational experiences in a nation that emphasizes equity and opportunity for all (NCES, 2009, 2010; Peterson, Woessmann, Hanushek, & Lastra-Anadón, 2011). The occasional story of academic success in the face of obstacles inspires a desire to make these stories of success mainstream rather than scattered occurrences. With this desire for widespread academic success, we arrive upon the challenge of fully understanding the inherently complex path to student success. One manner in which to understand the phenomenon of student success is to empirically identify situations of consistently impressive academic outcomes, entering into those situations and exploring the phenomenon at a deep, holistic level (Imig & Imig, 2006). This embedded multiple case study explored three situations of student Spanish learning success identified through hierarchical linear modeling. Successful Spanish learning was defined as situations empirically identified as exhibiting the greatest overall student growth in Spanish proficiency over time. Each of these situations of empirically supported student success was explored both qualitatively (interviews, observations, artifacts, narratives) and quantitatively (matrix observations, surveys, demographical information) at both the building/community-level and classroom/teacher-level. Findings were presented through a narrative story of student success and then discussed through Goodwin’s What Matters Most Framework (Goodwin, 2011). Findings supported Goodwin’s assertion that “we can make a tremendous difference for students---especially if everyone is on the same page and working to the same ends” (p. 160, italics added). This story of student Spanish success reflected buildings and communities unified in supporting instructional staff so that they could focus on classroom instruction. Within this supportive and collaborative environment, reflective Spanish practitioners presented students with high expectations and actively engaged them with activities strategically designed to enable efficient and successful Spanish communication. In the words of one of the principals in this study, the outcome seemed to be a bit of a “daily, mini immersion”, that allowed students to maximize their learning experience. Advisor: Aleidine J. Moelle

Dynamics of plasma blobs in a shear flow

The global dynamic of plasma blobs in a shear flow is investigated in a simple magnetized torus using the spatial Fourier harmonics (k-space) framework. Direct experimental evidence of a linear drift in k space of the density fluctuation energy synchronized with blob events is presented. During this drift, an increase of the fluctuation energy and a production of the kinetic energy associated with blobs are observed. The energy source of the blob is analyzed using an advection-dissipation-type equation that includes blob-flow exchange energy, linear drift in k space, nonlinear processes, and viscous dissipations. We show that blobs tap their energy from the dominant E B vertical background flow during the linear drift stage. The exchange of energy is unidirectional as there is no evidence that blobs return energy to the flow

Learning Languages in a Digital World

Aleidine J. Moeller, Editor Janine Theiler, Assistant Editor I. Embracing Technology: Tools Teacher Can Use to Improve Language Learning — Introduction to the section: Frauke Hachtmann, Katie Hayes, Leyla Masmaliyeva, Malia Perkins 1 Rich Internet Applications for Language Learning — Dennie Hoopingarner and Vineet Bansal 2 Leveraging Podcasting for Language Learning — Dan Schmit 3 Using PowerPoint Templates to Enhance Student Presentations — J. Sanford Dugan II. Teacher Education and Professional Development: Agents of Change — Introduction to the section: Silvia Betta and Janine Theiler 4 Preparing for the ACTFL/NCATE Program Report: Three Case Studies — Susan Colville-Hall, Bonnie Fonseca-Greber, and Isabel Cavour 5 Preparing Teacher Candidates to Integrate Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom: A Teacher Educator’s Perspective — Elvira Sanatullov-Allison and Marat Sanatullov 6 Training Elementary World Language Teachers to Use an Immersion-based Approach: Modeling and Methods Instruction Delivered via Video/DVD — Jean M. Hindson 7 Action Research on a Technology Integrated Elementary School Foreign Language Methods Course — Marcia Harmon Rosenbusch and Hsueh-Hua Chuang 8 National Board Certification in World Languages: A Worthwhile Journey — Meg Graham 9 Enhancing Learner Self-Efficacy through Continuous Self-Assessment: Implications for the Foreign Language Classroom — Javier Coronado-Aliegro III. Teaching Culture through Divergent Paths — Introduction to the section: Gabriel Cote and Amy Struthers 10 Japanese Language and Culture Learning through E-mail Communication — Yuki Ozawa 11 A Road Less Traveled: The Chemin de Saint-Jacques from LePuy to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port — Lisa Signori, Steven M. Gardner, and Carlos Mentle

Kongenitale Nävi im Kindesalter

Zusammenfassung: Nävi stellen kongenitale hamartomatöse Fehlbildungen unterschiedlicher Bestandteile der Haut dar. Am häufigsten treten kongenitale melanozytäre Nävi (CMN) auf, gefolgt von Nävi epithelialen Ursprungs (epidermale und organoide Nävi). Insbesondere große CMN können zu schwerwiegenden Komplikationen führen, und das Management der Betroffenen stellt ab Geburt eine Herausforderung dar. Entgegen früheren Annahmen ist das Risiko einer malignen Entartung von CMN insgesamt als eher gering anzusehen, steigt jedoch in speziellen Situationen relevant an. Nicht zu vernachlässigen sind mögliche extrakutane Symptome im Falle einer ZNS-Beteiligung, und frühe bildgebende Untersuchungen gehören heute zur Routinediagnostik. Chirurgische Maßnahmen haben noch immer einen hohen Stellenwert in der Behandlung von CMN, die Indikation dazu ist jedoch von Fall zu Fall individuell abzuwägen. Nicht zuletzt leiden die Patienten häufig stark an der ästhetischen Beeinträchtigung durch ihr Muttermal, sodass in der Behandlung auch diesem Punkt Rechnung getragen werden muss. Der Naevus sebaceus ist der häufigste Vertreter der epithelialen Nävi. In 2-13% treten darin Zusatztumoren auf, und eine frühe chirurgische Exzision ist in den meisten Fällen nicht zuletzt auch aus ästhetischen Überlegungen sinnvoll. Epidermale Nävi erfordern bei generalisierter Ausdehnung Zusatzuntersuchungen zum Ausschluss von assoziierten ophthalmologischen, kardialen oder neurologischen Fehlbildunge