Crystalluria in various groups of sportsmen

This thesis examines various groups of athletes to assess whether they are at risk with regard to kidney stone formation. Particle size distribution analysis (Coulter counter), ultra-structural analyses (SEM) and urine analysis were conducted. The background to various factors relating to stone formation is discussed as well as the general theory behind the techniques employed. The methods utilized and data obtained are described. Particle size distribution analysis and scanning electron· micrographs suggest that marathon runners and cyclists may be at risk with respect to stone formation. Dehydration and urinary tract trauma are thought to occur in the former whereas dehydration only is operative in the latter. Results obtained from Na/Ca ratio analyses are found to correspond with the particle size analyses thereby suggesting that this ratio may have potential as a useful index of stone-forming risk. The enormous spread of values amongst each class of athlete shows, however, that physical exertion is not the sole factor affecting the Na/Ca ratio

Design and Optimization of a Thermal Capacitor

Team Hot Stuff designed a thermal capacitor for Senior Design I at Utah State University. This thermal capacitor is intended for use in the food service industry as a low-cost alternative to chafers. Chafers are platters which use oil burners to keep food warm. The client for this thermal capacitor is Thermal Management Technologies (TMT), a company specializing in thermal science solutions whose mission is “to provide simple, practical thermal science solutions to a wide range of platforms including: Industry, Defense, and Space”1. The founder and president of TMT, Dr. J. Clair Batty, serves as a mentor for this project. The project is broken down into tasks and split among the team members. Karen Nielson is team lead. As team lead, Karen’s responsibilities include overseeing and helping with all tasks, as well as ensuring that the team remains on task and on schedule. Brian Pincock is in charge of the team schedule and the thermal analysis. Brian is responsible for keeping track of task completions, updating the schedule and building and running various thermal models of the thermal capacitor. Ruby Kostur is the purchasing agent and is in charge of selection and purchasing of materials. Ruby’s responsibilities include researching, selecting, purchasing and budgeting parts and materials for the thermal capacitor. Jordan Cox is in charge of the design drawings and structural analysis. Jordan is responsible for constructing virtual models of the various parts of the thermal capacitor and analyzing the potential structural problems. The team developed a list of requirements with the customer. These requirements are listed in Section 3 Statement of Problem. The team decided on the following design parameters: Phase change material: Beeswax Heat spreader: Aluminum honeycomb Container material: Aluminum 6061 Insulation: Western Red Cedar Bonding: Epoxy Seal: O-ring Fasteners: Stainless steel screws To select these parameters the team performed thermal, structural, and materials analysis. Brian Pincock oversaw thermal analysis. He consulted with professional engineers at TMT and professors at USU to decide on a correct modeling method.Using Star CCM to model the physics, Brian proved the final design would meet requirements. Jordan Cox performed structural analysis using FEMAP. His models confirmed that the final bolt pattern and O-ring seal would be safe and functional. Ruby Kostur used these results to select materials which maintained the budgetary constraints

Radiation budget over the Indian monsoon region

February, 1984.Includes bibliographical references.Sponsored by the National Science Foundation ATM-8010691

Civil society participation in trade policy-making in Latin America : reflections and lessons

This paper explores the question of civil society engagement with trade policy in Latin America, identifying key factors which shape the dynamics and possibilities of participation. These include (a) key strategic issues within the movements and among groups themselves; (b) the organisation of institutional access; and (c) key economic and political regional dynamics. The authors compare three different sets of trade negotiations and institutional arrangements: NAFTA, Mercosur and FTAA, and examine the key drivers and shapers of change in each case through a comparative analysis of the dynamics of the environmental, labour and women’s movements. In examining the diverse forms of engagement and nonengagement, lessons are derived about the possibilities of constructing more effective, sustainable and transparent mechanisms of participation and representation in trade policy. The paper begins with an analytical framework, followed by sections exploring and comparing the strategies of the environmental, labour and women’s movements in trade policy. In each case, the authors ask: Who mobilises and how, around what sort of issues? How do the coalitions use the spaces that exist in trade arenas or protest the limitations imposed? How do regional dynamics affect these processes? Diverse and imaginative sets of strategies are used by groups interested in or affected by trade policy in Latin America, which change over time, accommodating a rapidly changing context; though a key lesson showed that merely having mechanisms of participation in place does not mean they are used effectively. Civil society groups move in and out of policy spaces and shift between ‘insider’ or ‘outsider’ strategies, including movement across levels and between arenas. Just as states practice two-level games, so too civil society engages in double-edged diplomacy, playing national and international arenas off against one another depending on the political opportunity structures available in each and the political dynamics underpinning them. Keywords: civil society, participation, social movements, trade, trade policy, trade unions, women, environment

Nurses transitioning to primary health care in Australia : a practice improvement initiative

Introduction: Current nursing programs provide little pre-registration information and clinical exposure to primary health care nursing practice. Newly graduated nurses and those transitioning to primary health care report disorientation and confusion. Limited knowledge about the ideal elements of a program to support transitioning nurses is an imperative to understand how best to support nurses during this period. The peak body for nurses in primary health care was funded to develop and implement a 1-year transition to practice improvement initiative for nurses in Australia about to be employed in or who are new to primary health care. This quality improvement evaluation study aimed to determine the impact of the transition program on participants’ nursing knowledge, skills, and confidence, and their overall satisfaction with the program. Methods: A mixed methods evaluation of the project utilized data from online pre- and post-participation surveys, mentor meetings, and field notes. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were employed for quantitative items. Free text and field notes were subject to broad thematic analysis. Findings from qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated. Results: Ninety-three nurse participants and 62 mentors were recruited. There were statistically significant differences between mean summed post-completion and pre-completion self-assessment rating scores for knowledge, skills, and confidence. Program elements were well received. The orientation workshop, mentoring, and education activities were identified as most influential in supporting transition. The self-assessment framework was identified as least influential. Conclusion: A 12-month transition program was effective in building the knowledge, skills, and confidence of participants to deliver comprehensive and effective nursing services. © The Author(s) 2023

Rapidly Progressive Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor of the Omentum in an Adult. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) are exceedingly rare neoplasms that characteristically occur in infants and children and sparsely develop in adults. Primary MRTs of the omentum are particularly rare.Presentation of Case: A previously healthy 24-year-old male who presented with progressive abdominal distention and nausea. Further investigations revealed ascites with multifocal omental-based tumors. Biopsy with immunohistochemistry demonstrated dually positive cells for cytokeratin and vimentin and loss of Integrase Interactor 1 (INI1), and Next generation sequencing showed a copy number loss of SMARCB1 which established the diagnosis of malignant rhabdoid tumor. The patient’s clinical course was characterized by rapid local and metastatic progression with subsequent clinical deterioration, and he expired within three weeks of his initial presentation.Conclusion: Herein we describe the clinical course, difficulty with diagnosis, and paucity of treatment options for a rare and very aggressive malignant tumor. The ideal treatment regimen for MRTs has yet to be elucidated and additional studies are required to discern therapies that offer benefit

From Ideas to Practice, Pilots to Strategy: Practical Solutions and Actionable Insights on How to Do Impact Investing

This report is the second publication in the World Economic Forum's Mainstreaming Impact Investing Initiative. The report takes a deeper look at why and how asset owners began to include impact investing in their portfolios and continue to do so today, and how they overcame operational and cultural constraints affecting capital flow. Given that impact investing expertise is spread among dozens if not hundreds of practitioners and academics, the report is a curation of some -- but certainly not all -- of those leading voices. The 15 articles are meant to provide investors, intermediaries and policy-makers with actionable insights on how to incorporate impact investing into their work.The report's goals are to show how mainstream investors and intermediaries have overcome the challenges in the impact investment sector, and to democratize the insights and expertise for anyone and everyone interested in the field. Divided into four main sections, the report contains lessons learned from practitioner's experience, and showcases best practices, organizational structures and innovative instruments that asset owners, asset managers, financial institutions and impact investors have successfully implemented