Conformal mapping of unbounded multiply connected regions onto canonical slit regions

We present a boundary integral equation method for conformal mapping of unbounded multiply connected regions onto five types of canonical slit regions. For each canonical region, three linear boundary integral equations are constructed from a boundary relationship satisfied by an analytic function on an unboundedmultiply connected region. The integral equations are uniquely solvable. The kernels involved in these integral equations are the modified Neumann kernels and the adjoint generalized Neumann kernels

Religious affiliation and extramarital sex among men in Brazil.

CONTEXT: Since 1990, HIV infection in Brazil has spread among the heterosexual population, particularly in the north. Containment of the epidemic can be informed by a better understanding of men's sexual risk behavior. METHODS: Logistic, Poisson and multilevel logit models were applied to data on married and cohabiting men who had participated in the 1996 Brazilian Demographic and Health Survey. RESULTS: Twelve percent of married or cohabiting men reported having had at least one extramarital partner in the previous 12 months; half of these had had two or more. The majority (77%) of partners were described as friends or lovers; 4% had been prostitutes and 15% strangers. Among men who had had sex with an extramarital partner in the last year, 40% reported having used condoms during last extramarital sex. Compared with members of evangelical religions, other men were significantly more likely to report having had an extramarital partner (odds ratios, 3.0-4.7) and unprotected extramarital sex in the last 12 months (3.4-7.9). Region of residence was also strongly correlated with extramarital sex: Compared with men in southern or central Brazil, those in the north had more than three times the odds of having had extramarital sex and unprotected extramarital sex in the last year (3.1-3.8). CONCLUSION: In Brazil, religious affiliation and region of residence exert a major influence on risk behavior

An optical nanocavity incorporating a fluorescent organic dye having a high quality factor

We have fabricated an L3 optical nanocavity operating at visible wavelengths that is coated with a thin-film of a fluorescent molecular-dye. The cavity was directly fabricated into a pre-etched, free-standing silicon-nitride (SIN) membrane and had a quality factor of Q = 2650. This relatively high Q-factor approaches the theoretical limit that can be expected from an L3 nanocavity using silicon nitride as a dielectric material and is achieved as a result of the solvent-free cavity-fabrication protocol that we have developed. We show that the fluorescence from a red-emitting fluorescent dye coated onto the cavity surface undergoes strong emission intensity enhancement at a series of discrete wavelengths corresponding to the cavity modes. Three dimensional finite difference time domain (FDTD) calculations are used to predict the mode structure of the cavities with excellent agreement demonstrated between theory and experiment

Which pre-operative findings translate to a positive intra-operative cholangiogram?

Background: The most common investigations used in the pre-operative diagnosis of choledocholithiasis are ultrasound and liver function tests (LFTs). These modalities have a low sensitivity for detecting common bile duct stones amongst the intermediate-risk groups. Aim: Identify pre-operative findings which predict choledocholithiasis in intermediate-risk groups. Describe the implications of a positive intra-operative cholangiogram (IOC). Method: A retrospective study of all consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies with IOC performed. Data were collected over two years between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2016. Standard demographic variables, preoperative symptoms, LFTs, IOC findings, abdomen ultrasound, and postoperative symptoms were included. Results: 23 cases were planned for IOC. The median age was 41 years. Seventeen cases were females. Indications were 12 biliary colic, eight gallstone pancreatitis, two cases of acute cholecystitis, and one case was for ascending cholangitis. Four cases had a positive IOC, and in this group, the median age was 44.5 years with one male. The mean common bile duct diameter was 6.5 mm. Two patients had biliary colic, one patient gallstone pancreatitis and one acute cholecystitis. One patient had a history of jaundice, and all four cases had elevated GGT above 40 mmol/l, three cases had ALP above 98 mmol/l. Post-operative, out of 23 cases, five cases had an ERCP, repeated ultrasound in three cases, persistence symptoms in four cases. Conclusions: GGT was the strongest predictor of choledocholithiasis. A normal GGT seems to be quite good at ruling out CBD stones. ALP was less accurate. Gallstone pancreatitis is not a good predictor, but it is importance to exclude choledocholithiasis before/during cholecystectomy. There is no relation between the IOC and persistent symptoms

Numerical simulation of a low aspect ratio wing at low Reynolds number

In this work the numerical simulation of aerodynamic performance of low aspect ratio wings at low Reynolds numbers applicable to micro aerial vehicle is carried out. Commercial software STAR-CCM+ was used to simulate the flow and predict the aerodynamics performances of the low aspect ratio wing. Results were presented in terms of pressure coefficient distribution, flow visualization, lift and drag coefficients for angle of attacks ranging from 0˚ to 18˚ and Reynolds numbers ranging from 104 to 105 Keywords: Rectangular planform wing; Tip vortices; Flow separation . The results showed that, for rectangular planform wing, the distribution of the pressure is dominated by vortices. The results also showed the formation of tip vortices at lower Reynolds number for rectangular wing configuration. It is evident from the results that the type of wing configurations plays a very important role in delaying or preventing the flow separation

Long term trends in behaviour to protect against adverse reproductive and sexual health outcomes among young single African women.

BACKGROUND: HIV and unintended pregnancy are major interrelated concerns in sub-Saharan Africa. Focussing on single women aged 15-24 years we assess trends in key behaviours that affect both outcomes. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of public-access data sets from 112 surveys from 36 countries in the region, conducted between 1991 and 2015. We examined trends over 20 years in primary abstinence (virginity), secondary abstinence (no sex in past 3 months) among sexually experienced women, current use of modern contraception and condom use at most recent coitus among sexually active women. RESULTS: Little change occurred in primary or secondary abstinence. Over the 20 year period, contraceptive use in the region rose from 14.7 to 33.4%, with significant increases observed in 18 of 30 countries with multiple surveys. Since 2001-2005, the proportion of contraceptive users reporting condoms as their method fell from 61.1 to 51.3%, while use of oral contraceptives or injectables rose from 19.9 to 24.0%. Between 1996 and 2000 and 2006-2010, condom use at last coitus rose from 21.3 to 40.5% but then plateaued. A strong correlation between condom use and national HIV prevalence was found. About half of condom users at last sex had earlier in interviews reported this method for pregnancy-prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Though condoms tend to be overlooked by both HIV and family planning agencies, their contribution to the health of single women remains central. Current efforts to promote non-barrier contraceptive methods may inadvertently increase HIV risk. Condom promotion for pregnancy-prevention should be re-invigorated by social marketing campaigns and other means

Employee attitudes as a mediator between HRM and organizational performance

Attitude is a power that controls human behaviour. When employee Attitude is positive, it can give impact positive to organization performance. A proper human resource management (HRM) managed by organization, the employee attitude will be affected. HRM practices influence employee attitude positively and there is a mediating role of employee attitude between training and development dimension of HRM practices and organizational performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore employee atttiude as a mediator between HRM and organizational performance. A sample of this study was 219 respondents from employee construction in Libya. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. This study showed that employee attitudes is a full mediator between relationship HRM and organizational performance. Therefore, HRM practices influence employee attitude and its give impact to organizational performance for more effective and efficient in achieving organization goal