Local order parameters for use in driving homogeneous ice nucleation with all-atom models of water

We present a local order parameter based on the standard Steinhardt-Ten Wolde approach that is capable both of tracking and of driving homogeneous ice nucleation in simulations of all-atom models of water. We demonstrate that it is capable of forcing the growth of ice nuclei in supercooled liquid water simulated using the TIP4P/2005 model using overbiassed umbrella sampling Monte Carlo simulations. However, even with such an order parameter, the dynamics of ice growth in deeply supercooled liquid water in all-atom models of water are shown to be very slow, and so the computation of free energy landscapes and nucleation rates remains extremely challenging.Comment: This version incorporates the minor changes made to the paper following peer revie

Simulation Based Analysis On The Effects Of Orientation On Energy Performance Of Residential Buildings In Ghana

Since the energy crisis in 2007, energy performance of buildings is gradually becoming an issue in Ghana. The authors of this paper used simulation as a tool to analyse three conventional resi-dential building types, in order to see the effects of orientation on energy performance, specifi-cally on cooling loads. The three building types; a single storey square block, a single storey rec-tangular block and a two storey square block with different thermal properties were modelled and simulated. Alternate north angles were used and results compared for the best orientation resulting in minimum cooling loads in the climatic context of Kumasi, Ghana. The results on the rectangular building indicated the best orientation as being north and south. No particular ori-entation could be recommended for the single and two storey building (with square plans) and this showed that the influence of other factors such as windows, configuration and function of spaces, and building mass directly affected cooling loads and eventually orientation.Keywords: Simulation, Orientation, Energy Performance, Cooling Load, North Angl

The Effects of Form and Orientation on Energy Performance of Residential Buildings in Ghana

The form and orientation of a building can have an effect on energy performance. The difficulty has been to find the most energy efficient form-aspect ratio. In this paper, a volume with differ-ent aspect ratios has been used to investigate the effect on energy performance (cooling load). The volume used is of the same construction and an hourly dynamic simulation programme was used for the analysis. It was evident that the square form was the most energy efficient whiles elongated forms used much energy. However, since spaces could warm up when oriented to-wards the east and west, the authors further recommend a detailed look into the function of spaces in design schemes and the use of simulation for design alternatives.Keywords: Form, Orientation, Energy Performance, Cooling Loa

The allergy clinic: 50 years

No Abstract. South African Medical Journal Vol. 96(9) (Part 2) 2006: 902-90

Economic Potential of Taungya Farming System in Edo State, Nigeria

The study examined the economic potential of taungya system in Edo state, using of data obtained from both primary and secondary sources with the aid of well structured questionnaires administered to 230 respondents in eight the Local Government Areas practicing taungya farming in government reserved forests. The research was based on sampling intensities of 30, 20 and 5% for farmers’ population of below 100, between 100 and 200 and over 200 respectively, to elicit information on socioeconomic issues. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistic of frequency and percentages and inferential statistic using “t” test and ANOVA. The results showed that 43.3% of the respondents affirmed that it was easy to obtain fuelwood, while 41.1% of them believed that was very easy to obtain fuelwood in the taungya farm system. Results showed that there was significant difference (P<0.05) among the income generated from benefits like food, fuelwood, fruits/vegetable/roots, bushmeat, medicinal plants. The results also revealed that the revenues government generated from allocation of taungya plots differed significantly among revenues types and (P<.05) various periods considered. Retention fees and April 2009 to date dominated the types of revenues and period respectively. It is expedient to enhance the economic potential of taungya so as to convert all the possible potentials to reality. This is done by following values premises for the adoption of taungya system in the real sense of it in most of the forest estates in the state.Keywords: Taungya, economic potential, income, revenues, concessionJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Self Management and Telehealth: Lessons Learnt from the Evaluation of a Dorset Telehealth Program

Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group

Maturity and maturity models in lean construction

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in maturity models in management-related disciplines; which reflects a growing recognition that becoming more mature and having a model to guide the route to maturity can help organisations in managing major transformational change. Lean Construction (LC) is an increasingly important improvement approach that organisations seek to embed. This study explores how to apply the maturity models to LC. Hence the attitudes, opinions and experiences of key industry informants with high levels of knowledge of LC were investigated. To achieve this, a review of maturity models was conducted, and data for the analysis was collected through a sequential process involving three methods. First a group interview with seven key informants. Second a follow up discussion with the same individuals to investigate some of the issues raised in more depth. Third an online discussion held via LinkedIn in which members shared their views on some of the results. Overall, we found that there is a lack of common understanding as to what maturity means in LC, though there is general agreement that the concept of maturity is a suitable one to reflect the path of evolution for LC within organisations

Comparability of Microarray Data between Amplified and Non Amplified RNA in Colorectal Carcinoma

Microarray analysis reaches increasing popularity during the investigation of prognostic gene clusters in oncology. The standardisation of technical procedures will be essential to compare various datasets produced by different research groups. In several projects the amount of available tissue is limited. In such cases the preamplification of RNA might be necessary prior to microarray hybridisation. To evaluate the comparability of microarray results generated either by amplified or non amplified RNA we isolated RNA from colorectal cancer samples (stage UICC IV) following tumour tissue enrichment by macroscopic manual dissection (CMD). One part of the RNA was directly labelled and hybridised to GeneChips (HG-U133A, Affymetrix), the other part of the RNA was amplified according to the ?Eberwine? protocol and was then hybridised to the microarrays. During unsupervised hierarchical clustering the samples were divided in groups regarding the RNA pre-treatment and 5.726 differentially expressed genes were identified. Using independent microarray data of 31 amplified vs. 24 non amplified RNA samples from colon carcinomas (stage UICC III) in a set of 50 predictive genes we validated the amplification bias. In conclusion microarray data resulting from different pre-processing regarding RNA pre-amplification can not be compared within one analysis

Adolescents’ perceptions of long-term effects of cycle skilltraining

Cycling to school is uncommon among adolescents in most developed countries. Development of cycling skills through cycle skills training (CST) can reduce cycling-related safety concerns. This study examined long-term effects of CST retrospectively by comparing adolescents’ perceptions of cycling to school and their confidence to cycle to school among those who participated in CST in primary and/or intermediate school with non-participants. Adolescents (n=1,260; 51% female; 12 schools) from Dunedin (New Zealand) completed an online survey at school. Adolescents self-reported transport modes to school, perceptions of cycling to school and CST, and previous participation in and perceived benefits of school-based CST programmes. Only 1-2% adolescents usually cycled to school. Overall, 42% agreed CST would make them safer in traffic (no significant difference between CST participants (n=512) and non-participants (n=748)). Among CST participants, 32% reported that CST increased their confidence to cycle to school and those adolescents had more favourable attitudes towards CST than participants who reported no effects. In a multivariable analysis, adolescents’ perceptions that CST increased their cycling confidence were positively associated with self-efficacy for cycling to school (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.33 (1.07, 1.67)), perceived school support (1.51 (1.01, 2.25)), parental cycling-related safety concerns (1.84 (1.25, 2.69)) and being Māori (6.47 (2.36, 17.7)) or other ethnic origins (2.26 (1.00, 5.10); reference: New Zealand Europeans). Therefore, CST could be a useful strategy to support adolescents’ cycling to school, ideally (as suggested in the literature) in combination with appropriate infrastructure changes and speed management measures