Opinions on rehabilitation care of young adults with transversal upper limb reduction deficiency in their transition to adulthood

PURPOSE: Young adults with transversal upper limb reduction deficiency experience limitations regarding education, employment and obtaining a driver's license. Contribution of rehabilitation care within these domains has been reported to be inadequate. This study evaluates the needs and suggestions of participants in rehabilitation care. METHODS: Two online focus groups with young adults and parents met during 4 consecutive days. Health care professionals joined a face-to-face focus group. Data analysis was based on framework analysis. RESULTS: The rehabilitation team was mainly consulted for problems with residual limb or for prostheses. Young adults and their parents were mostly unaware of resources regarding education, job selection or obtaining a driver's license. Professionals stated that these subjects were addressed during periodic appointments. Young adults didn't always attend these appointments due to limited perceived benefit. To improve rehabilitation care, participants suggested methods for providing relevant information, facilitating peer contact and offering dedicated training programs to practice work-related tasks, prepare for job interviews or enhance self-confidence. CONCLUSION: Periodic appointments do not fulfil needs of young adults with transversal upper limb reduction deficiency. To improve care, rehabilitation teams should offer age-relevant information, share peer stories, and create dedicated training programs

Training self-regulated learning skills with video modeling examples: Do task-selection skills transfer?

Self-assessment and task-selection skills are crucial in self-regulated learning situations in which students can choose their own tasks. Prior research suggested that training with video modeling examples, in which another person (the model) demonstrates and explains the cyclical process of problem-solving task performance, self-assessment, and task-selection, is effective for improving adolescents’ problem-solving posttest performance after self-regulated learning. In these examples, the models used a specific task-selection algorithm in which perceived mental effort and self-assessed performance scores were combined to determine the complexity and support level of the next task, selected from a task database. In the present study we aimed to replicate prior findings and to investigate whether transfer of task-selection skills would be facilitated even more by a more general, heuristic task-selection training than the task-specific algorithm. Transfer of task-selection skills was assessed by having students select a new task in another domain for a fictitious peer student. Results showed that both heuristic and algorithmic training of self-assessment and task-selection skills improved problem-solving posttest performance after a self-regulated learning phase, as well as transfer of task-selection skills. Heurist

Discovery of Radio Outbursts in the Active Nucleus of M81

The low-luminosity active galactic nucleus of M81 has been monitored at centimeter wavelengths since early 1993 as a by-product of radio programs to study the radio emission from Supernova 1993J. The extensive data sets reveal that the nucleus experienced several radio outbursts during the monitoring period. At 2 and 3.6 cm, the main outburst occurred roughly in the beginning of 1993 September and lasted for approximately three months; at longer wavelengths, the maximum flux density decreases, and the onset of the burst is delayed. These characteristics qualitatively resemble the standard model for adiabatically expanding radio sources, although certain discrepancies between the observations and the theoretical predictions suggest that the model is too simplistic. In addition to the large-amplitude, prolonged variations, we also detected milder changes in the flux density at 3.6 cm and possibly at 6 cm on short (less than 1 day) timescales. We discuss a possible association between the radio activity and an optical flare observed during the period that the nucleus was monitored at radio wavelengths.Comment: To appear in The Astronomical Journal. Latex, 18 pages including embedded figures and table

Supporting Self-Regulated Learning in Online Learning Environments and MOOCs: A Systematic Review

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) allow learning to take place anytime and anywhere with little external monitoring by teachers. Characteristically, highly diverse groups of learners enrolled in MOOCs are required to make decisions related to their own learning activities to achieve academic success. Therefore, it is considered important to support self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies and adapt to relevant human factors (e.g., gender, cognitive abilities, prior knowledge). SRL supports have been widely investigated in traditional classroom settings, but little is known about how SRL can be supported in MOOCs. Very few experimental studies have been conducted in MOOCs at present. To fill this gap, this paper presents a systematic review of studies on approaches to support SRL in multiple types of online learning environments and how they address human factors. The 35 studies reviewed show that human factors play an important role in the efficacy of SRL supports. Future studies can use learning analytics to understand learners at a fine-grained level to provide support that best fits individual learners. The objective of the paper is twofold: (a) to inform researchers, designers and teachers about the state of the art of SRL support in online learning environments and MOOCs; (b) to provide suggestions for adaptive self-regulated learning support.Teaching and Teacher Learning (ICLON

Radio spectra and polarisation properties of a bright sample of Radio-Loud Broad Absorption Line Quasars

The origin of broad-absorption-line quasars (BAL QSOs) is still an open issue. Accounting for ~20% of the QSO population, these objects present broad absorption lines in their optical spectra generated from outflows with velocities up to 0.2c. In this work we present the results of a multi-frequency study of a well-defined radio-loud BAL QSO sample, and a comparison sample of radio-loud non-BAL QSOs, both selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We aim to test which of the currently-popular models for the BAL phenomenon - `orientation' or 'evolutionary' - best accounts for the radio properties of BAL quasars. Observations from 1.4 to 43 GHz have been obtained with the VLA and Effelsberg telescopes, and data from 74 to 408 MHz have been compiled from the literature. The fractions of candidate GHz-peaked sources are similar in the two samples (36\pm12% vs 23\pm8%), suggesting that BAL QSOs are not generally younger than non-BAL QSOs. BAL and non-BAL QSOs show a large range of spectral indices, consistent with a broad range of orientations. There is weak evidence (91% confidence) that the spectral indices of the BAL QSOs are steeper than those of non-BAL QSOs, mildly favouring edge-on orientations. At a higher level of significance (\geq97%), the spectra of BAL QSOs are not flatter than those of non-BAL QSOs, which suggests that a polar orientation is not preferred.Comment: Accepted by A&

CSSs in a sample of B2 radio sources of intermediate strength

We present radio observations of 19 candidate compact steep-spectrum (CSS) objects selected from a well-defined, complete sample of 52 B2 radio sources of intermediate strength. These observations were made with the VLA A-array at 4.835 GHz. The radio structures of the entire sample are summarised and the brightness asymmetries within the compact sources are compared with those of the more extended ones, as well as with those in the 3CRR sample and the CSSs from the B3-VLA sample. About 25 per cent of the CSS sources exhibit large brightness asymmetries, with a flux density ratio for the opposing lobes of $>$5, possibly due to interaction of the jets with infalling material. The corresponding percentage for the larger-sized objects is only about 5 per cent. We also investigate possible dependence of the flux density asymmetry of the lobes on redshift, since this might be affected by more interactions and mergers in the past. No such dependence is found. A few individual objects of interest are discussed in the paper.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Radio observations of ZwCl 2341.1+0000: a double radio relic cluster

Context: Hierarchal models of large scale structure (LSS) formation predict that galaxy clusters grow via gravitational infall and mergers of (smaller) mass concentrations, such as clusters and galaxy groups. Diffuse radio emission, in the form of radio halos and relics, is found in clusters undergoing a merger, indicating that shocks or turbulence associated with the merger are capable of accelerating electrons to highly relativistic energies. Here we report on radio observations of ZwCl 2341.1+0000, a complex merging structure of galaxies located at z=0.27, using Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations. Aims: The main aim of the observations is to study the nature of the diffuse radio emission in the galaxy cluster ZwCl 2341.1+0000. Methods: We have carried out GMRT 610, 241, and 157 MHz continuum observations of ZwCl 2341.1+0000. The radio observations are combined with X-ray and optical data of the cluster. Results: The GMRT observations show the presence of a double peripheral radio relic in the cluster ZwCl 2341.1+0000. The spectral index is -0.49 \pm 0.18 for the northern relic and -0.76 \pm 0.17 for the southern relic respectively. We have derived values of 0.48-0.93 microGauss for the equipartition magnetic field strength. The relics are probably associated with an outwards traveling merger shock waves.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A on July 30, 200

Immunopathology and Infectious Diseases Influenza A Virus (H5N1) Infection in Cats Causes Systemic Disease with Potential Novel Routes of Virus Spread within and between Hosts

The ongoing outbreak of avian influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) infection in Asia is of great concern because of the high human case fatality rate and the threat of a new influenza pandemic. Case reports in humans and felids suggest that this virus may have a different tissue tropism from other influenza viruses , which are normally restricted to the respiratory tract in mammals. To study its pathogenesis in a mammalian host , domestic cats were inoculated with H5N1 virus intratracheally (n ‫؍‬ 3) , by feeding on virus-infected chicks (n ‫؍‬ 3) , or by horizontal transmission (n ‫؍‬ 2) and examined by virological and pathological assays. In all cats , virus replicated not only in the respiratory tract but also in multiple extra-respiratory tissues. Virus antigen expression in these tissues was associated with severe necrosis and inflammation 7 days after inoculation. In cats fed on virus-infected chicks only , virus-associated ganglioneuritis also occurred in the submucosal and myenteric plexi of the small intestine , suggesting direct infection from the intestinal lumen. All cats excreted virus not only via the respiratory tract but also via the digestive tract. This study in cats demonstrates that H5N1 virus infection causes systemic disease and spreads by potentially novel routes within and between mammalian hosts. 4,5 The transmission of avian influenza A virus to mammalian species is of great concern because this may allow the virus to adapt to mammalian hosts and acquire pandemic potential. So far, however, there is only evidence for limited human spread. When bird-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus was first recorded in 1997, with 6 deaths of 18 hospitalized patients, 7-9 the question of why this virus was so pathogenic was raised. One hypothesis was that H5N1 virus had expanded its tissue tropism in humans beyond its normal location in the respiratory tract, resulting in systemic infection, 10 as is the usual situation in poultry infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. 11 Although support for this hypothesis was provided neither by studies of patients who died in 1997 12 nor by experimental infections in cynomolgus macaques, Related to the question of tissue tropism is the question whether H5N1 virus can spread from one mammalian host to another and, if so, how. Although most human H5N1 virus infections have been due to contact with infected poultry or poultry products, probable person-toperson transmission has been recorded for two patients

The theory of pulsar winds and nebulae

We review current theoretical ideas on pulsar winds and their surrounding nebulae. Relativistic MHD models of the wind of the aligned rotator, and of the striped wind, together with models of magnetic dissipation are discussed. It is shown that the observational signature of this dissipation is likely to be point-like, rather than extended, and that pulsed emission may be produced. The possible pulse shapes and polarisation properties are described. Particle acceleration at the termination shock of the wind is discussed, and it is argued that two distinct mechanisms must be operating, with the first-order Fermi mechanism producing the high-energy electrons (above 1 TeV) and either magnetic annihilation or resonant absorption of ion cyclotron waves responsible for the 100 MeV to 1 TeV electrons. Finally, MHD models of the morphology of the nebula are discussed and compared with observation.Comment: 33 pages, to appear in Springer Lecture Notes on "Neutron stars and pulsars, 40 years after the discovery", ed W.Becke