Long duration thermal hard X-ray sources observed in two eruptive flares

We present observations of two eruptive flares on 17 of December 2006 (C1.9) and 19 of May 2007 (B9.7) which had good coverage with both Hinode and RHESSI. In these flares we see a long lived, gradual thermal hard X-ray source of low emission measure and, relative to the loops observed with GOES and XRT, high temperature. The lack of a non-thermal hard X-ray component and impulsive behaviour is inconsistent with electron beam driven chromospheric evaporation

Management of work-relevant upper limb disorders: a review

Background Upper limb disorders (ULDs) are clinically challenging and responsible for considerable work loss. There is a need to determine effective approaches for their management. Aim To determine evidence-based management strategies for work-relevant ULDs and explore whether a biopsychosocial approach is appropriate. Methods Literature review using a best evidence synthesis. Data from articles identified through systematic searching of electronic databases and citation tracking were extracted into evidence tables. The information was synthesized into high-level evidence statements, which were ordered into themes covering classification/diagnosis, epidemiology, associations/risks and management/treatment, focusing on return to work or work retention and taking account of distinctions between non-specific complaints and specific diagnoses. Results Neither biomedical treatment nor ergonomic workplace interventions alone offer an optimal solution; rather, multimodal interventions show considerable promise, particularly for occupational outcomes. Early return to work, or work retention, is an important goal for most cases and may be facilitated, where necessary, by transitional work arrangements. The emergent evidence indicates that successful management strategies require all the players to be onside and acting in a coordinated fashion; this requires engaging employers and workers to participate. Conclusions The biopsychosocial model applies: biological considerations should not be ignored, but psychosocial factors are more influential for occupational outcomes. Implementation of interventions that address the full range of psychosocial issues will require a cultural shift in the way the relationship between upper limb complaints and work is conceived and handled. Dissemination of evidence-based messages can contribute to the needed cultural shift

Pengaruh Ukuran Perusahaan Dan Faktor Regulasi Terhadap Kualitas Implementasi Corporate Governance

Adanya pemisahan antara fungsi kepemilikan (ownership) dan fungsi pengendalian (control) dalam hubungan keagenan sering menimbulkan masalah-masalah keagenan (agency problems). Masalah-masalah keagenan tersebut timbul karena adanya konflik atau perbedaan kepentingan antara principal (pemilik Perusahaan atau pihak yang memberikan mandat) dan agent (manajer Perusahaan atau pihak yang menerima mandat). Teori keagenan (agency theory) berusaha menjelaskan tentang penentuan kontrak yang paling efisien yang bisa membatasi konflik atau masalah keagenan (Jensen dan Meckling, 1976; Eisenhardt, 1989). Corporate governance merupakan respon Perusahaan terhadap konflik tersebut. Corporate governance merupakan cara-cara untuk memberikan keyakinan pada para pemasok dana Perusahaan akan diperolehnya return atas investasi mereka (Shleifer dan Vishny, 1997). Menurut Cadbury (1992), corporate governance adalah sistem untuk mengarahkan (direct) dan mengendalikan (control) suatu Perusahaan/korporasi. Corporate governanace merupakan salah satu elemen kunci dalammeningkatkan efesiensi ekonomis, yang meliputi serangkaian hubungan antaramanajemen Perusahaan, dewan komisaris, para pemegang saham dan stakeholderslainnya. Corporate governance juga memberikan suatu struktur yangmemfasilitasi penentuan sasaran-sasaran dari suatu Perusahaan, dan sebagaisarana untuk menentukan teknik monitoring kinerja (Darmawati, Khomsiyah dan Rika, 2004). Tujuan untuk menguji pengaruh nilai ukuran Perusahaan, dan faktor regulasi terhadap kualitas implementasi corporate governance pada Perusahaan BUMN dan Non BUMN yang terdaftar di CGPI periode 2008-2012. Metode Penelitian penelitian ini bersifat Kuantitatif, dengan rancangan kausal komparatif, menggunakan analisis regresi linier berganda untuk mengetahui pengaruh antara variabel independen yaitu Ukuran Perusahaan dan Faktor Regulasi terhadap variabel dependen yaitu Kualitas Implementasi Corporate Governace. Hasil Penelitian Secara Parsial nilai ukuran Perusahaan dan faktor regulasi berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kualitas implmentasi corporate governance

Fatigue investigation at high load ratio R of a quenched and tempered chromium molybdenum steel

Abstract The fatigue behavior at high number of cycles in elastic-plastic field of quenched and tempered carbon chromium steel was experimentally investigated for high performance reciprocating compressors application. Fatigue tests on un-notched specimens were performed both under load and strain controls, by imposing different levels of stress/strain and for each of them different values of stress ratios R, especially high values. Stress and strain trends have been monitored, during the fatigue life, and either ratcheting or relaxation, respectively, was evident. The stress control tests have resulted into fatigue fractures only for low values of R with significant ratcheting and an increasing rate during the final part of the test, thus the fracture could be considered as a synergy between fatigue damage and plastic failure. On the contrary, the ratcheting stabilized for high values of R and the tests were finalized without any fracture. Within an intermediate region, for medium/high values of R, a minor ratcheting and the fracture transition have been found. Similarly, for the tests under strain control, low values of R showed fatigue fractures despite a considerable relaxation, conversely for high values of R, the relaxation was limited without any fracture. After reporting the tests on the Haigh plane, the Smith-Watson-Topper equation (SWT) provided the best prediction of the fatigue strength, at least until the intersection with the ultimate stress line, both under stress and strain control loadings. The cyclic behavior of the material was then investigated through several static and cyclic tests on plain specimens. A kinematic hardening Chaboche model, with three parameter couples, was proposed and the values of these parameters derived and discussed. Finally, other tests have been conducted on notched specimens with C geometry and blunt radius, again at high R values. FE analysis allowed the prediction of the stress evolution during the loading cycling, implementing the Chaboche model, and observing a combined effect of ratcheting and relaxation at the notch tip. The stabilized stresses were finally reported on the Haigh diagram and the results were found in agreement with the plain specimen fatigue line

Pengaruh Komunikasi Dan Motivasi Terhadap Prestasi Kerja Pegawai Di Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Bone Bolango

Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui pengaruh komunikasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai untuk mengetahui pengaruh motivasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai dan untuk mengetahui pengaruh komunikasi dan motivasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai di badan pusat statistik kabupaten bone bolango. Metode penelitian ini kuantitatif dengan sampel 30 orang. Penelitian ini menggunakan teknik pengambilan sampel purposive total sampling. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan pembahasan yang telah dilakukan disimpulkan bahwa hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa variabel komunikasi berpengaruh secara positif signifikan terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai. Diketahui nilai sig. Untuk pengaruh komunikasi (x1) terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai (y) adalah sebesar 0. 000 0.05 dan nilai t hitung 11.603 t- table 1.699 sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa h1 diterima yang berarti terdapat pengaruh komunikasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai. Hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa variabel motivasi berpengaruh secara positif signifikan terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai. Diketahui nilai sig. Untuk pengaruh motivasi (x2) terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai (y) adalah sebesar 0. 043 0.05 dan nilai t hitung 2.051 t tabel 1.699 sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa h2 diterima yang berarti terdapat pengaruh motivasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai. Hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa variabel komunikasi dan motivasi berpengaruh secara bersama-samat terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai hal ini dapat dilihat dari nilai sig. Untuk pengaruh komunikasi (x1) dan motivasi (x2) terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai (y) adalah adalah sebesar 0.000 0.05 dan nilai f hitung 69.877 f table 3.32 sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa h3 diterima yang berarti terdapat pengaruh komunikasi dan motivasi terhadap prestasi kerja pegawai. Dengan nilai nilai r square sebesar 82,3% sedangkan sisanya 17,7% dipengaruhi oleh variabel lainnya yang tidak dijelaskan dalam penelitian ini

Fragmenting densely mineralised acellular protrusions from articular calcified cartilage: a role in osteoarthritis?

Fragmenting densely mineralised acellular protrusions from articular calcified cartilage: a role in osteoarthritis? A. Boyde a, G.R. Davis a, D. Mills a, T. Zikmund a, V.L. Adams b, L.R. Ranganath b, N. Jeffery b, J.A. Gallagher b a Dental Physical Sciences, Oral Growth and Development, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK b Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK Objectives High density mineralised protrusions (HDMP) from the tidemark mineralising front into hyaline articular cartilage (HAC) were first discovered in Thoroughbred racehorse fetlock joints and later in Icelandic horse hock joints. If these fragment, they could make a significant contribution to joint destruction in osteoarthritis. We looked for them in human material. Methods Whole femoral heads removed at operation for joint replacement or from dissection room cadavers were studied by MRI DESS at 0.23mm resolution and 26 micron resolution high contrast x-ray microtomography (XMT), then sectioned and embedded in PMMA, and block faces polished and the blocks re-imaged with 6 micron resolution XMT. Tissue mineralisation density was imaged qualitatively by backscattered electron SEM (BSE SEM) at 20kV using uncoated samples at 50Pa chamber pressure to achieve charge neutralisation. HAC histology was studied by BSE SEM after staining block faces with ammonium triiodide solution. Block surfaces were sequentially repolished and restained. Results Figure: 3D rendering of 6 micron voxel resolution XMT data set showing HDMP complex projecting above subchondral bone plate. Human femoral head removed at arthroplasty. We found examples of HDMP in HAC in human hips. Their 3D shapes are complex and may show cutting blade forms. Their mineral content (a) exceeds that of articular calcified cartilage (ACC), otherwise the densest tissue in the joint and (b) is not uniform. The mineral phase morphology frequently shows the agglomeration of many fine particles into larger concretions. Cracks within them are frequent. Dense fragments may be found within damaged HAC. Conclusions HDMP arise via the extrusion of an uncharacterised matrix into clefts in HAC. Little evidence of their existence remains after tissue has been decalcified with usual histological protocols. Their formation may be an extension of a normal but poorly recognised crack self-healing mechanism found in bone and ACC. They are surrounded by HAC, are dense and brittle and show innumerable fault lines within them. We provide evidence that they break in vivo by being able to find matching fragments in HAC. We conclude that these hard and sharp particles contribute to the shredding destruction of HAC. The osteoarthritis research community should be aware of their existence so that the frequency and possible clinical significance can be assessed in the future. Larger HDMP can be detected with the best MRI imaging

A cross-border deforestation index to understand underlying drivers of deforestation

This paper considers a preliminary investigation involving the development of a Cross-Border Deforestation Index (CBDI), which is an attempt to quantify the differences in deforestation between two countries or potentially any two administrative units. In this study, the focus was on countries. For each pair of bordering countries, a 50km buffer zone was drawn and the average value of the Vegetation Continuous Field (VCF) was calculated for each country in the pair. The ratio of these two averages is the CBDI. Values of 1 indicate similar levels of forest cover but values greater than 1 point towards dissimilar land use policies within countries and/or sub-national administrative levels. This index was calculated for all pairs of bordering tropical countries in South and Central America, Asia and Africa. In addition, a visual analysis of the spatial variation of the VCF was undertaken to show how this can complement the CBDI. The results showed that countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Laos, Thailand and DR Congo, in combination with different neighbouring countries, all have CBDI values differing from 1. These areas are worth examining in greater detail in order to understand what types of drivers are behind these outlying CBDI values. These drivers could include land use policy, population pressure, accessibility, etc. Future work will i nclude the addition of environmental factors. By computing the CBDI for so called Homogeneous Response Units (HRU: areas of similar or identical environmental conditions in terms of soil, altitude and slope), we will be able to examine the changing effect on the CBDI. This work is still ongoing and will be expanded to consider HRU for all country pairs. In addition, regression of the CBDI with different drivers of deforestation will be attempted in order to help identify these underlying causes

Switch from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction in a zebra shark

Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which embryos develop in the absence of fertilisation. Most commonly found in plants and invertebrate organisms, an increasing number of vertebrate species have recently been reported employing this reproductive strategy. Here we use DNA genotyping to report the first demonstration of an intra-individual switch from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction in a shark species, the zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum. A co-housed, sexually produced daughter zebra shark also commenced parthenogenetic reproduction at the onset of maturity without any prior mating. The demonstration of parthenogenesis in these two conspecific individuals with different sexual histories provides further support that elasmobranch fishes may flexibly adapt their reproductive strategy to environmental circumstances

Liquid chromatography–flame ionisation detection using a nebuliser/spray chamber interface. Part 1. Design and testing

AbstractA nebuliser and spray chamber have been used to link a flow injection analyser to a flame ionisation detector, with the potential for the combination to be used as a universal detector for liquid chromatography. The hydrogen and air flows were adjusted to achieve a stable system. The detector responded to both volatile and involatile analytes and to compounds with and without chromophores, including alkanes, alkanols, aromatic amides and acids, phenols, amino-acids and carbohydrates and gave a linear response for many analytes. However, for involatile polar analytes it was necessary to add traces of acid or salt to the carrier stream to obtain a linear response