3,347 research outputs found
Capitals and commitment. The case of a local learning and employment network.
This article draws on research undertaken with a Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) in the state of Victoria, Australia. LLEN are networks that were implemented by the state government in 2001 to undertake community capacity building through which the outcomes of young people aged 15-19 in education, training and employment would be enhanced. In 2008, in the context
of an enhanced federal commitment to social inclusion through âjoining-upâ, the Victorian experience provides insights on the implications of such policy initiatives. Drawing on Bourdieuâs discussion of the forms of capital and
Granovetterâs notion of the strength of weak ties, I argue that stores of economic, cultural and social capital as outlined by Bourdieu were necessary, but insufficient, for LLEN to achieve the objectives with which they were charged
given the failure of government to follow through on the implications of its policies. I argue for a commitment on the part of all stakeholders to realise the potential of âjoining-upâ
The external benefits of higher education
The private market benefits of education are widely studied at the micro level, although the magnitude of their macroeconomic impact is disputed. However, there are additional benefits of education, which are less well understood. In this paper the macroeconomic effects of external benefits of higher education are estimated using the âmicro-to-macroâ simulation approach. Two types of externalities are explored: technology spillovers and productivity spillovers in the labour market. These links are illustrated and the results suggest they could be very large. However, this is qualified by the dearth of microeconomic evidence, for which we hope to encourage further work
Characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in rat neocortical neurons in vitro
1. The characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (l-IPSPs) which are evoked in rat frontal neocortical neurons by local electrical stimulation were investigated with intracellular recordings from anin vitro slice preparation.
2. Stimulation with suprathreshold intensities evoked l-IPSPs with typical durations of 600â900 msec at resting membrane potential. Conductance increases of 15â60% were measured at the peak amplitude of l-IPSPs (150â250 msec poststimulus).
3. The duration of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs displayed a significant voltage dependence, decreasing as the membrance potential was depolarized and increasing with hyperpolarization.
4. The reversal potential of l-IPSPs is significantly altered by reductions in the extracellular potassium concentration. Therefore it is concluded that l-IPSPs in rat neocortical neurons are generated by the activation of a potassium conductance.
5. l-IPSPs exhibit stimulation fatigue. Stimulation with a frequency of 1 Hz produces a complete fatigue of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs after approximately 20 consecutive stimuli. Recovery from this fatigue requires minutes.
6. l-IPSPs are not blocked by bicuculline but are blocked by baclofen
Mass-scaling as a method to constrain outflows and particle acceleration from low-luminosity accreting black holes
The four leading arms of the Magellanic Cloud system
The Magellanic Cloud System (MCS) interacts via tidal and drag forces with
the Milky Way galaxy. Using the Parkes Galactic All-Sky Survey (GASS) of atomic
hydrogen we explore the role of drag on the evolution of the so-called Leading
Arm (LA). We present a new image recognition algorithm that allows us to
differentiate features within a 3-D data cube (longitude, latitude, radial
velocity) and to parameterize individual coherent structures. We compiled an HI
object catalog of LA objects within an area of 70 degr x 85 degr (1.6 sr) of
the LA region. This catalog comprises information of location, column density,
line width, shape and asymmetries of the individual LA objects above the
4-sigma threshold of Delta T_b simeq 200 mK. We present evidence of a fourth
arm segment (LA4). For all LA objects we find an inverse correlation of
velocities v_GSR in Galactic Standard of Rest frame with Magellanic longitude.
High-mass objects tend to have higher radial velocities than low-mass ones.
About 1/4 of all LA objects can be characterized as head-tail (HT) structures.
Using image recognition with objective criteria, it is feasible to isolate most
of LA emission from the diffuse Milky Way HI gas. Some blended gas components
(we estimate 5%) escape detection, but we find a total gas content of the LA
that is about 50% higher than previously assumed. These methods allow the
deceleration of the LA clouds to be traced towards the Milky Way disk by drag
forces. The derived velocity gradient strongly supports the assumption that the
whole LA originates entirely in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). LA4 is
observed opposite to LA1, and we propose that both arms are related, spanning
about 52kpc in space. HT structures trace drag forces even at tens of kpc
altitudes above the Milky Way disk.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication Astronomy &
Astrophysics 201
Emergence of dissipative structures in current-carrying superconducting wires
We discuss the emergence of a spontaneous temperature and critical current
spatial modulation in current-carrying high temperature superconducting wire.
The modulation of the critical current along the wire on a scale of 3 - 10 mm
forces a fraction of the transport current to crisscross the resistive
interface between the superconducting film and normal metal stabilizer attached
to it. This generates additional heat that allows such a structure to be self
sustainable. Stability and the conditions for experimental observation of this
phenomenon are also discussed.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. E (in section Chaos and Pattern
Formation
Preliminary Report on Stone Breakage and Lesion Size Produced by a New Extracorporeal Electrohydraulic (Sparker Array) Discharge Device
Objective
To determine if an innovative extracorporeal electrohydraulic shock wave device (sparker array) can effectively fracture artificial stones in vitro and in vivo, and if sparker array treatment produces a renal lesion in our pig model of lithotripsy injury. Results of these experiments will be used to help evaluate the suitability of this device as a clinical lithotripter.
Methods
Utracal-30 artificial stones were placed in a holder at the focus of the sparker array and treated with 600 shock waves (21.6 kV, 60 shocks/min). Stone fragments were collected, dried and weighed to determine stone breakage. In vivo stone breakage entailed implanting stones into pigs. These stones were treated with 600 or 1200 shock waves and the fragments collected for analysis. Lesion analysis consisted of treating the left kidney of pigs with 1200 or 2400 shock waves and quantitating the hemorrhagic lesion.
Results
In vitro, 71±2% of each artificial stone was fractured to < 2 mm in size. In vivo stone breakage averaged 63%. Renal injury analysis revealed that only 1 out of 7 kidneys showed evidence of hemorrhagic injury in the treated area.
Conclusions
The sparker array consistently comminuted artificial stones demonstrating its ability to fracture stones like other lithotripters. Also, the sparker array caused little to no renal injury at the settings used in this study. These findings suggest further research is warranted to determine the potential of this device as a clinical lithotripter
Low energy polarization sensitivity of the Gas Pixel Detector
An X-ray photoelectric polarimeter based on the Gas Pixel Detector has been
proposed to be included in many upcoming space missions to fill the gap of
about 30 years from the first (and to date only) positive measurement of
polarized X-ray emission from an astrophysical source. The estimated
sensitivity of the current prototype peaks at an energy of about 3 keV, but the
lack of readily available polarized sources in this energy range has prevented
the measurement of detector polarimetric performances.
In this paper we present the measurement of the Gas Pixel Detector
polarimetric sensitivity at energies of a few keV and the new, light, compact
and transportable polarized source that was devised and built to this aim.
Polarized photons are produced, from unpolarized radiation generated with an
X-ray tube, by means of Bragg diffraction at nearly 45 degrees.
The employment of mosaic graphite and flat aluminum crystals allow the
production of nearly completely polarized photons at 2.6, 3.7 and 5.2 keV from
the diffraction of unpolarized continuum or line emission. The measured
modulation factor of the Gas Pixel Detector at these energies is in good
agreement with the estimates derived from a Monte Carlo software, which was up
to now employed for driving the development of the instrument and for
estimating its low energy sensitivity. In this paper we present the excellent
polarimetric performance of the Gas Pixel Detector at energies where the peak
sensitivity is expected. These measurements not only support our previous
claims of high sensitivity but confirm the feasibility of astrophysical X-ray
photoelectric polarimetry.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in NIM
The geometry of spontaneous spiking in neuronal networks
The mathematical theory of pattern formation in electrically coupled networks
of excitable neurons forced by small noise is presented in this work. Using the
Freidlin-Wentzell large deviation theory for randomly perturbed dynamical
systems and the elements of the algebraic graph theory, we identify and analyze
the main regimes in the network dynamics in terms of the key control
parameters: excitability, coupling strength, and network topology. The analysis
reveals the geometry of spontaneous dynamics in electrically coupled network.
Specifically, we show that the location of the minima of a certain continuous
function on the surface of the unit n-cube encodes the most likely activity
patterns generated by the network. By studying how the minima of this function
evolve under the variation of the coupling strength, we describe the principal
transformations in the network dynamics. The minimization problem is also used
for the quantitative description of the main dynamical regimes and transitions
between them. In particular, for the weak and strong coupling regimes, we
present asymptotic formulas for the network activity rate as a function of the
coupling strength and the degree of the network. The variational analysis is
complemented by the stability analysis of the synchronous state in the strong
coupling regime. The stability estimates reveal the contribution of the network
connectivity and the properties of the cycle subspace associated with the graph
of the network to its synchronization properties. This work is motivated by the
experimental and modeling studies of the ensemble of neurons in the Locus
Coeruleus, a nucleus in the brainstem involved in the regulation of cognitive
performance and behavior
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